"Dee D. Flint" wrote in message
...

"Andrew Crawford" wrote in message
...
Dear All,

Does anyone have any tips for learning Morse using the Kock method? I'm
using
the "CW trainer" program and it's working... kind of.

I am learning at 25wpm. I find I can identify the sounds of the letters
no
problem at this speed, so it's working from that point of view.

However, I can't physically write that fast! By the time I get one
letter
written another three have gone by. I can "buffer" them a little but
even
so
after writing down a few letters I'm hopelessly behind.

It's very discouraging. Any hints?

Cheers,

Andrew

...Use script (cursive) not
printing. ... Also don't
worry about neat as that also slows you down.
Set the letter speed at 20 or 25wpm but set the word speed at about 15wpm.
Your brain may still be lagging slightly on identifying the letters and
may
need a slightly larger gap between them until you get more practice.
...
Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

Don't know what Kock is, but.

If you can, run the letter speed up higher. I squeaked by the high octane
Extra just before they diluted it in, what 2001? & can copy 22WPM _random
characters_ if the letter speed is at 30. This is called "Farnsworth" or
maybe other names, and it gives your brain more time to process.

*Force* yourself to "copy behind". We have a sort-of sound buffer in our
heads and it is possible to be processing and writing the letter which is 2,
3, 4 letters in the past. "HOUSE" you are writing "H" when "S" is coming
in. I think this will help alot if you can do it.

You will then be able to hear letter *combinations* as one sound.

Don't write the little stuff "the", "and" stuff like that.

If you can find someone to practice with it'll help a lot also. You both
won't mind each others mistakes and trying to actually transfer information
adds a lot of interest. If you have a ticket already, code practice
oscillators (or something improvized) on a quite frequency or just on the
phone can be fun.


I prefer to work around 13-15 WPM. I get on 3-4 times a year. When I am
copying someone at 7-10 WPM it seems really slow. When they send "the" it's
a pain since I have to copy and write each letter (Yes I have to write it)
If they were to send it at = 20 WPM, I'd hear it all as one thing. I just
recognize it easier. I only have a few of these. My Dad called this
"having a vocabulary".

It's really weird to realize you can copy a whole word...particularly since
I am not a very good CW op. If I get flustered, down the tubes I go and
miss a lot. I have to be in the right mood. Sometimes it seems quite easy,
and sometimes it is a real chore to copy.
73
--
Steve N, K,9;d, c. i My email has no u's.