[Elecraft] K3 CW text decoder

[Guy Olinger K2AV]

In the later years, since the no-code decision in USA licensing
particularly, I have noted an increase of contest QSO's where the other end
obviously copies 25 WPM somehow and only sends 8-10 wpm, and that clearly
on a hand key.

The flurry of complaints, when 4.51 partially unglued the CW text decode on
the K3, further confirms it.

As someone who could copy 20 WPM at age 14, and can still copy 50-60 wpm in
my head, it is hard to imagine listening to code and not simply
understanding it, like someone talking to me.  I've asked some folks why
the difficulty learning code, and they relate something that usually sounds
like the "13 WPM barrier" tale.

As it turns out, the old way to learn code is all wrong as a universal
method.  Code needs to be learned like a language, and at 20 wpm to start
with.   But that's not how it's done the old way.   The old way has been
around since WWII and the Army Signal Corps. Memorize the alphabet with
visual dots and dashes beside it.  Then just keep at it until you don't
need the card any more.  Do it with a typewriter from the get go.
 Eventually a sound in the ear is directly linked to a typewriter key,
copied autonomically, and you can carry on an unrelated conversation at the
same time.  Buggers don't know what they've copied until they read it on
the page.  Really.

OF COURSE that worked, FOR THEIR PURPOSES.  People CAN learn code that way.
 But quite MORE CANNOT.  What did army do?  They sent 100 draftees into a
class and then kept the 30 best in the signal corp and sent the other 70
back to the infantry.  That WOULD work for an army.  But it clearly is not
a universal method, and using dash dot cards prevalently in hamdom all
these years produces a 70% who gave up on code, and now use CW decoders in
CW contests because CW contests are FUN!!! and CW covers distance way
better than SSB.

So what's this cr*p about learning code at 20 WPM?  NOBODY can translate 20
wpm sound to dididahdahdidit and then to question mark by looking at the
card, at 20 WPM.

Well, you're exactly right, of course they can't, and that's the point.
 THAT METHOD is doomed to failure for 70% of those who try it.

CW needs to be learned from 20 wpm code SOUNDS.   The *WORD* "and" at 40
wpm has a distinctive sound that has nothing to do with letters.  The WORD
"and" has the same exact sound at 20, 35, 50 and 75 wpm, if the sending and
receiving hasn't mushed the sound and made it indistinct at  higher speeds.
 Not hearing it at 75 is a matter of INDISTINCTNESS or not concentrating,
it's not copy speed.  If it's distinct the word "and"  sounds the same at
any speed.

One will not be able to copy German at 50 wpm, if you don't know the SOUND
of German words in CW.

It's like listening to an auctioneer talking really fast.  The issue is
making your mind stay up with him and how clearly he ennunciates his fast
words.

New way.  Code learners hear the sounds of most common letters at 20 wpm
right off the bat.  E  T  A N.  You memorize the SOUND,  no visual dots and
dashes, no repeating dits and dahs to oneself.  You learn the SOUND of the
letter, first off.  Then learn words:   eat   tea   net  at  an  ten
Speed is never an issue.  Ever.  Almost nobody fails in this method.

You don't need to text decode that code.  You just listen to it, just like
listening to SSB.  Except CW has that 10 dB advantage and you get a lot
more signals in the same space.

Contact W0UCE.   See w0uce.net   Life can be good.  Listen to a CW QSO as
you walk around the room doing something else.  Keep firmware 4.51.

73, Guy.