See QTT for the main page before reading this one
This page lists additional information for those interested in a more indepth look at QTT adoption.
- The operator: Qualified or Quality True Telegraphist
- The art: Quality True Telegraphy
- The transmission: Quality Telegraphy Transmission
Don't forget the official QTT meaning which is also used in some QTT activities such as nostalgic use of formerly held professional or commercial callsigns: "The identification signal that follows is superimposed upon another transmission…"
A common meaning of QTT among (English speaking) populations is: Quality Talk Time — see: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=QTT
So, we can also add:
- The activity: Quality Telegraphy Time
Below are further optional ideas and suggestions
Calling QTT
Don't want to be in the Reverse Beacon Network listing? Don't want to be called by a digital CW user or someone who found your CQ on the Internet and thus is likely to enter you on a spotting cluster? Want the old fashioned way of getting a response to your CQ by real human CW operators? Two things you can do: one you could use QTT instead of CQ. It's shorter and sounds nice too… you can even run it together dah-dah-di-dah-dah-dah… a slight difference from Japanese CW dah-di-di-dah-dah-dah :-) Secondly, you can call QTT at the top end of the band… like in the old days, finding a CQ (QTT) with a human CW OP will be easier, simply tune around the top end of the bands. It may not take that long to catch on… here in VK already several QTT are using the top end of 40m near 7300 with great success.
QTT Frequencies
As always, CW is allowed on all HF amateur radio bands throughout the band as it always has been. However, ARRL have recently and quietly, unnoticed and without consulting CW operators, dropped the Exclusive CW bands (generally the bottom 100kHz, then after the rise of Data modes, the bottom 70kHz of the bands but more or less depending on the band width). They have given over the former CW exclusive bands, without any discussion nor protest, to RTTY and DATA modes to be shared.
We all know that a data signal, such as RTTY, PSK31, Pactor etc, generally suffers little from CW QRM, especially since the PC User is not relying upon his ears, but a modem, and thus has the volume down. The reverse is not true, in fact, CW operators can suffer greatly from data modes which are much more continuous in duration and embody near continuous carriers, which severely interfere with human CW reception. As a result we need to prepare for the ongoing invasion of our CW bands.
The best response is, where possible, to continue to use our traditional CW (formerly exclusive) bands of frequencies, for QTT activities. However, we should also spend time popularising among QTT the use of our right, as acknowledge in the foot note on the side bar of the ARRL band plan, of CW to use any frequency within the amateur radio bands. The best location for QTT operation, provided there is activity, is at the top end of the bands, e.g. 14350kHz downwards.
Contest QRM, Pile-Up QRM: "QSY TOP"
Particularly during periods of high QRM from DCW, Data, unrestricted contest activities and unrestricted DX "UP" split pile-ups, to enjoy Quality Telegraphy Time and seek out other Qualified True Telegraphists engaging in True Telegraphy, gravitating toward the top end of the band and calling CQ and/or QTT at the first clear frequency from the top downward, is a sensible response.
How close can you go in CW mode to the band edge? Taking 14350.0 as an example, our amateur radio licenses restrict us to not having emission (outside of our immediate locality) on or above 14350.0. Calculate the bandwidth of your CW signal, typically less than 400Hz for a clean TX. Divide this by two. Add the possible maximum inaccuracy of your frequency after callibration, and add the minimum step readout of your frequency display. Example: 200+150+10Hz = 360Hz, you can TX up to 14349.64
The same license conditions apply to SSB, which is however of much wider bandwidth. An USB signal typically must be at least 3kHz below upper band edge, e.g. 14347.0kHz suppressed carrier frequency. This is one reason why the top end of SSB bands is less used, but another is that many antennas SWR is optimised for the CW-DATA-SSB traditional border area, e.g. 14.1MHz.
In the event of contest QRM or being buried under a pile-up, QSY TOP signals you will move to the top end of the band, which is not available to USB (e.g. 14349.5kHz on 20m) and continue the QSO or re-arrange a frequency that is clear.
Radio Officers and CW Club Members
The original meaning of QTT as a Q Code is also relevant to us and can be used as described below. QTT means "the identification signal that follows is superimposed upon the current transmission". This means that we can legally use a different callsign for example one that we used as a Radio Officer in the past, or callsigns we have held in the past or currently still hold but are not the callsign of the current transmission, or we can use it to announce our club membership numbers. Here are some examples — bear in mind that license conditions require (in Australia) identification once every 10 minutes and at the start of first transmission and end of last. Between those times during any transmission you can use QTT as follows, e.g.:
QTT DE SWXX or QTT DE VIB etc.
Or QTT FISTS 1124 HSC 1437 SKCC 15007 RCWC 928 UFT 728 etc.
Or QTT FISTS 1124 QTT HSC 1437 QTT SKCC 15007 etc.
Or QTT G4OJW ST2AA ST0K SWXX etc.
The use of QTT during a QSO in this manner serves multiple useful purposes: it promotes CW clubs and the exchange of club membership numbers, it adds a little length to the standard QSO beyond RST, QTH, Name, Rig, Ant, and also, it acts to spread the use of QTT virally, via on air activity, as those hearing QTT followed by various callsigns held in the past and/or club membership numbers will search the web for CW QTT meaning and arrive at the QTT page and may also embrace the idea.
It also brings people together who may have worked in the same service before and recognise some of the call signs you worked at! It could have been a police, military, ship, coastal, post office, or any other station! Let us use it in these ways with pride!
Bug CW
While QTT can send via any means including electronic keyers and computer keyboards, but always decode CW by human means only, it is also encouraged to use bug CW, even with radical swings, high dit-to-dah ratios, it's all up to you what you enjoy! Some bug operators vary their styles others have a particular style and/or favourite speed. What matters is that DCW users cannot copy bug CW and thus calling CQ on a bug is more likely to result in QTT — Quality Telegraphy Time.
QTT Qualified True Telegraphists do not concern themselves with criticism of the fists of others, as little as one would lecture your family members about their musical tastes. QTT can copy Quality True Telegraphy even when it varies significantly from machine-generated CW and can appreciate that QTT Qualified True Telegraphists most often have their deliberate fists which give them enjoyment in sending. If it is your pleasure to also receive, then you make contact for some Quality Telegraphy Time.