Quick Links
Today, we call it CW—short for Continuous Wave—but this mode of radio communication has deep roots in the earliest days of Amateur Radio.
Originally known as radiotelegraphy, CW descends from 19th-century landline telegraphy and carries forward a rich culture of abbreviations, procedures, and operator etiquette. In the early days of wireless, Morse code was sent using spark gap transmitters, producing broad, inefficient signals known as damped waves. These were soon replaced by vacuum tube oscillators, which generated a much purer tone—hence the name Continuous Wave.
For the first decade or more of ham radio, CW was the only way to communicate. Today, it remains a beloved mode among operators who value its simplicity, reliability, and legacy. Modern transceivers use solid-state components and microprocessors to support a wide range of modes:
CW (Morse code)
Voice (AM, FM, SSB)
Image (SSTV, fax)
Digital data (FT8, PSK31, RTTY, and more)
Whether you’re chasing DX or enjoying a quiet QSO, CW offers a timeless connection to the roots of radio.
Ready to master the dahs and dits—or should we say, dots and dashes—of Morse code? We’ve gathered some excellent videos to help you get started, including a standout interview with Ken Smith by JCARC member PG (W9RTO). It’s a great way to hear what each letter and number sounds like in real-world use.
Skip the code chart: Instead of memorizing visuals, train your ear to recognize the sound of each character.
Start at 20 WPM: Learn each character at a speed of at least 20 words per minute. That may sound fast, but spacing can be adjusted so you’re sending and receiving at your own pace.
Push yourself: Don’t settle for slow and easy. Aim to send and receive at 20 WPM or better. Sending is simple—receiving takes practice, but it’s worth it.
Check out the videos below to hear Morse in action and get a feel for rhythm, timing, and tone. Whether you’re prepping for your first CW QSO or just curious about the legacy of radiotelegraphy, these resources will get you off to a strong start
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.
Click on the photo of Kurt Zoglmann to go to his YouTube site
to start your journey into learning Morse code.
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: Â 3.5815
40M: Â 7.0475
20M: Â 14.0475
17M: Â 18.0975
15M: Â 21.0675
10M: Â 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:
05 WPM files   20 WPM files   7.5 WPM files Â
25 WPM files   10 WPM Files   30 WPM files
13 WPM Files   35 WPM files   15 WPM Files