[CW] Newbie

Fri, 26 Jul 2002 03:40:21 -0400

I would second a lot of the below advice.

A nice bound copy of  Bill  [N0HFF]
Pierpont's  book "The Art & Skill of Radiotelegraphy," is available at cost
from the FISTS CW Club (www.fists.org)  for $13.23 (includes postage in USA)
via: Irene Kott WO8E, 44609 N Bunker Hill Rd, Clinton Twp, MI 48038.

I'm using some of the ideas in the Pierpont book (e.g. mastering the sound
signature of most basic English words taken from word frequency lists), and
the NuMorse program, to work on getting more proficient above 20WPM.

73 George W5VU

----- Original Message -----
From: Will White <[email protected]>
To: scott <[email protected]>
Cc: CW <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, July 26, 2002 3:12 AM
Subject: Re: [CW] Newbie

> Scott,
>
> I identify strongly with being a kid unable to learn the code (or in my
case
> just a little too hyperactive, at age 12-13, to acquire the discipline).
I
> aasume you use a PC, not a Mac. I use mostly Mac, and have had great
results
> using MorseTrainer 1.1.1 and Morse Mania. As for PC, I don't think they
are
> freeware, but there are several fully-functional, non-time-limited
shareware PC
> CW trainers available: NuMorse; Morse Academy, SuperMorse, and a number of
> others. All can be located and downloaded via www.qrz.com, or
www.ac6v.com.  I
> have used them all, and all work well and are flexible, though each has
its own
> strengths. Check them all out to see which suits your "learning style"
best.
>
> I would also *strongly* recommend you have a look, at least, at Bill
[N0HFF]
> Pierpont's  book "The Art & Skill of Radiotelegraphy," 3rd revised
edition,
> which is available for free download (http://www.qsl.net/n9bor/n0hff.htm)
in
> either Word or .PDF formats (I think HTML also, not sure).  This book will
give
> you a lot of great info about learning the code, and a bit of history to
boot.
> This is the book on the subject of learning CW, and is very practical,
thorough,
> and well-written.  Most of all, take to heart what Bill says about
learning the
> code as a system of sounds, and avoiding visualization, counting, and
other
> "tricks" that end up sabotaging you. If you ever intend to use the code on
the
> air at all, beyond simply passing the Element 1 CW 5WPM exam, from the
very
> start learn Morse at a speed of at least 10 WPM (higher character
> speed/Farnsworth as well). If you go at it at the minimum 5 WPM level, you
will
> indeed be able to pass the FCC/VEC test sooner, but will find that QSOing
at 5
> WPM is dull and frustrating for most people, and you inevitably learn to
count
> dits and dahs and visualize at very low speeds, so the task of increading
your
> speed beyond a threshold of 10 WPM will be more difficult, a lot harder
than if
> you approach CW with the aim to learn at a base speed above 10 WPM. It'll
take a
> week or two longer, but it is worth it! Best of success, let the group
know your
> progress.
>
> 73, Will, KD7BFX
>
> scott wrote:
>
> > Hi, I am new and trying to learn Morse Code.  Can anyone suggest
software,
> > freeware preffered, that I can use to help me?
> > Code was the stumbling block to me getting my license when I was a kid.
I
> > certainly have the discipline now to master it, I just need to head in
the
> > right direction.
> > Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.
> >
> > Thank You,
> > Scott
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > CW mailing list
> > [email protected]
> > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/cw
>
> --
> Will White, KD7BFX
> Seattle WA US
> King County, Grid CN87tq
> ITU Zone 6, CQ Zone 3
> ***************************************************
> "The wireless telegraph is not difficult to understand.
> The ordinary telegraph is like a very long cat.
> You pull the tail in New York, and it meows in Los Angeles.
> The wireless is the same, only without the cat."
>                                                       - Albert Einstein
> ***************************************************
>
>
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