Let's Learn Morse Code!

Introduction

So, what exactly is "CW," "Morse Code," or simply, "Code?"
From the ARRL website

Now simply called "CW" radio communication by Morse code was the only way to communicate for the first decade or more of Amateur Radio. Radiotelegraphy, the proper name, descends from landline (wired) telegraphy of the 19th century, and retains some of the old culture, including a rich set of abbreviations and procedures. Morse sent by spark gap transmitter was the first wireless communication mode. These "damped waves" were very broad and inefficient for communication. They were soon replaced by "Continuous Wave" (CW) transmission using vacuum tube oscillators that were capable of a very pure note. Today, modern Amateur Radio transceivers use solid state components and microprocessors to support a variety of communication modes including CW, voice, image, and many digital data modes.

Let's Learn Morse Code!

After scouring the Internet, we found some interesting videos that will help you learn the dahs and dits, or should we say dots and dashes of Morse code. The first is from an interview with Ken Smith by one of our members, PG (W9RTO). It'll give you a feeling of what you're listening to and what each letter and number sounds like. As a suggestion, don't use a code chart and instead learn by the sound of the characters. Also, as a beginner, learn each character at a speed of at least 20 words per minute (abbreviated WPM) but spaced so that you'll be sending and receiving at your own speed. But don't settle on what's easy. Push yourself to learn to send and receive at least 20 WPM, if possible. Sending is easy, receiving takes practice.

In the video below, Nelson Dellis will teach you a method of learning code quickly. You'll still need to practice.

On the Radio Prepper channel, Gil (not your W9JCA.COM editor), will show you a great way to learn CW.

CW Code Practice

W1AW Code Practice MP3 Files

Curious what CW or "Code" is? Let's go there!

Listed here are links to the archived W1AW code practice files. The files are in MP3 format, playable using Windows Media Player, RealPlayer or your favorite MP3 player. Each link will open a new window on the ARRL website and allow you to choose a file to practice with. There is also a link to the text for each code practice file. The archives are updated every other week.

W1AW Frequencies

You'll find the W1AW transmissions on the following frequencies if you'd like to catch them in real time over the air:

160M: 1.8025
80M:   3.5815
40M:   7.0475
20M:   14.0475
17M:   18.0975
15M:   21.0675
10M:   28.0675
  6M:   50.3500
   2M:   147.555

Code Practice Files

The various archive files are available from the following links. Access to each archive is also available from any of these various pages, This links are live and change as the publisher updates them. Each link opens in a new page and you can close those pages to return to our site: