CW the final solution
Len Anderson
K1>From: Burt Fisher <k1...@ccsnet.com>
K1>Subject: CW the final solution
K1>WHAT IS C W
K1>* It is a unique,intimate,concise and effective communications skill still
K1>employed throughout the world.
It is unique, yes, in that the majority of communications sent by
most stations most anywhere after WWII was radioteleprinter, either
in single-channel RTTY or multi-channel sideband. That has been
taken over by high-speed computer-assisted direct text over
multi-multi-channel microwave, satellite, fiber-optic links for over
two decades. Intimate? ANY link from a one-person station to
another one-person station, by radio or any other means is
"intimate." Concise only that the speed of communication relative to
speech _requires_ the shorthand phrasing. Effective? No, there
are too many arguments against that, enough for six or seven more
messages.
K1>* It is the most efficient mode in terms of power required for long-
K1>distance communication ,least susecptible to interference,and conserving of
K1>the radio frequency spectrum.
No argument in regards to a single transmitter-receiver station link
to another, similar station. That statement was good in the 1930s
and throughout the 1940s.
K1>* It involves no accent or pronunciation problems,therefore providing a
K1>widely understood international language.
International Morse Code is based on an _alphabetic_ written language
and does not complement any of the _syllabic_ languages common to the
Middle East, parts of Africa, and nearly all of Asia. Those who are
proficient in syllabic languages must _also_ learn at least one
written alphabetic language to understand the Morse alphabet. This
European-centered statement is viable in the world now simply because
most nations have dual or triple language schooling.
K1>* It employs simpler,more reliable and easily maintained equipment than any
K1>other communications mode.
This is another statement that was born in the vacuum tube era.
However, having operated and maintained U.S. Army Signal Corps HF,
VHF, and microwave equipment in the 1950s (all using vacuum tubes),
the only validity I can ascribe to CW is that it is "simpler."
K1>* It is an equalizer,negating age,speech impediments and dialectical
K1>differences;it provides for ready acceptance of youngsters in an
K1>adult enviornment.
I've always had trouble with integrating "youngsters" in what is a
primarily _adult_ skill/technique recreational activity. The
dialectical difference negation part is pure nonsense and far-liberal
pipedreaming. RTTY, packet, computer can negate age, speech
impediments, _and_ hearing loss; computers with artificial speech
adapters are used by some blind persons.
K1>* It is the ONLY radio communications mode that is understood readily by
K1>both man and machine.
Utter nonsense. No machine "understands" anything. It is ignorant
of the teleprinter in landline operation the entirety of this century
and used commercially in long-haul HF links since 1928. It is
ignorant of the microprocessor-assisted decoders in existance for
over a decade...which "understand" everything from Morse to WEFAX.
My apologies for intruding on an exclusive fraternity here. I span an
existance since 1932, including QSYing multi-KW HF transmitters at age
20 through becoming a hands-on electronics design engineer by the 1960s,
and as a contributor, later associate editor at HR magazine (under Jim
Fisk, W1HR, Alf Wilson, W6NIF). Having a commercial 1st phone since
1956, I've worked with engineers and techs who were licensed amateurs.
Some consider CW as fun and that is fine, good for them. However,
looking over the explosion in technology and communications that came in
my small lifetime, I cannot logically accept Morse code as a valid
licensing requirement now. I see CW as a requirement existing purely
for political and special-interest purposes, nothing more. The
statement quotes were valid a half century ago. They are invalid
now...except in the memories and nostalgia of a time that is a faraway
yesterday.
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