Code Practice Oscillators, CPOs

Another tool that is highly recommended for the Learn Morse KC course is a Code Practice Oscillator.

CPOs are very simple audio devices.  They are NOT radio transmitters.   Nobody needs a license to use one by itself.  Code Practice Oscillators produce an audible beep through a speaker or headphones whenever an attached morse code key is pressed.   It's really that simple.  Most CPOs will have a couple of knobs.  One for volume control, another that varies the pitch of the beep.  CPOs are very inexpensive.  Even the fancy commercial ones are modestly priced.

A code practice oscillator will be a great tool to help you practice SENDING morse code.  It will even be possible for you to key up your VHF transceiver, hold your transceiver's microphone close to your CPO, and send morse code over a simplex frequency or over the repeater to another student or to your instructor.

That's right.  With a CPO, you will be able to PRACTICE your lessens during and between classes by sending morse code back and forth over your VHF radio with other students in the class, and any of them with a CPO will be able to answer you the same way.  You might even find some experienced Elmers willing to help you practice.

The amount of fun you can have with your fellow students as you send each other morse code will amaze you.  If you have a CPO, you will never be alone in this class.  You won't get bored.  You will look foward to practicing with your friends.  Say goodbye to boring computer programs droning out morse code with little or no meaning to you.  Say goodbye to the torture of copying long recordings of morse code.  Instead, have fun laughing and talking with your fellow students over your radio as your practice with your CPOs. 

If there is more than one ham radio operator in your household, you can practice with them without using your VHF radio.  You can talk to each other using your CPOs from across the room.  Great fun!  Take your CPO with you to the Beryl Breakfast and practice with each other at a table.  Show up early before a ham club meeting and practice with another student, or with another club member that already knows the code.   There are countless other possibilities. 

Having your own Code Practice Oscillator is a game changer.  You won't be sorry you got one.

How inexpensive can a Code Practice Oscillator be?

Does $3 feel like it is within your budget?

Robin, WØFEN, has acquired a dozen Code Practice Oscillator kits that he is more than happy to resell to you at his cost.  If demand is high enough, he is willing to order more kits to meet demand.  Robin's kits are a small circuit board and the components that you will need to solder in the correct locations.  The kit does not come with a soldering iron, solder, or soldering flux.  The kit does not come with an enclosure, so you will need to come up with something yourself for that.  I suggest asking Robin for suggestions on enclosure options.  The kit does not include a morse code key, paddles, or keyer, but we discussed those in my previous post.  You'll simply connect whatever key you acquire with the circuit board, and you'll have a nice CPO.
 

I think it's awesome that Robin is doing this to support your efforts in this class.   Thank You Robin.

Email Robin to ask questions or to make arrangements to purchase one of his kits. 

w0fenrobin at gmail dot com

As much as I love the idea of everyone building a kit CPO for the course, I realize that may not be everyone's idea of fun.  It's more than acceptable to buy one that has already been built.  Feel free to google "code practice oscillator".  You will discover that there are many different types and styles at a variety of price ranges.   I'm pretty sure that the Candy Store (Associated Radio) will have CPOs as well.  You may also ask some of your ham friends if they have a used CPO that they want to sell or loan to you for the duration of the class.  Of course, you could always bribe another student into building one of Robin's kits for you.  ;)

It's not mandatory that you get a CPO to take this course, but you won't be sorry you did, and when you can get one for $3 why wouldn't you?  Why would you skip all the most fun parts of taking this course?

Get a Code Practice Oscillator.  You won't be sorry.

My next post will discuss proper body position, hand position, and the proper techniques to operate a morse code key.

Mark

NRØR