Elecraft

Viva CW!

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Edward A. Dauer

Viva CW!

Joshua --

I would encourage you to do so. W1AW practice runs are great (are they
still running? I haven't listened for quite some time . . . ); and when
you feel up to it try to work in or even just listen in to a contest.
Some of it will blaze by but over time it'll sink in. Best advice I had
long ago was to not try to translate from dots and dashes to letters -
rather, learn the way a character sounds, by constant repetition and
listening, listening, listening.

Maybe easier said than done, but you might find it worthwhile. The
advantage is particularly noticeable with a QRP or even just a modest
station. A good CW op can make up with skill for a lot of DBs forgone.
And really good ops will ALWAYS go QRS to match a station calling them.

Since being licensed in 1957 I can remember only two periods of two years
each when I used phone (AM, at the time). Before and since it has been
exclusively CW. In fact, before getting the K3 I had and still have a
FT-847 and a FT-950 which may or may not even work on data or SSB - I've
never tried them in those modes. (They are both for sale, in case anyone
reading this is interested.) It's all a matter of taste, of course; but
CW is mine. Best of luck . . .

Ted, KN1CBR

>
>Message: 21
>Date: Tue, 27 May 2014 08:25:07 -0400
>From: Joshua Gould <[hidden email]>
>To: Lee Trout <[hidden email]>, Elecraft List
> <[hidden email]>
>Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Activity in ancient 15-meter novice band (21.1
> MHz)
>Message-ID:
> <CAHk01bC4by-YLjo6dLDmEb1HCHA+LBsLHW2UM=[hidden email]>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
>I keep throwing around the idea of trying to learn code again. When I got
>licensed as a no code tech, I stayed there for the first ten years because
>every time that I would try to learn code to upgrade, my brain was having
>none of it. Now that I've upgraded to General and I have access to more
>bands (where CW is still used) the idea is growing on me again. I am
>planning to purchase a KX3 in early July, and would love to know code so
>that I can play around on CW while QRP. Between attending college and
>other work related responsibilities, I'm not sure that is going to happen
>before I get my KX3. I would hope that if I learn the code, someone will
>slow down and have a QSO with a newbie...
>
>Joshua Gould
>K8WXA
>
>

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Chip Stratton

Re: Viva CW!

If you happen to have an Iphone, get the CWTEXT app. It has many tools for
learning to copy CW, and you can use it anytime you have a few minutes. If
you like fairy tales, it will tell you those in Morse too. It has helped
speed me up quite a bit.

Might be similar programs for Android, but I'm not familiar with them.

73
Chip
AE5KA

On Tue, May 27, 2014 at 11:55 AM, Dauer, Edward <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Joshua --
>
> I would encourage you to do so. W1AW practice runs are great (are they
> still running? I haven't listened for quite some time . . . ); and when
> you feel up to it try to work in or even just listen in to a contest.
> Some of it will blaze by but over time it'll sink in. Best advice I had
> long ago was to not try to translate from dots and dashes to letters -
> rather, learn the way a character sounds, by constant repetition and
> listening, listening, listening.
>
> Maybe easier said than done, but you might find it worthwhile. The
> advantage is particularly noticeable with a QRP or even just a modest
> station. A good CW op can make up with skill for a lot of DBs forgone.
> And really good ops will ALWAYS go QRS to match a station calling them.
>
> Since being licensed in 1957 I can remember only two periods of two years
> each when I used phone (AM, at the time). Before and since it has been
> exclusively CW. In fact, before getting the K3 I had and still have a
> FT-847 and a FT-950 which may or may not even work on data or SSB - I've
> never tried them in those modes. (They are both for sale, in case anyone
> reading this is interested.) It's all a matter of taste, of course; but
> CW is mine. Best of luck . . .
>
> Ted, KN1CBR
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >
> >Message: 21
> >Date: Tue, 27 May 2014 08:25:07 -0400
> >From: Joshua Gould <[hidden email]>
> >To: Lee Trout <[hidden email]>, Elecraft List
> > <[hidden email]>
> >Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Activity in ancient 15-meter novice band (21.1
> > MHz)
> >Message-ID:
> > <CAHk01bC4by-YLjo6dLDmEb1HCHA+LBsLHW2UM=
> [hidden email]>
> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
> >
> >I keep throwing around the idea of trying to learn code again. When I got
> >licensed as a no code tech, I stayed there for the first ten years because
> >every time that I would try to learn code to upgrade, my brain was having
> >none of it. Now that I've upgraded to General and I have access to more
> >bands (where CW is still used) the idea is growing on me again. I am
> >planning to purchase a KX3 in early July, and would love to know code so
> >that I can play around on CW while QRP. Between attending college and
> >other work related responsibilities, I'm not sure that is going to happen
> >before I get my KX3. I would hope that if I learn the code, someone will
> >slow down and have a QSO with a newbie...
> >
> >Joshua Gould
> >K8WXA
> >
> >
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]
>