Polls
(#211-220 February 2017-December 2017)
#220 - When did you make your first CW QSO?
Date: 11/15/17-12/14/17 --- Voters: 39
When? Nr %
Before 1950 0 0%
1950 to 1959 6 15%
1960 to 1969 13 33%
1970 to 1979 5 13%
1980 to 1984 0 0%
1985 to 1989 1 3%
1990 to 1994 6 15%
1995 to 1999 1 3%
2000 to 2004 1 3%
2005 to 2009 3 8%
2010 to 2014 0 0%
2015 0 0%
2016 0 0%
2017 2 5%
Never 1 3%
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Too many choices and not enough votes to really draw any conclusions. It does look like most of us CW ops did get our start in the mode in the 50s, 60s, or 70s with another small peak in the early 90s. I'm not sure what that means or if it can be used by the nay-sayers to say that CW is dying of old age. You decide.
#219 - What is atop your Christmas wish list?
Date: 10/15/17-11/14/17 --- Voters: 34
What? Nr %
I have all I need 22 65%
A new rig 4 12%
A new key bug or paddle 3 9%
A new antenna 2 6%
A new antenna tuner 1 3%
A new shack computer 1 3%
A new operating desk 1 3%
A new keyer 0 0%
A new tower 0 0%
A new location 0 0%
New headphones 0 0%
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Santa is going to have it easy this year according to poll results. I guess it's nice to see the hams who voted in the poll for the most part are not greedy. However there is nothing wrong with wishing for something to update some aspect of your ham radio hobby.
#218 - In which WPM range can you copy CW solidly in your head?
Date: 9/15/17-10/14/17 --- Voters: 49
Which? Nr %
16 to 20 16 33%
11 to 15 6 12%
21 to 25 5 10%
1 to 5 5 10%
36 to 40 3 6%
31 to 35 3 6%
26 to 30 3 6%
6 to 10 3 6%
51 to 60 1 2%
41 to 45 0 0%
46 to 50 0 0%
above 60 0 0%
I can't copy CW at all 4 8%
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Pretty similar to the results the last time I ran pretty much the same poll back in June/July 2014. However there were only 2 who said they couldn't copy CW at all then. I'm not sure what it means other than the level of CW proficiency has remained virtually the same over the past few years, and that's good.
#217 - In which of these varied activities do you regularly participate?
Date: 8/15/17-9/14/17 --- Voters: 36
Which? Nr %
Building Gear 19 53%
Operating Portable 18 50%
NAQCC Events 16 44%
DX Contests 13 36%
State QSO Parties 13 36%
Rag Chewing 13 36%
Attending Hamfests 13 36%
SOTA 5 14%
Skeeter Hunt 5 14%
Awards Chasing 5 14%
IOTA 4 11%
POTA 2 6%
FOBB 2 6%
County Hunting 2 6%
FISTS Events 1 3%
Traffic Nets 1 3%
Spartan Sprint 0 0%
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Very disappointing that FISTS events got only one vote. It's a shame how much interest in FISTS has declined here in the USA since Nancy passed away a few years ago. It's no surprise the Spartan Sprint didn't get any votes. Interest in it has really declined over the past several years since it underwent some major changes. Some of the other activities are very specialized ones and a low number of votes is understandable. I'm glad to see our NAQCC activities near the top.
#216 - Have you read my August 17 QST article on pp 73 74?
Date: 7/15/17-8/14/17 --- Voters: 64
Y/N Nr %
Yes 56 88%
No 8 12%
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Thanks to all of those who read the article and gave me your great positive feedback on it.
#215 - How do you keep a log?
Date: 6/15/17-7/14/17 --- Voters: 55
How Nr %
I log all my QSOs in my computer 36 65%
I log all my QSOs on paper 22 40%
I log only some of my QSOs 3 5%
I don't keep a log at all 0 0%
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Nice to see that only a very small percentage of voters don't keep full logs. I feel that all communications that result in QSOs should be logged. I don't really think it is any longer necessary to log test transmissions or unanswered CQs as we used to have to do when I first became licensed back in the early 1960s. I sure wasted a lot of paper back then. I still keep both paper and computer logs here. Kind of a belt and suspenders situation perhaps, but I have found an error now and then in my computer log, and had to go back to the original paper log for a correction. So it is worthwhile for complete accuracy, and I'm a stickler for that.
#214 - Which of these bands do you use?
Date: 5/15/17-6/14/17 --- Voters: 51
Which Nr %
40 45 88%
20 44 85%
30 35 69%
17 34 67%
15 34 67%
80 33 65%
10 29 57%
12 21 41%
160 14 27%
6 13 25%
60 9 18%
All 4 8%
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I'm very surprised at the low number of voters who use all bands. We have so much spectrum available, it's a shame so few take advantage of as much as they can. I love using all bands and learning just how the propagation conditions are on each of them. I don't use some as much as others, but I do use them all. Of course those who voted for individual bands chose the two big mainstream bands of 40 and 20 as expected. I'm surprised 80 wasn't a bit higher in the voting. All in all some very interesting results. Thanks for voting.
#213 - What did you think of the NPOTA activity last year?
Date: 4/15/17-5/14/17 --- Voters: 34
What Nr %
I casually worked 10 or fewer. 12 35%
I had no interest in the activity. 12 35%
What in the world is NPOTA? 5 15%
I participated by working as many as possible. 3 9%
I participated by activating 4 or fewer NPOTA. 3 9%
I participated by activating 5 or more NPOTA. 0 0%
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With all the hoopla given to the National Parks on the Air activity during 2016, I'm surprised at these results. It's hard to believe the 5 votes for not knowing what it was. By no means did I go all out in the event, but I did work a few parks, and I did activate one of them near Butler, PA.
#212 - How many keys bugs paddles total do you own?
Date: 3/15/17-4/14/17 --- Voters: 43
How Many Nr %
1 6 14%
2 7 16%
3 7 16%
4 6 14%
5 3 7%
6 to 10 7 16%
11 to 15 5 12%
More than 15 2 5%
None 0 0%
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Amazing how close the distribution of votes was. Nothing can really be drawn from the results except it was great to see everyone who voted owns at least one key. I just hope that they are used a lot on the bands.
#211 - Check all keying devices you use.
Date: 2/15/17-3/14/17 --- Voters: 34
Which Nr %
Straight Key 27 79
Paddle Keyer 24 71
Bug 8 24
Computer 7 21
Keyboard 5 15
Sideswiper 3 9
I don't do CW 1 3
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As expected, it was a close choice for #1 between the traditional straight key and the easiest of all to use, a paddle keyer. No surprise the sideswiper is the least popular. Thanks for casting your votes. I always appreciate those who participate in these polls. The more of you who vote, the more meaningful they are.
