Well well, what is going on? Student's rebellion? Heat stroke? Can't stand the pace? Looks like my hat has a reprieve!! I do hope it is short lived.
Beginners 25wpm CW report Tuesday 4th August 2020
Well it seems the holiday season has got the better of our CW sessions this week with a no show from the students. It turns out that there were some good reasons and the only damage is that Roger has turned the cooker off, so his hat is no longer simmering.
I was thinking of stopping the sessions until September, but would really like to make use of the lockdown extra time we have to spend doing something productive. So the plan is to keep going with the revision and probably focus on QSO examples and perhaps some common words. So don’t forget, every Tuesday at 8pm on GB3NB. I am always available for one to one practice QSOs and a quick call on 145.450 will find me to set up a sked, or if preferred, email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Instead of setting 100 lines for a no show, I would like to think that you are all busy getting some good time practicing with those paddles sending complete words so that we get rid of the tendency to pause part way through a word. So, take a piece of text, a send each word many times as a single stri ng with no gaps, then when correct move on to the next one… easy.
73 de Jim
g3yla
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Morse Code ain't dead, dude!
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The truth is that Morse code is very much an active mode, with a utility still applicable in this day and age. Preppers know this: when computer networks go down, and when modern communications technology fails, Morse code can be generated, transmitted, received, and decoded with the most minimal of technology.
Not only that, but the efficiency of CW (continuous wave modulation, A1A) in terms of propagation is impressive. Morse code can be effectively used to communicate over much greater distances than voice modes and many digital modes, using the same equipment, antenna, and power levels.
In terms of general use, take a look at the activity typical of an evening on shortwave bands:
Video: https://youtu.be/d6KkSBfc_Vg
The aim of the SARL HF Contests is for participants to contact as many amateurs in Southern Africa as possible on the 20, 40 and 80 meter amateur bands. There are three contests that you can take part in, starting with the HF Phone contest on Sunday 2 August, the HF Digital contest on Sunday 16 August and the HF CW contest on Sunday 30 August. Each contest runs from 14:00 to 17:00 UTC on each Sunday.
You can participate as a Single Operator Single Band, a Single Operator All Band, a Multi Operator Single Band, or a Multi Operator All Band (MOAB) station. Multi operator stations do not have to operate from the same location. The exchange is an RS, RSQ or RST report and a consecutive serial number starting at 001. MOAB stations may have a separate serial number per band.
Each QSO counts 1 point, with 2 points for each call area worked per band and 2 points for each station worked on all three bands. Trophies are awarded to the first place and the highest single band score in each contest and there is a trophy for the highest combined score in all three contests. A trophy is awarded to the Phone contestant in his or her first year of operating achieving the highest score, while trophies are awarded to the radio amateur under the age of 25 and to the YL achieving the highest score in the three contests.
"The SARL working for the future of Amateur Radio!"
Bulletins can be found at https://sarlnewsbulletin.wordpress.com/
"What are YOU doing for Amateur Radio?"
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Congratulations!
The Essex CW Club has been awarded the CWops 2020 Award For Advancing The Art Of CW.
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The CWOPS CWT activity periods are very well attended now, even on the early morning ones, three of us at least turn up. There were five of us this week, Phil G4LPP, Peter M0RYB, Mike G4DYC, Chris G4CCX ( who managed to turn out of bed for a second time!) and myself. Propagation on 40 metres at that time of day is pretty good, the band was full of USA station at good signal strengths. However, they do have a major static problem and it is difficult to get contacts with 80 watts and a dipole. Having a linear helps considerably. 80 metres was not bad either, but not too many there.
With lockdown, it is a super time to learn CW, but it does need the Big P word!!
Think about joining the CW Academy. It helps people learn from scratch and in your own time. You can find all the details here:
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https://cwops.org/cw-academy/
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There is no cost or obligation to participate in CWops CW Academy Classes and membership is not required. Enrollment is open to anyone with the desire to learn or improve their proficiency in Morse Code.
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Please Note: CW Academy training and mentoring for Beginners and those with Morse Code experience needing help are offered three times a year, in two-month increments:
Jan-Feb; Apr-May; Sep-Oct
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You can even have a preliminary chat before making any decision.
Sign up now to talk with one of our CWops CW Advisors and learn what CW Academy can do for you.
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It will soon be time for the CW OPS Open, held on the first Saturday in September. This is a serious contest, with three four-hour periods. It is great fun however, and four hours is not too long, especially in Lockdown!! Take a look on the CW OPS web site.
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www.cwops.org
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"My Favourite Keys"
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No input = no output
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I don't have any more pictures of keys from anybody so I guess we have reached saturation, unless YOU know different?
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FISTS are doing their bit to stir up some activity on the bands. Their Ladder remains as popular as ever, as does their straight key events.
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Headcopy Class is changing.We are trying a new format, One-to-One QSOs. We will have feedback on 145.250 and try to encourage a conversational type QSO, starting out at about 20 wpm. This should then give some incentive to have more QSOs on the HF bands with other amateurs that are not known.
THis is proving to be very useful and a good method for gaining experience. Join us on a Monday morning, and try a QSO yourself. It is good practice and after a few of these willgive you the confidence to go on and make other QSOs.
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So, join us at 1000 on Monday mornings and have some fun. GOTA is the accronym to apply here, Get On The Air and make more Qs.
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The lyf so short, the craft so longe to lerne (Chaucer)
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73 de Roger, G3LDI GB2CW Coordinator. May the Morse be with you.