[CQ-Contest] ROTTEN OPERATING

[Zack Widup]

It always seemed to me the thing with 13 wpm was that the characters were
the same length/speed as about 10 wpm, but the character spacing was
reduced to make the speed faster.  When 15 wpm was sent, the characters
were sped up and the character spacing returned to normal.  Because of
this, I always managed to copy 15 wpm better than 13 wpm!

This brings back memories.  When I was working on getting my speed up to
pass the General at 13 wpm (1968) and later the Extra at 20 wpm (1971), I
copied a lot of CW from the commercial stations - NSS, NAA, WOO etc.  I
guess those days are gone for good.   :-(

73, Zack W9SZ

On Thu, 3 Jan 2002, Lee Hiers wrote:

> 
> On 4 Jan 2002, at 1:13, Rick Bullon wrote:
> 
> > Now I don't want to start the slow code debate or the code no code
> > debate but new hams only have to copy 5 wpm and if they want to
> > increase their speed they (or should I say we) hit a wall at about
> > 10 to 12 wpm. 
> 
> That same wall was there when those of us who had to pass higher 
> speed tests took the 13 wpm test.  In fact, I would not be surprised 
> to learn that 13 wpm was chosen because it requires you to cross that 
> plateau.
> 
> I remember the single event that got me from copying around 15 wpm to 
> being able to pass the 20 wpm test.  It was the WAE CW contest in 
> August 1977.  I remember just barely being able to squeak out copy at 
> 15 wpm the week before the contest to being comfortable at 20 wpm the 
> week after.  If everyone I listened to that weekend had been sending 
> at 20 wpm or less, I'd never have been able to upgrade.
> 
> Instead, I'd listen to a station running folks.  And listen.  And 
> listen.  And keep listening until I had his call.  And listen some 
> more until I had figured out his exchange (QSO number if I recall 
> correctly).  And then call.  No, I didn't make a lot of QSOs, but I 
> got in a lot of practice.
> 


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