Creating New CW Operators (

[@VE9ASN]

I can't say for certain that it's the best of your 657 offerings, but this video is exactly where I am, and it is definitely the one that's hit my personal resonant frequency, 73!

[@CapnMic]

as a Technician/General apprentice, late to the party in terms of interest in ham radio .. I see CW as an "art form" .. it takes concentration, skill, and discipline .. a joy to watch someone send/receive .. it certainly has musical elements .. in terms of rhythm, speed, and pause .. for the trained ear. Another great presentation from your channel.

[@SpinStar1956]

I’ve taught a lot of new CW ops and this is what I’ve found most effective: Best method is is conversations that you enrich with numerics and punctuation by talking about weather, antenna-dimensions, age, distances from one geographical point to another, and making proper sentences that contain commas and periods. But most important, is just DO-IT, and try to keep a short but REGULAR schedule of operation wether it is between you and friend or random contacts. See if you can then add another SHORT session in the morning or evening; this works because not everyone wants to ragchew but might likely be just looking for contacts/QSL cards. But each session, even if you think you can longer-don’t; always end fresh, without feeling drained or stressed! Lastly, (this is powerful) try to anticipate what the other operator is about to send you instead of using the “copy-from-behind” method; this will take a lot of stress out and make it more like a game! Have fun and you will see great progress! 73…

[@andreVE4BK]

Great video Dave!… I learned morse code in the RCAF with both visualising the dots and dashes and listening to the morse code. I found that visualising the dots and dashes gave me a mental assistance as I could visually see the code as I heard it. It worked, as I graduated Comms School at 24WPM (100% copy on a typewriter) and could copy most of 28-30 WPM. They also say that being musically inclined (rhythm) also helps. I later certified at 30WPM. Most of the fast copiers will be around 4-5 characters behind as you copy/write it down… you will have a code buffer in your head. For the ones that struggle, keep at it; you will improve!

[@wildbill1]

I’m trying to learn it myself. Been a ham since 2019. Not required ,but I want to expand my abilities.

[@Mysyzplx]

Great pep talk for learning CW. I already decided to do it, but the tips offered will keep me from spinning my wheels using an unproductive approach and avoiding disappointment from counterproductive behaviors. Thanx, Dave!

[@HamRadio200]

I've tried learning it, and will try again. I've noticed though, it is very similar to learning a different spoken language. Sometimes the dahs are dits and understood as dahs by the experienced receiver. That is what makes it difficult, but I know with time and effort anyone can learn it.

[@captbart3185]

An excellent video. I suggest that hanging out around 7.114 to 7.125 which is one of the SKCC QRS frequency watering hole . Nothing works as well as on air practice and the SKCC members are really good at slowing down to your speed.

[@AC3HT]

This is an outstanding video, Dave. Much appreciated. BTW, I learned CW back in the early 1990's with various cassette code tapes and a chart, (2 hours a day - the hard way). Was not long and unfortunately started memorizing all the code tapes and they became less effective. Learning did speed up a lot when I picked up an old 40 meter Heath kit radio and started copying live, on-air code transmissions. 7 3

[@lomgshorts3]

