SO YOU WANT TO LEARN MORSE CODE
Forget Frustration: Gain Valuable Morse Skills
And Increase Your Amateur-Radio Pleasure
By David G. Finley, N1IRZ
Copyright © 1995, 2000. All Rights Reserved*
Note: For complete information on Morse
Code training, CW operating, Morse Code history, and more, see the author's book,
Morse Code: Breaking the Barrier,
published by
MFJ Enterprises, Inc..
Amateur license restructuring is here. You no longer need to pass a
13- or 20-word-per-minute (wpm) test to gain full operating privileges.
Passing a 5-wpm test gets you everything. However, there are good
reasons why you should do more than that. Having a level of Morse
proficiency that is of real use on the air,
meaning that you can copy at 12-13 wpm or more, will add immeasurably
to your enjoyment of Amateur Radio.
Such rewarding HF activities as DXing, contesting and QRP operating
still rely heavily on CW. Thousands of hams enjoy CW for its own appeal
as a relaxing mode different from most other means of communication. And even
on VHF and higher frequencies, you'll find that exciting activities
such as Moonbounce and weak-signal work still require Morse skills for full
participation.
The pressure to reduce the code-speed requirements came from the
widespread perception that getting to 13 or 20 wpm is a nearly
imsurmountable barrier.
That perception is wrong. For little more
investment of time than it takes to pass the 5-wpm test, you can
gain real, higher-speed code proficiency that will enhance your
enjoyment of the hobby.
Most of what you've been told about learning Morse Code is wrong --
dead wrong. Amateur radio operators traditionally have used the slowest,
most frustrating, most painful and least effective techniques possible
for gaining code proficiency.
You can gain real code proficiency. You can do it in a reasonable amount
of time and with a minimum of frustration and pain. In order to do so,
you must approach code
training from a different perspective and use different
techniques from those common among amateurs for the past half century.
It will require work (just as it does to get to 5 wpm).
You will have to commit yourself to at least
one 15-30 minute training session every day until you reach your goal.
You may succeed in a month or in several months; individuals differ greatly.
Without this committment, however, you may as well not bother.
So what's new here? By using a code training method devised by the
German psychologist Ludwig Koch
some 60 years ago, you will progress as quickly as you possibly can, with
ample reinforcement and little frustration. By understanding this method
and how it builds your code proficiency, you will know why you have to
spend time practicing and you'll be able to make a reasonable prediction
of how long the total effort will require.
We're going to start on your road to success by throwing some time-honored
ham-radio traditions onto the trash heap where they belong. These are:
- Slow (5 wpm) code -- It ought to be illegal to teach anyone code at
5 wpm. Every minute spent toying with 5 wpm code is irrevocably wasted.
In addition, as we'll see later, starting with slow code is a virtually-guaranteed
path to frustration and quitting. Morse at 5 wpm and Morse at 15 or 20
wpm are completely different critters, and you don't want to waste time
on the wrong one.
- Charts, mnemonics, musical cues and other "memory aids" --
These things make you think about what you're doing while trying to copy
code. That is deadly to proficient copying.
- Code tapes -- In very short order, and unconsciously, you'll memorize
the tape. This will lull you into false confidence in your ability. That
false confidence will be quickly shattered when you hear transmitted text
that you haven't memorized.
- Copying QSOs off the air -- You don't know the speed of code you find
on the bands, and much code on the air is pretty badly sent. All this makes
it useless for training purposes. Formal code-practice sessions, such as those
on W1AW, are OK, however.
Now that you know what you're
not going to do, let's start examining
just how you can best gain code proficiency.
The Mechanics: Just what is code training, anyhow?
Go to the shack of a veteran CW operator, or visit the CW station at
a club Field Day operation. Watch people copy and send code at 30 to 35
wpm. You'll notice they're pretty relaxed about it; they're not sweating
each character as it comes out of the speaker and they're not racking their
brains to "figure out" what's being sent. Code has become second
nature to them.
That's the key to code proficiency. Copying code must be a thought-free
process. When you hear a character, you should know, without thinking,
what it is. It should be a
reflex. In fact, copying above about 10 wpm
can only be done by reflex. Above that speed, thought processes are too
slow to succeed.
That's why slow code is a deadly trap, and why traditional amateur
methods of code training are so painful and frustrating. Most hams are
told to memorize all the characters, then start building their speed. When
you do it this way, you build a "lookup table" in your brain,
comparing each character you hear with those in the lookup table until
you find a match. This process shuts down from overload at about 10 wpm.
That's why people experience a "plateau" at 10 wpm, and don't
see any progress for weeks or months.
Those who finally get over that "hump" and progress beyond
10 wpm do so because, through constant practice, they have begun to copy
code by reflex instead of by thought. They are the lucky ones; this 10
wpm barrier is where many folks give up out of frustration.
