20 WPM hump

[KE5FRF]

Anybody else out there at this stage and looking to get past it? I'm curious as to the techniques and the observations you are making about the challenge.

At this stage, I am beginning to notice that speeds above 20 WPM don't sound so fast anymore, and I can copy whole words, even up to 30 WPM if I listen intently. I certainly couldn't manage a QSO yet anywhere in the 22-30 range, especially with current QSB on the bands, but what I am saying is that I see it in the HORIZON for me.

My method all along has been the MFJ pocket tutor, along with real QSOs every day, at least three is my daily goal. Actually, this has more to do with getting WAS on CW than anything else, but the side effect is getting my speed up. I routinely QSO with folks anywhere between 10-20 WPM...The 20 WPM folks sometimes lose me, especially if their fist isn't spectacular or if QSB is particularly bad, but I always manage to make out enough to exchange info and make comments or ask questions.

My tutoring sessions with the MFJ device are stricly random words, which unfortunatley aren't as random as they once where, because the memory bank is limited and the words have become semi-predictable, and are mostly radio related words like "rotor, tower, QRP, Icom, macintosh, RS232" etc

But even still, I can set the speed to 22,23 or higher and sit there and head copy, and this is what I do throughout the day at work when I'm not involved with a task.

It is working very well, but...

I have two or three issues that I need to resolve before I can operate on the air at those speeds:
First, I don't have a paddle key yet. I'm still operating with a straight key...I can get a rhythm going with the straight key that approaches 20WPM, but I tend to make too many mistakes still so I don't send that fast in a QSO. But that is only part of the problem, and easily resolved with a small investment. The bigger problem is thus:
The transition between 15 WPM to over 20 WPM requires more than just fast sending, it requires reliable head copy. Even at 18 WPM, my writing speed hangs me up a lot, and can actually hinder me. However, the trouble with head copy is that at the speeds just below and above 20 WPM are KIND OF SLOW for head copy. Sometimes, by the time the third or fourth letter rolls around in a longer word, I have forgotten what the first two letters were! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif
And then, what happens here is that I get hung up on THAT WORD, and miss the next one...This kind of relates to the troubles I had when making the 10 WPM hump transition. That is the stage when missing ONE CHARACTER got you hung up and thus you missed the next two or three. Well, I eventually got past that barrier, but this barrier in front of my is a little more daunting because I can't write things down to go back and review. I have to be able to put a sentence together, not just a string of characters. The good thing is that sentences have logical structure, so often words become predictable, but it is still VERY TOUGH.


Anyway, my observation here is that each new stage in mastering CW has it's own unique challenges and requires new techniques. My gut feeling is that in my case, at this stage, what I really need to do is take a hiatus from having actual QSOs and exchanges, and start looking for QSOs to listen to at these speeds, and "pretend" I am listening to the guy sending TO ME. And once I get a paddle key and practice and can send at 20 or more WPM, I need to tailend some of the QSOs where my copy is very good and actually work some ops at those speeds. Might even be good to let them know where I am in the process and ask for patience if I have to ask for a resend of certain details.

Anyway, perhaps some people "at my stage" might share their experiences and observations, and some of the folks well beyond this stage some tips.

[W0UZR]

Quote[/b] (KE5FRF @ Aug. 03 2006,17:57)]At this stage, I am beginning to notice that speeds above 20 WPM don't sound so fast anymore, and I can copy whole words, even up to 30 WPM if I listen intently.,
I thought you said you were in a Hump...

# # # #How are you in a hump?

# #You MADE #IT !! #

# # # # # That's what you want. #Just copy whole words and don't write the letters anymore. #Jot down the jist of the copy so you won't forget what he said when you go back to him.

[KE5FRF]

Quote[/b] (w0uzr @ Aug. 03 2006,19:04)]Quote[/b] (KE5FRF @ Aug. 03 2006,17:57)]At this stage, I am beginning to notice that speeds above 20 WPM don't sound so fast anymore, and I can copy whole words, even up to 30 WPM if I listen intently.,
I thought you said you were in a Hump...

How are you in a hump?

You MADE IT !!

That's what you want. Just copy whole words and don't write the letters anymore. Jot down the jist of the copy so you won't forget what he said when you go back to him.
Well, you know, I am "sort of" over the hump, but you gotta realize, that is computer generated Code...no mistakes, no extra dits, not shorted dits, and dahs all exactly the same. No QSB, and no chirping, no QRM 5 K's up, and no static crashes.

