[CQ-Contest] CW with FLDigi?

[Hank Greeb]

Barry:

The use of Morse Code for the CW mode was "perhaps" invented as a 
"language" for humans.  But it originated as a visual mode, ink on paper 
tape.   Samuel F B Morse's original Land line operators learned to copy 
in their heads - by hearing the clatter of relays in Inker Machine which 
they were reading and translating into either handwritten or typewritten 
language.   After hours of doing this, they learned that they didn't 
really need to inked copy to understand what was being sent.  So, the 
Land Line code, if not the use of International Morse on Radio, was 
invented as a mechanically aided mode of transmission and decoding.

Methinks we aging olde fogeys get set in a rut.  We do the same things 
year after year.  We even hate new technology, like the current fight 
between "assisted and non-assisted."  Methinks that we would be better 
to embrace the fact that people do NOT need to know the International 
Morse Code to become hams these days, and offer them ways to join in the 
CW parts of contesting while they're learning the code.  Some of us 
"look down upon" members of our fraternity who did not need to copy code 
to obtain a license, rather than embracing them, teaching them "the 
ropes....", "elmering" them....

I was asked by a fellow ham, who has a portable rig, along with a basic 
knowledge of FL-Digi operation, whether this could be used for a few CW 
contacts during the Michigan QSO party.  He's learning CW, slowly, but 
learning.  He'd like to have a taste of CW Contesting, most likely 
because in the MiQP we get multipliers by county and state, and by 
mode.  He doesn't feel proficient enough to try copying without help.  
Should I tell him he isn't a ham because he didn't have to copy 20 WPM 
to get his license like I did in 1954? Should I NOT offer him whatever 
help I can, backed by the assembled expertise of the people on this 
forum?  I'm no expert on FLdigi or other ways to decode CW so I'm asking 
here.

I case my rest.

72/73 de n8xx Hg
QRP >99.44% of the time

p.s. My son, who is proficient in the use of a keyboard, frequently uses 
voice recognition to send text messages and e-mail messages. Is this a 
crime? Methinketh not.

On 4/5/2016 9:50 AM, Barry wrote:
> Software is better for machine-generated CW.  There are still a lot of 
> bugs/sloppy fists out there that skimmer can't copy.  And there are 
> still some calls generated by computer/keyer that skimmer miscopies a 
> lot (LW3LPL and (K)B4JR, for example).
>
> Watson beat the best players on Jeopardy.  Should the game show go away?
>
> Bottom line, CW was created as a "language" for humans. So what if a 
> computer can copy better?  Jukka, did you type your email by hand or 
> use voice to text?
>
> Barry W2UP