[NewHampshireDuo]

There are even easy ways to connect a CW transmitter and receiver to your computer so you can use your computer keyboard to send and PC to receive.

And more than that. One of the most flexible and powerful digital comm programs is Fldigi when coupled with Flwrap and Flmsg. All free - Linux, Windows, Mac OS. http://www.w1hkj.com

You don't need to be a ham to use the program for reception. Just a SSB receiver and an audio cable from receiver to PC line in. Lacking that, you can just have the PC's mic near to the radio's speaker. Adjust the volume levels a bit and you're decoding. You can catch everyday QSOs with PSK31 on all of the ham bands and there are regular emcomm nets around the country, usually in the evening. Emcomm nets use very noise immune and error corrected modes like Olivia and MT63.

[pyx]

That's a good HAM radio website at W1HKJ you have suggested.

Digital Keyer's make it very easy to use a computer keyboard to send Morse code (and even packet radio :) ). There are very real benefits and tremendous advantages for any adult who get's a Amateur (HAM) license. The license lasts a lifetime and is so simple to obtain.