[Fists] "How fast are you?"

[Tim O]

"So how fast are you?"..... AAAAUGH!!

Speed is the most overworked concept in the world of Morse Code.

I'm fast enough that I can get on and call CQ and get an answer, that's how
fast. Sometimes that's really slow and sometimes it's somewhat above
average.

We think WAY too much about the dreaded speed issue and way too little
about actually being on air. If you have all the characters, prosigns etc.,
and can copy solid at 5 wpm, you are fast enough to get on air and call CQ
and and myself and many other ops are just sitting here waiting to answer
you AT YOUR SPEED.

You might get faster playing all the little computer training games but you
will NEVER be a GOOD code op unless you get on the air.

Here we are, fast, slow and in between. Instead of asking how fast other
ops are, thinking you need to get to their speed to not be embarrassed, and
NEVER getting there, how about just joining us on air, sweating it out like
we did and being one of us.

You have to crawl, then walk, then run. We all did and we are all here
waiting to work you.

I think I speak for all who have been asked how fast they are so many
times, and wonder why we don’t work more slow newbies. Come on in, the
water is fine :)

Accuracy transcends speed. It doesn't replace it but it transcends it.
Speed will come by itself for all who just spend regular time on air.

"So how fast are you?"  AAAAUGH!!

73
Tim, AC5SH