Ham and Shortwave Radio for the Electronics Hobbyist

CHAPTER 3

Ham Radio Communications Modes

Non-hams might think that Amateur Radio operators use only “code” or “voice,” forgetting about other methods by which hams can, and often do, exchange information. Let’s take a close look at the most common forms that ham radio communication takes.

 

Morse Code

The Morse code has existed longer than any other method of sending and receiving wireless messages. It came about in the early 1800s when engineers perfected the wire telegraph and could send only simple current pulses along the lines. In theory, Morse code, which hams call CW (for continuous waves), is a binary digital mode in which the signal always has either of two well-defined states: full-on (key down or mark) or full-off (key up or space ...