Flash back to 1988 or so, when I was first licensed and just getting on the
air with mostly CW intentions. I still remember one of my earliest QSOs:
I hear, probably on 40 CW
CQ CQ CQ DE NxABC (made up call sign)
I reply:
NxABC NxABC de N8KUA N8KUA AR (prolly sent a few more N8KUAs there! :) )
And he actually hears me:
N8KUA de NxABC, etc.
we exchange signal reports, names and QTH info and then I hear (actually
read on the paper where I was hand copying):
SO LID ("Holy crap," I think, "I must really sound like a
newbie for him to call me a lid" - was chagrinned)
CPY GENE.... (Oh! "solid copy,' not 'so lid!" Whew, that's
better...)
and of course what followed was a perfectly pleasant, albeit relatively slow
QSO. But a good early lesson on listening for words rather than copying
letters. And a good reminder to lighten up in a community where where
excellence in operating is a goal, but helping others along is a big part of
the culture.
73 de N8KUA
-----Original Message-----
From: Rick - DJ0IP / NJ0IP
Sent: Sunday, July 01, 2012 6:03 AM
To: 'Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment'
Subject: [TenTec] Getting on CW
James,
There really is not as much difference between operating CW and SSB as one
might think.
If you already have good operating habbits on SSB, you'll do alright on CW.
Don't worry much about the new Q signals and other abbreviations, because:
- Most of the Q signals used are the same ones we use on SSB (QRZ, QTH,
QRM, QRN, QRX, QSO etc.). The only one you will need to learn in a hurry is
"QRS" (send slower). hi
- As for the abbreviations, well no surprises, many are the same as we use
for text messaging on cell phones. Probably the single most common one used
in SSB and CW is "WX". The most common is "TNX" or "TU" (either will work).
Although you will find long lists of abbreviations, there are really very
few actually used in most QSOs.
BEFORE you get on the air, I would recommend simply listening.
You can make a list of the Q signals and abbreviations you hear and look
them up after their QSO has ended.
Perhaps you can start in the Novice band.
Sure, these guys are beginners too and might make a mistake from time to
time, but you will find many QSOs follow the same pattern, and you will
quickly develop a feeling for the structure of a typical QSO. You will be
able to copy the QSO easily at their speeds.
What I found really helps is to find a friend, and make your first CW QSO
with him.
Then make a couple of more.
After a couple of days, you will be comfortable and can call CQ or S&P on
someone!
Wish I were closer. I would be happy to get on the air with you.
73
Rick, DJ0IP
-----Original Message-----
From: tentec-bounces@contesting.com [mailto:tentec-bounces@contesting.com]
On Behalf Of Al Gulseth
Sent: Sunday, July 01, 2012 2:39 AM
To: tentec@contesting.com; Richards
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Just an observation, Field Day in Hawaii
If you haven't already found it, check the FISTS site:
http://www.fists.org/index.html
Their "Basic CW Operating Manual" may be what you're looking for:
http://www.fists.org/pdfdocs/A%20BASIC%20CW%20OPERATING%20MANUAL.pdf
BTW don't be that worried about "how to play well", just get on the air.
There are a lot of slow-speed ops or ops that will slow down to your comfort
level (7050, 7110 - 7120 come to mind as "watering holes" for slower speed
CW on 40M). Also, while you're on the FISTS site, they have a listing of
Slow Speed CW Nets (although I'm not sure how current the list is):
http://www.fists.org/pdfdocs/slownet.pdf
I think I can speak for the CW community in that we've all "been there, done
that" with the first CW contact, and almost all CW ops will be glad to coach
you along.
73 es GL, Al
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