My Morse Code Learning Journey......So Far

#cw #morse #morsecode #hamradio
In this video I talk about my CW journey, how & why I learned and whats the next steps for me using this mode.
Here is a link to G4FON software
www.g4fon.net/
Here is a link to Morse Ninja
morsecode.ninja/

[@trig6712]

Good for you Colin ,, From a now, well retired Morse Examiner who is now 82 and suffering from short term memory loss damn damn ,, Love Morse Code GM4NNC

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Thanks for your comments. Definitely my favourite mode and always will be.

[@alannorthdevonuk763]

Thank you for the video. I completely left Ham radio about four years ago, I got a bit stale after passing my intermediate and took up photography doing an Open University course, and radio vanished from my life. However, this week read a book about a guy's career as a Merchant Navy radio officer in 1950 through to the 1990s and found it quite inspiring. My Yaesu FT897 is out and working and my little 817 with the 20m SOTA kit is ready for testing. I'm returning to the hobby in CW mode. A couple days in but enjoying it and car registration numbers are turning into Dits and Dahs while walking the dog. Also, have Morse Mentor app on my phone and subscribed to a course on a KZbin channel. Good to hear about your experience with the code.

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Thanks Alan, somehow CW is more civilised. Never thought I would say that. Good luck getting back into it.

[@Stephens8x6Workshop]

Excellent mate. Just wished I could have found a CW tutor or buddy to help with the learning. The local clubs just laughed when I mentioned CW (boo hoo) Like you I quickly passed all three exams but my aim was to learn and converse with CW. Even managed to bag a cool call sign for CW. I never reached a level to confidently use on air before a family illness and life in general got in the way and dragged me away from Amateur Radio. Hopefully I will have some time to get back on the air and to perfect my CW skills this summer. With no one nearby to assist with my learning I fell back on G4FON and the ninja. Thanks for this video. 73 Stephen M0OMO

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Thanks for sharing your experience so far. I'm very sporadic using it even now and need to get on the air more.

[@MrJAG1156]

Excellent video, thanks for posting.

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Your welcome 🙏

[@paulwolf1642]

I'm not a ham operator, so forgive my ignorance, but in the US Air Force I was a morse intercept operator. I only copied, never sent morse code. In your video, it was interesting to hear that your copying speed has been hampered somewhat by how fast you can write down the letters/words corresponding to the code being sent. In the service, we used typewriters. As a result, my copying speed got upwards of 50 wpm and sometimes probably more, and often my targets would send that several hours straight. No way to copy that without a typewriter (it was the early '70s after all). Of course, this means you need to know how to type or be willing to learn. So, my question is do any of you ham guys and gals use typewriters or, most likely, keyboards to copy what you're receiving? It is so ingrained in me (haven't copied a dit since 1972), that every time I hear code, I'm looking around for a keyboard!

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Thanks for your insights Paul. When you were on the typewriter, were you hearing words or letters? I still hear the letters so struggle to head copy words during a conversation. I pretty sure you would be hearing the words?

[@paulwolf1642]

@@MM0OPXFieldRadio I would hear letters. The reason is because my targets sent in coded groups of five letters each. So, for example, a group or word might look like auiqt or pem;y or whatever the encoded group would require. But, I would typically copy one to two groups behind. I would also type out each letter in a rhythmic cadence on my keyboard which could be done because my targets sent good code quite smoothly, most of the time. It looks pretty wild to see someone copying fast code in a cadence while carrying on a conversation at the same time. Several of us could do just that. Oh, and I would get a real kick out of non-morse or slow-morse people who would watch me and then turn on my speaker and actually hear the code at the same time. It would freak 'em out! In addition to the coded words, my targets would also send some of their messages in their language, which I cannot divulge, and because I didn't speak that language, I still heard the letters, not the words. On the very rare occasion where I did copy English, I would get all screwed up because I was not used to hearing words and because I would, for some reason, anticipate what the word was going to be because I'd read the message as I was copying it. So, if I were to copy English today, I'd have to train myself to hear words or, alternatively, hear and copy letters without anticipating each word. And I'd probably need me a keyboard for sure.

[@CiemonDunville]

The sweats are real! Like all languages, CW needs daily practice and as you've said, sending good quality morse has to be as important as getting speed up :)

[@hansbaank5166]

The most inspiring words I have found across the Internet about learning more Code. Thanks for that 😀👍 kind regards, Hans. PD4HJB The netherlands

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Thanks for the kind words 😃

[@adyg6ad73]

Thanks for sharing you CW journey. Good luck in CQWW CW in November Colin. I'm am no where near ready for that but I will be in CQWW SSB in October.

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Cheers Ady. I need to get my finger out and try and prepare for 2022 CQWW CW. Great thing about CW is its silent and I don't wake the family.

[@KD9ZHF]

Oh geez… what a rough thing for the poor sender! Imagine if your first send someone did that!? “Don’t suffer bad CW…” I’ll be crushed if that happens. I understand the sentiment, but you could crush someone that way too! Ha!

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

I agree it could come across as a bit harsh. What's the alternate though? Muddle through and then email them to tell them their sending is terrible? There is no easy way to tell them but all are better than not saying anything. I remember my first QSO at 10wpm. Made loads of mistakes but it was readable. Keep away from a straight key initially.

[@KD9ZHF]

@@MM0OPXFieldRadio I understand your point, Colin. Thanks for the reply. Cheers.

[@willian.direction6740]

Well done Colin. I was told in 1992 to throw my pencil away once I could head copy 15 wpm. I think I was running out of copy and write down at about 17 wpm. Been on air 42 years and doing regular cw since 1986. Nice cw sent at 33 wpm is like music to me.

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Thank you. With simple QSO'S is no problem but when into a rag chew I just get lost. Hopefully it will just click soon.

[@DK5ONV]

Happy weekend, Master Colin 🙏💯🙋‍♂

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Happy Weekend UG 👍

[@timsmith428]

..all good points Colin...One thing I'd like to add is, while the computer programs are great, listening on the air can't be beat. Sometimes guys have problems when they encounter a cw op whose transmitted cw is rather poor, unlike the perfect computer generated code...

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

I completely agree, once you know the characters you should listen as much as possible. Using G4FON was a super quick way of learing characters myself before listening on the radio.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Nice video Colin 👍

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Thanks Ape. Old story but still valid.

[@Tom-W7TMD]

Great job! Interesting story. I'll be listening for you.

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Thanks, going to be working portable much more and CW will be the preferred mode of choice.

[@columbiabuzz]

Thanks "I'm going to learn CW." But really, I just downloaded G4FON and will give it 30-60 minutes per day. I believe that you will be correct on persistence and that receiving is the primary skill. Say hi to Dougie Maclean.

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Long time since I have been to the club. I didnt know Dougie too well, he started coming along just as I wasnt going as much. I believe he is doing well though as a colleague speaks to him regularly.

[@columbiabuzz]

@@MM0OPXFieldRadio I meant Dougie Maclean, sorry for ambiguity.

[@rclark999]

Nice job! This video was well done!

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Thank-you 😀

[@robduncan599]

Fabulous, just fabulous video .

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Thanks Robbie. Long time since we had a QSO on 40m. Quite often I the other station down south but your just too close usually.

[@temporarilyoffline]

15-30min a day is more than enough. LICW is great!

[@btc76]

I'm inspired to learn, thanks for the video Colin !! 73 de OH/M1ELB

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Your very welcome 😃

[@hamn9iif]

Awesome video just retired and gonna give it a go!!

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Good luck 👍

[@brianfields4479]

Well done, great video and information for many. Iam 95% cw, it might seem hard to say, but ssb is talking, cw is using a skill. I was musical and learnt quickly, and passed my old type morse test in culacoats lighthouse with a naval instructor hi. I can use speed but choose a slower speed to accommodate others and not work my old brain too much. Cw always breaks pile up, reduces qrm and no amps needed. Contests , my qrt time hi, always hoping to work you, 73 zl3xdj

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Hi Brian, fully agree with your comments, there's no way I would work some of the stations if using SSB. Somehow CW pileups are just more civilised generally. John was a merchant navy radio officer and I loved listening to his story's of CW from around the world. More importantly I don't believe CW is dying and this is fantastic.

[@brianfields4479]

@@MM0OPXFieldRadio point confirmed this evening, bands not so good, su9 Egypt on cw for me is dx in the log. Hope to hear you soon, 73 zl3xdj.

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Definitely Brian, just need to fix some antenna issues at home.

[@brendanhynes473]

HI Colin, I am re-earning Morse after not using it for over 20 years, this video has inspired me to get going, and get active, many thanks de GM0CQV

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Cheers Brendan. Trying to do a bit of morse practice myself week days to try and word read. Find it tough.

[@TheArtofEngineering]

Me too....Got my ship's RO ticket (20 WPM) in 88 ....Got a short stint on a wireless telegraphy ships....but then didn't touch it after the 90's. Just back into it now and so happy to see Morse is still alive and people still value it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jIu3col_l9R8l5I

[@michaelgreenwood1162]

Well done de G3YPE.