[CW] Speed Question

[Dr Jim Kennedy]

I was working late night CW on Field Day this June. There were pleanty of signals with operators sending CQ FD at about 10-13 wpm. The operators coming back to answer the call for the most part cam3 back at 20-25 wpm. The slower speed operators became frustrated and dropped the communication and moved to other frequencies. This caused both parties to loose contact points

I think some of the problem is that many field day stations today are using computerized CW reading and sending programs. The sending portion set at above 20 WPM. Now I know that there are no rules concerning CW operation being hand or machine copied and sent. However, if it is truly meant as an exercise to determine amateur readiness capability not sure there will be enough electrical power for radio and computer equipment. 

So when operating Field Day CW perhaps there should be points incentives for hand copy and straight key operation. Just a thought. Cause when the chips are really down CW might just be sent by touching two pieces of bare wire together to key the transmitter.

My two pennies worth.

Doc - K2PHD





Sent from my iPad
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