2/18/2016

The art of CW

Tom, K3TW, has posted an article in the FOC reflector, which told how less hams were involved in CW as he knew at the ham convention in New Orleans lately.

Dave, W7AQK, has told in the discussion that it was important to realize we had carried the art of CW. He says we should be proud of that. On the other hand, Dave, K6XG has analogized the art of CW with the music training for that in the medieval era. 

This is the post I submitted there. Even though I have not verbalized my idea in this short article well enough yet, I wanted to tell we should be aware what art we are taking over to the next generation.

quote;

Hi everyone,
I agree with Dave, W7AQK,who told CW is an art. We should be proud of that. But I suspect that it is not evident that such a pride may attract the new comers, especially young ones, to this mode.
Art is a skill you should make much effort to obtain and to maintain. This will give us a feeling of achievement. The other characteristic of art is that it is related with something of our life, that is, something which gives us long lasting pleasure. This is related with its content.
Learning CW is comparable to practicing musical instrument as Dick, K6XG, has mentioned. It requires much effort to be good at it. Once we achieve it, we feel rewarded with that effort.
The problem is what CW gives us as we communicate with it. Usefulness to communicate with small set up? Competition with it like DXing or contests? I believe these things are not lasting long but only temporary or not related with our life, even though these aspects of CW are often much fun for us. What else? As I used to quote in the posts here in the past, CW reception, and most likelily, transmission as well, are handled in the brain center of reading and/or writing. This simple symbol system relates certain grammar and lexicology in reception. When this correspondence goes well in our brain, it might give us another feeling of achievement. Of course, it is closely related with what message we are reading as well. The tempo of communication is always parallel to how fast we think of. CW is never a symbol system relating only meaningless numbers or letters.    
As I practice unaccompanied suit of Bach with my cello, even though not proficient at all, I sometimes see in mind what Bach has had in his mind when composing it. Even if the art of CW is a bit different from this music experience, I am sure it is and should be involved with something lively and meaningful to us. I guess young people are sensitive as for the truth in art. If we are doing anything not giving us long lasting pleasure, they won't be interested in it.
Shin

5 comments:

  1. I always enjoy your posts about CW Shin. I've always thought of its musical qualities. Young people are being brainwashed into thinking everything needs to be done very quickly; many will feel it is too slow a communication medium. I find it relaxing, unless I push my fist to send faster than it wants to at that time :-) Society does not promote relaxation as much as it should.
    73, Bill, W6QR

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bill,

      Yes, it could be regarded as a snobbism of old timers. However, it is true that we feel relaxed and intellectually stimulated when conversing on this mode. I think the communication on this mode is closely related with thinking process. I will try to describe what goes on in our mind in this process. Please do that by yourself. Most CW operators just enjoy communication but are not interested in the process in our mind which gives us the pleasure.

      Shin

      Delete
  2. Shin, how in our minds CW gives us pleasure? I have been stressed for long now due to lots of work and family issues, but I can assure you every time I head to my radio room and practiced CW for an hour or so, all the stress and that mental upset would go away and my brain would feel good once again. It seems that CW somehow behaves like a sedative or pretty much like Alprazolam.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Luk,

      It may be half the characteristic of hobby that distracts your mind from your stress. CW might be particularly of help to you. I am concerned about the process how it works in our mind.

      BTW, I have sent my QSL to you just yesterday. Very sorry for delay. I hope to see you and to hear about your family, expecially about your wife. I am anxious to know of the economy in PY land. They say it is in a bad recession. I hope everything goes well for you and yours all. See you soon.

      Shin

      Delete
    2. Hi Shin! Thanks for the QSL card. As you know, you were my first CW contact on 40 meter band. Nice to have your QSL. Our economy is really bad now. The US Dollar exchange rate doubled in few months. Imported radio prices such as Yaesu, Kenwood, Icom, Elecraft were all right until few months ago. Nowadays it is very expensive to fill up our vehicle tanks with either gas, alcohol or diesel. All goods at the supermarkets went sky high and they keep going...I'm going home in a wek from today...Will try to meet you on 40m...73!

      Delete