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

Fri Jun 27 00:02:28 2003

Ron,

You've been at it three years longer than I have, except that I have been
mostly off the air since high school.  Now I will be back on and look
forward to perpetuating the ham tradition.  I doubt it will die before we
do, and probably will survive for a long time after, although the form is
bound to be different.

Thanks for the encouragement on CW.  I will look for you in a few months
when I get things together.

73,
Tom, W6WW
K2 #3453

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ron D'Eau Claire" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 25, 2003 6:08 PM
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Improving your cw (was the international treaty
thing)

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.

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".

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.

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:

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.

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.

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

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