Steve wrote:
I hope you won't give up on code. It doesn't require a lot of manual
dexterity to send code at a reasonable rate. You might not become a
speed demon sending/copying code at 50 wpm, but who cares? You can
have a ton of fun on the CW portions of the bands.

When I first got my license I had no intention of learning code. I
figured I'd stay mostly on the voice portion of the bands, but my
interests in the hobby kept expanding. Soon I was active in digital
modes like RTTY and PSK-31. Now I spend 99% of my time operating in CW
mode with a paddle and keyer, and it's about a thousand times more
addictive than any other part of the hobby I've encountered thus far.
Well worth the initial investment of time and energy to learn code.


Steve, I want to present a different direction. IMHO he should study for and
take the technician exam as soon as possible. (assuming he is in the US).
Then he should get a 2m HT and get on the local repeaters.

Being on the air is a good way to meet other hams, and find an elmer
(ham lingo for a mentor). Then he can move up in class, branch out into
other things, such as learning morse code, etc.

No matter what method you choose to learn morse code, it's a lot easier and
more fun with someone to help you and communicate with.

I highly recommend Code Quick, by Dr Gerry Wheeler.

http://www.cq2k.com/

Geoff.

--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM
New word I coined 12/13/09, "Sub-Wikipedia" adj, describing knowledge or
understanding, as in he has a sub-wikipedia understanding of the situation.
i.e possessing less facts or information than can be found in the Wikipedia.

On 2010-03-11, Geoffrey S. Mendelson wrote:

Steve, I want to present a different direction. IMHO he should study for and
take the technician exam as soon as possible. (assuming he is in the US).
Then he should get a 2m HT and get on the local repeaters.

Being on the air is a good way to meet other hams, and find an elmer
(ham lingo for a mentor). Then he can move up in class, branch out into
other things, such as learning morse code, etc.

I'm beginning to agree with you, Geoffrey. I'm pretty far out there.
I'm within twenty miles of two small towns (2-4K pop), but 100 miles
from any real metro. So far, I've only located one local club and I'm
not really sure they are hams at all (repeater assn). I'm beginning
to think getting on-line and getting an affordable HT is the way to go,
if only to connect with some radio ppl. There's got to be some hams
somewhere around here. Lot of remote farms and homes, hereabouts.

Apparently, there's one ham near me, but he may be seasonal, this
being mainly a snowbird park. If I get on-line, I'd have a much better
chance of finding an elmer. So, I'm temporarily dismissing the
romantic aspects of ham radio and ordering/joining ARRL. I will go
ahead and build the code oscillator in this general manual. I have
most of the parts and a cheapo key and have downloaded a couple computer
code programs (G4fon, Just Learn Code, etc) and will plug along while
I fast-track the traditional get-a-license approach.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to reply, even if I'm in the
wrong group. It was all good info and much appreciated.

nb