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Making CW QSOs is the Best Form of Practice Still Today

Created by Howard Bernstein, WB2UZE on 2020-03-02

Making CW QSOs is the Best Form of Practice Still Today and Was so for a Young Ham Back in the 1960s

 

I was thinking the other day about all the first QSOs our Long Island CW Club members (longislandcwclub.org) have made over the past 2 years and how exciting an experience that has been. I was then reflecting on my first QSOs of 54 years ago and what I remember them being like and how I made the transition from practice to QSO.  So for those who want to read my story here it goes:

 

Back in the '60s there were no cell phones, computers and most houses had one landline and one TV.  No way would your parents allow you to tie up the phone to talk long to friends or monopolize the TV.  So ham radio back in the day was a great outlet for youth that wanted to communicate. In mid 1965 I studied CW using a 78 LP record which I still have and the outcome was memorizing it.  I remember on day 30 saying to my Dad, who was a radio operator on a WW2 B17, that I only memorized that record and was never going to able to really learn the Code.  Well, on day 31, I had my epiphany and everything clicked and there was no turning back.

 

So once I got my Novice License in November 1965, I jumped on the air with hundreds of other teens on Long Island NY and started making QSOs at 5-7 wpm.   There was no further training with the record or other means....just taking the QSO plunge.  I don't remember if I was scared or nervous but the strong desire to communicate got me in gear.  I did have some practice making QSOs before being licensed with the son and father team who gave me my Novice test, so I would not say I jumped in cold.

 

I am a saver of all things and I have all my paper logs to date. I know how to computer log but I like the retro way of paper logs and still use paper today. In looking over my first log entries from November and December of 1965, it’s interesting to note that I mentioned a number of times ‘difficult to copy due to QRM’ in November but later on in December that comment was infrequent.  So there you can see my learning improvement curve through trial and error of operating. In looking further at the logs, I went on the air every day after being licensed with the exception of a 10 day layoff, which was caused by not knowing how to tune my transmitter and burning up the grid bias resistor of the final 6146 tube.  Not knowing how to solder, my cousin who was a TV repairman, replaced the resistor and I thought he was god!  We took the rig back to Lafayette Radio where we bought it and a ham there should me how to load a PI network and dip the plate etc.  A lesson well learned which I need to know still today with my boat anchor station.

 

My first rig was the very Heathkit DX60 still in my shack, and a Hallicrafters SX110 I never liked because it drifted and was inaccurate. My 40m dipole was made out of the wire we stripped from TV 500 ohm twin lead because at 13 years old we did not know antenna wire could have insulation on it.  It took painstaking hours to strip that wire and being stranded was a further nightmare. The antenna went up 8 feet above ground and worked.  A few months later we replaced it with solid wire which was a 'miracle' to use.

 

 

Back in the day, there was a lot of QRM as we Novices were stuck on crystals without VFO privileges so a Novice frequency was akin to a telephone 'party line' of yore.  In my log entries the crystal frequency called on, and in a couple of cases the received reply came on a different frequency, so we were working 'split' already! All of this training to listen through QRM with vintage boat anchor gear that had no filters/selectivity, caused us to be able to copy by tuning out the other stations mentally, which was good training for eventual head copy. Hence today many of my fellow Long Island CW Club members are surprised when I still prefer listen to a receiver wide open rather than hear that 'tunnel sound' of a 500HZ filter.  

 

 

So when was my first European contact? It was 7 months later in 1966. I still remember what my contact's QSL card looked like and I just found it in my old shoe box of cards:  G3OSJ, Lionel must be in his 80s or 90s as he is still listed in QRZ yet not active and with no email.  I will write him a letter soon and hope he is still healthy enough to respond...stay tuned.  For this QSO, I do remember being nervous and so excited to make my first European contact. An experience that has left indelible and fond memories.

 

EPILOGUE:

 

As you can see back in the day we jumped into QSOing right away.  It seems to me that some CW students today might be losing sight of the fact that the end game of learning CW is not to initially master speed, head copy or to be able to decode calls signs at fast speeds.  That will all come in time. The end game is to get on the air and for that you do not have to be perfect.  All that is needed is to get the other station's call sign correct and be able to send correctly your call sign and QSO protocol.  Once you get the other station’s call sign, you are home free and you can follow along in QRZ.com and double check the QTH and name.  The only onus is to decode the RST.

