[CW] CW

[John Barnwell]

I was a Coast Guard RM for 20 years, I recall taking a turn on the 500khz watch at NMW (Astoria, Oregon) for the first time after graduation from RM school where I had achieved copy at 24wpm. The Russian and Japanese fishing vessels would come up several times a day to pass weather "obs". The Russians would send at lightening speed, perhaps 60-70wpm. This was rather intimidating to a new op, who was used to copying "perfect code". I would have to slow them down, so as to get accurate copy. These fellows made great sport of sending as fast as possible. It wasn't long however, that I was able to go right back at them just as fast. Guess what? They would slow down, why? Because they were sending at speeds beyond they're own copying skills. Years later working at NMR (San Juan, Puerto Rico) I would work operators the world over, but those Russians always came at us hard and fast. We again sent just as fast back, and they would almost always slow down. Number
 one rule in CW, send only as fast as you can "accurately" copy....period. You only look foolish and inexperienced by sending beyond your limits. Relax and enjoy. John Barnwell