Tools For learning Morse Code CW How I Learned Morse Code 

great video - Just passed my Technician license and want to focus on CW - this help orientate me towards that! Many thanks.

You talked about learning cw “left handed” with your right hand. Through my life as a left handed person in a right handed world, I’ve learned you often have to disregard people saying, “this is the right/only way to do it”. For instance I sometimes use a left handed bolt action rifle, but I hold it in my right and work the bolt with my left, or when I play baseball, I catch & throw right handed but hit/bat left handed (really pisses off the opponents, both baseball and target shooting). You just have to do what feels right for you, but remember it’s not “normal”/standard.

The best uses for the decoder is learning to send if it can decode your sending, then you have a clean fist that will be easy to copy by someone else

Try setting character speed at at least 20 WPM but set pause between the characters to long, so the overall speed is at about 8 WPM. Hearing the characters and numbers at high speed will help you to learn the rhythm or the music of how each letter or number sound. Long pause will give you some time to process what you hear. Also, once you begin learning to transmit with a paddle, consider learning to transmit with your left hand, if you are right handed. This way you can hold a pen with your right hand. It's very handy this way.

That is a great collection of CW equipment / learning aids! I see I am going to have to build up my own collection while trying to learn CW. Keep up the great work!

I learned from my grandad. He used to tap on the steering wheel with his wedding ring and ask me what he was 'sending'. I was lucky. Vibroplex rule. Like the MFJ box. Might get one.

Excellent video! I'm a newer ham, and I'm looking forward in a week or so to start with CW on 40 meters. I'm definitely going to use the tools you provided to make some good QRP contacts!

I use my keyers the same way: thumb is dah, finger is dit. Just seemed to make sense to me when I started learning. The thumb is bigger and perhaps less speedy in movement than my pointer finger. Good video! Thanks!

I just started learning, thanks for the info!

I do like your content. You present it in a clear, down-to-earth, and not-excessively-formal, manner. I know this is old content, but I've just gotten into ham radio. Thanks.

This is super neat, ive always wanted one of the morse code things, i believe you said it was a MFJ-557 Straight Key Oscillator. This thing is so cool. Great Video bud.

It's good to see ham radio going back to the basics.

Very informative as always appreciate the detailed information

Excellent video, I'm decided to try to learn CW your video was very helpful. Thank you.

Nice MFJ commercial.

I was a morse code intercept operator 46 years ago in the US Army, but only became a ham two years ago, and to say my CW copy skills are rusty is being generous. My top speed was 35 groups per minute, which I had to copy and there are several methods the military used for building speed. It all boils down to learning the sound of characters as a complete string of dit/dah tones and if the sender is good you will have no problem telling each character separately. You also have to be able to write down the code several characters behind what you are hearing. In other words, when you are hearing the fourth character in a five character string or group, you will be writing down the first or second character. They will always be faster than you can copy so being able to remember the characters for a few seconds and write them down or type them is the way we did it in the Army. I never had to send CW so I didn't learn it. This is the difficult part for me. Back in the 1990's I was a computer service tech and one call I did was for a ham who was also in CAP. His shack had a computer and he had programs on it to copy and send CW via the keyboard. This is now antiquated but the last device the MFJ 464 is basically the same idea, without the PC. It is a dedicated type of computer interface between radio and keyboard. Apparently this worked well at high speeds that are well over the average person's ability to copy and/or send. Thank you for doing this video. I am working on CW since I became a General late this fall. I need to master this to take advantage of upgrading my license.

Right on ! I'm a Bass Player and use the same Paddle method as you do to key. It's like Snap and Pop Style basslines.

If you spend too much time sending code before you learn to receive it, you will struggle more at higher speeds. First, learn the music with the characters sent around 20 WPM but with spacing to about 5 - 8 WPM. Then gradually reduce the spacing to gain speed. From my own experience 50 years ago, I did it the wrong way and I never learned to receive as fast as I could send. so when an operator returned to me at the speed that I was sending, I would be in for a struggle. Now, I'm starting from scratch and relearning the music and to be sure, I have not even bought a key yet so there has been zero sending because I know how fast that will come back. My high school buddy wanted to build a keyer to go fast so we found the plans for one that had vacuum tubes in it (no kidding) and it went up to about 50 WPM. He was in the low end of 80 and 40 every day and in 3-4 months, he went from 15 to 50. He learned the music correctly but I never did. After a while, I modified his keyer with a smaller relay and lighter spring and we got it up to 65 WPM and there were times when he had it all the way up running full break in. Doing it right is a sight to behold! 73's

