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Surprise Morse Code is BACK!!!!!

BJ radionut

6m addict
May 9, 2008
4,633
5,606
623
35 miles East of Indianapolis
FCC to reinstate Morse Code test
Washington, D.C. – April 1, 2016 – Today, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission or FCC) approved Report and Order 14-987af which reinstates the Morse Code test for General Class and Amateur Extra Class licensees. “It was a big mistake eliminating the Morse Code test,” admits Dotty Dasher, the FCC’s director of examinations. “We now realize that being able to send and receive Morse Code is an essential skill for radio amateurs. As they say, it really does get through when other modes can’t.”
Not only will new applicants have to take the test, but General Class licensees who have never passed a code test will have one year to pass a 5-wpm code test. Similarly, Amateur Extra class licensees that never passed a code test will have one year to pass a 13-wpm test. Those amateurs that fail to pass the test will face revocation of their operating privileges. Materials for administering the examinations will be distributed to Volunteer Examiner Coordinators by the end of April, so that they can begin the testing on May 1, 2016.
“This isn’t going to be one of those silly multiple-choice type tests,” noted Dasher. “We’re going to be sending five-character random code groups, just like we did in the old days. And, applicants will have to prove that they can send, too, using a poorly adjusted straight key.”
Technician Class licensees will not be required to take a Morse Code test, nor will a test be required for new applicants. “We discussed it,” said Dasher, “but decided that since most Techs can’t even figure out how to program their HTs, requiring them to learn Morse Code seemed like cruel and unusual punishment.”
When asked what other actions we might see from the FCC, Dasher hinted that in the future applicants taking the written exam may be required to draw circuit diagrams, such as Colpitts oscillators and diode ring mixers, once again. “We’re beginning to think that if an applicant passes an amateur radio license exam it should mean that he or she actually knows something,” she said.
For further information, contact James X. Shorts, Assistant Liaison to the Deputy Chief of Public Relations for the FCC at (202) 555-1212 or jim.shorts@fcc.gov. For more news and information about the FCC, please visit
Federal Communications Commission
The United States of America
fcc.gov

Good Luck Boys
All the Best
Gary
 

Well that scared me at first lol. I know there is badapples out there but if that happed i would be SOL. lol
I cant get morse code at all and i spent a month trying.
 
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Gotta love April 1st. Wonder how many people looked at this then went to the ARRL site to verify it LOL. Good one BJ radionut!! Happy April 1st.
 
Ratso...CK....You Guys could have played along a little:whistle:
It got 58 views in like 2 hours:ROFLMAO:


:LOL:
Then you had to let the cat out....:ROFLMAO:
Have a Great Day...Spoilers:love:
All the Best
Gary


Ok, I gave you a like :) I should have played, but before I saw it here I saw it posted all over the internet in various forums. So, I was already over the "could it possibly be" thought. And I guess I can be a bit of an old curmudgeon at times...

As punishment I'll go call CQ on 7.200...:(
 
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As punishment I'll go call CQ on 7.200...:(
...
images
 
Good one! First expression was "WHAT?" :ROFLMAO:

I thought I did hear a rumor that they were going to change the question pools in June.
 
Good one! First expression was "WHAT?" :ROFLMAO:

I thought I did hear a rumor that they were going to change the question pools in June.

Personally I think they should stop publishing the question pool. That way people would have to actually LEARN the material instead of just memorize answers to known questions.
 
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We still need 5wpm for class A here in DU land. I just got my class B ticket(after 4 months since passing the test) and started on learning CW. Well, surprise surprise... I got hooked. I'm now trying to learn CW for true and just got me a straight key. I hope to get a CW QSO in about a month or two. That's the goal anyway. :)
 

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