Practice CW
 

Hi, I'm learning CW, and so far have not been able to tune in the Arrl
practice frequencies. I have only a 10 meter wire antenna, and I'm
wondering if there is anyone here from the southern New England area
that knows CW that wouldn't mind some practice on the 10 meter tech
sub-band. Fair warning, I'm not up to 5 wpm yet. :)
I am usually on the air around 7pm.


Jim

Practice CW
 

James Barrett wrote:
Hi, I'm learning CW, and so far have not been able to tune in the Arrl
practice frequencies. I have only a 10 meter wire antenna, and I'm
wondering if there is anyone here from the southern New England area
that knows CW that wouldn't mind some practice on the 10 meter tech
sub-band. Fair warning, I'm not up to 5 wpm yet. :)
I am usually on the air around 7pm.


Jim


Jim,

Please tell us your callsign and grid squa at this point in the
sunspot cycle, ten meters isn't going to get much further than a CB set.

There are also other options you can pursue:

1. Use a computer and download one of several Morse study
programs. I found them indispensable for learing the
code, especially since they allow you to make custom
lists of the characters you're having trouble with.

2. If you have VHF gear, you can set up schedules with
local hams to do MCW on simplex or even with a
cooperative repeater.

3. If all else fails, you can build a modem adapter that
will allow you to practice with a friend via tele-
phone line.

HTH.

73, W1AC

--
Bill Horne

(Remove QRM from my address for direct replies.)

Practice CW
 

On Nov 13, 1:11 pm, Bill Horne wrote:
James Barrett wrote:
Hi, I'm learning CW, and so far have not been able to tune in the Arrl
practice frequencies. I have only a 10 meter wire antenna, and I'm
wondering if there is anyone here from the southern New England area
that knows CW that wouldn't mind some practice on the 10 meter tech
sub-band. Fair warning, I'm not up to 5 wpm yet. :)
I am usually on the air around 7pm.

Jim

Jim,

Please tell us your callsign and grid squa at this point in the
sunspot cycle, ten meters isn't going to get much further than a CB set.

There are also other options you can pursue:

1. Use a computer and download one of several Morse study
programs. I found them indispensable for learing the
code, especially since they allow you to make custom
lists of the characters you're having trouble with.

2. If you have VHF gear, you can set up schedules with
local hams to do MCW on simplex or even with a
cooperative repeater.

3. If all else fails, you can build a modem adapter that
will allow you to practice with a friend via tele-
phone line.

HTH.

73, W1AC

--
Bill Horne

(Remove QRM from my address for direct replies.)

Hi Bill, my call sign is kb1odg, and according to the Arrl web site (I
don't have a grid map at the moment), my grid square is FN41.
I've been using a program called "Just Learn Morse Code" and it has
helped with copying code, but now I'm looking for software that can
"receive" code sent by a key.

In my search I came across this link, Arrl has made mp3 practice
recordings.
http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/morse.html


I did another search for MCW and came across this link: a schematic
for building an MCW oscillator
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconVall...5/mcwosc1.html

I have a 2 meter HT, but it is only FM. I have not yet heard any morse
code in FM, except for repeater call signs. Does anyone do morse code
in FM on 2 meters?

Jim

Practice CW
 

On Nov 13, 11:46 am, James Barrett wrote:
Hi, I'm learning CW, and so far have not been able to tune in the Arrl
practice frequencies. I have only a 10 meter wire antenna, and I'm
wondering if there is anyone here from the southern New England area
that knows CW that wouldn't mind some practice on the 10 meter tech
sub-band. Fair warning, I'm not up to 5 wpm yet. :)
I am usually on the air around 7pm.

My suggestion is to forget 10M, FM and VHF and get yourself some sort
of HF radio which can directly tunes the 80M W1AW code practice
sessions which should really boom your neighborhood. They're out there
for much less than the cost of another HT. This one is only a hundred
bucks brand new:

http://www.mfjenterprises.com/produc...odid=MFJ-9380K.

And you could use it to run CW on 80 after you've become a General and
if you haven't been there yet it'll also introduce you to the
wonderful world of ham radio solder smoke. Another affordable route to
HF gear is the vast used equipment market.

I can vouch for the effectiveness of the 80M W1AW code practice
sessions which took me from zip to 25WPM and beyond "back when".

Jim

Brian w3rv

Practice CW
 

"James Barrett" wrote

Hi, I'm learning CW, and so far have not been able to tune in the Arrl
practice frequencies. I have only a 10 meter wire antenna,

To what is that 10 meter wire antenna connected? If it's a regular old HF
transceiver (typically 160m - 10m) then you can use that 10 meter wire
antenna to receive on 80 meters... and you should be able to hear W1AW on
it. ?

BTW, I'm glad you're wanting to learn CW!

Howard N7SO

Practice CW
 

"James Barrett" wrote in message
ups.com...
On Nov 13, 1:11 pm, Bill Horne wrote:
James Barrett wrote:
Hi, I'm learning CW, and so far have not been able to tune in the Arrl
practice frequencies. I have only a 10 meter wire antenna, and I'm
wondering if there is anyone here from the southern New England area
that knows CW that wouldn't mind some practice on the 10 meter tech
sub-band. Fair warning, I'm not up to 5 wpm yet. :)
I am usually on the air around 7pm.

Jim

Jim,

Please tell us your callsign and grid squa at this point in the
sunspot cycle, ten meters isn't going to get much further than a CB set.

There are also other options you can pursue:

1. Use a computer and download one of several Morse study
programs. I found them indispensable for learing the
code, especially since they allow you to make custom
lists of the characters you're having trouble with.

2. If you have VHF gear, you can set up schedules with
local hams to do MCW on simplex or even with a
cooperative repeater.

3. If all else fails, you can build a modem adapter that
will allow you to practice with a friend via tele-
phone line.

HTH.

73, W1AC

--
Bill Horne

(Remove QRM from my address for direct replies.)

Hi Bill, my call sign is kb1odg, and according to the Arrl web site (I
don't have a grid map at the moment), my grid square is FN41.
I've been using a program called "Just Learn Morse Code" and it has
helped with copying code, but now I'm looking for software that can
"receive" code sent by a key.

In my search I came across this link, Arrl has made mp3 practice
recordings.
http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/morse.html


I did another search for MCW and came across this link: a schematic
for building an MCW oscillator
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconVall...5/mcwosc1.html

I have a 2 meter HT, but it is only FM. I have not yet heard any morse
code in FM, except for repeater call signs. Does anyone do morse code
in FM on 2 meters?

Jim

Jim we have sent morse code practice on our 2M repeater (or simplex) The
repeater code practice was a net and sanctioned by the repeater club and
scheduled. Or use an infrequently used simplex frequency.

You need a CPO (Code Practice Oscillator) just key up the HT and place the
CPO speaker next to the HT mic. Use the CPO to generate code audio. This
audio modulates the FM transmitter.

Or have a computer program that sends code (by list or keyboard) place HT
mic near the computer speaker.

When transmitting on the air 2M, be sure to ID your call every 10 minutes
and a short voice announcement of what you are doing. Works well. Don't use
a repeater for code practice without permission from the repeater club, best
use an infrequently used simplex frequency e.g. 147.555 MHz NOT
146.520 MHz the National Simplex Freq)

Since code requirement has been dropped from the exams, we have discontinued
the code practice nets.

Re ARRL code practice -- problem here is they send at various speeds - so
you have to wait for transmissions you can copy and practice. Why not just
get a computer program. See URL:

http://ac6v.com/morseprograms.htm

Another problem is two newbies probably send pretty sloppy code- not the way
to learn receiving.

Good luck with the code.
Lamont