[ARC5] US Morse Exam History...Commercial versus mateur (OT)

[Kenneth G. Gordon]

Well, I used the VLF Navy stations, NPM, NPG, NSS, and especially NLK at 
Jim Creek, Washington when they were sending 5-letter code groups at 
something like 25 WPM, to get my code speed up.

I sure miss that stuff. It was perfect practice, perfectly sent and was there 
24/7/365 into Missoula, Montana from NLK on 24.8 KHz, as I remember it.

I used an RAK-7 as my receiver then.

I was very sorry when the Navy went to TTY at VLF.

On 21 Dec 2012 at 18:08, Geoff wrote:

> I still have that Vibroplex and would be embarassed to get on the air
> with it after decades of electronic keyers but still can handle 30-35
> wpm at age 72.

I have never been able to train myself to use a keyer, although I tried very 
hard. I still use the 1936 "MacKey" McElroy bug that an Elmer gave me in 
about 1960. I work very hard to send as perfect CW as I can with it.

35 WPM is about my maximum speed for 100% copy when receiving, 
although I can copy faster than that in my head when just listening.

I have an old friend, Bill Smith W7GHT, who can copy upwards of 60 WPM 
with no trouble. Durihng WWII, he could copy 60 WPM RTTY in his head. He 
is around 90 years old now, and still never misses a note.

I am REALLY sorry I let my 2nd Telegraph lapse... :-(

Ken W7EKB