[TenTec] Copying CW in your head

[Joe L Blackwell]

On Thu, 23 Sep 1999 00:41:08 -0700 "Peter A. Klein" <pklein@2alpha.net>
writes: 
> I can copy in my head up to a point.  I'm fine with words and
> abbreviations of up to 3 letters, but I have trouble with longer 
> words.  I've been closing my eyes and trying to visualize the
> words in my  mind, with some limited success.
 
Just saying it takes practice and patience is not very enlightening.
I used to have this little window in my mind where morse got
decoded into a travelling sign of letters and words.  After 44 years
of copying in my head the window is gone, copy is automatic.

> I find it impossible to act like a dumb modem.  My mind wants to
> recognize the word after the first couple of letters, and it wants 
> to get the meaning of the words as they go by.  Also, I'm the kind of 
> person who is always thinking about several things at once.

It takes concentration to hang onto all the letters in your mind until a
word is formed.   Focus on the code, try to anticipate what's coming
next.  Anticipation helps.  I once had an OT tell me he knew what I
was going to say before I got it out, and this was a rag chew, not
the usual short QSO exchange.

> At higher speeds, the letter "e" gives me fits.  My mind 
> recognizes it a bit too late, which often screws up the whole word.

It happens.  Just chunk it and try to get back in sync.  Nothing wrong
with saying 'SRI missed that part about ....'

> I'm interested in getting to the point where I can read CW in
> my head with pleasure.  Apart from just getting on the air and
> working people, are there any special techniques that would help?  
 
Lots of fellers keep code tapes in their car;  a friend here tapes live
CW QSOs.  They listen to tapes while driving to and from work.  Good
practice is reading other's mail.  This way, you are under no pressure
to get 100 percent copy.  Just sit back, close your eyes, and decode.
Soon you'll be over the hump and copying with pleasure.

Vy 73, de Joe AA4NN
Eastern Top Band ARC,  Carolina DX Assn,  Carolina CW Ops,
Fairfield County Contesters, Ten-Tec only, CW only.
eeetet   ee

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