[Fists] Towards a FISTS Operations Manual

[Dan KB6NU]

I would be interested in contributing to this effort, and being an Internet
geek as well as a CW geek, I would even be willing to host this on one of my
websites. One way we could do this is to set up a "wiki." A wiki is a
website that allows anyone who is registered to edit sections of the wiki.
In a way, it's always a document in progress. For an article on what wikis
are all about, go to http://www.sitepoint.com/article/1241 .

73!

Dan KB6NU
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Professional Writer and Editor
President, ARROW Comm. Assn. (www.w8pgw.org)
CW geek (FISTS #9342)
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Read my ham radio blog at www.blurty.com/~kb6nu .

----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Block" <w2sr@trackdata.com>
To: "Fists North America" <Fists@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 11:27 AM
Subject: [Fists] Towards a FISTS Operations Manual


> In 1956, W6DTY wrote a classic article in QST, " Your Novice Accent And
> What To Do About It!".
>
> By now, many of the suggestions are inappropriate for current usage and
> conditions.  Nevertheless, beginners need an authoritative guide on what
> constitutes "good CW operating practice".  The ARRL Operating Manual could
> have been a good source but treatment of CW is largely superficial.
>
> What I'd like to see is an operating manual devoted exclusively to CW.
> Herewith, a proposed organization of topics:
>
> Learning CW
>         Learning to copy code
>         Learning to send code
>         Adjusting your key
>         Choosing a first rig
>         Your first QSO
> CW Procedures
>         Prosigns and Procedures
>         Calling another station
>         Soliciting calls
>         The idiom of CW
>         QSO's long and short
>         Courtesy on the air
>         Deprecated procedures
>         Dealing with common problems
>         Logging and QSLing
> The FISTS Club
>         History
>         Organization
>         Activities
>         QSL Bureau
> Field Guide to the HF Bands
>         Propagation Basics
>         Band characteristics
>         Inhabitants and customs
>         Where to look for a contact
>         Suggestions on setting up a station
> Special Activities
>         DX
>         Nets
>         Contesting
>         QRP
>         VHF
>         Mobile and portable operation
>         Awards
>         CW in many languages
>         Teaching others
>
> Is there a need for such a manual?  Are there any volunteers?   There has
> been a lot of criticism of the ARRL in this forum.  I think it's time to
> get past that and produce the educational material we want and need.
>
> 73,
> W2SR
>
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