Home > Links

Links

Please click on one of the following links to go to a category:

FISTS around the World
Clubs
Component Suppliers
CW Kit Suppliers
Learning and Improving Morse Code
Members' Websites  New links!!!
Morse History
Morse Keys and Paddles Collections  New link!!!
Morse Key, Paddles and Keyer Suppliers
Operating
Publications
QSL Card Suppliers
Serendipity
Training

If you know of any Morse code-related websites that you feel European members will be interested in, please send details to webmaster@fists.co.uk in an email.

FISTS around the World

Clubs

Component Suppliers

  • AMTOOLS UK supplies crystals and torroids amongst other items.
  • Bitsbox (UK) supplies a wide variety of components with only £1.50 delivery and no minimum order.
  • Bowood Electronics (UK) supplier of components with reasonable delivery costs.
  • CPC (UK) has a good range but expensive.
  • ESR Electronics Components (UK) supplies components.
  • GQRP Club Sales (UK) has common QRP components such as crystals and torroids available for members at very low prices and delivery.
  • Harrison Electronics (UK) supplies various components and has an extremely low starting delivery charge of 75p.
  • JAB Electronic Components (UK) supplies a wide range of components.  Delivery starts at £3.10 for orders up to £8.00.
  • Mainline Electronics (UK) supplies high voltage variable capacitors (the old Jackson range), reduction drives and other items.
  • Maplin (UK) supplies various components but extremely expensive.  However, if you just need an odd component and have a Maplin store nearby, it might still work out cheaper than ordering by mail from elsewhere.
  • Mode Components (UK) owned by Chris G8CHW supplies various components.  (Please note that Chris will be retiring and closing the business in April 2012.)
  • N. R. Bardwell Ltd. (UK) supplies components.
  • Rapid (UK) has reasonable prices and range of components. Delivery free for £30+.
  • W. H. Westlake Electronics (UK) specialises in supplying cables and connectors.
  • 6V6 Vintage Components (UK) component and kit supplier, including several hard-to-get variable capacitors for receiver or QRP work and a range of valves (tubes).

CW Kit Suppliers

  • Elecraft (USA) suppliers of the famous K1, K2 and K3 transceiver kits.
  • Four State Kits (USA) supplies the Magic Box CW transmit/receive QSK switching unit, EZKeyer and the NS-40 CW transmitter.  Four State Kits is part of the Four State QRP Group.
  • HamGadgets.com (USA) supplies the popular PicoKeyer and other kits.
  • Hendricks QRP kits (USA) supplies various QRP-related Kits.
  • Jackson Harbor Press (USA) supplier of morse-accessory kits.
  • K1EL Systems (USA) provides the popular WinKeyer, WKUSB and other CW-related kits.
  • Kanga Products (UK) started up again in early 2010 and supplies kits including the Foxx-3 CW transceiver, OXO and Junk Box Special CW transmitters, Sudden receivers and other items.
  • KB9YIG.com (USA) supplies inexpensive Software Defined Radio (SDR) kits comprising receivers and transceivers.  For detailed information and documentation, see the softrock40 (Softrock-40 Interest Group) Yahoo group.
  • New England QRP Club (NEQRP) (USA) supplies the well-respected NEScaf audio filter kit.
  • Oak Hills Research (USA) supplies transceiver and other CW accessory kits.
  • QRPproject (Germany) supplies QRP CW kits.
  • Small Wonder Labs (USA) QRP radio kits.
  • Walford Electronics (UK) supplier of kits for Radio Amateurs.
  • YouKits (China) supplier of low power CW/SSB transceiver and other kits.

Learning and Improving Morse Code

For a more detailed discussion of learning and improving Morse Code, please see the Resources
There are also some downloadable books in the Publications section.
  • ebook2cw is a free program that enables you to convert electronic books and other text into MP3 files containing Morse code at speeds of your choice. 
  • Koch CW Trainer is a free Windows program that enables you to practice Morse using the Koch method, text files, words and callsigns.
  • LCWO Learn CW Online is a website that allows you to practice Morse using the Koch method, code groups, plain text, callsigns, words, QTC and generate practice MP3 files.  Note: Requires Flash.
  • RufzXP is a free program that allows you to practice Morse using callsigns and random characters.  You can compare your scores to others around the world.
  • The Morse Crusade is Ian G4XFC's website, promoting the teaching of Morse using fast character sending, as employed in training methods such as the Koch method and Farnsworth spacing.
  • The Old Man and the Sea web page created by Petr OK2CQR contains MP3 files of The Old Man and the Sea at 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 words per minute.

