[Elecraft] Improving your cw (was the international treaty thing)

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

I've been pounding brass since 1952, with very few breaks. I hear a lot
about ops who love high speed CW and I've even worked a few. They've =
been
around since before I was born. But 99% of the ops hammer along at 15 to =
20
wpm...which you will too very quickly.=20

In the meantime, don't hesitate to get on the air. One thing that =
pleases
and amazes this OT is the number of ops coming back to CW or starting =
out as
Hams and determined to learn CW. If you EVER hear me calling CQ at 20 =
wpm or
above, give me a call. I make it a rule to ALWAYS slow down to the speed =
of
the station calling me. I'll be happy to QSO and I'll really enjoy
exercising my old WWII J-38 "hand pump".=20

If you call someone who just can't "stomach" sending at your speed, let =
'em
go with a your heartfelt 73. There will be those thrilled to QSO you.=20

As for CW not being REQUIRED any longer, I don't believe that means a =
thing.
Shoot, for most of a century now virtually no one has HAD to ride a =
horse,
but not only are  millions of horses ridden every day, a lot of folks =
still
make a living at it!

A few other things that I've been hearing for the past half century:=20

CW is DEAD. It won't be around in a few years.

Ham radio is DEAD. It won't be around in a few years.

Mind you, we shouldn't be complacent about our privileges to operate on =
the
air. We haven't been over the past half century which is exactly why we =
have
more spectrum now than we did then. I think our success is based on =
three
things:

 1- Being involved in what interests you regardless of what someone else
thinks of its value.

 2 - Having fun.

 3 - Helping other ops have fun and explore what interests them.=20

I wish every op a lot of all three!  After all, 100 years ago Hams =
started
out in spite of everyone from the government to their neighbors telling =
them
that their efforts were useless, pointless and probably should be =
illegal.
We are enjoying the hobby today ONLY because they didn't listen. We owe =
it
to future generations of Hams to do the same.=20

Ron AC7AC
K2 #1289

-----Original Message-----



Buddy,

It's been a very long time since I could copy 20 wpm, but before too =
very
long, will be back on the air with my new K2.  All I ever worked was CW, =
but
after being off the air for decades, I am looking forward to renewing my =
CW
skills.  (By the way, I helped in the 1970s to preserve the code test =
for
amateurs, which now seems to be fading away.)

Now, I have to figure out how to get back into the game and have fun =
while
not being able to keep up with almost everyone that now works CW at =
speeds
beyond my ability.  I guess there will be some who will put up with me =
until
I can get the speed back up.

73,
Tom, W6WW
K2 #3453