Learn Morse Code ~ Thought Some Of May Be Interested.
 

I thought some of you may be interested in this if you had the time to study in your free time.
Could certainly be good to know.
Learn Morse Code

Re: Learn Morse Code ~ Thought Some Of May Be Interested.
 

Dunno if CW (ham-speak for morse code) will ever be useful in a SHTF situation, but having some radio equipment and experience can't hurt your chances.

I'm on the air every few days, and I use only morse code. I'm solid at understanding a 25 wpm sender, and still can copy up to 35 wpm if the sender is excellent: few mistakes and good rhythm.

If you want to be a hard bastard operator, google "Koch method" -- basically learn it letter by letter, but at 35 wpm. A friend in the military claims they did the Koch method to his CW class at 50 wpm. They start with two letters at high wpm, then add a third, and so on. I was stuck at 10 wpm when I tried this instead -- sure helped, but it'll freak you out the first few days.

CW is sweet music. I will cry when there are only a few code operators left on the bands.:thumpdown

GL ES 73 DE W6XXX SK

Re: Learn Morse Code ~ Thought Some Of May Be Interested.
 

Thanks Curtman!
I know a few who are looking for this.

I'm currently unlicesed but have a few rigs spread around
Yaesu 817s

Re: Learn Morse Code ~ Thought Some Of May Be Interested.
 

I believe they dropped the MC requierement for a radio license, that was my first job in the Army and went to Ft. Gordon for my MOS 052 , readio, radio teletype and MC operator.

Re: Learn Morse Code ~ Thought Some Of May Be Interested.
 

CQ, CQ, CQ, ...................... WN5IRW. That was my call letters back in the sixties. I still remember most of the code. 73

I loved and still do to this date, the old Collins gear.

Re: Learn Morse Code ~ Thought Some Of May Be Interested.
 

I got my General license last November. All my contacts so far have been qrp cw. I can copy maybe 15-20 wpm. It's been a few weeks since I've been on the air. Nice to see other cw ops on here.

Re: Learn Morse Code ~ Thought Some Of May Be Interested.
 

I remember captured Americans in Viet Nam blinking morse code while being filmed for propaganda videos that were released to the Press. Prisoners also tap out the code on plumbing pipes and walls to communicate to each other. Handy to know.
:rolleyes:

Re: Learn Morse Code ~ Thought Some Of May Be Interested.
 

I remember learning this for fun as a kid but I have been interested more seriously to get into radio op and learn Morse. Thought about joiniung the local HAM club but looks like an ol boyz club and not sure they will let a woman participate. Thanks for the link Curtman, I will be following up.

Re: Learn Morse Code ~ Thought Some Of May Be Interested.
 

Prisoners did not (most or them) use MC directly but numbers representing the letters of the alphabet......two taps for "B" , four for "D".... one tap space and two taps for the letter number 12, two taps space three taps for the 23 letter and so on.

Re: Learn Morse Code ~ Thought Some Of May Be Interested.
 

Sorry Sky, the only one that I read about (after I got out in 66) is the one that I mentioned........ good try buddy.

Re: Learn Morse Code ~ Thought Some Of May Be Interested.
 

They would :love: :love: :love: to have you AAG.

Re: Learn Morse Code ~ Thought Some Of May Be Interested.
 

Thanks ice for the encouragement. I shlould give it a try, all they can say is no then I'd be forced to start my own club :rolleyes:

Re: Learn Morse Code ~ Thought Some Of May Be Interested.
 

A really great book about CW is:

L. Peter Carron Jr., W3DKV - Morse Code: The Essential Language. ISBN 0-87259-035-6

It gives the history, photographs, tips, CW abbreviations, etc., and a method for learning with lots of useful practise material. I think I'd read this for background before tackling the formidable KOCH METHOD:

http://www.hfradio.org/koch_1.html

In Chapter 9 Carron describes an alternative to Morse for times when it's difficult or impossible to make the dash (dah). It's called the Smitty Harris Tap Code and you'll find it online at:

http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1158674

My favorite straight key is the Junker.

My favorite paddle is the palladium Begali Simplex. What a beauty that is!

Won't tell you my speeds as I don't want Drill feeling even better about himself than he already does ...

And I'll bet he doesn't have one of these ...

:cheerful:

Re: Learn Morse Code ~ Thought Some Of May Be Interested.
 

He's right.

I've run into quite a few on the air.

Re: Learn Morse Code ~ Thought Some Of May Be Interested.
 

You should ease up with that "Ohhh, it's sooo harrrd!" talk. You desire a return to the pre-PC days of no excuses. Fact is, it ain't hard, but people these days don't like to have to work for anything. And, as a member of the "There, there" enablers, you're putting self-esteem before standards and hard work.

Frankly, I'm surprised to hear this from you, of all people. Very surprised.

On a more serious note, that link makes an excellent point: It ought to be illegal to teach code at 5 wpm. It's easier to start at 14 wpm than it is to start with 5 and break through the 11-12 wpm barrier.

Re: Learn Morse Code ~ Thought Some Of May Be Interested.
 

You read an awful lot into my simple suggestion that someone read up on the background of CW. Without some background a beginner would be left with many questions unanswered.

As for CW, not only is it "hard," it's extremely difficult and takes a hell of a lot of practise to attain anywhere near a decent speed.

Why should you want to deny this, unless it's just to boost your self-created image as GIM's self-appointed resident genius?

It's interesting how lists crawl with characters who claim that things are so easy for them.

I wonder how many dopes believe them?

Ha!

Re: Learn Morse Code ~ Thought Some Of May Be Interested.
 

Took me seven months, averaging 6 days per week. It was work, but it wasn't hard: 15-20 minutes a day is much less devotion than is required for many skills.

Stop apologizing for lazy people who won't work. Enough of your PC mediocrity! You're weakening the very foundations of all that this country stands for.

Re: Learn Morse Code ~ Thought Some Of May Be Interested.
 

That's 56 hours. To attain what speed?

Here are Carron's estimates from the official American Radio Relay League publication I cited earlier:

Receiving speed attained (Words per minute) / Approximate learning time (hours)

5 / 30
10 / 60
15 / 95
20 / 150

In other words, and according to an expert, it would take about 150 hours solid practise to attain a receiving speed of 20WPM which is a fairly good level of attainment.

To attain Drill's (claimed) 35WPM would take considerably longer.

For a normal human being, that is.

But in an emergency situation high-speed snobs like Drill would probably be prepared to communicate in Morse with you and I imagine you could get by with as little as 5WPM.

Re: Learn Morse Code ~ Thought Some Of May Be Interested.
 

Sorry to say that I was pretty bad with my MC because instead of listening to the sound I just to count the dots and dashes..... oh well, never said that I was perfect......almost :bawling:

Re: Learn Morse Code ~ Thought Some Of May Be Interested.
 

My friends and I have noticed that when you're tense or just not copying well, you tend to think in smaller units. Then --.- turns into a short discussion in your head: "Q or Y". I have problem with I vs S, unless these letters are embedded in words.

One 85-year-old I know can't handle anything slower than 15 wpm, because he can't remember how to count the dots and dashes -- it's mostly words and phrases for him, and he recognizes the individual letters, but only by rhythm.

We translate 125-150 wpm speech into meaning within our brains, so 25 wpm code should be doable for most people. Of course, you have several hours each day of practice listening to speech.