A quick video on why I like using Morse Code in Amateur Radio, some of the benefits of using this older mode of communication, and some of the history and thoughts on how to practice/learn
I've recently started my mission to master morse code (wish me luck) , I've learned all the letters and numbers but you're soo right about being stuck trying to picture the dit dahs in my head to the corrosponding letter, I need to learn to hear the letters as the sound! But it's great fun and keeps the brain working. I can manage about 2 words a minute for now haha! Thanks man, great vid 🙏😁
I can't recommend the Jerry Ziliak tapes enough. Now you can get it in an mp3 cd on Amazon, or look around they might be available to download - Jerry's sound approach really did make me learn morse code opposed to the old methods I used - I know others have luck with computer programs or apps, but I never did. The trick really is to go slightly faster at 20wpm and space it out - you hear it more as a sound than the dits and dahs. Good luck, and 73!
@@dixielandfarm hey thanks for the advice brother, I will definitely check Jerry Ziliak out because I want to nail this down! , I've always thought there's something so romantically simple about morse yet also strangely haunting, thanks again man, subscribed 👍
Currently, I can type 90+ wpm. I've thought about getting a stenograph machine for court reporting, but still playing around with that idea. I wonder how long it would take me to get ultra fast with morse code! Well, I learned a little something today. I never took the time to really read up on how morse code actually works. Interesting comparison with vinyl records, too! You are a jack of all trades, Kris!
Thanks so much, Hanna! It is amazing to watch people who are truly gifted with morse code - there are people who can talk at 45-50wpm while having a full conversation with someone in the room and just go back and forth... this is RARE of course, but amazing to watch. Most hams plunk away at 12-20wpm, so I am at the low end and unfortunately due to time, I can't dedicate more practice to get better - but I do keep my feet wet. I often wonder if court reporting will go away and there will just be archives of full trials since recording costs aren't a thing anymore - you could have every second of a trial available for just a few cents of storage space.
Wow! 90wpm? That's amazing.... My grandmother was a stenographer for the Navy in WWII... She was stationed in Pearl Harbour. I'm not sure, but I think her job was to translate Morse code signals.... I didn't even find this out about her until after she passed away, but she was a really smart lady..... What a cool skill to have! Her and my Grandfather's family were also from the Omaha/ Council Bluffs area☺ I bet alot of people would pay someone like you to teach them this kind of skill.
The US Army taught me Morse Code in 1966 ... never used it in Nam ... taught me radio teletype operation ... never used it in Nam .... there's a pattern here .... used a voice radio to contact the Capt .... he liked to play guitar with us troops ... my speed was 25 sending and 25 receiving ... maybe I was decent because I am a musician .. I used a straight key
The Army had it down to a science - I also think some guys wanted to do well because it meant more of a chance of an indoor job :) I absolutely think if you are good rhythmically that you will pick up the code better - I am terrible at keeping a beat. I wish I could spend more time with it (and guitar) - I can only dabble so I can only improve so much...
I think being musically inclined would definitely make learning Morse code alot easier..... The other day I was listening to a piano rendition of some Iron Maiden songs, and I tried to see if I could apply Morse Code to them..... but I just kept getting the same few runs of random letters over and over... I'm a complete novice at this though, and I should probably start with trying to decipher normal Morse Code transmissions.😊
I had an SWL report from 220 miles away when I used 350 mW on 5.262 MHz. Less power than a torch bulb. Another way to express this would be 628 miles per Watt. I have so far made two Morse Code contacts both around 180 miles and a few at less distances with this power level. My longest session was in the 80's when 10 metres was open and I did 2 hours at a crawling speed of about 5 WPM when I slowed down for four novice USA stations, each about 30 minutes. They all said I was their first contact outside the USA. When I signed off I could still hear some calling me. G4GHB.
I still haven't gotten into QRP operation, but I really envision me being stuck in a restrictive HOA in FL when I retire and having to either operate stealth or portable in my retirement... unfortunately I have never been able to get over the speed hump at 11WPM yet - its due to time and I just haven't been able to put it in due to farm commitments. 73, Bill.
@@dixielandfarm Hi, Nothing over 6 Watts here. Used to have FT101E 40 years ago, 100 W, but decided to go QRP. Small radio, small power supply, good for portable, no tvi. Dipoles for 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 in my attic, still get out on ssb and c.w. Dipole for 60 and 40 squashed into tiny garden. Tried a h/b mag loop indoors as well, got into Europe, so it can be done with QRP and indoor aerials. Yes, speed takes a bit of determination and time to increase. Try listening about 15 or 18 wpm and try to read it then listen to 12 and it sounds slow. I did this to increase my speed. Okay about farming, a full time job. 73, Bill, G4GHB.
