This morning, I got a rather strange e-mail from a fellow. Here’s a somewhat edited version of his message:
When I was in the Boy Scouts i learned some CW or as we called it back then Morse Code.
Now that I’m retired and have a lot of free time on my hands I think I would like to learn CW because I know this is the real meat and potatoes of ham radio. Now that I hold a General Class license and thinking about going up to get my Extra Class license, I’d like to learn CW if someone was teaching at our club, but no one has the time these days to really get a class together in order to teach a person anything.
To (sic) bad a lot of clubs like yours does not (sic) follow what you preach by holding classes for future ham radio operators.
The great thing about learning Morse Code today is that you don’t need classes. With all of the electronic resources available, anyone that really wants to learn Morse Code can easily do it on their own. Here’s my reply:
You don’t need a class to learn Morse Code. In fact, with the tools we have today, it’s much easier to learn Morse Code than ever before. If you have a PC, download the G4FON CW Trainer. This free programs has been used by hundreds, if not thousands, to learn code.
Another good way to learn is the K7QO Code Course. This is a collection of mp3 files that step you through the characters and numbers.
If neither of those strike your fancy, look into Learn CW Online. According to this website, “At LCWO you can learn Morse telegraphy (CW) online in your browser. You don’t need to install a program on your computer, and you always have your personal settings available, from any computer on the globe with an internet connection. You can also easily track your progress by means of different statistical functions.”
In addition to these resources, there are two mailing list that I would recommend – Koch Morse and SolidCpyCW. Both lists have over 1,000 members who are all willing and able to help you learn code.
Using these tools is a lot better way to learn code than the old, traditional classes. Classes met once, maybe twice a week. Using these tools you can practice every day, whenever you have the time, not when a teacher holds a class. Not only that, with these tools you can more easily measure your progress than you could with the more traditional classes.
As you noted, now that you’re retired, you have plenty of time to learn Morse Code. So, just do it. Using one or more of these methods, you could be on the air in a couple of months, maximum
I hope this guy takes my advice, but I’m not holding my breath.
Bob K0NR says
Dan,
All I can say is “DUH”! The computer-based Morse code training is clearly the way to go. The mp3 approach is a close second. (A person can probably still find cassette tapes, too, if you want to go Old School.) Classes are in last place. Welcome to the 21st Century.
73, Bob K0NR
David Brodbeck N8SRE says
I originally learned enough to pass the 5 wpm test using the cassette tapes that Radio Shack used to sell, then I used a computer program (an old DOS one, I forget the name) to eventually get up to 13 wpm and pass my General test. The idea of going to a class to learn never really occurred to me. But people have different learning styles; I’m more of a self-starter and prefer to work alone on stuff like this, but some people need the nudge of going to a class to keep them focused and overcome the initial frustration of trying to learn code.
One option for this gentleman would be to find a few other people who are interested and get a group together. They could learn on their own and meet once a week or so to compare notes. The added incentive of knowing he’ll be meeting regularly with other people who are doing the same thing might help him keep going.
Elizabeth Downie says
I agree that Morse Code is the meat and potatoes of ham radio. I will admit that I only got my license because they dropped the Code requirement, but I now have a new appreciation for it. I am working on my Extra Class license and as soon as I have achieved it, which will hopefully be within the next month, I will learn Code. I will most likely use one of the computer-based program to learn it, though I am not sure which one (thank you for the links).
The club I am affiliated with runs Code five nights a week, starting at 5 wpm and increasing each night. I plan on also using that as a tool to learn Code.
To the retired gentleman, and to everyone out there beginning code, good luck!
73!
Elizabeth, K2ESD