From: waco@cbnewse.cb.att.com (john.l.broughton)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: Military method for CW proficiency and learning???
Keywords: More tips for incresing code speed
Date: 18 Dec 92 14:18:20 GMT
Organization: AT&T


In article <14133@pogo.wv.tek.com> tcmaint@pogo.wv.tek.com (TeleCo
Maintenance) writes

>	I took morse code training in the Army Security Agency, Fort Devens,
>Mass. and we would copy code for 7-8 hrs a day in one to one and one half 
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  Boy, it was fun, wasn't it? :-)

>hour sessions with a 10-15 minute break. Due to luck or lack there of I 
>first got into there computer generated morse code class and that was 
>alot better than copying on `mills' (manual type writers).
>	My personal feelings are if you want to increase your code speed,
>once you know the characters start increasing the speed once you are copying
>65-75% of the characters. That way you are allways pushing yourself and
>somewhat avoid the plateaus(sp) like we ran into in the Army. Boy, 15 WPM/
>GPM was a bear.

  Good advice.

  Just a couple of other tips for increasing speed in conjunction with this.

    1.  Try copying the next speed higher than the one you want to achieve
        immediately before you practice the speed you are working for.  It
        makes the speed you are working for seem slower.  It also can help
        compensate for the "nervous" factor taking a test.  When I worked on
        my extra updgrade, I would try to copy 25 wpm from the W1AW practice
        sessions followed by 20 wpm.  At first, I could maybe copy 20% at
        25 wpm but, it did make 20 wpm seem slower.  By the time I was ready
        for the test, I could maybe copy 25 wpm at about 70 - 80%, but was very
        comfortable at 20 wpm.  Now, if I had just gotten a license just after
        being in the service, I could still copy fast code.  However, I really
        don't need it for my microphone :-) :-).

    2.  For those working on slower speeds, 5 wpm, 10 wpm, etc. -- don't waste
        your time copying 5 wpm when the code is sent both at 5 wpm spacing 
        and 5 wpm character speed.  You then have to make 2 adjustments as you
        move up in speed: 1) the character sound changes as the speed increases
        and 2) the shorter interval between characters.

	Example, 5 wpm character speed and spacing (A):

	   diit daaaah       diit daaaah

	Example, 5 wpm spacing only

	   didah             didah

        I think that character speed of about 13 to 15 wpm is pretty ideal
        and common with lots of code practice tapes you can get.  Doing it
        this way means the tone/pitch/sound of the characters don't change,
        they just get closer together as you increase in speed.  It really
        makes a big difference.

        Then, of course, when you finish your last code test, you simply put
        your key or keyer in the drawer (to keep if from getting dusty), plug
        in your microphone and yell CQ DX, CQ DX.  Just joking folks!  I
        do occasionaly listen in the lower parts of the bands, but all I
        hear is a bunch of beeps all over the place.  Don't understand it.

        As you can tell, I am a phone operator.  However, I think CW is
        great and I had lots of fun with it when I was a novice and then a
        tech.  Enjoy, regardless of mode you use!!

>	Just my $.02 worth.
        ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

        And with my $.02 worth, that makes it $.04 worth of advice for
        free -- what a bargain!


>Terry Burge,
>KI7M


John L. Broughton
AT&T
Naperville, IL
john.l.broughton@att.com
att!john.l.broughton
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc