Session 25, August 23 with Recording. Final Session

Final Class session.

My efforts to help you will continue.  From this point forward my assistance will take the form of Elmering and Tutoring.

IMPORTANT:

I am counting on each of you to get in touch with me when you need help.  I am not psychic.  I won't know you are struggling, have questions, or need assistance if you do not tell me.  You know how to get ahold of me.

learnmorsekc@gmail.com
145.17MHz Raytown Repeater
145.13MHz Shrine Repeater


We will work out what makes sense to deal with the situation you find yourself.



FINAL EXAM!

The final exam for this course is to get on HF, and make a contact.  Show me a QSL card you receive.  If you do that, you pass the course!

The test is open book in that you can use whatever notes and cheat sheets you want to.





For anyone that sends me a scan or a photo of a QSL card from a contact they make and if they grant me permission, I would love to create a blog post with a gallery of student's first few CW contacts. 



All the material required for you to get on the air and make contacts has been covered.  You know what you need to know.

If you are not already on the air, the only limiting factors preventing you from getting on the air are building up sufficient speed and confidence such that you are willing to be courageous and do it, and in some cases building an HF station to use.

Beware of your own desire for perfection.

Working to constantly improve your speed, accuracy, and skill is a great attitude, but do not allow that attitude to develop into an unhealthy expectation of perfection.  None of us will ever be perfect.  We all will always have areas where we can improve.


Your goal should be to get on the air.  You are the one that will decide when and where that happens.  You are the one that will decide who might be on hand to assist you, if anyone.  Once you get on the air, making contacts will become the best practice ever to improve your skills.



I have enjoyed teaching this course.  I hope everyone found it useful.

THANK YOU


WDØERU, David Schulman
WØAIB, Larry Staples

KØGQ, Raytown Amateur Radio Club

WØTBL, Tucker Livingston

WØFEN, Robin Cross

KØCOY, Michael Boyce

ABØO, John Ford

WØAO, Bob Kimbrell

KDØVXN, Chuck Chamberlain

NØGSG, Tom Wheeler

JJ1NJM, JD Batchelor

KØDMT, Travis Wilson

KEØVVT, Caleb Herbert

WØCCJ, Pete Jackson




Samuel F. B. Morse
He played a rather huge role in making this course happen too.


Most of all, Thank You to the students.   You are the reason this course was held.   The world is now literally at your fingertips waiting for you to make contact.

For those of you who stuck with it and saw the process to the end, Your persistence and perseverance is paying off.  WELL DONE!  Now go finish the job.  You worked hard to get to this point.  It's time to reward yourself by getting on the air.  GO FOR IT!


Session 25, August 23 Recording





Mark
NRØR

Morse Code in movies, television, and CARTOONS!

Yes, you read that subject line right.

Morse Code slips into a great many movies, television shows, and cartoons.
Part of the fun of being a CW operator is being able to copy morse code inside these entertaining media.

Often times, the morse code is some random pseudo pattern of dots and dashes obviously sent by someone without a clue how to send real morse code.

Sometimes the morse code is a random set of morse characters that have no meaning at all.

Sometimes the code is a word or two that seems to fit with the plot of the show.

Once in a while, you'll discover a hidden special message.  Those times are a special treat.  You'll know something about that show that most people won't have a clue about.

Challenge:

Watch the following cartoon.
There is morse code in this cartoon.
Copy it!

Your kids/grandkids may enjoy watching with you.

You may need to rewind and play it back many times to piece the entire message together, but that's okay.  Being able to use repeats to piece together morse code that is too fast for you is an important skill to learn.

Try.
Once you copy the morse code message, some of you may want to try to do what the morse code instructs to see if it will still work?  If you do, let me know how it turns out.

In any case, Enjoy!

Mark,
NRØR

Session 24, August 21 with Recording

Contesting is a big part of Amateur Radio.

Some operators love contesting.  Others shy away.
Whether you are into competing and building up a score is up to you.

The important part to understand is that for a new CW operator, contests are an opportunity to make contacts, whether you wish to enter your logs to be scored as part of the contest or not.

Contests are also a fantastic opportunity to test yourself.  Some of the best CW operators in the world will work contests, especially the big DX contests in the fall and winter months.

Nobody in this class is among the best in the world yet, and that includes me, but that doesn't mean any one of us cannot make contact with the best.  The best contesters want as many contacts at they can get, and that means they want to talk to you.


The trick is learning how to make contact with very fast stations, even though you would not normally be able to keep up with them.

The secret to working a contester that is faster than you is to take advantage of the many repeats a contester makes while working many stations one after another.  It gives you the opportunity to gradually piece together their callsign and their contesting exchange a character or two at a time with each consecutive contact they make.  Only after you already know most of what the other station is going to send do you make your first transmission and attempt to contact them.

