Comments - AA0HW 's Quest for QRQ - QRQcw2024-03-29T11:29:14Zhttp://qrqcwnet.ning.com/profiles/comment/feed?attachedTo=1993813%3ABlogPost%3A8&xn_auth=noFB Joe, and I have read your…tag:qrqcwnet.ning.com,2011-06-21:1993813:Comment:94362011-06-21T16:47:23.578ZBrett Millerhttp://qrqcwnet.ning.com/profile/BrettMiller
<p>FB Joe, and I have read your bio before. It's really great to see another CW op with a recent interest in QRQ. I became interested in QRQ after reading Pierpont's book in 2004, primarily because of the exciting quotes of things Fred - W3NJZ had to say about the enjoyment of high speed QRQ rag chewing. I did some research and contacted Fred and he was very generous and helpful...sending me tons of written material, and lists of operators capable of QRQ that I could find on the air and work…</p>
<p>FB Joe, and I have read your bio before. It's really great to see another CW op with a recent interest in QRQ. I became interested in QRQ after reading Pierpont's book in 2004, primarily because of the exciting quotes of things Fred - W3NJZ had to say about the enjoyment of high speed QRQ rag chewing. I did some research and contacted Fred and he was very generous and helpful...sending me tons of written material, and lists of operators capable of QRQ that I could find on the air and work for practice. He also sent me Bill Eitel's old correspondance (now found on this website), cassette tapes, and an issue of the CFO Key Clucks (which I've since scanned in and emailed to Andrew). </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I got busy with other things in life and got out of the hobby for about six years, but knew I'd be back, so I kept my hardware and keys. Around February of this year I upgraded to Extra Class and got back into the hobby, and found it even more fun and easier to increase speed this time. I'm working hard and having more fun than ever with QRQ. An Omni D to Omni D QSO would be incredible...my local friend KM4BI and I have had many such Omni to Omni chats, and it sure is great! </p>
<p>73 - Brett</p>
<p>KI4DBK</p> Chuck...Brett might be intere…tag:qrqcwnet.ning.com,2011-06-21:1993813:Comment:94352011-06-21T06:45:18.495ZJoehttp://qrqcwnet.ning.com/profile/Joe
Chuck...Brett might be interested in QRQ linux program...Joe KH6/W3GW on Maui
Chuck...Brett might be interested in QRQ linux program...Joe KH6/W3GW on Maui I enjoyed your post, Brett. I…tag:qrqcwnet.ning.com,2011-06-21:1993813:Comment:104292011-06-21T06:43:20.410ZJoehttp://qrqcwnet.ning.com/profile/Joe
<p>I enjoyed your post, Brett. I go interested in QRQ in 2008 during the sunspot low. Chucks website was a lifesaver for me. Weeks would go by out here on Maui with nary an HF signal being heard. Try the Icw, FOG, and CFO nets. They are great fun. One day, with decent sunspots, I would hope we can have an Onmi D to Omni D QSO on HF. Ben, N6SL, in Ocala, Florida, and I are resuming our weekly15 meters sked and having some good QSOs when the MUF is up....Joe KH6/W3GW on Maui</p>
<p>I enjoyed your post, Brett. I go interested in QRQ in 2008 during the sunspot low. Chucks website was a lifesaver for me. Weeks would go by out here on Maui with nary an HF signal being heard. Try the Icw, FOG, and CFO nets. They are great fun. One day, with decent sunspots, I would hope we can have an Onmi D to Omni D QSO on HF. Ben, N6SL, in Ocala, Florida, and I are resuming our weekly15 meters sked and having some good QSOs when the MUF is up....Joe KH6/W3GW on Maui</p>
Chuck,
Ok on the software…tag:qrqcwnet.ning.com,2011-06-20:1993813:Comment:104252011-06-20T06:00:47.957ZBrett Millerhttp://qrqcwnet.ning.com/profile/BrettMiller
<p> </p>
<p>Chuck,</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Ok on the software for the iPod Shuffle, I can't recall the exact name of the .exe, but it's a windows compatible file that you run on the ipod every time you copy new files on it. This program syncs up the iPod and creates the file structure that it expects which is similar to that that iTunes uses. I can let you know about the exact program via email if you want, at the moment I'd have to actually look in the iPod's file structure to find it and I don't…</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Chuck,</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Ok on the software for the iPod Shuffle, I can't recall the exact name of the .exe, but it's a windows compatible file that you run on the ipod every time you copy new files on it. This program syncs up the iPod and creates the file structure that it expects which is similar to that that iTunes uses. I can let you know about the exact program via email if you want, at the moment I'd have to actually look in the iPod's file structure to find it and I don't have it mounted right now. You could google search "ipod shuffle without itunes" or similar.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Regarding my training techniques, they are simple. I mainly listen to recorded CFO skeds, FOG nets, and similar real QSOs that I've recorded myself. I've found that anything I listen to that is 65 wpm and below is helpful to the learning process right now. 70 and above, my word vocab drops considerably and listening to 5 Star or SOB qsos only has me hearing probably 3 or 4 words or so. 65 wpm I hear quite a few words...and 60 down to 55 I'm catching phrases and whole sentences..much more than just the 100 most common, which I have memorized. 50 down to 40 I can copy better than 50%. Below 40, not much reason to listen, since I'd be better off on the air participating with a hand key, since I don't enjoy using the board below 40. I believe the fastest way for me to learn at this point in the game is via skeds with others more experienced at QRQ and of course round tables with the same. In lieu of such ideal practice, I can at least go half way and listen to skeds and recordings of QSOs with others (such as some FB .mp3's made by Chuck Broadwell on his K3). I would rather practice using actual contexts and vocab used by cw operators than listen to prose or computer generated morse files, although there are exceptions, like vocab training, which really is now just an every now and then thing I use for testing myself and if there are any problem words. ...of course, that being said, I realize I may have to adjust these training ideas to go over 70 wpm at some future point, but right now having qsos at 45 and 50 wpm is challenging enough, and it takes all my skill just to relax enough to snap into the receiving groove even half way through.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I don't see any plateaus (unless there's one coming up for me at 65 to 70) so I listen to all QRQ speeds, and find that the FOG recordings I have *really* push me to strain (except the 50 wpm stuff is a nice treat hi W5UX), while the CFO recordings of Andrew sending 40 wpm are fast becoming pleasurable listening. The challenge there is to keep in the groove of concentration and hear every word while preventing my mind from wandering. QRS (to me now, that means below 40) can be much harder than QRQ for me sometimes, because it's a strain to keep my brain on the flow of letters long enough to force them into words. With QRS you have to push the words together and it's a struggle...but with QRQ the words come to you, the only trick is to not get distracted -- or worse yet, become obsessed with one missed word! I have been trying to teach myself the art of letting it go.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>So I prefer to keep each recording locked into its original speed and leave it there. I have long recordings which feature good keyboard sending of all the speeds I'll need to hear for the next year or so, and all I have to do is keep a good rotation so that they don't get stale. No need to vary the speed for me, I can just get new recordings for new speeds, and of course record my own qsos. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Hope this cleared up more than it confused hihi</p>
<p> </p>
<p>73 Brett KI4DBK</p> Hi Brett,
Interesting news ab…tag:qrqcwnet.ning.com,2011-06-19:1993813:Comment:103242011-06-19T22:33:48.687ZChuck aa0hwhttp://qrqcwnet.ning.com/profile/chase
<p>Hi Brett,</p>
<p>Interesting news about your training with a reformatted Shuffle...</p>
<p>was wondering if you might tell us more about the "software package" you are utilizing for this adaptation...</p>
<p>and maybe also some of your training techniques for using this system to advance your qrq copy...</p>
<p>ie ....variable speed ? variable rewind ? removal of superfluous punctuation ? </p>
<p>etc... </p>
<p>Thanks...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Hi Brett,</p>
<p>Interesting news about your training with a reformatted Shuffle...</p>
<p>was wondering if you might tell us more about the "software package" you are utilizing for this adaptation...</p>
<p>and maybe also some of your training techniques for using this system to advance your qrq copy...</p>
<p>ie ....variable speed ? variable rewind ? removal of superfluous punctuation ? </p>
<p>etc... </p>
<p>Thanks...</p>
<p> </p> Chuck, I have an update to wh…tag:qrqcwnet.ning.com,2011-06-19:1993813:Comment:104242011-06-19T02:08:19.657ZBrett Millerhttp://qrqcwnet.ning.com/profile/BrettMiller
<p>Chuck, I have an update to what I told you about my .mp3 cw training. I have borrowed my wife Staci's generation 2 iPod Shuffle. I also downloaded a software package that reformats the Shuffle and removes the necessity to use itunes with the player. This way, it's a simple flash player, which is much easier and faster to mount via USB and load up with practice material. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>This is an amazing practice tool, since it's tiny and lightweight...and will clip onto my clothing for…</p>
<p>Chuck, I have an update to what I told you about my .mp3 cw training. I have borrowed my wife Staci's generation 2 iPod Shuffle. I also downloaded a software package that reformats the Shuffle and removes the necessity to use itunes with the player. This way, it's a simple flash player, which is much easier and faster to mount via USB and load up with practice material. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>This is an amazing practice tool, since it's tiny and lightweight...and will clip onto my clothing for use with earbuds while completing menial tasks around the house. I can already tell I will be able to eat up so much recorded QRQ qso material that my only problem will be finding and making enough to keep it fresh. 73</p> Thanks Chuck, I intend on nev…tag:qrqcwnet.ning.com,2011-06-11:1993813:Comment:102252011-06-11T16:43:11.180ZBrett Millerhttp://qrqcwnet.ning.com/profile/BrettMiller
