Follow this example for your own transceiver. And order our External Transceiver Cable Assembly
if you have not done so already. It will make connecting the ZERO to your rig easy, and look great in
your shack. A MMX/DMX Stand is also a good choice as it holds the ZERO at 45° so it is easier to
read.#
The Second Elephant in the room is ... experience. While we may Morse easy, we don’t make
learning CW easy. CW is a lot of things besides just the code. CW is about frequencies, methods,
operating styles, abbreviations, and much more. Once you learn it, you can quickly tune around the
band, and know when you are receiving a fellow amateur or hearing a digital transmission that is
decoded as gibberish. Also there is some expertise you will gain over time on adjusting the decoder
gain, and the receiver frequency, determining which of the two sides of the signal you are on, and
selecting the correct one. And being aware of band conditions, which are related to time of day,
sunspots, and other factors. Do not be disappointed if you don’t make any contact on your first try!
Patience and practice are very important.#
One other thing: this one messed me up when I started. There are stations on there that are actually
transmitting what appears to be random junk. It is not random junk, it is data, sent via Morse Code.
Best way to start is to call CQ or listen for someone calling CQ. Don’t be fooled into thinking the
decoder is not working by a data station!#
If you have a buddy across town, or across the valley that does CW, that is a great way to start.
That way, you can learn the ropes with someone you can talk to over the phone if things are not
working the way you expected. So, initially, finding a local ham operator with Morse code
experience, or someone with an MMX, ZERO or DMX-40 of their own to get some on-the-air
experience with is an excellent way to gain confidence and experience.#
2.3. Getting Started... Quickly#
We have provided a Quick Start Guide (separate file) to enable you to get started quickly with your new
transceiver. We recommend using that as a starting point, and then using this Reference Manual to fill in the
gaps in your knowledge of the various functions and features that are not covered in the Guide. We have
included many cross links within the document, as well as Table of Contents links and a back link at the top of
every page to get you back to the Table of Contents with a single click. This greatly enhances exploring the
contents of the manual.#
As mentioned before, there are a number of appendices that you should check out early on. We recommend
you print out the keyboard command charts, for example, to have next to you as you are learning how to use
the various features of your new transceiver. At first, that might seem to be a daunting task, but practice a
little, and it will become second nature.#
As always, we love to hear from our customers, so if you have questions, comments, or suggestions, please
use the Contact Us page on our website:#
https://PreppComm.com
You can also get help from the PreppComm Community at:#
http://PreppComm.mn.co