More CW Resources
If you have mastered instant character recognition at 15wpm or faster, then you might be interested in the practice files below. They will allow you to work toward an advanced level of head-copy. The videos are listed in order of easy to more advanced.
The idea behind the practice files is to help you develop a larger vocabulary. First, each word, segment, or sentence is sent in Morse code. Then it is spoken in voice. Next, it is repeated in Morse code again so that you can listen for any words that you missed and learn them. Finally, a courtesy tone is sent indicating that the next sentence will start.
The YouTube videos are not intended to be viewed all in one sitting. 15 minutes to an hour is probably more than sufficient practice for most. YouTube will generally save your spot and continue where you last left off.
| Repeated 3x each |
Repeated 1x each |
Description | |
| US States | 15wpm 17wpm 20wpm 22wpm 25wpm 28wpm 30wpm 35wpm |
15wpm 17wpm 20wpm 22wpm 25wpm 28wpm 30wpm 35wpm |
US State abbreviations |
| Canadian province and territories | 15wpm 17wpm 20wpm 22wpm 25wpm 28wpm 30wpm 35wpm 40wpm 45wpm 50wpm |
15wpm 17wpm 20wpm 22wpm 25wpm 28wpm 30wpm 35wpm 40wpm 45wpm 50wpm |
Canadian province and territories abbreviations |
| Top 100 Words | 15wpm 17wpm 20wpm 22wpm 25wpm 28wpm 30wpm 35wpm 40wpm 45wpm 50wpm |
15wpm 17wpm 20wpm 22wpm 25wpm 28wpm 30wpm 35wpm 40wpm 45wpm 50wpm |
The 100 most common words in the English language |
| CW Abbreviations | 15wpm 17wpm 20wpm 22wpm 25wpm 28wpm 30wpm 35wpm 40wpm 45wpm 50wpm |
15wpm 17wpm 20wpm 22wpm 25wpm 28wpm 30wpm 35wpm 40wpm 45wpm 50wpm |
Common CW Abbreviations. There are 88 of them. |
| Top 500 Words | 15wpm 17wpm 20wpm 22wpm 25wpm 28wpm 30wpm 35wpm 40wpm 45wpm 50wpm |
15wpm 17wpm 20wpm 22wpm 25wpm 28wpm 30wpm 35wpm 40wpm 45wpm 50wpm |
The 500 most common words in the English language |
| Easy Phrases | 15wpm 17wpm 20wpm 22wpm 25wpm 30wpm 35wpm |
Phrases based on ESL (English as a Second Language). Each sentence has few words, simple words, and a simple grammatical structure. |
| Additional Easy Phrases | 15wpm 17wpm 20wpm 22wpm 25wpm 30wpm 35wpm |
Additional phrases based on ESL (English as a Second Language). Each sentence has few words, simple words, and a simple grammatical structure. |
| A Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury | 25wpm 28wpm 30wpm 35wpm 40wpm 45wpm |
A short science fiction article published in 1952 in Collier’s magazine. It is a fun read! Go on a journey with me to hunt dinosaurs in the distant past! (To the best of my knowledge the copy write has expired. If I’m wrong, contact me, and I’ll remove it.) |
Cut Numbers:
Cut numbers are letters that are used in place of a number. You will most often hear them in a signal report. Instead of 599, 5NN is sent. The numbers 0 and 9 are frequently substituted with T and N respectively. In Ham Radio CW activities, especially contests, only N for 9, T for 0, A for one and E for 5 are used. It’s generally accepted to only cut 9 and 0, however, on occasion, you probably will here cut 5 and 1. Therefore, it is recommended if you use cut numbers only cut 9 and 0.
CW Abbreviations:
Below is a comprehensive list of CW abbreviations that are used by amateur radio operators. The most commonly used abbreviations and in bold.
| OB – Old boy | |
| OC – Old chap | |
| ABT – About | OM – Old man |
| OP – Operator | |
| ADR – Address | OPR – Operator |
| AGN – Again | OT – Old timer; Old top |
| ANT – Antenna | |
| PSE – Please | |
| PLS – Please | |
| BCNU – Be seeing you | PWR – Power |
| BK – Break, Break in | |
| R – Received | |
| BT – Separation (break) | |
| RCVD – Received | |
| BUG – Semi-Automatic key | RCVR – Receiver |
| B4 – Before | RE – Concerning; Regarding |
| C – Yes, Correct | REF – Refer to; Reference |
| CFM – Confirm; I confirm | RFI – Radio frequency interference |
| CK – Check | RIG – Station equipment |
| RPT – Repeat, report | |
| CL – I am closing my station | RTTY – Radioteletype |
| RST – Readability, strength, tone | |
| RX – Receive, Receiver | |
| CLG – Calling | SASE – Self-addressed, stamped envelope |
| SED – Said | |
| CONDX – Conditions | SEZ – Says |
| CQ – Calling any station | |
| CU – See you | SIG – Signal |
| CUL – See you Later | |
| SKED – Schedule | |
| CW – Morse Code | SRI – Sorry |
| SS – Sweepstakes | |
| DE – From, This is | SSB – Single Side Band |
| STN – Station | |
| DN – Down | T – Zero |
| DR – Dear | TFC – Traffic |
| EL – Element | TMW – Tomorrow |
| ES – And | TKS – Thanks |
| DX – Distance | TNX – Thanks |
| FB – Fine business; excellent | |
| FER – For | |
| FM – Frequency Modulation; From | |
| GA – Good afternoon; Go ahead | TT – That |
| GB – Good bye; God bless | |
| GUD – Good | TU – Thank you |
| GE – Good evening | TVI – Television interference |
| TX – Transmitter; Transmit | |
| GG – Going | |
| GM – Good morning | U – You |
| GN – Good night | UR – Your; Your’re |
| URS – Yours | |
| VFO – Variable Frequency Oscillator | |
| VY – Very | |
| W – Watts | |
| HI – CW laugh | |
| HPE – Hope | |
| HQ – Headquarters | |
| HR – Here; hear | |
| HV – Have | WID – With |
| HW – How; How copy? | WKD – Worked |
| IMI – Repeat; Say again | |
| INFO – Info | |
| LID – A poor operator | WPM – Words Per Minute |
| WUD – Would | |
| WX – Weather | |
| XCVR – Transceiver | |
| XMTR – Transmitter | |
| XTAL – Crystal | |
| XYL – Wife | |
| N – No, Negative, Incorrect, No more | YL – Young lady |
| NIL – Nothing copied | |
| NCS – Net Control Station | 73 – Best regards |
| 88 – Love and kisses | |
| e | |
| NR – Number | |
| NW – Now; I resume transmission |