[Fists] For those working on becoming CW Ops

[Karl]

It's time to check in and see how all the soon to be CW ops are doing.  Do
hope you are sticking with the sessions every day working on your
recognition.  Remember, please; don't get frustrated, it is a new language.
Patience is the key, my friends.  It doesn't matter which program you are
using, just stick with it.

 

If you have progressed to the point where you are pretty comfortable with
recognizing the letters, numbers and punctuation you are hearing, it is time
to try some copying.  If you are using the K7QO course, the second CD is a
good one for copying words.  If you are using some other program see if they
also have word copying practice. There are quite a few free programs out
there you can download, search them out, if you wish.  Oh yes, there are
some you have to pay for, but they may not be any better than the free ones.
Another source is to turn on your rig and just find a QSO that sounds like
it is at a comfortable speed and try to pick out as much as you can.
http://www.rufzxp.net/ is a great free program that helps with copying call
signs.  You can go in and slow the speed down to 40 characters per minute,
which figures to about 8 wpm.  And, you can adjust it up later.  Oh yes, it
is a free download.  

 

Yes, I know you are getting that serious itch to get on the air, but hang on
just a little while longer.  Get your copying down, in your head, with
pencil/pen and paper or typing, your choice.  Do not expect to be able to
copy 100% at first, but is something you can work towards.  Again, patience
is the key word. Plus, on air CW is much different than through most
programs, you have band conditions, QRM and QRN to deal with.  Oh, what are
those?  Google "Q Codes" and you will find the list, print it off.  Good
learning tool.  While you are at it search for CW abbreviations and print
those, too.  Interesting note is that CW ops originated the art of
abbreviating words and phrases long before texting can around.

 

Now time to fire up your synapses and get your brain working the other way,
this is going to help with your sending.  You want to be able to think a
letter, number or punctuation and know right away what the Morse code "Dit's
and Dah's" are, without really thinking about it.  Good way to do this is to
look at billboards, advertising signs, street signs, pretty much anything
and get your brain to send the letters.  If you are with someone else who is
not a CW op or ham, you might not want to sound these out out loud.

 

There really is a reason for all of this, really.  You are learning a unique
language.  It takes time to get comfortable with it.  I and all the other CW
ops out there do want you to really enjoy it once you get on the air.
Throwing your hands up in frustration, tossing your key in the back of a
drawer or against a wall, means we have lost a CW op.  We do not want that.
We want to meet you on the air and have some great QSO's. So, hang in there,
keep up the sessions each and every day, and practice the copying and also
the sending in your head.  You are getting closer to getting on the air.

 

73's for this time.  Karl, KB1DSB