And again, the problem is that I might get the word "Phone"...but then the word "demodulation" comes along, and I copy "demoB" then----"tion" ...My mind says "WTH?" and the next word comes..."tuner" ...OK got that, back on track. But by the time the third word has been copied, I forgot about "Phone" ... http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Like I said, I'm GETTING there, but the hard part is that the "inbetween" nature of 20 WPM is tricky...as I said, it is too fast to write things down, and too slow SOMETIMES for effective head copy, because your mind still seperates the letters out. And when I jot down a word, the ACT of jotting down the word requires my brain to switch gears, and so while I am writing, the next word or two gets LOST.

Not complaining here, just making my observations.

[ab0wr]

Quote[/b] (KE5FRF @ Aug. 03 2006,16:57)]Anybody else out there at this stage and looking to get past it? I'm curious as to the techniques and the observations you are making about the challenge.

At this stage, I am beginning to notice that speeds above 20 WPM don't sound so fast anymore, and I can copy whole words, even up to 30 WPM if I listen intently. I certainly couldn't manage a QSO yet anywhere in the 22-30 range, especially with current QSB on the bands, but what I am saying is that I see it in the HORIZON for me.

My method all along has been the MFJ pocket tutor, along with real QSOs every day, at least three is my daily goal. Actually, this has more to do with getting WAS on CW than anything else, but the side effect is getting my speed up. I routinely QSO with folks anywhere between 10-20 WPM...The 20 WPM folks sometimes lose me, especially if their fist isn't spectacular or if QSB is particularly bad, but I always manage to make out enough to exchange info and make comments or ask questions.

My tutoring sessions with the MFJ device are stricly random words, which unfortunatley aren't as random as they once where, because the memory bank is limited and the words have become semi-predictable, and are mostly radio related words like "rotor, tower, QRP, Icom, macintosh, RS232" etc

But even still, I can set the speed to 22,23 or higher and sit there and head copy, and this is what I do throughout the day at work when I'm not involved with a task.

It is working very well, but...

I have two or three issues that I need to resolve before I can operate on the air at those speeds:
First, I don't have a paddle key yet. I'm still operating with a straight key...I can get a rhythm going with the straight key that approaches 20WPM, but I tend to make too many mistakes still so I don't send that fast in a QSO. But that is only part of the problem, and easily resolved with a small investment. The bigger problem is thus:
The transition between 15 WPM to over 20 WPM requires more than just fast sending, it requires reliable head copy. Even at 18 WPM, my writing speed hangs me up a lot, and can actually hinder me. However, the trouble with head copy is that at the speeds just below and above 20 WPM are KIND OF SLOW for head copy. Sometimes, by the time the third or fourth letter rolls around in a longer word, I have forgotten what the first two letters were! #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif
And then, what happens here is that I get hung up on THAT WORD, and miss the next one...This kind of relates to the troubles I had when making the 10 WPM hump transition. That is the stage when missing ONE CHARACTER got you hung up and thus you missed the next two or three. Well, I eventually got past that barrier, but this barrier in front of my is a little more daunting because I can't write things down to go back and review. I have to be able to put a sentence together, not just a string of characters. The good thing is that sentences have logical structure, so often words become predictable, but it is still VERY TOUGH.


Anyway, my observation here is that each new stage in mastering CW has it's own unique challenges and requires new techniques. My gut feeling is that in my case, at this stage, what I really need to do is take a hiatus from having actual QSOs and exchanges, and start looking for QSOs to listen to at these speeds, and "pretend" I am listening to the guy sending TO ME. And once I get a paddle key and practice and can send at 20 or more WPM, I need to tailend some of the QSOs where my copy is very good and actually work some ops at those speeds. Might even be good to let them know where I am in the process and ask for patience if I have to ask for a resend of certain details.

Anyway, perhaps some people "at my stage" might share their experiences and observations, and some of the folks well beyond this stage some tips.
You are probably where you are going to have to make a choice sooner or later.

First, a paddle will help tremendously. Don't waste your money, get a good one to begin with. Otherwise you'll just cuss yourself. I was never happy until I got a good Kent key. Best thing I have ever bought, bar none.

Second, you can get past your bump by copying in your head but that places a limit on you as well. I used to copy messages at 30-35wpm by using cursive writing on a piece of paper - when I was young and my reflexes were good. I then moved to using a typewriter. Now I just copy at around 25wpm and write it in cursive. (more room on the desktop that way!)

