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Table of Contents
Introduction to Slow to Medium Morse Net
Watch Net Controllers Colin GM4JPZ & Michael GM5AUG give a brief overview of the OARC Slow to Medium Morse Net
Slow to Medium Speed CW Net Format
Compared to a voice Net, a CW Net may seem a bit more formal or structured. CW Nets need a structure to ensure that all callers, however experienced or otherwise they are at CW, are able to enter in to proceedings - the Net is designed to give people a chance to operate CW even if they've never done it before, doing so in front of a sympathetic audience. Because of this, we have created this Net Format which we'll follow for our Slow to Medium Speed Nets on a Monday evening. Please be sure to either have a copy in front of you, or print it off, before calling in.
Net Details
Details of the OARC S2MS Net are below:
- QTR (Time and Date) - Mondays at 1900hz local time.
- QRG (Frequency) - 7066kHz (+/- to allow for QRM).
- QRS/QRO (Speed) - Up to 15wpm, but the Net Controller will reply at the speed each Net member sends at.
- Net Controller - To begin with, either Colin GM4JPZ or Michael GM5AUG, using the OARC Club callsign MS0OUK.
- Facilitator - Paul M0TZO on Discord (not Morse proficient, but can sort events, calendar, etc).
Calendar / Rota
If you are proficient at Morse and would like to be an OARC Slow to Medium Speed CW Net Operator, please let Michael GM5AUG know on Discord.
Date | OARC Callsign | Operator | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Monday 22/05/2023 19:00 UK | MS0OUK | GM4JPZ | - |
Monday 29/05/2023 19:00 UK | MS0OUK | GM4JPZ | - |
Monday 05/06/2023 19:00 UK | MS0OUK | GM5AUG | - |
Format
- Net Control (MS0OUK) will call “CQ OARC Net de MS0OUK”, finishing with “AR K”.
- Stations calling in send their full callsigns three times (ie “M1ABC M1ABC M1ABC” - no need to send Net Control callsign).
- Net Control will list calls heard (with / in between) then ask for any more with “QRZ?”
- If net control did not list your call, then call again with your callsign 3 times.
- Net Control will continue to call “QRZ?” until no more callers are heard.
- Once all participants have been noted by Net Control, he will call the first station heard and send a welcome text (which applies to everyone listening but is addressed to one person to stay within the terms of our licence) - “M1ABC de MS0OUK = GE ES welcome to OARC S2MS Net = OP Mike ES QTH Glasgow AR BK”.
- The first station (in this example, M1ABC) responds with their callsign and name followed by “BK” - ie “M1ABC Fred BK” .
- Net Control then calls the other stations on their list, ie “[Call] MS0OUK BK”, to which they respond with their callsign, name and “BK” .
- Once every station has sent their name, the Net Control returns to the top of the list and calls each station in order, “M1ABC de MS0OUK AR KN” .
- Each station (when called) returns with “MS0OUK de [Call] GE Mike UR RST 599 599. Op [Name] ES QTH [Location] = HW CPI? BK” .
- Net Control responds with “RR TNX FER call = UR RST 599 AR” before calling the next station.
- Once the Net Controller has contacted everyone and given them a signal report, he returns to the top of the list and sends “M1ABC de MS0OUK 73 ES HPE CU AGN BK”.
- The first station (in this example, M1ABC) replies “73 TU”.
- The Net Controller replies by sending two dots [DIT DIT] before moving to the next station “ [Call] de MS0OUK 73 ES HPE CU AGN BK”.
- The first station (in this example, M1ABC) replies “73 TU”
- Once he has said 73 to every station, the Net Controller sends “MS0OUK QRT AR SK”, bringing the net to an end.
Signal Reports - we have written 599 in the example above to make life easier for those who are just starting out. However, if the Net Controller is not 599 to you, and you want to give him an accurate RST, please do so!
Morse Code Glossary
Morse Code uses lots of abbreviations to get messages across in the speediest way possible. To help you, both on the Net, and in other CW Contacts, GM4JPZ and GM5AUG have created this Glossary of frequently used abbreviations and Q-codes. If you spot any we've missed, please add them!
Jargon or Terms used in Amateur Radio
In Amateur Radio we make use of many Q-codes. Most of these Q codes can be used as a question or a statement.
Jargon | Meaning |
Net | A group of operators joining in a conversation with each other under the control of a lead station (Net Control). |
Net Control | Similar to the Speaker in parliament, the station which everyone goes through to communicate with the rest of the group. In the case of S2MS, the Net Control is MS0OUK (currently either Colin or Michael) |
19.00 local | The time in general use by people in the country, in other words BST at the moment of writing; NOT GMT unless it is in winter. |
Slow to Medium Speed Morse | Normally would mean between 10wpm to 15wpm, but slower is of course allowed. Net Control will reply at the speed you send, so be sure to send at a speed you're comfortable receiving at. |
wpm | Words per minute (calculated using the non-random word PARIS). |
QRG | What is your/my Frequency? Your frequency is… |
QTH | What is the location of your station? My location is… |
QRZ | Who is calling me? |
QRO | Shall I send with more power? I am using more power. |
QRP | Shall I send with less power? I am using less power. |
QRM | Are you struggling with interference? I am struggling with interference. |
QRT | Shall I shut down my station? I am shutting down my station. |
QSO | Two-way conversation on the radio |
QRL | Is this frequency in use? This frequency is in use. |
Prosign | Two letters sent together with no space between to communicate a meaning. These are written as two capital letters (ie AR) with a line or bar across the top. In this Wiki we cannot use overlines, so instead are underlining and emphasising prosigns. |
Commonly Used Morse Terms or Prosigns
Term | Meaning |
AR | (DI DAH DI DAH DIT) - End of transmission |
K | Listening for any station that is calling me |
KN | Listening only for the station I am in contact with |
SK | (DI DI DI DAH DI DAH) - End of this QSO |
BK | Note, not a prosign as letters are sent separately. This originally meant “break” but is now used to mean “back over to you” to tell the other person to carry on without giving full callsign information. |
GE | Good evening |
GM | Good morning |
ES | And |
UR | Your |
RST | Readability, strength, tone (e.g. 599) |
HW CPI? | How do you copy me? |
PSE | Please |
FB | Fine business - very good |
DR OM | Dear Old Man - a bit archaic perhaps, but still widely used |
OP | Operator (name) |
WX | Weather |
TU or TNZ | Thank you or Thanks |
= | (DAH DI DI DI DAH) - either used as an equals sign, or as a form of grammar to divide parts of a message. |