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Morse Code Apnea	Reply
by KN1W on November 10, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
The other night I discovered that when trying to copy at higher speeds I hold my breath, the higher the speed the more I do it. If the speed is above my comfort zone I can only copy code for one minute before I start getting dizzy and lightheaded. Any tips on breathing techniques when copying fast code? May be I need more beta blockers or some other medication, Hi Hi! de KN1W

RE: Morse Code Apnea	Reply
by WB2WIK on November 11, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
I never heard of this before. Sounds like you're concentrating too much on "copying" and not letting the information just flow. If you're writing down the code "copy," perhaps it would help if you stop writing it and just listen.

RE: Morse Code Apnea	Reply
by KN1W on November 11, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
This happens when I am doing head copy, You are right I don't let the information just flow, I want to copy every single letter sent. Now that I've recognized this, I am able to relax a bit and let the code flow. It will take a while. Thank you very much for your comments, I enjoy your postings in the amp forum very much and here of course. Take Care, De KN1W

RE: Morse Code Apnea	Reply
by WQ3T on November 12, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
Try listening to code without attempting to copy it. I found the best way to go from writing down each letter to hearing the words by head copy is to simply listen to lots of QSOs in my spare time. If this seems like re-learning, you're right. Code becomes much easier to copy when you aren't concentrating on getting each letter down.

RE: Morse Code Apnea	Reply
by VA3TSK on November 12, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
Some years ago, when I had both spare time and spare cash, I learned how to scuba dive and to fly small aircraft. If you look at the training for both hobbies, it mostly has to do with not panicking when things go wrong. Both instructors taught that during times of stress we had to remember to breathe. Seriously, they taught me to remember to breathe. Consciously and continuously. It's good advice. You'd be surprised how often you forget to breathe and it magnifies a difficult situation. Cheers, Greg, VA3TSK

RE: Morse Code Apnea	Reply
by AB8ZX on November 21, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
next to radio, my next favorite thing is playing the drums. when I first started out playing, I noticed that when I'd go to do a fill, I'd hold my breath, which would cause me to speed up or slow down the tempo coming out of the fill. same sort of thing... remember to breathe!

RE: Morse Code Apnea	Reply
by W9OY on November 28, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
The brain has 2 separate feed back mechanisms that force breathing. It is one of the most protected activities in the body. Think what it feels like when you're 20ft under water. The most sensitive is CO2 blood levels and the backup is O2 levels. I don't know why your copy is heightened with breath holding but you do not have to remember to breath 73 W9OY

RE: Morse Code Apnea	Reply
by AJ4DW on December 5, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
W9OY is sort of correct... you don't have to remember to breathe (you will eventually)... you have to remember to not hold your breath. Difference. 73 de AJ4DW MD ("me doctor")

RE: Morse Code Apnea	Reply
by KE3WD on December 13, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
Put a small SW receiver with BFO on the night table, use earpiece so as not to bother the XYL if that is a factor, and practice lying there at night copying CW in your head while relaxed. Use the W1AW code practice broadcasts at 10PM also. This only works if you practice it often for awhile, but it will work, just like with piano lessons. KE3WD

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