Thank you so much for this! In a box of Ham gear that came from a SK's estate I found his Iambic paddle (Bencher) . While I have used a straight key off and on for 30 years that paddle using it seemed to psych me out. Your method and exercises make sense and are very helpful...de KB7HFS
Just my opinion, but the worst bad habit a person beginning to learn CW or Morse code, is counting dits and dahs, as opposed to just hearing the sound of the character without concern for the number of dits and dahs that make up the sound of the character they are trying to send or recognize. Your exercise is training a newbie to count dits and dahs. If that eventually becomes habit, it will have to be unlearned to advance further once the speed limit is reached for counting dits and dahs. Instead of a counting exercise to improve ability to send S, H, and 5; why not just send S H 5 for the exercise and concentrate on the sound of the character and not the number of dits and dahs?
Interesting. I am not convinced it is a good idea to teach beginners to count dits and dahs. Hearing the sound of 3 , 4, 5, dits and so on with dahs will allow people to increase their speeds more easily. Think about it, counting 5 dits at 30 wpm is very difficult, in contrast with hear the sound of a 5.
True. With morse, it's best not to think, at all... any thinking/remembering is detrimental. The worst thing beginners ever do is go look at a morse chart and try to memorise the dits and dahs. It's the VERY worst thing they could do. From then on, the moment they hear morse their brain tries to see all the individual dits/dahs... and this slows them down so much they miss the next characters... ... then they get so frustrated and cannot progress : ( So, the VERY first thing I tell anyone, when they say they want to learn morse ... is : *DO NOT EVER look at ANY morse!* It's my rule #1. Morse DOES NOT EXIST as far as your eyes are concerned! You will learn morse with your eyes closed and your ears open. No counting... no memorising... no analysis... ... and DEFINITELY no looking at charts or visualising dots and dashes! There's certainly no need to count because there isn't 4 things in : "dah dit dah dit" ... it's ONE thing .... "dahdidahdit"... it's a word! You'll learn it as a single thing... like the word "Balloon". You don't think about how it is spelled, because the sound itself IS the meaning. Well, dahdidahdit is a word, like Balloon! And S is "dididit" ... there isn't three dots in there! Just the word "dididit". We're going to learn these "words" two at a time... and they're going to be so fast you can't split them apart or think about their "spellings" And that's the other mistake I see beginners make. Slowing it down! Never ever slow it down! You should learn at the speed you want to send/receive at. if you slow it down then you'll start thinking - and thinking will kill your progress. Keep it too fast to analyse... and your brain is forced to learn the letters as though they were indivisible language units. Intra-character spacing should be lengthened just enough that you can think the letter... but no further, so you don't analyse it to see if you were right ; ) I tend to keep the space just enough to allow the learner to key it back. After every two letters they get a pause to say "RR" or "RP" or "PR" or "PP" ... later, it will be three letter groups... then four. Hear it... key it ... and after a group ends, say it! This way they're focused on remembering the message, and not on the analysis of symbols. It's how you learned language in the first place. Hear... repeat! Hear... repeat! I tell my students, if you learned to say "mama" and "dada" as a baby ... you can learn morse ; )
Best to learn using receiving farnsworth with decent speed of each character. Learning by grouping AUV4, NDBG etc can be a clever way, so your learn not to confuse them. For iambic transmission training, start slow to get a good routine with the keyer. Then it is easier to learn how the paddle reacts, and how you can use it most efficient. And all should know there are more than one iambic logic. I prefer Iambic B (Curtis B), due to the way it inserts the dots and dashes. I have this so worked in to my routine, that I get trouble once I use a keyer with Iambic A... Therefore I always use my own programmable external keyer, where I can choose the best style for me. In that way I can easily switch to any new radio.
@@garychap8384 I’m a new ham and I’m just starting to learn CW. I really needed to hear this! It’s very tempting to print out a chart and hang it on the wall next to my rig so that I can refer back to it as I learn. I have a bit of a history in music and what you’re saying makes a lot of sense. I’ll shred the chart and practice learning by ear. 73!
Of course you are correct. Counting dits and dahs are a very poor way to to _learn_ Morse code for a beginner. I think he's trying to eliminate the tendency to "slap" the paddles for folks who already are proficient with Morse.
First of all, the idea of "warming up" is very useful. Since my very first attempts of morse learning, a "warm up" for both receive and transmit was obvious. On the other hand, some notes/suggestions about the "counting". First: do NOT count. Counting itself is a brain-blocking mechanism, which doesn't let your brain "read" or "write" the code based on the patterns you're (hopefully) familiar with. Istead, use something like "transmit continuous zeros with an e in between each 0" or "transmit fives with t in between each". And, of course, continue with 9s and 4s, continuous Os with an e in between, and Vs, then Gs and Us... And any combination. In general: avoid counting for all cost. This is the third most important rule after "avoid visualization (Farnsworth method)", and avoid "word substitution" (when the learning method is based on substituting dih-dah-patterns with common words -- I don't know how often is it used anywhere outside Hungary).
