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CW Contest and Elecraft K3s decoder

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HK3J

CW Contest and Elecraft K3s decoder

Wonderful. I was doing the CQ WW CW contest and a lot of the contest I
worked with a software to help decode the stations. In the last hours of
the contest I decided to configure the decoder of my Elecraft K3s and
started to decode the stations better than with any of the software that is
in the market for this job. Congratulations to Elecraft for this marvel.
Germán HK3J
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Bill Frantz

Re: CW Contest and Elecraft K3s decoder

In previous years, I used the K3's decoder and it worked very
well. But, for this contest, I bit the bullet and said, "I'm
going to decode the calls myself to improve my CW." I had a lot
of fun doing so, although I had to skip several stations that
were sending above 30 WPM.

A small suggestion to those who know CW. If you are calling CQ
and getting no answers, like late in the contest, consider
slowing down so the CW impaired, like me, have a chance of
making the contact. It may improve your score.

73 Bill AE6JV

On 11/26/17 at 4:09 PM, [hidden email] (German Duran) wrote:

>Wonderful. I was doing the CQ WW CW contest and a lot of the contest I
>worked with a software to help decode the stations. In the last hours of
>the contest I decided to configure the decoder of my Elecraft K3s and
>started to decode the stations better than with any of the software that is
>in the market for this job. Congratulations to Elecraft for this marvel.
>Germán HK3J
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Frantz | When it comes to the world | Periwinkle
(408)356-8506 | around us, is there any choice | 16345
Englewood Ave
www.pwpconsult.com | but to explore? - Lisa Randall | Los Gatos,
CA 95032

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K9MA

Re: CW Contest and Elecraft K3s decoder

Perhaps my K3 has a problem, but I've never been able to get the CW
decoder to work very well. (Nor the digital modes.) Fortunately, I've
been copying CW the old-fashioned way for some 50 years, and the K3
otherwise works just fine.

73,
Scott K9MA

On 11/26/2017 19:32, Bill Frantz wrote:

> In previous years, I used the K3's decoder and it worked very well.
> But, for this contest, I bit the bullet and said, "I'm going to decode
> the calls myself to improve my CW." I had a lot of fun doing so,
> although I had to skip several stations that were sending above 30 WPM.
>
> A small suggestion to those who know CW. If you are calling CQ and
> getting no answers, like late in the contest, consider slowing down so
> the CW impaired, like me, have a chance of making the contact. It may
> improve your score.
>
> 73 Bill AE6JV
>
> On 11/26/17 at 4:09 PM, [hidden email] (German Duran) wrote:
>
>> Wonderful. I was doing the CQ WW CW contest and a lot of the contest I
>> worked with a software to help decode the stations. In the last hours of
>> the contest I decided to configure the decoder of my Elecraft K3s and
>> started to decode the stations better than with any of the software
>> that is
>> in the market for this job. Congratulations to Elecraft for this marvel.
>> Germán HK3J
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Bill Frantz | When it comes to the world | Periwinkle
> (408)356-8506 | around us, is there any choice | 16345 Englewood Ave
> www.pwpconsult.com | but to explore? - Lisa Randall | Los Gatos, CA 95032
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

--
Scott K9MA

[hidden email]

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kstover

Re: CW Contest and Elecraft K3s decoder

In reply to this post by Bill Frantz

I agree.

I can do 30 wpm without getting uncomfortable but I have experienced the
"slowing down gets more contacts" phenomenon. Once in field day with a
bunch of CW hands who can all copy and send above 40+ wpm. The one rule
they had for field day was nobody sent faster that 22-25 wpm. They won
their section and were a top 10 US 1A station almost every year. No
problem holding a frequency.

Same for Nov SS. Ripping along at 40wpm sure is neat and all but how
long does the contact take when you add time for 3 or 4 repeats? Slow
down to 22-25 wpm and get the contacts first time or spend time
repeating parts of the exchange then ultimately having to slow down anyway.

