CW POTA Hunting for new CW operators
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- Опубликовано: 19 мар 2023
- This video explains the Parks On The Air CW QSO protocol. It is aimed at new CW operators wanting to get on the air in an easy low pressure environment. I go through the typical CW QSO, and I send each part so you can hear what each part of the QSO sounds like. Yes, I know I mix up hunter and activator several times during the video....but you'll live.
Thanks to the Long Island CW Club for teaching me Morse code. The fact that I was able to get on the air so quickly is a testament to how well your program works and what an awesome job your instructors do. Thanks to Thomas Witherspoon K4SWL as well for his video explaining the POTA QSO. It made my journey so much easier.
Hopefully you found this video helpful. 73
www.buymeacoffee.com/k2ejt
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Oh boy, this is well timed. Over the last week I have finally started doing CW on the air, and it's all about hunting POTA. Since I'm nervous, all I need to do is recognize my own callsign, a signal report, and whatever signal they are using to turn the QSO around, like BK. I make a point of listening to the operator working others before I dive in. And then I have to admit I understand less than 50% of what they are sending, and I'm batting my paddle around the desk sending my replies... but it works, and I'm hooked.
Glad to hear another ham at the same point as I. I’m lucky to even get 50% of the far end ham’s code during an attempted QSO. Have determined to become skilled enough to effectively work stations during Field Day in June. I will consider myself effective if I can converse at least at 12 words per minute. If the other side doesn’t slow to my speed with his/her blazing electronic keyer, I’ll be out-no RST, no exchange, no points for him/her.
Some activators who log by computer get your name from QRZ in real time and will use your name in the exchange. ("TU John UR 559" etc.) So, it is a good idea for newer OPs to learn to recognize what their name sounds like in CW so they are not thrown for a loop if they hear it when not expecting it.
Good call! I didn't think of that, but you're totally right.
This was very helpful for a person new to CW. I just joined the LICW Club last week and can't wait to be able to get on the air hunting POTA with CW. Great video!
Thanks! Yeah, LICW is great. That's where I learned CW. I'm actually an instructor there now. Good luck with your CW journey!
@@EvanK2EJT Hey, that's cool. Hopefully, I'll hop into one of your classes. Just watched your video on the Field Activating Episode 1: Radios. Lot of great info on the video. I have been doing some serious research on small, portable radios for field activating (CW) and you had quite the collection in that video. I am leaning towards the Mountain Topper or the KX2. I think I am going to lean towards the KX2 (pricey option), but I like the idea of a radio that can do SSB and CW, although I think CW will be my primary mode. Again, I'm a new subscriber. Glad I found your channel.
@@betterbprepared Yeah, if you're choosing between those two radios as your only field radio, I'd go KX2 all day every day. The MTR4B is a great radio, but I wouldn't want it as my only field radio. The KX2 has a LONG wait time, so if you want one, order it and plan on waiting like 4 months, or buy a used one (that's what I did). While the KX2 isn't perfect, it's about as complete a package as you're going to find in a field radio. Hopefully I'll see you in my class one of these days!
Nice video for beginning CW ops, and especially if they are doing POTA. As a CW op for over 50 years you brought out some good points, and ultimately it comes down to practice, practice, practice, like most newly learned activities... Point of interest, as an activator with over 7k POTA contacts, I never give out my state in the exchange unless it's a "Park to Park" exchange. I won't say an activator won't regularly give out his state, but if you are running a bunch of contact it won't happen that much. As an activator your park number and location are listed on the POTA "Activation" page. Also, sending "K" after calling CQ is much less common than not sending the "K" ... again, nice video, good stuff.... 72 Paul NA9M
I saw Thomas' POTA QSO and this is the perfect bookend to that - thank you!
Thank you!
Great explanation, I never new that about POTA and will give that a try! Thanks!
Great video, W5CI
Thank you for this. I am six months into my CW study and just getting copying under my belt. Not yet been on the air but not far off giving it a go. I have written out the QSO example on a crib card. I've also ordered a new mechanical pencil. I have noted proper CW 'ers always have good ones. Cheers.
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Awesome! Now get on the air! It's nowhere near as scary as it seems. The first QSO is always the most nerve wracking, and from there on out it gets much easier. Before you know it you'll be on the air every day making multiple QSOs. Thanks for watching and 73 (oh, and yes, a good mechanical pencil is a requirement LOL)
Thanks for the very clear lesson!!!
Great video thank you!
Hi Evan
Thank you very much for sharIng.
Best Regards vy 73 de Udo DO2ALP
Evan, well done. Thanks for hunting.
Always good to get you in the log!
NA4A
Thank you!
Great video! Probably a good idea for hunters to know what the '?' sounds like as well. You hear that a lot when the activator has a pileup and are trying to pick out the callsigns. Also if the activator missed something sometimes they'll ask for 'RST ?' or 'CALL ?' or maybe even 'STATE ?'. I'm new too and that's a few things I've heard.
That's another great point! I'll add some new stuff like name, ?, agn, etc in the next video. Thanks!
