[Elecraft] increasing CW speed

[DOUGLAS ZWIEBEL]

HI all:

This is what worked for me...

Listen to CW at a speed that is impossibly too fast for you.  If you
are currently at 20 wpm, try listening to 60 or 70 wpm.  If you copy
15wpm, try 45 wpm or 40wpm to start.

Because you know that you have zero chance of copying anything at all
(even telling dits from dahs), all you have to do is just sort of sit
there and listen and definitely not try to copy...but do listen!  Do
about 5 minutes of this.

Then turn the speed down 5 wpm and keep listening for another 5
minutes.  Keep doing this until you can finally hear "the dits and
dahs."  Then listen to that for 5 minutes and again turn it down
another 5 wpm.

Do this every day for at least 20 minutes in a row.  If you can do it
two or more times per day (spaced hours apart), even better.

You will amazed how well this works at increasing your speed.  The
trick is knowing that you simply cannot copy anything at the "super"
(relative term) high speeds.

When I was kid studying for my general class, I did this using Ameco
LP records.  They were 33 rpm and (showing my age), I ran them at 78
rpm or 45 rpm.  Now, I stay tuned up by using an MFJ trainer.  I crank
it up as high as it will go (99wpm?) and, knowing I'll never cpy that,
I listen as outlined above.  It keeps me in shape during low activity
times (due to lousy sun spots).  The thing fits into my pocket so I
can take with me to the park to watch my kids (my youngest is still in
HS...old dad) or whatever.

You really won't find too many guys doing qrq any more, so for me,
this is the way to go.  I am very proud to be living fossil.

de Doug KR2Q

PS...I am really rusty on "the phone" though.