On 11/26/2017 7:32 PM, Bill Frantz wrote:

> In previous years, I used the K3's decoder and it worked very well. But,
> for this contest, I bit the bullet and said, "I'm going to decode the
> calls myself to improve my CW." I had a lot of fun doing so, although I
> had to skip several stations that were sending above 30 WPM.
>
> A small suggestion to those who know CW. If you are calling CQ and
> getting no answers, like late in the contest, consider slowing down so
> the CW impaired, like me, have a chance of making the contact. It may
> improve your score.
>
> 73 Bill AE6JV
>
> On 11/26/17 at 4:09 PM, [hidden email] (German Duran) wrote:
>
>> Wonderful. I was doing the CQ WW CW contest and a lot of the contest I
>> worked with a software to help decode the stations. In the last hours of
>> the contest I decided to configure the decoder of my Elecraft K3s and
>> started to decode the stations better than with any of the software
>> that is
>> in the market for this job. Congratulations to Elecraft for this marvel.
>> Germán HK3J
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Bill Frantz | When it comes to the world | Periwinkle
> (408)356-8506 | around us, is there any choice | 16345 Englewood Ave
> www.pwpconsult.com | but to explore? - Lisa Randall | Los Gatos, CA 95032
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

--
R. Kevin Stover AC0H
FISTS #11993
SKCC #215
NAQCC #3441
ARRL
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Bob McGraw - K4TAX

Re: CW Contest and Elecraft K3s decoder

Kevin et al;

I agree, in fact I'd suppose as the CW speed the number of competent
operators decreases proportionally. Now I'm not saying "contest at 5
WPM" but certainly there are more that can copy 15 WPM than 50 WPM.
Just sayin'..........so for us slow folks and old folks.......QRS.

73

Bob, K4TAX

On 11/26/2017 8:38 PM, Kevin Stover, AC0H wrote:

> I agree.
>
> I can do 30 wpm without getting uncomfortable but I have experienced
> the "slowing down gets more contacts" phenomenon. Once in field day
> with a bunch of CW hands who can all copy and send above 40+ wpm. The
> one rule they had for field day was nobody sent faster that 22-25 wpm.
> They won their section and were a top 10 US 1A station almost every
> year. No problem holding a frequency.
>
> Same for Nov SS. Ripping along at 40wpm sure is neat and all but how
> long does the contact take when you add time for 3 or 4 repeats? Slow
> down to 22-25 wpm and get the contacts first time or spend time
> repeating parts of the exchange then ultimately having to slow down
> anyway.
>
> On 11/26/2017 7:32 PM, Bill Frantz wrote:
>> In previous years, I used the K3's decoder and it worked very well.
>> But, for this contest, I bit the bullet and said, "I'm going to
>> decode the calls myself to improve my CW." I had a lot of fun doing
>> so, although I had to skip several stations that were sending above
>> 30 WPM.
>>
>> A small suggestion to those who know CW. If you are calling CQ and
>> getting no answers, like late in the contest, consider slowing down
>> so the CW impaired, like me, have a chance of making the contact. It
>> may improve your score.
>>
>> 73 Bill AE6JV
>>
>> On 11/26/17 at 4:09 PM, [hidden email] (German Duran) wrote:
>>
>>> Wonderful. I was doing the CQ WW CW contest and a lot of the contest I
>>> worked with a software to help decode the stations. In the last
>>> hours of
>>> the contest I decided to configure the decoder of my Elecraft K3s and
>>> started to decode the stations better than with any of the software
>>> that is
>>> in the market for this job. Congratulations to Elecraft for this
>>> marvel.
>>> Germán HK3J
>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> Bill Frantz | When it comes to the world | Periwinkle
>> (408)356-8506 | around us, is there any choice | 16345 Englewood
>> Ave
>> www.pwpconsult.com | but to explore? - Lisa Randall | Los Gatos, CA
>> 95032
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

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Gary Smith-2

Re: CW Contest and Elecraft K3s decoder

For me... I can copy just fine (can always
be better...) but it's getting it to the
keyboard that is the problem. Have to hear
it, then copy that to the keyboard and
that takes the most time...

