View Full Version : Boy Was I Nervous
ae2ny
08-30-2005, 01:17 AM
OK I FINALLY fixed my Bencher and put my rig into CW mode on 10.103.
I had no idea I was in BRK mode, and I started banging out CQ CQ CQ de W8ANT W8ANT W8ANT -K-. I thought I was just in "practice mode" so to speak.
All of a sudden I hear "W8ANT de DJ5HD how copy".
It took me a second to realize I was in FULL BRK and that he really was calling me. I told him it was my 1st time ever using code and that I was really nervous.
He gave me a 588 and asked for his RST, to wit I gave him a 549. There was quite a bit of signal fading. But it made me realize one thing.
I can send at twice the speed I can receive, and for me, that's really bad news. Because I have to get used to sending at 6WPM when I can easily send at 13.
However, I know the more I practice, the better I'll get. That's what it's all about!
Anthony - W8ANT
W7DJM
08-30-2005, 01:18 AM
I never did hear what ended up being the problem with your Bencher?
ae2ny
08-30-2005, 01:20 AM
Shoulder insulators were missing.
So the screws were shorting out against the body of the Bencher itself.
So I saw some TV Cable and pulled the innards out so it was just the cable shell. Put that through the holes then the screws, and it worked perfectly.
Anthony - W8ANT
It's a common mistake.
When the radio operators were training in the Army they had the same problem.
Learn to pace yourself, or you get back what you send in the way of speed.
KC9ECI
08-30-2005, 02:12 AM
Cool beans Tony, fun isn't it!
ai4ep
08-30-2005, 02:24 AM
You did good !!
wa4brl
08-30-2005, 02:28 AM
You da (old) man! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif Way to go Anthony! We all knew you had it in ya!
K9STH
08-30-2005, 02:29 AM
The only thing is that if he did, indeed, give you a true 588 then something is definitely wrong in your transmitter. An "8" for the tone wasn't bad back in the 1930s but any transmitter today should produce a true "9" for the tone.
Glen, K9STH
wd5kca
08-30-2005, 03:01 AM
Quote[/b] (K9STH @ Aug. 29 2005,21:29)]The only thing is that if he did, indeed, give you a true 588 then something is definitely wrong in your transmitter. An "8" for the tone wasn't bad back in the 1930s but any transmitter today should produce a true "9" for the tone.
Glen, K9STH
buzz bi buzz bi buzz buzz bi buzz
W5HTW
08-30-2005, 03:11 AM
Welcome to the Wonderful World Of CW. Glad you did it, even if it didn't happen by intent. You will, you know it, you will be doing it more and more.
Yes, do send at the speed at which you can copy, or very close to that speed. Doing otherwise suggests to the other operator you can actually copy faster, and he just may wind it up on you. And if he does, you are the one doing the misleading, so don't be angry if, when you come back at half his speed, he isn't there.
On the T8. Check your power supply. Seems to me you are using an Icom 706. Be sure your power cables are tight. If you are using a car battery, you can use a trickle charger with it, but make absolutely certain the charger cables are really firmly on the battery. No good reason for an Icom 706 to get a T8.
However, you also have to realize the other fellow may have those problems instead of you! Maybe HIS battery cables are corroded! So don't take a T8 as bad news until you get one from maybe three people. Then look into your problem, as you will know it IS your problem. A single report, though, doesn't mean very much, if anything, except to stay alert for future problems.
If the reports start to get worse, you may have a power supply that is going on extended vacation! But I wouldn't worry about a single T8. Just be aware of it.
Anyway, glad you did it.
What does that gal say? "It's easy. You'll love it."
Have fun
Ed
w5alt
08-30-2005, 03:18 AM
Way to go Anthony! That wasn't so bad, was it?
Now, get back on the air and do it on purpose!
73,
Walt, W5ALT
KB5WX
08-30-2005, 03:35 AM
Quote[/b] (w5alt @ Aug. 29 2005,20:18)]Way to go Anthony! That wasn't so bad, was it?
Now, get back on the air and do it on purpose!
73,
Walt, W5ALT
Anthony ,
What Walt said ! We all had to start somewhere . It only gets to be more fun , I promise . But be very careful . CW can become addictive . The more that you use it , the better you will get at it , and the better you get , the more fun you'll have , and the more you'll use it , etc. I've said that more than once to more than one new CW op . But it is very true . Happened to me as a matter of fact .
Nothing like hitting that key for the first time for real. Most of us were sweating like crazy the first time we did it. Having your first QSO (those others with a mic don't count) "by accident" is a new one on me, but, hey, whatever works!
Welcome to CW, Anthony. Please keep it up and keep coming back -- it's addictive.
Incidentally, you were probably too honest giving him a 549. By gentleman's agreement, it seems no one ever gets less than a "6" on strength, particularly when they're DX -- even if you can barely read them.
Congratulations again and welcome to the club.
