What's The Best/Fastest Way To Learn The Code?

[KC2LAM]

what is the best and fastest way to learn the code? any tips?

 (KC2LAM@aol.com

[ANON5]

I'd suggest purchasing or downloading and reading:

The Art & Skill of Radio Telegraphy: A Manual For Learning, Using, Mastering And Enjoying The International Morse Code As A Means Of Communication, 3rd Edition. William G. Pierpont N0HFF (SK 2/03)
http://www.qsl.net/n9bor/n0hff.htm
http://www.raes.ab.ca/book/contents.htm (2nd revised edition, 1997)

Then, following the principles in the above, downloading and using:

G4FON (morse code trainer - Koch.exe Koch CW Trainer)
http://www.g4fon.co.uk/

Also, carrying around an MFJ-418 Pocket Morse Code Tutor (that works) helps me a lot.

73,
John, K7JG.

[WA2AFD]

The Koch Method is the very best way to learn the code in my opinion.

It is so simple as far as procedure goes that it almost seems that it wouldn't work!

As everyone says, you start out by listening and practicing with just 2 letters, and when you can copy them correctly 90% of the time, add another letter to the mix.

When you can copy those 3 90% of the time, add another letter, etc.

It is the fastest and the best!

Listening to W1AW is a real confidence builder too. A cheap and effective receiver from Ten-Tec can do the job nicely.

As mentioned, the G4FON Koch trainer software is just great. Also, the freeware from Gab Riviat F6DQM is just dandy too. Cw_Player.Zip....
http://perso.club-internet.fr/f1orl/programe.htm

Version 2.7 is what you're looking for, and it can be used in English, French, German or Italian.

[GLENHOU]

Also try this site once you are getting ready to take the actual exam.

http://www.aa9pw.com/radio/morse.html

It does sample QSO with test questions. Very helpful to get you into the flow of the test.

Good luck!

Glen

[AA4DF]

When I was ten we used to travel between FL and IL often, and I translated billboards/signs one trip, which seemed to work well. When we started the trip I had the code written on a sheet of paper, and the earliest billboards I'd get the first letter or two if I was lucky before another billboard would come along.. by the time we got to FL, I was dadididit dididah dadidadah   dadah dadadah didadit dit   dadididit dit dit didadit ing the entire text of the billboards in my head sufficient to pass the novice exam. After that, it's simply a matter of jumping on and practicing.

[KC2LAM]

thank you for your help!

[N6AJR]

http://www.g4fon.co.uk/

The koch method is the best, get it here free, and there is also a program here to download free too which allows you to type it onto your computer for automatic scoring.

Learning this way at 20 wpm from the start, you never have to relearn it again, and it is a useful speed.  When you take your test at 5 wpm you will fall asleep between characters, they really  seem that slow.  

This is the way to learn when you have added all the 46 letters numbers and characters, you know the code.  it works  try it.

73  tom N6AJR

http://www.g4fon.co.uk/

[N3KPU]

In my opinion Ham University is the way to go.  I spent 11 years as a Ham before I decided that I was going to finally get the code monkey off my back.  I downloaded the register Ham University, I think it costs $40.00. In exactley 1 month I went from not really knowing any code to passing my code test.  It has a game that is supposed to be like Tetris that might be the way to get some people it to thinking that code is a game, it might work for some, but the repitious characters and the way it builds you up a character at a time was what got me to learn it. Also it keeps track of your learning progress so the next time you come back for practice you dont have to start all over with the characters you already know.  Excellent program.  And great support from the author, always responded to my emails with in 24 hours. It gets 5 stars from me.