In article , C
writes:

My only gripe with the code is the testing. It is stated as a 5 word
per minute test. When I challenged the test a few weeks ago I found that
it is actually anywhere from 13 to 18 words per minute, not 5 words per
minute. The 5 words per minute is a lie....

The standard test is 5 wpm "Farnsworth spaced" Morse. The characters are sent
fast (~15 wpm) but extra space is inserted between each character so the result
is 25 per minute. Which is 5 wpm.

IOW, "Farnsworth" sounds like this:

dahdah.................................dahdidahdah ........................
........dahdit...............

instead of

daaaaahdaaaaah...................daaaaahdiidaaaaah daaaaaah......daaaaadiit
...........

However, if you would prefer the latter, it can be arranged as an accomodation.

Why not tell it like it is....

They do.

Those giving the test do not want to make
it easy for anyone who has a learning disability or not. I have never
been able to memorize anything easily when in school, and was accused of
being from lazy to stupid. My father told me that I was ignorant because
I was partly colorblind. I do not want sympathy, just after studying for
almost a year to pass the 5 word per minute test for what it is suppose
to be not what someone who is more proficient with the code wants it to
be.....

You can ask for accomodations such as non-Farnsworth Morse, different tones,
headphones instead of speaker, etc. But you have to contact the VEC ahead of
time and arrange for it, in most cases.

Look for the G4FON free software and download it. Does a better job for most
people than records or CDs.

Quote from a satisfied user (WA2SI):

"Here is the link to download G4FON's
'Koch Method CW Trainer' as well as KB2TQX's 'KochRX.'

http://www.qsl.net/g4fon/CW%20Trainer.htm

Lemme tell you, this makes learning and practicing CW really fun, almost
like a PC game. Download and install both into the same directory and then
start off with two characters. KochRX allows you to enter the sent Morse
character on your keyboard and at the end of the session (You can vary the
time and speed.) it'll compare actual sent vs. what you've typed and grade
it."

Also please visit:

http://www.9bit.qc.ca/ve2crd/cours/CW_course.html



Good luck.

73 de Jim, N2EY