cw speed by my tutor an retired royal signals instructor was a lazy 35 wpm and could have a chat with you at the same time in a rush he could do 55 all on the ear no fancy box of tricks his policy was 1 hour every day practice read road sighs in morse in the car when out and about bus adds van and truck adds ect do phone numbers ect look at any words on anything its read in cw in the head i took his advise and it worked for me and after a time as people talk to you i started to do the speech in my head in morse as they spoke 73 g0myd

Long post _(Autism! I'm long-winded and I can't help it)_ but I hope it helps someone struggling with learning morse. First, I think the main trick is to stop thinking of discrete dots and dashes, but as complete 'words' each with their own rhythm. Not 'dot dash dot' but 'didahdit'. Everyone is different, but here's what's working for me... Memorising the entire alphabet reasonably well when I was young got me through the Foundation Class when I was 45. But, memorisation just lead to me trying to break-down and rationalise everything I just heard ... and doing that, I always miss the next character (or three) Not thinking is important! I realised that I needed to train more 'reflexively' so that the patterns triggered associations, without thinking about how the letters are formed. Unfortunately ... already knowing the alphabet meant I had to find a way to stop my brain from trying to dissect each character. Because of this tendancy to overthink, slow speeds just weren't working for me. I'd hit a speed wall very quickly, because there's a natural limit to how fast you can consciously break down a character in your head, look it up and scribble it. It's counterintuitive but I found that a faster speed was the answer, as it stopped me from thinking consciously, and forced my brain to fire instinctively without dissecting. Perhaps if I'd never memorised the alphabet I'd not have had that problem. But this helped me shift from a slow dot-and-dash visual memory to a faster audible recognition. Kinda like how we use words. You hear them and 'get' their meaning at the same time. You never stop to think what the words mean, or how they're spelled... they just are what they are, just sounds with built-in meaning. Thats what helps us speak and listen without much mental effort. Well, dididahdit just needs to become a new word that you just instinctively 'know' without thinking. And that'll only happen if you're hearing it too fast to think about how it's made. Bite-size associations To re-learn morse as patterns, I cranked up the speed and concentrated on decoding just random A and N until I was numb. Then I did E and T till I was numb. Then I put them together, and kept going till I was 95% on those. I'm now up to 12 characters, but my speed is FAR faster than I could do before, because now I'm not thinking about how the characters are made up ... they're just sounds I happen to know. And it sticks. Because I took 8 months off from radio due to family issues, and when I came back I was back up to speed on those 12 in moments. Looking back, I probably should have started with the longer characters, as it gives more recognition and scribble time. If I was starting again, I'd definitely start long characters first. You might want to do that ; ) Lastly, time of day turned out to be important too. You HAVE to do it every day, even if just for 5 or so minutes total. Regular short sessions work... even as short as 30 seconds in passing. But, the more long gaps you leave, the more ground you have to re-cover. to get the most recent stuff back. I've also found that even if I practice during the day, the real trick seems to be an extended practice right before bed. This gives me some annoying 'morse-dreams' ... and I think that's when the brain really starts integrating the knowledge. The next morning I seem to have improved overnight. So... that seems to really work for me. Practice I do during the day is like a refresher that keeps it relevant so that your brain resolves to learn it. But, anything new you learn quickly gets replaced with clutter - with the neighbours, feeding the dog, callers, TV... etc But, stuff I learn immediately before bed just lies there, soaking in. I found the same thing when learning piano. If I repeatedly played through the parts I was almost getting, my sleep would pretty much create all the muscle-memory and associations ... to the point where I couldn't tell you the notes to play even if I wanted to... because I couldn't 'think' them. But once I started playing, the notes would just 'happen automatically... like someone else was playing' I'm pretty sure it's a type of muscle-memory. But yeah, an extended pre-sleep practice is super-effective at creating those magical hard-wired connections in your brain. Also, a *good* nights sleep... very important when learning anything. I wrote a lot, and I apologise. But I hope it helps someone out there. ... if not, it don't mean a thing, just find something that works for you - we're all different. :See you on the bands M6UDS

Love my MFJ-416, it always goes with me in the car while on my way to the QRL near Rotterdam, a 100km drive.

