Well put. I learned code from a former world war II Merchant Marine radio
operator back in the 60's. He had me copying 25 wpm code groups, not plain
language, effortlessly by the time I took my Extra class code test. I used
to be able to carry on at 25 wpm. But I found 18 - 20 wpm was a very
comfortable speed in most contests. I get very few requests for repeats. I
will slow down as much as required to get a contact when necessary. Yes, I
would rather not when I have a good run going. But that doesn't happen very
often with my FT- 1000MP barefoot "peanut whistle"
For the fast guys, I cheat and use "cw get". If the person has a halfway
decent signal, there are few stations that it can't follow. The tuning aid
is great for zero beating. With only 100 watts output to a Radio Works Super
Loop, I am generally an S & P contester, and tend to shy away from the big
pileups. I hope to be able to purchase a K3 someday if Elecraft doesn't go
"belly up" first.
73,
Steve Brandt N7VS
Portland, Oregon
> On Mon, 1 Dec 2008 14:06:35 -0800 (PST), Bill W4ZV wrote:
>
> > said a "very slow caller" in a "big pileup". I did not say a slow
caller
> >with nobody else calling. I stand by my statement.
>
> Agreed. One W7 kept calling continuously at 18 wpm when it was obvious he
> couldn't hear the DX station. I heard several instances of that, and it
made
> things quite difficult for the guys that COULD hear the DX.
>
> >I also wouldn't disparage contesters too much. They're much more likely
to
> >hear your 100W to an attic antenna than someone using similar antennas to
> >yours. QRPers sometimes forget who is doing the real work when they make
a
> >rare DX contact.
>
> Agreed on all counts. I've been in chairs on both sides of that QSO. The
> antenna farms at stations like N6RO and W8JI include serious RX antennas
and
> serious RXs. THAT'S why they can work flies peeing out the window in JA on
> 160.
>
> But I also agree with G4ILO when he correctly observed these egomaniacs
CQing
> at 40 WPM for the last 8 hours of the contest and getting very few
answers.
> QRQ WAS definitely part of why they were getting no calls -- they had
already
> worked the several hundred guys who CAN read 40 WPM. My call has a lot of
> dashes in it, so I regularly work at 29 WPM or so, but when things get
slow,
> I'll CQ at 25 or so. When it's not piled up, I'll certainly QRS when the
other
> guy is QRS. But like you, when I'm running, the call I'll answer first is
the
> one I think I can work the quickest, whether it's a better signal or a
> faster/better op.
>
> Jim K9YC
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