CW Operation

CW Operation

CW (Morse code) is a highly effective mode for QRP — its narrow bandwidth and simplicity mean 5 watts goes a long way. The zBitx supports straight keys, paddles with several keyer types, and macro sending.

---

Getting on CW

1. Set the MODE to CW (or CWR — the reverse‑sideband variant; use whichever gives you correctly‑pitched signals on your band).
2. Tune to the CW portion of the band (the lower end of each band is CW territory).
3. Set a fine STEP (100 Hz or 10 Hz) so you can zero‑beat signals precisely.

---

Choosing your keyer type (CW_INPUT)

Open Menu → CW_INPUT and tap to cycle through the keyer types. Pick the one that matches your key:

Setting	Use it if you…
STRAIGHT	Use a straight (hand) key
IAMBIC	Use paddles and prefer iambic mode A
IAMBICB	Use paddles and prefer iambic mode B
ULTIMAT	Prefer an ultimatic keyer's behavior
BUG	Want semi‑automatic "bug" emulation (auto dits, manual dahs)

Not sure? Straight‑key operators pick STRAIGHT. Paddle operators who don't have a strong preference usually start with IAMBICA.

Iambic A vs B is about what happens when you release both paddles mid‑character. If your keyer "adds an extra element," try switching between A and B.

---

Sidetone — the sound you send by

The SIDETONE setting (Menu → SIDETONE) controls the tone you hear as you send. It doesn't go on the air — it's your local monitor.

• Set the pitch to something comfortable for your ears; ~600–700 Hz is a common choice.
• Set the level so it's audible but not startling.

Matching your sidetone pitch to your receive pitch offset makes zero‑beating signals more intuitive.

---

Break‑in delay (CW_DELAY)

CW_DELAY (Menu → CW_DELAY) sets how long the radio stays in transmit after your last element before returning to receive:

• Longer delay — the radio stays keyed between letters and words, so you don't hear the band mid‑word. Good for rag‑chews at a steady pace.
• Shorter delay — the radio drops to receive quickly between characters (approaching full break‑in / QSK), letting you hear the other station almost immediately.

Tune this to your sending speed and preference.

---

Sending with macros

The MACRO menu lets you send preset messages — a CQ call, a signal report, your standard exchange — without keying every character by hand. This is a big help in contests and for repetitive calling. Character and word spacing in macros is handled correctly so your sent code sounds clean.

---

Zero‑beating a station

To answer a CW station, you want to transmit on their frequency (zero‑beat). To do this:

1. Tune until the received tone matches your sidetone pitch — that's when you're on their frequency.
2. Use a fine STEP (10 Hz) for precise adjustment.
3. The spectrum/waterfall helps too — line your marker up with theirs.

RIT can help if you want to fine‑tune your receive without moving your transmit frequency (see Front Panel Operation).

---

Receive filtering for CW

CW benefits from a narrow receive bandwidth — it cuts out adjacent signals and noise, leaving just the tone you want.

• Narrow the BW filter on the main screen to 500 Hz or smaller.
• Set AGC to FAST for CW — it responds quickly to the on/off nature of Morse.
• Use the NOTCH (in OPTIONS) if a steady carrier is interfering.

---

Power and QRP CW

CW is where QRP shines. At 5 watts:

• A good antenna matters more than power — put your effort there.
• Slower, cleaner sending gets answered more than fast, sloppy sending.
• Patience and good operating technique routinely make DX contacts at 5 watts on CW.

Keep your SWR low, as always, and enjoy how far a few watts of CW will take you.

---

Related: Front Panel — Options & Controls » · FT8 Operation »