73,

Gary
KA1J
AKA Fumblefingers

> Kevin et al;
>
> I agree, in fact I'd suppose as the CW speed the number of competent
> operators decreases proportionally.    Now I'm not saying "contest
> at 5 WPM" but certainly there are more that can copy 15 WPM than 50
> WPM.   Just sayin'..........so for us slow folks and old
> folks.......QRS.
>
> 73
>
> Bob, K4TAX
>
>
> On 11/26/2017 8:38 PM, Kevin Stover, AC0H wrote:
> > I agree.
> >
> > I can do 30 wpm without getting uncomfortable but I have experienced
> > the "slowing down gets more contacts" phenomenon. Once in field day
> > with a bunch of CW hands who can all copy and send above 40+ wpm.
> > The one rule they had for field day was nobody sent faster that
> > 22-25 wpm. They won their section and were a top 10 US 1A station
> > almost every year. No problem holding a frequency.
> >
> > Same for Nov SS. Ripping along at 40wpm sure is neat and all but how
> > long does the contact take when you add time for 3 or 4 repeats?
> > Slow down to 22-25 wpm and get the contacts first time or spend time
> > repeating parts of the exchange then ultimately having to slow down
> > anyway.
> >
> > On 11/26/2017 7:32 PM, Bill Frantz wrote:
> >> In previous years, I used the K3's decoder and it worked very well.
> >> But, for this contest, I bit the bullet and said, "I'm going to
> >> decode the calls myself to improve my CW." I had a lot of fun doing
> >> so, although I had to skip several stations that were sending above
> >> 30 WPM.
> >>
> >> A small suggestion to those who know CW. If you are calling CQ and
> >> getting no answers, like late in the contest, consider slowing down
> >> so the CW impaired, like me, have a chance of making the contact.
> >> It may improve your score.
> >>
> >> 73 Bill AE6JV
> >>
> >> On 11/26/17 at 4:09 PM, [hidden email] (German Duran) wrote:
> >>
> >>> Wonderful. I was doing the CQ WW CW contest and a lot of the
> >>> contest I worked with a software to help decode the stations. In
> >>> the last hours of the contest I decided to configure the decoder
> >>> of my Elecraft K3s and started to decode the stations better than
> >>> with any of the software that is in the market for this job.
> >>> Congratulations to Elecraft for this marvel. Germán HK3J
> >> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> >> ------
> >>
> >> Bill Frantz        | When it comes to the world     |
> >> Periwinkle (408)356-8506      | around us, is there any choice
> >> | 16345 Englewood Ave www.pwpconsult.com | but to explore? - Lisa
> >> Randall | Los Gatos, CA 95032
> >>
> >> ______________________________________________________________
> >> Elecraft mailing list Home:
> >> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help:
> >> http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post:
> >> mailto:[hidden email]
> >>
> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> >> Message delivered to [hidden email]
> >
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
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> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
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Christopher Hoover

Re: CW Contest and Elecraft K3s decoder

In reply to this post by K9MA

>
> Perhaps my K3 has a problem, but I've never been able to get the CW
> decoder to work very well.

Never had a ton of luck with it either on my K3S. Perhaps it is operator
error on my par if others can make it go.

73 de AI6KG

On Sun, Nov 26, 2017 at 6:28 PM, K9MA <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Perhaps my K3 has a problem, but I've never been able to get the CW
> decoder to work very well. (Nor the digital modes.) Fortunately, I've
> been copying CW the old-fashioned way for some 50 years, and the K3
> otherwise works just fine.
>
> 73,
> Scott K9MA
>
>
> On 11/26/2017 19:32, Bill Frantz wrote:
>
>> In previous years, I used the K3's decoder and it worked very well. But,
>> for this contest, I bit the bullet and said, "I'm going to decode the calls
>> myself to improve my CW." I had a lot of fun doing so, although I had to
>> skip several stations that were sending above 30 WPM.
>>
>> A small suggestion to those who know CW. If you are calling CQ and
>> getting no answers, like late in the contest, consider slowing down so the
>> CW impaired, like me, have a chance of making the contact. It may improve
>> your score.
>>
>> 73 Bill AE6JV
>>
>> On 11/26/17 at 4:09 PM, [hidden email] (German Duran) wrote:
>>
>> Wonderful. I was doing the CQ WW CW contest and a lot of the contest I
>>> worked with a software to help decode the stations. In the last hours of
>>> the contest I decided to configure the decoder of my Elecraft K3s and
>>> started to decode the stations better than with any of the software that
>>> is
>>> in the market for this job. Congratulations to Elecraft for this marvel.
>>> Germán HK3J
>>>
>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> Bill Frantz | When it comes to the world | Periwinkle
>> (408)356-8506 | around us, is there any choice | 16345 Englewood Ave
>> www.pwpconsult.com | but to explore? - Lisa Randall | Los Gatos, CA 95032
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>>
>
>
> --
> Scott K9MA
>
> [hidden email]
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
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> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

marvwheeler

Re: CW Contest and Elecraft K3s decoder

In reply to this post by HK3J

I have found that backing off the RF gain a bit help the decoding of cw.

I personally don't depend on the rig decoding but listening this weekend let
me know that either the big boys are using something to decode station
callsigns and are definite using an automated system to send their report.
Using the K3S cw speed option I saw several that read over 60 wpm. I realize
there are those that can copy that fast but not this old boy.

>

> Perhaps my K3 has a problem, but I've never been able to get the CW

> decoder to work very well.

Never had a ton of luck with it either on my K3S. Perhaps it is operator

error on my par if others can make it go.

73 de AI6KG

On Sun, Nov 26, 2017 at 6:28 PM, K9MA <[hidden email]
<mailto:[hidden email]> > wrote:

> Perhaps my K3 has a problem, but I've never been able to get the CW

> decoder to work very well. (Nor the digital modes.) Fortunately,

> I've been copying CW the old-fashioned way for some 50 years, and the

> K3 otherwise works just fine.

>

> 73,

> Scott K9MA

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Bill Frantz

Re: CW Contest and Elecraft K3s decoder

Under the rules, in the assisted categories, using decoders is
legal. It is also legal, but perhaps unwise, to use the spotting
network to "read" the call signs. Wiser is to verify a spotted
call sign, which is a lot easier than to copy it cold. In the
unassisted categories, all these techniques are illegal.

I think most stations were using a macro to send their report.
Since the report in CQ WW DX is constant, setting up a macro is
easy. Copying the report is a different matter, but I found the
reports easier to copy than the calls, since the reports were
all numbers (with some Ts, As, and Ns tossed in for brevity).

73 Bill AE6JV

On 11/26/17 at 9:21 PM, [hidden email] wrote:

>I personally don't depend on the rig decoding but listening this weekend let
>me know that either the big boys are using something to decode station
>callsigns and are definite using an automated system to send their report.
>Using the K3S cw speed option I saw several that read over 60 wpm. I realize
>there are those that can copy that fast but not this old boy.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Frantz |"Insofar as the propositions of mathematics
refer to
408-356-8506 | reality, they are not certain; and insofar
they are
www.pwpconsult.com | certain, they do not refer to reality.”
-- Einstein

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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
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stengrevics

Re: CW Contest and Elecraft K3s decoder

In reply to this post by K9MA

I too have never been able to get the CW decoder to work well. It only works if signals are super strong - precisely when I don’t need it.

Anybody have any suggestions?

John
WA1EAZ

> On Nov 26, 2017, at 9:28 PM, K9MA <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Perhaps my K3 has a problem, but I've never been able to get the CW decoder to work very well. (Nor the digital modes.) Fortunately, I've been copying CW the old-fashioned way for some 50 years, and the K3 otherwise works just fine.
>
> 73,
> Scott K9MA
>
>
> On 11/26/2017 19:32, Bill Frantz wrote:
>> In previous years, I used the K3's decoder and it worked very well. But, for this contest, I bit the bullet and said, "I'm going to decode the calls myself to improve my CW." I had a lot of fun doing so, although I had to skip several stations that were sending above 30 WPM.
>>
>> A small suggestion to those who know CW. If you are calling CQ and getting no answers, like late in the contest, consider slowing down so the CW impaired, like me, have a chance of making the contact. It may improve your score.
>>
>> 73 Bill AE6JV
>>
>> On 11/26/17 at 4:09 PM, [hidden email] (German Duran) wrote:
>>
>>> Wonderful. I was doing the CQ WW CW contest and a lot of the contest I
>>> worked with a software to help decode the stations. In the last hours of
>>> the contest I decided to configure the decoder of my Elecraft K3s and
>>> started to decode the stations better than with any of the software that is
>>> in the market for this job. Congratulations to Elecraft for this marvel.
>>> Germán HK3J
>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> Bill Frantz | When it comes to the world | Periwinkle
>> (408)356-8506 | around us, is there any choice | 16345 Englewood Ave
>> www.pwpconsult.com | but to explore? - Lisa Randall | Los Gatos, CA 95032
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>
>
> --
> Scott K9MA
>
> [hidden email]
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

Dick Dievendorff-4

Re: CW Contest and Elecraft K3s decoder

In reply to this post by Bill Frantz

There's a lot of automation.

Here's one of the best in the world at ZF2MJ, running 20 and 15 meters simultaneously. It's kind of mind-boggling.

Dan (N6MJ) and Chris (K9LA) won WRTC in Boston, after placing quite high in earlier WRTC efforts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3ncFJZqkTA

73 de Dick, K6KR

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Bill Frantz
Sent: Sunday, November 26, 2017 22:42
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] CW Contest and Elecraft K3s decoder

Under the rules, in the assisted categories, using decoders is legal. It is also legal, but perhaps unwise, to use the spotting network to "read" the call signs. Wiser is to verify a spotted call sign, which is a lot easier than to copy it cold. In the unassisted categories, all these techniques are illegal.