Dave, Great video! I learned CW on a pin diode switched CB radio - good for slow to medium speed CW. Me and three others did the code this way, and we found each other by chance. I do not know if this was legal at the time, but the FCC monitoring station in Canandaigua, NY (just 10 miles down the road) never bothered us about it. I remember this was the late 70's during the "Convoy" rage, and before the 40 channel radios. I used a 6 channel Radio Shack rockbound transceiver with RG-213 into a dipole antenna. The receiver was a National HRO-5 and I switched it through a furnace relay. It was fun, great practice in actual conditions, and earned me my Novice ticket in 12/79. And no, I do not judge a Ham by his use or non-use of Morse although we used CW a lot in Navy Marine Corps MARS. It was required! We used all the different modes depending on the frequency allocations the Navy gave us to operate on. FM, AM, CW, SSB (upper only), and several digital modes depending on what encryption systems used. MT-63 was the best mode because it worked well on the earliest PS-2 clones up to the earliest 486 machines and Windows 3.1. We spent hours in training and backed up Navy and Marine comms during exercises and disaster comms. Then the Navy dropped us on 15 Sep 2015 without warning us it was coming. This was a sad thing, and someday the Navy will regret it. At 0 Hours GMT we closed the doors and cut power to our Navy supplied stations. I kept my equipment even though the Navy wanted it back - after 23 years I wasn't going to spend time or money returning valuable equipment just to have it crushed and recycled. After a while they stopped demanding it back. I have three Collins R-390A's in a rackmount, a power supply that ran a 3KW Collins linear, the Collins linear, and two teletype machines fully outfitted with speed changers, perforaters and readers, a 10KW Wisconsin diesel genset, and 70' of tower. It is fun running two Model 28's, the two HE-1000 teletype converters and the Collins gear on the Amateur bands only. And Military gear is so tough and enduring. It may be considered ancient today, but my Shack WORKS whether the power company is up or dead. But CW gets through when voice and computer modes do not. Even if you do not like Morse, it is best to have a rudimentary knowledge of it no matter what. 73's de W4FJF.

[@bluejacket9774]

Taught myself code when I was 15 in 1974 using W1AW, got up to 20 wpm. Haven't used it since my 2 yr non renewable novice ticket expired. Funny thing is all these decades later, I still remember it all.

[@btaylor1948]

Thanks Dave. Love CW but had been away from it for many years. Back into it and am about 10wpm but want to get back to the (old) extra class 20 wpm. The cursive idea is great!! Where I have been falling back in my copy is trying to print the letters. I'll give it a try. Best to you. 73. Bob WB6TIS

[@mikeZL3XD7029]

Thank you Dave, You say that 15 minutes per day is better than 3 hours a day. I suspect that that is what happened with me, the last time I tried to pick up the code. Trying to cram all of that information into my brain just ended up with missed characters or hearing them wrong and that can lead to frustration and that is what we had in the end.

[@1boortzfan]

Great video Dave. I learned 5 WPM to get my tech plus ticket when that was a thing then later went on to get my general with no upgrade on code. I'm disabled now and having had 5 closed head injuries in my working career I want to pick up code again and re-wire my brain. I know from before it takes practice, practice, practice. I enjoy all your videos, keep up the great work. 73's KE4VBB Rusty

[@w4mkh]

The spelling of signs while driving is something I still do phonetically. Done that for years off and on. Really helps keeping the phonetic alphabet fresh in my mind. I never thought about doing that with Morse

[@techguy9023]

I thought I was the only one who did that!

[@rays9033]

Great advice! I recently downloaded the G4FON window’s app works great. FYI, I may have misheard Dave of Golf-4-Foxtrot-Oscar-Mike (G4FOM)? It maybe should have been stated: Golf-4-Foxtrot-Oscar-November (G4FON)?

[@jonahzsong]

Excellent, Dave.

[@derekdowns6275]

Using a Commodore VIC-20, you can type all alpha-numeric characters and record the output on an audio cassette recorder for later playback copy practice. If you very carefully "crunched" your code, it just barely fit in your 3.5k of RAM. Don't ask me how I know.

[@tgirard123]

Hey Dave, something you may want to mention in one of your KZbin videos. David boggs, the co-inventor of Ethernet passed away. He was also an avid ham and built radios as a kid with his brothers. Would any of us be talking here today if it wasn't for the work he did at PARC research here in Palo Alto. Just a thought...

[@K2CTC]

Just ordered a Kent straight key kit and plan to start CW w/ Long Island CW club in 2 weeks.

[@pmolczan]

Always enjoy David. Man of gold.

[@michaeledmonds3027]

Thanks so much Dave. I'll check out G4FOM. I have a mini QRP CW only rig that I'm anxious to work with.

[@gregorygordon3169]

Dave made a small mistake. It's G4FON not G4FOM.

