Having Fun with Morse, Getting Started with CW & Getting on HF Bands with Any License

The mode of Morse Code in Amateur Radio is commonly referred to as “continuous wave” or “CW”. (This name was chosen to distinguish it from the damped wave emissions from spark transmitters, not because the transmission is continuous.)

Morse Code, No Fun! Why?

Before 1990 all Amateur Radio licenses required at least some code and up until 2007 Code Proficiency was required to have most Voice HF radio privileges. It was something you had to do.

Many learned just enough to get their license but never used it on the air, they really just wanted voice privileges. Or worse yet, they got frustrated and lost interest in Amateur Radio. Now there is no code proficiency requirement for any level of Amateur Radio license.

Fun with Code- Maybe?

So the goal of this document is...

• To get you on the HF bands as soon as possible.
• To help you get on the air using code
• To learn how it can be a fun and effective way to make contacts on HF
• No testing or shaming of your code ability

Fun with Code- Yes!

Morse Code could be Fun and Useful:

• Gets you on HF now!
• More efficient in getting contacts than SSB (especially with QRP- low power)
• Lower cost equipment & simple kits
• A very popular contesting mode
• No one knows how old you are, your gender or your accent
• Doesn’t bother spouse or other nearby (with the shouting of voice contacts)
• Did you realize you already have HF privileges with just a Tech License? Using CW- You Already Have HF Access!
• You can use CW with your Tech License!
• 80 meters    3.525 - 3.600 CW
• 40 meters    7.025 – 7.125 CW
• 15 meters  21.025 – 21.200 CW

Want to Work 6, 10 or 12 Meters But No Sunspots? Don’t Miss Your Chance with Summer E Skip and FT8.

You may have heard the doom and gloom about being in the depths of the 11 Year Sunspot Cycle:

• “No propagation above 20 Meters”
• “Ten is dead!”
• “Might as well sell the radio”
• “The sun will never return”
• “It’s 80 & 160 Meters only for the next few years”
• “#$@&%*!”

Well, the idea to concentrate on 160 and 80 Meters is a good idea, but not until late
fall or winter. In the meantime, there is a way to make contacts on 6, 10 or 12 Meters
most days of the week by taking advantage of the summer enhanced E Skip season
and the new mode of FT8.

Typically during high sunspot activity (solar flux) ionization of the F layer of the
atmosphere facilitates refraction of signals on higher HF bands allowing
worldwide communications. The E layer is below the F layer and is responsible
for a propagation type known to abnormally effect VHF and higher HF frequencies
called Sporadic E or E skip.  This happens went ionized particles appear in the
E layer of the ionosphere. Sporadic E as the name implies occurs sporadically
throughout the year and is not dependent on 11-year sunspot cycle.
In the Northern hemisphere, sporadic E activities are more frequent during the
summer months.