What essential components does a CW transmitter require?

A Continuous Wave (CW) transmitter is fundamental in radio communications, particularly for Morse code transmission. Its essential components are a generator, amplifier, and antenna.

The generator is responsible for creating the radio frequency (RF) signal that conveys information through on-off keying, which is the essence of CW transmission (where the signal is turned on for a 'dot' and off for a 'dash'). The amplifier boosts this signal to ensure it can travel over long distances without significant loss. Finally, the antenna is required to radiate the modulated signal into the environment and enable communication over airwaves.

The other answer choices refer to components that serve different functions not directly related to the core operation of a CW transmitter. For example, a microphone and speaker are used in audio transmission systems, a keyboard and monitor are part of computing systems, and routers, switches, and firewalls are integral to networking, focusing on data routing and security rather than RF transmission. Each of these options does not align with the specific operational needs of a CW transmitter.