[CW] Morse Training Programs..

[D.J.J. Ring, Jr.]

This is a subject that isn't as simple as it first seems and as Richard
admits by his making an exception for "numerical data or other 'odd' text
which to us old telegraphers "real copy".

Just as I don't need to be able to hear every word to know the subject
spoken of in a conversation - I can carry on a conversation with someone -
and many people do - by only understanding a small percentage of the
information spoken.  The same thing can and often is done with QRQ Morse.

On the other hand - and two or three operators come to mind when I say this
- I've had some QRQ operators say "He'd sound a lot better if he would type
just a bit slower because he forgets the "e" all the time in the middle of
that word - I know they're copying letter perfect.  I don't think anyone can
argue with this.

Still at the extremes of ability even these best admit that when tested they
guessed - but they guessed correctly - but the speed was just at the top of
their ability and such would be expected.

I have known a few of these operators who could do this - some who could
hear errors in high speed automatic Morse - think the old Press Wireless
transmitters that ran point-to-point.  W6AUH, WA1STO and one fellow who was
a N5 three letter call were all excellent operators with the N5 fellow being
acclaimed the best by Dalt, W6AUH and Don De Neuf, WA1SPM.  I just cannot
remember his name.  These gentlemen would participate daily in a PREWI
(Press Wireless) net around 14,113 kHz - which was the "interesting" area of
the old 20 meter CW band - high enough so no one would hear you - but the
same area where W1HRQ Hank Warner fired up his FT101E into the doublet on
the 120 foot poles he had in his hard in Kennebunkport, Maine.  What a
signal a dipole has when it is installed as a "real antenna" and not an
after thought.  (When hams put up a yagi they usually spend some time and
effort in getting it up high, the same improvement happens to dipoles!).

Hank had a 1 mfd capacitor across the FT101E's keyline so that the waveshape
of his Morse sounded like a bell - just like the old Press Wireless
transmitter used at KFS on 22515 kHz - or like the WNU transmitter on 478
kHz.  How I would love to copy that note.

73

DR



On Thu, Feb 18, 2010 at 2:25 PM, Richard <cwmcode at yahoo.ca> wrote:
>
>   "But to get into the meat of a conversation, you are just skimming,
unless you have hard copy. "
>
>
> Not to be contrary and I'm respectful of your background Danny, but I
disagree. I have regular conversations with a good friend (and others)
keyboarding at 55 to 75wpm and we just "head read" just as you would
conducting a normal conversation. Writing it down would be
counterproductive, but I do find that at "normal" QRS speeds the data rate
is so slow that I almost have to jot it down as its difficult to follow the
senders train of thought. I would also make an exception for transcribing
numerical data or other "odd" text.
>
>
> Richard (Rick) VE3MFN
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