It is this tactic that we attempted to simulate tonight.  I intentionally ramped up the speed beyond your current abilities to give you the opportunity to try to piece together the callsign I was operating under and the rest of my information.

Don't get frustrated.  This is an opportunity to learn.  Fighting through contacts like these are a very valuable training technique that will help you dramatically increase your speed.  At first you won't copy much, but as you listen to multiple CQs you'll learn how to copy a character or two each pass.  Gradually you'll figure out the callsign of the faster station.  The first few times you attempt this, it may seem impossible.  DON'T GIVE UP.    Listening to multiple contacts being made at a fast speed is a valuable opportunity.  Don't ignore the opportunity.  Take advantage of it.



Session 24, August 21 Recording




Mark,
NRØR

After Session 23 HF listening. with Recording.

After class on Monday, Aug 19 we did a few minutes of HF listening.

Here is a recording of the signals on 40m. 
Somewhere around 7.056MHz if I recall correctly.  I forgot to log the exact frequency.



After you have listened and copied the signals from this recording, scroll down to get the text that I copied of the above signals.































WT

BACK ON FEB. THIS YEAR BT CHECK OUT THE SKCC CLUB.  SKCC CLUB.  ACT IVE CW GROUP BT IJOINED THIS CP BT THE Y9WEB.  THE Y KEEP C.W. ALIVE ORICK BK WB4HNL DE KE5JP KN

RR DE WB4HNL BT GOT MOST OF THAT FRANK BUT IM RUSTY AND ITS GETTING LATE FOR ME BT BT UR SIG HAEE GOT EN STRONGER ES NOW S9 PLUS BT ID BETTER SAY GN FRANK B ENJOYED THE QSO ES WILL CHECK THE SKCK BT 73 73 AR KE5JP DE WB4HNL SK

RR DE KE5JP UR FIST IS FB FB FE  CHELK OUT SKCC CLUB.  SKCC BT CLUB.  ON THE WEB TNX FER QSO ES 73 73 GOD BLESS WB4HNL DE KE5JP K



Keep practicing.
Keep improving.
Don't get discouraged. 

You each have come a very very long way in 6 weeks.
You are on the verge of getting on the air, and it won't be long before you are able to copy faster code with most stations on the air.  IF YOU KEEP PRACTICING.


Mark,
NRØR

Session 23, August 19

Great Class.

I love it when STUDENTS bring questions and issues to class.

Keep jotting down questions as you practice.  Keep making notes of any issues you are having.  Bring them up during the next class, and we will address them.  



Links discussed during this class:

Straight Key Century Club:
https://skccgroup.com/


SKCC Schedule page:
https://sked.skccgroup.com/


WA7BNM's Contest Calendar website.
Great place to look up what contests are going on.
https://www.contestcalendar.com/


Kansas QSO Party website:
http://www.ksqsoparty.org/



I will try to make some time available this weekend during the KS QSO party.  The intent is to be available on the 145.17 Raytown repeater to work with anyone that may be trying to make a few contacts during this weekend's contest.  No promises  that I will actually have the time, but I will try.  I should know more about if/when I will be available by Friday's class.

Whether I am available on the repeater or not, I suggest anyone that is trying to make contacts during the contest to mention their efforts on the repeater to see if anyone else is trying as well.  It can be great fun to work together trying to chase down contacts and comparing notes.  If you do work together, and if you submit your log to be scored as part of the contest, just be certain you do not submit your entry in the "unassisted" category. 

160m, 80m, and 40m will be your best bets on HF to make contacts during that contest, if you have antennas up for any of those bands.


One good way for a new CW operator to make contacts is to make them during a contest.  The format of Contesting QSOs is very structured and predictable, which can make it easier.  Contacts tend to be very short and simple.

For a new CW operator trying to make contacts during a contest, it's best to begin by seeking out stations calling CQ instead of calling CQ yourself.  As your CQ skills grow and develop, you will find that you can usually make more QSOs and make them faster by calling CQ, but it takes time to hone your skills such that you are able to call CQ and make QSOs smoothly.  Give yourself the time to learn how contesting works before trying to call CQ.  The best education is to make plenty of Search and Pounce contacts (S&P is when you are answering other stations calling CQ.)

• Tune around and find a station calling CQ Test, or in the case of this weekend's Kansas QSO party (aka KSQP), many stations will be calling CQ KS, or perhaps CQ KSQP.
• LISTEN.  
• Listen to a CQing station make a contact or two.  Copy both sides of the conversation.  Learn the callsign of the CQing station, as well as their exchange, for the KSQP they will be exchanging Callsigns, RST, and Location.  Without a single transmission, you should be able to copy a station's Callsign and their Location by listening to them make contacts with other stations.  That will reduce the amount of information you will need to copy under the pressure of a live conversation.
• Attempt to make contact.
• Listen for the CQing station to send a CQ, or for them to transmit QRZ
• Transmit your callsign only, then listen CAREFULLY.
• Listen for the CQing station to send your callsign CORRECTLY.  They may also send your RST report and QTH at this time.  Pay particular attention to the RST numbers because that is the one piece of information you won't be able to copy in advance of trying to make contact.
• If the station transmits someone else's callsign, be patient.  Wait for that contact to be completed, and try again the next time they call CQ or QRZ.
• If the station transmits part of your callsign, but misses part of it, or gets part of your callsign incorrect, transmit your callsign only again, and listen again.  Repeat this process as many times as is necessary for the other station to transmit your callsign back to you ACCURATELY, or until the other station responds to someone else.  Remember, it is the persistent operator that will succeed.
• Once the station repeats your callsign CORRECTLY, only then should you transmit your exchange information.  Remember, the moment you transmit your exchange information, you are effectively telling the other station that they have copied your callsign correctly, and they will very likely no longer be paying attention to what you send for your callsign!
• For KSQP, give them an RST report and your location (either the county in KS you are located, or the state you are located if you are not in KS)  You do not need to include callsigns at this point, just stick to the exchange only.
• For example, "599 MO   599 MO  KN"
  or perhaps "5NN JOHNSON   5NN JOHNSON KN"
• After transmitting your exchange information listen carefully again.  The other station may ask you for a repeat.  During a contest that could be as simple as the other station transmitting, "AGN?"  or sometimes a simple "?"  or sometimes they may be more specific and send "RST?", "SIGS?" or "QTH?" or "ST?" or "Cty?" where they are asking for you to repeat RST, QTH, the State, or County you live in.  "SIGS?" is rarely used, but it is a request for another Signal Report, which you should respond with a repeat of the RST.
• Only repeat the exchange information if they ask for it.  If you do repeat it, go ahead and send it at least twice.  
• Remember that the other station may NOT ask for a repeat, and may simply skip forward and send you his/her exchange information for you to copy.
•  At this point, you should have copied the other stations location before you ever started transmitting, so your primary focus will be to copy the RST report the other station is giving your signal.  It will usually be 599 or 5NN.  However, DO NOT ASSUME.  Copy what they send to be certain.
• If you need them to repeat it, just send "AGN?"
• Once you have copied their exchange, transmit, "TU" 
• The other station may respond with a TU or with a {shave and a haircut} or just with {two bits}
• You can respond with your own {two bits}
• Congratulations, you just made a CW contest QSO.
• Tune around and find another station calling CQ TEST, CQ KS, or CQ KSQP and try again.

Remember, not every contest during the year will be like KSQP.  Different contests will exchange different information.  Look them up in the Contest Calendar to verify what information is being exchanged.  Listen to stations make contacts to learn how they are exchanging that information.  Follow the patterns.

Don't expect every contact to be successful.

Some stations won't hear you.  Try to contact them several times, and if you can't get through, tune around and try some other stations, and come back to the station that couldn't hear you later, perhaps propagation will improve, or perhaps the pileup of other stations will be smaller.

Some QSOs will fall apart half way through.  Sometimes propagation shifts such that one station or the other will no longer be able to hear the other.  Sometimes QRM will make a station uncopyable.  Sometimes QSB will get worse.  If a QSO falls apart, just move on and try to work someone else.  Maybe you'll get a chance to work that station again later.

You may be surprised at how many stations you will be able to work, including stations transmitting very fast morse code.  If you are patient and listen to them make enough QSOs before trying to work them, your current code skill is probably more than sufficient to copy stations at 25 wpm, as long as you hear them repeat the information several times.  Even if you cannot copy a long rag chew QSO at 10wpm, you may be able to make contest QSOs at 25wpm because the information is repeated so much.  There will likely be very few stations in the KSQP that you will not be able to work if you are patient enough to listen to them make several contacts and piece together all of their information before you initiate a transmission to them.

That said, you should try to work slower stations first, and then muster your courage to start working on the faster ones.  Don't be afraid to listen to someone make 10 or 15 contacts as you try to figure out their callsign and location before trying to contact them.

It is not a requirement, but if you want to, please feel free to record some of your contacts and email me an mp3 file.  I will be happy to publish some actual QSOs on learnmorsekc.blogspot.com




HAVE FUN!!!



Sorry, no recording was made of Session 23.


Mark
NRØR

Session 22, August 16 with Recording

Friday Fun Night


Tonight's Special Guest was my brother!

Earl shared the story of his first ham radio contact.
Thanks big brother.

Tonight was also Friday Fun Night.
Back by popular request, Morse Code Bingo.