If you only want to do informal qso's then copying in your head is the way to go. If you want to do formal traffic you are going to have to figure out a way to get it on paper. Everyone is different. I've been told some people learn shorthand in order to speed things up.

My guess is that what you are actually faced with now is just the need to practice, practice, practice. You got to train your brain to recognize those little burps of sound as they get shorter and shorter.

Oh, one other trick. Do you write behind what you copy? When I used to do 5-letter code groups I would always be writing 2 or 3 letters behind what was being sent. It's kind of a trick to do but it helps sometimes.

tim ab0wr

[w8cbc]

I tend not to think about Morse code when I'm engaged in, oh, I get it, nevermind.

[KE5FRF]

Thanks for the advice Tim,

well, as far as writing "behind" what I copy, at this stage, that is probably an extra thought process that might trip me up. I guess I could attempt to learn that technique off the air, as a matter of fact, that might be a good trick, to help forge the last few words into my head, if I delay writing them down. And yes, I understand too that with casual copy, which is by far what I do anyway, all I have to do is write down POINTS, like RIG, antenna, age, years as ham, hobbies, etc...I don't have to write down the whole conversation.

I guess right now my paper tablet is my "security blanket" and I need to gain the confidence to "let go of it" so to speak. You see, I actually enjoy RAGCHEWING most of all, and I kick myself if I am not getting everything down. I immensely want the other op to know I am listening and understanding, so I often feedback comments to him, to let him no I am engaged. I guess I'm afraid that with head copy, I'll forget some stuff. I need to let go of that insecurity.

And yes, on the air time and practice is the KEY, and has been all along.

I want any new CW ops out there who are stuck at a hump to know that it is only a matter of stick-toit-tivity and determination.

I don't know the "average" time it takes a CW op to get into the high speed ranges, but it has taken me 6 months to get "up to" the 20 WPM zone.
I was listening to W1AW a while ago, and yes, head copying for a bit a QST article about propogation, I guess the speed was right at 18 WPM. Their signal is always good and the code is clean, and yes, I was copying it very well. Well enough to understand the gist was "Yep, the sunspot cycle sucks, live with it!"... http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

I'm sorry to bore you'all with the chronicles of my code practice...haha...It's just I am very enthusiastic, and each QSO seems like my very first one.

[VE3EN]

Hey ... gotta love cw... i can send and receive comfortable around 40 wpm, i can send higher... have had my ticket now for just over 5 years, have known cw for about that long.. what i have done to get good.. is practice sending sending sending.. over and over again.. gradually getting speed up.. then eventually you get good sending really fast... when you listen to cw on the air, it suddenly seems really slow.. find its easier to copy when your learning.

73, Kevin VE3GIB

[kf4vgx]

Quote[/b] (ab0wr @ Aug. 02 2006,18:39)]Quote[/b] (KE5FRF @ Aug. 03 2006,16:57)]Anybody else out there at this stage and looking to get past it? I'm curious as to the techniques and the observations you are making about the challenge.

At this stage, I am beginning to notice that speeds above 20 WPM don't sound so fast anymore, and I can copy whole words, even up to 30 WPM if I listen intently. I certainly couldn't manage a QSO yet anywhere in the 22-30 range, especially with current QSB on the bands, but what I am saying is that I see it in the HORIZON for me.

My method all along has been the MFJ pocket tutor, along with real QSOs every day, at least three is my daily goal. Actually, this has more to do with getting WAS on CW than anything else, but the side effect is getting my speed up. I routinely QSO with folks anywhere between 10-20 WPM...The 20 WPM folks sometimes lose me, especially if their fist isn't spectacular or if QSB is particularly bad, but I always manage to make out enough to exchange info and make comments or ask questions.

My tutoring sessions with the MFJ device are stricly random words, which unfortunatley aren't as random as they once where, because the memory bank is limited and the words have become semi-predictable, and are mostly radio related words like "rotor, tower, QRP, Icom, macintosh, RS232" etc

But even still, I can set the speed to 22,23 or higher and sit there and head copy, and this is what I do throughout the day at work when I'm not involved with a task.

It is working very well, but...

