[CQ-Contest] Learning Morse

[Sandy Taylor]

Hi Rick,
One thing I've noticed about MOST CW training software is it assumes a
quiet, QRM-free environment.

Probably OK for getting started, but in a contesting environment, you'll be
dealing with a lot more than one isolated signal to copy.

I would recommend a double-barrelled approach: practice CW with the G4FON
software. Set the software such that it always challenges you a bit. If you
can copy CW comfortably at 20 wpm, set the software at 25. When you stop
missing characters, set the speed a bit higher until you start missing
characters again.

For the second barrel, I'd recommend getting Morse Runner by VE3NEA. It's
free, it's easily found with a Google search and it's excellent.

Morse Runner really emulates a contest environment well. You get static. You
get a pileup to sort through. You get lids who start calling CQ on your
frequency. You get purists who send "honest" RST reports and you never know
which callsign is coming next. With some CW software, it's possible to
anticipate what's coming next (if you hear "merry" it's not rocket science
to expect "Christmas"...).

This double-barrelled approach, in conjunction with use of G4FON, should
prepare you very well for CW in a contesting environment.

73, Kelly
Ve4xt


-----Original Message-----
From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Rick Kiessig
Sent: November-09-08 5:03 PM
To: cq-contest at contesting.com
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Learning Morse

I've decided to learn Morse, mainly with an eye toward contesting.  I tried
and failed many times years ago, using the approach recommended to me at the
time - cassette tapes.  I recently discovered the Koch method, and have been
using the G4FON software, but I have some questions:

-- Since the Koch technique has you learning at full-speed from the
beginning, what's a reasonable speed to aim for?  What's the range that you
might see in a typical contest?
-- I've started at 22 wpm, and find that the speed of my handwriting is
often not fast enough to keep up, and keyboarding is even worse.  The only
way I could imagine going faster is to copy entirely in my head.  How did do
you get past that hurdle?
-- Are there any other approaches to learning that I should consider, or
perhaps better implementations of the Koch technique?

Thanks,
73, Rick ZL2HAM


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