Western Pennsylvania CW Beginners Net
The purpose of this net is to give CW
beginners an opportunity to make real CW QSOs in a controlled
environment, even before they achieve a rapid Morse Code receiving
speed. Initial check-in will be via USB radiotelephone. The chosen
frequencies assume that participants have at least a Technician Class
license.
Note that FCC regulations do not distinguish between the terms Morse Code and CW, so we will use the terms interchangeably here.
Tentative Net schedule: Wednesday Evenings, 8:30 local time. I am open to suggestions for different net meeting times should this time be inconvenient. 28,300 kHz; USB check-in. Vertical polarization is best. If the frequency is in use, we will meet at 28,303, or 28,306 or 28,309, etc., moving higher until an open frequency is found. When the net transfers from SSB to CW, we will QSY to 28,298 kHz.
We will operate in accordance with the Farnsworth/Koch theories of learning CW: Characters will be sent at 13 wpm, spaced so that the average speed is 5 wpm. If you have a way of determining your transmitting speed, be sure to practice sending your characters at 13 wpm. The average CW transmitting speed has been chosen from the assumption that operators have not practiced CW receiving to any great degree.
Preparation for the net:
Before your first check into the net:
Practice sending, especially your callsign, (off-air!). This means that you need a CW “straight” key and a code practice oscillator or buzzer.
Obtain any needed connector or adapter to connect your straight key to your HF transmitter.
You need to be able to recognize your callsign when you are called by the net control station.
Learn to send the callsign of the net control station, normally N2EM.
Know the procedure signals DE, K, R, BT, and SK. Be sure that you can send them clearly. You won’t need them all for this net, but as a CW operator you will also need to know them, as well as the telegraphic laugh, HI.
Know the RST system:
R: 1 to 5. R-1 means “impossible to read” (You’ll never use a 1.) and R-5 means “perfectly readable.” “Readability” refers to how well the signal stands out from the background noise. Your readability rating should not be influenced by your CW receiving speed or the quality of the other guy’s keying.
S: 1 to 9. S comes from your receiver’s S-meter if it has one; otherwise give an estimate. For estimates, S-1 is very weak, probably just detectable in the noise. S-7 is fairly strong. S-9 is very strong.
T: 1 to 9. A pure whistle is T-9. If a signal has no trace of a whistle, it’s T-1. Higher numbers are better than lower numbers. Your tone rating (given by the other station) should always be a 9. If you start receiving T ratings lower than 9, you need to repair your transmitter. Low T ratings often mean trouble in your transmitter’s power supply.
The best possible RST is 599.
Optional,
If time allows, memorize the Morse Code: all 26 letters, 10 numerals, and the special characters: . , ? / @
Prep for your Net check-in:
Print a cheat-sheet with all the Morse characters, the Q-signals, and the ICAO (NATO) phonetic alphabet. Keep it at hand during the net.
Have writing paper and pencil handy for copying CW from the net.
If there is anything that you know in advance that you want to say over CW, write it out before the net meeting. Beginners may have a hard time spelling things out in CW during a QSO.
Net procedures:
At start of the net, the net control station will announce the net and its purpose, and then invite check-ins. At this time, stations who wish to participate will call net control, giving their callsigns. After allowing time for all who wish to check into the net, net control will announce the callsigns that he has copied. Then he will invite anyone whose call sign had not been copied by net control to try checking in again. Once it is clear that all have been checked in, net control will begin the business of the day, including any announcements. Upon your first check-in to the net, net control will ask for your email address so that you may be notified about any cancellation of the weekly net.
All stations then change mode from USB to CW, and QSY to the CW frequency.
Net control will contact each station, one at a time. A sample exchange is given in the next section.
Next, net control will call the next checked-in station and have a similar exchange. This will be repeated for each station, until all stations have had their turn.
Then all stations revert to USB. The net control station will discuss the net session, and finally close the net.
Typical NET Procedure
“Calling the Western Pennsylvania CW Beginners Net. Calling the Western Pennsylvania CW Beginners Net. This is N2EM, November Two Echo Mike, in Slippery Rock, net control. This net exists to allow those who wish to become CW operators to start their CW experience in a controlled, slow-speed environment. All stations are welcome to participate. We will take check-ins on single sideband, and later switch to CW on 28,298 kHz.”
