[Elecraft] on CW

[David C Dawson]

I have had several occasions to talk to a ham (one of five in the world)
who does microwave moonbounce 10GHz and up.

He has said that due to extreme distortion that CW is the only mode that
works and signals are well below the noise levels (as much as -20dB)
so you need a spectrum analyser to read them.

Also, CW is useful in ultra-low power beacons 5mW at about 13.6 MHz into
a dipole, transmitted from the West Coast of Canada and picked up in
mid-Atlantic.

On Sat, Dec 16, 2006 at 12:56:56PM -0800, wayne burdick wrote:
> The test may be eliminated, but all the reasons that CW is popular will 
> still be there. Perhaps this is why CW continues to flourish even in 
> countries that phased out their own testing requirements in past years.
> 
> It's fun for many of us, of course. But it's also characterized by 
> generally simpler equipment, and offers a higher signal-to-noise ratio 
> than voice modes for a given power level or amount of signal 
> processing. This is why it's appropriate for gear that we carry on 
> backpacking trips and for emergency use, and of course for QRP gear in 
> general.
> 
> CW has a standardized shorthand (including Q signals and common 
> abbreviations) that transcend language barriers. And it's a "digital" 
> communications mode, yet it doesn't require a computer or specialized 
> interfaces. There's an immediacy to CW communications that makes it 
> feel quite personal -- just as if you're talking, which of course you 
> are.
> 
> Then there's my personal favorite: When I'm out camping in some remote 
> location, late at night, I can put on my headphones and make two-way 
> contacts with faraway places -- without disturbing anyone sleeping 
> close by. (There's something about surfing the ionosphere, with all its 
> propagation modes, odd noises, and unexpected surprises, that you just 
> can't duplicate using the internet.)
> 
> Elecraft will continue to strongly support both CW equipment and CW 
> operation.
> 
> 73,
> Wayne, N6KR
> 
> 
> ---
> 
> http://www.elecraft.com
> 
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-- 
David Dawson

The trouble with this country is that there are too many politicians
who believe, with a conviction based on experience, that you can fool
all of the people all of the time.
                -- Franklin Adams