73,
Phil
KC9GUZ
08-30-2005, 07:01 AM
I have a funny thing to say about the code. I have been studying code(using code quick and my ARRL tapes) for several weeks now and have been able to get quite a few letters in my head. I oddly have actually found myself banging out words phrases and even CQ CQ CQ DE KC9GUZ KC9GUZ KC9GUZ K at work with screwdrivers, tools, pieces of metal against stuff, and so on.. Its wierd as heck. I guess i am finally learning the code!!! HI HI! Who knows myabe in a few weeks i can actually go and take the last part of the General test and take my code test and finally get this General thing out of my way once and for all. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
w5alt
08-30-2005, 11:49 AM
Quote[/b] (KC9GUZ @ Aug. 30 2005,03:01)]... I oddly have actually found myself banging out words phrases and even CQ CQ CQ DE KC9GUZ KC9GUZ KC9GUZ K at work with screwdrivers, tools, pieces of metal against stuff, and so on.. Its wierd as heck. I guess i am finally learning the code!!! HI HI! ...
Yep, next thing you know, crickets, birds, everything else will sound like CW. A little bit of practice and confidence and you should be ready to pass the exam.
Happens to most everyone I know once they pretty much get CW down and are just about addicted.
73,
Walt, W5ALT
Glad you got back on CW! It is a load of fun (for me) and I love the fact I can QSO well past band "closing" for SSB signals. I have been running QRP lately with my old FT-7 and working with <10 watts into Europe and other locations.
At least there isn't any of the nonsense one hears on 75 sometimes!
As to speed. Adjust your keyer speed downwards and gradually increase it over a few weeks. You will be surprised how your speed will increase as you listen to your own sending as well as that of the guy at the other end.
GL!
N5PVL
08-30-2005, 02:58 PM
You sure brought back some great memories with your post, OM.
Congratulations, and thanks for the memories!
wa4brl
08-30-2005, 03:56 PM
And remember, the hottest chicks ALWAYS go for the guys who know Morse Code. (But don't tell those guys at NCI) http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif
On that "T-8", Anthony, I would check carefully for reports from other people. One report does not indicate a trend ! However, if you get even one more T-8 report, I would definately be checking out the power supply.
BTW, sometimes running off a battery with a charger attached can cause the tone to get a bit rough, because some battery chargers are little more than a source of rectified A.C. ! That being the case, a huge amount of ripple can be superimposed on the battery voltage, and if you are drawing a lot of power from the supply, it will show up as hum on your carrier!
Just a thought. But, anyway, congrats on your 1st CW contact, and isn't it even better that the station was DX !
73, Jim
Congrats Anthony! Be careful, if you do that a couple more times, you might become an addict.
As far as the T8 goes, check your power supply with a DMM set for AC and make sure it's pretty clean. AG3Y makes a good point about battery chargers, too. I have a feeling it was a bum report. I've gotten a strange/false T report before - a 4! - but the other op, I assume, was fairly new to radio and didn't understand the RST system very well. Sometimes static, flutter, or other propagational or atmospheric effects will make a tone sound "impure," but that doesn't mean there's something wrong with your radio.
Oh, BTW, I forgot to mention that using a "noise blanker" can often lead to a false tone report, because the blanker will chop up your carrier in the other station's receiver, at whatever rate it is operating. If sync-bugs are being filtered out, the carrier can sound very raspy at the other end, even if it is perfectly filtered, leaving your transmitter!
73 again, Jim
WA5KRP
08-30-2005, 04:52 PM
Good for you, man. Very COOL.
Get somebody to monitor your signal to find out if the tone is an 8. I doubt it - but check it out. Should be a 9.
WA5KRP
Texas
I remember the first time a friend and I walked into the Radio Operator AIT barracks at Fort Ord. We had both just arrived from Ft. Lewis after Basis Training in 1966.
All these guys in the barracks we were sent to were sending CW by mouth back and forth to one another to practice.
I guess for someone that did not know for sure what Morse Code was they would have all seemed nuts.
w8znx
08-30-2005, 06:14 PM
Hello Anthony
GREAT
on your way now
no turning back
in few months
you will casual like
tell others about the DX
you have been working on cw
keep up the good work
yours truly
Mac
KC9GUZ
08-31-2005, 07:04 AM
Quote[/b] (w5alt @ Aug. 30 2005,04:49)]Quote[/b] (KC9GUZ @ Aug. 30 2005,03:01)]... I oddly have actually found myself banging out words phrases and even CQ CQ CQ DE KC9GUZ KC9GUZ KC9GUZ K at work with screwdrivers, tools, pieces of metal against stuff, and so on.. Its wierd as heck. I guess i am finally learning the code!!! HI HI! ...
Yep, next thing you know, crickets, birds, everything else will sound like CW. A little bit of practice and confidence and you should be ready to pass the exam.
Happens to most everyone I know once they pretty much get CW down and are just about addicted.
73,
Walt, W5ALT
Im learing the code regardless if the FCC drops the code for the tests or not. Im supposed to take the 5WPM test in November so i have a while to really let it all soak into my gourd! Hi HI.. The code is just something i want to learn how to do. Hey, ya never know i might want to use it someday. I have a few friends that are now Extra class that learned the 5 and the earlier 13 WPM code to pass their Generals and they NEVER use the code ever. Seems to me a waste to learn something just to get a higher class of lisense then never use it. But to each their own!