When I took my General test around 1976, the first time, I failed the CW. What killed me, especially in the pressure of the test (like 13 WPM is pressure but it was back then) wasn't the code; it was literally that I could not write on paper at 13 WPM. Someone a lot smarter at code than I was pointed out that I was drawing my letters rather than writing them. There is no handwriting grade. My handwriting was always terrible; my 2nd grade teacher used to send me back to the 1st grade at handwriting class time - but it never helped. Well, I can tell you it only went downhill after I learned to write fast for copying code. Thank the Lord for computers. 😄. I got past the General and Advanced but never did make the 25WPM Extra test. That's why I'll never go for my Extra today; if I can't take the Morse code test then I don't want the ticket. I hang on to my advanced. It's been a while since I copied code, now I am cursing the computers for making me lazy. But I did get about half of that in the video. So my tip is, neatness doesn't count. Learn to write fast. Of course now that there's no test, like the guys in the video, maybe there's no need to write fast; it's just conversational code. Until the end of the world; then you might need to write things down again.
First 2 minutes: Y Returned Fm P.C. Beach, FL in 30? 30 FT Brave M/H And NW back home but still in M/H hee age HR 64 and been ham since 61 ..-.-. ? 1961 = Running icom 7y5 and straight key old j44 hee so SW NW WB0SND/M W5BIB/M -.--.
did USN class A Radio School in 1957. I worked with it for about six or seven years after that, then radio teletype, etc. took over most overthing I was involved with. Still nothing like being at sea on a dark night, sitting a circuit and having somebody check in from somewhere out there in the dark. Always something of a thrill. I still send code in my head, always have, but find taking over twenty wpm with a pencil now is getting tough. Last time I checked in here was over ten years ago and at 84 I'm afraid I'm slipping a little, but I still love it. Great memories and best wishes to all the old timers.
Im torn between straight key and iambic, have both, but choosing one is difficult..well its ALL difficult..iambic, is more precise, faster eyc, but straight has the history..🤔
Straight key is old school cool, but iambic is just so much more efficient and cleaner. I'm just starting out in CW, and I'm going the iambic route, but I'd like to get a straight key to see what it's like!
