[CW] Etiquette question...

[David J. Ring Jr - N1EA]

If you're working these guys through any type of competition like a pile up,
your not talking about the same weak signals that I am.

Brute force sometimes works, but just plain brute force doesn't work well
without some brains.

I was a relief operator for one ship - we had a 300 watt output HF
transmitter and a 350 watt MF transmitter (both CW).  That is a fair amount
of power - even though we could run up to 1.5 kW output.

The fellow before me had over 200 messages he failed to send.  He just
couldn't make a QSO.

I would routinely run high power when calling the station - to get through
the pile ups on the calling channels - but I also would try to listen on a
separate receiver - we ran duplex on all circuits.  Then when working I'd go
back to 50 watts or so.

But if the coast station even hinted he had a problem copying me, I'd boost
it IMMEDIATELY up to 250 watts - or if I had it - to 1.5 kW.

This other fellow - who incidentally was also a ham - spent a lot of time
TRYING to make a QSO - and failed - DAILY - and the messages for stores,
supplies, charts, pilots just kept going on a spike.

I always wondered if he knew how to tune the exciter, buffer-multiplier ,
and final amplifier of the transmitter.  That too was a skill.

As is not running power when you need it.

73

David Ring
N1EA

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "W2AGN" <w2agn@w2agn.net>
To: <cw@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2003 8:20 AM
Subject: Re: [CW] Etiquette question...


> On 22 May 2003 at 0:55, David J. Ring Jr - N1EA wrote:
>
> <snip>
> >
> > The other problem involving low power stations is the guys who have been
> > sold a "bill of goods" thinking that two watts is all they "need".  That
is
> > bunk.
> >
> > Many of these people leave the hobby because they've spent their money
on a
> > QRP radio, it didn't work well, then they never had the cash to buy a
decent
> > radio.
> >
> > Someone should tell them:  Buy a 100 watt radio, then run it at QRP if
you
> > want to.
> >
> > That at least makes sense for everyone.
> >
>
>
> Well, having gone through the "QRO" phase. (I still have 3 SB220s, and
> SB200, and , oh yes, a GPT-750), I got the QRP bug about 7 years ago. Now
> have around 200 countries QRP. I have found some great operators. And
> yes,. 2 watts IS all you need. Discovered this after 40 years as a ham.
>
> It is unfortunate that there are a few, but a minority, of operators that
> refuse to have a QSO if it entails any effort on their part. To those I
> say, if I am too weak, or it's too much trouble, don't answer me.
>
> I rarely find the need to go even to 100 watts any more. Even got VP6DI,
> 8Q7ZZ and others with 5 watts, just requires a bit of skill in a pileup,
> vs brute force. (i.e., sitting on one frequency and sending your call
> over and over, whether the DX is listening or not).
>
> I thought CW operators were into demonstrating a SKILL. I guess there are
> even those of us who wish it handed to us, neatly wrapped, no assembly
> required.
> ---
> +-++-++-++-++-+   John L. Sielke
> |W||2||A||G||N|        http://www.w2agn.net [UPDATED]
> +-++-++-++-++-+    Ex-K3HLU,TF2WKT,W7JEF,W4MPC,N4JS
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