Here is a Simple, Easy Way to Learn Morse Code

Here is a simple, easy way to learn Morse Code. #hamradio #cw #morsecode #morse #telegraph #qso #hamradio #amateurradio #amateurradıo #learncode #morsetv #hamradioshack #ham #learnmore #7300 #key #w5fiv

[paulwolf]

Your method is exactly how I learned it in the Air Force as a morse intercept operator. For example, I never heard the letter "L" as dit dah dit dit. It was didahdidit or as we used to say "she plays with it". When I was deployed to my duty station, my targets sent up to 50 wpm, and that would have been impossible to understand and copy, if the code was sent in a non-rhythmic fashion. But even very slow targets, which I had to copy on rare occasions, also sent in that rhythmic pattern as you describe. So, when someone asks me what is the letter "A", for example, I simply do not say it as dit dah. Rather, I say it as didah. As you know, it works! By the way, that was in 1969, and I still remember every letter and every number. No way I could copy as fast as I did back then, but despite having never copied a dit since 1972, I still remember all but a few punctuation marks. Military taught us well, didn't they?

[jenko]

As a drummer, what your saying makes extreme sense.

[newq]

I'm still learning Morse, but back before I got my ham license, I ran into one of the guys from my university's ham radio club in line at Chipotle so I whistled CQ CQ CQ in Morse code at him, knowing that he knew Morse. He instantly perked up, turned around and said hi to me. Anyway, this video just gave me the idea to start whistling the alphabet to myself in Morse whenever I'm alone.

[indridcold]

I learned Morse code by myself when I built a spark gap transmitter when I was a kid. I made two identical spark gap transmitters with the exception of the telegraphy keys. The telegraphy key for my cousin's spark gap transmitter was home made from cloth pins and a mouse trap. My telegraphy key was an authentic, 1938 Lionell J-47 telegraphy key. I tuned the transmitters to roughly 1.6 megacycles. My cousin and I used simple AM radios to be our receivers. We tapped the summer away with our homemade transmitters. Unfortunately, all the neighbours within the 7 miles we were communicating back and forth were also hearing the buzzing on their telephones, televisions, baby monitors, CB radios, walkie talkies, and much more. When my father found out it was me destroying the airwaves with my spark gap transmitter, I got in big trouble! My cousin, of course, said I forced him to take the transmitter and use it. When my father found out I took the battery out of an old motorcycle he was working on and the riding lawnmower to make the transmitter and a couple of spark plugs, automotive ignition coils, and old relays he had laying around, he got even more angry. He made me apologise to all the neighbours and cut their lawns the following summer for free. At the end of the summer, my father confessed he was impressed that I made a primitive transmitter out of old parts. He gave me a second hand CB radio, a power supply, and told me I could make an antenna to put on the roof. Though, my telegraphy days were over, I still remember the code. I still have the J-47 telegraphy key as a memento of better times. The old CB my father gave me just died at the end of June 2022. I had that ancient thing in all my vehicles for the sake of the memories. Whenever it went bad, I would lovingly repair it myself and put it back in my car. But CB fell out of favour around 2000. It was picking up nothing but static and very distant stations around the end. The homemade antenna was also still in use on the back of my old Jeep. I guess I will be uninstalling that old antenna soon. There is no transceiver in the old Jeep to use it. There is only a hole in my dashboard left with a few cables coming out of it. I will always remember being KBX1339 for the rest of my life. Thanks for the memories dad and 40 years of local and DX fun! I guess it is time to grow up. Nobody has a CB in their vehicles anymore. Nobody even sells CBs anymore. I just need to find dashboard panels for a 1997 Jeep Wrangler to delete the rectangular hole I made back in 1996 when I bought the Jeep new. All good things come to an end.

--... ...-- / -.. ./ -.- -... -..- .---- ...-- ...-- ----. (defunct)
This concludes our broadcast day.
... and now our national anthem.

[EtzEchad]

Very good teaching.

My dad was a merchant marine radio operator in the war. He could copy Morse incredibly fast. (I can't remember how fast but it was 30-50 WPM maybe.) He said that he would hear whole words and even phrases at that speed.
One thing that made it hard is that when he was receiving the new broadcasts, he had to type a mimeo stencil. Because he couldn't correct it, he would type a sentence or so behind.
My dad had mad skills.

Don''t be afraid of Morse code. It is surprisingly easy. I learned to copy five-letter code groups at 5 WPM, but the old test is mostly plain English, as is actual on-the-air messages. You can miss 3/4 of the letters and still figure out what the message is and you can fill it in. When I took the test (which is no longer required as I understand it), I was just trying to pass the 5 WPM test for the Technician license, but you could take the higher speed test for no additional fee. So, I took the 13 WPM test and (I think, the 20 WPM test.)
Then I decided to study for the theory test to get the Advanced license, which I did at the next testing opportunity. All I wanted was the tech license, but ended up with Advanced. I proud of having that since it shortly wasn't offered anymore.

[rico]

I love Morse code! I learned it about 35 years ago when I got licensed. Can’t get it out of my head. I read the signs all the time like that. I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. Working CW with other operators is a blast. Some of the best operators out there.👍👍👍🇨🇱🇺🇸

[elfdlli]

I learnt Morse code in 1985 at an amateur radio club UZ4HXG in USSR. There was a class room with a tape recorder. The instructor's voice on the tape said exactly that - do not try to memorize dots and dashes. As per recorded instruction, we were played Morse code and the recorded voice pronounced the letter corresponding to that Morse code and we were supposed to hear the Morse code and write down the letter pronounced on the recording and so on. After a couple of weeks I was able to copy CW at a slow speed at first, gradually getting better at it.

