Learn Morse Code - Lesson 1

Today we learn 4 letters - E, T, A and N.
These videos should be watched in sequential order as they are additive and build on each other.
As mentioned in other videos, if you want to really learn Morse Code, check out CW Ops or Long Island CW Club....
.. but if you dont want to commit and want to take a casual - no commitment approach to learning - this might be a good way to go.
Let me know if these videos help. Im committed to help folks learn Morse Code, so I welcome any feedback.
CW on my friends!

[@34Deangelo]

I was a Morse Code specialist in the U.S. Air Force in the 80’s. I could copy code at about 160 wpm, based on groups of 5,(tho numbers were way easier, so if the transmission was 100% numbers, I could catch around 200 with decent accuracy.) FYI - It's not about the dots and dashes; but actually, sound and rhythm. We FIRST learned how to type, because there is no way in HELL you can reasonably catch a conversation by writing it down. The typewriter was our ditty~bop catcher. It’s all about phonetics: Di DAH - A, alpha / DAH ditty dit - B, Bravo / DAH di DAH dit, C - Charlie I never learned to send code, so thanks, K9KJ

[@k9kj]

Fantastic story! Love it! Thanks for watching also

[@Woffy.]

A Marconi operator I knew could have a conversation with two separate CW stations and me at the same time. He is the most irritating person to speak to as he can't stop scopeing conversations which is very distracting. I can't read CW but was pretty good at RTTY, as you said its the sound and rhythm. 200 numbers per minute, so the launch codes would take you 3.6 seconds !.

[@W2QH]

I think its all about learning the distinct sound of each characters, the faster you recognize that sound of each character is sent the faster is your ability to receive code. Also the faster the code is sent the sound changes. same principle as reading words, by the time you are in high school you see the letters and instantly think the word without thinking each letter to assemble the word. the faster you recognize sound of each Morse code characters, the distinct sound letter) pop in your head just like seeing words in a book. That is why the Farnsworth method is recommended with sending the sound faster then actual wpm. that's my take. CW is mechanical, like X's and O's, no rhythm.

[@fredjensen1683]

Love it. I wonder if cw is still required in the air force? They dropped the requirement for Ham licenses.

[@danieljones2936]

I've been trying to learn Morse on and off for years. I think this style of teaching has been the most helpful for me so far. Thank you

[@k9kj]

Great to hear! Always looking for ways to get folks learning morse code!

[@AA0Z]

EAT....TEA....EATEN....I'm hungry....

[@DoesAnyoneElseSmellBurntToast]

Idgi

[@MordredVertu]

This is the best source I've found for learning CW, thank you so much for teaching this!!

[@k9kj]

Glad it was helpful! Always looking for ways to help folks learn CW!

[@vinniec5286]

Thank you for this video! CW is my goal for 2024.

[@expert244]

I like that you only need to listen to this lesson. Makes it perfect for learning while driving, traveling or on the go.

[@k9kj]

I was always wishing there was mostly an audio-only training set.

[@thork0tjt515]

Thank you for making this series of videos. Learning cw is a goal of mine.

[@k9kj]

Awesome! Thank you for watching!

[@paulmadsen51]

Oh this is awesome! I've been wanting to get into CW for a long time. Thanks for making this video! 😁

[@k9kj]

Thanks for watching man!

[@vintagesimpilot2623]

Thanks for doing these videos. I learned CW back in 1996 but only did voice on two meters. Now, I'm going after my General and will want to do CW on all the bands. This will serve as a great refresher! Good for the brain! 73, KC5SMH

[@jameski5oeb668]

This is a great relaxed start to my Code learning experience! Thank you!

[@k9kj]

Thanks for watching I'm hoping it helps!

[@lauriepalmeira7519]

This is great! Thank you!

[@momoney4209]

Honestly best video yet for learning this. I started today with another video that goes in order of the alphabet so now I have A through E, N, T, Q, and all the numbers (they’re easy.) Thanks a lot!

[@k9kj]

Awesome! Thanks for watching!

[@DavidCurrie-lo9jd]

me too!

[@wonderingworld119]

I installed xcwcp on my pc. I learned by typing in the letters, listening to the sound, and then used my left and right mouse buttons to create the letters. I learned A B C D, once I got those I started making words CAB, BAD, then I started making sentances "A BAD CAB" then I learned the E, Then I could say "A DACE" and " BEAD" then I added an F and so on, concentrating as much on letter and word spacing as I was actually getting the letters correct. I think that it is the fastest way to learn.

[@artistadavide]

Nice! Good course!

[@PopeyeKF4LBG]

Thanks for the help!

