[Milsurplus] CW Forever

[Ralph Cameron]

The comments over the last five lists regarding cw requires a response from someone who disagrees with those who take umbrage with the perpetuation of cw. Some have "learned " it - some hate it, some have no use for it, too bad you missed an opportunity to learn a little discipline. That is what "Old Tyme" hams told me was the reason Morse code was a requirement. 

Having been an active ham for 60 years, next year, I feel qualified to tell you that the passion hams get when they are "bitten by the bug" surpasses any rush of testosterone you mught have gotten as a teen ager. 

If you don't think there's a thrill to undo 75- #14x3" wood screws from a wooden crate soaked in some creosote crap and rip open the metallized humidity seal to reveal a #19 set , with its lacquer smell, then that's what fired me to improve my code proficiency. 

With the key strapped to my leg and hearing a station off continent responding to the raucous sound of the dits and dahs coming from my hand was enough to break into a sweat. 

Through the years I taught myself the land line Morse and don't profess to be a whiz at it. it was sure an entree into a good job with the telegraph company, far removed from sending Morse. 

Then I worked a Japanese radio student, in training to become a radio operator and he got me intereste din the language. I self taught the Japanese equivalent of Morse Code and became quite proficient copying illegal fishing operations off the east coast. Many of them still use Morse - cheap and reliable. 

Admittedly, Sam Morse was an American but he's pretty long in the tooth and so is the technology but you folks all rhyme off government contract numbers  , part numbers, mil  specs and set the records straight by telling us what kit went with what ship, tracked vehicle, aircraft and the whole nine yards. You perpetuate the material things but what about the skills? 

I suggest that the bellyachers whoi complain about hams and their dratted weather reports, signal reports and "can you hear any hum" will also complain about the neighbor's dog fouling the lawn, or two speed bicycles. 

Not that you're not entitled to your opinion but I sense most of the opinions acome from "experts" who aren't hams. 

When they dropped the code requirement in Canada we had over 60 % of the new ham get endorsement for 5 w.p.m. 

I use CW perhaps three times a week and love it. Good CW is like a clarinet solo or whatever music you prefer. A good "fist" has character and they're getting harder to find becaus eof keyers and keyboards, they all sound a like but in years gone by, one dit was all that was needed to identify a fellow friend. 

Like all great hobbies, cliques develop and splinter groups form but by and large most Radio amateurs I know are gentlemen and strive to preserve the common bond of friendship by knowing the code- perhaps archaic but its historical and its gonna be around a long time after its "dead". 

The same goes for preserving the memories associated with electronics that was "made to save a life". 

73 to all the real hams  this group

Ralph cameron VE3BBM
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/milsurplus/attachments/20061218/d400f791/attachment.htm