[CW] CW trends on the ham bands -- as I experience it

[Ron Youvan]

Werner 'Joe' Jochem DK7VW wrote:

/*snip*/
> One reason might be the lack of a CW exam. More and more CW "operators"
> never learned the code but they are decoding it with their computers.
/*snip*/
> In most cases you can identify these computer guys by their operating
> manners. They often send plain text instead of CW abbreviations and are
> not familiar with the common CW operating practice.

   I have always advocated learning the code by finding a club that teaches it, because they teach 
the most common "Q" signals, abbreviations and operating ideas right along with the code.
   I ran into a new extra class operator, old and retired, at a club meeting (8-10 years ago) that 
asked me what all of the non-word letter groups were that are always used on the air.  He had 
learned Morse code by himself, passing the 20 wpm test, but he had no clue about the "Q" signals and 
abbreviations.  (I told him and were to find them to learn.)
-- 
    Ron  KA4INM - The next election, I know what is going to happen, I'm going to help.