Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
Jon Bain (KC9EQC)
on
February 10, 2005
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Finally after copying for the past couple months, I got up enough
nerve to call CQ. I have had a couple QSO's in the past year on CW,
but the nerves got to me and I had to give up. I can copy at least
10wpm 13 on a good day, but I have been so intimidated for fear that
I will mess up.
Well, a couple days ago I got up enough nerve again and called CQ and
Dave KG4TUY answered me. For some reason the nerves didn't have a
chance to get to me before I realized that it wasn't so bad and
actually began to enjoy myself. Dave and I had a really nice QSO, I
quickly became comfortable with myself and after a couple exchanges
found out that my 100 watts was quite a bit of overkill, and went QRP
with 5 watts and had no trouble at all. I'm really not sure how long
our QSO lasted, I didn't look to see what time it was when he
answered me, just when it was over. I'm quite sure it was well over
an hour, time just seemed to shoot bye. After our QSO ended, I
worked 2 more stations and I was QRP the whole time.
I wasn't sure how I would like CW, but I figured since I had to go to
the trouble to learn it to get on HF I might as well operate that
mode so I don't forget what I learned. Now I find that I am really
beginning to enjoy it, it is like a mystery of dits and dahs and I am
beginning to solve the mystery and actually hear a conversation. I
have also had the desire to order and build a Rock Mite, There is
just something fascinating about a xcvr that fits in your shirt
pocket and can get a signal out several hundred miles. Now that I
have discovered that QRP really does work, and is also pretty
exciting, I will be ordering a Rock Mite kit so I can give QRP
portable a try.
One thing I have discovered is that anyone can pick up a mic and key
it up, but in order to operate CW you really have to challenge
yourself and be patient. Thanks Dave for building my confidence and
showing me that I really can do it.
I just wanted to share my experience with everyone here and I hope
that it might help inspire someone that might be struggling like me
to not give up because it does get easier.
Hope to see you on the air.
73 de KC9EQC Jon
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Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
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by K4JSR on February 10, 2005
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Jon, Thanks for showing some of the more recalcitrant
people out there that there is indeed life after learning code! CW can be, and is, pleasurable to those who like mastering a challenge. CW's demise
seems to have been greatly exaggerated by some folks
for some reason. Hope to catch you on CW. My code speed is not all that terrific, but I do enjoy the mode. The CW bands seem to be inhabited by kind and gentle souls. I guess riff-raff do not like to work at annoying decent folks having fun! (Yes, that is
a troll!)(Toss out more CHUM!) ;-P
73 and thanks for your ecouraging words to all.
Cal K4JSR
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Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
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by KZ1X on February 10, 2005
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Jon, good going.
You've discovered what many seek, yet for some reason cannot find ... even though it's right there. It will always be with you.
May the wonder of radio last for many years to come.
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RE: Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
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by KG6WLS on February 10, 2005
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RU1TWO, even though you may think you can carry a tune in your shack, the rest of us in the ham community feel you should take your music somewhere else. Quick!! Someone build a fan dipole and blow this guy away!
Way to go Jon! Articles like yours make me want to work harder on my CW to achieve excellence and get my general ticket.
Thanks for the article.
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Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
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by W3DCG on February 10, 2005
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Super!
Odd, I don't remember my first QSO. Probably because
it wasn't under my call. What I do remember though,
was being really nervous, and going at a snails pace.
I remember monitoring for weeks before finding my nerve.
I think it's totally cool that you were able to discern that your 100W for the conditions at the moment, was overkill. I am surprised that you went QRP with it. I did not possess that nerve for a while.
I'd be all nervous dropping it to 20W.
In fact, it has taken much more coaxing to get me to realize that QRP works. What I mean by that, is many people have patiently worked with me on it.
Often unsolicited as if reading my mind, feeling that I was willing but afraid to drop my power. They'd ask me to QRP. OK, here goes, there- that's about 5W. Then they'd send you're now 579, drop it some more. Finally, with the rig reading Zero, and an output of around 1.1 to 1.5 watts, we'd hunker down for a great 2xQRP. Sure my report was 439-549, but you know, that does mean readable with practically no difficulty, to perfectly readable, even if my signal is weak to fair.
It still surprises me. Others will call CQ with signals I'm hearing 599 to my ear. They'll drop it down to 1W to illustrate the point- a bit over 10db over S9 on my meter at 10W, drop it down to 1W, and Wow look at that, my meter's reading you S9. Remarkable! ha.
So now finally, a nice and small, field portable QRP rig is definitely one of the highest priority items on my acquisition list! It has taken me longer than you to truly realize that QRP works well.
