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Author Topic: Why Do You Like CW?  (Read 11084 times)

WA4DOU

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Why Do You Like CW?
« on: December 10, 2018, 12:46:47 PM »

I received a crystal radio kit for my 9th birthday and upon assembling it, it worked. I could hear the two local radio stations, a ham on 75 meters and the nearby Coast Guard station and her boats. This led to Broadcast Band and Shortwave listening with subsequent receivers and set the stage for interest in amateur radio. In the summer prior to my 14th birthday, the local radio club began conducting licensing classes, theory, and Morse from a mil surplus machine that read inked tape. Learning Morse was easy enough and soon I had a Novice license in hand. I didn't have any interest in cw, so I didn't get on as a Novice. A few months later I had the Conditional license in hand and I headed for the 20 meter phone band, with a dipole up about 20-30 ft high, 30-35 watts on AM and was having a ball, working all over North and Central America, including the Caribbean. Many of those qso's were successful but quite a few ended prematurely when qsb/qrm decided to pull the switch on me. One day, I was lamenting that fact to a group of older locals on 6 meters, and one suggested I try cw. I scoffed but he insisted, even offering to loan me a J-38 key. I agreed and accepted his offer, looked up the protocol for cw contacts and began pursuing it. In no time at all, it became second nature, fun, qso's had a much higher success rate, seldom ending prematurely. I realized we were transferring the very same info, albeit, at a slower rate, and that cw had a degree of precision, lacking in phone, namely the confusion of similar sounding words and letters. No phonetics needed on cw. But the best of all was international DX became available. Europeans, Africans, South Americans, Pacific Islands, Asians, all began to populate my log. I was thrilled! I never looked back, nor ever felt that early interest in phone operating again.

An article appearing in QST a few years ago, suggests that cw is 24 or 25 db more effective than AM and 17 db more effective than unprocessed audio SSB, 11 db over processed audio ssb. Consider that 11 db figure. With 6 db average power increase with processed audio ssb, parity is 1250 watts ssb to 100 watts cw. And in the unprocessed audio case, the parity is 5000 watts ssb to 100 watts cw. That's a powerful difference either way, and serves to illustrate why I gravitated to cw and continue using it to this day.

Maybe you have a story to tell?
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AE8W

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RE: Why Do You Like CW?
« Reply #1 on: December 10, 2018, 03:48:40 PM »

For me CW is just the personal challenge of getting it right. I am an electrical engineer and don't consider the new digital modes a challenge. I understand them. I setup the VACs, pay attention to recommended freqs for particular modes, watch the waterfall, then click a few keys. I feel like I am cheating ... and I am cheating myself for what I want from ham radio.

CW on the other hand, to be able to send >>25 wpm takes serious practice and coordination. It shocks me how much a clutz I am! So be it. I am! LOL  Thus the challenge and the knowledge that there are those that can send/recieve code at ludicrous speeds. I am only interested in crazy speed.  ;)
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W6MK

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RE: Why Do You Like CW?
« Reply #2 on: December 10, 2018, 07:55:37 PM »

CW is not at all about some abstract aspect of speed of character recognition. It is much much more.

In the day when most ops actually sent code by hand, using a straight key or bug, one could tell immediately the identity of the op at the other end by the style of sending.

I can still ID ops I know by the frequency of their use of certain abbreviations or punctuations, even when they are using a keyer.

CW has musical aspects that appeal to those who are also musicians and those who are attracted to musical expressions of all sorts.

CW also allows a wide range of differing language skills to be used. Some ops are very humorous in what they say and how they abbreviate or punctuate.

CW can be a rich experience, far beyond the simpleminded obsession with high speed.
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GW3OQK

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RE: Why Do You Like CW?
« Reply #3 on: December 11, 2018, 04:01:54 AM »

I don't really know why I like CW; I just DO!

