47 years ago, when I was 13, I asked the government’s ham radio examiner at Oslo Maritime school how important sending CW was for me to get my license. I had, after all, already passed the required 8 and 12 wpm tests listening to groups of 5 signs and then text from a book. But now he wanted me to use a hand pump, sending CW from the same textbook he had used. No one had told me that I also had to SEND at the test!
He answered: “Son, you can send poorly. I’ll still pass you, but no one will answer you.” (true story!)
But, I had practiced sending, with the key in the picture, and the examiner, whom was a CW enthusiast, was pleased. My grandfather – LA2PR – owned a metal factory at the time, and made the key for my birthday along with a home made morse code oscillator. After I had removed the gift wrapping, he told me that I wasn’t allowed to use it until I could receive at least 8 wpm. I was only 12 at the time.
I received the “B-license” when I turned 14, and later the “A-license” when I turned 16.
A little tip if you aren’t getting answers to your CQ calls: If you have a radio with CW-decoder, turn it on and send text. See if the decoder puts spaces in the right places. If not, focus to get it right, and practice, practice, practice.
I hear many amateurs send CW nearly as one long string of letters and numbers, without paying much attention to spaces. And sometimes there isn’t even a lot of space between the signs. It is almost impossible for many of us to decipher it. It's much better for the receiving station if your spaces are too long rather than too short. Emphasize spaces between the words and your code becomes more understandable for a wider audience - hence much greater chance for response to your calls.
de LB3SA