KB6NU's Ham Radio Blog

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One-Day Tech Class Videos: Using Coax, SWR, Antenna Tuners

Posted: 25 Oct 2016 03:33 PM PDT
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There are the last three videos from the first half of a One-Day Tech class
that I taught on January 30, 2016:




The post One-Day Tech Class Videos: Using Coax, SWR, Antenna Tuners
appeared first on KB6NUs Ham Radio Blog.


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Become a CW "head case"

Posted: 25 Oct 2016 11:40 AM PDT
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A reader recently wrote:

Hello Dan. Im working at becoming proficient with code once again and would
like to ask your advice on how one transfers from copying (with pen/pencil)
to reading it in your mind. Years ago I passed the 5 wpm Novice test and
later the 13wpm for General. Now Im trying to get back into the code and am
doing a weak 15 wpm. I cant write as fast as I used to, and would like to
copy in my head. Im hoping to get to 25/30wpm. Any suggestions?

I didnt reply immediately because I dont really have a good answer for this
question. What I did was simply go “cold turkey.” One day I decided to put
away the paper and pencil and just do it. That worked for me.

Carlo Consoli, IK0YGJ, espouses a different philosophy in his book, Zen and
the Art of Radiotelegraphy. Consoli says that what operators need to do is
to program themselves to copy in their heads and counsels operators to
practice relaxation and visualization exercises. Visualize yourself as a
high-speed operator, and maybe one day you will be one. The book is a free
download, so get a copy if you dont have one already.

Visualization seems to be at least part of what I did, but I’m not sure
that what works for one person will work for another. Having said that, I
decided to do a Google search for “copying morse code in your head.” Here
are some tips that I gleaned from some other operators who have posted
things to the Internet:

There’s some good advice in the eHam thread, “Copy in your head”:

copy plain text at high speeds,
listen to live on-air QSOs,
listen to CW in the background as you’re puttering around the shack
(letting the subconscious work at it).


There’s an online “head copy trainer” written by N3HEE at
http://morsecodemasters.com/trainer/Examples/hct.html.
I can’t vouch for this bit of advice, but on PA3BSK’s Ultimate Morse Code
website, there is this from Bob, KK5R: When learning to copy higher speeds,
practice writing down the character only after hearing the following
character. Once this is practiced a bit, hold off writing down the
character until hearing the second character afterwards. Once this
copying-behind method is learned, the code speed seems to slow down and it
practically eliminates making corrections to the copy. It also is a
significant step in the process of learning to copy in your head and not on
paper which is necessary at significantly higher code speeds.
The Malta Amateur Radio League also gives some good advice on their Web
page, “Learning the Morse Code”.

LISTEN!
Throw away your pencil.
Whatever you miss, let it go.
Listen for meaning. The goal is to learn to listen to the code as you would
to the spoken spoken word. Eventually the sound will trigger your
consciousness just as the spoken word does.




I know a lot of this advice is kind of nebulous. Much of it is anecdotal,
and as I said before, what works for one person may not work for another. I
know you’re all probably tired of hearing this, but the best advice,
whether it be for learning the code, learning to copy code faster, or
learning to copy in one’s head is to just keep practicing. It’s just like
any skill whether it be bowling or woodworking or playing a musical
instrument, you gotta work at it.

If you learned to copy in your head, Id love to hear what worked for you.
Please e-mail me or comment below.

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