“This is N2EM, November two Echo Mike, net control. We will now take check-ins. Stations that wish to check into the net may check in at this time.”
Participating stations: Wait for dead air, then transmit net control’s callsign (normally N2EM), “this is” and your callsign twice, once in letters and again in phonetics. For example, KC3ABC might check in saying, “N2EM, this is KC3ABC, Kilo Charlie Three Alpha Bravo Charlie.”
“Net control acknowledges KC3ABC, …
Are there any other stations still wishing to check in? Please call N2EM at this time.”
Once again, stations who wish to participate, but who have not yet been acknowledged by net control, can check in as above. Already-acknowledged stations should stand by.
“I will explain our net procedures. Soon, we will all switch to CW mode and QSY to 28,298. Then, I will call the stations who have checked in, one at a time. When you are called, call me back. I will then call you again, giving you a signal report, your RST. Then you call me back giving me my signal report. I will then send you a final exchange with a “73”, sign our callsigns, and give you a ‘dit dit’ indicating the end of our QSO. You respond with just another ‘dit dit’ and we are done. After your QSO with net control, stand by while net control talks to each of the other stations in the net.”
“All stations QSY to 28398 CW.”
Please be patient. The CW portion of the net may take substantial time at 5 wpm, especially if the number of check-ins is large.
Assuming the first station on the list is KC3ABC, the CW exchanges with net control will start something like this:
Net Control: KC3ABC KC3ABC DE N2EM K
The above transmission will be repeated should KC3ABC not reply. As a CW beginner, KC3ABC may not recognize his/her callsign when first called.
KC3ABC: N2EM DE KC3ABC K
Net Control: KC3ABC DE N2EM R BT RST 589 589 BT KC3ABC DE N2EM K
KC3ABC: N2EM DE KC3ABC R BT RST 599 599 BT N2EM DE KC3ABC K
Net Control: KC3ABC DE N2EM R BT FB FRED 73 SK KC3ABC DE N2EM EE
KC3ABC: EE
(Net control has a similar QSO with each station checked in.)
Net control: NET QSY 28300 USB (After each station has had its QSO)
(After each station has had its QSO with net control, the net will QSY back to the USB frequency, normally 28,300 kHz, upper sideband.)
(Net control’s comments on the evening’s activities)
“Does any station have something to say? If so, call N2EM at this time.
:
: ...”
“This is N2EM, November Two Echo Mike, closing the Western Pennsylvania CW Beginners Net, and returning this frequency to regular Amateur use. Good evening everyone.”
Cheat Sheet:
ICAO Phonetic Alphabet:
Alpha Echo India Mike Quebec Uniform Yankee
Bravo Foxtrot Juliet November Romeo Victor Zulu
Charlie Golf Kilo Oscar Sierra Whisky
Delta Hotel Lima Papa Tango X-ray
The International Morse Code:
While they are written here as dots and dashes, remember that Morse is a language of short and long sounds. Thus, A is spoken (and memorized) as di-dah, not as dot dash.
A •— L •—•• W •— — 0 — — — — —
B —••• M — — X —••— 1 •— — — —
C —•—• N —• Y —•— — 2 ••— — —
D —•• O — — — Z — —•• 3 •••— —
E • P •— —• . •—•—•— 4 ••••—
F ••—• Q — —•— , — —••— — 5 •••••
G — —• R •—• ? ••— —•• 6 —••••
H •••• S ••• - —••••— 7 — —•••
I •• T — / —••—• (DN) 8 — — —••
J •— — — U ••— @ •— —•—• (AC) 9 — — — —•
K —•— V •••— Error ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙
Procedure Signals:
Overlining indicates that the signal is a single character, with the two letters run together with no dah-sized space within it. Thus AR is sent as •—•—•. Note that some procedure signals are actually little-used special characters such as “<”.
K, Over. I am now listening for the station I called, and perhaps others.
KN, Over. I will be listening for only the station I have called.
R, Roger. I have copied everything you sent.
AR, End of message. Often used at the end of a call to a CQing station.
AS, Wait.
SK, Out. End of QSO.
CL, Shutting down my station.
BK, Break. Used when switching between transmitting and receiving without signing callsigns.
Sometimes sent as BK.
BT, Break between thoughts. Avoid the use of periods.
DE, From. Used before the callsign of an identifying station.
CQ, General call to all stations. Any other station may answer a CQing station.
