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Author Topic: Why "EN" for Received?  (Read 1414 times)

NI0C

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Re: Why "EN" for Received?
« Reply #15 on: September 01, 2021, 08:15:19 AM »

I'm going to suggest that most often when we hear dit--dahdit for "R" (received) it is not "sloppy" sending or a beginner accidentally getting the element spacing wrong, but rather a deliberate (even if learned and now subconcious) change in "pronunciation" of the letter for emphasis. The same op would likely send every other R in the QSO with the standard element spacing.

kinda like one might say "sho nuff" instead of "sure enough" in speech.

AA4Q
I agree with your take on "EN."  I've heard this since my earliest QSO's, back in the day when few hams had "El-Keys." I've always understood "EN" to convey enthusiasm for a solid copy of a transmission. 
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K0UA

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Re: Why "EN" for Received?
« Reply #16 on: September 01, 2021, 10:51:43 AM »

I remember hearing it in my novice days, and that was 50 years ago.
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73  James K0UA

K8AXW

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Re: Why "EN" for Received?
« Reply #17 on: September 01, 2021, 11:16:27 AM »

Quote
I agree with your take on "EN."  I've heard this since my earliest QSO's, back in the day when few hams had "El-Keys." I've always understood "EN" to convey enthusiasm for a solid copy of a transmission.

This was common back in the mid 50's when I first got started.

K8AXW
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A Pessimist is Never Disappointed!

N2SR

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Re: Why "EN" for Received?
« Reply #18 on: September 01, 2021, 01:04:30 PM »

But perfectly sent computer code is also "bad."   Go figure.
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NI0C

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Re: Why "EN" for Received?
« Reply #19 on: September 01, 2021, 03:16:21 PM »

Quote
But perfectly sent computer code is also "bad."
I don't recall anyone making such a complaint.
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K3UIM

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Re: Why "EN" for Received?
« Reply #20 on: September 01, 2021, 03:51:47 PM »

Quote
But perfectly sent computer code is also "bad."
I don't recall anyone making such a complaint.
+1
Charlie
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Charlie. K3UIM
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Where I am: You will be!
So be nice to us old fogies!!

N2SR

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Re: Why "EN" for Received?
« Reply #21 on: September 01, 2021, 04:34:21 PM »

Quote
But perfectly sent computer code is also "bad."
I don't recall anyone making such a complaint.
+1
Charlie

Just because you don't recall doesn't mean there hasn't been.  There have been previous threads here and other places from "purists," anti-contesters, and others.   Feel free to use the search function.
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ZL1BBW

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Re: Why "EN" for Received?
« Reply #22 on: September 01, 2021, 05:21:30 PM »

But perfectly sent computer code is also "bad."   Go figure.

Good to bad CW is on a scale, for me, if I had to take a few hundred words of QTC tfc a nice steady 20 22wpm and a really clean sender that used BT AR and did a COL at the end made my life easy, you could just sit there and flick the form into the typewriter and off you go, Oh and also tell me whether it was a QTC, SLT or OBS in time for me to get the right form in.

The other extreme was an OP who as soon as you called and sent QRV K was off the like a greyhound, no breaks, no idea of what was coming, and quite often appalling CW, at the end K and then they would wonder why there was a lot RQ AA AB.

So the quality of the CW is really quite important, bit like the old adage of crap in = crap out, we did the best we could, but the mindreading module I seemed to have missed.

It really shows in how many people send NST.

AR K
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NI0C

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Re: Why "EN" for Received?
« Reply #23 on: September 01, 2021, 06:49:08 PM »

Quote
But perfectly sent computer code is also "bad."
I don't recall anyone making such a complaint.
+1
Charlie

Just because you don't recall doesn't mean there hasn't been.  There have been previous threads here and other places from "purists," anti-contesters, and others.   Feel free to use the search function.
I won't bother searching for spurious opinions I don't agree with. Perfect computer generated sending (or something close) is a joy to listen to and copy. I was always taught to strive for such in my sending, but also to be able to copy poor fists.
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M0LEP

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Re: Why "EN" for Received?
« Reply #24 on: September 02, 2021, 02:24:45 AM »

Personally, I find code sent by a competent human operator easier to copy than code sent by computer at the same speed. Anything with a real live person at the other end is likely to have an accent of sorts. Occasionally accents can make communication tricky, but generally they add more than they take away. Computers, however, at least when it comes to sending Morse, have a peculiarly soulless character; perfectly spaced and utterly monotonous.
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KB1NO

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Re: Why "EN" for Received?
« Reply #25 on: September 02, 2021, 10:18:25 PM »

Thanks to all who replied.   
The (American) English language has evolved over the years and I suppose International Morse has as well.   
AA4Q's suggestion that it's a way of emphasizing the "R" seems more likely than bad CW sending.
As others have commented, it's been heard and copied by others, apparently for many years. 
Whether we like it or not it's become a sort of acceptable CW "slang" for "Received."
Similar to dit-dit, but we probably shouldn't open that topic, as it's been debated extensively elsewhere.
Thanks again.
73,
John, KB1NO
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KX4OM

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Re: Why "EN" for Received?
« Reply #26 on: September 03, 2021, 10:43:37 AM »

Used as emphasis for "R" for at least since 1960.  CW was more stylistic in those days. Same with "swing" by bug users.  I always enjoyed those QSOs as music.

Ted, KX4OM
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OZ8AGB

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Re: Why "EN" for Received?
« Reply #27 on: September 07, 2021, 03:37:30 AM »

After I heard it the first couple of times I went to look up EN in the usual CW abbreviation lists found on the internet. Not there. Maybe it should be added...
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K3STX

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Re: Why "EN" for Received?
« Reply #28 on: September 08, 2021, 07:50:25 PM »

Used as emphasis for "R" for at least since 1960.  CW was more stylistic in those days. Same with "swing" by bug users.  I always enjoyed those QSOs as music.

Ted, KX4OM

Same, an emphasis for R. Alot easier on a bug.
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KM1H

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Re: Why "EN" for Received?
« Reply #29 on: September 21, 2021, 07:40:00 AM »

Some people just enjoy bad sending.  If you don't believe it just listen around for a few days on the CW segments.

Id say it was many new hams still in the learning CW process. Al least they are trying
There are some terrible fists on 20m CW lately, either bugs or straight keys.

I've read that the original "banana boat swing", emphasizing the dashes with longer than necessary length, came about because at the United Fruit Company there was one guy that taught all the United Fruit ships radio operators how to send Morse (spark in those days).  He sent that way so they ALL learned it, and the coastal Navy and commercial stations could all tell them apart from other shipping by the "swing".  The United Fruit Co adopted radio on their many ships early because it helped schedule port calls and prevent spoiled produce..

I dont know about that but I certainly developed a BBS when using the Vibroplex Presentation received as a 16th birthday present from my parents. When I used to sit RM watches at sea (I was a bored ET when nothing broke) and qualified for the "speed key" the swing remained and I heard it from many others; no body complained including Senior Chiefs.

Pure by the book bug CW sounds so mechanical, which it is, giving an op no personality; that is sometimes carried over on forums ::)  :P

Old time telegraph ops all had a fist that could tell the receiver who was at the key and they also developed a version that was an early SOS if at gun point.

Carl
« Last Edit: September 21, 2021, 07:50:30 AM by KM1H »
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