Intruducing:
NAQCC - the North American QRP CW Club
It's worth a look.
CQ Hams CQ Hams CQ Hams de W9JZ
Check out Morse Code and morse (pun intended). It has some good links for Morse code beginners.
BTW, what's your unique bouquet of learning styles for Morse? The answer might help in picking out CW learning aids.
To those who have Baofeng (gasp!) HT , general-purpose radios:
For dependable, computer-based programming of the Baofeng UV-5R and some of the manufacturer's other models:
Go to a reputable download site, such as SourceForge
Search for, and download, the file named Chirp_liveCD-6Feb14.exe
Click on this file to expand it to an .ISO image, then burn this image to a CD (not a DVD)
Connect your computer's USB jack to your unit, using *only* a patch cable containing an FTDI chip (ordinary patch cables will not work).
Reboot your computer from the CD which you just made. Booting will take awhile because the disk has to load the Ubuntu operating system (a flavor of Linux) into RAM. Meanwhile, you'll be regaled by a glorious, living color, picture of the UV-5R
Program the Baofeng.
When finished, log out, remove the CD, and restart your computer. You'll find that the CD has not changed your system at all.
Also, in the Editor's opinion, support from the manufacturer is spotty, at best. For best results, go to Baofeng Tech. This site is also a source of dependable FTDI cables. You can also buy one from Amazon. They usually cost about $15-$20, as compared to about $2-$8 for a non-FDI cable.
Disclaimer: The FCC does not recognize Baofeng UV-5R-based HTs as Ham radios.
Matt, our Webmaster, has an excellent Baofeng Helper page. It deals with programming the UV-5R without using a computer, and also gives programming data for many repeaters.
Mostly oriented toward, or originating from, Morse Code:
http://www.hamuniverse.com/qsignals.html
Nine years old...and has already had her first satellite QSO. According to the FCC database, she earned her first Ham license in March of 2015 (at age 8?), and currently holds a General class ticket.
Look out, world!
The following is from Bob, WA9D
I just found this idea suggested online. I am not at all sure how seriously to take it. But in case it might have relevance for you:
But putting those together people have pointed out that there might be fewer "desirable" calls available to request: Whoever has the call you would really like might just keep on owning it, whether active as a ham or not. So the suggestion was made, take this with whatever sized grain of salt you might want, that if you anticipate going for a vanity call you might be better off to look for one you like, soon.
I repeat that I have no extra knowledge about what the FCC will do nor about what effect it would have on availability of calls!
Bob ... WA9D
Further info will be welcomed. --Ed.
In 2017, a new gesynchronous satellite is planned, with Amateur Radio onboard. In effect, this will open up a new ham 'band', according to the ARRL.
If you're new to digital ham ops, these might help:
For PSK31 -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PSK31
For JT65-HF -
http://www.eham.net/articles/25604
Additional links welcomed. Just clik on 'Write a comment', above
Enter the hashtag
#AARLFD
on Facebook or Twitter. On Twitter, you don't have to join, just enter it into the search field.
Comments? Similar hashtags? Just click on 'Write a comment', above.
Time to start thinking about http://www.hamvention.org
Have you attended in the past? What was it like? Comments welcomed; just click on 'Write a comment', above