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Friday, May 31, 2013

One Stop Reference For Shortwave Listeners

I would like to share about this website that i used a lot when doing shortwave listening on my free time.

This website is very good, it can show you transmitting station on current time or anytime you desire to hear and also their frequencies.

Important information such as name of station, languages, location also showed. Too many to tell, you better read their instructions here http://www.short-wave.info/index.php?feature=instructions

here are some screenshots




go now, http://www.short-wave.info

eepKeyer - Amateur Radio Contest CW Keyer For Linux

eepKeyer is a fully functional CW contest keyer for linux. It is fully intergrated with cwdaemon and xlog programms to give full CW keying and logging functions.

It has innovative design that allows maximum user customization with three banks of F keys for fast mode switching.

User can also use it as a CW keyboard keyer and set their preferable CW speed.



eepKeyer was developer by Mike K6EEP. Try it today, source code available here http://www.hamsoftware.org/

Thursday, May 30, 2013

9M2SE Recruitment



Malaysian Special Expedition Team now looking for new operators. If you are interested on portable operation, contesting, expedition and dxing, please contact 9m2pju  (at) g m a i l dot c o m

Criteria we were looking for

1. Certified amateur radio operator
2. Interested on high frequencies operation
3. Willing to travel outside own QTH
4. Having no issue with food, living place or operating conditions
5. Interested on portable operation, expedition, Islands On The Air (IOTA), Summits On The Air (SOTA), DXCC chasing and also contesting
6. Having HF transceivers and HF antennas are bonus
7. Willing to learn and share knowledge

If you are one of above, don't hesitate to contact us.

Lets enjoy our hobby and let the spirit alive!

http://9m2se.blogspot.com/

http://www.qrz.com/db/9M2SE




Wednesday, May 29, 2013

FreeDV: Digital Voice for HF


Introduction


FreeDV is a GUI application for Windows, Linux and MacOS (BSD and Android in development) that allows any SSB radio to be used for low bit rate digital voice.

Speech is compressed down to 1600 bit/s then modulated onto a 1.25 kHz wide 16QPSK signal which is sent to the Mic input of a SSB radio. On receive, the signal is received by the SSB radio, then demodulated and decoded by FreeDV. Communications should be readable down to 2 dB S/N, and long-distance contacts are reported using 1-2 watts power.

FreeDV was built by an international team of Radio Amateurs working together on coding, design, user interface and testing. FreeDV is open source software, released under the GNU Public License version 2.1. The FDMDV modem and Codec 2 Speech codec used in FreeDV are also open source.



Why FreeDV?


Amateur Radio is transitioning from analog to digital, much as it transitioned from AM to SSB in the 1950's and 1960's. How would you feel if one or two companies owned the patents for SSB, then forced you to use their technology, made it illegal to experiment with or even understand the technology, and insisted you stay locked to it for the next 100 years? That's exactly what was happening with digital voice. But now, hams are in control of their technology again!

FreeDV is unique as it uses 100% Open Source Software, including the audio codec. No secrets, nothing proprietary! FreeDV represents a path for 21st century Amateur Radio where Hams are free to experiment and innovate, rather than a future locked into a single manufacturers closed technology.

Demo Video




Here is what you need:


  • A SSB receiver or transceiver
  • FreeDV software, download links are below.
  • A Windows or Linux PC with one (receive only) or two sound cards.
  • Cables to connect your PC to your SSB radio.


Test your Transmitter Frequency Response


When you play this 10 second 1 kHz to 2 kHz sweep .wav file(external link) through your transmitter, the power level should remain constant. If not, look for filtering and processing to turn off.

Connecting Your Radio


If you are lucky enough to have a "9600" input and output on your radio, this is the best connection for every digital mode, even 1200 packet, and your audio box should be configured for 9600 or "no pre-emphasis/de-emphasis" if it has that setting. If the radio's configuration menu has a 1200/9600 setting, leave it permanently on 9600.

The "9600" and "1200" settings are misnamed. "9600" should really be called "direct connection", and "1200" should be called "pre-emphasis". The pre-emphasis that comes with the 1200 setting doesn't help any digital mode. The 9600 connection is the most direct and unprocessed path to the modulator and demodulator of your radio.

Those who don't have a special connection for digital modes can use the normal audio inputs and outputs of your radio. The same cables and hardware that you use for other digital modes that are based on PC programs will work with FreeDV, but you will need a second sound interface for the microphone and speaker connections to the FreeDV program. A USB headset of the sort used by gamers is all you need for the second sound interface.


