Learn Morse code
but don’t fall into the trap!
What trap?
You will fall into a nasty trap if you learn Morse code with a method that involves writing or typing the characters you hear. Once you develop this reflex action, it will be very difficult to break your dependence on paper and pencil or a keyboard and read code in your head — a requirement for really enjoying CW.
Code teaching methods that require writing or typing are an unfortunate remnant of the historical need for encrypted military and commercial Morse code messages. There is no room for error within a cipher group, so accurate character by character Morse copy was an absolute requirement in these situations.
But amateur radio CW communication does not make use of cryptography (in fact, it’s illegal). Under most circumstances, only a very small fraction of a QSO actually needs to be written down. Effective Morse code training takes this fundamental characteristic into account.
So what is the proper way to learn?
The MorseFusion method is a more effective way to learn because it recognizes that typical amateur radio communications consist mostly of everyday words (yes, Q-signals, being part of the ham lexicon, are just words!).
You learn by first getting used to text spelled out entirely in English, forming words and sentences in your head. Then very gradually spoken letters and numbers are replaced with Morse code, one at a time and at your own pace. Before long, you will be comprehending material sent entirely in code.
MorseFusion benefits
- Learn to read Morse code in your head at up to 30 words per minute
- No paper and pencil or typing except for call signs and such
- On-line — no software to install
Listening sessions are complemented with an adaptive code tutor that will detect your problem characters — and provide custom exercises to drill you until you get them right 100% of the time.
With the MorseFusion method, you learn Morse code the same way you learned to speak: from context, gradually, and with immediate feedback on your performance.
MorseFusion provides you with a straightforward method to become proficient in Morse code and finally begin enjoying CW. So if you are new to Morse code, or know code but are currently using paper and pencil, or just want to improve your decoding ability, subscribe today and with diligent practice you’ll be operating in CW mode at up to 30 wpm.
If you don’t know any Morse code . . .
you start by listening to a novel spelled out entirely in English. You will get comfortable forming words and sentences in your head. And CheX will exercise your brain’s ability to remember random character groups, also vocalized in English initially.
This establishes a solid foundation for learning to read code in your head before you even hear the first Morse character.
Then, very gradually, you replace one spoken character at a time with Morse code until you’re listening to the novel entirely in code.
Or if you know code but use paper and pencil . . .
first throw away the pencil! You start by listening to a novel spelled out entirely in English and get comfortable forming sentences in your head. And use CheX to exercise your ability to remember random character groups spoken in English.
Because you already know the Morse characters, you will insert all of them into your novel. But at first you will hear them for only a small fraction of the time. Then as you continue to listen to the novel, you gradually increase the portion of time that characters are sent in code until you reach 100%.
You’ll never need that pencil and will be able to move on to faster speeds because you will no longer be limited by how fast you can write.
And if you already copy in your head . . .
MorseFusion will enhance your ability by providing listening practice at 15, 20, 25, and 30 wpm. Over 20 novels with automatic bookmarks and variable word spacing will make moving to higher speeds an enjoyable experience.
CheX will drill you on on those pesky characters you always seem to miss and provide ample practice in getting call signs right the first time you hear them!
MorseFusion is available on the Web at minimal subscription cost and is accessible from everywhere, with no software to download or install.