[teangaire]

A very nice and clear explanation.
I didn't think anyone would have an interest in morse anymore. I learned it at 15 or so, became an army radio operator, and I have never forgotten it. I can still read the morse from the old films, or from the signal lights on the ships. I don't think I will ever forget it.
One funny incident I recall when I was at the cinema and there was this very important message coming in between the ships. In actual fact it turned out to be a fishing report and as I was the only one laughing in the cinema I was lucky not to be thrown out...

[millyjames]

My late father was on RAF transport aircraft during WW2 as a radio operator. He mustered up as a pilot but he was, throughout my lifetime, always doing Morse code on his chair arm. He said exactly the same as you. Apparently you can get so attuned, you can tell who's sending the message by their 'voice'. x

[HFPY]

Some years ago, when I was a teenager, I asked a railroad CW operator about how did he learn the Morse Code. He surprised me saying he didn't know the code, dih by dih and dah by dah, but only knew the sound of every symbol.

[BritishBeachcomber]

I was doing it that way in the year 2000. Laying in bed, a *SMS* (text message) alert sounded on my *Nokia.* Half asleep, I instantly recognised it as ...--... *SMS*

[MarkHopewell]

My wife and I agree with your absolutely smashing methodology WRT rythmn in Morse.

We've adopted your method to learn but slightly adapted it to our particular learning approach.

Although I've been involved in communications for a long time and a licence holder for 10 years I've never felt drawn to Morse. My wife is an academic who has no interest in Morse but she says she wants to learn Morse with me so we can sneakily Morse each other when out and about.

We practice Morse when out and about by using your method to "sing" the Morse when reading car registration plates when we're on long journeys. The UK licensing plates are very easy to see at distance and the combinations of letters and numbers ideal for Morse gaming.

Maybe you'll make more formal presentations about your approach in future. I should imagine you would have an appreciative audience, even for the miserable git who said your approach is rubbish.

Yours gratefully,

Mark and Karen

[JohnA]

When I was in HS back in 67, we had a radio club, and we learned morse code. We had a mechanical device that used paper tapes to practice. I can't remember anything now but CQ and SOS. But it was fun.

[markanderson]

This is a great way to learn! I got my Amateur license quite a while ago, but after they removed the Morse requirement. I’ve always shied away from learning it as the chart looks very intimidating, but the “test yourself by thinking ‘What’s that letter in Morse Code?’ game when seeing a letter on a sign or a movie subtitle” approach is a great way to further ingrain it. Subscribed!

[alannorthdevonuk]

Jim.
My message, see below, was sent almost 7 months ago on a cold November morning here in North Devon, South West UK. I had just finished reading a book about a 16-year-old guy who decided to attend the 3-year Merchant Navy radio officers' course here in Plymouth. He described his training, initial struggle with Morse, and time at sea as a radio officer. Later he worked at the General Post Office radio stations keeping radio watch for distress messages and passing messages from shipping. This book inspired me to learn Morse Code. I had been getting a bit bored with SSB so it was perfect timing. I started to study CW and your brilliant videos were my first steps, I went through each letter in turn, frequently returning to the videos to recap. I later downloaded some apps and listened to my radio at home. Today, for the first time I understood, with some difficulty a UK station sending out a 14 WPM CQ. I was able to copy his callsign and I responded. It was very noisy but my first contact was made. We have both had to resort to email, but via Morse code our contact was made and calls first QSO. Thank you, you got me started. Now the world is my oyster.

[TheAdwatson]

I was taught by the late G3ZCV, Norman Harper, who taught many others that the best way is to learn it by audio only without reference to written charts. Associate the sound with a letter (or word) rather than with a written pattern that has to be translated and slows the process.

[hallen]

Thank you for your service and taking the time to produce these informative instructional aids for the likes of myself beginning in morse. For some time now I have been considering learning morse for the advancement of my radio hobby. Maybe I was overthinking things but I was always concerned I would start to learn it by an incorrect method effectively doing more harm than good hampering progression. I watched your presentation and something clicked for I have THE METHOD now thanks to you. It probably seems obvious to many but I some how missed the "learn the rythm like a song" approach. It's opened the mental door to morse for I somehow now believe that I can learn Thank you so much. 73's D.E M7FES away to listen to the rythm of the songs of morse 👍🏻

[ellueccid]

I put this together as quarter notes and eighth notes just like a song and its way easier to comprehend. Thanks!

[johnthornton]

Thank you! I have been trying to learn the code for over a year now. Every method I try focuses on making sure you time out your dit's and dah's and spaces so precisely. The method you are demonstrating makes so much more sense. Learn the rhythm patterns, space out your characters/words, and focus on making/singing each character to its "sound". I do remember hearing in an old military video somewhere than Morse code wasn't dits and dahs, but a carefully composed symphony of notes. I've learned more Morse code in your 11 minute video than I have in a year of studying with online trainers. Thanks & 73s de W4GJT

[michaelbolton]

Excellent video, Jim. Indeed, character- and word-recognition as rhythm patterns helps with retention. Something I'm learning better as I try to develop my Morse Code skill.

To all those here who have served in any armed force(s), thank you for your valiant service.

73 de N5RLR 🙂