CW Nets
CW nets provide a structured, on-air environment for operators to practise Morse code with others. Whether you are a complete beginner or returning after a long break, nets are one of the best ways to build confidence and make real contacts.
There are several CW Nets you can participate in:
- MERC Club CW Net
- CQ QRS Slow CW Net
- Sunday Morning 40m CW Net
MERC Club CW Net
Each Wednesday before the Club Net on 70cm a CW net is being trialled on 40m for MERC members.
Net Schedule
Frequency and time is to be confirmed but is expected to be as follows:
| Time (UTC) | Band | Frequency | Melbourne Local Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0830 – 0900 UTC | 40 metres | 7.015 MHz | 6:30 PM – 7:00 PM AEST |
| 0730 – 0800 UTC | 40 metres | 7.015 MHz | 6:30 PM – 7:00 PM AEDT |
Please check on this page for any changes as it will be kept up to date with the status and details of this net.
The CQ QRS Slow CW Net
The CQ QRS Slow CW Net is a beginner-friendly on-air practice net running every Tuesday evening, specifically designed for operators who are learning CW or returning to it after a break. "QRS" means please send more slowly — and that is exactly the spirit of this net.
This is one of the best ways to get your first real CW contacts under your belt. The operators on the net are patient, experienced, and genuinely happy to work with beginners. You don't need to be fast — you just need to give it a go.
Net Schedule
| Time (UTC) | Band | Frequency | Melbourne Local Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0800 – 0900 UTC | 40 metres | 7030 – 7040 kHz | 6:00 – 7:00 PM AEST / 7:00 – 8:00 PM AEDT |
| 0900 – 1400 UTC | 80 metres | 3540 – 3570 kHz | 7:00 PM – midnight AEST / 8:00 PM – 1:00 AM AEDT |
Note: Melbourne observes Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST, UTC+10) in winter and Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT, UTC+11) in summer.
How to Participate
- Tune your HF transceiver to the 40m net frequency (7030–7040 kHz) on Tuesday evening
- Listen for CW activity — you may hear stations calling CQ QRS or conducting slow-speed QSOs
- When you're ready, call CQ QRS yourself, or respond to a station you can copy
- Keep it simple: exchange callsigns, signal reports (RST), name, and location — that's a complete QSO!
- If you need the other station to slow down, just send QRS — they will understand immediately
For more information about the net, contact Mark VK2KI/VK6QI.
Sunday Morning 40M CW Net
Held every Sunday, the CW Net provides operators with the chance to make new contacts and catch up with old friends. The net is managed by a controller who pairs up stations and allocates them to a frequency. Stations may chat as long as they like and make as many contacts as they wish during the two hours.
Net Schedule
| Time (UTC) | Band | Frequency | Melbourne Local Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0000 – 0200 UTC | 40 metres | 7.025 MHz | 10:00 AM – 12:00 noon AEST |
| 2300 – 0100 UTC | 40 metres | 7.025 MHz | 10:00 AM – 12:00 noon AEDT |
How to Participate
- Tune your HF transceiver to the 40m net frequency (7025 kHz) on Sunday morning
- Listen for CW activity — you should hear the net control pairing up stations
- When you're ready, call with your callsign followed by QNI
- The net controller will pair you up with another station and assign you a frequency
- QSY (change frequencies) to the assigned frequency and initiate a call to the other station (e.g. <their call> DE <your call>
A list of check-ins will be provided at the close of the net.
For more information contact Ray Turner VK2COX or review the WIA website entry for this net