I have two or three issues that I need to resolve before I can operate on the air at those speeds:
First, I don't have a paddle key yet. I'm still operating with a straight key...I can get a rhythm going with the straight key that approaches 20WPM, but I tend to make too many mistakes still so I don't send that fast in a QSO. But that is only part of the problem, and easily resolved with a small investment. The bigger problem is thus:
The transition between 15 WPM to over 20 WPM requires more than just fast sending, it requires reliable head copy. Even at 18 WPM, my writing speed hangs me up a lot, and can actually hinder me. However, the trouble with head copy is that at the speeds just below and above 20 WPM are KIND OF SLOW for head copy. Sometimes, by the time the third or fourth letter rolls around in a longer word, I have forgotten what the first two letters were! #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif
And then, what happens here is that I get hung up on THAT WORD, and miss the next one...This kind of relates to the troubles I had when making the 10 WPM hump transition. That is the stage when missing ONE CHARACTER got you hung up and thus you missed the next two or three. Well, I eventually got past that barrier, but this barrier in front of my is a little more daunting because I can't write things down to go back and review. I have to be able to put a sentence together, not just a string of characters. The good thing is that sentences have logical structure, so often words become predictable, but it is still VERY TOUGH.


Anyway, my observation here is that each new stage in mastering CW has it's own unique challenges and requires new techniques. My gut feeling is that in my case, at this stage, what I really need to do is take a hiatus from having actual QSOs and exchanges, and start looking for QSOs to listen to at these speeds, and "pretend" I am listening to the guy sending TO ME. And once I get a paddle key and practice and can send at 20 or more WPM, I need to tailend some of the QSOs where my copy is very good and actually work some ops at those speeds. Might even be good to let them know where I am in the process and ask for patience if I have to ask for a resend of certain details.

Anyway, perhaps some people "at my stage" might share their experiences and observations, and some of the folks well beyond this stage some tips.
You are probably where you are going to have to make a choice sooner or later.

First, a paddle will help tremendously. Don't waste your money, get a good one to begin with. Otherwise you'll just cuss yourself. I was never happy until I got a good Kent key. Best thing I have ever bought, bar none.

Second, you can get past your bump by copying in your head but that places a limit on you as well. I used to copy messages at 30-35wpm by using cursive writing on a piece of paper - when I was young and my reflexes were good. I then moved to using a typewriter. Now I just copy at around 25wpm and write it in cursive. (more room on the desktop that way!)

If you only want to do informal qso's then copying in your head is the way to go. If you want to do formal traffic you are going to have to figure out a way to get it on paper. Everyone is different. I've been told some people learn shorthand in order to speed things up.

My guess is that what you are actually faced with now is just the need to practice, practice, practice. You got to train your brain to recognize those little burps of sound as they get shorter and shorter.

Oh, one other trick. Do you write behind what you copy? When I used to do 5-letter code groups I would always be writing 2 or 3 letters behind what was being sent. It's kind of a trick to do but it helps sometimes.

tim ab0wr
Good advice , http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
Tips that I and others can appreciate .
Now thats how you enjoy the hobby http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Heath your having to much fun !

Well said . http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[W5HTW]

First, there are very few people who can send intelligible Morse on a straight key above 22 wpm or so. I've known a couple, but they are quite rare critters. And above 25-26 I have never known one at all, good or bad. So if you want to get the sending beyond 20 wpm, get the keyer and paddle.

There are also very few people who can do letter-perfect copy by hand above 22 wpm. Hand printing is limited to that area or even slightly below, say 20.

So your first step is to change your style. Already mentioned sending. Get the paddle.

Receiving, decide what you want to do. Do you want to write down every character? If so, don't. Forget it. Do you want to get enough words to give you an idea of what was said? Concentrate on getting the gist. If the guy says "NAME HR BILL" , all you need to write is "BILL." And that is simply so you will remember his name. If you want to get sizable content, for ragchewing (like what he does for a living, how long he has been doing it, when he last did it, and did he like doing it) you have to get in a few more words, but you do not have to get them all. Figure out what is important to you and jot that down, again, just to jog your memory, not for "copy" purposes.

Want letter perfect copy above 25 wpm? You're gonna have to go to a "mill." Or today's equivalent, the keyboard. You can open a word processing program and sit there as he is sending, and copy every darned letter he sends onto the screen, once you get used to it. But you will have to back up a bit and practice that at slower speeds, around 12-15 wpm. No, I am not talking about computer-decoded Morse. YOU are decoding it, and using the computer as nothing more than a typewriter. And in all caps, so it simulates a Mill, the way it was done in the old days. The only real limit to this is your typing ability - you absolutely MUST be an accomplished touch typist, capable of typing accurately at the speed you are going to copy. And it is very good practice. Practice will have you copying 35-45 wpm regularly on your "mill."

