Code Transmissions
Frequencies are 1.8025, 3.5815, 7.0475, 14.0475, 18.0775, 21.0675, 28.0675, 50.350, and 147.555 MHz.
Slow Code = practice sent at 5, 7-1/2, 10, 13 and 15 words per minute (wpm).
Fast Code = practice sent at 35, 30, 25, 20, 15, 13 and 10 wpm.
Code practice text is from the pages of QST magazine, the League's membership journal. The source is given at the beginning of each practice session and alternate speeds within each session. For example, "Text is from January 2023 QST, page 30" indicates that the practice session's plain text is from an article on page 30.
Code bulletins are sent at 18 wpm.
CW frequencies include code practices, Qualifying Runs and CW bulletins.
You can also find W1AW code practice online, in MP3 format.
W1AW Qualifying Runs are sent on the same frequencies as the Morse code transmissions.
Learning Morse Code
For many of today’s hams there was no choice; obtaining a ham license required learning Morse code. Five words a minute was the requirement for the entry level Novice license and also for the renewable, but VHF only, Technician ticket. A General or Advanced class required 13 wpm and it was 20 wpm for an Extra.
