[CW] (no subject)

[George, W5YR]

Ed, when as a civilian I taught code for the Air Force to pilot trainees in
the early 50's, I graduated class after class at 5 wpm aural and blinker,
including sending (!), in from 11 to 20 hours. I was allowed 40 hours in
the curriculum. This was for classes of about 30 students, some of whom
were foreign and could barely speak English.

True, they were motivated! No code meant "wash out!" But anyone who
genuinely wants to become an amateur radio operator, as compared with
someone who merely wants to talk on the amateur radio frequencies, will be
motivated to learn and pass the 5-wpm code and then practice until
conversationally fluent on CW - 15 to 20 wpm at least. Only then will the
operator begin to appreciate and enjoy CW operation. I hear very few SSB
conversations at 5 wpm - and for obvious reasons.

As our ranks diminish - Old Farts like me dying off and fewer new guys
coming in with the CW itch - those remaining will have to redouble their
efforts to attract newcomers to the CW ranks and to spread the gospel of
the sheer pleasure of creating something with your mind and hands that only
a select few can hear and understand. 

We need to keep in mind that when most of my generation were attracted to
amateur radio, CW was essentially the only path to getting on the air that
was open to us. We had very limited phone privileges until at least a year
on the air and passing the Class A exam. So, in order to survive, we built
our transmitters - nearly all of us, including adapting war surplus rigs
and mostly bought our receivers. CW was the "only" mode for 99.9% of us for
a year, and in that time most of us got fairly good at it. I learned code
at 15 years of age and now at nearly 73, it is still my second language.

Enough OF rambling, Ed - just wanted to echo your comments . . .

73/72/oo, George W5YR - the Yellow Rose of Texas         
Fairview, TX 30 mi NE of Dallas in Collin county EM13qe   
Amateur Radio W5YR, in the 56th year and it just keeps getting better!
QRP-L 1373 NETXQRP 6 SOC 262 COG 8 FPQRP 404 TEN-X 11771 I-LINK 11735
Icom IC-756PRO #02121  Kachina 505 DSP  #91900556  Icom IC-765 #02437

Ed Tanton wrote:
> 
> Probably an imprudent remark for the [CW] reflector, don't you think John?
> And, at first read, I thought that's what you meant (elimination
> entirely-not just testing.) Personally, I utterly disagree with even
> "testing elimination"... but you are certainly entitled to your opinion,
> including here (on [CW].)
> 
> I always felt that the code was mainly what differentiated us from the
> CB'ers and their mess... but, combined with the theory-knowledge required,
> it was-admittedly-more than that. With the degree of technical expertise
> required these days, to maintain 'modern communications transceivers', I'm
> not certain but what it's no more than CW now.
> 
> The truth is ANYONE can copy 5wpm. That is: ANYONE willing to take the
> relatively small amount of time and trouble to merely memorize the code.
> I'm not certain I care to have new members to our fraternity who are not
> willing to work that little bit extra. Actually, come to think of it, I am
> certain: I do NOT care to associate with people that care no more than that
> about becoming hams. No sir... not at all.