So the key ( pun intended) is to change your methods. Copy in your head, make short, one-word notes, and forget about writing down everything. Switch to the paddle, but practice - you don't want to be the one guilty of the six dits and a dah make a "V" type of sending! Close enough is NOT good enough!! Get it right. How? Record it on a cassette, video cassette, DV, whatever. Then play it back a day later and see if you can copy it.

Yeah, bad code will slow anyone down. Those six dits and a dah or two for a "V" throw us all off. That is why copying five letter code groups is much easier! You aren't guessing the word. And if you miss a letter, you just go on to the next without trying to figure out what that letter was. For software like the G4FON, you can create a random text file of such groups, and have the software send it to you, and you will find it is amazing how well you can copy at faster speeds by not trying to "read and correct" as you go. Once you build speed with groups, 25 gpm and above, switch back to plain text and see how well you do.

But make it all fun!

Ed

[n0iu]

Quote[/b] (KE5FRF @ Aug. 03 2006,11:57)]I certainly couldn't manage a QSO yet anywhere in the 22-30 range...
Why not?

One thing that makes actual on-air QSOs easier to copy than using those "tutors" is that it is a real conversation and you can take things in context. I would say that your MFJ unit probably served its purpose in getting you to this point, but its time to pass it along to another aspiring CW op and get on the air!

Scott NØIU

[WA2ZDY]

Put down the pen and throw the paper in the trash. Do you sit there writing it down as folks talk to you? No. So why do it with Morse? It's a conversation; treat it as such. How much writing do you think I did while operating CW while driving for 20 years?

If you want paper copy, like Ed said, copy it on the mill. I did and still can. But why bother? I'm not handling NTS traffic. Are you?

Sit back and enjoy the chat. As long as you look at it as having a chat, that's how you should handle it too.

[KF0RT]

Great advice here, Heath. I think you're "overthinking" the situation.

Get a keyer and paddles. Dump the paper and the "100% copy." Get on and make more contacts. The rest will just happen at this point.

Your next challenge isn't 20-25WPM, it's learning to send with a keyer.

Ed brings up a good point about writing speed. When I was at this point (1972), I actually changed my writing style so I could write faster. One day, I timed myself, and could write barely above 20 WPM and was no better on a typewriter (mill). Then I realised that I was writing everything down because that's how I was trained -- to pass the test!

Turns out, all that writing was holding me back.

73, Rob

[ky5u]

Quote[/b] (w0uzr @ Aug. 03 2006,17:04)]Quote[/b] (KE5FRF @ Aug. 03 2006,17:57)]At this stage, I am beginning to notice that speeds above 20 WPM don't sound so fast anymore, and I can copy whole words, even up to 30 WPM if I listen intently.,
I thought you said you were in a Hump...

How are you in a hump?

You MADE IT !!

That's what you want. Just copy whole words and don't write the letters anymore. Jot down the jist of the copy so you won't forget what he said when you go back to him.
He's right, just keep listening and trying to copy the faster speeds. You'll find out soon 20WPM will sound SLOW!

[ne6ao]

Im curious to know If you know about w1aw code practice it helped me get to 18wpm but its funny no one suggested it ,its never the same so its always fresh 73Tom NE6AO:laugh:

[WB2WIK]

You surely need a keyer paddle, very few can send >20 wpm with a hand key and most who try sound lousy.

As for copying, I find that the biggest obstacle to copying code faster is worrying about copying code faster. Just make QSOs and go faster. If you don't copy what the other guy sent, nobody cares. Try to get his callsign, maybe a name, QTH...get what you can.

Stop caring about "solid copy" or "getting the letters" and you'll go much faster.

Making contacts on the air ramps up code speed much more effectively than "copying" code does. QSOs are interactive. Copying isn't. Interactive learning always works better.

WB2WIK/6

[KI4CIA]

Heath,

Good for you! I think the last time we had a CW QSO you were comfortable around 15 wpm.

I've been listening to the W1AW practice sessions online and another online program (AA9PW) during my lunch break - in the past month I've gone from 18 wpm to 25 wpm, but I don't wait until I'm copying 100% before increasing. I'll go up to the next step as soon as I find myself getting close to comfortable. This seems to have helped a good deal.

