If you’ve read this blog at all, you know I’m a big proponent of CW. For me, it’s just a lot of fun. I ragchew, work DX, and participate in contests using CW.
One thing I have not done yet with CW is to operate in a net. So, I’m making it a goal to regularly participate in one or more CW nets. Now, the next question is how to find them. Well, one resource is the KI8DU CW Nets page. It seems reasonably up-to-date, although a few of the links to net webpages were broken.
One drawback is that most of the nets are on 80m, and I don’t have an antenna for 80m. (I guess I need to make that a goal for myself, too). There are, however, a few on 40 m, including:
- Hit and Bounce Net (HBN): 7.042 MHz @ 8:30 am EST
- Sunrise Net (SRN): 7.148 MHz @ 8am EST
- K9YA Fast Net: first Wednesday of the month at 7:00 pm on 7.137 MHz. They also have a slow net on the second, third, and fourth Wednesday of each month.
Update 2-3-05: I’ve now checked into the Sunrise Net a couple of times, and can report that they are a nice bunch of people. The Sunrise Net is a ragchew net, meaning that formal operating procedures are at a minimum. You check in when the net control station (NCS) calls for check-ins, and then when he or she calls you, you swap a transmission or two with them. I suppose that the NCS goes around the list a second time, but I checked out after my first transmission.
Tuesday morning, Dortha N4SHE was net control (another one to add to my collection of QSLS from stations whose calls spell words). She was 599 here in Ann Arbor. This morning, Ralph K8KQ, was NCS. He was more difficult to copy as the skip was longer than usual in the morning.
Wednesday morning, I monitored the Hit and Bounce Net for a while. This is a formal, traffic-handling net. Not being that familiar with the protocol, and not having any traffic to pass, I did not check in to this net. I will continue to monitor it from time to time, though, and maybe jump in there one day.
I really should put up some kind of antenna for 80m. Not only are there many more nets on 80m, conditions on 80m are much better in the evenings than they are on 40m at this time of year. Late last night, I heard next to nothing on 40m, but plenty on 80m. I guess the skip is just too long on 40m.
me too i love cw.. but this does not look updated.
is there an updated list?
Whoa! That’s an old post. :) Are you a member of the Long Island CW Club. I bet that they would know where to find an up-to-date list.
Dan please add the 40m cw net
GOAL: is to get everyone with 40m WAS cw
Sunday night eastern time 9 pm or MOnday 01:00 utc
FREQ: 7.045
30 min or <5 wpm and then 30 min 13+ wpm
we are very patient and ENCOURAGE people who do not know cw to join us
everyone on the net sends their callsign so the new person can hear it from all over
the country
we use netlogger.org
73 Niece/KA1ULN
the slow-fast cw net has changed
Sunday night eastern time 6 pm est and 22:00 utc
freq: 7.045
instead of traditional exchange we now have a Q& A exchange
so we learn a lot more about the people on the net and it gives a chance to really exercise our cw.
30 min or <5 wpm and then 30 min 13+ wpm
we are very patient and ENCOURAGE people who do not know cw to join us
everyone on the net sends their callsign so the new person can hear it from all over the country
we use netlogger.org
73 Niece/KA1ULN
Sunrise Net is at 1300 z, and is NOt ON 7.148 but on 7.123. QRS CW is mainly the mode and is fairly informal. Each day has a different NCS.