Elecraft

Learning Morse Code is Like Learning to Dance

Classic

List

Threaded

14 messages Options

Dick, K2ZR

Learning Morse Code is Like Learning to Dance

Hi All,

I've taught many hams CW over the years & my mantra is to first properly
learn to send each character: There is a definite rhythm to each. Find a
good Elmer with a quality fist to work with you.

IMHO, learn to send 1st; know how it feels as the rhythm of of each
character travels from your hand, up your arm & into your brain. CW is a
great "dance" once you've got it. Conversational CW at 25 WPM is fun,
achievable and rewarding if you put your mind to it. Get on the "dance
floor" get on-the-air and call CQ!

CWops Academy: An excellent tool for learning CW is to participate online
with the CWops Academy. Check out the link:
http://www.cwops.org/cwacademy.html

73,

Dick, K2ZR

Niagara Frontier Radiosport

FOC

CWops

Pounding Brass Since 1962

-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of W0MU
Mike Fatchett
Sent: Friday, May 30, 2014 11:32 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Learning morse code

It takes time. Proportionally more time to learn the code than it takes to
become proficient.

I can still remember sitting at the radio club meeting at our JR High
school. Listening to the gibberish and then finally getting a whole word!
From there on it was pretty simple. I am decent, certainly not
conversational at CW.

We had a Ham Radio club during our lunch hour at school because one of the
teachers was a ham. One day he had one of the guys send some code.

When it was over he took my sheet and graded it and said congratulations you
just passed the 5 wpm code test. Smart guy. Knowing that some many people
tense up for tests, he did it under relaxed conditions. One of my friends
passed that day too. We both easily passed the theory and we got sequential
calls.

It is funny how cw seems to have far more activity now then when it was
forced.

Mike W0MU

On 5/27/2014 12:22 PM, David Higdon wrote:

> Lee, Another option is CW Academy with the CW Ops club. They offer
mentors along with on air practice. Also, there is the K3UK sked page where
you can set up a sked and also do a computer chat. That is sometimes
helpful when you want to ask questions during on air practice.

>

> Good luck.

>

> Dave Higdon Jr

> KD4ICT

>

>

> ______________________________________________________________

> Elecraft mailing list

> Home: <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft>
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft

> Help: <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm> http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm

> Post: <mailto:[hidden email]> mailto:[hidden email]

>

> This list hosted by: <http://www.qsl.net> http://www.qsl.net

> Please help support this email list: <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>
http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

> Message delivered to <mailto:[hidden email]> [hidden email]

______________________________________________________________

Elecraft mailing list

Home: <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft>
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft

Help: <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm> http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm

Post: <mailto:[hidden email]> mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: <http://www.qsl.net> http://www.qsl.net

Please help support this email list: <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>
http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Message delivered to <mailto:[hidden email]> [hidden email]

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

W2RMS

Re: Learning Morse Code is Like Learning to Dance

That's interesting...
I'm currently in the process of learning CW and this is the first time I heard of "learn to send first" approach.
As I'm getting close to finishing the alphabet and can copy short 3/4/5-letter words - I'm starting to wonder how am I going to learn to send.
Perhaps I should incorporate a sending session in my daily CW routine?

Slava Baytalskiy
[hidden email]
W2RMS

On May 30, 2014, at 12:30 PM, "Dick, K2ZR" <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Hi All,
>
> I've taught many hams CW over the years & my mantra is to first properly
> learn to send each character: There is a definite rhythm to each. Find a
> good Elmer with a quality fist to work with you.
>
>
>
> IMHO, learn to send 1st; know how it feels as the rhythm of of each
> character travels from your hand, up your arm & into your brain. CW is a
> great "dance" once you've got it. Conversational CW at 25 WPM is fun,
> achievable and rewarding if you put your mind to it. Get on the "dance
> floor" get on-the-air and call CQ!
>
>
>
> CWops Academy: An excellent tool for learning CW is to participate online
> with the CWops Academy. Check out the link:
> http://www.cwops.org/cwacademy.html
>
>
>
> 73,
>
> Dick, K2ZR
>
> Niagara Frontier Radiosport
>
> FOC
>
> CWops
>
> Pounding Brass Since 1962
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of W0MU
> Mike Fatchett
> Sent: Friday, May 30, 2014 11:32 AM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Learning morse code
>
>
>
> It takes time. Proportionally more time to learn the code than it takes to
> become proficient.
>
>
>
> I can still remember sitting at the radio club meeting at our JR High
> school. Listening to the gibberish and then finally getting a whole word!
> From there on it was pretty simple. I am decent, certainly not
> conversational at CW.
>
>
>
> We had a Ham Radio club during our lunch hour at school because one of the
> teachers was a ham. One day he had one of the guys send some code.
>
> When it was over he took my sheet and graded it and said congratulations you
> just passed the 5 wpm code test. Smart guy. Knowing that some many people
> tense up for tests, he did it under relaxed conditions. One of my friends
> passed that day too. We both easily passed the theory and we got sequential
> calls.
>
>
>
> It is funny how cw seems to have far more activity now then when it was
> forced.
>
>
>
>
>
> Mike W0MU
>
>
>
> On 5/27/2014 12:22 PM, David Higdon wrote:
>
>> Lee, Another option is CW Academy with the CW Ops club. They offer
> mentors along with on air practice. Also, there is the K3UK sked page where
> you can set up a sked and also do a computer chat. That is sometimes
> helpful when you want to ask questions during on air practice.
>
>
>> Good luck.
>
>
>> Dave Higdon Jr
>
>> KD4ICT
>
>
>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>
>> Elecraft mailing list
>
>> Home: <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft>
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>
>> Help: <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm> http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>
>> Post: <mailto:[hidden email]> mailto:[hidden email]
>
>
>> This list hosted by: <http://www.qsl.net> http://www.qsl.net
>
>> Please help support this email list: <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>
> http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
>> Message delivered to <mailto:[hidden email]> [hidden email]
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
>
> Elecraft mailing list
>
> Home: <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft>
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>
> Help: <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm> http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>
> Post: <mailto:[hidden email]> mailto:[hidden email]
>
>
>
> This list hosted by: <http://www.qsl.net> http://www.qsl.net
>
> Please help support this email list: <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>
> http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
> Message delivered to <mailto:[hidden email]> [hidden email]
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

Dick, K2ZR

Re: Learning Morse Code is Like Learning to Dance

-----Original Message-----
From: Slava Baytalskiy [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Friday, May 30, 2014 1:50 PM
To: Dick, K2ZR
Cc: W0MU Mike Fatchett; <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Learning Morse Code is Like Learning to Dance

That's interesting...

I'm currently in the process of learning CW and this is the first time I
heard of "learn to send first" approach.

You rarely hear this because there are lots of folks out there who want to
sell you CD's.

As I'm getting close to finishing the alphabet and can copy short
3/4/5-letter words - I'm starting to wonder how am I going to learn to send.

Perhaps I should incorporate a sending session in my daily CW routine?
Slava, Make sure you engage an Elmer with a good fist so you start sending
with the correct rhythm from the "gitgo". When I teach, my students "sing"
the rhythm of the character as they send it on a key. They sound [ sing ] it
out, they hear it, they feel it and they get it!

Dick, K2ZR

Slava Baytalskiy

<mailto:[hidden email]> [hidden email]

W2RMS

On May 30, 2014, at 12:30 PM, "Dick, K2ZR" < <mailto:[hidden email]>
[hidden email]> wrote:

> Hi All,

>

> I've taught many hams CW over the years & my mantra is to first

> properly learn to send each character: There is a definite rhythm to

> each. Find a good Elmer with a quality fist to work with you.

>

>

>

> IMHO, learn to send 1st; know how it feels as the rhythm of of each

> character travels from your hand, up your arm & into your brain. CW is

> a great "dance" once you've got it. Conversational CW at 25 WPM is

> fun, achievable and rewarding if you put your mind to it. Get on the

> "dance floor" get on-the-air and call CQ!

>

>

>

> CWops Academy: An excellent tool for learning CW is to participate

> online with the CWops Academy. Check out the link:

> <http://www.cwops.org/cwacademy.html> http://www.cwops.org/cwacademy.html

>

>

>

> 73,

>

> Dick, K2ZR

>

> Niagara Frontier Radiosport

>

> FOC

>

> CWops

>

> Pounding Brass Since 1962

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> -----Original Message-----

> From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of

> W0MU Mike Fatchett

> Sent: Friday, May 30, 2014 11:32 AM

> To: [hidden email]

> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Learning morse code

>

>

>

> It takes time. Proportionally more time to learn the code than it

> takes to become proficient.

>

>

>

> I can still remember sitting at the radio club meeting at our JR High

> school. Listening to the gibberish and then finally getting a whole word!

> From there on it was pretty simple. I am decent, certainly not

> conversational at CW.

>

>

>

> We had a Ham Radio club during our lunch hour at school because one of

> the teachers was a ham. One day he had one of the guys send some code.

>

> When it was over he took my sheet and graded it and said

> congratulations you just passed the 5 wpm code test. Smart guy.

> Knowing that some many people tense up for tests, he did it under

> relaxed conditions. One of my friends passed that day too. We both

> easily passed the theory and we got sequential calls.

>

>

>

> It is funny how cw seems to have far more activity now then when it

> was forced.

>

>

>

>

>

> Mike W0MU

>

>

>

> On 5/27/2014 12:22 PM, David Higdon wrote:

>

>> Lee, Another option is CW Academy with the CW Ops club. They offer

> mentors along with on air practice. Also, there is the K3UK sked page

> where you can set up a sked and also do a computer chat. That is

> sometimes helpful when you want to ask questions during on air practice.

>

>

>> Good luck.

>

>

>> Dave Higdon Jr

>

>> KD4ICT

>

>

>

>> ______________________________________________________________

>

>> Elecraft mailing list

>

>> Home: < <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft>
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft>

> <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft>
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft

>

>> Help: < <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm>
http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm>

>> <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm> http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm

>

>> Post: < <mailto:[hidden email]>
mailto:[hidden email]>

>> <mailto:[hidden email]> mailto:[hidden email]

>

>

>> This list hosted by: < <http://www.qsl.net> http://www.qsl.net>
<http://www.qsl.net> http://www.qsl.net

>

>> Please help support this email list:

>> < <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html> http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>

> <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html> http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

>

>> Message delivered to < <mailto:[hidden email]> mailto:[hidden email]>
<mailto:[hidden email]> [hidden email]

>

>

>

> ______________________________________________________________

>

> Elecraft mailing list

>

> Home: < <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft>
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft>

> <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft>
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft

>

> Help: < <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm>
http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm>

> <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm> http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm

>

> Post: < <mailto:[hidden email]>
mailto:[hidden email]>

> <mailto:[hidden email]> mailto:[hidden email]

>

>

>

> This list hosted by: < <http://www.qsl.net> http://www.qsl.net>
<http://www.qsl.net> http://www.qsl.net

>

> Please help support this email list: < <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>
http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>

> <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html> http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

>

> Message delivered to < <mailto:[hidden email]> mailto:[hidden email]>
<mailto:[hidden email]> [hidden email]

>

> ______________________________________________________________

> Elecraft mailing list

> Home: <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft>
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft

> Help: <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm> http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm

> Post: <mailto:[hidden email]> mailto:[hidden email]

>

> This list hosted by: <http://www.qsl.net> http://www.qsl.net Please help
support this email

> list: <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html> http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to

> <mailto:[hidden email]> [hidden email]

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

W2RMS

Re: Learning Morse Code is Like Learning to Dance

Dick, thanks for the info!
When you say "key" - do you mean straight key or paddles or is it irrelevant? I got my first paddles at Dayton, so that's all I have. The only Elmer with CW chops available to me is 15 years younger than I am :-)
But I'm sure he will help me.
Any chance you could do a Skype with me just so I can see/hear what you mean? Event for a couple of minutes. If a picture is worth 1000 words - then a video is worth a million.

Slava Baytalskiy
[hidden email]
W2RMS

On May 30, 2014, at 2:08 PM, "Dick, K2ZR" <[hidden email]> wrote:

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Slava Baytalskiy [mailto:[hidden email]]
> Sent: Friday, May 30, 2014 1:50 PM
> To: Dick, K2ZR
> Cc: W0MU Mike Fatchett; <[hidden email]>
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Learning Morse Code is Like Learning to Dance
>
> That's interesting...
> I'm currently in the process of learning CW and this is the first time I heard of "learn to send first" approach.
> You rarely hear this because there are lots of folks out there who want to sell you CD's.
>
> As I'm getting close to finishing the alphabet and can copy short 3/4/5-letter words - I'm starting to wonder how am I going to learn to send.
> Perhaps I should incorporate a sending session in my daily CW routine? Slava, Make sure you engage an Elmer with a good fist so you start sending with the correct rhythm from the "gitgo". When I teach, my students “sing” the rhythm of the character as they send it on a key. They sound [ sing ] it out, they hear it, they feel it and they get it!
> Dick, K2ZR
>
> Slava Baytalskiy
> [hidden email]
> W2RMS
>
> On May 30, 2014, at 12:30 PM, "Dick, K2ZR" <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> > Hi All,
> >
> > I've taught many hams CW over the years & my mantra is to first
> > properly learn to send each character: There is a definite rhythm to
> > each. Find a good Elmer with a quality fist to work with you.
> >
> >
> >
> > IMHO, learn to send 1st; know how it feels as the rhythm of of each
> > character travels from your hand, up your arm & into your brain. CW is
> > a great "dance" once you've got it. Conversational CW at 25 WPM is
> > fun, achievable and rewarding if you put your mind to it. Get on the
> > "dance floor" get on-the-air and call CQ!
> >
> >
> >
> > CWops Academy: An excellent tool for learning CW is to participate
> > online with the CWops Academy. Check out the link:
> > http://www.cwops.org/cwacademy.html
> >
> >
> >
> > 73,
> >
> > Dick, K2ZR
> >
> > Niagara Frontier Radiosport
> >
> > FOC
> >
> > CWops
> >
> > Pounding Brass Since 1962
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
> > W0MU Mike Fatchett
> > Sent: Friday, May 30, 2014 11:32 AM
> > To: [hidden email]
> > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Learning morse code
> >
> >
> >
> > It takes time. Proportionally more time to learn the code than it
> > takes to become proficient.
> >
> >
> >
> > I can still remember sitting at the radio club meeting at our JR High
> > school. Listening to the gibberish and then finally getting a whole word!
> > From there on it was pretty simple. I am decent, certainly not
> > conversational at CW.
> >
> >
> >
> > We had a Ham Radio club during our lunch hour at school because one of
> > the teachers was a ham. One day he had one of the guys send some code.
> >
> > When it was over he took my sheet and graded it and said
> > congratulations you just passed the 5 wpm code test. Smart guy.
> > Knowing that some many people tense up for tests, he did it under
> > relaxed conditions. One of my friends passed that day too. We both
> > easily passed the theory and we got sequential calls.
> >
> >
> >
> > It is funny how cw seems to have far more activity now then when it
> > was forced.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Mike W0MU
> >
> >
> >
> > On 5/27/2014 12:22 PM, David Higdon wrote:
> >
> >> Lee, Another option is CW Academy with the CW Ops club. They offer
> > mentors along with on air practice. Also, there is the K3UK sked page
> > where you can set up a sked and also do a computer chat. That is
> > sometimes helpful when you want to ask questions during on air practice.
> >
> >
> >> Good luck.
> >
> >
> >> Dave Higdon Jr
> >
> >> KD4ICT
> >
> >
> >
> >> ______________________________________________________________
> >
> >> Elecraft mailing list
> >
> >> Home: <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft>
> > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> >
> >> Help: <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm>
> >> http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> >
> >> Post: <mailto:[hidden email]>
> >> mailto:[hidden email]
> >
> >
> >> This list hosted by: <http://www.qsl.net> http://www.qsl.net
> >
> >> Please help support this email list:
> >> <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>
> > http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> >
> >> Message delivered to <mailto:[hidden email]> [hidden email]
> >
> >
> >
> > ______________________________________________________________
> >
> > Elecraft mailing list
> >
> > Home: <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft>
> > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> >
> > Help: <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm>
> > http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> >
> > Post: <mailto:[hidden email]>
> > mailto:[hidden email]
> >
> >
> >
> > This list hosted by: <http://www.qsl.net> http://www.qsl.net
> >
> > Please help support this email list: <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>
> > http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> >
> > Message delivered to <mailto:[hidden email]> [hidden email]
> >
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > Elecraft mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > Post: mailto:[hidden email]
> >
> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email
> > list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to
> > [hidden email]

Michael Schulz

Re: Learning Morse Code is Like Learning to Dance

In reply to this post by Dick, K2ZR

When I started to learn CW 2 years ago, I started with paddles. Most people will say to start with a straight key.

What starting with paddles and a keyer did for me is that I didn't have to worry about the correct length of dit and dah and could focus on characters/ words and spacing in between. This helped (me at least) to better get a good

rhythm and made moving to a straight key easier for me. YMMV based on your personal preference.

I used G4FON software to get me started and also made one key (no pun intended 😊 ) move in locking away the microphone.

73 de Michael K5TRI

Sent from Windows Mail

From: Slava Baytalskiy
Sent: ‎Friday‎, ‎May‎ ‎30‎, ‎2014 ‎1‎:‎46‎ ‎PM
To: Dick, K2ZR
Cc: <[hidden email]>

Dick, thanks for the info!
When you say "key" - do you mean straight key or paddles or is it irrelevant? I got my first paddles at Dayton, so that's all I have. The only Elmer with CW chops available to me is 15 years younger than I am :-)
But I'm sure he will help me.
Any chance you could do a Skype with me just so I can see/hear what you mean? Event for a couple of minutes. If a picture is worth 1000 words - then a video is worth a million.

Slava Baytalskiy
[hidden email]
W2RMS

On May 30, 2014, at 2:08 PM, "Dick, K2ZR" <[hidden email]> wrote:

Tony Estep

Re: Learning Morse Code is Like Learning to Dance

How come I have no problem with CW but I can't dance?

Tony KT0NY
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

EricJ-2

Re: Learning Morse Code is Like Learning to Dance

Because you dance with your feet. Try QLF and you fill find your CW and
dancing are about the same level. They are for me.

Eric
KE6US

On 5/30/2014 1:59 PM, Tony Estep wrote:
> How come I have no problem with CW but I can't dance?
>
> Tony KT0NY
>

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: Learning Morse Code is Like Learning to Dance

Being left handed and I guess 'left brained', I always had trouble with
left and right. That caused me many demerits in the Army when I started
cadence marches on the wrong foot, and for the same problem, I have
trouble with dance steps. YMMV.
There are other things I do well, so I consider it a minor handicap.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 5/30/2014 6:18 PM, EricJ wrote:
> Because you dance with your feet. Try QLF and you fill find your CW
> and dancing are about the same level. They are for me.
>
> Eric
> KE6US

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

k6dgw

Re: Learning Morse Code is Like Learning to Dance

I'm left-handed and I can square dance, but only because some guy up on
the stage is telling me exactly what to do next. I also can't sing,
however I can paddle CW with either hand and often do. My wife is
right-handed and has yet to thoroughly master the concept of "right" vs
"left."

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014
- www.cqp.org

On 5/30/2014 3:34 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
> Being left handed and I guess 'left brained', I always had trouble with
> left and right. That caused me many demerits in the Army when I started
> cadence marches on the wrong foot, and for the same problem, I have
> trouble with dance steps. YMMV.
> There are other things I do well, so I consider it a minor handicap.

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

Elecraft mailing list

Re: Learning Morse Code is Like Learning to Dance

In reply to this post by W2RMS

Slava and others learning Morse ot trying to get better. Listen to all the advice you get, most of it is right on the money! But, when itch comes to scratch, scratch where it itches, which means that if the best advice you have is to do something that you don't want to do, do something else that you do want to do. The absolute worst thing you can do is to force yourself to do something you find odious. Anything you do with Morse is better than doing nothing. Keep it fun and if you don't want to do a particular thing, do something else. We have been practicing code for a long time and it does not work well. Sending and receiving information by Morse Code can be fun, should be fun and if you are having fun, you are learning and getting better.

Willis 'Cookie' Cooke, TDXS DX Chairman
K5EWJ & Trustee N5BPS, USS Cavalla, USS Stewart

On Friday, May 30, 2014 12:49 PM, Slava Baytalskiy <[hidden email]> wrote:

That's interesting...
I'm currently in the process of learning CW and this is the first time I heard of "learn to send first" approach.
As I'm getting close to finishing the alphabet and can copy short 3/4/5-letter words - I'm starting to wonder how am I going to learn to send.
Perhaps I should incorporate a sending session in my daily CW routine?

Slava Baytalskiy
[hidden email]
W2RMS

On May 30, 2014, at 12:30 PM, "Dick, K2ZR" <[hidden email]> wrote:

Elecraft mailing list

Re: Learning Morse Code is Like Learning to Dance

In reply to this post by k6dgw

Well, in the four grade my Italian teacher would come down on my left hand with her 18" ruler every time I used my left hand. So by the time I got to 8th grade I could write my name equally poor with either hand. AS the result, I can send on a bug with either hand........... Some can recognize my code sending, but only when I use my left hand. BTW, I taught code at Fort Gordon, GA. Signal

School. It was VERY interesting to see the problems some had and with my background we were able to get most of them through the course.

Mel, K6KBE

On Friday, May 30, 2014 4:09 PM, Fred Jensen <[hidden email]> wrote:

I'm left-handed and I can square dance, but only because some guy up on
the stage is telling me exactly what to do next. I also can't sing,
however I can paddle CW with either hand and often do. My wife is
right-handed and has yet to thoroughly master the concept of "right" vs
"left."

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014
- www.cqp.org

On 5/30/2014 3:34 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
> Being left handed and I guess 'left brained', I always had trouble with
> left and right. That caused me many demerits in the Army when I started
> cadence marches on the wrong foot, and for the same problem, I have
> trouble with dance steps. YMMV.
> There are other things I do well, so I consider it a minor handicap.

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

Elecraft mailing list

Re: Learning Morse Code is Like Learning to Dance

In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list

All this advice is good. However, code sound is a method of communicating that requires you to think of it as a language. Yes. Remember as a child we learned the ABCs then made words then constructed sentences. Code is the same thing. First you learn the sound of the letter. Then you start putting them together into words. The best operators the military service had, were the ones who learn the sound patterns as words. Albeit nonsensical 5 letter code groups are words with a sound. Each one is unique. The great ones could listen to the signal and type the letter without thinking about it. Like short hand, it is a learned automatic response. When you think you have problems coping code, try the random 5 letter code groups. It stops you trying to sound out the letters as words and concentrates on transferring them into groups of letters. One of the things that got most of the hard military trainees over the huddle in speed was
to send them 5 letter code groups at the highest speed they were having trouble with and toss out the middle character. Yep, copy the first two skip the next then grab the last two. Before long they were filling in the blank............ Next speed please......

Mel, K6KBE

On Friday, May 30, 2014 4:37 PM, WILLIS COOKE via Elecraft <[hidden email]> wrote:

Slava and others learning Morse ot trying to get better. Listen to all the advice you get, most of it is right on the money! But, when itch comes to scratch, scratch where it itches, which means that if the best advice you have is to do something that you don't want to do, do something else that you do want to do. The absolute worst thing you can do is to force yourself to do something you find odious. Anything you do with Morse is better than doing nothing. Keep it fun and if you don't want to do a particular thing, do something else. We have been practicing code for a long time and it does not work well. Sending and receiving information by Morse Code can be fun, should be fun and if you are having fun, you are learning and getting better.

Willis 'Cookie' Cooke, TDXS DX Chairman
K5EWJ & Trustee N5BPS, USS Cavalla, USS Stewart

On Friday, May 30, 2014 12:49 PM, Slava Baytalskiy <[hidden email]> wrote:

That's interesting...
I'm currently in the process of learning CW and this is the first time I heard of "learn to send first" approach.
As I'm getting close to finishing the alphabet and can copy short 3/4/5-letter words - I'm starting to wonder how am I going to learn to send.
Perhaps I should incorporate a sending session in my daily CW routine?

Slava Baytalskiy
[hidden email]
W2RMS

On May 30, 2014, at 12:30 PM, "Dick, K2ZR" <[hidden email]> wrote:

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

Edward R Cole

Re: Learning Morse Code is Like Learning to Dance

In reply to this post by Dick, K2ZR

I was 14 years old when I got the ham "bug", and found a HS class to
learn for my Novice test. The instructor became my elmer, though
that term was not yet invented. He allowed me to borrow the
instructograph between weekly classes so that was my first
practise. I produced clicking and not a tone, of course.

Later I built my first receiver and was able to put into oscillation
to work as a code practise oscillator using a straight key. So I
alternated from listening to 40m CW to sending code to myself. I am
sure that helped me start hearing words vs characters. First words I
learned were: "CQ". "de", my call, "test", "name", "RST", etc.

I am not a great CW op and very rusty at more than 10wpm. But
listening to 15wpm signals is the quickest way to get back up. I
used to have a great fist at 18wpm on my straight key. I make a few
mistakes these days!

I bought a Bencher paddle but it is so foreign to me vs a straight
key I just haven't mastered it. Perhaps if I used a keyer that
allowed me to use it like a bug it would help. Iambic just is strange.

http://www.kl7uw.com/kn8mwa.htm
will give you a little trip to the good ole days!

73, Ed - KL7UW
http://www.kl7uw.com
"Kits made by KL7UW"
Dubus Mag business:
[hidden email]

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

drewko

Re: Learning Morse Code is Like Learning to Dance

In reply to this post by Dick, K2ZR

There are plenty of free resources out there to learn code. I don't
think profit is the reason why people learn to copy before learning to
send.

Not that doing it the other way around wouldn't work, as long as you
make sure you are not sending so slowly as to start counting "dots"
and "dashes". That is the the single biggest mistake you can make with
the code.

I did learn from records though: Army Signal Corps 78 RPMs. Using them
I could copy at a pretty good clip before realizing that I should
start practicing sending. (The recordings are available at archive.org
for free download, just search my callsign there.)

I'm not necessarilly recommending these records. If I was learning the
Code today I'd most llikely be using one or several of the computer
software programs now available. I don't see how they could be beat
for ease of learning.

73,
Drew
AF2Z

On Fri, 30 May 2014 14:08:22 -0400, you wrote: