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How bhi Noise Cancelling Products Improve CW Radio Communications
Morse code has been a major part of amateur radio communication for a very long time, serving as a practical tool for long-distance contact and a tradition that connects modern operators with the roots of the hobby. CW, or Continuous Wave transmission, still excites operators who value precision and simplicity. Yet radio interference, static crashes, and man-made electrical noise dramatically weaken its readability.
At bhi Ltd, we offer a range of DSP noise cancelling products that can help improve background noise for CW communications. Whilst our products are predominantly targeted towards improving speech in noisy conditions, users found that they had clear improvements to their CW communications using bhi noise cancelling products. Read our blog post below for more information.
“Whilst primarily designed for speech, I had heard that the bhi noise reduction worked well with CW signals. I tried CW on a several bands and, sure enough, the NES10-2 Mk4 worked surprisingly well to tidy up weak and noisy signals. It was the lower settings that worked best and I found it really helped to lift the CW signals from the noise.
I then started looking at stronger, but still noisy, signals to see what improvement I could make with the NES10-2 Mk4. I soon found a selection of strong US and Italian stations on 14MHz. Despite good signals, there was still a lot of noise around that was especially noticeable between overs. For this situation, I found I could use the higher noise reduction settings (4 to 6) to good effect. In addition to improving the received audio, the noise reduction also suppressed the noise between overs, which was helpful. In the absence of speech, there were a few watery artefacts but these disappeared once the speech signal returned. Moving on to VHF and UHF the noise tends to be smoother than on HF so is easier for the processor to remove. On these bands I found the lower settings gave the best overall results.”
Another Radcom review:
“On CW, the filtering worked excellently, with the background noise often virtually disappearing to give ‘clean’ CW copy; I was most impressed. I only wished there was a DSP audio bandwidth filter included as well to separate multiple close-spaced CW signals. The tone reduction gave a useful, if not ‘complete’, tone notch on level three, and some, but in my mind not very much, tone reduction on levels one and two. But this is in accordance with the specifications, so I mustn’t complain too much!”
At bhi Ltd, we offer a range of DSP noise cancelling products that can help improve background noise for CW communications. Whilst our products are predominantly targeted towards improving speech in noisy conditions, users found that they had clear improvements to their CW communications using bhi noise cancelling products. Read our blog post below for more information.
The challenge of noise in CW radio
Signals on HF, VHF, and UHF bands often suffer from noise that makes Morse tones harder to copy. Weak DX calls blend into static, and strong stations carry background hiss that can be distracting. Operators spend long sessions decoding tones, and background noise can be damaging to hearing and concentration. This constant struggle highlights the need for a system that can clean the signal without stripping its character.How bhi DSP noise cancelling works
Our DSP, or digital signal processing technology, identifies speech from within a noisy signal, but most audio tones will also pass through ok. The DSP removes unwanted noise from these signals by 9 to 40dB, while keeping the original signal pretty much intact. The technology inside bhi products was designed to make speech clearer and more intelligible, but it also responds well to improving the readability of CW.When to use bhi noise cancelling products for CW
Operators can benefit from DSP filtering in contests, during DX hunts, or in everyday contacts. Weak signals that once demanded repetition now become readable, and strong and noisy transmissions gain extra clarity. On HF bands with heavy static, even low DSP filter settings will lift the CW tone from the background noise without too much change to the CW tone. On other frequency bands, the same thing occurs, lifting the CW signal from the noise.RadCom review: CW performance
In a 2021 copy of RadCom, Mike Richards G4WNC, gave the NES10-2 MK4 the following review:“Whilst primarily designed for speech, I had heard that the bhi noise reduction worked well with CW signals. I tried CW on a several bands and, sure enough, the NES10-2 Mk4 worked surprisingly well to tidy up weak and noisy signals. It was the lower settings that worked best and I found it really helped to lift the CW signals from the noise.
I then started looking at stronger, but still noisy, signals to see what improvement I could make with the NES10-2 Mk4. I soon found a selection of strong US and Italian stations on 14MHz. Despite good signals, there was still a lot of noise around that was especially noticeable between overs. For this situation, I found I could use the higher noise reduction settings (4 to 6) to good effect. In addition to improving the received audio, the noise reduction also suppressed the noise between overs, which was helpful. In the absence of speech, there were a few watery artefacts but these disappeared once the speech signal returned. Moving on to VHF and UHF the noise tends to be smoother than on HF so is easier for the processor to remove. On these bands I found the lower settings gave the best overall results.”
Another Radcom review:
“On CW, the filtering worked excellently, with the background noise often virtually disappearing to give ‘clean’ CW copy; I was most impressed. I only wished there was a DSP audio bandwidth filter included as well to separate multiple close-spaced CW signals. The tone reduction gave a useful, if not ‘complete’, tone notch on level three, and some, but in my mind not very much, tone reduction on levels one and two. But this is in accordance with the specifications, so I mustn’t complain too much!”
Why CW operators should consider bhi products
The advantage lies in reduced fatigue and longer sessions without strain. Morse code requires focus to correctly decipher the message, and background noise can wear down even experienced ears. By applying DSP through our products, operators can extend their listening endurance. A single device works across voice and CW, offering versatility beyond a one-mode solution. This brings better copy, improved comfort, and wider enjoyment of the hobby.Shop bhi noise cancelling products
CW continues to hold its place in amateur radio, not only as a historical link but as a reliable communication mode. bhi DSP noise cancelling products, while designed mainly for speech, can clean up Morse code signals to good effect. From lifting faint tones on HF to smoothing UHF reception, DSP noise cancelling shapes the audio into something readable and comfortable.
Shop our range of noise cancelling products online or speak to us today to discuss your requirements.
Please note: our DSP noise cancelling can alter the CW tone slightly. Please keep this in mind when ordering.