CWirc - Morse Code over the Internet

[g4tut]

CWirc - Morse Code over the Internet

Now you can send and receive morse code via the Internet thanks to CWirc, an X-Chat plugin for sending and receiving raw morse code over IRC.

The website at http://users.skynet.be/ppc/cwirc/ says:

CWirc is a plugin for the X-Chat IRC client to transmit raw morse code over the internet using IRC servers as reflectors. The transmitted morse code can be received in near real-time by other X-Chat clients with the CWirc plugin.

CWirc tries to emulate a standard amateur radio rig : it sends and receives morse over virtual channels, and it can listen to multiple senders transmitting on the same channel.

Morse code is keyed locally using a straight or iambic key connected to a serial port, or using the mouse buttons, and the sound is played through the soundcard, or through an external sounder.

Note that CWirc doesn't do any morse decoding : it simply transmits and receives morse code timing events.
A standard IRC user on the same IRC channel you're transmitting morse on will only see coded lines when morse code is transmitted. Only other CWirc users can receive what you send.

The website also has historic information on morse code and the telegraph.

CWirc
http://users.skynet.be/ppc/cwirc/







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[w8vho]

The electric telegraph is a now outdated communication system that transmitted electric signals over wires from location to location that translated into a message.
The non-electric telegraph was invented by Claude Chappe in 1794. This system was visual and used semaphore, a flag-based alphabet, and depended on a line of sight for communication. The optical telegraph was replaced by the electric telegraph, the focus of this article.

In 1809, a crude telegraph was invented in Bavaria by Samuel Soemmering. He used 35 wires with gold electrodes in water and at the receiving end 2000 feet the message was read by the amount of gas caused by electrolysis. In 1828, the first telegraph in the USA. was invented by Harrison Dyar who sent electrical sparks through chemically treated paper tape to burn dots and dashes.


Havent we done this already??? CW over wire...

[k9zmd]

Wow, Bill . . . really got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, eh? Come on, read it again, slowly. No place does it say that W8VHO must participate. You are excused, go have a cuppa. Thank you for the history lesson, though. 73

Gary, K9ZMD

[K2WH]

Another use for radios - the internet.

Another use for the internet - Radios ?

Can't tell anymore.

Why not just move all RF methods of communications to the internet and be done with it once and for all instead of the slow bleed. I'm tired of waiting and won't have to worry about lightning, just the reliability of my internet provider.

K2WH
(Old Fart)

[al7n]

Not only can you use CW over the internet, but if you are so inclined, you can also manually telegraph over the internet between any two places properly equipped using the old time LANDLINE Morse telegraph (American Morse as was used by the Western Union and all railroads)...with actual telegraph keys and telegraph sounders.

Google "MorseKOB"

There are a few Morse operators around yet that can use the old wire
telegraph code....it is almost a lost art for sure. There are even fewer that are "bi lingual" and can use both International Morse and American Morse codes fluently.

[KD6NIG]

Cool, now you can get viruses, warez, AND CW on irc!

And heck, I thought it was only good for the first 2 :)

[w8vho]

Really come on now! All the brilliant minds out there and the best we can do is cw over internet! Im all for new and inventive ideas! Dont get me wrong I love the internet and ham radio working together as one. Its great to use Ham Radio Deluxe , make the Qso that you got off a DX cluster , get all the info off QRZ.com instantly put into a log file and auto send a eQSL card! Now thats using internet wizely! NOW lets get away from old technology do something to make you (OLD FARTS) scratch your heads! CW I love it but not over my internet! - - - , -.- !!! :p

[ai4et]

Is there going to be a DW version for the really old school hams?

[K8DGL]

If it is over wires we should use the Continental Code.

[MM3ZJI]

I totally agree with W8VHO.

[K7ZZY]

I was looking for a good reason to retire my spark gap transmitter.
(just kidding).

Very cool. Thanks!

[wb8siw]

If it is over wires we should use the Continental Code.

