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    The CW Geek's Guide to Having Fun with Morse Code
    The CW Geek's Guide to Having Fun with Morse Code
    The CW Geek's Guide to Having Fun with Morse Code
    Ebook58 pages49 minutes

    The CW Geek's Guide to Having Fun with Morse Code

    By Dan Romanchik KB6NU

    ()

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    About this ebook

    The CW Geek's Guide to Having Fun with Morse Code is full of practical information that will help ham radio operators have fun learning and using Morse Code. Chapters include:

    * Learning the Code. This chapter gives advice on how to learn the code, including recommendations for programs and websites that you can use for free.

    * Getting on the Air. This chapter describes, in my "no nonsense" style how to tune in CW signals, how to make contact, and then what to do once you have made contact.

    * Choosing a Key. This chapter describes the different types of keys available and how to choose the one that's right for you.
    * Keyers. This chapter describes the different types of keyers and how to connect them to your radio.

    * References and Resources. This section includes information on Q-signals, RST signal reporting, abbreviations, CW clubs, and other resources that will be useful for amateur radio operators.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDan Romanchik KB6NU
    Release dateAug 23, 2019
    ISBN9781393575368
    The CW Geek's Guide to Having Fun with Morse Code

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      Book preview

      The CW Geek's Guide to Having Fun with Morse Code - Dan Romanchik KB6NU

      Introduction

      I got my Novice license way back in 1971, at the age of 16. Back then, Novices were restricted to operating Morse Code on small portions of 80m, 40m, 15m, and 10m. In addition, you had to upgrade within a year or lose your license. That meant either settling for a Technician Class license, or biting the bullet and passing the 13 word-per-minute (wpm) General Class code test.

      Fortunately, I enjoyed operating Morse Code and I was more than ready for the 13 wpm by the time that I'd learned enough theory to pass the written test. I took the bus down to the Federal Building in Detroit, easily passed the code test, and took the written test.

      Then, the waiting began. In those days, they didn't tell you right away if you passed the test or not. You had to wait several weeks before you got a letter from the FCC with either your new license or a letter informing you that you didn't pass.

      I was pretty confident that I would pass, so I'd purchased and built a Heathkit HW-101. This was one of the least expensive HF transceivers on the market at the time, costing $250 for the kit. It was capable of operating both single-sideband (SSB) phone and CW (Morse Code) on the 80m, 40m, 20m, 15m, and 10m bands. There were no WARC bands in 1972!

      Why is it called CW?

      Quite often you'll hear the term CW when referring to Morse Code operation. CW is the abbreviation for continuous wave, and refers to the mode of transmission, rather than the type of modulation (Morse Code) used to transmit information. The Random House Dictionary defines the term continuous wave as an electromagnetic wave of constant amplitude and frequency. In a way, calling radiotelegraphy CW is a misnomer because the continuous wave is continually interrupted to form the dits and dahs of Morse Code, but hey, they didn't ask me when they started calling it CW.

      So, when my license arrived, I was ready to operate some phone. To be honest, I don't really remember my first phone contact, but after a few SSB contacts (or QSOs), I recall thinking, Is that all there is? The reality of finally being able to talk on the radio certainly did not live up to my expectations. I unplugged the microphone, connected up the key, and got back on Morse Code.

      I operated only sporadically through the rest of my high school years and my college years, and after college, I was off the air for many years. About twelve years ago, though, the ham radio bug hit me again.

      On Field Day 2001, I wandered over to the local club's operation early Sunday Morning. There were only two guys there, one operating CW on 40m and the other guy eating breakfast. I knew the second guy from the bike club, so we got to talking.

      He had been trying to make some contacts on 20m phone, but apparently the band conditions were pretty rough that morning, and he wasn't having much luck. Despite not being on the air for a long time, I suggested we try CW. He said that thought he'd seen a straight key around somewhere, and after digging through a couple of boxes, he actually did find one.

      It didn't, of course, take long to find someone calling CQ FD short for CQ Field Day. Both of us were so rusty, though, that it took a couple of tries at copying his call before we both agreed on his call sign. At that point, I said, Go ahead. You can make the first contact. At that, he demurred, and

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