Category Archives: Morse Code

New to Morse Code? Give K1USN SST a Try!

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Regular practice is a key part of improving Morse Code proficiency.  Simply doing endless recorded practice sessions becomes boring after awhile and doesn’t mimic real-world band conditions very well.  For those trying to grow your CW speed to 15 to 20 WPM, participating in the K1USN SST mini-contests is a sure fire way to improve both your sending and receiving skills.

Fridays 20:00-21:00 UTC: 4-5pm EDT
Mondays 00:00-01:00 UTC: 8-9pm EDT

80 meters 3.528 – 3.545 MHz

40 meters 7.028 – 7.045 MHz

20 meters 14.028 – 14.045 MHz

15 meters 21.028 – 21.045 MHz

10 meters 28.028 – 28.045 MHz

The contest exchange is quite simple.  Stations will exchange their call signs, name and state.  Give it a try!

 

CW Academy Classes Starting in January

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CWops, a group devoted to Morse Code, offers classes three times a year.  If you have an interest in learning Morse Code, or improving your skills, you chance is coming up in January & February.

Called the CW Academy, there are four levels of classes you can participate in:

  • Beginner – For those with limited or no CW experience.
  • Basic – Familiar with characters but need increased proficiency
  • Intermediate – Comfortable about 10 WPM on-air, looking to improve
  • Advanced – Operating on air at 15 WPM and looking to contest at 30 WPM

Classes are open to all and are free.  The standard format is to meet via Zoom twice a week for an hour, then do practice on your own, or with your classmates for 30-60 min a day.  If you would like to participate, please use this link to find out more and sign up for classes: https://cwops.org/cw-academy/

CWops are very good at what they do.  In 2021, they had 1,452 students who completed their classes, taught by 79 volunteer instructors.  This year, six NCRC members were students, and one is even teaching classes starting in January.

Successful Zoom Club Meeting Last Night

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NCRC held its May club meeting via Zoom last night.  Things went very well.  We had 48 people in attendance, which is a bit more than one of our traditional in-person meetings.  It was nice to see members in FLA (Pete W1LAB), PA (Bruce NJ3K), and NH (Art W1AGW) join in as well.  The business meeting ran just about an hour, including a long discussion of Field Day 2020, with two new members being voted into membership.  Congratulations:

      • Paul Perrone, KB1QWY, South Kingstown
      • John Jackman, N1SMX, North Kingstown

After the meeting there was a 30 minute presentation on learning Morse Code given by Bob WB4SON.  The slides can be found here.

Perhaps the best part of the night was the 30 minutes that followed the presentation, with very lively conversation among the 40+ remaining members.  A good time was had by all.

Several folks offered up some interesting books on the history of Morse Code and telegraphy in general.  Thanks (Peter KQ1X and Bruce NJ3K) including these titles:

  • “The Victorian Internet”, by Tom Standage in 1998 and 1999 the later is paperback
  • “A Thread Across The Ocean”, by John Steele Gordon published in 2003
  • “Signor Marconi’s Magic Box”, by Gavin Weighman Published in 2003
  • “Engineers & Electrons A Century of the IEEE 1884-1984”, by John D. Ryder
  • “Mr. Lincolns T-Mails”, by Tom Wheeler
  • “The Telegraph in America”, by David Hochfelder