It took only 15 seconds to answer my unknowns. Knowing your craft is one thing, teaching skills are another. Really appreciate your channel.

I spent the summer of 1970 learning squeeze keying. Once learned, I could easily send 40 plus words per minute. Saved me from destroying my right hand.

In my teens I was fascinated by Morse code and wanted to learn, and even today in my 6os, I'm still fascinated by Morse code. In my aviation field, it is still used to identify ground-based navigational aids by receiving their ICAO ID. Great stuff.

I've been a Radio Amateur for 45 years, but only now have I decided to dedicate myself to CW. I hope to meet you on the radio one day. 73 - PY1 VPK - ROBERTO - BRAZIL

I appreciate that they allow Technicians on the 40M band, but ONLY if it's CW. It's a great way to incentivize new HAMs to learn CW.

Learned Morse when I was a kid. There was a time when I could hear code and not have to think much to decode. I am a Ham (VE3SJP/VP9LC and former VO2CP) but gave up using MC years ago, and although I still have my station gear, haven't been on air for many years. Every now and then I get the urge to get back on-air, but never act to do so. This video brought back some great memories!

Well, I can officially say I understand how Morse Code works now. Thanks!

I have been in and out of ham radio for 40 yrs and this is the best video I have seen and was a great help. Iambic A keying is so easy to do. Thanks.

You did an excellent video on explaining the finer points of the iambic keyer. I learned the Morse Code may years ago because it was required to earn all classes of licenses and did not use it since then. However now I am desiring to become proficient at CW again to use with QRP. Between the knowledge you shared and practicing with the Morseerino I just built, I am confident that I can get my code speed back up to a reasonable level. 73 Bret C/AC0AE

Best to grip the hand key using three fingers rather than tapping. Thumb on the left of the knob, middle finger along the left edge, and the index finger gripping the top. The Navy key helps force this proper form. See William Pierponts book: The Art and Skill of Radio Telegraphy, and Carlos Consoli - The Art and Zen of Telegraphy.

even though I already have some knowledge of CW (I can copy 15 WPM with 98% accuracy on average) it was a pleasure to listen to your demonstration. I really like your teaching style and I'm looking forward to more content like this! 73 DE IU2KIY

Electronic keyers and computer aided keyboard CW have really cleaned up a lot of CW. I've been an Amateur radio op. for over 40 yrs. and can remember many times when I wanted to send 'QLF ?' . I'm sure you've also heard guys with very distinctive personal sounds. One of the most common are guys who make their DAHs about 5 (or more) units long: dit DAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH dit dit. As you said, its not too bad if they are consistent. I've worked CW ops. who were DEAF. One German gal I worked on CW was able to copy CW by putting her fingertips on a speaker cover and feel the vibrations. Other deaf ops. use a flashing LED to copy CW. CW has always been my favorite mode. I so lamented the ARRL's decision to dumb down licensing requirements to eliminate CW that I quit my ARRL membership (and my sideline as a VE). I've used all methods of sending CW: straight key, Bencher paddles, computer keyboard, etc. One time I did a little test with one of my CW buddies. I sent a sentence 3 times, using each of the aforementioned methods. I then asked him if he could tell which was which .. and he couldn't tell. That's when I knew for sure I was a CW junkie. I've not been very active on the bands the past few years, but no matter how long the interval, I can still get back on the air and send/copy CW ... its like 'riding a bike'. Thanks for your demo. 73 de KB8EB

Thanks Alan, good basics video. After 50 years of using the same Vibroplex single paddle I never learned iambic keying and of course, you can't teach an old dog new tricks! ;-) 73 - Dino KL0S

Morse code is the most versatile mode of communication ever devised. It should be taught in all primary schools, along with sign language. Lives would be saved that way.

I'm looking to buy my first morse key, so this was an ideal video for me. Thank you.

You can also emulate the bug keyer with an iambic key. I like to set my straight key and my bencher to the minimum Gap I can get so I don't listen to the tap. Very nice video!

Thank you for the useful video. Finally I understood the difference between iambic a and b! The beginning with the spacing of the elements explained, was very helpful too! 73 from Bavaria

Great demonstration Alan. I still use my old original radio shack straight key, the metal one not the later plastic one. In the early 90's I got the MFJ keyer which is the bencher with the electronic keyer built on top of it. Still works a treat. Thanks Alan for sharing. May the 4th be with you!

Have been an Extra Class Ham Radio Operator since 2016, and I’m still working on Morse Code! Pretty sure my spacing needs improvement as well as copying. Both are a challenge! But I’d like to operate CW more if I can get it down better 😎👍

Thanks Alan. I’ve been thinking about getting back into CW. Haven’t used it in decades. I’m making a Keyer that uses the Curtis Iambic chip to drive an old Ameco code practice oscillator, so I can practice iambic keying.

Need to ask my 78 year old Navy vet if he still can recall his Morse training. I never learned Morse 55 years ago - when friends did.

Thanks Alan. Something one day I want to do is get proficient in CW. Something on the to do list for sure. Great video!

