[UK-CONTEST] 80m CCCW (and disappearing paddles)

[Stewart Rolfe]

--- On Thu, 21/5/09, Chris G3SJJ <g3sjj at btinternet.com> wrote:

> From: Chris G3SJJ <g3sjj at btinternet.com>
> Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] 80m CCCW
> To: 
> Cc: "UK contest list" <uk-contest at contesting.com>
> Date: Thursday, 21 May, 2009, 10:45 PM
> I've got out of the CC habit in recent months so it was
> nice to have a 
> few Qs armed with a glass of white medicine. So a few
> light-hearted 
> observations -
> 
> - Interesting how many operators just use the F keys as
> opposed to 
> proper keying with one hand and entering into the PC with
> the other, 
> which is what I find easier. Great to exchange a quick
> comment here and 
> there.
> 

Chris,

Newcomers to morse are being actively encouraged to treat cw as just another data mode these days - see both the May and June Sport Radio columns in Radcom for example. If the use of F-keys and keyboard with decoding software and not a paddle in sight maintains activity in cw it becomes difficult to dismiss it out of hand. We all know the limitations of decoding software and probably no winners will come from the ranks of those unable to copy or send cw by traditional means, but in a few years time??? 

I recall you are a K3 user so will be familiar with the on-screen cw decoding. The K3 OTOH goes against the grain in allowing the user to send rtty and psk with the paddles; Elecraft is probably unique among the commercial amateur market in assuming the operator can actually use such an instrument..... 

73 and thanks for the Q last night,

Stewart, GW0ETF

(Was it vodka or chablis?)