[Elecraft] Activity in ancient 15-meter novice band (21.1 MHz)

Tue May 27 13:54:42 EDT 2014

Hello Joshua,

By all means, learn CW. It is never too late. I was QRT for 25 years and 
had to learn the Code from scratch. You can learn all the letters in 6 
weeks practicing for 15 minutes per day. In another 5-7 weeks you'll 
absorb the punctuation and numbers.There are plenty of resources 
available on the Straight Key Century Club web site. 
http://www.skccgroup.com/ Our club has grown to more than 12,000 members 
since it was founded in 2006. There are monthly sprints and weekend 
operating events. Since everybody uses only straight keys or bugs, QRS 
is the order of the day. Give a listen tonight at 0000Z on the following 
frequencies:
*160 m, 1820 kHz* 	*80 m, 3550 kHz* 	*40 m, 7055 / 7114 kHz* 	*20 m, 
14050 kHz*
*15 m, 21050 kHz* 	*10 m, 28050 kHz* 	*6 m, 50090 kHz*

Get in touch if you have any questions.

73, Charles N2SO
On 5/27/2014 8:25 AM, Joshua Gould wrote:
> I keep throwing around the idea of trying to learn code again.  When I got
> licensed as a no code tech, I stayed there for the first ten years because
> every time that I would try to learn code to upgrade, my brain was having
> none of it.  Now that I've upgraded to General and I have access to more
> bands (where CW is still used) the idea is growing on me again.  I am
> planning to purchase a KX3 in early July, and would love to know code so
> that I can play around on CW while QRP.  Between attending college and
> other work related responsibilities, I'm not sure that is going to happen
> before I get my KX3.  I would hope that if I learn the code, someone will
> slow down and have a QSO with a newbie...
>
> Joshua Gould
> K8WXA
>
>
> On Tue, May 27, 2014 at 8:17 AM, Lee Trout <troutcm at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Those running QRS need our encouragement.  It must be very lonely for them
>> since most of the CW ops are highly experienced and running QRQ.  If we
>> don't go out of our way to work them, they will -- and many probably
>> already have -- go back to phone or just give up after endless unanswered
>> CQs or endless searches for a QRS CQ.
>>
>> I operate about 50% QRQ with an iambic paddle and about 50% QRS with a
>> straight key, usually seeking QRS CQs or sending a QRS CQ at 7050 to 7065
>> or 7100-7125.
>>
>> Operating QRS has advantages.  With the decline of CW, it is often
>> difficult to find a QSO.  By being willing to work QRS stations you greatly
>> increase your chances of a QSO.  I often put out a CQ with the paddle and,
>> if no cigar, switch to the hand pump.
>>
>> You meet some interesting people!  Last year I worked a new ham on his
>> FIRST CW QSO: yes, he actually took the time to learn the code on his own.
>> I work many who have been QRT for years and finally got bitten by the CW
>> bug again.  The record so far is a gent that had been QRT for 54 years!
>>
>> It is fun!  Pounding away on my ole J-38 again is just downright enjoyable
>> and who cares if a QSO takes longer.
>>
>> If you care about CW, the best boost you can give it, is to work the QRS
>> guys.  So either slow down your keyer (I have found I can't do that -- if I
>> try to slow the keyer down below 15 wpm, I make mistakes galore) or, better
>> yet, drag out ye ole pump handle and pound away.  It takes some practice to
>> get your pump fist back, but when you do, I'll bet your will find yourself
>> having a ball!
>>
>> (I would encourage non-selective CQs -- if you do have the good fortune to
>> run into a new guy, he is probably not a member of one of the clubs.)
>>
>> Viva CW!  Lee K9CM
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