[Elecraft] K3 CW decoder . . .

[Dauer, Edward]

FWIW, I agree 100% with Dale (below) and with some of the other comments
in this thread, based on 57 years of 99.9% CW.  Specifically:

Although I used a straight key for my novice year (in 1957) and a
Vibroplex bug from then until about 10 years ago, I doubt that any of that
learning helped my electronic fist when I started using electronic keyers
like those in the K3 and the KX3.  Although I have been tempted by a
Begali, I am hard pressed to explain to myself why I want one (which,
truthfully, I do.)

Forget the decoder.  Learn to copy Morse from its sound.  If you are
serious about DXing, an experienced brain will be a vastly better
discriminator of the almost-identical sounds in a typical non-³up² pile-up
than any practical decoder could be, and probably so in any heavy QRM
especially where you are constantly using RIT.  Without much trouble
you¹ll learn to follow three or four simultaneous calls - useful for
positioning your own.

Above all, try NOT to develop a distinctive fist if it makes what you¹re
sending less comprehensible.  Just last week I worked a new (for me) DX
station who was using an idiosyncratic way of sending ³R², which was how
he began every transmission after his own call.  It went ³DIT [long space]
DAAAAH [log space] DIT."  It took me ten rounds to realize that his call
[disguised here to avoid insulting a station from whom I need a QSL] was
XX5YY rather than XX5YYE.

SK, de KN1CBR (Ted)


>
>Message: 17
>Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2014 08:52:43 -0500 (EST)
>From: "dmb at lightstream.net" <dmb at lightstream.net>
>To: "Tom Blahovici" <tomb18 at videotron.ca>
>Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 CW decoder and CQ CW contest
>Message-ID:
>	<54088.71.74.118.201.1417441963.squirrel at mail.expedient.net>
>Content-Type: text/plain;charset=iso-8859-1
>
>Tom,
>
>Congratulations on your discovery of CW, and on your desire to learn it
>and use it. I've been using CW for about 48 years now for about 90% my
>operating. Tons of fun!
>
>But PLEASE DO develop the habit of using the characters "DE" to preface
>the sending of your callsign, whether calling CQ or in exchange with
>another station. When conditions are poor, or your signal is weak, it has
>much value as a delimiter or announcement that you are about to send your
>call. This used to be standard practice for years, but unfortunately
>appears to have become optional. I have no idea why; it's so short, and
>easy to send...
>
>73, and have fun!
>
>DE WA8SRA (Dale)
>
>
>
>>