Code training, then, should completely bypass the lookup-table phase
and begin by building copying proficiency as a reflex. This was recognized
in the 1930s by the German psychologist Ludwig Koch, who devised the most
efficient method known for Morse training. It's his method, and how you
can use it, that we're going to examine in detail.
Morse Training by the Koch Method
Koch's method is a simple, direct way of building reflexes. However,
it requires either a computer and Morse software or a personal trainer.
That's why it was overlooked for so many years. Now that computers are
commonplace, it should become the standard Morse training method. Here's
how it works:
You start out by setting up your computer (or a microprocessor-based
code tutor machine) to send you Morse characters
at 20 wpm and at an overall sending speed of at least 15 wpm. You then
get out your paper and pencil and have the machine start sending -- but
only two characters. That's right, for your first sessions, you'll only
have two choices. Copy on paper for five minutes, then stop the machine
and compare what you copied with what the machine sent. Count characters
and calculate your percentage of correct copy.
If your score is 90 percent or better -- congratulations! You just
learned your first two characters, and, importantly, you learned them at
full speed. You'll never have to learn them over again. If you didn't make
90 percent, practice some more. As soon as you can copy the first two characters
with 90 percent accuracy, add a third character to your practice. Your
accuracy will drop as you work on assimilating the new character, but it
will rise again to 90 percent or better. Then you add the fourth character,
and so on.
This method does not allow you to build that lookup table in your brain.
To copy at full speed, you
must build the reflexes in order to achieve
90 percent accuracy. And that's what you're spending your time doing --
building reflexes. Think of it as a parallel to perfecting a tennis swing
or mastering a gymnastic routine; you're practicing until you get it right.
The Koch method of building code proficiency character-by-character is
similar to standard methods of teaching touch typing, another skill that
must be reflexive.
This is a very individual method of training -- you progress at your
own best speed, and spend only the time required to gain each new character.
This means that you will waste no time in reaching your goal.
How much time is required? That will depend on the individual. Koch
himself, with hand-picked students, got a group to master 12 wpm code in
a mere 13.5 hours. You probably won't match that, but that's much faster
than any other method in the psychological literature. You can get an idea
of how long it's going to take after you've mastered a few characters.
Keep track of your training sessions (some software will do this for you)
and calculate your hours-per-character rate (or characters-per-hour if
you're really fast!). That, multiplied by the 43 characters in the amateur
Morse test, will give a rough idea of how long it's going to take.
While the Koch method is the fastest method of Morse training, speed
alone is not its principal advantage. Its principal advantage, and a major
difference from other methods, is that it provides you with constant positive
reinforcement. This begins with your realization, after mastering the first
two characters, that you
can copy code at 15 or 20 wpm, because you just
did it. After that, each new character mastered is further proof of your
progress. Contrast that to slowly trying to build speed up from 4 or 5
wpm, then hitting the plateau at 10 wpm and seeing no progress for a long
time. With the Koch method, frustration is at a minimum.
Constant testing is necessary to ensure that you maximize the effectiveness
of the Koch method. You must copy on paper, so you can grade yourself.
Remember, if you score 90 percent accuracy or better, add another character.
If you score any less than that, try again. By constantly testing yourself
on continuous copying of at least five minutes, you know exactly how you're
doing and exactly when you should add another character. This results in
the fastest progress possible.
Naturally, with the Koch method, you'll be copying random groups of
characters, rather than words, until you've mastered the entire character
set. If your software allows, make these groups of random length, rather
than a constant stream of five-character groups. This will ease the transition
from random groups to actual words. Yes, there is a difference in the rhythm
and "feel" of words and random groups. Once you've become accustomed
to copying words, you should start copying sample QSOs, which are the format
of the amateur tests. Pay special attention to callsigns, locations, and
numerals; these are the types of things that can form questions on the
test.
As you proceed toward your goal, remember that some days are just going
to be better than others and some characters will take longer to assimilate
than others. You know, however, that you can reach your goal because you've
already mastered some characters and proven that copying at full speed
is something you can do. Keep in mind that what you're doing is building
reflexes, and that takes time. The amount of time you require has nothing
to do with your intellegence; it's just how long it takes for characters
to "sink in" and become part of your reflexes.
So there it is -- your path to real, useful Morse Code proficiency.
After you've used this method, and start enjoying the wonderful world of
HF radio, try a few CW QSOs. With Morse code developed as a reflex, you
may just find that you really enjoy using it on the air. After all, you've
gained proficiency without the frustrating ordeal that most hams have endured
for decades. See you on the HF bands!
Questions? They're probably answered in
Morse Code: Breaking the Barrier, the author's
complete book on code training and CW operating, published by
MFJ Enterprises, Inc.
