[UK-CONTEST] CW Sending speed

[Steve Knowles]

Hi Ken,

For those in difficulties with CQWW I would say (and I hope you'll agree 
with me)

If you are a hunt-and-peck typist, you only ever need one hand!  But it does 
help to be familiar with the keyboard and a bit of practice will help there.

If you're operating S&P, of course, you have all the time in the world and 
there are no problems.

Things only get pressured if you're running.  If you should choose NOT to 
use your computer to send your CW (other than for CQs) but use the key 
instead, you would find YOURSELF in control of your station, and not your 
computer.  You'll be concentrating on remembering the incoming callsign - if 
you get all the letters, FB (if not you'll be sending AGN or QRZ).  If you 
can type in the letters as they arrive - no problem.  But even if not, you 
can start your return over immediately on the key (being very professional 
and slick, 'cos the call is in your head!) and you get a second opportunity 
to type the letters in as you SEND the guy's callsign and exchange.
When operating S&P I get really annoyed at that gap (sometimes several 
seconds long) while the other station types my callsign into his computer 
and hits <return>.  You don't know whether to call again because you didn't 
get through the pileup, or to continue to wait 'cos he's slow!

CQWW has to be the very best contest for refining this technique because, 
with very few exceptions, ALL you have to get is the CALLSIGN.

As to whether this ability to multitask both hands is a gift or an acquired 
skill, I really can't be sure.  I have always found it second nature to talk 
& type or type & send/receive CW simultaneously.  For many years my job was 
to train telephone operators to ask a question and type the answer while 
asking the next question in an environment where question selection and 
speed were of the essence.  There were those who, from the outset, were 
daunted by the prospect and all of these failed.  However, most of those who 
accepted the challenge were eventually successful.

Back to CQWW!  What an opportunity to develop a new skill!  Every QSO made 
helps someone else ... and if you feel you've done really badly you don't 
HAVE to send in an entry.

73

Steve  G3UFY



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Ferrington, M0XDF" <M0XDF at Alphadene.co.uk>
To: <uk-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, November 26, 2009 9:37 PM
Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] CW Sending speed


> Prozac?
> --
> 73 de M0XDF
>
> On 26 Nov 2009, at 21:33, Ken Eastty wrote:
>
>> Having said that there are those among us who seem to have the trick
>> of
>> typing with one hand
>> whilst at the same time keying with the other, how do they do that?
>
>
>
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