I was under the impression that Farnsworth was a type of spacing but
that the actual numbers weren't relevant -- only that the word speed
is often much less than the character speed. The test I took had a
word speed of five words per minute and a character speed of eighteen
words per minute. The practice files I'm building for my web site
have a word speed of five words per minute and a character speed of
twenty words per minute.

Stacey By the time one becomes proficient enough to copy Morse Code,
Stacey counting out the dits and dahs is moot at best.

In my limited experience, I learn more characters faster with
Farnsworth spacing, but I'm concerned that I'm building a lookup table
instead of reflexes. It's the difference between "dahdidah, hmm,
that's K, dahdah, hmm, that's M" and "dahdidah (K) dahdah (M)". I
learned eight or nine characters with Farnsworth spacing, but I can't
repeat the performance at full speed, so I fear that I'm learning
something that won't be useful if I continue to use Farnsworth
spacing.


Stick with the tried and proven Jack and just get on with the job like
tens if not hundreds of thousands of us have already done. There is no
point to reinventing the wheel.

I've sed it before I'll say it again: The W1AW code practice sessions
and getting on the air ASAP are the best methods out there for
learning the code. The 1AW sessions are reliable, they're not
repetitive and you can pace yourself without breaking a sweat
depending on your own set of learning curve variables. Yes it's
Farnsworth and 1AW Farnworth has obviously worked for decades. Now go
copy 1AW 5wpm sessions until you "get it".

I'm not sure I'd advise getting on the air with 5wpm these days but
getting on the air with 10wpm absolutely will accelerate your move up
the code learning curve. There is nothing which can simulate the
experience and stimulation one gets when snagging real CW QSOs early
in the code learning process. Nothing. Sweat, sweat, tremble, into the
deep end . . Been there, done it and it WORKS. The mix of 1AW and The
Deep End worked twice for me and I not only enjoyed all of it but also
got to 20wpm+ via logs full of actual QSOs to boot.

And CW contests are lousy code practice.



Jack.
- --

w3rv

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"Brian" =3D=3D Brian Kelly writes:

Jack In my limited experience, I learn more characters faster with
Jack Farnsworth spacing, but I'm concerned that I'm building a lookup
Jack table instead of reflexes. It's the difference between
Jack "dahdidah, hmm, that's K, dahdah, hmm, that's M" and "dahdidah
Jack (K) dahdah (M)". I learned eight or nine characters with
Jack Farnsworth spacing, but I can't repeat the performance at full
Jack speed, so I fear that I'm learning something that won't be
Jack useful if I continue to use Farnsworth spacing.

Brian Stick with the tried and proven Jack and just get on with the
Brian job like tens if not hundreds of thousands of us have already
Brian done. There is no point to reinventing the wheel.

One wonders what Mr. (or Ms.) Farnsworth would have said if someone
had told him something like that. There is point in reinventing the
wheel, if one believes they may have found something more efficient.
In this case, I'm not inventing anything -- I am facilitating the
learning of those who prefer full speed and Farnsworth spacing.

Brian I've sed it before I'll say it again: The W1AW code practice
Brian sessions and getting on the air ASAP are the best methods out
Brian there for learning the code. The 1AW sessions are reliable,
Brian they're not repetitive and you can pace yourself without
Brian breaking a sweat depending on your own set of learning curve
Brian variables. Yes it's Farnsworth and 1AW Farnworth has obviously
Brian worked for decades. Now go copy 1AW 5wpm sessions until you
Brian "get it".

I've said it before, but perhaps not in this location: my current
location does not permit reception of HF signals. I have tried for
months with multiple antenna setups and have not been successful. I
have very limited VHF reception -- broadcast FM and television
stations do not come in, but I can receive on 2m and 440MHz. I
thought it was bad when I didn't have an HF rig, but it's worse to
have one and not be able to receive anything.

Brian I'm not sure I'd advise getting on the air with 5wpm these days
Brian but getting on the air with 10wpm absolutely will accelerate
Brian your move up the code learning curve. There is nothing which
Brian can simulate the experience and stimulation one gets when
Brian snagging real CW QSOs early in the code learning
Brian process. Nothing. Sweat, sweat, tremble, into the deep end
Brian . . Been there, done it and it WORKS. The mix of 1AW and The
Brian Deep End worked twice for me and I not only enjoyed all of it
Brian but also got to 20wpm+ via logs full of actual QSOs to boot.

I'm glad it worked for you. I'm going for the tried and true Koch
method of learning the characters at full speed. It might take more
time for me to learn them all, but I'll know them, and that will be
exciting. I am currently exploring another method of code generating
that spits out words from characters that I already know since I'm a
little concerned that five-letter groups might shape my learning in a
way that won't help with real code. Other than that, though, I'm
pretty happy with what I've got.