Another thing, I've started checking into the Alabama Section Net - those guys run about 20-25 wpm, and sometimes faster. I can follow the preamble and the check-ins well enough to know what's going on and copy the basics 100%. But I know I'm sending too slow because sometimes NCS will slow down when I was copying them just fine to begin with. Plus, it's great practice with listening through QRN and QRM.

As for head copy, sometimes it's just forced on you. I've had a couple of QSO's where the op would speed up and the head copy was basically forced on me - either do it or else. Those are my favorite QSO's because the other op takes the "elmer" role and makes you push yourself.


I think I've maxed the sending speed on my SK at 15 wpm, so have started practicing with the keyer. Last few QSO's (minus last night) have been "slow" for me, about 15 wpm, so figured it was time to start putting the keyer on the air if I'm going to continue getting the speed up.


Good luck,
Melinda / KI4CIA

[K0RGR]

I'd get with a keyer or even an old 'bug'. Get the best paddle you can afford. Another option, but a less portable one, is to get the software and make CW from your keyboard. The other station will enjoy it if you take the time to learn how to use a keybaord correctly. Good code is much easier to read than bad code.

I never officially got above 30 WPM because that's the fastest I can write. I can usually copy faster in my head.

I did write everything down when I was practicing for my Extra because I needed to practice writing it at that speed. But once I passed, I threw away the paper except for taking notes on what the other guy said, so I remember to say something about it. The source for my practice was UPI news service down below the 160 meter band. I believe they're gone now. I also did CW traffic nets and I was a big contester. I find that contests will help boost your speed considerably. The November Sweepstakes is a good place to try it out. Don't quit until you've worked all the sections, at least.

[ky5u]

Quote[/b] (KI4CIA @ Aug. 04 2006,10:37)]Heath,

Good for you! I think the last time we had a CW QSO you were comfortable around 15 wpm.

I've been listening to the W1AW practice sessions online and another online program (AA9PW) during my lunch break - in the past month I've gone from 18 wpm to 25 wpm, but I don't wait until I'm copying 100% before increasing. I'll go up to the next step as soon as I find myself getting close to comfortable. This seems to have helped a good deal.

Another thing, I've started checking into the Alabama Section Net - those guys run about 20-25 wpm, and sometimes faster. I can follow the preamble and the check-ins well enough to know what's going on and copy the basics 100%. But I know I'm sending too slow because sometimes NCS will slow down when I was copying them just fine to begin with. Plus, it's great practice with listening through QRN and QRM.

As for head copy, sometimes it's just forced on you. I've had a couple of QSO's where the op would speed up and the head copy was basically forced on me - either do it or else. Those are my favorite QSO's because the other op takes the "elmer" role and makes you push yourself.


I think I've maxed the sending speed on my SK at 15 wpm, so have started practicing with the keyer. Last few QSO's (minus last night) have been "slow" for me, about 15 wpm, so figured it was time to start putting the keyer on the air if I'm going to continue getting the speed up.


Good luck,
Melinda / KI4CIA
Yeppers, I need practice sending too. Best I can do now is about 23wpm on the IAMBIC key and I am exceeding that easily in my ability to copy. Glad to see your progress!

[K7JBQ]

What Ed said, and what Steve said. Excellent advice in both cases.

Do NOT throw away the paper and pen. Just jot the occasional note.

Remember it's a QSO, not a code test. You don't need solid copy for a minute. You just need to be able to converse. Figure it's like talking with someone at a noisy cocktail party. You miss the occasional word. Big deal, you just keep yakking.

One note: A paddle is not an absolute requirement. A bug, in the proper hands, can sing along just fine.

73,
Bill

[al7n]

W5HTW pretty much has it pegged....

You probably won't be able to get much past 20-25 wpm with a straight key and good sending...few operators can.
You'll need to go to a keyer (or a bug...but learn how to handle one properly first...the bug won't give you the
"help" in character formation that a keyer will) for speed in sending much higher than that.

On copying...learn how to copy "by the word" and write it in longhand (or "cursive" as they call it now). #Printing in block letters is much too slow for most people.

Learn how to "listen" to what the other operator is "saying" and write that down...try to write down the shorter words just after they have been entirely sent...this will begin to get you into "copying behind" #which you will need to do at higher speeds. #You need to stop copying "by the letter" and get the whole words...that will improve your concentration and you won't get "lost" so much.....get it by the "word" instead.

