"Dan/W4NTI" w4nti@get rid of this mindspring.com wrote in message
ink.net...

"Dee D. Flint" wrote in message
gy.com...

"Greg Doughty" wrote in message
...
Wow! Thanks so much for the support. I thought I would get some
negative
feedback but you guys are awesome. As far as setting up times, my
daughter is
usually in bed by about 9pm. I get nervous though. That is what blew
it
the
first time I took the code. It's funny too, I find it difficult to
send
as
well, but I read a lot about how people find sending easier than
receiving. I
actually have to write down what I want to send before I do it. Oh
well,
practice makes perfect!!!


73
Greg


That's because we've all been there and done that. Early on I had a
real
old-timer answer me and he must have been going at least 35wpm, probably
been doing code since radio began. After several requests, he got down
to
what I could handle, about 10wpm, and stayed with me for a few minutes
and
then gracefully said goodbye. I sensed that going so slow was a strain
for
him but he still was willing to spend a few minutes with me.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE


It really is difficult for those able to copy above 30 wpm to slow down to
ten. Its not a macho thing, really.

Also now a days many folks use puters to send and readers to copy. Ive
been
answered by someone going 20 when I called at 40 and they copied just
fine,
and no ask for a QRS.

But, what I do is slow down if answered by someone slower than I was
sending. I feel that is courtesy and good operating practice.

Also be aware that this time of year the low bands are skipping out like
crazy. If your too close together you may not hear each other at night.

Dan/W4NTI



Well in a contest, I've answered those going faster than I can without
expecting them to slow down as I've generally got the info by listening
through their response several times before I throw in my call. However I'm
relieved when they do slow down automatically as then I can verify what I
have when they answer.

I personally do not use a code reader as that limits me to answering
stations only when conditions are good, the signal is loud and the sending
consists of nearly perfectly formed code. I've worked stations in contests
that were so faint that I wasn't sure they got the exchange until they sent
the "TU". Another time, I was one of the operators at a special event
station and conditions were bad but several stations contacted us on CW and
I'm quite sure that a code reader would have failed as the static was high
and the signals distorted. One guy even sent us a thank you for working so
hard to copy him. He really wanted to make the contact as he was a Civil War
buff and we were commemorating the first Medal of Honor and it's winner. I
happened to be the one to work him and it meant a lot that he enclosed the
special thank you note.

Now when conditions are right for a code reader to work, yes, it beats me
hands down. But when conditions are less than ideal, I find that I do a
better job even though I don't work code enough to be really good at it.

For casual conversation instead of contesting, I'll need the other station
to slow down. 15 wpm is my comfort level as more than that I have a tough
time writing that fast (I'm working on head copy but that will take awhile
yet).

So Dan, if you come across me on the bands, slow down to my speed as I don't
and won't use a code reader. Maybe someday, I'll finally be good at it.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE