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PA2AGA > HDDIG 03.07.00 23:42l 174 Lines 6933 Bytes #-9412 (0) @ EU
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Date: Mon, 03 Jul 00 19:07:50 MET
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From: pa2aga@pe1mvx.ampr.org
To: hd_broadcast@pa2aga.ampr.org
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Ham-Digital Digest Mon, 3 Jul 2000 Volume 2000 : Issue 178
Today's Topics:
CW versus hi speed digital etc. (14 msgs)
how does PSK31 really work?
List of the rec.radio newsgroups
TM-D700A and Tripmate?
Send Replies or notes for publication to: <Ham-Digital@UCSD.Edu>
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We trust that readers are intelligent enough to realize that all text
herein consists of personal comments and does not represent the official
policies or positions of any party. Your mileage may vary. So there.
Loop-Detect: Ham-Digital:2000/178
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sun, 2 Jul 2000 10:47:30 -0500
From: "Peter O. Brackett" <ab4bc@ix.netcom.com>
Subject: CW versus hi speed digital etc.
Hamish:
You love digital communications, and so... "I love you man"...
Just don't "trash" CW...
Hamish... CW is digital, it is efficient, it incorporates many of the
aspects of so-called modern digital communications, and it has led the way
for 150 years...
I certainly respect your desire, and today your right, not to have to
develop the skills to copy CW manually at high speeds.
But now that issue is finally "settled" and behind us, let us give CW the
space and respect that it deserves.
BTW... Hamish... here's a question for you.
It so happens that, due to living so many years on this earth, I have come
to learn to copy and send high speed CW (`~40 wpm) and... I have also
learned to touch type on a QWERTY keboard with low error rates at up to 70
wpm. I learned these "skills" through dint of hard effort and many many
hours of practice, because I hated them both with a passion and I was forced
to learn them by my employers. Heck all I wanted to do on ham radio was
learn to operate the PTT button on a phone rig!
However, today I am a competent high speed digital "keyboard operator" as
well as a high speed CW operator and not just a file transfer "wannabe"!
so...
As a keyboard QSO'er yourself, and not necessarily a CW affecionado, which
do you think is the harder skill to develop, in terms of [As aircraft pilots
are fond of saying.] the "stick time" required?
Touch typing at 50 words per minute -or- sending and receiving CW at 35
words per minute?
Both are difficult and time consuming skills to master, there are no easy
ways to acquire either, but the stick time comparison would surprise you...
Someday if you wish, I'll share with you my personal "stick times" to reach
those milestones.
Hamish the "kill CW" wars are over, I say just drop it now!
Time to stop trashing CW... and time to start developing robust digital
modes for HF use, as Peter Martinez and others are currently at work doing.
But... to make the progress we should, we need, not just digital operators
[who are always welcome] but also digital communications technologists who
have a deep understanding of the principles of digital communications, who
can apply that knowledge to developing new and better modes. A good way to
encourage this is to add more such material to the sylabus and requirements
for the amateur radio examinations.
I say, if we take CW skill testing out of the amateur examinations, that we
replace it with an in depth theoretical and practical test of knowledge in
the digital communications arts, beginning with the theoretical background
for CW's effectiveness and leading upwards from there...
I feel that today the lack of such theoretical and practical digital
communications material in the amateur radio examinations is a travesty.
Thoughts, comments?
Peter K1PO
"Hamish Moffatt VK3SB" <hamish@cloud.net.au> wrote in message
news:mjE75.457$I43.2644@news1.eburwd1.vic.optushome.com.au...
> Peter O. Brackett <ab4bc@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
> > Of course you won't have heard it on the air in "plain language", but I
can
> > send you to several HF frequencies where you may copy on air CW FEC,
> > generally in the format of "five letter code groups".
>
> [...]
>
> > As I stated further up the thread, mosr of you so-called "digital"
> > communications "experts" who post on this NG, know not whereof you speak
> > when it comes to digital communications and CW!
>
> > Hamish, no personal offense meant, but you were just plain WRONG!
>
> Interesting comments Peter. Obviously FEC is possible with any
> modulation system, as in your five letter code groups example.
>
> However, I was really referring to casual QSOs between amateur
> operators using normal decoding methods ie their ears, brain and
> perhaps a bit of paper, for real-time decoding. Which is how
> CW is usually done by amateur operators.
>
> I don't pretend to be an expert on this subject by any means
> Peter. I just enjoy operating some digital modes (CW not being
> one of them).
>
>
> Hamish
> --
> Hamish Moffatt VK3SB <hamish@debian.org> <hamish@cloud.net.au>
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 2 Jul 2000 12:59:13 -0500
From: "Steve Sampson" <ssampson@usa-site.net>
Subject: CW versus hi speed digital etc.
The FAA is the better model for testing. Not only do you use a
computer to test, and get an instant grade; indeed, you need to
take a practical test with a certified person.
These steps are also much more costly.
Here's my proposal then. Each Ham must pass a Class 3 Flight Physical,
and not be handicapped in any way. Hams must not be allowed to
use strollers, crutches, or wheel-chairs of any kind. They must not have
high blood pressure, and have a 10 year history of no tobacco, alcohol,
or other contraband drugs as listed by the Surgeon General.
Each Ham will be required to have a mentor for 20 hours, and solo for
another 20. During this solo, the candidate must build a transmitter and
receiver from scratch, and learn to operate CW at a minimum of 20 WPM.
A Ham ticket will last for 36 months for individuals 30 years old or less,
and 24 months for those older than 30. Each renewal will require a
written and practical test. The practical may result in write-ups that
require retraining, and the Ham cannot operate until retested. If the Ham
fails to retest in 15 days, the license is revoked.
All Hams must wear a tie and long sleeve white shirts when operating.
Women can't wear pants, and their hair must not be in curlers. Clothing
designed for underwear cannot be worn outside other clothes. Hams
cannot operate while in the nude or wearing underwear.
To be continued in digest: hd_2000_178B
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