Letter Spacing in Morse Code / CW

This is a quick video on an example of the importance of letter spacing in Morse Code / CW. In this video, we are looking at a station calling a DXPedition (TX5S) and I wonder if they will ever get through since it is very difficult to determine what their callsign is. Experienced operators will be able to essentially figure it out, but this is a great example of how character spacing is super important - especially if you are doing more than just your callsign. I have seen operators try to carry on a rag chew with poor letter spacing, and also word spacing! Make space for those spaces!!!

[@dalewagnerW1EW]

Thanks bud! Been “listening” to your videos every day for about a month now. Your presentation is excellent! Hope to catch up with you someday. Thank you!
Dale
KC1TRN 🎙️

[@k9kj]

Fantastic! Thanks for watching! I'll be at hamvention if you plan on going

[@darrinpearce9780]

I'm far from any expert at CW but man it makes it difficult to copy, even a 599 RST, when the spacing is off. 73's and thanks for posting.

[@k9kj]

I totally agree

[@mainetomass99]

Doesn’t help when the call sign is a chameleon and changes a few times throughout the vid. Ha. But, in the second half of the recording it definitely sounds like it ended “SSZ” a few times. Something like CC9SSZ, CC0SSZ……but it’s anyone’s guess!

[@rv6amark]

You could be right. I usually don't spend any time working these people, but I did try to decode this one, and it sounded a little like AA9SSZ to me.

[@rv6amark]

I decided about 40 years ago that I wasn't going to waste my time trying to copy stations who don't space characters and words properly. Life is too short for that, and I reward the bad actors if I work them. Properly spaced, CW has a beautiful rhythm. Improperly spaced, it is just noise.

[@k9kj]

Totally agree!

[@CiemonDunville]

I've found Iambic Master to be a great tool for learning not to mash the spacing between letters, and words.

[@w4arb]

I listened about 30 times and I have no clue what that call is. LOL sounds like C?1?SZ or something. Totally not readable to me. Good video and point TJ!

[@JayN4GO]

Ka0hsz? Whoever it is needs a damn straight key. 😂