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Issue 20: Let's Ditch the One-Minute QSO!

Discussion in 'Trials and Errors - Ham Life with an Amateur' started by W7DGJ, Jun 4, 2023.

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  1. W7DGJ

    W7DGJ Platinum Subscriber Platinum Subscriber QRZ Page

    Hi Sean, great comment, thanks, and so similar to what I hear from other rather new hams. It's a very common experience to study, get licensed, and gear up for VHF and UHF work and find no one on the bands. While OCCASIONALLY I hear an interesting conversation on 146.52 (or "5-2" as my local friends call it) they are few and far between. This is that time where you have to decide how much more effort and time to put into moving towards HF, Sean. That's where the ragchewing is going on, but as my article mentions, even HF is drifting to the "texting" type exchanges that are short and sweet. Don't worry -- you'll make good friends, you'll just have to dig a bit further than in the past, Dave
     
    WB9YPA and AI5IZ like this.
  2. AI5IZ

    AI5IZ XML Subscriber QRZ Page

    Thanks, Dave. I fully intend to be on HF as soon as I buy my radio. I hope to "see you on the airwaves" sometime.
     
    WB9YPA and W7DGJ like this.
  3. WB9YPA

    WB9YPA Ham Member QRZ Page

    Dear Dave,
    I appreciated your article very much. I am much like you when operating CW. Sometimes the code comes flying at me so fast that I miss the new words while thinking about the prior characters/words. Bad habit I guess. That is the only thing that keeps me from the long QSO's that I used to have back when I first was licensed. I'm still trying to get through the 13 to 15 WPM "bubble" so that I can finally op at 20. It is difficult to find a friend in these rough times who can help your proficiency when scheduling can be a problem. 73 de mike.
     
    W7DGJ likes this.
  4. W7DGJ

    W7DGJ Platinum Subscriber Platinum Subscriber QRZ Page

    Hey Mike -- Hang in there and you'll find someone who wants to operate at your speed. That's not all that unusual, particularly in the SKCC "Slow speed saunters." And, consider a Morserino (reviewed in my column and on eHam). That's a great device for cranking up the speed. 73, Dave
     
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  5. WB9YPA

    WB9YPA Ham Member QRZ Page

    I did see a Morserino somewhere. I will check out your column on it. Thank you for the encouragement Dave and a big 73.
     
    W7DGJ likes this.
  6. W7DGJ

    W7DGJ Platinum Subscriber Platinum Subscriber QRZ Page

    Mike, what I like about the Morserino is that it will send you code at whatever speed you want, and you can SEND BACK and it will check you out to see if you got it. So, you might start at 12 WPM, and soon you're doing that easily and you bump to 15, and then 18, 20, etc. It's like having a buddy to practice with. It's a kit unfortunately, but not too difficult. Dave
     
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  7. N1RBD

    N1RBD Ham Member QRZ Page

    You mention 2m during SOTA/POTA. 2m SOTA is very active in North Georgia. It's rare to not here someone out on a summit during the weekends. I know I always try 2m/440 first when attempting a SOTA and usually have no issues getting the requisite 4 contacts. I've even occasionally garnered 10+ 2m/440 contacts to qualify a joint POTA/SOTA activation. I think my record was 16. We had a mini-pileup going for a few minutes. Even have one 2m /AM from a summit.

    WRT POTA, unless the park you are at is on a summit or at a particularly high prominence above the surround territory using 2m is an exercise in futility. I routinely call CQ on my 50w mobile when arriving and just before departing a park and am lucky to get a single contact, even in a suburban area of Atlanta. If you don't have a dual band mobile, the juice isn't worth the squeeze trying to set up a 2m POTA station.
     
    W7DGJ likes this.

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