Learning Morse code

[coldshot]

I'm interested in learning Morse code. I'd like to get a straight key and use a practice oscillator. I'd also like to be able to plug it into something (ideally my laptop) that will decode my Morse so that I can verify that I'm doing it correctly and so I will also know how I'm doing on speed. My google-fu is weak and I can't seem to find anything that fits the bill. Any suggestions?

Thanks, Cold

[Tater Raider]

Because visualizing may help.

I keyed in some google, but beyond the initial I'm not sure what plaform or extras you are looking for so... link

[ProstheticWeasel]

I have been using this site. http://lcwo.net

[TacAir]

http://www.g4fon.net/CW%20Trainer.htm

start with characters set for 13 to 15 WPM sent at a 5 wpm rate.

Don't try to visualize it, it will just slow you down.

Koch method was used by the US military - very effective.

Enjoy.

My daughter got up to 30 wpm before she lost interest....

[roscoe]

I did it by memorizing the morse pyramid. Got up to 10 wpm in a two weeks, then figured that was good enough since it is so rare to use nowadays. If you have a laminated version of this, you should always be able to do 5-10 WPM:

[txKingfisher]

I submit the argument that morse code is USELESS!!!!

I had to learn it for my (Ship) Captains License and I forgot all of it 30 seconds after I passed the test. The coast guard doesnt have to know it so why the hell should I?

OP, I suggest you find a more worthy area of your preps to focus your time and energy that would be of greater benefit. If you are really that excited about morse code though, have fun!

Edit: Yes, I know learning morse code is the first step to getting a HAM license. However, OP didn't cite this as a reason for wanting to learn.

[ProstheticWeasel]

I submit the argument that morse code is USELESS!!!!

I had to learn it for my (Ship) Captains License and I forgot all of it 30 seconds after I passed the test. The coast guard doesnt have to know it so why the hell should I?

OP, I suggest you find a more worthy area of your preps to focus your time and energy that would be of greater benefit. If you are really that excited about morse code though, have fun!

Edit: Yes, I know learning morse code is the first step to getting a HAM license. However, OP didn't cite this as a reason for wanting to learn.

You don't have to learn morse for a ham license anymore. As to it being useless. If you are into low power then you can't ask for much more to reach out long distances than morse. It may be useless in the era of cell phones and cheap frs radios but it only takes the removal of the thin veneer and any contact with other groups will be welcome.

There are lots of useless bits on a captains license. How often do you use a paper chart and parallel dividers when navigating? gps has pretty much made that a thing of the past. The past can come back quickly and relearning the lessons may be painful.

[Fletch]

Hey, I don't know if you have an android/iphone, but I just scanned the android market and found a ton of morse code learning/practice apps - maybe you should have a gander

I don't think it's a bad thing to want to learn, I've seen movies; if I'm ever handcuffed to a radiator I'll be able to escape by tapping out SOS!

[txKingfisher]

You don't have to learn morse for a ham license anymore. As to it being useless. If you are into low power then you can't ask for much more to reach out long distances than morse. It may be useless in the era of cell phones and cheap frs radios but it only takes the removal of the thin veneer and any contact with other groups will be welcome.

There are lots of useless bits on a captains license. How often do you use a paper chart and parallel dividers when navigating? gps has pretty much made that a thing of the past. The past can come back quickly and relearning the lessons may be painful.

I use a paper chart and dividers on every voyage.

If things have gotten bad enough that people don't have the capabilities of voice transmission, then I doubt many people will have the capability to transmit out Morse Code.

[taz-hein]

in my area I'm surrounded by wires, noise, stucco houses, small lotsize. I can barely make out voices most of the time. but morse code comes right through crystal clear.

you should see the CW transceivers, as small as my HT, half the weight. super efficient. build it yourself in a day. one even comes in a tuna can.

the antennas on QRP are very thin wires strung up in a tree, very low RF danger.

it's very sky wave friendly. when voice propagation breaks down in the solar cycle, CW is still there.

when I band scan, which isn't very often, there is always clear CW to be found. probably talking about colonoscopy, since I don't speak bocce

[CitizenZ]

I submit the argument that morse code is USELESS!!!!
I had to learn it for my (Ship) Captains License and I forgot all of it 30 seconds after I passed the test. The coast guard doesnt have to know it so why the hell should I?
OP, I suggest you find a more worthy area of your preps to focus your time and energy that would be of greater benefit. If you are really that excited about morse code though, have fun!
Edit: Yes, I know learning morse code is the first step to getting a HAM license. However, OP didn't cite this as a reason for wanting to learn.

