[Elecraft] Learning Morse Code is Like Learning to Dance

Fri May 30 19:57:11 EDT 2014

All this advice is good.  However, code sound is a method of communicating that requires you to think of it as a language.  Yes.  Remember as a child we learned the ABCs then made words then constructed sentences.  Code is the same thing.  First you learn the sound of the letter.  Then you start putting them together into words.  The best operators the military service had, were the ones who learn the sound patterns as words.  Albeit nonsensical 5 letter code groups are words with a sound.  Each one is unique.  The great ones could listen to the signal and type the letter without thinking about it.  Like short hand, it is a learned automatic response.  When you think you have problems coping code, try the random 5 letter code groups.  It stops you trying to sound out the letters as words and concentrates on transferring them into groups of letters.  One of the things that got most of the hard military trainees over the huddle in speed was
 to send them 5 letter code groups at the highest speed they were having trouble with and toss out the middle character.  Yep, copy the first two skip the next then grab the last two.  Before long they were filling in the blank............ Next speed please......

Mel, K6KBE

On Friday, May 30, 2014 4:37 PM, WILLIS COOKE via Elecraft <elecraft at mailman.qth.net> wrote:

Slava and others learning Morse ot trying to get better.  Listen to all the advice you get, most of it is right on the money!  But, when itch comes to scratch, scratch where it itches, which means that if the best advice you have is to do something that you don't want to do, do something else that you do want to do.  The absolute worst thing you can do is to force yourself to do something you find odious. Anything you do with Morse is better than doing nothing.  Keep it fun and if you don't want to do a particular thing, do something else.  We have been practicing code for a long time and it does not work well.  Sending and receiving information by Morse Code can be fun, should be fun and if you are having fun, you are learning and getting better. 

Willis 'Cookie' Cooke, TDXS DX Chairman
K5EWJ & Trustee N5BPS, USS Cavalla, USS Stewart

On Friday, May 30, 2014 12:49 PM, Slava Baytalskiy <slavka at nullserv.com> wrote:

That's interesting...
I'm currently in the process of learning CW and this is the first time I heard of "learn to send first" approach. 
As I'm getting close to finishing the alphabet and can copy short 3/4/5-letter words - I'm starting to wonder how am I going to learn to send. 
Perhaps I should incorporate a sending session in my daily CW routine?

Slava Baytalskiy
slavka at nullserv.com
W2RMS

On May 30, 2014, at 12:30 PM, "Dick, K2ZR" <k2zr at arrl.net> wrote:

> Hi All,
> 
> I've taught many hams CW over the years & my mantra is to first properly
> learn to send each character: There is a definite rhythm to each. Find a
> good Elmer with a quality fist to work with you. 
> 
> 
> 
> IMHO, learn to send 1st; know how it feels as the rhythm of of each
> character travels from your hand, up your arm & into your brain. CW is a
> great "dance" once you've got it. Conversational CW at 25 WPM is fun,
> achievable and rewarding if you put your mind to it.  Get on the "dance
> floor" get on-the-air and call CQ!
> 
> 
> 
> CWops Academy: An excellent tool for learning CW is to participate online
> with the CWops Academy. Check out the link:
> http://www.cwops.org/cwacademy.html
> 
> 
> 
> 73,
> 
> Dick, K2ZR
> 
> Niagara Frontier Radiosport
> 
> FOC 
> 
> CWops
> 
> Pounding Brass Since 1962
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of W0MU
> Mike Fatchett
> Sent: Friday, May 30, 2014 11:32 AM
> To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Learning morse code
> 
> 
> 
> It takes time.  Proportionally more time to learn the code than it takes to
> become proficient.
> 
> 
> 
> I can still remember sitting at the radio club meeting at our JR High
> school.  Listening to the gibberish and then finally getting a whole word!
> From there on it was pretty simple.  I am decent, certainly not
> conversational at CW.
> 
> 
> 
> We had a Ham Radio club during our lunch hour at school because one of the
> teachers was a ham.  One day he had one of the guys send some code.  
> 
> When it was over he took my sheet and graded it and said congratulations you
> just passed the 5 wpm code test. Smart guy.  Knowing that some many people
> tense up for tests, he did it under relaxed conditions.  One of my friends
> passed that day too.  We both easily passed the theory and we got sequential
> calls.
> 
> 
> 
> It is funny how cw seems to have far more activity now then when it was
> forced.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Mike W0MU
> 
> 
> 
> On 5/27/2014 12:22 PM, David Higdon wrote:
> 
>> Lee, Another option is CW Academy with the CW Ops club.  They offer
> mentors along with on air practice.  Also, there is the K3UK sked page where
> you can set up a sked and also  do a computer chat. That is sometimes
> helpful when you want to ask questions during on air practice.
> 
> 
>> Good luck.
> 
> 
>> Dave Higdon Jr
> 
>> KD4ICT
> 
> 
> 
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