If you are listening to the recording and wish to play along,
Choose 2 bingo cards from:

Click Here: KC Landmarks & BBQ Bingo Cards



Session 22, August 16 Recording



See everyone Monday,

Mark,
NRØR

Bingo Cards for Session 22

Greetings,

Use the link below to get your LearnMorseKC Bingo Cards.

This week, please pick 2 cards to play, but choose a 3rd card as an alternate.  Have all three printed off ready to play at 7pm.  If two players choose the same card(s) I will offer them the opportunity to swap in an alternate card if they choose to.

During waterfall check-in please give your callsign, plus the two card numbers you have chosen to play.


As before it would be a good idea to have 35 or so small objects to use as game pieces to cover bingo squares.  Use whatever you have laying around.  Maybe you have spare 7805 voltage regulators, or 7474 flip flop chips, or RJ45 microphone connectors (everyone has 35 broken ones right?), or pop caps (remember metal pop caps?), or unground coffee beans, or dry pinto beans, or dry lentils, or peppermint candies, or unpopped popcorn kernels, or popped popcorn kernels if you have the willpower to avoid eating your game pieces before the game is over.  Feel free to substitute other objects of your choosing that you have laying around for game pieces.

Click Here: LearnMorseKC Bingo Cards
KC Landmarks and BBQ series

Let's have fun tonight. 
7pm   145.17 Raytown Repeater

Mark
NRØR

Session 21, August 14 with Recording

As reported during class,  everyone should now know more than enough information to get on the air and start making contacts.  The primary thing each of you needs to now do is build up your accuracy and speed to where you feel comfortable and confident enough to take the courageous step and get on the air and make that first contact.

If you feel up to it and want to venture out on your own, go for it.

If you would rather have an Elmer working with you for the first contact, that is fine too.  I'm willing to help if that is your wish.  The choice is yours.

While listening to live ham conversations over the air using your own radio continues to be the BEST way to practice because it allows you to copy the real thing.  It also helps you gauge your abilities and have a better idea when you are ready to start making contacts.

We discussed W1AW tonight.

Their over the air W1AW schedule is a good second choice to practice your code at ever increasing code speeds.  The fact that it happens over the air is a good thing.  Over the air practice is far superior to recordings.

http://www.arrl.org/w1aw-operating-schedule

Remember, you can use a websdr to listen to live over the air from any device with internet access if you find yourself away from your own hf radio.

http://www.sdrutah.org/websdr1.html  
Recommend you select '40cw' and 'CW-med'

http://www.sdrutah.org/websdr2.html
During daylight hours, I recommend you select '20cw' and 'CW-med'.  Sadly, during nighttime hours, this receiver will be mostly dead.  Such is the nature of our current position in the 11 year sunspot cycle.



More websdr sites can be found at:
http://websdr.org/

Sometimes that page is slow to load.  Be patient.  Sometimes you'll need to refresh your browser a time or two to get it to come up.  Once you find a particular websdr receiver site you like, I recommend you bookmark that particular site and go directly there rather than going through websdr.org every time.



If you wish to resort to recordings, that's okay too.  It's not as good as copying live conversations over the air, but it's better than skipping practice time.  It does have the advantage that recordings can be downloaded so that they will be available even if the internet is unavailable.

ARRL has plenty of good CW practice files available for download.

http://www.arrl.org/code-practice-files



There are a multitude of other great morse code resources out there.  If you want me to check something out and offer an opinion on one, send me a link and I'll be happy to.


None of the above should mislead you into thinking that I'm casting you to the static to sink or swim all by yourself.  Our classes will continue, but you should now consider our VHF get togethers as one part of a spectrum of resources at your disposal to help you gain speed, accuracy, and confidence to get on the air.  You have a full buffet of practicing options at your fingertips.  Exploit them.  Every chance you get.


As you are practicing, you may come up with questions.  Jot them down and bring them to the next class.  Feel free to see if you can befuddle the instructor.

Session 21, August 14 Recording


See you for Friday Fun Night.
We may have a special Mystery Guest!
Morse Code Bingo may make its triumphant return due to popular demand.


Mark,
NRØR

Session 2Ø, August 12 with Recording

Congratulations to David, KØDZX on his first HF CW QSO!

The first of many more to come, I'm sure.

It was great to hear his description of the event.

On a side note, check out David's impressive eclipse photo on his QRZ page.