[@BobDarlington]

You're spot on about practice. CW Academy stresses head copy. Never write down what you hear other than perhaps a call and name. They stress conversational code. And they recommend and will only accept you in class if you use an iambic paddle. This allows for perfect cadence which is useful to those listening during class. And straight keys seriously limit speed. I was sending pretty well at 20WPM by the end of the 8 week class.

[@ralphnunn3]

Several thoughts: 1) ARRL CW bulletins mentioned are usually found at .047.5. So on 20 meters, you can find them at 14.047.5, and 40, 7.047.5, etc. It's my goal to be able to copy one whole one one of these days. 2) I'm afraid I disagree with Dave here on trying to 'head copy'. While when you're first learning, you will have to write everything down (I still have to), I believe there is some value in listening to random QSO's, and trying to copy what they're saying in your head. 3) While I agree that starting out, you should learn on a straight key, I didn't. I learned on an iambic paddle. It's true; it is tricky, but I believe it can be worth it. It's like the difference between learning to drive on a manual (paddle) vs an automatic (straight key). If you do learn on a paddle, I believe transferring to a straight key is not that hard. At least, it wasn't for me. 4) I do agree with Dave here that if you, for whatever reason, just CAN'T get the code - IT'S OKAY. Use phone, and digital modes. It's also Ham Radio. -Ralph Nunn Springville, Utah DE K7RLN

[@steveoshaughnessy3736]

The best tip ever, "There is no way to learn the Morse code that does not involve practice." In today's fast paced world many people are not used to thinking long term. Unless you can devote all day, every day, learning CW is going to take time. At 15 minutes a day you're looking at several months. Your milage may vary. AND, I'm talking about a speed between 10 and 15 WPM.

[@TheBuggy73]

I have a question about writing small (kursiv) letters to copy morse code. Do you mean to print each letter or writing the letters together without gap?

[@Pelnied]

For practice I recommend people make some contacts during a contest. A contest doesn't have to be for the best operators looking to make 1000 QSOs over the weekend. Beginners will appreciate the known exchange and it gets rid of the anxiety of having to keep a conversation going and not knowing their weird abbreviations. You listen, make a couple quick transmissions, and then you are gone and can relax. It also gives you the opportunity to start hearing the code as words like you said, a common one is "TEST" that people send very quickly so you just hear dah-dit-dit-dit-dit-dah. You also get to practice hearing code at very high speeds 20-30WPM on average, so you begin to develop an ear for people's fists quickly.

[@techguy9023]

Get on the air and enjoy it while you can. Not too many new cw ops. Sota and pota help. I’m not great but it’s still a different kind of qso especially when you can do it with some wire in a tree backpacking.

[@billsbasementworkshop1902]

Hi, I am a radio amature from England, call G0NWY. I thought that the CW was no longer used. Sorry if I am wrong but after moving to Bulgaria in 2004, I have not been on the air. Please let me know if this is still used as the Bulgarian gov will not grant me a licence to opperate. regards, Bill.

[@Porco_Utah]

try SKCC frequency, most will slow down even to 3 WPM. at that speed , you have enough time to look at Dash and Dit chart and write down each letter, so you don't even need to have Morse Code memorized yet. sending is same. pretty soon, one will get to 5 WPM, then 10. AG6JU

[@josephrogers5337]

In the 70's I had a tape. I had a 45 min drive to work and I would put the tape on and listen and with that I became proficient enough to bet 13 wpm,. So on the first try passed the advanced test. That was 1979. First got the Advanced license. It was a cross Florida drive to Tampa FCC office. My brother who is blind was a very good CW operator. Imangine copying and punching braille at the same time. My new call sign granted was KB4TJ or as I would say Kilo Bravo 4 Tijuana.

[@muskateer10]

I learned morse code when I was 6, by a record(45 I think ...one of the small records). I listened to it for 3-4 hours and had morse code memorized (Younger is better for learning; I could never duplicate that today at my age (70+)). For Morse Code Practice I used W1AW (ARRL station); It is still broadcasting today. W1AW transmits on various bands and at various speeds from 5WPM on up to at least 30WPM. *I barely remember morse code any longer. Can't afford the equipment. LoL AC0BT W1AW, the station operated by the ARRL, typically transmits on the following frequencies for Morse code: 1.8025 MHz, 3.5815 MHz, 7.0475 MHz, 14.0475 MHz, 18.0975 MHz, 21.0675 MHz, 28.0675 MHz, 50.350 MHz, and 147.555 MHz.

