[Elecraft] My Take on CW

[Bob McGraw K4TAX]

I started in ham radio as a Novice in 1959.  That required 5 WPM, 
crystal control, 75 watts and only CW.   Finally up to 13 WPM and a 
General license and later to an Extra class license which I hold 
today.    Over the 58 years that are now behind me,  I drifted away from 
CW to a much easier SSB mode.  Now at 75 years of age I find the mind is 
not nearly as sharp, as keen and as fast as it was 50 or so years 
ago.    In order to stimulate the thinking process, hopefully in an 
effort to delay dementia and other mind altering age related issues, 
I've returned to CW.    I'm being reminded of my H.S. math teacher when 
asked "why do we study algebra?", he responded "It's mental gymnastic 
training". That's the way I view and approach CW today.

73

Bob, K4TAX


On 10/31/2017 6:39 PM, greenacres113 at charter.net wrote:
>
> 	The main & I mean main thing is desire. If learning CW is a job or
> task you'll probably drop out eventually. In my 57yr.s on CW that's
> what I've heard most often. It's too hard, it takes too long or I can
> never learn it.
>
> 	When you learned to ride a bike, get your drivers license or met your
> mate it was something you really wanted. The desire was there.
>
> 	It's only 26 letters, 10 numbers & a few other symbols. You probably
> have more PC passwords with a mix of numbers & letters and characters
> than what CW requires. Bet you know the passwords by heart.
>
> 	My Dad [SK W4YAD] passed his 13 WPM code test at age 55 after a mild
> stroke. He saw me on CW & wanted to learn. That ole' desire again.
>
> 	Try what ever method to learn that you are comfortable with. If you
> can find a partner that's much better. I was lucky that at age 13 my
> best friend & me learned together. We talked in Morse. It was our
> secret language. He became K9UFO [SK].
>
> 	Another motivation you might consider is CW is another language. You
> can become bilingual ! Just as playing music or speaking Spanish is a
> different language you will have a new world to explore. A language
> only spoken by people with that desire.
>
> 	Desire is everything!
>
> 	K9IL
>
>
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