I can tell you about my story: I’m so glad I decided to step into CW activation!
It’s been a long time since I started practicing, off the bands, sending with my brain at home, sending car plates while driving, and in the last months following a CW training course that our dear friend EA2LU (and sometimes EA2BD too) is doing here locally on VHF, with a lot of patience.
Then, one day I felt brave enough and went to activate one summit on CW starting with a “PSE QRS” message.
The nervousness, some band noise in the background, some pile-up, the unconfort trying to sit on the ground holding the rig, the logbook, the pencil, the key and the mobile phone for the spots… Everything at the same time!!
Chasers do have patience; they repeat and repeat their calls and reduce their speed.
Sometimes the noise or QSB makes you doubtful: was that last beep the end of a “B” or was that a “6”?
I sometimes feel frustrated having to ask them AGN once more…
Some chasers are impatient, they send only twice and when they see my unexpertise they simply dissapear.
They lose my points and I keep sending alone: AGN? AGN?
Some chasers adapt to the situation; they wait, reduce their speed and send spacing well the characters for me to understand easily.
What a joy to get their call completed straight!
Then it’s time to send XX0XX GA TNX UR 559 BK, I do it more or less fluently, I receive the exchange and we say goodbye and 73.
When I finish and observe my book, full of marks and corrections, I enjoy the view from the summit. I feel really relaxed and satisfied. Next time I’ll do it better!
Thanks to the chasers for their patience, that way I’ll improve.
I’m glad I stepped into CW!
73 es CU de Santi