[@closeoutsaleusa5322]

Boy, there's lots and lots of bad code out there. I've had operators send at 5 wpm which I could not copy because all the words run together. Yet I will have another op send at 25 to 28 wpm and I can copy that ham 100%. The difference is usually because of word SPACING. Another nightmare is a ham who insists on using an antique bug and doesn't have it set up correctly - and can't make readable letter shapes... so you wind up trying to decode his CW. Great video Dave. Keep 'em coming.

[@mrbyamile6973]

My struggles with dyslexia made copping and comprehending CW such a miserable struggle I gave up years ago. I didn't get licensed until they finally dropped the requirement. I feel like a bit of a failure but I think it's only older hams that were required to learn code guilting me into feeling guilty.

[@MLampner]

Funny may not be the right word, but I too have dyslexia. I struggled to learn how to do the five words needed for a novice license. I muddled through it but I was a wreck after the exam, I was literally drenched in sweat. I sat in 1967. I got the license and with a friend - who had not interest and a tape recorder he would play me snippets of code from a record (yes the old kind with grooves and a needle I had bought of short bursts of Morse. The record was a 78 and a friend of my dad had loaned it to me. I built a kit radio from Heath I believe set up a an antenna and spent most of my time on phone as my code only got a little bit better. I forget exactly where but there was a small part of 10m a novice could use phone on. As the end of my novice license drew nearer I struggled to get to I think 13 words a minute the minimum for the next glass, I could not get there and I gave up. The honest truth was I was getting more interested in girls and cars and I didn't put the time in. I suspect given how much of a struggle 5 words a minute was 13 would have been unattainable even without the distractions of cars and girls. I got a CB license in 1975. I know that becuase I found it a few months ago. We lived in a remote area of up state New York and my wife had to drive 60 miles to graduate school so we each had one on our car. I would not be diagnosed as a dyslexic till I reached college in 1970.

[@lorensteele2962]

There are iphone apps you can set by a speaker to decode morse code & others to practice learning it. Probably easier than ever to learn now

[@Tocsin-Bang]

I've been trying to learn morse code for nearly 70 years. My father who was in the Royal Navy used to try and teach me (he did 24 years in naval radio) at the dining table. I did get to the point where I knew the alphabet characters. At 73 I am trying again! G4FON Ray Burlingame-Goff went silent key on July 29th, 2021, but his website is still online.

[@Sky_Pony_1_mic_sierra]

Dave's intro music in CW: EIINN EIINN EIINN T U You're welcome; now you're going to hear that every time.

[@sc20910]

Good Alexa skill: continuous wave. “Alexa, ask continuous wave for practice”

[@Stewart0494]

Excellent video! Just what I was looking for.

[@davevk5pl952]

Long Island CW CLub has many different classes, from teaching the characters plus sending and head copy classes and even a CW fun class with jokes, jumbled words all sent by CW.

[@TobyLong]

Rol Anders is doing a very class before the extra class. Quite helpful, I will look into it after I’m done with the extra class

[@thomasr.jackson2940]

Good stuff. For what it is worth, I think both head copy and paper copy are useful. They are different skills, and both are needed. I made little progress trying to learn with paper copy, but really flew through AD0WE’s “Morse Code Ninja” recordings. (As an aside he has them available in podcast format which turns out to work really well!). Then paper copy became so much easier, and also reinforced aural learning (for me). I am still building up my skill, not an expert by any means, but pretty sold on using both. And many people do keyboard copy for speed. Just another perspective.

