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Becoming a CW Operator in the Internet Era: Why Now? What Resources are Available for Learning Code and Getting Started?

Discover the benefits of learning CW (Morse code) in the internet era, explore available resources for learning and getting started, and hear a personal CW story. Join the KD4UKW 2nd Sunday Tech Session on 14 August 2011.

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Becoming a CW Operator in the Internet Era: Why Now? What Resources are Available for Learning Code and Getting Started?

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  1. BECOMING A CW OP IN THE INTERNET ERA WHY NOW? WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE FOR LEARNING CODE AND GETTING STARTED? KD4UKW 2nd SUNDAY TECH SESSION, 14 AUGUST 2011

  2. DISCLAIMERS This isn’t a scientific presentation. It contains many opinions which you are free to accept or discard. This is your hobby, your expenditure of time, your learning process. Don’t learn CW unless you want to invest a significant amount of time on a daily/weekly basis. Otherwise it’s not worth starting the process. Once you invest some time and learn the ropes, you will have more fun with CW than anything else you have done in amateur radio.  

  3. WHY CW? Much more efficient than SSB (occupies 5% as much bandwidth). A 5w CW signal is as powerful as a 100w SSB signal.  Connects you directly to the heritage of landline telegraphy and wireless communications CW use seems to be growing based on anecdotal evidence More interesting than the semi-automated digital modes like PSK31 CW proficiency is essential if you want to get into homebrewing/kit-building. QRP CW is the perfect way to combine multiple hobbies:  hiking, camping, sailing, aviation, etc. Most of the best and most interesting contests are CW-based.  CW ops are the friendliest and most helpful guys in the hobby. 

  4. WHY CW? (CONTINUED) There are multiple subcultures within the CW community, for example: Traffic handlers Straight-key & bug afficionados Contesters QRPers Backpackers and HFpackers Portable/field ops IOTA/SOTA Homebrewers EME ops (now moving toward JT65 operation, I think)

  5. MY PERSONAL CW STORY I was living in a 1BR condo in East Atlanta, sandwiched by neighboring units, with a strict HOA and a 12’ x 10’ back yard.  I couldn't string wire to the trees across the street due to a small parking lot and dog-walking area... too visible. SSB was inadvisable at high power due to RF exposure, and impossible at low power. It was a real exercise in frustration.  I had to operate portable/mobile or not at all. I don't enjoy PSK31 and similar computer modes. It gradually dawned on me that CW was my only reasonable way to go. I ran a 24 gauge random wire across a window sill, up the back of the condo, and into a window on the top floor where it was taped to the glass. The wire was about 30’ long, with a counterpoise snaking along the fence in the yard. I could make CW contacts with this setup.

  6. HOW TO GET STARTED Most of the resources I have used are free or almost free.  This is one area where the internet has revolutionized things. To learn the code, I relied mainly on www.lcwo.net.  Hosted by Fabian DJ1YFK, this is a free website.  You can create an account which will track your progress and generate statistics about lessons completed, accuracy percentage, etc. The site has several customizable variables such as sidetone pitch, word speed, character speed, etc.  Code is taught using the Koch method. There are 40 lessons, each introducing one or two characters.   The site will generate MP3 files if you want to load practice sessions to your music player to take on the go.

  7. DOWNLOADABLE (FREE) SOFTWARE G4FON trainer (http://www.g4fon.net/CW%20Trainer.htm)

  8. DOWNLOADABLE (FREE) SOFTWARE Just Learn Morse Code (www.justlearnmorsecode.com) Preferred by W4QO over G4FON because of G4FON's issues with character spacing, especially after the letter E.

  9. Before you go on the air, you should practice some Q signs. For a novice op, one of the most important is QRS! NFARL has useful information about learning CW on their website:  http://nfarl.org/sigCW/cw.html The Q sign chart is from  http://www.w0aki.com/QSigns.pdf The chart is somewhat misleading because  Q signs are questions only if you follow them  with a question mark. QSL = I received the information QSL? = Did you receive the information?