David mentions the Straight Key Century Club:  https://www.skccgroup.com/
and the SKCC Sked page:  https://sked.skccgroup.com/

The best way to improve your morse code skills is to USE them.  Listening on HF radio is great practice to prepare for making contacts, but getting on the air and actually making them is even better still.  That is why the goal of this course is to get each of you on the air making contacts.  There is no better way to train and improve your skills.
Use your courage to test your limits.  The best CW operators constantly push themselves to improve.  Not just in speed, but in accuracy.  The ability to copy information correctly the first time is incredibly valuable.
Skilled CW operators will test their limits on a regular basis, and intentionally put themselves on the edge of being able to copy.  That is where improvement comes from.  The more repetitions you get at a speed that you can just barely cope with, the more comfortable and accurate you will become.  Before long you will be going even faster and doing it all over again.  Put yourself in that mindset where pushing your limits is part of the fun, because it is! 


Session 2Ø, August 12 Recording


Mark,
NRØR

Homework for Session 20, August 12. SPEED SENDING!

Greetings to the classiest group of CW students of all time!

I will be calling on each of you on Monday to send at your maximum speed that you are able to send ACCURATELY.

IMPORTANT:  No compromises on your ergonomics.  Set up your key or paddles on the desk/table the right way.  Make sure the fleshy part of your arm below the elbow is resting on the table.  Use the correct body position.  Get the details correct.  Practice using the correct techniques.  Show yourself at your best on Monday Night.

Work on sending the following text for class:

W1AW/2 DE {your callsign} FB GE UR RST 569 569, NAME HR IS {your name} {your name}, QTH {your city} {your city}, RIG HR IS {your hf rig make and model*} {rig make and model*},  ANT HR IS {the type of hf antenna you have**} {the type of hf antenna you have**} AT {your hf antenna height**} FT {your hf antenna height**} FT .  NICE MEETING U.  73  AR W1AW/2 DE {your callsign} SK {shave and a haircut without 2 bits}

Note that there are some commas and a periods in the above text.

* If you do not have your own HF rig yet say your rig is "WEB SDR"

** If you do not have an HF antenna up yet, guess at the antenna type you think you might put up once you are able, and guess at the height you think you will be able to put it.

Stay relaxed.

Stay Relaxed.

STAY RELAXED!!!!!!

I guess yelling at you in text form won't relax you, but I do want to stress how important it is to stay relaxed.

If you make an error, don't stop.  Correct the error by sending your string of dits and resending the word you flubbed and continue.  Practice that way.  Correct your errors in practice as well as on Monday Night.

To maximize your speed, focus on reducing the gap between characters compared to the way we have been practicing in class so far.  The ideal gap between characters should be the same as the length of 3 dits.  The ideal gap between words should be the same as the length of 8 dits, but don't assume you must reach that ideal spacing by Monday night.   Only go as fast as you are able to send accurately.  Remember, accuracy is ALWAYS the fastest way to communicate.  Repeats slow communication down by at least half, usually more.

It's okay if you are not able to receive at the speed you will be practicing your sending for this exercise.

This drill is not only intended to improve your ability to send, but it will indirectly improve your brain's ability to associate morse code at the higher WPM speed, which will help your receiving.  This drill will also give you practice sending the key items of information unique to yourself that you are likely to be sending during real QSOs.

Just do your best.  Go only as fast as you are able to send ACCURATELY.  You are only competing with yourself as you work to improve each day.

If you have any questions before class, feel free to email me.

I look forward to hearing each of you Monday Night at 7pm.

Have Fun!  Everything gets better and more fun from here on.

Mark

NRØR

Session 19, August Ø9 partial Recording. BINGO NIGHT

Friday Fun Night -- Morse Code Bingo


If you are about to listen to this recording and want to play along:
Click Here to select 2 bingo cards for this session.


How Morse Code Bingo works:

It is not all that much different from traditional bingo.  I have the master set 70 words that this entire set of bingo cards is based.

We will have time to play several games during class using the same set of bingo cards.

I will be the bingo caller.

For each game, I will do a random draw, just like traditional real life bingo, and call out the word in morse code, pause a few seconds to listen, and then call out the next randomly drawn word in morse code.  I will keep calling out words in morse code until someone keys up during one of my between word pauses and calls BINGO!

Then I cross check their card against the words I called for that game to verify the bingo.  While I do that, I will invite all the players to have fun making comments about the game, and whine about how close they came to winning that one, complain that the bingo caller is screwing up, and make jokes, or whatever.

Once we have a verified Bingo, we will clear the cards and start again, with a new random draw.

You're guaranteed to have fun.

You'll either have fun playing Morse Code Bingo or?

You'll have fun laughing at me crash and burn trying to be a Morse Code Bingo Caller.

It's all good.  As long as everyone has fun.

The only person that seems to have recorded this session had a power outage, and missed part of it.  This is the best recording I have available.

Session 19, August Ø9 Partial Recording

Mark,

NRØR

Morse Code Bingo Cards KC Club Callsign Series

Choose 2 cards.
Be adventurous, don't choose the same card twice.


Click Here: LearnMorseKC Bingo Cards


We will play Morse Code Bingo on Friday Night.



