from April 1994 Scuttlebutt - Dits and Dahs by N4UAU HISTORY.TXT CW NET - A HISTORY The WRCC CW Net had its Genesis in July 1987 at the island of Grenada, where Bob Gebeaux KA3OCS, and Dick Karr N4NQE, both Waterway Netters, started up and ran a small CW net in the Novice band to help new hams have fun and improve their code. A couple of years later, in the winter of 1989-90, Bob was in Marsh Harbor, and he suggested that I join him in starting up the CW net again. We did, and a number of WW Net members began to check in. At this time it was primarily a slow net for new novices. By the spring of 1990, Bob had sailed far to the south and out of the usable 40 meter range. At a Marsh Harbor ham luncheon a group consisting of ND7K, K1PT, KA1RRT and myself were kicking the idea around and we agreed that a lot of people might be interested in a faster net. Since people active in the WW Net had General tickets or better, we decided to try working in the range of 13 to 20 words per minute. Thus was born the concept of running both fast and slow nets. After trying various scheduling schemes, we adopted the present one with a slow net on Mon, Wed and Fri, and a fast net Tues, Thurs, Sat and Sunday. Both run from 0700 to 0745, just before the SSB net. Since most of our participants are W W Netters, we proposed to the club that we become an associated net. The WRCC officers agreed, and here we are! Liaison is maintained with the SSB net, but the CW net is autonomous. I've retired from the active management. Karen Whall N4YGP is our Coordinator and Net Manager for 1994. The net's purpose is to help boating hams and have fun with CW. For those familiar with traffic nets, our format is much less formal. The CW net has grown in both numbers and activity. It's rare to have fewer than 10 check-ins a day. With the long skip on 40 meters early in the morning, a new informal net has begun on 80 meters (3717 KHz) from around 0630 until the official net time. The shorter skip on this band gives S9 conditions all around Florida... We invite you to come join us on either band. Net Control starts the official net at 0700, on 7050* kHz. We have a lot of fun, and it's a great way to improve your code skills. ... And don't forget that CW has practical advantages for boaters. You can get your traffic through with low power, and you can get through when you can't do it on single sideband. Sam Ulbing N4UAU, Net Manager 1990-93 * this frequency 7050 adopted 1998. ND7K has CW Net Rosters with info. NOTE: Net Managers subsequent to this article: 1995 Bob W9GXT; 1996 & 1997 Chuck ND7K; 1998 Ed AD4FJ; 1999 Van W8NQI. Manager is the only net officer. Elections are held about November for the next calendar year. There are no dues. Membership is established by regular QNIs during the past year or so. For more info via email write nd7k@amsat.org or see CW Net page at: www.jstorm.com/wrcc . WW CW NET - A SHORT HISTORY - by ND7K In 1990 Bob KA3OCS ran a morning 40 meter slow CW net in the Bahamas. Bob left the Bahamas for the Caribbean. In April and May 1990 Sam N4UAU, Chuck ND7K and Paul K1PT were all cruising in the Abacos. Howard N4OCC on Contessa organized ham-boaters' steak lunches at Marsh Harbor Marina. At one of these lunches Sam N4UAU got a group of CW enthusiasts to sit together and talk about starting a faster CW net, including Paul, Chuck and others. The need for net control stations, Q-signs and net organization were agreed. There were conversations before and after that (order forgotten) but name, frequency, time and manager were established as follows: Waterway CW Net; 7126 Khz 06:30 Eastern; Sam N4UAU Net Manager. At first the schedule was 6:30 to 7:00 at 20 to 25 wpm and then slowed down to 13 wpm 7:00 to the end, about 7:40. Some times the wpm was not that slow, which was (and still is) a regular Bull Session topic. "Bull Sessions" were SSB and held in Dec 92, Feb 93, Jan 96, and others. This input resulted in a new sked: 7:00 Monday Wednesday Friday slow, other days fast; started Feb 20, 93 and is still going. Gradually 7126 changed to 7128 KHZ because of interference. Nov 16, 1998 freq changed to 7050 because SSB QRM and new license changes. We still QSY for QRM. The 80 meter 06:30 informal sked, suggested by ND7K, also started Feb '93 and grew. It is most active during wintertime. (All times local Eastern.) Sam N4UAU sent out the first roster "WW CW NET CHECKINS" dated 7 Mar 91. There were 60 call signs including ones still familiar like W9GXT, N3GYU (now KE3VA), KC4HCH, ND7K, KA3OCS, K1PT, KA3QMM, KD3UL, AA4YW and AF1Z. Sam's next roster dated 25 Oct 91 listed 97 call signs including KN4ET, WD4IDG and WA5KMA. Net files now have more than 12 different "rosters" from four members with over 200 different call signs. In 1994 Kitty KD3UL sent out questionnaires and assembled the "CW Net Scrapbook" with info and pictures about net members. ND7K has this book and is adding QSL cards. Members also met 1995,6 & 7 at the annual Pig Roast, and at the 1998 Beer bash and in 1999 at Wickham park. WW CW Net elections appear informal, but they are democratic. Nov 1993 Sam N4UAU announced Karen N4YGP the Net Manager after first canvassing the active members. Then each year a member was appointed by the Net Manager to take nominations and count votes, including WD4IDG, W9GXT and N4UAU. The results have always been available December 1 to get into the next WRCC Roster. The CW Net has no by-laws, no dues and one officer, Net Manager. Members are active check ins, QNI's in the past year +or-. Manager appoints NCS's, sees to Scuttlebutt articles and appoints a nomination taker for next election. Mile markers for the WW CW Net history follow. April-May 1990 - Marsh Harbor, agree on net name, sked & manager. Sam N4UAU was unanimously chosen as Net Manager. January 1992 - First WW CW Net article in Scuttlebutt and CW Net listed in WRCC Roster as "associated" net. February 20, 1993 - Start Monday Wednesday Friday slow days 7:00 40 meters and 6:30 80 meter informal sked (Eastern time). November 1993 - First election, Karen N4YGP (NP3F) new Net Manager. November 1994 - Bob W9GXT elected Net Manager. November 1995&1996- Chuck ND7K elected Net Manager. January 1996 - Start CW Net News Letter November 1997 - Ed AD4FJ elected Net Manager, who starts email list. November 1998 - Van W8NQI elected Net Manager. Freq changed to 7050. November 1999 - Gene K5GP elected Net Manager. Friday straight key. ND7K checked logs, articles etc., to write this history of the WW CW Net.