Members' Websites

Morse History

Morse Keys and Paddles Collections

  • Bill NT9K provides photographs of his key collection on his home page, which includes some stunning home-made straight keys and sideswiper keys.
  • Dennis K6DF (FISTS Awards Manager) provides photographs and descriptions of his key collection.
  • MORSEMAD is John G0RDO's website and contains lots of information, history, pictures of bug keys, straight keys, morse items etc. plus links to other CW related sites.
  • New!!! Navy Transmitting Key Photos and Info contains lots of photos of US Navy straight keys, bugs and memorabilia.
  • Ron G3YUH makes, collects, refurbishes and sells keys.  Click on the image links on his home page to see hundreds of keys.

Morse Key, Paddles and Keyer Suppliers

Also see the section CW Kit Suppliers for keyer kits.
  • ARTIFAX BOOKS (USA) supplies springs, knobs, terminal nuts, paddle finger pieces, cables/cords, used keys, paddles and other telegraph items.
  • American Morse Equipment (USA) manufactures and supplies keys.
  • Begali (Italy) manufactures and supplies keys.
  • Bencher (USA) supplies a range of paddles and straight keys.
  • Chevron Morse Keys (UK) manufactures and supplies the HCD Chevron paddles.
  • CW Touch Keyer (USA) manufactures and supplies kits and finished products based on touch-paddles.  Friendly and helpful customer service.
  • Czech Morse Keys (UK), run by Mike Bowthorpe G0CVZ, FISTS #14554, supplies Type RM31 Czech Army Morse Keys.
  • ElectronicsUSA.com (USA) manufactures and supplies the Whiterook series of mini keys and paddles, keyers and other items.
  • G3YUH Homebrew Morse Keys (UK) makes and sells unique straight keys.
  • Johnny G3LIV (UK) supplies the "CableTidy" for Vibroplex keyers, antennas and computer interface products.
  • Kent Morse Keys (UK) manufacturer and supplier of keys.
  • Martin Lynch & Sons Ltd (UK) supplies keys.
  • Morse Express (USA) supplies a wide variety of keys and paddles.  They are probably unique in the world in having a Morse store (Colarado, USA) you can visit.
  • N3ZN Keys (USA) supplies a variety of single and dual paddles.
  • Palm Radio (Germany) supplies the well-known Palm Mini-Paddle and related items.
  • TW Electronics (UK) supplies the TW MagPad paddles.
  • Vibroplex (USA) supplies a range of semi-automatic (bug) keys, straight keys and paddles.
  • Vine Antennas Ltd. (UK) supplies Schurr paddles.
  • VIZ KEYS (USA) supplies a range of paddles and semi-automatic (bug) keys.
  • Waters & Stanton PLC (UK) supplies various keys and keyers.
  • WB8LZG (USA) supplies wooden finger pieces for paddles.

Operating

  • Azimuthal Map (NS6T) alows you to configure and print Great Circle (Azimuthal) maps.  This is very handy for aligning antennas - countries may not be in the direction you think they are.
  • Distance Calculator alows you type in two callsigns and calculates the distance in miles or km and the miles per watt or km per watt value without you having to supply locators.
  • Find QTH locator or map square alows you to click on a map to find out your QTH Locator (Maidenhead Locator) with up to 10 characters accuracy.  You can also type in a QTH Locator to display where it is on the map.  Note: if printing your Locator on QSL cards, be sure to double-check your location on the map.
  • FISTS Frequencies Chart provides an A4 sheet containing a visual representation of FISTS frequencies, CW band plans, and QRP frequencies.
  • Hamcall is an online callbook, allowing you to look up details of an amateur radio station using the callsign.  Hamcall occasionally has European callsigns on that QRZ.COM doesn't, but the free version is otherwise very restricted, not allowing copy and paste and limiting you to around 5-10 callsigns only.
  • Iambic keyer mode A and B is a document describing the differences between Iambic Mode A keying and Iambic Mode B keying.  It's written by Chuck Olson WB9KZY.
  • International Morse Code (PDF) is the official ITU document giving the Morse code for letters, numbers, punctuation and procedural signals.
  • K3UK FISTS sked page allows contacts to be arranged via the Internet in real time.
  • Maidenhead Grid Square Locator Map (K2DSL) alows you find out a QTH Locator (Maidenhead Locator) by typing in a town, post code or ZIP code and viewing a map.  Note: if printing your Locator on QSL cards, be sure to double-check your location on the map.
  • Ofcom Online Licensing Services allows UK amateurs to validate their licence (required at least every 5 years), amend or apply for new ones.
  • QRZ.COM is an online callbook, allowing you to look up details of an amateur radio station using the callsign.  Information can be copied and pasted and there is no restriction on usage.
  • The Ham Radio Resource Guide contains links to various useful web pages (e.g. Q codes and callsign prefixes).
  • Time Zone Converter is very useful for determing current or future times in different timezones (e.g. skeds).

