Thanks John for your comments. I've re-watched this video several times. I've struggled with CW for months, and your experience has encouraged me to keep trying.
I don’t feel so lost after hearing your story and for that reason I’m sticking with it! Thank you for helping to keep my dream alive. What better way to spend all this time from the virus by learning CW. 🇺🇸 Not only that- with censorship of our President and the Patriots, we should all be learning this.
John, I absolutely enjoy your videos - all of 'em! Like you, my Uncle got me in to the hobby as a kid and taught me CW. I love all the modes but always come back to CW. Your advise to all OPS out there was beautifully stated - it's not about competition, but communication! Keep up the great work and see you on down the log. 73 DE KN6PH
@AfterMidnightRider2 Thanks for watching and following along with my videos. Ham radio is very fun and educational plus you get a chance to meet people all over the world via radio. The best place to learn more is to a web search on ARRL and click on the tab Licensing, Education & Training. From there you will find links to how to get started as well as some interesting videos. Hope to see you on the air soon. John
Axel, Thanks for watching and for your comments. Glad you got a little encouragement from the video. Keep at CW and get on the air as soon as possible. It is a LOT of fun and 5-10 wpm is easy to fit into a slow QSO. Hope to meet you on the air. 73 John
Thanks for your comments and for watching the video. I am glad you were encouraged and hope to meet you on the air soon (CW of course!). I think you will be suprised as to how quickly you will pick up CW. Practice a few minutes each day and get on the air. There are lots of folks that are slow code, including me, and look forward to meeting you on the air. 73 John/W5CYF
Thanks, John. I find myself watching a lot of your videos. Your sincerity, honesty and friendly demeanor are both encouraging and make me wish we were neighbors. The difference between good advice and bad advice has more to do with its delivery than the advice itself. Thanks for both the advice and sincere delivery. I hope to work you on CW... Maybe even regularly.
John, Really enjoy your videos on Ham Radio. Currently studying for my extra and learning CW and I appreciate your frankness and honest explanation of frustrations felt during the process. As you now see, it all works out. Thanks for the inspiration.
Bryan, Thanks for taking a moment to comment on the video. I encourage you to stick with CW, you'll find it a lot of fun. I am now 100% CW. Hope to meet you on the air. ~John
Jason, Thanks for following along and for your kind comments. Great to hear you are learning CW, it is by far my favorite mode. I look forward to meeting you on the air soon, you should have lots of folks wanting HI when you get your rig on the air. 73 John/W5CYF
Really enjoyed this video John. I got interested in HAM a few months ago and your vids have been inspirational. I am preparing for the tech class test and attempting to learn morse at the same time as CW is the most interesting mode to me. Found an old ARRL publication in public library titled "Morse Code: The Essential Language". Very helpful. Good luck and look forward to more HAM videos from you!
John, I just passed my General test a week ago. I also just got a Bencher BY-1 key. I have been using some CW apps to practice on the subway to work, here in Seoul. Just wanted to say that your CW videos have been influential in me wanting to begin to learn. Have only seen a few, but I like them. I am currently trying to learn the letters. Thank-you.
Mike, Tnx for the comments and for following along. Packing up the mic was the best thing I did. In fact I keep it always put away and very seldom use it today. Love this CW thing! Hope to meet you on the air soon. 73/John
Hi John, I enjoyed your comments. I've been a ham since 1978 and CW was the start of my hobby, however like most people, I set it aside. I was up to 17wpm when they eliminated the requirement for the extra. I still had the interest, but not the persistance to keep my speed. I decided that I wanted to do SKN this year, so I have been watching different videos and practicing. My Elmer was excellent at CW with both hands, very impressive. It really was a second language to him. Thanks for your gentle Texan encouragement. 73 de Carl, NB7C
Thanks for watching. CW is a fantastic hobby and operating mode. Stick with it, you WILL learn it. It did not come quickly to me but was worth the work and time invested. Hpe to meet u on the air. 73 John/W5CYF
Great video and thoughts. Thanks for sharing. I recently got my license, KG7KDD, and I've been curious about CW for a while. I've always loved seeing it used in movies where there is that 1 guy that knows cw and saves the day. A lot of your frustrations with cw also reminded me of what I went through with learning Japanese while in Japan for 2 years. Thanks for bringing back some sweet memories. I may or may not endeavor to learn cw but you have brought me closer to choosing to learn it. Thanks :)
Michael,Thanks for taking a moment to send along your comments. I really enjoy CW and is now my favorite mode. Hopefully we can meet on the air someday.73/John
Thanks so much for following along and for your kind comments. Sandy has been a real encouragement to me. In many ways he kept me going through some times I wasn't sure if I would ever learn CW! Hpe to cu on the air. 73/John
I tried to learn Morse code for a long time but never felt confident enough to learn it. This excellent video encouraged me well enough that I quit operating my radio for almost half a year and practiced with G4FON software. Whenever I felt low, I watched John again. I successfully passed the 8 wpm Morse code test which is required for the general grade license in India. Thank you John for your true encouragement, 73 Bijoy VU2FGQ
John, Tnx for the comments and for following along. I'm still doing CW and it has become my favorite mode by far. Not at 25 wpm just yet but having lots of fun! Hope to meet you on the air soon. 73/John
Michael, Thanks for watching my videos and for your comment. CW is now my favorite mode and, to me, worth all the effort it took to learn. Hope to meet you on the air soon. 73 John/W5CYF
Thanks for your comments and for watching my videos. I've been away for a week or so as we move to another QTH. Hopefully, I'll be back on the air and will be on the lookout for VK2IR. 73 John/W5CYF
Ade, Thanks for your comment. Sandy has been a great help, a source of encouragement and mentor to me. As you say, he truly is a gentleman. 73 John/W5CYF
Martin, thanks for watching and for your kind words. Congratulation on learning CW, enjoy the journey and I hope to meet you on the air someday....CW of course! ~John
John, I absolutley love your videos. With this one, you hit the nail right on the head. The idea is to have FUN with it. It's as you say, NOT a competition with anyone. If an op can copy 25-30 wpm and only wants to talk with ops at that level, he/she is going to miss out on a LOT of great qsos. I have had an advanced class ticket (Canadian) since 1983 and CW is my favorite mode. Going to FLA next month and do some QRP'ing from the trailer. 73 and keep the vids coming....
Thanks for your comments. While not required, as far as I know, for any formal military use, Morse code is actually growing in use among amateur radio operators. All the best, John
@dobe762 Thanks for watching and for your comments. I've found that CW is fast becoming my favorite mode. Don't give up and you'll find you enjoy it a lot! Keep in touch. 73, John/W5CYF
Thanks for your comments and for following along with the videos. Those are some very good suggestions. When I decided to not pressure myself into learning CW, I found it to be much easier. Now I plod along at a speed comfortable for me and enjoy it; in fact CW is by far my favorite mode. Hope to meet you on the air soon. 73 John/W5CYF
John, this is a really good video with some great advice. I have, off and on, played around with cw ever since I was in high school (an extremely long time ago at this point) and I think (?) maybe now I want to actually do more than "send" in my mind looking at ad copy on the train on my way to work or the random paragraph in a book (not a bad way to learn the letters and punctuation but really useless for copying anything in any form). Thanks again for the advice and encouragement and good luck with your code.
Stephen, Thanks for taking a moment to send along your comments. I am glad you got some encouragement and a few tips from the video. Hope to meet you on the air soon...CW of course! John
Les, Tnx for your very kind comments. The effort it took to learn CW was well worth it. CW is now about the only mode I use and enjoy it a lot. I do belong to both FIST and SKCC and enjoy taking part in a sprint from time to time. Perhaps we will meet on the air someday. 73/John
Dave, Tnx for the comments and for following along. It took me a while and I'm still slower than a lot of folks, but CW is without doubt my favorite mode. Hope to catch you on the air someday. 73 John
Good luck John. You'll get there. I downloaded the G4FON program yesterday, and I'm right at this minute (12:45am) using it to practice with. It's fantastic !. 73. Angus
Thanks for your comments. In all fairness, it is sometimes difficult, especially when just beginning CW, to focus on spelling, spacing, composing a sentence, and remembering the code. I know, even today I sometimes get lost in a word and misspell it, however most patience and good ops will(thankfully) overlook misspelling. 73; HPE CU on the air John/W5CYF
Dom, Thanks for watching and for your comments. You are correct, since I stopped being concerned about my speed; speed has actually improved. CW is now, by far, my favorite mode. Hope to meet you on the air someday. 73 John/W5CYF
Absolutely beautiful inspiration John, Thanks so much for the video. Have just come back on the radio after 20 years almost, and some of the changes well all i can say is HI HI.. Your comments about CW which is my love are more than correct, I quickly found that if you start as you mean to go on the operator will come down to your speed so that you can under stand what he is saying.. Perseverance is the Key Hi Hi. Hope to catch you on the air sometime for a QSO. Vince. GW0NEC North wales UK.
Thanks for watching and for your comments. A good source for all your info is Morse Express and the SKCC website. Also check out the ARRL site. Since it would be difficult to recommend specifics without knowing more about your plans, these sites will be a good starter. Hope to meet you on the air soon. 73 John/W5CYF
Hi John, I'm just getting into ham radio, passed the technician class. I'm very interested in the cw aspect and am determined to learn code. great advice and congrats on the achievement.
You're spot on there. I play guitar and now learning piano. You echo my sentiments exactly. Great morse is music to my ears. Unfortunately, I practice with machine morse and it does make a difference when you listen to real operational morse. Rgds Don
thanks john ,after 22 years now i dust off the key. i get 5 wpm test 17 years ago then work on my general just only up to 10 wpm , but got the new general and not the code.. stop all cw for years. a friend Tim ac5sh is big time in too cw send me dvd on cw k7qo course. a few weeks go by i stop. 1 year goes by Tim said just go for it go on the air do 5 or 7 wpm don,t stop. so today i have make 9 or 12 qsl on cw now and i love it CW ! i can,t copy fast code or send fast and not 100% but i like cw now more then ever . so don,t stop copy, play and have fun. thank you for the encouragement video,s Dale n3reb
Great video- TNX! Another good reason for learning CW is that, as a mode, it has a far smaller population of what my Folks used to call "kooks". Profanity and proselytizing just don't give them the same level of instant gratification on CW like they get on phone. CW is just far more mature and respectful. Call me a Fossil if you will, but that is a big part of CW's magic for me- civilized behavior!
Thank you for the video John, It has hit the spot with me just when I need it to, Im just about getting impatient and want to make contacts but I know im not quite there yet after re-learning the code after a 14 year break. Last time I did it to get on HF this time im doing it to actually use it for fun and it does make a difference in attitude as im not in a rush so can enjoy the journey.
Great to hear the experience of learning Morse from others. I'm a Morse only op' so interested in all things Morse. I found this video very interesting from start to finish. Good to hear mention of Sandy over here in the UK too, he's a great CW man and also has some really good video's on UA-cam. Credit to you for your efforts in CW. Keep it up and hope to work you some day. G0SDT.
Great video, thanks for the encouragement, I'm having some of the same problems learning as you and I am glad to see that not getting discouraged and to keep trying means I will eventually get where I want to be with morse code on the air..
Joe Thanks for watching and for your kind comments. I suggest you consider enrolling in CW Academy. That class is a really big help. I have a UA-cam video on what to expect with the class if you're interested. Also don't be afraid to get on the air as soon as you can. There are lots of folks waiting to have QSO with slow speed ops (I've had plenty experience with that!) Hope to meet you on the air soon. CW of course! ~John
Thanks for the reply and the info, I have had my license for quite a few years and when I took my general class the code was part of the test but since almost immediately I stopped using CW. Now I'm interested in getting back into code. Its good to know so many are using it, I'm looking forward to making on the air contacts 73 Joe N3JJL
Thanks, John. I am a new ham (technician) KD2DBQ. I have yet to make a contact either voice or CW. I want to learn code, so you're giving me a lot of great information.
