I really enjoyed your video! I am in Northern Idaho (Near Spokane) so I hope to work you sometime on 40m or possibly 80m. I am practicing more and trying improve my CW skills so I appreciate your effort making videos! 73

Can a three digit city code be used for the qth? Las Vegas-LAS?

This was a lightbulb moment for me , thank-you.

What a great video sir. Serious and informative to the point. Many thanks!

No chance, even wid 0.25 speed. 73

I loved the Bug key, I had the Original. The Bug is a good key in both looks and operation but not as a beginner key. The bug is bad sending at 20 wpm and any speed less than 20 it's horrible (IMO), as the dits can not be adjusted downward, to be slower than 23 or 24wpm. The Bug has an attachment to slow down the speed to 10 or 13 wpm? I hate to say it, the Bug is a Nostalgia key in that it takes a little effort to learn how to use, as it is not a out of the box, hook up and use key. and there are more reason not to buy one then there is, when compared to paddle keys. Back when I got mine, there were no built in rigs with electronic keyers.

I know all the letters and number but by the time I’ve decoded a word, the stream is two or more words ahead. Even at 7 or 8 wpm word-rate I never get a sufficient number of words to even guess the message. (Doesn’t help that I’m 76, with life-long ADHD. Very frustrating-after a year on this. So throw me as many letters as you please-35 wpm letter-rate. If you like. I’ve got ‘em.)

Really good and helpful video. TU 73 es 77

Fluent at 5 words per minute? Haven’t reached that yet-and I’ve been at this for a year. Doesn’t help that I’m 76. Oh, I can recognize individual letters/numbers sent at a letter-rate of 30 wpm but for a string of words I’m always one to two or three words behind. Of course this ruins my copy because while I’m processing a word I completely miss two or three following words-even at a word-rate of 5 wpm. (All head-copy; trying to avoid the dreaded 10 wpm “plateau.”) Also it’s difficult to practice with 5 wpm text because the ARRL Code files always include prosigns and punctuation, even in slow speed text. Who but the ARRL would include Morse for a “COMMA” in 5 words per minute code?! And apparently no one sends on-air Morse at anything close to 5 wpm. I laugh when I see the admonition for “Slow Speed Contest” participants to go no faster than 20 wpm(!). 20 words per minute is the old Extra requirement, a level which thousands of “Advanced” licensees and would be “Extras” never reached. Did you notice the Advanced Test has disappeared? General-to-Extra is much more doable than 13-to-20 wpm. I’ll just keep on with single letters drills until I conquer instant recognition-it’s going to be a while.

Christian, what is the "possible" source for the discontinued SHURR Key that you show/mention?

Excellent tutorial. Thanks a lot. De G4ETV

I have joined the Longisland CW club to go from basics to advanced in a orderly fashion and thank you for replying to my post.

When I was in the Navy in the 70s we had a TTY to Morse code converter to send traffic to subs at 5 groups per min.

This is brilliant. tnx fer posting ! I am just starting out with cw and this is just what I needed. Tnx again. 73

A few comments for what it's worth. - if I receive an RST of 599 I prob would not repeat my QTH, name or WX Rig/Ant info. I assume they are receiving clearly and could come back with "?" if anything missed. If conditions are poor or I get a sense that operator is new then I would repeat as you suggest. - after contact established I would not repeat callsigns on every over...just end transmission with <BK> or "DE VE3WNS". Would only use full callsigns on first and last transmissions or to meet regulatory requirements. These are personal techniques that still fall within the basic structure you present which is spot on! 73 de Norm VE3WNS 2728

Your dits are sooo fast .For a beginner it's a tough sent to copy. The spaces between words are good but the letters fly out like AK-47

Hi,I am confused that I can follow the text on screen while you are senting but unable to follow and write what is written off air. I find it quite discouraging not being able to copy what is being sent off air do you have any ideas to help me to get on air or pointers in how should practice. 73' s from ZL1BMA David.

I am curious as to what speed we're you sending at on this clip.?

KN is that like BK? Should it be sent joined together ie with a bar on top? Great. video subbed de VK2AOE

Bencher keys are not heavily weighted? Huh? What?

Hello Chris, just run across your video. Been an Extra for almost 40 years. I am just getting back into CW as I haven't been operating CW for many many years. In the late 80's I was in the Army stationed in Germany. I was granted my reciprocal callsign DA1AS. As a consequence of where I lived out in the countryside, cable tv was not fully implemented so most of the neighbors had these big tv antennas. Well operating from my Kenwood 520 was curtailed since I created a fair amount of interference. Well, found out that CW did not bother neighbors as much, or the XYL! Also, I operated from 0300-0530 in the AM so that helped. Heck I was already getting up early anyway for PT training and the Army mission. For almost 3 years I exclusively was a CW operator. Had a single paddle Heathkit iambic keyer. Was able to get up to about 35-38wpm I had a ball, thousands of contacts. Also, I was the DX operator! Your prosigns, the reason for the message. I found I also liked <ar>. Yes, its the sound, hi hi. Anyway, I had a habit of <ar> K I used it primarily in the, over to you scenario. It just stuck adding the single K for (over). In my getting back into CW, like riding a bike, I can see it will not take long for me to get back into it. As long as my now, 62 year old fingers can work like my brain has remembered, but without realizing it I was sending the <ar> K. I automatically did it and at first had to think why? Then I remembered that particular prosign. Just thought I would share that with you. Once learned, never unlearned. Now that I am getting back into CW wonder why I stopped for so long. Hope to hear you on the air sometime. 73, Dan AB5VJ

Dumb question: when sending a prosign, do you include the brackets?