It's funny - I had a five year gap of using it after REALLY learning it and 20 minutes and it all came back to me. I wish I could spend more time doing it, but I have just not enough free time.
Fascinating as ever, Kris! Am saving this video to absorb further. Interesting though I suppose when one thinks about it, not too surprising it's still in use. Archie comics.....now that takes me back. When you were doing the 'dits and das' rapidly it reminded me of a tabla player vocalizing along with their playing. :-) Thanks for sharing. -Carm
There is a device called a "bug" that has this weight on it, so when you are sending, the dits are made almost by a metronome - people are pretty bad at using it, but that doesn't stop them - and kind of cool that it was invented SO many years ago, way before electronic keyers.
The one record I can think of that features Morse Code is ELO's Secret Messages, in the opening bars of the opening title track. Very evocative. It sounds as if learning Morse Code is a little bit like learning music notation.
It's really down to rhythm - get the beat down and you got it, but if you can't stay on the beat you get lost. One reason why machine code is so much easier to copy than hand sent code; lead or lag a bit and you cause a stumble in the receiving end.
I certainly have - the best results tend to happen around the equinox, and I have had the best success in the car. Nothing cooler than driving on a country road and you hear Detroit, Chicago, or New York blast through.
It's funny, any time there is a contest weekend you would think a gajillion people use it - but after a contest it goes back to normal. The language barrier is a huge reason why it should be in any hams arsenal - but just like vinyl, it is just more fun despite the pain in the assery.
Only as a hobby. For amateur radio using morse code can help with language barriers (since we all "speak" morse), equipment can be simpler and more portable (people have made radios out of Altoid tins), the signal can go further than voice with the same power levels... but in practical terms, no reason whatsoever.
yes when you want to cheat on exam and casino cheat, i used it both but you should no be greedy or they will suspect you on casino my teacher and prof don't understand it
I'm not quite sure what I just saw but I think I like it dixieham farms😍 It seems like a rather tactile form of communication! do you go much down the "numbers radio' path in your ham/ surfing?
Oh I was big into number stations - they are rarer now than they were even at the turn of the millennium - but I used to seek them out and one of my first videos was on the Conet Project set.
Congratulations and good luck - getting the license is a lot of fun - so much to learn, but all practical. Morse Code/CW is really a lot of fun - there is NO pressure for you to go fast so you can go as slow as you want, and nothing is more thrilling in radio than hearing a reply to your call.
Thanks so much, Marcus! I wish I had more time to spend with it - I would get much better - but there are large gaps between me operating and I regress. While it comes back, not enough like daily usage would have.
My father tried getting me in to morse code when I was young but I never took to it. It's cool that it is still used.
It's one of those things - unless you can see the need/use for something, it becomes meaningless - like all the French I took is out the window.
Very interesting, I liked that you explained the advantages that Morse code has and why people still use it to communicate. Thanks Karl
Thanks so much for watching, Karl! Like baking bread, there is a satisfaction in getting involved opposed to just buying it - same with morse.
I've recently started my mission to master morse code (wish me luck) , I've learned all the letters and numbers but you're soo right about being stuck trying to picture the dit dahs in my head to the corrosponding letter, I need to learn to hear the letters as the sound! But it's great fun and keeps the brain working. I can manage about 2 words a minute for now haha! Thanks man, great vid 🙏😁
I can't recommend the Jerry Ziliak tapes enough. Now you can get it in an mp3 cd on Amazon, or look around they might be available to download - Jerry's sound approach really did make me learn morse code opposed to the old methods I used - I know others have luck with computer programs or apps, but I never did. The trick really is to go slightly faster at 20wpm and space it out - you hear it more as a sound than the dits and dahs. Good luck, and 73!
@@dixielandfarm hey thanks for the advice brother, I will definitely check Jerry Ziliak out because I want to nail this down! , I've always thought there's something so romantically simple about morse yet also strangely haunting, thanks again man, subscribed 👍
Currently, I can type 90+ wpm. I've thought about getting a stenograph machine for court reporting, but still playing around with that idea. I wonder how long it would take me to get ultra fast with morse code! Well, I learned a little something today. I never took the time to really read up on how morse code actually works. Interesting comparison with vinyl records, too! You are a jack of all trades, Kris!
