Whaddayaknow... passed the Extra

[K2QI]

Hi gang,

Just so you all know, I am in the process of learning CW.   Not because I
have too as someone else mentioned, but because I want to learn something
that I feel is an integral part of the amateur experience.

Hopefully within a few months, I'll be proficient enough to send and copy at
15wpm.  I'm actually learning at 25wpm, but I don't want to burn myself out
too quickly.

Interestingly enough, I actually find it easier learning the alphabet for
how it sounds as a complete letter, and not as dots and dashes.  Hopefully
if I get good enough, I can decipher entire words just by how the string of
code sounds instead of listening for each letter and copying that way.

73,
James KC2UEE

On Mon, Mar 9, 2009 at 3:41 PM, Bruce McLaughlin <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Congratulations James on your fine accomplishment.  I hope to find you on
> the air one of these days very soon.  Enjoy your new privileges.
>
> Bruce-W8FU
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email]
> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of James Sarte
> Sent: Sunday, March 08, 2009 1:59 PM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: [Elecraft] Whaddayaknow... passed the Extra
>
> Hello fellow Elecrafters,
>
>
>
> Sorry for the OT post here guys, but I just wanted to share with you that I
> passed my element 4 exam today with flying colors.  Hope to have my license
> info updated on the ULS within a few days!
>
>
>
> 73,
>
> James KC2UEE (soon to be K3JPS)
>
> ______________________________________________________________
>  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
>
>

______________________________________________________________
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

[gdaught6]

James wrote...

> Just so you all know, I am in the process of learning CW.  

Good on you!!

> Hopefully within a few months, I'll be proficient enough to send and copy at
> 15wpm.  I'm actually learning at 25wpm, but I don't want to burn myself out
> too quickly.

A couple of weeks should have you completely familiar with Morse code and going
10 wpm or more.

> Interestingly enough, I actually find it easier learning the alphabet for
> how it sounds as a complete letter, and not as dots and dashes.

Very definitely!!!! Don't even think of dots and dashes, or of shorts and longs.  Think
of it as learning an alphabet (which you already know!) of sounds which is all you
have to learn  Instead of a visible written symbol for the letter, you're learning an
audible pattern for the letter.  

An "e" sounds like "dit".  A "t" sounds like "dah".  An "i" is "didit" and NOT "dit
dit".   "didah" is an "a"... etc.

Some people learned by little phrases that sound like the characters.  Example:
"Charlie got it" (dahdidahdit = "c", or "charlie")  This requires translating the sound
into a phrase, then translating the phrase into the letter.  That's an extra mental step
and I don't recommend it.

>  Hopefully
> if I get good enough, I can decipher entire words just by how the string of
> code sounds instead of listening for each letter and copying that way.

That will come eventually, once you are completely familiar with the alphabet,
numerals, and a few punctuation marks.

Most of all, it's practice that makes perfect... unfortunately true here, too.

GL es 73,


George T Daughters, K6GT
CU in the California QSO Party (CQP)
October 3-4, 2009


______________________________________________________________
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

[djmd]

gdaught6 wrote

Some people learned by little phrases that sound like the characters.  Example:
"Charlie got it" (dahdidahdit = "c", or "charlie")  This requires translating the sound
into a phrase, then translating the phrase into the letter.  That's an extra mental step
and I don't recommend it.

I couldn't agree more here. I learned some of these and feel they are a crutch, as I'm having a hard time breaking the 13wpm barrier. Especially L.... I think it might have been on the 5wpm Gordon West tape, he said to think of 'la LA la la.' Works great for 5wpm! But not at 20. I can hardly hear an L and not say that in my head while the next character is coming at me. I seriously wish I could erase all the code in my head and start from scratch at a faster speed. Retraining is really hard!

Congrats on the extra... that's fantastic! My goal is to take the exam at Dayton this year, but the more advanced electronic theory is eating me alive.

[JIM DAVIS-11]

On Mon, 9 Mar 2009 16:48:59 -0400
  KC2UEE <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Hi gang,
>
> Just so you all know, I am in the process of learning CW.   Not because I
> have too as someone else mentioned, but because I want to learn something
> that I feel is an integral part of the amateur experience.
>
> Hopefully within a few months, I'll be proficient enough to send and copy at
> 15wpm.  I'm actually learning at 25wpm, but I don't want to burn myself out
> too quickly.
>
> Interestingly enough, I actually find it easier learning the alphabet for
> how it sounds as a complete letter, and not as dots and dashes.  Hopefully
> if I get good enough, I can decipher entire words just by how the string of
> code sounds instead of listening for each letter and copying that way.
>
> 73,
> James KC2UEE
>
> On Mon, Mar 9, 2009 at 3:41 PM, Bruce McLaughlin <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> Congratulations James on your fine accomplishment.  I hope to find you on
>> the air one of these days very soon.  Enjoy your new privileges.
>>
>> Bruce-W8FU
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: [hidden email]
>> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of James Sarte
>> Sent: Sunday, March 08, 2009 1:59 PM
>> To: [hidden email]
>> Subject: [Elecraft] Whaddayaknow... passed the Extra
>>
>> Hello fellow Elecrafters,
>>
>>
>>
>> Sorry for the OT post here guys, but I just wanted to share with you that I
>> passed my element 4 exam today with flying colors.  Hope to have my license
>> info updated on the ULS within a few days!
>>
>>
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> James KC2UEE (soon to be K3JPS)
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________

