Sun 13 Oct FISTS Eu Ladder
Sun 27 Oct FISTS Eu Ladder
Sat 02 Nov-Sun 03 Nov RSGB 2m CW Marconi Contest
Sun 10 Nov FISTS Eu Ladder
Sun 24 Nov FISTS Eu Ladder
Sun 01 Dec-Sat 07 Dec FISTS Eu Straight Key Week
Sun 08 Dec FISTS Eu Ladder
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Welcome to FISTS CW Club

FISTS supports the use, preservation and education of Morse code.  The club is devoted exclusively to CW operators, CW operating and people who are passionate about Morse code.


NYE 320-001 Straight Key from Dennis K6DF's collection.  Click to go to a larger picture We have three straightforward goals:
  • Further the use of CW (Morse Code)
  • Engender friendships among members
  • Encourage newcomers to use CW (Morse Code)

FISTS CW Club in Europe is the founding chapter of the club.
Bencher BY-1 Paddle from Dennis K6DF's collection.  Click to go to a larger picture
Interested in becoming a member?

Find out more about our history.

Latest News:

    Also available via RSS Subscribe to RSS news feed  Twitter Go to FISTS_CW_Club on Twitter  Facebook Go to FISTS CW Club on Facebook
  • 12 Oct 19: Please join us in congratulating the recent FISTS CW Club Awards winners:

    NameCallsignMemberAwards
    PeterG4LHI#2219 Down Under 5 Day QRP QSOs
    PeterM5ABN#6423 Down Under Gold 25, Down Under Gold 50
    DerekM0DRK#8344 Gold Century
    FabioIK0IXI#14539 Silver Century, Rag Chewers 80m Endorsement, Rag Chewers, Spectrum 20m, Down Under Gold 50
    BertF6HKA#14577 Spectrum 80m Endorsement, Spectrum 30m Endorsement, Worked All States 15m Endorsement, Down Under Gold 25, Down Under Gold 75
    BenDH0DK#16573 Down Under 5 Day QRP QSOs
    PeteG0PNM#16592 Down Under Gold 25
    MikIZ2FME#18103 Silver Century, Millionaire 2 Million Endorsement, Down Under Gold 25
    RobinG4DNP#18149 Down Under 5 Day QRP QSOs
    AndrewG0OEY#18402 Down Under Gold 25
    WilliamMI0WWB#18434 1 X QRP, Millionaire 3 Million Endorsement, Prefix 100 Endorsement, Down Under Gold 75
    RichardG4TGJ#18559 Down Under 5 Day QRP QSOs
    RayM0DHP#18562 Basic Century
    JoeIK2WAD#18599 Millionaire, Prefix, Prefix 50 Endorsement, Prefix 100 Endorsement, Prefix 150 Endorsement
    IvanG0BON#18877 Millionaire
    VladoIU0HMB#18894 Basic Century
    JohnG4YTJ#19024 Down Under 5 Day QRP QSOs
    JohnM6BLV#19277 Down Under 5 Day QRP QSOs

    For more information about FISTS Awards, available free to paid-up members worldwide, please see the Awards web page.
  • 12 Oct 19: We're very pleased to welcome our latest FISTS CW Club members:

