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Learning Morse Code

Introduction

For many of today’s hams there was no choice; obtaining a ham license required learning Morse code.  Five words a minute was the requirement for the entry level Novice license and also for the renewable, but VHF only, Technician ticket.  A General or Advanced class required 13 wpm and it was 20 wpm for an Extra.

In 1991 the code requirement was eliminated for the Technician class, in 2000 it was reduced to 5wpm for all classes that still required code and in 2007 the code requirement was eliminated entirely. 

Whatever your reason for learning Morse code now, we have some links on this page that will help you.

Learn Morse Code

• Training Courses, Aides, and Apps

  ARRL CW Training CDs CW-related training CDs available  through the ARRL online store.

   

  Morse Code Online Reference

  Listen to each character and its Morse code sound.

   

  W1AW Code Practice Audio Files Archive mp3 files of W1AW code practice runs at speeds 5wpm-40wpm.  

  W1AW Code Practice Schedule Times, frequencies, and speeds.CWops CW Academy The CWops club offers group code lessons online and tutors on-air. There is no cost or obligation to participate in CWops CW Academy Classes and membership is not required. Enrollment is open to anyone with the desire to learn or improve their proficiency in Morse Code.

   

  G4FONs Morse Training Program This free application uses the Koch method to teach CW. Letters are sent at the speed which you hope to achieve, but only two at a time. When you reach 90% proficiency with two letters, two more letters are added.  

  The Ham Whisperer's Morse Code Course

  Eleven lessons to learn the International Morse Code.  This course is designed to help you learn the Morse Code from the easiest to the hardest characters. It covers all 26 letters of the English alphabet, numbers 0 to 9, some punctuation marks, as well as some procedural signals.

   

  K9OX's Multi-Platform Morse Training Program A free CW application for Windows, Mac, Linux, or DOS; sends semi-random letters and numbers at variable speeds.  

  Learn CW Online You can learn and practice CW at various speeds and formats with words, letter groups, and call signs through the Koch method. Offers training for the unique QTC exchange used in the Worked All Europe contest.AA9PW's CW Practice You can practice CW at various speeds and formats or download .mp3 files.  

  RufzXP Training Software Software designed for those who want to increase to ultra high speed levels; sends random calls that can top 200 words per minute!

   

  Just Learn Morse Code

  Software designed to make it easy to learn Morse code, as well as improve the skills of those who already know the code.The basic methods used to achieve this are Koch's method and Farnsworth timing.

   

  CWGet software

  A program to decode morse code (CW) via sound card to text. It can work as a narrow-band sound DSP-filter also. All you need is a receiver and computer with a sound card. A 30-Day Trial is available.]

   

  Learn Morse Code via Internet Streaming

  Joe Cotton, W3TTT announces the beginning of a new internet streaming radio station.  Practice listening to Morse code translation of Internet news stories.

   

  LONG ISLAND CW CLUB

  The Long Island CW Club teaches CW and live QSO practice via internet video conference classes.  Besides teaching, the Club has interesting presentations, QRP and vintage gear meetings all virtually. Local events such as museum visits, luncheons, QRP portable operations and BBQs are also frequent.  Come visit us at longislandcwclub.org

   

  K6RAU Beginners Morse Code Course

  For those not knowing a dit from a dah.

• Morse Code Tips & Guides

  Beginner's Guide to CW by Jack Wagoner, WB8FSV All of the basics, from learning the code and calling CQ, to holding a ragchew and taking part in CW nets.Tips for Learning Morse Code By Chuck Adams, K7QO & Rod Dinkins, AC6V SK

  Learning CW Using the Farnsworth Method An article by Jon Bloom, KE3Z from the April 1990 issue of QEX; describes the learning method in which characters are sent at a faster speed than the words.

   

  Helping Kids Discover Morse Code Resources and ideas for teaching kids Morse Code.

   

  Morse Code Machine

  The Boy Scouts of America provide a fun way to learn Morse Code

   

  Morse Code: Efficient or Over the Hill? 

  Why learn if you haven't, and how to copy faster if you have.

   

  Learning Morse Code Effectively

  Some advice from Bruce Prior, N7RR

   

   

   

   

   

• Morse Code Alphabet

  Rather than using dots and dashes, it is best to learn the Morse code alphabet by the way it sounds: dits and dahs. Here is the Morse code dit/dah alphabet.

