As a member of FISTS, I have never had a problem working folks without a
number. Understand that FISTS is an organization to promote CW. I
can't speak for others, but in my case, a rag chew is more difficult
that a FISTS QSO. FISTS QSOs, in my experience have been pretty
straight forward; name, greetings, rst, qth, rig, power, ant, and maybe
wx info. Not exciting, on invigorating for most folks, but it is a lot
for those of us struggling with the code. If folks get a little fast on
me, or I just start dropping letters or words, I at least have some
ideas what is coming and can usually figure it out. In the case of a
rag chew, if I miss a couple of letters, I find myself behind, and
completely missing the point. Thus, I tend, for now, to keep QSO's
short a sweet.
I look forward to getting good enough at CW that I can sit and ragchew.
I have been working on my CW, off and on for a few years, and it is
still has a ways to go.
To alleviate the concern you have, what I have done in the past, was to
CQ FISTS a few times, then if nothing is heard, I just threw out CQ. On
several occasions I had folks that came right back to me, that were
obviously listening, but didn't answer when I did CQ FISTS. I enjoyed
the QSOs, but I still did not get too fancy.
My main problem, is that I can copy faster than I have figured out a way
to record the information. At 15 wpm I cannot write fast enough. I can
copy what is being said, but have not been able to remember it well
enough to keep track of what is going on. I touch type, and that works
pretty well, till we get into call signs or such, as I was never good at
typing numbers.
I hope the explanation helped some.
David Wilburn
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
K4DGW
K2 #5982
Brian Pepperdine wrote:
Well, I just gotta ask.
It really seems a lot of the CQs I hear are CQ FISTS and CQ SKCC.
Are these persons bothered if I reply and just want a QSO/rag
chew/contact and don't need their number and won't send one in return -
or don't favour a hand key?
I just don't see the sense in sending numbers - and I really don't need
to collect them. That's OK for those that do... but to not 'accept'
those who don't?
And the straight key guys.... do they really only want to have contacts
with someone enamoured of the straight key. I have a number of old hand
keys... they look nice, but my keyer and paddle are easier on the arm
that has had a lot of jolts from carpentry/bicycle riding/motorcycle
throttling....
I know I can pass them by I guess - but gee, I want to have a contact,
plain and simple and it seems so many possible operator calls are
restricting themselves to someone with a number or old fashioned key.
Can't we just agree to all talk and THEN say, oh by the way I have a
nice old key here I am using, or I have a number.
Or maybe it should be - CQ FISTS? or CQ SK? - which is to say... I have
a number if you want one but otherwise call me anyhow... or I use an old
key and won't send all that fast with it (nice if you are afraid to have
to QRS the fellow).
Anyhow, not much of a rant as a query on protocols of calling and
answering, as well as just wanting to be able to work a lot of fellows
on the radio.
Otherwise, I guess I will just have to let them alone in their
respective sandboxes and go play with those who feel more open (wherever
and whenever).
I do realize they DO have their calling frequencies... but I am hearing
more broadly than that. Seems to me to be a weird imbalance.
On the other hand.... my copying of numbers is getting good from
'reading the mail' on those QSOs for practice :)
tnx
Brian
Toronto
VE3VAW
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