Good ways to learn Morse Code

[Elbowmac]

Hello,

    Currently a gmrs new user. Wanted to ease into the idea and hopefully will go for my amateur radio license. I am especially interested in morse code and am wondering about new techniques or resources that have become available since I last tried. FWIW that would be back when it was still a requirement for a ham license. Thanks for any assistance

[SteveShannon]

I use and like an app called Morse Mania on my iPhone and iPad. 

[WRXB215]

I use Just Learn Morse Code on the desktop and Morse Code on my android phone.

Beware when using wireless headphones or wireless earbuds. I think they have a tendency to "sleep" or some other kind of switching very quickly to preserve battery. This results in missing the first dit or dah sometimes and it doesn't seem to matter which program or computer/phone I'm using.

Also, while you are studying for the test, think about taking the tech and general in the same session. It will save you one $35 fee and also open up a lot more privileges on HF so you have more spectrum to use for CW.

Edit: See @SteveShannon clarification below.

Edited November 27 by WRXB215
clarification

[Davichko5650]

1 hour ago, Elbowmac said:

Hello,

    Currently a gmrs new user. Wanted to ease into the idea and hopefully will go for my amateur radio license. I am especially interested in morse code and am wondering about new techniques or resources that have become available since I last tried. FWIW that would be back when it was still a requirement for a ham license. Thanks for any assistance

Others I see are recommending various apps, a good way to start the learning curve for CW. In additon, YouTube has scads of videos on the subject. AS you're working on it, a good suggestion is to listen, if possible, to the W1AW bulletins they send in CW, with increasing word per minute speeds, the frequency and times are listed on their website arrl.org.  I learned it many a year ago in the Army starting with A, but the "di-dah is Alfa Sir!" method is a bit dated.  Listening for it on the HF bands, try as you're learning to pick out what stations are sending.  Contests especially, can be good, but operators are usually sending at pretty hi rates. But picking out callsigns and words being sent like "Test" will tune your ears to the music that is CW...

 

Good luck, don't hesitate to ask more and report back with what you've found works for you.

[SteveShannon]

18 minutes ago, WRXB215 said:

Also, while you are studying for the test, think about taking the tech and general in the same session. It will save you one $35 fee and also open up a lot more privileges on HF so you have more spectrum to use for CW.

FYI - upgrading your class of amateur license does not require a fee. Just new licenses, renewals, rule waivers, and vanity calls incur the $35 fee. 
https://www.arrl.org/news/new-fcc-application-fee-will-not-apply-to-amateur-radio-license-upgrades

[WRYS709]

I am a BIG FAN of the Jerry Ziliak High Speed Morse Code System.

These were originally on cassette tape, but after Jerry Ziliak passed away, his estate must have licensed the transfer to CD and now Amazon sells them.

His theory is simple:  He teaches you each letter, number and character one at a time at 20 WPM sending of the dots and dashes.

But as he expands to words, he sends each character at 20 WPM, but by putting in more space between letters, he starts out at 5 WPM.

Then as you get comfortable, he starts to "increase" the speed by deleting some of the spacing.

In this way, your brain hears 20 WPM right from the start, instead of other teaching methods that make you relearn each letter, etc., as your speed increases.

I can send you a sample if you like; send me a PM.

[WRXB215]

@SteveShannon thanks for the clarification. Maybe it was the testing fee. Anyway, good info. 

[SteveShannon]

5 minutes ago, WRXB215 said:

@SteveShannon thanks for the clarification. Maybe it was the testing fee. Anyway, good info. 

Yeah, some testing locations will charge a small fee. We don’t here. FCC rules limit the fee to actual costs. VEs don’t get paid for our time. 

[WRYZ926]

Our club charges $15 to test. Of course our head VE is old fashion and snail mails everything in after one passes their test. There was no FCC fee when upgrading from Technician to General.

I can't give any suggestions on learning CW since I haven't even started learning it myself.

[Elbowmac]

Thanks to all ideas. Will check them out and see what seems best..... Dug up dusty copy of Radio Shack New Novice Voice Class Preparations of course missing one of the 2 cassettes. Which is okay as I no longer own a cassette player

[Guest]

5 hours ago, Elbowmac said:

Hello,

    Currently a gmrs new user. Wanted to ease into the idea and hopefully will go for my amateur radio license. I am especially interested in morse code and am wondering about new techniques or resources that have become available since I last tried. FWIW that would be back when it was still a requirement for a ham license. Thanks for any assistance

Practice just like the olden days.  Grandpa was a radio operator on a ww2 destroyer escort.  He learned by practicing.   I’m not sure how any one got through life with out internet and “new techniques”.   Just put your head down and learn and practice.   Why this is even a topic on a board is beyond me.   Does no one do anything for themselves any more?  This seams to be a big issue if all ages today.  No one thinks for them selves and figures things out with out asking total strangers online.  

[kidphc]

Morsetoad app for android used it for a while. Stop playing with it for 2 years.... and it's all gone again..lol

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

[RayDiddio]

6 hours ago, SteveShannon said:

I use and like an app called Morse Mania on my iPhone and iPad. 

