[CW] Newby to code (again)

Tue Dec 22 16:10:01 EST 2020

Richard, et al.:

I, too, learned CW via computer.  No, I would not say that learning it this way is better than having learned it with the help of a mentor… it was just what I had available.  I use NuMorse Professional for CW listening practice and Precision CW Fistcheck for sending practice.  Both software packages are inexpensive and offer a good user interface.

My learning and practice sessions include four different exercises for about 10-20 minutes a piece.  The first exercise is where I use NuMorse to interactively check my ability to recognize a single character at a time and this is the typical “newbie” exercise.  Specifically, NuMorse would send a single character at ~20 WPM and my keyboard response is checked to ensure that I recognized the character correctly.  I used this method quite extensively when I was first learning… on the order of months… thinking that I was learning CW.

But I was not.  I found that what was happening was that my mind was associating what I heard with a hand muscle reflex response… totally bypassing my mind’s need to recognize the character from the CW sound.  Thus, my fingers were learning CW but my mind was not!!!  The true test was when I tried to put CW into practice and copy real code from the radio onto paper - and I failed.  I found that not only could my fingers could not write the character but that I had difficulty mentally recognizing the character in the first place.

I did, however, find a way to correct my learning mistake… but doing so was almost akin to starting all over again.  What I do now for this type of practice session is to listen to the single character, verbally say the character, AND THEN press the correct key on the keyboard.  This forced my mind to recognize the character much more effectively and to check it for accuracy.  If anyone wants to learn CW via software they would do well to learn from my mistake and use this method to do so.

This modification enabled success in the second practice sessions.  During the second practice session I would set NuMorse to continuously send groups of 5 random characters where the character sending speed is still set at 20 WPM but “stretched spaces” between characters setting would reduce the word sending speed to whatever I could handle (5 WPM when starting… 20 WPM today).  I would then verbally say the character as I write the character down on paper.  After about 10 minutes or so I would stop to compare what I had written with what NuMorse had sent in order to assess my accuracy.  This is the practice session that really taught me CW.

My third practice sessions consisted of having NuMorse stream narrative text.  Currently I am plowing through H. G. Wells’ War Of The Worlds.  Again, the character speed setting is set at 20 WPM but the “stretched spaces” setting would be adjusted to whatever I could handle.  I found that my mind might be able to hear individual characters and words faster than a 20 WPM rate but my fingers cannot physically write down characters faster than about 18-20 WPM.  As such this will probably be my upper limit of capability.

The fourth practice session is where I use PCW Fistcheck to “listen” to my sending palindromes (sentences that use every letter in the alphabet) and I would check the accuracy of my key sending.  Sometimes I found that certain letters required more practice than others… Vs and 3s are tough for me to get correct.  PCW Fistcheck does that visually rather well.

As is often said by many before me… it is vitally important to learn how to accurately listen to CW before ever taking a key in hand and attempting to send.  Time listening to CW causes your mind to learn what the whole character sounds like.  Later, after quite a bit of practice, your mind will try to replicate that sound by using your fingers on the key.

I hope this helps.  73s and Merry Christmas to all.

James Hull
KK4EOU
SKCC# 14457

> On Dec 22, 2020, at 2:39 PM, Richard Knoppow <1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com> wrote:
> 
>    I also find this observation interesting. I taught myself to touch type many years ago and found it a valuable skill. I discovered that I can copy something, say a book, and afterward have no idea what I have been typing. Those very skillful in reading code report the same thing; you can take down whole pages of code and not know what you have been writing. This applies to both typing and long hand. Its like there is a direct connection between ears and hands, or eyes and hand in the case of typing, with the conscious part of the brain left out. I have not considered it in learning code. However, I can type a lot faster than I can write so typing is convenient.
>    I also found that at some low speed I really have to write code down to keep track of what I am reading. I think the limit is around ten wpm. At higher speeds the words just appear in my mind. I think this is where the books recommend copying behind. The whole process is very mysterious.
> 
> On 12/22/2020 8:38 AM, Steve WD8DAS via CW wrote:
>> 
>> Bob - your experience of writing down versus typing is interesting.  I have found that I have much better memory retention in classes or meetings when writing notes by hand rather than typing them on computer, tablet, or phone.
>> 
>> Admittedly, though, repetition/practice seems to be needed to move that info from my short-term to long-term memory.   For example, around 2003 I took two semesters of Japanese and got A grades both times.  But I seem to have only been putting the info in short term memory as I couldn't remember much in the subsequent years.  If I watch a show about Japan or listen to some J-pop music I am reminded a bit, and I certainly will be better equipped if I go to Japan - but I am disappointed that more of the language didn't stick with me.
>> 
>> 
>> Steve WD8DAS
>> 
>> sbjohnston at aol.com
>> http://www.wd8das.net/
>> --------------------------------------------------------------------
>> Radio is your best entertainment value.
>> --------------------------------------------------------------------
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
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> 
> -- 
> Richard Knoppow
> 1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com
> WB6KBL
> 
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