   

  A	di-DAH
  B	DAH-di-di-dit
  C	DAH-di-DAH-dit
  D	DAH-di-dit
  E	dit
  F	di-di-DAH-dit
  G	DAH-DAH-dit
  H	di-di-di-dit
  I	di- dit
  J	di-DAH-DAH-DAH
  K	DAH-di-DAH
  L	di-DAH-di-dit
  M	DAH-DAH
  N	DAH-dit
  O	DAH-DAH-DAH
  P	di-DAH-DAH-dit
  Q	DAH-DAH-di-DAH
  R	di-DAH-dit
  S	di-di-dit
  T	DAH
  U	di-di-DAH
  V	di-di-di-DAH
  W	di-DAH-DAH
  X	DAH-di-di-DAH
  Y	DAH-di-DAH-DAH
  Z	DAH-DAH-di-dit

   

  Numbers

  1	di-DAH-DAH-DAH-DAH
  2	di-di-DAH-DAH-DAH
  3	di-di-di-DAH-DAH
  4	di-di-di-di-DAH
  5	di-di-di-di-dit
  6	DAH-di-di-di-dit
  7	DAH-DAH-di-di-dit
  8	DAH-DAH-DAH-di-dit
  9	DAH-DAH-DAH-DAH-dit
  0	DAH-DAH-DAH-DAH-DAH

   

  Punctuation

  Dash (pause)	DAH-di-di-di-DAH
  Period ( . )	di-DAH-di-DAH-di-DAH
  Comma ( , )	DAH-DAH-di-di-DAH-DAH
  Question ( ? )	di-di-DAH-DAH-di-dit
  Slant ( / )	DAH-di-di-DAH-dit

  Special Characters

  Error	di-di-di-di-di-di-di-dit
  Error (alternate)	di-dit dit-dit
  Break (BK)	DAH-di-di-di-DAH-di-DAH
  End-of-Message (AR)	di-DAH-di-DAH-dit
  End-of-QSO (SK)	di-di-di-DAH-di-DAH
  Please Wait (AS)	di-DAH-di-di-dit

   

• History of Morse Code

  Samuel F. B. Morse (1791-1872) was a painter and founder of the National Academy of Design. In 1832, while on a ship returning from Europe, he conceived the basic idea of an electromagnetic telegraph. Experiments with various kinds of electrical instruments and codes resulted in a demonstration of a working telegraph set in 1836, and introduction of the circuit relay. This made transmission possible for any distance. With his creation of the American Morse code, the historic message, "What hath God wrought?" was sucessfully sent from Washington to Baltimore.  

  The Morse code used in those days differed greatly from that which is used today. Morse code originated on telegraph lines and the original users did not listen to tones but instead to the clicking sounds created by sounders. They used the American Morse code as opposed to today's International Morse. When sending dahs (Morse code is composed of dits or short key closures, and dahs or longer key closures) the user simply sent two close-together dits. This was created by using a conventional code key.  

  With the advent of radio communications, the international Morse became more widespread. Users of the international Morse created dahs with a longer key closure, instead of two close-spaced dits. In order to increase transmission speed on early landline circuits and later on radio circuits, semi-automatic "bug" keys were invented in 1902 and were widely adopted. Bug keys used a vibrating pendulum to create dits and the user still manually creates the dahs.  

  In more recent times, the user can employ keyers that electronically create dits and dahs. Iambic keyers have a memory so that the user can operate a mechanical "paddle" quicker than the keying rate of the keyer. This makes for very comfortable and nearly effortless keying.  

  Today experienced operators copy received text without the need to write as they receive, and when transmitting, can easily converse at 20 to 30 words per minute. Morse code will always remain a viable means of providing highly reliable communications during difficult communications conditions.

• Build a Code Practice Oscillator

  Kids and adults alike enjoy building their own practice oscillator to begin the adventure with Morse code. Here are some suggestions:

   

  • One Hour No Solder Oscillator from WA8SME and K7CCC
  • World's smallest code practice oscillator
  • W8WG's Cheaper Beaper
  • Code-Practice Oscillator (beginner) ARRL Now You're Talking pp. 11-1 to 11-2This is a complete oscillator that mounts on a small piece of wood. The circuit board for this project can be ordered from FAR Circuits. CPO Construction Steps.ppt  Pictures of an oscillator being assembled.

   

• Morse Code Fun for Kids

  CryptoKids is the National Security Agency's website for kids which includes games, activities and other student resources about code.

  Here's a resource that is particularly fun--It offers a Morse Code generator with options for choosing different sounds, such as drums, voices, tones--allowing kids to translate  Morse code to music. http://www.philtulga.com/morse.html

  The Morse Mouse found at  http://www.m0pzt.com/?mouse is an educational game to demonstrate Morse Code to young people (and the young-at-heart) at local club events.  By sending a series of letters in Morse Code, the program aims to encourage an interest in the mode through skill as well as memory.

  Click here for more ideas on activities for young people.

   

• ARRL Morse code oscillator kit

  A great “beginners” electronics kit! Ideal for ARRL members, Amateur Radio newcomers, clubs, instructors and teachers seeking a classroom kit-building experience.

   

  For more information and how it works view supplementary tutorial for ARRL's Morse Code Oscillator (in PDF format). Also available: Morse Code Key.

  Produced for ARRL by MFJ Enterprises.Learn More

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