What is the best way to learn Morse?

Related Wiki pages: Continuous Wave, Codes and Alphabets, Morse code

There appear to be two main schools of thought regarding the best way to approach learning Morse code.

Block

The "traditional" way is to memorise all the characters, receive them slowly at first, and gradually ramp up the speed.

However, many CW operators will tell you that your brain cannot hear a morse character, and consciously "look it up" in memory fast enough to go over 8-10wpm. To go faster than that, you need to automatically associate .- with a, without the need for thinking about it. Much the same way that if someone says "Oui" to you in France, you don't have to think "Oui... Yes" - you just know that Oui is affirmative.

Koch method

So the other major method works by sending 2 characters, at high speed (usually 20wpm). Once you have "trained" you brain to recognise the 2 characters automatically, a third letter is introduced, and so on.

Learning Morse - Links

• Koch method morse trainer from G4FON
• So you want to learn Morse Code From QSL.Net
• Morse Code Radio Centre from NW7US.
• Learn CW Online is an online Koch method trainer from DJ1YFK
• Succeeding with ham radio morse code

Publications

• The CW Geek’s Guide to Having Fun With Morse Code (PDF) By Dan Romanchik, KB6NU

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