I got my novice in 58.
----- Original Message -----
From: "David R. Basden" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 29, 2006 12:43 PM
Subject: Re: hf and code
> When I got my novice back in 1956, it was good for only one year and
> not renewable. I hated the thought of code, but was forced to use it
> for a year. My speed built quickly through having QSO's, and before
> the year was up, I was ready for the general. I really think the FCC
> had the right idea making the novice nonrenewable. Now I am only on
> phone when there is a DX station I need that isn't on CW or I am
> rag-chewing with a friend. The multiple choice CW test is
> laughable. I have a friend who passed 20 WPM and couldn't carry on a
> QSO with me at 5 WPM. It's too easy to guess the answers from a few
> characters copied correctly.
>
> 73 de W7OQ, Dave
>
> At 08:19 AM 8/29/2006, you wrote:
>>I'm almost exclusively code and love it! The thing is, sometimes I go
>>for months and months (sometimes a year!) without any hf, because I
>>hadn't got an antenna up. *LOL* But wow is it ever fun. And for me,
>>code is very therapeutic and relaxing in a way that not many other
>>things are. I know, some people probably think that this is probably
>>one of the strangest things they've ever heard of, but it's
>>true...and has been for ages. (I mean, besides being completely
>>silent with headphones, which means I can operate and not bother
>>anyone if I like.)
>>
>>I've said several times that I love code in spite of my best efforts
>>to hate it. Some people may think that that's an odd statement, too.
>>When I got my license in 1987, i was 14. I thought the code would be
>>hard to learn, but it wasn't. When I got my novice, I said, "Oh! I
>>can do 10 meter phone!" But once I got more antennas, I found myself
>>on 15-meter cw! When I got my general, I said, "Oh! I can do 20 meter
>>phone!" And guess where I was only five hours later? 20 meter cw! I
>>couldn't believe it! Why was I so drawn to cw? All I could think of
>>was operating phone, but all I found myself operating, mostly, was
>>cw! It was fun, it was exciting, it required a skill that not
>>everyone had, I didn't feel like a fool shouting "Lima victor!" into
>>a microphone trying to get through a dx pileup full of rude jerks.
>>What's not to like? Indeed, what's not to absolutely adore?! I can do
>>cw for hours and hours. I can do phone for. ... Uh. Not hours and
>>hours, for the most part, unless I manage to find an interesting net
>>or more interesting ragchew. Certainly not a contest (of any sort,
>>any mode, except field day maybe).
>>
>>--
>>Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV : Executive In Training! Watkins Manager #361534
>>Shop our catalog of timeless Watkins products at www.tastyshop.net
>>And see how becoming a Watkins associate will improve your family's
>>quality of life at www.tastybiz.com
>>
>>
>>
>>--
>>No virus found in this incoming message.
>>Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>>Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.11.6/430 - Release Date: 8/28/2006
|
