Build Your CW Skills with POTA - Hanford Reach Activation

POTA is a great way to enhance your CW skills. It is also a lot of fun to get outside with a low power radio and get on the air.
In this video, I once again demonstrate that you don't have to be a CW guru to get it done.

[@jazatini]

This does a nice job of showing what a real activation by real people sounds like. It's amazing to me how many of those calls I'm starting to recognize.

[@houseofhamradio]

Thanks Dan

[@yeahitsk]

Awesome, thanks. I'm really trying to learn CW and I'm watching lots of CW activation videos for inspiration and to relax from my practice and hope to absorb by osmosis I guess. The algorithm brought me to this video tonight. I'm so impressed at how you still pull enough info out with the QSB and pileups to get through the QSO. I know the characters pretty well but I'm definitely not hearing what you're hearing there. I'm sure it takes more time on your end but putting the text up of what we're hearing really helps.

[@houseofhamradio]

Thanks, Yes it takes a fair amount of time to do the transcription on screen. I did just release a brand new CW course designed to get people from zero to on air that may interest you: kzbin.info/www/bejne/el7YcqqXjNCgoqM It really is meant for those that have no CW experience but the MoserCode.world tool is great to improve your character recognition which is usually the root cause to issues copying code. Best of luck in your CW journey, Bob WV7W

[@awiles79]

I’m learning cw and this is helpful. TU

[@houseofhamradio]

Glad it helped you. You might want to look at my new CW Zero 2 On Air series.

[@jaymclemore9497]

As a newbie to cw, I truly appreciate the subtittles. I tried to copy call signs without looking at the screen and then looked to see how many charachters I got right. Thanks

[@houseofhamradio]

Just keep at it. Nobody is good at first but you will get better. Key is to get on the air as soon as possible. You don't have to be good to do that. I am living proof of that.

[@glempy]

Nice POTA video Bob. Your fist is an easy copy. 🙂

[@houseofhamradio]

Thanks 👍 Glenn!

[@JayN4GO]

Fb bob. Enjoy that kx2. I love mine

[@houseofhamradio]

I love the KX2 and am anxiously awaiting the KH1.

[@AG7SM]

Hey, I think I recognize that activation!

[@houseofhamradio]

I know, It's weird!

[@52Warlock]

Great video. As others have noted - very clear and easy to copy. I do have a question - and I am afraid that just posing the question will be taken wrong. I am new to the CW aspect - especially protocols and shorthands, so I am asking out of genuine desire to learn. You gave almost everyone a 5NN RST and received back everything from 5NN to a 368 (?). I would not have given some of the hunters a 5NN, some were in and out of the background, some had scratchy tone , etc. I know for my self that sending CQ CQ DE is now hand habit and I don't even think about it. Has sending 5NN also an easy habit to fall into? How big a deal is a 'critical' RST these days? Do folks get offended by a 337 ? Thanks again - great channel. Al K7AOZ CN84lx

[@houseofhamradio]

Al, I am not a meter reader when it comes to RST. I base it on what I hear and not always consistently. I also base it on what I initially hear and as they come back, sometimes stronger and sometimes weaker. As I go back and listen to the recording, I sometimes question my reports but such is life. Thanks for your comment. Bob WV7W

[@52Warlock]

Thank you very much.@@houseofhamradio

[@geoffreydann9941]

Were you in Washington or Georgia?

[@houseofhamradio]

Washington

[@geoffreydann9941]

@@houseofhamradio ah, sorry, I mistook the "GA" for a state, where you meant "Good Afternoon"...

[@ai5dd]

I think it’s ok, but I’m hearing a few calling CQ ending with BK, which tells me they aren’t learning the proper way To have a proper QSO. Or they have no idea what BK means.

[@houseofhamradio]

Right, wrong or indifferent, BK has kind of become a standard "K" in portable CW ops these days.

[@ai5dd]

@@houseofhamradio BK is break, not for inviting to transmit, mostly used in short QSOs to dispense with the formality of station de station such as contests and POTO SOTA. Saying it's becoming a standard is a problem, not an accepted norm for calling CQ. Of course you can dispense with formality in a long rag chew or short QSO. My point was, that people should study and learn, not just rely on POTA/SOTA QSOs to learn, but use it in tandem. I found POTA and SOTA extremely helpful in copying callsigns, however I learned the basics first. Hearing people send BK to invite a station to answer calling CQ was cringe.

[@martinbuinicki1056]

No "K" at the end of your CQ leaves me hanging. Oh- and KX9RT sent you 339, not 449! Damn experts are everywhere! K0MB

[@houseofhamradio]

LOL. Thanks for the feedback. Not surprising I messed up the captions at least once.