Actually, American Morse Code was used on wire circuits in North America. Radio operators, including ham radio operators use Continental Code.

As to CW over the Internet, keep in mind that some people actually enjoy using CW. I could see situations where those that haven't the ability to get on-air from their location, such as someone in a retirement home or apartment setting might enjoy such a service. I could also see someone practicing CW this way with a friend before taking their first steps on-air.

That having been said....I've got a great idea! Let's try "live and let live" for a while and see what life is like without all the bickering everytime CW is mentioned. LOL.

73, Jim

[N0FPE]

Sigh........

[W1RFI]

I totally agree with W8VHO. What the hell TUT. Are you intentionally trying to wind every one up! How in the F@*% did you manage to get a moderators job on here? regards Ian Montgomery MM3ZJI.

Do you really think that his post was so harmful to you that you should swear at him?

He probably became a moderator by choosing not to cuss people out for posting information about a site that could be of interest to some hams.

I think that your use of veiled swearing at a fellow poster is more apt to wind people up than his informative post.

Ed Hare, W1RFI

[w8znx]

If it is over wires we should use the Continental Code.

Continental code is International code

American Morse is the American landline code

morse code over a computer
give me a break

where is the romance
where is the fun of having a station on the air

funny how many people spend so much time
finding ways to use a computer
to do something
using a computer
that is half as much fun as the old way
of doing it

mac
dit dit

[ZL1CDP]

Well.... for me the internet will never be Ham Radio, and Ham Radio will never be the internet either.

Traditional CW is the highlight of my Ham Radio activity and that will never change, I will never attempt radio contact over the internet. It's just not the same.

Cheers all,

Chris - ZL1CDP

[NN4RH]

morse code over a computer
give me a break

where is the romance
where is the fun of having a station on the air

funny how many people spend so much time
finding ways to use a computer
to do something
using a computer
that is half as much fun as the old way
of doing it



Hey, no problem. You just go to the Options Menu and set the preferences to simulate HF propagation and simulate plasma television RFI while you're sending the simulated CW over your simulated radio on your computer during a simulated contest. There's even a hidden menu that lets you create a sword-yielding big-breasted female animated warrior to let you slash and wipe out the simulated QRMers from the simulated net that's trying to encroach on your simulated frequency. Heck ham radio will be more fun than ever once we free ourselves of the technology jail of actual radio waves.

[W1RFI]

morse code over a computer
give me a break


When I was a kid, I learned Morse code at 5 wpm to pass my Novice (WN1CYF). I soon had a QSO with a kid across town (WN1DOI). We became fast friends and we "practiced" Morse code everywhere we went, verbally with dit-dahs on the bus (I'm sure people thought us to be crazy) and with a CPO on the phone when we weren't on the air. We tried to go as fast as we possibly could, and because we were on the phone instead of on the air, we didn't care if we made mistakes. We made mistakes, but we both got better on code and were better operators for it.

Now, instead of just the bus and the phone, we have the Internet. It is no different in kind, and I bet it will be at least as useful to those who want a place to make mistakes in trying to be better CW operators as the technology of my day was to me.

It goes one better than the phone, though, because sites like this could well be one way to expose those not yet licensed to the utility of Morse code.

I can't see for the life of me how this would be a thing bad enough to have one poster spouting disguised obscenties and another one begging for a break. Why is it that no matter what someone does to promote Morse code and CW, one or two of its proponents jumps in and finds some reason to put it down if it isn't being done exactly the way he would do it. Things like this will "preseve" the mode right into extinction. Swearing and being generally dour is NOT the way to encourage others to use the mode.

I, for one, would point to this site as a good tool for those who want some off-the-air practice before they put it on the air.

Ed, W1RFI

[dj1yfk]

I tried CWirc a few times over the last few months, and while I certainly prefer to work CW on the radio, it has some useful applications.

For one, there are some "bots" in the #cw-Channel, that send News headlines at certain intervals. This is excellent CW practice, something you can run in the background and listen to, to improve your headcopy abilities.

