so ive been licensed for about 8 months now and i can copy at maybe 5wpm on a good day, sometimes a little faster if its someone sending really clean. i want to eventually get to 20wpm but honestly that feels like it might as well be the moon right now. ive been using the LCWO website and doing the Koch method but i keep stalling out around 8-9wpm and i dont know if im doing something wrong or if this is just normal and i need to be more patient.

one thing im wondering is whether i should be spending more time on just copying or also sending, because i read somewhere that sending helps with receiving but i havent really started using a paddle yet, still just on a straight key for now. any of you who went through this process have any thoughts on what actually made the difference? did you hit a wall somewhere and how did you get through it?

the wall around 8-10wpm is super common, almost everyone hits it. what happens is you start running out of time to think about each character individually and your brain hasnt quite switched over to recognizing whole letters as single sounds yet. the trick that worked for me was to just keep the speed up even when it feels uncomfortable — dont slow back down just because you're missing stuff. i know that sounds counterintuitive but if you keep practicing at the edge of what you can do, eventually it clicks.

also the Koch method is solid but you have to actually stick to it and not jump around. i know it feels boring doing the same letters over and over but that repetition is what builds the reflex. give it more time than you think you need before adding a new character.

as for sending vs receiving — yeah they do help each other but id focus on copying first since thats where most people struggle. the paddle can wait a bit, nothing wrong with the straight key for now.

im pretty much in the same boat as you actually, been stuck around 10wpm for a couple months. what i started doing recently is listening to real QSOs on the air even though i can only catch maybe half of it. something about hearing actual operators instead of computer generated tones feels different, like my brain pays more attention or something. theres a guy on 40m most evenings who sends really clean slow CW and ive just been tuning in and trying to copy whatever i can. probably only catching 30-40 percent of it but its way more fun than the practice software and i feel like its helping honestly.