I operate the RSGB demonstration station at Bletchley Park (GB3RS), I tend to operate mainly on CW, young people are absolutely fascinated by CW. I had one young lad left with me for 2 hours while his family went on the museum tour, all he wanted to know about was morse!. I showed him the WEB SDR at the Uni of Twente in Holland, hopefully the spark was generated and he will be one of the new generation of CW ops...
It's a lot easier to build a 4 transistor CW transmitter than something with a modulator to accept digi modes.... ( and I do have the capability)! Best regards, Tim Hague M0AFJ Skype m0afj.Tim Sent on my iPad On 16 Jul 2013, at 14:42, "Dyarnes" <w7...@cox.net> wrote: > Hi All, > > Ed may be right--it's hard to say. It also depends on what the definition of > "disappear" is, meaning I think there will always be some adventurous souls > using CW regardless of where technology takes us. By rights, I would have > thought "AM" would disappear, but it hasn't--not totally. There is even a > feeding frenzy out there for old AM gear. > > But CW is a conundrum. It takes skill! That is what seems to be > disappearing from ham radio! Look at the decline in the ability of the > average ham to build his/her own gear, let alone repair it! Admittedly, the > radios we buy these days don't lend themselves to DIY repair, mainly due to > the advanced technology of things like SMD's, etc. These days, if you have a > problem, it usually means swapping out an entire board rather than replacing > a single part. > > But back to CW--This is the most basic (I think) form of RF communication. By > that I mean it is the simplest form to create. You actually only need two > wires you can touch together to send it, but a paddle or key obviously makes > it much easier. It's more efficient that just about any type of voice > communication, so with just a few watts (or less) you can work the world! The > digital modes you mention are also very efficient, but I find them ultimately > boring! The computer has made everything so mechanical! JT65 is a really > slick creation, but you end up just playing a "numbers game" for exchanges. > It's gratifying for a while, but there is not much conversation going back > and forth. At least modes like PSK31 are conversational, and maybe other > modes, yet to be invented, will be that way too. It's hard to say what we > will see in the next 20 or 30 years. Technology moves at lightening speed! > > For that matter, RTTY would seem to be "old hat" as well, but it still seems > to be hanging around in strength. The computer gave RTTY a "reprieve", since > we no longer have to rely on units like the old Model 26's, or whatever those > things were that we used years ago. I can even operate RTTY and PSK31 with > my KX3, all by itself, but using CW as the input method! Again, the simplest > form of input (CW) to generate an advanced mode. > > A while back some Japanese company was seriously contemplating using CW as an > input method for texting on cellphones! It would only require two or three > keys! Interesting concept, but I guess it didn't fly--at least not now. I > still think there is just possibly some merit to this however. Kids can > learn anything!!!! They text! It's the "old f**ts" that have problems. > > The absence of a mandatory level of CW proficiency has clearly reduced the > level of CW activity--except in contests!!!!! Interestingly, though, now > that CW is no longer mandatory, a lot of newer hams (and some old ones too) > seem to be having some sort of epiphany about the virtues of CW, and are > voluntarily taking it up. Very interesting!!! > > The bottom line is that technology is apt to change everything! It might > even substantially wipe away ham radio all together! It certainly has > distracted newcomers who now seem to be nearly totally focused on computers. > I have some serious concerns about the survival of ham radio itself, but for > now, I think the biggest threat is CC & R's! Hi. > > Dave W7AQK > > > > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
