Hi Guys, Just wondering if there are any new HAMS out there who like to build
CW transmitters? I've had my ticket now for about 6 months or so. I am 68
years old and having an awful time learning morse code. My elmer who lives
about six miles away was an old ww2 radio operator and can do 30wpm..
I have not tried to make any contacts because I just can't copy that fast,
and don't want to make a fool out of myself or be a nusauance on the air.
Any one else in the same boat as I am in?
I know my homebrew is working, at least out to 6 miles, with a crisp clear
chirp free tone. I only have an 80M Xtal. My antenna is homebrew also,
Like to hear from some newbies who are interested in CW.

Thanks, Gary KB3WYZ

I was in your shoes.....uhhhh 55 years ago. Don't worry about being a nuisance or making a fool of yourself. After all, how many people will be copying your CW signal anyway?? Get on the air and practice. If you send out a CQ at 5 wpm, whoever answers will come back to you at that speed. Before you know it you will be copying 8 and then 10 and then 15. You will speed up during your conversation without even realizing it. There are others in your same shoes waiting for you to get on the air !! They need you as much as you need them. Nobody ever got up to 20 without a LOT of practice and that is what the band is for.

Ed

I agree. A good op will respond at the speed you are sending at.

I'd also suggest avoiding the band edges. The high speed guys tend to congregate
in the Extra portion of the band. But if you move from say 7002 up to about 7030
or so you should find some slower speed ops. Being crystal controlled is a bit
limiting as well. You might consider adding a VFO to your HB transmitter.

Pete

Thanks guys for the encouragement. The only Xtal I have is 3555. I have a Kenwood
receiver and that Frequency is very crowded at night. Would the morning hours be a better time to try? My rig is putting out about 40W

Thanks, Gary KB3WYZ

Gary

3555 doubles to 7110 in the 40 meter band.

Sorry Norm, the Xtal is 3.550. What do you mean, IT doubles in the 40 meter band?
Not familuar with what that means?
Gary

Gary

A 3550 crystal doubles to 7100. A crystal can be used to give multiples of it's frequency. A 3550 (80 meters) crystal tuned with a coil will double to 7100 (40 meters). Amateur bands were assigned this way. 3550, 7100, 14200..

80 meters was always a tough band for me as a Novice back in the early 60s. If I knew
then what I know now, I would have gravitated to 40 meter or 15 meter CW. My
favorite picks for CW today is either 40, 30 or 17 Meters. One of most vivid Novice memories
was that of another Novice (from my high school) calling CQ on 80 meters using
his HX-10 and a Gotham vertical for hours everyday after school and never working a
station after weeks of trying. Of course 4PM was the worst time he could have picked
for propagation or activity...

Pete

Norm, is this what is known as SELF-RESONANCE ?
I built my Antenna per/K7MEM or Martin E. Meserve design, for a costom 80M ant.
for a space of 45ft. My xmtr has two coils wound for 80M. Are you saying I could
use the same arangment on 40M . Or would I have to wind 40M coils to put in
the xmtr. I have been thinking about getting a 40M xtal..Maybe I won't need to now.
I could use the same antenna???
Hope I'm not confusing you..
Thanks, Gary

Gary

Need to wind a 40 meter coil for 40 but an 80 meter crystal signal will double for use on higher multiples. Radio Amateur Handbooks from 1950's, 1960's have circuits for building transmitters. A transmitter can be made very simple for CW.

All you may have to do is use 40 meter coils with the same 3550 crystal. Expect your 80 meter antenna may work on 40.

Get on the air. If you are too slow then they won't answer. Back when I was on the air CW, I spent way more time helping others practice then I spent rag chewing.

Post your schematic if you can,

Hi Gary

Just hold your nose and jump in. We were all there once. Older guys always told me the best way to increase proficiency was to get on the air and practice.

If the bands ever come back would like to set up a sked. Sounds like we could both use the practice. I love 80 meter CW and hang out around 3550 evenings.

Will look for you.

I too would like to hear more about your rig.

73, Dave

Thanks Dave and Dennis, Go back to March 30 2012 and look for the
topic 807 CW Transmitter.. There you will see pix of my rig and the power supply I built
also. I had a few problems with this last Xmtr but you kind guys on this forum really
helped me out..Again many Thanks.

Gary KB3WYZ

Something you could also do, Gary, is to see if anyone will send "Farnsworth." What that means is the actual letters are sent at a fast speed, but are spaced to keep the 5WPM or whatever speed you're comfortable at. That will help you increase your speed. I'd offer to do it myself but I haven't had an antenna up in a few years.

Scott Todd

Hey Gary,

Don't give up the ship, but consider 40 M if you can do it, around 7030 to 7050 Kc (IMHO).

Re power: I run around only around 15 W and easily get out to 300 + mi.

I too am an ULTRA noobie on CW and still struggle some, but am gradually getting there.

FWIW I like Farnsworth at 13 WPM character speed w/ 5 WPM spacing.

Also consider the ARRL's W1AW slow speed practice transmissions and /or other WWW based practice sites.

I have wanted to do learn Morse for over 40 years and I am FINALLY getting around to it (Hi !).

Not only should you practice by actual on air QSO's, but COPY, COPY, COPY and COPY some more. You will get a good feel QSO practices and gain confidence. I can send "OK", but COPYING is still MY definite larger weaker point.

IF I (!) can do this, ANYONE can !

de N1NQC / QRS K

Thanks Krystallo for the encouragement. I think I'll try the 40 meter band. I been re-winding
all my cardboard tube coils with Pill bottles forms. Say, you say a 7030 to 7050 would be good for someone like me? What is the best time of day or night for 40 and 80 Meters?
What do you guys mean when you say, When the band opens up?
Gary, KB3WYZ

Hi Gary T.
Yes, 7030-7050 is sort of the active spot on 40 meters. 80 and 40 are both best at night - prime time hours - since that's when more guys are on the air. During the day the propagation on those two bands isn't all that good but you can still make contacts a state or two away.

The band being "open" is a relative term. Low bands like 80 and 40 are considered to open up better, as in longer distances, at night just like the AM broadcast band does. It varies but thats the general rule. To an avid DXer the long distance 'openings' may happen sporadically at any time of day on any band. I recall once hearing a guy on 75m SSB nearby to me working many Asiatic Russian stations at 10 in the morning. 75/80 is considered pretty dead at that hour but he was working over the pole and it was nighttime over there! I couldn't hear them until I realised he was working split and they were transmitting down around 3.6 MHz and he was on ~3.7. I could detect some activity but not strong enough on my antenna to work them.

That's the exception, though. 40 is a good band day and night. Having a VFO would really help. People don't listen off frequency any more these days like they did when xtals were more prevalent.

Hey Jack,

Right now hearing ANYBODY on skywave , no matter HOW close, means the band is open (at least to me. Hi).

But seriously folks, I DO hear "some" stuff on 40 during the day, but it's much better at night.

K

Hi Gary,

Here's my suggestion. Stick to 3555 for right now since you have a transmitter, receiver, and antenna that are working. Get on the air at a specific time each day - say 6:00 PM eastern time. I and I'm sure other here will listen at that time for you and even if we can't make contact with you, we can at least report here if we hear you.

Start slow at a fixed schedule with people that you know. That's what I did 50 years ago this coming September.

arnie - W1GCI

Gary

I assume you are using a resonant 1/2 wave dipole for 80 meters? 80 meter antennas
work very poorly on 40 meters, they will be a full wave and have a very high feedpoint
impedance and the system will be very lossy.

If you do try 40 meters be sure to use an antenna that will work with your 50 ohm feedline.

Pete