I think most stations were using a macro to send their report.
Since the report in CQ WW DX is constant, setting up a macro is easy. Copying the report is a different matter, but I found the reports easier to copy than the calls, since the reports were all numbers (with some Ts, As, and Ns tossed in for brevity).

73 Bill AE6JV

On 11/26/17 at 9:21 PM, [hidden email] wrote:

>I personally don't depend on the rig decoding but listening this
>weekend let me know that either the big boys are using something to
>decode station callsigns and are definite using an automated system to send their report.
>Using the K3S cw speed option I saw several that read over 60 wpm. I
>realize there are those that can copy that fast but not this old boy.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Frantz |"Insofar as the propositions of mathematics
refer to
408-356-8506 | reality, they are not certain; and insofar
they are
www.pwpconsult.com | certain, they do not refer to reality.”
-- Einstein

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iw2noy

Re: CW Contest and Elecraft K3s decoder

In reply to this post by stengrevics

To me, the Elecraft radio have the best decoder ever seen in a radio and i tried a lot of different last models.

ciao, Graziano IW2NOY

> Il 27 novembre 2017 alle 12.46 John Stengrevics <[hidden email]> ha scritto:
>
>
> I too have never been able to get the CW decoder to work well. It only works if signals are super strong - precisely when I don’t need it.
>
> Anybody have any suggestions?
>
> John
> WA1EAZ
>
> > On Nov 26, 2017, at 9:28 PM, K9MA <[hidden email]> wrote:
> >
> > Perhaps my K3 has a problem, but I've never been able to get the CW decoder to work very well. (Nor the digital modes.) Fortunately, I've been copying CW the old-fashioned way for some 50 years, and the K3 otherwise works just fine.
> >
> > 73,
> > Scott K9MA
> >
> >
> > On 11/26/2017 19:32, Bill Frantz wrote:
> >> In previous years, I used the K3's decoder and it worked very well. But, for this contest, I bit the bullet and said, "I'm going to decode the calls myself to improve my CW." I had a lot of fun doing so, although I had to skip several stations that were sending above 30 WPM.
> >>
> >> A small suggestion to those who know CW. If you are calling CQ and getting no answers, like late in the contest, consider slowing down so the CW impaired, like me, have a chance of making the contact. It may improve your score.
> >>
> >> 73 Bill AE6JV
> >>
> >> On 11/26/17 at 4:09 PM, [hidden email] (German Duran) wrote:
> >>
> >>> Wonderful. I was doing the CQ WW CW contest and a lot of the contest I
> >>> worked with a software to help decode the stations. In the last hours of
> >>> the contest I decided to configure the decoder of my Elecraft K3s and
> >>> started to decode the stations better than with any of the software that is
> >>> in the market for this job. Congratulations to Elecraft for this marvel.
> >>> Germán HK3J
> >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >> Bill Frantz | When it comes to the world | Periwinkle
> >> (408)356-8506 | around us, is there any choice | 16345 Englewood Ave
> >> www.pwpconsult.com | but to explore? - Lisa Randall | Los Gatos, CA 95032
> >>
> >> ______________________________________________________________
> >> Elecraft mailing list
> >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> >> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
> >>
> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> >> Message delivered to [hidden email]
> >
> >
> > --
> > Scott K9MA
> >
> > [hidden email]
> >
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > Elecraft mailing list
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Bob McGraw - K4TAX

Re: CW Contest and Elecraft K3s decoder

In reply to this post by stengrevics

I've had good to moderate success using the CW decoder.   I find several
things to being the key to good results.    First, usually the ATTN is
required on lower frequency bands, 160M - 40M, along with correct
adjustment of the RF Gain. Here you want to see that only CW elements
flash the bar on the CWT indicator. Most hams seem to believe more gain
makes for hearing weaker signals. While somewhat true, there's other
factors involved.    Secondly, the sensitivity of the CW decoder needs
to be correct for band conditions. I find it does required different
values for different band conditions, usually impacted by noise.    I
usually have mine at 3 or 4, never at AUTO. Finally, poorly timed CW
elements will not decode correctly.   I do find that near keyboard
quality or keyboard sent CW decodes quite nicely.    Of course a static
burst, thus triggering the decoder will produce *** or random
characters.    Here AGC PLS value and the value of AGC SLP setting has
a marked effect on results. In general I find the internal decoder to
work equal to or better than many CW software applications I've tried.
None are perfect in my findings.

