[UK-CONTEST] 80M CC CW

[G3SJJ]

Colin, like Pete G3KNU says, Morse runner is an ideal way to practice. 
Another thing you can do is to choose a contest and just listen. For 
example, in a couple of weeks time it is the Commonwealth Contest with 
quite a range of speeds. Choose a CQ station, say a VE who you can read 
comfortabley, and stay listening to him for 30 minutes or so, see if you 
copy correctly the people who call him. You could even set up a logging 
program to type in th calls and compare when he rolies to his caller. 
Years ago I used to regularly listen to G3FXB for long periods of time 
to do this and to find out just how he handled the QSOs.

As for the mistakes, yes, we have all been there. So you are not on your 
own. That is how we all started, I am sure without exception. The point 
of the discussion though was not to get at such as yourself, but to 
point out how a program design fault can lead to unnecessary information 
being sent.

Keep at it mate. 73 Chris G3SJJ


Colin Potter wrote:

>Hi all,
>
>I am a bit diffident about my CW and when stations send at around 30wpm this
>means I have to listen several times to get the call. I am however also
>quite competitive but rarely can do anything other than S&P. Serials are
>worked out by hearing a call with another station first!  This tortuous
>method is, I submit, a lot harder than being able to just "Run" most of the
>time. Despite this I managed 49 Q's (maybe!) with 10W last Thursday with a
>double OFCD at 6-8m agl. Rig is INRAD filtered FT-920.
>
>I sometimes have difficulty with fast calls especially having B's vs. D's or
>U's vs. V's. In this case I too want to get on with the contest and get some
>points for the club so, if in real doubt, I respond to the station's reply
>to my call by "his call 5NN". I will get corrected if wrong (possibly with
>moderated speed) but not if I was correct. So if you want my contacts then
>either put up with the occasional call sign sent back or send just a bit
>slower. The solution is of course for me is to improve my CW and this is
>happening through practice, particularly because of the 80 CC and other
>contests. I very much look forward to being able to "Run" without
>infuriating people by asking for repeats of all details!
>
>Hope to work you in the Data, SSB AND CW legs of later 80CC contests
>
>73 Colin Potter M0DDT
>
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