Steady it goes. However had to skip last 2 days CW training because of the CQWPX SSB contest in which I participated. A post about that at a later time. At the right you see which faults I keep making. Is it just me or is everyone making these faults? I seem not to be able to hear the difference between 5, S and H especially when the letters are near to each other. I know it is probabely a matter of training, training and training. Some people seem to have a natural rhythm feeling, I do not have it. When the speed goes up I mix U and V as well, especially when they are behind a letter or a number that ends with a "dot". By the way I can't hear the calls at the right at once, it takes several tries before I got them. Very difficult was BX3/DJ3KR, this one took me at least 10 repeats. Why do I train on higher speeds? Well to train ICR actually.
So, what else was going on with CW training this month. Well, I keep an eye on the blog from PE2V Vincent. It is in Dutch but if you really want to read it you can probably translate it with google or something. Vincent started to learn CW just a couple of months before I did. I'm a little envious because he's already able to make real ragchew QSOs with CW. He also gave me a few great tips to improve my learning and offered to help me. That's the right HAM spirit. Although so far I'm not really ready to get help, it might be a personal thing. I'm used to do things on my own and I realize sometimes it is better to change that. Takes time though...
Vincent told me to train with short stories and QSOs on CWops. Here are the links to the training sites:
https://cwops.org/fundamental-practice-files/
https://cwops.org/intermediate-practice-files/
The meaning is to listen to the stories and copy the words and complete the short story in your head. No writing involved. So far the first story I figured out the first sentence "Jim has been a HAM for 16 years. He...." and then I lose my mind over and over again. I'm not able to figure out the next words and sentence. It frustrates me and after a few tries I stop with a bad feeling. I think I get distracted or may be I'm afraid of not remembering the first sentence. It might be a psychological thing? I don't like to listen to podcasts either, may be I'm not a good listener. Reading and writing is something I prefer. You see, all kind of doubts. But to meet my goals of making a QSO I really need to change I think, perseverance is the golden word.
Luckily Vincent had an other golden tip for me: Have fun and celebrate every next step you make. Don't look at what others can and do, do what you can do. So I continue with my CW quest. And at a certain moment I will get it and make that 20 minute real CW QSO with just a radio and morsekey or paddle. That's my ultimate goal.
2 comments:
Good morning Bas, as I looked over your picture of the code copying it brought a smile to my face. I can assure you that you are not alone, to this very day as I increase my speed Mr H, S, V, U and for me B, 6 come up over and over. I figure it is the increased speed vs ICR, as the speed goes up the sound changes ever so slight. What I do is one a day for about all of 3-5 mins I go to
https://morsecode.world/international/trainer/words.html
On the page you will see "International Morse training and to the leff a tab called CW generator. Click on that and you will see blank screen open. On there I enter:
h h h h h h h h h h h
s s s s s s s s s s s
h h h h h h h h h h h
s s s s s s s s s s s
The same for any other letters I am dealing with and then I go to the tab config tab and under charactar speed and farnsworth I enter in my case 38. I then close that window and hit the play button and listen. I play it maybe 5-6 times. After a day or so you pick up the slight sound each letter makes.
For me this really helps just a suggestion. As for PE2V I read this blog and have yet to contact him during the CWops CWT's but yes for sure he is a fast learner and there are those as you know out there than certain things come very fast.
73,
Mike
VE9KK
Tnx Mike, I always appreciate your comments and support. I tried what you suggested and found it easy. But it helps a bit. Yes, I know how all letters and numbers sound. The problem is when for example 6S or 6H is keyed. When the speed goes up the space between letters narrows and you can't distinguish the dots from each other. At least, more experienced operators can but I cannot yet ;-). Worst call II5HI, I can't imagine someone has this callsign and uses CW ;-). Anyway, I keep doing my daily training. 73, Bas
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