How to Improve Your CW Speed:
from
Jim Seifert, AD6WL
on
May 23, 2003
Website:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/QRS-CW/
View comments about this article!
How to Improve Your CW Speed:
You have just passed your code test and now what? You may try listening on the bands and find that the speeds are just to fast for you to even think about trying to copy. This can get very discouraging for a new ham. Many new hams want to operate CW but often find the speeds they hear on the air to be very intimidating. You can just listen to the ARRL CW practice on the air but that gets boring after awhile. There is another option. There is a Yahoo group devoted to QRS CW. This is a great opportunity for new hams to get together with other hams who operate at the same speed and for some of you experienced CW ops to share information with the group and QRS to make contacts with these new hams. I have found the best way to enjoy CW was to make contacts with other hams. After operating QRS for a while you will notice that your speed will start to increase. The website for the group is:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/QRS-CW/.
Here is a list of the unofficial QRS CW operating frequencies. These frequencies are only a guideline as a place for the group to meet and are not part of any band plan. If you hear a slow speed CQ out there then answer the call and enjoy a relaxed QSO at a slower speed.
1.850
3.700
7.124/7.050
10.125
14.050
21.150/21.125
24.8915
28.160
Most QRS activity seems to be on 7.050 & 14.050.
73, Jim
AD6WL
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How to Improve Your CW Speed:
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by 9M2YP on May 23, 2003
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Dear Jim,
Amateur radio operators in the StateSide are a very lucky group where you can get practice freqencies and other aids to improve Morse speed. In my part of the world (Far East), there are hardly such facilities available. Besides, tuning to those StateSide stations mentioned would probably return zero S-meter response.
I used to practice reading CW (not transmitting), however, by tuning to the Singapore Port Authority Radio Station bearing callsign 9VG for its weather reports and traffic-lists on various HF frequencies. The signals are very strong and could be received far north as India and far south as the Northern Territories of Australia. Morse speed varies between 10 to 20 WPM depending on the length of the chapters. The best practice of ones' copying accuracy is trying to copy the callsigns of vessels since they are almost near to random letters.
With regular practices reading these perfectly sent codes, I was able to gain both confidence and mind in Morse. I would doubtlessly recommend this form of CW reading practice method to those not so previleged would-be hams in other parts of the world lacking the aids enjoyed by the StateSide hams. As most major ports of the world have similar radio broadcasts to ships at sea, like that of 9VG, those living near such ports would definitely be able to take advantage of these free practice sessions. The above mention, however, could only offer hearing practices. A good fist in CW sending would still have to be gained using other means though.
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How to Improve Your CW Speed:
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by VA2PHL on May 23, 2003
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Monday i Just received my HF privilege because i pass my morse code exam. yes i only have 5 Wpm and i cannot copy more than that i wish i could but anyway i could probably not write them as fast anyway (forget about copying them in my mind). I did enjoy talking on ssb but i was scanning the cw part of 80 M and heard some fast Cw qso and then i heard a slow one, the ham did many mistakes ........ but i was able to copy him, he was in contact with someone else that send real good cw and seems to be really patient, but they were communicating and that is the important thing. I don't blame the one who send fast code so i would like not to be "ridiculised" because i would not have do better than the other ham. when i read comment like" ..at 5 wpm i was able to read a book send some e-mail beetween each letter... bla bla bla" that is the way i feel, it took me one month to have my morse and when i decode some i takes all my concentration and focus but if the speed is slow i can do it. If someone can do 40 wpm ok for him but not me and i know i am repating my self but i think this is not fair to be put aside because you cannot do more than 5 wpm and i am happy to see groups that understand that.
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How to Improve Your CW Speed:
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by K4DGW on May 23, 2003
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I have been working for the past six months or so to increase my speed and to become conversational on the air with CW. While on a trip for two weeks, I was stuck in a hotel room unable to operate. I used software by G4FON (MY personal favorite for CW training) in the evenings. As I sat and watched TV, I set the "transmit time" of the software to 3 minutes. Each time the commercials started up, I hit the mute button and had the software send me code. It finished up as the commercials finished up. This was a big help. Here is the G4FON's site. The software is available from his link "Koch CW Trainer".
http://www.qsl.net/g4fon
Along with the frequencies in the article, I started hanging out around the FISTS frequencies. I met up with some very nice folks here, and these people send VERY good code. Even if you are not yet comfortable on the air, these are great places to listen to well sent code. I enjoyed it so much, I just joined the club. Member number, 10059. The link to their operating frequencies is below, and the main website is after that. Througout all of this, I have gotten my speed up to about 10 -> 13 wpm.
http://www.fists.org/activity.html
http://www.fists.org
Hope to catch you on the air. 73 to you and yours. Stay well, and stay safe.
Dave Wilburn
-=K4DGW=-
k4dgw@arrl.net
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RE: How to Improve Your CW Speed:
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by W9SN on May 23, 2003
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Great article Jim. Nothing will be better than good old fashion practice. I can remember struggling with my speed. I kept pushing myself by listening to W1AW daily. I could see an improvement weekly by doing this. The very best thing I did was simply listening to other stations on the air. I even tape recorded stations on the air and then played the tape in my car. I can remember hitting plateaus and struggled to get over the next 'speed bump'. With patience and lots of listening, it worked and then I still kept pushing myself. I knew the only thing that separated me with high speed was my unexperienced brain, copying fast code. Today I can run with the big dogs and very happy. A very good luck to all that want to increase your speed!!
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RE: How to Improve Your CW Speed:
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by WA4DOU on May 23, 2003
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I never sensed learning cw as a struggle. The only thing that will improve your cw sending and receiving ability is to use it. The novice license was designed to achieve that end. Once you've mastered it enough to achieve the priviledges, getting on the air and using it leads to proficiency. One doesn't notice it, it occurs naturally. Eventually you realize that you passed the point that it took conscious focus to do it. It becomes comfortable and then you've arrived where you want to be.
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How to Improve Your CW Speed:
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by N8XMS on May 23, 2003
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CW is my favorite mode and I usually work it at about 20 wpm, but I also really enjoy using the straight key and having a relaxed slow speed QSO with a new CW op. So if any of you slower ops hears my call on the air please don't hesitate to give me a shout.
Keep pounding the brass!
73
Paul - N8XMS
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RE: How to Improve Your CW Speed:
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by N8IK on May 23, 2003
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Contesting! Find folks who are calling CQ TEST. Most are using computers or memory keyers so it's usually great code - and repetitious. Just park on his/her frequency and listen until you can string the characters together - guess what? - you're copying callsigns at 25-30 wpm! Call them at whatever speed you're comfortable - all the good operators know where their "speed" knob is and which way to twist it (CCW). They want your contact and WILL slow down. You'll be amazed at how your speed improves over the course of a contest - 5wpm will seem painfully slow - trust me on this. CQWW WPX starts tonight - go for it!
73 de Ian
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How to Improve Your CW Speed:
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by K0WA on May 23, 2003
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Great service to HR. The key to get your CW speed up and running is to get on the air and call CQ at your speed. Ignore all the guys that answer you going faster than what you are comfortable at. An A1-Operator should slow down to the speed that the other station is operating at.
To improve CW speed...get on the air and don't be embarrassed to say QRS! There are a lot of guys that will so so...and the other guys that don't you don't have to talk to.
So, use all that is offered. Good comments
Lee - K0WA
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How to Improve Your CW Speed:
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by WA0ZZG on May 23, 2003
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I have always been able to find CW contacts around
7 to 10WPM between 7100KHz and 7150KHz. If you answer
a CQ from a faster operator, they will normally slow
down to the speed you call them at. Most experienced
operators encourage new hams and will welcome them
to the CW portion at the new operator's speed.
Dave...
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RE: How to Improve Your CW Speed:
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by KA4KOE on May 23, 2003
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This is really a no-brainer. If you have a license, get on the air and make contacts.....LOTS of them, preferably under high qrn/qrm conditions.
If you don't have a license, of course do everything you can; ie tapes, listen on shortwave, practice sending text you see as you travel around, that is translation.
Also, I used the old Radio Shack book "From 5 to 1000 watts" and essentially used it to teach myself morse at age 16. Found another copy on Ebay for 3 dollars. Although the rules section is no longer valid, the theory is ok.
Philip
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RE: How to Improve Your CW Speed:
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by K8DIT on May 23, 2003
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I would like to suggest that cw copy is a function of recognition. To better your cw speed you must KNOW each character, your mind changing the sound to a letter, number, or punctuation. Instantly. Familiarity
in any learning process requires repetition. Your ability to communicate in any language is usually a time dependant function of thought. The more you repeat
something, the more fluent you become. Sometimes listening without concentrating your brain will do some learning semi conciously. It connects the dots, so to speak, and resuming concentration becomes easier.
Its like watching paint dry or grass growing, but the results are the same.
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How to Improve Your CW Speed:
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by LU1DZ on May 23, 2003
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Very good idea and many thanks for your article and information.
Please send to all members group our congratulation for this effort.
Muchos saludos y buenos DX
Best regards and good DX
Alberto U. SILVA LU1DZ
(QSL manager EA3RE)
GACW Co-ordinator
http://gacw.no-ip.org
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QRS DX
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by KF6IIU on May 23, 2003
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I'll start listening on 7050 and see what happens ... but if you have operating privileges in your country that allow you to call in the US novice bands (3675 to 3725 and 7100 to 7150) you will always find someone willing to QRS for you. I'd like to hear more DX in these bands - there is plenty of room.
Believe it or not I do hear QRS DX from time to time calling CQ in the bottom part of the bands and usually the responder will come back slow - not every time.
It's like riding a horse on the way back to the barn - the horse will get away from you unless you let it know who's boss. Calling CQ from a non-US country must be like that.
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RE: QRS DX
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by WB2WIK on May 23, 2003
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Nice article.
There is zero doubt that actually *using* code to make contacts works better than any other method of learning and improving code speed.
And there is zero doubt, also, that the only way to do this effectively is without a paper, or pencil, or pen, or typewriter, or computer. When you copy code in your head it becomes like regular conversation, takes no effort, little concentration and becomes second nature. When you chat with someone in person, do you write down what they say?? Of course not.
As long as a CW operator uses a paper and writing instrument, he will never successfully multi-task at this (that is, be able to work CW and do something else simultaneously). But once you really learn code and never write anything down, your hands are remarkably free to do other things -- and so is your brain.
I almost always work CW and watch TV at the same time, or chat with the family, or whatever. It's very relaxing, if you don't have to think about it, and nobody gets to this point if they write down what they're listening to.
WB2WIK/6
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RE: QRS DX
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by N6AJR on May 23, 2003
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Check this site out for speeding up your code...
www.G4FON.co.uk
ray has a great program you can easily set up to help you 73 tom N6AJR
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Internet CW
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by G7HEU on May 24, 2003
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There is very good programme available for free that allows CW contacts via I.P. (internet). It can be down-loaded from :
http://www.mrx.com.au
It's really easy to connect a key to the serial port of your PC and I've had a lot of fun with it.
N.B. Please don't bother to make postings saying 'this is not real radio and I'm very cross about you using it'.
Steve
G7HEU.
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RE: Internet CW
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by W3DCG on May 24, 2003
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Seems like lots of FISTS out there go at nice learning speeds. Lots of Bug/Straight keys happening with FISTS CQers. So that, when you listen to the perfect electronically keyed sigs it's like hearing perection, and the words just pop into your head.
I think there is even a buddy system with FISTS, set up sked via e-mail.
I did use W1AW as a kid and Novice to get to 13-15 wpm. Beyond this is 20 wpm. Once you get to 20, 35 is not that far away.
It all comes down to two things:
Desire, and time invested. Like anything worth having in life.
Once you get it, it's yours for life, barring catastrophy such as head injury, stroke, etc].
I learned when I was 10, came back 22 years later and it was all still there, with some atrophy. Within a month it was better than when I left the hobby.
What i did, upon my return, was listen to QSOs, mostly on 40m, where extended QSOs are the norm, and the CW is not always computer generated perfection.
I still do this.
The shack is in the family room, all my kids would feel enstranged if they were watching their favorite programs without CW in the side-ground!
Put a receiver in the room where you spend most time if you can get away with it, and listen to Code as you go about your other things.
When the high bands open up again, you'll be right there when that DX starts calling CQ, too!
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How to Improve Your CW Speed:
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by N6FB on May 25, 2003
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AS A HIGH SPEED CW OP FOR 40 YEARS, LET ME ADD A FEW THOUGHTS, SOME OF WHICH HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED IN OTHER REPLIES TO THIS ARTICLE.
1- THROW AWAY YOUR PENCIL ASAP!!! YOU MUST LEARN TO COPY IN YOUR HEAD, STARTING AT ABOUT 10 WPM, OR YOU WILL HIT ROADBLOCK AT ABOUT 15 WPM. AS YOU GET NEAR 20 YOU WILL START HEARING WORDS INSTEAD OF LETTERS, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL TO FURTHER PROGRESS
2- AS YOU GAIN PROFICIENCY COPYING IN YOUR HEAD, BEGIN TO MULTI-TASK, BY GLANCING AT A MAGAZINE ARTICLE OR THE TV SCREEN WHILE YOU COPY. AFTER A WHILE, IT IS NO DIFFERENT THAN HEARING AND UNDERSTANDING TWO CONVERSATIONS AT THE SAME TIME. I AM SURE MOST OF YOU GUYS ARE GOOD AT LISTENING TO YOUR XYL TELL YOU THE LIST OF CHORES FOR THE DAY, AT THE SAME TIME YOU ARE LISTENING TO THE NEWS ON TV. ( JUST DONT TELL HER THAT IS WHAT YOU DO!)