Been using that app for awhile now. Good recommend for sure!

[WRXB215]

2 hours ago, Socalgmrs said:

Why this is even a topic on a board is beyond me.   Does no one do anything for themselves any more?  This seams to be a big issue if all ages today.  No one thinks for them selves and figures things out with out asking total strangers online.  

Why you had to answer like this is beyond me.

[Elbowmac]

4 hours ago, Socalgmrs said:

Practice just like the olden days.  Grandpa was a radio operator on a ww2 destroyer escort.  He learned by practicing.   I’m not sure how any one got through life with out internet and “new techniques”.   Just put your head down and learn and practice.   Why this is even a topic on a board is beyond me.   Does no one do anything for themselves any more?  This seams to be a big issue if all ages today.  No one thinks for them selves and figures things out with out asking total strangers online.  

In many ways I agree. Where we differ is how to apply appropriate importance to the varied info/mercials, trolls, opinions and click baits. Seems like communicating with total strangers on a radio oriented forum narrows down the wheat from the chaff. Practice what and how is the crux of the question. At least that is my thoughts on why I asked here. Getting a heads up on techniques is possibly enlightening.

[Elbowmac]

1 hour ago, WRXB215 said:

Why you had to answer like this is beyond me.

I can agree with some reticence for finding a perceived easier way or technique, from an age group that did things "old school". Ways that seemed to serve older generations perfectly well and successfully. We went to the moon before the internet, cell phones, personal computers etc. I hope I conveyed the feeling somewhat to people who have grown up using some of the modern conveniences. How many users had to learn cursive writing, or scouring books for bits of information or the dewey decimal system? I feel that there seems to be less and less and the benefits may actually be a hindrance in the practice of acquiring knowledge. Why it had to be expressed on my post is questionable. Peace

[Elbowmac]

3 hours ago, RayDiddio said:

Been using that app for awhile now. Good recommend for sure!

Thanks, now I have to figure out how I messed up my ipad so that it has a bad login and won't allow me to download......

[SteveShannon]

35 minutes ago, Elbowmac said:

Thanks, now I have to figure out how I messed up my ipad so that it has a bad login and won't allow me to download......

Just reset your Apple password.

[Elbowmac]

30 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

Just reset your Apple password.

Thanks will look into it as time allows!!

[WRQC527]

3 hours ago, WRXB215 said:

Why you had to answer like this is beyond me.

Mostly so he can showcase his epic grammar and spelling prowess.

 

[WRYZ926]

Everyone learns differently. Go with the method(s) that work best for you. The computer programs and phone apps are good to help learn CW but it is also important to use an actual key to get the feel of it.

I have actually been considering getting a Sparkgap Labs MCT-73 Morse Code Trainer Kit since I like to tinker and build things anyway. And I will probably use some apps/programs when I am ready to start learning CW.

[WRUU653]

1 hour ago, WRYZ926 said:

Everyone learns differently. Go with the method(s) that work best for you. The computer programs and phone apps are good to help learn CW but it is also important to use an actual key to get the feel of it.

I have actually been considering getting a Sparkgap Labs MCT-73 Morse Code Trainer Kit since I like to tinker and build things anyway. And I will probably use some apps/programs when I am ready to start learning CW.

That’s pretty cool, looks like a fun project.

[Elbowmac]

1 hour ago, WRYZ926 said:

Everyone learns differently. Go with the method(s) that work best for you. The computer programs and phone apps are good to help learn CW but it is also important to use an actual key to get the feel of it.

I have actually been considering getting a Sparkgap Labs MCT-73 Morse Code Trainer Kit since I like to tinker and build things anyway. And I will probably use some apps/programs when I am ready to start learning CW.

You know that I think I may like to tinker more than CW....??! I have had a old style key sitting in the pile daring me to attach it to something that would buzz. Now that I think of it, I have connected the key to a fly swatter sparking doohicky and when powered and sparking, I tried to see if I could hear the interference on an am radio. I may still have the parts.

[SteveShannon]

22 minutes ago, Elbowmac said:

You know that I think I may like to tinker more than CW....??! I have had an old style key sitting in the pile daring me to attach it to something that would buzz. Now that I think of it, I have connected the key to a fly swatter sparking doohicky and when powered and sparking, I tried to see if I could hear the interference on an am radio. I may still have the parts.
 

Marconi is proud of you!!!

[WRYZ926]

30 minutes ago, Elbowmac said:

You know that I think I may like to tinker more than CW....??! I have had a old style key sitting in the pile daring me to attach it to something that would buzz. Now that I think of it, I have connected the key to a fly swatter sparking doohicky and when powered and sparking, I tried to see if I could hear the interference on an am radio. I may still have the parts.

That's better than what we use to do with the crank generators out of the old telephones. If we weren't shocking fish in the pond or using it to get night crawlers, we were shocking each other with those things.

Yes I am showing my age. Most people under 30 won't know what I am talking about and I bet some between 30 and 40 don't either.