[TenTec] New generation ham's

[Ralph Covington]

Ah well..................I may be drawn and quartered but here goes........... I have a collection of QST's back to 1919 and you would not believe the heated discussions (cussing and discussing) about the changeover from Spark to cw.  The 'Spark Forever' group of those days have just changed their arguments a little (read that 'updated') and now we have the keyboards vs electronic paddles vs VibroPlexes vs handkeys (how about a Martin AutoPlex?),and then there's the contesters vs the weekenders vs the traffickers, etc.   Come on fellows and gals, there's a lot of bandwidth out there and even the most esoteric digital modes can fit in.  The different modes, different interests (rag chew, casual operation, die-hard contesters, die-hard traffic folk, even experimenters) have always made room for each other (well, mostly..........remember the SSB vs AM absolute brutal wars of the early 70's?  AM is for the most part got shoved aside).   Courtesy and recognition of the 'unauthorized' sub band plans have, with courtesyand understanding, worked well and will continue to do so.  And if courtesy goes by the board then I guess it is back to R/C Model Planes and golf for me (and I ain't a fan of golf in any way, form or fashion).   So, if he (or she) uses a keyboard and Windows version whatever with an MFJ reader and if he (or she) is comfortable with that then so am I, although, for me, I still personally prefer my Autek Memory Keyer and a decent iambic paddle for sending and for receiving the ears that God gave me (have to turn up the volume -opps......turn up the AF & RF a little more, though).   A QSO is a QSO even if it's using a 100 watt incandescent bulb as antennas on each end at a distance of some 200 feet - and I have one of those - truly.   Lighten up, this is supposed to be fun. All the Best to Everyone, vy 73, Ralph/W7SK (at age 70 es ham for 44 - thanks to W4DGL & W6LMJ & K5GPE)-30- ================================================================ Old hams not being able to copy CW? Old in age or old in terms of being licensed. Which is it? Or are both being lumped together? Big DifferenceEquipment: some of the older will do what some of the newer wont.Key, bug, paddle, or keyboard, all basically do the same. When one graduates from ' SEE SPOT RUN' you can move up to a keyboard. 50 to 70 or so WPM is good conversational speed. (full qsk of course)Try that with some of the newer equipment.I doubt if those knocking a keyboard still go to the grocery store in a horse and buggy.Sometimes with some things its 'time to move on'No need to be sorry Marinus, not many of us (somewhat ot) left. Some of the newer fellows have 21st century technology and 18th well maybe 19th, century operating habits. etc...etc...Lyle W9FCX