so i've been licensed for almost 4 years now and i kept telling myself i'd learn morse code eventually and just never did. finally sat down this winter and started going through the Koch method on lcwo.net and im actually making progress, got up to maybe 15 wpm copying on a good day though sending is way behind that still.

my main question is about paddles vs a straight key. i started on a straight key because everyone said to learn the rhythm that way first but now im looking at getting a paddle and a keyer and i honestly dont know where to start. theres so many options and the price range is insane, like you can spend $40 or $400 and i cant tell if the expensive ones are actually worth it or if im just paying for nice machining.

also — any tips for that gap between being able to copy at 15 wpm on a computer but completely falling apart when someone is actually calling you on the air? like my brain just freezes. feels like i know the code until i actually have to use it in real time with pressure

oh man the freeze thing is so real, i had that for probably the first six months of actually getting on 40m CW. what helped me was just jumping into the shallow end and calling CQ myself at like 13 wpm and letting whoever responds set the pace from there. most people will qrs if you ask and experienced CW ops are almost always patient with newer folks.

on the paddle question — honestly you dont need to spend a lot to start. i used a cheap chinese iambic paddle for over a year before i upgraded and it was fine once i adjusted the tension and the gap. the MFJ-564 or similar clones are not pretty but they work. when you do know what feel you like then maybe look at something nicer but dont let gear be the thing that slows you down from actually getting on the air. the keyer built into most modern rigs is totally adequate too, you dont need a standalone keyer unless your radio doesnt have one.

the expensive paddles are mostly about feel and longevity and yeah the machining, some guys just love how a good Begali or Schurr feels and thats valid but its not a requirement at all

im kind of in the same boat as you, been at it since spring and copying is way easier than sending for me too. one thing that helped my sending was slowing way down and really focusing on making clean dits and dahs instead of rushing. like i was trying to send at the speed i could copy and it just came out garbled.

havent made my first CW qso yet but getting close i think