How to Improve Your CW Speed:

[AD6WL]

This Article is being reprinted with authorization from the author:

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

[WB2WIK]

This is very good, Jim, and I couldn't agree more.  Interactive practice prior to licensing, and then on-air practice once the ticket's in hand is definitely the way to get good quickly (and enjoyably) using code.

Unless there's rare DX on 30m (which happens quite a lot) creating a spread-out pileup, almost everyone using the bottom half of the 30m band is a real gentleman and will slow down immediately.  Same goes for most of the bands, but 30m is a great operating experience for many who haven't tried it yet.  It's also open more hours per day than most other bands, and doesn't require antennas as large as 40 or 80.

Good tips!

WB2WIK/6

[N0IU]

I was walking down Broadway in New York City when a man with a violin case in his hand stops me and asks, "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?"

I replied, "Practice!"

[KR6DJ]

I usually send at 18 to 20 wpm when CQing, but if you send QRS, or come back to my call at a slower speed I'll always go to your speed.  If I hear a station sending slower CW I always drop to their speed.

That's what one is supposed to do! :-)

Any practice is good, and slow CW is not a crime. It's a hobby not a competition.

[AD6WL]

This QRS CW group is still very active and looking for more people to join in the fun.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/QRS-CW/

73, Jim
AD6WL

[KE6AEE]

FIST has a program called "Code Buddy" or something like that.  You hook up with someone that you regularly meet on the air and he works with you to increase your speed and proffiency.

Richard