As for CW- CW truly is a huge part of ham radio, even today, regardless of whether or not CW competency is required for HF privilege. Being the second most popular mode, means that being able to do it is a privilege in and of itself. A privilege that can be earned, but not granted. It may not be everyone's cup of tea. But tons of people are drinking it. I believe, more and more every day. Talking is a mode anyone can enjoy at any time, one need not use radio to exercise that mode. Most people, ham or not, exercise that mode umpteen million times a day.
But regarding CW, if not via ham radio, then where?
So it's easy to see how to many, the abbreviated form of Regarding CW, if not via ham radio then where?
Boils down to CW IS Ham Radio.
Although we all do know, Ham Radio is much more than only CW.
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Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
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by K4NR on February 10, 2005
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Way to go! I still remember that first QSO with my elmer, WA8CDU. An old Tentec Omni C, a wire antenna, and a straight key on 40 CW. I managed to get through that first QSO. I still have the QSL framed on the wall in my shack along with a really neat Coffee Cup QSL Bill sent me. I still find myself on the bottom of 40 much of the time.
The satellite bug has bitten recently and I can be found on FO-29 and AO-07 running CW. Working on a new WAS.
Keep at it, it will get easier and much more enjoyable as you get proficient.
73 de Tom, K4NR
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by ALEX_NS6Y on February 10, 2005
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You're where I hope to be someday!
I'm an Extra but never had HF stuff, and have both the tight budget and the obsession with building my own stuff to fall right into the kit/QRP camp. I'm looking at one of those Ten-Tec singlebanders for 40m to start.
You might consider the Wilderness Radio SST, really simple and apparently about the size of a pack of ciggies.
Hope to work you on the air someday, I have a streight key coming in the mail already!
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Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
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by WA2JJH on February 11, 2005
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Your a better man than I. My first QSO(CW) I was flanked by my elmer to double check my RX copy, 7WPM.
I have only had maybe 3 negative experiences in almost 30 years.
One dude did like my rig (ts-520S), he had a 2 tube
homebrew swedish swishing clober colpits and a 20W PA built out of a sweep tube from an old TV set!!!!!
GEESHHH!!!!
THE OTHER TWO WERE FROM 2 METERS. One dude was annoyed that I was 18 years old and had a new fangled TEMPO S-1. He had a tubed Clegg!
I am trying CW QRP these days. Look for me around 14.125 or 21.150. I am using a K2 cranked to 12W.
Some dude said that really is not QRP. I should operate under 5W!
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Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
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by N0IU on February 11, 2005
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Welcome to the club! I vividly remember my first CW contact where I was the one who called CQ. Actually, it wasn't a contact at all. I sent out a painfully slow CQ and when someone came back to my call, I instantly forgot everything I ever know about CW, shut off the power supply and ran out of the room!
My "comfort zone" is now in the mid to upper 30's in WPM. Its like the old story where a man with a violin case in his hand comes up to me on the street in New York City and asks, "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" to which I responded, "Practice!"
NØIU
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RE: Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
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by W8RCA on February 11, 2005
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Good show old man....cw is like any language the more you use it the more normal it becomes for you TO use. Keep the faith, ham radio has so many aspects to enjoy, it has always amazed me that any ham could possibly get bored with the hobby. Best Regards, Greg W8RCA
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Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
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by W9GRN on February 11, 2005
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Great story Jon.May you have continued success in cw.
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Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
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by WA9UAA on February 11, 2005
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Hi Jon,
Way to go, like some of the others here I too have become interested in QRP and CW. I heard a neat quote the other day in " A League of Their Own" where Tom Hanks' character says," Of course it's hard, if it wasn't everybody would do it."
Keep up the good work.
73,
Rob WA9UAA
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Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
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by NY7Q on February 11, 2005
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Excellent article..good read...real stuff. I remember my first "live" experience very well...I was in the Navy on the USS WATTS (DD-567), Fresh out of radioschool and my First class, Ken Holmes put me on ship shore traffic...I was very nervous, but graduated from CW school at 25wpm...send/receive. after 30 seconds, I was like an ole pro, and was never nervous after that. That was in 1956....CW NOW, CW TODAY, CW FOREVER...KEEP UP THE PRACTICE...ITS THE ONLY WAY.
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Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
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by AK2B on February 11, 2005
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Jon thanks for allowing me to re-live a few fleeting moments of my youth. I don’t remember who the contact was with but, I certainly remember the nerves – and the thrill. Cw is just plain old fun and everyone tries to find a place in this hobby to have just that.
