Hi,

In New Zealand the Morse requirement was dropped a while ago. I have been casually interested in Ham radio for a long time, but last week I decided I would have a go at the exam. Well, I passed, so soon I should get a licence and a callsign.

I have no doubt that Morse is a terribly useful skill to learn, but being a Ham is useful by itself. Anyway, the test requirements in NZ are not too onerous. If you know basic physics (Ohm's law etc.) and spend some time reading the regulations and the basics of what's inside a radio and how radio works then you can probably get your licence fairly quickly.

I can't buy gear until I get my callsign (no-one is supposed to sell Ham gear to non-Hams), but I'm looking forward to getting on the air.

A