[Boatanchors] historical question who many running CW compared to the 60s?

[COURYHOUSE at aol.com]

Thanks Glenn!  that is interesting!  Good  to hear  there is interest.  but 
 what  do you attribute an increase to  even when it is not  needed?
Ed#
 
 
In a message dated 11/29/2015 8:39:53 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,  
gzook at yahoo.com writes:

 
Interestingly enough, the number of people  who are now actually learning 
the International Morse code is increasing even  though a working knowledge 
of the code is no longer required.  However,  at least when listening to the 
bands, the actual percentage of operators using  CW, as opposed to using 
SSB, is quite small.  Of course, on one of the  few weekends during the year, 
when there is a major CW contest, like this  weekend, the usage is 
considerable.  But, after 0000Z this evening, the  number of signals dropped to almost 
zero!




Remembering back to the 1960s, if I am  remembering correctly, the actual 
number of CW stations operating, at any 1  time, was considerably more than 
what it is today.




Of course, in those "goode olde dayes",  considering the average wages of 
people, equipment was considerably more  expensive in terms of percentage of 
wages.  Back then, CW equipment was  often barely affordable, by most 
amateur radio operators, AM transmitters were  expensive, and, until at least 
around 1966, SSB equipment was, generally, VERY  expensive.




Of course, low powered AM equipment, like  the Heath DX-40 and DX-60, were 
not that expensive.  But, especially on  80, 40, and 20-meters, after dark, 
when the "big boys" came on, those with the  low powered equipment went to 
CW or stopped operating completely.  Today,  when inflation is taken into 
consideration, and the effective purchasing power  of money is considered, 
equipment is dirt cheap!  One can get, today, a  100-watt SSB, AM, FM, CW HF 
transceiver for quite a bit less than what a  100-watt output AM / CW 
transmitter cost, in equivalent purchasing power, in  the 1960s and that equipment is 
light years ahead in terms of  performance.

 


Glen,  K9STH 




Website:  http://k9sth.net


 
  
____________________________________
 From: "COURYHOUSE at aol.com"  <COURYHOUSE at aol.com>
To: gzook at yahoo.com; bcarling at cfl.rr.com  
Cc:  boatanchors at puck.nether.net; tetrode at googlegroups.com;  
Novice-Rigs at mailman.qth.net
Sent: Sunday, November 29, 2015 8:54  PM
Subject: historical  question who many running CW compared to the 60s?



 
historical question :How many operators are running CW now compared  to the 
60s?  numbers? percentage?   I am curious.
Ed Sharpe Archivist  for SMECC