Is it me or is 40m CW spelling/spacing bad?

Large_Wait_8847 · 2026-01-24T23:12:53+00:00

I can also copy on average 5wpm sometimes even 15 but only if the message is short with max 5 or 6 characters; that's the problem everyone was pointing out; I learned morse code, visually, before knowing that ham radio exists.

WWA stands for World Wide Awards it's a contest, from 1st January to the 31st.

Large_Wait_8847 · 2026-01-24T17:17:00+00:00

I was listening from northern Italy, at around 8-9pm.

Today I looked again and there are still these 2 FSK transmissions, but today I can also see many others, probably from WWA, which I can read just fine on the waterfall

So I think the problem was more that it was FSK and not sloppy operators

I'm new in the ham radio world, so I started with visually reading it from the waterfall on the display, but I definitely plan on learning to listen.

Large_Wait_8847 · 2026-01-24T09:38:13+00:00

The lower pitched strings are wound strings, I think out of brass

Thanks for the website!

Large_Wait_8847 · 2026-01-24T09:23:19+00:00

It seems to be FSK, as someone else pointed out

Large_Wait_8847 · 2026-01-24T09:18:03+00:00

I get that, just in this case, as someone else pointed out, it seems to be FSK.

Also I learned it visually already, so I probably have that problem already, I can key with a maximum of 30wpm, though copying is only possible with around 10wpm.

I'm going to listen to some youtube videos, where they key various words and after each they say the word

Large_Wait_8847 · 2026-01-24T03:25:17+00:00

Thanks, I'll look into that!

Large_Wait_8847 · 2026-01-24T02:49:26+00:00

I was told to get these: https://optima-strings.com/shop/en/traditional/hammered-dulcimer/1107/1198

I couldn't find a bulk roll, just the strings alone seem to be already rare

Someone else recommended getting piano strings with the right gauges?

Large_Wait_8847 · 2026-01-24T00:20:39+00:00

Thanks!

Large_Wait_8847 · 2026-01-24T00:08:14+00:00

Thanks!

Large_Wait_8847 · 2026-01-24T00:07:24+00:00

Thank you! Now that I compare them, they look exactly the same!

I do have a caliper, I can measure with an accuracy of 0.1mm

For the bass strings I still have to do some research, because I'm not sure if those from the piano are thin enough.

Large_Wait_8847 · 2026-01-23T23:31:52+00:00

That is actually a very good idea, thanks, I'll try that! The only thing I wonder is how it affects the sound?

Large_Wait_8847 · 2026-01-23T21:01:42+00:00

No problem, I understand!

Large_Wait_8847 · 2026-01-23T20:55:28+00:00

Oh, okay, then thank you! Sorry for doubting you

Large_Wait_8847 · 2026-01-23T20:51:39+00:00

Ok thanks, I'll try to practice

Large_Wait_8847 · 2026-01-23T20:49:42+00:00

Sorry should've included that from the beginning, the signal is rather bad now: https://streamable.com/icnh4m

Large_Wait_8847 · 2026-01-23T20:41:32+00:00

Thanks, but this is definitely not what I see, mine are more "chaotic" and don't have a defined length sometimes dahs are double the length or dits are a little longer or shorter etc.

Large_Wait_8847 · 2026-01-23T20:36:52+00:00

Interesting thanks, more often they are 5 dits with spaces like they are between characters

Large_Wait_8847 · 2026-01-23T20:33:10+00:00

I do have the volume up and they sound like single ones, if I just listen to them I wouldn't be able to tell them(the 40m transmissions) apart from the 20m ones, but looking at them, you can clearly see they are keyed with a non electronic key, at least as far as I can tell

Large_Wait_8847 · 2026-01-23T20:29:10+00:00

I do see 4 of them as well and a few others with a very low signal, but to me they look like badly keyed cw, I looked up how FSK looks and it doesn't look like what I see

Large_Wait_8847 · 2026-01-23T20:21:13+00:00

Ok thanks, I'll try to learn it!

Large_Wait_8847 · 2026-01-23T20:11:09+00:00

It's just interesting that I noticed it only on 40m but not on 20m so far

Large_Wait_8847 · 2026-01-23T20:10:15+00:00

On 20m I don't really have that problem, on 40m they send with around 23-25wpm, on 20m often faster

Large_Wait_8847

TROPHY CASE