[@nickrolfe367]

Thanks for this really appreciated, I'm just starting to get interested in this after getting SDR. Thanks again.

[@delta110a]

Huge tnx for showing CW this way. It looks like finding the binary code 001, 010, 100 - learning by similarity (reversed sounds/marks/symbols) . I did not expect to learn 4 letters so fast :) . 👍

[@k9kj]

Thanks for watching!

[@tonywright8294]

It gets harder

[@tomtom10de]

verry good video, many thanks

[@ajamesmcdermott]

You are an excellent tutor my friend.

[@k9kj]

Thank you, I hope these series of videos help!

[@BGM669]

Good teaching

[@ae1tpa92gwtom2]

N E A T very nice looking forward to yr next video

[@rodleger7132]

I discovered your CW Video today. I will be listening to all of your CW videos. You are correct in that CW is an audio signal. Getting to send and receive CW is a goal of mine.

[@k9kj]

Very awesome! I hope they help. If you have any suggestions I am always here to try new methods

[@thomasmaughan4798]

"You are correct in that CW is an audio signal." Morse code is also visual; sending with flashlight or mirror. It is a terrific survival tool.

[@fredjensen1683]

Your lessons are fantastic......

[@k9kj]

Thank you Fred!

[@Nomad1957]

Cool dude,very cool. Thank you for making these videos.

[@k9kj]

Thank you for watching!

[@janiceemery2008]

Excellent, thank you so very much for sharing.

[@k9kj]

Thank for watching!

[@RemigiuszSkrzypek-si1hs]

Very nice job and teching like cw

[@upsidedown3341]

Thank you for that.

[@w4baham]

I am an oldeeee, but I am going to try to learn CW during this year. Thanks so much for your time in doing this for everyone!

[@k9kj]

Thank you for watching! It's comments like these that make me want to create more videos and get the word out about CW

[@Hamlocks]

@@k9kji feel the same, thank you for sharing your skills with us, im a new ham and haven’t figured out which direction to head in this journey as there are so many different aspects. But I have become very interested in learning cw.

[@garygodley6083]

ASA 05H, Ft Devens Mass, 1970 loved my R390 all four of em....25 years

[@miketaylor6700]

EAT AN ANTENNA… lol

[@kulanchandrasekaran4462]

An antenna ate an antenna … :-)

[@NihongoGuy]

First of all, THANKS for the "No Ads" with these videos. Second, you claim to be be sending at around 18 wpm, very good speed for first time learners - but it sounds like about 12wpm - but thats coming from a guy who runs around 25wpm on the air so I'm probably way off. YEARS ago, they taught us at 5wpm which was STUPID, as you had to retrain your brain to get more speed. And I wish you'd not even mention "dots and dashes" as, again, that leads the student into visualization of the dots and dashes, which they then translate into the character (it also leads to counting dots and dashes, which you mention is a BAD thing, so I know you and I are not really disagreeing - just offering criticism. If I thought your video was crap, I'd not even comment! Thanks for the effort in doing this, there is an awful lack of CW instruction these days. 73, WR8Y

[@NihongoGuy]

YOur suggestion to listen to this while driving is EPIC! I am so happy I kept listening - multitasking, which encourages learning just by LISTENING, is EPIC and I wish someone would have taught me THAT way instead of the old way of sitting with paper and writing down what you hear. B R A V O

[@thomasmaughan4798]

It sounded WAY faster than the 13 wpm of my keyer. I learned Morse Code at 5 wpm for my Novice license back in the day; it is indeed slow enough to count the elements and sometimes that is what it takes. Learn the letters! Build speed once you have learned the letters. As it gets faster and faster, soon enough you cannot count dits, but by then, you start to *hear* the letter and not dits and dahs. The Farnsworth method supposes to go straight to hearing characters, and it probably works, but I have a doubt it helps in *sending* Morse Code. Slow and careful sending, then build speed.

[@DarkShadowCustoms]

I think I found the video series I am going to use to learn CW. I picked up a 3D printed paddle key for $15 at a local hamfest over the weekend. I have been thinking about learning CW since I passed my Extra test this past October.

[@k9kj]

This is fantastic! Let me know how I can help and if there are other videos I can do to help you.

[@DarkShadowCustoms]

@@k9kj So far trying to get these first four letters down. Once I am comfortable with them I will move on to the next video. I like that it will be a go at your own pace series.

[@dougstearns6746]

Thank you for helping to learn CW. Your voice interaction is better than just a website streaming out letters.

[@k9kj]

Thank you, that wasn't sure since I'm not particularly fond of how my voice sounds. Hahaha

[@somebodysnobody468]

Thank you. Very N E A T

[@alanpfahler1707]

Thanks!!!

