CW Beginners - Increase Your CW Stamina With SKCC WES

All new CW operators should join the Straight Key Century Club (SKCC) and participate in Weekend Sprintathons (WES). Why you might ask. Well for one, it is free to join SKCC. As a beginner, I wanted to increase my CW copying and sending stamina as a new CW operator. By participating regularly in SKCC WES I have increase my CW copying and sending stamina tremendously. I am operating at ~ 14- 16WPM on a straight key.

An easy way for all beginner CW operators at a comfortable speed to improve their stamina is to join SKCC and get on the air.

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[KYFriedHam]

I absolutely love SKCC. Great bunch of ops who have no problem slowing down or repeating stuff for new ops. Fun and effective way to improve your copy!

[Utahforrest]

Dude I went to the SKCC sked last night for the first time ever. Posted a spot and before I knew it I had 5 numbers including Australia and Japan. Awesome!

[WEMB]

Thanks Doug! Getting on the air makes all the difference! Its great to share the different ways we can find a path to "On the Air". Thanks for filming and sharing!

[KQQ]

I love SKCC. I totally agree that it helps tremendously in getting better in CW. Plus the sked page is such a great tool too to find other ops. Nice shack too.

[EJRadio]

I would like to add that SKCC is very personal. Its very nice to hear a familiar fist and make friends. I also find using straight keys, bugs and cooties a big part of improving your skill level. Many would disagree with me and say, why not just use a paddle? You can send fast perfect code every time and probably improve your copy speed more. I'm a younger ham that never got to enjoy ham radio before iambic A or iambic B modes. Paddles don't make code, people do. SKCC is made up of many new hams and also many hams with 50 or more years experience in the hobby.

[AEZ]

Great video Dugbo and nice fist. As a new CW op I am comfortable with the POTA exchange but can feel my brain cells fatigue during the longer QSOs. CW Academy helped a lot. Still not super comfortable on a straight key but this video is encouraging. My SKCC number is just collecting dust -- need to change that soon! Thanks for another good one. 73

[Swamp-Fox]

Nice fist on that straight key! 73, Patrick KF4LMZ

[ashtont.griffin]

Hey Doug, great video and suggestions on stamina. Saw on X that you are a biochemist.I am a retired Chemistry Instructor and analytical electrochemist by training.

[thuff]

Sounds good but I don’t like straight keys. Only paddles. So can I participate once I get conformable

[elmoreglidingclub]

Sounds great. I’m sure it is a lot of fun and very satisfying. I’m trying to learn CW but damn it’s hard. I mean really frustrating to copy, especially. The breakthroughs, even the small ones, take days and are so minor. Hope to get there someday.

[alvarogaitan]

thanks, great video thanks for sharing this fantastic video 73 from kb2uew

[Scorpster]

Decided to start, and stick with an iambic. May still try and listen in since that is much harder than keying (at least with the iambic :)

[MrRadiorobot]

I just don't have the confidence anymore to send morse, it's the uncertainty of the cw speed that will be returned to me, nerves I guess..I turn the radio on, find a clear frequency and then I take a long hard stare at that straight key in front me..nope, I just can't do it!..turn the radio back off...some years ago I could send and receive really quite well...makes me sad.

[ChrisNPEM]

Hard to hear me on that one Dugbo! I guess I need to get an amp

[thequarantinecatholic]

What rig are you using? Wow, that's a big radio!

[KCBKM]

What are you using for a keyer on the kenwood? or do you even need one if your using a straight key?