Friday 16 September 2016

How to learn Morse Code

I am often asked,... "how easy is it to learn morse code?"    or " can you teach me morse code?" ...  however, when I tell people that it is as easy as you make it.. but it needs lots of dedication and  practice, they seem to be a bit disappointed...

However... Morse can be learned, in just over two weeks... no..you will not be able to send and receive very fast... but you should be able to read  slow morse ( about  5 wpm ) and send some morse messages .

Here is an excellent guide to what letters to learn.... which order to learn them in...and how to use those letters learned to make up words....


 
 
For "reception" purposes... it will soon become apparent that you, the student, needs to know and understand the sound and "rhythm" of the morse code symbols, before you can actually get to send them on a morse key..

To start off sending, you do not really need a key.... as you hear the sound, and see the symbols on the screen, you can practice, just by tapping on a desktop or even your leg, if you are travelling on a bus or a train... so , you can utilise the spare time when travelling to swot up on your morse receiving, and also practice your sending too !...

Another program that is really excellent for all levels, from beginner to "reasonable" operator standard, is  G4FON Koch Morse Trainer.

For more information click here....




NOTE..... Scroll down below the description text for the actual download button.... 






With the G4FON Koch system, you will learn two letters, at the speed you want to achieve...say 15 wpm... then when you "know" them, you can add another letter, and so on, until you have mastered them all...

Once you have mastered the alphabet, and the punctuation, and the numbers, you can start to "introduce" technical difficulty, such as noise, fading, key clicks etc...

You can even introduce your own text, and have the program send the morse to you...



 To help you  to gain confidence, and learn the rhythm, practice sending 5 letter groups, ....

here is 150 groups of 5 letters, that you can copy and paste into the G4FON program for reception practice...  or you can use this page for practice sending..




You can also use CWCOM to practice with...you do not need to "connect"   .. just click your mouse on screen, and you are in "local" ...  ! .. 


GR 150
BT
26464 ALFA JULIETT BRAVO ZULU
ZULU      MIKE  TANGO  RHZRX SRAKD
SAIDY   VNTGF LEXZN SNGRY YMDKD
LNKTE   JJJCV    LJTKR  PTDOE  MXVFU
JJZOI      DLQQL NYAVD QLWDT WQEHU

FFEOF   LASTB  CCVCB  EEKSA  SSVOQ
KXPKP GVPDU  QYLJJ    WMSAV XLSJH
FILYI    EPMBK  JMBWE SHQSL   GRJYO
JLOLM SCHVG  LAWNJ  FXFHS   YTGCA
JOSAN KICMM TLXWV  JZKAK   WHZAL  - - B 50

ZKILR  VSOHM IRPQT    WTTFP   EOZKD
DQIKQ ZEMJS   BNHYJ   AHYUB YTITI
KFVTQ ITEIC    TRQCX  WOTJS   MWBNB
DAEOF ZGKQP  OLGRQ  OVNOE GDMBX
LVACL EZJSV    JCUUU   BWFBT  DSKSO

JFEPQ     JLUKX   QEMDJ   RXFIM  XBMHE
BWNWC BUNGH GUQXS  BTFST    PZHRX
VIJLX     SCYBG   CAYYP  MEUZI   ACYBG
CAYYP   MEUZI   FUHQJ   VEJMN   CSSXC
JVRRY   PHACI    LAKTZ   LTKLH   OPPUA – - B 100

FHZBM    OAEBB  NRJRQ   UNPHX  FFYUY
FFMRF    NAXHR  YZJZG   TOAAW  LYWXQ
BWIUN   GNSIW   ZJMEF   SGTAX    CEHII
CNRHU  AYJVN    WSQGV GDDQJ   XEBIY
BSAAV   FNVWI   DPVBE   GUACH   JHPLV
JPCXW   PCTEG    INISY    BADPO    ITSXK
HYITX   PNMEJ    XTSTM  VATUM    DPKMF
REBCH  GGREZ   VZDJD    NALTH    HJMEC
ULOWY XIIIS      RMQHM MUOKQ   WGBWP
WEKGD IWTRA  JOQMJ    IMRRL    TRCXE
BT
GR150


If you find this helpful, then I would appreciate any comments.