Also, it's a decent way to practice with beginners. Unlike practicing with/against a computer program, here you get real feedback from another operator, and if in trouble, you can quickly change back to the text mode to resolve problems. (Of course, doing this "face to face", or with a code buzzer on a local VHF frequency would be even better, but it's often just not possible.)

Unlike with programs like CQ100 or Hamsphere, nobody would seriously consider CWirc-contacts as "QSOs", or a replacement for radio contacts. It's just another way to use and enjoy Morse code. And certainly a better way to spend your time than engaging in endless discussions on qrz.com ;-)

Although I consider myself to be a rather active CW operator on the bands (>20k QSOs in 2007), I thoroughly enjoy to use telegraphy in as many different ways as possible: I read books in CW, my computer sends email notifications in CW (From/Subject lines), I do daily practice in RufzXP and MorseRunner, etc.

[K4IJA]

I first learned the Continental code in an Atlantic Coast Line depot, as a young lad. As a 15 year old, I had to learn the International code for my Novice ticket

Tom,K4IJA

[ab8ma]

Is there a DOS version I can run on my 8086? :D

[wd8bil]

April phool comes to mind !

[w8vho]

Who cares if it should be cont or intl , the point is lets come out with new technology! Everyone complains that the bands are dead, well get the stuff off the internet and start broadcasting it over the air! Lets warm up the Ionisphere! and all the other spheres! ( to save the endless post of what sphere is DX) The hobby is trying to get kids off computers and pick up a microphone! I checked out the program its a great program, Im complaining more about the lack of inventiveness! :cool:

[k7gt]

Gentlemen and ladies,

I LOVE CW. Running CW on the Internet is anachronistic to be sure, but
if anyone enjoys it, why not?!

The CW for licensing battle has come and gone. If it doesn't affect you
in any way, why should you care or even take the time to respond here?

Some people seem to enjoy CW. Take a listen to the 20m CW band segment
the first weekend in November sometime...

73 all

Allan K7GT

[KB3JWK]

I think it would be great to have a way to listen and copy code at my convenience as I work odd hours and can't always tune in W1AW.

CW for me is like learning a foreign language, and also like reliving history. Certainly not a critical item in the communication tool kit but another effective one nonetheless.

I passed the 5 wpm general a couple years back but at that rate I wouldn't be comfortable or confident going on the air so I want to get better at copying. What a great way to get real time practice.

If I want to learn an archaic communication method I'm glad someone out there has spent his time and energy to make it possible. I don't understand why anyone would object.

This is how I choose to pursue happiness.

[w4brf]

oh well there is always some that is not going to like new things , But they just as well get Ready to live with it ,there will Be more to come ,cry cry cry, w4Brf Bill :):)

[w8vho]

oh well there is always some that is not going to like new things , But they just as well get Ready to live with it ,there will Be more to come ,cry cry cry, w4Brf Bill :):)


whats new about it cw over a wire, called the telegraph!!;)

[w8vho]

its called the -/./.-.././- - . /.-./.-/.- -./.... ;)

[KB1PYW]

I think this is a great tool for people to practice CW... I'll be on there shortly.

Jeremy

[KD6NIG]

Heh.

Even the CW people couldn't agree and had to come up with 2 different codes.

Amazing :)

[w8znx]

I first learned the Continental code in an Atlantic Coast Line depot, as a young lad. As a 15 year old, I had to learn the International code for my Novice ticket

Tom,K4IJA

sry om you got it wrong

Continental code is European/International code

if you learned Morse code in an Atlantic Coast Line depot
you learned American Morse

to pass the Novice tic you had to learn what use to be called
the Continental code now known as International Morse Code

mac

[kb3pxz]

WHY ??? :confused:

[wb8siw]

Heh.

Even the CW people couldn't agree and had to come up with 2 different codes.

Amazing :)

What always amazes me is the fact that individuals draw conlusions without researching a subject up front. Thats what is truly "amazing."

