At some point, there will be hams on HF who have not passed a code test,
but want to give Morse code a try on the air. Of course they're not
going to be that skillful at first. So maybe there should be an
informal subband or frequency for beginners and elmers to hang out.

robert casey wrote:
At some point, there will be hams on HF who have not passed a code test,
but want to give Morse code a try on the air. Of course they're not
going to be that skillful at first. So maybe there should be an
informal subband or frequency for beginners and elmers to hang out.

Why? Just call CQ at your comfortable code speed or
answer CQs in your speed range. That's what I do.
If someone gets too fast, ask them to QRS. If they
won't slow down, try QFU. :-)
--
73, Cecil http://www.w5dxp.com

"robert casey" wrote:

At some point, there will be hams on HF who have not passed a code test,
but want to give Morse code a try on the air. Of course they're not going
to be that skillful at first. So maybe there should be an informal
subband or frequency for beginners and elmers to hang out.

Why not the Novice CW sub-bands?

Sounds like a good idea to me, to help those who want to learn.

73
kh6hz

"KH6HZ" wrote in message
...
"robert casey" wrote:

At some point, there will be hams on HF who have not passed a code test,
but want to give Morse code a try on the air. Of course they're not
going to be that skillful at first. So maybe there should be an informal
subband or frequency for beginners and elmers to hang out.

Why not the Novice CW sub-bands?

Sounds like a good idea to me, to help those who want to learn.

73
kh6hz

I'd recommend that they go to frequencies in the general area of the FISTS
calling frequencies. This group is always willing to help a new comer and
there are people who regularly hang out there listening for someone new.

The old Novice bands would be a bit of a problem. With the change in
allocations that went into effect on December 15th, the 80m Novice subband
is now filled with SSB transmissions. Half of the 40m subband is also now
used for SSB.

Dee, N8UZE

On Feb 8, 9:37 pm, robert casey wrote:
At some point, there will be hams on HF who have not passed a code test,
but want to give Morse code a try on the air. Of course they're not
going to be that skillful at first. So maybe there should be an
informal subband or frequency for beginners and elmers to hang out.

50 Khz up from the lower edges of the five traditional HF bands.

Quadruple the number of minutes per week W1AW & Co. transmits 5, 7.5
and 10WPM code practice sessions.

w3rv

On Feb 8, 10:40 pm, "KH6HZ" wrote:
"robert casey" wrote:
At some point, there will be hams on HF who have not passed a code test,
but want to give Morse code a try on the air. Of course they're not going
to be that skillful at first. So maybe there should be an informal
subband or frequency for beginners and elmers to hang out.

Why not the Novice CW sub-bands?

Sounds like a good idea to me, to help those who want to learn.

73
kh6hz

That didn't work so well for me 20 years ago, why would it be any
different today?

wrote:

That didn't work so well for me 20 years ago, why would it be any
different today?

Attitude.

wrote:


likely to be worse if Dee is correct in forming us that the novice cw
bands have had general phone pushed into them for phone ops

Dee may be correct regarding competition for band space. However, I still
think more operators are likely to know where the 'novice' subbands are
located (most hams have a band-plan chart somewhere in their shack) than
they are going to know the 'FISTS' regular calling frequencies.

"KH6HZ" wrote in message
...
wrote:


likely to be worse if Dee is correct in forming us that the novice cw
bands have had general phone pushed into them for phone ops

Dee may be correct regarding competition for band space. However, I still
think more operators are likely to know where the 'novice' subbands are
located (most hams have a band-plan chart somewhere in their shack) than
they are going to know the 'FISTS' regular calling frequencies.


Correction to Mark's comment. I said phone NOT General phone. It went to
the Advanced and Extra licensees.

With so many having internet access these days, it's not hard to find the
FISTS calling frequencies.

However, I'd recommend to the new people that they be the ones to call CQ.
Since the courteous thing to do is to answer a CQ at the speed it is sent,
they have a very good chance of getting someone who will slow down for them.

Dee, N8UZE

On Feb 8, 9:37�pm, robert casey wrote:
At some point, there will be hams on
HF who have not passed a code test,
but want to give Morse code a try on the air.

Yup.

*Of course they're not
going to be that skillful at first.

Let's not assume that.

*So maybe there should be an
informal subband or frequency for beginners and elmers to hang out.

3.525 to 3.600 MHz
7.025 to 7.125 MHz
21.025 to 21.200 MHz
28.0 to 28.5 MHz

Right now, all the above frequencies are available to all FCC licensed
amateurs who have passed a Morse Code test. They are the current
"Novice bands".

On February 23, they will be available to all FCC licensed amateurs.

What better place to use Morse Code?

I suggest 3.550 and 7.050 as "watering holes".

73 de Jim, N2EY