Mark,
NRØR

Session 18, August Ø7 with Recording

New Characters Introduced:

.  ,  /


Comprehensive list of all characters introduced:

E T A O N R I S D K Q W H C V Y U B L M 7 P X F G J Z  
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9          ?  .  ,  /


This completes the character set we will be introducing for this introductory morse code course.  There are more characters in International Morse Code than these, but the above are all that are needed for someone to get on the air and start making a lot of contacts, which is the fundamental goal of this course.  If you wish to learn more characters, I encourage you to do so.  Feel free to look them up and learn them.  By now, you certainly know how to introduce a new character to yourself after having experienced it from me 40 times.  Send a new character to yourself over your code practice oscillator repeatedly as I sent new characters to you during this course.  Work with the rhythm, not visually.  I consider those additional characters something more appropriate for an advanced morse code course, or for personal study after the above characters are mastered.  Those additional characters are not required to get you on the air making contacts, so I won't cover them as part of this course.

Don't fool yourself.  Just because we are finished introducing characters doesn't mean you have learned them yet.  It's critical to keep practicing so that the most recently introduced characters have sufficient time and practice repetitions to become permanently en-grained reactions.

Keep your foot on the gas.

The course will now transition to a review of the entire character set, and to teaching life long habits that will help you continuously improve your accuracy and speed.  The learning process never ends in Morse Code.

We also will discuss the appropriate final preparations needed to get on the air and start making contacts.

Finally, I offer myself as your guide to help you through your first contact, or your first few contacts if you wish.  This is not a requirement, but an option.  If you would like for me to listen on the same HF frequency, copy code along side you as you make your first contact or two, I would be happy to help.  I can be available to offer appropriate assistance via a repeater, or via other voice communications systems as appropriate.

The goal will be to build your skills and confidence to the point where you will be ready to fly solo.



Mark
NRØR

Session 17, August Ø5 with Recording

New Characters Introduced:
26


Comprehensive list of all characters introduced so far:
E T A O N R I S D K Q W H C V Y U B L M 7 P X F G J Z
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9              ?



Featured this session was our first time spent listening to live HF CW conversations together.   This is now the new best way to practice.  There will never be a substitute to listening to the real thing under actual on air conditions.  Real static.  Real QRM.  Real hams.  Some sending too fast.  Some with lazy fists.  All of it adds to the challenge.

Remember.  Getting angry or frustrated is pointless.

You cannot expect the world to change its behavior simply because you wish for it to be easier for you to copy.   This attitude will guarantee you a miserable experience, don't allow yourself to fall into that trap.

It is up to YOU to become so skilled at your craft that you can copy anyone, no matter whether their signal is an exhausted last place marathon runner that stumbles from your receiver, or an angel that floats out of the speaker with grace.  Believe me when I tell you that both signals can be magnificent in their own way.  One ever so humble and ugly, but yet inspiring in dedication, sheer effort, and raw perseverance.   The other lovely and so uplifting that the code sings a melody to your ears.

Every snap of QRN, every different tone of QRM, every fist that wavers, every ham that doesn't want to slow down.  It all adds to the gloriously delicious cacophony that is CW Ham Radio.  Immerse yourself in it.  Rejoice in the complexity, but yet appreciate the subtle sense of order within the chaos.  It is this rich environment which you are training to call your home.  

You are now starting to see within yourself some of the skills required to participate in this captivating free form finger dance ham operators perform to express themselves to each other.  With each passing day and with each successive practice session, your skills will converge a touch futher. Nobody ever learns all the skills, but that too gives each of us something further to strive toward.

You are on the cusp of beginning a magnificent odyssey.  Where it may take you is unknown, but the wondrous journey will be something to behold.

Taste it.  Embrace it.  Luxuriate in the challenges almost met as much as the ones overcome.  Both make great stories to share with fellow travelers on this CW path.

Part of me envies each of you.  You're just at the beginning.  The whole world is in front of you to grasp.

Keep listening on.


Session 17, August Ø5 Recording


Mark,
NRØR

Session 16, August Ø3 with Recording

Saturday Review Session.

All new material covered this past week was revisited.

It is so much fun to hear everyone's improvement.

Session 16, August Ø3 Recording


Mark
NRØR

Session 15, August Ø2 with Recording

New Characters Introduced:

J  Z            4


Comprehensive list of all characters introduced so far:

E T A O N R I S D K Q W H C V Y U B L M 7 P X F G J Z
0 1 3 4 5 7 8 9               ?


