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What ho chaps -
CW is fine if we get the levels needed to actually hear and decode - I for one still use it commercially, and probably on the declining numbers of "units" still using it on a day to day basis at "work". I have to use it as my partners often dont speak English and luckily the Q code and CW shorthand cuts that issue - though my global client list is getting shorter and shorter :-)
But it does have limitations on my ham side; the CW receptions of stations on 137 is 1 and 3 on on 500 - so pretty restrictive
Visual and other data modes make it possible. Thats all. Thats if the basic QSO was the only goal - which in my case it isnt. Like you ever dB matters beit erp or s/n
If I was sitting in the middle of Europe I would probably be singing a different song.
Horses for courses and CW is just one of the modes in my tool kit
The high geomag and physical latitude and closeness to the Pole means we have severe LF MF attenuation a lot of the time - for instance there can be times when DCF39 at night can be (rarely) 9+ and a geostorm (mid lat K=4 !) or the solar wind kicks up with the wrong Bz component, Proton count comes up from 0, Butterlfly flaps its wings in Leeds - and then I cant see it at all Argo 120 secs, thats a lot of dBs - it means that in 10 years of LF operation off and on that Ive heard just one or two Dx signals strong enough to probably conduct a CW qso.
Even with data modes openings are rare, but no so much and its that that makes it worthwhile or Id be listening to static for the most part over the last ten years....and be deafer than I am now.
ps The TS850 is now GPS locked and able to transmit voice/data (no CW or AM) on 500 and 137KHz directly out of the IF port :-) - now to frig HRD and TRX to get it transmit via CAT below 1.6MHz....
Laurence KL1 X (2AZT) WE2XPQ Palmer Wasilla Alaska
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