John, Thanks so much for your videos. I am also working on improving my code speed at about 7 to 10 WPM. I have a small QRP station (Norcal 40A) and a Buddipole portable antenna in addition to my regular rig. There truly is something magical about using code! 73's Chuck W7ACI
Lianyungang1 Chuck, QRP and CW are my favorite mode. Almost 100% CW now and about half that at 5 watts or less. Sometimes much less! I'll be looking for you on the air. ~John
Thanks for your comments and for following along with the videos. A very good resource for learning more about CW is the ARRL website. Goggle ARRL and you will find lots of info about amateur radio and Morse code. Also there are lots of online resources that will help learning CW. Google Just Learn Morse Code for a free download. John/W5CYF
@unknownperpetrator Thanks for the comments and for following along. Good luck on the Tech test and with CW. Hope to meet you on the air soon. 73 John/W5CYF
@ThePauperPrepper Ron, Thanks for the comments. If you look closely in the video you will see two Nye keys in the background. You are correct, they are a pleasure to use and they have become my primary keys. I keep one connected to an old FT-840 and the other to a MFJ QRP rig. CW has not come as easy to me as others, but I’m committed to continue and enjoy this mode…it’s been a blast so far! All the best and looking forward to QSO! 73 John/W5CYF
I *am* encouraged, John, I'm a new ham, just passed the first license test and am thinking about what to get for my first rig -- why not CW from the get go? I love old technology and the challenge of learning the code will help to stave off the Alzheimers! LOL Not sure how many hams relish it in eastern NC where I am, but jumping into CW as my first foray into amateur radio is really appealing to me. Also I notice the older used CW dedicated tansceivers are a lot cheaper to buy.
George, Tnx for the comments. I also use MP3 files to listen to code and usually have a rig on CW in the background while at home. Hope to meet you on the air soon. I'm usually around =/- 7.112 each evening. 73/John
Scott, Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, Congratulatons on your CW progress. You are correct, the filter does make a difference. I installed the W4QRT filter in my ICOM and was pleased with the results. You may want to check out a video I put up that reviews the install process. Hope to meet you on the air. 73/John
Hi John, Just watched your video. Did my 12WPM exam 28 years ago....never used CW. Mistake. Last years tried to get way above 12WPM to remove the decifering attude rebuilding missed characters so set the tutor to 20wpm and listened for months. Gave up at point in time. But now will start trying again. And this time will make it. Hope to work you in cw in the future. Not near future but it will happen. Thanks for sharing you struggles. Keep holding on. Ron - PA3FAT
Hi John, really enjoyed your video on CW. been off the air for some time and thank you for an excellent reminder of just do your own thing and not chase speed over having fun. Well done, de G4 PSS Steve.
Great video, thank you for the candid comments on your continuing journey using CW. I am a new ham (one year on now) and have just turned my attention to CW, with the goal to test for the endorsement in the fall. So I appreciate the tips especially the one about just sitting at your radio and listening to CW as it is received in real-life at my own QTH. Love the channel, and look forward to each new video.. Jason, VE1AJK
Jason, thanks for watching and sharing your story. Welcome to ham radio, it really is a great hobby. Don't give up on learning CW, it is my favorite mode. In fact I am now 100% CW. Hope to meet you on the air. 73/John
Hey John I enjoyed your story about your uncle, I've had a hate love relationship with CW "I know your saying isn't that love hate?" no I actually hated it then fell in love with it. back when I started in Ham Radio my Elmer was a really great cw operator but all I wanted was to pass that test to get my novice then Tech license so I could use 2 meter and the Phone patch. In 1988 I won a Icom -735 at a ham fest in IN and in order to use Phone portion of the HF frequencies I had to get my general which meant I had to get up to 13 wpm on my code so i cracked down and got my speed up passed my general class and much to my surprise found myself rarely ever getting on HF phone instead I filled the logbook with mostly CW contacts been loving it ever since. like they say without CW its just CB.
James, Thanks for watching and for your comments. I'm having a lot of fun with CW, still a little slow at 12-15 wpm but manage to get a good QSOs. Hope to meet you on the air soon. 73 John/W5CYF
I posted two years ago, and never picked it up. I got back into CW a few weeks ago, and have watched this video twice more. It makes me feel better, because I also struggle. I have been learning LCWO.NET at 20wpm/6wpm spacing (they try to push you to start at 20/10, which is crazy). I became frustrated because nothing on air sounds close to that. The 20wpm qsos blow by me because of the spacing. The 10wpm qsos are so much slower than the 20wpm character speed I am learning at, that I cannot copy those, either! The spacing is killing me on both. I am lowering the speed considerably now. I am starting over again at 15/8 or 15/10.
Thanks for watching and for taking a moment to comment. Learning CW can be a challenge, however the effort will be worth it. I think everyone gets discouraged,, I certainly did!. Keep going and you'll find yourself doing fine. Hope to meet you on the air someday. ~John
Read the article in 2013 QST magazine entitled, "Discover which mode offers the most mileage". CW is as much as 17 db more effective than ssb. A 100 watt cw station can be as effective as one running 5000 watts on ssb. As a 14 year old kid, I found cw easy to learn and use. When I discovered how effective it was for working dx, I never looked back. Proficiency comes with use. Over 50 years later, I care little about ssb. Follow the operating techniques/protocol found in the ARRL Operating Manual for using cw and make yourself an A1 operator. 73!
John V John = good.Throw mike away=good.No short cuts=true.CW is cool=true You have learned much in a few months.Also spend as much time as u can listening,then when you get tired give it a break for a few days.When you come back you may surprise yourself with your increased proficiency. I may have been one of the lucky one's.We are all different but I have no doubt with drive and enthusiasm which you clearly have.YOU WILL SUCCEED. All the best 73 Sandy
Hi John, I think your observations of learning the code are spot on. Keep the mic in the drawer and keep listening. A friend on mine that did CW in the forces told me they spent ten times as much time on receiving as sending. Charles GW0LVH
John, What a GREAT Video. I am now on my "Official" second day of learning CW. I had related the story about you helping me with the Proiject QRP Key and someone said well here is a NYE SPEED-X so you can learn on a good Key. Lovely Key,.Your story and insight I know will be of great use to me. And the timing could not have been more perfect. But I will set one goal, and that is get proficient to SKED a QSO with John the Tinker. You are an asset to the community John. 73 Ron KB3VEW
Good video John. I am just about to start my journey into CW, and you gave me good food for thought. Dont compare myself to others! Dont place expectations on myself! Dont give up! Will let you know how the journey progresses! 73 de Greg VK4GJW
Ron, Thanks for your comments. It was a struggle for me to learn, but I really enjoy CW now as my primary mode. Still can only do 12-15 wpm, but that's good enough to have some great QSOs. Hope to meet you on the air. 73 John
Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you! I have been going through exactly what you described and have been very discouraged. You have rejuvenated my CW soul and you have given me back an excitement I have been missing for a while now. Thank you for your inspiring words. I will be looking (listening) for you on the air. 73! BTW, on which freqs do you typically hang?
I see that your frustrations have mirrored mine. Great advice on being satisfied with QRS. It IS a hobby. Accuracy transcends speed. Well sent SK code is beautiful, I've heard some. At @ 7wpm myself, I am anxious to have this become more fun than work. TU es 73, NR3P
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on learning CW. I've just started with the Gordon West 0-5 morse code course. I have a long way to go but thanks to people like you, I know the most important part of learning the code is to keep going and never give up. Rob-KC9JWY
Enjoyable video John. I share many of the same frustrations. I recently decided that slower cw is more enjoyable so I don’t missed characters, and I can assimilate the meaning as I go along. I believe in giving a lot of time to be proficient with good clean copy before trying to increase speed. I’d be fun to meet on the air. Perhaps we can set up a sked. I’m in Arizona. N7NRE.
Great video, I'm returning to ham radio after a couple years hiatus. As of now i'm mainly operating psk but I'm using the koch method to learn code. Sad part is I think the removal of the code requirement took the pressure off me to sit and learn it out of personal interest in it as opposed to learning it because I had to. None of my family or elmer hams that I've known ever ran CW so it never really was of much interest to me until I started getting into QRP/backpack operations. 73's KC9FJE
John: I make custom text files with Python to be used in JLMC to try to eliminate deficiencys such as quick call sign copy. I make custom WAV files with morse.jar from the web. I listen nearly daily on 40m. It is nice to hear the really good fist on the air. Slowly getting my antenna kit together to start achieving some QSO's. George KF5NRO.
John - great video with very useful feedback. The thing that keeps going through my mind is: you're making a big investment of your time in this, is it even worth it? I am a QRP guy, and I think that CW will open up new opportunities and experiences for me, but i don't know for sure. It seems like it's been worth it for you, especially if you do CW primarily now. That is encouraging, and I will think of that as I continue studying
Rambling? No, well worth the time. Thanks. I could echo most of what you said except that I am too cheap to spend the $35! :) In 1976 I was on 15 meter CW in the afternoons, but I forgot a lot while raising children. I struggled to make one contact in the last November CW Sweeps, but I am working on getting the ARRL CW Proficiency Award. My trick so far is to record my contacts. Then I don't worry so much about missing anything and I miss a lot less. KE4KE
great viedo john i learned cw back about 20 years ago ive sinced forgot it through the method i used was the code quick tapes they worked wonderfully for me when i went for my 13 wpm i shouldve took the 20 back thenbut didnt
Thanks for watching and for your comments. Hope to meet you on the air soon. 73/John
Thanks John for your comments. I've re-watched this video several times. I've struggled with CW for months, and your experience has encouraged me to keep trying.
I don’t feel so lost after hearing your story and for that reason I’m sticking with it! Thank you for helping to keep my dream alive. What better way to spend all this time from the virus by learning CW. 🇺🇸 Not only that- with censorship of our President and the Patriots, we should all be learning this.
John, I absolutely enjoy your videos - all of 'em! Like you, my Uncle got me in to the hobby as a kid and taught me CW. I love all the modes but always come back to CW. Your advise to all OPS out there was beautifully stated - it's not about competition, but communication! Keep up the great work and see you on down the log. 73 DE KN6PH
What a fantastic video! I will certainly follow your lead in regards to not competing with others and progressing at my own pace.
Thanks for your comments and for following my videos. CW has by far become my favorite mode. Hope to meet you on the air soon.
73/John
Thanks for your comments and for following along with my videos. Glad to be of some encouragement.
Hope to meet you on the air soon.
73
John/W5CYF
@AfterMidnightRider2
Thanks for watching and following along with my videos. Ham radio is very fun and educational plus you get a chance to meet people all over the world via radio. The best place to learn more is to a web search on ARRL and click on the tab Licensing, Education & Training. From there you will find links to how to get started as well as some interesting videos.
Hope to see you on the air soon.
John
Love to see a silent key come back through family. This is an excellent introduction to CW in a real world way. Thank you.
Thanks for watching and for your kind comments. ~John
Axel,
Thanks for watching and for your comments. Glad you got a little encouragement from the video. Keep at CW and get on the air as soon as possible. It is a LOT of fun and 5-10 wpm is easy to fit into a slow QSO. Hope to meet you on the air.
73
John
Thanks for your comments and for watching the video. I am glad you were encouraged and hope to meet you on the air soon (CW of course!). I think you will be suprised as to how quickly you will pick up CW. Practice a few minutes each day and get on the air.
There are lots of folks that are slow code, including me, and look forward to meeting you on the air.
73
John/W5CYF
Thanks, John. I find myself watching a lot of your videos. Your sincerity, honesty and friendly demeanor are both encouraging and make me wish we were neighbors. The difference between good advice and bad advice has more to do with its delivery than the advice itself. Thanks for both the advice and sincere delivery. I hope to work you on CW... Maybe even regularly.
Kirk Miller Kirk, Thanks so much for watching and for your very kind comment. Hope to meet you on the air soon...CW of course! 73/John
John, Really enjoy your videos on Ham Radio. Currently studying for my extra and learning CW and I appreciate your frankness and honest explanation of frustrations felt during the process. As you now see, it all works out. Thanks for the inspiration.
Bryan, Thanks for taking a moment to comment on the video. I encourage you to stick with CW, you'll find it a lot of fun. I am now 100% CW. Hope to meet you on the air. ~John
Jason,
Thanks for following along and for your kind comments. Great to hear you are learning CW, it is by far my favorite mode.
I look forward to meeting you on the air soon, you should have lots of folks wanting HI when you get your rig on the air.
73
John/W5CYF
Really enjoyed this video John. I got interested in HAM a few months ago and your vids have been inspirational. I am preparing for the tech class test and attempting to learn morse at the same time as CW is the most interesting mode to me. Found an old ARRL publication in public library titled "Morse Code: The Essential Language". Very helpful. Good luck and look forward to more HAM videos from you!
John, I just passed my General test a week ago. I also just got a Bencher BY-1 key. I have been using some CW apps to practice on the subway to work, here in Seoul. Just wanted to say that your CW videos have been influential in me wanting to begin to learn. Have only seen a few, but I like them. I am currently trying to learn the letters. Thank-you.
Mike,
Tnx for the comments and for following along. Packing up the mic was the best thing I did. In fact I keep it always put away and very seldom use it today. Love this CW thing! Hope to meet you on the air soon. 73/John
Hi John, I enjoyed your comments. I've been a ham since 1978 and CW was the start of my hobby, however like most people, I set it aside. I was up to 17wpm when they eliminated the requirement for the extra. I still had the interest, but not the persistance to keep my speed. I decided that I wanted to do SKN this year, so I have been watching different videos and practicing. My Elmer was excellent at CW with both hands, very impressive. It really was a second language to him. Thanks for your gentle Texan encouragement. 73 de Carl, NB7C
Thanks for watching and for your comments. CU on CW. John/W5CYF
Thanks for watching. CW is a fantastic hobby and operating mode. Stick with it, you WILL learn it. It did not come quickly to me but was worth the work and time invested.
Hpe to meet u on the air.
73
John/W5CYF
Great video and thoughts. Thanks for sharing. I recently got my license, KG7KDD, and I've been curious about CW for a while. I've always loved seeing it used in movies where there is that 1 guy that knows cw and saves the day.
A lot of your frustrations with cw also reminded me of what I went through with learning Japanese while in Japan for 2 years. Thanks for bringing back some sweet memories. I may or may not endeavor to learn cw but you have brought me closer to choosing to learn it. Thanks :)
Michael,Thanks for taking a moment to send along your comments. I really enjoy CW and is now my favorite mode. Hopefully we can meet on the air someday.73/John
Thanks so much for following along and for your kind comments. Sandy has been a real encouragement to me. In many ways he kept me going through some times I wasn't sure if I would ever learn CW!
Hpe to cu on the air.
73/John
I tried to learn Morse code for a long time but never felt confident enough to learn it.
This excellent video encouraged me well enough that I quit operating my radio for almost half a year and practiced with G4FON software. Whenever I felt low, I watched John again. I successfully passed the 8 wpm Morse code test which is required for the general grade license in India.
Thank you John for your true encouragement, 73 Bijoy VU2FGQ
Thanks for the interesting story. CW is still my favorite mode. 73 ~John
George,
Tnx for your comments. CW is, by far, my favorite mode. Hope to meet you on the air soon.
73/John
@AI4QT
Thanks for watching and for the comments....how about a *slow* CW sometime soon???
73
John
John,
Tnx for the comments and for following along. I'm still doing CW and it has become my favorite mode by far. Not at 25 wpm just yet but having lots of fun! Hope to meet you on the air soon.
73/John
Thanks for your comments and for following along. Hope to meet you on the air soon.
73/~John
Michael,
Thanks for watching my videos and for your comment. CW is now my favorite mode and, to me, worth all the effort it took to learn. Hope to meet you on the air soon.
73
John/W5CYF
Thanks for your comments and for watching my videos. I am still mostly CW and enjoy it more each day. Hope to meet you on the air soon.
73
John/W5CYF
Thanks for the comments and for following along. CW has become my favorite mode for radio. Hpe to meet you soon. 73/John
Thanks for your comments and for watching my videos. I've been away for a week or so as we move to another QTH. Hopefully, I'll be back on the air and will be on the lookout for VK2IR.
73
John/W5CYF
Sandy in the UK is a legend and total gentleman. He's super with CW too, listen and send at 45 WPM.
His channel is WiltshireMan and Jacklore Knives.
Ade,
Thanks for your comment. Sandy has been a great help, a source of encouragement and mentor to me. As you say, he truly is a gentleman.
73
John/W5CYF
I have to say you inspired me to continue on the CW journey John... thank you for your honesty and great attitude. hope to catch on the air sometime
Martin, thanks for watching and for your kind words. Congratulation on learning CW, enjoy the journey and I hope to meet you on the air someday....CW of course! ~John
John, I absolutley love your videos. With this one, you hit the nail right on the head. The idea is to have FUN with it. It's as you say, NOT a competition with anyone. If an op can copy 25-30 wpm and only wants to talk with ops at that level, he/she is going to miss out on a LOT of great qsos. I have had an advanced class ticket (Canadian) since 1983 and CW is my favorite mode. Going to FLA next month and do some QRP'ing from the trailer. 73 and keep the vids coming....
