Conducting A QSO - CW

Conducting A QSO – CW (cont.) Rule Number 1 – Listen Learn commonly used – Q signals & Abbreviations – See last two slides

Conducting A QSO – CW (cont.) Four methods to make a contact – Call CQ – Answer a CQ or QRZ – Joining a QSO in progress – Break in – Tail ending

Conducting A QSO – CW (cont.) Calling CQ – Listen for an open frequency Minimum of 500 Hz away from a signal After tuning the transmitter, “QRL de W4XYZ” (is the frequency in use?) If no one responds, call CQ Call at the speed you want to hear A four by two call repeated twice should be sufficient – “CQ CQ CQ CQ de W4XYZ” – If no response, repeat again

Conducting A QSO – CW (cont.) After response, call back – Basic cw template First round – K8ABC de W4XYZ tnx for call – (BT) – Name is Jack Jack – – QTH is Bluffton, SC Bluffton, SC – – Ur RST is – – Hw copy? – K8ABC de W4XYZ kn

Conducting A QSO – CW (cont.) Second Round – K8ABC de W4XYZ – Tnx Bob for nice report – – My rig is a Knwd TS 480 running 100 watts - – Ant is a dipole up 50 ft - – Temp is 75 – – Hw copy? – K8ABC de W4XYZ kn

Conducting A QSO – CW (cont.) Next Round – Feel free to discuss anything you like – Use other ham’s name at least once each transmission – Other hobbies, etc. Ending the QSO – Tnx fer fb QSO Bob – Hope to work u agn – 73 – K8ABC de W4XYZ cl

Conducting A QSO – CW (cont.) Answering a CQ or QRZ – Same procedure as calling CQ Joining a QSO in progress – Break in – Very infrequently used for beginning CW operator Difficult to keep track of more than one conversation Other operators may not be receptive Tail ending – Wait until the QSO you are listening to is over – Call the station you wish to talk to This works about half the time Each station may sign off or change frequency before you complete the call

Conducting A QSO – CW (cont.) Web Sites for CW operating – – procedures/ procedures/ – – Have Fun!

Conducting A QSO – CW (cont.) Common Q Signals QRL Is the frequency busy? QRTstop sending QRMinterferenceQRXwait, standby QRNnoise, staticQSBfading QROincrease powerQSL acknowledge receipt QRPdecrease powerQSYchange frequency QRSsend slowerQTHlocation

Conducting A QSO – CW (cont.) Common abbreviations