In a message dated 4/6/2005 12:57:46 PM US Mountain Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
Then I found my current CW mentor (I am not sure if he wants to get mentioned here But Thank you SB!!) He worked with me, and is still working with me. Got me faster and faster. He weaned me from Farnsworth at about 15 wpm. He modified the style so the words were at full speed with larger spaces between. Then he went faster. Eventually I never noticed when the extra spacing went away. Some place in there I got confidence enough (foolish me!) to start the Elecraft CW Net. I thought since the SSB net was getting started maybe we should use these fine rigs for what they are best at doing: CW. So fools (me) rushed in where most angels would be scared silly. Too dumb to know any better I got a CW net going. Wayne still thinks I am a bit nuts but then he may be right ;) Hi All, Well, I think you had a good mentor! The critical thing I think you learned was about spacing, which in my view is the ultimate sin of most poor CW ops! I can deal with most CW, so long as there is some recognizable spacing between characters. But when I run across these folks who simply run their dits and dahs together from one letter to the next, "I'm outta here"! Some ops insist on having a "swing" to their sending, and though I don't care for it much, I can usually copy that stuff O.K. too. Personally, I like to make sure there is just a slight bit of extra spacing between words as well. You would be amazed at how much easier it is to copy when words are readily identifiable by their spacing. When I run across someone else who uses that technique, it is a dream to copy. Of course, the characters of each letter in a word need proper spacing too, but there is something very positive about word separation--especially if you are copying in your head. At 20 wpm or less it isn't that critical, but when you get going at 25 or 30 wpm, you really appreciate it. The best advice I can give any op, particularly new ops, is to tape your own sending and try copying it back. I would suggest taping the W1AW code practice sessions, tape your own sending of the same text, and compare. The next best advice I can give is to drop all that "rock and roll" stuff and just try sending well formed characters and words. You probably won't get many compliments about your fist unless you do. And last, but not least, don't send faster than you are really capable of doing with proper spacing and character formation. You can bet the op at the other end won't be having much fun if you violate that rule. Dave W7AQK _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [email protected] 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
