I got the latest W1AW schedule (below) by e-mail yesterday. Aside from copying the W1AW bulletin on Field Day, I haven’t listened to the station for years. Do you ever listen to the bulletins or code practice on W1AW? Or, is this a service whose time has come and gone?
SB QST @ ARL $ARLB040
ARLB040 W1AW 2016/2017 Winter Operating Schedule
ZCZC AG40
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 40 ARLB040
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT November 7, 2016
To all radio amateurs
SB QST ARL ARLB040
ARLB040 W1AW 2016/2017 Winter Operating Schedule
Daily Visitor Operating Hours:
1500 UTC to 1700 UTC – (10 AM to 12 PM EST)
1800 UTC to 2045 UTC – (1 PM to 3:45 PM EST)
(Station closed 1700 to 1800 UTC (12 PM to 1 PM EST))
Morning Schedule:
| Time | Mode | Days |
| 1400 UTC (9 AM EST) | CWs | Wed, Fri |
| 1400 UTC (9 AM EST) | CWf | Tue, Thu |
Afternoon/Evening Schedule:
| Time | Mode | Days |
| 2100 UTC (4 PM EST) | CWf | Mon, Wed, Fri |
| 2100 UTC | CWs | Tue, Thu |
| 2200 UTC (5 PM EST) | CWb | Daily |
| 2300 UTC (6 PM EST) | DIGITAL | Daily |
| 0000 UTC (7 PM EST) | CWs | Mon, Wed, Fri |
| 0000 UTC | CWf | Tue, Thu |
| 0100 UTC (8 PM EST) | CWb | Daily |
| 0200 UTC (9 PM EST) | DIGITAL | Daily |
| 0245 UTC (9:45 PM EST) | VOICE | Daily |
| 0300 UTC (10 PM EST) | CWf | Mon, Wed, Fri |
| 0300 UTC | CWs | Tue, Thu |
| 0400 UTC (11 PM EST) | CWb | Daily |
Frequencies (MHz)
CW: 1.8025 3.5815 7.0475 14.0475 18.0975 21.0675 28.0675 147.555
DIGITAL: – 3.5975 7.095 14.095 18.1025 21.095 28.095 147.555
VOICE: 1.855 3.990 7.290 14.290 18.160 21.390 28.590 147.555
Notes:
CWs = Morse Code practice (slow) = 5, 7.5, 10, 13 and 15 WPM
CWf = Morse Code practice (fast) = 35, 30, 25, 20, 15, 13 and 10 WPM
CWb = Morse Code Bulletins = 18 WPM
CW frequencies include code practices, Qualifying Runs and CW bulletins.
DIGITAL = BAUDOT (45.45 baud), BPSK31 and MFSK16 in a revolving schedule.
Beginning in January 2017, the voice mode used for W1AW’s 40 meter voice bulletins will be full-carrier, double-sideband AM.
Code practice texts are from QST, and the source of each practice is given at the beginning of each practice and at the beginning of alternate speeds.
On Tuesdays and Fridays at 2330 UTC (6:30 PM EST), Keplerian Elements for active amateur satellites are sent on the regular digital frequencies.
A DX bulletin replaces or is added to the regular bulletins between 0100 UTC (8 PM EST) Thursdays and 0100 UTC (8 PM EST) Fridays.
Audio from W1AW’s CW code practices, CW/digital bulletins and phone bulletin is available using EchoLink via the W1AW Conference Server named “W1AWBDCT.” The monthly W1AW Qualifying Runs are presented here as well. The audio is sent in real-time and runs concurrently with W1AW’s regular transmission schedule.
All users who connect to the conference server are muted. Please note that any questions or comments about this server should not be sent via the “Text” window in EchoLink. Please direct any questions or comments to [email protected].
In a communications emergency, monitor W1AW for special bulletins as follows: Voice on the hour, Digital at 15 minutes past the hour, and CW on the half hour.
All licensed amateurs may operate the station from 1500 UTC to 1700 UTC (10 AM to 12 PM EST), and then from 1800 UTC to 2045 UTC (1 PM to 3:45 PM EST) Monday through Friday. Be sure to bring your current FCC amateur radio license or a photocopy.
The W1AW Operating Schedule may also be found on page 83 in the November 2016 issue of QST or on the web at http://www.arrl.org/w1aw-operating-schedule .
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/EX
I have yet to hear the W1AW CW signals from here in NorCal (50 miles East of San Francisco). Probably because I just dont have the appropriate antenna setup to receive RF signals from the other side of the Country (Yet!)… Thank gosh for my MFJ-418 Pocket Morse Code Tutor. It will be very exciting once I do hear those CW signals! Dont kill another CW artifact from history. We have lost too much already…
I like the code practice bulletins to see how my copy speed is improving (or not). The bulletins are good for seeing if the bands are totally dead or not… when 1kW W1AW is S1, it’s time to go to bed..
I enjoy the W1AW bulletins and code practice sessions. They have proven beneficial to me, and I like the price – free!
I listen to the bulletins and sometimes code practice in the lab at work. I also encourage learners to make use of the code practice – if not listening directly to the transmissions, then downloading the mp3 files available.
I listen to the code bulletins 1-2 times a week. I find it enjoyable and doing it keeps my code skills up.
I have a no-code extra but I got the 20 wpm arrl certificate just for my own satisfaction. I am glad they still provide the service.
I would think they could scale back on code practice quite a bit. You can get an “app” on your smartphone for code practice, for crying out loud.
I also like the code practice they have, but I rarely listen on the air and usually download the mp3 files… for the slower speeds (10wpm and below), I wish they would send the characters at a faster rate (15-20wpm) with more space between them.. I think it hurts those trying to learn CW when the characters get too slow as you begin to loose each characters rhythm as they slow them down… send them faster, just increase the inter-character spacing so each char keeps it’s unique rhythm – to me CW is a language of rhythms (maybe why musicians pick up code a little easier ?) It then makes it easier to speed up by decreasing the inter-character spacing – you’re still increasing WPM but the characters still sound the same, just less space between them…
To KB6NU: Please don’t contribute to the demise of still the best way to get a signal through all kinds of band conditions..CW! Goodhope AFB in Texas is still teaching Morse Code to various military special forces because the equipment is simple and easy to carry and always seems to get through. CW is really not dead my friend. So please kill your uninformed comments. We don’t need them Mr appliance operator, KB6NU! Dave W7MBR
Me contribute to the demise of CW? Obviously, you haven’t been reading my stuff for long. I’m one of the biggest proponents of CW there is.
I have listened to the code practice and bulletins since the early 60s. I find it especially useful in keeping up my code speed when I am not operating daily. It also helps in hearing well sent code. Using CW, like playing musical instruments, helps prevent cognitive decline in the elderly. If you don’t do morse, start. If you do, keep it up.
I knew there was a reason I’m so keen on Morse Code!
I learned 5wpm for the Novice ticket and then 13wpm for General. I’m trying my best to get back in the groove and just about have 10wpm down to 100% copy. Goal is 30wpm but a long way to go. Working on copying in head as opposed to writing it (Writing above 13wpm isn’t easy either.) Code keeps ones brain thinking and I love it, even though I’m slow.
Have you gotten back on the air yet, George? If not, do it! Getting on the air will help you get back up to speed better than any website, app, or set of .mp3 files. You may feel that you’re too slow to get back on the air, but if you do, you won’t be that slow for long.
After many years work, I can follow 18 wpm code bulletins, for a while on good days, and chase 20 wpm too, not well enough to pass qualifying run as yet, but one day I will. Listen every day. It’s a good thing.
Get on the air, too! I think that making contacts will help you more than just listening.
Absolutely enjoy these bulletins. Sure we can read them on the internet but we could also call each other on the phone… but THAT’s not radio. The bulletins serve several useful purposes… determining band conditions, learning code, and most importantly keeping radios in use.
I enjoy listening to W1AW code sessions. It’s almost therapeutic and copying articles from QST is usually very interesting. Looking forward to day when I can visit the club station.
I wished the Code Bulletin was slower! I can copy only to 10 WPM! Sad. Also they don’t provide the mp3 file so I could listen in loop. Finally the code practice tapes always repeat “=now 10 WPM text is from xxx 20xx QST page” which is a waste of time! The text is too short and the content absolute meaningless and boring.