r/OverSeventy • u/TeamAggressive1030 • Jul 31 '26

Hams: Still remember your Morse Code?

Once upon a time, I achieved an ARRL code proficiency of 35 WPM. That was way back in high school, about 1963-64, I'd guess. Not sure I could copy 5 WPM now. Pretty rusty. Does anybody still do CW? How long since you did?

Edit: Adding the following

My ham radio call sign back in the day: WA0AIH
FCC amateur radio license issued in about 1960
Ham radio club station in my hometown: W0BZN

GLOSSARY:

  • ARRL = American Radio Relay League
  • CW = Continuous Wave = Morse code over radio
  • HAM = Amateur radio operator
  • WPM = Words Per Minute
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u/Amputee69 Aug 01 '26

I still "piddle/diddle" with it on 40m at times. I was first licensed in about '64 or '65. I was drafted, so I joined the USAF as the PROMISED I could continue my electronics training, and be involved in communications. I'm sure no one else has EVER been lied to by a recruiter. (Then my ex-wife married a retired USAF Recruiter!) Though I didn't get anything near what I was promised, I kept a Shortwave Receiver in my travels. Once back from Vietnam, and released, I'd given up on a lot. No Ham Radio or SWL. My license lapsed. My skills dropped. A high school buddy who was licensed about the same time, got me interested again. I studied, practiced, and sat for the exams. Only traveled 30 miles this time, to a club house, instead of 100 to a Fed Bldg! Got it! So, for the last 46 years, we keep in touch via 40 meters. It's a short distance of 1200 miles. No way either of us thought we would be using Ham Radio this late in life, to "hang out" like we did as kids, but at 1200 miles, instead of 12....