When the codes comes fast and s****y, just send dit-dit-dah dah-dit-ditty. Courtesy of the US Navy Operators. Easy way to remember question mark (?)
Hi greetings from the UK!
Very useful video for someone starting it’s CW journey.
Thanks for sharing
Thank you and thanks for watching!
Thank you for posting this informative video! I will give CW a try on my next POTA activation. 72/73 de Jeff K9JP
Great video Evan, thanks! Hope to work you on CW sometime in the future. 73!
Thanks!
Nice, thank you..
Wow, that’s great. Very helpful. Thanks, kc1ivw
This is great stuff....thank you. I have been planning to listen in on some CW activations until I can get myself back up to speed on CW (I'm confusing a handful of letters again...being away from it for 15 years will do that).
Also, will the activator give the park designation during the QSO, as in SSB POTA exchanges? If so, is there a 'standardized' location that might show up in the example exchange you show?
Thanks for the feedback! As for park numbers, they don't normally send the park designator. Some ops will send it after your RST but it's pretty uncommon. Normally the only time I ever hear a park reference is during a park to park contact. Park numbers are long to send, so people usually don't unless you ask for it or it's a park to park.
@@EvanK2EJT Thanks for the reply. I've only ever hunted on SSB, and the park designator has always been given. Thus, I was a little surprised to not see it in the example exchange. Your explanation makes total sense, though. Thanks again!
Nice video for us new to cw, never thought about using POTA hunting as a "gateway".....couple of questions.....
Straight key or paddle for absolute beginner?
And how did you set up the g90 to make tone without transmitting?
Thanks for watching! Yeah, POTA is a great gateway into CW. I apologize if this is a little long, but I feel like it requires a little explanation:
As for key selection, I generally recommend beginners start out on a straight key. It's easier to translate the character in your brain to motion in your arm. It's 1:1. An "L" is di Dah di dit.......and your arm follows that exact pattern. With a paddle, you're layering on another level of translation. Getting the feel for how long to hold each paddle down to create the correct number of dits or dahs takes a little getting used to, and there's some muscle memory involved. It also changes with character speed, so that adds another layer of complexity. That being said, plenty of people start out on paddles and they're just fine. I just find that most beginners have an easier time making the straight key do what they want it to do with less effort. In the end, use what you find works best for you. I bounce between multiple dual iambic paddles (which I use most of the time), a single paddle key, a cootie, two different bugs, and a straight key. As for the G90, that's pretty simple. Turn the rig on and hit the "key" button on the right four times. "QSK" will be displayed. Turn the VFO to change it from "on" to "off". Turn the volume on the radio to zero and you'll be left with just the side tone. No transmitting, no background noise. To change the side tone volume, hit the "func" button on the top front row of buttons, and then hit the "key" button. The first option will be tone volume. Set that to something comfortable. From there, you can practice to your heart's content and not have to worry about transmitting or hearing background HF static.
@@EvanK2EJT thank you so much for taking the time for a detailed reply...you helped more than you know.
I'm a general class of about 15 years but haven't been active for about half of that, just bought a g90 a couple of weeks ago and have built a few different antennas to go with it for POTA and portable in general.
Thanks again, 73 de KJ4ICG dit dit
@@TheWingnut58 Glad I could help! Your question actually prompted me to shoot a quick video on key selection and the difference between different keys. I'm going to start editing now, and it should be up later this evening or tomorrow morning. Thanks for the inspiration and the feedback.
@@EvanK2EJT subbed so I won't miss it!
@@TheWingnut58 Thanks!
I'm a new ham and I find this video helpful. I really hope I can do some POTA QSO this summer when I have my gears. I'm waiting for a QCX-mini to be assembled. How would I know the numbers of RST? Are they displayed on the transceiver? 73 de VE3INE
The RST numbers will be based on a couple of things. The first number is readability on a scale of 1-5, 5 being perfectly readable, and 1 being barely audible. The second number is the signal strength, it will be displayed on the S meter on the transceiver. This is a scale of 1-9 with 1 being the lowest S meter measure, and 9 being the highest. The last number is tone, and unless it's a homebrew radio, tone should always be a 9.
@@EvanK2EJT Thank you for your reply! You mean only the 'S' number is displayed on the transceiver and I have to make judgment for the other 2 numbers. 73 de VE3INE
@@havefun2952 Correct. The other two numbers are a judgment call, but for all intents and purposes the tone (the T in RST) will always be a 9, so a signal that's super easy to hear, at full power, would be 599. A signal that's pretty easy to hear, but not perfect, and about half power, would be a 459. Something way down in the noise and barely registers might be like a 219 or something similar.
@@EvanK2EJT Thanks for your helpful reply! 73 de VE3INE
Am I missing something? Where is the Park designation? If I hear your CQ and didn't find you on the POTA page (not looking at the POTA page), does it matter? Or do I look you up later?
We almost never send a park designation. It doesn't matter, so we don't usually send it. The only time you'll ever hear anyone send it is during a Park to Park, and even then it isn't needed because the POTA website figures it out when you submit the logs
Would you happen to have PDF of that "Generic Sheet"?