Partner, Thanks for being upfront and just plain honest. I'm more motivated to learn CW after seeing your post.
Jim
KD7JB
this is the 1st video I've watched and I'm just starting out on the CW road. tnx for sharing your wisdom
Thanks for your comments. While not required, as far as I know, for any formal military use, Morse code is actually growing in use among amateur radio operators.
All the best,
John
@dobe762
Thanks for watching and for your comments. I've found that CW is fast becoming my favorite mode. Don't give up and you'll find you enjoy it a lot!
Keep in touch.
73,
John/W5CYF
Very good video. I appreciate the personal perspective and your sharing with us. Very genuine. 73
Thanks for your comments and for following along with the videos. Those are some very good suggestions. When I decided to not pressure myself into learning CW, I found it to be much easier. Now I plod along at a speed comfortable for me and enjoy it; in fact CW is by far my favorite mode. Hope to meet you on the air soon.
73
John/W5CYF
John, this is a really good video with some great advice. I have, off and on, played around with cw ever since I was in high school (an extremely long time ago at this point) and I think (?) maybe now I want to actually do more than "send" in my mind looking at ad copy on the train on my way to work or the random paragraph in a book (not a bad way to learn the letters and punctuation but really useless for copying anything in any form). Thanks again for the advice and encouragement and good luck with your code.
Stephen,
Thanks for taking a moment to send along your comments. I am glad you got some encouragement and a few tips from the video. Hope to meet you on the air soon...CW of course!
John
Thanks for following along with my videos and hope to meet you on the air soon. CW of course! 73/John
Ed, Tnx for your good comments and for following along. You are correct about CW, it is by far my favorite mode.
Hope to work you soon.
73/John
Les,
Tnx for your very kind comments. The effort it took to learn CW was well worth it. CW is now about the only mode I use and enjoy it a lot. I do belong to both FIST and SKCC and enjoy taking part in a sprint from time to time. Perhaps we will meet on the air someday.
73/John
Dave,
Tnx for the comments and for following along. It took me a while and I'm still slower than a lot of folks, but CW is without doubt my favorite mode. Hope to catch you on the air someday.
73
John
Good luck John. You'll get there. I downloaded the G4FON program yesterday, and I'm right at this minute (12:45am) using it to practice with. It's fantastic !. 73. Angus
Thanks for your comments.
In all fairness, it is sometimes difficult, especially when just beginning CW, to focus on spelling, spacing, composing a sentence, and remembering the code. I know, even today I sometimes get lost in a word and misspell it, however most patience and good ops will(thankfully) overlook misspelling.
73; HPE CU on the air
John/W5CYF
Dom,
Thanks for watching and for your comments. You are correct, since I stopped being concerned about my speed; speed has actually improved. CW is now, by far, my favorite mode. Hope to meet you on the air someday.
73
John/W5CYF
Absolutely beautiful inspiration John, Thanks so much for the video.
Have just come back on the radio after 20 years almost, and some of the changes well all i can say is HI HI..
Your comments about CW which is my love are more than correct,
I quickly found that if you start as you mean to go on the operator will come down to your speed so that you can under stand what he is saying.. Perseverance is the Key Hi Hi.
Hope to catch you on the air sometime for a QSO.
Vince. GW0NEC North wales UK.
Thanks for sharing, John. This is a great video to encourage anyone learning anything new.
+matthew bennett
Matthew, Thanks for your comment and for following along. 73/John
Thanks for watching and for your comments. A good source for all your info is Morse Express and the SKCC website. Also check out the ARRL site. Since it would be difficult to recommend specifics without knowing more about your plans, these sites will be a good starter. Hope to meet you on the air soon.
73
John/W5CYF
Hi John, I'm just getting into ham radio, passed the technician class. I'm very interested in the cw aspect and am determined to learn code. great advice and congrats on the achievement.
You're spot on there. I play guitar and now learning piano. You echo my sentiments exactly. Great morse is music to my ears. Unfortunately, I practice with machine morse and it does make a difference when you listen to real operational morse.
Rgds
Don
thanks john ,after 22 years now i dust off the key. i get 5 wpm test 17 years ago then work on my general just only up to 10 wpm , but got the new general and not the code.. stop all cw for years. a friend Tim ac5sh is big time in too cw send me dvd on cw k7qo course. a few weeks go by i stop. 1 year goes by Tim said just go for it go on the air do 5 or 7 wpm don,t stop. so today i have make 9 or 12 qsl on cw now and i love it CW ! i can,t copy fast code or send fast and not 100% but i like cw now more then ever . so don,t stop copy, play and have fun. thank you for the encouragement video,s Dale n3reb
Great video- TNX! Another good reason for learning CW is that, as a mode, it has a far smaller population of what my Folks used to call "kooks". Profanity and proselytizing just don't give them the same level of instant gratification on CW like they get on phone. CW is just far more mature and respectful. Call me a Fossil if you will, but that is a big part of CW's magic for me- civilized behavior!
Thank you for the video John, It has hit the spot with me just when I need it to, Im just about getting impatient and want to make contacts but I know im not quite there yet after re-learning the code after a 14 year break. Last time I did it to get on HF this time im doing it to actually use it for fun and it does make a difference in attitude as im not in a rush so can enjoy the journey.
Dean,
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. Hope to meet you on the air soon.
John
Great to hear the experience of learning Morse from others. I'm a Morse only op' so interested in all things Morse. I found this video very interesting from start to finish. Good to hear mention of Sandy over here in the UK too, he's a great CW man and also has some really good video's on UA-cam. Credit to you for your efforts in CW. Keep it up and hope to work you some day. G0SDT.
Great video, thanks for the encouragement, I'm having some of the same problems learning as you and I am glad to see that not getting discouraged and to keep trying means I will eventually get where I want to be with morse code on the air..
Joe Thanks for watching and for your kind comments. I suggest you consider enrolling in CW Academy. That class is a really big help. I have a UA-cam video on what to expect with the class if you're interested. Also don't be afraid to get on the air as soon as you can. There are lots of folks waiting to have QSO with slow speed ops (I've had plenty experience with that!) Hope to meet you on the air soon. CW of course! ~John
Thanks for the reply and the info, I have had my license for quite a few years and when I took my general class the code was part of the test but since almost immediately I stopped using CW. Now I'm interested in getting back into code. Its good to know so many are using it, I'm looking forward to making on the air contacts
73
Joe
N3JJL
Thanks for your comments and for following along with the videos. Hopefully we can meet on the air soon.
73
John/W5CYF
Thanks, John. I am a new ham (technician) KD2DBQ. I have yet to make a contact either voice or CW. I want to learn code, so you're giving me a lot of great information.
John, Thanks so much for your videos. I am also working on improving my code speed at about 7 to 10 WPM. I have a small QRP station (Norcal 40A) and a Buddipole portable antenna in addition to my regular rig. There truly is something magical about using code! 73's Chuck W7ACI
Lianyungang1 Chuck, QRP and CW are my favorite mode. Almost 100% CW now and about half that at 5 watts or less. Sometimes much less! I'll be looking for you on the air. ~John
Thanks for your comments and for following along with the videos. A very good resource for learning more about CW is the ARRL website. Goggle ARRL and you will find lots of info about amateur radio and Morse code. Also there are lots of online resources that will help learning CW. Google Just Learn Morse Code for a free download.
John/W5CYF
@unknownperpetrator
Thanks for the comments and for following along. Good luck on the Tech test and with CW. Hope to meet you on the air soon.
73
John/W5CYF
@ThePauperPrepper
Ron,
Thanks for the comments.
If you look closely in the video you will see two Nye keys in the background. You are correct, they are a pleasure to use and they have become my primary keys. I keep one connected to an old FT-840 and the other to a MFJ QRP rig.
CW has not come as easy to me as others, but I’m committed to continue and enjoy this mode…it’s been a blast so far!
All the best and looking forward to QSO!
73
John/W5CYF
I *am* encouraged, John, I'm a new ham, just passed the first license test and am thinking about what to get for my first rig -- why not CW from the get go? I love old technology and the challenge of learning the code will help to stave off the Alzheimers! LOL Not sure how many hams relish it in eastern NC where I am, but jumping into CW as my first foray into amateur radio is really appealing to me. Also I notice the older used CW dedicated tansceivers are a lot cheaper to buy.
George,
Tnx for the comments. I also use MP3 files to listen to code and usually have a rig on CW in the background while at home. Hope to meet you on the air soon. I'm usually around =/- 7.112 each evening. 73/John
Scott,
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, Congratulatons on your CW progress. You are correct, the filter does make a difference. I installed the W4QRT filter in my ICOM and was pleased with the results. You may want to check out a video I put up that reviews the install process.
Hope to meet you on the air.
73/John
Hi John,
Just watched your video. Did my 12WPM exam 28 years ago....never used CW. Mistake.
Last years tried to get way above 12WPM to remove the decifering attude rebuilding missed characters so set the tutor to 20wpm and listened for months. Gave up at point in time.
But now will start trying again. And this time will make it.
Hope to work you in cw in the future. Not near future but it will happen.
Thanks for sharing you struggles. Keep holding on.
Ron - PA3FAT
Thanks for your comments and for following along. You're right; at least for me it helps my memory skills!
John
I'm just started learning the code about three days ago. Your video is encouraging.
Hi John, really enjoyed your video on CW. been off the air for some time and thank you for an excellent reminder of just do your own thing and not chase speed over having fun. Well done, de G4 PSS Steve.
Stephen, Thanks for your very kind comments. Hope to catch you on the air someday. ~John
Thanks for your comments and for watching.
73
John/W5CYF
Great video, thank you for the candid comments on your continuing journey using CW. I am a new ham (one year on now) and have just turned my attention to CW, with the goal to test for the endorsement in the fall. So I appreciate the tips especially the one about just sitting at your radio and listening to CW as it is received in real-life at my own QTH. Love the channel, and look forward to each new video.. Jason, VE1AJK
Jason, thanks for watching and sharing your story. Welcome to ham radio, it really is a great hobby. Don't give up on learning CW, it is my favorite mode. In fact I am now 100% CW. Hope to meet you on the air. 73/John
Hey John I enjoyed your story about your uncle, I've had a hate love relationship with CW "I know your saying isn't that love hate?" no I actually hated it then fell in love with it. back when I started in Ham Radio my Elmer was a really great cw operator but all I wanted was to pass that test to get my novice then Tech license so I could use 2 meter and the Phone patch. In 1988 I won a Icom -735 at a ham fest in IN and in order to use Phone portion of the HF frequencies I had to get my general which meant I had to get up to 13 wpm on my code so i cracked down and got my speed up passed my general class and much to my surprise found myself rarely ever getting on HF phone instead I filled the logbook with mostly CW contacts been loving it ever since. like they say without CW its just CB.
James,
Thanks for watching and for your comments. I'm having a lot of fun with CW, still a little slow at 12-15 wpm but manage to get a good QSOs. Hope to meet you on the air soon.
73
John/W5CYF
Thanks for taking time to post some very informative comments. Hope to meet you on the air soon. 73/John
Thanks for watching and for your comments. Yep...still wish I had my $35 back also!
73
John/W5CYF
I posted two years ago, and never picked it up. I got back into CW a few weeks ago, and have watched this video twice more. It makes me feel better, because I also struggle. I have been learning LCWO.NET at 20wpm/6wpm spacing (they try to push you to start at 20/10, which is crazy). I became frustrated because nothing on air sounds close to that. The 20wpm qsos blow by me because of the spacing. The 10wpm qsos are so much slower than the 20wpm character speed I am learning at, that I cannot copy those, either! The spacing is killing me on both. I am lowering the speed considerably now. I am starting over again at 15/8 or 15/10.