<p>Thanks Chuck, I intend on never being out for such a long duration, but you know how life can be. Lately I have just been using my Panasonic Toughbook laptop for playing mp3's and listening to the 100 and 1000 most commonly used English words by feeding them to Fldigi. Also, I've been listening to some recordings I've made, as well as some excellent .mp3 records of qsos created by Chuck Broadwell W5UXH of qso between he and I, plus between him and some of his friends. Listening to these…</p>
<p>Thanks Chuck, I intend on never being out for such a long duration, but you know how life can be. Lately I have just been using my Panasonic Toughbook laptop for playing mp3's and listening to the 100 and 1000 most commonly used English words by feeding them to Fldigi. Also, I've been listening to some recordings I've made, as well as some excellent .mp3 records of qsos created by Chuck Broadwell W5UXH of qso between he and I, plus between him and some of his friends. Listening to these files helps a lot, yet I feel I've probably reached the level where the most benefit to my receiving comes for actual qsos, where I use the code for actual communication with another human being. In addition to big monologue style CW, I've also been doing quite a bit of QSK real conversation via keyboard. This is highly useful in learning to use CW as a language.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>It might be of use to mention the simple setup I use for recording. I have a Y splitter adapter which I plug into one of my rigs' headphone jacks. This gives two female sockets for that port. One goes to my headphones, which I always use for QRQ, and the other side goes to the mic-in (my Toughbook has no line-in) of my laptop. I use Audacity 1.3.13 Beta for recording, and check the box under Edit --> Preferences --> Software Playthrough. This way you can tweak your AF levels and your rig's filter settings while listening to signals live through the recording setup. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>W5UXH uses his K3's line out to record, using a piece of software called Goldwave, if I am remembering correctly. His files sound incredible.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>73 - Brett KI4DBK</p> Thanks Brett !
Congrats to yo…tag:qrqcwnet.ning.com,2011-06-11:1993813:Comment:102232011-06-11T10:55:08.590ZChuck aa0hwhttp://qrqcwnet.ning.com/profile/chase
<p>Thanks Brett !</p>
<p>Congrats to you sir for your hard work and training and its sure good to have you back on QRQ !</p>
<p>also...was wondering how you setup your mp3 player and word lists for vocab training ? </p>
<p>Thanks Brett !</p>
<p>Congrats to you sir for your hard work and training and its sure good to have you back on QRQ !</p>
<p>also...was wondering how you setup your mp3 player and word lists for vocab training ? </p> This is a really great bio Ch…tag:qrqcwnet.ning.com,2011-06-09:1993813:Comment:99292011-06-09T17:48:27.582ZBrett Millerhttp://qrqcwnet.ning.com/profile/BrettMiller
This is a really great bio Chuck, and I believe this is the first time I have seen this! I remember you telling me about Bryan in the past, and it's great to see him here. Fred's right about the hard work, and it's great to be back into QRQ and working on my proficiency and speed. It seems like these days there is a little bit more interest in QRQ cw than there was when I strayed from the hobby back in 2005. This is surely in no small part due to everything you've done to bring about…
This is a really great bio Chuck, and I believe this is the first time I have seen this! I remember you telling me about Bryan in the past, and it's great to see him here. Fred's right about the hard work, and it's great to be back into QRQ and working on my proficiency and speed. It seems like these days there is a little bit more interest in QRQ cw than there was when I strayed from the hobby back in 2005. This is surely in no small part due to everything you've done to bring about solidarity and a sense of community in QRQ. Now there are so many people active on the bands and I've now manage to find 3 skeds a week, plus a fb net to check-in to where I can get QRQ practice, in addition to plenty of practice using the paddle at QRS every day. If I can keep myself listening to vocab word mp3's every night, the recipe will be complete. Thanks for sharing this story Chuck and for all you've done for us! I didn't know Katashi persona…tag:qrqcwnet.ning.com,2008-07-08:1993813:Comment:8432008-07-08T20:49:20.000ZJoehttp://qrqcwnet.ning.com/profile/Joe
I didn't know Katashi personally but worked him routinely during all the major contests. He wrote an article on 'High Speed Code' for Qst in the 1960's. I used it for a reference in an article I wrote for the ARRL webzine titled 'High Speed Code Revisited' that is on the net at<br />
http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2007/10/11/1/?nc=1.<br />
<br />
I was going through my old QSLs a while back and I found an old card written by Katashi's wife letting me know he had passed away. He was a role model and mentor for…
I didn't know Katashi personally but worked him routinely during all the major contests. He wrote an article on 'High Speed Code' for Qst in the 1960's. I used it for a reference in an article I wrote for the ARRL webzine titled 'High Speed Code Revisited' that is on the net at<br />
http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2007/10/11/1/?nc=1.<br />
<br />
I was going through my old QSLs a while back and I found an old card written by Katashi's wife letting me know he had passed away. He was a role model and mentor for generations of hams not just in Hawaii but around the world.