There are good reasons for the existence of the two codes. The American Morse Code is the original Morse developed by Morse and Vail. It served well on commercial land-line circuits right into the 1970s and '80s. However, because the American Morse Code contains a variety of "spaced characters" (look at the codes side-by-side sometime), it was unsuitable for use on undersea cables and similar applications. Therefore, the Continental Code was developed and adopted Internationally.

Because the US telegraph industry was quite advanced and the original American Morse was already well established. There were valid economic and safety reasons (in the case of rail transportation) for not adopting the new code for land line work. As such, the American Morse Code remained in use on land-line circuits from railroad operations, borkerage work, press syndication, pipeline telegraph, telephone company work, and so forth, until fairly recently.

If you really want to get technical, one could also explain why the term "CW" is a term used to describe an "undamped" oscillation. In reality, ham operators use radiotelegraphy via continuous wave. However, in the spark era, one might have used radiotelegraphy via damped wave (oscillation). Your two-meter radio, your FM radio, and your cell phone also use "CW." LOL. Therefore, terms such as "CW via landline" are inappropriate.

My advice is this. Perhaps a bit of thought and investigation are in order before one forms an opinion. Ham radio would be alot better off if we all looked for ways to cooperate and support each other in our various interests as opposed to always looking for ways to cause division and anger.

As a final thought....before posting a comment, ask yourself how a potential ham radio operator (or your local Congressperson) would perceive your post and the overall tone of the comments posted on "QRZ.com."

73, Jim

[wb2tfm]

Well here goes I would like to direct this to W8ZNZ,ZL1CDP,NN4RH,
KB3PXZ,K2WH,KD6NIG,W8VHO,MM3ZJI.
Let me say this I think the code over the internet is a GREAT thing for those HAMS in a NURSING HOMES OR ASSISTED LIVING where you can't put up a station or HAVE your own radios to work off.
My dad was a HAM and he would have loved to have been able to work Morse off the internet.
So if you think YOU will not grow OLD and maybe go into a PLACE where you
can not do something you really enjoy PLEASE THINK AGAIN!
One day YOU will be old!
So I say if you can send it and recieve it without an antenna so be it.
I wish my DAD had the chance to do it HE LOVED HAM RADIO.
Maybe thats whats wrong with NEW HAMS today they think a 20 second contact is what it's all about.
My wife works in a nursing home where there are 1 or 2 hams and they would love to get on the air just to do something that they love doing when they could .
Yes I am working with the place to see if I can set up a station at least 1 or 2times a month.
MAYBE EVEN OVER THE INTERNET!!!!!!

REMEMBER GENTLEMEN
YOU WILL GET OLD!
DO YOU HAVE SOMEONE THAT WILL LISTEN TO YOUR RAMBLEING ON ABOUT THAT SPECIAL CONTACT YOU MADE 20 or 30 or 40 yrs ago if so then
God Bless you.
Think about it

[N7BXY]

I agree with W8ZNX!

Where indeed has the romance of being a Ham gone! When you use radios to communicate by CW, not a computer. Building your own transmitter with a 6AG7 as a crystal controlled oscillator, and an 807 as the final amplifier is gone and in the past, but, where is the love for listening for that weak signal from far away and responding to the CQ. That's inspiring to me.

I have been licensed for 50 years this past February and do not use my computer for anything "Ham" but a convenient way to log QSO's.

I suppose I am an elder pass wind, too.

"Life is too short to drink cheap Beer" :p

[W1RFI]

Where indeed has the romance of being a Ham gone! When you use radios to communicate by CW, not a computer. Building your own transmitter with a 6AG7 as a crystal controlled oscillator, and an 807 as the final amplifier is gone and in the past, but, where is the love for listening for that weak signal from far away and responding to the CQ. That's inspiring to me.

But almost every one of us used non-radio technology to learn the code, even it it was just sitting down with the chart and memorizing. Vinyl LP records were the "hip" technology of the day. I have to wonder whether old timers of that generation were displeased to see Morse code put onto vinyl to encourage newcomers to learn it easily.

