[CW] Hand Sent Code at 25 wpm

[David J. Ring Jr - N1EA]

There was a little discussion on this reflector in the past - and on my
private mail list "Radio Officers, &c." about hand sending at the 25 wpm
range.

The discussion on my "Sparks List" mentioned the fact that the commercial
Telegraph License (needed for sailing as a Chief Radio Officer on passenger
ships) was higher than the ITU requirement of 25 wpm plain language (125
characters per minute or 125 cpm) in Germany where the requirement was 28
wpm.

In the USA, FCC regulations permit the applicant to use a semi-automatic
type key (but not an electronic keyer) and to use a typewriter to copy the
25 wpm receiving test.

Since I find it difficult to send above 23 wpm with a hand key, and also
find it difficult to copy 25 wpm by hand, I lugged my Vibroplex Original and
a Royal MILL (CW all CAPS typewriter) up the stairs to the 16th floor of the
Customs House in Boston in 1981 to take my First-Class Telegraph License.
All I had to do to upgrade from my current Second Class was take the code
test of 25 wpm English and 20 wpm cipher groups and send 25 wpm English and
20 wpm cipher groups both for at least one minute error free.

I copied the 25 wpm on the mill, and the cipher groups at 20 wpm by
ballpoint pen.  I sent the 25 wpm plain language with my bug and the 20 wpm
with a hand key.  (That was my understanding of the special assistance rules
at the FCC.)

So in the USA we coud use a bug to qualify.  It wasn't so in the UK and
other places.  They required hand sending.

I put out a request for a recording at 25 wpm - and I got one fellows
Certificate of Speed from a UK Wireless College - which I accepted as
"proof" that it could be done, but today I have uploaded a file
demonstrating that it can indeed be done.

At least it is close enough to 25 that I am calling it a "confirmation"
recording!

Here is the link:  http://www.qsl.net/n1ea/wx.mp3

73

DR
David J. Ring, Jr., N1EA
http://www.qsl.net/n1ea
http://www.qrz.com/callsign?callsign=n1ea

-30-