[CW] Re: CW digest, Vol 4 #232 - 6 msgs

[Dick Carroll]

 David Ring N1EA wrote


>
> 20 wpm English is the same speed as 16 wpm code groups - as explained above.
> The difference is the standard by which the speed is timed.
>
> English is 25% "faster" than code groups, and code groups are 20% "slower"
> than English - in word count - but the speed of the dots and dashes are
> identical.
>
> The FCC test for the 1st class telegraph license (which I hold) is for 25
> wpm English, and 20 wpm code groups - the same "code speed" on the machine,
> but, again, the "word count" is different because we are counting English
> (which has a faster "through-put" on Morse than code groups.  If the machine
> sends for one minute, you will get 25 words if you are being sent English,
> but only 20 words if you are being sent code groups.

 Dave,
  You've just explaned a remark made to me by the FCC Engineer in Charge of the
Kansas City office when I took the Radiotelegraph 2nd and Extra class ham license
exams there in 1969.

 The study guide for the 2nd Telegraph that I was using was an older book which
stated the code test for 2nd was 16 wpm groups. No mention of a 20wpm text exam. So
16wpm groups is what I had prepared for.

 The KC office gave commercial exams in the morning and ham exams in the afternoon.
The EIC, Paul Hampton who was a ham, (later W0AP IIRC, now long a SK ) personally
gave radio exams on a regular basis (can you imagine a EIC today giving exams?)  He
just enjoyed doing it.

  I presented myself for the commercial code test, and he asked what I wanted to test
for. I said the 16wpm groups test for 2nd radiotelegraph, and he replied that was one
of two tests, the rules had changed and now one must pass tests for both 16wpm groups
and 20wpm plain language. So I took the 16wpm groups test and I don't think I missed
a single character. Then came the 20wpm plain text, for which I had not practiced.
(I held a Conditional class ham license and intended to test through Advanced that
afternoon. I hadn't given any thought to Extra at that time, though I had studied the
material and had been through electronics school at Fort Monmouth several  years
earlier).

   After success with 16wpm, he started the 20wpm text and I did well with it. But, I
had a mistake between two strings of good copy both of which were slightly less than
one full minute. While grading the test, he called me up to his desk and showed me my
copy where the busted word was-"What's this?"
   I still remember- I had written 'additional' and
there had been something else after that which I had missed. There wasn't time to
ponder, so I had left the next space blank and went on to get most of another minute
of good copy before making another error.
 So, of course I had to respond, "I don't know". He said "It was 'adding machine'
instead of 'additional'.--- Hah! a classic case of anticipating!

 He then counted again, and said "You don't quite have a full minute on either side
of the mistake"  so I didn't pass.

 But his next comment then was "The 16wpm groups is enough for 20wpm for the Extra
class ham test".

 He didn't explain, and until now I never understood  his meaning. I've wondered
about it since. A longtime mystery solved!

 So I went back that afternoon and sat for the General written, 13wpm code, Advanced
and Extra writtens, and the 20wpm code test again, and brought home the Extra ticket.
Despite his earlier remark, I was required to take the 20wpm code test again, and
passed it this time.
 FCC offered no credit above Novice for the Conditional, so I had to take all the
other exams.

And I never again made the 260 miles-one-way trip to Kansas City to retake the 2nd
telegraph test.

73, Dick W0EX