3- UNTIL YOU LEARN TO MULTITASK, EVEN IN SHORT SPURTS, YOU WILL HIT ROADBLOCK AT 20 TO 25 WPM, AND THERE YOU WILL STAY FOR THE REST OF YOUR HAM CAREER, REGARDLESS OF LISTENING TO PRACTICE TAPES, ETC.
4- ONCE YOU ARE THROUGH THIS 25 WPM ROADBLOCK, YOU AN QUICKLY PROGRESS TO 30 AND HIGHER WITH LITTLE EFFORT, BECAUSE YOU WILL START TO HEAR NOT ONLY WORDS, BUT STANDARD PHRASES.
5- I REMEMBER STRUGGLING TO GET TO 20WPM FOR MY EXTRA BACK IN THE 60'S, BUT AFTER LEARNING MULTITASKING, I QUICKLY GOT TO THE POINT WHERE I COULD RX MUCH FASTER THAN I COULD SEND, AND HAD TO GO TO A KEYBOARD, TO EUALIZE MY MAX SENDING AND RX SPEEDS AT 65 TO 70 WPM.
6- PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!!!!
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How to Improve Your CW Speed:
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by N5XM on May 26, 2003
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Nothing happens overnight. I see copying CW as a language skill that improves over time, if you use it every day. 2-3 times a week won't get you there. It really depends on your desires and expectations. What do you WANT to do with CW? I just wanted to be the best CW op I could be, regardless of what speed that meant. The speed will increase on its own.
Practice copying, but practice sending also, and do it off the air. If you practice sending off the air for 45 minutes a day even for just a week, increasing the speed every 8-10 minutes, you will be very surprised how easy your normal pace seems after you are done, even on day one. Do not neglect proper character formation, proper spacing, or good rhythm, timing, and tempo. That being said, don't send faster on the air than you can copy, as the best kind of ops will send at the speed you are sending because it is the right and polite thing to do. If you look at this issue over the long term, do your homework, get on the air, make several contacts every day, and you will improve. You can't rush Mother Nature, or Father Time!
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How to Improve Your CW Speed:
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by WA4AOS on May 26, 2003
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I am glad to see positive articles on CW without all of the CW bashers complaining about our love for this mode. It is so ironic that those who do complain seem to be oblivious to the fact that they are complaining as well. CW has and will always be an important part of Amateur Radio and as CW enthusiast; we have a right to promote our interest regardless of what others think.
When I was first licensed as a teenager back in the 70’s, I didn’t think I would continue to operate CW once I was able to shed the N from my novice call sign and move up to General Class. While I was I was working on my upgrade, I visited a fellow in my area who was just a year or two older than I was but he was already running better than 35 WPM. I sat there in his shack and was amazed how he was able to decipher the dits and dahs into sentences. This, to me was a super human feat that I really respected and envied. I began working on my speed with CW nets and a few contests. Soon I was easily able to copy over 20 WPM.
Now, my friend copies 60 WPM or better and I am doing well at 40 to 45 WPM, although I love to regchew at 25 to 30 WPM. I don’t know if I will ever hit the really high speeds but even today, with all of the fancy digital modes I am still amazed with our ability to convert a stream of dits and dahs into thoughts.
Anyone can copy clean CW with a computer or a TNC but the personal satisfaction of sitting back in your radio chair with a good cup of steaming hot tea, a well adjusted bug, a comfortable headset, your Ten Tec rig and have a snappy CW QSO is just OUTSTANDING !!! Other Rigs are also great but Ten Tec is to CW, what LancAir is to Sport Aviation or what Stradivarius is to Violin Music “IMHO”.
Am I romanticizing CW? YOU BET ! ! After 30+ years of pounding brass I get to do that.
Do I care if you don’t like CW? YOUR LOSS.
In Closing. TRY IT, YOU MIGHT JUST LIKE IT ! ! !
Glenn Scott
WA4AOS
Ex WN4AOS
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RE: How to Improve Your CW Speed:
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by K3ESE on May 27, 2003
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I'm a 100% CW op, and I just want to add my voice to what's been said: it's great to see an article like this; the CW Koch trainer on G4FON's site is DA BOMB! fun, easy to use, highly accessible; it's well worth the time spent to get to at least 20 wpm with comfort, because communicating via Mr. Morse's code is inexpressibly wonderful; you can't spend enough time copying, or, better, participating in QSOs on the air.
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RE: QRS DX
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by N3XL on May 27, 2003
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WB2WIK/6,
I'm not that gud at cw yet, but I really think you must be kidding. I can't do 2 things at once very well, no matter how good I am at it. You must be extremely talented. Maybe autistic or cevant or something?
73
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RE: QRS DX
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by N8IK on May 27, 2003
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Here's multitasking for you: talked to a guy on a repeater who has a friend (forgot both calls sri) that runs a right-handed AND a left-handed bug simultaneously - two QSOs at the same time! Pretty amazing.
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How to Improve Your CW Speed:
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by AE6Y on May 27, 2003
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It sounds like you're on the right track.
I'll add one more technique: I was off the air for a number of years after going away to college in the 60s. One way I kept up CW proficiency was to "send" road signs to myself in my head as I drove along. I would make a game of it, trying to finish sending the sign before I passed it. Of course your ability to do this successfully (and safely!) depends on a number of factors, including eyesight, CW speed, car speed, etc. But you can always choose just to send a portion of the sign as well. Anyway, it worked for me.
I also agree with the suggestion about contesting. Although it may seem that contesters send fast, there is actually quite a variation, and you can usually get the hang of the exchange by listening for a while. Contesters are normally happy to answer slow speed calls provided the caller sends a crisp exchange (i.e., no repeats or added chatting), even if the exchange is sent slowly.
GL with your efforts to increase CW proficiency. It really is a skill that can give you a lot of satisfaction.
73, Andy, AE6Y
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How to Improve Your CW Speed:
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by OBSERVER on May 27, 2003
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I have a better solution for increasing CW speed. Hide the microphone.
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RE: How to Improve Your CW Speed:
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by N3IJW on May 28, 2003
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That is similar to my technique for increasing computer aptitude, unplugging the mouse.
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How to Improve Your CW Speed:
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by KE5C on May 28, 2003
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whatever else you do, no matter what you listen to, copy in your head. *do not* use a pencil. *do not* use a keyboard (for copy). you must hear the letter, and eventually the word in which it belongs. you don't want to train your pencil or keyboard hand, you want to train the conscious part of your brain. the only other caveat is don't copy really slow code - the letters (and obviously the words) "fall apart" if the dots and dashes come too slowly. how slow is too slow? probably below 15 to 20 wpm.
73!
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RE: How to Improve Your CW Speed:
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by W0FG on May 29, 2003
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Lots of good suggestions offered so far. Here's a couple more: I keep a receiver with a pillow speaker next to the bed, tuned to about 7035 and go to sleep listening to the highest speed QSO's I can find. Tha also works for middle-of-the-night insommnia too. The W1AW bulletins and high-speed runs are still a great way to build up speed, and my favorite way to keep my speed up is listening to CW contest QSO's. Most of those are done at speed over 30 and are formulaic enough to make it easy to get into the swing of things. I'm not much of a serious contester, but I like working the contests from the mobile rig as the QSO length is so short as to not be distracting.
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How to Improve Your CW Speed:
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by N2KZ on May 30, 2003
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How would you like to be taught code with your own private tutor for free? FISTS, The Morse Preservation Society, has established a Code Buddy program. It is simply people helping people to learn code well. It doesn't matter if you are a beginner or someone who is looking to get to 40 wpm. We can help. I am an active Code Buddy teacher and continue to have great experiences helping other people along. It is enjoyable for both teacher and student. I highly recommend this program to all that love Morse. For more information, contact the current Code Buddy coordinator Nick Yokanovich at k3ny@cablespeed.com. Take a look at FISTS' web site at www.fists.org. Please feel free to contact me at N2KZ@arrl.net Take advantage of this wonderful resource! 73 de N2KZ Karl
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RE: How to Improve Your CW Speed:
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by VE3LEG on June 1, 2003
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I got my HF ticket last year, I worked like mad for 3 months to get my 5wpm, took the test, passed, and promptly forgot about CW for a year. Until sometime in May when I suddenly took an interest in it again, brought my copy speed upto about 6wpm and actually got the nerve to send CQ in the 40 meter novice band this morning.
I got an answer first try! I was so excited and the QRM was so bad I only copied about half of the transmission, but I got enough to complete it. It was such a thrill! Now I'm going to practise my receiving some more and get back on the Novice band, I like CW.
My goal is not to get to 40wpm or even 20. My goal is to get to around 10 or 12 and have some fun. If I really enjoy it, who knows where I might go with it?
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