[CW] Re: [KochMorse] Diminishing returns when learningmorse

[David J. Ring, Jr.]

Jim,

A great posting as usual.

I agree totally.  When the copy is very easy:

UR RST 5X9 QTH XXXXX XX NAME XXXXX = HW? + = N1EA DE WD9ABC K

I just have to write down the letters above that are marked with the letter 
X.

I anticipate everything else - sometimes the RST doesn't start with a 5 or 
end with a 9, so when I anticipate that I hear the change.

In "conversational" morse whenever a new word is sent, most operators can't 
copy it in their head.  This is most true at high speeds (a relative term 
but still a valid remark.)  Usually the next time that same word is sent, I 
write it down.  After I write it down, I read it and say "Oh, is that what 
he sent."

Most times I copy with a pen, either letter for letter, or a type of 
shorthand where I just write down the important words.  Writing down the 
"important words" involves copying behind, understanding the word, and 
deciding if it is "important" which is a skill that you develop as you get 
more practice.

Perhaps about 90% of the time I copy all the letters - usually up to about 
25 wpm, after that I either use a typewriter or I abreviate the copy.

I find that I cannot copy 5 to 10 wpm in my head anymore - I get distracted. 
I must copy it down.  Then I must read and understand it.  When I copy, I 
don't understand.

Copying Morse is a long term memory facility - it is engrained in the brain 
in chemical memory.  The response to the sound of Morse requires an 
automatic transcription - if you've gotten to this place, it is all long 
term.

If you have a short term memory problem if you have a short term memory 
problem, you will find that CW is a great way to communicate - because you 
can have a written record of what was said - and you can look at it.  Short 
term memory problems only make problems when you repeat (like I did above!).

73

David N1EA

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <N2EY at aol.com>
<snip>
When I was learning Morse I had exactly the same experience - I'd have to 
look at the paper to see what I had copied. "Head copy" came later, when 
being able to write it down did not take much concentration.

Ever see someone turn off the car radio when they're in an unfamiliar 
neighborhood or bad driving conditions? They do it to allow themselves to 
concentrate on the main task.

As for short-term memory: I'm no expert, but it seems to me that if someone 
can understand a long spoken sentence, they have the short-term memory 
capacity to develop the skill of head-copying Morse. The trick is that when 
you hear a long sentence you remember the meaning, not the exact words. Same 
with Morse.

Just IMHO, anyway.

73 es GL de Jim, N2EY


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