I have all of my pre-reqs for 500 NC done except flashing light. What seems like one of the easiest tests is the hardest. I pretty much have the morse code memorised but I cant get my brain wrapped around reading it so I can write it down. Does anyone have any tips on how I can beat this?? I have the hawspipe.net disk but I just cant get my brain to work fast enough. Thanks.
I thought it was easier to write down the code . After the test is over go back and write in the letters . I was told when practicing to write the letter as it flashing , I had no luck with that . Don’t get excited if you miss a letter as the test repeats itself . If you miss a flash refocus on the next letter and catch the letter or group you missed in the next frame . Hope this advice helps .
I’ve passed all mine with 95 or better, 3M to Master AGT/O, using this simple technique: tap out and mentally dit-dah all the sample transmissions you can find from your answer key, study guide or wherever. Do this repeatedly for a week or two- maybe keep the sample sheet in the head, you know you can get a good 15-20 mins uninterrupted there (hopefully!). This assumes that you have the letters and numbers pretty well memorized. Eventually, and sooner than you think, you will recognize the patterns, and if you put in enough time, as soon as you see the first combination, you’ll have all the answers. I bought the flashing light from MITAGS, but didn’t use it all that much. Basically, you’re memorizing all the problems- I think sounding it in your head and tapping it with a finger or pencil helps imprint it in your brain. It also helps to work on and perfect your writing without looking skills. The bottom line is you have to put some time into it-- it ain’t rocket surgery, but if it means a better job, more money or leverage with a current employer, you should be willing to work at it. Now, why we have to go through this nonsense to advance our license is a topic for another day…
I found that putting one hand on the paper, to keep your physical frame of reference so that you NEVER look down at the page. I am a visual learner, and know that if I take my eyes off the light, I will misplace the pen on the paper. Then I will never get back into the groove.
I never get the sounds. The aural sounds don’t do it for me.
There is nothing so frustrating as looking down at you paper, and seeing that the paper shifted, and all my letters are out of order, or off by a half a line.
I used my fingertips, as a guide, to give me five lines to write on, and I started at the little finger, and worked my way down to the thumb. Knowing as long as I didn’t move the left hand, i have everything in order, and when done writing I can go back and interpret my letters and form groups.
[QUOTE=cmaq;47275] Now, why we have to go through this nonsense to advance our license is a topic for another day…[/QUOTE]
The last foreign flag ship I was on had their trusty Aldis lamp in the corner of the WH, hanging on a hook. I asked the Capt the last time it was used. he said he couldn’t recall.
But we are supposed to conform to international STCW licensing levels. Why? Even the foreign ships don’t use the lamps!
i just took blinker light to upgrade to 2m, i first memorized the alphabet using sayings ie, Every (.) Indian (…) Seeks (…) Help (…) To () Make ( _ ) Olives (_ _ _). after i learned all the letters, i used the program SuperAlids to help study. When i took the actual test, i still wrote down the dash and dots for every letter, when the test was over i wrote up my alphabet and then went in and filled in what ever letters i missed. Hope that helps.
I first learned the Morse Code COLD, (you can’t just "pretty much have the morse code memorised "). Then everywhere I went I used a flashlight with a blinker button on it to translate every sign, and label etc that I saw into Morse Code against the bulkhead. This way I was sending Code and I was looking at what I was sending and so got used to reading it. It’s not hard, you’ll get it!
I have the letters memorized and if I’m looking at the dots and dashes on a page I can tell you, but as soon as you start flashing at me I get lost.
What I tried doing was just looking at the screen at writing down the dots and dashes by feel, but that didn’t work because my dots and dashes would start looking the same.
Then it dawned on me to just write L for long and S for short. Even if they look REALLY bad you can write those by feel and look nothing alike. And BOOM I had it. Also I would write them going down as this helps keep me from bunching them up if I write them across. I made a 100 on my exam and I have strong dyslexic tendencies, so give it a try and see how it works for you.
Now I will warn you when you try to use the Hawspiper disk on the final exam you will get all the codes right, but I had a hell of a time finding there meaning in the copy of the International Code of Signal’s they have on the disk. Also unlike on the disk the exam all the important stuff repeats twice, so that helps big time.
I thought I had the alphabet memorized, until I saw the flashing light on the computer in front of me. What it took for me was writing the dit-dahs and then the corresponding letter. It also helped me to practice sending code with a flashlight . Once it came time to test, the instructor told me to only focus on the first, third, fifth letter. On the repeat, focus on the second and forth. This way, it gave me time to recognize what I was seeing instead of getting lost in the signal.
Now, if I could only get that “Approved to Test” letter, I’ll be doing good…
[QUOTE=Jemplayer;47368]I have the letters memorized and if I’m looking at the dots and dashes on a page I can tell you, but as soon as you start flashing at me I get lost.
What I tried doing was just looking at the screen at writing down the dots and dashes by feel, but that didn’t work because my dots and dashes would start looking the same.
Then it dawned on me to just write L for long and S for short. Even if they look REALLY bad you can write those by feel and look nothing alike. And BOOM I had it. Also I would write them going down as this helps keep me from bunching them up if I write them across. I made a 100 on my exam and I have strong dyslexic tendencies, so give it a try and see how it works for you.
Now I will warn you when you try to use the Hawspiper disk on the final exam you will get all the codes right, but I had a hell of a time finding there meaning in the copy of the International Code of Signal’s they have on the disk. Also unlike on the disk the exam all the important stuff repeats twice, so that helps big time.[/QUOTE]
Thats what I was trying to do not take my eyes off the screen and write the dot-dits but they look the same. Ill try the l and s hopefully it will work! Thanks!