First bad, counting. Second bad, having your fingers off the paddles and tapping… Rephrasing K7QO; Make a circle with tumb and pointing finger, then put on the paddles, DON’T let go… And then, if you already know how to handle other key’s with one hand, start your paddling with the other hand!!! 73
Hi there, nice video. I've had a Morserino for a while now, and just received a nice iambic paddle from Bamatech, a TP-3. I plugged it in and... it doesn't work! Only the left paddle works, but as a "straight key", when I press there's a solid tone, no multiplie dits or dahs... I'm using decent quality stereo 3.5mm jacks cables, and I'm stuck... Any idea if I need to "setup" my Morserino for an iambic paddle? In advance, many thanks for your time. Best regards, Manny / Essex / England 73 de 2E0HJN
@@oe6feg Thanks for the super quick reply! I've also realised I can set the IC-705 to "no transmit" in CW but still able to hear the dits & dahs... Cheers!
Excellent video, thank you. Subscribed. am thinking of learning morse, never too late they say. What is the electronics on the left of the keyer please? Or what would I need as an absolute beginner to start please?
@@oe6feg Thank you for the reply. Spooky, just looking at your video of the kit, found it, doh! Also other videos of it, so will be getting one ordered. Was looking for a decoder without using a pc too.
what is the kit sitting to the left of your key? Is it a kit? I would like to have a go at one of those and use it for code practice, as well. thanks. 73
@@oe6feg so by using wire connection... I was thinking something about wifii... I know about that way trough wire. Few friends told me that there is possibility to run some kind of serwer on PC and transmitting CW trough it directly to CW comunicator. And I decide to look for something similar on internet
Thank you so much for this! In a box of Ham gear that came from a SK's estate I found his Iambic paddle (Bencher) . While I have used a straight key off and on for 30 years that paddle using it seemed to psych me out. Your method and exercises make sense and are very helpful...de KB7HFS
Great advice. I am starting learning cw. I found it very useful 👍
Thank you for your video I am sure this will help as I have just started with a paddle key.
Just my opinion, but the worst bad habit a person beginning to learn CW or Morse code, is counting dits and dahs, as opposed to just hearing the sound of the character without concern for the number of dits and dahs that make up the sound of the character they are trying to send or recognize. Your exercise is training a newbie to count dits and dahs. If that eventually becomes habit, it will have to be unlearned to advance further once the speed limit is reached for counting dits and dahs.
Instead of a counting exercise to improve ability to send S, H, and 5; why not just send S H 5 for the exercise and concentrate on the sound of the character and not the number of dits and dahs?
Absolutely agree
what do you have your key hooked up too? This looks like great way to practice with out a radio.
morserino32
Interesting. I am not convinced it is a good idea to teach beginners to count dits and dahs. Hearing the sound of 3 , 4, 5, dits and so on with dahs will allow people to increase their speeds more easily. Think about it, counting 5 dits at 30 wpm is very difficult, in contrast with hear the sound of a 5.
True. With morse, it's best not to think, at all... any thinking/remembering is detrimental.
The worst thing beginners ever do is go look at a morse chart and try to memorise the dits and dahs. It's the VERY worst thing they could do. From then on, the moment they hear morse their brain tries to see all the individual dits/dahs... and this slows them down so much they miss the next characters...
... then they get so frustrated and cannot progress : (
So, the VERY first thing I tell anyone, when they say they want to learn morse ... is :
*DO NOT EVER look at ANY morse!*
It's my rule #1. Morse DOES NOT EXIST as far as your eyes are concerned! You will learn morse with your eyes closed and your ears open. No counting... no memorising... no analysis...
... and DEFINITELY no looking at charts or visualising dots and dashes!
There's certainly no need to count because there isn't 4 things in : "dah dit dah dit" ... it's ONE thing .... "dahdidahdit"... it's a word! You'll learn it as a single thing... like the word "Balloon". You don't think about how it is spelled, because the sound itself IS the meaning. Well, dahdidahdit is a word, like Balloon!
And S is "dididit" ... there isn't three dots in there! Just the word "dididit". We're going to learn these "words" two at a time... and they're going to be so fast you can't split them apart or think about their "spellings"
And that's the other mistake I see beginners make. Slowing it down! Never ever slow it down! You should learn at the speed you want to send/receive at. if you slow it down then you'll start thinking - and thinking will kill your progress. Keep it too fast to analyse... and your brain is forced to learn the letters as though they were indivisible language units.
Intra-character spacing should be lengthened just enough that you can think the letter... but no further, so you don't analyse it to see if you were right ; ) I tend to keep the space just enough to allow the learner to key it back. After every two letters they get a pause to say "RR" or "RP" or "PR" or "PP" ... later, it will be three letter groups... then four.
Hear it... key it ... and after a group ends, say it! This way they're focused on remembering the message, and not on the analysis of symbols.
It's how you learned language in the first place. Hear... repeat! Hear... repeat!