    NameCallNo. NameCallNo. NameCallNo.
    DanielVK7DPF#15248 NickG8SYE#19511 BillN2RKL#19562
    RameshVU2LU#15287 BarryG6JMX#19512 RoyKN4WOJ#19563
    PederW7RPK#19463 Luke2W0LXT#19513 ConoW2ZMZ#19564
    RichardN0JBF#19464 TimG4YTD#19514 FabioPY1RCH#19565
    IraWB2POP#19465 SamG0BOM#19515 TonyW8CDC#19566
    MichaelKD9MED#19466 TerryG3VMT#19516 WardKL7IXW#19567
    RaymondKC3NDZ#19467 JimG4EQX#19517 AlK7AJG#19568
    KeithKN4RFL#19468 WinDK6JK#19518 PeterKA1IFG#19569
    CharlesAF5AO#19469 PeteG8RXZ#19519 MatthewW4MLS#19570
    JohnN8GOU#19470 ClausDJ0DX#19520 KevinK4MCX#19571
    BillN5CX#19471 RogerG3KMV#19521 MarkWW5SS#19572
    DavidWB6DNL#19472 SalIK7UKF#19522 ThomasW8WEU#19573
    DavidNN7RM#19473 GeoffMW0PUG#19523 RonnieN4PHL#19574
    DaleKJ4VTS#19474 AndyM0TIZ#19524 BobK4DJG#19575
    RichardW9KMF#19475 RoyG0VFS#19525 MichaelK6VN#19576
    RonKW1Q#19476 IanGI0AZB#19526 PedroWP4O#19577
    JoeyW4JF#19477 EstherGI0AZA#19527 LuisNP4RA#19578
    DavidKO4MC#19478 MarioDD7CW#19528 RayAK6E#19579
    BillNF6R#19479 NigelG4DFQ#19529 WilliamW1WRH#19580
    MichelVE2BJG#19480 AdrianG0EHG#19530 DavidK5DWJ#19581
    SonnyW4KXQ#19481 KenM0OAE#19531 ChristopherN2MCS#19582
    LesKT3R#19482 KevinM0KHZ#19532 JamesW5JT#19583
    RickWW9JD#19483 LeonardoIZ2VTO#19533 RichardK4CRD#19584
    GregWB7DUO#19484 Paddy2E0TWD#19534 CecilW5CFT#19585
    DavidKB7QHL#19485 BrunoEA4EPY#19535 DarrellAA9OM#19586
    DavidXE2AD#19486 FrankM6JZO#19536 NeilK6UIP#19587
    AaronW8AAR#19487 ThomasDG6UAX#19537 EricKZ5ED#19588
    ClaudeVE2DPE#19488 IanEI4DP#19538 BobAC8ZU#19589
    JeffreyKC9TR#19489 AaronM0IER#19539 RobertN9TO#19590
    RichardNZ2I#19490 ChrisG4WVF#19540 JoshuaKI5FXG#19591
    SteveW0AZ#19491 GeorgeG0UCF#19541 DonKI5AIU#19592
    JayK4EMF#19492 LaurenceWA0EJX#19550 GuillermoKM4OOD#19593
    MarkW8EWH#19493 RichardKU4NZ#19551 JoeAG7FH#19594
    PhilK5PGH#19494 MikeWB0BEE#19552 OscarNK3B#19595
    TomKF4YEY#19495 ArtK7DWI#19553 MarkKC0MH#19596
    PeterKW0FRE#19496 SamKN4SYS#19554 DavidVE3KIU#19597
    ThomasW4OLR#19497 DudleyKD0NMD#19555 KennethKB3HXA#19598
    StevenWB2GDD#19498 GregoryKE8GC#19556 RichKB1FGC#19599
    PaulNZ7Q#19499 FrankK8WY#19557 DennisWV8DX#19600
    AlDA6RAM#19508 BobWA4SUH#19558 JoelND5V#19601
    JimMM1DPH#19509 RobertK6DDS#19559 MarkAC2ZR#19602
    JeffMW6OVT#19510 GeneVE6EFC#19561 DavidWA5DJJ#19603
  • 12 Oct 19: Please join us in the Ladder on-air activity (FISTS CW Club Europe):
    • Ladder Sunday 13 October 14:00-16:00 & 18:00-20:00 UTC.
      Activity is typically around 14.058, 7.028, & 3.558 MHz.  Exchange a minimum of:
          Name, QTH, RST, & member number (if applicable).

      QSOs are friendly and conversational.  Submitting logs is very much appreciated but not essential.  Members from all FISTS Chapters are encouraged to join in; QSOs do not have to be with FISTS members.
  • 02 Oct 19: The FISTS CW Club Europe BrassPounder September 2019 newsletter has just been published by David G4YVM, Activities Manager.

    BrassPounder provides the results and discussions about FISTS CW Club on-air Activities in Europe/UK.

    This edition includes the results for the September 2019 Ladder activity and provides information about the upcoming activities.

     
  • 01 Oct 19: Please send in your logs and comments for the following activities that took place or finished in September 2019:

    Notes:

    (1) If you had any Ladder QSOs between 01 July and 30 September, you are almost guaranteed to be able to send in a Word Search log; please do!!

    (2) You can send in logs at any time and more than once, but each log MUST include ALL QSOs (the most recent log replaces earlier ones).  In all the activities, even if you only had one QSO or feel that you won't be highly placed, please do send in logs because it encourage others to join in.
  • 03 Sep 19: Please send in your logs and comments for the following activities that took place or finished in August 2019:

    Note: You can send in Word Search logs at any time and more than once, but each log MUST include ALL QSOs (the most recent log replaces earlier ones).  The closing date for Word Search logs is 7th October.

    In all the activities, even if you only had one QSO or feel that you won't be highly placed, please do send in logs because it encourage others to join in.
  • 13 Aug 19: The FISTS CW Club Europe BrassPounder August 2019 newsletter has just been published by David G4YVM, Activities Manager.

    BrassPounder provides the results and comments for FISTS CW Club on-air Activities in Europe/UK.

    This edition includes the results for the July 2019 Ladder activity and provides information about the upcoming activities.  It also discusses the new FISTS Down Under 5 Day QSO QRP award and the new club projects.

     
  • 10 Aug 19: Please join us in the Ladder and Word Search 2019 on-air activities (FISTS CW Club Europe):
    • Ladder Sunday 11 August 14:00-16:00 & 18:00-20:00 UTC.
      Activity is typically around 14.058, 7.028, & 3.558 MHz.  Exchange a minimum of:
          Name, QTH, RST, & member number (if applicable).

      Ladder QSOs have a good chance of contributing to the Word Search (see below); why not give it a try?  On FISTS Log Converter's "Activities" tab, select "Word Search", click "Enter Activity" and you will get a report on your progress.

      QSOs are friendly and conversational.  Submitting logs is very much appreciated but not essential.  Members from all FISTS Chapters are encouraged to join in; QSOs do not have to be with FISTS members.
    • Word Search 2019 Monday 01 July 00:01 until Monday 30 September 23:59 UTC.
      Have QSOs with other members and use a letter from their callsigns to build up as much as you can of the phrase 'WHAT HATH GOD WROUGHT?  SFB MORSE'.
      New for 2019: If you are entering the Open section only, you can opt to have the letters chosen automatically for you.
      Minimum exchange is member number.  Bands are 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10 & 2m.  Two sections: QRP and Open - you can include QSOs for either or both in your log.
  • 01 Aug 19: Please join us in congratulating the recent FISTS CW Club Awards winners:

    NameCallsignMemberAwards
    PeterNN9K#2047 Down Under 5 Day QRP QSOs
    PeterG4LHI#2219 Millionaire 11 Million Endorsement
    WesW1LIC#2697 Silver Century
    CharlieNP3K#5110 Down Under Gold 25, Down Under Gold 50, Down Under Gold 75
    ClayKE5HL#8002 Spectrum 40m, Spectrum 20m Endorsement
    GarryVK2GAZ#14151 Down Under 5 Day QRP QSOs
    SteveVK7CW#14164 Down Under 5 Day QRP QSOs
    FabioIK0IXI#14539 Basic Century, Millionaire, Millionaire 2 Million Endorsement, Prefix, Prefix 50 Endorsement, Prefix 100 Endorsement, Prefix 150 Endorsement, Down Under Gold 25
    TonyVK3TP#15204 Down Under 5 Day QRP QSOs
    BillVK1MCW#15215 Down Under 5 Day QRP QSOs
    DavidG4YVM#15868 Down Under 5 Day QRP QSOs
    JeanF6JOE#16177 Down Under Gold 25
    DavidG7WHI#18144 Down Under Gold 25
    WilliamMI0WWB#18434 Spectrum 80m, Prefix 50 Endorsement, Down Under 5 Day QRP QSOs
    PatrickON4BCA#18724 Down Under 5 Day QRP QSOs
    IvanG0BON#18877 Down Under 5 Day QRP QSOs
    PeterGM0EUL#18888 Down Under 5 Day QRP QSOs

    For more information about FISTS Awards, available free to paid-up members worldwide, please see the Awards web page.
  • 01 Aug 19: We're very pleased to welcome our latest FISTS CW Club members:

    NameCallNo. NameCallNo. NameCallNo.
    AndrewVK2PEZ#15245 JerryWX1FLY#19420 MarkKE0UKS#19445
    AlanGM4PWR#19286 BillKG6NRV#19421 MichaelK6DBF#19446
    JerryRS323733#19287 LutherW0GIN#19422 BrianN1BBT#19447
    JoPG4I#19288 JesseK6DR#19423 ThomasWB2JSY#19448
    PhilG4LPP#19289 FrankNY2X#19424 JoshKI5FPW#19449
    Antrim and District Amateur Radio SocietyMN0GFE#19290 MauriceK0EH#19425 AmandaWN9PMC#19450
    AlainF6CAX#19291 ThomasWX4TW#19426 JohnWB3EYB#19451
    NickM0NPH#19292 MikeWM4X#19427 JohnW2JDT#19452
    TrystanG0KAY#19293 ZacharyKD6DXA#19428 EdmondAG7WI#19453
    VagnOZ1OXQ#19294 WilliamKL0NP#19429 JohnN6JCB#19454
    AndyM0XRE#19295 RandyKG9NF#19430 PeteN3WZO#19455
    SirromnelGSWL51#19296 DonWD4EGT#19431 JefferyN4ZKS#19456
    AengusEI6KB#19297 AlbertKE8IVW#19432 KeithKC9IH#19457
    HenryM0HQJ#19298 MichaelK1LHO#19433 JohnKE0VPA#19458
    BrunoI6YPK#19299 JackKC1KQW#19434 JohnKX4P#19459
    DenisVE2HO#19410 JuanKC2FKM#19435 BruceW7BCW#19460
    PeterAA3BR#19411 TomWA5ZBT#19436 KevinVE7WD#19461
    JamesW0JKG#19412 RonN6HDV#19437 JohnK0JD#19462
    RichK2RAH#19413 LarryNN4SS#19438 DaveG8PGO#19500
    MarloKA2IRQ#19414 NieceKA1ULN#19439 SimonG6XHF#19501
    AlexanderKC0REL#19415 JoeW1HAI#19440 DavidM6NWQ#19502
    KenN8KDC#19416 JohnN4KNZ#19441 TomM7HTC#19503
    GaryNB7B#19417 TageK1SEI#19442 John2I0FIP#19504
    JackieAA9SI#19418 BillW3MJ#19443 DavidGD4EBA#19505
    AndreVA2AGW#19419 GaryK2AJY#19444 TonyM7TEV#19507
  • 01 Aug 19: Please send in your logs and comments for the following activities that took place or finished in July 2019:

    Note: You can send in Word Search logs at any time and more than once, but each log MUST include ALL QSOs (the most recent log replaces earlier ones).  The closing date for Word Search logs is 7th October.

    In all the activities, even if you only had one QSO or feel that you won't be highly placed, please do send in logs because it encourage others to join in.
  • 27 Jul 19: Please join us in the Ladder and Word Search 2019 on-air activities (FISTS CW Club Europe):
    • Ladder Sunday 28 July 14:00-16:00 & 18:00-20:00 UTC.
      Activity is typically around 14.058, 7.028, & 3.558 MHz.  Exchange a minimum of:
          Name, QTH, RST, & member number (if applicable).

      Ladder QSOs have a good chance of contributing to the Word Search (see below); why not give it a try?  On FISTS Log Converter's "Activities" tab, select "Word Search", click "Enter Activity" and you will get a report on your progress.

      QSOs are friendly and conversational.  Submitting logs is very much appreciated but not essential.  Members from all FISTS Chapters are encouraged to join in; QSOs do not have to be with FISTS members.
    • Word Search 2019 Monday 01 July 00:01 until Monday 30 September 23:59 UTC.
      Have QSOs with other members and use a letter from their callsigns to build up the phrase 'WHAT HATH GOD WROUGHT?  SFB MORSE'.
      New for 2019: If you are entering the Open section only, you can opt to have the letters chosen automatically for you.
      Minimum exchange is member number.  Bands are 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10 & 2m.  Two sections: QRP and Open - you can include QSOs for either or both in your log.
  • 19 Jul 19: The Spring 2019 Key Note is now available to all current FISTS CW Club members.

