[Elecraft] CW GET, learning cw etc

Mon Jan 6 00:39:01 2003

Jeff -
  I started cw about 2 years ago. I work full time and have other hobbies
and obligations so I cannot devote a rigid schedule to learning cw. Right
now, on a good night I can have a nice ragchew at about 22 wpm.  I can copy
contest calls after hearing them 3 or 4 times at (I'm estimating) 25-35 wpm.
  Most everybody on this reflector probably has more cw experience than I,
but since I'm sort of a cw newbie I will share my thoughts. So here's my 2
cents:
  1 - I would not recommend a computer program.
  2 -  I would recommend a minimum of one QSO per night at a speed which is
just a hair beyond where you feel comfortable - enough to "challenge" you.
This advise was given to me by my FISTS code buddy and is the best advise I
ever got. If the other op won't adjust to your speed, politlely say 73 and
try another QSO. I have rarely met an op who would not adjust his speed and
I have found 99% to be real gentlemen (or ladies). Do remember one thing
though - the faster an op is, the harder it is for them to send slow (my
belief) - I admire the op who can slow down and ragchew with us beginners!
  3 - I would suggest you join the Fists Club and get a weekly schedule
setup with a mentor "Code Buddy" who will help you on the air. Fists is a
great group and growing.
  I quit using SSB two months after I became a ham because I enjoyed cw so
much. Infact, SSB feels a little odd to me - cw is much more fun and
relaxing for me.
Hope those thoughts help - others with much greater experience (like Tom
Hammond!) may offer better advice :-)

73/Tim NZ7C

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeff Burns" <[email protected]>
To: "elecraft_list" <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, January 05, 2003 8:30 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] CW GET and KPA100

> The recent comments on computer assisted CW and the need for a 100w have
> been interesting so I thought I would share some of my latest
observations.
>
> My main radio goal recently has been to improve my CW skills. I have used
> all sorts of study methods and am currently able to copy about 15 wpm, and
I
> still need to right everything down on paper.
>
> I have avoided using CW-get for several reasons. First I have been afraid
> that it would become a crutch that would keep me form learning to use my
> ears. Since the only computer the family has is on the other side of the
> room from the radio it is also inconvenient to set things up so I can use
> the computer with the radio.
>
> When the 160m contest cam around I was hoping that I could finally make
some
> contacts during a contest. I sat down Friday night to see what I could do.
> Once again everything was a completely confusing. I decided to try CW-get.
I
> set everything up and set the power on max (15w). I put 33 contacts in the
> log that night. That's not many for a good operator, but for me that was
> amazing. I was also amazed that every one I called herd me even thou I was
> using low power and a marginal antenna. On Saturday night I only head a
> short time at the radio, and did not set up CW-get, but I was able to make
> two contacts by ear. Perhaps using the computer to read CW can improve
> manual copy skills?
>
> The next weekend I jumped into the 10m contest. I thought I wold work both
> phone and CW, and would keep the power at 5w. I also put up a temporary
> vertical dipole because my main antenna does not tune well on 10m. I
started
> out on SSB and quickly became frustrated because it seemed know one could
> hear me. After two contacts I switched to CW, and was able to make 31
> contacts. Even with CW I was still having difficulty being heard by the
> other stations. On Sunday I switched back to SSB and had more success, but
> there were still many station that I could hear but could not work.
>
> Recently I was calling CQ and a person came back to fast for me to copy
> reliably. Not only was he to fast, but he was also very verbose. I asked
him
> to QRS. If he did slow down I cold not tell. Apparently his computer
program
> cold not transmit slow. That was a frustrating QSO. Perhaps if I were
using
> a computer we could have run 40 wpm, but I fail to see the point of that.
>
> As I said at the beginning my goal right now is to improve my CW skills.
If
> I had a computer at the operating desk I would probably give CW-get a try
> more often. Perhaps I need to get a new computer and give CW-get more
time.
> I would like to hear more comments on the educational value of using a
> computer to decode CW.
>
> I would also love to get a KPA100. It would have been useful in the 10m
> contest. I might have even been able to work SSB on the first day. In 160m
> contest it did not seam necessary. (Now that is strange!) Would it help me
> get better at CW? Please someone say yes. I need to justify a new toy.
>
> Jeff Burns
> AD9T
>
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