Thanks so much, Hanna! It is amazing to watch people who are truly gifted with morse code - there are people who can talk at 45-50wpm while having a full conversation with someone in the room and just go back and forth... this is RARE of course, but amazing to watch. Most hams plunk away at 12-20wpm, so I am at the low end and unfortunately due to time, I can't dedicate more practice to get better - but I do keep my feet wet. I often wonder if court reporting will go away and there will just be archives of full trials since recording costs aren't a thing anymore - you could have every second of a trial available for just a few cents of storage space.
Wow! 90wpm? That's amazing.... My grandmother was a stenographer for the Navy in WWII... She was stationed in Pearl Harbour. I'm not sure, but I think her job was to translate Morse code signals.... I didn't even find this out about her until after she passed away, but she was a really smart lady..... What a cool skill to have! Her and my Grandfather's family were also from the Omaha/ Council Bluffs area☺ I bet alot of people would pay someone like you to teach them this kind of skill.
Jamie Ingels Woah! Your grandmother is amazing. And I agree.
The US Army taught me Morse Code in 1966 ... never used it in Nam ... taught me radio teletype operation ... never used it in Nam .... there's a pattern here .... used a voice radio to contact the Capt .... he liked to play guitar with us troops ... my speed was 25 sending and 25 receiving ... maybe I was decent because I am a musician .. I used a straight key
The Army had it down to a science - I also think some guys wanted to do well because it meant more of a chance of an indoor job :) I absolutely think if you are good rhythmically that you will pick up the code better - I am terrible at keeping a beat. I wish I could spend more time with it (and guitar) - I can only dabble so I can only improve so much...
I think being musically inclined would definitely make learning Morse code alot easier..... The other day I was listening to a piano rendition of some Iron Maiden songs, and I tried to see if I could apply Morse Code to them..... but I just kept getting the same few runs of random letters over and over... I'm a complete novice at this though, and I should probably start with trying to decipher normal Morse Code transmissions.😊
I had an SWL report from 220 miles away when I used 350 mW on 5.262 MHz. Less power than a torch bulb. Another way to express this would be 628 miles per Watt. I have so far made two Morse Code contacts both around 180 miles and a few at less distances with this power level.
My longest session was in the 80's when 10 metres was open and I did 2 hours at a crawling speed of about 5 WPM when I slowed down for four novice USA stations, each about 30 minutes. They all said I was their first contact outside the USA. When I signed off I could still hear some calling me.
G4GHB.
I still haven't gotten into QRP operation, but I really envision me being stuck in a restrictive HOA in FL when I retire and having to either operate stealth or portable in my retirement... unfortunately I have never been able to get over the speed hump at 11WPM yet - its due to time and I just haven't been able to put it in due to farm commitments. 73, Bill.
@@dixielandfarm Hi, Nothing over 6 Watts here. Used to have FT101E 40 years ago, 100 W, but decided to go QRP. Small radio, small power supply, good for portable, no tvi. Dipoles for 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 in my attic, still get out on ssb and c.w. Dipole for 60 and 40 squashed into tiny garden. Tried a h/b mag loop indoors as well, got into Europe, so it can be done with QRP and indoor aerials.
Yes, speed takes a bit of determination and time to increase. Try listening about 15 or 18 wpm and try to read it then listen to 12 and it sounds slow. I did this to increase my speed. Okay about farming, a full time job.
73, Bill, G4GHB.
Very interesting as always, Kris. I learned a small amount of Morse Code way back in school, but not much beyond the very basic stuff like SOS.
It's funny - I had a five year gap of using it after REALLY learning it and 20 minutes and it all came back to me. I wish I could spend more time doing it, but I have just not enough free time.
Fascinating as ever, Kris! Am saving this video to absorb further. Interesting though I suppose when one thinks about it, not too surprising it's still in use. Archie comics.....now that takes me back. When you were doing the 'dits and das' rapidly it reminded me of a tabla player vocalizing along with their playing. :-) Thanks for sharing. -Carm
There is a device called a "bug" that has this weight on it, so when you are sending, the dits are made almost by a metronome - people are pretty bad at using it, but that doesn't stop them - and kind of cool that it was invented SO many years ago, way before electronic keyers.