[@rositaflores7128]

SALUDOS DESDE EL ESTADO DE SONORA,,,,,,CAMBIO DE FRECUENCIA A MAZATLAN,,,,,,,,SALUDOS CAPY ROGER

[@marcelrietbergenvan5472]

I want to learn CW, and your video’s will be usefull.

[@k9kj]

Glad to hear that! Thanks for watching

[@tomdonahoe3539]

@K9KJ One thing I find helpful in hearing morse code sounds better is using headphones or earbuds. As I learn more letters & try to identify them more quickly, I'm finding that it's sometimes more difficult when listening on a speaker. Even the slight echo off our office walls can throw me off a little. A headset also reduces distracting noises a bit. Perhaps as I get more proficient, this might not be such an issue. But I've noticed most CW & quite a few phone operators use headsets. Perhaps this might help others who are having difficulty reading morse?

[@k9kj]

Very excellent point! I'll chat about this in one of my next videos! Cool!

[@williamnelson7710]

Great idea especially with some hearing loss at my age.

[@ThomasEKenny]

NEAT!

[@AD2MM_NYC]

Yes please rotate your paddle collection through these videos, would be very cool to see a different paddle in each video. If you can quickly mention the type of paddle or put it in the description that would be nice. Thanks for the videos! 73

[@k9kj]

That is a great idea. I will do that going forward

[@confirmhandle]

I really appreciate this even though I've learned the entire alphabet and numbers I'm so focused on the dots and dashes I'm visualizing them, I keep recreating them in my mind as I listen and I cannot get to five words a minute looks like I'm going to have to follow what you're doing trying to understand letters as a sound

[@k9kj]

Looking forward to hearing how you make out.

[@thomasmaughan4798]

It takes some time. Learning the letters and numbers is crucial. It is essentially a foreign language. My "muscle memory" is pretty good and I can send Morse Code a LOT faster than I can hear and decode it. So basically I set my keyer to a target speed and send stuff, newspaper articles, while listening to it. That way I gradually build up what the characters sound like, not just dits and dahs. I am using 13 wpm on the keyer as a good speed; it used to be the requirement for General Class amateur radio license. Nearly everyone hits a wall, or hump at about 11 wpm; that is when you can no longer count dits but have to start hearing letters; or even entire words. Faster than 13, for learning, IF you intend to operate at those higher speeds. But that's like going to a language school and learning advanced Russian on the first day. Who does that? You start simple and slow. Build speed and proficiency.

[@chadlpnemt]

I'm looking forward to the video where you teach how to receive faster. I started cw a month ago. I learned A-Z on about 2 weeks. While I know the letters, I'm not..."familiar" with them at high speeds. I learned them at 6wpm and now trying to listen faster but I cannot comprehend fast enough. 1 letter at a time at 15wpm I'm ok. Put 3 or more together no way. I guess it's still early but hoped I'd start to get a bit faster than 6...

[@k9kj]

Great idea. I will work on some of those videos after I complete the training set. Thank you for watching!

[@cruzcena1962]

Great job !! 73 from HK3OUY

[@Teck3D]

This is great, the time of the video is good. Not too long so it can be digested in small chunks. I would like to see a separate video on your key recommendations. Thanks and keep it going.

[@Teck3D]

I now see you have already done a key video.

[@caribouwho]

Are the dits and das of discrete length or does the signal depend on how long you press the paddle?

[@SeerSnively]

When using a paddle, the 'speed' is set in the radio. This is currently set at 18 wpm, which is a great learning speed, forcing you to 'hear' the different letters and not count dits and dashes.

[@81brassglass79]

I have been a HAM operator for so long.... Its time.. im 30 and i want to learn 😅 thank you for your videos 🙏 KC9MBK.

[@thork0tjt515]

Hi TJ, Do you have in mind a schedule of how often you will post a new video in this series? Thanks for doing these! 73

[@k9kj]

Good question! I'm going to try to record one per week! Thanks for joining in on the fun!

[@alvarogaitan2529]

great job thanks 73 from kb2uew

[@k9kj]

Many thanks!

[@Tonylovesjazz]

Without looking through all of the comments...What is the paddle/keyer are you using? 73's

[@k9kj]

Hey thanks for watching, no problem. This is a special edition from a Russian ham in St Petersburg RA1AOM

[@SeerSnively]

I know this is slightly off topic, but what sort of paddle is that? Very pretty, and such a nice base.

[@k9kj]

No problem, any question is a good question. This is an RA1AOM custom-made paddle from Russia. Kind of hard to get nowadays but I also did a video on these on my channel too

[@ssubaihi]

Please do me a Favour and tell me what kind of Microphone and whether you use some kind of Voice editing or enhancment because your voice sound Cinematic and Professional

[@k9kj]

Thank you and I wish I agree about my voice. I'm not particularly happy with it 😁. The microphone I'm using is a Heil PR781. No special processing.

