Greetings,
I have been working on my CW for a while... getting ready to test next
month, and I'm concerned that I may not pass it just yet.

My question is, are there any restrictions on how you copy the code while
testing? Example, lets say that I just can't decipher the letters quick
enough in my head, and it is quicker for me to scribble dots and dashes on
paper and then go back and xlate them. Other than dirty looks, would the
VE's have any objections to this method?

Any input is more than welcome... Thanks.

Jim

Why not ask your VE ???
VE Locations are at URL:
http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/examsearch.phtml

--
73 From The Wilderness Keyboard
--------------------------------------------------------
"jim&julz" wrote in message
...
Greetings,
I have been working on my CW for a while... getting ready to test next
month, and I'm concerned that I may not pass it just yet.

My question is, are there any restrictions on how you copy the code while
testing? Example, lets say that I just can't decipher the letters quick
enough in my head, and it is quicker for me to scribble dots and dashes on
paper and then go back and xlate them. Other than dirty looks, would the
VE's have any objections to this method?

Any input is more than welcome... Thanks.

Jim

"Jim" wrote:
I have been working on my CW for a while... getting ready to test next
month, and I'm concerned that I may not pass it just yet.

My question is, are there any restrictions on how you copy the code while
testing? Example, lets say that I just can't decipher the letters quick
enough in my head, and it is quicker for me to scribble dots and dashes on
paper and then go back and xlate them. Other than dirty looks, would the
VE's have any objections to this method?

As a *former* ARRL VE, I am familiar with this discussion. The last
clarification that I recall was that it was up to the disgression of
the particular VE team whether or not to permit this technique.

Personally, I would not permit it. Writing down dots and dashes, and
then translating them at your leisure, does not demonstrate the
ability to copy at 5 wpm.

Things like this, as well as multiple-choice code tests, and allowing
people to re-take written tests 2 or 3 times in one session until they
pass, have made a mockery of the whole process.

Art Harris N2AH

"Art Harris" wrote in message
om...
"Jim" wrote:
I have been working on my CW for a while... getting ready to test next
month, and I'm concerned that I may not pass it just yet.

My question is, are there any restrictions on how you copy the code
while
testing? Example, lets say that I just can't decipher the letters quick
enough in my head, and it is quicker for me to scribble dots and dashes
on
paper and then go back and xlate them. Other than dirty looks, would the
VE's have any objections to this method?

As a *former* ARRL VE, I am familiar with this discussion. The last
clarification that I recall was that it was up to the disgression of
the particular VE team whether or not to permit this technique.

Personally, I would not permit it. Writing down dots and dashes, and
then translating them at your leisure, does not demonstrate the
ability to copy at 5 wpm.

Things like this, as well as multiple-choice code tests, and allowing
people to re-take written tests 2 or 3 times in one session until they
pass, have made a mockery of the whole process.

Art Harris N2AH

Note that since the change to 5wpm for all classes of license, the VECs no
longer use multiple choice code tests. They are now all fill in the blank
type.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE
(current ARRL & W5YI VE)

"jim&julz" wrote in message
...
Greetings,
I have been working on my CW for a while... getting ready to test next
month, and I'm concerned that I may not pass it just yet.

My question is, are there any restrictions on how you copy the code while
testing? Example, lets say that I just can't decipher the letters quick
enough in my head, and it is quicker for me to scribble dots and dashes on
paper and then go back and xlate them. Other than dirty looks, would the
VE's have any objections to this method?

Any input is more than welcome... Thanks.

Jim




As one other poster responded, check with the VE team that will be
administering your test.

However this approach is a bad idea. Under the stress of the test, you may
get caught up in writing the dots & dashes for one letter and miss what
follows.

Also you should not be "deciphering" the letters in your head. Your
training method should be creating a reflex. You should hear the sound and
write the letter without having to think at all.

What training approach are you using? Did you memorize the dots & dashes (a
very bad training method by the way)? Please describe what you are
currently using and I'll send you some tips to improve on that so you don't
have to worry about dots & dashes. How much time per day are you
practicing?

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

The way I had originally learned it was by sending... I think this was a bad
idea, as like you said, I hear dots and dashes instead of the letters. I've
been practicing using morse cat to send 5 minutes and copy it. But I find
myself trying to count how many dits and dahs I heard and then I miss the
next letter too.

Oh well... practice, practice, practice.

Thanks for the input.


Dee D. Flint wrote in message
gy.com...

"jim&julz" wrote in message
...
Greetings,
I have been working on my CW for a while... getting ready to test next
month, and I'm concerned that I may not pass it just yet.

My question is, are there any restrictions on how you copy the code
while
testing? Example, lets say that I just can't decipher the letters quick
enough in my head, and it is quicker for me to scribble dots and dashes
on
paper and then go back and xlate them. Other than dirty looks, would the
VE's have any objections to this method?

