[CW] CW

[Anthony W. DePrato]

tell you a secret Ron:
I have been a ham since 62 got my general at age 14. i hated code swore i 
would never use it. i studied 2 hrs a day for 3 months after school. you 
had to add the parts to the drawing or what is missing from this osc 
circuit back then. i thought i would never learn it.. when i took my test i 
could send 28wpm with a hand key but just made 13 wpm coping. over the 
years i tired to get my speed up a couple of times made a few dozen qso's
I could send about anything i was looking at but i just could not get my 
mind to work with hearing and putting it on paper..

then in 92 i told myself this is a bunch of crap i am going to learn the 
code .
and get my speed up and take the extra. i got some tapes . i drive 45 miles 
to work each way. got me a yellow pad of paper and a bunch of pens.. 
driving to work i started back a ground zero learning all over again. guess 
what i should have done this years ago.. i had to drive keep my mind on the 
road and listen to the cw and try to write it down.. in three weeks i was 
at 15 wpm. i was coping words instead of letters all the , the's and's 
but's and most 4 and 5 letter words i did not hear the letters anymore i 
heard the words.. in 6 weeks i passed the 20 wpm test.. oh btw i was coping 
30 wpm and the test sounded like the old 5 wpm.. boring hard and i hated 
it. now i use mostly cw and run 25 to 35 wpm..
now i have retired my viberkeyer and returned the old bug to service now 
THIS is another hardship to overcome .. some of you who put the old bug 
into storage years ago know of what i speak.. hi..
73 Tony
Anthony W. DePrato WA4JQS
South Sandwich Island Antarctic Dxpedition Group
VP8BZL VP8SSI 3Y0PI V31SS ZD8JQS WA4JQS/4K1 WA4JQS/K4C WA4JQS/ZS1
CQ DX HALL OF FAME # 35