I'm an American No-code Extra Class ham. But I am learning CW now because it is a very simple code that can be transmitted using ANY sort of either/or medium, from tapping sounds to flashing lights. I had one friend, an engineer send paragraphs of error code info from a hard-drive he had designed. He received all of the error-code text with just an activity LED on the drive prototype. If you know CW, it's that simple. So a CW radio transmitter design can be very, very simple. It's just an on/off carrier. An oscillator will do for a low power transmitter. As for reception, very simple receivers can effectively receive very weak signals. So CW transceivers can be very low power, very simple, very effective rigs. That's hard to beat.

I remember taking my Morse test at the Coast Guard station, Trusthorpe so long ago I can't remember the year. I was so nervous. The test was in a large room. Remember it as simular to one of the old school labs. He sent me the test piece and I copied it down then let me have a couple of minutes to make corrections. That went well I thought as I gave it back to him, and he read it and put it to one side. Then it was my turn. It was an old brass key, heavy and clamped to the bench. My hand was shaking as I sent the test piece and there were so many extra dots, well I struggled through, feeling I had blown it. He stopped me let me take a breath a few kind words and I finished it off thinking I had failed. But nevertheless, he shook my hand and gave me a pass. Commenting I should get more practice but to stick with it. I would like to say a big thank you to John Wittington G3OZO from WARS club who taught me CW. He could send, drink a pint and carry on a conversation with someone at the other end of the room. Sadly, he passed several years ago. I have always loved CW but work and family meant I had a break and now getting back into it. Can't say I've improved since the 12 WPM and I still struggle to send as old age bites, but it's the favourite part of the band for me. Many thanks for the videos, Peter 73's de G4YWX. Allan

Samuel f b Morse took the credit for the work by Alfred Vail who finalised the code though people still say Morse was the actual inventor either way it's an art form that I like using . Where phone contacts fail CW usually gets through that's the beauty of it

To me its like back in the 80's when most bands actually played their own instruments instead of sampling others previously written music like they do today...CW is something that I think is crucial to learn or it will become a lost art just like playing a musical instrument is becoming today. .

A good summary, Peter..also worth mentioning the added bonus advantage of instant feedback from the Reverse Beacon Network, which you have demonstrated in a previous video..73..John..G4EIJ

In addition to all the practical advantages of cw, I find it fun to be able to operate a paddle or key efficiently. The acquired skill is enjoyable in and of itself. Collecting keys is another facet of that I and others enjoy.

I'm not that good at the code, but I told one of my sons that if I ever become paralyzed or incapacitated, make sure you put my keyer and paddle near my hand so that with minimal movements I can communicate!

Digital communications are 200 years old. CW can be understood through high noise.

Thanks for the great video on morse code. Just because a technology isn't new, doesn't mean it should be tossed out. Morse works very well. There are a lot of hams who still use RTTY in spite of how long it has been around. There are even some using FeldHell, which has also been around a long time. I enjoy working these modes and CW. I'm not very fast at CW, I tend to hit the wall at around 17WPM, but I still enjoy working it even now. I don't think one has to be fast at CW to enjoy it.

As always, great video. I’ve been a ham for almost 4 years and on cw for two years. Learning it was very difficult. I can copy about 20wpm but can only head copy about 15wpm. I am cw only now mainly because I need to practice every day. I can reach many more ops on cw than I can on SSB. I run barefoot with an end fed and can work most ops that I can hear. Also, it’s great for portable QRP ops like SOTA and POTA. Most SOTA ops operate QRP because they have to carry all the gear up a mountain. On SOTA activations I always get about 25-40 QSOs with 5 watts. Finally, cw is a lot of fun. Thanks Pat K7GUD.

I am a slow learner and I have tried to learn it from when I was a kid and tried to remember it from the chart in our family encyclopedia set and old MFJ key and Heath oscillator. Still trying, but now using LICW methods and getting the letters, numbers, LICW basic punctuation and pro-signs at 18/8 and trying to narrow up my spacing. Even if I never get on the air with my newer keys, it is still a mental challenge to help my brain do what it can do within its limits.

I'm 50 and ive just started re-learning the code. Youre right. more than anything its fun to learn new skills.

Very good video Peter..

There's a lot of Mike shy operators out there which would mite benefit from using CW.

CW is great fun. Thanks. 73.

CW as the marmite of ham radio...hilarious!

I didn't see the point in CW/Morse back in '76 when I got my Novice license, and I still don't. It still seems more of a Cult thing, rather than practical. If CW was so great we'd learn it as children rather than speech, and I've never heard of any group communicating face to face going daw dit daw dit, dah dah dit daw. Most of the "skills" we learn in ham radio cross over to other aspects of life, but not CW.

Just got back home from a Morse code class at my radio club, and have also joined LICW a few months ago. The learning process is challenging but also very enjoyable. Why do it? Well because you can is the best reason for me. Why walk or run if you can get there by car or bus? Why learn to play violin, it is more than 200 years old, yet people still do it. Sure, the convenience that small and cheap transceivers bring is a plus, but main reason, it is very fun to do and has that old school vibe. ..

I am 43 now and trying to learn this art , I must say when listening at QSOs on the radio I find it is so fast I have no chance .its nice when I find a slower guy. Also straight or paddle for beginners?

I'm a new ham. I got my USA General license a little over a year ago, Technician a few months before that. I promised myself, for no particular reason, that I'd learn Morse code before taking the Amateur Extra exam. As part of my Morse studies, I've recently acquired a British military WT8 No.2 Mk. III key. 73 de KN6NPZ, San Jose, California.