The K6RAU beginners code course for those not knowing a dit from a dah is available at the following url links: https://k6rau.podomatic.com https://tunein.com/podcasts/Education-Podcasts/K6RAU-Morse-Code-Course-p3646354/ https://www.youtube.com/@k6rau577 The course first introduces the individual to learn code by sound & progresses in 12 lessons to 5 words per minute. A lesson is about 30 minutes and recommendation is to listen to each twice before moving on to the next one. At the time the code course was produced and recorded, the alphabet of 'Able, Baker, Charlie', etc., were still common phonetics being used within amateur radio before the now current 'Delta, Echo, Foxtrot', etc... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allied_Military_phonetic_spelling_alphabets - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I gave a quick listen to lesson 1. Lots of noise artifacts in the recording may "throw off" those attempting to learn CW. Didn't matter if I listened to lesson 1 directly online or downloaded and listened. Annoying listening online as I was unable, using Firefox, to skip around in the audio. Each time I tried the audio returned to the beginning. Also, annoying listening online as if I went to another browser tab the audio returned to the beginning. Unsure if the noise artifacts are paper pages being turned, static from something or a switch being pressed (mic switch) or something else causing.
Kraig - Appreciate the report. The course has been available online for over 20 years and yours is the first report of a problematic audio condition. I'm using Windows 11 with Chrome browser. Just listened online to lesson 1 on all 3 url links and the audio is clear here, so not sure why you are experiencing the audio snags. 73, > Fred (k6rau)
Fred, Experience the same browser experience in regard to being unable to skip forward or backward in the audio? Experience the same browser experience of the audio returning to the beginning if attempting to skip around or clicking another tab?
Kraig - Just connected and listened to lesson one on Podomatic. Was able to skip, go forward to other segments in the middle or near the end and then click back to any earlier segment or even the beginning. Was able to stop and then click play on any segment within the lesson. Didn't get returned to the beginning in clicking any part of the lesson...
Thanks for this Fred, i always wanted to learn CW just was always under the impression it would be too hard. i listened to Ep 1 lastnight and i picked those characters up pretty quickly. im sure TMO0 are super easy to learn compared to other letters and numbers but that first episode was enough to inspire confidence to peruse this further. Thanks! Brennan, VE4WAT
Good deal, Brennan. Glad you have found the course of use. As indicated, even if you don't consider it necessary, recommendation is to listen to each lesson twice before moving on to the next one. It helps in absorbing the characters as sound rather than as dots and dashes on a printed page. 73, > Fred (k6rau)
Hi.. Great initiative but please read this: I don't think teaching the code at 5 wpm is the way to go. SO YOU WANT TO LEARN MORSE CODE (qsl.net) tinyurl.com/howtolearncw just food for thought. 73 Pierre, VE2HS
So many methods.... I originally attempted learning using old ARMY training records I tried hard, and very little progress. Then a friend loaned me his Morse Code tape by Gordon West which taught learning the characters at 15WPM, but spaced at 5WPM. Then he taught WORDS at 15WPM, spacing at 5WPM between the words. Interestingly enough, this is how I currently send, 15WPM spaced at whatever rate the other OM is sending up to 15WPM. I'm not sure why I hit a wall at 15WPM, but that seems to be where I'm at. Maybe it's the straight key - yah, I'll blame the tool
Just as with different martial art styles, so with Morse Code. The K6RAU code course does focus on mastering 5 wpm. With on-the-air operating afterwards, speed improves. The "record" sound may be due to the course being first produced and recorded on reel to reel tape & transferred to digital format many years later. >> Fred (k6rau)