Too bad James that you did'nt bother to learn "Intl. morse" earlier when you were younger and your
mind was'nt "MUSH"!!!  Seriously a lot of us had told people time and time again to learn it
earlier, but to no avail!  Now all of a sudden you and OTHERS understand about the WORTH of CW!!!

It's "We told you-so scenario" isn't it???

Regards,

Jim/nn6ee
S/N#2406

______________________________________________________________
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

[David Gilbert]

Wow ... that sure sounds condescending, aside from being inaccurate.  
According to various online references, the guy is 30 years old and was
first licensed Nov 17, 2008.

Dave   AB7E



JIM DAVIS wrote:

> Too bad James that you did'nt bother to learn "Intl. morse" earlier when you were younger and your
> mind was'nt "MUSH"!!!  Seriously a lot of us had told people time and time again to learn it
> earlier, but to no avail!  Now all of a sudden you and OTHERS understand about the WORTH of CW!!!
>
> It's "We told you-so scenario" isn't it???
>
> Regards,
>
> Jim/nn6ee
> S/N#2406
>
>  

______________________________________________________________
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

[James Good]

All of this reminds me of one applicant for his amateur license a few years back, a little before the FCC eliminated the CW requirement.  He did pass the Technician test with no problem and could use that license.  He then took and passed the General and the Extra tests.  Both of those he passed.  He still needed the CW element.  He would show up at the test session I helped with each month and try at least three or four times before going home to study some more.  The last time he came to the session, he said that he really had to pass the CW at that session because his 365 day window would expire on Saturday (the test session was on Thursday).  An hour later the VE that administered the CW part of the tests came back in with the new operator and said that we had a new Extra.

73,
Jim KD5VXH


---- JIM DAVIS <[hidden email]> wrote:

> On Mon, 9 Mar 2009 16:48:59 -0400
>   KC2UEE <[hidden email]> wrote:
> > Hi gang,
> >
> > Just so you all know, I am in the process of learning CW.   Not because I
> > have too as someone else mentioned, but because I want to learn something
> > that I feel is an integral part of the amateur experience.
> >
> > Hopefully within a few months, I'll be proficient enough to send and copy at
> > 15wpm.  I'm actually learning at 25wpm, but I don't want to burn myself out
> > too quickly.
> >
> > Interestingly enough, I actually find it easier learning the alphabet for
> > how it sounds as a complete letter, and not as dots and dashes.  Hopefully
> > if I get good enough, I can decipher entire words just by how the string of
> > code sounds instead of listening for each letter and copying that way.
> >
> > 73,
> > James KC2UEE
> >
> > On Mon, Mar 9, 2009 at 3:41 PM, Bruce McLaughlin <[hidden email]> wrote:
> >
> >> Congratulations James on your fine accomplishment.  I hope to find you on
> >> the air one of these days very soon.  Enjoy your new privileges.
> >>
> >> Bruce-W8FU
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: [hidden email]
> >> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of James Sarte
> >> Sent: Sunday, March 08, 2009 1:59 PM
> >> To: [hidden email]
> >> Subject: [Elecraft] Whaddayaknow... passed the Extra
> >>
> >> Hello fellow Elecrafters,
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Sorry for the OT post here guys, but I just wanted to share with you that I
> >> passed my element 4 exam today with flying colors.  Hope to have my license
> >> info updated on the ULS within a few days!
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> 73,
> >>
> >> James KC2UEE (soon to be K3JPS)
> >>
> >> ______________________________________________________________
> Too bad James that you did'nt bother to learn "Intl. morse" earlier when you were younger and your
> mind was'nt "MUSH"!!!  Seriously a lot of us had told people time and time again to learn it
> earlier, but to no avail!  Now all of a sudden you and OTHERS understand about the WORTH of CW!!!
>
> It's "We told you-so scenario" isn't it???
>
> Regards,
>
> Jim/nn6ee
> S/N#2406
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

______________________________________________________________
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

[Kevin Rock]

I am glad this story had a happy ending!  CW is just so much fun I think this person will indeed enjoy it, maybe even more than others who learned the code more easily.  

