Some examples of morse as a living language. In the mid 70's, when I first started, QSOs were ended with "Shave and a hair cut" to which the other replied "2 bits". Of course it was all done by sending dits to the rhythm. I went QRT for several years. When I came back in the mid 80's the exchanged was shortened to just the "2 bits" part, hence the adding of the little "dit dit" to the end of a QSO.
It used to be one would say oops by sending 8 dits in a row. Now, I routinely hear a couple of short odd spaced dits instead. I suppose it works but it is more risky. I also hear people (myself included) who have become wordy with Q signals. We send "the QTH here is Gary, IN" rather than "QTH Gary, IN". I worked a guy a few weeks ago who really opened up my eyes to this. He sent something like "GE OM TNX. RST 55N 55N. QTH Pittsburgh, PA. OP Gary. HW?" Wow, he gave a lot in a short space and even though he was at 15 wpm it didn't take long at all. I liked it and am trying to model it although I still tend to fall back to "TNX FER CALL OM. UR RST IS 55N QTH HERE IS ..." Way OT: I copied a guy on 40 SSB a couple of days ago complaining about his Icom rig. He called it a "RAY-diddey-oh". Oh boy, did I hate that. I felt like interrupting with "hey good buddy, ya got yer ears on?". Ah the joys of CW. - Keith - -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] >-----Original Message----- >From: Ron D'Eau Claire <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >> To me it's that CW or Morse is a language >> and, like most languages it goes through a process of evolution and >> change according to popular usage. > I agree to a point. But we amateurs are the last widespread users of > Morse Code - the keepers of the flame, as it were. I think it's up to > us to preserve its unique character. _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
