[TenTec] CW--slightly off topic

[K Indart]

Hi Mike.
   My experience is exactly like yours.  I  challenged myself to copy
stations that were using keyboards.  After some practice (lots!) I started
to pick out words, rather than individual letters forming the word.  If you
think about it, it is no different to spoken speech.  If I say "radio", I
hear one group of sounds...rraaadiioo, so when I hear dit dah dit, dit dah,
dahditdit, dit dit, dah dah dah at a good clip, my mind tells me that
combination of sounds means "radio".  In the old days radio ops, like press
types,used a "mill", special typewriter.  So if you want to copy fast and
write it down, I suggest you learn to copy on a typewriter.  My speed drops
drastically, because i never practiced using a typewriter.  When copying on
paper got too difficult, I just started jotting down the call, name and QTH,
and all the rest was retained in my  head.  I find that CW mobile at around
28-30 wpm is more relaxing than voice and really enjoy it on long trips.
(the xyl used to get a little nervous at first, because she thought my
attention was divided !!) but as I said it is just like a conversation.
    I would say that the secret is just practice until it becomes like
another language. If you are in a group, you can probably keep on a
conversation with someone, while you are also listening to what someone
close, is saying.  Good luck es 73  Ken WA4RPH and hamming since around 1946



















'

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-tentec@contesting.com [mailto:owner-tentec@contesting.com]On
Behalf Of k1oj
Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2001 9:26 PM
To: mike bryce; tentec@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TenTec] CW--slightly off topic



Howdy Mike and all...
I envy your ability to copy and write down code at such high speeds. I can
not do that. I put down my pencil about 18 years ago. I could not keep up
with 20 wpm. I copy code only in my head. I sometimes jot down bits of
information such as name or call. I 'head copy' up to my max speed of about
45 wpm. I never thought about the mechanics envolved until last summer at
field day someone asked how I was doing that. I didn't have an answer. I
started concentrating on what I was doing and to my surprise I found that I
was not hearing the letters. I was hearing the sounds of the letters as
though they were being spoken. As a letter is sent, I think the sound of the
letter and build the word as the rest comes. I never really learned to do it
that way. It just happened. A side benefit to this is that I can copy code
and carry on a conversation with someone else at the same time. I operate
mobile cw daily and this method makes it very enjoyable. I wouldn't have a
clue as how to teach someone to copy this way. It may not even be a
preferred method, however, it works for me.

73,
OJ---K1OJ
ditdit



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