[CW] Clueless ( as in not a clue )

[Richard Knoppow via CW]

    I am not so sure CW ops are worse now than in the 
distant past, I think there were always bad fists. Part of 
my working on my code is copying anything that comes along. 
That means being able to follow badly spaced code, code with 
extra dots and dashes, etc.  I used to practice mostly on 
machine sent code but found that I was hearing extended 
conversations in code where one or both of the participants 
were far from perfect, yet seemed to be able to understand 
each other. Has to be learnable. I suspect that a good 
commercial op had to be able to read bad fists just like the 
secretary one can find in most offices who can read any 
awful handwriting.
    My sending is better than my receiving and I used to be 
complimented on it. I use a hand key or bug. I have never 
been able to get comfortable with a keyer but perhaps don't 
go fast enough to make one necessary. On a bug I am good to 
about 30 WPM but used to be faster before I began to get 
arthritis. I think it takes practice, practice, practice, 
and I am envious of those like David Ring who can read at 
very high speeds.


--
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles
WB6KBL
dickburk at ix.netcom.com


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Eddy Swynar via CW" <cw at mailman.qth.net>
To: "K3PID" <Ron.K3PID at sbcglobal.net>; "CW Reflector" 
<cw at mailman.qth.net>
Cc: <Fists at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2014 7:44 PM
Subject: Re: [CW] Clueless ( as in not a clue )



On 2014-12-31, at 7:20 PM, K3PID via CW wrote:

> Am I the only one noticing that more and more operators 
> are completely clueless about the art of sending CW? I can 
> generally copy 25+ WPM of GOOD code. That would be code 
> with nominally correct dit to dah ratios and spacing's. 
> It doesn’t have to be perfect but geese! There are ops out 
> there that I couldn’t copy at any speed! A long time ago 
> in a galaxy far far away we would call them LIDS. Dits 
> that are barely contact closures and dahs that run on and 
> on with no break between letters let alone words!!
>
> Sorry! Just felt the need to rant! I feel better now!
>
> 73 es Happy New Year! Ron K3PID






Hi Ron,

I have to agree with you: there has been a marked 
deterioration in the quality of the CW being sent out there 
anymore---and from anywhere, too, i.e. definitely not 
limited to North American-based Hams...!

Oh sure, there have always been those guys around whom you'd 
swear send code with their left foot. In my 43-1/2 years on 
the air, I thought I'd heard them all---until the good 
openings on 10-meters in the past few months compelled me to 
work stations there about every 3 minutes, or so, pile-up 
style, to take advantage of paths while they were open. 
That's when I noticed that a lot of stations to-day have a 
tendency to display a blatant lack of spacing, they run 
their letters together, can't spell to save their lives 
(intuition can help a lot here!), and seem to subscribe to 
the motto of, "Why send only 4 dits, when 6 will do...?" Hi 
Hi

But, d'you know what...? I NEVER EVER complain to them about 
it---I simply do my best to get my report & their name, & I 
thank them for the QSO, & move on. I simply will NOT 
criticize some poor soul who may suffer from some sort of a 
physical disability / illness that prevents him / her from 
sending perfect CW. At least that person is trying to stay 
in the game, & I give them full credit for that. And I 
always remember that old saying of, "THERE, BUT BY THE GRACE 
OF GOD, GO I."

So I clam up, & & enjoy the ride as best I can. There are 
lots of other "crackerjack" CW experts out there who far 
outweigh the poor operators anyway...and after all, variety 
is the spice of life!

HNY to all, & my vy

~73!~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ








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