International Morse Code (Updated 2022)

-

Updated February 2022:

I wanted to update my original article and give a special shout out to Corrine who is working on a school project to study how a new invention or technology has changed history.  

She is writing a paper about the telegraph and continuous wave and how Morse Code impacted society and changed the history of communication.  She found this timeline of the telegraph and wanted to share it with me as well.

Thank you for sharing this resource Corrine!  Good luck on your 'Famous Inventors and Inventions' project for your technology class!

73 

(da-da-dit-dit-dit    dit-dit-dit-da-dah)

Chris de WX7V

https://www.emissary.ai/telegraph-morse-code-text/

PS - March 2022:  If you're learning international Morse code I highly recommend Morse Mania for the iPhone.  For a small fee you can unlock the premium features.  

Very nice application to practice sending and receiving Morse code.  Multiple levels, progress tracking, custom levels, and hidden features to keep you going.  https://www.dong.world/2020/05/morse-mania/


--

Yes, I've really geeked out in amateur radio over the past year.   The thought of learning morse and passing code test back in 1991 was one of the major reasons I didn't get my ham radio license back then, even tho the Technician-Class No-Code option was available.  Enter 2021. 

 I've been studying international morse code off and on for the past six months with the intention of passing the morse code proficiency test at 10 WPM before summer.   My interest in morse code was renewed after reading Contact Sport by J.K. George, N3BB. If your interested in contesting or radiosports in general this is a great book describing events from the 2014 WRTC.

Over the winter I was able to learn International Morse Code thru the lessons posted online by Andy KE4GKP The Ham Whisperer.  There are a lot of tools to help learn code.  Someone told me NOT to count dits and das.   Good advice!  A better way is to associate a familiar phrase with the sound of each letter as discussed in this video posted  by a memory champ.  This is a brain hack - like learning the music to a song, each letter can be associated to a fun phrase (D = DOG did it = DAH-di-di).   

There are also a lot of good apps to learn morse with your mobile device or tablet.  MorseZapp teaches you how to key each letter.   MorseCoach teaches the Koch Method by introducing new letters in a deliberate way to build on what you've already learned.  Finally, one of these days I may even sign up for CW Ops Academy.

I also bought this deluxe Vibroplex Iambic Paddle to use on the air for my first CW QSO.  Vibroplex has been making Morse Code keys since 1905 - happy to order from one of the oldest names in Amateur Radio-  Made in USA. 116 year in business!




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Remote CW with RKI 1.05 and Sparkfun FT231X breakout board

-
Image
I've created a workable solution for sending CW via a "straight key" to my remote Flexradio 6600 at the lake using RemoteKeyerInterface (RKI) and a simple Serial/USB circuit.   RKI is only available for Windows. RKI enables you to use paddles or a straight key to send CW through a remote Flex‑6000 transceiver.  After several iterations I've settled on a design using the Sparkfun FT-231x breakout board and RKI v1.05 that was originally posted by Gary KT7AZ on the RKI  groups.io forum .   However, to send CW reliably via a straight key - there were two main problems I had to solve. First,  I had to resolve the network latency and buffer bloat in my shack's network by setting up a router with Smart Queue Management.   The Ubiquity EdgeRouter  was recommended by a friend of mine (Larry N1FG) and has been working great.  I'm using the 4 port Edgerouter X which was only $50 at microcenter (open box special).  No more audio stutterin...
Read more

BENS BEST BENT WIRE

-
Image
Update 11/19/23 - Tribute for Bill Crane, SK 10/26/23: https://youtu.be/Znyqq9f93r0?si=bxPV0zVmGN7oWo_u ++ Update August 22, 2022.   I was able to find Bill Crane W9ZN on the air by looking for his spots on RBN .   Took me a while to see the pattern on when and where he's be on frequency, but not only did we make the QSO, we exchanged cards as well!  This is one of my favorite QSL cards that I've collected so far.  Thank You Bill!     73 Chris de WX7V ==================================== Last month I asked a members of the Straight Key Century Club  what was their favorite way to warm up before sending morse code.  I got a lot of input - from, "Just jump right in" to sending the Alphabet and the Numbers 0-9.   My favorite answer is to practice sending Bens Best Bent Wire, with the letters and numbers run together so that the code produced sounds similar to a march.  Apparently this was taught by the RAF,  merchan...
Read more

FTdx3000 - configuring external panadapter using SDRPlay RSP1A

-
Image
 The panadapter on the FTdx3000 is fine but not great.   I'm using SDRuno with the SDRPlay RSP1A  which is a significant upgrade!   Cost was minimal since I already had a RSP1a stored in a  drawer waiting for a problem to solve.   Hardware configuration is straight forward.  On the back of the FTdx3000, connect the IF OUT (RCA connector) to antenna input on the RSP1a.  I needed a cable with RCA to SMA adapter.  Plug in USB connections from the RSP1a to the computer, and another from the FTdx3000 radio to your computer. Download and install OmniRig from dxatlas.  Omnirig provides CAT control for the Yaesu radio - allowing you to automatically tune into any frequency by clicking signal in panadapter waterfall.   Find the SiliconLabs Enhanced Comm port (use Ports in Device Manager)- you need to use the same com port and speed settings in the omnirig and sdruno configurations. Start sdruno, click on settings - the...
Read more