[CQ-Contest] When is speed not speedy?

[Zack Widup]

Depends on what setup he was using. At my own station, I use a
TS-850SAT with built-in keyer and knob on the front. I just crank the
knob back and forth. I do this a lot in contests to adjust to the
other guy's speed. But I've used stations where the code speed is
built into a menu - you have to find the menu, open the correct item,
change the speed and close it just to modify the code speed. It's a
pain in the tuchis.

Also, my keyer I use on portable operations requires holding down a
button, sending a character in Morse which opens a CW "menu" item in
the keyer, then send the new speed in Morse to the keyer. Also a pain
so I usually just leave it set at 20 or 22 wpm.

73, Zack W9SZ

On 5/27/13, Charles Harpole <hs0zcw at gmail.com> wrote:
> When is high speed CW not speedy?
> Answer, when sending to me well beyond my SENDING SPEED of 20 WPM.  I
> worked the whole contest at 20wpm sending and rcving (I can do that speed
> well and remember when it was considered fast?), lots as H&P so the other
> station already knew my speed because I called him at 20.
>
> He sends four numeral S.N. at 40wpm, so I have to ask for THREE repeats,
> one for each of the last three numerals.  If, like good ops of old, he just
> came down to 20, no repeats and no delays and no cursing me under his
> breath.
>
> I guess some programs are difficult to adjust speed or maybe "real"
> contesters are just arrogant???   My radios have a speed knob right on
> front.
>
> I bet that without RBN and code readers, the speed demons would not be able
> to run like that.   BTW, by sending 5NN at 70wpm followed by the SN at 40
> keeps even the smartest code readers missing the first few numbers as it
> re-times from 70 down to 40.
>
> I copied the "cut numbers" as letters and plan to send in a log that way.
> When will ops begin to use cut numbers inside their call signs too?... I
> used E2E, and guess I could have signed EAE.
> Also, when my friend can win his category for Asia and not know code,
> really, something is wrong with contesting and respect for and satisfaction
> with human achievement.
>
> Oh, have my smart phone tell me when the next contest is over and how my
> new, 80wpm, fully automated station did in scores.   73,
> --
> Charly, HS0ZCW ... this time instead as E2E... and watched all those hi
> speed ops cope with that, hee hee.
>
> See Steef note here also.
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