CW abbreviation · Operating
PWR in Morse code
Transmitter output power, usually in watts.
Morse rendering
.--. .-- .-.
Sent letter-by-letter with standard inter-letter gaps.
What it saves you on the air
This is the whole reason CW abbreviations exist. Sending PWR instead of spelling out “Power” cuts 35% of the airtime — 18 dot-units of keying saved every time you send it.
| Speed | PWR | “Power” | Saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 WPM | 3.0s | 4.7s | 1.7s |
| 20 WPM | 2.0s | 3.1s | 1.1s |
| 25 WPM | 1.6s | 2.4s | 0.9s |
Timed with standard spacing: dit 1 unit, dah 3, letter gap 3, word gap 7. Work out any other speed on the timing calculator.
Meaning
PWR — Power
When this is used
'PWR 100W' = 100 watts, 'PWR 5W' = QRP (5 watts), 'PWR 1KW' = legal-limit station. Spelling out the unit is optional — 100W is the same as 100.
Examples
| On the air | Plain English |
|---|---|
| PWR 100W | Running 100 watts. |
| UR PWR? | What's your power? |
| LO PWR HR 5W | Low power here, 5 watts. |
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