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Author Topic: Relearning cw  (Read 2403 times)

K4EMF

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RE: Relearning cw
« Reply #15 on: June 06, 2019, 05:41:12 PM »

I'm also in the process of relearning Morse code after a 30 + year lapse

I'm using the G4FON trainer with acceptable progress


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W6MK

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RE: Relearning cw
« Reply #16 on: June 06, 2019, 05:42:08 PM »

When I heard a sound pattern, say 'dah-dit-dah-dah', I'd replay it in my mind and mentally translate that to picture of '-.--', which is a 'y'.

The problem is well on its way of being corrected by way of much practice (read here practice several times each and every day).

Certain sound combinations are a problem for me but here too not an issue with hearing morse-code because I set the tone at 550 Hz.

Thanks for making that clear. It seems you first translate the sounds you hear into a mental picture which you can recognize and "read" as a character.

And you are overcoming that by practicing.

I would suggest that our brains always work via a simplification process. We begin learning in a complex, detailed way.
After a while our brains automate the process so that the complexity disappears and we process things quickly, without
having to take conscious steps. The example of this that comes to mind is learning how to drive in traffic. When you begin this is a very complicated, often very difficult task(s) to master. So much to look out for; so many things to do, shifting the transmission, working the clutch and accelerator, signaling your movements. After a while driving seems
completely automatic.

Just like code becomes, with practice.

In terms of hearing, there can be more to abilities and deficits than simply the that of registering a range of pitches
which are audible vs those that are not. I think contemporary life is so noisy that many of us have serious hearing
damage which brings not only failure to "hear" certain pitch ranges, but also internally-generated noises (for example tinnitus) which can prevent hearing clearly.
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KG7WGX

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RE: Relearning cw
« Reply #17 on: June 06, 2019, 10:42:17 PM »


  ... Please cite these studies, I can't seem to find them anywhere.


I haven't found the actual research paper, but the following presentation put on by Todd, VE3LMM, titled "Learn CW Using the Koch Method" at the Oakville Amateur Radio Club, Oct 2014, cited Ludwig Koch's study and report -

Koch’s Research Findings
● 1936 research report
● Findings:
○ Auditory learning at all times - no visual aids
○ Learn at 12+ wpm
○ Normal spacing between characters and groups
○ Start with 2 letters
○ Send random 5-letter groups
○ Add a letter when reach 90% copy
○ Character order matters


And, from the GtkMMorse Morse Code Tutor web page -

Koch is a philosophy for teaching morse based on the extensive researches of Ludwig Koch, psychologist at Die technische Hochschule, Braunschweig, Germany, reported in Jan-Feb. 1936.

While I can't find this German published research paper, I believe this is one of those things that is generally accepted without proof.  That is, Koch didn't just wake up one morning and invent the training method - there was some research behind it.  

Here's a link for further reading - http://www.9h1mrl.org/ukrae/arc_cd/extra/morse/html/c29.htm

The first line is significant -

The obviously extensive researches of Ludwig Koch, psychologist at Die Technische Hochschule, Braunschweig, Germany, reported in Jan-Feb. 1936 (see Sources), seem to be virtually unknown outside of Germany.

« Last Edit: June 06, 2019, 11:04:17 PM by KG7WGX »
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K8AXW

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RE: Relearning cw
« Reply #18 on: June 07, 2019, 10:34:16 AM »

It has been my experience that when first learning code the first thing that is taught is what each character LOOKS like on a large chart. Then comes the second "problem" that many lament is "counting dits and dahs.

There is no problem with either. It becomes almost impossible to hear a character and look it up on a chart and then write it down before the next character is sent. Initially this is done while the rest of the code continues on. This is done only sporadically.

The counting of dits and dahs is really frowned upon and discouraged by the instructors.  If done, this goes one of two ways.  One, speed puts an end to counting or if the habit can't be broke the student flunks out.

The same can be said about hearing a character and looking it up on a chart.  You either overcome this or flunk out.  I doubt if two-way communications can  be carried on beyond two words a minute hearing and looking.


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NI0C

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RE: Relearning cw
« Reply #19 on: June 07, 2019, 12:13:01 PM »

I dropped out of ham radio from 1970-1983.  Never forgot the code, and got back up to speed simply by listening to W1AW code practice sessions and bulletins over the air.  I don't see much mention of this wonderful resource, but it is always there.
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N4MJG

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Re: Relearning cw
« Reply #20 on: July 28, 2022, 01:23:03 PM »

It will come back to you i did the same thing i forgot the most of them. i use g4fon to learn again since i had hearing trouble now i have 2 new hearing aid which is helped me alot ! it will take time learn them again ! good luck !