I also like QRP. I have a KX1 and a K2. I like to pull out the KX1 during cw contests just to see how well I can do with 3 watts. During contests, anyone will answer you for a few points.
Have fun and thanks for the article.
Tom, AK2B
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Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
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by W5ESE on February 11, 2005
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Thanks for relating your experience, and I'm
glad that you enjoyed making a CW contact. I use
CW also for about 95% of my activity.
Though I've been licensed ~28 years, I've never
really progressed beyond a "Journeyman" level of
CW proficiency, but I enjoy CW the most even at
that.
The Rockmites are alot of fun. I have one each
for 40m and 20m. Alot of guys do build them
though, become frustrated with their limitations,
and set them aside to collect dust. They take
a little practice to use, and if the frequency
for which they're built is busy, you'll need to
wait for your turn. I'm a patient guy, so I
just listen in and get a little code practice
copying them while waiting, or do something
else and come back to it later.
It also goes without saying that with simple rigs
like that, alot is riding on having an effective
antenna!
I enjoy taking mine on backpacking trips and
using it from my camp. Over Labor Day it was
a hoot working stations in Washington state
and Colorado from west Texas on 40 meters
while running half a watt.
There is a Yahoo! Group devoted to the Rockmites
that you might enjoy joining at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Rock-Mite_Group
Have fun, and hope to hear you on the air
73
Scott W5ESE
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RE: Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
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by W0FM on February 11, 2005
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Hi Jon,
Well, you are certainly not alone with your first contact jitters. The day my first ticket arrived, back in 1962, my shaky 40M CQ had just been answered by another ham and I began to send my part of the QSO. I was using my surplus J-38 Key and the Heathkit DX-60B transmitter that I had built while waiting the 10 WEEKS for my Novice ticket to arrive.
I was shaking quite violently as I tapped out my name and QTH. Suddenly, my Mom appeared at my bedroom door and immediately knocked the J-38 key out from under my hand and clear off the desk with her broom. I had been shaking so badly that she was convinced that I was being electrocuted by that "damn radio thing".
True story.
73,
Terry, WØFM
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by KC0SOG on February 11, 2005
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Good going!
I'm a new CW operator and my first couple of QSO's were a disaster. Not a good confidence builder! But, I gutted it out and am up to about 15 or 16 QSO's.
My speed is improving each time I make a contact. Steve WB2WIK is certainly on target in postings that I've read where he says "using" CW is the "best" way to get faster.
I usually operate at 10 to 20 watts but will drop down to QRP levels when I get a better fist. I also would like to get a QRP rig for casual backyard patio operating.
Heck, I've already homebrewed and tested my own shorty version of the St. Louis vertical and a portable 44ft doublet antenna.
Keep it up so I have someone to talk to in the coming years.
73 de Doug KC0SOG
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by AB0SI on February 11, 2005
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Jon:
Impressive. First CW contacts on QRP! wow.
I've recently started using Morse and find it fun and VERY tiring. But then, I'm old, dumb, and new at it.
The best part of CW for me is the people you meet. No one has yet complained about me using KN when I I was suppose to use AR, etc. Although my sending certainly qualifies, no one as sent me QLF? (Are you sending with your left foot?). My errors have been cheerfully ignored. Some folks ahve trouble slowing down enough for me to copy but everyone has tried. (I understand this compoletely, I have trouble sending slowly enough for me to copy <grin>).
You are clearly far ahead of me. As I said, I am impressed. I hope to work you on the air soon.
73
Paul AB0SI
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Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
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by VE3WMB on February 11, 2005
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Congratulations Jon :
It only gets easier and more enjoyable. And yes, contrary to what you may have been told, you can make CW contacts at the bottom of the Sunspot cycle with QRP power levels.
I think that you will find a lot of really nice folks on CW and there is quite a large QRP following worldwide. The QRP-L email list is a great resource, as is QRP (ARCI) Amateur Radio Club international.
You will also find lots of activity around the FISTS frequencies and the folks who hang out their are more than willling to QRS.
I have been licensed almost 25 years and have operated almost exclusively QRP CW during that time. Every new QSO is still magical.
Best of luck ...
Michael VE3WMB
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by WB2WIK on February 11, 2005
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Good going, Jon.
I don't understand why anybody would be nervous about operating CW, for the first time or any time. Well, I suppose if I was the operator on the Titanic as it was going down I might have been quite nervous....
But in normal situations, there's nothing to fear. No test at the end of the QSO, and nobody's judging you. If you miss 90% of everything and ask for casual repeats, that's perfectly cool. I can copy about 50 wpm without working at it, but still ask for repeats when QRM, QRN, the family, or the telephone interrupts and I miss stuff. Big deal.