It's available now for $19.95 plus shipping. Call (800) 647-1800
and ask for stock number MFJ-3400.
Bibliography
Finley, D.G., "Reducing the Barrier: Effective Morse code training,"
Radio Fun, May 1995, pp. 14-15.
Finley, D.G., "Effective Training for High-Speed Morse: An Auditory-Learning
Based Model,"
Morsels, Volume 2, Number 2, Fall/Winter 1996/1997, p. 3.
O'Keeffee, V., "Learning Morse,"
QST, August 1972,
pp. 58-62.
Peak, H., "Koch's Method of Learning Code Reception,"
Psychololgical
Bulletin, XXXIX (1942), p. 495.
Taylor, D.W., "Learning Telegraphic Code,"
Psychological
Bulletin, XL (1943), pp. 461-487.
Taylor, D.W., "The Learning of Radiotelegraphic Code,"
American
Journal of Psychology, LVI (1943), pp. 319-353.
A Personal Note
These ideas may sound very bold and unconventional, but I know they
work, because they worked for me.
I fell in love with radio in grade school, but was kept off the air
for 30 years because I found traditional code training just too frustrating.
During those decades, I tried several times to learn Morse, but every time
gave up in frustration and disgust -- my progress was just too slow.
In 1991, I became one of the first 500 people to enter ham radio by
way of the no-code Technician license. After becoming bored with repeaters
and HTs, I decided to make one last attempt to master the code. Fortunately,
I stumbled on information about Koch's method, and found that it was the
only thing that would work for me. In 1993, after diligent work at my computer,
I took my first code test and passed the 20 wpm exam on the first try.
I became very curious about why Koch's method had worked for me when
all else had failed. That sent me to libraries to read the now-aging psychological
literature about Morse training. I soon realized that the Koch method achieves
its speed through directness; if you want to copy reflexively at 15 or
20 wpm, then just start building those reflexes from the start. I also
realized that it provides much more positive feedback than any other method,
so you can keep your motivation and a "can-do" attitude throughout
your training.
This was knowledge I wanted to share with others, so I began giving
lectures to amateur groups on the topic. I quickly found that, after my
lectures, "old-timers" would come up and tell me that my ideas
on the need for reflexes were absolutely right. Many said that the Koch
method sounded similar to the intense code training they had received in
military schools.
Probably the only reason Koch's method didn't become standard back
in 1936 when he first published it was that the average individual had
no way of implementing it. The personal computer has changed that, and
the time has come for the Koch method to replace all others. I hope that
the speed and positive-reinforcement aspects of the Koch method can cut
down the code barrier to a much less formidable size.
Prior to the FCC's restructuring of amateur licensing, the percentage
of U.S. hams who had passed at least a 13-wpm code test had long since
become a minority and was dropping
steadily. This "code barrier" was causing an unhealthy stagnation in
the amateur ranks. Many readers of
Morse Code: Breaking the Barrier
wrote to tell me how the Koch Method had helped them overcome many
years of frustration and upgrade their licenses. It was gratifying to
hear of these success stories. Now, people can use the Koch Method,
not because they have to pass a test, but because they want to increase
their amateur-radio pleasure.
I cannot overemphasize my dislike -- even hatred -- for 5 wpm code.
As I've outlined above, it is highly counterproductive to gaining proficiency
at higher speeds. In order to go from 5 to 13 wpm, you have to start over
again, even though you may not realize that while you're doing it. The
worst aspect is that many people pass a 5-wpm test, then never go beyond
that. Why waste
your time learning a skill (slow code) that has no relevance to real (13+
wpm) code proficiency and is of almost no use on the air?
Finally, as I was using the Koch method and building my code skills,
I intended to forget the code as soon as I passed the test. My 30 years
of frustration had built up a bitterness about CW. However, about two weeks
after getting my first HF rig on the air, I looked at my straight key and
decided to try a CW QSO "just so I can say I did it." Guess what?
I enjoyed it. My second CW QSO was with a DX station, and I was hooked.
With the encouragement of a CW Elmer, I continued to enjoy the bottom parts
of the bands, and now my microphone isn't even plugged into the rig!
If the Koch method could overcome three decades of bitterness and turn
me into an enthusiastic CW operator, I think it's certainly worth a try
on your part. Have a go at it. Maybe I'll find you on the CW bands and
we can have a ragchew.
Best of luck, and 73.
Dave Finley, N1IRZ
* This article is copyrighted by the author. Permission is hereby granted
to transmit and distribute it by electronic means and to store it on electronic
bulletin board systems, and for individuals to download and print copies
for noncommercial, personal use, provided that the article is transmitted,
stored and printed unaltered and in whole, including this notice. For any
other use, written permission from the author must be obtained.
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