MC is no longer a part of the Ham license.

It is still a powerful method of global communication that can get through when voice cannot
It can communicate globally with a fraction of the watts needed for voice, under the worst conditions
It is the only digital mode that can be done by hand (no computer needed, but you can "talk" to a computer)
It can use simple and cheap CW radios that you can build yourself
It is a simple method of encoding your messages (legally) that only a few people can understand
Despite it's age (over 100 years old) it is not likely to disappear in our lifetimes (unlike every other digital mode today)

[coldshot]

Thanks for all of the replies. I've got my Tech and am studying for my General. Yes, I'm aware that it's not required for any license. And by the way, all of my other preps are solid. I just thought it would be cool to learn, especially since it's the 100th anniversary of the Titanic sinking and MC played a huge role in that whole SNAFU. QST had two nice articles on the role of MC and the Titanic. Given my current HF limitations, MC seemed like a good way to get on HF and it's also getting back to the roots of amateur radio.

I've been using the G4FON Koch Trainer and have purchased a Nye key and a GHD 301A practice oscillator.

[Fletch]

I've downloaded an app and have been learning myself, so far I only kow five characters, but it's going well

[fourpaws]

I had to learn MC for my trade when I was in the military.. a VERY useful skill.. no matter what anyone says...

We had to do 5 character blocks, plain text (like reading a book... in morse), numbers and mixed numbers/characters (including special characters such as full stop/forward slash/backward slash/semi-colon, etc etc)

We were also taught that in the event of a nuclear war, due to the ionosphere being irradiated and basically being made useless for voice comms (its going back a LONG way now, Im probably a bit off in that last statement) CW morse was one of the only ways to communicate long distance. We use CODAN HF comms at work where I am and I still hear morse on it now.. and I still sit there taking it.

With used to take all sorts of nets from hand sent to keyboard driven all at various speeds.. ranging from slow to quite fast.. up to 40wpm at some points.. and that was both hand and keyboard transcribed as well.

Dont let anyone say that morse is a thing of the past... its not.

[flyboy207]

I agree on folks learning morse code. That was my job in the military and I did it quite well for over 20 years. My speed with it was pretty good also. Although not really taught as a primary in the military now a days, it will be used as a secondary means of comms when the other high tech goes to snuff. IMHO

[angelofwar]

As one of the poster mentioned "tapping SOS" on a radiator, why not try learning "Tap Code" first? See a picture of the graph once, and it's SUPER easy to remember. Just make sure those bugging out with you, know if you are compromised some-how, know what it is and how to listen/see it. That's what's good about morse/tap code; they can be audible or visual (light). EVERYONE should at least know SOS and how to make it work with a flashlight (either turning the light on and off or moving your hand in front of the light.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tap_code

[Fletch]

Intriguing, angelofwar as that is not one I'd heard of before; bloody simple when you see it, thanks!

[angelofwar]

Intriguing, angelofwar as that is not one I'd heard of before; bloody simple when you see it, thanks!

No worries fletch. All you really have to remeber is to leave the "K" out (C is used for C and K), and just do a 5-by-5 grid in your head.

[ghost792]

Thanks for all of the replies. I've got my Tech and am studying for my General. Yes, I'm aware that it's not required for any license. And by the way, all of my other preps are solid. I just thought it would be cool to learn, especially since it's the 100th anniversary of the Titanic sinking and MC played a huge role in that whole SNAFU. QST had two nice articles on the role of MC and the Titanic. Given my current HF limitations, MC seemed like a good way to get on HF and it's also getting back to the roots of amateur radio.

I've been using the G4FON Koch Trainer and have purchased a Nye key and a GHD 301A practice oscillator.

I learned Morse back when it was still required. In my experience, it is a lot easier to send than receive. So much so, that I wouldn't even touch a code key until I could copy 10-15 WPM well. The other thing, it's a lot easier to copy code from a tape or program than over the air. I'd suggest getting to the 10-15 WPM level with a recording or program, then listening to some real QSOs and practicing copying them. I also think the ARRL is still doing over the air CW practice, but I'm not sure of the freqs or times.

One last thing, most people can send Morse faster than they can receive it. In a QSO, it's best to start sending slow, because most hams will reply at the same speed and it's easy to suddenly be talking to someone who is sending faster than you can copy.