Approximate hit rate:
Takers to my CQ 20%
Those able to converse on CW 30%
Those experienced CW operators sharing interests with me 10%
Consequently, the probability I could meet, when calling CQ, a good CW operator with the same interest is 0.6%.
I am afraid this probability is continuously decreasing now.
The observation stated above is just based on my personal experience. Only an objective finding. No real statistics.
The ham world is still undergoing a drastic change now. No complaint. Just accepting it.
Shin, There's 2.6 Million amateur radio operators in the world according to some statistics. 1.3 million in Japan and .7 million in US. FOC has 500 members and limits their membership. CWops has about 2,000 members. Think about less than one tenth of one percent of the hams with licenses are competent enough for carry on a conversation in CW at 25 wpm. It may be a fact, but please don't accept it. Once the old timers in ham radio expire, CW could be gone forever. The sad part is the new comers don't understand the mystique of the mode. It becomes an addiction. You said it once. I hope that I am in that small percentage that calls you and you can converse with.
ReplyDeleteDon,
DeleteI won't go on speculation on this issue without any definite evidence. But, as you pointed out, there might be pretty numerous hams proficient in CW. One problem is that they are getting less active, whether it is due to their age or to their losing interests in cW. I could hear only very few FOC members except during special events.
The other problem is that quite some portion of CW operators, even in the US, could not converse on CW. They make the so called rubber stamps only. It is often surprising me a lot.
You are, of course, one of the good CW operators, who used to be quite common in '60s. I am afraid I am getting less capable of sending and composing in English on CW. Maybe, it is due to the age. I may ask you who you are etc in some years. please be prepared! Some CW operators, even if they are pretty aged, are very sharp and making very enjoyable chats. I don't know if it is related with inheritance or something else. Or, preferably, it may be enhanced by cW activity, which requires our mental activity as well as fine movement of hands.
Shin
Dr Shin .... It was nice running into you a few days ago on 15m and I very much enjoyed our long CW QSO. I hope we can do it again soon on 10m!
ReplyDeleteDo not despair....there are still many of us OM in love with CW since very young and with many years of QSO's left! I think we first worked when I was a teenager, in the 60's...VE7ANP.
73 Steve VE7SL
Mayne Island, B.C.
Steve,
DeleteThanbks for the comment. I am not desperate but am thinking what has been happening. And what should we do? Your web site tells me you have been enjoying ham radio in your way. I am sure it will inspire the new comers. A very good job. yes, we might have met in old '60s. Let's do it many more!
Shin
Shin
ReplyDeleteYou show great humor. I believe it may be a good thing when we get to the point that we do not remember our contacts. That way, each time we talk will be a new adventure, discovering who the other person is.
Seriously, I do not fear that you will lose your talent in CW. I only hope to become as good as you.
Don,
DeleteI am missing some proper nouns in Japanese from time to time. My wife laughs at me when I call some forgotten thing like "that" or "this". It is not a humor! A reality. But let's hope ham radio could help us to stay away from dementia! BEE suffix is too unique to forget.
See you soon.
Shin
Hi Shin and hello from Saudi (45 degrees Celcius today)...
ReplyDeleteI think you know my thoughts already. One worry is that I may be labelled inactive by FOC, not through want of trying though. Conditions have been poor for years which does not help the situation for ragchewers. I made a few more new FOC contacts last time in Singapore but it was impossible to carry on a good chat. Too much QSB QRN and QRM from Russians trying to get me in their log.
Conditions from 9V are not as good as JA to USA or EU. I have only two hours window in the evenings on 20 or 40m at best, and again in the morning. Daytime all bands are completely dead apart from the occassional openings on 15m and 17m. I don't have enough time to stay in the shack all day every day waiting for those events to happen...
There are still many good CW operators around but the hard part for me is finding them !
73
John,
DeleteWelcome home and already on duty there?
Don't care however the other members might think of you! I scarecely hear any G members either, whether it is due to the condition or to their activity. The conditions have been poor fot the time in the solar cycle. Fred K1NVY told me the bands, especially 10 meters, used to be quite hot in the solar cycle he started radio. Compared with that, this cycle seems rotten. I agreed with him. Maybe, in next month, it may pick up a little bit. I hope you won't feel sorry for not getting on so much. It is not your fault etc. Noone could blame you.
Take care. Let's talk about the meaning of counterpoint in music when we meet again.
Shin