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At the council meeting held on 3 October 1998, the SARL Council unanimously agreed on a
new initiative to make the HF bands more accessible to Amateurs by addressing the Morse
Code requirement for the Amateur Service, and by encouraging school going children to
become Amateurs through a new license.
The major factor presently impeding access to the HF bands is the 12wpm Morse Code
requirement. It is the opinion of the SARL that even though the IARU supports the
continuation of regulation S25.5, that there exists no good argument in favour of
retaining Morse Code as the only qualifier for Amateurs to have unrestricted access
to the HF bands. In line with the views expressed by the majority of the League's members,
the SARL will support initiatives of a number of other IARU member societies such as the
RSGB in overhauling the qualifications for an unrestricted Amateur license. Morse Code
remains one of the most important forms of Amateur communications, particularly under
emergency and/or weak signal conditions. It should therefore be afforded protection in
terms of continued exclusive frequency allocations.
The SARL believes the first step in the overhauling process should be the immediate
reduction in the Morse Code speed requirement from the present 12 words per minute to 5
words per minute, which still permits compliance with ITU radio regulation S25.5. Because
the CEPT 1 license requires a proficiency in Morse at 12wpm, Amateurs wishing to avail
themselves of the CEPT arrangement will need to pass a 12wpm Morse test. The League
intends to request ICASA, the radio regulator, to change the radio regulations to
introduce a new interim class of unrestricted HF license, based on a 5wpm qualification.
In reaching this decision the League has evaluated the reasons for the Morse Code
requirement, among them the need for a simple, economic and internationally recognised
language in times of emergency. To this end Morse Code should be encouraged among Amateurs
wishing to join organisations such as Hamnet.
The Amateur Service is defined by the ITU as a
radio communication service for the
purpose of self training, intercommunication, and technical investigations carried out by
amateurs, etc....... The relaxation (or even abolition) of the Morse Code requirement is
not inconsistent with the spirit of the ITU definition of the Amateur Service. If the
Amateur Service is to remain relevant in the 21st century, it needs to embrace and
encourage the development and use of the newer technologies. Clinging to Morse Code as an
entry requirement will impede rather than help this development.
The Amateur Radio Service has an extremely important role to play in the education of
engineers and technologists in the field of telecommunications. It is therefore vital that
the Amateur service attracts young people. To this end the League after consultation with
its members, the regulatory authorities and educationalists is in the process of
developing a practical "hands on" student amateur license, with a minimal 5wpm
Morse Code exam, which is aimed at schools and school going young people. In order to
encourage ongoing development, the League will request ICASA to modify the regulations to
permit student licensees full access to all HF bands but with limited RF power output.
The League is aware that these proposals may offend a number of Amateurs, but it
believes that its duty lies in promoting the future of the Amateur Service, and therefore
we appeal to those who have concerns, to accommodate these necessary changes and help us
re-build the Amateur Service for the 21st century.
A draft of the proposed new Student license will be made available for comment within
the next few weeks.
Chris Turner ZS6GM
President South African Radio League
4 October 1998
