[AMPS] morse code on ships

[Steve Thompson]

In message <19990130.171831.-934359.65.km1h@juno.com>, km1h@juno.com
writes
>
>
>
>On Thu, 28 Jan 1999 12:08:41 -0600 Andy Wallace <andywallace@home.com>
>writes:
>>
>>This, I guess, is why the Coast Guard, the military, and ships at sea 
>>have all
>>dropped CW as being inefficient and archaic.
>>
>>Andy  K5VM
>
>
>It was not dropped for that reason at all.
>
>Modern satellite communications takes the uncertainity out of MF/HF QRN,
>QSB, etc. 
>
>Now, a new question ...can a ship maintain satelite communications when
>it is listing 30 degrees or the stern is under water?
>
>73  Carl  KM1H

Floating satellite beacon(s) get jettisoned automatically to raise an
alarm through a UHF satellite network (I forget its acronym).

The discussion has been timely - as of today (1st Feb) the international
morse requirement for maritime traffic has formally ceased.

I can't see morse dying out in amateur use, its just too valuable. On
the other hand, I can't remember an argument in favour of morse
*testing* which amounted to more than 'I did it, so everyone else
should'. In today's environment, a much better understanding of EMC will
be much more powerful when arguing to retain our priveledges.

Steve

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