Publications

  • FISTS Key Note is a quarterly magazine delivered to FISTS members by email or postal mail.  A public archive is available to non-members.

    Also, a separate members' archive is available, which includes editions from the last 12 months. 

    The RAIBC provides spoken versions of Key Note for 2008 onwards as MP3 files.  These are available from the RAIBC website or from the Key Note archive links above.
  • K9YA Telegraph is a free monthly online magazine, specialising in personal stories and Morse history.
  • KEYS IV... AND MORE (The Grand Finale) is a free downloable book by the late Dave Ingram K4TWJ.  It includes photographs and descriptions of a wide variety of keys, old and new, including some very unusual ones.
  • The Art & Skill of Radio Telegraphy is a free, downloadable book that contains much information on learning Morse to a very high standard and is essential reading for anyone with an interest in Morse code.
  • Zen and the Art of Radiotelegraphy is a free downloadable book that teaches Morse with a focus on the psychology.

QSL Card Suppliers

Serendipity

  • Beethoven's 5th Symphony in Morse code is an unusual and rather bizarre rendition of the first movement (Allegro con brio) from Ludwig Van Beethoven's 5th Symphony in Morse code - not just the "V"s (di di di dah)!
  • Elsie is a program for filter design.  The student version is free.
  • Goathiker (Steve WGOAT) has filmed many fascinating videos of his CW and other expeditions into the mountains along with his two "pack goats".  These are very entertaining and even non-radio amateur family members will enjoy the goats' antics.
  • Lego Morse Code Paddles has a video by Hugo M0HSW showing his Lego paddles in action.
  • Lego SideSwiper has a video by Rob G4LMW FISTS #14000 showing his Lego sideswiper key in action.
  • LOF News (London & Overseas Freighters) includes items about radio officers and also photographs of "dustbin" emergency radios.
  • Morse Code: Fun and Facts is a small website supporting the leaflet "Morse Code: Fun and Facts" created by FISTS.
  • Morse code ringtone generator is free and allows you to generate Morse ring tone (midi) files that you can download to your mobile (cell) phone.
  • Morse Code Vs. SMS has the classic video clip of CW operators beating the pants off a world champion SMS texter.  Chip (Charles H. Margelli) K7JA is sending while Ken (Kenneth V. Miller) K6CTW receives using Yaesu FT-817 transceivers.
  • Portable in Herefordshire (SOTA setup) (YouTube video) shows FISTS member Sandy G0VQW out in the field demonstrating SOTA to fellow FISTS members Tony G3ZRJ and Rich G4FAD.
  • QRP transmitter powered by a straight key shows details, photographs and a video of Jari OH6DC's straight key powered transmitter.
  • RadioTelegraphy.net has a comprehensive set of links for Morse-related topics.
  • SMS Morsecode has a video by Tony HB9BLU showing him using Morse code to send a text (SMS) message on his mobile (cell) phone.  Be sure to read the Morse in the closing credits.
  • Strange Morse Keys by Jari OH6DC has many weird and wonderful Morse keys, all fully working.  The website includes a video for each key, and Jari's Morse code sending skills are very apparent.  Listen out for the amusing comments sent by Morse in each video.
  • T-Network Tuner Simulator by Kevin Schmidt, W9CF, provides a simulation of a T match unit that you can tune manually or auto-tune.  Note: requires Java on your computer.
  • Telegraph Clacks out RSS Feeds shows details and lots of photographs of constructing a brass telegraph sounder, based on historical plans.
  • UK Amateur Radio Call Signs has comprehensive details of UK amateur radio callsign series and when they were originally issued.
  • Virtual Bug Key provides a simulation of a bug key so that you can press the paddles and see how it works.  Note: requires Flash on your computer.
  • Virtual Spark Transmitter provides a simulation of a spark transmitter, allowing you to make adjustments and send Morse Code.

Training


Acknowledgements: Thank you to Tony G3ZRJ, Paul G4BNU, John M0CDL, Dave G4AJY, Rob G4LMW, Ian G4MLW, Tom ON4TOM, Ian G6TGO, John G0RDO, Jack WA6KYO, Martyn GW6ITJ, Rob M0BPT, Petr OK2CQR, Gordon G3ZFZ, David N1EA, Kristi and Mrs. Suzie's class for suggesting websites. 

Back to Home page