A Very Good .pdf About Morse Code: Learning, Using and WHY-

[RadioRay]

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/58f4e114be6594c2f9bcc9f6/t/594ae675893fc03d52ba3304/1498080889272/Road_to_CW_de_W4ALF.pdf

A very good booklet to read for new and 'seasoned' operators. Have a look at page 12, second half of the page, where it explains the reasons why a 5 Watt Morse signal is equivalent to an SSB signal of 100W for conveying the same message. No computer required, other than the one between your ears ;-)

73 de RadioRay  ..._ ._

[gil]

Thank you Ray!
Gil.

[Quent]

Gil,

Your Morse Code videos, Learn Morse Code the Right Way, and Learning Morse Code, Straight Key or Paddles?, are both well done.  When I was starting out, I attempted to learn it with flash cards and by sending with a straight key into a dummy load -- some of the many wrong ways!  I got stuck at 10 WPM, but managed to kludge through the 5 wpm and 13 wpm exams.  20 wpm?  No way. In light of my experience, I really think you nailed it with those videos.

LCWO.NET is a great resource.  Here are a few suggestions for using it:

Set the Character Speed at 25 wpm and the Code Speed at 15 wpm.

When listening to the generated code, don't attempt to write or type anything.  IMO, that gets in the way of the assimilation and integration of the code into the brain.  Writing characters will throw you off, and will frustrate you.  Most of us can't write very fast, and typing is faster, but not useful.  The necessity of writing will create tension and negative reinforcement, IMO.  You shouldn't be writing characters down and then going back to read the text to see what was sent.

Set the code sample time for 2 or 3 minutes and just listen to it, attentively, but relaxed.  If you are having trouble, your brain will tell you. Don't worry about it, just listen to the sample copy a few times until the letters appear in your mind without effort.  You don't need the machine to tell you, based on the percentage of wrong answers, how you are doing.  Don't work at it too long, a half hour once or twice a day is plenty.  Go through the 40 initial lessons this way, then go back and do them again with both the character and code speed set to 25 wpm.

After that, do each subsequent section of the course two times in the same way.  At some point, you can start using a simple word processor and a semi mechanical keyboard plugged into your computer. For real world contacts in the field where you will be using a notepad, it is best just to make notes rather than copy every word. 

Finally, in the beginning, don't worry about sending.  I recommend starting with paddles rather than a straight key, because you can develop really bad sending habits with a straight key before you develop an "ear" for the code.

 

[gil]

Quent I think it's possible to overcome the speed plateau. I learned the wrong way too but was able to get up to 25 at some point, though I am back around 20 now. I took a class from CW-Ops... That really helped. The key is to find a buddy to practice with, like I did with CW-Ops and Ray. Practice at a higher wpm than you can copy... Like 5wpm higher than your max copy speed...

Gil.

[Fritz]

Great resource. I'm getting back into CW after being out of it for a few years. Like a lot of folks I learned the wrong way and have my share of bad habits to un-learn.

[gil]

Congratulations on your decision!
Gil.