[CW] How to get proficient in morse?

Tue Oct 11 14:29:42 EDT 2011

You missed the point, Dan.

If you would have learned it at 20 WPM, you would have learned it just 
as fast as you memorized it at 5 WPM.
I, and most operators, went through what you are going through.  I have 
switched and taught several operators
at 20 WPM character speed.  Each one, after learning the characters at 
that speed were able to handle a 20 WPM
conversations with in a month.  A couple were retreads, that is, they 
had learned the code years before the old
way..Both said they wished they had learned it this way at the first as 
it was easier then the 5 WPM way and
build up to the higher speeds.

With the 20 WPM at the start, there is no counting dit and dahs, 
translating that to a letter, then to a word.
You start out hearing a letter!  Instead of hearing A, you hear didah, 
but you hear it as a whole sound.  You
would be going through plateaus that we all went through getting to 
where you hear letters as a whole sound.
Then it is easier hearing a word spelled out that way and sooner you 
hear whole words the same way.

It would have been easier for you.

161, Joe, Ronnie(Rowena), Marty&  Sidney Pontek
P.O. Box 280, Dangriga, Stann Creek District
(Hopkins Village) Belize
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FOC 1743 CWops 876, A1OP, SKCC 3171T, FISTS 7625 CC 951
LotW
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On 10/11/2011 11:14 AM, Dan wrote:
> Michiel;
> As one who likes CW, but is not the fastest op in the world, I can 
> tell you that no matter what your copy speed is, it isn't worth a 
> tinkers-dam if you cannot send at the same speed, or visa-versa.
> Sure it is nice to learn CW at 20 wpm or faster, but if I had to learn 
> it at that speed before I got on the air, I would not have ever 
> entered the wonderful world of CW. I learned CW by listening to tapes, 
> spelling out road signs in CW; IE: S T O P would be ... - --- .--. 
> etc. I did the same with license plates.
> I got on the air and listened. I would get on the old novice 
> frequencies and pick out letters and words. I would go down to the DX 
> freqs and listen to fast code...without much success I might add. Hi Hi!
> I finally took my test. I was nervous as I could be.  My palms were 
> sweating, as I tried to copy and put down enough letters at 5 wpm to 
> pass the tech +. I passed and finally got on the air. (I have since 
> upgraded and became a 20 wpm extra).
> However, if I had to wait till I could copy and send at 20 wpm or 
> more, I would only be a phone op. Thank goodness I braved it and 
> answered a CQ at about 5 or 7 wpm. Bottom line is this; All the 
> computer based helpers such as G4FON's Koch method, Just Learn Morse, 
> etc., tapes, and reading road signs, license plates, etc., are great, 
> but until you take that first step, no matter what wpm, you really 
> don't know how you will do with CW.
> Sure you will probably be nervous. Your palms will probably get 
> sweatty. You will make mistakes. You will miss letters, and sometimes 
> complete words. But you will be learning to copy and send. When you 
> start missing too many letters, take a breath and wait until you hear 
> a familiar letter, or maybe a punctuation mark. Then start copying again.
> There are lots of ops that send at 5 to 15 wpm or so, and they are all 
> over the bands. Listen to a couple of qsos, and when you feel 
> confident enough, or almost confident enough, give one a call when 
> they sign off. Most will come back to you at your send speed. One 
> thing though, don't send faster than you can copy.
> So get on the air. Make some contacts. have some fun. When you get 
> tired and too nervous, take a break. I for one, would be happy to have 
> a qso with you at 5 wpm. Listen on 40 meters, usually around 7.055 or 
> 7.114, the SKCC freqs.
> Do most CW ops run more than 20 wpm? maybe so, but I can tell you that 
> there are just as many, or maybe more, who send at 15 wpm or less. is 
> it necessary to work CW at 20 wpm? Of course not. It is great to be 
> able to work faster than 20 wpm, but it is not necessary to be able to 
> do so to have fun. Remember, this is a HOBBY, and it is supposed to be 
> FUN!
> 73, es hpe to wrk u soon de KC5GXL
> Dan Harriman
> Orange Texas
> You can get more info on SKCC by going to their web page. 
> http://www.skccgroup.com
> If at first you don't succeed, maybe you shouldn't try sky diving!
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
>         *From:* Michiel Wories
>         <http://us.mc835.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]>
>
>         *To:* CW Reflector
>         <http://us.mc835.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]>
>         *Sent:* Monday, October 10, 2011 11:23 PM
>         *Subject:* [CW] How to get proficient in morse?
>
>         Hi,
>         This is probably a question that pops from time to time. I had
>         been learning morse code a while ago using the Koch method. I
>         was able to reliably copy code at decent speed, but making a
>         transition in copying real QSO's seems a transition is seems hard.
>         I read various articles about the do's and don'ts and various
>         learning techniques.
>         I seem to be able to stuck however, when I am trying to copy a
>         real QSO the brain goes in overload. Not even mentioning
>         sending code.
>         What helped you learn this? I realize not everyone learns the
>         same, but I'd like to get some of the collective wisdom of
>         this group.
>         I also have a feeling having a practice buddy may help. Is
>         there a system for this, ideally through the internet?
>         I have to note I have limited time available. Maybe this is
>         the core of the problem, but if there is a way to get there
>         gradually, I'd love to know.
>         Thanks,
>         Michiel W7MJW
>
>
>
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> =30=
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