W4/VP9KF - CW Links

UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage
Morse (de) Morse (fr/PDF) Morse (MoIP)

Good reading
The Art & Skill of Radio-Telegraphy William Pierpont, N0HFF (SK)
Zen and the Art of Radiotelegraphy Carlo Consoli, IK0YGJ
Massive collection of Morsum Magnificat magazine !!!

Morse Code (Wikipedia) High Speed Telegraphy (Wikipedia)

Save CW!
It was once feared that 'scrapping the morse test' would 'do in' both the HF bands and CW. This has proven, on the whole, to not be the case. However, one thing that has changed is the limiting of CW to smaller and smaller recommended segments of the bands, instead of the regime where CW could go anywhere. This is definitely a step backwards.
However, good break-in QSK CW is more at threat because of the next generation of rigs. The Flex and Anan (Apache Labs) SDR radios have some pretty awful turnaround times on CW. This appears to be because of the vast strings sent over the API interface between external control (PC or 'panel') and the 'radio'. This latency needs to be addressed in other new rigs before degradation is allowed to go too far. There should be absolutely no reason why CW at 30wpm+ should tax the interface of either the computer inside the rig or any that are external, provided the API is thought out properly. Before it's too late you should e-mail manufacturers and make sure that CW isn't defeated by digital (SLOW!) modes. The horse has bolted on some of these; Flex, Apache, while some others may be saved before they finalise their architecture, notably Elecraft's K4.
Others, such as IC7610, IC7300 and Expert MB-1 are 'out there' but I don't personally know how they perform.
We can now add: SunSDR2 DX, Elad Duo-X, more coming......

CW Clubs - everything about CW clubs can now be seen at this link.

Club images/logos on this page © Copyright original owners

I'm a member of the following clubs:
Club membership

I operate
only CW

CW Links

4SQRP

9AQRP

A1 Club (JA)

CQC

CQCW

CTC

CWJF

ECWARC

FFQRP

FISTS

FPQRP

LIDS

NAQCC

SSN

Notes on QRQ

No. 1945

No. 161
& 162

No.1745

No. 1029

No. 571

No. 3224
& 3225

No. 790

No. 450

No. 102

No. 19223

No. 4128

No. 231

No. 9881

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GPCW

A1A

CCT

NEQRP

NOC

NZQRP

QRQcw

RCWC

SKCC

SOC

TBDXC

WAB

GRT

FoCocw groups.io

MORSE

No. 044?

No. 253

No. 200

No. 855

No. 1

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No. 1211

No. 20141

No. 1000

No. 900

No. 1496

No. 1442

-only-

No. 020

Morse Practice Software

Moved to the Latest Applications page (Ham area - Applications - Morse)

Morse Practice (Online)

(I'm currently at callsigns: 44wpm and approaching my on-air [noisy] rate of 48wpm)

Zoom and Skype are used for one-on-one tutorials by some groups
Also OVSV CW School Graz

CW Contests Calendar

Different keying methods

It's pretty hard to find "one key does all".

Morse Practice Hardware

Simple Oscillators (CPO): Kent kit, MorseX kit, 555 oscillator diagram, K1EL Code Practice Oscillator kit, G0TDJ osc. Breadboard Radio
Super Simple CPO [this is great - made one of my own with 2N3904. Worked first time. All junk box components, cost $0] Phoenix
A seriously clean Oscillator: KF7CX circuit (based on Smooth Tone Osc). Also Twin T CPO.
More complex trainers: Morserino, K1EL Morse Tutor/Keyer kit, MFJ (various, quite expen$ive), Arduino CW Trainer N4TL (simplified)

Electronic Keyers
With USB interface: Mortty nanoKeyer (+Arduino Nano v3.0/FTDI) K3NG info TinyKeyer K1EL Open CW Keyer (hamshop.cz) Funtronics K3NG
No USB interface: Ultra PicoKeyer PicoKeyer Plus Logikey 4SQRP OZ1JHM Accu Arduino Tortukeyer N1KSN PIC Phoenix
More: Microham Mtechnologies Jackson Harbor Press MFJ QRPworks

Keys, Bugs, Sideswipers and Paddles
CW everywhere......
Quite a few make their own keys (here are some [W6FIF, NA6O, NV1Q & WB2LQF]). Many go on to be on sale.
W.R. Smith
Schurr -Scheunemann Vibroplex / Bencher Begali Kent G4ZPY N2DAN (SK) Chevron Imel M1 RA Manufacturing Bulldog
WK4DS I1QOD LC Variable N3ZN Keys American Morse Equipment NT9K Plastic Concepts STAMPFL hamshop.cz KC9ON Nye/Viking uniHAM
UR5CDX Paddlette HA8KF CT Hand Keys Whiterook IK1OJM VizKey W1SFR GHD CWMorse QRPGuys K8RA (SK) March Magnetic Paddles GM0EUL Te-Ne-Ke

Coastal Radio stations
Maritime Radio Historical Society (USA)
Maritime Radio NZ (ZL)

Telegraph (not radiotelegraphy)
Telegraph History 3D printing taken to ridiculous lengths!

Morse Online (live)
Virtual channel (CWCOM)
iCW (via QRQcw)

HST - High Speed Telegraphy
HST 2019 World Championship - September 2019
HST 2020 World Championship - August 2020 Cancelled due to COVID-19

CW Club membership statistics

CW Club stats

Interesting? 'Minority' interest clubs dominate - *Straight key and QRP.
*Paid-for clubs are held back - notably CWops. *Speed, size or other limitation.