+ LEARNING THE MORSE CODE - THE RIGHT WAY
I will tell you the best way to learn CW...and be proficient. What a
statement to start with! Now that I have your attention, let me explain more.
There is no real best way to learn the Morse code. The important point is that
you must be sure and learn the code characters. Each of us can try various code
tapes, records, and computer programs until you find one that you are
comfortable with.
The most common method of instruction is Farnsworth. That method sends
the characters at 15 words per minute with wide spacing between to achieve the
lower speeds. The spacing is closed together gradually as you increase your
speed.
Now the test. If you are listening to a tape, or CD, or on the air, what
do you hear? Dits and dahs, or letters? If you are copying 5 words per minute
you will hear dits and dahs. You will never increase your speed. It is very hard
to hear letters at the slow speed of 5 words per minute.
How can you increase your code speed? After learning the alphabet you
will be at the so called "plateau", a place where you can not make
further progress. You will be able to copy 5 or 6 words per minute fairly well,
but you will go to pieces above 7 or 8 words per minute.
The answer is simple, you have not adequately learned the
alphabet. You can deny this is true since you obviously must know the characters
to copy 6 or 7 words per minute. However to copy CW at higher speeds requires
more than merely recognizing characters. The recognizing must be instantaneous.
By instantaneous recognition, I mean the ability to recognize a CW character
within a half-second after hearing its completion.
The code signal must be associated with the printed letter so intimately
that when you hear the code, you immediately have a letter pop into your mind.
INSTANT RECOGNITION IS WHAT WE STRIVE FOR.
We are not attempting speed at this time, you have heard that accuracy
transcends speed. Speed will come automatically as you practice, as your mind
will not care what the spacing of the letters are because your mind will know
instantly the letters sent.
How do you find out if you have instant recognition? Play a code practice
tape. Listen as each letter plays. Can you immediately say the letter? Or do you
think ohhhhhhh....A, or ...dit dah... ohhhhh....A? If there is a split second
delay in your recognition of the letter, then you haven't learned that letter to
the point of instant recognition.
The split second may not seem like much, and it is not going to make much
difference when you're going 5 or 8 words per minute, but when you get to higher
speeds it's going to mess you up. The time it takes you to think before
recognizing the letter, will make you miss the next letter. It will
get out of control and you will lose whole words.
If you can not increase you speed, you are probably at a plateau. You
probably do not have instant recognition. Listen to the code characters one by
one and see what one you hesitate at. You will find a handful of characters that
you have to think about before identifying them.
Once you find that you don't have instant recognition, how do you get it?
Well you can proceed as you are doing, and eventually instant recognition will
come to you. This will take years. The solution is to go back to the alphabet
and learn it as it should have been done.
You may say "why waste my time?", because I have already memorized the alphabet, and perhaps have a ham license. But, you have proved that you don't really know the letters because you don't have instant recognition of them yet.
Once properly learned, the alphabet will produce faster speeds
quickly and easily. THE KEY IS TO OVER LEARN THE ALPHABET, so that it becomes so
ingrained in your brain, that it is automatic.
Beginning tapes usually start with the alphabet in order, this way you
can kind of anticipate the next letter, A then B, C etc. After you know the
letters, then proceed to mixed groups, there is no anticipation at this point,
your brain will know the letters with practice. Again note, I have not mentioned
speed, this will come automatically. Don't worry about it.
We need to OVER LEARN the code to make it a part of our permanent memory.
Overlearning occurs when we continue to practice something we feel we have
already learned. Do not worry about copying words, this will come later.
Practice sessions should be short. no more than 10 minutes, (can you spare a
dime of time?) Practice every day, IMPORTANT: I HAVE NOT MENTIONED WRITING ANY
THING DOWN, DO NOT DO THIS AT THIS TIME.
Remember the previous discussion about the left and right
brain. We will have a drill later to get friendly with the left brain. We are
training the right brain in aural (sound) only. Play the tape in the
bathroom each morning before work or school and you will have the code. Put a
cassette player in your car and listen going to work.
Next week I will take a break from CW fundamentals, and you can get on
the air if you want to have some fun. I will give you practice working with the
left brain and the right brain. We will have a QSO (on air contact) and I will
give you a script to follow. I will be on the air, as will some other stations.
The Know Code Net (KCN) is a place to talk together and learn the code and
operating procedures.
After you read my next column, please join us on the air. Any slow speed,
we will match your speed. Please listen if you can not get on the air. I will
cover sending with the hand key also. -
Ed Ewell K7DXV 73