Configuring Your Radio


Turn off as much processing as possible. In general noise blankers, DSP band limit filtering and narrow bandpass filters are more likely to hurt than help, while compression, DSP noise or carrier elimination, and voice processing are definitely wrong for Digital modes. FreeDV's HF modem does its own DSP, and in general this is true for other digital programs as well.

You can see the received effect of different settings in the S/N (signal to noise ratio) display of FreeDV. A higher S/N is better.

Drive your transmitter and amplifier so that it emits 10% to 20% of its rated power continuously. There is a 12 dB peak-to-average power ratio in our HF modem, and peak clipping in your amplifier will reduce the received S/N. Modern transmitters and amplifiers are only as linear, and only have as much headroom, as is necessary for voice SSB, thus we suggest you maintain amplifier headroom by operating well below your full power output. FreeDV is more efficient than SSB voice, and will achieve similar range to an SSB signal driven at higher levels, and better audio quality. We encourage you to ask manufacturers and reviewers to start rating transmitter and amplifier linearity and headroom for digital modes, not just SSB voice.

For more info, visit http://freedv.org/tiki-index.php

Yaesu FT857D, CQRLOG and RUTBlaster on Debian Linux



Demonstration of CW keying and radio control using cqrlog and rutblaster interface.

rutblaster supports cw, ssb and digital operation. radio control using CAT and DATA port. brewed by weerut 9w2rut.

cqrlog uses hamlib to control transceiver, cwdaemon for cw keying and fldigi for digital operation.

you can install cqrlog and hamlib on any linux distro you like. 100% free opensource software.


9M2SE 9M2/SP5APW QSL Card

9M2SE and 9M2/SP5APW joint QSL card for Perhentian island IOTA AS-073 activation.

Has inner and outside graphic with very nice material.

thanks to SP5APW and EC7ZK.

To all contacted stations during 9M2SE 9M2/SP5APW AS-073 activation, send your QSL card now!

How To Calibrate FT857 FT897 Volt Meter

First you need to make sure that your radio is connected to the 13.8 volt regulated power supply. Use your calibrated DC voltage meter to check your power supply voltage.

Then you need to enter secret menu, turn off your radio and press button A, B, C simultaneously and press ON button.

Go to menu #017 and make sure the value is 138. Press Function button to save. Done.

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

9M2SE CQ WPX CW 2013 Contest Expedition

On 0800H MST 25 May 2013, 9M2SE team moved to Pantai Remis, Kuala Selangor. Our rendezvous was at RNR Kundang Barat, LATAR highway.

Weerut 9W2RUT met SWL Hassan and Piju 9M2PJU arrived later. After that we moved to Remis Beach and met Rosli 9M2RHQ at Ijok.

Arrived Remis Beach at 0930H



1000H, we put on our canvas shade and setup our communication equipment. 



Later we ate our lunch.





 After 1600H, started our power generator :-)



And checked our equipment




Our equipment was Yaesu FT-897D, MFJ 945E antenna tuner and a homebrew G5RV Junior size antenna.




Our friend, Hamid 9M2TPT arrived around 1630H with his family and joined our 2nd BBQ session




at 1900H, We started transmitting 


Our total QSO was only 106. Only 10 hours operation, but we are all happy having our 3 times lamb BBQ session :-)

p/s: thanks to all, see you on next expedition!




Thursday, May 23, 2013

YL CW Operator

Talking about CW and women operator, i remember only few hams that i worked before.

To find women CW operator is same like searching for a diamond in a basket full of glass.

I remember that i worked 9M2OUT who operating as 9M2SM last year, and then YD1NAA. Both on the 40 meters band. The last YL operator who operates on CW mode that i worked was Maria YO3FRI.

I saw her callsign few days before on the DX cluster but i never think that she will check-in to my DX net on 17 meters band.

Women CW operator is very rare, if you want to find women CW operator the best place to find is in Russia, Romania, Germany, Ukraine and also Indonesia.

Most YL who entered IARU's High Speed Telegraphy Championship was from Russia, Germany and Romania.

Take a look at these videos,











So, women can operate Morse Code too. Can you ?

