[CW] Newbie

Sun, 28 Jul 2002 18:50:20 -0400

Mike,
A good post!
I think the good prospective hams will look at CW as a
challenge (requirement) and conquer it with a degree of satisfaction. 
The ones that want in the easy way will see it as an obstacle to
outmaneuver.  The "proof is in the pudding" when you look down the road
10 years from now and see those who took the CW challenge and won are
still on the air...the others are still playing with their computers
looking for new obstacles to outmaneuver.

The point about pride in one's CW is a point quite often overlooked. I
can still remember how proud I was when still a novice when some old
timer would compliment me on my CW.  Do I ever tire of getting
compliments....NOT A CHANCE.  I still try to send perfect code with each
and every letter.  I've been a ham now for nearly 50 years and the vast
majority of my QSO's have been CW but I must admit I do SSB and I do
play on the computer.  In that respect, it seems those of us CW "nuts"
have the best of all worlds.  I feel sorry for the ham that has to reply
"I don't do CW".  You are missing out on a lot of fun.

I will continue to do all that I can to encourage prospective and new
hams to discover CW.  I hope all of us on this reflector, at least, are
doing the same.

--... ...--

Tony, W4FOA

Mike Hyder -N4NT- wrote:
> 
> Eugene, you know many find the code a challenge.  The magic of amateur
> radio -- hooking a box to a wire and talking with folks in other places --
> sorta dims when one uses a cellphone or a computer.  Amateur radio is a
> science to some, but an art to others.  There is not much art (or science)
> in talking into a microphone, any idiot can do it.  But there is an art to
> being able to operate CW well.  Men are interesting in that each needs to
> feel truly good at something to be happy.  Some of us are happy to feel good
> about our CW, while others couldn't care less about it.
> 
> If we are to attract the kids, then they are going to have to feel like they
> are becoming part of something special, learning something special and that
> they can become good at it.  Talking into a microphone or typing on a
> keyboard won't cut it.  So the biggest damage we can do to ham radio is to
> denigrate the code.  It is about the only thing we have to attract new
> blood.
> 
> Mike N4NT
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]On
> Behalf Of Eugene Rippen
> Sent: Sunday, July 28, 2002 3:07 PM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: Re: [CW] Newbie
> 
> However that concept (code only entry level) is not very 'Newbie" friendly.
> 
> I thought the concept behind entry level licenses was to entice new Hams,
> not merely preserve our old initiation rituals, because "we had to do it".
> 
> Reminds me of our old Ham club here in Auburn, CA (yes I'm publishing names)
> complaining of a lack of new young members: while holding their meetings on
> Friday nights (when young people are most often out of their homes, or doing
> other social things), and the meetings consists mainly of a lot of  old
> folks discussing:  Who Died, Who is sick,  Who is in the hospital and all
> other discussions of bodily functions/non-functions/dis-functions.  Or,
> bitching, in general, about change.  Not isn't very newbie or young-people
> friendly, either.
> 
> Amateur Radio in the past has been rag chewing or technical or both.  Email
> is fast taking over the rag chewers, see all the older hams who have given
> up being a ham for the computer.  That leaves technical.  The technical part
> of CW is that it gets through noisy conditions better.
> 
> Yes, CW is better for getting through, but we now have automatic sending of
> CW.  Possibly some of us would like to eliminate that kind of cheating on
> the code?  I can could certainly understand that feeling .... but
> "understanding" is not necessarily agreeing.
> 
> Eugene Rippen
> 
> > This was why I always wanted the FCC to have a CW-ONLY, no-code-exam
> Novice
> > license. It makes perfectly good sense that if CW is your only mode
> > available, you are going to have to learn the code to use it.
> >
> >
> >
> > > > Question:  I probably should be learning and developing my key
> pounding
> > > >  skills and practicing sending the letters on a key as I learn them.
> Does
> > > >  this make sense?
> > >
> > >Yes. Learning to send helps you learn the code, and you'll have to learn
> to
> > >send if you want to use Morse on the air.
> > >
> > >This is one good use for code readers. You send code to one under ideal
> > >conditions and see how well it copies for an indication of how good/bad
> your
> > >fist is.
> > >
> > > >  What would be a good quality key to get?  Any guidance
> > > >  would be appreciated.
> > >
> > >Start with a straiht key. Yes, it's more work, but it will develop your
> > >rhythm. (Just my opinion). I use a surplus J-37 but those Wm. Nye keys
> with
> > >the "Navy" knob sure look and feel good.
> > >
> > >73 de Jim, N2EY
> >
> >
> > 73 Ed Tanton N4XY <[email protected]>
> >
> > Ed Tanton N4XY
> > 189 Pioneer Trail
> > Marietta, GA 30068-3466
> 
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