************************************************************************* * * * CW Learning Guide..Or your first step to Ham Radio * * * * Written by: Brian Murrey (Ham hopeful) * * 01/22/87 * * * ************************************************************************* Page 1 CW Guide - ======================================================================== * Morse Code Learning Chart * ======================================================================== From what I have been reading it seems that there is no real easy way to learn Morse Code, or CW. However, there are easier ways to learn the secrets of CW. The method described below is listed in the 1949 edition of The Boy Scout Handbook. I have tried it and it seems to work well. I still have a ways to go, but I am getting there. First thing you need to do is toss out all of those alphabet sheets that have the letters represented by dots and dashes. The table below is what I'll be referring to from here on out. A di-dah J di-dah-dah-dah S di-di-dit B dah-di-di-dit K dah-di-dah T dah C dah-di-dah-dit L di-dah-di-dit U di-di-dah D dah-di-dit M dah-dah V di-di-di-dah E dit N dah-dit W di-dah-dah F di-di-dah-dit O dah-dah-dah X dah-di-di-dah G dah-dah-dit P di-dah-dah-dit Y dah-di-dah-dah H di-di-di-dit Q dah-dah-di-dah Z dah-dah-di-dit I di-dit R di-dah-dit NUMERALS: 1 di-dah-dah-dah-dah 5 di-di-di-di-dit 8 dah-dah-dah-di-dit 2 di-di-dah-dah-dah 6 dah-di-di-di-dit 9 dah-dah-dah-dah-dit 3 di-di-di-dah-dah 7 dah-dah-di-di-dit 0 dah-dah-dah-dah-dah 4 di-di-di-di-dah The following is the suggested order for learning: E I S H 5 All 'dits' T M O 0 All 'dahs' <---not to be confused with DOS (heheh) A W J R L P 1 All start with one 'dit' N D B K Y X C 6 All start with one 'dah' U F V G Q Z All remaining letters 2,3,4,7,8,9 All remaining numerals I am using this method right now and it seems to be easier than anything that I have tried so far. Learn to recieve first, sending will then be a lot easier. dah-dah-dit dah-dah-dah dah-dah-dah dah-di-dit di-dah-di-dit di-di-dah dah-di-dah-dit dah-di-dah 73's Page 2 CW Guide - The following learning guide has been developed with the CW.ARC package in mind. I have obtained permission to include this text in the ARC file from from Lee Murrah, the Author of CW.ARC. I hope this will be of some help to you in getting that Ham ticket. The first step, and the easiest to take, is to memorize the chart on page 2. The best way I have found to do this is to use a card to cover the letters that you are not trying to memorize. If you learn the groups as stated on the chart first, it will be much easier. I have included in this booklet a few practice pages with the alphabet mixed up. Once you think you have gotten it stored in the ole memory banks, try one. Just take the sheet and fill in the blanks, don't cheat! I usually set CW.COM up at 20wpm. This is kind of fast if you are just in the beginning stages. It defaults to 14wpm but I set it to 10 at first. At 10 words per minute it goes pretty slow but it will let you get a better idea of of what the characters will sound like. The first thing to try out on CW is the Type feature. This will send random letters and numbers and you have to type in the correct response. When the routine is finished it will show you what the send and receive speeds were. Once you get good at hearing the signals you might want to turn up the speed. The next step, after you have mastered the Type feature, is to use the Enter feature. Have a friend type in a short one or two line msg. made up of 5 letter words. Go sit where you can hear the computer but not see it and have him 'send' the message. Have a pencil and paper ready to jot down the message. As you get better you will be able to translate in your head and not need the notepad. Well that about sums it up. A few 2 letter groups you will soon have commited to memory would be: CQ Announcement stating you are looking for someone to CW with. ES End of sentence 73 Wishing someone good luck After you get the 2 line messages down to an art, try longer ones. Something that I have been doing is tuning my scanner in on Radio Ops. sending CW. You might be surprised at what you'll hear. Well, 73's to you all, as they say in Indy. If you ever want to practice with with a real live person, you can contact me via the following: GEnie Mailcode MURREY Byteline TBBS 317-782-3220 or by phone 317-881-0113 after 9pm EST or even mail Brian Murrey 8033 Rexmill Dr Indpls In 46227 Page 3 CW Guide - CW Practice Sheet...........Memory builder Use this to test your memory banks after you think you have it down pat. No peeking now. G ______________ F ______________ N ______________ D ______________ L ______________ Y ______________ R ______________ K ______________ 5 ______________ A ______________ 9 ______________ P ______________ Q ______________ 8 ______________ Z ______________ W ______________ X ______________ H ______________ 0 ______________ O ______________ T ______________ 7 ______________ J ______________ 3 ______________ B ______________ 6 ______________ C ______________ I ______________ 2 ______________ E ______________ M ______________ S ______________ U ______________ 1 ______________ 4 ______________ V ______________ How did you do? Now cover up the above sheet and try it again after you study a little more. It takes practice, practice, practice. F _______________ G ______________ E ______________ C _______________ D ______________ L ______________ K _______________ T ______________ R ______________ 3 _______________ 9 ______________ A ______________ W _______________ Z ______________ 8 ______________ X _______________ Q ______________ H ______________ J _______________ 0 ______________ P ______________ 5 _______________ O ______________ 7 ______________ 2 _______________ Y ______________ B ______________ 6 _______________ N ______________ I ______________ S _______________ 4 ______________ M ______________ I _______________ U ______________ V ______________ Do any better this time? See, you're catching on. Page 4 CW Guide -  U ______________ V ______________ Do any better t