[CW] Relearning / Koch / G4FON

[N2EY at aol.com]

In a message dated 5/21/06 10:28:51 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
jt.w6fo at gmail.com writes:


> However, I'm wondering what
> speeds for both actual character speed and effective code speed would
> be best to start at?
> 

My recommendation:

Set the character speed to 15-20 wpm. That's so fast you cannot 'count dits'.

Set the word speed to 5-7 wpm. That gives you lots of time between characters 
to write.

Print block letters, if you are going to copy on paper. Although slightly 
slower than longhand/script writing, each printed letter is a separate unit. 
There's a Signal Corps standard way of printing that reduces the number of pencil 
movements per letter. 

Use 'phones unless you can study in a very quiet location with good acoustics 
(no echoes).

Practice every single day. Practice 10 to 30 minutes per session. Two 15 
minute sessions is better than one 30 minute session.

Practice sending as well as receiving. The two skills reinforce each other.

While the G4FON and other software packages are great, do not limit yourself 
to just computer code. Listen to Morse on-the-air, both W1AW and other hams.

Do not stay at a particular study level (speed, characters, etc.) until you 
are 100% correct. When you get to 90-95% correct, speed up, add characters, 
etc. 

Good luck!

73 de Jim, N2EY