When I started the Elecraft CW Net I was very much a beginner.  However I ignored the fact that I was as unskilled as I was.  I learned ;)  I also got better; somewhat incrementally.  Please remember that we do slow down to whatever speed necessary to make a contact.  Just toss out your call at the ? K and we will respond at the speed you sent it.  Tom's style varies from mine but he slows just as rapidly and is as happy to meet a new CW operator as I am.  

CW - the original digital mode.
   73,
      Kevin.  KD5ONS



-----Original Message-----
>From: Jim <[hidden email]>
>Sent: Mar 9, 2009 8:11 PM
>To: "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>
>Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Whaddayaknow... passed the Extra
>
>All of this reminds me of one applicant for his amateur license a few years back, a little before the FCC eliminated the CW requirement.  He did pass the Technician test with no problem and could use that license.  He then took and passed the General and the Extra tests.  Both of those he passed.  He still needed the CW element.  He would show up at the test session I helped with each month and try at least three or four times before going home to study some more.  The last time he came to the session, he said that he really had to pass the CW at that session because his 365 day window would expire on Saturday (the test session was on Thursday).  An hour later the VE that administered the CW part of the tests came back in with the new operator and said that we had a new Extra.
>
>73,
>Jim KD5VXH
______________________________________________________________
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

[K2QI]

Yes I'm only 30.  I got my first ticket last November.  I still have a lot
to learn; CW being one of them.  Thankfully, there are a lot of helpful
people out there that have been more than willing to point me in the right
direction.  I'm truly grateful.

 

73,

James KC2UEE

 

 

  _____  

From: David Gilbert [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Monday, March 09, 2009 8:09 PM
To: JIM DAVIS
Cc: KC2UEE; [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Whaddayaknow... passed the Extra

 


Wow ... that sure sounds condescending, aside from being inaccurate.
According to various online references, the guy is 30 years old and was
first licensed Nov 17, 2008.

Dave   AB7E



JIM DAVIS wrote:

Too bad James that you did'nt bother to learn "Intl. morse" earlier when you
were younger and your
mind was'nt "MUSH"!!!  Seriously a lot of us had told people time and time
again to learn it
earlier, but to no avail!  Now all of a sudden you and OTHERS understand
about the WORTH of CW!!!
 
It's "We told you-so scenario" isn't it???
 
Regards,
 
Jim/nn6ee
S/N#2406
 
 
______________________________________________________________
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

[AC7AC]

CONTENTS DELETED

The author has deleted this message.

[AC7AC]

CONTENTS DELETED

The author has deleted this message.

[Ralph Tyrrell]

James KC2UEE (or K3JPS)

Slow CW can be found at 3530, 3550, 7100 to 7120, 10120. These are some of the frequencies that SKCC members get on.

http://www.skccgroup.com/

I have had quite a thril working many new Extras at 5 WPM and slower.

Hope to work you soon.  I am often on 7118 kHz

73, Ty, W1TF, SKCC 4973



     
______________________________________________________________
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

[WE0H]

I'll throw this comment out before I get to reading all the replies...my
method 20+ years ago was to get on the air every day no matter what.
Practice makes perfect in anything you do. CW is no different. Get on
the air no matter how slow or fast or crappy or perfect you send or
receive. Someone out there will respond back to your CQ eventually and
there is no looking back from that day forward. You'll miss letters,
words, ask for repeats, miss tons of info but don't give up or get
pissed off. Keep at it and you will see by the end of the summer that
you will be hauling bootie with smokin fast CW. I went from 0 to 31 WPM
in the first year that I was licensed (1987). I was on the air
practically every day & night.

You can do it and this group and others can help...hi hi...

Mike
WE0H



James S wrote:

> Yes I'm only 30.  I got my first ticket last November.  I still have a lot
> to learn; CW being one of them.  Thankfully, there are a lot of helpful
> people out there that have been more than willing to point me in the right
> direction.  I'm truly grateful.
>
>  
>
> 73,
>
> James KC2UEE

______________________________________________________________
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

[daleputnam]

Hey James,

  You're doing great! Welcome, and jump in. If you hear me... give a call, I'll match your speed. Love to chat.

Good going, getting your extra is wonderful, opens another door. One more thing, always mention it on your resume. I've interviewed aspiring tech applicants, many times, the addition of the license, is indicative of additional interest and usually will be a good addition to the staff. The additional questions during the interview allow you that extra minute or two or more, to plead your case for hire.

