[Elecraft] VP6DX scraping the bottom

[Kevin Rock]

   I finally had a chance to work VP6DX on Monday.  I listened to them on 30, 40, and 80 meters.  While listening I heard them slow down to 15 wpm or so more than once on each of the bands.  It did take me a while to become acclimated to the higher speeds.  I am not normally a contester so it takes a little getting used to for me to copy contest speed code. 
   I agree we should slow down for those who run more slowly but there are times when it is just not possible to do so.  It is difficult to change speed on a bug rapidly.  It is also not simple to go very slowly with paddles.  I don't have a straight key hooked up to any of my rigs but there is one on the bench.  I should make the circuit for allowing access to both my paddles and my straight key.  When I began relearning Morse code I used my paddles at 15 wpm with spaces added between the characters.  When I slow down I use the Farnsworth method just as I learned it.  
   Soon I will be training a number of local amateurs and will start using my straight key on a regular basis.  However, I cannot use it for very long without causing problems for my wrist and arm.  A bad break of both bones above my right wrist stopped any attempt at gaining my Novice ticket in 1967.  Paddles were the only way I could use CW on a long term basis.  In 1967 I had not heard of keyers and was not able to train myself in the use of a Vibroplex bug.  My amateur ticket would have to wait until 2001.
   Kevin.  KD5ONS

-----Original Message-----
>From: Brett Howard <brett at livecomputers.com>
>Sent: Feb 27, 2008 3:44 PM
>To: 'G3YMC' <dave at davesergeant.com>, elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>Subject: RE: [Elecraft] VP6DX scraping the bottom
>
>That's just bogus!  Its NOT the speed that you need to get competent at.
>It's the speed that many people may be competent at but not all of us.  If
>you guys are going to continue to tell people that they need to get
>competent at 25-35 then you can simply kiss CW goodbye.  If people
>(especially DX an DXpedition type stations) are unwilling to slow down and
>give new CW ops some of the fun contacts then why would we be willing to
>want to continue to learn CW?  So we can become one of the rest of the
>elitist snobs who won't slow down for someone?
>
>I remember when I was at 5WPM and it was almost impossible to get someone to
>talk to me!  Heck I knew it was slow even I was thinking it was painful when
>it was as fast as I could go.  Now I'm up to 11 to 13WPM and its easier to
>find people to talk to but if someone is calling CQ at 5WPM that's the guy
>I'm all over trying to talk to at HIS speed as that's a new guy to be
>brought into the fold.  If we keep running people off from CW and telling
>people to get proficient at 25-30 WPM that's the attitudes that gets CW
>dropped from the test requirements!
>
></rant>
>