From: jim@n5ial.chi.il.us
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: Best way to leard Morse code?
Date: 12 Aug 92 13:31:23 GMT
Reply-To: jim@n5ial.chi.il.us
Organization: me?  have you seen my desk?  : -)
Originator: jim@eddie

In article <16840F7B5.ASPRUIL1@ua1vm.ua.edu> ASPRUIL1@ua1vm.ua.edu
(Allen L. Spruill) writes:

>What is your recommendation of a way to relearn Morse code?  I have a Tech
>license and it's been years since I got my Novice and even used code, but I
>have developed an interest in upgraing to General and maybe doing some code
>on HF.

gee, this sounds familiar....  sounds like me in, oh, late 1985 or so.

>Tell me what you think about ways to learn code - specific tapes or computer
>programs.

ok, here's what you do with tapes and code programs:  dump em.  problem
here is that after a little while, you've basically memorized the stuff
and you know what's coming before it ever happens.  plus, IMHO, they're
BORING.

really, the best way is just to get on the air and make contacts.  granted,
your first few contacts are likely to be very tense, and you might not
copy too well.  get a friend to help you out there (a friend of mine at
Texas A&M did this for me on my first cw contact, and it was a BIG help).
let him/her copy behind you, and if you miss anything, they can fill you
in.

I think you'll find that the code comes back to you faster than you think
it will....  anyways, don't worry about it if your first few contacts are
tense and such --- it'll pass, and nobody will give you any static about
it (and if they do, they're probably not a licensed Amateur Radio Op).
IMPORTANT:  DO NOT SEND FASTER THAN YOU CAN COPY!  this was the one thing
that I got, uhh, reminded of by a few people...I'd call CQ too fast, and
then have to ask people to slow down.  the reminders were always a gentle,
friendly reminder, but....

now, as for how effective this can be (and your mileage may vary), I went
from BARELY copying 5 wpm in late December '85 to almost passing my extra
code test (which I was only taking as a warm-up for the general code) on
1 March '86.  two months, average over that period of 1 contact/day (more
like several per day, and then days off....I was trying to pass college
courses at the same time).  when I took the 13 wpm code test, my biggest
problem was that I kept almost falling asleep (and kept thinking, ``ok,
anytime now, next letter please....'').

not too long after that, I was copying 28 wpm, and could send/copy at
that speed while also holding a conversation with someone in the room.
I was away from hf for a few years, and can't do that today, but....

on the air practice is, IMHO, the absolute best way to get your code
speed up.  from what I've seen, the 2nd place position is *WAY* behind.

hope this helps....
   --jim

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