A Challenge for this Year's Upgrades.

[N8CPA]

During the too long and drawn out Element 1 argument, many upgrade candidates claimed they might be more inclined to learn Morse if it weren't a requirement. Now that licenese privileges are no longer at stake, I'd like to see someone do something I can no longer do. The reason I can't do it is that when I first got licensed, Element 1 was a legal sine qua non of licensing. By now there is too much brass in my blood

But I would like to see someone who does not currently know Morse, start studying today, and learn enough to get a CW WAS in the upcoming CW Sweepstakes. Though the goal of SS is to work every ARRL Section, that can't be done unless every state is on the air. You know they will be there, and all you have to do is pick 'em up. WAS over that weekend has been repeatedly done. What hasn't been done, is 0WPM to WAS within a month, as far as I know. And I really want to see someone do it.

The CW SS is four weeks from tomorrow. You already have the CW privileges, prepare yourself to use them and let a WAS be your CSCE.

You can find information about both WAS and November Sweepstakes at ARRL.org. I can guarantee you will find no shortage of encouragement here and elsewhere.

[KD6NIG]

And I'm assuming by setting this challenge you have already done this yourself and can provide said proof.

You wouldn't be posting this just to try and get people to do things you haven't done, would you?

[ky5u]

If the sweepstakes is more than 3 weeks away, then I have done it (as far as learning CW in less than a month). But I will confess that without the requirement I would never have tried CW. Therefore I always viewed the "take away the requirement and more people might learn CW" as bullcrap.

[N8CPA]

Quote[/b] (KD6NIG @ Oct. 05 2007,10:00)]And I'm assuming by setting this challenge you have already done this yourself and can provide said proof.

You wouldn't be posting this just to try and get people to do things you haven't done, would you?
No, I haven't done it, which I admitted in the top of the thread. I couldn't do it when I first got licensed, because:
1) There was no such thing as a license without a Morse element when I got licensed.

2)There was about a three month turn around between testing and licensing. You could not find a call sign before USPS brought the documnet to you.

But such an accomplishment is possible today, because already licensed hams have CW privileges without CW testing. Until this year, such privileges implied having passed a code test.

So I have been licensed too long to have done it myself.

[KD6NIG]

Ok, just checking. Now I know CW can punch through a lot, but I think conditions on the bands will have to improve for this to happen. Unless of course you have a pretty good station with excellent antennas......

[NN3W]

Quote[/b] (KD6NIG @ Oct. 05 2007,07:28)]Ok, just checking. #Now I know CW can punch through a lot, but I think conditions on the bands will have to improve for this to happen. #Unless of course you have a pretty good station with excellent antennas......
November is a great time for SS. You could work probably 45 out of 50 states on 40 and 80 meters alone.

[N8CPA]

Josh, now that we're past equinox, you'll see seasonal changes in HF CDX. It will be much better in four weeks. As the man said above, "November is a great time for SS."

[K9STH]

Even during the "worst of times" you can generally work WAS on 40 meters during either the CW or SSB Sweepstakes contest. During the day you can get the "closer" states and during the evening and night hours you can get the remainder (including Alaska and Hawai'i). On CW even those running low power can usually make it even with something as bad as a G5RV antenna.

Glen, K9STH
(who has made WAS MANY times over the years during SS)

[n0iu]

Why do you want to see someone do it and what would it prove?

This would be like putting a 16 year old who has had their driver's license for a month into a demolition derby. They will be eaten alive, chewed up and spit out in short order.

To think that someone can become sufficiently proficient in CW to participate in a contest and have any sort of success in a month is ridiculous. Although I am sure there are some slower CW contest ops out there, I would venture to say that the minimum speed they will encounter in a contest is about 20 WPM and 30 WPM is probably closer to the norm. While asking someone to QRS during a casual QSO is perfectly acceptable, I don't think you will receive such a warm reception to such requests in a contest. I am not saying it is right or wrong, it is just reality.

On top of this, they will also have to learn how contests work. Successful contesters spend years sharpening their skills to maximize their scores and they never stop learning. A huge part of contesting is knowing when to change bands. You can study propagation all you want, but there is no substitute for experience. It is even more crucial at this point in the sunspot cycle.

Add to this the fact that if you want to have any sort of success in a contest, they will need to select some sort of contest software and learn how to use it. While the one I use, N1MM, is very powerful, it does have somewhat of a steep learning curve. A month is barely enough time to learn how to use it.

Add to this the fact that they will have a brand new (to them) radio they must learn. If it is a modern radio with several levels of menus, a month can barely be enough time to learn what all of those switches and knobs to and what effect they have on your ability to receive signals.

FWIW, here is my suggestion for the total greenhorn newbie -

Forget about the CW portion of the Sweepstakes. Wait two weeks and participate in the Phone portion of the same contest. The rules are the same and the exchange is the same. And speaking of the exchange, this one has more elements to it than just about any other contest. At least you will have somewhat of a fighting chance since you won't have to incorporate a new language into the mix.

There is absolutely no advantage to doing things as quickly as possible. Learn about amateur radio. Learn about propagation. Learn how to use your radio. Learn how contests work. Take your time and most of all, have fun!

Besides, hasn't the recent experience with Heath taught you anything? No matter how much you enjoy CW (and I count myself in the group), trying to shove it down people's throats is the WRONG approach.

Scott NØIU

[N8UZE]

Quote[/b] (n0iu @ Oct. 05 2007,14:14)]And this would prove what?

This would be like putting a 16 year old who has had their driver's license for a month into a demolition derby. They will be eaten alive, chewed up and spit out in short order.

To think that someone can become sufficiently proficient in CW to participate in a contest and have any sort of success in a month is ridiculous. Although I am sure there are some slower CW contest ops out there, I would venture to say that the minimum speed they will encounter in a contest is about 20 WPM and 30 WPM is probably closer to the norm. While asking someone to QRS during a casual QSO is perfectly acceptable, I don't think you will receive such a warm reception to such requests in a contest. I am not saying it is right or wrong, it is just reality.
When I got back on the radio after several years absence it was with the CW SS and my code speed was down to 10wpm. No one refused my PSE QRS 10. By the end of the weekend I had gotten up to 15wpm.

However I do warn people that attempt this contest when they are still at the slow code stage that it may be very frustrating. I advise them that the best approach is probably to hunt and pounce. That way they can listen to the station on frequency as long as necessary to pick up all the needed elements before throwing in their call. Also, I let them know that later in the contest as the serious contesters get desparate for new stations that the contesters become more willing to work slow stations and that they can hear the weaker stations when there aren't so many contacts out there. I also tell them that if they can stand the frustration, their code speed will substantially increase over the course of the contest.

Quote[/b] ]
On top of this, they will also have to learn how contests work. Successful contesters spend years sharpening their skills to maximize their scores and they never stop learning. A huge part of contesting is knowing when to change bands. You can study propagation all you want, but there is no substitute for experience. It is even more crucial at this point in the sunspot cycle.

Add to this the fact that if you want to have any sort of success in a contest, they will need to select some sort of contest software and learn how to use it. While the one I use, N1MM, is very powerful, it does have somewhat of a steep learning curve.


A new contester doesn't need to set out to win. It is a sufficient and worthy goal simply to start learning how contests work and make a few contacts. I've known people that were thrilled to make just one or two on their first big CW contest.

If they are only looking to improve their code and/or work new states, logging software isn't crucial. However, one that is extremely user friendly and intuitively obvious is the N3FJP software. There is virtually no learning curve for the basic logging. While the software does have rig control, DXSpots, etc, these aren't necessary for the raw beginner.

Quote[/b] ]
Add to this the fact that they will have a brand new (to them) radio they must learn. If it is a modern radio with several levels of menus, a month can barely be enough time to learn what all of those switches and knobs to and what effect they have on your ability to receive signals.


Many of them will have had their radios awhile by then and they can study and set up their radios in advance. They can leave most of the features alone for their first try at it.

Quote[/b] ]
FWIW, here is my suggestion for the total greenhorn newbie -

Forget about the CW portion of the Sweepstakes. Wait two weeks and participate in the Phone portion of the same contest. The rules are the same and the exchange is the same. And speaking of the exchange, this one has more elements to it than just about any other contest. At least you will have somewhat of a fighting chance since you won't have to incorporate a new language into the mix.


I would suggest that the total greenhorn team up with a more experience op to tackle their first major contest whether it be voice or code. I've helped a couple contest greenhorns and now there is no stopping them.
The difficult part here is that sometimes the more experienced contester doesn't have the patience to sit back and simply advise the new person how to proceed. Or they may try to teach them too much all at once.

Quote[/b] ]
There is absolutely no advantage to doing things as quickly as possible. Learn about amateur radio. Learn about propagation. Learn how to use your radio. Learn how contests work. Take your time and most of all, have fun!


This I agree with. Inexperienced contesters should start with a basic goal. For example I tell a new CW contester to set something simple, like 10 contacts. This is achievable for even those whose code is still slow. It may take them all weekend but they will have a sense of accomplishment when they do. Or they could set a goal of learning the DSP features on their radio and how they work in a contest environment without worrying about the number of contacts. Or they could set a goal of learning a particular contest software without worrying about the number of contacts. The possibilities for setting goals as a newcomer are practically infinite.

