Lou,

That's what I like about CW overall.  I've had 3 and 4 hours contacts on CW 
before with joke telling, talking about family members and their health, the 
WX, amplifiers, antennas, recipes, favorite foods, towers, and everything 
else you do on phone working sideband.  When you can work full break in CW 
with a friend, it is loads of fun.  I like that question on the Extra.  It 
wasn't on my test but it should have been because I took my Extra back in 
1979 and had to copy 20 words per minute, too.  I copied about 45 WPM at the 
time but I was still nervous, haha.

Phil.
K0NX


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lou Kolb" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, April 30, 2011 5:14 PM
Subject: Re: The Original Digital Mode


> Phil,
>
> First, while studying for the extra these past few weeks I came across a
> question about a digital mode that employs pulses of varying length.  The
> correct answer, of course, was Morse code.  After reading some of the 
> other
> comments on CW on this list I went down to the shack and called cQ on 20 
> CW
> and there was Ed, K7UC.  Small and often wonderful world.  Lou
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Phil Scovell" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Saturday, April 30, 2011 7:11 PM
> Subject: The Original Digital Mode
>
>
>> Lou,
>>
>> I've been a ham for 45 years and CW, or the Original Digital Mode, as in
>> ODM
>> for short, has always been my favorite.  I like sideband when talking 
>> with
>> friends but I've always love CW and, in fact, I think it was CW that
>> attracted me the most in getting a license in the first place.  CW is 
>> also
>> far from being dead.  With the band not so hot right now, it doesn't look
>> like CW is very much but you let a contest, or Field Day, pop on to the
>> bands, and you can't even find a place to have a normal CW contact; the 
>> CW
>> bands are so crowded.  Now is also the time to learn CW because, with 
>> your
>> general class, a guy can get on the air on any band and run any speed and
>> he
>> will find someone to talk to him at that speed.  I do it all the time. 
>> DX
>> is easier to work and if you aren't running an amplifier, CW is where
>> you'll
>> make the most contacts.  I'd give up the hobby, I do believe, if they 
>> band
>> CW operation on the ham bands.  It just wouldn't be as fun any longer
>> under
>> those conditions.  Come to think of it, maybe even with a Technician
>> license
>> you can operate CW on the CW bands.  I don't remember the rules any 
>> longer
>> about that.
>>
>> Phil.
>> K0NX
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Lou Kolb" <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Saturday, April 30, 2011 4:28 PM
>> Subject: Re: Dumbing down, was Re: Selling Gear Online
>>
>>
>>> Some clubs have actually reported an increased interest in CW now that
>>> it's
>>> not manditory.  Speaking as some one who operates it a lot and for whom
>>> it's
>>> my favorite mode, I hope that's not just wishful thinking.  Sure it's
>>> outmoded by other digital modes but it sure is a fun and relaxing skill
>>> to
>>> exercise.  Lou WA3MIX
>