[CW] Re: CW in Emergency HF Comms System...

[Alan W.]

kburrows (VE1DS) wrote: "...the newer digital modes would be better than
manual CW ..." [in an EOC].

Well, CW & other digital modes are complementary; not interchangeable - it's
apples & oranges.

CW is well-suited for for short messages, and low levels of formal traffic,
logistical communications, etc.  In other words the same situations where a
voice net is used on HF.  That is its most common use on ham radio in
real-life emergencies -- CW supplements the limitations of SSB when
conditions are poor.  So, two stations on a traffic or tactical/logistics HF
net can switch to CW if the receiving station was having trouble copying.
It works every time!

PSK31, on the other hand - and other new digital modes - are the only way to
go if you have to send a long list, or books of messages.  The originating
station must type it in - not much faster than CW, and due to typos it can
be LESS accurate.  But you see the big speed difference only when stations
relay the traffic - since that is mostly automated.  If there are no relays,
then station to station speed isn't much different.  By the way, PSK31 is 50
wpm - again, not much faster than a fast CW op, but 2x or 3x faster than
most causal CW ops.

There are conditions where CW shines - CW has full break-in operation for
example - even between characters or even between dits.  SSB is only between
words at best, and PSK31 - hasn't got break-in capability.  In AMTOR &
PacTOR the rcvr stn can break-in between packets, so they do to some extent.

PSK31 falls apart with multipath, auroral flutter, and other condx that
affect a signal's phase.  Other modes handle phase shifts, but in exchange
for other weaknesses.  CW ops can use the wetware between their ears to
overcome this.

The difference in equipment and power required to run a CW station vs. a
soundcard-digital system has been expounded elsewhere.

Bottom line:  On HF nets, CW supplements SSB.  CW has its own strengths &
weaknesses (mainly requiring that we have CW ops!).  PSK31 & other new digi
modes are complementary to SSB & CW - not an "either-or".

AlanW N5LF