[Elecraft] [OT] CW speed and decoders and SS

[David Wilburn]

What blew me away trying to get into my third CW contest was the speed
everyone was running.  Additionally I had not dealt with sequential
exchanges before, and wanted to listen to one first to get the "feel" of
the exchange.  But it was all too fast.  

The concept of answering folks at what they sent, was few and far
between in my experience.  I heard some folks consistently sending
slower (meaning 20-25) only to be answered by much higher rates.  They
still worked them, so they were capable of higher than they were sending
(seems quite possible) or they had help.

Decoders must be useful, the K3 has one.  With the many years of being
licensed that copied that I copied in the exchange, I completely believe
that many folks are sending and copying at the higher speeds.  But I
have a hard time buying that "all" of them are.  

Are they using the MFJ decoder or the various software programs?  Is
there one that works better than the other?  I have every intention of
continuing to build my code speed, but if I am going to continue to try
to do CW contesting I need to do something to reduce the frustration
factor.  There were stations that I passed over as too fast to even
start getting the info.  Others I asked for QRS.  Most did, some didn't.

Overall it was a learning activity, I'm glad I took the time to
experience it, but frustrating because I couldn't fully participate. 
-- 

David Wilburn
dave.wilburn at verizon.net
K4DGW
K2 S/N 5982