Jackie
N4MJG
SKCC 7305
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JACKIE GREEN

K6RAU

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Re: Relearning cw
« Reply #21 on: August 22, 2022, 10:13:39 PM »

ka4nma de k6rau -
Randy - The foundation of Morse Code is sound rather than sight.  Here's a link
which should help with your endeavor in relearning the code - 73, Fred (k6rau):
   
                                      (Beginners Code Course)
       Those who may want to learn Morse Code, the following link should help.
       It's a course for beginners not knowing a difference between a "dit or dah."
       The learner with pencil and paper simply follows the voice instruction with
       first identifying the sounds of dits and dahs & then progressing from that
       point in twelve lessons to mastering of 5 words per minute...

 
                            URL:   https://k6rau.podomatic.com

 
       A lesson is about 30 minutes and recommendation is to listen to each twice
       before moving on to the next one.  At the time the code course was produced
       and recorded, the alphabet of  'Able, Baker, Charlie', etc., were still common
       phonetics being used within amateur radio before the now current phonetics
       of 'Delta, Echo, Foxtrot', etc...

              https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allied_Military_phonetic_spelling_alphabets

 
===========================================================
       
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W1VT

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Re: Relearning cw
« Reply #22 on: August 23, 2022, 01:44:11 AM »

I had to learn to send CW again after having a stroke.  The hardest part was learning to send conversational CW with a paddle. 
I found it helped to play darts and calculate the ending sequence to a game of 301.
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K8AXW

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Re: Relearning cw
« Reply #23 on: August 24, 2022, 09:52:51 AM »

I recently found an app for my iPhone called HotPaw Morse Words.  It sends random words at any speed you want.  Volume and Tone can be changed. After the word is sent you have the option of seeing what was sent.  The app is free and works incredibly well.
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WX7Q

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Re: Relearning cw
« Reply #24 on: August 25, 2022, 11:06:10 AM »

Since you are a visual learner...thought this might help.

https://pullmanradio.com/coded-message-on-cub-bookie-window-of-wsu-pullman-campus/

WX7Q
Jim
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KL7CW

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Re: Relearning cw
« Reply #25 on: September 01, 2022, 11:33:25 AM »

Back around a decade ago when I was about 70 years old, I bought a few old telegraph sounders and built an interface device so I could translate off the air tone CW into a DC voltage to drive the sounder, which just made a clickity clack noise. I had never heard a sounder previously, except in a few old western movies decades ago.  Almost immediately I was able to copy the sounder nearly 100 % within perhaps 15 minutes at around 15 WPM....at this time it was our international morse code.  Then I started learning American (land line) code where about 1/3 of the letters and numbers are different, and some characters have short spaces within a letter.
    Not much later I attended a convention where a sounder demo was taking place in American morse, and I copied that nearly 100%.   I picked up this skill with little practice at age about 70.  Not saying that all things are easy and quick for me at age 81, for example all 7 of my grandkids are much better at computer games, computer programing, etc. etc.
    Now my code experience may not apply to all folks, since I picked up code very early and could operate bugs, hand keys, iambic squeeze keying, ultimatic keying, easily, and even picked up the skill quickly to type a message received when I operated shore and ship marine stations very briefly.
     As a teacher I learned that my students learned in different ways.  So just a thought, how about trying to learn code by sound and have a blinker also sending the characters at the same time at perhaps 10 WPM or less, since blinker reading is still easy at this speed.  No idea if the two inputs will help.  When I first hooked up my sounders, I experimented with holding my finger on the sounder so I got tactile input also, but not sure if it helped, since it was easy to just decode by ear.
    I am not an expert, just throwing out crazy ideas, since there is a slight possibly one may stick.
               Cheers,  Rick  KL7CW
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N4MJG

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Re: Relearning cw
« Reply #26 on: September 06, 2022, 10:17:25 AM »

i'm blind right eye I can still know what each letters and number sound even ,.//?@ and still learning the code as well  I didn't just gave up just yet i'm going to keep on going until I get good at it !

73
Jackie
N4MJG
SKCC 7305 SINCE 2005
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JACKIE GREEN
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