 Good luck,

--... ...-- Dale - WC7S in Wy


 

_________________________________________________________________
Express your personality in color! Preview and select themes for Hotmail®.
http://www.windowslive-hotmail.com/LearnMore/personalize.aspx?ocid=TXT_MSGTX_WL_HM_express_032009#colortheme
______________________________________________________________
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

[Greg Buhyoff]

Just wanted to pass along my congratulations as well.  I recall very
well the day I passed my Extra class and how exciting it was.  For me,
it was even more motivation to be the best I could be at whatever it
was I doing with regard to amateur radio.  And, I am still not the
best I can be at anything.  It is a continual journey and that is what
makes this hobby so much fun.  Again, congratulations and I hope to
run into you on the air whether it be CW, SSB or whatever and it is
the whatever that is important.  Go for whatever it is that you wish
to accomplish and it is nice to hear that CW strikes your fancy.  Even
if it didn't there is so much you can do and contribute to others.

vy 73, Greg K2UM
______________________________________________________________
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

[Adam Koczarski]

Congratulations! I just received my ARRL Extra Class study book yesterday
and hope to one day post a similar message to the reflector.

I originally intended to just get a Technician license a few years ago so I
could use 2m on my motorcycle. I had such a great time I went and took the
General test the following month. Didn't use it for 2 years and then finally
got an HF antenna up in October and used an old ICOM transceiver borrowed
from a friend. The K3 was purchased a few months later. Now I'm studying for
the Extra Class. Guess I'm hooked.....

Adam - ka7ark

> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email] [mailto:elecraft-
> [hidden email]] On Behalf Of James Sarte
> Sent: Sunday, March 08, 2009 10:59 AM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: [Elecraft] Whaddayaknow... passed the Extra
>
> Hello fellow Elecrafters,
>
>
>
> Sorry for the OT post here guys, but I just wanted to share with you
> that I
> passed my element 4 exam today with flying colors.  Hope to have my
> license
> info updated on the ULS within a few days!
>

______________________________________________________________
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

[Darwin, Keith]

It was exciting, years ago, when I upgraded to General (at the FCC
office) and was a lot of work to get Advanced, but I found Extra to be
rather anti-climatic.  After passing the Advanced written test, I found
the Extra written to be somewhat unchallenging.  While waiting for the
Advanced test to be given, I took and accidentally passed the 20 wpm
code test.  A month later, I passed the Extra theory and that was that.
My license upgrades had come to an end.

Looking back, I'm glad to have my Extra.  It makes life much easier.
Still, these days, I spend most of my time in the General portion of the
CW subband.

- Keith N1AS -
- K3 711 -

______________________________________________________________
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

[W5CEM]

Still, these days, I spend most of my time in the General portion of the
CW subband.

That statement by Keith says a lot.  Sure we studied and earned the privilige for the extra slice of spectrum.  But very little do I operate in the EXTRA ONLY portions of the band.  There is so many more folks out there in the General portion, it too is where I hang out, both on CW and SSB!  But at least at FD, with me as the head honcho, we can go wherever we want...

CONGRATS...and to the fellow who is stymied by the EXTRA technical stuff.  I was too, but realized there is no way I could learn it all.  You can miss 13 questions, so I just sorta tried to learn the majority parts of it.  And sure enuf, I missed the questions on the stuff I did not know.  But it was more than enuf to PASS.  And no one ever asks how many questions did you answer correctly in a QSO!  

I just love this hobby...

And of course my K3#1931

[Darwin, Keith]

-----Original Message-----

> Still, these days, I spend most of my time in the General portion of
the CW subband.

That statement by Keith says a lot.  Sure we studied and earned the
privilige for the extra slice of spectrum.  But very little do I operate
in the EXTRA ONLY portions of the band.  There is so many more folks out
there in the General portion, it too is where I hang out, both on CW and
SSB!  

----------------------------

Actually, when I first upgraded I went straight to the lower 25 Khz and
stayed there.  My ham world shrunk to a small sliver of each band.
Before long I had gotten bored with ham radio.

It wasn't until I got back into CW for fun using straight keys & bugs
and I got out of the lower 25 Khz, that I began to have fun again!

I still check the lower 25 when I'm fishing for DX but that's about it.

- Keith N1AS -
______________________________________________________________
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

[Doug Faunt N6TQS [phone]]

   Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:21:28 -0700 (PDT)
   From: W5CEM <[hidden email]>

   CONGRATS...and to the fellow who is stymied by the EXTRA technical stuff.  I
   was too, but realized there is no way I could learn it all.  You can miss 13
   questions, so I just sorta tried to learn the majority parts of it.  And
   sure enuf, I missed the questions on the stuff I did not know.  But it was
   more than enuf to PASS.  And no one ever asks how many questions did you
   answer correctly in a QSO!  

That's one approach- I took the opportunity to learn stuff that was
hard, and I was probably never going to use (unfortunately, some of it
has slipped my mind since).

I just studied for and took some commercial radio license exams, that
I'm probably never going to use, but the studying process was as much
the goal as learning this interesting stuff.  And the piece of paper
on the wall means as much as the rest of the wallpaper and plaques
I've gotten from this hobby.

And I keep thinking I'm going to get over the CW obstacle.

73, doug

______________________________________________________________
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

[AC7AC]

CONTENTS DELETED

The author has deleted this message.