[CW] Re: Digital CW (was Numbers Stations)

[David Ring]

On Sat, Sep 13, 2008 at 8:42 AM, Ron Youvan <ka4inm at tampabay.rr.com> wrote:

>  I disagree, cw is cw pulses of RF it is not aural, not something manual.
>  cw is "Q" signs, our abbreviations our attitudes, the propagation of cw,
> not the propagation of SSB, what ever that is.

Hello Ron,

I've never heard that definition of "CW".

If you were to use that definition of CW, few would know what you were
talking about.  CW is "Q" signals?  I'm afraid one one person (you)
would know your own personal meaning.

CW as radio amateurs use it was a shortening of the name of one of the
common types of radiotelegraphy.,  In the old days sets were marked
for MCW and CW.

If unmodulated carrier was used, you had to put the selector switch to
CW to be able to hear a tone.

So when spark went away on the amateur bands, and modulated continuous
wave and interupted continuous waves were likewise forbidden on HF -
were left with only one mode of HF radiotelegraphy:  CW.

That is what hams - and other radiotelegraphers - mean by CW.

Speaking of keyboards, sometimes they can bring delight to those who
can no longer send by hand.  I remember Katashi Nose, KH6IJ who could
handle pile ups on 21 MHz at 45 wpm with ease using a paddle and
electronic keyer.  After he had a stroke, he could only get on the air
with a keyboard.

It sounded differently - his beautiful fist was "too perfect" now -
but it allowed him to enjoy ham radio a bit longer.

73

David N1EA

-30-