[@bill-2018]

I had a G8 callsign for 2 years only VHF and above then did 3 months learning CW as it was required to get on HF. I had an amateur sending me half an hour of CW at home and listening on air as well. I got to about 15 WPM for the test which was 12 WPM but I think he was sending a bit faster. I wanted to get on HF but also being nosey I wanted to know what information was being sent. It's good to sit and watch a film and know if what they are sending is gibberish or real. Learn the letters and numbers and write them down, missing a few letters and learning to move on and trying to not think what you missed because you miss even more, and like you say words begin to form, write it all down, then you read in your head and just make notes of names and QTH etc. That's when you sit back and read it and you've got there. My first few QSO's I wrote down what I wanted to say so I didn't mess it up. CW op now for 46 years. G4GHB

[@moglitoashoe9265]

i first learned cw whn i was just 9 yrs old, one vital lesson i learned to NOT do bck then is trying to learn Visually...... BIG mistake, fortunately i got hold of a WW II us navy RM and he set me bck on the correct learning path im vry greatfull to him, he was a fellow Shriner of my Dad

[@geraldscott4302]

Not everybody can learn Morse code, at least not at any speed. I took my 5 wpm test back around 1988-1989, studied for months (using Gordon West's cassettes) and barely passed it. I then immediately took and passed the technician test. A couple months later I took and passed the general written, thinking that once I had that out of the way it would give me a whole year to learn the 13 wpm code. I took and failed the 13 wpm test twice. Didn't even come close. I had to wait until they dropped the code test to get my general. At 5-6 wpm you can count it. Above that, you listen to it more like music. I was never able to do that. I have tried many times since, and have never been able to get above the 5-6 wpm.

[@sealcove70]

The CE requirement scared me away from getting licensed for decades. Long after that requirement was dropped, I got into HAM and now CW has become my primary interest. I think it has rubbed off on my 13 year old daughter, and hoping she gets her ticket this year.

[@Kirk-Monteux-Production]

Thank you Dave for this video. Whats your experience of an average success of peoples age who start learning morse code above 60?

[@rsb762]

My personal experience: I learned code for my Extra class at the age of 40 (1992). Did not use code until the age of 65. Had to relearn it completely. I estimate that it took me three times longer to relearn the code to the same level while in my 60's than in my 40's. It's doable. I find it important to get on the air.

[@ai5dd]

I got on the air with CW as soon as I could, after that it gets easier the more QSOs you do.

[@brianstoneley227]

I did my morse practice on 2mts FM as I held a B licence and at that time in the early 80s you had to already have a morse code pass certificate to get an A license and be allowed to operate on HF in any mode. I’m in the UK by the way. I was very lucky to be taught by an old radio ham with the call sign G2CJO name Joe. We used an open FM simplex channel on 2mts. By the sender locking on tx while sending morse by using a side tone generator or a home made sound oscillator tuned to give a nice audible morse tone. I would listen and Joe would send me morse code of Shakespeare or other obscure text so that I would have to write down what I actually heard and not what I thought was coming. As that’s a big mistake to make . You must not pre guess what’s coming next just train to write down what you hear. I would then read back what I had received by voice on the same channel and have it checked by Joe. I would then send morse to Joe in the same fashion and have my sending checked. I was G1MHO as a B licence and by practice and with the encouragement and training of Joe I sat and passed the 12 word per min morse code test with a compliments from the chief examiner on my morse code. And I attained my full A licence with the call sign of G0RLB . I agree with my American fellow radio ham , make it enjoyable but put the work in and you will be rewarded. Good luck and very best wishes Brian.

[@timbacchus]

I can send 20 wpm and copy about 5 wpm I wish my brain would be connected to the good side.

[@WiltshireMan]

I knew Ray G4FON quite well and met him on several occasions both on the air and in person, sadly he has now gone Silent Key, a great shame. I am 100% CW op for around 30 years now. Yes your right slow and steady wins the race, just keep on practicing and if you want it you'll get it.... Sandy G0VQW

[@henryleaball4515]

There's no Morse character for the dollar sign. As speed goes up, the combinations get bigger. At 50 WPM, you hear paragraphs. - AL7W

[@jonizornes5286]

