Wednesday, July 31, 2019

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

Monday, July 29, 2019

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

Saturday, July 27, 2019

Session 12, July 27 with Recording

Saturday Review Session.

We revisited all the new material covered this past week.

The long text sent during the session was:

EAT A HEARTY LUNCH ON TUES
I HEAR THE BRATWURST ARE 8 TO 10 INCHES OVER THERE
YUM
9 BUCKS A BEER SOUNDS INSANE
BETTER DRINK KOOLAID INSTEAD HI
RU ABLE TO SWALLOW NON BEER DRINKS HIHI
CATCH U LATER


Session 12, July 27 Recording 



See everyone on Monday

Mark
NRØR

Friday, July 26, 2019

Session 11, July 26 with Recording

New Characters Introduced:

L M       7


Comprehensive list of all characters covered so far:

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


Comprehensive list of Prosigns, Abbreviations:

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)
SK
(end of QSO) SRI (sorry)
UR  (your, you're)  

VVV  (attention) VY  (very) Y (yes)

  __ underline indicates prosign where characters are run together.



Comprehensive list of Q Signals so far:
QNI  (Net Check-In Invitation.)
QRN (Static, or Natural Noise)
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.)
QSO (A contact or a conversation)
QST ("Calling all Radio Amateurs")
QSY  (change frequency)
QTC  (messages to relay)
QTH  (Location)
QTR  (time)




Wednesday, July 24, Session 1Ø included two long practice texts.


This was not the quiz, but the first long line of text that was read back during class:
I RAISED THE ANTENNA ON THE TOWER SO THE RADIO WAVES DONT HIT THE HOUSE NEARBY


The Quiz text was:
THAT BETTER BE WHAT I NEED TO QSO WITH YOU AND YOUR BROTHER IN NEW YORK WHEN YOU VISIT




Tonight Leif WØRDE and Claude NØFMO were the featured practice QSO.

Reminder: These practice QSOs are not expected to be perfect. We aren't even 3 weeks into the course. Having a few problems is expected.

Tonight demonstrated clearly the importance of calming yourself down before sending a CQ. One of the most common mistakes a new CW operator makes is sending their own CQ faster than they are able to copy. Always keep in mind that the pace of the CQ establishes the speed at which the QSO will take place. Stations responding to a CQ should never exceed the speed of the original CQ. Therefore, the station calling CQ should send their CQ at a pace a bit slower than their the maximum morse code speed they are able to copy.

Thank You Leif for demonstrating the CQ morse speed excitement phenomenon. Of course, we all know that you did it on purpose just to help everyone in the class recognize the situation, so everyone would learn to avoid that mistake. That was very thoughtful of Leif to volunteer to demonstrate it so well for everyone.  Doing so unannounced made it sound very authentic. He's such a gentleman for helping everyone that way.


Starting with Leif's slower CQ, the text of the conversation between WØRDE and NØFMO follows:


CQ CQ CMT CQ DE WØRTIE WØRDE WØRDE K
WØRDE DE NØFMO KN
NØFMO DE WØRDE UR RST 5NN 5NN HU? KN
RRR WØRDE DE NØFMO RRR UR RST IS 5NN 5NN ALSO HW?? WØRDE DE NØFMO KN
NØFMO DE WØRDE RE T5RE AA RST KN
WØNDE DE NØFMO OK NO CPY NO CPY ??  BK TO U KN 

AT0RDE DE N0FMO OK 73 73 {shave and a haircut two bits}
N0FMO DE W0RDE 73




Note:  I incorrectly read back during class that Claude sent "5W??" when he really sent "HW??"  My apologies.





Scrabble List:


Nouns Verbs Other
Yaesu radiate I
Kenwood rotate and
TenTec rotator the
radio receive that
tower transmit a
rotor transceive to
rotator vertical know
receiver shortwave yeah
transceiver     beam it
shortwave skywatcher     so
resistor whiskey its
code broadcast what
we years on
he battery or
she which not
it are with
they see when
any eat thats

ate then

do this

is kind

dont oh

did one

does at

know there

was no

were now

had how

work as

have too

think into

can our

Ive and

even their


thats


those


here


other


her


where


out


very






Session 11, July 26 Recording

Mark,
NRØR

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Session 1Ø, July 24 with Recording

New Characters introduced:

U B        9


Comprehensive list of all characters covered so far:

E T A O N R I S D K Q W H C V Y U B      Ø 1 5 8 9



New Prosigns, Abbreviations, and Q Signals:

BT (pause, also double dash --)
HW (How)
HW? (used by itself means "How well do you Copy?")
RU (are you)
UR (your, you're)



QRU (I have nothing for you, No Traffic)
QSB (fading)



Comprehensive list of Prosigns, Abbreviations:

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)
SK
(end of QSO)
SRI (sorry)
UR (your, you're) VVV (attention) VY (very)
Y (yes)

__ underline indicates prosign where characters are run together.



Comprehensive list of Q Signals so far:

QNI (Net Check-In Invitation.)
QRN (Static, or Natural Noise)
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.)
QSO (A contact or a conversation)
QST ("Calling all Radio Amateurs")
QSY (change frequency)
QTC (messages to relay)
QTH (Location)
QTR (time)



Two longer morse transmissions were sent during this class.

Text from those longer transmission will be revealed in the summary of next class session. This will allow more time for individuals to email the text to learnmorsekc at gmail dot com



Scrabble List:


Nouns Verbs Other
Yaesu radiate I
Kenwood rotate and
TenTec rotator the
radio receive that
tower transmit a
rotor transceive to
rotator vertical know
receiver shortwave yeah
transceiver       code it
shortwave skywatcher      so
resistor whiskey its
code kitchen what
we years on
he which or
she are not
it see with
they eat when
any ate thats

do then

is this

dont kind

did oh

does one

know at

was there

were no

had now

work how

have as

think too

can into

Ive our

even and


their


thats


those


here


other


her


where


out


very




Session 10, July 24 Recording



See Everyone Friday at 7pm

Mark
NRØR


Monday, July 22, 2019

Session Ø9, July 22 with Recording

New Characters introduced:

1     V Y


Comprehensive list of all characters introduced so far:

E T A O N R I S D K Q W H C V Y   Ø 1 5 8


New Prosigns, Abbreviations, and Q Signals:


VVV (attention) A series of V's are often transmitted either as an equipment test or to get everyone's attention just prior to a transmission, for example just prior to calling CQ for the first time.  They also act as a mini morse fist warm-up exercise.   When you are scanning the band, looking for potential target stations to contact, and you hear a series of V's being transmitted, that's a good place to wait to see if someone is about to start calling CQ.  If you can be the first to respond, you often don't have to struggle to break through a pileup.

VY (very)
SRI (sorry)
DN (down)


QRV (ready)
QRQ (send faster)
QRO (increase power)
QTC  (messages to relay)
QTR  (time)
QSY  (change frequency)



Comprehensive list of prosigns and abbreviations covered so far:


88 (hugs and kisses)

AA (All After)
AR (end of message)
AS (wait)
CQ (Calling anyone)
DN (down)
ES (and)
HI (Laughter) (never use more than 3 in a row)
K Invitation for any station to respond.
KN ('over' to specific station)
NR (Number)
SK (end of QSO)
SRI (sorry)
VVV  (attention)
VY (very)
Y (yes)


__ underline indicates prosign where characters are run together.



Comprehensive list of Q Signals so far:
QNI (Net Check-In Invitation.)
QRN (Static, or Natural Noise)
QRO (increase power)
QRQ (send faster)
QRS (Send Slower)
QRT (Closing Station.)
QRV (ready)
QSK (Break-in mode.)
QSO (A contact or a conversation)
QST ("Calling all Radio Amateurs")
QSY (change frequency)
QTC (messages to relay)
QTH (Location)
QTR (time)



Tonight's featured practice QSO was conducted between Adam NØCMT and Caleb KE0VVT.

As we discussed, we are ONLY 2 weeks into this course. Nobody should expect this type of practice QSO to be perfect. We are all learning.

These types of practice QSOs are helpful to students in multiple ways.

