Resources

Here are some resources created by LIDS that you may find helpful:

Your First CW QSO – Feeling nervous about making your first CW contact? Here’s some tips that will help you make it a success.

Your Stories – Personal accounts from LIDS members of their experiences of learning CW. If you’re finding it difficult or feeling discouraged, read these and you’ll be ready to have another go.

icon_small_new Your Novice Accent – Helpful advice with CW procedures, pro-signs and best practice that will help you sound like a pro (or at least not such a newbie). Originally written by Keith S. Williams W6DTY and updated by Dan Romanchik KB6NU (LIDS #030).

Here are some links to external web sites that you may also find useful:

CWOps – CWOps volunteers run the very good 8-week-long CW Academy courses online three times a year, it’s well worth signing up for them to build confidence, polish rusty skills and improve your speed both sending and copying. Emphasis is on ‘head copy’ so throw that pen away!

FISTS CW Club – FISTS supports the use, preservation and education of Morse code. The club is devoted exclusively to CW operators, CW operating and people who are passionate about Morse code.

Learn CW Online – At LCWO you can learn Morse telegraphy (CW) online in your browser. You don’t need to install a program on your computer, and you always have your personal settings available, from any computer on the globe with an internet connection. You can also easily track your progress by means of different statistical functions.

Straight Key Century Club – SKCC is the fastest growing group of mechanical-key CW operators in the world. Membership is free. Check out the CW Beginner’s Corner page; it has plenty of basic information about CW operations that will help turn those first CW QSOs from jitters to joy.

Zen And The Art Of Radiotelegraphy

Morse Code Radio Operator Training “Technique of Hand Sending” – 1944 US Navy (10 min video).

Morse Machine – Android application to help you learn Morse code, by Andrea IU4APC (LIDS #045).

Reverse Beacon Network – “Am I getting out?” RBN will tell you. Think of it like WSPR for Morse code.

LidSpotter – Helping to find other members on the air.

icon_small_new Key & Paddle Reviews – If you’re considering purchasing a new Morse key or paddle, take a look at these reviews on eHam.net.

icon_small_new MorseRunner by Alex VE3NEA is a CW contest simulator for the PC. Great for practising for your first contest, or just for brushing up on your CW.

icon_small_new Morsum Magnificat – Helpful advice for new CW operators from the (sadly now defunct) magazine dedicated to Morse code.

 

If you have any suggestions for other links that we could include here then please send us a Twitter DM to @lids_cw.