Brian And CW contests are lousy code practice.

I agree with you on this. Hopefully by next Field Day I'll be able to
participate with CW, but I am concerned that my straight-key efforts
will be wasted on the memory keyers out there. Bah.

Jack.
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Jack Twilley
jmt at twilley dot org
http colon slash slash www dot twilley dot org slash tilde jmt slash
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"Jack Twilley" wrote in message
...

I agree with you on this. Hopefully by next Field Day I'll be able to
participate with CW, but I am concerned that my straight-key efforts
will be wasted on the memory keyers out there. Bah.

No, it will be just fine. I still use a straight key.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

Jack Twilley wrote in message ...


Brian Stick with the tried and proven Jack and just get on with the
Brian job like tens if not hundreds of thousands of us have already
Brian done. There is no point to reinventing the wheel.

One wonders what Mr. (or Ms.) Farnsworth would have said if someone
had told him something like that.
There is point in reinventing the
wheel, if one believes they may have found something more efficient.
In this case, I'm not inventing anything -- I am facilitating the
learning of those who prefer full speed and Farnsworth spacing.

One will get ya ten that Farnsworth was an expert on the subject
BEFORE he/she invented that wheel and took it public. I find the
concept of you, admittedly struggling to get off a notch above ground
zero in this game, "facilitating" the learning process for others just
a tad problematic.


Brian variables. Yes it's Farnsworth and 1AW Farnworth has obviously
Brian worked for decades. Now go copy 1AW 5wpm sessions until you
Brian "get it".

I've said it before, but perhaps not in this location: my current
location does not permit reception of HF signals. I have tried for
months with multiple antenna setups and have not been successful. I
have very limited VHF reception -- broadcast FM and television
stations do not come in, but I can receive on 2m and 440MHz. I
thought it was bad when I didn't have an HF rig, but it's worse to
have one and not be able to receive anything.

Local terrain isn't much an HF stopper so W1AW would be be usable
under normal condx. But per your response to Dick your overriding
problem seems to be noise. Are you on Jones St. in Martinez or in
Walnut Creek? In either case noise in those kinds of very densely
populated QTHs can be mongo. I can sympathize with all of that, I sure
have my share here. So W1AW is a non-solution. But you might try
shutting down all six computers and listen again.

Brian . . Been there, done it and it WORKS. The mix of 1AW and The
Brian Deep End worked twice for me and I not only enjoyed all of it
Brian but also got to 20wpm+ via logs full of actual QSOs to boot.

I'm glad it worked for you. I'm going for the tried and true Koch
method of learning the characters at full speed. It might take more
time for me to learn them all, but I'll know them, and that will be
exciting. I am currently exploring another method of code generating
that spits out words from characters that I already know since I'm a
little concerned that five-letter groups might shape my learning in a
way that won't help with real code.

Copying random five-letter groups is excellent code practice which is
why the military has used groups instead of straight text for CW
training purposes. Five letter groups at 20wpm is more difficult to
copy than is staright text at 20wpm, another factoid which is as old
as the hills.

Other than that, though, I'm
pretty happy with what I've got.

If it works for you it works.

Brian And CW contests are lousy code practice.

I agree with you on this. Hopefully by next Field Day I'll be able to
participate with CW,

I suggest you get on the air somewhere somehow by hook or crook and
get some real experience before you dive into FD. Per previous I have
a nasty noise problem too but I now have a nice quiet alternative
"escape QTH". I have some lines permanently installed in some big
trees in one of my daughters' back yards and pre-fabbed quick-up
dipoles for 80/40/20/15. I also have a TS-50 HF mobile xcvr with the
CW filter and an FT-847 with an Inrad 400 Hz filter both of which are
very compact lightweight portable rigs. Once I get to her place I can
be on the air in 15 minutes. Which I do when I just can't stand being
off HF any longer. I beep my buns off for hours, get my fill, do some
visiting, mooch a dinner and come home in a much better mood than I
had the day before. Sorta like FD once a month. Poke around, maybe you
have an alternative operating site too.

but I am concerned that my straight-key efforts
will be wasted on the memory keyers out there. Bah.

Using a straight key in a contest would kill me if I was running a
decent rate. The goofy relics should be outlawed at least in contests
except under unusual circumstances. Do yourself a big favor and get
yourself decent paddles like a Kent and a cheap MFJ keyer and take it
from there. The paddles would work fine with the FD momory keyers.
Beyond that real CW contesters don't use any types of mechanical keys,
they use keyboards. In the end the means used to generate the output
doesn't matter, it's the ears that *always* matter . . .

Jack.

w3rv