[CW] Re: CW digest, Vol 4 #133 - 9 msgs

[Alan W.]

Ron (KA4INM) & Louise Eberhart (KD5RFU):

I will meet you on the air for some practice QSOs anytime I am available.
E-Mail me if you want to set up a sked.  I am really, really, glad you chose
to explore CW with us here.

Like trying my rough, high school Spanish when traveling or when meeting
people in the US, your reception among the those who speak CW will be
equally enthusiastic - no matter how slow you send.  We were there once too!
We're just glad you joined us one the air.  Welcome to our community.

Ron (KA4INM) said...
> everyone can not learn the skills of Morse code
> in one year, with no help, and no idea how or where
> to acquire these skills.

Ron, you put your finger on something.   For most folks, it is not easy to
learn by working alone.  I dare say that most of us learned CW either with a
friend who was learning it too, or from a ham who was mentoring us (the
"Elmer").

We do need to revive the one-on-one Elmering that was so much more common
years ago.  I believe that the old mail-in Novice license exam, which had to
be given by a General-class (13 wpm CW) or higher class ham encouraged this
one-on-one relationship.  But now we have to make the effort in other ways.

I suggest each of us consider doing a CW refresher class - maybe just before
monthly club meetings, and make yourself available locally on 2 meter FM
(simplex?) and 10 m HF.  One-on-one works!

What really helped us in our last licensing class was that I made available
some simple keys & oscillators for the students to take home (and only 1 of
8 hasn't been returned yet).  The result: all that attempted the CW exam
passed.  Have you had 100% pass rate in your classes yet?  We hadn't.

In the old days, we got a key & oscillator or buzzer the very first thing,
but now the local ham shop (HRO) only stocks designer keys and the guy at
the counter didn't even know about Amecos or Speed-X.  Come on guys & gals.
The beginners need access to a $10 to $20 key and a simple 555-timer chip
oscillator or Rat Shack buzzer.

Just some thoughts.

Alan W. N5LF
http://www.qsl.net/n5lf