I am excited to introduce a new initiative within our Ham Radio Club! The Code Buddies are launching a Morse Code competency award as a steppingstone toward achieving the official ARRL Code competency certificate, which is set at 10 words per minute (wpm). This award aims to help you prepare for that challenge while enjoying the process. Here's how it will work: if you are able to copy a transmission at 5 wpm on the air for one full minute without any errors, you can earn this award. Members of our group, Code Buddies, and all club members can participate! Each week, I will announce the frequency and time for the transmission, which will be taken from the ARRLs 5wpm archive. After you listen and successfully copy the message, please send your submission to wm1h2025@gmail.com before our next club meeting. Upon verification of your successful copy, you will be awarded a certificate to recognize your accomplishment and earn a slot on the Code Buddies Hall of fame wall. Let us enhance our Morse code skills together and have some fun while doing it!

Code Buddy Practice

This is a great practice site you can work on headcopy and use your V-band adapter to practice sending.

Another great resource is lcwo.net, lots of great exercises.

This is a great practice site you can work on headcopy and use your V-band adapter to practice sending

Practice Resources used in our Sessions

CW Abbreviations

To learn more about VBand, visit their website at HamRadio Solutions or watch this great video from Charlie of Red Summit RF.

Consistent practice is one of the best ways to support each other on our journey with CW (Continuous Wave). While practicing CW on VHF or HF can be beneficial, challenges such as propagation, antennas, and geographic location can make it difficult to maintain consistency.

Fortunately, Ham Radio Solutions has developed a great tool called V-Band to address these challenges. The creators of V-Band wanted to provide a comfortable environment for practicing Morse code without feeling embarrassed on the air. With V-Band, multiple users can connect their straight keys or paddles to their computers using the V-Band Adapter and practice a QSO (Conversation) with one or more participants in real-time.

For less than $30 (including shipping), you can connect your favorite key and start practicing with others. While this may not be the "purist's" way of doing Morse code, it's important to remember that everyone learns differently, and as the saying goes, "there's more than one way to solder on a coax connector."

Tim (WM1H) is our coordinator and can provide you with additional details. If you already have a V-Band Adapter, you're welcome to join us!

Be sure to check out our club calendar for other scheduled CW practice events.

To practice with fellow club members using V-Band, simply go to the settings menu and add the private channel "CODE BUDDY" to connect with others!

To learn more and join the practice fun, click here to email our coordinator, Tim (WM1H).

Additionally, our club member Tim (WM1H) has created an excellent video on setting up and using V-Band.