It's nice to see that there's still some out there whom have the desire to learn the code. I'm not saying anything that's not already touched on. But, do yourself a favor and put/reconnect your paddles with the Dah's on the right. If you don't, you're setting yourself up for a BIG disappointment down the road.... just do it! (and if you don't choose to do so, you'll remember this comment) I will add, focus on learning to "receive". I'll say it this way too..."learn the sound of the music". Sending is secondary. Speaking of sending re-read Alan Pfahler's comment. I hope that you have some radio buddies nearby that is in the learning stages too. If ya do, there is nothing wrong with the two of youins choosing a 2 or 10 meter QRG. Keep it up !

MFJ's morse reader is invaluable tool for checking CW sending. I also use my paddles in reverse.

Thanks Eric, I just ordered the "557". Your a great inspiration and your videos serves as an outstanding resource! Keep it up brother. KI5BEN

I have used all those but the small keyer and the MFJ-464... I remember driving around with the MFJ-557 and practicing also listening to Gordon West CW cassettes .. I removed the keyer off the 557 and used on my radio while mobile... Before I got my tech plus 5wpm in 1995 and my 13wpm right after I would drive around and just key out random stuff like signs license plates and addresses...Now while transmitting of course...Sorry about posting on old vids.... KW4TX

Great vid....thanks for the info. Just starting out in cw. w3tbc

I prefer the keys that use magnetic paddle return. The feel is different, but you won't know if you like it until you try it. Some of the most expensive keys you can buy will be magnetic in nature. The springs do work, and many people use them, so it might be all that you want. I learned CW on an old heath tube radio, and a Brown Brothers key that I bought at a Hamfest. I had a fan dipole I made with wire from Home Depot, and I made all of my CW contacts on 80M. In the evening, 80M was ripe for Cw contacts all over Florida, into Georgia, and some in Texas. The CW copiers do not work so well, for the simple reason that they expect perfect CW, and many people, especially people with Vibroplex keys are very hard to read with any electronic CW reader. I had a hard time listing to them, and often i would tell them so, and let them go on to their next contact.

Great demo

Excellent very thoughtful showed options for different levels of experience ...one of the better guys making videos out there....THANKS I'LL KEEP WATCHING....73s....KN4CBS

Farnsworth is a learning tool you can use to increase the time between letters. I've been using the method to learn the "sounds" at 20 WPM with 8 WPM intervals so I can process the info

Thank you very much for your very interesting demonstration of all these devices on how to learn and practice Morse code at home by oneself. I have bought the 418 and the 557 as you showed and I am trying to get use to them. In case ílet you know if I have problems in using them.thanks again for your video.

Today you're much better off with an app which teaches morse, rather than a standalone box. Some really good trainer apps, good decoder apps too

You should put links to the products your showing. Good video.

nice video. I'm interested in getting a paddle. i've never transmitted cw before. do you still recommend the mfj paddle or is there something else better? kd2qql

great stuff

I have the MFJ practice key and oscillator and ended up modifying it with a switch to disconnect the battery from the oscillator because I found that the battery would drain too fast. Otherwise it is a great tool.

Thanks. Can you do a video using MFJ-464 and the radio, in actual use?

The MFJ practice Oscillator (554) is a bit pricey but...rather than buy 554 now and maybe a 464 later, could one use the 464 for practice the same way as the 554 and use the 464 for practical applications later?

Where did you get the morse code trainer? (oscillator with key) ... have tried to find one for a while, and that one looks fine. I am a NAVY Telegraphist and just want to be able to sit and practice my morse once in a while...just for fun ;-)

While your driving around in your POV or rental..... You can buy one of those cheapo FM stereo transmitters that plugs into your cigarette lighter. And then plug the input audio line into the earphone jack of your Morse Tutor ! Then just pick a clear spot on your FM dial, adjust the transmitter to that freq. And let'r rip !! Just remember to start the tutor on the lowest audio level and work your way up ! Of course you can do the same with bluetooth too ! It sounds great through your vehicles audio system !!!

