Ty K3MM wrote:
>I dont agree that we are losing newbies directly because of CW speed.
>There is just less interest and incentive in learning the code to start
>with....it has no more commercial/military viability. You have to want to
>do it for JUST for fun and games now, which isnt enough incentive for most
>to become literate, let alone highly proficient.
Hmmmm. I thought we always played at contesting JUST for fun and
games? Sure we want to improve our skills and our station - just so
that it's even more fun.
As a 100% SSB op, let me humbly offer a suggestion. If you want to
keep CW alive and thriving, you need to grab on to and WELCOME every
5wpm newbie who shows up. A certain modest % of those will "get the
bug" and will progress to become the next generation of serious CW
contesters. That's what has happened here in central Texas. If you
are unwilling to slow down in SS, at least make a firm commitment and
serious effort through your clubs to search out, WELCOME and elmer
some new 5wpm entrants. If you don't, all those new HF ops will end
up just like NT5C.
73, John.
>From Ward Silver" <hwardsil@centurytel.net Tue Nov 5 16:44:39 2002
From: Ward Silver" <hwardsil@centurytel.net (Ward Silver)
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Beyond Unsportsmanlike
Message-ID: <024e01c284ea$a30f5560$27d7fea9@mirage>
>From private emails I've received, I don't believe our mystery would-be =
contester was in the "learning CW" mode. He's not a 5 wpm guy, but =
neither is he a 20+ wpm guy. And deserving of better treatment.
I agree that it would be mean, if nothing else, to just encourage =
someone very inexperienced to jump in without preparation. "Here - just =
hold this rope, sit back on your skis, I'll fire up these twin Mercury =
outboards, and you'll have some real fun! Here we go, now! =
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA....."
Right. I don't think this was the case either.
One of the most important ingredients for success - which was not =
present in my original post, I admit - is listening. Slow-speed ops can =
get a lot out of the contest if they are encouraged to figure out the =
general flow and timing first. SS QSOs can be made a lot easier, as we =
all know, by getting all the information copied down first, figuring out =
what your number will be, and only then calling.
While we all post to each other - contesters all - wouldn't it be better =
if this instruction was made available as a Web site with some audio =
clips? I'd be happy to contribute some writing if a Webmeister would =
step forward to put the site together. I'm sure there are others out =
there with audio clips, photos, etc.
73, Ward N0AX
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