One of my favorite debates to listen to is the "CW versus SSB" debate. It is all over eHam.net and contesting.com and the CQ-Contest reflector and numerous other sources. You might even hear it on the local repeaters. Why does this debate even exist? I suspects it's because hams prone to ragchewing need something to talk about.

This discussion generally takes the form of one ham who proclaims himself a great operator bashing SSB and those who use it. On CQ-Contest a few months back, a few messages were rather venomous when mentioning SSB. Why do people do this? Why waste your breath? Sure, I love CW and prefer it myself over SSB, but I have no problem with going up to SSB and working the rare one for a second mode. If you love CW so much that you refuse to go up to the phone ends, okay that's fine, but I'll just have another country on another mode than you will!

Are phone operators worse than CW operators? To answer this question, we have to actually look at the scenario. New operators use phone, and these days, may never even stray down to the CW ends. CW operators are generally better because you've all been down there forever! I love operating CW, and I love helping new hams learn and use CW...but I don't openly curse SSB.

"Real hams use CW" sounds a lot to me like "real drivers use steam-powered cars;" sure, you're really good at it, but you've probably been doing it since 1863! Let's stop bashing one mode over the other. They each have their pros and cons and especially their stalwarts. Maybe if you "CW ONLY" folks would come promote the mode up on the phone ends, you would stop complaining about decline in CW interest.

When I hear DX, I'm going to work it. If he's in a country I've worked and confirmed a million times, or if he's a new one, I'm going to work him. If he's on phone, cw, RTTY, or otherwise, I'm going to work him. If he's sending 50wpm or 5wpm, I'm going to work him. At the end of the day, I may still prefer CW, but that won't stop me from using as many modes and methods as I can. Phone and CW are both tools...let's use them!