Got my N3ZN Single-Lever Paddle out of storage, along with most of my POTA station. Despite being homeless and living in the hotel for the last few months (see my personal story on my website), I am trying to keep my brain active and that includes Morse code practice. Why? Besides the health benefit, I want to start getting out into the hotel parking lot and set up to work POTA stations.

Eventually, I will get to an official POTA-registered park, too. We became homeless just as I was planning on activating Ohio parks. Now, I am in Nebraska, and as a disabled veteran, can get into some parks without any big fees.

What is left before I can activate a POTA location? I need to find the antenna and coax assembly that I put together for the whole station. In the meantime, I am practicing to get the cobwebs out of my brain and re-learn that muscle memory. Will also do a lot of receiving practice. Gotta get my brain in gear! Read more about POTA, here. For live POTA on-air spotting, go here.

The Spark in the Wire: How Re-Learning Morse Code Rewires the Brain

There is a unique rhythm to Continuous Wave (CW) amateur radio. As I sit at the key, shaking off the cobwebs and practicing to regain that deep muscle memory, I can feel my brain kicking into a higher gear. It isn’t just about nostalgia or the thrill of making a contact through the static using nothing but tones. There is real, hard science behind why copying and sending Morse code feels like a cognitive tune-up.

In preparing to share this journey, I dove into the research surrounding how learning and practicing CW impacts our neurology. What I discovered confirms what many of us experienced operators have long suspected: Morse code is a powerhouse for brain health and cognitive longevity.

The Cognitive Science of CW

When we sit down for a session of receiving practice, we aren’t just listening to dots and dashes. We are engaging in a complex, multi-sensory cognitive exercise. Research shows that mastering Morse code alters the brain’s structure and functional connectivity in profound ways.

* Neuroplasticity in Action: Studies in neuroimaging have revealed that learning Morse code increases the microstructural integrity of the white matter tracts connecting the auditory and motor cortices. By translating sound directly into physical movement (sending) and physical movement or mental text into meaning (receiving), we are literally forging new neural pathways.

* Bi-Hemispheric Engagement: Unlike ordinary speech, which is heavily localized in the left hemisphere of the brain, processing Morse code recruits areas across both the left and right hemispheres. The left side handles the structural, analytical translation of the code, while the right side processes the rhythmic, musical elements of the pitch and timing.

* Enhancing Working Memory: Receiving CW at higher speeds requires a robust “audio buffer” in your working memory. You must hold the sounds of the characters in your mind, decode them, and write them down or copy them in your head, all while the next characters are already pouring into your ears. This builds tremendous cognitive reserve.

The Koch Method: Training the Brain the Right Way

When I first learned Morse code, and now as I work to bring that muscle memory back, the method of training matters immensely. Trying to count dots and dashes visually or memorizing a chart is a trap. It creates a cognitive bottleneck that falls apart at higher speeds.

That is where the Koch method comes in, a technique that aligns perfectly with how our brains naturally process fast, rhythmic information.

* Full Speed from Day One: Invented by German psychologist Ludwig Koch, this method dictates that you listen to characters at your target speed right from the start, typically 20 words per minute or faster.

* Preventing the “Counting” Habit: By keeping the character speed high, your brain is physically incapable of counting the individual dots and dashes. Instead, you are forced to learn the overall rhythmic “sound basket” or shape of the letter.

* Incremental Success: You start with just two characters. Once you can copy them with 90% accuracy, you add a third, then a fourth. This builds immediate, reflexive muscle memory rather than analytical translation.

CWops, CW Academy, and LICW: Modern Gold Standarda

In my exploration of modern training tools that honor this science, I found that the amateur radio community has perfected this instructional approach. Organizations like CWops, through their renowned CW Academy, have taken the core principles of the Koch method and elevated them for the modern era. Another adaptation from the Koch method is the Long Island CW group (LICW) website and support structure.

* Rhythm and Spacing: CW Academy utilizes effective spacing methods related to the Koch philosophy. They send characters at a high effective speed so your brain learns the correct sound patterns immediately, while widening the space between the characters to give your mind time to process them.

* Structured Discipline: Their programs offer the exact kind of structured environment required to overcome writer’s block or training plateaus. It combines the rigorous discipline of daily practice with the support of a community.

* Interactive Learning: By pairing rigorous receiving practice with peer interaction, they stimulate the social and cognitive centers of the brain simultaneously, maximizing the neuroplastic benefits of the hobby.

Final Thoughts: Getting the Gears Turning

Re-learning CW is more than just a return to a beloved pastime. It is a deliberate act of cognitive preservation. Every evening spent copy-practicing and burning those pathways back into my hands is an investment in focus, memory, and mental sharpness. The science proves it, but sitting at the desk, feeling the cobwebs clear as the code starts to flow naturally once again, is all the proof I truly need.

Here’s just some practice after adjusting the key gap spacing and tension.

In 2026, the ARRL is running a program to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States (America250). One part of this program is having designated hams activate W1AW (portable) in all 50 states. The operating is spread out over time, with a master schedule determining when each state will operate. W1AW/0 in Colorado Our ... Read more

The post Operating W1AW/0 on Pikes Peak appeared first on Above Average Terrain.

Show Notes

Topic Wheel

• Favorite Cartoon Character
  • Spoke about Favorite Animated Movies and Saturday Morning Cartoons
  • Favorite Disney Princess Movie

This Weekend in Hedonism

• Cheryl’s Recipe Corner
  • Chicken Paprikash
  • Description:
    • This was a fond memory of my childhood, and I’ve not eaten since I was probably 11 or 12… so I started throwing things together, came up with something very close to grandma’s recipe, and then through the power of Google I learned I had made, essentially, Chicken Paprikash. But, I did it as a one-pot meal. :-)
  • Ingredients
    • 2 cups uncooked Egg Noodles
    • 2 TBLS Butter
    • 4 Boneless/Skinless Chicken Breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces (thighs give the most flavor; substitute if desired)
    • Paprika (Hungarian is preferred, but regular will work)
    • Salt
    • Pepper
    • Garlic Powder
    • 1 TBLS Butter
    • 1/2 Cup Chopped Onion
    • Roasted Red Peppers (optional)
    • 2 TBLS Paprika
    • 2 cups Chicken Stock
    • 2 TBLS Tomato Paste (optional; provides color more than taste)
    • 1 TBLS Cornstarch
    • 8oz Sour Cream
  • Directions
    • Bring water to a boil in a skillet and cook egg noodles (or, you can serve the dish over rice). While pasta is boiling, cut the chicken into bite sized pieces and season it with paprika, salt, pepper and garlic powder (amount to your preference). Set aside. Once pasta is finished cooking, drain well and wipe out pan. Place the skillet back on the stove and add 2 TBLS butter; allow to melt, then add seasoned chicken pieces. Cook for about 10 minutes, then remove to a plate; set aside. Add 1 TBLS butter to skillet, allow to melt and add chopped onion and saute until soft. Add roasted red peppers to skillet, stir to mix. Add 2 TBLS Paprika to skillet, stir to combine with onions/peppers. Add Chicken Stock and tomato paste to pan, bring to a boil. Stir cornstarch into sour cream, add mixture to skillet and mix well. Add chicken and pasta back into skillet and simmer until warmed through.
  • Notes:
    • You can use Cream Cheese instead of sour cream. This will make the sauce thicker, so there is no need for the cornstarch.
    • Tomato paste is optional. It adds very little flavor to the dish, but DOES add the dark red coloring that is usually associated with Paprikash.
    • If you’re using standard paprika (what you’d typically pick up at the grocery store), you’ll need more and need to boost it with Cayenne Pepper - 1/8 teaspoon for every tablespoon standard paprika (if you’re not into spicy food, just sprinkle a tiny bit and taste to adjust the spice level as you go. Hungarian Paprika, depending on the version, can be VERY spicy)
    • Because I literally threw this together, you may want to add some seasonings to the sauce mixture; my chicken was heavily seasoned before I cooked it, so additional seasonings weren’t needed. But, I also taste-test as I go and adjust as needed.
    • I used Garlic powder with this, as “Jarlic” (the new name for jarred minced garlic) tends to be bitter… and since I was trying to recreate a recipe from 40+ years ago, I wanted to try to make it close to what my grandmother made (and Jarlic" didn’t exist back then). If you would like to use “Jarlic”, I would suggest adding a TINY bit of sugar, a little bit of melted butter and ONLY stir it in over the last minute or two of simmering (just long enough to get warm).
• Cheryl’s Mixed Drink Corner
  • Blueberry Lemonade
  • Description:
    • A refreshing mix of blueberries, lemonade and vodka
  • Ingredients
    • 1 cup of blueberries (frozen work fine)
    • 1/2 cup of sugar
    • 1/8 tsp of salt
    • 1/2 cup of lemon juice
    • 2 cups water
    • Vodka
  • Directions
    • Place blueberries, sugar, salt, lemon juice and water into blender and blend well. Place ice in glass, add 2oz Vodka (or Rum, if preferred) and top with lemonade mixture
  • Notes:
    • Taste lemonade mixture once blended; if it’s not sweet enough, either add more sugar and re-blend OR add simple syrup to your drink. Leave the alcohol out for just a refreshing drink or something fun for the kiddos!
    • You can use this recipe and substitute any berries… strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, etc. (fresh or frozen)
• Russ’s Drink Corner (now hijacked by Cheryl - and probably occasionally by Bill!)
  • Item: Joseph Magnus Bourbon Cigar Blend
  • Description: I purchased this to take specifically to Hamvention; I picked it because of the ABV (which was Russ’s age). We shared a dram, around the firepit at the hotel, with Steve-KJ5T, on Saturday night.
  • Info: Batch 457 / Bottle #20 (Purchased in late April 2026 from Total Wine in Springfield, MO - $259.99)
  • Mash: Undisclosed; Batch-specific blend of various aged bourbons sourced from different distilleries, primarily MGP and Barton, combined with their proprietary Triple Cask whiskey. Because each batch is uniquely crafted by Master Blender Nancy Fraley to achieve a specific flavor profile that stands up to a cigar, exact mash bill percentages vary from batch to batch. However, all batches follow a blueprint of blending high-rye and low-rye base bourbons.
  • Aroma: (All tasting notes were taken from Nancy Fraley’s Blog) A range of savory and sweet mint notes along with dark berries and citrus fruit, from a blackberry Bourbon smash cocktail with muddled mint, candied blood orange citrus wheels, and chocolate mint chip ice cream.
  • Taste: Breathtaking sensations of wintergreen mint, tobacco, chewing gum, Sarsaparilla, and Thai sweet basil with ripe mango.
  • Finish: Long and savory, with lemon balm tea, crème de menthe, and Cuban mojito cocktails with mint and lime.
  • ABV: 56.19
  • Score: 85
• Bill’s Whatever Corner
  • Item: Piney River Brewing - Bucyrus, MO - Various

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• Announcements:
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    • Support us via Patreon, Paypal, Merch, Sharing the Podcast via Social Media, and Rating Us in your Podcast Application!
  • We need your feedback!
    • Comments, Questions, Show Topic Ideas! Email us at [email protected]
  • Repeater for sale!
    • Former AF0SS Repeater - Yaesu DR1X Refurb, HRI-200, and BpBr Circuit WP-639 4-Cavity Duplexer. Package deal, if interested contact [email protected].
  • Memorial Service for Russ, K5TUX
    • There will be a memorial service held for Russ at our home in Mt. Vernon, Missouri on November 1, 2026. Everyone is welcome! If you’d like to join us, please send an email to [email protected] and we’ll send you more info!
    • https://lhs.fyi/mem
  • Dayton Hotel is booked!
    • Booking opened this morning for Marriott properties in the Dayton area, and we will be staying at Springhill Suites Beavercreek, which is where we stayed this year, and it’s about 10 minutes from Hamvention. When I booked this morning, the cancelable rate was about $175 a night - cancel through May 18, 2026. Convenient to a ton of restaurants, a Walmart, etc.

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Ham College episode 140 is now available for download.

General Class Exam Questions Part 1.
G1A – General class control operator frequency privileges. Primary and secondary allocations.

https://hamcollege.tv

Download
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In this milestone episode of Ham College, “Ham College 140: Beginning Amateur Radio General Class Studies,” Professor Thomas and Dean Martin transition from Technician level studies to the General Class amateur radio license.

Here is a summary of the key topics covered:

In this milestone episode of Ham College, “Ham College 140: Beginning Amateur Radio General Class Studies,” Professor Thomas and Dean Martin transition from Technician level studies to the General Class amateur radio license.
Here is a summary of the key topics covered:
Transitioning to General Class
The Appeal: The hosts discuss why creators should upgrade to General Class, primarily for the expanded HF (High Frequency) privileges that allow for worldwide communication beyond the limited “sliver” available to Technicians on 10 meters.
Exam Details: They break down the Element 3 exam: 35 questions total, with a requirement of 26 correct answers (74%) to pass. The full question pool contains 425 questions.
Study Resources: Recommended materials include the Gordon West General Class study guide, ARRL license manuals, and the question pools available at ncvec.org.
Technical & Regulatory Review:
The episode dives into specific sub-elements of the General Class exam, including:
Operating Privileges: Understanding frequency allocations and where General Class operators are prohibited from transmitting (specifically segments on the 80, 40, 20, and 15-meter bands reserved for Extra Class).
Modes & Power: A review of power limits (up to 1,500W PEP for General, with some exceptions like 30m and 60m) and mode-specific segments (CW, Phone, Image, and Data).
Secondary Usage: Explanation of what it means to be a “secondary user” on a band (e.g., on 60 meters), emphasizing that amateur stations must not interfere with primary users and must accept any interference from them.
Channel Announcement:
A major highlight of this episode is the announcement that Ham College is moving to its own dedicated YouTube channel (Ham College TV). While it remains part of the Amateur Logic family and will still stream live at live.amateurlogic.tv, recorded episodes will now be hosted on this new separate channel, https://youtube.com/HamCollege-ALTV .
The episode concludes with a practice quiz where the hosts (and the live chat) test their knowledge on frequency segments and band regulations, providing a helpful review for anyone looking to upgrade their license before upcoming events like Field Day.

This CQ WW WPX contest was my first major contest in a few years, as we are usually away on vacation and I end up missing it.

This year, my best bands were 20m during the daytime and early evening, before moving over to 40m later in the evening. Overall, the early evening and nighttime hours seemed to be the most productive, with both 20m and 40m really opening up.

During the daytime, I just could not get a good run going. At times, it felt like I was simply calling “CQ Contest” into the ether with very little response. Because of that, this contest turned into mostly search-and-pounce for me, with only the occasional attempt at running.

Throughout the daytime hours, I kept VFO A on 20m and VFO B on either 15m or, at times, 10m, constantly watching for openings. When conditions looked promising, I would jump down to those bands and was able to pick up additional contacts on 15m and 10m. Most of my 10m contacts ended up being with South America.

One thing that definitely kept me in the radio chair was the weather. It was quite chilly here, with daytime highs reaching only 8°C and evening temperatures dropping to around 2°C. In fact, I even had to break out the portable heater I use to keep my hands warm. I find that when my hands get cold, they just do not work as well on the keyboard when entering call signs and serial numbers.

This was also the first major contest for my new Icom 7610, and I am happy to say it performed flawlessly throughout the event. 

Show Notes

Featured Topic:

• Andy Stewart KB1OIQ - Andy’s Ham Radio Linux
  • Andy’s Ham Radio Linux - https://lhs.fyi/2j
  • EMA ARRL Biography - https://lhs.fyi/LF
  • XLog - https://lhs.fyi/LG

Announcements & Feedback:

• Announcements:
  • Support the show!
    • Support us via Patreon, Paypal, Merch, Sharing the Podcast via Social Media, and Rating Us in your Podcast Application!
  • We need your feedback!
    • Email us at [email protected]
  • Repeater for sale!
    • Former AF0SS Repeater - Yaesu DR1X Refurb, HRI-200, and BpBr Circuit WP-639 4-Cavity Duplexer. Package deal, if interested contact [email protected].
  • Memorial Service for Russ, K5TUX
    • There will be a memorial service held for Russ at our home in Mt. Vernon, Missouri on November 1, 2026. Everyone is welcome! If you’d like to join us, please send an email to [email protected] and we’ll send you more info!
    • https://lhs.fyi/mem
• Feedback:
  • Email received on May 21st from Don - KJ5MVN
    • Much appreciate your podcast and listen when I can. I would love to hear more for beginning DragonOS/Linux users. I certainly know enough to be dangerous, so need to upgrade my old Hp-UX. I am having issues with updates/upgrades on my old ASUS repurposed laptop. It is failing to boot on the new upgrades linux versions. I replaced the old HD drive with a SSD, when I put it together. I did the DragonOS and 73Linux install from Ham Radio Crusader. I have updated to wsjt-x 3.0 and it works well. Also installed gridtracker2, so it will update my QRZ log for me. I want to get PotaCat running so I can tie to my new ic7300 Mk2 and run it remote from my tablet or phone. Mostly using it for wsjt-x, with gridtracker2. I want to take this laptop to the field for POTA activations and expand on its use. Satellite tracking is another area, as well. So in general anything on DragonOS maintenance, adding new apps like POTACat, gridtracker2 or other interesting HAM tools to the mix would be great! Also any basic Linux tools to manage it. I still need to learn how to add access to my wifi printer and other pcs as well. Ham On and blessing to the Ham Shack family from Texas.
    • 73 - Don - KJ5MVN
  • Email received on May 24th from Bob K4RFK
    • He just a quick suggestion, look into potacat. Its a very interesting new program for doing POTA both on your computer and remotely.

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