Relax and enjoy. I've always found CW more relaxing than phone operating. If I can't sleep and am looking for a remedy, a few CW QSOs will put me there; I've fallen asleep mid-QSO more than once at 3 AM!
73 & CU on the bands,
Steve WB2WIK/6
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Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
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by YI9VCQ on February 11, 2005
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The bug is quite contagious! I know since I've been infected for 20 years now.
Great job! Hope to see you on the air someday.
73,
Korey
KA5VCQ/YI9VCQ
Al Taji, Iraq
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Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
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by N4QA on February 11, 2005
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Congratulations, Jon.
Back in '65, I was so nervous during my first contact, I had to get help from my elmer...my dad, W4MAI...to help me with the CW copy.
Hope to work you on the bands...any mode.
But, especially CW! :0)
And, BTW, the Rock-Mite is a great choice for a QRP rig!
73.
Bill, N4QA
ps
If anyone knows or knows of my first contact partner...the former WN2TEI...tell 'im I said hello!
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by K0EWS on February 11, 2005
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Great Job!
I remember my first CW qso. It was also qrp, (as that was all I could afford to get on HF at the time) I have since gone on and become comortable with the mode, and it's my primary mode. Matter of fact, the K-1 is on next to me in the shack even as I type. Anyway, keep at it if you wish; it's fun, and 99.9 percent of the ops you meet are very nice folks to work.
You know, anyone can work phone, and with a computer and interface, just about anyone can work digital; but to work CW takes a skill; that makes it unique.
I had an interesting experience yesterday. I was in school and my choir was having a day "off" after just completing music contest the day before. One of my singers in the HS choir is a ham I taught last year. He's working on General, and yesterday, I was showing him the G4FON trainer on the computer. 40 other HS kids sat there, amazed that I actually knew what was being sent at 30 wpm on the computer. They were totally blown away by that. Had we been on phone or even digital, the reaction would have not been anywhere near that.
Anyway, good going, and best wishes to you! 73
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by K1CJS on February 11, 2005
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Nice story--encouraging, to say the least. I'm glad you could do it.
"So it's easy to see how to many, the abbreviated form of Regarding CW, if not via ham radio then where?
Boils down to CW IS Ham Radio. Although we all do know, Ham Radio is much more than only CW."
Ah, someone who sees the entire picture. An entirely refreshing--and correct--point of view.
73!
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by VE3XDB on February 11, 2005
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Jon,
Welcome to CW! I really enjoy it, and it has become my primary mode, by a long shot! Anytime you want a qrp qso from Southern Ontario, let me know. On 40 metres, it should be an easy shot.
I have taught a few people some CW, and have seen the fear of actually operating. I never really encountered it myself, because the way I look at it, what's the worst thing that could happen? The consequences of not being a perfect CW operator are of no consequence. There are very few "perfect" operators. So remember that, and don't laugh next time I sign off "73 de VE3XD6".
The best thing that ever happened to me was failing my first attempt at 12wpm. In the early '90's, Canadian regulations allowed full HF access with 12wpm, and 80 metre access with 5wpm. On my first attempt, I failed 12 but passed at 5wpm. I was really determined, so I got on the air and had several hundred CW QSO's over the next couple of years, on 80 metres. I really began to enjoy it. Then, I took the test again and aced it. After all that effort, I had no desire to give it up. My log book now contains about 2,000 CW qso's spanning the past 11-12 years.
Keep at it. You will find cw operators to be courteous and patient. Most try to qrs to the speed of a new op, but you're right, it is sometimes difficult to go that slowly! To increase speed, I try to qso with an operator who has a good fist and is operating at the top end of my speed range. Sometimes, you have to ask for their name again, or their qth, but that's ok. These days, I am operating in the 20-25wpm range, and really don't have the desire to go much faster than that.
Hope to catch you on the air sometime.
Best regards,
Doug Behl VE3XDB
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by EXWA2SWA on February 11, 2005
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Good on ya, Jon! CW is my favorite (only) mode and I'd sure like to hook up with you one day. I'm sure you'll find, like I have, that the CW community is more than willing to slow down and repeat as needed. Heck, if these guys will work with me, they'll work with anyone!
Welcome to the fun ...
Jim
KE5CXX
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by KA8VIT on February 11, 2005
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Code is the "secret handshake" of the ham radio community.
Welcome to the club.
72/73,
Bill KA8VIT
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Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
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by W4SK on February 11, 2005
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Way to go, Jon! I am reminded of the Harley T-shirt that says "If I Have To Explain, You Wouldn't Understand."
-W4SK
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Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
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by AC4FS on February 11, 2005
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Jon,
Your story is very inspirational! I got my Novice ticket in 1990, and my Amateur Extra in 1991, but I had never been on the air with CW until early 1992. I decided that I had worked too hard to pass my 20 WPM test to let it just waste away. It took a lot of nerve on my part too, but I started in the 40 meter Novice band, working contacts with a straight key until I had managed to get my speed and accuracy up enough to "graduate" to the other bands. I worked CW almost exclusively until I had to give the rig back to my friend (I was borrowing his old Drake TR-R, and he had to move, so I had to give it back). This was in late 1993 I think.
Anyway, the world changed and I got busy and ham radio took a back seat. I just got back into ham radio in August of 2003, and as much as I loved CW, the 10 years that had gone by had pretty much killed my CW abilities. After reading your story, it has rekindled the CW desire in me, and I will once again get back on the 40 meter Novice band and work on my CW skills.
I enjoyed your article, and I hope it helps others to get off of the Mic and grab the key for a bit.
73, Howard
AC4FS
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by KA4KOE on February 11, 2005
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I started out the hard way....straight key and built an HW-8 Heathkit because it was all I could afford...hadn't heard of QRP.
Made oodles of contacts with that 3 watt rig, and a inverted V on 40m.
PHILIP
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by W5HTW on February 11, 2005
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Yes, welcome to the real ham fraternity! Now you can drive down the road and when you pass a car with ham plates, you can toot "HI" in Morse. Of course, you'll get a blank stare, a raised finger, or someone hunched over the steering wheel hoping you really don't exist and aren't mad at them. And you'll grin and think, "See? I've learned something you don't know." You chest will swell 'till it rubs against the steering wheel, but don't drive off the road.
My first contact came with a friend in high school, as we both received our Novice tickets the same day. I came home and found that little envelope in the mail, and I called Johnny, to learn he had received his ticket, too. So we went to our respective ham shacks, probably about two miles apart, and fired up on the 40 meter Novice band. And we had our first contact at probably three words a minute. That was in 1956. He's still a ham, and so am I.
My second contact was with a woman in Kentucky, also a new Novice. Wow! New ham ticket and the first YL, all in two days.
Enjoy your CW, as I'm sure you will. You now speak the "secret language" of the hidden fraternity. Thanks for joining.
Ed
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by KB2DHG on February 11, 2005
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I remember how hard I worked when I had to get my General Class license. Back then you had to pass a 13 word per minute code test. Well that was a long time ago and I have not been too active in the CW portion of the bands for a while, sad to say.
This year my new years resolution was to get back into CW. So now I am just getting back to where I feel comfortable. So I can relate to this topic. As Amateur Raio operators we need to keep CW alive if for nothing else, but to secure the frequencies that are alotted to us.
Cw is fun and truly an art. You just have to keep at it! DE: KB2DHG
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by W3ULS on February 11, 2005
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Jon,
Thanks for a wonderful article. Reading the various comments has been uplifting, inspirational, and heartwarming.
73,
John, W3ULS
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Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
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by X-WB1AUW on February 11, 2005
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Congrats Jon.
Bet you'll have tons of fun on 30, 40 and 80 meters.
73
Bob
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by KB8ELK on February 11, 2005
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Jon,
Congradulations. I remember my first cw contact. It was about as nerve wracking as my first solo flight.
Consider this :
Persue your interest in Ham Radio where it rewards and pleases you. Forget the rest.
Microphones are not bad.
Amplifiers are fun.
Most advice is wrong.
Best wishes,
KB8ELK
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by KC8VWM on February 11, 2005
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"and when you pass a car with ham plates, you can toot "HI" in Morse. Of course, you'll get a blank stare, a raised finger, or someone hunched over the steering wheel hoping you really don't exist and aren't mad at them. And you'll grin and think, "See? I've learned something you don't know."
But.., but.., officer really, I was sending a secret code to someone I don't even know..?! Really..
BTW, I have done this using my headlights on a few occasions too.
Most hams just look back at ya like your a nut job off your rocker or something. Mabey they don't know CW, who knows.
Anyone else have any horn tooting experiences ?
73
Charles - KC8VWM
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RE: Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
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by K4JF on February 11, 2005
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<Anyone else have any horn tooting experiences ?>
I once heard a horn tooting "HI" as I was cruising down I-85. Turned out to be the instructor in a class I was taking at Corp. Headquarters a few weeks later. We didn't know each other at the time of the toot, but got acquainted later!
