[CW] Morse Code for us slow pokes

[Marshall Emm]

Mike said--

>>For this reason, I would suggest that proper etiquette is to not answer a
higher speed CQ at a very low speed but to call one's own CQ at whatever
speed he prefers to operate.  That way the fellow who answers will know
what he's getting into.
<<

You've hit the nail on the head-- but where are newbies supposed to learn the 
etiquette?  There's a wealth of topics that make up what we sometimes refer to 
as "good operating practice,"  including but probably not limited to 
procedures, prosigns and Q signals, customs, jargon, and etiquette.  These 
things used to be learned over time, as one progressed from apprentice through 
journeyman to master, or dare I say Novice through General to Extra. Most of us 
older guys worked with one or a series of  Elmers, who always took pains to 
instill the wisdom of the ages and the rules of the road.  Today you get a 
piece of paper from the FCC which says you can legally call CQ at 5wpm (or 
answer one!) anywhere you like-- there is simply no way for the newcomer to 
learn the etiquette (or even good procedure) unless he goes out and looks for 
it!  

The etiquette of speed is stated pretty simply-- call CQ at the speed you want 
to operate, answer CQ's that are at the speed you want to operate.  Answering a 
CQ that is substantially faster or slower than you want to (or can) operate is 
just bad manners.  As is asking a guy to QRS if he has responded at the speed 
you are using!  In fact, you should never have to ask a guy to slow down unless 
a) he has sped up for some reason, or b) his sending has deteriorated, or c) 
conditions have deriorated from QRM/N.  But I digress.

Back in the old days, everybody pretty much observed the etiquette so it was 
also a given that you would answer anybody who called you.  If the guy was a 
lot slower, you assumed he knew the "rules"  and had a good reason for calling 
you anyhow.  Could be a guy on a sinking boat, sending with a broken arm, 
whatever.  And a good op knows how to cut a conversation short, too. 

And another old "rule" has fallen by the way side-- the slower you are, the 
more you should abbreviate and use codes!  If you answer a 15wpm CQ at 10WPM, 
and the fast op slows down for you, you are just going to irritate him if you 
insist on spelling out "THANK YOU FOR THE CALL.  YOUR RST IS 599 ? 599. MY NAME 
IS..." etc.   

But AGAIN, how is anybody supposed to know this stuff??  I'm far more likely to 
speed up again and send "SRI OM QRM TKS QSO 73 SK" than try to explain it or 
ask for a little more efficiency, or explain that if I gave you a 5 anything 
report you don't need to repeat anything.  And it's not just CW--  guys put up 
with poor procedure on phone without saying anything, too. The one mode 
exception would be 2M FM, where you very quickly get told off if you say 
something "wrong."  [g]

So... there are breaches of etiquette on both sides, but the only solution that 
I can see, apart from individual case-by-case attempts by more experienced ops 
to help the newbies, is for somebody to write up a friendly, general discussion 
of good CW operating practice and GET IT HANDED OUT TO EVERYBODY WHO PASSES A 
MORSE TEST. Which will never happen, because the VEC's don't want to encourage 
the use and enjoyment of CW.  

[Sigh...]



 


   







73
Marshall Emm
N1FN/VK5FN
n1fn at MorseX.com
Morse Express and Oak Hills Research
"Everything for the Morse Enthusiast"
http://www.MorseX.com
http://www.ohr.com
(303)752-3382
--