[Elecraft] 6M CW

[John Ragle]

     When I started ham radio, there were just two modes in use: CW and 
AM phone. RTTY certainly existed commercially, but I can not recall 
anyone mentioning that mode in those long-ago times. Moreover, 
transceivers didn't exist...one had a transmitter, a receiver, and an 
antenna change-over relay. QSK didn't exist. The "bug" was around, and 
some operators had a marvelous "banana-boat" swing. Few operators had 
rotatable yagis. The licensing structure demanded at least 13 wpm 
proficiency.

     Nowadays things are very different. [An attempt to survey the hobby 
is given in: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio.] This list 
focuses on a particular kind of hardware...a self-contained, 10 to 100 
watt transceiver with full qsk on cw, as well as an astonishing range of 
other capabilities. The personal computer has appeared on the scene, 
making many new digital modes accessible. CW and WSJT have become the 
prime weak signal modes, with QSK CW providing very fast, 
highly-efficient, turn-around type QSOs. A single dit or two during a CQ 
establishes a link. On HF, PSK or RTTY provide very leisurely media for 
chatting -- one's attention can wander a bit, perhaps even to sipping 
coffee (tea for the Brits). When conditions are good enough, SSB works 
well for casual talk or for hello-goodbye exchanges.

     All this obtains from rigs like the K3 or a few others, together 
with the PC. Virtually unlimited frequency mobility, band coverage, 
stability, full break-in, digital modes, and so forth are available. 
There are still lids and careless operators. People still rag-chew on 
the calling frequencies. Recently I waited patiently for 20 minutes 
hoping a pair of W7 stations in western Washington on 6 meters would 
take a break in their rag-chew, while they faded slowly in to S9 
strength and slowly out to the noise level here in FN32. ...but, by and 
large, operating techniques have changed to fit the available media. I 
think this is quite appropriate, and if someone wants to do a 
smash-and-grab QSO, I am content. When conditions are changing rapidly, 
this seems entirely reasonable. I hold against a philosophy that says 
"be reasonable, do it MY way!"

John Ragle-- W1ZI