The FCC anounced on Friday, Dec 15, that the Morse Code requirement for ALL classes of amateur licenses will dropped. These anouncements usually go into affect about 30 days later.

Federal Communications Commission

Washington D.C. - It was announced today that Kellogg's and the Federal
Communications Commission have signed a pact to issue Amateur Radio
Licenses on specially marked boxes of Corn Flakes.
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In this unprecedented move the FCC believes this will not hurt amateur
radio but allow all individuals to receive an amateur radio license without
having to demonstrate any skills with the exception of being able to use a pair
of scissors to cut out their operating permit from the breakfast cereal box.
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Kellogg's spokesperson commented that they were proud to have been
selected by the government to be the issuer of licenses for amateur radio in the
US and hope to soon make an agreement with other cereal loving countries.

They also expect that will be issuing certificates of achievement for
DXCF for confirmed contacts with 100 corn flakers

I hear that Alabam. What a deal. Wont be long til channel 19 will be in the middle of 20 meters. Maybe it already is.

I guess that I am not one of the doom and gloom crowd. I had to work very hard to pass the 20 wpm code test, but I don't feel it made me a better operator. I look at this rule change as an opportunity for us old timers (and some old old timers) to practice our elmering skills.

I started out when the novice was a 1 year, non-renewable license. Yet when I go to radio club meetings I often find myself the youngest person in the room. Cell phones and Internet have stolen some of the Gee-Whiz from the hobby. CW will survive for a long time on it's own merit, we are simply removing the proficiency requirement from the licensing process. I believe this action will help move us into the 21st century and hopefully we can attract some new blood that we need to keep ham radio alive.

73

You're right Roger.
I'm a little tired of being the youngest guy in the room too, and I'm 60.
The idea that removing the code requirement will somehow deminish the enjoyment of the Ham experience just doesn't fly.
Unless we, all of us, can find a way to interest the next generation in our hobby, the code will not be the only thing that is elimenated.

I've been interested in becoming a Ham for many years, since the late fiftys, and with some help back then I could have passed the code section, as i was a communicator in the Navy albeit, visually doing code. I would like to buy me a decent rig and talk with the Ham world, what I beleive is called DXing. Maybe now that will be available to me. I'm certain that I could never pass the electronic section or the math. I had only High School math and never used much more that addition and subtraction enough to balance a checkbook. Maybe now I can live my dream due to the dissolution of the code requirements. george

Go for it George!

I have to admit that some of the formulas on the Advanced and Extra tests were above my level.

I finally realized I did not need a 100% score to pass the tests. Currently we only have 3 classes of licenses: Technician, General and Extra. The theory involved with the first two can be mastered by most anyone who puts in the study time. We frequently have young teenagers pass the General class exam.

I look forward to working all the newcomers on HF...

73

George1 - If you're a USN CPO you shouldn't have a problem with the Tech license. It's mainly about knowing the rules and some basic electronics. Takes a bit of memorizing [or a crib sheet]. OOPs! Shouldn't have said that.

Alan indeeed I am but I'm still snowed by a great many things, like electronics and electricity. I hope to get a General License and a decent rig that someone else can maintain and go a Hamming. I used to DX with a friend k8dms, and loved the times we Cqed all over the world from a Navy ship on the high seas. Anyone know of k8dms??? Terry Ford of Michigan. george

I agree with you Roger.

It's too bad this didn't happen 30 years ago, perhaps the hobby would have really taken off.

The code was a problem for me. Never could break the 10wpm barrier. But as soon as the requirement for code for Extra was only 5 wpm (recently), I took the tests, got my Extra ticket with 100%. Theory was never the problem.

Things need to change for this hobby to survive, particularly with cell phones and the internet.

Any prospective hams in the Olympia Washington area that need some help, send me a PM, more than happy to help you get up and running.

Cheers.

George1 said:

quote:

Alan indeeed I am but I'm still snowed by a great many things, like electronics and electricity. I hope to get a General License and a decent rig that someone else can maintain and go a Hamming. I used to DX with a friend k8dms, and loved the times we Cqed all over the world from a Navy ship on the high seas. Anyone know of k8dms??? Terry Ford of Michigan. george

Per the FCC listing mirrored on the QRZ.com website:

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K8DMS
David M Sheaffer
2568 CR 37
Lakeville OH 44638
USA

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and under details:

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Callsign: K8DMS Class: Extra Codes: HVIE USA
Name: David M Sheaffer
Addr1: 2568 CR 37
Addr2: Lakeville, OH 44638
Country: USA
Effective: 02 Jun 2006 Expires: 02 Jun 2016
FRN: 0004105466 What's this?
FCC: ULS Listing
Lookups: 31

Previously: KC8MAY
Coordinates: 40.623008 -82.136093
State: Ohio
County: Holmes
Grid: EN80wo
Area Code: 419
GMT Offset: -5
Time Zone: Eastern
Has DST?: Y
QRZ Updated: 1900-01-09 11:05:22

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The callsign may be in use as a "vanity" callsign. One example of this I know of is a woman in our area who became licensed after her son died and paid to adopt his callsign.

I hope this helps.

Wishing you and yours the very best, I remain...

It is a vanity callsign. An electronic copy of the application may be found on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) website at:

https://wtbwww05.fcc.gov/default.sph/UlsQueryApp_IE.exe...3481017.0___nosearch

Stated reason:

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PRIMARY STATION PREFERENCE LIST: I request the first assignable call sign from my preference list in item #3 be shown on the license for my primary station.

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K8DMS was the only callsign on the preference list. I suggest you contact the current license holder. He will likely know something about your friend.

Wishing you and yours the very best, I remain...

I'm sure that was the call sign. Possibly for whatever reason he gave up that sign???? Thanks very much for the information. You Hams are a knowledgeable bunch. Thanks again. george

This month, I read about one ham who was not related by blood to a "silent key" ham, who adopted the callsign of the deceased ham to honor him, as that ham had been his mentor.

I again urge you to contact the current license holder, as he may very well be able to tell you about your friend.

Wishing you and yours the very best, I remain...

I've had my ticket for 32 years. I started as a Novice, went to General with 13 wpm code, got my Advanced and then in 78, got my Extra (20 wpm code)
I've been an Elmer, taught a bunch of radio classes, been a VE and VEC since the inception of that program and had kids as young as 8 get their tickets. Two of my own kids are hams as is my XYL.
Libby and I used to speak to each other on two meters when we were not in the same car or house, but now, we just use our Cingular cell phones to call each other.
While I profess to be a CW op, I rarely get on with either CW or Phone. I love to build, play with antennas etc, but only rarely get the operating bug anymore.
I think the no code licensing will bring more folks into the hobby and that is good. Whether Amateur Radio will survive is an unknown. Its only by bring new, young talent into the hobby that we can grow and prosper. To hang on to CW just because its the way we always did it, is kind of like saying we all need to use outhouses. They were functional and many of us had to use them, but most of us would choose not to at this time.
I do like to make a nice CW contact and I can continue to do so. Anyone who wants to learn code can certainly do that and get on with us old timers, or newbies for that matter. Pactor or PSK31 are not required modes for getting a ticket, but lots of folks use them.
I look at this just like the licensing changes we have experienced during my time as a ham. They can only improve the hobby and bring some new folks in. Its up to us to treat them kindly, with respect and gently guide them in the ways of the force, resisting the dark side. Oh sorry got carried away. We can always help a newbie by carrying on with good operating practices ourselves, leading by example.

John KE4D