  • Challenge the student to put to use what they have learned so far.
  • Provide an opportunity for coaching from the instructor.
  • Provide a challenge to the rest of the students to copy someone other than the instructor for a change. Copying the variations between the fist style of different humans is extremely important.  We want to make lots of contacts with lots of different people when we get on HF. Copying your fellow students helps the entire class tremendously.
  • Expose the student to a small amount of pressure, but in a friendly and helpful way. It gives each of the two featured students an opportunity to face their fears in a safe and constructive environment. The best way to overcome "key fright" is to expose yourself to it in a low risk situation, and begin a pattern of small successes. With each successive chance to repeat the experience, the nervousness will decrease, experience will grow, mistakes will decrease, skill will increase, and all that will gradually build confidence. Remember, belief in your own ability to do something you've never done before is not confidence, It is arrogance. Real confidence is not something anyone is born with, but is built over time by repeatedly accomplishing the task. Knowing you have successfully done the task before and can do it again defines confidence. During this course, we want to gradually build your confidence in your newly acquired morse code abilities. Simulated QSOs like the one Adam and Caleb held tonight are one important method in this process.
  • Everyone should put themselves in a mindset where they WANT to demonstrate their morse abilities for the class like Adam and Caleb did tonight.  Be eager to step forward! Volunteer! The sooner and the more often each of you simulates a contact in front of everyone, the better prepared you will become to get on the air, and the more quickly you will learn.


Below is the text that I copied during the featured qso between NØCMT es KEØVVT.

CQ CQ D NØCMT D K
KEØVVT KEØVVT
RR NØCMT DE KEOVVT UHR ST H ND KN
NCOT NCM T NCØCMT AA AA AA AA HR AA HR AA HR KN
NØCMT D KEØVVI T RST 5NN KN
E NCØMT KEØVVT RST HNN I RST RST 5NN RST HNN HW RU? KN
OK TNX FOR THE QSO M53 CR KCL
NCØCMT DE KEØVVT RRR FB FB FB B3 B3 CL


Congratulations to Adam NØCMT and Caleb KEØVVT. They did well considering this course is only 2 weeks old. I'm positive that they learned from this experience and will improve dramatically for their next attempt.

Listen to the recording to hear the coaching critique of their QSO, and how they can improve for their next time.

Scrabble List:

Nouns Verbs Other
radio radiate I
tower rotate and
rotor rotator the
rotator receive that
receiver transmit a
transceiver     transceive to
shortwave vertical know
resistor shortwave yeah
code code it
whiskey skywatcher  so
kitchen whiskey its
hickeys kitchen what
sandwich years on
wreck which or
skywatcher are not
we see with
he eat when
she ate thats
it do then
they is this
any dont kind

did oh

does one

know at

was there

were no

had now

work how

have as

think too

can into

Ive our

even and


their


thats


those


here


other


her


where


out


very





Session Ø9, July 22 Recording

See everyone Wednesday night. 7pm


Mark,
NRØR






Saturday, July 20, 2019

Session Ø8, July 2Ø with Recording

July 2Ø, Session Ø8

Saturday Review Session.

All new material that was covered this previous week was touched upon.

We also spent some time discussing the big picture, and the plan for how this course will progress beyond simply introducing all the appropriate morse characters.  Once all of the characters are introduced, the current plan is to transition to a three days per week schedule instead of the current four days per week.  Note:  Your practice schedule should not waver just because all the characters have been introduced.  You will still need to practice hard for at least another month to be certain everything stick in your brain for the long term.  Make sure all of your hard work so far pays off by finishing strong.

During those classes we will start focusing on locking all the characters into the subconscious brain, and learning lifelong techniques to steadily improve speed, accuracy, and steadily improving one's ability to cope with distractions, interference, and various other challenges.

We will listen together to live HF signals over the air, and learn how best to practice by listening to and copying live signals.  We also discussed a plan where I will happily monitor the HF frequency copying both the student and the target station as a student attempts their first HF CW QSOs.  Making myself available over the repeater to offer advice and support during that first contact.  We will work together toward the day where each student spreads their wings to fly free.  This should help ease any first contact gitters, but also create an environment where the student can learn to operate their station with skill, precision, and efficiency.

We will also spend some class time discussing the many operating options available to a new CW operator.  Everything from casual ragchews, to breaking pileups, to various awards, to contesting, to morse skill, accuracy, and speed competitions.  Finally we will discuss how to become a morse code Elmer or Elmira yourself and pass along to others the skills you have learned.  Passing on your skills and knowledge is the foundation upon which Amateur Radio survives, and thrives.

As you can see, there is much to learn beyond simply learning the characters of Morse Code.

Session Ø8, July 2Ø Recording

See Everyone Monday at 7pm.

