Last year I took a CWI course to help improve my CW — and it did. During the process I had a couple of code buddies and I got involved with straight key stuff — which was fun. However, I discovered a flaw in my thinking.
When I started with CW it was back in the 90’s. We had cassette tapes to listen to and to advance your license you had to pass a code test. I read somewhere that you should start with whatever sending device you plan on using. I chose paddles. I used the Ultimatic mode for a while but eventually settled on Iambic B. I became pretty proficient with squeeze keying. Most of of my CW career was with paddles. Over the past year I was not operating CW as much for different reasons and allowed myself to get a little rusty. I love the mode and thought it was time to get back into it.
The other day I got on the air to try a few POTA contacts. It was a bit of a mess. My brain had trouble wrapping around sideswiper cootie keying and squeeze keying. You can’t do both at once. I fumbled through a few contacts and then did some off line practice. I am getting it worked out. When I am in full practice I can send at close to 30 wpm and copy an exchange at about 25 or so. Conversational CW is a bit slower at 18 to 20 wpm.
Fortunately, I can train myself out of this. First I am going back to 100% Iambic B mode. Then it’s practice both offline and online. A few minutes warmup offline and a minimum of 5 CW contacts a day. My goal is to get myself really comfortable above 25 wpm. Life’s an adventure and is more so when we are having fun living it. 73 de Scott
KK4Z 