QSO Simulator
Practise a whole Morse code contact by ear: answer a CQ, copy the report, name and QTH into the log, and sign off with 73. Your first on-air contact, without the nerves.
- 1. CQ
- 2. Exchange
- 3. 73
A station calls CQ. Copy its callsign and answer, then copy its report, name and QTH into the log.
Contact
Report, name and QTH: the classic first contact.
How it works
The shape of every contact.
Answer a CQ
Copy the calling station’s callsign and answer it.
Copy the exchange
It sends your report, its name and QTH, each twice. Fill in the log.
73
It signs off. See what you copied, and the whole contact in text.
Tips
- Listen for the shapeEvery contact follows the same pattern. Once you know it, you only need to catch the new parts.
- Everything comes twiceReport, name and QTH are sent twice: catch what you missed the second time round.
- Write as you hearType each field as it comes; you can tidy the log before you press Enter.
- Farnsworth helpsKeep the letters fast and stretch the gaps: you get time to think without learning slow sounds.
- Add the bandTurn on noise and fading once clean copy is easy. Real contacts are rarely clear.
- Then go on airWhen a standard contact is easy at 15 to 20 WPM, you’re ready for a real one.
Frequently asked questions
About the QSO simulator
A contact between two radio stations. In Morse it follows a set pattern: a CQ call, an answer, an exchange of signal report (RST), name and location (QTH), then 73, best regards.
RST is the signal report: readability (1 to 5), strength (1 to 9) and tone (1 to 9), so 599 is perfect. QTH is where the station is. 73 means best regards, and SK ends the contact.
No. Add yours if you have one and the station will send it back to you; otherwise it uses N0CALL.
The callsigns use real prefixes from around the world, but the stations, names and places are made up for practice.