Hello Everyone.
Ok, starting at 20:30 to 21:00 Local time every Tuesday until Tuesday December 1st, I will be broadcasting an FM signal on 147.360 MHz. and playing the ARRL training CD of Morse Code.
I will be attempting to get something working on EchoLink and/or Skype for those who cannot hear my station. But as of now/today, I can't seem to feed the audio well into the radio and other inputs...but I'm sure I'll solve that problem as we go.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO START: 1. Buy a pad of 1/4" graph paper, so you can write/print a single character per square as you learn to copy. 2. Some sort of recording device or computer set-up so you can record what I am going to send. 3. A quiet place to practice and or headphones for your 2 metre radio.
4. A pencil or two....
I will play 18-21 minutes of the CD audio per Tuesday Night, you will record this.
From Wednesday to Monday you will need to review the recording and practice that previous week's lesson. It is going to talk several weeks to learn all the characters.
Over the next months we will add characters, words and then string them into sentences...and work on getting your receiver up to 7-10 words per minute.
THEN....we will talk about getting a hand key or iambic keyer {paddles} and an electronic keyer. An attached file of suggested web sites is attached and you can get your equipment at any time and practice if you wish, but we won't officially start sending until you have learned the entire character set required to pass the test.
SUGGESTIONS ON LEARNING THE CODE: 1. Code is an "AUDIO" language. Memorizing a visual list of CW characters isn't going to help -- it will make it harder. 2. Learning to "speak" CW e.g. di-dah, di-dah-dah-dit, etc. may help you...but not in any written or print form. 3. From the start, either write or print each character as you learn it. Don't mix if you can avoid it. Later, when you are at 18 wpm and trying to copy onto paper, you won't have time to "read" your text as you copy, somewhat like a typist does...you will need to read your handwriting afterwards....or someone else might have to... 4. DO NOT practice more than 15-20 minutes a day. This is going to take months to learn, so short, concentrated sessions are recommended. Practice daily is far better than once a week. It will take a year if you don't practicve regularly! 5. If you have a SW receiver or your HF station is set up, CW can be heard on all HAM bands at the bottom end on each band. 6. Go to http://www.arrl.org/w1aw.html#w1awsked or http://www.smeter.net/stations/hf-code-practice.php and print out the schedule for HF on-air practice sessions. Use this to supplement your study. 7. Google Morse Code practice software and download NuMorse's "FreeMorse" or any number of "free" code practice applications for your PC or MAC. Careful, you don't have to buy one...there is a lot for free still on the Internet. 8. Start to check out e-bay, Craig's list, Ham Club websites and other swap & shop lists on the Web for good used hand keys, iambic paddles and such. Refer to the attached doc. for more places to go.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE E-MAIL ME.
WE'LL HEAR FROM YOU ON THE 13TH....
73,
Gary W. Skett, VE7AS Examiner # 1549 2431 126 Street S.Surrey, B.C. V4A 8H7 778-294-2431