Monday, May 20, 2013

Brennen KI4PRK Played Bluegrass Song At 2013 Hamvention

Yaesu FT DX 1200 Preview

Elecraft K3/0 Mini Preview

Morse Code Prosigns Mistakes

As a ham radio operator, maybe some of you will operate or already operated on CW mode. There are many CW QSO guide on the internet and most probably written in English. CW is a great mode, with little power you can work with any heard station on the band just by using a simple antenna such as wire dipole.

There are some countries already abolish the CW test, but here in Malaysia there is still a CW test. United States already abolished CW test to give newer generations a gap to involve in amateur radio.

Here a the sample of CW QSO,

Station A: CQ CQ CQ DE STNA STNA STNA K or CQ DX CQ DX DE STNA STNA STNA PSE K
Station B: DE STNB STNB

Station A: STNB STNB DE STNA TNX FER CALL BT UR RST RST 599 5NN BT HW CPY? KN
Station B: STNA DE STNB GE DR OM BT UR RST RST 599 5NN TOO BT MY NAME IS JOHN JOHN BT HW CPY? BK

Station A: STNB DE STNA RR FB DR OM JOHN BT MY NAME IS SMITH SMITH BT QTH IS IN MOSCOW MOSCOW BT TNX FER QSO HPE CUAGN 73 STNB DE STNA SK EE
Station B: STNA DE STNB QSL DR OM JOHN BT TNX FER NICE QSO CUAGN 73 GL ES GB STNA DE STNB SK EE

As you can see here, there are a few prosigns used. BT, SK, KN and BK.
And also ham radio abbreviation such as GL, ES, GB and DR.

Note for me,

BT also means ( = ) must be send as single sound. dadididida. Sending BT as two sounds is a mistake. dadididit da.

SK means end of contact. Must be send as single sound, didididadida. not dididi dadida. If you use N1MM software as a keyboard keyer software, read the manual.  ( [ ) character in N1MM CW macro will send SK properly.

KN when K means "go" or "over", KN is short for "go oNly" and signifies that only the called station should reply. Must be send as dadidadadit, without any spaces between K and N.

BK means break also indicates BacK to you. Used for fast exchange between two stations. Must be send as  single character sound, dadidididadida. No spaces between B and K letter.

GL is a ham radio abbreviation that means Good Luck. Send as normal spacing.

ES means And

GB is Good Bye

DR means DeaR

To know more about International Morse Code abbreviations, go to

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morse_code_abbreviations
http://www.kent-engineers.com/abbreviations.htm


To know more about International Morse Code prosigns, go to

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosigns_for_Morse_code
http://www.kent-engineers.com/prosigns.htm









How to Learn Morse Code: 7 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow

How to Learn Morse Code: 7 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Hiding In WARC Bands

From Wikipedia,

The WARC bands are three portions of the shortwave radio spectrum used by licensed amateur radio operators. They consist of 30 meters (10.100–10.150 MHz), 17 meters (18.068–18.168 MHz) and 12 meters (24.890–24.990 MHz). They were named after the World Administrative Radio Conference, which in 1979 created a worldwide allocation of these bands for amateur use. The bands were opened for use in the early 1980s. Due to their relatively small bandwidth of 100 kHz or less, there is a sort of gentlemen's agreement that the WARC bands may not be used for general contesting. Throughout most of the world, the 30 meter band cannot be used for phone communications except in emergency situations. However, part of Region 1 (Africa, south of the equator, during daylight hours) is permitted to use phone. The USA limits amateur radio users to 200 watts peak envelope power on this band.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As you can there up here, the WARC bands are widely known as the "WARC Bands" because they were first allocated at the World Administrative Radio Conference (W. A. R. C.) in 1979.  They were first used on the air in the 1980s.

WARC so called heaven to those who didnt like to join any contest, they can simply do a normal DX net or rag chewing on WARC bands when the contest begun. For example, QRP stations occasionally will not joining any contest, if they want to be on the air when there is any contest started on 10m, 15m, 20m or 40m, then the best choice is the WARC bands.

Many stations will operate CW on the WARC bands because of narrowed range on that bands. Take a look at 10MHz, starting 10.100 - 10.150MHz.

I heard many stations replying my CQ call on WARC bands when most of other amateur radio operator chasing DX stations and exchange report to score high points on 10m, 15m, 20m, 40m and 80m. Maybe those people didn't like to participate on contest or maybe they can not spend their 48 hours on the shack just for contest. They just like to hide on the WARC bands and listening to any DX calls.

And bytheway, most of amateur radio gear made before 1979 was not capable of operating in these WARC bands. Almost all modern radios, however, offer these bands as standard features.