We aren't using a 6AG7 often nowadays (though we can). But there is now a wealth of kits and projects available that lets more hams build more equipment than was practical in those good old days. There is experimentation in software-defined radios, where modulation and demodulation is done using DSP and analog/digital devices to interface between the digital and analog world. The magic isn't gone; it is just a new trick some of us have never seen before.

The site is an interesting novelty to an experienced CW op; it is an interesting simulation of CW use that could attract newcomers to the mode.

Amateur Radio has always been connected to other technology of the day. Did hams fear the first phone patches? Do they fear the interface between Amateur Radio and the Internet?

The Internet has brought value to many areas of my life. Amateur Radio is one of them.

Ed, W1RFI

[n1dvj]

Actually, I think it's kind of neat.

Hey, what's the problem with it being over the internet? Is it that much of a travesty to do CW when voice isn't? Come on, if you can't do digital data, then you have no right to complain.

As I said, I think it's neat, even though I'm not into CW anymore.

Hmm, now if it were REALLY done right, someone would create a 'virtual RF' channel, and when you attach to it you would have a wide 'frequency band' and you'd have to go search out your contacts. Then someone could have a program to do programmed link enhancements so that IP addresses would act like signal hops, and you'd have to play the bands based on the IP hop and....

Hmm, sounds like real radio...

Well, "I" think it would be neat!

Mike

[3V8JS]

hello thanks for the info and new cwirc

[n0irs]

Thanks for the wonderful reading folks. Good points all around. A few need to go to "Anger Management Classes". I went for 12 weeks once and it didn't do a dam bit of good. I think! Oh well. I have to admit, hams today are moving in two opposite directions. There are those who believe in old traditions, like I do. Then there are those that just want to baffle the hell out of us with techo stuff. For entertainment I listen to the local nets who run the RACES Group and how they are going to save the world during a local emergency and ask for and get tax payers money to put up a "Monster" SteppIR antenna. Yes the one that is the size of a football field. Well almost! Half of them can't operate, let alone set up a proper station if their life depended on it. No, let them have this morse code stuff over the internet so I don't have to listen to them goggle and gaggle at the local hamfest about putting up another repeater on 6 Meters. Oh boy a six meter repeater to talk across town, now that's an achievement! Go Internet CW....

[w8znx]

But almost every one of us used non-radio technology to learn the code, even it it was just sitting down with the chart and memorizing. Vinyl LP records were the "hip" technology of the day. I have to wonder whether old timers of that generation were displeased to see Morse code put onto vinyl to encourage newcomers to learn it easily.

*** learning morse code for the most part i listened to W1AW code ***

We aren't using a 6AG7 often nowadays (though we can). But there is now a wealth of kits and projects available that lets more hams build more equipment than was practical in those good old days. There is experimentation in software-defined radios, where modulation and demodulation is done using DSP and analog/digital devices to interface between the digital and analog world. The magic isn't gone; it is just a new trick some of us have never seen before.

*** sure but excpt for the qrp boys most new hams have never built anything
and never will build anything solid state or tube and yes im still building
and useing hb gear five years ago built a 6AG7 6L6 mopa job
i enjoy working with modern parts as well as old style ********

The site is an interesting novelty to an experienced CW op; it is an interesting simulation of CW use that could attract newcomers to the mode.

Amateur Radio has always been connected to other technology of the day. Did hams fear the first phone patches? Do they fear the interface between Amateur Radio and the Internet?

****i don't fear a interface between Amateur Radio and the Internet
i just find it unromantic cold and not to my likeing
if others like it
more power to them
but
found that when i had a computer in the ham shack
i stopped building radios, tuned around less, and the old bug got dusty ****

The Internet has brought value to many areas of my life. Amateur Radio is one of them.

Ed, W1RFI

some may say i am living in the past
my 57 year old wood sail boat has no motor, no lights, no radio, no gps,

yours truly
Mac

[KC8VWM]

Just a few observations to share.

