Speaker

November 22, 2022: Jim Marr AA6QI: CW — The Why and the How

 

PLEASE NOTE: Because our in-person meeting location is unavailable, this presentation will be webcast on the internet. See the IMPORTANT NOTE at the top of this page.

CW is the only mode that is allowed everywhere on all amateur bands and one that you probably want as a tool in your communications toolbox.  This talk will provide a broad overview of the many aspects of CW.  Topics discussed include (among others): the history of CW; why it is still relevant; why you might want to have the ability to use it; some of the best tools to help you master CW quickly; how CW compares with other ham radio modes in its ability to enable communication; and where CW is most actively used on ham bands today.

Jim Marr AA6QI has been licensed since 1964 (formerly WN6LOA, then WB6LOA), upgrading to Extra Class in 1989 (when 20 wpm CW was still required).  While fairly inactive during much of his working career, he is actively enjoying the hobby again since his retirement in 2015. Jim has a BS in Engineering and Applied Sciences, and an MS in mechanical Engineering from Caltech. He spent seven years with the U.S. Navy operating submarine nuclear propulsion systems, and four years with Tetra Tech, Inc., leading their Marine Systems and Services Department. He was with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory for 31 years, mostly in line and project management. A most significant experience was leading the team that reprogrammed the Galileo Jupiter Mission spacecraft while in flight to Jupiter,  simultaneously redesigning NASA’s Deep Space Network to support Galileo at Jupiter using its S-band 7 dBi low gain antenna after its X-band 43 dBi high-gain antenna failed to deploy.