When I was an SWL I learnt Morse to become licenced. That was a joy, no trouble at all. Now on air I like talk to other like-minded people in our international language, using my ears and a straight key, preferably with vintage transmitters and receivers. 
73, Andrew
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K5LXP

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RE: Why Do You Like CW?
« Reply #4 on: December 11, 2018, 04:28:40 AM »


It's different and unique.  Not everyone can or will do it, so there's an exclusivity to it.

The equipment is simpler and efficient, lending itself to portable operation.

Family friendly - I can operate CW with headphones on and no one in the house or car hears me operate.

It's legacy and timeless.  CW goes back to the founding of radio.

Mark K5LXP
Albuquerque, NM
 
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N3HEE

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RE: Why Do You Like CW?
« Reply #5 on: December 11, 2018, 04:53:58 AM »

CW is not at all about some abstract aspect of speed of character recognition. It is much much more.

In the day when most ops actually sent code by hand, using a straight key or bug, one could tell immediately the identity of the op at the other end by the style of sending.

I can still ID ops I know by the frequency of their use of certain abbreviations or punctuations, even when they are using a keyer.

CW has musical aspects that appeal to those who are also musicians and those who are attracted to musical expressions of all sorts.

CW also allows a wide range of differing language skills to be used. Some ops are very humorous in what they say and how they abbreviate or punctuate.

CW can be a rich experience, far beyond the simpleminded obsession with high speed.

Well put !
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Joe
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NI0C

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RE: Why Do You Like CW?
« Reply #6 on: December 11, 2018, 10:16:51 AM »

KE6EE:
I loved everything you said-- except for your dig at "simpleminded obsession with high speed."
There is nothing simpleminded about high speed CW! 

But Roy asked for stories, so here is mine. 

I became interested in radio first through a fascination with electronics in my early teens.  I was an avid reader of Popular Electronics, and soon began listening to shortwave broadcasts, getting hooked on DX'ing.  After making the natural progression to a Novice Class FCC license, I saw the code simply as a hurdle to overcome in order to get a real (permanent) ham license.  My love of the code grew as I used it to make contacts in the wonderful community of folks like me in the Novice bands.  I quickly reached the speed (13 wpm) to qualify for "All Amateur Privileges."  But then, I was no longer so eager to use my AM screen modulator and microphone.  I made my first QSO across the pond on 20m CW, and was now hooked on two-way radio DX'ing.  I also enjoyed CW chats with some very early amateur pioneers like Art, W2QB, in Buffalo New York.

One day, I read an article on high speed telegraphy in an ARRL publication by Katashi Nose, KH6IJ.  He said something which stuck with me: "Any DX'er worth his salt is good for at least 60 wpm."  Many hams, even some high achieving DX'ers, scoff at this kind of wisdom today.  But I took it seriously, and still do.  I began listening to the high speed code practice sessions that W1NJM used to provide, and joined in QRQ ragchews with local friends.  I learned that regular high speed practice enhances one's abilities to decode CW at very low signal-to-noise ratios and to deal with the chaos of large pileups.   

CW operators need to stick together rather than dividing up into camps based on speed or method of sending.  I love listening to slow steady hand keys, cootie keys, bugs, iambic and single paddles, as well as memory keyers and keyboards.  It's all good!  And, it's infinitely more fun and satisfying than relying on a computer to decode radio signals, and clicking a mouse to transmit. (I've tried the latter, also).

73 de Chuck  NI0C     
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AC7CW

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RE: Why Do You Like CW?
« Reply #7 on: December 11, 2018, 12:48:19 PM »

It's just fun to converse with somebody that went to the trouble to learn CW and has the capabilities to converse with it...

CW appeals to my inner minimalist; in a practical sense it is inarguably true that it requires no computer and gets through when voice modes do not.
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OZ8AGB

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RE: Why Do You Like CW?
« Reply #8 on: December 11, 2018, 01:05:29 PM »

Tried something new in ham radio this year:
Took my good old faithful K2, a wire antenna, paddle and a battery out to a WWFF site near my QTH and did some CW QSOs using approx 15W.
That was fun.
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WB8VLC

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RE: Why Do You Like CW?
« Reply #9 on: December 11, 2018, 04:56:00 PM »

Because WB6WBJ, W2NQ/7, VE7KFM and all of the other ssb loonies aren't on CW.


