[Hallicrafters] Code speed question.

[Rich Oliver]

Skip,

It was before my time but my father (then W8CPW) got into the Signal 
Corps and went through code training in 1942 or 1943.  He was already up 
to speed but took the opportunity to improve his ability by copying 
random five-letter groups (the standard) at 40 WPM on a typewriter.  I 
believe he told me that was the fastest practice tape they had.  He did 
fine with it except that one of the practice tapes had the five-letter 
group "LORDY".  He would break up laughing whenever he got to that one.

Speaking for myself 20 words per minute is right at the limit of what I 
can write.  I never learned to copy with a typewriter or keyboard but I 
do copy "in my head" somewhat faster than that when necessary.  One 
thing boosted my ability to do that more than any other - running mobile 
CW.  You don't dare write down any more than the bare necessities - 
call, name, time, and maybe subjects covered; the rest needs to stay in 
your head.  It is one of those sink-or-swim things.

73, Rich, KC9GQ

Waldo Magnuson wrote:
>    In WWII, England had hundreds of monitoring radio sites listening to 
> the German military communications.  Most of the information was fed to 
> Bletchley Park, the secret and famous code breaking installation NW of 
> London.
>    CW (morse code) was primarily used for these communications and 
> mostly, maybe all, of the English operators were female.
>    I recently read that the MINIMUM speed required for the listeners was 
> 90 wpm.  Was code being sent at that speed and could large numbers of 
> people copy at that speed?
>    As I struggle with my 5 to 7 wpm, 90 sounds awfully fast.
> 73,  Skip Magnuson  W7WGM
> 
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