QRQ ragchewing in France

[F6EEQ]

Hi all,

I did not post anything since a few years, but I would like to share with you my experience with QRQ.

I started radio long ago. In 1977/78 I was professionally located in San Diego (CA) and was member of the "North Shores RC".

Nice people, and one of them, which call or name I cannot recall, gave me his Vibroplex Bug to try this strange key!

This gave me the CW bug, and when I came back in France, I never stopped making CW.

But I was a slow operator (15/20 wpm).

A few years ago I begun to participate to a daily rather slow (15/20) CW net on 80 meters, and one of the guys there, Gilbert F5AUZ, drove me to make daily QSO in the evening, where we chatted for 40 to 50 minutes.

Easily my speed was increasing to 25/30, enough to allow me to ask for a HSC membership, and I got HSC# 1959.

Not enough, we worked together, and with other CW addicts to increase ou speed. Ric F8GNV, Chris F8DGY, Joel F5VV, Francis F6FLF were my regular correspondents.

Nowadays we have almost twice a day QSO and QRQ training.

We start around 35/40 wpm and we finish after one hour or so rag chewing @ 45/50. 

And end of last year, I became VHSC # 443. No need to say I was very happy about that!

A few words about my practice: I never mastered iambic keying, maybe I did not try hard enough!

So I use regularly single lever paddles Begali HST or Begali Simplex Mono.

Lastly I dug out my old Shurr key which is marvelous, and I use it a lot for QRQ.

As an evidence I use K1EL keyer, which is now 15 years old, and still doing it's job.

I tried Icw, but QRQ is not easy in foreign language. I'd like to train in English or German, but I'm always reluctant to call an OM and not being able to copy what he says.

Unfortunately in France we are only a handful of amateurs able to practice QRQ ragchewing, and we are seen by many as strange beasts, and very very few wish to make the effort to jump in the game and increase really their speed.

So, I hope you were not too bored by my story, and i'm waiting your comments!

Very 73  

Gerard, F6EEQ  

[Thomas MARTIN, DF7TV]

Hello Gerard,

Thank you for sharing the description of your CW career!

Reading it, I have been astonished about similarities between us, concerning the dates and achievements.

Licensed around 1978/1979, CWops in 2020, HSC (25 wpm) in 2021, VHSC (40 wpm) in 2024.

Sometimes in QSOs with Enzo, M0KTZ, we go to and beyond our limits until the amount of garbage becomes unacceptable :)

I am using a straight key (Junker) for up to 20 wpm and a Schurr Profi-2 paddle combined with an old Logikey Model K-5 keyer at higher speeds. I may use a WinKeyer (mode B) for up to 35 wpm. Beyond that speed, I am dependent from the user-friendly (forgiving too early/late closing/opening of contacts), special timing of the K-5 “V0 emulation” == “CMOS Super Keyer timing”.

Gerard, you mention iCW: Even though I like French, my CW in English is better -- we might fix a SKED on iCW (Mumble) and see where it leads us to. We could try French/English/German or a mix of all :)

On RF, I am QRV once/twice per week for some hours from a local club station.

Thanks again!

CU 73

Tom

[F6EEQ]

Hi Tom,
Thanks for answer.

I think we dis some contact on Icw some times ago, and I see your call from time to time on RBN Club.

I'm trying to renew my Icw set up.

I had a small oscillator/filter (do not recall the name), and I would like to go to a full software solution, but I do not know where to start!

Ok for you QSO with M0KTZ, I will try to find you both on RBN Club.

I can make contacts in English up to 30, and in German to 25/30... German is a little more difficult, although I'm fluent reading/writing and speaking!

Here I write English, only by respect for other who may read the post!

See you soon.

Gerard

[Thomas MARTIN, DF7TV]

Hello Gerard,

there are many different software solutions for iCW and I am sure, that you will get some help for a setup, if you ask on the iCW list ( https://groups.google.com/g/i_cw ). Mention your keyer(s), operating system(s), sound card(s)  if you pose a question there. So you will get some recommendations that fit your situation.

GL // bonne chance :)

CU 73

Tom DF7TV