| KI7IQK |
Rating:      |
2019-03-29 | |
| Melted my mental block |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I give this a 5 on function - like my ugly homebrew antenna, it WORKS!
Years ago I had learned code visually from a chart that had a picture for each letter - the apple's stem was a dit and the body of the fruit a dah, the heads of the four boy scouts calling for help were four dits - and it was effective for getting a visual image in my head. It has been 50 years since I saw the chart, and I still remember a handful of the images. But as you all know, and I know now, having a mental lookup table is a hindrance, not a help.
I have also used the Morse Elmer app for iPhone and I gave it 5 stars because for what it is and does; it is elegant and fully functional. It let me set character speed and Farnsworth spacing, and it let me add one letter at a time. I tried for weeks at a time, two or three times, and always at about 20 characters I hit the wall. At about that point I had enough characters in my head that I began to confuse inverse pairs like A and N. Also I found that if I changed the base speed within the Farnsworth spacing, even going down like from 15 to 10, I could no longer recognize characters I had learned. And I never could score over 90% and move on to a new character.
I'm neither a linguist nor an educator. But 40 years ago I was fluent in Persian, I'm passable in Spanish now, I've dabbled in Turkish and Arabic, and my wife is a Spanish teacher. So neither did I just fall off a turnip truck. I won't regurgitate Dr. Wheeler's educational theories from his website, but I've drunk the Koolaid. I firmly believe his method DOES get the code into the language center, where the speed of the character is not a fundamental part of the sound. His assertion is that Morse Elmer was putting the character into the part of the brain that stores environmental sounds, where speed IS a part of the sound. That matches my experience, and explains why I couldn't copy at 10 wpm what I had learned at 15.
With Dr. Wheeler's recordings, it took me 5 days to learn all the letters, and another three to learn the numbers, comma, slash, period, and question mark. I do NOT confuse A and N, R and K, Y and F, etc. The recordings DO give the characters at different speeds and I DO recognize the characters at those different speeds. It truly did melt my mental block. I still need a lot more work, but I fully believe that if I stick to an hour a day for the rest of the 30 days, as promised I'll have code.
Even though I gave it a 5, it is not perfect. And maybe I should have given it a 4 because of the imperfections. But the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and I gave it a 5 because it WORKS.
Here are some potential negatives:
In the first recording, Dr. Wheeler says some of the things he asks you to do seem juvenile or even ridiculous. Yep. That's consistent with the learning methods my wife uses to teach Spanish; a ridiculous image does serve as what Dr. Wheeler calls "memory glue." His narrative is also somewhat juvenile, and I'm fine with that. But if you're not, well, now you know.
Like my homebrew antenna, the recordings themselves are pretty rough. It clearly was done on a low budget and not by professionals. But everything is understandable, even playing in the car while I commute. The same thing applies to the book and the images on the flash cards.
Some of the narrative and one of the sound-a-likes are religious in nature. I enjoy and admire that, but if you don't, well, now you know.
On another review I read a complaint that reciting the sound-a-like after hearing the character, in order to know the associated letter, will be a hindrance to fast copying. That has not been my experience; even now, after less than two weeks, I find myself sometimes immediately knowing a letter before the sound-a-like pops into my head. At the end of each exercise is a "day drill" where you hear the code sent quite fast and read along in the book. I think that is part of how one gets the character directly in the head without the intermediate sound-a-like. But I firmly believe the intermediate sound-a-like is necessary; I think it is why I no longer confuse A and N, etc.
Bottom line: It works for me. Your mileage may differ. |
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| N0YG |
Rating:      |
2017-10-15 | |
| Just Can't fail |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I used this many yrs. ago and passed first try. I still have this wonderful program with all the cards especially the "D" dah dit dit dog did it, lol. I can still see the picture and laugh a little each time I think about it. This is a time tested program and has been around for years because it works. Don't fix it, if it's not broke!!! Thanks
n0yg Robert
Extra ticket holder |
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| VE3BXG |
Rating:      |
2017-10-14 | |
| Yes, yes, yes |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| I had given up on learning CW, but CodeQuick made it possible. Had my first QSO within about 3 weeks of starting the program. It works - simple as that. |
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| KB5KWO |
Rating:      |
2016-10-19 | |
| Worked Great for Me.. |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Worked with no Issues for me.. I passed my 20WPM back in the day and Code Quick is a Main Reason..
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I did have to transfer PCs at one time, and it was a hassle jumping through the hoops, but all worked out..
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I would recommend..
73 |
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| W4KVW |
Rating:      |
2016-08-10 | |
| Quick Learning |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| Well I was given a Code Quick program & in 8 evenings of 2 hours per evening I took the 5 wpm code test & passed with straight copy.I used the old program with cassette tapes & flash cards & I did it because it was a Bucket List thing.I could have waited a couple of months & upgraded without learning the code but I was not looking for a hand out from the government.My wife is not a Ham & she learned several characters while sitting in the next room while I studied those 8 evenings.I passed the system on to another ham who also passed the code test & he later passed it on again.I can't speak for the rest of the world but I know that CODE QUICK worked for me.I had tried several other programs & had learned nothing & had almost given up.If I can learn CW using the program then there must be something to it.16 total hours with the program is proof enough for me. {:>) |
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| N8WGM |
Rating:      |
2014-08-25 | |
| When Morse Code was needed to pass |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
When Morse Code was needed to get a ham ticket, this was one of the best ways to learn the code.
When I got my ticket, back in the early 90's, I was able to copy at over 30 WPM thanks to Code Quick. The test was at 15 WPM and it seemed so slow! The Code Quick did its job and Morse Code is my second language. The code just jumped out at you when it was being played.
