Morse Practice & Good Practice

[W0EAJ]

In view of the continuing interest in the CW mode, I'd like to ask my fellow amateurs for a bit of kindness. Each evening, during the week, W1AW (ARRL Station) transmits morse practice on various frequencies, which are always published in QST magazine.

Still, there are those operators whom I am sure, simply do NOT know that W1AW provides this service, and continue to call CQ and rag-chew right on top of two of the most popular frequencies... 7.0475 mHz and 14.0475 mHz. Recognizing that one can send QRL IMI (that's a "?" to the ones out there who never were Navy Radiomen) and still not hear a comeback, does not mean that there is nobody there.

Let's keep the CW portions as a shining example of GOOD PRACTICE in amateur radio, and avoid this particular small portion of our allowed spectrum... there's plenty left over - really!

73 es ZUT - Tom - WØEAJ

[N0IU]

How not to step on W1AW?

Turn the big knob one way or the other!

I find it most difficult to believe that someone can't hear W1AW when they are broadcasting their CW bulletins, code practice or qualifying runs. With all due repspect Tom, I believe the small number of people who QRM W1AW, do so intentionally. Some people do this because they just want to prove the point that no one owns a frequency, not even the mighty ARRL, but they have won repeated challenges because their schedule is published well in advance and serves the general good of the amateur radio community (at least that's what the FCC thinks).

Scott NØIU

[N7RJD]

Quote[/b] (n0iu @ July 12 2006,05:08)]...they have won repeated challenges because their schedule is published well in advance and serves the general good of the amateur radio community (at least that's what the FCC thinks).

And as long as there is even one person using the broadcasts to learn the code or improve their copy skills they are right.

[W4HAY]

OTOH, it gives one practice in copying thru QRM! If they're running higher speed practice about the time I fire the rig up, I drop by to see how propogation is, and to 'warm up' the ol' CW part of the brain. Kinda like doing stretches before hitting the track!

[W4HWD]

All the words in this thread can be condensed into a precious few:

LISTEN BEFORE YOU TRANSMIT!

The self-absorption and rudeness that permeates society nowadays has made it's mark in every venue, including amateur radio. That's precisely why some choose not to listen before they transmit, regardless of band/mode.

[N0WVA]

Oh, I wondered what that dang CW station was all about. Kept trying to break in , but they never would come back to me, just kept right on keying that dang code stuff seems like forever!

[KC0W]

Quote[/b] (N0WVA @ July 13 2006,02:32)]Oh, I wondered what that dang CW station was all about. Kept trying to break in , but they never would come back to me, just kept right on keying that dang code stuff seems like forever!

No, that would be the guys trying to "work" the 10 meter CW beacon stations.

I personally know of a guy (no names) who tried to work DOZENS of 10 meter CW beacon stations with no success early in his amateur career. He then wondered why the stations would not come back to his CW call.

I'm told that this guilty party's callsign kinda spells the name of a barnyard animal..........Again, no names please!!!


Tom kcØw

[WA3KYY]

Quote[/b] (KC0W @ July 12 2006,21:55)]

Quote[/b] (N0WVA @ July 13 2006,02:32)]Oh, I wondered what that dang CW station was all about. Kept trying to break in , but they never would come back to me, just kept right on keying that dang code stuff seems like forever!

No, that would be the guys trying to "work" the 10 meter CW beacon stations.

I personally know of a guy (no names) who tried to work DOZENS of 10 meter CW beacon stations with no success early in his amateur career. He then wondered why the stations would not come back to his CW call.

I'm told that this guilty party's callsign kinda spells the name of a barnyard animal..........Again, no names please!!!


# # # # # # # # # # # # # # #Tom kcØw

Darn it Tom!! You've got to warn folks to put down their coffee cups or beverage cans and get the cat off their lap when you post something like that!!

On Usenet we called that a C&C (coffe and cats) disclaimer. The result of not posting the C&C was C|N>K (coffee out the nose onto keyboard) or shredded pants legs and scatches on your thighs.

73,
Mike WA3KYY

[AG3Y]

Oh, Tom, Tom, TOM ! # Some people just NEVER learn, do they ? ? ?

Now come on and tell the truth, who was this "friend" of yours? HUH ? ? ?

# 73, #from one who has NEVER made a dumb mistake!

Oh, BTW HAY, ( cow and hay, what a combination ! ) that old saw about "copying through QRM" doesn't fly in my books. Some guys have enough trouble just trying to figure out the letters and numbers without any QRM, and using that lame excuse doesn't cut it! That's like saying "I robbed the 711 store because I NEEDED the money! " It still isn't RIGHT!

[WB2WIK]

Being aware and staying off W1AWs CW practice broadcast frequencies is the only thing that really works.

Not everyone can hear W1AW when they're transmitting. Little thing called propagation, skip zones, etc.

I can be right on one of their frequencies without realizing it, until 30 mins later the propagation changes and all of a sudden they're S9+. Oops.

I try to remember to just stay off those specific frequencies at all times on weekdays because they re-use them a few times each day, including times when I probably have no propagation to hear them. Good advice.