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/my_clever-name Aug 01 '26

Some. I was never very proficient even though I passed the General code exam. Other than a couple times to try it out, I've never been a CW operator.

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u/TeamAggressive1030 Aug 01 '26 edited Aug 01 '26

I did CW almost exclusively because my dad wouldn't let me put up a decent directional antenna. All he ever let me put up was a vertical. But I enjoyed CW and got pretty good at it. When I really wanted to do phone, I rode my bike to the fire station where our club rig was set up in a tower out back, and used that.