Just started learning about Ham radio (in my mid 30s) via KZfaq. Have always heard of it. But I find it really interesting. Even when first starting to learn about Ham radio in general I thought who would still mess with CW. As I continue to watch videos I am really interested in CW. Such a neat and efficient way to communicate, pretty amazing really. I don't own any ham receivers or transceivers nor have any license but I find it really interesting and may do so in the future.

There is only one explanation as to why I am watching this video: NOSTALGIA

#300 video! Congrats Alan, please keep it up! Thank you for your videos!

Back in the day there were operators who liked to use what we called a "sidewinder", it looked sort of like a speed key (bug) but you had to make the dits and dahs manually, unlike the Bencher which was a device that does things electronically for you. They were sort of interesting to try and decipher, but you'd get used to it.

Very nice explaination of iambic mode Alan!

My son learned Morse code and signal flags for a special merit badge celebrating scouting’s centennial anniversary.

In iambic mode A, you can key the letter K (example) without tapping, as long as you let loose of the dot paddle in time. 73 de HA7RJA

I like the clarity of your explanations, so I was hoping you would cover the technique for using a Vibroplex Bug here. I got the Vibroplex Zephyr of a friend who is now a Silent Key, and I'm determined to learn the code and get on the air with his old key. But through a bit of research I'm beginning to realize that adjusting and properly using the Bug could require as much study and practice as learning the code, so I'm looking for a good starting point. Thanks again for your channel and your clarity.

Being English Navy these are DOT and DASHES

For a beginner, this ALL can be quite daunting. Thank you for your simple tutorial!!! m

Morse tutorial This is your daily dose of Recommendation

that is surreal cool, it keeps the timing for you?? insane

AEW----Very nicely done. You got it all, in a very short time.

Morse code have a very nice beeping sound, always love listening to them.

I purchased a Lionell J-47 telegraphy key made for World War II. It sat as a novelty mounted to a wall for many years. But recently, I retrofitted a jack to an ancient CB microphone and added a small oscillator. Then I plugged the antique Lionell J-47 key to activate the primative oscillator and the oscolatoe to the microphone. I connected the ancient microphone contraption to an equally ancient C.B. Radio, probably made in the late 1980s, . I then cut an ugly 206 inch antenna with an insolator dead in the middle and hung it vertically off the apex of the roof from a horizontal pcv tube. This was all a pitiful effort to revisit an old childhood project. I put the ancient CB radio on channel 40 USB and taped out a slow CQ, not expecting anything at all. I got a response. I did not even know anybody used Morse Code anymore. The other person returned my CQ with a moniker of Kilowatt 37. I barely remembered my childhood callsign but I taped out, with great difficulty, KBX1339. I do not even know if the callsign is still valid. But nothing was said about the old callsign. I struggled away for over an hour, taping away and copying. I had a very rough time but really enjoyed the CWQSO. Kilowatt 37, Joe, was very far away from me, over 1200 miles away. We agreed to meet on 40 USB again the next day. But radio conditions have not accommodated our long distance communication using my junk equipment. Citizens band has changed dramatically since I was young. The band is empty. I only hear some extremely far transmissions on channel 6 AM, and in channel 38 LSB. The transmission are very few and very far between. I still tap away a CQ on 40 USB from time to time. I have never heard from kilowatt 37, Joe, again. I really think CB is dead. Even entering my ancient callsign into the search bar, I get nothing.

I used the squeeze and buffer on iambic until I found a "limitation" such that at high speed, electronic keyer buffer weight and cadence causes buffer to actually lose track of rapid hits. Moving to the single lever Begali...mode B didn't cut it. Or even if I leave it on, I no longer use it. Just something to consider, not counterpoint.

This was a very informative explained video. Thank you brother for the lesson

I have used both (professionally) for years. For those already used to a use of traditional morse key and start using the paddle my tip is to use your other hand.

This is a real good video, the speaker explains well and has good use of the English language

This was really great! I think I’ll get a duel lever paddle key. It’s so much better than a straight key. Once one gets used to it, it seems like it would be very nice and smooth.

Still visit this video all the time. FB.

Thanks for the video. Well done. I am not a ham operator but I do listen in. On the 446.6400 SPARC repeater in CA. every other word is the F word. What's going on?

Great intro into CW, and love the video. Maybe a follow up video about modern training methods of learning CW? I'm using lwco online and some android apps to learn my alphabet

Very good demo Allen! Great to see as it is not taught as much by Elmer's anymore.

Nice video and explanation of the iambic. For the straight key, I wish you would have demonstrated the 3 finger grip and the use of the whole arm for controlled sending. 73 de HP1VWW dit dit

Good one, but I'm a recent Cootie convert- with the control of a straight and the ergonomics of the paddle.

Learned some stuff. Thanks.

Excellent! I'm learning CW now but didn't fully understand what Iambic was other than two paddles instead of one. Does everyone use dits on the left and dahs on the right? Is there a "left handed" mode? I'm a righty but curious now.

