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 About AGCW AGCW is an association whose purpose is supporting telegraphy (CW) within amateur-radio. It is a registered club according to german law and has statutes and articles compulsory upon all members. AGCW was founded in 1971. Having about 2,000 members AGCW is one of the biggest amateur-radio-clubs in Germany. Together with 36 CW-clubs from 21 countries united in the EUCW we have the aim to preserve and encourage the mode CW. Everyone with interest in CW (radio-amateurs and SWLs, YL and OM) is very welcome to participate. What is "CW" ? CW (A1A, F2A) is the oldest digital-mode. This means the wireless transportation of information by a keyed or modulated hf-carrier (continous wave = CW) according to the rythm of the Morse code. The first attempts were made over 100 years ago. Although telecommunication engineering meanwhile has made a great progress the oldest mode works well today. It even has some advantages over ingenious modern methods. Of course CW has lost importance at commercial radioservices, in amateur-radio this mode is still practised worldwide with enthusiasm and success. The amateur-bands are full of CW-signals. Consider telegraphy not as an inconvenient burden. For those, who realize the opportunities offered by this fascinating mode, amateur-radio-life will be a lot more interesting. Learning CW is easier than most people believe. A few minutes of training each day are sufficient! What advantages does CW offer? CW is the simplest transmission-mode. This implicates various advantages: • CW requires least technical effort and therefor least expenses. It is possible to make reliable radiocontacts worldwide even using simple, older or homemade equipment. • CW-signals need least bandwidth on the often overcrowded bands. When contact in telephony is disturbed or even impossible, CW will work nevertheless most of the time. • CW-contacts often work with low or lowest output power. Especially in times of discussions about injuries to peoples health possibly caused by electromagnetic fields, an interesting aspect. Using CW it is possible to span remarkable distances even with simple antennas. • CW offers worldwide radiocontacts without special knowledge of languages by using internationally known short-cuts. Learning Aids of AGCW For those getting in touch with CW for the first time and for those who come to it again we keep ready a small CW-learning-package. On disk (3,5´´) there are different programmes for PC (DOS) and a brochure containing hints. On occasion we can give you information about CW-courses in your vicinity or contact CW-instructors for you. Talk to us ! What does AGCW deal with? AGCW wants to preserve and patronize telegraphy (CW). This is done by different activities: • we support the interests of telegraphers using our friendly cooperation with DARC ("Deutscher Amateur-Radio-Club") and in dialogue with the appropriate authorities. • Supporting newcomers is a main goal. We assist and supply help for those who want to learn CW. • Current information are spread on a regular basis in broadcasts on the 80m-band. You can also gather information in the PacketRadio-mailboxsystem (chapter AGCW) and on the internet (mailinglist of AGCW - see our homepage). • The homepage of AGCW is "http://www.agcw.de". • Twice a year the "AGCW-Info" is published for members. In this publication there are interesting articles concerning CW, technical contributions, contestrules and scores, information by other CW-clubs, important dates ... in a word everything that is of interest to the friend of CW. • A lot of contests is promoted by AGCW on hf and vhf/uhf. Operating QRP (with low output, 5 watts or less) is a special topic to our club and AGCW regards to this by organizing special contests or approving special contest-classes for competitors with QRP. • AGCW supports activity on the bands by a lot of attractive awards. Who can become a member of AGCW? Everyone who supports the aims and interests of the club. It is not required that the applicant is holder of a radio-amateurs-licence. For foreigners there is the possibility of an associated membership (without yearly contribution and without receiving the printed AGCW-Info), a full membership is nevertheless possible. How much is the fee? The admission fee is 5 Euro. The annual contribution for full-members is 10 Euro including our german-language magazine "AGCW-Info". If you don't want to obtain this magazine (i.e. if you don't understand german) just join our club as an associate member. You then have to pay the admission fee and will receive your membership-number. No further payment required! How do I become a member? Detach the filled-in form (to be downloaded from our website) and submit it to the secretary. Any questions? Please ask the executive board of AGCW: Kai-Uwe Hoefs, DL1AH Hohe Str.23 D-27374 Visselhoevede, Germany or the secretary: Lutz Schröer, DL3BZZ Am Niederfeld 6 D-35066 Frankenberg, Germany E-mail-address is: agcw@agcw.de Fax +721-151526877 (Country-code for Germany from most countries is 0049) |
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