Have the patience of a gnat but want to become the next Morse code master? The Koch Method can help you get it done. While other methods of learning Morse code slow down how fast characters are sent by inserting extra spacing or silence between the characters—like the Farnsworth Method—with the Koch Method you can dit and dah just as fast as you want.
The idea was developed in the 1930s by German psychologist Ludwig Koch, who believed that learning Morse code at the same speed that you receive transmissions (20 WPM or faster) allows you to simultaneously train your reflexes while learning the characters for a faster overall learning process.
Newbies begin training learning only two characters—but at full speed—then copying the characters by writing or typing both out. This is a far cry from most Morse code training methods that focus on very slow transmission speeds with lots of pauses until you really learn the ropes.
Students learning the Koch Method are then tested in short, five-minute sessions. Those who get 90 percent or more of the characters correct advance to the next level of training to learn an additional character. And so on and so forth until you’re a total pro. It’s a great way to learn the sometimes tricky art of CW without any painstaking pauses or gaps to slow down your mojo.
Ready to get started? First head to DXEngineering.com to grab your very own paddle, key, or bug, plus pick up some tips from this Morse code tutorial, Morse Code Operating for Amateur Radio, from the ARRL.