 

So to all CW students, please just jump into making QSOs. There is no need to be nervous and fearful, which is a very common feeling among new ops, as we are not talking about 'life and death' matters here.  Most experienced CW ops are very patient and understanding and the few that are not are not worth discussing.  The more QSOs you will do, the faster the learning curve will become.  There is just so far each of you can go practicing with APPS and websites.  Sometimes there is a practice saturation and leveling off and the answer is doing the end game: QSOing

 

 

 

NT0D2021-10-13
Making CW QSOs is the Best Form of Practice Still Today
Ditto Howard.
73
Phil, W0OJ
K2MMO2020-05-15
Re: Making CW QSOs is the Best Form of Practice Still Today
When I got my novice ticket I learned on a straight key.
I still use my straight keys from time to time however now use a paddle much easier on my wrist. Work only CW and enjoy ragchews and have made so many friends over the years of working CW.
As far as I am concerned it is the bestmode of transmitting with the least amount of power.
Reply to a comment by : WB2UZE on 2020-03-04

Thanks for your comments John on the aritlce and we too at the Long Island CW Club recommend using a straight key first to learn timing and the feel of CW, before moving on to a keyer. In some cases if there are physical reasons like carpal tunnel or arthritis, there can be benefits to starting with a keyer. But in any case we leave the final decision up to the student
Reply to a comment by : W8QZ on 2020-03-02

I heartily agree - get on the air and start making contacts. You learn 'real' on-the-air code, not just perfect machine generated code - and learn sending as well (sending does not come automatically along with learning to receive). Start with a straight key. Leave the 'bugs' and 'keyers' for later, once your ears have learned what good code should sound like. If you can arrange it, learn off-the-air with a buddy: take turns sending and receiving to each other with a practice oscillator. The old (out of print) booklet by the ARRL 'Learning the RadioTelegraph Code' is a great way to start, IMHO.
Reply to a comment by : KA2DDX on 2020-03-02

Amen........... I could not have said it better. 73 - Larry
KF0QS2020-03-27
Making CW QSOs is the Best Form of Practice Still Today
" I feel like I’ve come a long way, but still acutely feel my shortcomings."

It's just my opinion but, when it comes to operating CW, the only "shortcoming" is not to honestly try.
KC3MIO2020-03-27
Making CW QSOs is the Best Form of Practice Still Today
I got on the air just before my 68th birthday and started learning CW three months later. My first QSO was last June and I was scared that someone would answer me. 500 QSOS later, I feel like I’ve come a long way, but still acutely feel my shortcomings. Nevertheless, I love working CW, especially QRP.

The older I get, the more I realize that if you have decided to do something, do it!
WA7VHW2020-03-07
Re: Making CW QSOs is the Best Form of Practice Still Today
I know a lot of newcomers are hesitant to get on and actually make a CW contact. I would be more than happy to make a sked with anyone who wants to work on their CW skills.
Reply to a comment by : KF0QS on 2020-03-02

I got licensed just a year after you did, Howard. And my ham radio club taught me the same way; i.e., once we learned the letters and the numbers, we got turned loose. Indeed, before I actually received my license in the mail, I spent a lot of time SWL'ing and copying other hams' code. I believe that is the best way to learn. If you're not comfortable making a contact yet, then just copy other QSO's in progress, and you'll get there. My very first QSO (when my brand new novice license came in the mail with my first callsign, i.e., WN9ZDO) from my QTH in Kankakee, Illinois (60 miles south of Chicago) was with another novice in Frankfurt, Kentucky on 40 meters during daytime hours. I will never forget that thrill!
N8AUC2020-03-06
Making CW QSOs is the Best Form of Practice Still Today
Except for not having a CW record to copy from, that's pretty much been my experience over the years. I got started much later though, in the late 1970s. Making QSOs on the air, I believe, is the absolute best way to increase your speed and proficiency. That is how it happened for me.

At 5WPM, you have to copy 25 characters in 60 seconds. About 1 character every 2 seconds. That seems fast when you are just starting, but in reality it is very slow. So basically, once you have the code truly memorized, you are at 5 WPM and are ready to get on the air. Remember not to send any faster than you can copy, and start making contacts. The more you do it, your speed will automatically increase with familiarity.
And you will have fun while doing it, because you are "playing radio". And nothing is more fun than that if you're a ham.
KE6SLS2020-03-05
Making CW QSOs is the Best Form of Practice Still Today
Thanks for the article Howard.

I still love CW. I now work a lot of phone nets and sometimes I hear old timers use CW to check in, however, I am probably one of the few that can copy the call! It's funny how I still feel like a newbie even after all these years.

YES, get on the air with your straight key. I call it POSITIVE PRESSURE. When you passively copy CW, you don't have the same drive to make sure you get all the details correct. Yet when you are in an active CW QSO, the drive to copy that other op's info is much greater!

After about my third CW QSO, I found myself "forever hooked on CW."

