The Morse Mode
Roger Cooke G3LDI talks about a change of policy at CWops before discussing other Morse-related topics.
Roger Cooke G3LDI talks about a change of policy at CWops before discussing other Morse-related topics.
The CWops activity periods are becoming supported even more here in the Norwich area. Some of this is due to the encouragement we provide for people to learn CW. That is evidenced in the amount of Morse Classes we provide in this area alone. We now have six classes promoted by the Norfolk ARC. The latest is on Friday evenings at 2000 local time on 145.250MHz and it is Morse with Doctor Phil. This is a class for raw beginners starting from scratch. Phil G4LPP has four students starting that way. Students then progress to other classes at ever increasing speed and complexity.
Once they reach a certain standard, they are encouraged to get on the air to do ‘real-time’ practice with normal QSOs. I don’t mean those meaningless 599 73 type contacts, I mean conversational CW. It tests the nerves for the first few QSOs, but after a time they enjoy it and then make real progress by sticking with CW most of the time.
Two locals have done just this and now take part in the CWops CWT activity periods on a Wednesday. These are daunting enough because lots of the participants operate at speeds in excess of 25wpm, some even at 40+wpm. However, these two locals have persevered and now take part most weeks.
The reason for mentioning this is that the requirement for becoming a member of CWops has changed from being able to conduct conversational Morse at 25wpm to just taking part in these activity periods. Even though some of the participants take part using a reader, they are still keen enough to take part.
I am not too comfortable with this latest decision, but it was not mine to take. However, I don’t nominate anybody using a reader. They have to prove that a simple exchange of a name and number is no real barrier to using that material between their ears before I will nominate.
That happens to be a personal opinion though, but in my opinion the ability to read everything without using a reader is an essential part of calling yourself a good CW operator.
Saying that, I do not mean that everybody has to be able to copy 40wpm in order to be called a good operator.
I often listen to the Old Timer’s net on 3525kHz in the mornings. The speed there is no greater than around 20wpm, but the operating and the Morse is extremely good. They are also ‘good operators’. I guess it’s horses for courses in that respect, but never frown on anybody sending at a slow speed, especially if the Morse is good.
CWCOM
If you aspire to become a good operator and live in a flat, or somewhere that forbids any antennas, live in a nursing home or similar, you must be really frustrated at not being able to get on the air and talk to friends, make new friends anywhere in the world, keep skeds and so on, in which case give this a try. It could be just what you are looking for.
I was sent this information by Gerry, who is not a licensed radio amateur but was a Royal Navy Wireless Telegraphist 1960 to1972. Gerry lives in Portsmouth and only uses straight keys, and keys at about 23wpm with about 95% accuracy.
It is possible to use paddles, and keyers too. Gerry explains: “When Morse Code was first used, the operators used simple Morse keys, like an on/off switch, to send a current down a telegraph line to a distant station. The series of on/off connections was governed by the Morse Code. It was primarily used between large towns and cities, and invariably by the railways of the time, to pass messages. As the system grew, and spread, around the various countries, it became the original internet. And so, with CWCOM we have come full circle, so to speak, as we can now use the modern version of the internet, to communicate around the world, using Morse Code.
“To this end, I have written a series of tutorials, about the setting up and configuration of the program, although there is an excellent ‘help’ page embedded in the program for quick reference.
“You can download CWCOM for free. Download the installer from:
“Scroll down the page a bit, on the righthand side is a small window: WINDOWS EXECUTABLE FILES
“Click on Windows Executable 2 files, and then choose 1.5 (latest & last version) or 1.47 (the earlier version).”
Two amateurs that have been helped by Gerry are Martin 2W0NKS in Abergele (North Wales Amateur Radio Group) and Ross M7RSS in Exeter.
E-mail from a Reader
I received this interesting e-mail from Bob Barrett, who omitted to give his callsign: “Hi! I enjoyed reading the article in PW, recommending the learning of Morse Code. Seeing as we are now well into the 21st Century, old Sam Morse must have had some shrewd ideas more than 180 years ago!
“I am in my 82nd year and received my teaching from the RAF in 1964, prior to starting my aircrew career on the Shackleton aircraft. I am sure you must have many colleagues who have also been service trained.
“The manner of our training was based on the rhythms of the signals, starting with just four letters (if I remember correctly, P-W-F-Y). The second lesson another four letters with a short test on the eight letters covered to that date. With four more letters at a time, plus some recaps/revision and
the progress tests, we worked our way through the alphabet. By then the speed had increased slightly and that was the next stage we worked upon.
We worked up to about 25wpm but 20wpm was generally an acceptable speed for a dark night in rough weather, at low level out over the Atlantic!
“I still keep up with the Code but due to illnesses over the last three years, I have been off the air for some time. I look forward to giving you a shout when I get back. Keep going, you are doing a grand job”.
New Paddles and Keys
As CW operators, our paddles are a prized possession and something to be coveted. I guess it’s a bit like the knight being proud of his sword!
Two local amateurs who have recently ‘found’ CW again and have become superkeen, have devised a weekly competition between themselves in order to improve their on-air skills. They still join our classes and are now taking part in the contests that Norfolk ARC take part in, such as the RSGB CC series and CWops.
has mounted his straight key on a block of wood with a steel base to give it weight and takes part in our SK nights on 80m. He has made a nice job of the key too, Fig. 3.
He let his enthusiasm run away with him, has bought a Begali Contour paddle, Fig. 4, and now has lots of QSOs every day using it. His ambition is to be at 25wpm and ragchew at that speed.
The other member of this duo is Mike
Mike uses a Chinese straight key, Like John, he has mounted it on a wooden base and it looks very smart.
Variously known as the D-117, the K4, or just the ‘Chinese Army Key’, these heavyduty straight keys were made for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in factories owned by the PLA, from the early 1960s to the present.
The Chinese phrase on the key’s nameplate ‘changshu dianxun qichai chang’ translates as ‘Changshu Telecommunication Equipment Factory’, which was the last of several factories to make telegraphic equipment.
John and Mike are typical of amateurs who become really enthusiastic CW ops. Their keys become their swords and become prized possessions and we are all striving to own the holy grail of keys!
Mike’s paddle is unknown but he would be interested in finding out its origin if anybody knows, Fig. 6.
It really is satisfying as a tutor to see how some ops are really taken with CW and it makes it all worthwhile.
As lots of us are in solitary confinement it would be great to see more take up CW, and more tutors take advantage of the GB2CW scheme of tuition on the air to a group from their club. It’s easy to do, free, and well worth it because you can then tutor several in a class at the same time, something that the amateur licence does not normally allow as it is termed ‘broadcasting’.
If you are interested in taking part, e-mail me at roger@g3ldi.co.uk and I can issue a letter of authorisation. The only prerequisite is that you must be an RSGB member. It is very rewarding and you will be helping promote CW.
73 and May the Morse be with you. Roger G3LDI.