Any input is more than welcome... Thanks.

Jim




As one other poster responded, check with the VE team that will be
administering your test.

However this approach is a bad idea. Under the stress of the test, you
may
get caught up in writing the dots & dashes for one letter and miss what
follows.

Also you should not be "deciphering" the letters in your head. Your
training method should be creating a reflex. You should hear the sound
and
write the letter without having to think at all.

What training approach are you using? Did you memorize the dots & dashes
(a
very bad training method by the way)? Please describe what you are
currently using and I'll send you some tips to improve on that so you
don't
have to worry about dots & dashes. How much time per day are you
practicing?

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

Have u tried Farnsworth method -- 12 WPM for characters and overall 5 WPM
spacing -- makes it hard to count the dits and dahs.
And here in San Diego -- the Farnsworth method is used for the tests. See
URL:

http://www.arrl.org/files/infoserv/tech/code-std.txt

--
73 From The Wilderness Keyboard
---------------------------
"jim&julz" wrote in message
...
The way I had originally learned it was by sending... I think this was a
bad
idea, as like you said, I hear dots and dashes instead of the letters.
I've
been practicing using morse cat to send 5 minutes and copy it. But I find
myself trying to count how many dits and dahs I heard and then I miss the
next letter too.

Oh well... practice, practice, practice.

Thanks for the input.


Dee D. Flint wrote in message
gy.com...

"jim&julz" wrote in message
...
Greetings,
I have been working on my CW for a while... getting ready to test next
month, and I'm concerned that I may not pass it just yet.

My question is, are there any restrictions on how you copy the code
while
testing? Example, lets say that I just can't decipher the letters
quick
enough in my head, and it is quicker for me to scribble dots and
dashes
on
paper and then go back and xlate them. Other than dirty looks, would
the
VE's have any objections to this method?

Any input is more than welcome... Thanks.

Jim




As one other poster responded, check with the VE team that will be
administering your test.

However this approach is a bad idea. Under the stress of the test, you
may
get caught up in writing the dots & dashes for one letter and miss what
follows.

Also you should not be "deciphering" the letters in your head. Your
training method should be creating a reflex. You should hear the sound
and
write the letter without having to think at all.

What training approach are you using? Did you memorize the dots &
dashes
(a
very bad training method by the way)? Please describe what you are
currently using and I'll send you some tips to improve on that so you
don't
have to worry about dots & dashes. How much time per day are you
practicing?

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

set computer for 18 WPM character speed spaced to 5 WPM - this is similar to
the tests..

run restricted letter groups with both plain text words and 5 character
groups until you start getting it and then add letters until you get
everything in.

copying everything as dots/dashes is a fail, at least here.


--

------------------------------------------------
Bill Newkirk
Amateur Radio Station WB9IVR
Melbourne, FL - Birthplace of Jim Morrison
The web site says you like pizza.



"jim&julz" wrote in message
...
The way I had originally learned it was by sending... I think this was a
bad
idea, as like you said, I hear dots and dashes instead of the letters.
I've
been practicing using morse cat to send 5 minutes and copy it. But I find
myself trying to count how many dits and dahs I heard and then I miss the
next letter too.

Oh well... practice, practice, practice.

Thanks for the input.


Dee D. Flint wrote in message
gy.com...

"jim&julz" wrote in message
...
Greetings,
I have been working on my CW for a while... getting ready to test next
month, and I'm concerned that I may not pass it just yet.

My question is, are there any restrictions on how you copy the code
while
testing? Example, lets say that I just can't decipher the letters
quick
enough in my head, and it is quicker for me to scribble dots and
dashes
on
paper and then go back and xlate them. Other than dirty looks, would
the
VE's have any objections to this method?

Any input is more than welcome... Thanks.

Jim




As one other poster responded, check with the VE team that will be
administering your test.

However this approach is a bad idea. Under the stress of the test, you
may
get caught up in writing the dots & dashes for one letter and miss what
follows.

Also you should not be "deciphering" the letters in your head. Your
training method should be creating a reflex. You should hear the sound
and
write the letter without having to think at all.

What training approach are you using? Did you memorize the dots &
dashes
(a
very bad training method by the way)? Please describe what you are
currently using and I'll send you some tips to improve on that so you
don't
have to worry about dots & dashes. How much time per day are you
practicing?

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

On Tue, 25 Nov 2003, jim&julz wrote:
I have been working on my CW for a while... getting ready to test next
month, and I'm concerned that I may not pass it just yet.

My question is, are there any restrictions on how you copy the code while
testing? Example, lets say that I just can't decipher the letters quick
enough in my head, and it is quicker for me to scribble dots and dashes on
paper and then go back and xlate them. Other than dirty looks, would the
VE's have any objections to this method?

Any input is more than welcome... Thanks.

If you can't figure out the characters at 5wpm, you don't know the code.