@SrRochardBunson @shuttersparks @sergio_101 You can actually get a paddle and a transmitter to learn and practice cw without needing a license bc it generates the sound without transmitting over the air. I bought my paddle used and non-functional at a swap meet so I got to clean it up and make it work. The tx was second hand, too. Here’s a picture of my setup as an example. There are things you can build yourself which is fun and maybe Sergio has some suggestions, too.
@LGsMom @SrRochardBunson @sergio_101 Yes. You definitely don't need a license to practice Morse code. Sending is the easy part. Receiving is the trick. There are smartphone apps for code practice. You can also do what I did in the beginning which is take any shortwave radio and tune in slow QSOs and copy them. The 40 meter band is particularly good for this. Listen around 7048 to 7060 kHz, but you'll also find slow conversations elsewhere.
I also recommend avoiding electronic code generation like paddles and electronic gear until you're comfortable sending well formed code with a straight key. Then move on to a cootie or sideswiper, or an electronic keyer as shown in the photo above where a chip generates the code for you.
On Android, a good code practice app is the one by IZ2UUF. You can find it in the play store.
@SrRochardBunson @LGsMom @sergio_101 Sounds great. Welcome to the journey. A lot of people feel the Koch method is great. I know what it is but have no personal experience with it.
I recommend #MorseCode learning with the Koch method right and left: It avoids the dreaded plateau at speed 10 wpm = 50 cpm.
Other methods have that plateau when your brain un-learns conscious thinking and moves on to unconscious, automatic decoding. Koch has you "on automatic" from day 1.
Not so important: My method to learn via Koch with words rather than 5 letter groups. But its readme discusses Koch at length: https://gitlab.com/4ham/koch-method-real-words/-/blob/master/README.md
@dj3ei @shuttersparks @SrRochardBunson @sergio_101 Thanks! I’m going to give it another try.
@SrRochardBunson @shuttersparks @LGsMom I agree. Learning to send with a straight key while you’re learning to copy will totally help. I learned from some Gordon west radio shack tapes. I’m not sure if they did Koch.
@shuttersparks @LGsMom @sergio_101
Awesome, thanks! Playing with Koch method now!😂