I have not used code for a while now. I was out of radio for a few years and decided to get back into it. Tuned into the Morse section of 40 meters and all the training from Code Quick came right back. The "Say Ah" and "Band rat a tat" or "Catch it Catch it" (A,B,C) that the Code quick uses just popped into my head without even trying.
I recommend Code Quick but have not used the most recent computer version. I owned the CD version and learned how to read code while in my car. That is the best time to learn, while driving. |
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| K7KY |
Rating:   |
2012-03-05 | |
| Not Recommended if you hope to exceed 18-20wpm |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I find the Koch CW learning method is superior to Code Quick. Learning to associate each letter with words/concepts creates a mental look-up table. OK for low-speed CW, but not good if you hope to move beyond 18wpm. The Koch method teaches you to associate CW sound directly with the letter and then the sound with words. A good example is the G4FON Koch Trainer.
I bought Code Quick twice a few years back and I feel pretty dumb for buying the second copy. When I tried to reinstall CQ on my new computer, the owner tells me my copy is too old to reissue the key and sells me another (same) copy at discount. With this copy the same thing happens; a computer crash requires reinstalling CQ. Same story again except I decline the ploy this time. Now, I"m trying to forget 'Did Pa Pop It' while relearning CW with G4FON Koch Trainer (free - donate if you like). |
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| AF6Z |
Rating:  |
2012-03-05 | |
| Was Great, now I can't recommend |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I fully agree with WC5B. I've had a very similar experience. I made 3 calls for the unlock code and finally gave up. QuickCode uses a well thought out method of teaching CW that made it easy and quick. I used it 10 years ago and thought that it would be great for my kids and our club. Unfortunately, the strong arm security makes it unpleasant and time consuming to install. I understand the need to protects the developer's financial interest but I find these draconian measure not worth the trouble or worry. |
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| WC5B |
Rating:  |
2012-03-05 | |
| "Was" good at one time, Now looks to be a scam. |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I was a sucker to try this software again. The idea behind it was great. I have yet to find another program that uses this system to learn code. I bought the 2000 version of the software and it did really make me learn code rather quickly. The issue was that you had to go through the software developer to get an unlock code even after you bought it. If money is transferred, I should have access AT TIME OF PURCHASE! The worst part is I forgot why I had to stop using the software. I travel with a laptop and it was damaged beyond repair. I had to get a new machine and load the software back up. Guess what? Had to call the Dev again for an access code! It took a day or two because the guy was taking care of family business. Then when I stopped travelling I started to use a desktop. When trying to install the software, I had to (You guessed it) call the ONE AND ONLY DEV! again to get an access code. This time I never received a call back or email returned. Somehow the memory of how good the actual program out weighed the memory of how frustrating it was to actually use for the user as it is locked up like Fort Knox and there is only one flippin guy with the key, and you MUST call him to get the stupid thing!!!! Well, here I went and forgot that and bought the upgraded version in which it said I did not have to have the old installed on my drive to buy and install it. I just had to have my callsign on the customer database. So I downloaded it and started it up after paying another $30 bucks. Oh look..... a user name and password is required! Better yet, all the email links are broken and do not exist anymore on their website. How nice. Its sad that this software is as good as it is for those lucky enough to get into it, but its a MORSE CODE LESSON SOFTWARE NOT FLIPPIN' BANKING BACKBONE DATABASE SOFTWARE!!!!! It does not have to be locked up like it is! And if you do lock it up, have a business staffed to take calls and not just one guy in the whole flippin flappin cotton pickin universe!!!!!! I will update my review if I EVER reach anyone and actually get to see the program, but I doubt I will EVER give it a 5 until they remove these insane security measures. Until then, they took my money and did not give me my product so its a Scam in my book. Even the older one you only got ONE install and you were toast. Am I renting or buying a licensed copy? |
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| KI6DZU |
Rating:      |
2010-12-29 | |
| Highly Recommended |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
First my results: From nearly scratch - in one week (a bit longer than 1 hour a night) I have learned 26 letters, comma, dot, 1,2,3. That says it all really.
In addition to the course I sprinkled in some Just Learn Morse Code sessions, some listening to QSOs, and converting words to code in my head randomly through the day.
I wasn't sure if my results were real or limited to the software so last night I loaded up the quotes of the day podcast (5wpm) and was able to copy about 90-95%. Truly amazing.
The course is comprised of a pdf (your "textbook"), some tables to track your progress, audio lessons, and the lesson software.
Your first steps will be to print out and cut up a few sheets worth of flashcards, sound alikes on one side, letter on the other, and some progress tracking docs and you're ready to rock.
For each letter you'll get a story for the sound alike, hear the code, hear the code and the sound alike and then do some muscle memory drills. Then you'll switch over to the software and get some drills there. As you progress the old letters will be thrown in to keep you on your toes, and keep them fresh in your mind.
However, there are some issues:
The software is poorly written. The UI is odd and contains fairly large bugs.
The audio lessons sound amateurish. Tracks sound like channels from varying bit rates/microphones were spliced in together, and the levels are off. I believe there are instances where the former is used to enhance the sound alike "sticking", but it is not consistent.
The website is poorly designed and down right confusing. Ordering did not even work correctly. I ended up resorting to reading the source to place mine.
So now you've just read those harsh words and I would like to make something perfectly clear.
*** With these issues the program STILL GETS A 5. ***
If you want to learn cw - buy this right now.
If you any have questions I'll be more than happy to help: my call @gmail.com |
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