Do you operate on WARC bands ?

Extra readings for amateur radio, www.arrl.org/files/file/0107059.pdf







Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Understanding Propagation Report





SFI index: Solar Flux Index. it is a gauge of how much solar particles and magnetic fields reaching our atmosphere. In other words, this value informs us on solar winds reaching our planet and their influence on creating HF propagation conditions. For this measurement, the higher the number, the better HF propagation show be. The index value also suggest propagation on bands between 10 meter and 20 meter (ie: 10m,12m,15m,17m,20m). It has a scale between 30 and 300, and can be interpreted as follow:

< 70: propagation potentially bad.
80-90: propagation potentially are somewhat low
90-100: propagation tend to be average
100-150: propagation will tend to be good
>150: propagation will tend to be ideal

High SFI values has almost no influence on 30m,40m,80m and 160m bands. SFI value over 150 indicates ideal HF propagation conditions and people with small HF installations can begin exploiting these conditions. At these high SFI values, we might take advantage of these conditions while they last because they are far and few between. It might be here today, gone tomorrow.

SN: Sunspot Numbers. This value is the visible number of spots on the Sun’s surface. Traditionally, the higher the number, the better the ionization of our atmosphere which will help create great HF propagation conditions. The range of SN can be between 0 and up to 250, sometimes more. It is somewhat rare that we see over 200 sun spots, and when we do, it might be an ideal time to turn on your Transceiver!

High SN numbers indicate large amounts of electromagnetic active fields on the surface of the Sun, potentially erupting as solar flares, but before they erupt into solar flares, they can create excellent HF propagation. If Sun spots turn into flares, this can diminish substantially HF propagation, even create total radio blackouts on all bands. Also, knowing that the Sun’s equator rotates on itself, the Sun spots and its fields may or may not be facing us at all times. This said, radio propagation conditions could become excellent for a few days, then down until the Sun rotate those spots back toward us again, which is between 18-25 days later.


So, if you see SN numbers over 100, you can expect good propagation conditions, if and when these spots are facing us. The current Solar Maximum is 2013 but solar activities have not been as high as expected. It’s part of the hobby, we’ll just take what we can get !

During solar minimums (Low or no sun spots), you can see bad or absent propagation conditions going on for years at a time, and this until the next solar cycle. When these conditions occur, Amateur Radio operators often revert back to using lower frequencies (ie: 30m,40m,60m,80 and 160m), and watch for events that will to create temporary propagation conditions, such as sun rise and sun sets. When conditions were poor, make your furthest contacts when the Sun was rising or when it was setting.  SN numbers can be interpreted as follow:

< 50: propagation conditions potentially very bad
50-75: propagation conditions attenuated
75-100: propagation conditions might be good
100-150: propagation conditions should be ideal
>150: propagation conditions possibly exceptional


The A Index: It’s simply an index of geomagnetic activity derived from a scaled average of the previous 24 hours K-index readings. Your should use this as a reference for general conditions on the bands. Lower A index means better conditions for propagation. This scare goes between 0 and 400, but typically never above 100. This value should be interpreted as follow:

Between 1 and 5: Best conditions on 10,12,15,17,20 meter bands.
Between 6 and 9: Average conditions on 10,12,15,17,20 meter bands.
From 10 and above: Very Bad conditions on 10,12,15,17,20 meter bands.

The Ap-index value can be interpreted as follow:

Between 1 and 5: Best conditions expected on 30,40,80,160 meter bands.
Between 6 and 9: Average conditions expected on 30,40,80,160 meter bands.
From 10 and above: Bad conditions expected on 30,40,80,160 meter bands.

The K-Index (or Boulder K)is a gauge of geomagnetic activity relative to an assumed quiet-day. Falling numbers mean improving conditions and better propagation particularly in northern latitudes and areas where aurora activity can occur. The scale is between 0 and 9. You never want to see value above 8 because this indicates our planet going thru a solar storm of great intensity. This value can be interpreted as follow:

From 0 to 1: Best conditions for 10,12,15,17,20 meter bands.
From 2 to 3: Good conditions for 10,12,15,17,20 meter bands.
From 4 to 5: average conditions for 10,12,15,17,20 meter bands.
From 5 to 9: Very bad conditions for 10,12,15,17,20 meter bands.

