NEWINGTON, CT, Jan 24, 2007 -- Circle Friday, February 23, on your calendar. That's when the current 5 WPM Morse code requirement will officially disappear from the Amateur Radio Service Part 97 rules in accordance with the FCC's Report and Order (R&O) in the "Morse code proceeding," WT Docket 05-235. Beginning on that date, applicants for a General or Amateur Extra class Amateur Radio license no longer will have to demonstrate proficiency in Morse code.

  I'm very happy about this... I have tried several times to learn the code but have always got discouraged and quit...

  I am happy I can now use my SDR-1000 and my icom 746 to near its potential.. Instead of having $2500 worth of seldom used  vhf/microwave IF rigs...

I had my slip saying i past my general test... to bad that was 4 years ago.... Oh well.. i pass the general test about 4 out of 5 time on the net now... might just start studying the extra test..... I cant wait to piss off all the cantankerous old hf lids... they thought the slow coders were bad shit...  hahahaha fukers....