You've learned the code — now you want to actually use it on the air. Making your first CW (Morse) contact feels intimidating, but a contact follows a simple, predictable script. Learn the script, practice sending it once or twice, and you'll be having real QSOs (contacts) in an afternoon. Here's exactly how.
Before you key up
You'll need three things: an amateur radio license (Morse is used on the ham bands), an HF transceiver, and a key or paddle. If you're choosing gear, see our guides to the best straight keys and best beginner paddles. Most important: practice sending first so your "fist" (your timing) is readable — tap out a few calls on our keyer, which decodes your sending and scores your timing, before you go live.
The essentials you need to know
- CQ — "calling any station." It's how you invite a contact.
- DE — "from" (separates the called station from yours).
- K — "go ahead, over to you."
- Your callsign — sent clearly; know its rhythm cold.
- RST — a signal report (Readability, Strength, Tone), e.g. "599".
- A few Q-codes (QTH = location, QRZ = who's calling) and CW abbreviations (73 = best regards).
Step 1 — Call CQ
Find a clear frequency, listen first, then send:
CQ CQ CQ DE <your call> <your call> K
Send at a speed you can also copy — there's no point calling at 25 WPM if you can't read a reply that fast. Slower is completely fine.
Step 2 — Run the exchange
When someone answers with your callsign and theirs, a basic QSO exchanges three things: a signal report, your name, and your QTH (location). A minimal round looks like:
<their call> DE <your call> UR RST 599 599 NAME ... QTH ... K
Keep it short and standard the first few times; you can get chatty once the pattern is automatic. Practice copying random calls and reports with our random CW generator.
Step 3 — Sign off and log it
Close with 73 (best regards) and SK (end of contact), then write the QSO in your log (callsign, date, time, band, report). That's it — you've made your first CW contact.
Keep improving
The two skills that matter are copying by ear and sending cleanly. Drill copying with the Koch trainer and sending with the keyer, and study on-air conventions on our CW operating page. Every op was nervous on their first call — the script is your safety net. 73!