I have it as a Google doc. I'll post the link here. If you'd rather a PDF, I can download it and email it to you if you'd like.
docs.google.com/document/d/1aYRz4z05M5ZChosEpd5oLHXmQvSgRStko_7zTnKFBUo/edit?usp=sharing
@@EvanK2EJT THANK YOU!
@@deltafour1212 No problem at all
Why do cW activators not give park number, unlike with SSB, as not all hunters have access to the spot page? i guess we can just ask: "PARK NR ? PSE)
It's pretty much an efficiency thing. It takes a long time to send K-5011 or something. You can absolutely ask for it though. Don't be surprised if the activator doesn't copy it the first time around. When you're not expecting someone to ask off script stuff it'll throw you off, so you may have to ask for it a couple of times.
Perfect need more how to…. But at a slower speed…. We r learning… lol
LOL I try to send close to what you're going to hear on the air. I can definitely do a QRS video though. That's a good idea!
Umm, don't you need to copy and confirm the park identifier # as well?
Nope. Not even if it's a Park to Park. You'll very rarely hear anyone send a park number. Occasionally operators will send it in the CQ, but it's uncommon. The only time you'll hear it is if it's a park to park (which again isn't even necessary as POTA will sort that out when it's logged), or if someone asks for it. Great question though! Thanks
@@EvanK2EJT Interesting! Very different than my experience with SOTA. Personally I'm more interested in the person's location and operating conditions than in the official summit identifier, but it's needed for logging.
@@brianclimbs1509 Yeah, it's a little different in SOTA. In POTA, the only person who submits logs is the activator. The hunter doesn't need to do anything aside from contact the activator at the park and have a valid QSO. The activator handles everything else.
I can barely copy cw(usually can get bk, 5nn and agn/? And my call) but I have made a few cw pota qsos! Im much better even with my super low skill level.
Keep at it! The more QSOs you make, the better you get, and the easier it gets!
Thanks for the video, but I have to say I disagree that hunting POTA is an easy way to get started operating CW on the air. I've been a mostly-CW ham for 30 years, most of that time a bit of a slowpoke when it comes to CW copy speed. 12-13 wpm has been my comfort zone for years, and I have enjoyed hundreds of QSOs at that speed, with other operators who, like me, prefer to go...how shall we say?...at a leisurely pace. Lately, I have become interested in POTA, but I am VERY INTIMIDATED responding to a CQ sent well beyond my comfort level...it seems most POTA activators are sending well above 18 or 20 wpm. Seems to me that the better way to get started is to just go ahead and send a CQ at a comfortable speed, or respond to one. There's little "competition" involved in a slow, routine QSO, and most ops are patient with newbies.
You're not wrong. When you call CQ you control the speed, pace, and information in the QSO, so it theoretically should be less intimidating. I think the reason a lot of newer CW ops gravitate towards things like hunting POTA or SOTA or making SKCC contacts is that it's formulaic. You have an idea of what's going to be sent. When you're new, it's very easy to fall off the rails and become flustered. Now, as for POTA activators running fast....yes, it's true that the average is probably somewhere around 22wpm or so, but the vast majority of us will QRS for anyone calling slower than we're working. The only time I don't physically slow down is when I'm on a radio where key speed is difficult to change. In that instance, I'll add as much Farnsworth as the hunter needs, and repeat myself as many times as needed to make the contact. Don't be intimidated by the speed. We generally run reasonably fast so we can keep the QSO rate up, but we're more than happy to slow down. Thanks for watching, and thanks for the thoughtful comments!
Good points, all. Thanks. @@EvanK2EJT
When you first send the RST you send 559. But your voice over says you are sending 599.
Yeah, I realized that after I posted the video. Good catch LOL
Great video Evan, very nice and informing for the new CW operator. 73 de ON4MGY
Thanks!
As an activator with around 200 CW activations… I always tell hunters, know your call, 599 (or 559 if not real loud) and please know a question mark…. ‘cause I will send one (or two) 😂. Once you can send that… just jump in. I always try to remember to slow down. If anyone see’s me activating, jump in and give it a try… we will make it work! And Evan, thanks for the 3 contacts so far. 👍 de W8NI
Thank you, and thanks for activating. POTA wouldn't be any fun without you guys!
Ty ty very much 😊 DE TA2BKU 73
I agree this is a good way to get on the air CW-wise and it is a lot of fun! I have found the activators to be very patient, understanding and encouraging. You can also pick up some state QSO parties, SOTA and maybe eventaully expand into contests. I have a long ways to go, but this has helped me a lot! 73 de ki5gx dit dit
Thanks for watching! Yeah, those are some of the best ways to get into CW in a way that's fairly standardized and controlled.
I appreciate your video… it really is that simple. And as I’ve already started CW, it’s becoming a fascination, and fun mode to practice and use. My ‘Copy’ continues to improve, slowly, but the practice is key to proficiency! de W7UDT 72 (dit dit)