[CW] Slow-it-Down

Thu, 8 Jan 2004 20:43:28 -0600

Been in your shoes, Mark - know the feeling!

Let me suggest, though, that you seek QSO partners who can or will send just
a little faster than you are comfortable trying to copy. Sure you will miss
some characters, but unless you stretch yourself you will settle into that
5-wpm flat spot and just stay there. I know that 10 wpm sounds like a blur
to you now, but try working at 6 or 7 and then when that is mostly
readable,go on to 7 or 8, etc. You will progress faster than you might
think.

Another point: be fair.  That is, if you expect your QSO partners to slow
down for you, then you need to spend some time off the air practicing your
sending and receiving at speeds above 5 wpm. Your effort is needed as well.

But, between that and working at a slightly uncomfortable speed on the air,
you will be up there in no time!

Trust me! I had to teach myself the code starting in 1945 with a key and
audio oscillator and copying W1AW. Had to get to 13 wpm for the test. Took
me a year working solo, but I got there - and you will, too! I know that you
want to be a CW op and you will find plenty of help along the way.

Good luck, my friend.

73, George W5YR
[email protected]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "charmaster" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2004 1:41 PM
Subject: [CW] Slow-it-Down

  Hello, my name is John, kc0kvd. Now I'm not going to go on about the cw
squabble! Finally, after taking my 5th WPM test I got my code privileges!
Wow, what a feeling that was. Now, I have earned the right to use some of
the HF Bands, and now I can talk all around the world! Before you know it, I
purchased an MFJ Keyer, put up a 40 meter, 80 meter, and even a 10 meter
dipole. This is what I have been waiting for. Heck, I myself even joined the
Fists Club because I thought, "Wow what a good way to meet new friends"!
When my first QSL card came addressed to me, kc0kvd, oh my gosh, I was on
top of the world. I had to bring it to work to show my friends. To me this
is what it's all about. Meeting other people, and sharing thoughts with a
cw - ham Friend! Yes, I am going somewhere with this. I really do hope, when
I get to be as proficient as some of you other cw - hams, you remember that
when you are on the air and you come across a fellow CWer that is running at
5 WPM and you want to run at 13 - 20 WPM, please remember that you were once
in that persons shoes. Please for me and others out there, enjoy the ART of
CW, and make sure the person on the other end is enjoying it also. SLOW
DOWN! If you want to run 13 - 20 WPM, fine, give an RST report and QTH at a
level that is understandable to the other person, and be off! After all of
that, this is all I ask. I love CW, at 5 WPM. It will come, I know, but for
now, let's promote it so we all can enjoy it! Sorry I have to go, 80 meters
is getting noisy. If you want to schedule a time to meet on the air, drop me
an e-mail. [email protected]  It would delight me more than anything to
know that someone wanted to hook up with me on the air. Thank you. John -
kc0kvd en37hf

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