I totally agree about CW being a must for VHF+ weak signal work -
and contesting. I have made many a VHF+ contact using CW that would
not have been possible otherwise. I would like to add one thing I
haven't seen mentioned. If 5 to 10 WPM is what you can manage, then
by all means USE IT and make contacts. But still strive to increase
your speed. Given the often brief signal peaks on VHF+ bands,
sometimes a station will fade away before a contact can be completed
at slow speeds. As your CW proficiency and speed increases, you will
find you can make more contacts, taking advantage of momentary
signal peaks.
I miss VHF+ operation and hope to see many old friends in the Stew
Perry. Now you know where I went when I left VHF+. I will slow down
for anyone who calls me at significantly slower speed than I am
sending, or anyone who sends 'QRS' or to call anyone who is
operating at slow speeds when I am doing search & pounce!
73,
Paul N1BUG
Zack Widup wrote:
> I think CW is a must for VHF+ weak-signal work. Many times I have not
> been able to make it through with SSB but did with CW. Listen for my weak
> CW signal if you're working SSB - and you can even answer me on SSB! I'll
> probably hear you better than you hear me. :-)
>
> I think about 95% of my QSO's on 2304 MHz and up were on CW. I've made a
> few on SSB when close to the other station and made one FM QSO in the 10
> GHz contest last year. Usually we just go ahead and make the QSO's on CW.
>
> I missed the Stew Perry last year but I think I'll try to make a few QSO's
> this time.
>
> 73, Zack W9SZ
_______________________________________________
VHFcontesting mailing list
VHFcontesting@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/vhfcontesting
|