[Elecraft] Getting Started With CW

[Jim Allen]

With all the keyers out there, built in and otherwise, there should be no
bad CW heard, but as anyone who listens can attest, there is, lots of it.

One thing I suggest is copying W1AW code practice, and bulletins once your
speed can handle the 18 wpm used for Bulletins.  That is "perfect" code,
weight, spacing etc., supposedly.  Get used to what that sounds like, and
imitate it!

Code proficiency comes from a combination of talent, effort and want to.
Some are so talented they pick it up easily with little effort.  Some make
an effort, but don't really want to do it, and that impedes progress.  Want
to overcomes a certain deficiency of talent.

73 de W6OGC  Jim Allen



On Mon, Dec 1, 2014 at 12:06 PM, Phil Hystad <phystad at mac.com> wrote:

> My story...
>
> Learned CW when I was 9 years old, taught by ham uncle (also a ship radio
> operator).  I used to listen to ham radio operators CW and got my speed up
> a little bit before I ever got my Novice license so passing that code test
> was easy-as-pie.
>
> As a novice, started with J-38 (I didn't even know that other kinds of
> keys existed).  But, I soon bought a Vibroplex Original, brand new for the
> cost of about $36 (~1966) as my speed went beyond my capable skills with
> the J-38.  At the finish of my Novice year, I was easily handling both
> RX/TX at 20+ wpm.
>
> Big huge gap of 38 years between my Novice CW activity and getting
> licensed again in 2004.  I was all SSB until 2007 when the "bug" for CW hit
> me again.  How much time to relearn CW?
>
> It took two weeks of listening to CW traffic to get my head in gear again
> after 40 years of not hearing any CW at all.  I was up to about 15 wpm
> after two weeks of one or two hours a day of listening (never used a code
> practice program).  I decided to try my first QSO.  I called CQ and got a
> reply.  In the middle of the QSO I got so flustered (using a J-38 again)
> that I had to abort.  I sent my apologies to my contact via e-mail.  I just
> did not practice enough with the J-38.
>
> So, practice-practice-practice on the J-38 for another week and I was
> ready.  After a few weeks of nothing but CW contacts on the J-38 I realized
> that my operating time was limited to my hands sending at about 12 to 13
> wpm on the J-38.  I just wasn't capable of anything faster.
>
> I bought myself a used bencher paddle and started practicing.  I liked it
> right off that bat and my skills got better and now I am back up to about
> 20 to 22 wpm.  I have tried sending at 25 wpm with the paddle but I make
> more mistakes then I am happy with so I need to spend time on that or learn
> better techniques.  Being self-taught on the paddle there are some skills I
> am sure have not been honed yet.  Oh, I never did learn to do squeeze
> technique on the paddle and I still don't know what Iambic A or B mean
> (yes, I have looked that up but I keep forgetting).
>
> My main fault that limits my speed skills with the paddle is my limited
> operating time.  I am 90 percent CW but I don't get that much operating
> time on a daily basis.  I had planned to do a lot of activity in this
> weekend's CQ DX CW contest but missed out due to all kinds of other
> interruptions.
>
> However, thinking back of experiences:  in today's world, I would
> recommend skipping any straight key and learn with a keyer and paddle right
> from the start.  I think straight keys are antiques like tube-based rigs
> (no flame wars from hollow state players).
>
> 73, phil, K7PEH
>
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