New Q Signal introduced:

QRZ  (who is calling)

Comprehensive list of Abbreviations and Prosigns so far:

73  (best wishes)
88  (hugs and kisses) 
AA (All After)
AGN (again)
AR (end of message)
AS (wait)
BT (pause, also double dash --)
CQ (Calling anyone)
DN (down)
ES (and)
FB (fine business)
GA (good afternoon)
GE (good evening)
GM (good morning)
GN (good night)
HI (Laughter) (never use more than 3 in a row)
HR (here)
HW (how)
HW? (how copy?)
K (Invitation for any station to respond.)
KN ('over' to specific station)
NR (Number)
PSE (Please)
PWR (Power)
R (Roger)
RPT (Repeat)
RU (are you)
SK (end of QSO)
SRI (sorry)
TNX (thanks)
TU (Thank You) (most common)
TY (Thank You)
UR (your, you're)
VVV (attention)
VY (very)
WX (weather)
XCVR (transceiver)
XMIT (transmit)
XTAL (crystal)
Y (yes)

  __ underline indicates prosign where characters are run together.





Comprehensive list of Q Signals so far:

QNI (Net Check-In Invitation.)
QRL (frequency in use)
QRN (Static, or Natural Noise)
QRP (decrease power)
QRO (increase power)
QRQ (send faster)
QRS (Send Slower)
QRT (Closing Station.)
QRU (I have nothing for you, no traffic)
QRV (ready)
QRZ (who is calling)>
QSB (fading)
QSK (Break-in mode.)
QSL (certify contact)
QSO (A contact or a conversation)
QST ("Calling all Radio Amateurs")
QSY (change frequency)
QTC (messages to relay)
QTH (Location)
QTR (time)


Scrabble List:

 

Nouns	Verbs	Other
jezebel	normalize	and
megahertz	zoning	the
Japan	adjust	a
rhizome	subjecting	to
zenith	inject	yeah
schmaltz	cajole	in
ezekiel	buzzing	so
Johannes	unzip	but
juniper	injure	on
ozone	justify	or
junction	rejuvinate	not
horizontal	reject	well
zener	polarize	about
Elizabeth	object	oh
piezoelectricity	know	really
hazmat	do	uh
azimuth	is	at
projection	like	there
django	have	my
I	was	not
you	think	with
that	are	when
it	mean	can
they	dont	then
we	be	as
its	would	out
what	had	kind
all	see	because
thats	dont	now
one	did	how
them	work	their
people	even	more
this	were	too
some	go	okay
Im	got	very
lot	get	up
he	guess	been
me	going	into
its		other
thats		and
time		our
those		his
here		by
Ive		your
any		which
name		right
things		good
		of
		for
		if
		from
		just

Session 15, August 02 Recording


Mark
NRØR

Session 14, July 31 with Recording

New Characters Introduced:

F  G         ?

Comprehensive list of all characters introduced so far:

E T A O N R I S D K Q W H C V Y U B L M 7 P X F G
0 1 3 5 7 8 9               ?


New Abbreviations and Prosigns:

TY (Thank You) 
TU (Thank You)
TNX  (Thanks)
PSE  (Please)
RPT  (Repeat) usually, but sometimes (Report)
AGN  (Again)
XCVR (Transceiver)
XMIT (Transmit)
XTAL  (Crystal)
HR  (Here)
PWR  (Power)
FB  (Fine Business)
GM  (Good Morning)
GA  (Good Afternoon)
GE  (Good Evening)
GN  (Good Night)
WX  (Weather)

Comprehensive list of Abbreviations and Prosigns so far:

73  (best wishes)
88  (hugs and kisses) 
AA (All After)
AGN (again) 
AR (end of message)
AS (wait)
BT (pause, also double dash --)
CQ (Calling anyone)
DN (down)
ES (and)
FB (fine business)
GA (good afternoon)
GE (good evening)
GM (good morning)
GN (good night)
HI  (Laughter) (never use more than 3 in a row)
HR (here)
HW (how)
HW? (how copy?)
K  Invitation for any station to respond.
KN ('over' to specific station)
NR (Number)
PSE (Please)
PWR (Power)
R (Roger)
RPT (Repeat)
RU (are you)
SK (end of QSO)
SRI (sorry)
TNX (thanks)
TU (Thank You) (most common)
TY (Thank You)
UR  (your, you're)
VVV  (attention)
VY  (very)
WX (weather)
XCVR (transceiver)
XMIT (transmit)
XTAL (crystal)
Y (yes)
 
__ underline indicates prosign where characters are run together.





Comprehensive list of Q Signals so far:

QNI (Net Check-In Invitation.)
QRL (frequency in use)
QRN (Static, or Natural Noise)
QRP (decrease power)
QRO (increase power)
QRQ (send faster)
QRS (Send Slower)
QRT (Closing Station.)
QRU (I have nothing for you, no traffic)
QRV (ready)
QSB (fading)
QSK (Break-in mode.)
QSL (certify contact)
QSO (A contact or a conversation)
QST ("Calling all Radio Amateurs")
QSY  (change frequency)
QTC  (messages to relay)
QTH  (Location)
QTR  (time)

