[Fists] Is it just me?

Wed, 6 Aug 2003 17:57:10 -0700

Personally, I treat the really slow ops that show up in the Extra portion
of the sub-bands as if they were in the Novice sub-band. If I wanted to
work someone that slow (and sometimes I am in the mood to do so) they I
would go to the Novice portion of the band. So, yes, I often ignore them,
because at that moment I just don't want that kind of struggle, I want to
talk to someone.

Also, I have to admit, that there is a part of me that resents them taking
up a part of the band that I felt I had to "earn" access to. Stupid and
petty, I know. Since there are seemingly fewer CW ops to work (or maybe
it's just the solar cycle) I can't afford to be so picky and Al is right,
we need to welcome these newbies with open arms and hope a few catch the
bug and put away the mic until they've mastered the code (something I'm
*still* working on, hi).

As to mismatched send and recv speeds, I often find the opposite; someone
who sends slowly but can copy quite fast. For these ops I may slow down a
little by actually doing Farnsworth to see if they are OK with that, then
crank down the keyer a bit if that is not working. These are usually
guys/gals that have been hamming about 10 times longer than me, but their
fist has just slowed or they just never did send very fast in the first
place.

The ops that run everything together seem to be oldsters and newbies
alike. I agree, just can't copy that worth a darn. It bugs me like bad
English grammar, hi. Then there are the ones who just got a new bug for
the first time, cuz they thought it was a cool thing to do, but absolutely
can't use it properly to save their life and I cut the QSO short before I
get a headache!

Just remember that it doesn't take all kinds to make up the world, there
just *are* all kinds! ;^)

73,

Casey, KS7J/K7FFF

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]On
Behalf Of [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2003 2:13 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Fists] Is it just me?

I suppose as folks continue to struggle to get on HF or use CW this problem
will become worse. Now the whole HF spectrum, except 60 meters, has become
the
novice band where CW is concerned. Before the happening (5 wpm), we all know
that an op would have gotten his practice and tune-up ON the novice bands.
We
also know that 5 wpm is barely a code test of anything, but these guys are
trying to get in there the best they can, and now do not have the apprentice
program we had before. I can usually recognize a new CW fist, or a feller
who is
older or having some sort of physical problem. I will do my best to copy
these
hams, and will QRS for anyone if they ask, or I feel they are not getting
the
message I am sending.
    The code ops currently joining the ranks are going to be the ONLY new
ops
we are going to get, so we gotta do what we can to help out. Take it easy on
these guys, and they will be happy to have met you, and may stay around
awhile.
    I also do get frustrated however with the 12 WPM fist guys trying to
send
20 WPM. Send and rcve where you are comfortable. I HATE a QSO that
goes..........TNXFRURRPLYT5TURRHTRHEEEEETIH599599MYQT5ISEEEEEHTLOUSHNAMEIHEE
EEEBSLLPHEREP
TEEEEEURNAMI BTU  no breaks....nothing but one long letter actually.  I cant
communicate with these guys no matter what, but I try for awhile. Then there
are the poor folks who answer a CQ at speed, but then I find they REALLY
need
me to QRS, but for some reason are too embarrassed to ask. (if the answer is
slower than my CQ, I will try and match the slower speed) I usually find
this
out by asking if the guy is enjoying FISTS, does he get on other bands, does
he
do boatancnchors,etc, and he keeps repeating his QTH or the WX report. I
keep
a straight key at the ready for slower QSO's. I CANNOT get the hang of
paddles
below about 15 WPM. My fault, but I can do fine with a pump, but on the
other
hand, 18 wpm is about tops for the hand banger, and I have to go to paddles
for higher speeds.  We just gotta do the best we can to keep as many in CW
as
we can. If the testing is dropped, it's REALLY gonna get
bad..........worse.....................Al/W8FAX/2192

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