[Elecraft] Signals wild...signals caged

[Dave W8OV]

The next CW Academy class (Free) begins in April.  Check out CWA at:  
<https://cwops.org/cw-academy/cw-academy-options/>

73,

Dave, W8OV  (CWA Advisor, Beginner & Basic levels)


On 2021-01-28 4:57 PM, Dennis Moore wrote:
> Your missive is more timely than you could imagine.
>
> I can call CQ on FT8 or SSB, not on CW. Sure, my K3 will send a 
> perfect CQ via macro, indistinguishable from any other K3 sending a 
> programmed CQ except the callsign. Problem is when someone comes back 
> to me, if the decoder isn't working perfectly then I can't understand 
> what's being said. That's definitely on me, and I acknowledge that.
>
> I'm at 177 DX entities on CW, all through the K3 and either in 
> contests or Dxpeditions. In both cases I know who I'm calling, I know 
> when they come back with my call and signal report, and I know which 
> KPod or N1MM buttons to push to complete the exchange. Conversation? 
> Not if my life depended on it.
>
> I'm over 120 countries on FT8/FT4 since Jan 1st and the pickings are 
> getting slim. One JA or PY station is just like the other after a few 
> thousand. With few Dxpeditions on the horizon and CW contests really 
> not my cup of tea, yesterday I reached for the CW materials and 
> plugged the key back in. It's time to do this on my own.
>
> Whoever runs across me calling CQ on CW will have heard a rare bird 
> indeed.
>
> 73, Dennis NJ6G
> <snip>