[CW] So what is it about CW?

[BILL CARNEY]

Well done Wes...CW is and always will be a magical mode to most hams...=0D
After a love/hate relationship with it back in 1966 as a Novice (WN3GLX)=0D
couldnt wait till I learned the 13wpm to upgrade to general and then "Be=0D
done with it forever"...you know...throw away the ole J38 for good.=0D
=0D
Well after a few months on Phone...the thrill of "talking" started to wan=
e=0D
and of course running a DX40 was not going to work alot of DX on 40m AM..=
=2E=0D
so out came the J38 key and calling CQ's on 7.005 and long behold started=
=0D
working Europeans.....I was hooked and the rest is history as they say.=0D
=0D
I have made friends world-wide through CW....Qso's much the same as you =0D
have mentioned Wes...seems you dont really get the "privacy" on SSB. In=0D
recent weeks...I decided to bring out and polish up the ole Vibroplex Bug=
=0D
and start using it again....still abit shaky with it after being spoiled=0D
with the keyer the past 20 years...but getting the "rythmn" of it again..=
=2E=0D
=0D
You know if all the "non-believers" out there would spend the same amount=
 of=0D
time they waste in moaning and groaning about this "useless antiquated" m=
ode=0D
and put that energy it too at least learning it and trying it...they migh=
t=0D
be surprised. Hi=0D
=0D
CW is Magic! 73's de Bill ZL3NB (WA3GLX)=0D
=0D
www.qrz.com/callsign/zl3nb=0D
=0D
-------Original Message-------=0D
=0D
From: Wes Cosand=0D
Date: Sunday, October 27, 2002 16:41:16=0D
To: cw@mailman.qth.net=0D
Subject: [CW] So what is it about CW?=0D
=0D
The other evening on 40 meters I heard a strong, clear CQ from a fellow I=
 =0D
had worked once before who had seemed interesting so I gave him a call. I=
 =0D
punched in the 250 Hz filter and the QSK button, and repositioned the =0D
headphones a little more comfortably.=0D
=0D
It had been a tough day at work but almost instantly all the other concer=
ns =0D
dropped away. Soon after the name, QTH, and signal report, it rapidly =0D
moved past a mere contact and became a real conversation. There was a =0D
sense of privacy that I have found on some of the digital modes but never=
 =0D
on SSB. And unlike the digital modes, QSK allowed a more conversational =0D
intercourse.=0D
=0D
We talked about how hard it was to lose a job after 31 years with the sam=
e =0D
company, what it was like uproot your wife and move to a strange town to =
go =0D
to school, how hard it was to learn to study again and to compete with =0D
young people just out of high school. We talked about preparing to fly to=
 =0D
a new city for a job interview and how, after we have done everything we =
=0D
can, sometimes we have to leave the future in God's hands=0D
=0D
I can't recall ever having this kind of QSO on sideband. It seemed like I=
 =0D
was having a private conversation with a longtime friend over a cup of =0D
coffee. What is it about CW that gives this feeling of intimacy that we =0D
don't find elsewhere?=0D
=0D
My wire antenna up in the trees doesn't buy any bragging rights on the ai=
r, =0D
and my fist won't win any A-1 operator awards. But the other night, I =0D
wouldn't have traded that conversation for 350 confirmed countries or fir=
st =0D
in the CQ CW contest.=0D
=0D
But enough of this drivel! I am going to limber up my new GHD key and see=
 =0D
if I can find another new friend on 40 tonight.=0D
=0D
Wes, WZ7I=0D
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=2E