Improving Your Copy Speed

In this video I'll show you what I did to improve my callsign copy speed, a critical component of SOTA CW.
For more Ham Ninja CW tips, go to hamninja.com/cw
If you want to use my list, go to: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
Donate via Bitcoin to support "go juice" for me and the car at the following address
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[@nvrumi]

A couple weeks ago I did a CW only SOTA activation. I sent at 12wpm and had the best time with a bunch of good operators. I made 21 contacts that day and settled down after the first couple in the pileup and just worked them. I was tired and sweaty when I finished, but it was totally worth it. Thanks for the tip Chris.

[@jankersten6212]

I'm still learning. I use LCWO lesson 30 now. I liked your episode, good info. Thanks from the Netherlands

[@TheHamNinja]

Glad it was helpful! Looking forward to working you summit to Summit!!!

[@adamlicht3809]

Very good tip, thanks! I'm new to SOTA and working on learning cw for it, already terrified about that first QSO on cw. -73!

[@NexxuSix]

Thanks for the advice. I don’t do contests, mainly for the reason that it seems a lot of operators are just pushing buttons on a computer, rather than taking the time to actually send the Morse code by hand on a J-38 or similar. I really prefer rag chew, if possible… still, sometimes though call signs can be difficult to copy, especially if the sender has poor timing.

[@sagebrother]

Very useful. Thanks!!

[@TheHamNinja]

Glad it was helpful!

[@1boortzfan]

Thank you Christian. New training drills are always helpful.

[@AA0Z]

Great Video Chris. I never knew you could do that in LCWO. I've been using CW Ninja that just points you to a YT videos. Issue with that is there is no Farnsworth spacing, so it's basically just practice for chaser call signs once you get up to speed. I try and practice at 25WPM and then when I move down to 20, I can copy more of the call before asking for a repeat. Thanks for sharing your spreadsheets of calls. Makes it easy.

[@russ_vee_jr4199]

What a great idea! 45 years ago, I could pencil copy @ 20+ wpm. Today, I struggle @ 15wpm/25cpm Farnsworth. I stumbled opon LCWO years ago, got to a Solid 15wpm, dropped it and I'm now working back up using it. My problem is I practice 2 or 3 times a week, then not again for 2 or 3 weeks. DUMB.... 73 Russ, KA1RUW

[@brianjester123]

Love, it thank you, I still haven't used LCWO, need to get off my but and just do it.

[@alvarogaitan2529]

thanks Christian fantastic video 73 from kb2uew

[@jimsmith1166]

Great video Chris. Thanks for the help!

[@jayant281]

Great idea - thanks

[@PatFortino]

Good tips Chris. Thanks.

[@edrudolph1]

Very clever Chris, thanks for sharing! Ed KM6TNT

[@EdLeonard47]

Great idea! 73!

[@chadlpnemt]

I just finished learning A-Z at 6wpm. It's been about 3 weeks ago when I started but the thought of even trying it any faster feels impossible. I used Morse CT on android which is a great app but the only issue I have with it is learning receive it gives random letters and not words. Still good practice to get each letter down but I still have to think about what letter it is as I copy it down and my brain will freeze up sometimes and I miss it...at 6wpm. I don't know how long it'll take me to just "know" the letters without having to think about it but even at 10wpm I can't get a single one. Not sure what I got myself into trying to learn this, lol. If everyone operated at 6wpm I'd be ok...and at the radio all day due to the length of time it would take to get through a qso...

[@TheHamNinja]

See my full article at hamninja.com/cw where I documented my cw learning experience, which includes the same issues you are running into. I found decoders just weren't powerful enough to decode since there is the issue of trying to pull out signal among all of the crazy noise. You will get there and will be having loads of fun along the way. I hope to work you S2S!

[@reidlanham2011]

Thanks for this!! I wonder, could you also put a space between each character in your spreadsheet to give spacing on the playback?

[@TheHamNinja]

Yes, that would absolutely work but I don't recommend it. If you did that, you would need to change the spacing of all your callsigns as you improve. By using the control on LCWO, you don't have to futz with the spreadsheet. I hope that helps.

[@N7KOM]

Really great method for training. Going to start using this. TU 73 de Tim N7KOM

[@N7KOM]

Chris, I took your LCWO method, and also inputted the callsign list into Morse Trainer's word list. This allows me to shuffle the callsigns when practicing. LCWO is nice for exporting and MP3 file to take on the go too! TU es 73 de Tim N7KOM

[@mikak1]

Thanks for the video. I will definitely use this. Great way to practice. Mike - N6MKW

[@BretChilcott]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge. 73 Bret/AC0AE

[@glennstevenson6242]

Great advice but as much as I would like to be able to do cw I'm too dumb to understand it. I have been trying for years.

[@TheHamNinja]

I use to think the same thing. It was a bear for me to learn but I really wanted it. If you have no interest, don't do it! I really wanted to chanse summit-to-summit and most SOTA operators use CW. I felt like some people learn CW faster than me but I just stuck with it. If you want a few more tips, go go hamninja.com/cw. 73

[@willian.direction6740]

Great tools Chris if only I could work a computer like you, my cw is better than my pc skills. But I am up to speed any how on cw been at it 35 years. Congratulations on Mountain Goat too. vk5cz..

[@ravenhhca]

How did you get that chair up on the mountain?

[@TheHamNinja]

The old fashioned way, I carried it. It's only 1lb though.

[@JayN4GO]

I don’t have excel. Any way to do this without it? Up to 15wpm now

[@TheHamNinja]

Yes, I actually use Google Sheets, not excel for this. But feel free to use the one that I created to get you started. docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1j7hWkX1A5CRlrXva5sq_4lDAn9SahfbOJvM0TUD-nmo