[CQ-Contest] Learning Morse

[Zack Widup]

I know it's been many years since I first learned Morse and the more 
modern techniques weren't around yet, but I believe you still have to be 
patient as it is a skill that isn't going to come overnight.

I learned Morse at 5 wpm as taught by a ham to a small group of us in 8th 
grade.  I got my Novice license and got on the air and operated.  My speed 
gradually went up.  Somewhere along the line I noticed I was not copying 
letters individually, but whole words.  And I didn't need to write them 
down. My family didn't even own a typewriter and this was 1967, so no 
computers either. I increased my speed by copying traffic sent by the 
commercial stations like NAA, WLO, WCC, etc. which are no longer with us 
as commercial Morse stations. But we DO have W1AW Morse practice 
transmissions.

Now that I can copy 45-50 wpm I still notice I hear whole words but I am 
aware of mistakes in spelling, etc. (just like reading, I guess). When 
someone watched me copy the W1AW Field Day bulletin on CW and then asked 
me how I was able to copy it perfectly, I just said "experience." I'd been 
doing it for over 40 years.

Now I'm learning to play the guitar.  Same thing all over again.  I feel 
like I have 10 thumbs sometimes and my hands get tired very fast.  My 
guitarist friends all say "Just keep practicing, don't give up.  We all 
went through it."

So whatever method you choose, that's my advice.  Don't give up. Just kep 
practicing. It took me several years to be able to copy over 25 wpm.

73, Zack W9SZ


On Tue, 11 Nov 2008, Art Boyars wrote:

> NA5TR says: "and trying to type without error which would create busted calls hasn't been any faster."
>
> Rusty,
>
> I'll add a comment, but realize that I operate almost entirely CW (lots of traffic net experience in the old days).  At some point in developing the skill, you get to where you are not consciously copying.  Your brain is just through-putting from your ears to the pencil or keyboard.  Rather than hearing "dahdidah" and realizing "Ah! Letter K", and then working out "Letter K is such and such a finger on the K key", you just go from "dahdidah" to finger on the K key.  (At the next level, part of your brain is translating from ear to keyboard, and another part of your brain is understanding what you are hearing.)  Maybe if you can visualize doing it that way you can get their more easily.
>
> When I finally shifted to computer contest logging about five years ago it was at first harder than paper logging.  I never learned to touch type, so I was re-training my brain for translation to the keyboard.  OTOH, when I do get on 'phone (to make a few points for the Club), I think I am slower than on CW.  I have not yet gotten to the point of translating unconsciously from "KILO" to to "finger on the K key".
>
> 73 ES GL, Art K3KU
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