[CW] Copy speed (Was: Straight key vs paddle)

[Michael Josefsson]

On 19 Apr 2010, at 16:21, James Zuelow wrote:

> ...
> 
> I'm still learning code, and my block is copy speed.  I can recognize a 
> character faster, but I can't physically write them down faster than about 
> 5-7wpm.  I can push 10 for short periods.
> 
> The characters that get me are "e" and "t" -- especially that darn e.  I wait 
> for more and then the next character starts and I'm hurredly writing an "e" 
> (which takes a *long* time) while listening to the next character at the same 
> time.
> 
> Then the next time I hear an e I start to write it down too quickly so I don't get behind, meaning I have to scratch it out when it suddenly morphs into an i or an s, which puts me behind on that character.
> 
> I'm still not familiar enough with the sounds to do well once I get behind, so I have to skip some and start copying again.
> 
> Makes me wish I had picked up shorthand when I was younger.
> 
> James
> KL2ZZ

James, get into the habit of writing the *current* letter just as you begin to hear the *next* letter. In other words you *should* lag at least one letter, preferably 2-3 but that takes a lot more training. With this you can write in a *constant speed* and that is one key to pleasant copy at higher speeds.

Another trick is to start the days session with a few minutes intensive listening to code sent at a much higher speed than you plan to receive. In have set my pupils to listen 30 WPM even though we run the course at 15 WPM.

And, while at the subject, please don't try to learn the code at too slow a speed. A code letter should be immediately recognizable and at a slow speed you begin to count "shorts and longs" an then you miss the whole point of automatising the reception. At 15 WPM (or even 20!) you learn to reflexively, without thinking, jot down the letter. And that the way to go - Print each letter as a reflex - not by intelligence/thinking/analysing. 

/Micke

(Shorthand won't help in this really as many shorthand doodles are sounds or combinations of sounds. Some letters are "to the letter" but shorthand is really meant to cheat writing. I don't know Gregg's shorthand exactly but it goes along the way of "Shorthand won't help in this really"="shand wo hp in ths rily" so it is cumbersome to use in letter-by-letter copy.)