Great introduction! Another thing I always emphasize is that you do NOT have to be a high speed operator to be successful. I've been a CW op for 49 years and my normal speed using a properly weighted bug is 15 wpm as per the Reverse Beacon Network. About 13 using a straight key. THAT'S ALL YOU NEED, for most casual QSO's! Yes, if you are up to it, work on higher speeds, but it isn't or EVER WAS necessary. We're hams, not professionals who were paid to learn and operate at higher speeds. And guess what? If you listen to recordings of past maritime CW communications, they were often at speeds LESS than 18 wpm!!! So don't let prospective CW ops feel that they can't be successful unless they can operate at 20+ wpm. That is simply NOT true. AND as you mentioned several times, copy by hand is perfectly fine for speeds less than 20. For me it helps me to get the gist of speeds that are higher than I can am comfortable with, because it helps to put the pieces together, if I don't copy 100%. The real goal is excellent sending with proper spacing and smoothness of sending. I love to copy a fb fist at 13, rather than sloppy sending at 20+. Once you learn the code and can operate around 5 wpm, get on the air on 40 meters 7.110 to 7.120, where the former Novice band was. Many of us still operate there! AA4WA

[@jamesoberg8912]

I recommend Gordon West.! The best.

[@nerdinium]

If you have no time for daily practice, put a shortwave radio with a bfo by your bedside and try to copy in your head as you drift off to sleep. PIllow speaker if you have a partner. Sleep learning FTW

[@jjgr661]

CW FOREVER Morse Code skills should be mandatory for radio amateur license

[@CurtNovitsky]

One way i did it was listen to the beacons over and over until one can cpy the beacons in the ear

[@edvarnadoe4308]

Is it g4fom or g4fon?

[@gregorygordon3169]

It's G4FON.

[@tomnorman5461]

He said "N" but phonetic'd "mike"

[@kurttuttle1708]

Should be a requirement for the Extra class, even at 5wpm.

[@BobDarlington]

Definitely, as should fone, mode J satellite work, and EME.

[@brontoab1]

​@@BobDarlington the dumbass sarcasm is not helpful. The OP is right, Morse code should be a requirement for the HF bands as it has been for the majority of amateur radio. The silly crap you suggested have never been required and in the case if EME is extremely expensive. Ironically, to have an actual EME conversation, you'll need to know Morse code. The digital EME modes are not conversations. Stop being a jackass.

[@liontomh]

I like ham whisperer 15 sessions

[@jamesmcdonagh2331]

Didn't the FBI use that code you talk about Dave ?

[@drrenard1277]

So I can be a ham even though deaf and mute?!

[@ricardalvesgmailcom]

Yes you can. There is also the digital modes in ham radio. Google it…

[@drrenard1277]

@@ricardalvesgmailcom sucks the people I was going to for licence refused me cause I am Deaf

[@jimjordan2209]

I struggled with CW for years, I finally picked up a no code tech license and upgraded to tech plus a few months later. I was almost up to thirteen words per minute when the code requirement was dropped. I upgraded to extra a couple of weeks later. If I listen to code I can copy some of it still, but my hands are not steady enough to be able to send good code. Sometimes I need to get a better grip on a pen in the middle of signing my name, and sometimes I drop the pen. Because of this I copy better in my head than on paper. If I had used code back when I was just using two meter FM I could have learned it better. When I was trying to learn it I used a computer program which could send individual letters and numbers at a speed you could set. It could also send random words or very complex sentences. I don't remember what it was called, but it was so long ago that I picked it up at a hamfest and it came on a floppy disk with a couple of other programs. I built a code practice oscillator using a small speaker and a 555 timer. I mounted that on a boards along with a straight key from Radio Shack. At this point CW is something I will probably never use. 73 de ab9at

[@jerryleatherwood4201]

thank you sir very good info, I am a new Ham KO4VZD, I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks.

[@RajeshA]

Thank You for sharing videos always. All helpful. 73 VU3TBU

[@Brass735]

I highly agree about starting on straight key, because it gives a better sense of spacing, which is as meaningful as dits and dahs. On air, you can tell the guys who started out on paddles. Theytendtosendlikethis. 73 de N8CPA