How to learn to work CW?

March

2020

cw, morse, video

16 March 2020 10:26

I share -owned experience of studying the ABC Morse.

In amateur study of "Morzyanka" I distinguish the next five stages:

Studying the basics of a telegraph-signs by "tunes" or sound forms (tie-taaaa, taaa-t-t-ti) at a small speed.
Training of taking CW by ear at an average speed of 12WPM, gradually accelerating to 20WPM. Immediately - the first experiments on the transfer on the key.
Free text on KV or VHF - training of transmitting and receiving arbitrary text in real conditions with "chatter" with a friend using a telegraph.
Studying the QSO Radio Long -Military Reservoir template for radio communications or live ether (Ga OM ...).
Conducting QSO with amateur radio telephones on short waves (3.5, 7, 10, 14 MHz).

Professional radio sportsmen can argue with me and will be right, their training occurs differently:

Studying the reception and transfer of letters in the class:
- Studying letters according to the Koch method (“koch”), i.e. without "tunes"
- Reception under the recording at the speed of words starting from 5WPM ending with 10WPM, compressed signs 12-15WPM
- Preparatory exercises (warm -up, setting up a brush, transmission of points and dash)
- Transfer at the same speed, achieving rhythmic and measured transmission (using metronome)
- Studying work at educational radio stations
1. Classes for training speed increasing (10 or more classes) on type simulators ADDM-2000, speed increase:
  - Increasing speed by repeating the exercises - class -group work in combination with independent work
  - Training in the transfer for a long time without deterioration of quality (speed fixing).
  - Independent work on errors in extracurricular times.
Work in the class at high speed. Speed up to 30 WPM. Error testing. The formation of stable "handwriting". Passing the exam.

An independent study of the telegraph alphabet is longer than in classes in training athletes in the discipline "Radio Sports" or among military telegraphists: a year or more. Although there are examples when a person from scratch studied Morsa in 1-2 months, this is an exception to the rules.

The program refers to the transmission on the iambic vein, but the regime for unprofessional use can be a regular single -leaf horizontal key of the “oar” type. Typically, there are no problems with the transmission of the telegraph, the main difficulty with the reception with an increase in speed above 18 words per minute (above 90 signs per minute). You need to start at a speed of at least 15WPM, for example, 18WPM. At the same time, as an ultimate goal in the study of the ABC Morse, I see a speed of 24-27 WPM (120-140 signs per minute). Since this is the most common CW transmission speed on short waves. The speed of 30-50 WPM is considered QRQ, that is, the destiny of the telegraph operators. Most amateurs work at a speed of 27-28 WPM (140 signs per minute).

Using web services like lcwo.net - I do not recommend. Interest quickly disappears.
My favorite programs are at the first stage Program for studying the ABC Morse "Apak" (бесплатная) и Ham University for Windows (бесплатная, но дополнительные уроки за плату). Также можно использовать различные программы для генерации WAV-файлов (например, RA9CD Morse Generator) and listen to CW recordings on a voice recorder or MP3 player in headphones. To train the calls to recognize at different speeds, the program for Linux QRQ . Telegraph emulator for Windows -Morse Runner - к ней следует переходить когда освоена скорость 30WPM (то есть не скоро). ;-)

The main motto in the study of the ABC Morse - "Perfection comes with practice" (Practice Makes Perfect). Getting rid of errors (confusion S-H, 6-B) occurs as a result of a series of short training with the desired letters (Drills), a duration of 2 minutes, for which no more than 50 groups of signs of 5 characters are transmitted. Training - rest. Training - rest. And so on. At first, it is advisable to deal with 40-45 minutes per day. To maintain skills, you need to practice daily for 20-30 minutes or regularly work on a telegraph on the air. Priority in the air should be given to the quality of manipulation (the formation of signs and rhythm), and not a speed that should come over time.