[CW] Morse code test

Sat, 21 Jun 2003 12:55:34 -0400

John

You make some excellent points, but not enough of them.

We do need CW operators, and not just for "large disasters".  Relatively
routine incidents require HF communications, and it's not just theory that
CW is the most effective.  Here in Michigan we have the experience of being
forced to CW because we couldn't make the trip on phone.

But simply being a CW op isn't enough.  You need to be able to get out on
80.  This is sort of a challenge for your "low or medium power transceivers"
because 80 is pretty unfriendly to low power.  Yes, sometimes QRP is good on
80, but you need to *reliably* get out.  That makes medium power, at least,
a necessity, but it also makes batteries a bit more of a challenge.
Remember, in an emergency you aren't trying to contact Namibia, it's the
state EOC or Red Cross or NWS that you need, and unless you are in Texas or
Alaska, that spells 80.  You also need to get out on VHF.   During an
emergency, 90% or more of the communications is going to be on VHF FM.  If
you are the HF outlet for your community, you need the input pipe, too,
which will be VHF.

But the station isn't all it takes.  You need a trained operator, too.
First, you need to understand your local emergency organization and their
procedures.  In practice, this means you need to be an *active* member in
your local ARES or RACES organization.  If you are not, you are going to be
more of a problem than a help.  You not only need to know what the
procedures are, but you need to practice them.  If you don't, they will be
maddenly complex when you are under pressure, as you will be when the lights
are out and people need food, shelter or medical attention.

HF traffic procedures are a must, too.  Have you ever checked into a CW
traffic net?  The good ones are ruthlessly efficient, and if you are new to
the game, what you hear will be a total mystery, no matter how good your CW.
CW traffic nets can pump about 3 times the volume of phone nets per hour,
and they don't do it by sending 100 words a minute.  They do it by not
wasting a single dit.  If you are going to be useful under pressure, you
need to be keeping up your skills by regularly participating in traffic
nets.

Here in Michigan, our state EC has been recruiting anyone within a couple
hours drive of the state EOC to be available to operate CW from the EOC
because we recognize the need.  I can't imagine that Michigan is the only
state that recognizes the importance of CW in a pinch.

But there are several skills involved.  You need to know your local
organization and it's procedures, you need to know your local traffic nets
and their procedures, and oh yes, by the way, you need to know CW.  You
aren't going to learn any of those under pressure.

You need the input (your local RACES), the output (the state nets), and the
processing (your CW skills).  Without all 3, the messages won't flow.  So
absolutely, brush up on your CW skills and make your station emergency
ready, but make the operator emergency ready, too, by getting involved with
your local ARES/RACES group to learn their practices, and regularly
practicing your CW net skills.

72/73 de WB8RCR    http://www.qsl.net/wb8rcr
didileydadidah     QRP-L #1446 Code Warriors #35

----- Original Message -----
From: "John Rippey" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, June 21, 2003 9:36 AM
Subject: [CW] Morse code test

> Although I am not an "old hand" at CW like Greg, I agree that having a
pool
> of skilled CW ops will serve the nation well. The trouble is, in this
> country we are not good at imagining large disasters and therefore do not
> prepare for them. But I would argue that having a number of CW ops
> available with low or medium power transceivers able to operate on
> emergency power would be a good thing to back up the usual communications
> emergency responders. A belt and suspenders approach.
>
> So far as I know, CW is by far the most efficient and effective
> communications medium over medium and long distances, and it is likely to
> be there if everything else goes down.
>
> 73,
> John, W3ULS
>
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