Hallo, i dont know how i got to this, but now i can at least say i learned the basics of mors code...... Thanks for the info

are there any of them without connecting to giant computers like those? just a small, pocket sized key

Morse code fascinates me and I am amazed how the iambic keyer worked. Thanks! Make more vids! Teach us Morse code!!

I have to think & that slows me down. I transmit slowly because I have to think about what I'm want to send, am sending, & any corrections. In receiving I must wait for the last tone & then spend time figuring out what the letter was. I'm not even up to the point of writing it down because of the excessive time delay. I can only think of 1 thing at a time & many times when one thought peg comes in, the previous peg gets pushed out. Once I get "lost" it's hard to find a new start point. Sort of like when a Square Dancing square breaks down & must wait for the Caller to call something that everyone can quickly get in the right position. It all takes practice which I can do on some weekends.

Excellent explanation of iambic keying. 73's

Where can you buy a straight key? and what for a straight key did you use?

very good

Helpful...I'm learning code and trying to decide what would be my best choice in a first key. Tnx

Do I still need a "dummy load" when practicing, if I turn QSK, VOX, Gain & power down???????????????????

When I run paddles my right thumb is dah, middle finger dit. Just feels natural. Obviously rules out the Vibroplex, but I never could manage one anyway.

I passed the 20 wpm test for the Extra class years ago, but it was a struggle. I guess I just didn't process the sounds well or something. I understand the advantages of cw, but I always like to hear a voice anyway. To this day I've never made a cw contact. I suppose I should brush up on it and try it one day, but to be honest I'd rather spend what little brain power I have left on chess.

Thanks for share your video! I'm studying for the HAREC exam and I'm interested in radio CW. What's is the best of those two types of keys for a noob that must learn from zero? 73!

Super helpful. But any video describing the connection to the electronic meter paddle to the transmitter and the signal that is sent when using CW? Ie. What tone frequency and how is that mixed with the carrier?

Very cool - Great content. Thanks.

What are you using for a practice tone generator?

this one is very beautiful！would you like to tell me where can Ibuy it？I want to buy two keys

Thank you Alan. I could get back to CW with paddles! I found that the VU2RWH/VU3XVR paddle which I bought has Iambic function as well. Tested it after seeing this video. 73 de Jon, VU2JO.

VERY well explained tutorial!!

Thanks Alan! Live long and prosper!

I started with the Bencher when I got my ticket but I've been trying to work a straight key lately. I always set my keyer to Iambic A but I didn't really know why, it just "worked better" for me :) 73 NE5U Mike

Awesome, thanks a lot. Could the Morse code be used in the event of a global communications stop?

I know this is probably sacrilege, but can you maybe go over the keyboard keyers and decoders from MFJ (or others ) I would like to at least listen to CW conversations on my Kenwood TS-830S, and possibly one day, even transmit...

Great Video, you are a natural teacher, thank you

The two finger device ist very strange but extrem cool

Could you tell me which model of Bencher you have on your video? thx.

That was great Alan very informative about Morse Code.

You might not be able to answer this, but what is your opinion on the best device for someone without a steady hand. I have a neurological condition.

🎉🎉🎉super episode tanq 😂😂😂❤❤

Extremely well done!

20 years ago, i went to germany to meet a ham i met on 20m cw. Before i left i made him a small box with a PIC processor tha flashed his call sign on a white led. He used it at night while out running. A local policeman decoded it and knew it was my.friend. pulled.him over. Kind of a neat story i thin k.

Very nice

In the process of learning cw. Got the alphabet and numbers learned and now focusing on hearing. Way harder and I am super slow. Like anything it will come with time and practice. Try to work on it daily with an app listening and inputing letters. Yet to work on keying. Very difficult skill to learn at least for me.

Grandpa will be love this

I don't think the operation of the iambic is something to be learned. You'll learn both short and long point memory as you play, right?

What is the purpose of using Morse code instead of using a microphone for verbal communication?

"Some people take a little liberty." So right! Some operators send a dit a microsecond long and a dah 500 milliseconds long. I guess they don't know how bad it sounds and how hard it is to listen and copy.

I'm 24 and learning morse code. I just wish I had real people to communicate with to make it easier

Great little review, nicely done - Thank you Alan 73 de W2DAB

Excellent video, thank you.

Its a good explaination, but many of the vessel ive been on dont have those switches. We have tap.

Nice Job! Are you aware of any software that will evaluate how well one is sending (correct character spacing) with a straight key?

Is it an Ipad? I really would like to use it on my lectures

100 years late but now I know!

Don't forget the Cootie key!

How to buy this new telegraph machine please help me

Now, the true question, just for curiosity.... is the F note the official note for the Morse code? Does it variate? Because all the videos I see of people sending Morse code, the note sounds the same hahahaha (don’t laugh at me, it is a true question, I don’t think there is a reason for it, or does it? 🤔)

Fabulous instruction!♡♡♡ Thank you! 🤜🏻👍🤛🏻

Fantastic video! 73!

Great idea Allan thanks

I learn morse. Since i memorise it, there' no transmitter so i use stapler insted of Morse Code Transmitter.