Above 25 WPM or so you probably will want to go to a typewriter or computer keyboard to copy text....QSO's are fine for "head copying", and just jotting down a few details, but you might find yourself in a postion sometime where you have to "get it all down correctly and legibly" (like maybe in some sort of emergency communications #activity) and you should be able to do that if necessary.

Scrap the recorded practice stuff, and use only "fresh" or "live" CW to receive from now on. #You have probably subconciously memorized anything you have recorded by now and it's further usefulness as good practice material is compromised. #

Practice using CW on the air to communicate with other operators as much as possible, #copy everything you can as often as you can...work at higher and higher speeds as it becomes comfortable....you are almost there.....

CW...use it ...use it...use it....use it.....

[ki4nzu]

"CW...use it ...use it...use it....use it..... "

RIGHT ON....I CANT PREACH IT ENOUGH!!! :0

[KE5FRF]

Well, I can only add that I usaually have at least three QSOs each evening, sometimes more, and on the weekend I probably make at least 10 contacts at some time or another.

Yes, I do undertsand all of the advice, and it is all very good. I have been TRYING to "copy behind" and use shorthand quite a bit, and it is probably helping out a bunch. Still haven't got a bug or paddle yet, but will in the "near" future. A lot of other expenses right now.

One thing I do want to emphasize is that I believe the FISTS motto to be 100% correct..acuuracy transcends speed...and I focus a whole lot more on good readable sending than I do on my speed...doesn't do me much good to be fast if I have to repeat myself.

But, by the way, I CAN send 18 WPM with a straight key, and not TOO poorly I might add...the trick as I see it is to have a very slight "throw" of the key...I have the space between my contacts set so close that a QSL card can barely go between them...this helps me with faster sending quite nicely.

[W5HTW]

Adjusting a good straight key (key word is "good", meaning type as well as condition) is an art in itself. Once upon a time I had a 'new' surpluse J38 that, after a few months or playing with it, I had achieved perfection (for me) in its settings. I have never been able to get there since then with any straight key I have owned. Of course, age has changed me, for one thing. But when I had that key, way back when, and when I finally got it so the code I sent drew comments from folks like "I like your keyer," I had the gap too close for a sheet of typing paper. Once that was set, the spring tension was set to allow positive action without building massive wrist muscles.

I wish I could get my somewhat worn J38 today set that way, but I think part of the problem, and in fact, most of it, is in my old bones, including the big one on top of my neck.

Good luck

Ed

[W4CBJ]

Been a ham for many years and LOVE CW ! It is the ultimate in reliability. Sent and copied MANY messages but two I never did receive were: "THIS PAGE CANNOT BE DISPLAYED" and "CANNOT FIND SERVER". THANK GOD !.

Extra Class A R C WX4TRA.... 73 Joe W4CBJ.

[w3sy]

I preach about this all the time, so once more won't hurt.

But first, using CW on the air is THE way to get your code speed up. Well done! Try a few CW contests. The results may surprise you.

Now the lecture: #Yes, go get the keyer and paddle, and practice SENDING. Send out of a book or newspaper. Send random thoughts. Just sit there and send for, oh I dunno, 15 minutes at a time. Try for accuracy and rhythm. Gradually build the speed at which you can send accurately. You may very well find in time that your copy speed has ALSO climbed.

I'm not a BRAIN SURGEON or anything, but I have always believed that code sending and code copying are two independent brain functions, and must be developed separately, but building one function helps the other.

When I learned code in the 1960's, it was very common to teach SENDING as well as copying. We learned how to adjust the key, how to hold it, and how to make the right rhythm and spacing. Most code students could send MUCH faster than they could receive, and the receiving had to "catch up." (Usually did!) Now, who teaches sending?? I never hear about that.

I truly believe that sending practice builds copying speed a little... but maybe enough to overcome a plateau.

I also believe that copying on paper and mentally are two separate skills that must be practiced separately. Each has its place. I always tended to print in block letters up to about 22-25 wpm. Then I would write in "script" from about 25 wpm to 40 wpm. (Never could type worth crap.)

All the champion code speed demons copied by typewriter, and copied a few words behind. Never really developed that skill, but when I tried it, I could see that it would work VERY well if one could get used to it!

Good luck!