[Elecraft] OT: Decoding high speed CW

[lstavenhagen]

Don't feel too bad, I kind of have the inverse problem: I can copy at a much
greater rate than I can send lol. Also, I never learned to translate CW into
keyboard keystrokes, mainly because I just refuse to get a computer anywhere
near my rigs lol.  I prefer to just pound brass, so I think I'm doomed to
S&P in contests, even tho I've learned to copy calls and contest exchanges
at reasonably high speeds.

As for copying in one's head, I know I'm drifting slightly off topic, but
just a couple tips for free that helped me:
- the key to getting above about 25 wpm on plain language is to start
learning the CW for entire words or parts of words: "the", "and", and
segments like "tion", "ing", etc. Instead of discrete letters, learn what
entire words or frequent endings sound like. Then in a pinch you can decode
individual letters that you may have missed by not having to decode the
familiar-sounding ending or even guess from context what the entire word is.
- for call signs, which are basically just code groups, be familiar with the
patterns - 1-2 letter/number/2 or 3 letters, etc. That will help you store
those and limit the amount of brain power you have to devote to decoding a
call at high speed. Not infallible but it helps.

For learning words, W1AW code practice .mp3's on arrl.org are really good
for practicing this. For call signs, well, just listening during a hefty
contest is what I do.

Anyway, back to the regularly scheduled program,

73,
LS
W5QD



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