[Elecraft] Farnsworth CW

[Mychael Morohovich]

"What I would like to know is how many other experienced CW ops agree with
him  and why."
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Hi, David-

I am one of the ops Ron alluded to in his email who learned with the
Farnsworth method and decided after-the-fact that it was inevitably
detrimental to my sending. While I found the system very helpful while
learning the code since it imparted to me a better understanding for how the
characters should sound, the helpfulness stopped there.

The cadence of what is considered well sent code is dependant not only on
the proper dot to dash ratio, but also on the proportion of the spaces
between the individual characters and the words they make. The Farnsworth
method of speeding up the characters while making up for this departure from
proper timing by inserting hyperbolized spaces between the characters and
words does not impart the right cadence. Like pre computer-set justified
text, it works but it just doesn't "feel" right, at least to me. It mighty
be okay for sending at 5 wpm when it is tough discerning drawn out
characters (however properly proportioned they might be), but once an op
graduates to faster speeds it makes for some habits that are tough to get
away from.

When I began sending, I kept trying to emulate the cadence learned by hours
and hours of Farnsworth practice and found it very frustrating. Perhaps it
has something to do with my being a musician, but sending code that was out
of proportion with what my brain wanted to hear just wasn't working. But, I
continued to struggle with it on my straight key.

I remember with chagrin one of the early QSOs I had with the Elmer, Ron
AC7AC. After what I thought a nice chat, he sent me an unsolicited wave file
of a portion of one of my exchanges he had captured . He made no direct
comment criticizing my sending, just something about how it can be helpful
to know what one sounds while on the air. "Cool!" I thought. When I listened
to my sending I was aghast (!), and though this is probably extreme, didn't
get on the air again for more than a few months while I sorted out and
solved what was wrong with my sending.

What I did at the time, and continue to do whenever possible, was to listen
to W1AW code bulletins and fast code practice. Even if you cannot understand
everything you are hearing, that sort of ear training provides the
*invaluable* service of drilling into your brain how code should sound. You
probably know the saying abt how you have to listen to jazz before you can
play jazz.

I hate to tell anyone to disregard the Farnsworth method entirely as it does
have its uses, but after using it I have come to the conclusion that it
teaches some bad habits that can be tough to break down the road. I might be
the exception, but it took an awful lot of hard work to break those habits.

Take care,

Mychael AA3WF