Thanks for watching and for taking a moment to comment. Learning CW can be a challenge, however the effort will be worth it. I think everyone gets discouraged,, I certainly did!. Keep going and you'll find yourself doing fine. Hope to meet you on the air someday. ~John
Read the article in 2013 QST magazine entitled, "Discover which mode offers the most mileage". CW is as much as 17 db more effective than ssb. A 100 watt cw station can be as effective as one running 5000 watts on ssb. As a 14 year old kid, I found cw easy to learn and use. When I discovered how effective it was for working dx, I never looked back. Proficiency comes with use. Over 50 years later, I care little about ssb. Follow the operating techniques/protocol found in the ARRL Operating Manual for using cw and make yourself an A1 operator. 73!
Thanks for your comment and good advice. CW is a lot of fun!~John/W5CYF
John V John = good.Throw mike away=good.No short cuts=true.CW is cool=true
You have learned much in a few months.Also spend as much time as u can listening,then when you get tired give it a break for a few days.When you come back you may surprise yourself with your increased proficiency.
I may have been one of the lucky one's.We are all different but I have no doubt with drive and enthusiasm which you clearly have.YOU WILL SUCCEED.
All the best
73
Sandy
Hi John,
I think your observations of learning the code are spot on. Keep the mic in the drawer and keep listening. A friend on mine that did CW in the forces told me they spent ten times as much time on receiving as sending.
Charles GW0LVH
John, What a GREAT Video. I am now on my "Official" second day of learning CW. I had related the story about you helping me with the Proiject QRP Key and someone said well here is a NYE SPEED-X so you can learn on a good Key. Lovely Key,.Your story and insight I know will be of great use to me. And the timing could not have been more perfect. But I will set one goal, and that is get proficient to SKED a QSO with John the Tinker. You are an asset to the community John.
73
Ron
KB3VEW
Very encouraging video. Your advice has made me finally want to learn code and stick to it. Cheers, ~Hilman
Good video John. I am just about to start my journey into CW, and you gave me good food for thought. Dont compare myself to others! Dont place expectations on myself! Dont give up! Will let you know how the journey progresses! 73 de Greg VK4GJW
Disagree that your first QSO was "a disaster" John! You learned and got on the air and made a contact! That's HUGE success!! 73's. Tom, N1MQC
Craig,
Thanks for taking time to send comments along. Hope to meet you on the air soon. 73 John/W5CYF
Ron,
Thanks for your comments. It was a struggle for me to learn, but I really enjoy CW now as my primary mode. Still can only do 12-15 wpm, but that's good enough to have some great QSOs. Hope to meet you on the air.
73
John
Thanks John. I appreciate the advice. I had my licence for just over a year and am keen to learn CW. Hope to work you on the air someday. 73, Kevin.
Kevin,
Thanks for your comment. I think you'll find CW a very enjoyable mode. I look forward to meeting you on the air soon...CW of course.
73
John
@rmachayes
Thanks for the comments and for following along.
73
John
Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you! I have been going through exactly what you described and have been very discouraged. You have rejuvenated my CW soul and you have given me back an excitement I have been missing for a while now. Thank you for your inspiring words. I will be looking (listening) for you on the air. 73! BTW, on which freqs do you typically hang?
I see that your frustrations have mirrored mine. Great advice on being satisfied with QRS. It IS a hobby. Accuracy transcends speed. Well sent SK code is beautiful, I've heard some. At @ 7wpm myself, I am anxious to have this become more fun than work. TU es 73, NR3P
Thanks for watching and for your comment. CW is by far my favorite mode and look forward to meeting you on the air.
73/John
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on learning CW. I've just started with the Gordon West 0-5 morse code course. I have a long way to go but thanks to people like you, I know the most important part of learning the code is to keep going and never give up.
Rob-KC9JWY
Very inspiring - thank you.
Enjoyable video John. I share many of the same frustrations. I recently decided that slower cw is more enjoyable so I don’t missed characters, and I can assimilate the meaning as I go along. I believe in giving a lot of time to be proficient with good clean copy before trying to increase speed.
I’d be fun to meet on the air. Perhaps we can set up a sked. I’m in Arizona.
N7NRE.
Great video, I'm returning to ham radio after a couple years hiatus. As of now i'm mainly operating psk but I'm using the koch method to learn code. Sad part is I think the removal of the code requirement took the pressure off me to sit and learn it out of personal interest in it as opposed to learning it because I had to. None of my family or elmer hams that I've known ever ran CW so it never really was of much interest to me until I started getting into QRP/backpack operations. 73's KC9FJE
John: I make custom text files with Python to be used in JLMC to try to eliminate deficiencys such as quick call sign copy. I make custom WAV files with morse.jar from the web. I listen nearly daily on 40m. It is nice to hear the really good fist on the air. Slowly getting my antenna kit together to start achieving some QSO's. George KF5NRO.
PS look forward to watching your machine shop tips. I have some tools, but not much experience. Carl, NB7C
John - great video with very useful feedback. The thing that keeps going through my mind is: you're making a big investment of your time in this, is it even worth it? I am a QRP guy, and I think that CW will open up new opportunities and experiences for me, but i don't know for sure. It seems like it's been worth it for you, especially if you do CW primarily now. That is encouraging, and I will think of that as I continue studying
Rambling? No, well worth the time. Thanks. I could echo most of what you said except that I am too cheap to spend the $35! :) In 1976 I was on 15 meter CW in the afternoons, but I forgot a lot while raising children. I struggled to make one contact in the last November CW Sweeps, but I am working on getting the ARRL CW Proficiency Award. My trick so far is to record my contacts. Then I don't worry so much about missing anything and I miss a lot less. KE4KE
great viedo john i learned cw back about 20 years ago ive sinced forgot it through the method i used was the code quick tapes they worked wonderfully for me when i went for my 13 wpm i shouldve took the 20 back thenbut didnt
Thanks for stopping by and for your comment. Hope to meet you on the air someday.~John