Lots of sage advice here. Getting on the air is the single biggest hurdle......and the single most important aspect.......of learning CW. I picked it up super fast (I started learning CW in November of 2022), but I can remember when I was a 12wpm op hunting POTA and feeling the same way you did. I'm guilty of going pretty fast in most of my activations, but I always try to slow down when a slower op works me. Yesterday I called CQ at 24wpm, but worked stations between 12 and 28 words per minute. It's all about getting on the air and having fun, and I agree.....if I can inspire even one person to get on the air using Morse code, the effort is worth it. Thanks for the videos!
Jason, thanks for taking the time to share your story. Pretty cool you’re sharing it right after getting your Kilo award. Similar to you, I care a lot about new people finding CW! Your video is a good reminder to QRS and always anticipate the person on the other end is making their first QSO. I still remember my first QSO! It was a dream, went so smoothly. Then my very next attempt was a disaster and I felt so discouraged. The ups and downs, to this day, are why I love CW. You’ve got a great channel and I love your sense of humor. Keep the content coming brother and excited for many more QSOs with you. P.S. you look like a Navy Seal and that makes me feel safe watching your vids.
That's the life of a CW op. Some days I feel like Samuel Morse, and other days I feel like I'm listening to an old internet router as it makes random noises. Lol'd at I look like a Navy Seal. More like a highschool hall monitor. All I need is New Balances and white tube socks.
Great story! I do think it will help others to get started with CW. Admitting your hits and misses lets others know they are not the only ones finding it tough to get on the air. Thanks for sharing...now subbed. 73!
Great advice/video. I remember my first cw POTA activation. I was nervous and made all sorts of errors. When I was done, I was totally stoked. Now I’m consistently 18-20wpm and my activations are all exclusively cw. I’m pretty sure that I’m at least 1 of your 1000 contacts and hope to do it again. Thanks!
It's so exciting being able to communicate with bleeps and bloops, even in just a POTA/SOTA exchange. Looks like you hunted me back in February when 10 meters was alive. Hope to work you from VA. Thanks for watching!
Amazing journey! The CW community is like no other, and worth the effort and preservation. Enjoy the journey, I am. Your channel is a huge motivation. Its all about giving back and helping others and you do a fine job helping the Ham Community and motivating others to join in the fun. Thank you. 72 Bill KG4FXG
I did the same thing you did. I videoed my first CW activations. I stayed off SSB and focused on CW. I continued to practice with my CW apps, but I got on the air. I got a kilo with CW at Padre Island national Seashore. I like your videos because they allow me to head copy the CW. BTW, I grew up in Santa Cruz. I miss my home.
Thank you for the kind words. The Monterey Bay is a beautiful part of the country. On very clear days I could see the tip of Santa Cruz across the bay from my house. So maybe like 5 times in the two years I was there with all the fog, lol. Thanks for watching!
You've hit upon one of the truths of CW. You don't get good to get on the air, you get on the air to get good...Keep up the good work! 73 de K2ZA
I'm still working on the "get good" part, lol. We all are though. Thanks for watching!
Lots of sage advice here. Getting on the air is the single biggest hurdle......and the single most important aspect.......of learning CW. I picked it up super fast (I started learning CW in November of 2022), but I can remember when I was a 12wpm op hunting POTA and feeling the same way you did. I'm guilty of going pretty fast in most of my activations, but I always try to slow down when a slower op works me. Yesterday I called CQ at 24wpm, but worked stations between 12 and 28 words per minute. It's all about getting on the air and having fun, and I agree.....if I can inspire even one person to get on the air using Morse code, the effort is worth it. Thanks for the videos!
Thank you for the kind words. You were my very first subscriber when I posted my first CW vid. Thanks for being a good dude.
Jason, thanks for taking the time to share your story. Pretty cool you’re sharing it right after getting your Kilo award. Similar to you, I care a lot about new people finding CW! Your video is a good reminder to QRS and always anticipate the person on the other end is making their first QSO. I still remember my first QSO! It was a dream, went so smoothly. Then my very next attempt was a disaster and I felt so discouraged. The ups and downs, to this day, are why I love CW.
You’ve got a great channel and I love your sense of humor. Keep the content coming brother and excited for many more QSOs with you.
P.S. you look like a Navy Seal and that makes me feel safe watching your vids.
That's the life of a CW op. Some days I feel like Samuel Morse, and other days I feel like I'm listening to an old internet router as it makes random noises.
Lol'd at I look like a Navy Seal. More like a highschool hall monitor. All I need is New Balances and white tube socks.
Great video and absolutely true, you will only get better by getting on air.
Thank you.
Great story! I do think it will help others to get started with CW. Admitting your hits and misses lets others know they are not the only ones finding it tough to get on the air. Thanks for sharing...now subbed. 73!
No one was born knowing CW and we're all on this journey together. Thanks for following mine :)
Great advice/video. I remember my first cw POTA activation. I was nervous and made all sorts of errors. When I was done, I was totally stoked. Now I’m consistently 18-20wpm and my activations are all exclusively cw. I’m pretty sure that I’m at least 1 of your 1000 contacts and hope to do it again. Thanks!
It's so exciting being able to communicate with bleeps and bloops, even in just a POTA/SOTA exchange. Looks like you hunted me back in February when 10 meters was alive. Hope to work you from VA. Thanks for watching!
Amazing journey! The CW community is like no other, and worth the effort and preservation. Enjoy the journey, I am. Your channel is a huge motivation. Its all about giving back and helping others and you do a fine job helping the Ham Community and motivating others to join in the fun. Thank you. 72 Bill KG4FXG
Thank you. If I can motivate a single person to get on the air with CW that's a win for me. Plus it's one more person I can work :)
I did the same thing you did. I videoed my first CW activations. I stayed off SSB and focused on CW. I continued to practice with my CW apps, but I got on the air. I got a kilo with CW at Padre Island national Seashore. I like your videos because they allow me to head copy the CW. BTW, I grew up in Santa Cruz. I miss my home.
Thank you for the kind words. The Monterey Bay is a beautiful part of the country. On very clear days I could see the tip of Santa Cruz across the bay from my house. So maybe like 5 times in the two years I was there with all the fog, lol. Thanks for watching!
Very great points! Get on the air and set the pace. Enjoyed this video! 73s
Thanks for watching!
Absolute awesome information! I think we have the same campstool....
Thank you. If anything my campstool would have been a hand-me-down of yours.