[CW] Qrl?

[David J. Ring, Jr.]

Hello Lou,

Welcome aboard!

Isn't it amazing?  The most satisfying mode around!  You're not alone, I 
know many who were Technician licensees, got bored on 2 meters, did 6 meters 
which was a little more interesting but still rather boring.

HF is the ticket.  They practiced their 5 wpm.  Whew.  I'm glad I'll never 
use that stupid stuff again.  Got on SSB, got bored after listening to some 
of the stuff on the air.  Maybe digital.

They worked PSK and found that people weren't even actually talking - they'd 
just send "hello" QTH and "good-by" - some of the guys were actually lining 
up several QSOs with the PSK programs multiple windows - so they didn't even 
read what they had typed in for their QSO - so they were very disparing.

Some of them heard from others how much fun CW was.  At least some of the 
nicest (they said) hams at the radio clubs were the CW guys.

Then they had their first CW QSO.  Not bad but slow.

But in a few weeks they were actually getting good at CW.  They could start 
to her those speed devils who were going at break-neck speed (20 wpm) and 
they started really enjoying themselves and their accomplishments.

There is a YL from NJ named Jane Tycho who just completed her 40 meter WAS - 
on the broadcast filled 40 meter "novice" band.  She is a tech with 5 wpm 
code.

I hear more and more about the newly found joys of morse operation.

I recommend joining FISTS and I recommend buying a copy of N0HFF's book "The 
Art and Skill of Radiotelegraphy" which is published and distributed 
(without profit) by FISTS.  See www.fists.org

FISTS is a club dedicated to "Morse Preservation" - they have programs to 
help the newcomer, the have awards, they also publish an excellent 
newsletter.  I've found some wonderful articles in their about Morse Code - 
and I have 40 years plus in this hobby.

One of the best (to me) benefits of FISTS membership is their QSL bureau - I 
send members QSLs via the FISTS bureau - and I receive an envelope back - 
last month I got 5 QSLs that were just a month old.  I can send USA/Canada 
cards as well as the rest of the world.  I more than make up the annual cost 
of membership with postage savings.  I can send 15 QSLs to FISTS for 39 
cents.  30 for 63 cents - or 2.1 cents a card.

73
David Ring, N1EA
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "KOLB, LOU" <lkolb at clearchannel.com>
To: <cw at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, June 09, 2006 10:17 AM
Subject: [CW] Qrl?


I stumbled across this reflector online and was delighted to find it.
I'm 53 and I've been licensed since 69 but, after having been inactive
for many years, finally got back on a few years ago.

This past fall, I fell in love with cw all over again and I've found it
to be one of the most satisfying modes I've ever operated in ham radio.
I picked up a new k1el k40 keyer and I'm ready to rock!  See you on or
around 7.030.  73, de Lou WA3MIX
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