Just before the "code war" I used the internet to learn and gain proficiency in morse code as a method of study so I could eventually upgrade my ticket.

I got busy, life happened, jobs changed, I moved households etc. across the country and I never had the opportunity to take the upgrade plunge when CW was still a requirement.

However, I found out after they *did* drop code as a requirement, this made it possible for me to actually use CW on the air on certain
HF band segments even when I was a technician.

This became the perfect opportunity which allowed me to become more proficient in CW. Now that I have actually learned and used it, I have later decided to upgrade my ticket but was never granted any CW credit.

I am now considered a no code general who knows cw.

So basically, I became proficient in CW *because* of the fact they dropped code as a requirement if that makes any sense. :-)

This is because the way I see things and the best way I found to learn morse code, was to actually use it on the air with someone else. The problem I was facing before they dropped CW as a requirement was that making 2m CW contacts were too far and few between to gain any proficiency or speed.

So, yes I can see why the internet IRC thing would have been useful before they dropped the code requirement however one is no longer limited to using the internet to learn CW any longer.

In addition, if you are concerned about making a few mistakes on the air when sending CW, welcome to the club. I found even the 200 wpm experts still do this from time to time.

Now don't get me wrong and I admit I'm no 200 wpm CW guru myself but I found CW to be a very enjoyable mode and everyone now has the opportunity to learn and use it.

For those who may be interested in trying out CW remember that license class is no longer the barrier it used to be. That fact alone actually encouraged me to start using CW. Heck, for a while there I was even starting to feel like I was an old school Novice tapping away on the bands. :)

Just get out your straight key because remember there's no substitute for doing the real thing. When you start sending CQ and experience the rush of making your first contact, you will be glad you did. Personally, I just couldn't wipe that silly ass grin off my face all day and I was proud of the fact that my very first HF contact was made using CW! Gee, I remembered I started thinking I might have inadvertantly followed some sort of old long standing tradition or something there <gasp>.

With a little actual on the air slow code practice, with an on air sked and a study buddy, CW will start natually sinking into the very core of your cerebrial cortex 150 times faster and much better than any Koch method tape or whiz bang software study program could ever offer. The high tech kc8vwm sink or swim CW method simply works better because when you are at that point you will *want* it to work. It truely does. CU on CW.

gl 73 de Charles KC8VWM

[kc4wms]

looks interesting. I have been on IRC since 1990 and hang in 2 #hamradio channels. thy're usually boring but this may be fun to play with.

for anyone interested in IRC , google xchat , it's a free client avail. for windows and linux.

the following are the two nets I frequent :

irc.undernet.us.org common ports 6667

irc.superhosts.net common ports 6667


you may need to add servers to the client. or have an option to use the client command of :

/server ( the above server addresses one at a time )

after connecting you'll need to join the channel by this command:

/join #hamradio

you'll also need a nick name - user name most use their call so the command would be:

/nick ( your call )

NOTE do NOT use the ( parentheses ) in any commands.

73 de kc4wms

[MM3ZJI]

Do you really think that his post was so harmful to you that you should swear at him?

He probably became a moderator by choosing not to cuss people out for posting information about a site that could be of interest to some hams.

I think that your use of veiled swearing at a fellow poster is more apt to wind people up than his informative post.

Ed Hare, W1RFI

My deepest apology Ed, (HELL) in this country is'nt a swear word.
Sorry if I offended you, kind regards Ian MM3ZJI.

