[Elecraft] Text Decode Issues

[Doug Turnbull]

Dear OMs and Yls,
    Calm down, no need to get angry.   The CW decode feature is a tool and
maybe it keeps some on the mode who would otherwise not try.   In time they
improve and even seasoned operators occasionally may find the decode feature
handy if not amazing.   You can be distracted and take a glance at the
screen to fill in the gap.    I am a 25 wpm rag chewer and find this feature
useful.   It is not perfect unless receiving good code.    Polar flutter,
poor spacing by the sender and noise can all cause problems but it amazes me
how well it does function.     It is also a useful reminder to keep your own
spacing as it should be.   The decoder is a useful and powerful tool but it
can not perform miracles.

      We are fortunate to keep everyone trying CW.   I note CW Ops do not
care how you work Morse as long as you work it.  In time people improve and
copy more by ear but the decoder helps to add some security for those
operators learning code.   This is a technological hobby let us not look
askance at technical helps.   

           73 Doug EI2CN

-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of HREFAB
Sent: 21 April 2014 15:36
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Text Decode Issues

AG0N-3055 wrote
> On Mon, 21 Apr 2014 09:32:59 -0400, Stephen Roberts wrote:
> 
>>
> Dumb question time.  Why don't you just learn to operate CW the way most
> people do?  CW is supposed to be a manual mode.  It is an ART.  Copying
> CW is a part of the tradition of amateur radio.  If you have to have
> perfect CW to be decoded, it's the same as or worse than RTTY.  Your
> brain can decode CW with missing characters and elements quite nicely.
> 
> Use your head!
> 
> Gary
> -- 

THAT'S A pretty ridiculous statement Gary. We're talking about a FEATURE on
the radio, NOT my ability or inability to copy or send. The Decode function
is more than just "Tell me what he said". It is useful for picking up faint
stations that might be missed, and to verify what my ears hear. Of course,
I'm not as skilled an operator as you obviously are, but then again, I
embrace technology rather than being afraid of it.

I'm not worried about MISSING characters, rather I am concerned that the
characters that I send PROPERLY are being miss-sent because of a flaw in the
software. Telling me to "Learn how to operate..." is akin to you telling me
to "Buy a Stick" when I mention that my automatic transmission is having a
problem.

I spent a not inconsiderable sum of money for this radio and have a
reasonable expectation that all features work properly.




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