From: Michael G. Heitmann (n0so@charter.net)
Date: Tue Feb 11 2003 - 08:45:22 CST
On Mon, 10 Feb 2003 23:48:01 EST
Johnlebl@aol.com wrote:
>Let me jump up on my soap box a little here.
>
.
.
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>The solution is that he carries a small ham radio that
>operates on a very small battery.
>
.
.
.
>At the appointed time, he and she share an evening
>together, yet thousands of miles apart tapping out their love song via Morse Code.
.
.
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>
>Morse code is far from dead. Very far.
>
I use morse code <almost> every day to communicate with
someone. I've used to to communicate with people from the
backcountry of Philmont (and other places), just as John
descibed his friends doing on the canoeing trips.
Morse code is not dead. It is not a spectatator sport,
I'll agree, and some scouts are bored to death with it.
But there is always at least one or two that wonder "what
is that weirdo, Mr. Heitmann up to now?" Someone always
asks what I'm doing, who I'm talking to, and what we are
saying to each other. Seize the opportunity to teach,
instruct and inspire when it presents itself.
I give an example: On one such occassion, I had my radio
equipment all set up, talking to someone in CW (morse
code). A young, visually impared scout came to watch. That
young man (now 22 years old, he was 12 when I first met
him), went on to earn the Radio, Electronics and
Electricty merit badges, get his amatuer radio license, go
to college and earn a degree in computer technology and
now has a very promising career. His parents have told me
they are certain the experience he had in scouting,
playing with radios on camping trips, inspired him to take
the path he has chosen.
Morse code is also still WIDELY used commercially to
properly and leagally identify (on the air) navigation
beacons, commercial two-way radio repeaters used by fire,
police and public service groups, etc.
Morse Code is not dead, it's still useful. I plan to use
it from Philmont again this year on an Autumn Adventure.
YIS and 73,
Mike, N0SO
---- Mike Heitmann Scoutmaster Assistant, Troop 975 St. Charles, Missouri ------------------------------------------------------- Scouting E-mail Discussion Lists @ usscouts.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe at http://usscouts.org/lists/ Listserv Commands at http://usscouts.org/lists/lc.asp ------------------------------------------------------- Send listserv commands to: listserv@troop47.com Send postings to: philmont@troop47.com List FAQ found at: http://usscouts.org/lists/faq.asp List Administrator: philmont_owner@troop47.com ------------------------------------------------------- As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow Scouts and Scouters, do your best to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent. -------------------------------------------------------
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