My first call was VE2GOG I held it until I moved to Hamilton in 1986 and then I got VE3TJL fun fact I had wanted TJC but, my bad writing landed me that call. I had it until moving back to Montreal where I grabbed VE2TJL hopped over to Alberta for 3 years and was VE6TJL and then in 2009 I was back in Montreal where I got the cool call VA2UTC. This is a call that is coveted because UTC stands for Universal Time Co-Ordinated. Actually it is UCT. But meh OK I used that call very much especially in contesting. Today and since 2013 I am licensed as VA3UCT. UTC is already taken.
Most of my time on the air has been using what we call phone, speech. In the USB and LSB modes Upper and Lower Side bands. I will explain those in another post but there is one mode that I have sort of dabbled in and that is CW / Morse Code. CW stands for continuous wave. I do not think I need to explain what the code is most people know this already. The question is the relevance of the code in modern times.
Hams still use it and it is still a part of the tests to garner a license to operate here in Canada. Though technically to get on the air Morse Code is NOT required.
Radio Amateurs of Canada and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada speak have information about how to obtain a license and what access the licenses grant.
Just to give you an idea of what a license looks like here is mine.
So lets drill down to the why of Morse Code and ask the question is it relevant.
For certain the code has it's place. As noted hams have to have it to operate on the shortwave spectrum this is by design as ultimately frequencies are regulated by the ITU. This UN body sets the rules and determines how radio spectrum is to be used and deemed that hams must know Morse Code to be licensed to operate on the shortwave bands That changed and is no longer the case. Countries like Canada determine what level of skill is needed and offer the band plan as set by the ITU. Now as I mentioned code is not required to get a basic license in Canada, it is if you want to use the shortwave bands. In the U.S. it is not a requirement to gain a license. But in order to use all the bands you do have to have the Extra Class.
Code is still used outside of ham radio. Who uses it?
It is used in Aviation but, pilots do not have to know the code. Mainly used by stations to help guide the aircraft specifically navigation beacons or stations.
The U.S. Navy still trains intelligence specialists the code.
It has been used to help people who can not speak.
But overall it's use is not as widespread as it was once upon a time. That does not make it irrelevant. Morse code sometimes called the Morse Alphabet could still come in handy. During bad weather or in a cave in or in an underwater accident. The code could be tapped out and because it is specific dots and dashes a simple phrase like SOS can be tapped. In Morse .... --- ... can be heard at long distances where a voice not so much and that has been proven time and time again. Just a note please don't try this as an experiment. Sending such a message when there is no emergency is against the law.
Morse Code remains somewhat relevant and is a good backup mode for getting messages across especially in an emergency. It's a good skill to have and a fun way to send a message as well. The Morse Code system is not widely used anymore but, it's not dead. I would encourage learning it as in reality it is not a code it's the Alphabet in another form that can be used as another form of language.
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