on CW

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on CW

wayne burdick
Administrator
The test may be eliminated, but all the reasons that CW is popular will
still be there. Perhaps this is why CW continues to flourish even in
countries that phased out their own testing requirements in past years.

It's fun for many of us, of course. But it's also characterized by
generally simpler equipment, and offers a higher signal-to-noise ratio
than voice modes for a given power level or amount of signal
processing. This is why it's appropriate for gear that we carry on
backpacking trips and for emergency use, and of course for QRP gear in
general.

CW has a standardized shorthand (including Q signals and common
abbreviations) that transcend language barriers. And it's a "digital"
communications mode, yet it doesn't require a computer or specialized
interfaces. There's an immediacy to CW communications that makes it
feel quite personal -- just as if you're talking, which of course you
are.

Then there's my personal favorite: When I'm out camping in some remote
location, late at night, I can put on my headphones and make two-way
contacts with faraway places -- without disturbing anyone sleeping
close by. (There's something about surfing the ionosphere, with all its
propagation modes, odd noises, and unexpected surprises, that you just
can't duplicate using the internet.)

Elecraft will continue to strongly support both CW equipment and CW
operation.

73,
Wayne, N6KR


---

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Re: on CW

srife
And I think Elecraft will continue to be well supported as well.
   
  Stan
  W5EWA
 

wayne burdick <[hidden email]> wrote:
  The test may be eliminated, but all the reasons that CW is popular will
still be there. Perhaps this is why CW continues to flourish even in
countries that phased out their own testing requirements in past years.

It's fun for many of us, of course. But it's also characterized by
generally simpler equipment, and offers a higher signal-to-noise ratio
than voice modes for a given power level or amount of signal
processing. This is why it's appropriate for gear that we carry on
backpacking trips and for emergency use, and of course for QRP gear in
general.

CW has a standardized shorthand (including Q signals and common
abbreviations) that transcend language barriers. And it's a "digital"
communications mode, yet it doesn't require a computer or specialized
interfaces. There's an immediacy to CW communications that makes it
feel quite personal -- just as if you're talking, which of course you
are.

Then there's my personal favorite: When I'm out camping in some remote
location, late at night, I can put on my headphones and make two-way
contacts with faraway places -- without disturbing anyone sleeping
close by. (There's something about surfing the ionosphere, with all its
propagation modes, odd noises, and unexpected surprises, that you just
can't duplicate using the internet.)

Elecraft will continue to strongly support both CW equipment and CW
operation.

73,
Wayne, N6KR


---

http://www.elecraft.com

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Re: on CW

Jim K4ZMV
Ditto, Stan.  Thanks, Wayne.  A lot us old-timers feel like the rug was just
pulled out from under us.  First CW in the maritime and now ham radio.
Wayne's observation is a good reason to wait on one of their new amps and
maybe get another K2.  Well supported ... you bet!


----- Original Message -----
From: "Stan Rife" <[hidden email]>
To: "Elecraft Reflector" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Saturday, December 16, 2006 4:14 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] on CW


> And I think Elecraft will continue to be well supported as well.
>
>  Stan
>  W5EWA
>
>
> wayne burdick <[hidden email]> wrote:
>  The test may be eliminated, but all the reasons that CW is popular will
> still be there. Perhaps this is why CW continues to flourish even in
> countries that phased out their own testing requirements in past years.
>
> It's fun for many of us, of course. But it's also characterized by
> generally simpler equipment, and offers a higher signal-to-noise ratio
> than voice modes for a given power level or amount of signal
> processing. This is why it's appropriate for gear that we carry on
> backpacking trips and for emergency use, and of course for QRP gear in
> general.
>
> CW has a standardized shorthand (including Q signals and common
> abbreviations) that transcend language barriers. And it's a "digital"
> communications mode, yet it doesn't require a computer or specialized
> interfaces. There's an immediacy to CW communications that makes it
> feel quite personal -- just as if you're talking, which of course you
> are.
>
> Then there's my personal favorite: When I'm out camping in some remote
> location, late at night, I can put on my headphones and make two-way
> contacts with faraway places -- without disturbing anyone sleeping
> close by. (There's something about surfing the ionosphere, with all its
> propagation modes, odd noises, and unexpected surprises, that you just
> can't duplicate using the internet.)
>
> Elecraft will continue to strongly support both CW equipment and CW
> operation.
>
> 73,
> Wayne, N6KR
>
>
> ---
>
> http://www.elecraft.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
>

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Re: on CW

David C Dawson-2
In reply to this post by wayne burdick
I have had several occasions to talk to a ham (one of five in the world)
who does microwave moonbounce 10GHz and up.

He has said that due to extreme distortion that CW is the only mode that
works and signals are well below the noise levels (as much as -20dB)
so you need a spectrum analyser to read them.

Also, CW is useful in ultra-low power beacons 5mW at about 13.6 MHz into
a dipole, transmitted from the West Coast of Canada and picked up in
mid-Atlantic.

On Sat, Dec 16, 2006 at 12:56:56PM -0800, wayne burdick wrote:

> The test may be eliminated, but all the reasons that CW is popular will
> still be there. Perhaps this is why CW continues to flourish even in
> countries that phased out their own testing requirements in past years.
>
> It's fun for many of us, of course. But it's also characterized by
> generally simpler equipment, and offers a higher signal-to-noise ratio
> than voice modes for a given power level or amount of signal
> processing. This is why it's appropriate for gear that we carry on
> backpacking trips and for emergency use, and of course for QRP gear in
> general.
>
> CW has a standardized shorthand (including Q signals and common
> abbreviations) that transcend language barriers. And it's a "digital"
> communications mode, yet it doesn't require a computer or specialized
> interfaces. There's an immediacy to CW communications that makes it
> feel quite personal -- just as if you're talking, which of course you
> are.
>
> Then there's my personal favorite: When I'm out camping in some remote
> location, late at night, I can put on my headphones and make two-way
> contacts with faraway places -- without disturbing anyone sleeping
> close by. (There's something about surfing the ionosphere, with all its
> propagation modes, odd noises, and unexpected surprises, that you just
> can't duplicate using the internet.)
>
> Elecraft will continue to strongly support both CW equipment and CW
> operation.
>
> 73,
> Wayne, N6KR
>
>
> ---
>
> http://www.elecraft.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft   
>
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

--
David Dawson

The trouble with this country is that there are too many politicians
who believe, with a conviction based on experience, that you can fool
all of the people all of the time.
                -- Franklin Adams

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Re: on CW

David C Dawson-2
In reply to this post by wayne burdick
Look on the bright side.
Now the contest sponsors will just have to increase the multipliers for
CW contest contacts. (They'd better, eh?)

--
David Dawson

The trouble with this country is that there are too many politicians
who believe, with a conviction based on experience, that you can fool
all of the people all of the time.
                -- Franklin Adams

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