Good to see you back, Kim!

In article , "Kim"
writes:

"Morse code is slower than ALL modes." Hmmmm, that's a rather interesting
observation.

It's also not true.

I think it would have to be determined on when and where. If
there's a CW net in progress and there are not very experienced people, then
it probably would be pretty darned slow--and repetitive.

I agree 100%. But isn't that also true of *any* mode?

How many times in your life have you tried to pass a simple message to someone
over the telephone, and it took 5-10 minutes just to get the person on the
other end (an adult!) to write down your name, phone number, and "please call
me back"? On CW, a couple of ops with decent skills would be done doing that in
15-20 seconds, tops.

However, under dire circumstances when, presumably, a CW net would be
underway with very experienced communicators and would be the fastest, most
efficient method of communication (hands down, no pun intended).

I *sort of* disagree. It depends entirely on the situation.

For once,
this is a thread wherein the real point of CW can be highlighted. CW may or
may not ALWAYS be the "one mode that gets through when no other will." But,
it's hard to argue that CW--if clear and done well--is the fastest and most
efficient mode.

I'm not sure whether you're arguing that CW is or is not the fastest and most
efficient mode, Kim. Perhaps I'm just not getting that last sentence the way
you intended it.

But in any case, I say it depends entirely on the situation. For example:

Suppose you have a number of stations set up with 100 wpm "keyboard modes". But
the operators can only type 10-20 wpm. Then the real speed of that mode is only
10-20 wpm. And if stations don't have printers, "hard copy" via keyboard modes
is no faster than any other mode where writing is involved.

Suppose you have a voice net, and you want to pass traffic that has to be
written down. Even though people allegedly talk 100-200 wpm, in such a
situation the real speed of operation is how fast the receiving ops can write
legibly. Which is typically about 15-30 wpm for untrained folks.

(insert your favorite scenario here)

You can come up with all kinds of scenarios where one mode or another has an
advantage for various reasons. For example:

- You can safely drive and operate voice or CW, but not RTTY-type modes

- RTTY-type modes, with the right equipment, can be set up to deliver multiple
hard copies, to forward via email or other methods, and to relay without much
"handling".

- Voice modes are almost entirely insecure (anybody with a receiver can listen
in and gather information, and people nearby the transmitting operator know
what is being said).

- CW requires the simplest equipment and *usually* the least power for a given
communications capability.

Etc., etc., etc.

73 de Jim, N2EY