[CW] Re: [KochMorse] Diminishing returns when learning morse

[Cecil Bayona]

I been trying to learn Morse code for a while now with very little success, 
I've tried all sorts of ways, I have a problem with short term memory that 
seems to affect me in dealing with Morse code and phone numbers, so I have 
not been too successful.

For a while I tried instead of writing it down, I would type the letter on 
the keyboard. When I had that letter down, I would add one more letter to 
the mix.  I stopped learning that way when I was about 18 letters into it, 
because of one problem. I could copy the letters that I had learned 
perfectly, like you mentioned I would hear the letter and my fingers would 
react and type a letter. all I did was to concentrate on listening to the 
sound. Although I was copying those letters accurately I did not have a 
clue what I was receiving, I would have to stop concentrating and look at 
the screen, but then I would miss several letters.

So my question is, when does knowing what you are receiving come in? Does 
one as they become more proficient acquire that skill also?


At 12:03 PM 2/18/2005, you wrote:
>From: "Joe - aa4nn" <aa4nn at earthlink.net>
>
> > We copied with a pencil up to 18
> > wpm then went to the typewriter,
> > finishing the class copying 25+ wpm on the
> > mill.
>
>That seems like a disruptive sequence at best, and very limiting of the
>potential of the trainee.  Copying with a pencil and copying on a mill are
>two distinctly different skills.
>
>High speed morse copying is a reflex action done at the subconscious level,
>but this learning method would depend on thinking "that was a 'J'", then
>doing a mental conversion in transcribing the letter.
>
>A good 'mill operator' would never translate the 'didahdahdah' into 'J' but
>rather into pressing the right forefinger on the home key 'J'.  This should
>happen without the conscious brain thinking 'J'.
>
>Similarly, a good 'stick operator' would not think 'J', but would
>subconsciously print a 'J' on paper.  To move from that skill at 18WPM to
>mill-copy at 19WPM implies that the training method required the trainee to
>'think' each letter and perform a different action depending on whether they
>had a pencil or a mill at their finger tips.
>
>73, de Hans, K0HB
>Master Chief Radioman, US Navy
>
>
>
>
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Cecil Bayona
KD5NWA