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Reviews For: CW Forever

Category: Ham Radio Education & Exam Prep Materials

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Review Summary For : CW Forever
Reviews: 8MSRP: FREE
Description:
Full featured, flexible and easy to use PC based CW Training
software. This software will run on all current Windows
Operating Systems including Windows 8.
Product is in production
More Info: http://w9rfx.com/Downloads.htm
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0085
PA5CA Rating: 2023-10-13
Best CW trainer Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is by far the best CW tutor I have found.
Not for the experienced CW operator, they could be better of with Morserunner.
But if you are in the process of learning CW this CW forever is the way to go.
I have used MA or Morse Academy but that works only in a Windows DOS box and a challenge to get it functional.
CW Forever has more or less the same functionality as MA.
I'm a happy camper and all the credits to George W9RFX who has made this possible.
73 Frans PA5CA www.pa5ca.com
VA7MMW Rating: 2021-10-04
One of the best Morse trainers, esp. for advanced training Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This is one of the best, if not the best program have found for advanced Morse code training, especially learning to head copy. Unlike many other Morse trainers, this program provides an unbeatable combination: not only does it allow the user to specify the number of letters in each word or group of random letters, but it also allows one to insert variable delays between words.

This allows the user to start head copy training by listening to 3-4 letter words, with a pause for the user to write the word down before the next word occurs. One listens to the Morse, head copies each letter of the word as it occurs, generates the complete word, then writes the word down.

This builds the skill of instantly visualizing each Morse letter in your mind, and combining those letters to form a word. This is a somewhat different skill than writing or typing letters as you hear them. You don't have to visualize a letter to write it down or type it; a good transcriptionist can transfer words directly from sound to type without having to visualize each letter before it goes on the page or even consciously appreciate the full meaning of the sentence being typed.

This is also an excellent program for beginners and contains all of the facilities necessary to quickly learn the basics. The dictionary of words included seems to be larger than most other Morse code programs which is a definite plus.

Wish list for this program:

1) Allow the user to specify fixed numbers or number ranges of characters for call signs; so one can start head copying 3 letter call signs and move up to >8 letter call signs.

2) The holy grail - allow the user to insert their own dictionary of words, have the program randomly pick 3 letter words, 4 letter words, etc. from that dictionary & present them to the user to copy. This is important because eventually the user learns all the words in the embedded dictionary and the ability of the program to train to recognize new words / new letter combinations becomes markedly diminished. Almost all programs have the ability to use a list of words provided by the user, but these words are always converted to Morse code in exactly the same order as on the input list, which quickly becomes memorized by the reader and less effective re: training.

3. A portable version of the program.

This program is a hidden gem. It's not as widely known as some others, e.g. the excellent GF40N trainer, but should be.
PA3EWG Rating: 2021-07-29
very nice and good for learning! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
It learns very quickly after years.
You can learn words at most speed. Also the experimental morse machine is a very nice tool!.
I like it and use it every day now, until i am back on my old level (1988)
4X1ST Rating: 2019-03-29
Excellent learning aid Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This is probably one of the best aids to learning the code. It's configurable for speed, Farnsworth spacing, extra word spacing, you can choose what characters to practice (for Koch Method), and you can select the length of groups too.

Also there are lists of predefined phrases and callsigns to work on.

CW Forever has really helped me work on character recognition and build up speed and reduce spacing. It's an essential tool.
AA6VB Rating: 2018-01-15
Great Program Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just read a recent review and thought I'd give the program a try. I am a cw operator who could use a lot of improvement and this program is very useful because it generates random words (so you can't anticipate) at any speed you desire. It also has short individual sessions so it's not tiring.

I think the program is excellent and want to thank the developer for providing such a wonderful program FREE to the ham community.

73,

Bob/AA6VB
AG5PG Rating: 2018-01-14
I love It! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Great program! I have been away from CW for over 35 years and I am trying to re-learn it. This program has been a tremendous help. You put a lot of time and effort into developing this and for you to share with others your labor is a great thing.
K0INN Rating: 2015-11-09
Great stuff!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I'm working on my head copy skill and I absolutely love the "random phrases" practice text. Many are humorous and they really hold my interest.

One of the features I will use is generating CW MP3 files and burning those files to CD. Listening to CW in the car is a great way to put dead time to use.

There is a "softness" CW setting. I found that when I set a value to 3, I was able to copy much better.

Great software! Long live CW!
W9RFX Rating: 2014-03-24
It Works and Is Free! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This software took me from a rusty 10 WPM to well over 25 WPM inside of a few months. The developer will add any feature that you so desire. And it is free. This software has to be installed on your Windows PC and is a clean install and is created with the latest Microsoft software development tools. The software provides you with some interesting historical tid bits too. For Call Sign practice, all the members of FOC, CW OPs, Fists, SKCC and NAQCC are included in the database.