The Kp-index value can be interpreted as follow:

Between 0 and 1: Best conditions expected on 30,40,80,160 meter bands.
Between 2 and 4: Good conditions expected on 30,40,80,160 meter bands.
Between 5 and 9: Bad conditions expected on 30,40,80,160 meter bands.


X-Ray: NOAA reported value from A0.0 to X9.9. Intensity of hard x-rays hitting the earth’s ionosphere. Impacts primarily the D-layer (HF absorption). The letter indicates the order of magnitude of the X-rays (A, B, C, M and X), where A is the lowest. The number further defines the level of radiation. Updated eight times daily.

304A: NOAA reported value from 0 to unknown. Relative strength of total solar radiation at a wavelength of 304 angstroms (or 30.4 nm), emitted primarily by ionized helium in the sun’s photosphere. Two measurements are available for this parameter, one measured by the Solar Dynamics Observatory, using the EVE instrument, and the other, using data from the SOHO satellite, using its SEM instrument. Responsible for about half of all the ionization of the F layer in the ionosphere. 304A does loosely correlate to SFI. Updated hourly.

Ptn Flx: NOAA reported value from 0 to unknown. Density of charged protons in the solar wind. The higher the numbers, the more the impact the ionosphere. Primarily impacts the E-Layer of the ionosphere. Updated hourly.

Elc Flx: NOAA reported value from 0 to unknown. Density of charged electrons in the solar wind. The higher the numbers (>1000), the more the impact the ionosphere. Primarily impacts the E-Layer of the ionosphere. Updated hourly.

N: NOAA reported value from 0 to 5. When <2.0, high confidence in Aurora measurement. When >2, low confidence. Updated hourly.





Cute Morse Key Leg Strap From Diana KC2UHB



Diana Eng (best known from her season on Project Runway and her book Fashion Geek: Clothes Accessories Tech) is our current guest contributor, covering ham radio for Make: Online. In this Make: Project, Diana adds a little fashion frill to a standard piece of ham radio gear, the Morse code key. – Gareth Branwyn

cutekeylegstrapproject.jpg
I am just starting to learn Morse code and got a brand new key from American Morse Equipment. Most keys need to be mounted to hold them in place while the operator is dah-dit-ing. Keys are mounted on a heavy platform, or fastened to a radio. And some keys are worn on a leg strap. As a lady operator, and fashion designer, I wanted something cuter to keep my key on my leg, so here it is — how to turn a standard leg strap into a cute Morse code key leg strap.
cutekeylegstrapexample.jpg
Materials:
* 1 yd 2″ wide satin ribbon
* 1 yd 3/8″ wide patterned ribbon
* 1 yd 3″ wide lace
* 2 spools of thread (to match patterned ribbon and lace)
* scissors
* a small amount of tulle (an 8″ x 8″ square will work just fine)
* a small amount of organza
* pins
* screw driver
* measuring tape
* key
* leg strap
1. Using the measuring tape, measure around your leg where you’d like to wear the strap. Subtract ½” from this measurement and cut the lace and patterned ribbon to this length.
2. Using a sewing machine, straight stitch the edge of the ribbon 1 1/8″ in from the edge of the lace.
cutekeylegstrapstep2.jpg
3. Fold the lace along the stitched edge of the patterned ribbon. Fold the satin ribbon in half and sandwich it inside of the folded lace so that they overlap by ¾”.
cutekeylegstrapstep3.jpg
4. Using the sewing machine, zigzag stitch the edge of the lace to the ribbon. Start by forward stitching across the width of the ribbon. When you get to the edge, back stitch across the entire width. Then forward stitch across the entire width. You will have stitched over the same place three times to securely hold the ribbon in place.
5. Repeat step 4 ½” away from the first row of zigzag stitches so that you will have two rows of stitches.
6. Cut away excess ribbon and lace so that the strap will be nice and neat.
7. Using the sewing machine, straight stitch the unsewn edge of the patterned ribbon.
cutekeylegstrapstep7.jpg
8. Using the flower pattern, cut along the gray line. Cut 4 flowers from the tulle and 2 flowers from the organza.
9. Layer the flower pieces: two tulle on the bottom, one organza, two tulle, and one organza on the top.
10. Most leg straps have a separate plate or piece which the strap feeds through that connects to the key, often by a screw. The fabric flower will go between this plate/piece and the key. Place the fabric flower on the plate/piece and make a hole in the flower for the screw to fit through. Then screw the key in place on top of the flower and plate/piece.
cutekeylegstrapstep10.jpg
.
11. Thread the ribbon into the plate/piece, and strap your key on your leg tying the ribbon at the side.
cutekeylegstrapfinished.jpg