73

Bob, K4TAX

On 11/27/2017 5:46 AM, John Stengrevics wrote:

> I too have never been able to get the CW decoder to work well. It only works if signals are super strong - precisely when I don’t need it.
>
> Anybody have any suggestions?
>
> John
> WA1EAZ
>
>> On Nov 26, 2017, at 9:28 PM, K9MA <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> Perhaps my K3 has a problem, but I've never been able to get the CW decoder to work very well. (Nor the digital modes.) Fortunately, I've been copying CW the old-fashioned way for some 50 years, and the K3 otherwise works just fine.
>>
>> 73,
>> Scott K9MA
>>
>>
>> On 11/26/2017 19:32, Bill Frantz wrote:
>>> In previous years, I used the K3's decoder and it worked very well. But, for this contest, I bit the bullet and said, "I'm going to decode the calls myself to improve my CW." I had a lot of fun doing so, although I had to skip several stations that were sending above 30 WPM.
>>>
>>> A small suggestion to those who know CW. If you are calling CQ and getting no answers, like late in the contest, consider slowing down so the CW impaired, like me, have a chance of making the contact. It may improve your score.
>>>
>>> 73 Bill AE6JV
>>>
>>> On 11/26/17 at 4:09 PM, [hidden email] (German Duran) wrote:
>>>
>>>> Wonderful. I was doing the CQ WW CW contest and a lot of the contest I
>>>> worked with a software to help decode the stations. In the last hours of
>>>> the contest I decided to configure the decoder of my Elecraft K3s and
>>>> started to decode the stations better than with any of the software that is
>>>> in the market for this job. Congratulations to Elecraft for this marvel.
>>>> Germán HK3J
>>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> Bill Frantz | When it comes to the world | Periwinkle
>>> (408)356-8506 | around us, is there any choice | 16345 Englewood Ave
>>> www.pwpconsult.com | but to explore? - Lisa Randall | Los Gatos, CA 95032
>>>
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> Elecraft mailing list
>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>>
>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>>
>> --
>> Scott K9MA
>>
>> [hidden email]
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
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>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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Jim Brown-10

Re: CW Contest and Elecraft K3s decoder

In reply to this post by Bob McGraw - K4TAX

Most CW contesting takes place at 25-30 WPM. 20 WPM is QRS. A few speed
merchants bang away at 35 WPM or above. I worked most of CQWW CW this
weekend QRP with good antennas. I was able to get through pileups by
sending my call at 30-32 WPM often fitting it in between others sending
theirs. A station calling at 15 WPM takes twice as long to send his call
(and stations with long calls take even longer), filling up much of the
available space. I found this very frustrating when the QRS station was
in W0 or the east coast and I'm in W6 trying to work EU stations with 5W.

The CQWW exchange is stupid simple. 599xy, where xy is the station's
zone. The US, Canada, Russia, and Australia are the only countries
having more than one zone, and most contest logging software fills that
in automatically when you enter a call. So if you're in the US or
Canada, for 99% of contacts, all you need to copy is the call.

Our group, W6GJB, W6JTI, and me, has won Field Day 1A Battery several
times. When calling CQ, we usually work around 25 wpm, and toward the
end will slow down a bit. I dropped in on N6TV working SS on Sunday
afternoon at W7RN a year ago. He was working at about 25 wpm. He's won
SS from that QTH, and often works DX contests from K3LR. The guys at
W3LPL were working at about 25 WPM this weekend. All three are super
stations with spectacular antenna farms.

FWIW, many serious contesters, including me, have found that even when a
station calls at a speed much lower than we're working, they still copy
our exchange when we slow down only a bit, which suggests that either
they've listened to us for a while to copy our exchange before calling
or that they're using a CW reader.

And another FWIW -- putting a lot of hours into a CW contest will
improve your code speed significantly!

73, Jim K9YC

On 11/26/2017 6:49 PM, Bob McGraw K4TAX wrote:
> I agree, in fact I'd suppose as the CW speed the number of competent
> operators decreases proportionally. Now I'm not saying "contest at
> 5 WPM" but certainly there are more that can copy 15 WPM than 50
> WPM. Just sayin'..........so for us slow folks and old folks.......QRS.