You can use high speed CW for meteor scatter contacts on VHF, or you can use very slow speed for DX contacts on LF bands. I wouldn't use the MFJ 464 though, I would just use fldigi and a laptop

You want Farnsworth set to ON. Characters are sent at a set character speed. Then on the speed of the sending you can vary that, maybe beginning at 8 wpm and working up to fast sent CW speed. Set the spacing between characters, that is the sending speed, you will copy the characters quicker but not have to relearn the character. Why? At Farnsworth the character speed is the same whether the sending speed is 3 WPM or 19 WPM. Learn operating the iambic paddle a way that is comfortable for you. There is no right or wrong way as long as you don't send QLF. For iambic keying the external keyer works with my HW-7, HW-8, and HW-9 and my Kenwood TS140S. None of these rigs have an internal keyer. Yes, I am one that calls the MFJ-464 and other like devices for receiving and sending CW a 'cheater's tool'. Anyone that uses a tool like this takes the fun out of sending and copying CW. I guess that is progress though. You must have a lot of money to burn. You mentioned paying a tutor to learn Morse. What? There are plenty of Elmer's that will spend time with you to learn if you ask. You have to be willing to practice though. There are many CW ops that send and receive in the 60+ WPM range. CW to them is like a second language. I struggle at 25 to 30 WPM but I am proud that every contact I have whether slow or fast CW is done by hearing it. Have fun with your toys.

I'm Learning morse code my self. I have a mfj 557 key and a mound straight key. also got a mound paddle to use I can play morse with out transmitting anything using my icom ic718 and a morse reader from MFJ. I also use a commodore c64 to decode morse and RTTY . -.-. /..../ ./ ./ .-./ ...

Thank you very much.....

You mentioned we should learn to recieve before sending.....wonder if thats what im doing wrong.

Learn to hear the letters as a sound and not as dot and dashes. When you learn with dots and dashes you are translating the sound twice instead of once (from sound to dots and dash and then from dot and dashes to letter). And if you learn to hear you will know to send.

I was at 35 words per minute. But now need to upgrade.

That's the same way my paddle works, dah on the thumb, dit on the fingers. I am also right-handed.

get a K1 oric703 and a good key single paddle helped me at fewer mistakes than an iambic key

Dear sir, I enjoyed a lot your video and it was so exiting for me that I ordered two of the devices you described first, the tutor and the practical key bord with the oscillator in it. I think you were a good teacher and an excellent cow device seller as you can so joyfully describe what to do and what it is necessary to make it work better than reading the manual...! I want to thank you for your excellent and useful demonstration on how cow works. Thank you. Abele Ballestri switzerland

Would be nice, to practice with the paddles on a computer. But, seems no adapter readily available.

I think I did not quite understand about which device I need in order to practice the morse ,sending and receiving fro these devices you so nicely described. I already know morse and I can receive about 18-20 words per minute .my aim would be to increase the speed of reception up to 20-25 wpm. I think I need a mfj 557 ,as you have, a pocket majority 418 and eventually a mfj 464 ..? Do I need all three or is it enough the MFJ 464...? I would be very grateful to you if you could help me and let me know where I can buy all that. Looking forward to hearing from you,I send you my best regards from the south of Switzerland.

A great book to get is Morse Code: Breaking the Barrier by Dave Finley, N1lRz. Uses the Koch Method which l personally find excellent.

Do the Farnsworth! The best for practice...

put the small one on a leather watch strap for on wrist

Use the paddle the way you want, but you may have trouble if you let someone use your key or you use someone else key.rt hand people :key in left hand pen in rt hand, left hand people : key in rt hand pen in left hand.

You would think that if you learned a language you would not forget but I took a course on spoken Japanese 50 years ago as well as I could do 5 wpm coding but now all I remember is Arigatōgozaimashita and CQ. Eric the old ham that was teaching me called that auto key'er a BUG.

Good video

I use same set up on paddle. Arthritis is more cooperative as my thumb is a bit slow.

If you want to use a bug, you need RH use of the paddle...

Be carful folks research first then start your learning, if you learn in the wrong way you may never get to the speed you want to. There are bad ways to learn and better ways to learn. Thank you for the equipment review.,

If you are right handed, and run your key/paddle right handed, how do you paper copy a message? This is why I switched to left hand keying (I'm right handed).

I also am right handed and send cw more comfortably left handed. What is interesting is that my snowboarding stance ( literally called "goofy") is like a left handed person also. Must be something right brain vs. left brain.

