Around this time last year, I registered for the CWops intermediate CW course. The CWops is a worldwide group of radio ops that support the operation of CW. On top of this, they want to help up-and-coming CW ops as well as those (like me) who want to improve their speed. As for me, I wanted to improve my speed and learn how to head copy morse code. For me, I found when receiving around 20wpm and up it's very hard to write things down and keep up with the conversation.
So as I was saying last year around this time I applied to join the CWops intermediate CW class. With joining they ask for a commitment to 1 hour a day of practice time and once a week taking part in an online zoom style class time. I was accepted and as the time came near to begin the class COVID had my wife working from home. This meant our hobby room was also doubling as her office. This was a huge problem as she is always doing video conferencing as well as Webex phone calls. Her office hours were all over the map as she works with counterparts in many world time zones. I ended up cancelling my placement in the CWops class as I wanted to leave it open for someone who was sure they could dedicate the time needed.
Well here we are a year later and my wife is now basically retired and I have lots around the house on the go but I still wanted to get my CW speed up and nail down this head copy biz. I ended up going to the CWops website and downloading the study material and I made a commitment to set aside time each day and go through the drills, studies and practice..... but on my own. I am happy to say that I have been going full tilt for the last 18 days and things are coming along.
I am now starting to get the head copy gig, not a hundred percent yet but I am on my way. My other goal is to get to the point that in a CW contest I can start calling CQ contest and not have to search and pounce for contacts. My issue with not calling CQ contest at this point is I feel my CW speed is not up to par. I feel that I will just be a frustration to other operators in the contest who are trying to complete a contact with me.
Here is a link to the CWops website. Pay them a visit and look around at the links even if your not interested in moving up the CW speed ladder. You can learn CW with them or pick up some great links to other CW-related information.
Well, I press on in my continual CW adventure!
4 comments:
I wish I had the commitment to do something like you do. I really would love to learn CW but have no hour to spend everyday. Besides that I have a family live and my job that is demanding. So, I guess I have to wait 15 years till I retire. Good luck with your CW adventure, I hope you will meet your goals. 73, Bas
I'm exactly the same as Bas. I wish you well in reaching your desired goals. 73, Tom, M7MCQ.
Good morning Bas very nice to hear from you and your last blog post put a smile on my face when I saw the QSL cards and then read your QRZ page.
As for CW I worked very hard to learn it when I was first licensed over 25 years ago as then it was a requirement for getting your ticket.
Like you, while working I really had no time, It was a struggle to just hold onto the code in my memory. It's true that once I retired, I do have time on my hands (not as much as I expected) One of my dreams is to get a real good handle on using CW both in conversation and in contests. My hope is this will happen, and thanks very much for your well-wishes.
73,
Mike
VE9KK
Good morning Tom, and as always I very much enjoy reading your blog. The review of the FT-891 along with the FC-50 was a very nice read. Thanks for your well wishes.
73,
Mike
VE9KK
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