[Elecraft] An Opportunity for CW Ops

[Kevin Rock]

There are still a few traffic nets out there.  I worked with one for a few 
years but have let my skills erode lately due to other endeavors.  
Training does take time and the skills need to be honed at least weekly if 
not more often.

During last year's spate of hurricanes through Florida I worked a couple 
of ops passing H&W traffic out of the area.  It is more difficult to 
insert the messages into the NTS than to receive the traffic due to the 
cyclic nature of NTS.  NREN wants to handle NTS format radiograms on a 
more regular basis when needed and pass them into section and region NTS 
nets when possible.  The site listed by Ron earlier today and by Conard on 
the Glowbug list has all of the details.

CW is efficient but proficiency is required.  Even voice handling of 
traffic takes training and practice to do correctly and efficiently.
    Kevin.  KD5ONS



On Mon, 12 Sep 2005 18:55:37 -0700, Ron D'Eau Claire 
<rondec at easystreet.com> wrote:

> Eric, KE6US wrote:
> Does NREN have any statistics about the number of messages they have been
> able to handle concerning Hurricane Katrina?
>
> -----------------------------
>
> You might ask NREN. My sense is that they're trying to stimulate 
> interest in
> using CW. Clearly, it is not a major traffic mode today. It requires
> dedication and training to be ready to handle traffic. At one time I ran 
> CW
> nets for the US Army and I'm a commercial radiotelegraph licensee, but I 
> can
> tell you I'm scrambling when I try follow proper procedure on a directed 
> net
> today. My hat's off to any "casual" CW ops who stumble into a traffic net
> and stick it out. The training program NREN is trying to set up sounds
> great.
>
> After all these years, I'll in as a student myself if I can schedule the
> hours free (I work odd hours). It's been 30 years since I participated 
> in a
> CW traffic net.
>
> Ron AC7AC