Let’s get the the truth out and see where we progress. Do I like slow morse? NO! I like to work about 18wpm which I am comfortable with on my straight key. Do I think that I am better than the slow Morse operator? NO! everyone is equal and we all had to start somewhere. Do I try to show off with my fast Morse? NO! I was trained at 30wpm but I like to have a relaxed QSO at 18wpm with my straight key and I would have to use my paddle key for faster speeds which I really don’t bother with. It is like driving a car at 60mph or 100mph, what speed would you be more relaxed driving at and not be tired at the end of the journey. Would I work a slow Morse station? YES! I would like to think that I am giving encouragement to a slow Morse station and help them progress in increasing their speed.

Before I continue, I would suggest you read Redefining Slow Morse in Amateur Radio if you have not already read it.

Recently on Fists there was a bit of conflict between them and us, Slow Operators and Fast Operators  the slow operators demanding more respect from the fast operators and my personal view on this matter was a complete misunderstanding. You must remember that the fast operators were once slow operators that have persevered with Morse to increase their speeds.You may get the occasional snooty operator but in life wherever you are, you will always find somebody who thinks that he is better than everyone else.

At the time when in the UK we had to take a compulsory 12wpm Morse test to get our Class A license after which we were able to work on the HF bands, 12wpm was considered slow Morse so what has changed? Since the 5wpm test was introduced, Even Slower Morse. I have worked the “Even Slower Morse” stations and my arm ached after the QSO’s but I had done my bit to try and encourage a station to keep practicing Morse and to increase their speed.

Now the quandary as you should know my views by now about slow Morse, if you are already using the Koch Method and your character speed is over 12wpm then good luck to you and keep sticking at it as it is well worth the effort. However if you are finding it difficult to increase your speeds because you have got the habit of counting the dots and dashes then the only way to progress is to retrain using the Koch Method and you will find that you are soon over your hurdles.

Good luck to you all and keep practicing