  10. KEYS, PADDLES, BUGS... ??? Many ops start with a straight key.  You can go from virtually no cost (tapping bare wires together) to a $300 Begali Blade (www.i2rtf.com).  Most straight keys cost $30-$100.

  11. KEYS, PADDLES, BUGS... ??? For me, the straight key is the way to go initially.  It forces you to learn the correct spacing and character shaping.  It's the best way to develop your fist as a new op.  Paddles and/or bugs can come later.  (Reasonable hams may disagree with this assertion.) With enough practice, you'll develop a musical fist and you'll be ready for faster sending with paddles/bugs. Some people begin with iambic paddles and electronic keyers.  The only "best" method is what works for you. Forget about a bug until you're a good op.  It's difficult to set a bug to send less than 18-20 wpm.  Bugs are best suited for sending at 25 wpm and faster.  And if you're able to tame the bug and send at 20 wpm, other ops will answer you at that speed.... Most modern HF rigs have a CW "practice" mode, so if you have an all-mode rig you probably won't need to purchase or build a  code practice oscillator.

  12. GETTING ON THE AIR Theoretically you can operate CW anywhere, but stick to the band plans if you want to make contacts.   7.114 (the old Novice 40m calling frequency) is a great place to hang out.  Many elmers will make 5 wpm QSOs.  This isn't a time to get fancy with DX and contest work.  Practice every day. Join the Straight Key Century Club (www.skccgroup.com) with 8,250 members and growing.  SKCC contacts are limited to mechanical keying (straight keys, bugs, or sideswipers).  SKCC has two tiers of "upgraded" member numbers (C and T) to recognize more than 100 QSOs with other club members.  There are also club awards like WAS, QRP awards, etc. The K3UK Sked page (chat room) is a fantastic tool, and it will help to minimize your anxiety.  Find a link on the club's website. SKCC was my primary path to becoming a moderately competent op. Contests aren't a primary focus of this presentation, but I will say that I am having a great time with 2-hour QRP sprints.

  13. WHAT DOES A CW QSO LOOK LIKE? There aren't any hard and fast rules, but at a minimum a QSO will usually consist of name, RST report, and QTH. Contests usually have a set format such as RST, QTH, and member number or serial number Ragchews usually start with the basics as above and then branch out. Many ops will end each transmission with BK to indicate the other station's turn.  This is probably poor practice (an error that has crept into usage). QSO's usually end with pleasantries like GL, CUL, 73, TNX, etc.  At the very end you can send SK and two dits.

  14. A TYPICAL SKCC CONTACT: CQ SK CQ SK DE KD4UKW K CQ SK CQ SK DE KD4UKW K KD4UKW DE W1LIC KN W1LIC DE KD4UKW UR 55N 55N = ANDY ANDY IN GA GA = NR 5989C 5989C = HW? BK BK TNX ANDY FER 2ND BAND = UR RST 569 569 = OP WES WES = QTH ME ME = SKCC NR 1142T 1142T = BK BK TU WES = GL IN THE SKS ES CUL = 73 73 W1LIC DE KD4UKW KN TNX ES 73 DE W1LIC SK E E E E This is fairly typical of a short contact, whether in a contest or with a DX station.

  15. CW:  THE GATEWAY TO QRP OPERATION & HOMEBREWING Many homebrew designs are on the web and in ARRL archives. Dozens of QRP kits are available in the marketplace from clubs and commercial vendors. Most kits are CW-only and $35-$400. If you want to melt solder, CW is the mode of choice. There are QRP clubs all over the place, with similar peculiarities:  no officers, no dues, no formal structure.  They live or die on the sustained enthusiasm of their members.    Our local QRP group is NoGa QRP.  I call them "the council of the elders."  Most of those guys have forgotten more than I know about radio, CW, electronics, and homebrew.  www.nogaqrp.org The initiation ritual can leave scars, but they fade with time. Other clubs include NorCal, AmQRP, 4 State QRP, NJ QRP, AZ ScQRPions, & New England QRP. NorCal QRP seems to be exhausted after selling some amazing kits including the 2N2 transceivers with over 300 discrete parts & sophisticated features.  500 units, released in early 2011, sold out in a few days.  Demand is insatiable and the kits are collectors' items.

  16. CW:  THE GATEWAY TO HOMEBREWING & QRP OPERATION The 4 State QRP club has kitted 3 units which together are being called "the 4SQRP triplets":  the NM0S NS-40 transmitter, K8IQY SS-40 receiver, and K8IQY "Magic Box" T/R unit.  http://www.wa0itp.com/4sqrpkitindex.html They also sell the AA0ZZ keyer kit and NM0S "HamCan" minimalist transceiver.  The biggest annual QRP event is FDIM (just before and during Dayton).  Ask N4EWT for more information.

  17. 14 Aug. 2011 message to "HamCan" Yahoo group: Thanks to all 4SQRP, finally I completed my HamCan. Following is my report to complete this minimalist transceiver. Since I faced several difficulties, I hope this will helpful to other builders. Pictures of my HamCan are uploaded to Photo folder. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HamCan/photos/album/0/list (1) Preparing a canHere in Japanese local market, a can matched the board diameter is found only at cat food. My first difficulty is to find a cat eat inside. Feeding neighbor's cat is trouble as well as RF interference. Spending several holidays, finally I met hungry kitty and she agreed to eat inside the Can.  (2) ConstructionConstruction of the HamCan is straight forward. Instruction is clear and perfect. After 3-4 hours work, the board completed.... For this HamCan, Hamster label is printed to attract attention....After completion, I can't believe this small board is a transceiver.  The well known Pixie is regarded as the minimal TRX. But actually it contains dozen of transistors inside LM386.  The HamCan is real two transistors and working good both in TX and RX. Fantastic ! I have not reached QSO yet. This will be additional challenges.  Thank you again to designer Dave, kitting team and all 4S-QRP members.   JL1KRA Junichi Nakajima, Yokohama Japan

  18. CW:  THE GATEWAY TO HOMEBREWING & QRP OPERATION One popular new kit is the Ft. Tuthill 80m sold by AZ ScQRPions ($50 without case/knobs) and the 15m version sold by Hendricks. There are also many commercial kitters such Elecraft, Hendricks Kits, Small Wonder Labs, and QRPme.   Morse Express (www.morsex.com):  keys, paddles, kits, and books Commercial kits range from very simple with a few dozen parts, to hundreds of parts and very slick features. Hendricks PFR3, http://www.qrpkits.com/pfr3.html, $240 Elecraft K1, KX1, K2:  www.elecraft.com  Superb radios!!!  Oak Hills Research, http://www.ohr.com/ Small Wonder Labs (www.smallwonderlabs.com) is a reliable company with good products. W4QO recommends the SW-40 as your first transceiver build, partly because it's so well documented on the web with an "elmer 101 course." http://www.qsl.net/kf4trd/lessons.htm

  19. CW:  THE GATEWAY TO HOMEBREWING & QRP OPERATION American Morse (www.americanmorse.com) has excellent kits at good prices.  The KK1 key is $50 with shipping.  The KK2 paddle is $65.

  20. CW:  THE GATEWAY TO HOMEBREWING & QRP OPERATION Software Defined Radio (SDR) has also made an impact in the QRP community, most famously by Tony Parks with his SoftRock receiver and transceiver kits. These are great kits if you want to play with SMD components at minimal cost.  I don't really see the point of manually soldering SMD kits compared to through-hole parts, but this is just a preference.  Some guys love working with the tiny SMD components.

  21. OTHER CLUBS & LISTS TO CONSIDER FISTS (www.fists.org, $15/year):  promotes CW operation on all bands QRP-ARCI (www.qrparci.org):  sponsor of FIDM;  the club's QRP Quarterly is a respected journal.  Dues are $25/year.  Atlanta local Ken W4DU is the current president.  Norm WA4ZXV ran this year's FIDM.  W4QO is past president. QRP-L (a mailing list):  to subscribe, visit http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/qrp-l SolidCpyCW (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SolidCpyCW/)

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