[Elecraft] Elecraft: My CW Progress

Thu Aug 21 14:53:00 2003

I try to 'head copy' everything, with the exception of OT fists that send
almost NO spacing (even for words) or when the other op is using a bug or
straight key with odd spacing or long dahs. It throws off my timing and I
seem to end up with some form of CW specific A.D.D. ;) At that point I reach
for a pencil and paper because I know that I will not only need to copy, but
also decipher. ;)

I blame this on the Farnsworth method. That's how I was taught, so I ended
up only really being able to copy 'PERFECT' code. When I finally got on the
air, I found that my 13-15 wpm copy speed that I had worked so hard for
wasn't working very well in the real world at all. Any deviation from
'perfect' by the other op would bring my copy speed crashing down. Bugs and
straight keys still give me fits. So, I continue to try to improve and I
actually seek out bug and straight key ops in QSO so I can practice copying
code that doesn't sound like it was sent by a machine.

I think this is the real art to CW. It's a digital mode that can have vast
deviations from the 'norm' and still be effective because the human mind can
adjust to imperfection.

Hope to hear you on the bands!

Scott
AG4KU

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of
[email protected]
Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2003 9:15 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Elecraft] Elecraft: My CW Progress

Hi Guys, sorry if this is a little off freq but here is an update on my CW
progress (using my K1 of course) and a request for a bit of advice.

I've been on the air for only 2 months now almost exclusively on 40m in the
evenings. I've made about 50 or 60 short QSO's, my CW motivation is high
and I am making progress with CW. However here are some opportunities for
you OT's to offer some advise to a novice (in ham radio not in age
unfortunately, I'm 47!).

   I can send on my Kent straight key at about 12-15 wpm with a nice rhythm
   with or without longer than normal gaps. I prefer to send without the
   longer gaps since it feels right sounds nicer and is easier for the
   proficient hams to copy. BUT I can't copy as well when the other ham
   sends to me without the gaps. So do I please the other guy and send
   without the gaps or do I give him the jerky CW so that I can get it all
   when he sends back jerky. "To gap or not to gap" so to speak!

   I find that though I start sending with gaps, I unconsciously  start to
   shorten the gaps to normal spacing because it feels more natural and
   preserves the natural rhythms of the shorter words like FER and RST and
   QSO etc etc. I guess I am copying the sounds from other hams who are
   sending without gaps.

   SRI this is a bit tedious and off track but I don't know which is the
   best way to proceed. I don't want to slow down my character speed as
   this also loses the rhythm.

   I have got tired of trying to get everything down on paper. I can't
   write very fast using block capitals and I seem to get all tensed up
   when trying to paper copy it all, so I've started to head copy (apart
   from the stuff for the log). I don't get all of it but it is getting
   better and I can sit back and relax and concentrate on seeing the
   letters on the imaginary blackboard. Am I going the right way or should
   I stick to the pencil.

   Sometimes when I am sending, my arm goes stiff and the dits are the
   result of an arm shake rather than a wrist action. So I have stopped
   sending with the arm in free space and put my arm on the table under a
   book and the key at right angles to the norm. This way the arm is
   supported and stops shaking and I use just my fingers/wrist to key. I
   seems to be a lot less tiring. Any thoughts?

Martin
M0KWV
K1 #1534

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