[CW] No like code

[Jim Glover]

I would think that it should be possible to be a fan of CW, and yet
be realistic.  Unless you live in a black-or-white-nothing-in-between
world where everyone must either be a no-coder, or else worship CW as
The One True Ultimate Mode For Ever and Ever, it would seem that
opinions about CW should have a wide range.

In most cases where there are competing modes (or competing frequency
bands, or competing antenna designs, or competing feedline choices,
or competing transceiver designs, or competing power supply choices,
etc.) it turns out that there are advantages and disadvantages to
each choice.

Here are some advantages that help make me a fan of CW:

* CW is narrower than most modes, making it a spectrum-efficient choice.

* CW can "get through" better than most modes, with a 13 dB advantage
  over SSB.

* CW can be accomplished with remarkably simple equipment.  In this
  particular category, it almost stands alone, unsurpassed.

* CW can be accomplished inexpensively.

* CW comprises a sort of universal language known by hams world-wide.

* CW is fun.

Here are some disadvantages that I, in all honesty, freely admit about CW:

* CW is not the narrowest mode, nor the best at getting through under
  marginal conditions.  Various digital modes are surpassing it.

* CW requires learning before it can be useful.  For some people, the
  necessary skills may take a great deal of time and effort to acquire.

* Although CW is a narrow mode, it becomes increasingly difficult to
  use when other signals are close to it.

As far as I am concerned, the advantages of CW far outweigh its
disadvantages.  In fact, I think CW earns remarkable overall usefulness
in the amateur radio service.  This usefulness, in my opinion, should
be responded to by taking some sort of steps to encourage hams to learn
CW, and by providing for CW protection in various parts of various bands.
Now that we'll be doing less of the former, we should arrange to do more
of the latter.  The job of convincing the rest of the amateur radio
community (and the FCC!) of the wisdom of doing so rests squarely on
the shoulders of: us, the fans of CW.

If we are to convince the rest of the amateur community to support our
favorite mode, we simply *must* be willing to discuss its advantages
and disadvantages fairly and accurately.

Someone recently criticized the no-coders for emphasizing what they
perceive to be CW's disadvantages, while ignoring its advantages.  Are
we to do the exact same thing in reverse?  Personally, I would be
ashamed to.  I would rather have a little integrity.

73,
Jim  WB5UDE