Morse Code tests continue to linger

A recent ad hoc survey of International Amateur Radio Union Region 3 member societies, has found that a number of countries still require a Morse code proficiency test for their higher grade of amateur radio licences.

These include China, India, Japan, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. Most have retained a 5wpm test requirement, although Malaysia remains at 12wpm with a proposal to drop it to 8wpm.

China has experienced a growth of some 30,000 new radio amateurs in the past four years, and at the moment considers the Morse code tests for its Class 1 and Class 2 licences are necessary to maintain the more traditional style of HF amateur radio.

The concern appears to be that new arrivals to the hobby may change its culture dramatically through their use of new perhaps internet-inspired vocabulary and style of operating.

Elsewhere in the region, Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Singapore are among those in the region who are part of the world-wide trend to fully abolish the code requirement.

This has occurred as a result of the World Radio Conference 2003 Article 25 change, making code proficiency no longer be an international mandatory requirement for access to amateur frequency bands below 30MHz.

Jim Linton VK3PC

Wireless Institute of Australia