Hear, hear Mr. D'Eau Claire,
I think it is a lot of fun to get folks on the air using my favorite
mode. If it had not been for the hard, patient work of a few very fine
operators I would not be as happy with CW as I am today. Their skill at
pushing me along bit by bit made CW FUN! I try to tell others about how
much excitement there is in amateur radio by hearing a distant signal
amongst the noise and picking out a like minded soul to share my thoughts
of life and living.
During FD a day or so ago I warmed up by going to the Novice bands and
working the slower folks. Then to keep stretching I moved down the band
until I had reached 7000 kHz. I felt I had learned a great deal since I
only skipped one or two operators who were Hell bent for leather sending
at 10^6 wpm. Last year I skipped far more of them so I seem to be
catching on just a wee bit.
However, paying forward for all I owe seems the only way to show my
respect to my patient mentors. I owe it to them to pass the flame on to
the next folks seeking the calling. If I don't care about them who will?
If I don't work to make their code better, as my mentors did for me, how
will I ever find someone to work when my friends have passed on? I am in
this for the long haul so a little more work is not a hardship. It is my
way of helping others enjoy a hobby which has given me a great deal.
Kevin. KD5ONS
On Mon, 26 Jun 2006 15:15:41 -0700, Ron D'Eau Claire
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Every Ham worth the name (IMHO) who would answer their QRS CQ would be a
FB
"code buddy". It's too bad we no longer have the Novice license and
bands,
because it gave everyone a place to congregate while developing CW
skills.
But since we don't it should be no surprise to hear a slow signal almost
anywhere.
Now, it's rather impolite to answer someone who just sent a CQ at 25 wpm
at
5 wpm and expect him (or her) to QRS. However, I often run across a very
slowly sent CQ and I'll usually stop and answer at his/her speed, just
as I
used to spend time in the Novice bands when they were busier. And I think
it's my obligation to reply at the other station's speed, when he/she is
sending slower than I am.
For me, Ham radio is all about having fun. The best way I've ever found
to
have fun, no matter what I'm doing, is to help other people have fun too.
Maybe I'm just out of date, but the world of Ham radio I was introduced
to
in the 1950's stressed cooperation over competition. I still cringe when
I
see the term "radiosporting" since sports virtually always put
competition
first. (At least the way I played football did, Hi!) And that includes
most
of the contests. It's just darn impolite to expect a lot of callers to a
very slow signal when almost everyone out there is trying to rack up a
lot
of QSOs.
Some people seem to practice "contesting" even when there is no contest.
Their CW skills don't involve being able to do more than complete a
high-speed exchange of name, RST and QTH followed by "73 dit-dit". They
remind me that "Novice" operators come in all guises. Some never learn
anything else because it doesn't interest them just as some Hams will
never
touch a key.
The good news is that there are a lot of operators on the CW bands who
feel
as I do; It shows up loud and clear in their on-air habits.
Ron AC7AC
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