[Fists] QRS

[Dan Harriman]

Howdy all from Texas;

Glad to see some activity here on this list.  I agree that a good CW 
operator should slow down to the speed of the other op when asked to do so, 
at least to say 73 and CUL, or some such.  However, I don't think that a CW 
operator should slow down just because the other op gave a call.

Let me elaborate a bit.

I hear a QSO at 25 - 30 WPM.  When the QSO is over, I give one of the guys 
a call at 10 WPM.  He comes back to me at the speed in which he just had 
his QSO, because I apparently have copied good enough to get his call.  Why 
should that op think that I can't copy at the speed he was sending if I 
just gave him a call, no matter how fast my speed was?  Maybe he thinks 
that I am trying to improve my speed and want a QSO from him at his speed. 
If I can't copy him, then I should ask him to QRS, or maybe just listen and 
try to copy his QSO to better my code speed.  Some folks just can't sent at 
8 or 10 WPM. It throws them off rhythm and they start making mistakes. It 
is not fun for them anymore.

I am not a very fast CW operator, sending at about 10 - 15 WPM. I sometimes 
will call someone who is sending a bit faster than me, but I understand 
that he may not want to or maybe he can't slow down. If he can't, then we 
say 73 and CUL.  No big deal.  That is true with CW operators who may or 
may not be FISTS members.  To me, it is arragant for me, as a slow speed 
operator to think that someone who is sending at 25 or more WPM should slow 
down for me.  I would think that the other operator would think that I can 
receive better than I send, so he should just keep sending at his original 
speed, unless I ask him to QRS. He then has a choice to do so or end the QSO.

On the other hand, if I am calling CQ at 8 - 10 WPM and someone comes back 
to me, then that person should come back to me at the speed that I am 
sending.  It is then arragance on the part of the other operator to think 
that I will speed up to his speed when I have sent my CQ at a slower speed.

Accuracy transcends speed.

That is a great statement, but in my humble opinion, I believe that what it 
means is this:  Don't send very far out of your comfort range. Send only as 
fast as you can before making too many mistakes. If I find myself making 
mistake after mistake, I will slow down.  My code speed will get better 
with practice.  The more I send and receive, the better my ear and fist 
get. Sooner or later, my speed will be up and I will have another comfort 
zone to send and receive in.

I don't think that the statement means that every operator should slow down 
to my speed.  Most high speed ops won't even answer a slow CQ or call, 
unless they are willing to slow down, if asked.  There is room in this 
hobby for the speed demons and also for the slow pokes.  I will slow down 
for anyone who asks me to. (Of course, I don't send very fast anyway), but 
I don't hold it against someone who doesn't slow down. I just go to another 
freq and call CQ or find someone who is sending CQ at a speed that I can 
handle.

72, 73, 88 around
Dan Harriman  ARS  KC5GXL  FISTS # 1572
Orange, Texas

Someone wrote thusly:

 >
 >A person shouldn't even have to ask for someone to slow down!  A good
 >operator should do that automatically.  Arrogance (by refusing to slow down)
 >is not the sign of a good operator.

Then someone else wrote:

 >Every one of us is different! Some cw ops are comfortable at 35+ wpm and
 >some cw ops will never attain 15 wpm (an immutable simple fact of life). If
 >someone calls CQ at 30wpm please don't be offended if they choose not to
 >respond to ur return at 8wpm asking for QRS. They are seeking another ham to
 >have an enjoyable chat with AT 30 WPM, the speed they are sending.

======================================================================
Proud member of QRP-ARCI # 9126; QRP-L # 431; ARS # 25; FISTS # 1572;
QRPp-l # 702; 1010 Int.; FP # 555; SOC # 569; NETXQRP # 45; ARRL; ARRL-VE;
AMQRP; RU-QRP # 43; MQFD # 5; grid  EM30cc
-
If at first you don't succeed, maybe you shouldn't try 
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