Just got my General and want to dive into CW but I'm completely overwhelmed by all the conflicting advice online. I keep reading about Koch method and Farnsworth method - which one should I actually use? Some people swear by one, others say the opposite. I'm interested in mastering this historical skill but don't want to waste time with the wrong approach.

What's worked for you experienced ops? Any specific software recommendations? I have an Android phone and Windows PC available.

You don't have to choose - Koch and Farnsworth aren't alternatives, you can use them together! Koch learning order with Farnsworth spacing is a great combination. Many successful learners combine both methods - start with Koch for the first 10-15 characters to build a strong foundation, then switch to Farnsworth to learn the remaining characters more quickly.

Koch method exposes you to full-speed Morse from day one, starting with just two characters played at full speed. Farnsworth involves learning at faster speed with longer spaces between characters - it helps you get accustomed to the rhythm without feeling overwhelmed. I personally used Koch with LCWO.net and it worked great.

For Android, I recommend Morse Trainer from Wolphi or Koch Morse Trainer Pro from Bit Ninja - both offer variable character speed, word speed, and Farnsworth spacing. The best feature is you can set them to speak the letters after playing the code - helps you hear the sound of the letter and not individual dits and dahs. Start with 20 WPM characters but slower effective speed.