Despite this oft repeated myth, CW is RARELY ever used in emergency communications. I talked to a number of different hams in So Cal whose ham radio involvement is virtually all emergency services ops and NONE of them ever hear CW used. I mentioned that on QRP-L and only one person (John WB8RCR) could come up with a situation where CW is regularly used. He is in Upper Michigan and, I don't remember the details, but it had to do with their high latitude and auroral effects. Otherwise, no one there could come up with a single emergency services group using CW ops for any purpose.
Certainly, there are isolated cases where CW has been used as a last resort for particular communications, but then there are cases of trapped individuals tapping out pleas for help with a rock. There are many interesting and useful applications for CW and it has been virtually my only mode of operation for 48 years, but to continue to tout it as necessary for emergency preparedness is to deny reality. I would be willing to bet during the worst moments of the current crisis in the Gulf states that nobody was heard to utter the words, "If only we could get some CW ops in there with battery power rigs." It just doesn't happen. I dare say there will be no stories of CW saving the day for anyone. Most emergency services ops are handled on VHF/UHF FM. Far less is handle via HF SSB. Consider that amateur radio emergency services must interface with other services whose operators don't use CW and you can see it just isn't very useful for emergency communications in the real world. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Matt Osborn Sent: Sunday, September 04, 2005 8:58 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Dropping the Code Test On Sun, 4 Sep 2005 21:07:24 -0400, "Thomas M.Beaudry" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >Emergency communications where the power lines are dead and the >repeaters are down. I've been in a few of those situations and the >saving grace was battery powered rigs and CW. > >> Are there any novel and compelling reasons for keeping the code test? As a new guy, Tom, I was surprised to discover that despite poor band conditions, the hurricane emergency nets are all using phone. Does the availability of power make the difference? _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [email protected] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [email protected] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
