[Elecraft] Farnsworth CW

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Excellent observations, Stuart.=20

Up until the end of WWII (which WAS before "my time" on the air), the =
FCC
REQUIRED the CW test be written by applicants in cursive script! I don't
know if the commercial circuits ever used script. Everyone was on a =
"mill"
by the time I saw my first commercial CW station in the 50's.=20

From what I've read, the FCC finally relented after WWII and started
allowing the use of "block printing" because so many ops had learned CW =
in
the US Military services during the war, and the military taught the ops =
to
print. So when they went to get a Ham license after the war, they were
stymied when the FCC said they had to use cursive script! A rebellion =
ensued
and the rules were changed.=20

I agree entirely with the range of people you describe. I taught CW to =
new
ops for quite a while and some would have it in an instant while others
struggled for years or gave up entirely. If Farnsworth helps those ops, =
that
GREAT! But it still fails to teach proper spacing. Sooner or later the =
op
will have to learn that in order to "move on" with CW in actual use.

I managed my 20 wpm Extra and Commercial license tests using =
block-printed
letters with a pencil, but I had to "invent" a lot of special ways to =
write
some of the letters to keep up the speed. Nowadays I enjoy "head copy" =
and
puttering in the shop while working CW.

Ron AC7AC

-----Original Message-----
...I am also convinced there are some musically inclined people
and code inclined people.   There are some people whose rhythm and tonal
hearing is such they cannot carry a tune in a bucket! ...

I was hard pressed to print at 13 wpm and thus never enjoyed code work =
with
paper and pencil for that reason.  I never could get the knack of =
writing
script at 13, so finally said, "it is only a hobby, if something is that
painful, it is not of importance to do it."  Many with joint deformities =
and
joint disease probably have found the same.  There are many modes in =
amateur
radio, that is what makes it so interesting.  If you cannot handle one, =
pick
another.  The Elecraft K2 works well for PSK 31 as well as CW and SSB. =
73,
Stuart K5KVH K5KVH