It isn't just you. Years ago when I was trying to learn CW I found that at 5wpm I had too much time to think. For example I would get a dit--dah and "A" or is it "N" no it is an "A"! by which time I missed the next 3 or 4 characters! I could receive better at about 12 wpm because I didn't have time to think and just wrote down what I thought it was.

Have you made your first CW contact yet?

I'm looking for a EFFECTIVE learning aid for code. The gadget or app I'm looking for would use a voice to give the text and analyze my key input for correct copy, letter formation, letter spacing, and proper separation between words. It would have the usual options to customize content. Anyone know of such a thing? I am working with what is available and, in time, I will achieve proficiency. But, it sure seems to me that something a bit more advanced than these same old gizmos is possible. Is there a genius in the house looking to create a new product?

i want to learn morse code with my daughter, do you know id there is like a piece of wifi equipment so I can put on her house and another on in my house?

Maybe glue a magnet to the base of that key and stick it to a small steel plate

bencher is a good paddle very popular

I like the first machine. I use it to record messages in code on my recorder then put it on repeat on my radio for my friends to hear it for 10 minutes or more. To get faster, i use 2 fingers on my camel back. Never used a paddle?

Sir, can you "make it" with the tutorial!

mfj-464....i'm gonna get one...yes....hahaha ...but that keyboard AT socket needs adapter for usb plug from kboards nowadays.

Right handed, my left paddle is Dah also...

Okay, which one can I connect to my paddles and see which letters I'm sending? I just want something easy, plug and play. Thank you!

Can you put together a playlist part 1 ,2 3 etc for learning code and ham for newbies 😊❤ it's hard to know what comes first when you are just starting ,I start classes in May I would like to get ahead of the class giving you all the props ofcourse and new subscribers after they see how much I know before the class 😉 please tell me what I need to buy for both Ham and Morse code much appreciated hugs and blessings 😇❤

i know it an old video but i got the MFJ 557 BUT I NEED HELP WHICH CABEL DO YOU USE WITH IT, AND HOW TO HOOK IT UP THANKS KG5UAB

Just a quick peace of advise. A good "fist" is worth developing. Do more time on the straight key. It adjusts timing on its own as you use it. It will help if you grip it properly. You should NOT be tapping it but moving it with your fore arm.you do that by holding the key between your fingers and thumb. I was trained by a WWII radio man. I miss him. Then keyers and bugs will be more useful for long stretches when you're tired.

Morse keys are like camera’s, the best one is the one you have with you. And you learn the way you feel most comfortable I guess. Seems natural to me to have the dah on the thumb side. Since I’m a guitar player the down stroke is usually the way to start. And from longer strokes. Anyway. Nice video.

where do you purchase this portable telegraph key

So 4 years later how is your CW?

Where i can buy ?

Just become a keyboard cowboy on HF Yes we need more keyboard cowboys on HF Do not bother learning anything It might make your head hurt

How we purchase this..................

where to buy that key 🔑

Hello all. Let’s all practice together. practice on 40 meters or 20. Any sked time /frequency suggestions on weekends? N7NRE Az.

Navy trained Pensacola Florida 1974. Highest verified copy Guam West Pac 1981. 33 WPM. Presidential award. I can understand faster but my hand speed isn't up to it.

Did you buy MFJ out?

You need to learn how to hold the straight key. Watch some of the other videos on youtube.

Too bad the names of the items aren’t in the description box.

mfj-464....i'm gonna get one...yes....hahaha

it's always been a mix opinion with them, either it's junk or good product, nothing in between

Yo, my man! Get with the CW OPS folks and get into a CWA (CW Academy) ASAP! You have some very bad habits that will limit your ability. Start by learning how to grip a straight key! Thumb, index, and forefinger to grip the paddle.

farsworth is the "modern Morris Code.

Cw?

THATAT WOULD BE CABLE OOPS

How much it cost? The mfj 447?

Now you know Morse code how about selling me your MFJ 418

more money than sense. 73

If you introduce me to whoever gives you your allowance, I bet I can convince them that I'm a better kid worth adoption...and convince this dinosaur company that I can make higher quality commercials vids. BTW, do they pay you extra whenever the make you leave your forklift to do some camera action

why do you like "Mighty fine junk "so much?