Morse, Digital Modes and Field Day Readiness Course Schedule#

Note: This information is preliminary. To discuss, get in touch with Greg.

Classes will be approximately 1/2-hour. Held during techie nights starting at 7:30.

Training Outline#

We want to shine in digital and CW contacts this year! To make this happen we need operators, and we'll need to train them. Topics are as follows.

Operating CW with Morse Code#

• Overview of CW and Morse Code (including "Why Morse?")
• Copying Morse Code
  • General introduction
  • Learning Morse by the Koch method using G4FON
• Sending Morse Code
  • The Straight Key
    • Setting up the Straight Key
    • American-style sending
    • European-style sending
    • Buying a key - what to look for
  • The Semi-Automatic Key (Bug)
  • Automatic Keying (Paddles)
    • Basic Paddles
    • Iambic Keying
    • Paddle Technique
• Basic Station Setup for Morse Code
  • Straight Key
  • Paddles with external keyer
  • Paddles with the radio's keyer
  • The Radio
    • Filters
    • Full Break-In vs. Semi Break-In
    • Miscellaneous Radio Features for CW
• Basic CW Operations
  • Listening for CW
  • Zero-beating a signal
  • Answering a CQ
  • Traditional rag-chew interchange
  • Prosigns, Q Signals and Abbreviations
  • Chatting
  • Signing off
  • Calling CQ
• Contests and Sprints
  • The contest exchange
  • Logging software
  • Computerized Rig Control
  • Automatic Sending
  • Station setup for Automatic Rig Control and Sending
  • Answering a contest CQ (Search-and-Pounce operation)
  • Calling CQ in contest.
• Field Day preparations

Operating with Digital Modes#

• Digital Modes Overview
• Interfacing your Computer to the Radio
• Software for Digital Modes
• Basic Digital Station Setup
• Basic Digital Operations
  • Listening for Digital Transmissions
  • Tuning a digital signal
  • Adjusting Output Levels
  • Answering a CQ
  • Traditional rag-chew interchange
  • Chatting
  • Signing off
  • Calling CQ
• Contests and Sprints
  • The contest exchange
  • Logging software
  • Computerized Rig Control
  • Station setup for Automatic Rig Control
  • Answering a contest CQ (Search-and-Pounce operation)
  • Calling CQ in contest.
• Field Day preparations