For those of you who think that you have your code down pretty good, at least able to copy and send five words per minute, I am proud of you and you are now ready for the next step. You must actually get on the air and make that first contact with another person, all in Morse code. I know that it is a scary thought but you can do it. Believe me, after that first time it gets a lot easier and actually enjoyable. I remember my first time so well that I put it in poem form. It is a good idea to make that first contact with someone you know. Here is that poem:
CQ, CQ, I heard him say
Is anybody out there today?
His signal was strong, his speed was fair
Why not give an answer, my first on the air?
So I gave him my call and I marked my book
I now keep a log for a later look.
He came right back as clear as a bell
He was no beginner it was easy to tell
I was new to this and I began to sweat
My hands were shaky and my palms all wet.
But as we went on it was easy to see
That he wanted to make me as calm as could be.
I knew from the moment I started to key
That he might have trouble understanding me
But I was surprised when I heard him say
How happy he was to have worked me today.
Who was that nice fellow who helped me along
And still gives me guidance when I might go wrong?
I talk to him daily, both near and far,
An Elmer with the call sign of NN8R
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
About Me
- Jack Stahl
- One of the wonderful aspects of using Morse code as a communications mode is that it is very indifferent as to the operator’s age. A good fist (one who sends well) can be ten years old or one hundred. I say this is wonderful because I am happily enjoying my sixty ninth year. I am new to the hobby of amateur radio, however, since I passed my technician test in September of 2006 and was awarded the license and call sign of KD8EJY by the FCC. I then passed my General exam in November and was granted my vanity call sign request of K8ASA by the FCC Although I am new to the amateur radio hobby, I am not new to Morse code. The ASA in my call sign refers to the Army Security Agency who sent me to a special school in 1956 to become efficient in Morse code. I was sent to Ethiopia for two years to give the army the benefit of my new skill. While back in those days my knowledge of Morse code was beneficial to our national security, 51 years later it now brings me pure pleasure. There has been a hiatus of fifty years between my army discharge and my becoming a ham and I do truly regret the fact that I missed out on all those years of enjoyment with the amateur radio hobby.
0 comments:
Post a Comment