CW always was my main mode of operation

I've spent a lot of time with Digimodes (mainly on 60m) and recently even tried SSB on the HF bands (and might use SSB more often in future) but CW is really where I feel happiest. For a long time it was my only mode of operation on HF. Even now, at times when I'm out of practice, and my sending gets a bit wobbly, I feel comfortable with CW. There's something magical about communicating over the airwaves without speaking, without typing, just using a series of dits and dahs controlled by your own hand and turned from sound into meaning in your own brain.

When I started my current (Summer 2023) resurgence of interest in radio I thought I'd push myself to use SSB, to speak to people, and this would be the “novelty” I was looking for to kick start my interest in the hobby.

After a few weeks of getting things up and running I find I'm gravitating towards the CW end of the bands again, I've wired up all my keys, including my Vibroplex bug which has seen very little use on the air since I bought it. I did use it a few times in 2021 during a previous spell of on-air activity, but I let it lie dormant for the next 2 years, until NOW.

Let the CW-fest begin.

• Vibroplex “Presentation” bug : Serial No 198474, Plate “Patented 833 Broadway” (D6 Plate). The Serial Number list ww7p-serial-number-list.pdf indicates 1957
• Hi-Mound HK-708 (the same one I've had since 1982)
• GPO brass key
• “Russian army” key
• Vibroplex “Champion” bug : Serial No 211617, Plate “Patented 833 Broadway” (D6 Plate), date 1960

• Icom IC-7200 main HF radio
• Icom IC-706 second HF

• No Iambic/electronic keyers

I enjoy straight key sending and have occasionally used my Vibroplex on the air for faster QSOs than I'm able to manage with a straight key. The bug is taking some time to feel comfortable, and all I can do is practice, practice and more practice.

I'll try to do most of my QSOs on the bug, currently set at 18wpm (according to my spots on RBN) which is a comfortable speed for me at the moment, both for sending and receiving. I had my first “new” CW QSO using the bug today (June 12th) on 40m with Lada, OK2PAY who I remember working before, some years ago. In fact here's a video of the QSO on my You Tube OK2PAY 30m CW - the QSO was 16 July 2016 on 30m…. wow, 7 years ago!

I've re-joined the FISTS CW club with my old member number 17686 - and I see my SKCC old membership number is still listed as 3214. I'll try to take part in more activities by these clubs.

Have QSOs → rag-chews, rubber-stamp, all sorts…..

I hope to get enough air-time and enjoyment that perhaps I can justify a new key or even a new bug (I have been looking in wonder at the Begali Intrepid )……

• Update 23/6/23 : New (to me) bug…. 1960 Vibroplex Champion from eBay Vibroplex Champion Bug

One of my favourite sources of material for “head copy” practice is the ARRL's Code Practice Archive

• http://www.arrl.org/code-practice-files

Here you can download MP3 files of their Code Practice recordings, which are extracts from QST magazine, sent at various speeds from 5 wpm to 40 wpm.

I have put a lot of the 25, 30, 35 and 40 wpm files on a USB stick to play in the van and on my phone to play whenever/wherever.

I find it is good to just let the CW flow and to grasp as much as you can, in bursts, and then let the “meaning” sink in - even when you miss the odd letter or word. In “conversational” CW it's best to let go of mistakes and just concentrate on making sense of what you're hearing. Exact “carbon copy” is only needed for formal messages (telegrams, RAYNET etc). Just letting the CW flow in through the ears and the “meaning” of the message condense in your brain makes you feel more comfortable about glitches and missing parts. In a QSO nobody is going to know how much you actually copied, as long as you get the important bits - name, QTH etc - which are usually sent more than once. If you don't respond to a question (because you missed it being asked) they can always ask again, and assume you just forgot. The key is to not care too much about 100% accurate copy, and the more you have QSOs, the easier it becomes and the more you copy, a virtuous circle.

— John Pumford-Green 12/06/23 13:22

• The Art and Skill of Radio Telegraphy : tasrt.pdf
• Articles by Tom McElroy (thanks to Ian IK4EWX)
  • hints_on_improving_keying_tmcelroy-_qst_nov35.pdf
  • mcelroy-part1_radio_1935-01.pdf
  • mcelroy-part2_-_radio_1935-02.pdf
  • mcelroy-part3_-_radio_1935-05.pdf