EE, Two bits. End of “Shave and a haircut,...” Commonly used by both stations at the
end of a QSO.
Common Q Signals:
QRL, Is this frequency in use. Any reply whatsoever means “Yes.”
QRM, You are being interfered with.
QRN, I am being troubled with static.
QRS, Send more slowly. n words per minute.
QST, General call to all Radio Amateurs.
QRX, Call me later. On phone, it means “wait.” On CW use AS for “wait.”
QRZ, Who is calling me? Often used when you know you have been called, but didn't copy the
callsign of the calling station.
QSB, Your signal is fading (in and out).
QSD, Your keying is defective.
QLF, (Unofficial.) Your keying is so bad that sending with your left foot might be an improvement.
QSL, I confirm receipt. Similar in meaning to R.
QSO, Establish contact with station call. A contact.
QST, General call to all Radio Amateurs.
QSY, Change frequency to f kHz.
QSY, Change frequency down n kHz. Similarly, QSY down n.
QTH, My location is ____.
Some Net Q Signals (QN Signals)
QNI, The net control station asking stations to check into the net.
QNX, A net member station asking permission to check out of the net.
“QNX” from net control indicates permission for the station to leave.
QNO, A net member station checking out of the net.
CW Abbreviations
73 Best wishes HV have
88 Love and Kisses (Send to YOUR HW how wife or girlfriend only!) LID poor operator
? Repetition follows. N no
ABT about NIL nothing
ADR address NR number
AGN again NW now
ANT antenna OB old boy
B4 before OM old man
BCNU I'll be seeing you OP operator
C yes OT old-timer
CFM confirm, I confirm PSE please
CPY copy PWR power
CU see you RCVR, RX receiver
CUL see you later RFI radio frequency interference
CW continuous wave, radiotelegraph RIG station equipment
DX distance, foreign stations SASE self-addressed stamped envelope
ES and (American Morse “&”) SIG signal
FB fine business SRI sorry
FR, FER for T zero
GA go ahead TKS, TNX thanks
GB good-bye TT that
GE good evening TU thank you
GG going UR your, you're
GM good morning URS yours
GN good night VY very
GND ground WX weather
GUD good XCVR transceiver
HI telegraphic laugh XMTR, TX transmitter
HPE hope XYL wife, married woman
HR here YL young lady
More help for people who want to jump start this.Note that FCC regulations do not distinguish between the terms Morse Code and CW, so we will use the terms interchangeably here.
Tentative Net schedule: Wednesday Evenings, 8:30 local time. I am open to suggestions for different net meeting times should this time be inconvenient. 28,300 kHz; USB check-in. Vertical polarization is best. If the frequency is in use, we will meet at 28,303, or 28,306 or 28,309, etc., moving higher until an open frequency is found. When the net transfers from SSB to CW, we will QSY to 28,298 kHz.
We will operate in accordance with the Farnsworth/Koch theories of learning CW: Characters will be sent at 13 wpm, spaced so that the average speed is 5 wpm. If you have a way of determining your transmitting speed, be sure to practice sending your characters at 13 wpm. The average CW transmitting speed has been chosen from the assumption that operators have not practiced CW receiving to any great degree.
Preparation for the net:
Before your first check into the net:
Practice sending, especially your callsign, (off-air!). This means that you need a CW “straight” key and a code practice oscillator or buzzer.
Obtain any needed connector or adapter to connect your straight key to your HF transmitter.
You need to be able to recognize your callsign when you are called by the net control station.
Learn to send the callsign of the net control station, normally N2EM.
Know the procedure signals DE, K, R, BT, and SK. Be sure that you can send them clearly. You won’t need them all for this net, but as a CW operator you will also need to know them, as well as the telegraphic laugh, HI.
Know the RST system:
R: 1 to 5. R-1 means “impossible to read” (You’ll never use a 1.) and R-5 means “perfectly readable.” “Readability” refers to how well the signal stands out from the background noise. Your readability rating should not be influenced by your CW receiving speed or the quality of the other guy’s keying.
S: 1 to 9. S comes from your receiver’s S-meter if it has one; otherwise give an estimate. For estimates, S-1 is very weak, probably just detectable in the noise. S-7 is fairly strong. S-9 is very strong.
T: 1 to 9. A pure whistle is T-9. If a signal has no trace of a whistle, it’s T-1. Higher numbers are better than lower numbers. Your tone rating (given by the other station) should always be a 9. If you start receiving T ratings lower than 9, you need to repair your transmitter. Low T ratings often mean trouble in your transmitter’s power supply.
The best possible RST is 599.
Optional,
If time allows, memorize the Morse Code: all 26 letters, 10 numerals, and the special characters: . , ? / @
Prep for your Net check-in:
Print a cheat-sheet with all the Morse characters, the Q-signals, and the ICAO (NATO) phonetic alphabet. Keep it at hand during the net.
Have writing paper and pencil handy for copying CW from the net.
If there is anything that you know in advance that you want to say over CW, write it out before the net meeting. Beginners may have a hard time spelling things out in CW during a QSO.
Net procedures:
At start of the net, the net control station will announce the net and its purpose, and then invite check-ins. At this time, stations who wish to participate will call net control, giving their callsigns. After allowing time for all who wish to check into the net, net control will announce the callsigns that he has copied. Then he will invite anyone whose call sign had not been copied by net control to try checking in again. Once it is clear that all have been checked in, net control will begin the business of the day, including any announcements. Upon your first check-in to the net, net control will ask for your email address so that you may be notified about any cancellation of the weekly net.
All stations then change mode from USB to CW, and QSY to the CW frequency.
Net control will contact each station, one at a time. A sample exchange is given in the next section.
Next, net control will call the next checked-in station and have a similar exchange. This will be repeated for each station, until all stations have had their turn.
Then all stations revert to USB. The net control station will discuss the net session, and finally close the net.
Typical NET Procedure
“Calling the Western Pennsylvania CW Beginners Net. Calling the Western Pennsylvania CW Beginners Net. This is N2EM, November Two Echo Mike, in Slippery Rock, net control. This net exists to allow those who wish to become CW operators to start their CW experience in a controlled, slow-speed environment. All stations are welcome to participate. We will take check-ins on single sideband, and later switch to CW on 28,298 kHz.”
“This is N2EM, November two Echo Mike, net control. We will now take check-ins. Stations that wish to check into the net may check in at this time.”
Participating stations: Wait for dead air, then transmit net control’s callsign (normally N2EM), “this is” and your callsign twice, once in letters and again in phonetics. For example, KC3ABC might check in saying, “N2EM, this is KC3ABC, Kilo Charlie Three Alpha Bravo Charlie.”
“Net control acknowledges KC3ABC, …
Are there any other stations still wishing to check in? Please call N2EM at this time.”
Once again, stations who wish to participate, but who have not yet been acknowledged by net control, can check in as above. Already-acknowledged stations should stand by.
“I will explain our net procedures. Soon, we will all switch to CW mode and QSY to 28,298. Then, I will call the stations who have checked in, one at a time. When you are called, call me back. I will then call you again, giving you a signal report, your RST. Then you call me back giving me my signal report. I will then send you a final exchange with a “73”, sign our callsigns, and give you a ‘dit dit’ indicating the end of our QSO. You respond with just another ‘dit dit’ and we are done. After your QSO with net control, stand by while net control talks to each of the other stations in the net.”
“All stations QSY to 28398 CW.”
Please be patient. The CW portion of the net may take substantial time at 5 wpm, especially if the number of check-ins is large.
Assuming the first station on the list is KC3ABC, the CW exchanges with net control will start something like this:
Net Control: KC3ABC KC3ABC DE N2EM K
The above transmission will be repeated should KC3ABC not reply. As a CW beginner, KC3ABC may not recognize his/her callsign when first called.
KC3ABC: N2EM DE KC3ABC K
Net Control: KC3ABC DE N2EM R BT RST 589 589 BT KC3ABC DE N2EM K
KC3ABC: N2EM DE KC3ABC R BT RST 599 599 BT N2EM DE KC3ABC K
Net Control: KC3ABC DE N2EM R BT FB FRED 73 SK KC3ABC DE N2EM EE
KC3ABC: EE
(Net control has a similar QSO with each station checked in.)
Net control: NET QSY 28300 USB (After each station has had its QSO)
(After each station has had its QSO with net control, the net will QSY back to the USB frequency, normally 28,300 kHz, upper sideband.)
(Net control’s comments on the evening’s activities)
“Does any station have something to say? If so, call N2EM at this time.
:
: ...”