The one record I can think of that features Morse Code is ELO's Secret Messages, in the opening bars of the opening title track. Very evocative. It sounds as if learning Morse Code is a little bit like learning music notation.
It's really down to rhythm - get the beat down and you got it, but if you can't stay on the beat you get lost. One reason why machine code is so much easier to copy than hand sent code; lead or lag a bit and you cause a stumble in the receiving end.
I used to want to get into AM radio DX'ing with the smallest "handheld" "consumer-grade" AM radio I could find..... you ever get into that?
I certainly have - the best results tend to happen around the equinox, and I have had the best success in the car. Nothing cooler than driving on a country road and you hear Detroit, Chicago, or New York blast through.
That was a rather elaborate cover story, Kris. Why not just say "I'm communicating with aliens"? Dixie-ham Farms ... LOL!
Cheers, Tom
Aliens communicate with Moog Synths, didn't Close Encounters teach us that?
@@dixielandfarm Dang, I forgot! Gotta re-watch that.
That was totally interesting Kris. I though Morse Code was obsolete...had no idea it was still in use. Thanks!
It's funny, any time there is a contest weekend you would think a gajillion people use it - but after a contest it goes back to normal. The language barrier is a huge reason why it should be in any hams arsenal - but just like vinyl, it is just more fun despite the pain in the assery.
I thought you might sneak in an inspector Morse reference. Lol. Informative. Didn’t know it was still in use.
I did sneak an Inspector Gadget reference, though...
I like this
Thanks so much for watching!
I heard that there are/were tests that some people could send and receive 100 WPM ...
Nuts, right? I have even heard of guys who could decode RTTY (which I think is 70 wpm)... we are just fascinating sometimes, aren't we?
Are there good reasons to learn this skill that don’t have to do with the military?
Only as a hobby. For amateur radio using morse code can help with language barriers (since we all "speak" morse), equipment can be simpler and more portable (people have made radios out of Altoid tins), the signal can go further than voice with the same power levels... but in practical terms, no reason whatsoever.
yes when you want to cheat on exam and casino cheat, i used it both but you should no be greedy or they will suspect you on casino my teacher and prof don't understand it
I'm not quite sure what I just saw but I think I like it dixieham farms😍 It seems like a rather tactile form of communication! do you go much down the "numbers radio' path in your ham/ surfing?
Oh I was big into number stations - they are rarer now than they were even at the turn of the millennium - but I used to seek them out and one of my first videos was on the Conet Project set.
@@dixielandfarm I'll be checking that video out soon! Fascinating to hear they are dying out. Thank you Kris!!
th-cam.com/video/QvU8O5YCS0g/w-d-xo.html
The wooden structures with light bulb like things along railroads. Transmitted Morse Code messages
Thanks for watching!
The way he said heLLo :)
Hello!
I am studying for my license, it's not on the test but I plan to learn it at some time
Congratulations and good luck - getting the license is a lot of fun - so much to learn, but all practical. Morse Code/CW is really a lot of fun - there is NO pressure for you to go fast so you can go as slow as you want, and nothing is more thrilling in radio than hearing a reply to your call.
@@dixielandfarm yeah like no stress. Might as well
Great, man!
Thanks so much for watching!
short wave morse code communication is the only long distance communication technology without the need of relay station.
Absolutely! But even better - it's just more fun.
@@dixielandfarm In a disaster or war situation, this is the only feasible option of long distance communication
Cool stuff.
Thanks so much for watching, Jay! I am turntable-less for the moment, so I have been just working more outside...
Were the band Police trying to send Morse code in their famous song "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da", and they were just bad spellers?
And bad people, from what I understand... :P
Not sure of the Police, but Rush was sending YYZ in their song YYZ.
interesting!
Thanks so much, Marcus! I wish I had more time to spend with it - I would get much better - but there are large gaps between me operating and I regress. While it comes back, not enough like daily usage would have.
he he he he.. you said "Speed Hump"... heheheheheheh
That reminds me, make sure you check out my redtube channel for more content!
How Morse code is changing the world now-a-days..??
It isn't. Not one bit. Which is something I say in the video.
I think the REAL question is WHY NOT use Morse Code?
.. / ..- ... . / -- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. . / ..-. --- .-. / . ...- . .-. -.-- - .... .. -. --. / -.. ..- .... -.-.--
Well of course you use morse code for everything. More efficient!
Great video
73 M7TUD
Thanks so much for watching! 73!