[OD5TX]

Well here goes I would like to direct this to W8ZNZ,ZL1CDP,NN4RH,
KB3PXZ,K2WH,KD6NIG,W8VHO,MM3ZJI.
Let me say this I think the code over the internet is a GREAT thing for those HAMS in a NURSING HOMES OR ASSISTED LIVING where you can't put up a station or HAVE your own radios to work off.
My dad was a HAM and he would have loved to have been able to work Morse off the internet.
So if you think YOU will not grow OLD and maybe go into a PLACE where you
can not do something you really enjoy PLEASE THINK AGAIN!
One day YOU will be old!
So I say if you can send it and recieve it without an antenna so be it.
I wish my DAD had the chance to do it HE LOVED HAM RADIO.
Maybe thats whats wrong with NEW HAMS today they think a 20 second contact is what it's all about.
My wife works in a nursing home where there are 1 or 2 hams and they would love to get on the air just to do something that they love doing when they could .
Yes I am working with the place to see if I can set up a station at least 1 or 2times a month.
MAYBE EVEN OVER THE INTERNET!!!!!!

REMEMBER GENTLEMEN
YOU WILL GET OLD!
DO YOU HAVE SOMEONE THAT WILL LISTEN TO YOUR RAMBLEING ON ABOUT THAT SPECIAL CONTACT YOU MADE 20 or 30 or 40 yrs ago if so then
God Bless you.
Think about it

Good post Frank,

Your remark about hams in nursing homes is so true.
I have read several articles about hams moving into retirement communities or being moved into nursing homes.
It is sad , they are unable to enjoy a hobby that would fill most of their long days.

When I first arrived back in Aug.1995 into the country I reside in now ( United Arab Emirates ) I was unable to apply for a license for the simplest reason that the authorities were simply not licensing foreigners.
I had to wait until Sep.2005 until I was issued a temporary call sign ( A6/OD5TX ). I got my permanent call ( A61TX ) in November 2006.

I cannot describe the pleasure I had to use the different ham programs which run over the web. Echolink and the w7dxx programs were for me the best combination ever that could take place between ham radio and the internet. It was the only way for me to communicate legally over the ham bands.
It was fantastic for me to be able to use the remote internet radios in Massachussets & Boston over the internet sitting in Dubai on the Arabian gulf coast. I was so glad to have been able to use my US call sign ( AI4EO ) over the air in the USA from behind my laptop in Dubai.

Bill ( W8VHO ),
Remember buddy , we first met over the echolink back in 2005.
I flew six weeks later to the USA on a very unschedueled out of the blue business trip taking me to a place a few miles away from your previous home in Lebanon OH and we had the chance to have two eyeball QSOs.
We also had the chance to meet again in 2006 when I had to attend a training program in Belterra IN and Walton KY.
Hadn't there been ham radio over the internet we would not have had the chance to meet.
We are now best friends and we communicate with each other on a daily basis ( over the MSN messenger on the internet )!

Keep up the good work

73 de OD5TX - AI4EO - A61TX Michel presently in Dubai - United Arab Emirates

[N7BXY]

It's me again.

I suppose that I am just an elder passwind for saying these things, but, a computer driven CW mode is moving away from Ham RADIO! The word RADIO seems to be the second word when describing our hobby and the operative word.

To use a computer for CW where there is a handicapped or disabled Ham somewhere that would sincerely appreciate the opportunity is simply grand. I completely agree with that happening.

My point is; "Ham Radio is my hobby" To me, anything to do with a twisted pair or a light beam ain't radio. I know! I know! I am indeed an elder passwind to your way of thinking. Using computers for CW or any mode of communication is nothing short of marvelous! It is all magic, anyway.

I will remain in my cave with a fair size boulder to block the entrance, and use my TS-940 like it was intended to be used.

You know, I am correct! I am an elder passwind.....

[W6QT]

N7BXY has it right...it is a hobby and if someone wants to try something different, then they should go for it if it makes them happy. :)

[k4uug]

Now you can send and receive morse code via the Internet thanks to CWirc, an X-Chat plugin for sending and receiving raw morse code over IRC.

BIG WASTE OF INTERNET SPACE !:D

[KI4OVO]

But it seems like a good way to practice code in real time with another human being.....get a little confidence under your belt......THEN you will feel more comfortable "On The Air"......

