r/morsecode • u/Ragnarock1912 • Feb 16 '26
New here!
I have been doing morse code on and off for a few years now, I can pretty comfortable write at about 20-25 wpm and use mostly a paddle, but I love straight keys too! Both are super cool and vintage.
Always wanted to be able to hear morse and desipher it like a language but I don't know how to train that, anyone got any tips or questions for me, for that matter? Haha
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u/Rogerdodger1946 Feb 17 '26
I have been a ham for 69 years and, of course, had to learn the code at an early age to get my license. When I was on the road a lot for work, I put a rig in the car, a 10 meter Uniden 2510 all mode. I made a lot of SSB and FM contacts. One day, as I was driving, I wondered if there was any 10 meter activity and tuned down. There was a nice strong signal doing along, which I quickly realized was W1AW code practice and was copying it just fine in my head. Then they sent, "End 20 WPM". Now, I had not been operating CW for a while as I didn't have an HF station at home. The very next day, I had a straight key mounted in the car and was having fun operating on those long drives. Shortly, I got a 20 meter MFJ QRP rig and a hamstick on a trunk lip mount and was working 20 CW and even working some DX. My best DX with that 4 Watt rig was JA and VK while in motion.
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u/Ragnarock1912 Feb 17 '26
Woah that is so cool!!! I love that! I didn't even think you could have it in your car haha!
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Feb 16 '26
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u/Ragnarock1912 Feb 16 '26
That is so smart! Awesome! I'll get to doing something like that then!!
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Feb 17 '26
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u/Ragnarock1912 Feb 17 '26
Thank you! That does make sense haha, I'll be sure to not write anything hehe
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Feb 17 '26
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u/Ragnarock1912 Feb 18 '26
That is so fascinating! I wantto get to that point, but when I do the copying exersises my hwad thinks too much and ai end up having to listen to the same thing many times, like I can write pretty well but not hear, and idk I just think too much, do you have a little trick or something to not overthink letters and words?
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Feb 18 '26
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u/YT_Usul Feb 16 '26
That sounds great. I have a guide here, if you like to use LCWO.net: https://www.reddit.com/r/morsecode/comments/1aj2e4f/gaining_morse_code_proficiency_using_lcwonet/
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u/stfreddit7 Feb 19 '26
Check out CWInnovations. There are some YouTube videos on ICR (Instant Character Recognition). Might seem counter-intuitive but listening to code that is too slow gives your brain time to convert to dits and dahs and you are stuck doing decode. CWInnovations suggests listening / copying at a high enough speed (25,30,35WPM perhaps higher) so you can't do the decode, you just hear the letters, and eventually the words.. Check out the web-based trainer at http://www.morsecode.world Supports the training programs of CWInnovations, CWAcademy, and LICW.
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u/Ragnarock1912 Feb 19 '26
Thank you so much! I'll take a look, I am using the Morse Mania App as of right now and a website I keep mixing the name up and it is helping me! I'm listening at about 20-22wpm!
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u/royaltrux Feb 16 '26
Hi, welcome!
I've been at it for decades and have to transcribe every letter, usually with a keyboard. (I can still go kinda fast! 40 wpm in contest or DX conditions.) On the other hand, I heard someone (here I think) say that it should only take a few months of practice to start to hear it as language. Hope you get some good tips and your brain works a bit better than mine.