How to learn to work CW?

March

2020

CW, morse, video

16 March 2020 10:26

I share my own experience of learning Morse code.

In the amateur study of Morse code, I distinguish the following five stages:

Studying the basics of the telegraph - signs using “tunes” or sound forms (ti-tAAA-ti, TAAA-ti-ti-ti) at low speed.
Training CW reception by ear at an average speed of 12WPM, gradually accelerating to 20WPM. Here are the first experiments in key transmission.
Free text on HF or VHF - training in transmitting and receiving free text in real conditions while “chatting” with a friend using a telegraph.
Studying the QSO pattern of amateur radio slang from recordings of radio communications or live broadcast (GA OM ...).
Conducting QSOs with amateur radio operators on short waves (3.5, 7, 10, 14 MHz).

Professional radio athletes can argue with me and they will be right, they train differently:

Studying the reception and transmission of letters in the classroom:
- learning letters using the Koch method, i.e. without "tunes"
- recording reception at word speed from 5WPM to 10WPM, character compression 12-15WPM
- preparatory exercises (warm-up hands, positioning of the hand, passing dots and dashes)
- transmission at the same speed, achieving rhythmic and measured transmission (using a metronome)
- learning to work at training radio stations
1. Speed training classes (10 or more classes) on simulators like AKDM-2000, speed increase:
  - increasing speed by repeating exercises - class-group work combined with independent work
  - training in transmitting for a long time without deteriorating quality (fixing speed).
  - independent work on mistakes outside of school hours.
Working in class at high speed. Increasing speed up to 30 WPM. Error handling. Formation of a stable “handwriting”. Passing the exam.

Independent study of the telegraph alphabet takes longer than in classes for training athletes in the discipline "Radio Sports" or with military telegraph operators: a year or more. Although there are examples where a person learned Morse from scratch in 1-2 months, this is an exception to the rule.

Gearing refers to gear using an iambic key, but the mode for non-professional use can be a regular single-lever horizontal paddle-type key. Usually there are no problems with telegraph transmission, the main difficulty with reception is when the speed increases above 18 words per minute (above 90 characters per minute). You need to start with a speed of at least 15WPM, for example, 18WPM. At the same time, I see a speed of 24-27 WPM (120-140 characters per minute) as the ultimate goal when learning Morse code. Because this is the most common CW baud rate on shortwave. A speed of 30-50 WPM is considered QRQ, that is, the lot of high-speed telegraph operators. Most radio amateurs operate at a speed of 27-28 WPM (140 characters per minute).

I do not recommend using web services like lcwo.net. Interest quickly disappears.
My favorite programs are at the first stage program for learning Morse code "APAC"(free) and Ham University for Windows(free, but additional lessons for a fee). You can also use various programs to generate WAV files (for example,RA9CD morse generator) and listen to CW recordings on a voice recorder or MP3 player with headphones. To train call sign recognition at different speeds, use a program for Linux qrq. Telegraph competition emulator for Windows -Morse Runner- you should switch to it when the speed of 30WPM has been mastered (that is, not soon). ;-)

The main motto when learning Morse code is “Practice makes perfect.” Getting rid of errors (confusion S-H, 6-B) occurs as a result of a series of short training sessions with the necessary letters (drills), lasting 2 minutes, during which no more than 50 groups of characters of 5 characters are transmitted. Training - rest. Training - rest. And so on. At first, it is advisable to exercise for 40-45 minutes a day. To maintain your skills, you need to practice for 20-30 minutes every day or regularly work on air as a telegraph operator. Priority when working on air should be given to the quality of manipulation (formation of signs and rhythm), rather than speed, which should come with time.