RSGB 2018 Convention lecture - Improving your Morse skills

Ray Burlingame-Goff, G4FON
Nobody would claim that becoming proficient at Morse Code is easy but, once learnt, the results are very satisfying. In his talk Ray discusses the pitfalls of learning Morse and the work of the German psychologist Ludwig Koch which G4FON implemented in his freeware training software. Drawing on his own experience and over ten years of feedback by users of his software, Ray offers practical advice on how you can move from simply working stations with a “5NN TU” reply to effortless casual rag chewing with them.

[@verschalter]

Thanks for all your achievements to the #HAMRADIO and #CW world. R.I.P Ray

[@robertogrady8764]

Outstanding software, this is what I was looking for help. KO4ZCJ - Memphis TN USA.

[@timelord1137]

What a blessing that I studied Morse code by the sounds of the symbols themselves, and not by "counting dots and dashes". Every, absolutely every operator said that it was very difficult to retrain from this double "translation". Indeed, there is no difficulty in accepting individual characters at 25 PM, even whole words. But doing it without writing is a real art to strive for. Thanks to Ray for his legendary app)

[@FilipeJorgeSilva]

How did you learn without counting dit's and dot's, unfortunately that's the way I learn and now i'm stuck and I'm unable to improve, in fact in my situation it's a lit bit worse because I can't follow more then 3 to 4 words in sequence, I get lost, so to be honest i'm very disappointed ate this point. ct1bsd

[@halisidrysdale]

Brilliant presentation, thank you for both this and your program! M0TUI

[@winrak8512]

Windows XP and Morse code, old is gold

[@ukrainehamradio]

For several years I unsuccessfully tried to count dots and dashes, to hear some words in the sounds of the symbols, but then I tried the Koch method and learned the telegraph in six months. 73 de US7IGN!

[@hollisfarmshoney]

Start where you want to finish could be the best advice I've heard concerning CW.

[@MrAraks]

Thanks for the software.

[@alzeNL]

going to give this software a try - the reasoning on how to learn is scientific and proven. sad to hear th eparsing of Ray, but what a legacy. Thank you for this excellent video.

[@trevor9043]

Fantastic, Thanks!

[@RA4FOC]

G4FON R.I.P. Very sorry .... (

[@jimjoiner]

I've been inspired. Thank you.

[@mikebohemia1947]

Thanks Ray. Very inspiring with great tips. Mike

[@mfbfreak]

Ooh, so that's where i went wrong. 10 years ago i started learning with the G4fon trainer by writing all the letters down, so i could verify that i got 90ish percent correct before adding a letter. It wasn't obvious to me, that i should've done that by feel, not by writing down and checking how many errors i made...

[@Bridgestreetnursery]

This is a great piece of software. I wish I could thank Ray personally, sadly he is SK.

[@antimosh]

What is the web address for the software? Looks like the site is down?

[@richardg8itb706]

Just Google for G4FON; Lots there out on the web! Easy!

[@mktwatcher]

I definitely agree with you that the Koch Method is the way to learn CW Code. The lookup method will only frustrate and fail you. Installed your App on Windows 10. The Receiving sessions worked but it would not go into the "Sending" Mode no matter how many times I tried to click on the "Sending" Mode Tab.

[@justawfulgamer7738]

definitely dont link to the software hes talking about

[@beansmalone1305]

Not many women in the crowd. Is that because women like to talk through sighs and eyerolling instead of saying precisely what they mean? (lol obviously that was a joke)

[@TXLorenzo]

So what happens in 20 years when everyone in this room have passed on?

[@halisidrysdale]

In 20 years I'll be sat in the room listening to my generation talking about Morse, and reflecting on how watching G4FON on this inspired me to carry on learning... although, having just started, it may actually take me 20 years to get the basics lol :D

[@Anvilshock]

> 16:52 "I live half my life in Germany these days, [trying quite hard to speak in German]" > Doesn't even bother to pronounce Koch correctly Textbook Anglophone ignorance.

[@ruckedupg9166]

I guess someone left their wireless remote at home ..unwatchable....

[@doctave]

What? Very watchable