How to Make Your First Morse Code Contact

Morse code has given way to more sophisticated modes on commercial, government and military circuits, but many ham operators remain enthralled by the classic rhythms of Morse.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Morse Code Keys
• HF Radio - Ham Radio Equipment
• SWR Meter - Ham Radio Supplies
• Amateur Radio Equipment Ham Radio
• Antenna - Ham Radio Accessories
• Pencils
• Mechanical Pencils
• Notebook Papers
• Spiral Notebooks

Getting Ready

1. Plan your first contact when you have an hour or more to spare.
2. Decide whether you need your Elmer on hand to assist you.
3. Expect to be nervous.
4. Get out pencil and paper to write down Morse code as you copy it.
5. Tune your radio to a band where signals are solid and interference is minimal.
6. Listen around the band for a few minutes and determine signal quality.
7. Double-check to be sure you're within a band allocation permitted by your license class before transmitting.
8. Find a clear spot to call CQ or find a station with a strong signal calling CQ.

Calling CQ

9. Send CQ three times and sign your call letters, repeating the sequence three times.
10. Listen for 30 seconds, tuning up and down slightly from your calling frequency.
11. Repeat the CQ sequence if there is no reply.
12. Send an answering station's call letters two times and sign your call if a station replies.
13. Give a signal report to the answering station, plus your location and your name.
14. Turn contact back to your contact by sending his call, your call and the letter K.
15. Copy the contact's information.
16. Continue conversation as you desire.

Answering a Station Calling CQ

17. Tune your transceiver to the calling station's signal so that your receiver generates a tone at approximately 800 to 1,000 Hz.
18. Send the calling station's call letters two times and then your own once.
19. Listen to make certain that the calling station acknowledges your reply to the CQ.
20. Copy the calling station's report, which should begin with a report on your signal, his location and name.
21. Offer that same information when the station turns the transmission sequence over to you.
22. Add a bit more information in your reply, including a weather report or a description of your equipment.
23. Continue conversation as you desire.

Tips & Warnings

• A signal report is given in the form of RST 589. R (readability) ranges from 1 to 5 (unreadable to perfect). S (strength) ranges from 1 to 9, weakest to strongest - based on report of signal meter. T (tone) is the audio quality of the signal, 9 being a clear, bell-like tone of approximately 800 Hz, with lower numbers reported for poorer quality notes.
• Ham radio Morse code incorporates easy-to-learn shorthand, which includes abbreviations and Q signals. Some of the basic ones include de for "from," QTH for "location," QRM for "interference" and QRS for "Please send slower."
• Send Morse only at the speed you are able to receive. If you answer a station that is sending faster than you can comfortably receive, you can expect him to slow down to the speed at which you reply.
• Do not interfere with another station's signal.