[CW] New to List - My thoughts....

[Dennis Ponsness]

Well, I have finally subscribed to this list and have been looking over some 
of the postings in the archives.  I have seen a bunch of "familiar calls" 
from other lists, so at least I know some of you here <grin>.

Yes, I am one of those "accursed Extra-Lites", but I have had my ticket 
since 1977.  The only reason that I did not take the 13wpm or 20wpm test 
was, well, I was out of ham radio for quite a few years and when I got back 
into it, the only CW test to take was 5wpm - which I had already taken in 
1977!  Anyway, I decided to actually operate CW - because I did enjoy the 
mode.  The more I used it, the more I liked it!  I am now up to around 15 
wpm (18 or so on a good day) - and I want to get better - my "personal goal" 
is 30wpm+ by the next peak of the solar cycle <grin>.  The point of this 
short bio is, I have seen and heard some remarks from the 20wpm crowd in 
various lists/boards/forums about the "Extra-Lites" and how they would NEVER 
work them at 5 wpm!  This is wrong, very wrong!  IMHO, the FCC will delete 
the requirement for Element 1 testing - I hope not, but I do think that they 
will.  Once that happens, the pressure on the CW bands will start to 
increase.  It won't take long for SOMEONE to realize that hey, PSK-31 is 
LEGAL to run at 14.005!  So if you hear that CQ at 5-7-10wpm, ANSWER them if 
no one else does!  Remember, they are CW ops - our "Brothers" - and help 
them along.  We need new CW ops, and LOTS of them - remember strength in 
numbers.  We need to be "evangalists" for CW - and that means than ANYONE 
that uses CW, no matter what the speed, should be treated as an equal.

BTW, to John W2AGN - I will do the outboard switch mod on the MP+ this 
weekend, and will hopefully have the info on my webpage this weekend as well 
- looks like the hardest part will be mounting the switches in the front 
panel <grin>


73

Dennis - WB0WAO

EN84ij Iosco County, Michigan
MultiPig+ #3 - K2 #3555
DSW-II-20 - SW-40+ - SW-30+
RM-20 - RM-40

NJQRP #329 - FPQRP #-347 - SOC #499
GACW #622 - ARS #1363 - QRP Canada #248
FISTS # 9299
Charter Member - Michigan DX Association
www.qsl.net/wb0wao
:=)

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