EXCELLENT anatomy of a CW qso

Thanks to everyone for your comments, all excellent. It's all about goals, really. Many of my students are aiming for 10 WPM, and a straight key will work great for that. I know some skilled operators who can get up to 25 WPM with a standard straight key, but it takes persistence and a love of the instrument. Iambic keys are just easier to use for most people with fewer errors at high speeds. Semi auto keys are great too, but there is a steep learning curve. I really like using my bug. The question was raised, rightfully so, that students should learn to copy Morse Code before staring to send. That is absolutely true, so our basic students focus on head copy first. The Fundamental class is designed for people who already have mastered head copy and are proficient at 5 WPM. This is why we introduce the keys and ask our students to make sure they have one before the start of class. It takes a while to get comfortable sending so we have exercises and drills designed to complement the instant character recognition homework. As one person commented, they were sending more accurately with a straight key than classmates with iambic paddles. If the goal of any student is to get to 10 WPM (Fundamental class), and they really want to do that with a straight key, of course I will support that. But most students will not be able move very far beyond 10 WPM with a straight key, I have to be honest with them about that. And I was delighted to see someone who started with a Marconi 356 straight key! That is wonderful! (I hope you still have that... If so, could you send pictures?). Another comment about the CWops mini-test. Once a week we hold four 1 hour rapid speed CW contests called CWT. Check out this link to see dates an times: cwops.org/cwops-tests/. In CW we use the word TEST as a shortcut for Contest. So our once weekly "tests" are really mini contests, but since nobody keeps score, they're more to practice sending and receiving as fast as we can. There are some ops sending 50 WPM. We did not anticipate the general interest, and have been a bit overwhelmed by how many stations are participating. The reviewer was concerned that CWT operations is interfering with QRP stations. This is a serious issue that I will be bringing to the CWops board this week. Thank you for all these comments, and forgive me for taking so long to reply. Life has been very busy for me for the last 6 months.... Very best, Chris

Great CW Tutorials.. Thanks for making..

I had the very great pleasure of doing some online CW classes with Christian who is a great teacher

Very informative. As a beginner, I nearly understood all the QSO. 73 de F1SOC

Well done, great tutorial, thanks for having two different speeds and the subtitles. Everything was very well explained and understandable. 73

Great Tutorial..

Great video Sir. Maybe you could encourage your members not to obliterate the QRP Centres of Activity every time they work the CWT contests...?

Thank you.

Wow! Nice sexist opening.

Very nice. Short and sweet. I learned so very long ago. All of these are an improvement over the old tried and true bug. I still have my original 73 K6AGE

So, you you think you can only get "10wpm to 12wpm " out of a straight key. Really?? kzbin.info/www/bejne/iXLNkp9rj8utpNE. (sending random groups with a straight key around 18-wpm). I've a record of me sending morse at 25wpm with 100% accuracy when I was 19 on a straight key. Given that most military and commercial operators used straight keys and 20-22wpm was the required standard for both groups around the 1960s & 70s, I think you might want to edit your introduction..

💃 *Promo SM*

Nice mate.. De 4S7JL

Dash on the right or the left with iambic paddles? I see most use right, but I learned left. Is it merely a personal choice or is there a real reason for one or the other? TU, KA8VLW, Ken, Michigan

Update on the volume issue: thanks again for bringing this up. When KZbin placed adds at the beginning video, they are playing at full volume so when it's my turn to talk, it sounds like I'm whispering. I recorded the videos with marginal audio volume to start with, but that just makes it worse. There are no tools to increase the audio gain once a KZbin video has been published, so I would have to take them all down and repost. I think it's best I leave these first few modules as they are to make sure my students don't get lost! But I agree with you, I need to pay closer attention to the audio from now on. Again, thanks for your feedback. 73s...

Thank you! I realized there was a sound issue after recording module 5. I will work on getting it fixed! Much appreciated. Chris

Great content. Please increase the recorded volume.

I have had to switch to a paddle due to arthritis in my wrist. Might be another reason for starting with a paddle. Do you have a class on setting up the radio for an iambic paddle? Having trouble getting my TS-2000 to work in iambic mode. Thanks.

“Iambic keying” - alternating dits and dahs when both levers of a dual-lever paddle are depressed - is a function of the electronic keyer, not the paddle itself. Though “iambic B” keying is the most popular mode of electronic keyers, other keying modes, ie. “ultimatic,” exist that do not produce alternating dits and dahs. The proper term for the key itself is dual-lever paddle.

Hi Chris, I'm learning Morse at 25wpm, and watching you Vids here on KZbin. I'm following at this speed and spacing easily. Might have to look at your other Vids.. Running a Begali Expedition Good Work Mate !! Regards from Melbourne AU ,

Thanks Chris, very helpful. DE M0GJQ

For me, the real question is can you use a single paddle key for the classes or must you use an iambic key? I've signed up for later this coming year and would like to have a proper key if I'm accepted.

Thanks Chris, looking forward to the course. James M0GJQ

I have a clarifying point for your audience. You inadvertently, at least to me, lumped in single “lever” paddle keys in with iambic paddle keys, as you had noted in your introduction that you were going to discuss Iambic paddle keys and Bugs. Single “lever” paddle keys are not capable of Iambic keying, and thus should not have been included in the same overall category. It may be confusing to some. Thanks and great video otherwise!

Thanks for a very informative view of iambic paddles. I noticed you don't recommend Bencher paddles because they are too light and tend to move around in use. Is that true for all Bencher models? According to the specs on the DX Engineering site, the Bencher BY-1B and Vibroplex Iambic-D are both 3 lbs. Is there a minimum weight you recommend?

I’m comfortable with a sideswiper, if I sign up for a CWOps fundamentals course would I be rejected for using a swiper?

упс, а Земля то плеската😂😂😂😂😂😂