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RE: Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
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by N0TONE on February 11, 2005
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A beautiful story. Those are the precious moments. My first QSO was eons ago. My addled memory tells me it was on spark, but I know that's not true. Spark was illegal a few years prior to when I got licensed. But I do know that I heard spark on the air, prior to having my own transmitter.
In those days, we would have an entire table full of homebrew chassis, batteries, and wires, and assume that we were putting out about a watt. We surely had no calibrated metering. I think it wasn't until sometime in the 1950s that I could state, with certainty approaching 50 percent, how much power I was transmitting with.
To those who say CW is a language, I say no. It's much easier. I struggle to learn scraps of languages, even after living in a place for a few years, I could not learn the local language. But I learned CW in a weekend, just a few friends and I decided that "this was the weekend" and we just talked all weekend in "dit dah" language - voice, you know, not any fancy oscillators in those days - and we had it by the end of the weekend.
No, CW isn't a language. It's an entire culture. It's a way of knowing that you are welcome. It's cameraderie. It is knowing that the other chap is absolutely trustworthy. One evening, I received a phone call from a ham. He'd remembered our several CW chats, and was motoring through town, vacationing with his youthful bride and toddler. His vehicle failed, and he called to ask if we could put him up for the night. Instead, I lent him our car, and arranged to have his repaired the next day, while he and his family continued their vacation. A week later, on their return trip, he dropped off our car. He'd managed to get some maintenance done on it for us, reimbursed us for the cost of having his repaired and we've been friends for all the dozen or so years since then. That is the level of trust within the CW community.
If you work CW regularly, and for enough years, you will have such a story to tell. I have many.
Welcome to the fold, my good-natured friend.
AM
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RE: Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
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by K3TIN on February 12, 2005
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Ah yes, horn tooting CW. Ham ticket at 14, drivers license at 16. Had a shortened CW QSO while driving down the road behind a high school chum. Was doing great until the horn "ring" on my Dad's '59 Chevy broke.... OOOPS!
"Really Dad, this guy pulled out in front of me and I beeped at him really hard and the ring just broke.... really.... QSL Dad?"
I have always tooted out HI when I see a ham license plate. Years ago I would usually get a HI back but as previously mentioned here, now I usually get the raised finger. Sad.
73,
de Larry
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Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
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by W3DCG on February 12, 2005
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Horn tootin, yes-I was on my way home north-bound on the I-75/85 Down-Town-Connector. I come up on a big Cargo Van Truck, I think it said WB0W on it, probably on his way back from a ham-fest in Florida. So I pass on the left, and as I did, I honked out 73. But it made him sort of jink a bit to the right. I had hoped that in retrospect, the driver realized what I was honking, but- maybe he wasn't a ham. I don't think I'll do that anymore!
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RE: Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
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by W5HTW on February 12, 2005
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I browse this site fairly frequently, plus I am over at QRZ often. This particular thread has been the only one I have seen on either site, in a very, very long time, that has, so far, been 100 percent positive. Wonderful.
I rarely try horn-CW anymore. Occasionally, upon seeing a ham plate, I'll toot a very quick "I but even that is usually pretty useless. I realize that often the car with the ham plates is being driven by a non-ham family mamber (just as my wife drives our vehicles, both of which have ham identification on them) so it probably isn't as bad as it seems. So I am becoming one of the crowd, the guy with the ham plates who can ignore the other ham plates.
I can recall a caravan of cars, perhaps four, headed along a rural residential roadway, carrying on a 4-way QSO via the horns. I imagine the folks in the scattered homes we passed thought it was a wedding procession. I have, though, often thought, "what if we passed a ham's house?" I doubt we did, but if it had happened, he would have been chuckling, and perhaps wishing he was out there with us. Probably aggravated the folks in the homes, but we were kids; what did we know?
Yes, we had radios, probably mostly two meter Gooney boxes, but we were having a blast (literally!) with the horns.
I'd hesitate to try that today anyway, as it seems my Jeep horn is awfully loud. Maybe horns weren't that loud back in 1956.
Ed
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Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
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by WA2JJH on February 12, 2005
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One thing many do not have a grasp for is the absolute efficiency of SEA-DUBB-YA.
My new experience with a K-2 hammered home the point.
All the blatent DX there is on CW.
People that get bored of HF are the ones that will stick to 100W of SSB, and a commercial vertical.
Sure I can work Florida S9+ all day. Yes, it is a 1000 mile hop. Big deal.
13W on CW from the K2, I work England all day. Then come in all the ones you can never work on voice with 100W.
The rare DX, I get answered on the first or second call.
When you slice it, SSB is too much work! hi-hi!
I am working in the Novice sections after 25 years.
I am getting used to the keyer in the rig.