I just completed Flashing Light for the last time. I took it at Casey’s Celestial Navigation School in Panama City, FL. $150 bucks, no credit cards. Earnie is a good guy. I would recommend this place to a friend for flashing light.
http://www.sealiftcommand.com/caseys-celestial-navigation-school
I downloaded the trial version Blinking light Demo. After refreshing with this free download I was able to go in and take the exam no problem. This free download is only good for 15 days so when you download it, make sure you will be able to go take the test within that time. I did constantly write down the alphabet in dots and dashes to make it stick.
Very happy this is the last time, though.
call bob arnold at sea school in st petersburg, florida. he will guide you on the correct way to prep for the test. you can take it at his office with an appointment.
Go see Capt Ken at LE Fletcher, he has a good method of teaching and you will know the code when you are finished
[QUOTE=cappy208;47278]I found that putting one hand on the paper, to keep your physical frame of reference so that you NEVER look down at the page. I am a visual learner, and know that if I take my eyes off the light, I will misplace the pen on the paper. Then I will never get back into the groove.
I never get the sounds. The aural sounds don’t do it for me.
There is nothing so frustrating as looking down at you paper, and seeing that the paper shifted, and all my letters are out of order, or off by a half a line.
I used my fingertips, as a guide, to give me five lines to write on, and I started at the little finger, and worked my way down to the thumb. Knowing as long as I didn’t move the left hand, i have everything in order, and when done writing I can go back and interpret my letters and form groups.[/QUOTE]
This is what I did too… I folded a blank sheet of paper and draped one half of it over the top of the light - it helped diffuse the light so it gave it a bigger glow, and didn’t narrow my focus in too much on the light bulb itself. Otherwise I tended to get “mesmerized” by the light and lose my groove. Then I propped my feet up and placed my notepad on a clipboard and put it on my knees- that way the notes I was taking was just below the light in my field of vision, so I could fairly easily see both using peripheral vision. That was the technique I used the last two times and it worked great for me. You’ll still need to know the code though… LOL! For this I used flash cards over and over and over and… you get the point. I also wrote out the alphabet on a piece of paper and filled in the corresponding code next to it as fast as I could, backwards and forwards.
Also, among other recommendations, go visit the STAR Center in Dania Beach, FL- I found their course helpful as well.
Eish Tmo… good thread, look it up.
to pass the test dont look at the screen. use your peripheral vision. it is much easier and write down what you see. Know the morse alphabet.
It took me several days to finally memorize the alphabet. I downloaded superAldis3, but I wanted the actual test bank the schools use. SuperAldis3 allows you to type in letters/numbers and then randomly groups them into 5 letter/character strings that go on and on. However, if you don’t want to do that (as was said in a previous post) you can download the trial version of blinking light from Hawsepipe.net. It is good for 15 days, so wait to download it until you are actually going to test. It has the actual tests (minus a few functions the full version has).
The way I was finally able to do it confidently was to have my pad of paper up close to the computer screen (laid down on keyboard or close to it) and you can see the flashing light on the screen pretty well out of the corner of your eye. I am able to look at the pad of paper the whole time as long as I can see the flash off to the side.
I will be taking the test at Crawford Nautical in Seattle tomorrow and I’ve heard the light is bright enough you can see it bouncing off the walls of the small, dark test room. If you are affraid of not being able to look at your pad of paper (like I was) this might be a method you can use.
Wait wait .i just recently got my 500 and was informend that a 500 or 1600 was no longer needed.i was laying in bed and early one morning i got a call from rec virgina saying con grats for passing my test,i informed the person i was getting ready to go away to a school and study and test for my flashing light .the person on the line informed me there had been some changes . My mind went oh hell now waht .the person informed me flashing light is no more for a 500 or 1600 .i sat there in space not be able to belive what i had been told .i was in space for 2 days with disbelif.i hope this is your case also .i have my creditnals in hand and i am still in schock that indeed it was true and have my licsene as proof. I hope this is your case, it may be over for you.and I was going ot go to Crawfords to .Chat with PATSI there .who knows I might have jusy been lucky it seems REC changes daily not weekly.
Cheers
[QUOTE=mradventure;49702]Wait wait .i just recently got my 500 and was informend that a 500 or 1600 was no longer needed.i was laying in bed and early one morning i got a call from rec virgina saying con grats for passing my test,i informed the person i was getting ready to go away to a school and study and test for my flashing light .the person on the line informed me there had been some changes . My mind went oh hell now waht .the person informed me flashing light is no more for a 500 or 1600 .i sat there in space not be able to belive what i had been told .i was in space for 2 days with disbelif.i hope this is your case also .i have my creditnals in hand and i am still in schock that indeed it was true and have my licsene as proof. I hope this is your case, it may be over for you.and I was going ot go to Crawfords to .Chat with PATSI there .who knows I might have jusy been lucky it seems REC changes daily not weekly.
Cheers[/QUOTE]
Maybe you should take the money you saved by not having to take flashing light and enroll in an english grammar course.
Kiss my ass! I am sure you can read that. humm I see you post alot .May I suggest you keep your negitivty to your self.I posted to help someone.
[QUOTE=mradventure;49707]Kiss my ass! I am sure you can read that. humm I see you post alot .May I suggest you keep your negitivty to your self.I posted to help someone.[/QUOTE]
I wish you would use the spell check. I am posting to help someone, too. YOU! I may be negative, but I am positive my 10 year old son can spell better than you.