Mark
NRØR

Friday, July 19, 2019

Session Ø7, July 19 with Recording

New Characters introduced this session:

8  H  C

Comprehensive List of all characters introduced so far:

E T A O N R I S D K Q W H C     Ø 5 8


New Prosigns and Abbreviations this session:

NR (Number)
HR (here)
CL  (Clear) 
88  (hugs and kisses)

HI  (a small laugh, or a chuckle)
HI HI (laughing hard)
HI HI HI (extreme laughter, use this sparingly, only when the joke really warrants it)
HI HI HI HI (overdoing laughter, never send this many, it is annoying.)


Comedy comes in threes.  It always has, and always will.
Would you like for me to explain it to you in morse code with a Straight Key?  with an Iambic Paddle?  with a Sledge Hammer?
See how that works?

Still don't believe me?

Google the Latin phrase, "omne trium perfectum"

If that is unconvincing, you will believe me when you encounter another ham that uses more than three HIs.  The fourth one won't be funny anymore.  Trust me.  You'll see.  The fourth HI, you'll start rolling your eyes and shaking your head.  The fifth HI will have you doing a facepalm.  The sixth HI will make you want to use my Sledge Hammer.  (Sorry, I need mine.  Get your own.)


Moving on.


CQ (Calling anyone.)

CQ DX (Calling stations in foreign countries),   CQ NA (Calling stations in North America),  
CQ ZL (Calling New Zealand, note that ZL is the callsign prefix for New Zealand.  Other country prefixes can be used.)  

CQ Test (Calling stations for a contest QSO),  CQ FD (Calling stations on Field Day),  (There are many more extensions for various contests.  Too many to mention them all here.  If you hear one you don't know, check https://www.contestcalendar.com/ to look up what contest is active at the time you hear it.)  

(There are also CQ extensions for various operating  event/awards programs.  EG: CQ SOTA for "Summits on the Air and CQ POTA for "Parks on the Air" are but only two of the most common right now.  If you hear one you don't know, Google is your friend.)




Comprehensive list of prosigns and abbreviations covered so far:

AR (end of message)
ES (and)
K  Invitation for any station to respond.
KN ('over' to specific station)
SK (end of QSO)
AS (wait)

AA (All After)
NR (Number)
HI  (Laughter) (never use more than 3 in a row)
CQ (Calling anyone)
88  (hugs and kisses)


__ underline indicates prosign where characters are run together.



New Q signals:

QTH  (Location)


Comprehensive list of Q Signals so far:

QRN (Static, or Natural Noise)
QNI  (Net Check-In Invitation.)
QRS (Send Slower)
QRT (Closing Station.)
QSO (A contact or a conversation)
QST ("Calling all Radio Amateurs")
QSK (Break-in mode.) 

QTH (Location) 


Example QSO:


CQ CQ NRØR NRØR K
CQ CQ NRØR NRØR K

WØKC


WØKC DE NRØR KN


NRØR DE WØKC RST 558 ES QTH NEAR KC ES IT IS HOT HR KN

 

NRØR called CQ twice.  Both times invited anyone to respond by using the K prosign at the end of each transmission.
After the second try, WØKC responded by sending her callsign only.




Next transmission was to WØKC from NRØR inviting only WØKC to respond asking all others to remain silent.


Last transmission was to NRØR from WØKC.  She gave an RST signal report that was 5 perfectly readable, 5 signal strength on the S meter of 5, and a tone of 8 which is nearly a perfect clear tone.  She said her location was near Kansas City and 'it is hot here' before closing the transmission and inviting only NRØR to respond and asking all others to remain silent.

Scrabble List: 


Nouns

Verbs

Other
radio handwrite I
handiworks    redact and
redaction shakedown   the
knitwear wreck that
networks rationed a
heartsick darkens to
shortcake asteroid know
crankiest teardown it
hawk drink in
kitchen drank so
sandwich winked its
wreck drown think
aware are what
we see on
he eat or
she ate not

do with

is when

dont thats

did then

does this

know kind

was oh

were one

had at

work there


no


now


how


as


too


into


our


and


their


thats


those


here


other


her


where




Session Ø7 July 19, Recording 


Next Class is Tomorrow (Saturday) night at 7pm
Looking forward to seeing everyone there.

Mark,
NRØR