I would like to be back to 30WPM again. However it can be fun to work those at 7-10WPM. These are the ones just discovering that SEA-DUBYA is fun and not a license requirment so you can get up to 13WPM for General.
When I was 15, I was annoyed I could not work 20M SSB. I thought 20M SSB made you a real ham.
I have to run 600W on SSB just to have the same signal
as everybody else!
Funny thing when I worked Florida on SSB with 12W.
The dudes were impressed. I said 73 and just listened on.
The dude I just worked said to his friend 500 miles away...."Gee 12 watts, you supposed to run only the power needed to maintain the QSO." He then said....Hmmmmm this guy is running 12 and I am peaking at 1200! Oh well!
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Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
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by WD5ISI on February 13, 2005
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Hello JON:
Liked your article, brought back memories of my
first contact. Ive been a ham for 25 years and loved
cw since I started with it.
My fellow club members ask me if I have a mike
for HF, I laugh saying if I can find it.
I chase dx, rag chew, and contesting all for cw.
I wish more people were like you towards cw. As
with everything if people would just try they would
be suprised.
God Bless you Jon.
Dave Hoad WD5ISI
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Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
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by KE5ANR on February 13, 2005
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Jon, congratulations. I got my Technician about a year ago and upgraded to General in late summer. But I barely squeaked past the code test. I'd LIKE to learn code well enough join the CW fraternity. I, too, noticed the (unusal) positive feedback to your article, and I must say I'm encouraged by that. I think it speaks well for the CW fraternity, and maybe this is the motivator I need to REALLY learn code.
73
Ron
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RE: Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
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by WA4DOU on February 13, 2005
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Congrats Jon and welcome. While all comments were positive I found those of KZ1X, KA8VIT, W4SK, W5HTW and NOTONE especially noteworthy. I discovered cw over 40 years ago and it met my needs so completely that I haven't often been on phone since. I've observed very little un-gentlemanly behavior over the years on cw. The reasons aren't so obvious and we could all speculate as to why, but I'll leave that to you to observe and decide.
73 de Roy WA4DOU
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Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
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by N5LF on February 13, 2005
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Jon,
Your story brought back a lot of memories. Good luck on all your ham radio adventures and welcome to the CW community. You are now one of the long, unbroken chain of Morse code operators going all the way back Morse and Vail themselves.
Alan N5LF
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RE: Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
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by N8CPA on February 14, 2005
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Jon, what most hams experience is what I call the LILLI principle--Learning It Leads Liking It. Congratulations on getting through it so quickly. It took me 12 years.
I made my first 2 contacts as a Novice, and just couldn't wait to upgrade to General so I could use phone. My main interest was 2M, so there I stayed for 12 years. Eventually, I started putting together an HF station.
Imagine my surprise when I got home from work one day and discovered I was sick of talking! I had spent that exhausting day talking all day on the telephone.
Rather than let it interfere with my enjoyment of my hobby, I connected my as yet unused, new straight key--until that point it had been mere station decoration--and tuned to the 30Meter band. It restored my enjoyment of the premiere communications hobby. I had known CW ops my whole time in the hobby and could not understand how or why they enjoyed the mode. It finally sank in on that Friday evening as I tapped out a QSO with a station in Quebec City, on a key that would not stay adjusted. I think that's when I finally became a ham, and not just a freak with radio privileges.
Most of my on-air time is now CW. Sure, I still occasionally use a yackrophone, or I'll use digital modes, but nothing so touches the essence of radio as touching a key or paddle.
My favorite horn story:
A few years ago, my wife and I were driving to Dayton from our home in Columbus. As I came up behind a car
with out of state plates, I couldn't help but notice
that the car was covered with antennas. No, the plates were not call sign plates. The only clue that there might be a ham among the car's occupants, was the porcupine effect of the antennas.
As I passed the car I tooted a brief "HI" and never thought anything else about it. Two weeks later, I got a QSL from Missouri, with a brief letter enclosed, explaining that I had tooted "HI" to him outside of Springfield, Oh. He got my call from my plates as I passed him, checked QRZ and got my address. So somewhere amid my station clutter, I have a QSL for an eyeball and AF cross mode contact. Try that with PSK!
Remember what Morse sent during his Congressional demonstration--"What Hath God Wrought?" 160 years later, we know the answer. He hath wrought that pounding brass still kicks .- ... ...
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Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
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by AE5X on February 14, 2005
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Good job Jon! The fun will grow as your proficiency increases but no need to be nervous in the meantime. Your RockMite (if for 20m or 40m) will fire up right on the QRP watering hole and you need to check out the first Monday of each month's Spartan Sprint where we work as many of each other as possible with as light a rig as possible. Details are posted at:
http://www.arsqrp.com/ars/pages/spartan_sprints/ss_rules_new.html
There is a lot of fun to be had - welcome to the club!