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Fred Moore-2

Re: CW Contest and Elecraft K3s decoder

In reply to this post by Dick Dievendorff-4

This is exactly why I do not work CW contests anymore. CW contests have
become a machine contest not a Ham contest... But some people will go to
any expense to make sure they are number one. Not interested in even
giving them a 1 point..

Fred Moore
email: [hidden email]
[hidden email]
phone: 321-217-8699

On 11/27/17 8:54 AM, [hidden email] wrote:

> There's a lot of automation.
>
> Here's one of the best in the world at ZF2MJ, running 20 and 15 meters simultaneously. It's kind of mind-boggling.
>
> Dan (N6MJ) and Chris (K9LA) won WRTC in Boston, after placing quite high in earlier WRTC efforts.
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3ncFJZqkTA
>
> 73 de Dick, K6KR
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Bill Frantz
> Sent: Sunday, November 26, 2017 22:42
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] CW Contest and Elecraft K3s decoder
>
> Under the rules, in the assisted categories, using decoders is legal. It is also legal, but perhaps unwise, to use the spotting network to "read" the call signs. Wiser is to verify a spotted call sign, which is a lot easier than to copy it cold. In the unassisted categories, all these techniques are illegal.
>
> I think most stations were using a macro to send their report.
> Since the report in CQ WW DX is constant, setting up a macro is easy. Copying the report is a different matter, but I found the reports easier to copy than the calls, since the reports were all numbers (with some Ts, As, and Ns tossed in for brevity).
>
> 73 Bill AE6JV
>
> On 11/26/17 at 9:21 PM, [hidden email] wrote:
>
>> I personally don't depend on the rig decoding but listening this
>> weekend let me know that either the big boys are using something to
>> decode station callsigns and are definite using an automated system to send their report.
>> Using the K3S cw speed option I saw several that read over 60 wpm. I
>> realize there are those that can copy that fast but not this old boy.
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Bill Frantz |"Insofar as the propositions of mathematics
> refer to
> 408-356-8506 | reality, they are not certain; and insofar
> they are
> www.pwpconsult.com | certain, they do not refer to reality.”
> -- Einstein
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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>
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EUGENE GABRY

Re: CW Contest and Elecraft K3s decoder

In reply to this post by Jim Brown-10

> On November 27, 2017 at 12:44 PM Jim Brown <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> And another FWIW -- putting a lot of hours into a CW contest will
> improve your code speed significantly!
>
> 73, Jim K9YC

Totally agree with this statement. I don't do much CW rag chew now as I used to. So I'm losing some of my edge. But even from the beginning of a CW contest to the end, the 36WPM sending speed at the end seems the same as the 26WPM speed I started with. And I'm able to rag chew a bit at the higher speed rather than only copy the call and report. SS is the best for honing in accuracy with speed throughout just the contest period ass the exchange is long and mostly unpredictable.

73 Gene, N9TF
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Bill Frantz

Re: CW Contest and Elecraft K3s decoder

In reply to this post by Jim Brown-10

I was totally S&P. My logging program gives me 6.6 hours of
operation with 119 QSOs, so that's about 18 QSOs/hour. I had
plenty of time to copy the exchange given the number of times I
needed to hear the call to be sure I had copied it correctly.
This was particularly true for those stations that did not send
their call at the end of every QSO. I would guess that this
scenerio is why Jim observes the easy with which contest
exchanges are read by slow operators.

Remember, my goals were to improve my CW and have fun, not to
rack up the bigest score. BTW, with 2 QSOs on 160M and 2 on 10M,
I did manage QSOs on all contest bands.

37 Bill AE6JV

On 11/27/17 at 10:44 AM, [hidden email] (Jim Brown) wrote:

>FWIW, many serious contesters, including me, have found that
>even when a station calls at a speed much lower than we're
>working, they still copy our exchange when we slow down only a
>bit, which suggests that either they've listened to us for a
>while to copy our exchange before calling or that they're using
>a CW reader.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Frantz | gets() remains as a monument | Periwinkle
(408)356-8506 | to C's continuing support of | 16345
Englewood Ave
www.pwpconsult.com | buffer overruns. | Los Gatos,
CA 95032

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EUGENE GABRY

Re: CW Contest and Elecraft K3s decoder

In reply to this post by Fred Moore-2

> On November 27, 2017 at 2:39 PM Fred Moore wrote:
>
> CW contests have
> become a machine contest not a Ham contest...
>

This is something I fight personally when I decide to enter a CW contest. Technology is great, it has allowed those who are either not proficient at CW or can't even copy CW, to be able to communicate.

