How Do You Get Back Into Morse Code After a Break?

Start below your old speed, practice a little every day, and get back to copying real contacts quickly. The skill fades with time off, but it doesn't vanish, and most returning operators recover faster than they first learned.

Start slow, keep the characters fast

If you used to copy 20 WPM, restart around 12 to 15, or wherever copy feels easy and accurate. Keep the character speed high and add extra space between letters instead of slowing the letters down. That's Farnsworth spacing, explained in Koch vs Farnsworth.

Short, daily sessions

Fifteen minutes a day beats an hour on Saturday. Warm up on random characters in the practice trainer, then move on to words. Note which characters you miss (numbers and lookalike pairs such as B and 6 often go first) and drill those on their own.

Copy the real thing

Practice text isn't the same as the air. Listen to the CW end of a band and copy real contacts, which are full of abbreviations you may have forgotten.

The ARRL's station W1AW also sends scheduled code practice at speeds from 5 up to 35 WPM, using text from QST so you can check your copy. Then make a contact before you feel ready. Most operators will happily slow down for you.

Take a class

If you want structure, CWops CW Academy runs free online classes three times a year (January to February, May to June, and September to October). It's open to rusty operators who want their speed back, not just beginners. The how to learn Morse code guide covers the method if you'd rather go solo.