Code Practices

I have been planning to do more code practice and I want to buy a KX1 or similar transceiver. But I am very rusty, and for me, my code speed does not justify the investment. I would be embarrassed to put myself on the air.  I try to listen to code while at my bench and workstation, and sometimes have received fun QSO's to try to copy - I am getting faster.

Yesterday I decided to do something about obtaining a MP3 player to contain code lessons as I think I would like to practice while away from the shop and radios, and maybe in the car. Thinking to myself that an investment of, .  . say $150 for an MP3 player would be OK.

Boy, was I pleasantly surprised! (where have I been?)

At Staples, a more than adequate MP3 player (Coby) was only $29, and an even simpler players was only $19, both had 2G's of memory. I went for the $29 version because it had a built in USB connector, like a memory stick. Once pluged in, files are transfer as easy as file copy!

Now, all I need are some MP3 code files. Sometime ago, I found a WEB site that would generated CW MP3 downloadable files from typed text, I'll have looked but can not seem to re-find it.

So, Here-is-to faster code copy,  .  .  .  and you may hear me on CW someday - de WA0UWH K

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Code Practices

On a previous blog I indicated that I need to do more Code Practices, well so far I haven't. So, I have now put a reminder on may Calendar with a 2 minute Popup reminder. Now I have no excuse for forgetting the time and frequency.

The ARRL W1AW practices schedule is here, at first I am going for the Slow Speed sessions.

I need to work on my code

The following is from:

The Art and Skill of Radio-Telegraphy
A Manual For Learning, Using, Mastering And Enjoying
The International Morse Code As A Means Of Communication
William G. Pierpont N0HFF

The 100 Most Common Words In English

go am me on by to up so it no of as he if an us or in is at my we do be and man him out not but can who has may was one she all you how any its say are now two for men her had the our his been some then like well made when have only your work over such time were with into very what then more will they come that from must said them this upon great about other shall every these first their could which would there before should little people

Six of these words take the same time to send as the number zero (0): are him men on so no.

Fourteen more of them are shorter still: the its to; us am if; as be we an; me at is; it.

Twenty short words. Listening to, copying and sending the 100 most common words is good daily practice.

Also the 100 words makes good typing practice.


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I need to practice these.

Check out the ARRL http://www.arrl.org/w1aw.html#w1awsked code practice schedule.

Frequencies are 1.8025, 3.5815, 7.0475, 14.0475, 18.0975, 21.0675, 28.0675 and 147.555 MHz.