CW abbreviation · People
DE in Morse code
The 'this is' separator in a CW call. Always sent between the called station and the calling station.
Morse rendering
-.. .
Sent letter-by-letter with standard inter-letter gaps.
Meaning
DE — From / this is
When this is used
Structure of a CQ: CQ CQ CQ DE [your call] [your call] K. The DE is mandatory because CW has no audible 'this is now me speaking' — DE plays that role.
Examples
| On the air | Plain English |
|---|---|
| CQ DE W1AW | Calling any station, this is W1AW. |
| K1ABC DE W1AW | K1ABC, this is W1AW calling you. |
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