Tnx om, 73
j
WB2UZE2020-03-04
Re: Making CW QSOs is the Best Form of Practice Still Today
Thanks for your comments John on the aritlce and we too at the Long Island CW Club recommend using a straight key first to learn timing and the feel of CW, before moving on to a keyer. In some cases if there are physical reasons like carpal tunnel or arthritis, there can be benefits to starting with a keyer. But in any case we leave the final decision up to the student
Reply to a comment by : W8QZ on 2020-03-02

I heartily agree - get on the air and start making contacts. You learn 'real' on-the-air code, not just perfect machine generated code - and learn sending as well (sending does not come automatically along with learning to receive). Start with a straight key. Leave the 'bugs' and 'keyers' for later, once your ears have learned what good code should sound like. If you can arrange it, learn off-the-air with a buddy: take turns sending and receiving to each other with a practice oscillator. The old (out of print) booklet by the ARRL 'Learning the RadioTelegraph Code' is a great way to start, IMHO.
Reply to a comment by : KA2DDX on 2020-03-02

Amen........... I could not have said it better. 73 - Larry
WB2UZE2020-03-04
Making CW QSOs is the Best Form of Practice Still Today
Bernie that was nice of you to offer practice to K7OFG and I agree there can be slower stations found above 7100 and many SKCC ops around 7050 that are willing to slow down for new ops.

Also your vintage Knight rigs on your QRZ page look great.
KF0QS2020-03-03
Re: Making CW QSOs is the Best Form of Practice Still Today
K7OFG: I actually do hear some slow speed CW occasionally at around 7.100 to 7.125. However, there is a lot of slow speed CW starting at about 7.050 and going up a few khz.

If you want, shoot me an email and we can try to arrange a schedule on 40 or 80 meters (likely the best bands for us since you're in Arizona and I'm in Colorado).
Reply to a comment by : K7OFG on 2020-03-03

Thanks for the the encouragement. I've been working on my CW for quite a while and have yet to get up the nerve to get on the air. As I turn the dial it all seems a blur to me and now with the computer controlled digital formats taking over the old Novice CW frequencies I just wish there was a beginners frequency like back in the day of the Novice. Again, thanks. Steve.
K7OFG2020-03-03
Making CW QSOs is the Best Form of Practice Still Today
Thanks for the the encouragement. I've been working on my CW for quite a while and have yet to get up the nerve to get on the air. As I turn the dial it all seems a blur to me and now with the computer controlled digital formats taking over the old Novice CW frequencies I just wish there was a beginners frequency like back in the day of the Novice.
Again, thanks.
Steve.
W4FID2020-03-03
Making CW QSOs is the Best Form of Practice Still Today
I was a novice on the south side of Chicago at age 14 in 1961. All my high school buddies were on 40 meters and had semi/broken QSOs with "far away" places like KY and NC and MN. Elmers from the adult radio club told me "stay on 80 meters and work real QSOs" I worked maybe 100 or so miles but 80 meters was less crowded and had less QSB than 40 meters so I got to rag chew and copy actual conversation not just name QTH QSOs. That built my code speed up much better. I was the only one in my crowd that passed the General on my first try. To this day I still enjoy a little CW and could still pass the General test at the FCC at 13 WPM like I did back then.
KF0QS2020-03-02
Making CW QSOs is the Best Form of Practice Still Today
I got licensed just a year after you did, Howard. And my ham radio club taught me the same way; i.e., once we learned the letters and the numbers, we got turned loose. Indeed, before I actually received my license in the mail, I spent a lot of time SWL'ing and copying other hams' code.

I believe that is the best way to learn. If you're not comfortable making a contact yet, then just copy other QSO's in progress, and you'll get there.

My very first QSO (when my brand new novice license came in the mail with my first callsign, i.e., WN9ZDO) from my QTH in Kankakee, Illinois (60 miles south of Chicago) was with another novice in Frankfurt, Kentucky on 40 meters during daytime hours. I will never forget that thrill!
W8QZ2020-03-02
Re: Making CW QSOs is the Best Form of Practice Still Today
I heartily agree - get on the air and start making contacts. You learn 'real' on-the-air code, not just perfect machine generated code - and learn sending as well (sending does not come automatically along with learning to receive). Start with a straight key. Leave the 'bugs' and 'keyers' for later, once your ears have learned what good code should sound like.

If you can arrange it, learn off-the-air with a buddy: take turns sending and receiving to each other with a practice oscillator. The old (out of print) booklet by the ARRL 'Learning the RadioTelegraph Code' is a great way to start, IMHO.
Reply to a comment by : KA2DDX on 2020-03-02

Amen........... I could not have said it better. 73 - Larry
KA2DDX2020-03-02
Making CW QSOs is the Best Form of Practice Still Today
Amen...........

I could not have said it better.

73 - Larry