    Please visit the Members' Area to get your copy:
    https://fists.co.uk/members/members.aspx

    Items in this issue include:
    • Hunting for the Unicorn Part 3. G3VBS
    • Spotlight on G4LRG
    • CW COM a worthy alternative? AA7FV
    • A Marconi masterpiece? G3XMM
    • Simple HF antenna M0BMN
    • The Radio Amateur G4BEQ
    • Fists receives award from CW ops
    • 9G2DX Ghana March 2019 Insight

    ... and more besides!

     
  • 13 Jul 19: Please join us in the Ladder and Word Search 2019 on-air activities (FISTS CW Club Europe):
    • Ladder Sunday 14 July 14:00-16:00 & 18:00-20:00 UTC.
      Activity is typically around 14.058, 7.028, & 3.558 MHz.  Exchange a minimum of:
          Name, QTH, RST, & member number (if applicable).

      Ladder QSOs have a good chance of contributing to the Word Search (see below); why not give it a try?  On FISTS Log Converter's "Activities" tab, select "Word Search", click "Enter Activity" and you will get a report on your progress.

      QSOs are friendly and conversational.  Submitting logs is very much appreciated but not essential.  Members from all FISTS Chapters are encouraged to join in; QSOs do not have to be with FISTS members.
    • Word Search 2019 Monday 01 July 00:01 until Monday 30 September 23:59 UTC.
      Have QSOs with other members and use a letter from their callsigns to build up the phrase 'WHAT HATH GOD WROUGHT?  SFB MORSE'.
      New for 2019: If you are entering the Open section only, you can opt to have the letters chosen automatically for you.
      Minimum exchange is member number.  Bands are 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10 & 2m.  Two sections: QRP and Open - you can include QSOs for either or both in your log.
  • 08 Jul 19: The FISTS CW Club Europe BrassPounder July 2019 newsletter has just been published by David G4YVM, Activities Manager.

    BrassPounder provides the results and comments for FISTS CW Club on-air Activities in Europe/UK.

    This edition includes the results for the June 2019 Ladder activity and information about the upcoming activities.


     
  • 01 Jul 19: Please send in your logs and comments for the following activities that took place or finished in June 2019:

    In all the activities, even if you only had one QSO or feel that you won't be highly placed, please do send in logs because it encourage others to join in.

Please visit the News page for a full list of recent and older news items.

Interested in becoming a member?

FISTS HQ welcomes new members who have a passion for Morse Code.

1990 Vibroplex from Dennis K6DF's collection. Click to go to a larger picture Benefits of membership include:
  • Our popular Quarterly A5 News Booklet
  • Free use of the FISTS QSL Bureau
  • Access to our members-only area
  • Help and support from like minded people
The FISTS Club is one of amateur radio's fastest growing organisations.  It's a unique club, founded and maintained on solid principles using radio's oldest and yet most reliable communications mode - CW!  Why not join us?

FISTS History

The FISTS Club, (International Morse Preservation Society) was founded in 1987 by the late George "Geo" Longden G3ZQS of Darwen, Lancashire England, after recognising a need for a club in which veteran operators would help newcomers and less-experienced operators learn and improve CW proficiency.  During the first year, membership reached 300, most of whom were in Great Britain and Europe.  The original Introduction to FISTS by Geo holds as true today as it did when he wrote it.  Geo also explains how he chose the name FISTS.

Sideswiper ('cootie') Key Number 9 made by Bill NT9K.  Click for a large picture.

The North American Chapter (now known as FISTS Americas) was formed in 1990 to assist 11 members in the USA receive the newsletter and as a banking convenience.  Nancy Kott WZ8C of Hadley, Michigan was named US representative, a position she held until sadly she became a Silent Key in 2014.

The FISTS Down Under Chapter representing New Zealand and Australia, was formed in 1998 by Ralph Sutton ZL2AOH to provide a similar service to Australasian members.  From a ZL / VK membership of four including a JA and an FO, the FISTS Down Under Chapter has grown in strength to currently 118; 31 New Zealand members and 87 Australian members.

The East Asia Chapter was formed in 2004 by a few Taiwanese and Japanese members to provide East Asian members with various services in their native languages.

Why not join us?


Acknowledgements: Thank you to Dennis K6DF, Bill NT9K and Billy AB4RH for permission to use photographs from their key collections.

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