From: vbreault@rinhp750.gmr.com (Val Breault)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: Best way to leard Morse code?
Date: 12 Aug 92 12:14:53 GMT
Organization: General Motors Research Labs
In-reply-to: ASPRUIL1@ua1vm.ua.edu's message of 11 Aug 92 22:36:53 GMT

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.

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

You'll get a *LOT* of responses to this query Allen.  Here's mine:
(This is supposed to be light hearted... Assume liberal usage of smileys.)

I prefer the immersion method.  Just get into it and DO it.  Get obsessed
with it.  Fill all your spare time with it.   Become a bore with it....
Loose the microphone.  Send it off to a hostile relative with instructions
not to give it back to you until you produce a General Class license.  
Sell the HT and use the money to get a really good iambic key and a smart
keyer (I use a Vibroplex iambic paddle and AEA keyer).   Set up the keyer 
to generate random code in 5 character groups and adjust the speed so 
that you can copy four out of five characters correctly (Val's magic 80% 
mark.)   Practice many short periods through the day, every day.  (Six
10 minute sessions are much better than a single one hour long session.)   
Cut your car radio antenna wire.  Tap out street signs on your knee, 
whistle license plate numbers...  Use your keyer to make your own tapes 
at your own 80% speed and play them in the car when you tire of whistling.
When you go shopping tap out the list on the side of the grocery cart.
As you become more proficient you'll have to increase the speed of the
random code in order to keep the comprehension at the 80% mark.  Some
days you'll be tired or out of sorts and may have to lower the speed
to maintain the 80% mark, but the trend *will* be positive.   Get into
a big arguement with your wife and spend *WAY* too much money on a new
HF rig, claiming you'll need it to work DX via high speed CW..... Each
month as the payment comes due she'll remind you of how much you want
to learn high speed CW (she'll give you *LOTS* of incentive).  Get on 
the air using only CW (remember the hostile relative?) and work one
QSO per day and/or three hours of ragchews per weekend.  Teach Morse
code to your children.  They'll catch on faster than you and you'll
have to work hard in order to save face.

The method I used was very close to this one.  When I finally got the
Extra Class license and no longer needed to immerse myself in CW I
discovered that I had developed an appreciation for CW that I didn't
have before.  I made one contact via phone and promptly went back 
to the key....  Gee, I dunno....  Maybe I've become "ONE OF THEM"....
An old fart Morris code enthusiast....

Good luck Allen.

-val-

--

Val Breault - vbreault@gmr.com - N8OEF/AE
General Motors Research and Environmental Staff.
The opinions expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect 
those of the GMRES or the General Motors Corporation.