Morse Code and Live Earth

No, this is not a post in support of Morse Code or is it a political post about Live Earth or Al Gore's "Save Our Selves" campaign. It is a simple observation.

Over the last couple of years, I've become a fan of John Mayer's guitar playing and songwriting (for those not familiar I strongly suggest checking out the CD "Try" by the John Mayer Trio and the song "In Repair" from the CD "Continuum"). This morning I decided to download a song he played during the recent series of Live Earth concerts. Up until this morning, I really hadn't paid all that much attention to the Live Earth campaign, but I noticed something radio related in the album cover art that came with the song I downloaded. There was Morse Code in the logo. The Morse Code can also be seen in the "Save Our Selves" logo. If you look right below the stylized S.O.S., the S.O.S. is repeated in Morse Code. I wonder how many folks who see the logo realize what they are looking at?

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT

kf4lmt@comcast.net

Morse Code v. Text Messaging: What gets through quicker?

This video appeared in my inbox yesterday. I thought it was pretty interesting.




Just because a technology is old, that doesn't mean that it has outlived it's usefulness. Even though I don't have an interest in amateur radio operations on HF and haven't yet learned CW, I refuse to denigrate it as an operating mode. Every mode of operation has it's place.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

FCC Ends CW (Morse Code) Testing for Amateur Radio Licensing

Thanks to Chris Corley, KI4JPG for this link:

http://www.arrl.org:80/news/stories/2005/07/20/100/?nc=1

Yesterday, the ARRL reported that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has decided to end the CW requirement in amateur radio testing. Additionally, the FCC will give Technician Plus privileges to Technician class licensees in order to equalize the two license classes.

At this point, I will pass this on without much comment. All I'll say right now is that I'm not sure that this is such a good idea. Before you jump to any conclusions, consider that I am a "no code" Tech licensee. I'll consider this change some more and maybe opine on it after some more thought.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net