Morse Code 101

How do I learn Morse code and then how do I learn to send it? For many of you this seems like an insurmountable obstacle. In fact, it may have been what kept you from being a ham a long time ago. Believe me, it can be done and the effort is more than rewarded. First, however, you must be absolutely sure that this is what you want. It will take some serious work and a lot of practice hours to reach the level necessary to go on the air. I really wish that I could sit beside all of you who are willing to give it a try and help you along every step of the process. Since that is not possible, I can only suggest some helpful on line links and practice techniques,
ARRL puts on the air code practice sessions daily, at different frequencies and at different speeds. Their schedules are all listed in QST magazine. You will need to have either a high frequency transceiver or a short wave receiver to pick these up. You can ask your search engine to look for “Morse code practice” and find many sites to help you. Two very good practice sites are http://www.aa9pw.com/ and www.ac6v.com/morseprograms.htm. There are also several sources or catalogs for buying a very inexpensive code practice oscillator or sender with key. These are usually battery operated with adjustments for tone and volume. There are even websites where you can build your own sending unit.
Morse code is similar to music in that it has timing and a rhythm and is actually mathematically based (spacing). The letters in the alphabet which are used most often have the least number of dits and dahs. This is why short cuts can be used to shorten the length of a word and speed up the message. Spacing between dits and dahs and between letters and words are all important to the person copying the transmission. This all takes practice. Don’t worry about speed at first because it will come as you develop. We all get to our comfortable speed and are able to execute QSO’s with other hams who may be faster but will slow down for you
This is where a good “elmer” comes in handy. Find a friend in the local ham club and perhaps he or she would be willing to help you get started with CW. Of course, not everyone in the club will be proficient with CW, but they all had to know it to pass the tests. You will find that hams are eager to help.