Monday, May 13, 2013

Morse Code In Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em Theme Song

Origin link http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7026637.stm

The theme tune to Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em is recognised by millions, but is it true that it incorporates Morse code into its opening bars?
Mental images of the hapless Frank Spencer getting into another scrape are immediately conjured up when the piccolos open the theme tune to the classic BBC comedy Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em.
Frank Spencer
The series may have finished 30 years ago, but the music is strongly associated with Michael Crawford's walking disaster wearing a beret and a raincoat.
Its composer Ronnie Hazlehurst died this week and a story about a hidden meaning within that famous score, deciphered by Morse code, was mentioned in some obituaries.
To test the theory, the Magazine invited BBC 6 Music to produce a musical score of the first few bars and use the Morse code alphabet to link the notes to their corresponding letters of the alphabet.
THE ANSWER
Yes, the opening bars spell the title, minus the apostrophes
And indeed, the opening melody played out by the piccolos, spells the title (minus the apostrophes): Some Mothers Do Ave Em, as illustrated in the picture above.
It is a measure of the talents of Hazlehurst, also responsible for memorable theme tunes such as Last of the Summer Wine and Are You Being Served?, that he could compose a piece of music under this constraint.
'Shrill harmonies'
Alan JW Bell, a close friend of Hazlehurst and producer of Last of the Summer Wine, says the composer was a "musical genius and jester".
"He often played musical jokes. On one episode of the Last of the Summer Wine the storyline involved some oil being found so he composed the music in the style of Dallas.
Ronnie Hazlehurst
 I wouldn't prostitute a tune, to bend it every which way to fit the title, but if I can make it so, I do. 
Ronnie Hazlehurst
"It was so good we got a letter from the programme's solicitors threatening to sue us for breach of copyright. I wrote back saying that it was just in the style of the Dallas theme tune and there was no copyright on style.
"We never heard anything else and used the tune Ronnie had composed. It worked beautifully."
Other pieces of famous music use the same Morse code trick.
Barrington Pheloung hid such messages in his music for, rather aptly, ITV's Inspector Morse. He included names that either revealed the killer or threw people off the scent. There are also theories about music by artists such as Rush and Roger Waters.
But setting aside Hazlehurst's code, what about the qualities of the Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em score itself?
WHO, WHAT, WHY?
Question mark
A regular part of the BBC News Magazine, Who, What, Why? aims to answer some of the questions behind the headlines
Robert Hanks, writing in the Independent, says: "On the surface, the brief, staccato theme for the long-running comedy is both the strangest and the most apt of all Hazlehurst's tunes - barely a tune at all, in fact.
"A pair of piccolos pipe out foreshortened phrases with shrill harmonies: it is almost a picture in music of Michael Crawford's Frank Spencer, with his boyishness and inadequacy to every situation; though its brevity and austerity are at odds with the broadness of the gags."
For what Hanks describes as "a few seconds of genius", Hazlehurst was paid £30.

Famous CW Operator Clubs

Here are the list of famous CW operator club


  1. FOC -First Class CW operators Club
  2. AGCW - German CW radio club
  3. ARRL A-1 Club - The A-1 Operator Club
  4. C.T.C. - Croatian Telegraphy Club - Association with free membership for telegraphy lovers across the world
  5. CTC - Croatian telegraphy club - A club for lovers of CW. The membership is free and open for all radioamateurs worldwide
  6. CW Operators' QRP Club Inc. - The CW Operators' QRP Club exists for those who enjoy low power amateur radio and homebrewing
  7. CWJF CW Club - Juiz de Fora CW club Brasil
  8. CWSP - Grupo de CW de Sao Paulo - CWSP brasilian morse code club
  9. EACW CLUB
  10. Essex CW Amateur Radio Club - Essex CW Amateur Radio Club
  11. First Class Operators Club - British based CW club, originally founded in 1938
  12. FISTS CW Club - FISTS is a well established and recognized CW organization in the world of amateur radio
  13. GACW - Grupo Argentino de CW
  14. High Speed Telegraphy Club - High Speed Telegraphy enthusiasts club established in 1952
  15. I.N.O.R.C. - Official Site - Official site of the "Italian Naval Old Rhythmers Club", gatehering CW operators from Military Navy and Civil Marine
  16. LZ CW CLUB - The bulgarian CW club
  17. New England Historical Radio Society - The New England Historical Radio Society Inc. is an organization dedicated to the preservation of commercial Morse Radiotelegraphy on medium and high frequency.
  18. ON5CFT Morse club - Club Francophone Telegraphiste Station Officielle - ON5CFT Belgium
  19. SKCC Group - A group of hams decided to make those wishes come true and founded the Straight Key Century Club - a/k/a SKCC
  20. Telegraphy Friends Club - OK1HCG TFC - Telegraphy Friends Club
  21. Union Francaise de telegraphistes - French CW radio club

