KC0BXT is my amateur radio callsign. My name is John Tobler and I am sometimes known by the "handle" Cyberjet. I officially became a ham on September 8, 1997, when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recognized that I had passed all examination requirements to become a General Class amateur radio operator. At that time, the FCC issued my callsign and placed my licensing information into the FCC's amateur radio operator database.
I just opened KC0BXT's Ham Shack here on QSL.NET and I haven't had much time to plan what I will eventually put here. For now, if you wish to know more about my involvement in amateur radio, please visit Cyberjet's Hamlet, which is the amateur radio-oriented area of my main site, Cyberjet's Hyperport.
![[Image: Vibroplex Deluxe Original Bug]](http://www.qsl.net/kc0bxt/parts/mybug.jpg)
I am a "Know Code" ham. That means I feel amateur radio operators should learn the International Morse code. I support keeping the Morse code requirement as mandatory for priveleges on the high-frequency (HF) bands. People who do not wish to learn the Morse code can get a Technician Class license that allows them to operate on the very-high-frequency (VHF) and ultra-high-frequency (UHF) bands.
Firstly, the HF bands allow worldwide communications. At this time, Morse code remains the one international language understood by radio amateurs throughout the world. Using Morse code and certain special communication conventions, such as the "Q-signals", amateur operators from completely different countries, cultures, and languages are able to communicate. I happen to think this is globally important.
Secondly, I support the Morse code requirement because "continuous wave" (CW) transmission represents the technically simplest and most efficient mode of radio communication. All CW requires is a simple radio signal (carrier wave) modulated with an on-off switch (key). You just can't get any simpler or more band-width-efficient than that. If radio operators cannot transmit a good CW signal, then they're unlikely to do better with any more complicated radio communication mode.
Thirdly, CW is still the cheapest amateur radio mode. I do not want to see the day when amateur radio is available only to the economically advantaged. Even in 1997, you can build or buy a fully-functioning CW-capable radio station for less than $100 US.
While I've only mentioned three reasons for retaining the Morse code requirement, I could list many more. Let me summarize by saying that I believe not only that Morse code was historically significant to the entire development of amateur radio, but also that it remains important to amateur radio today.