The CWops have this thing they call the CW Test, or CWT. CWTs are held every Wednesday/Thursday, and include four, one-hour sessions at times that favor different geographic areas. They’re not exactly contests, and some CWops think of them as practice sessions for the “real” contests, but people post their scores to 3830scores.com and brag about them on the CWops mailing list, so they’re more than just practice sessions.
Not being a contester, I’m not a big fan of CWTs. I’ve participated in maybe a half dozen over the years.
So, when the K1USN Radio Club started a slow-speed version of the CWT, called the Slow Speed Test, or SST, about a year ago, I thought to myself, “Oh, great. There’s another hour that 40m is going to be unusable.” When 0000Z rolled around tonight, however, I was sitting in front the radio, and since I had nothing better to do, I thought I’d give it a try. Don’t knock it until you try it, and all that.
First, I had to futz around with N1MM and my Arduino-based WinKeyer clone. I don’t know why, but if I don’t use N1MM for a time, the program fails to find the keyer. I have to either reboot the computer, power-cycle the keyer, or both. After I got that working, I configured N1MM to run the contest. Finally, I found a frequency to run on. Over the last 40 minutes of the SST, I made about one QSO per minute.
Although I hate to admit it, it was kind of fun. First off, I ran into some people that I know. Second, I got to help some people. You could tell some of the folks were struggling, but that was OK. I figured it was my job to help them.
Afterwards, I got this email from one of the struggling operators:
Thank you so much, tonight was my first CW contact ever. I could tell you could tell and slowed right down to the same pace I was using. You were so patient. I appreciate it. I was so nervous I couldn’t even remember how to respond.
Thanks mate. Have a great one.
Needless to say, my QSL card to commemorate this ham’s first CW QSO will be in the mail tomorrow. Helping hams make their first CW QSOs and getting more comfortable at the key is worth the time and effort. So, I’m now a believer. And, you’ll probably hear my call in next week’s SST.
I have this on my calendar, but since it starts at 10pm ET, I’m usually in bed already, since I still am getting up at 530a as part of my work-from-home routine. Anyway, I thought it might be helpful to post the following, for anyone that wants to give it a try:
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Several advisors and mentors will be running the first 15 minutes of the 0300 CWT at 20 – 25 wpm weekly on 7.100 – 7.115 mhz. Please join us on the air to make contacts and sharpen your CWT skills.
Following is a typical exchange:
>>> CQ CWT K4EES RUNNER Calls
<<>> N7ID KEN 2389 Runner replies with YOUR call followed by HIS name and CWOps #
<<>> TU CQ CWT K4EES Runner says thanks then starts calling for the next contact.
To prepare, before the contest, practice sending your Callsign, followed by your Name and CWA ( and/or your state, if you’d like) and TU (thank you). Mistakes will be made and are expected. No harm, no fowl.
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Not sure how 20-25 WPM qualifies as ‘slow speed’ CW, but perhaps the CWOPS beginners are coached using Farnsworth method with 20-25 WPM characters spaced out? Frankly, I would have liked to learn CW that way in the beginning, so I wouldn’t have had to deal with the various ‘humps’ at 7 1/2, 10, 15, etc. WPM on my way up to 20-25 WPM, which I now feel is ‘comfortable’.
Hmm. Seems to have munged the caller’s half of the exchange. Maybe the ‘less than’ marks do something strange to the mark-up. Let me try that without the marks:
CQ CWT K4EES RUNNER Calls
N7ID YOU reply with your callsign
N7ID KEN 2389 Runner replies with YOUR call followed by HIS name and CWOps #
MIKE CWA TU You reply with your name and CWA, or State if you want, then TU (Thank You).
TU CQ CWT K4EES Runner says thanks then starts calling for the next contact.
I’m not sure where you got the idea that it starts at 10pm ET. It runs from 7pm – 8pm ET on sunday evenings.
He probably means 10 PM local time on the West Coast. That is pretty late.
Just to be clear. The SST runs from 7 pm Eastern Time to 8 pm Eastern Time. That’s:
I understand this is an old message. Recently I have encountered hams who get confused over time. Forget about your time zone and stay with GMT, UTC, ZULU or whatever you want to call it.
I live in Washington state and participate in all 4 CWT every Wednesday by setting my local time to ZULU.
Back in the old days most of the store bought rigs had a WWV switch.
Bog W7ZDX
CWOPS #3145
The SST’s are so much more beginner friendly than the +30wpm CWT’s. I have had limited success in the SST’s but at least I can copy the callsigns with enough listening.
The earlier time is harder for me to get on the radio, but I attempt to join each week. Do not forget that there is a Friday session too, which is 3-4PM Eastern if I remember.
Hey Dan,
The SST was a genius idea. I tried it once and got hooked. The only time I’ve missed since then is when I’ve been sick or out of town. It’s really helped me to improve my speed and running skills.
I’ve also found that as I dial back my speed while running, I get more callers. I’m brand new to CW myself, but I’m assuming those folks are even newer. There’s nothing better to me than helping them along the path.
IMO, there is still an unmet need. I’m comfortable operating at 18wpm, and I’d like to participate in more mini-contests every week. I can S&P in the CWT with no spotting assistance, but running is another story. Tried that once and ended up as roadkill. Haha.
Would be good to have a medium speed event. Maybe 18-28wpm to bridge the gap.
73,
Burton
KY4ID
Burton, your wish has come true…there’s a medium speed test coming soon
Fred
AA3R
Thanks for the info. I’ve never operated CW in almost 29 years in the hobby. Been putting off operating CW because I couldn’t get anyone locally to practice with. Will look into this.
Thanks for this. Looks like exactly what I need, once I get up to 20.
I am kinda advanced placement special ed, and I still didn’t follow the explanation. I suppose there is a convention to these transcripts but I haven’t got the memo.
A preamble would help. For instance, if this works the way I (probably incorrectly) think it does, I might explain it:
“In this exchange the runner is Ken, K4EES, CWT number 2389. After he calls, Mike, N7ID, CWT number 1234, responds. Ken acknowledges, giving his name and CWT number. Mike responds with his name and number and thanks Ken. Ken thanks Mike and calls for the next participant.
Each line in the transcript is preceded by the name of person transmitting, in parenthesis.
(KEN) CQ CWT K4EES K
(MIKE) N7ID K
(KEN) N7ID KEN 2389 K
(MIKE) MIKE 1234 TU K
(KEN) TU CQ CWT K4EES K”
Or the explanations all could go inside parenthesis instead of in a preamble:
(KEN is the runner, calling for a participant) CQ CWT K4EES K
(MIKE responds with his call sigh only) N7ID K
(KEN acknowledges Mike by call sign, and gives his own name and number) N7ID KEN 2389 K
(MIKE responds with his name and number and thanks Ken) MIKE 1234 TU K
(KEN thanks Mike and calls for the next participant) TU CQ CWT K4EES K”
Next step is to find you guys on the dial and the calendar.
Thanks,
Bryce
Thanks,
Bryce