Hi Ed, I have been following a similar path to yours, though with K1 #2799 finished last January. It took me longer than I wanted to learn CW, too, but made my first non-contest CW QSO last month (I used CodeQuick, and enjoyed it). I am getting up to the low-teens now for things like the W1AW practice, and faster with contest CW, which I find easier due to the short length and prescribed order. The NACQ CW contest is Saturday; give it a try.
Perhaps I am projecting my own issues on to what you mentioned, but what is currently bothering me are pro signs (BT is very common, for example, yet causes my brain to lock up). But, more basically, what to "say"? What exactly is a CW QSO? I have been finding that the FISTS basic operating manual (google "fists cw") very helpful, and my copy of the ARRL Operating Manual is now taped together I refer to it so much. Lots of good stuff on frequencies, pro signs, and what a CW QSO is like. To your actual question, on 40m, I often find code I can copy from 7045 - 7060, and again from 7105 to 7115 (which is as high as my K1 will tune with my VFO range). 7047.5 is where W1AW does their daily code practice (very helpful) and 7058 is the FISTS calling frequency. The 40m QRP frequency is 7030 and sometimes there is slow code from 7030 to 7035, too, but usually that low on the band people are mid-20's and up. On 20m, 14045 - 14065 usually has something. 14047.5 is W1AW again, and 14060 is the 20m QRP calling frequency, which is where I have had success. The same range, roughly, on 15m often has code I can copy as well. Mostly, though, what is helping me is what Lee mentioned: get on the air. As often as possible. 73 de Byron KI6NUL K1 #2799, many mini-modules -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/My-First-steps-on-CW-tp5380378p5381148.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
