simple: When your key isn't actually down, you're receiving normally.  With true QSK, you can hear between the dits!
Why would you want full break-in?  It may seem quaint now; but, when I got my General license in 1958, I was mainly interested in handling message traffic by CW.  Whenever the receiving operator missed something, he or she could just sent a few dash.  I'd hear them, stop, find out where solid copy ended, and resume sending from that point.  It did wonders for throughput.  Also, at the higher speeds (when used sparingly) it made CW rag chewing conversational and enjoyable -- at least as much as SSB with VOX (which came along later).
Nowadays I find full break-in very valuable in contests and, especially, in DXing.  Usually the DX station listens 1 kHz or more above his transmitting frequency, using a range of frequencies (such as "up 5 to 10") to spread out a pile-up.  Often the best strategy is to figure out where the DX station is listening and call there.  If you can hear the other stations that the DX is working, you can set your transmitting VFO to the frequency of the station he's now working.  Then you start calling as soon as the DX says "TU" or "QRZ."  This is how I worked Heard Island recently on 30 meters.  VK0IR was transmitting on 10,103 kHz and listening up.  I could hear Bill, N1AU (in Lexington) calling around 10,104.8 (I was calling somewhat lower).  When VK0IR came back to N1AU, I immediately stopped calling and set my other VFO to Bill's frequency.  This time I was lucky.  The pile-up wasn't big, and I got VK0IR on the next call!  With 100 watts and an R7 vertical on my chimney.
So how do you get set up for full break-in?  Many modern transceivers have it built-in; I just push a button to change between full and semi break-in (the latter uses the VOX circuitry, and you can't hear signals again until the delay ends).  (If you use an amplifier, though, check to see that it can handle full break-in and is properly connected for it. Some amplifiers can't.)  Otherwise, you may have a second receiver, so that you could switch the antenna (or a separate receiving antenna) to it with a fast relay. Years ago I used a vacuum-tube TR switch, connected between the receiver and the transmitting antenna.  The relay that I used to key my 50-watt transmitter and outboard VFO had another set of con

tacts (normally closed), which I used to switch in a pot at the ground end of the receiver's RF gain control, so that I could set my received signal to a comfortable level.
I hope you'll give full break-in a try.  It can make your CW operating more effective and more fun.
[Note that the club station's amplifer is not QSK capable! However,the TS850 is. So if you want to try your hand at this be sure the TS850 is running  barefoot! - ed.]

trum. Through our licenses, we have the right to communicate with stations near and far acting as "ambassadors of goodwill" via radio. We get to operate for free on spectrum that commercial interests pay millions for.
That responsibility means we ought to give something back. In FARA, it's the "rent" we pay for our facility. There aren't many clubs that  have been gifted with a site like we have, let alone with the access that we have to the site. As you can see, our commitment is important not only to the town, but also to ourselves.
Given this importance, you might wonder exactly what you can do. It's a good thought and is answered with three words: make a commitment. We need as many operators as possible to commit to helping out ARES/RACES. We have to be prepared to provide two operators for three shifts for up to three days. This means we need core group with a minimum of 18 people who can be there to help out.
This is no idle commitment. It is a key to our future.
Please give ARES/RACES a chance. Help us out because we need you! Besides, where else would you be able to get the neat hats and IDs that are coming? If you aren't a supporter, then... what can we say?
If you are interested please fill out the form on page 3 of this newsletter and return it to me at the club's address. You'll be glad you did!

FARA FOCUS ON... Morse Code

by W1EQW

The next FARA FOCUS ON... will be on Wednesday February 12, 7:45 PM at the club shack. We will continue what we started in January -- a morse code evaluation and improvement seminar. 
At the January session Martin Bayes, AA1ON, gave us an excellent account of why CW is fun and enjoyable as well as why it is very useful in DXing. Also covered during the session were discussions on CW operating procedures, Q-signals, and different keying techniques including straight key, semi-automatic, and automatic (iambic).
The discussion will continue on February 12.  Those of you wishing to improve your CW sending and receiving should