“This is N2EM, November Two Echo Mike, closing the Western Pennsylvania CW Beginners Net, and returning this frequency to regular Amateur use. Good evening everyone.”
Cheat Sheet:
ICAO Phonetic Alphabet:
Alpha Echo India Mike Quebec Uniform Yankee
Bravo Foxtrot Juliet November Romeo Victor Zulu
Charlie Golf Kilo Oscar Sierra Whisky
Delta Hotel Lima Papa Tango X-ray
The International Morse Code:
While they are written here as dots and dashes, remember that Morse is a language of short and long sounds. Thus, A is spoken (and memorized) as di-dah, not as dot dash.
A •— L •—•• W •— — 0 — — — — —
B —••• M — — X —••— 1 •— — — —
C —•—• N —• Y —•— — 2 ••— — —
D —•• O — — — Z — —•• 3 •••— —
E • P •— —• . •—•—•— 4 ••••—
F ••—• Q — —•— , — —••— — 5 •••••
G — —• R •—• ? ••— —•• 6 —••••
H •••• S ••• - —••••— 7 — —•••
I •• T — / —••—• (DN) 8 — — —••
J •— — — U ••— @ •— —•—• (AC) 9 — — — —•
K —•— V •••— Error ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙
Procedure Signals:
Overlining indicates that the signal is a single character, with the two letters run together with no dah-sized space within it. Thus AR is sent as •—•—•. Note that some procedure signals are actually little-used special characters such as “<”.
K, Over. I am now listening for the station I called, and perhaps others.
KN, Over. I will be listening for only the station I have called.
R, Roger. I have copied everything you sent.
AR, End of message. Often used at the end of a call to a CQing station.
AS, Wait.
SK, Out. End of QSO.
CL, Shutting down my station.
BK, Break. Used when switching between transmitting and receiving without signing callsigns.
Sometimes sent as BK.
BT, Break between thoughts. Avoid the use of periods.
DE, From. Used before the callsign of an identifying station.
CQ, General call to all stations. Any other station may answer a CQing station.
EE, Two bits. End of “Shave and a haircut,...” Commonly used by both stations at the
end of a QSO.
Common Q Signals:
QRL, Is this frequency in use. Any reply whatsoever means “Yes.”
QRM, You are being interfered with.
QRN, I am being troubled with static.
QRS, Send more slowly. n words per minute.
QST, General call to all Radio Amateurs.
QRX, Call me later. On phone, it means “wait.” On CW use AS for “wait.”
QRZ, Who is calling me? Often used when you know you have been called, but didn't copy the
callsign of the calling station.
QSB, Your signal is fading (in and out).
QSD, Your keying is defective.
QLF, (Unofficial.) Your keying is so bad that sending with your left foot might be an improvement.
QSL, I confirm receipt. Similar in meaning to R.
QSO, Establish contact with station call. A contact.
QST, General call to all Radio Amateurs.
QSY, Change frequency to f kHz.
QSY, Change frequency down n kHz. Similarly, QSY down n.
QTH, My location is ____.
Some Net Q Signals (QN Signals)
QNI, The net control station asking stations to check into the net.
QNX, A net member station asking permission to check out of the net.
“QNX” from net control indicates permission for the station to leave.
QNO, A net member station checking out of the net.
CW Abbreviations
73 Best wishes HV have
88 Love and Kisses (Send to YOUR HW how wife or girlfriend only!) LID poor operator
? Repetition follows. N no
ABT about NIL nothing
ADR address NR number
AGN again NW now
ANT antenna OB old boy
B4 before OM old man
BCNU I'll be seeing you OP operator
C yes OT old-timer
CFM confirm, I confirm PSE please
CPY copy PWR power
CU see you RCVR, RX receiver
CUL see you later RFI radio frequency interference
CW continuous wave, radiotelegraph RIG station equipment
DX distance, foreign stations SASE self-addressed stamped envelope
ES and (American Morse “&”) SIG signal
FB fine business SRI sorry
FR, FER for T zero
GA go ahead TKS, TNX thanks
GB good-bye TT that
GE good evening TU thank you
GG going UR your, you're
GM good morning URS yours
GN good night VY very
GND ground WX weather
GUD good XCVR transceiver
HI telegraphic laugh XMTR, TX transmitter
HPE hope XYL wife, married woman
HR here YL young lady
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