Posted: 1/27/2008 8:41:03 PM EDT
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I've been studying CW for a while now. Got a paddle. Practiced a lot. Got CWGet program for a backup ear, and made my first contact with a guy in California. Both easier an harder than I thought. My built in keyer can hold three pre-recorded phrases. That helped some. CWGet is also great to allow you to practice keying to see what you really send. Just turn VOX off and practice away. So who still does CW? Told some guys in my club I'd made my first CW contact. Their reply was "Why?".  Why? Simply because it is one of the few modes where you can always find someone calling CQ that will talk to you. Other than contests the VAST majority of what I hear are pre-set nets or rag chews by a small group of long time friends (bought their first radio from Marconi). 73 |
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Congratulations on your contact! CW is awesome, I like to say it's the mode that separates the men from the boys. Any rube can pick up a mic and punch the power up or kick on his digital black box. A real man can work weak signal off a tuna can at night in the rain with a couple AA batteries! CW is fast, efficient, comparatively unambiguous... it's communications in its purest form! I love wandering up to the edge where the old time extras hang out and paddle 20+ WPM... I can only copy about 13WPM, but I'm getting up there. They seriously asked "Why CW?" Guys who feel CW is dead or out moded are short sided. It requires the simplest of equipment, a modicum of power, and can be interpreted when all other modes are washed out by static. No to mention all the freedom you have in those edges of the band that the phone guys dare not venture. CW is where it's at. Good on ya! Sorry to hear about the guys at your club. 73 |
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There are few things in Ham radio as thrilling as one's first CW contact! Congratulations, Bob! It's almost surreal when someone comes back to you with YOUR callsign that first time. I was nervous as heck. Thankfully, CW is also the "nicest" mode of all ham radio. There is more politeness on CW than a tea party at Emily Post's house. The OM on my first contact was a great coach, very patient and complimentary. I made a CW contact last night too. I did what I've done all too often -- answered a CQ beyond my copying ability  . But I got the essentials and we had a good chat. That's how you get faster anyway -- once you get some confidence at slow speeds, start ragchewing with guys sending a little faster than your comfort level.I've said it several times to you and everyone else here -- I'll HAPPILY QSO with anyone who's up for it. I'll probably be on the radio tonight, so let me know if you wanna sked up on 40m. I'll be playing with PSK anyway. |
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There are some long time hams in my club (St. Charles Amateur Radio Club - WB0HSI) that said they only learned CW well enough to get their ticket and never fooled with it again. There are also guys who are hard core DX'ers who love CW, but they were not in the group I was talking to at the hamfest Saturday. There are certainly people in my club who do and appreciate Code. GlockTiger, I might be up for a CW QSO when we can work a sched out. I hope you're patient. It's one thing to practice the code, but when you have to think in it to converse it takes it to a whole new level. Practice makes perfect. |