I've always thought the focus of a "conTEST", whether CW or SSB was to test the capabilities of the "operator" to accurately receive the information sent, making as many contacts in the time period of the contest as possible. Scores determined in part, by busted calls or other information copied incorrectly, and then scoring against their peers.

Today there are a lot of (Robots) that can decode CW. It is true that all robots are not the same, and errors could occur. Just wonder when we draw the line as to who/what is being judged for accuracy.

I love the technology. It's great for communications. (I think you know where I stand on robotic modes like FT8 :) )

But in a contest, "these days" it seems to come down to who has the best robotics (machines) to eliminate the human element for the sake of driving up the score to new levels.

73 Gene

N9TF
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Jim Sheldon

Re: CW Contest and Elecraft K3s decoder

In reply to this post by Jim Brown-10

In order to keep the robots from getting perfect copy on me either rag chewing or the very few contests I enter, I've stopped using a keyer and have reverted to sending with a bug. Not very many robots can copy even a good bug fist.

I'm of the opinion that robot copying and power over 500 watts output should be outlawed in contests. That would help level the playing field immensely. (flame suit on)

> On Nov 27, 2017, at 4:33 PM, EUGENE GABRY <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>
>> On November 27, 2017 at 12:44 PM Jim Brown <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> And another FWIW -- putting a lot of hours into a CW contest will
>> improve your code speed significantly!
>>
>> 73, Jim K9YC
>
> Totally agree with this statement. I don't do much CW rag chew now as I used to. So I'm losing some of my edge. But even from the beginning of a CW contest to the end, the 36WPM sending speed at the end seems the same as the 26WPM speed I started with. And I'm able to rag chew a bit at the higher speed rather than only copy the call and report. SS is the best for honing in accuracy with speed throughout just the contest period ass the exchange is long and mostly unpredictable.
>
> 73 Gene, N9TF
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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Bob McGraw - K4TAX

Re: CW Contest and Elecraft K3s decoder

In reply to this post by Fred Moore-2

I have refrained from working ANY and ALL contests for several years.
For that and other reasons. I view contests today in the same class as
"road rage".

73

Bob, K4TAX

On 11/27/2017 2:39 PM, Fred Moore wrote:

> This is exactly why I do not work CW contests anymore. CW contests have
> become a machine contest not a Ham contest... But some people will go to
> any expense to make sure they are number one. Not interested in even
> giving them a 1 point..
>
> Fred Moore
> email: [hidden email]
> [hidden email]
> phone: 321-217-8699
>
> On 11/27/17 8:54 AM, [hidden email] wrote:
>> There's a lot of automation.
>>
>> Here's one of the best in the world at ZF2MJ, running 20 and 15 meters simultaneously. It's kind of mind-boggling.
>>
>> Dan (N6MJ) and Chris (K9LA) won WRTC in Boston, after placing quite high in earlier WRTC efforts.
>>
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3ncFJZqkTA
>>
>> 73 de Dick, K6KR
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Bill Frantz
>> Sent: Sunday, November 26, 2017 22:42
>> To: [hidden email]
>> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] CW Contest and Elecraft K3s decoder
>>
>> Under the rules, in the assisted categories, using decoders is legal. It is also legal, but perhaps unwise, to use the spotting network to "read" the call signs. Wiser is to verify a spotted call sign, which is a lot easier than to copy it cold. In the unassisted categories, all these techniques are illegal.
>>
>> I think most stations were using a macro to send their report.
>> Since the report in CQ WW DX is constant, setting up a macro is easy. Copying the report is a different matter, but I found the reports easier to copy than the calls, since the reports were all numbers (with some Ts, As, and Ns tossed in for brevity).
>>
>> 73 Bill AE6JV
>>
>> On 11/26/17 at 9:21 PM, [hidden email] wrote:
>>
>>> I personally don't depend on the rig decoding but listening this
>>> weekend let me know that either the big boys are using something to
>>> decode station callsigns and are definite using an automated system to send their report.
>>> Using the K3S cw speed option I saw several that read over 60 wpm. I
>>> realize there are those that can copy that fast but not this old boy.
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> Bill Frantz |"Insofar as the propositions of mathematics
>> refer to
>> 408-356-8506 | reality, they are not certain; and insofar
>> they are
>> www.pwpconsult.com | certain, they do not refer to reality.”
>> -- Einstein
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email]
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
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> ______________________________________________________________
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