Mobile CW QSO on 40m - Morse Code Chat Whilst Driving Home

G’day punters and fellow hams. Yes, I am a ham. I typically don’t say to much, and I only ever use CW (Morse Code) as, let’s face it, my mouth gets me into trouble. If you don’t believe me, there are videos that are proof of this on my channel. I urge you not to watch them. Nothing good will come of it. Trust me on that.

Paul, VK3HN has asked me to video next time I was doing CW in the car. Gabe VK2LGS also wanted a video. This was one I shot on the front camera from my phone holder. Sadly I was interrupted by an incoming call while videoing, which cut the recording, but it gives you an idea.

For non hams, CW is short for continuous wave, _which is ironic as it’s not continuous otherwise it would be a big long beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep which doesn’t really communicate anything meaningful_

It was called continuous wave as the signal was generated electronically with an oscillator, as opposed to the previous technology of damped wave spark gap transmissions that were all the rage when the Titanic sank.

For the hams out there, I was running 20W from my Xiegu X108G running into a 5.5’ home brew mobile whip on a mag mount on the roof of the old ford wagon. Covers 50KHz or so before the SWR heads too far north. Key is a British made BEC mini field straight key

The station responding is Drew VK3XU out of Geelong (from memory) and it’s just turned dark. Frequency is 7025KHz the de facto unofficial call / net frequency for daytime ops on 40m here on the east coast of Aus. Probably just under 500 miles or 800Kms as the bin chicken flys, so a solid signal. It was just after dark, and I was mobile in Blacktown in Sydney’s western suburbs.

As we drive on the left side of the road, I can send with my left hand while I steer with my right. Unlike a mobile phone, you can legally operate a 2 way radio while you drive. So it’s no different to holding a mic, and no more distracting than talking to someone in the passenger seat

Head copy is a challenge for me, but decent enough to copy the RST (signal report), name and QTH (location) as it’s repeated.

My left handed sending is limited to 12-13WPM though I can go a little faster, but the accuracy drops. Potholes and divots in the road are another thing that can cause miskeying.

I figured I would share the recording with YouTube as I haven’t been putting out much, which is probably a good thing. There are better things to do with your life and people you should probably be spending time with.

Remember:
Vote with your wallet
Be kind to others

73 DE Chris VK2NAP
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