CW Operations, Training, and Nets
Background
and History (NNN0GKV)
Northeast Area
CW Nets: Schedule
CW Net
call-up Procedures (with explanations)
Short list:
Most commonly used Q and Z signals
Links to other
internet websites of interest to CW operators
BACKGROUND AND HISTORY Greetings to all MARS members in the Northeast Area, Navy - Marine Corps MARS (NAVAVMARCORMARS) who are interested in cw operating, cw training, and cw networks. We encourage operators at all levels (cw training, cw experience and background, and cw expertise)to join in one or more of the Northeast Area cw networks. Address questions, comments, or recommendations to Dave Vittum, NNN0GKV (NNY) nnn0gkv@navymars.org. In 1992, DOD directed all cw transmission cease in all MARS programs (Army MARS, Air Force MARS, and NAVMARCORMARS). In the years following, there were many experiences of saturated cell phone circuits, interference on hf voice nets, and other severe problems during emergencies which made it evident that it would be prudent to re-institute cw as a viable and authorized mode of communication on the MARS networks. In June 2008, Chief NAVMARCORMARS promulgated a broadcast which re-instituted cw nets as authorized modes of communication. For general information and background, that message is included as the next section of this web site page. In fact, the Chief strongly recommended that at all levels of NAVMARCORMARS (state, region, and area), cw nets be restarted and training be conducted. This tab to the Northeast Area web page establishes the basic policies and operations for cw ops in the Northeast Area.Return to:
DE NNN0ASA 050 R 292200Z MAY 2008 FM CHNAVMARCORMARS WILLIAMSBURG VA TO ALNAVMARCORMARS INFO CHIEF ARMY MARS FT HUACHUCA AZ CHIEF AIR FORCE MARS SCOTT AFB IL BT UNCLAS SUBJ: CHNAVMARCORMARS BCST 06-08 A. DRAFT RADIOTELEGRAPH PROCEDURES 1. WHEN I ASSUMED THE CHIEF, NAVMARCORMARS POSITION IN NOVEMBER, 1997, WE WERE MORE THAN A YEAR INTO THE DOD MANDATED BAN ON CW ON MARS FREQUENCIES. A. SINCE THAT TIME THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION HAS, IN STEPS, ELIMINATED THE MORSE CODE REQUIREMENT FOR AN AMATEUR LICENSE. ALL EMERGENCY COMMUNICATORS KNOW THAT WHEN VOICE AND OTHER DIGITAL MODES SLOW TO A CRAWL OR BECOME UNUSABLE, CW CAN STILL BE USED. B. I REMEMBER THE NORTHEAST ICE STORM SHORTLY AFTER I BECAME CHIEF AND THE UNNECESSARILY LENGTHY EFFORT BY ALL OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND TO RECEIVE ONE VOICE EEI FROM A NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND MEMBER WHOSE ANTENNA WAS COVERED IN ICE AND LYING ON THE GROUND. IT TOOK OVER AN HOUR WHEN CW COULD HAVE HANDLED IT IN A FEW MINUTES. C. AS MORE AND MORE OF OUR MEMBERS ENTER MARS WITH NO MORSE CODE EXPERIENCE, I AM AFRAID THAT WE WILL SOON LOSE THAT SKILL SET IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING. 2. IN VIEW OF THE ABOVE AND EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, AREA AND REGION DIRECTORS ARE AUTHORIZED TO ESTABLISH CW TRAINING AND TRAFFIC NETS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE AREAS AND REGIONS. ALL STATE DIRECTORS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN CONDUCTING TRAINING IN CW ON THEIR TRAFFIC AND TRAINING NETS. 3. SINCE THE RADIOTELEGRAPH PROCEDURES WERE ELIMINATED BEFORE THE PUBLICATION OF NTP 8(C), REF A WILL BE POSTED UNDER THE DOCUMENTS TAB ON THE NATIONAL WEB PAGE SOON. USE THESE DRAFT PROCEDURES UNTIL A FINAL TRI-SERVICE MARS PROCEDURE FOR RADIOTELEGRAPH IS DEVELOPED AND PROMULGATED. 4. MARS: TOGETHER WE CAN ACHIEVE ANYTHING. BT NNNNReturn to:
NORTHEAST AREA CW NETS: SCHEDULE (Note: initial net callup = 05 August 2008)Return to:
DAY NET TIME QRG Tuesday NA2C 1000 (local) NDK Tuesday NA3C 2100 (local) NBI Thursday NA2C 1000 (local) NDK Thursday NA3C 2100 (local) NBI Saturday NA2C 1000 (local) NDK Saturday NA3C 2100 (local) NBI (Frequency designators per "Frequency" tab, national NAVMARCORMARS website) (NOTE - this is a password protected site)
CW NET CALL-UP (Procedure in general should mirror the Voice SOP )Return to:
Initial call up - conditions good:
NA2C NA2C DE NNN0NCS K
Subsequent call up - conditions good:
NA2C DE NNN0NCS K
Call up - poor conditions:
NA2C NA2C DE NNN0NCS NNN0NCS K
Checking into a net with no traffic:
NNN0NCS DE NNN0AYU ZKE QRU K
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EXPLANATIONS:
ZKE = "reporting into the net"
QRU = "I have nothing for you" ("no traffic")
NNN0BBB checks in, listing traffic (2 routines for Charleston)
NNN0GKV de NNN0BBB ZKE ZBO 2R Charleston K
EXPLANATIONS:
ZKE = "reporting into the net"
ZBO = "listing the following traffic"
2R Charleston =
"2 routine messages for Charleston"
(Revised Feb 2011 by NNN0ASI FOUR PA)
SHORT LIST: MOST COMMONLY USE Q AND Z SIGNALS: ZBO Traffic list follows ZGN Nothing heard ZKA (xxx) is net control, (yy) net ZKB This is a directed net ZKE Reporting into the net ZKJ2 I am closing ZRC2 Zero beat my frequency ZUJ Standby ZUE Affirmative ZUG NegativeReturn to: