[Elecraft] Fwd: Re: [OT] increasing CW copy speed: practice slow -v- practice fast

Sun Dec 6 08:30:42 EST 2015

Sounds great.  It should work.  I know I need to practice...

I have another problem....
How do I put this...  Sloppy sending?

I notice (particularly in contests) that many ops run the characters 
together.  I can't copy and my KX3 can't copy.  Good keyers add the 
proper spacing between characters and words.  Bugs, straight keys, and 
simple keyers don't (can't) add the spacing automatically.
I tried the zombie shuffle, all I or my KX3 got was cqtest, others were 
were copying fine.
comments?

steve WB3LGC

On 06-Dec-15 3:00 AM, Robert Harmon wrote:
>
> Bill,
>
> We are not discussing entry level code learning.  We are discussing
> increasing your code speed on receive.  And speed is vitally important !
> K7QQ is not the only one that can copy high speed CW, there are many of
> us out here.  Transitioning to higher speed copy can be done through
> systematic and regular exercise.  I have been a CW operator for over
> 40 years and it wasn't until fairly late in the game that I accepted the
> advice from several high speed ops on how to progress past mediocre copy
> speed.  ( I will share this below)
> First we need to realize there are two distinct types of training for
> CW.  The first is developing your rote memorization skills for learning
> the characters.  I recommend the Farnsworth method for this.  With
> Farnsworth the characters are sent faster than the words.  For instance
> at 10 wpm each character is sent at 20 wpm but enough time is added to
> slow down the rate to 10 wpm.  The ARRL adopted this method years ago
> for their morse code training materials and the W1AW morse
> transmissions.  For example when W1AW is sending at 18 wpm the
> characters are sent at 20 wpm.
>
> Now to increase your speed you need to approach your training
> differently. (which is the subject of Roberts
> original post)  There are different variations of the training used to
> increase your speed but they all have a
> common denominator.  They all in some form or another introduce copying
> at a faster speed (go figure)
>
> Here is what I found to be most effective method for me I learned from
> other ops.
> Its great to spend time in the saddle copying QSO's in which your
> current copying speed will allow, but to really increase your copying
> speed you need to spend some time exercising your copying abilities each
> day by practice copying ONLY at speeds faster than you can comfortably
> copy.  You wont increase your copying speed by always copying at the
> same comfortable speeds.  Practice at a speed where you are only able to
> copy one or two characters in each word. Concentrate !!   Do this for
> only 10 minutes each day.  If you are really concentrating you will find
> 10 minutes is about when you are ready to throw in the towel for the day
> anyway Later on after you find you are able to copy about half of the
> overall text then increase the speed back to where you can only copy one
> or two characters in each word. (This isn't supposed to be easy this is
> a training exercise.)
> Try this only ten minutes a day and see what happens ! Also this needs
> to be practiced regularly, every day and if you miss a day, no worries,
> jump back in.   Many hams never improve their speed and are content when
> they reach around 20 wpm max.  In many chasing DX and contest operating
> CW activities it gives you an big advantage to be able to operate at
> higher speeds.  We have all heard the high speed ops during a contest
> and marvel at how fast their contacts go by.  It is great to be able to
> match their speed and grab a contact !  Its not that difficult folks,
> just 10 minutes a day of concentrated practice.  As you are gaining your
> speed don't get frustrated over losing a word or words when you are in a
> CW QSO and losing the intelligibility of the conversation,  that happens
> to all of us and will be remedied when you copying speed is increased.
> Lastly, you will with practice, increase your "comfortable" copy speed
> to upwards of 30 to 35 wpm and more.
> You will be able to really enjoy morse as a language.  You will sit
> there and listen to sentences and
> paragraphs go by in your head with complete understanding.  It is very
> enjoyable !
>
>
> 73,
> Bob
> K6UJ
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On 12/5/15 11:54 AM, Bill Rowlett wrote:
>> The best way to learn CW is the same as learning any language, by the
>> sound of the letters or charters. The speed you use to practice is not
>> important, it is writing down the letter when heard, over and over
>> again. K7QO has a CW program on his site which does just that. Also,
>> it is finding the time and dedication to put in the time needed. K7QO
>> by the way has won copy contest at over 100wpm, he knows what he speaks.
>>
>> Just my two cents. Now, back to the practice.
>>
>> 73 and good DX
>>
>> Bill  KC4ATU
>>
>>
>> On Dec 5, 2015, at 2:37 PM, Kevin Stover<kevin.stover at mediacombb.net>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> I've always thought the Farnsworth method was directly responsible
>>> for the "10 wpm wall" newcomers were running into. Reading "The Art
>>> and Skill of Radio Telegraphy" Pierpont says the same thing. By
>>> stretching the time between words you give people more time to
>>> translate. if your going to copy Morse faster than about 10wpm you
>>> don't have time to translate. You have to know the character as soon
>>> as you hear it without using the look up table in your head. The Koch
>>> method has no exaggerated spacing between words or elements. You want
>>> to be proficient at 35 wpm, you practice with dit/dah and word speed
>>> set for 35 wpm.
>>>
>>> Building speed on the air is great as long as the code you are
>>> copying is "good" code meaning close to properly spaced and timed
>>> code. The nice thing about the computer programs is they send perfect
>>> code. With G4FON you can make it more realistic by adding QRM, QRN
>>> and QSB in varying levels. The only thing your missing is an old
>>> timer on his bug sending with the "Lake Erie Swing".
>>>
>>> --
>>> R. Kevin Stover
>>> AC0H
>>> ARRL
>>> FISTS #11993
>>> SKCC #215
>>> NAQCC #3441
>>>
>>>
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