Sunday, May 12, 2013

What is Logbook Of The World (LOTW) And How To Use It ?

From wikipedia,

Logbook of the World (LoTW) is a web-accessed database provided by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) to implement a contact verification service among amateur radio operators. Using LoTW, radio amateurs (hams) can claim and verify contacts (QSOs) made with other amateurs, generally for claiming credit for operating awards, such as DXCC. This kind of verification formerly required exchange of paper QSL cards and submission to ARRL, a slow and somewhat expensive process. LoTW began operation in 2003.


The LoTW system emphasizes secure authentication using cryptographic key distribution. An amateur's computer-based logbook, in ADIF or Cabrillo format, must be "signed" using a key obtained from ARRL. (Logbook data includes callsigns and locations of stations, contact time, frequency, and operating mode.) ARRL assigns such keys to amateurs who appear in the U.S. FCC licensing database or to non-US amateurs who provide alternate proof of identity.

Once a log file has been signed using ARRL's "TrustedQSL" (or equivalent) program, it is uploaded to the ARRL server and entered in the database.

Log records in the LoTW database are automatically compared so that when a contact at a particular time, operating mode, and frequency band is claimed by both participating amateurs (who both must have submitted their logs), a "QSL" (confirmation) is declared for a later award claim, e.g., for contacts with all U.S. states or 100 different countries. The matching process is blind, meaning that none of the two stations can see pending confirmations for him before he uploads a matching record. The LoTW QSL is purely electronic; there is no paper confirmation.

A LoTW-registered amateur may log in to the LoTW website to view his or her logged QSOs and the verified QSL matches. When the amateur has a sufficient number of LoTW and/or traditional paper QSLs, he or she may apply for an ARRL award. As of January 2012, LoTW credit may be used for credit for awards issued by the ARRL and by CQ Magazine. The ARRL does not recognize other web-based QSL systems, such as eQSL, for awards credit.

So, which one do you prefer for QSO confirmation? paper QSL or lotw ?

Interested on LOTW ? visit


  1. http://www.arrl.org/logbook-of-the-world
  2. http://9m2pju.blogspot.com/2013/05/how-to-generate-trustedqsl-cert-request.html
  3. http://9m2pju.blogspot.com/2013/05/how-to-install-issuer-signed-cert-file.html
  4. http://9m2pju.blogspot.com/2013/05/how-to-sign-your-adif-log-with.html
  5. http://9m2pju.blogspot.com/2013/05/how-to-backup-your-trustedqsl-lotw.html








How To Sign Your ADIF Log With TrustedQSL (tQSL)

First, make sure your trustedqsl application is loaded with your issuer signed cert and ready for ADIF signing. If not, visit


  1. http://9m2pju.blogspot.com/2013/05/how-to-generate-trustedqsl-cert-request.html
  2. http://9m2pju.blogspot.com/2013/05/how-to-install-issuer-signed-cert-file.html
Assume that your trustedqsl is ready, first you need to open your application


Click on file and sign existing adif or cabrillo file, choose your desired callsign and select your ADIF file



Follow the next instructions, you may want to input your certificate password when asked. After that, you can save your signed log anywhere your like.


Your signed log now ready to be upload to LOTW website which is https://lotw.arrl.org/cgi-bin/lotw_page_auth/default

Hint: tq5 is certificate to be send to the issuer, tq6 is the issuer signed cert and tq8 is the tqsl signed log file.


How To Install Issuer Signed Cert File (TQ6) To TrustedQSL (tQSL)

First, open your tQSL cert application


Click on file, and load certificate


Choose your tq6 file and follow the next instructions. Once you have done, you will see your callsign without the read cross mark on the medal logo.

For more info, please read http://www.arrl.org/files/file/LoTW%20Instructions/Load%20and%20Save%20Your%20Certificate_731.pdf