Nouns	Verbs	Other
breakfast	forecasting	coaxial
designator	aligning	spurious
g5rv	refract	and
Elecraft	aggregate	the
Gonset	flagging	a
Hallicrafters	emerge	to
ionosphere	functioned	yeah
dipole	logging	in
simplex	engineering	so
duplex	prefiltering	but
ferrite	dispatch	on
filament	radiate	or
capacitance	rotate	not
capacitor	rotator	well
experiment	receive	about
dummyload	transmit	oh
radio	transceive	really
tower	vertical	uh
rotor	shortwave	at
rotator	beam	there
receiver	years	my
transceiver	know	not
shortwave	do	with
resistor	is	when
code	like	can
battery	have	then
I	was	as
you	think	out
that	are	kind
it	mean	because
they	dont	now
we	be	how
its	would	their
what	had	more
all	see	too
thats	dont	okay
one	did	very
them	work	up
people	even	been
this	were	into
some	go	other
Im	got	and
lot	get	our
he	guess	his
me	going	by
its		your
thats		which
time		right
those		good
here		of
Ive		for
any		if
name		from
things

Session 14, July 31 Recording 



See Everyone Friday 7pm

Mark,
NRØR

Session 13, July 29 with Recording

New Characters Introduced

P X          3

Comprehensive list of all characters introduced so far:

E T A O N R I S D K Q W H C V Y U B L M 7 P X
0 1 3 5 7 8 9


New Abbreviations and Prosigns

DX (foreign country)
OM (Old Man)
YL (Young Lady, Girlfriend)
XYL (Ex Young Lady, Wife)
SWR (Standing Wave Ratio)
DR (Dear, also Doctor)
AMP (Amplifier, Ampere)
XCVR (transceiver)
XMIT (transmit)



New Q signals

QRP (decrease power)
QRL (frequency in use)
QRM (man made interference)
QSL (certify contact, confirmation of contact)



Comprehensive list of Abbreviations and Prosigns so far:

73 (best wishes)
88 (hugs and kisses)
AA (All After)
AR (end of message)
AS (wait)
BT (pause, also double dash --)
CQ (Calling anyone)
DN (down)
ES (and)
HI (Laughter) (never use more than 3 in a row)
HW (how)
HW? (how copy?)
K Invitation for any station to respond.
KN ('over' to specific station)
NR (Number)
R (Roger)
RU (are you)
K (end of QSO)
SRI (sorry)
UR (your, you're)
VVV (attention)
VY (very)
Y (yes)
XCVR (transceiver)
XMIT (transmit)

__ underline indicates prosign where characters are run together.





Comprehensive list of Q Signals so far:

QNI (Net Check-In Invitation.)
QRL (frequency in use)
QRN (Static, or Natural Noise)
QRP (decrease power)
QRO (increase power)
QRQ (send faster)
QRS (Send Slower)
QRT (Closing Station.)
QRU (I have nothing for you, no traffic)
QRV (ready)
QSB (fading)
QSK (Break-in mode.)
QSL (certify contact)
QSO (A contact or a conversation)
QST ("Calling all Radio Amateurs")
QSY (change frequency)
QTC (messages to relay)
QTH (Location)
QTR (time)


Scrabble List:

Nouns	Verbs	Other
hexbeam	approximate	coaxial
ionosphere	exhausted	spurious
moxon	extrude	and
dipole	excite	the
simplex	print	a
duplex	phone	to
phase	pray	yeah
coax	splatter	in
capacitance	dispatch	so
capacitor	worship	but
experiment	pitched	on
upside	radiate	or
precaution	rotate	not
pole	rotator	well
pattern	receive	about
dummyload	transmit	oh
radio	transceive	really
tower	vertical	uh
rotor	shortwave	at
rotator	beam	there
receiver	years	my
transceiver	know	not
shortwave	do	with
resistor	is	when
code	like	can
battery	have	then
I	was	as
you	think	out
that	are	kind
it	mean	because
they	dont	now
we	be	how
its	would	their
what	had	more
all	see	too
thats	dont	okay
one	did	very
them	work	up
people	even	been
this	were	into
some		other
Im		and
lot		our
he		his
me		by
its		your
thats		which
time
those
here
Ive
any
name

Session 13, July 29 Recording

Thanks to Pete WØCCJ and Caleb KEØVVT who graciously shared their recordings of Session 13.

*CORRECTION* -- Molniya and Amulet are the correct spellings for the satellite orbit and the piece of jewelry respectively. I spelled those incorrectly during Session 13. SRI.

Mark,
NRØR