[Elecraft] Getting Started With CW

Mon Dec 1 13:40:10 EST 2014

Hi everyone. I'm the OP here and I thank everyone who replied. I've had an order of magnitude more mail than I received on the list. I can't answer all of them due to a broken elbow but I thank everyone who replied. Lots to digest, hopefully will be on the air soon. 
73's Tom

On Dec 1, 2014 1:16 PM, Jim Allen <jalleninvest at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> 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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