John AE5X
Portable QRP Info: http://www.ae5x.com
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Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
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by KB9BVN on February 14, 2005
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I made my first solo CW contact on Labor Day, 1998. It was thrilling, frightening, and amazing all at the same time. My rig was a 40m monobander, the QRP Norcal 40A from Wilderness Radio. The antenna was a couple of 33 foot wires I tossed over the roof of my home. I was operating from the picnic table on the back deck. I used a homebuilt ZM-2 tuner to match the thing up.
Power out was 1.2 watts. First contact was an OM in Mississippi, about 700 miles away. It was at 5 wpm, and took what seemed like hours to complete...I was dripping in sweat by the time we got done. I tossed back a couple cold beverages and played radio some more.
I would call CQ and then secretly hope no one would answer me. It was pretty nerve racking.
I'm 100% QRP in my shack, and I run CW about 99% of the time, with PSK the other 1%. My main rig is an Elecraft K1 4 Bander, with several other monobanders as back up.
QRP and CW is loads of fun, I've got about 65 DXCC entities in the logs, WAS a couple times, and I just have a great time with QRP CW on camping trips and the like.
I'll keep an ear out for you Jon!
73 de KB9BVN
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Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
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by KC8Y on February 16, 2005
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Jon-KC9EQC
Thanks for your story; it brought many memories for me, when I was just a Novice (about 36-years ago)...
Had a my first CW-SSB QSO: with a Canadian Seaman on 15M-SSB, stationed in Cornwallis Island (above the Artic Circle) and I was on the novice 15M-CW portion of the band. I was in my basement, my QTH was in North-Eastern OH
Even though I'm handicapped, now== making speaking clearly for SSB & movements of my hands for CW...I'm still doing CW by the keyboard & software...Still love CW and always will!
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Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
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by KI4CBS on February 16, 2005
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I agree with you Jon. I have just passed my General and Morse requirements this past weekend, and it was alot easier than I thought. I just want to encourage anyone who might be frightened by all the talk out there, and let them know that learning the code can be fun and perhaps easier than expected. I realize some people have handicaps or disabilities that may limit their progress, but for most people with no such problems it can easily be learned, and definitely rewarding and fun. I started by writing the code out and trying to learn it that way. I quickly found out that listening to it on my cd's made it alot easier and what I had already learned by writing it down hampered me from hearing certain letters fast enough to get them down. I was forming the letters in my head each time only slowing my progress. Anyways, I passed the exam and really can't wait to get on the air and try to speed up my words per minute. If anyone needs help just let me know. I'd be glad to help out. I use Echolink and have a Heathkit HW101. I'm no genius by any stretch and I sure don't catch on quick sometimes, but I did it and so can most anyone. I'm glad to see someone else out there like myself Jon, just getting started. Thanks for the post KI4CBS- Mike
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RE: Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
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by K4NR on February 17, 2005
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W0FM,
That IS a great story! I laughed so hard it brought tears to my eyes...
TU es 73 de Tom, K4NR
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Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
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by WA4BWO on February 18, 2005
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Welcome to the Secret Society of CW Bangers SSCWB...??????? Doesn't stand for anything other than to stir up the senses, much like CW did for you. We have all been through the emotional struggle to overcome that first, second and even a few more contacts. The adrelenin rush and all, we are overcomers and members of the elite brass pounders. Keep up the good work and as soon as I get my antennas back up in the air from the hurricanes, I'll see you on 40 maybe!
-... . ... - / --... ...--. / -.. . / .-- .- ....- -... .-- ---
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RE: Finally, Enough Nerve to Get on the Air!
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by N4OI on February 25, 2005
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I'm a little late to this thread but was amazed at how many shared my immediate affinity for CW mode. I have been a ham now for about 2 and a half years and was hooked on CW after "continuing on" so that all my practice to pass the test was not lost. Well, since then I have built a K1, a pair of DSW-II "twins", and a Rockmite. All are great! In fact, my XYL and I are living in a small room while building a new house, and I have been limited to exclusively running my K1 with a small 20 meter dipole strung on the top of furniture and pictures around the walls! It is incredible how effective this setup is - even for breaking DX pileups once in a while. So, I believe that CW is alive and well, due to the excitement that we (and others) share. I just hope newcomers will make the effort to give CW a fair shake if the code requirements are dropped. I look forward to seeing you all on CW! 73 de Ken - N4OI
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