Plus I really like my Kent straight key which is all I ever use.
« Last Edit: December 11, 2018, 04:59:45 PM by WB8VLC »
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K3UIM

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RE: Why Do You Like CW?
« Reply #10 on: December 11, 2018, 05:18:12 PM »

In another thread I said this:

"I guess it isn't so much "missing the old days" as it is "remembering" all the new and wonderful happenings. Every hobby has the same affect on the newbees, no matter their age.

A friend showed me a Philmore crystal set (1950) and explained how it worked. Frankly, I thought he was fibbing and asked him to listen to it. He said I could borrow it and if I liked it, he'd sell it to me for 75 cents. (I think.)

I took it home, hooked a wire to the "ground" terminal and wound it around my bedroom under the carpet, out of sight. I then hooked another wire from the "Antenna" to my bed springs. Uh … a bed spring is …. oh, never mind. HI.

For about a week I bet I got about 2 hours sleep every night. HI. Judas Priest! I got stations as far away as Idaho. Wheeling (WWVA) was a very popular station for me! (Back then it was called "hillbilly music"). Needless to say, I spent a weeks' allowance on the radio!!

Eventually it hooked to a home-brewed 1 tube audio amp. In 1948 WMGW started in my home town and that was the only station receivable. … sigh … "

That's what got me away from electronic experimenting, into radio repair and eventually hamming. Memorable!!

Charlie, K3UIM

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Charlie. K3UIM
Where you are: I was!
Where I am: You will be!
So be nice to us old fogies!!

W7ASA

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RE: Why Do You Like CW?
« Reply #11 on: December 11, 2018, 05:22:11 PM »

I really appreciate and enjoy the elegant simplicity and superb efficiency of Morse/CW on HF. Because I do not need expensive equipment to have an excellent Morse station, it's quite easy to be thrifty and effective on-the-air with older and/or home brew equipment.  As for conversations using Morse, I've met many interesting people, often in remote or otherwise unique operating situations. My several skeds per week with friends are a delight that I look forward to.  Using Morse code is also mildly relaxing, in that it keeps a person's mind 'just busy enough' that it very quickly releases the many distractions of the day. When my Wife is asleep and I'm awake, I slip-on the headphones to tap code with another ham and do not disturb the house, as my voice certainly would in the middle of the night.

If there were no Morse code radiotelegraphy, I would have left ham radio long ago.

73 de Ray  ..._ ._
« Last Edit: December 11, 2018, 05:25:55 PM by W7ASA »
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N4MJG

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RE: Why Do You Like CW?
« Reply #12 on: December 11, 2018, 05:44:12 PM »

I took no code tech years ago now into genereal I took code right before they drop code as requirement and passed but sometime I let it go too long went right into again and relearn again this with KX2 with paddle keys !!

I really wanted to get back morse code I can hear cq cq cq de whatever there call sign is as I can listening by hear with hearing problem !


the more I spend MORE TIMES on morse code the more I learn by of the sound letters number and ?!&.,': all that stuff

morse code is fun I get on more often when I'm on KX2

73
Jackie N4MJG
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JACKIE GREEN

WD0EGC

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RE: Why Do You Like CW?
« Reply #13 on: December 14, 2018, 08:44:01 AM »

There is a lot of nostalgia in CW for me.  Back in the 1970's, all I could afford was $138 for a HW-8, and all I could do was CW.  I was inactive for 30 years, until about a year ago, and I was surprised how quickly it came back for me. 

But, there might also be a physiological angle to our appreciation of the code.  Learning morse code stimulates areas of the brain, and perhaps that is one source of the satisfaction that comes from using it:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5526915/





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N9AOP

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RE: Why Do You Like CW?
« Reply #14 on: December 14, 2018, 08:57:32 AM »

Way back then all I could afford was a Heathkit HW series radio and a Gotham vertical.  I got to like CW and stuck with it.
Art
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