[AMRadio] The Art of Ragchewing

[johndtate at post.com]

Very true Rob.  The band/conditions do have to support the armchair 
type copy for a good ragchew.  The assumption is that these conditions 
are satisfied.  I had some great ragchews on all of the HF bands at 
some point or another.  It's a matter of finding another willing 
station.  Ragchews do not HAVE to be limited to AM but that is what I 
prefer and I have a feeling that most people on this list concur.  It 
indeed IS the art of conversation.  This is a skill that comes more 
naturally to some of us than others.  I also notice it depends on who 
I'm in the QSO with.  It's does seem to be a dynamic between the 
station involved.  I think that opening a dialog concerning the ragchew 
will help at least some of us.  Surely it can't hurt!

73, John KX5JT


-----Original Message-----
From: Rob Atkinson <ranchorobbo at gmail.com>
To: Discussion of AM Radio in the Amateur Service 
<amradio at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sun, Apr 25, 2010 11:02 pm
Subject: Re: [AMRadio] The Art of Ragchewing


I don't particularly care for the fast TR type qso.  I hear it mostly
in big groups but even though I currently run mostly modern gear, I
have to switch a couple of things and prefer longer transmissions
where I have a few seconds to check the carrier level and see things
"settle down" so I like the format in which we all take a turn amongst
one or two or three stations.

Yes, before we get to the art of ragchewing, the stations and band
have to be able to support a ragchew QSO.  I like daytime in winter on
75, night on 160 in winter and days in summer on 40 for this reason.

If there is an art to ragchewing, it is only the art of conversation
and that is to simply find something about the other person and ask
questions and get him to talk about it while you take notes and ask
more questions.  We all love to talk about what we are interested in
don't we?  All you have to do is find that thing and let the other ham
tell you about it.

73

Rob
K5UJ