[CW] Japan to eliminate Morse Testing

Thu May 26 20:33:57 EDT 2011

Frankly, I was burning out, after decades of paper logs.  I was back here for almost 15-17 years, and had not turned in one card for stateside awards.  Just too many problems trying to track everything, keep them in boxes where I knew where they were, etc.  Once I got a real computer (after years of homebrew stuff, Commodores, etc.  I started logging that way, and was able to keep daily track of where I stood, and when I finally decided to apply for DXCC, with some 200 plus countries,there they were - on a neat typed up list.  Then I just had to figure out where the cards actually were.  HI.  

I also had decades of RTTY operations, as a paid telecommunications officer, but had no wish to have one of those 300 pound noisemakers in my basement.  Even with the Commodores I was able to come up packet, on two meters, and eventaully RTTY on the HF bands.  It reinvigorated my ham operations.  I have heard this from many others as well.  Just look at the old timers, who you read on these reflectors, almost daily, who just now are showing up on RTTY or PSK, or finally turning in hundreds of cards for DXCC.  It was indeed a revolutions, and I guess we can thank Wayne Green of 73 Magazine (those that are willing to admit to ever reading it) for dragging ham radio into the 20 century, with his articles and software, and homebrew modems, etc. to get us kick started in digital radio (not to mention on 2 meters even before that.)

I also used Commodores, etc. to help teach hundreds of Scouts (and even some adults) the code, and gave them a small software disk so they could practice at home on their own computers.  That was a big shot in the arm for new operators coming online with us back then.   Today, it seems that there is a new digital mode almost weekly, being brought out on our bands.  Some of them even stick around (PSK31 and its brethen for instance).  

As to using a phone - man that is to make phone calls with.  No games, not txting, no taking pictures, etc.  Its gotten outta hand.  

Wanna go back futher, I had a wire recorder (ex military unit) and used to send out voice CQs with that.  At a different time, I just used a small tape deck, recorded my voice, layed the rigs mike on top of the playback tape deck, and let er run, with the Vox on.  Worked fine, and won several contests using just that method.  You could even do that on CW, if you built a relay systemthat would click on and off when It heard code.    We have gone a long way since then.

Danny Douglas
N7DC
ex WN5QMX ET2US WA5UKR ET3USA SV0WPP VS6DD N7DC/YV5 G5CTB
All 2 years or more (except Novice). Short stints at:  DA/PA/SU/HZ/7X/DU
CR9/7Y/KH7/5A/GW/GM/F
Pls QSL direct, buro, or LOTW preferred,
I Do not use, but as a courtesy do upload to eQSL for those who do.  
Moderator
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Digital_modes
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  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: OllySteed at aol.com 
  To: cw at mailman.qth.net 
  Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2011 8:08 PM
  Subject: Re: [CW] Japan to eliminate Morse Testing

  Danny,
  Why does todays ham need a computer for anything?
  I send CW and record up to 1/2 hour with my phone then save it.
  I set the phone by my rig then let it record CW.
  Also a cheap $9.00 recorder at radio shack allows you to carry it with you like the phone.
  Why use a hand key when your doing 15 or more with a bug?
  Two different sending devices.
  Just my 2 cents but before computers came out sending reports came over the air.
  BOB
  AF2Q
  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CW-QRP-Homebrewers/
  QRP_L #1437-N.J.QRP-#126-ARS #350-FISTS #4916-SKCC #4570-ARCI- #4600-NOR-CAL ZOMBI-#243-CW-CODE-WARRIOR # 1 ARRL A1-OP

  In a message dated 5/26/2011 11:01:45 P.M. Mid-Atlantic Daylight Tim, N7DC at COMCAST.NET writes:
    One way for the modern ham to know just how good he is sending is to send it to himself by handkey, and copy your yourself, using a computer cw reading program.  Since most of them are pretty lousy, especially with qrm/qrn etc. if they copy 100 percent, you done good.!
    Danny Douglas
    N7DC

  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CW-QRP-Homebrewers/
  QRP_L #1437-N.J.QRP-#126-ARS #350-FISTS #4916-SKCC #4570-ARCI- #4600-NOR-CAL ZOMBI-#243-CW-CODE-WARRIOR # 1 ARRL A1-OP

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