20-10-2016, 03:17 PM
You can find all the material needed to study, online, free. No need to buy anything.
Morse is totally optional now for a full licence. I started learning morse in 1969, but didn't keep it up. I did my UK C&G exam in 1972 without a course or any books, just the licence conditions. Easier to study now with internet. So I only had VHF till the morse requirement was abolished. The lower limit for passing morse exam is actually too slow a speed to learn!
I do sometimes have morse contacts by using my keyboard (full qwerty was used to make morse sender tapes in 1930s!) to send and an application on PC to receive, though I just got an android receive decoder that works well on the microphone on tablet or phone.
Old time Marine Radio people are good at Morse. Most contest folks are computer users.
For range vs power and noisy conditions there are better modern digital modes (PSK31) is one. The only argument, and a good one, is Morse because you want to. Hardly anywhere needs it for full licence. Not UK, Ireland, most of EU or USA. The cheapest oldest laptop can do PSK31 at morse distances with less than 5W radio (I have an FT817ND and only need 1W to 2.5W for PSK31 in conditions were 200W SSB doesn't get through.)
I was able to get an Irish Licence without retest on basis of my 1972 UK C&G cert. It's still a "B" call sign but is now a full licence. You don't need to pass a morse exam to use Morse in most countries.
Wireless, rather than IRLP or Echo Radio is the essence of Amateur Radio. Morse is merely one facet of the hobby along with home built equipment (most amateurs only have bought gear).
73 de EI9FEB, formerly GI8JTR
Morse is totally optional now for a full licence. I started learning morse in 1969, but didn't keep it up. I did my UK C&G exam in 1972 without a course or any books, just the licence conditions. Easier to study now with internet. So I only had VHF till the morse requirement was abolished. The lower limit for passing morse exam is actually too slow a speed to learn!
I do sometimes have morse contacts by using my keyboard (full qwerty was used to make morse sender tapes in 1930s!) to send and an application on PC to receive, though I just got an android receive decoder that works well on the microphone on tablet or phone.
Old time Marine Radio people are good at Morse. Most contest folks are computer users.
For range vs power and noisy conditions there are better modern digital modes (PSK31) is one. The only argument, and a good one, is Morse because you want to. Hardly anywhere needs it for full licence. Not UK, Ireland, most of EU or USA. The cheapest oldest laptop can do PSK31 at morse distances with less than 5W radio (I have an FT817ND and only need 1W to 2.5W for PSK31 in conditions were 200W SSB doesn't get through.)
I was able to get an Irish Licence without retest on basis of my 1972 UK C&G cert. It's still a "B" call sign but is now a full licence. You don't need to pass a morse exam to use Morse in most countries.
Wireless, rather than IRLP or Echo Radio is the essence of Amateur Radio. Morse is merely one facet of the hobby along with home built equipment (most amateurs only have bought gear).
73 de EI9FEB, formerly GI8JTR