[@jakeski3142]

Do you have a podcast or would you mind if I ripped the audio from this series to mp3? I don’t like having KZbin open on my phone in the truck

[@k9kj]

I should do a podcast for this... It's a great idea.

[@jakeski3142]

@@k9kj That would be awesome. I could download it to my watch for my runs

[@union310]

I get the idea of learning to send but is there anything to plug into a radio to change it into words?

[@k9kj]

There are some Morse code Readers out there. Some radios also have this capability built in. I'll do a video on it.

[@union310]

@@k9kj That would be really helpful, thankyou

[@Cherhill]

Hi could you tell me what key make and model that is? It’s really nice

[@k9kj]

This is a RA1AOM key. From St. Petersburg Russia

[@Cherhill]

Thank you! 🙏

[@wicapiwicasa1639]

Is it advisable to have a machine to use for practice? If so what is recommended?

[@k9kj]

If you are referring to a machine to use for sending, I would use the built-in keyer that exists in many modern radios today.

[@timstandish2025]

what make model is that key?

[@k9kj]

This is a Russian made RA1AOM paddle

[@rustyholt6619]

can tou recommend a good practice app

[@k9kj]

I've been liking Rufz-xp lately

[@w4baham]

What is the name of that keyer?

[@k9kj]

That is an RA1AOM key.... I think I have a couple of videos on the channel here about them.

[@steveosborne8373]

What brand of key is being used in this video?

[@k9kj]

Hi, and thanks for watching. The paddle in the video is a custom Russian built paddle made by RA1AOM. He still sells them, but because of trade restrictions with Russia, it's very difficult to get shipping to the United States, but I do hear that it is still somewhat possible

[@k9kj]

Hi, and thanks for watching. The paddle in the video is a custom Russian built paddle made by RA1AOM. He still sells them, but because of trade restrictions with Russia, it's very difficult to get shipping to the United States, but I do hear that it is still somewhat possible

[@steveosborne8373]

Thank for so much for your reply. The only key I have right now is a standard brass key I bought from Layfette Radio in about 1964. I now live in Guatemala and have an ICOM 7300. I want to get serious about emercency communications and CW seems to be a good option. While we really enjoy living here in Guatemala whe we want or need something of a technical nature it costs about 2 times the price on Amazon. Are any of the two paddle iambic keys on Amazon worth considering?

[@Dont_stay_long_k077]

Might need this if Russia presses Red

[@k9kj]

😁😎

[@thequarantinecatholic]

What key is that?? It is a beauty!!!!

[@k9kj]

This is an RA1AOM key made by Val in St. Petersburg Russia... I have a video on his keys somewhere on my channel

[@rays9033]

@@k9kj after watching your CW videos, I emailed Val, and he is available to make me a paddle. With regards to your paddles from him, do you recall what build parameters you gave him? Also, for your ZN-9 paddle, is yours a 1/2" OTO (outside-to-outside) version, not the 5/16" or 3/4"?

[@AlexOkita]

neat

[@zadtrax]

I feel that audibly your “T” is too short. It should be roughly 3 times longer than your “E”. To me, it sounds not long enough.

[@k9kj]

Thanks for watching. I double checked everything and it looks like it is exactly three times the length of the dit

[@K9KMVTheUnluckyHam]

I think a keyer is being used so it should be doing it correctly. If he was using a straight key then you could be right.

[@tomstrum6259]

Hit the "Wall" by 4th letter....Then first learned 3 all Forgotten & jumbled....Sounds way to fast or something.....

[@michaelbritain5546]

Took me 8 Months to pass at 12 words per minute, send and receive, stick at it...

[@tomstrum6259]

Impossible for normal person to learn (Memorize) All these Leters & numbers....Like it's a Foreign language which I never could in HS....

[@k9kj]

Hi Tom - it definitely is challenging and not easy. I thought that putting some videos out there might help since there arent a lot of resources out there that are outside of LICW or CW Academy. Hopefully you find a breakthrough moment!

[@tonywright8294]

It ain’t easy . Practice practice ,practice 30 minutes a day for say a year and you might just get there ! Good luck you will need it .

[@Matt-zf7vz]

Great Video de K9BBQ - ..- . .

[@williamnelson7710]

Just found your videos today. Recent ham (just passed General studying for Extra) and absolutely love this method of learning the characters. Great job and thanks for the effort. KQ4OAJ

[@k9kj]

Awesome! Thank you for watching!