Johnston calls dropping morse 'snake oil'

One of the nation's most respected radio hams says that the new code free licensing system is a failure.

Writing in the January issue of Worldradio Magazine, former FCC rules man John B. Johnston, W3BE, says that it's looking as if the wonder cure to the so-called CW barrier was just old-fashioned medicine show 'snake oil' and about as effective.

Johnston, is currently President of the QCWA and won the Radio Amateur of the Year award for his plain language rewrite of the Part 97 rules while employed at the FCC.

He quotes two reports made at last summer's conference between the nation's Volunteer Examination Coordinators and the FCC that shows almost no growth that can be directly attributed to dropping Morse testing. He says that the month to month influx of newcomers has remained relatively constant. He also says that the factual result is internal to the hobby where there has been an upgrade movement by Technician class hams to General and Extra now that the Morse test has gone away.

Johnston offers no cure for the slow growth trend in today's ham radio. He just notes that dropping Morse has not had any significant impact on drawing newcomers in.

His complete article begins on page 18 of the January issue of Worldradio Magazine.

Source: ARNewsline, Worldradio