Dee, N8UZE

[N8CPA]

There's no real need to prove anything. #I think there were recruits during WWII who learned it even more quickly, to a mandated speed.

SS is an intimidating soup of signals. #But I'm not talking about competition in SS, just participation. #Really with my putz of a station, I don't evne compete, except to better the previous year's performance. #And most ops will slow down in response to QRS. #And though software certainly has a certain competitive advantage, pencil and paper can be used for logging, or a basic wordprocessing program, losing only instant dupe detection.

There's not even a need to submit the log afterward--beyond confirming the contacts for WAS. #The rules only say you have to submit if you want points, pins, or plaques--or a mug.*

The only thing to prove is that someone can boast of going 0WPM to WAS in a month. #And I'd like to see someone do it.

*Gotta have something to put the celebrational scotch in.

[NN3W]

http://www.dxatlas.com/MorseRunner/

This is a good program to learn from...

[N8CPA]

4 weeks; 8 hours; thirty minutes to go.

Remember if you're daylight time, it starts an hour later this year.

Make that 4 weeks.
[Hee hee hee wrong calendar page]

[W4INF]

I think the condx is just not right to try at this point of the cycle. In a few months, or a year even, should be no problem. Ive worked off a dipole and vertical both, but havent gotten much from Central to West Coast... Every QSO for me thus far has been Central to East Coast, and I am TXing from Virginia.

[W4INF]

Well, I have worked CA twice on CW, both on 40, but I think I was lucky to get it, both times.

[N8CPA]

Quote[/b] (W4INF @ Oct. 06 2007,10:03)]Well, I have worked CA twice on CW, both on 40, but I think I was lucky to get it, both times.
And a true SS participant would have to work 9 different parts of CA to get the Sweep, because it's divided into 9 Sections. But any one of those Sections would qualify as CA for purposes of a WAS.

[n0iu]

Quote[/b] (N8CPA @ Oct. 06 2007,00:28)]Remember if you're daylight time, it starts an hour later this year.
Since "real" amateurs use UTC, it starts at the same time as it does every year!

Scott NØIU

[N8CPA]

Quote[/b] (n0iu @ Oct. 06 2007,10:42)]Quote[/b] (N8CPA @ Oct. 06 2007,00:28)]Remember if you're daylight time, it starts an hour later this year.
Since "real" amateurs use UTC, it starts at the same time as it does every year!

Scott NØIU
Which is why I keep my computers on UTC.

But I bet if you listen this year, you'll hear a lot of stations calling CQ SS an hour early because household and station clocks are kept in local time. In a way, that too is the result of Amateurs coming from the ranks of scanner, as opposed to SW listenership, before Amateur licensing. Time keeping habits die harder than sleeping habits at local time transitions.

[N8UZE]

Quote[/b] (W4INF @ Oct. 06 2007,10:03)]Well, I have worked CA twice on CW, both on 40, but I think I was lucky to get it, both times.
Keep plugging away. It's all in learning when and how. I've more California stations in my log than I can shake a stick at. All I've got is 100watts and a G5RV at about 15ft.

[K4GUN]

I can safely state that I will not be in a position to complete the WAS in the upcoming contest. I got my CD last week and I'm barreling through it. Its actually a little easier than I thought, but I'm having the exact problem that I thought I would. I transpose a lot of characters such as "a" and "n" and "d" and "u". I'll get through that. I am hopeful that within the next 30 days, I'll be comfortable enough to at least have an exchange, but I would not even think about wading into a contest. I'll use it as an experience to listen, but I'm not about to try to make a QSO during the SS.

[N8UZE]

Quote[/b] (k4gun @ Oct. 06 2007,14:36)]I can safely state that I will not be in a position to complete the WAS in the upcoming contest. #I got my CD last week and I'm barreling through it. #Its actually a little easier than I thought, but I'm having the exact problem that I thought I would. #I transpose a lot of characters such as "a" and "n" and "d" and "u". #I'll get through that. #I am hopeful that within the next 30 days, I'll be comfortable enough to at least have an exchange, but I would not even think about wading into a contest. #I'll use it as an experience to listen, but I'm not about to try to make a QSO during the SS.
We all went thru the same experience.

[K8YZK]

Before the lost of CW, sending in a new ham into the SS was not necessarliy the right thing. Now for training and experince I remember getting mine in the old Novice Roundup. Slow speed, a chance to hear your call and recognize how the exchanges are done. Maybe it needs to be brought back.