I tell my students, if you learned to say "mama" and "dada" as a baby ... you can learn morse ; )
Best to learn using receiving farnsworth with decent speed of each character. Learning by grouping AUV4, NDBG etc can be a clever way, so your learn not to confuse them.
For iambic transmission training, start slow to get a good routine with the keyer. Then it is easier to learn how the paddle reacts, and how you can use it most efficient.
And all should know there are more than one iambic logic. I prefer Iambic B (Curtis B), due to the way it inserts the dots and dashes.
I have this so worked in to my routine, that I get trouble once I use a keyer with Iambic A... Therefore I always use my own programmable external keyer, where I can choose the best style for me. In that way I can easily switch to any new radio.
@@garychap8384 I’m a new ham and I’m just starting to learn CW. I really needed to hear this! It’s very tempting to print out a chart and hang it on the wall next to my rig so that I can refer back to it as I learn. I have a bit of a history in music and what you’re saying makes a lot of sense. I’ll shred the chart and practice learning by ear. 73!
@@garychap8384 I’ll check it out! Thanks again.
Of course you are correct. Counting dits and dahs are a very poor way to to _learn_ Morse code for a beginner. I think he's trying to eliminate the tendency to "slap" the paddles for folks who already are proficient with Morse.
First of all, the idea of "warming up" is very useful. Since my very first attempts of morse learning, a "warm up" for both receive and transmit was obvious.
On the other hand, some notes/suggestions about the "counting". First: do NOT count. Counting itself is a brain-blocking mechanism, which doesn't let your brain "read" or "write" the code based on the patterns you're (hopefully) familiar with. Istead, use something like "transmit continuous zeros with an e in between each 0" or "transmit fives with t in between each". And, of course, continue with 9s and 4s, continuous Os with an e in between, and Vs, then Gs and Us... And any combination. In general: avoid counting for all cost. This is the third most important rule after "avoid visualization (Farnsworth method)", and avoid "word substitution" (when the learning method is based on substituting dih-dah-patterns with common words -- I don't know how often is it used anywhere outside Hungary).
BENS BEST BENT WIRE - Great exercise for rhythm!
Yes, and you are actually sending characters and not counting dits and dahs, which is a very bad habit to start out with.
First bad, counting.
Second bad, having your fingers off the paddles and tapping…
Rephrasing K7QO; Make a circle with tumb and pointing finger, then put on the paddles, DON’T let go…
And then, if you already know how to handle other key’s with one hand, start your paddling with the other hand!!!
73
Is there any warm up methods for straight keys too?
What is this little radio?
www.morserino.info/
Nice demo, but that square wave is like a drill going in the brain. Does the arduino have the ability to produce a sine wave?
lol
The Morserino 32 has a sinewave output for speakers and internet.
Hi there, nice video.
I've had a Morserino for a while now, and just received a nice iambic paddle from Bamatech, a TP-3.
I plugged it in and... it doesn't work!
Only the left paddle works, but as a "straight key", when I press there's a solid tone, no multiplie dits or dahs...
I'm using decent quality stereo 3.5mm jacks cables, and I'm stuck...
Any idea if I need to "setup" my Morserino for an iambic paddle?
In advance, many thanks for your time.
Best regards,
Manny / Essex / England
73 de 2E0HJN
Swapping over to iambic mode should be in one of the menus, can't remember off the top of my head. The manual will tell you.
@@oe6feg Thanks for the super quick reply! I've also realised I can set the IC-705 to "no transmit" in CW but still able to hear the dits & dahs... Cheers!
May I ask what is the system you have with your key?
Morserino 32
www.morserino.info/
Excellent video, thank you. Subscribed. am thinking of learning morse, never too late they say. What is the electronics on the left of the keyer please? Or what would I need as an absolute beginner to start please?
@@oe6feg Thank you for the reply. Spooky, just looking at your video of the kit, found it, doh! Also other videos of it, so will be getting one ordered. Was looking for a decoder without using a pc too.
@@oe6feg Looks like it can, the very thing looking for. Check my funds to order this month. Thank you for introducing to me.
@@oe6feg Although my soldering is questionable!
@@oe6feg I have emailed them but no reply as yet. Is it still current the web site implies so, do you know please?
great advice. How many WPM did you used ?
73
what is the kit sitting to the left of your key? Is it a kit? I would like to have a go at one of those and use it for code practice, as well. thanks. 73
www.morserino.info/
What model is the key you are using?
Alberto Frattini Magnetic Iambic. Handmade by special order only.
www.i1qod.it/
Hello Matt! Do you know why it‘s not possible to save your video in my UA-cam library?
Sorry, no idea.
Hey, is there a way to connect it to cw comunicator?
@@oe6feg What does it mean?
@@oe6feg so by using wire connection... I was thinking something about wifii... I know about that way trough wire. Few friends told me that there is possibility to run some kind of serwer on PC and transmitting CW trough it directly to CW comunicator. And I decide to look for something similar on internet
F and L. The iambic worse nightmare haha
Counting?
Seriously?
Halo
Iambic paddles should all be Black !
Because once you use one, you'll never go back !
🤔.....?