Here's a quote:

Computers make it easier to do a lot of things, but most of the things they make it easier to do don't need to be done.
Andy Rooney
US news commentator (1919 - )

I for one think if a computer makes it easier to learn code....it's a good thing.

73

KI4OVO

[ab1ga]

Wow, the bands must really stink, I guess!

:D

[W1RFI]

My deepest apology Ed, (HELL) in this country is'nt a swear word.

I was thinking more of the "f" followed by three punctuations. It was patently obvious just what you were saying and what you meant.

My deepest apology Ed, (HELL) in this country is'nt a swear word.

It is not me who is due an apology. I am not offended by words, unless those words are used offensively. The offense was not directed at me.

Ed, W1RFI

[W1RFI]

I suppose that I am just an elder passwind for saying these things, but, a computer driven CW mode is moving away from Ham RADIO! The word RADIO seems to be the second word when describing our hobby and the operative word.

I would imagine that at any given time, there are several orders of magnitude more on-the-air CW QSOs taking place than will take place via any computer means. I think that radio has little to fear from this non-competion.

The site is a neat novelty that may allow hams some code practice that simulates what they will experience on the air. Many hams who copy the code on the practice tapes have a lot of trouble with QRM, QRN and QSB.

Ed Hare, W1RFI

[wa4gch]

Heh.

Even the CW people couldn't agree and had to come up with 2 different codes.

Amazing :)

DANG ......

We should be placing all that digital crap on the internet too .... :eek:

[W3HR]

for anyone interested in IRC , google xchat , it's a free client avail. for windows and linux.

KC4WMS... I think the CWirc idea is great. I'd love to use this to help a friend in another state learn the code. Only problems are, the installation of the CWirc plug-in looks unnecessarily complicated, and it doesn't appear to work with anything but Linux and two other OS's I've never heard of. Nothing for Windows.

What's up with that?

de
W3HR

[MM3ZJI]

I was thinking more of the "f" followed by three punctuations. It was patently obvious just what you were saying and what you meant.



It is not me who is due an apology. I am not offended by words, unless those words are used offensively. The offense was not directed at me.

Ed, W1RFI

Well what are YOU moaning about then ?
You can think or assume all you want "ED"
No swear word was said. Now off you go to bed, Good night.

[F8EJF]

I suppose I should say something, I wrote CWirc after all :)

- For those who say it's not ham radio : that's correct, it's about CW, not radio. CWirc is for morse code lovers, not hams. The two groups largely overlap, but not necessarily.

- It's written for Linux. Sorry, I have no Windows programming experience. If you can code for Windows and would like to do a port, it's open-source, go right ahead.

- Beginners who don't master the code very well *are* often badly treated on the air. I myself can vividly remember, when I had just gotten my code, trying to CQ on 40m, and nobody would answer. Then suddenly some experienced local old geezer would call and tens of his buddies answered, and away they went chit-chatting at 30wpm. They were all there listening, but none of them cared about the newbie. Either that or they'd tell me to clear off and let them do DX in peace. I am not the only one to have experienced that sort of smug attitude from old-timers on the air, so at least, doing CW over the internet provides a stress-free way of getting practice time at the key.

- Some hams can't get on the air. I wrote CWirc at a time when I lived in a condo and couldn't have a shack.

- CWirc convinced at least 3 people I know to become hams : they came to the #cw channel because of the novelty factor, got hooked on morse code, then got hooked on hamradio, then got their licenses. Just for that, I'm glad I made the thing.

- There are bots on #cw that constantly broadcast news in morse at different speed, and a bot that provides training services. These are good tools to learn.

- You don't have to limit yourself to american morse code : there's support for several languages, including japanese and russian code, and even the old DOT code. Go find someone to practice DOT code on the air...

Really, if you don't like the idea of CW on the net, by all means don't do it. You prefer doing real radio, and that's just fine. No need to get your pants in a knot over it. CWirc isn't radio, it's a friendly way of doing CW when you don't have the legal, technical or social mean going on the air, or if you don't care about radio but just about morse code.

73 de F8EJF