So speed is irrelevant - what a relief!
It’s probably as relevant as learning to crawl, walk and run 
You can take a horse to water but a pencil must be lead?
For the last 81 points to mountain goatdom I will be using no Morse code because it ruins my day out and makes me completely stressed. On air, it sounds nothing like the Telford DARS on-air CW courses which I’ve enjoyed in the past. It’s easier to learn Polish than CW for me. I will carry on having exchanges with Chasers in a variety of European languages because I find this enjoyable.
Then I will resume my personal marathon in trying to read real CW on air. One day.
Best wishes to all Morse martyrs and enthusiasts
Hwyl fawr
David MOYDH
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Yes, that was my point. Learning the code is only the first step.
Brian
Of course it is, but it’s a crucially important first step as some of us so called “old timers” have been trying to emphasise, which brings me back to the crawl, walk, run adage !
73
Victor GI4ONL
I’ve said it before Victor, I think some of the problem is people not knowing the alphabet forwards, backwards and inside-out. No, I don’t mean recognising the character from hearing the Morse but the other way around, give them a letter and they cannot “sing” it out in response with absolutely no delay. If they can’t do English to Morse then they certainly can’t do Morse to English.
You’ve got it in one Andy, well said 
Reading the thread, there doesn’t seem to be much real disagreement!
A Learn the code.
B Practice using it.
There are lots of aids available, and lots of methodical approaches, but they must include A and B.
Making it fun by including it in a pleasurable activity probably helps motivation and progress, but A and B are unavoidable components.
Adrian
G4AZS
2 Likes
I was thinking along the same lines Adrian.
I was pretty much self taught by following ARRL cassette tapes (the only audio tapes I still possess!) and a book (The Morse Code for Radio Amateurs?) published by RSGB.
I was encouraged (forced?!) by ham friends to have a go at the Morse test at a rally back in 1999 when I was a teenager. I was nervous and completely lost track of the Morse I was being sent when a car alarm started going off. The examiners were obviously keen for me to pass the test so they asked me to take the test again after a brief break. I passed the 12wpm test on the second run. I’d only gone in for the test to have the experience really so I was chuffed!
I had a few QSOs but I’d always struggled with CW and I soon concentrated my efforts on 2FM SOTA activations.
I’ve always been interested in the construction side of ham radio so when I found out about Kjell LA1KHA’s challenge, I couldn’t wait to have a go!
I knew I’d have to get my CW going again so, encouraged by Tom M1EYP, I activated Great Whernside G/NP-008 using my FT817. Despite not having a narrow filter fitted, I managed OK and the chasers were very forgiving of my slow Morse and mistakes. Whilst the activation was a bit scary, it was also exhilarating.
I took up Kjell’s 9V challenge, starting off at around 11wpm. After a while, CW became more and more enjoyable, whereas at first it had been a bit of a slog to be honest. Using CW as a means to take part in the challenge certainly made me stick at it, it’s totally due to Kjell"s idea that I am now able to do CW activations.
I’m still not fully competent at CW, but I have definitely crossed the line from all hard work to now enjoyment.
So yes, in summary, as above, it’s practice that gets you there. Actually using CW on air once the basics are mastered speed up the process enormously and it then becomes fun.
I still have wobbles, like earlier this month, and I find my brain is fried after about 15mins of working chasers at 20wpm. There’s something strangely appealing about good CW QSOs that keeps me going back for more despite the fact I actually find it really difficult.
I agree that fun makes the learning process easier.
73, Colin M1BUU
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Hi Colin,
I think you’ve hit a key point, once anything becomes fun you tend to do it more. Actually using CW on the air then becomes practice in itself, but you don’t see it as practice anymore.
Get to the stage where you can enjoy using CW, at whatever speed, & you will soon find yourself improving without even thinking about it.
Thanks & 73,
Mark G0VOF
Hi,
Just noticed a reference in Radcom to this group, the Less Involved Data Society.
I have no connection with them, but a look over the website suggests that it might be helpful to anyone struggling on the lower slopes of the CW mountain. For example, here is a clip from the website “About” page:
"LIDS members frequently use Twitter to schedule QRS CW contacts…
73
Adrian
G4AZS
3 Likes
[quote=“G4AZS, post:111, topic:12306”]Just noticed a reference in Radcom to this group, the Less Involved Data Society.Lids associated Twitter ID now points at http://lidscw.org/ instead…
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I’m not an ‘active’ member but I do support the aim of the club. My operating tends to be entirely SOTA activations between Jan and March then occasional SOTA operations throughout the summer. When summer is in full swing, I often assemble a station in the garden and spend an evening having normal CW QSOs with a beer in hand. This year I hope that I might bump into a few LIDS members on air.
73, Colin
LIDS#057
My sending is ‘reasonable’ @ about 12wpm. However it doesn’t take long on receive to stew my brain and then enter the ‘what was that last letter; miss the next’ downward spiral!
I’m actually quite enjoying playing with my paddle - there I’ve admitted it in public. The first step towards a cure!
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