[UK-CONTEST] CW speed - my thoughts

[Bob Henderson]

I'm not sure my appreciation of the aspirations of the whole range of 
participants is adequate to be quite so cut and dry about it.  However it 
does seem to me that when faced with an opportunity for a qso with a station 
sending too fast for me to read him comfortably, I have a choice.

a) I can ask him to QRS to a speed within my comfort zone.

OR

b) I can listen to him for long enough to figure out his call and the 
exchange he is going to give me, then work him at his speed.

These alternatives are valid for S&P contacts in all contests in which a 
fixed or incrementing exchange is used.  ( b wouldn't work in Ropoco for 
example.)

So...which of the above alternatives is likely to raise my skill as a 
contester?  No prizes for guessing ;-)

I always opted for b and did so for two reasons:

1. It continually stretched me, which resulted in a much more rapid 
accumulation of skill.

2. I felt much more comfortable with b. Although my rate wasn't that 
sparkling, my contacts were quite snappy.  It felt better to be perceived as 
a snappy operator, than a drag on rate.

The above implies no criticism of those who would make the alternative 
choice, just so long as they have taken time to think through their reasons 
for doing so.  Copying at speed is not a problem for me today but I would 
far rather QRS for a contact at 15wpm than have no contact at all.

Bob, 5B4AGN


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Clive GM3POI" <gm3poi2 at btinternet.com>
To: "Bob Henderson" <bob at 5b4agn.net>; <uk-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 12:41 PM
Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] CW speed - my thoughts


>I entirely agree Bob, having gone down a similar road myself. What you 
>saying is effectively NO low speed part of the band is needed if others do 
>what you and I did before the days of computers. Overall I think cw contest 
>speeds are higher than 30-40 years ago however they are not that much 
>higher in smaller domestic contests and we now have Morse Runner etc. 73 
>Clive GM3POI