<![CDATA[I'm pretty determined to become at least somewhat proficient at #cw this year and have some cw #QSOs on the air.]]>I'm pretty determined to become at least somewhat proficient at this year and have some cw on the air. With that in mind I restarted my practice with LCWO recently. It is coming back (I passed the 5 WPM test years ago when upgrading) but I have a way to go before I can copy real stuff reliably.


]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/topic/02e03765-2618-4e7c-b04e-b507c9ea66be/i-m-pretty-determined-to-become-at-least-somewhat-proficient-at-cw-this-year-and-have-some-cw-qsos-on-the-air.RSS for NodeFri, 15 May 2026 08:25:51 GMTThu, 07 May 2026 23:17:06 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to I'm pretty determined to become at least somewhat proficient at #cw this year and have some cw #QSOs on the air. on Fri, 08 May 2026 13:23:28 GMT]]>@bud_t

I can honestly state that I've encountered a lot of the same.

SKCC people are hugely more tolerant than CWcOps folks are.

@ai6yr @tsherrygeo @kb6nu

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.ai8w.ddns.net/users/admin/statuses/116539169757794648https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.ai8w.ddns.net/users/admin/statuses/116539169757794648Fri, 08 May 2026 13:23:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I'm pretty determined to become at least somewhat proficient at #cw this year and have some cw #QSOs on the air. on Fri, 08 May 2026 11:20:38 GMT]]>@ai6yr @tsherrygeo @kb6nu @admin 😮 really? That is crazy

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://m.ai6yr.org/users/bud_t/statuses/116538686721911858https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://m.ai6yr.org/users/bud_t/statuses/116538686721911858Fri, 08 May 2026 11:20:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I'm pretty determined to become at least somewhat proficient at #cw this year and have some cw #QSOs on the air. on Fri, 08 May 2026 05:32:34 GMT]]>@tsherrygeo @bud_t @kb6nu @admin

On the air: SKCC folks: hugely tolerant, help people out, willing to run slow. Easy to run because it's very structured and the same exchange every time, twice.

CW Ops folks: absolute a***holes. When I was first learning, one of their folks sent me a postal letter telling me how HORRIBLE my CW was (I had been on the air exactly 1 week) and how I should be ashamed to be a ham, and should turn in my license.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://m.ai6yr.org/users/ai6yr/statuses/116537318107937535https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://m.ai6yr.org/users/ai6yr/statuses/116537318107937535Fri, 08 May 2026 05:32:34 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I'm pretty determined to become at least somewhat proficient at #cw this year and have some cw #QSOs on the air. on Fri, 08 May 2026 05:30:36 GMT]]>@tsherrygeo @bud_t @kb6nu @admin For the record, I am a HUGE straight key and SKCC fan. And I am absolutely AGHAST and hate CW Academy, because it produces people who can send very fast code but can't slow down and work anyone else. PADDLES SUCK 😉

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://m.ai6yr.org/users/ai6yr/statuses/116537310347789584https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://m.ai6yr.org/users/ai6yr/statuses/116537310347789584Fri, 08 May 2026 05:30:36 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I'm pretty determined to become at least somewhat proficient at #cw this year and have some cw #QSOs on the air. on Fri, 08 May 2026 05:26:43 GMT]]>@bud_t @kb6nu @admin imo the answer to this debate is to just pick one and start with it.

I highly recommend the book "The CW Way of Life". It is straight key focused, but has really good exercises in general for learning Morse or improving technique. Also has a focus on proper ergonomics.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://m.ai6yr.org/users/tsherrygeo/statuses/116537295055846011https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://m.ai6yr.org/users/tsherrygeo/statuses/116537295055846011Fri, 08 May 2026 05:26:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I'm pretty determined to become at least somewhat proficient at #cw this year and have some cw #QSOs on the air. on Fri, 08 May 2026 00:07:20 GMT]]>@kb6nu

Odd... I get accused of using a keyer all the time when I let the station I'm working know I'm on a cootie.

It depends on the op.

@bud_t

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.ai8w.ddns.net/users/admin/statuses/116536039215583215https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.ai8w.ddns.net/users/admin/statuses/116536039215583215Fri, 08 May 2026 00:07:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I'm pretty determined to become at least somewhat proficient at #cw this year and have some cw #QSOs on the air. on Fri, 08 May 2026 00:04:57 GMT]]>@bud_t @admin No, I don't think that's a good strategy. I started out with a straight key many years ago and never really developed a great fist. You really can't really tell how good or bad your fist is, unless you record yourself and play it back. With a paddle and keyer, you can be sure, at least that the dits and dahs are consistent. As I say, the CWops CW Academy requires students to learn with a paddle.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.radio/users/kb6nu/statuses/116536029841387045https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.radio/users/kb6nu/statuses/116536029841387045Fri, 08 May 2026 00:04:57 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I'm pretty determined to become at least somewhat proficient at #cw this year and have some cw #QSOs on the air. on Fri, 08 May 2026 00:02:38 GMT]]>@bud_t

Up and down straight keys contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome, glass elbow, and other maladies.. unless you know how to stay relaxed.

This is why I like a cootie. It's a straight key, but it's keyed on a paddle. you make all the dits and all the dahs, and it doesn't matter which side is a dit or a dah.

I can key with two fingers and not hurt..

So much so that I designed my own key that I 3D printed. Magnetic tension, really light touch...

Cootie isn't for everyone, but I agree with Dan - paddle keys (Bug, Cootie, etc) are probably a better bet.

@kb6nu

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.ai8w.ddns.net/users/admin/statuses/116536020724279671https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.ai8w.ddns.net/users/admin/statuses/116536020724279671Fri, 08 May 2026 00:02:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I'm pretty determined to become at least somewhat proficient at #cw this year and have some cw #QSOs on the air. on Thu, 07 May 2026 23:57:23 GMT]]>@kb6nu @admin I read somewhere to start with a straight key before going to a paddle. Do you not think that is a good strategy? I guess the idea is to develop your own sense of timing?

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://m.ai6yr.org/users/bud_t/statuses/116536000090989373https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://m.ai6yr.org/users/bud_t/statuses/116536000090989373Thu, 07 May 2026 23:57:23 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I'm pretty determined to become at least somewhat proficient at #cw this year and have some cw #QSOs on the air. on Thu, 07 May 2026 23:55:59 GMT]]>@bud_t @admin I'd really encourage you to get a paddle. You'll send better code with a paddle, and it's a lot easier on the hand and wrist. CWops require that their CW Academy students use a paddle for good reason.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.radio/users/kb6nu/statuses/116535994574887256https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.radio/users/kb6nu/statuses/116535994574887256Thu, 07 May 2026 23:55:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I'm pretty determined to become at least somewhat proficient at #cw this year and have some cw #QSOs on the air. on Thu, 07 May 2026 23:43:22 GMT]]>@admin I am trying to first learn sending using a straight key and my rig in "training" mode. And I am finding that I need to relax!

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://m.ai6yr.org/users/bud_t/statuses/116535944960946845https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://m.ai6yr.org/users/bud_t/statuses/116535944960946845Thu, 07 May 2026 23:43:22 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I'm pretty determined to become at least somewhat proficient at #cw this year and have some cw #QSOs on the air. on Thu, 07 May 2026 23:37:00 GMT]]>@bud_t

No problem.

I exclusively cootie on the air. I find it much more enjoyable than any other keying method.

I don't even use the keyer in my rigs.

Straight keying is much more enjoyable, at least to me.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.ai8w.ddns.net/users/admin/statuses/116535919947108098https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.ai8w.ddns.net/users/admin/statuses/116535919947108098Thu, 07 May 2026 23:37:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I'm pretty determined to become at least somewhat proficient at #cw this year and have some cw #QSOs on the air. on Thu, 07 May 2026 23:34:16 GMT]]>@admin I just registered with SKCC. Thanks!

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://m.ai6yr.org/users/bud_t/statuses/116535909207598001https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://m.ai6yr.org/users/bud_t/statuses/116535909207598001Thu, 07 May 2026 23:34:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I'm pretty determined to become at least somewhat proficient at #cw this year and have some cw #QSOs on the air. on Thu, 07 May 2026 23:18:17 GMT]]>@bud_t

I can't recommend https://www.skccgroup.com/ enough...

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.ai8w.ddns.net/users/admin/statuses/116535846367457759https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.ai8w.ddns.net/users/admin/statuses/116535846367457759Thu, 07 May 2026 23:18:17 GMT