Miscellaneous
Operations:
Reverse Beacon Network
Identify band openings, see if you are getting out, and discover other CW operators on the air.
- For checking propagation at your location, consider sending "CQ RBN CQ RBN VVV VVV DE CALLSIGN CALLSIGN K". Send at any speed, but be sure that your CW is clean, and the characters are properly spaced. Then see where you are heard on the live spots page. On that page, click the "search spot by callsign", put in your callsign, and then click the "search" button. The page will show one or more RBN stations that copy you, and at what signal strength in dB.
NCDXF/IARU International Beacon Project
World-wide beacon network that broadcast on a rotating schedule across 14.100, 18.110, 21.150, 24.930, and 28.200Mhz.
The beacons send at 22wpm followed by four one-second dashes sent at 100, 10, 1, and 0.1 watts. At the end of
each 10 second transmission, the beacon steps to the next higher band and the next beacon in the sequence begins
transmitting.
VOCAP
Free professional HF propagation prediction software from NTIA/ITS, and originally developed for Voice of America (VOA).
Proppy
Web application for HF propagation prediction. Excellent and easy to use!
POTA (Parks on the Air)
Popular option for getting outdoors and on the air. CW is a great option for low power operations!
Check out their dedicated Facebook group.
SOTA (Summits on the Air)
Popular option for hiking summits and getting on the air. CW is frequently used! Check out
their dedicated Facebook group.
WWFF (World Wide Flora & Fauna)
Another popular option for hiking summits and getting on the air. CW is frequently used!
How to Adjust Morse Keys and Paddles
In depth discussion on how to make adjustments
Books:
Compendium of Automatic Morse Code by Ed Goss (N3CW). It is an excellent hardback book with informative text and over 1,100 high-quality photos covering Morse code devices from the early 1800s to today. (The link provided goes to Amazon, but it is available from other retailers.)
Music:
CQ Serenade by Maurice Durieux, VE2QS
This is a delightful song produced sometime between 1965 and 1970. Words and music by the late Maurice Durieux, VE2QS, symphony conductor, arranger, and violinist, VE2BR, Noel Marcil. Vocals by Ms. Joyce Hahn.
Communication by Slim Gaillard
Catchy song calling out CQ (Dah Di Dah Dit, Dah Dah Di Dah).
The Dit Dit Song by Tommy Steele
Whimsical playful song about radio communication.
The Rhythm of the Code - Alpha by Phil Kawa
A catchy and humoruous run down of all the letters, A-Z. It is also available on iTunes.
Essays:
Go with the Flow by Nancy Kott WZ8C (Silent Key) on
Why hams fall in love with CW
Instant Recognition by Nancy Kott WZ8C (Silent Key) on
A Better Method of Building Morse Code Speed
Iambic Keying – Debugging The Myth by Marshall Emm (N1FN)
Iambic or "squeeze" keying is one of the "Great Expectations" in CW operations. Good or Bad idea?
All about Squeeze-Keying by Karl Fischer (DJ5IL)
Excellent analysis and in-depth history of different keying modes. Also check out DJ5IL's extensive amateur radio website.
Learning and Using Morse Code by Bob Nellans (K9DE)
Good read with sage advice on avoiding to count dits and dahs
Humor:
FCC to Reinstate Morse Code Test
Delightful April Fool's joke
Morse code versus T9 Texting
Jay Leno set up a runoff between old and new school technology on The Tonight Show
on May 13, 2005. Chip Margelli (K7JA) was at the key, while Ben Cook, the Guinness World record holder for speed text-messaging, sent a text message.
Morse Code opening scene on The Office (US version)
In an opening scene of The Office, Jim and Pam torment Dwight with their newfound skill of sending Morse code. Of course, they aren't actually sending Morse code, but it is a hilarious and delightful pop culture reference.
CW Contest Team
Thinking of the Three Stooges as a contest team is brilliant and really funny!
Social Media and More:
Dit Dit Podcast
Popular podcast focused on Morse code
K9YA Telegraph Newsletter
Free high-quality newsletter that often has CW related articles. Subscribe here.
CW Academy
Official Facebook group for CW Academy
CWOps Members
Facebook group for the members of CWOps
Long Island CW Club
Facebook group. Great opportunity to meet others passionate about Morse code.
Learning CW Code
Facebook group. Great for connecting with others learning Morse code.
CW Morse Code Fans
Perhaps the largest and most active Facebook group focused on Morse code.
Straight Key Users of Morse Code
Facebook group
Open UZ2M Morse Runner Contest
Facebook group with friendly competition. See who can get the highest score in Morse Running in 10 mins.
Clubs:
CWOps
Organization that promotes CW and helps others learn Morse code.
Long Island CW Club Training
Club that offers Morse code classes most days of the week
FISTS
The International Morse Preservation Society
FOC
First Class CW Operator's Club
HSC
Radio Telegraphy High Speed Club - 25wpm
NAQCC
North American QRP CW Club
SKCC
Straight Key Century Club
VHSC / SHSC / EHSC Club
Very High Speed Club - 40wpm
Super High Speed Club - 50wpm
Extremely High Speed Club - 60wpm
Key Manufacturers (Active):
DIY:
ESP32 CW Keyer with BlueTooth Interface
This innovative keyer by EA7HVO features a Bluetooth interface that allows configuration and prerecorded messages to be sent from an Android device. The housing is 3D printed.
3D Printed Twin Paddle Key
The open design and detailed instructions are provided by EA7HVO. The goal was to create an accurate and inexpensive paddle using a 3D printer.
1929 Style Hartley Transmitter
Build a simple one-tube 80 meter CW transmitter designed by WA9WFA. The transmitter can be scaled easily to work on 40 and 160 meters. This project will create a great
opportunity to participate in the Bruce Kelly 1929 QSO Party. (Also, check out this excellent 19min video on what you will hear during the contest and how to improve upon the original design to reduce drift and improve the note of the transmitter.)
Automated Decoding:
Software:
CW Skimmer
Highly sensitive CW decoder that simultaneously decodes ALL CW signals in the receiver passband. There is a free 30-day trial. Afterward, a $75 registration is required.
CW Decoder
Free Windows based CW decoder.
CWGet
Windows based CW decoder. It can also work as narrow-band sound DSP-filter. $35 USD or 30 EUR.
Fldigi
Free and works on nearly any platform. Supports a multitude of digital formats, and it works reasonably well to copy perfectly timed Morse code. Download here.
MRP40
Windows based CW decoder. Works well to decode weak and QRQ (high-speed). 52.50 EURO registration.
Hardware:
MFJ-461
Portable and pocket-sized decoder. Displays last 140 characters. Place next to receiver's speaker.
Historical:
ARRL VE 20 WPM Morse Code Tests:
The Morse code proficiency requirement was removed from the
Amateur Radio Service Part 97 rules on February 23, 2007. Until that time, the Amateur Extra class license required proficiency at 20wpm. Below are tests used to qualify applications.
| Multiple Choice | Fill in the blank |
|---|---|
| 1C-1-91 | 1C-1-91 |
| 1C-2-91 | 1C-2-91 |
| 1C-3-91 | 1C-3-91 |
| 1C-4-91 | 1C-4-91 |
Jean Shepherd 1965 WOR Broadcast:
Listen to this fascinating 40 minute broadcast from 1965 of Jean Shepherd discussing Morse Code, Signal Corps Code School, and Propagation! For context, Jean Shepherd is a famous amateur radio operator and is best known for his role in the film A Christmas Story. This was aired from WOR, an AM radio station that began broadcasting in February 1922. It is one of the oldest radio stations in the United States.
The last radio station:
KPH was the last commercial ship-to-shore maritime radio station in North America. This heartfelt 10-minute documentary covers their last transmission on June 30, 1997, and its return as a historical site several years later.
New Zealand (1939):
This fascinating and short 11-minute, 1939 documentary demonstrates how short-distance telephone, long-distance landline telegraph, and wireless telegraphy allow a simple birthday greeting from parents in rural New Zealand to reach their son traveling aboard the steamship Queen Marry far out to sea.
Radio Hams (1939):
Watch this fun and humorous 10-minute film that provides insight into amateur radio's culture, its simple beginnings with homemade radios in the early 20th century, and how hams play a serious role in responding to emergencies. The video features aircraft using morse code during an emergency.
Research on the learning of RadioTelegraphic Code:
A fascinating research paper on Morse Code from Harvard University released in the Journal of Psychology in July 1943! The outbreak of World Word II created a massive demand for the United States to train men in the use of the International Morse Code, perhaps as many as 10,000 men per month! The problem was that 30 to 60% of men entering radiotelegraphy schools failed to become proficient operators. The author, Donald Taylor, carried out experiments to determine aptitude and ways to shorten the length of time necessary to train men to become proficient with Morse code. The results are fascinating! And some of it goes against commonly held beliefs in the amateur radio community even today!
|
McElroy Chart of Codes and Signals Poster from 1942: Displayed prominently in the upper right is Theodore "Ted" Roosevelt McElroy. He was at first an American Morse wire telegrapher but later a radiotelegrapher. McElroy holds the world's record for copying five minutes of error-free Morse sent at 75.2 words per minute. If you want a poster size print out, download this zipped up PDF. Consider using professional services to print it, such as FedEx or Kinkos. (Note that this originally came from the Internet Archive.) |
Morsum Magnificant Magazine:
Magazine published from 1986 to 2004. There are 89 issues available on the Internet Archive. Personal use is allowed, but copyright is retained for commercial use.
US Army Instruction video from 1966:
This 20-minute training video produced by the United States Army covers the principles and basic technique for good, rhytmic sending of Morse code using a straight key.
History of the Telegraph and Morse Code:
This short essay covers key moments and technologies in the development of the telegraph and Morse code.
Forward Looking:
AI Assisted Decoding
Check out this fascinating experiment by AG1LE to decode Morse code down to -3 dB SNR. Advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning are enabling new approaches to decoding morse code. Perhaps it is a matter of time before machines will perform better than even the most proficient operator at decoding Morse code under challenging conditions.