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

Mon Dec 7 20:27:32 EST 2015

Bob's approach to increasing speed once a basic level of cw proficiency 
has been achieved speak directly to my original thoughts on the subject. 
Using a 5-letter group of random letters as the practice message, then 
my question, in terms of Bob's approach, could be stated as follows. 
Which is the quickest way to achieve some target speed: to start the 
group at a speed where only one/two character are correct, or to start 
where three/four are correct? I have no doubt that with the regular and 
intense "concentration" that Bob advocates, any method [within common 
sense limits] will result in higher copying speed. That said, which 
starting point is going to get the operator to the target speed the 
quickest? I don't know. Most of the folks who can comfortably copy at 
speeds in excess of 30wpm seem to be from the "old school" in that many 
learned in the military and have been at it a very long time. I have to 
believe that their speed developed over time with continuous 
usage/practice. Nothing beats time in the saddle. An interesting 
"experiment" would be to take a bunch of hams who can copy at 20wpm, 
divide them into the two approaches being discussed and "measure" how 
long it takes each group to be comfortable at 30/35wpm. A human factors 
issue is a person's task motivation and tolerance for frustration. 
Starting with only one character correct out of five may be pretty 
daunting for some and a piece of cake for others. But, that's a separate 
issue.

Enjoying and learning from the discussion. Thanks Elecraft!

...robert

On 12/6/2015 08:00, 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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-- 
Robert G Strickland, PhD ABPH - KE2WY
rcrgs at verizon.net.usa
Syracuse, New York, USA