|
|
TEACH YOURSELF MORSE CODE
* NOTE:- This tutorial requires downloading an executable program. I promise that there is nothing in this program that is dangerous and it is quite safe. If you have any reservations about downloading and executing programs off the internet, then do not click on the link at the bottom of the page.
This is a program that will teach you morse code. I wrote it about 20 years ago. It is submitted here with no apologies. It was written for a TANDY computer and has not been updated. It is a DOS program and will open and run in a DOS window. It still seems to work OK under Windows except that keyboard hardware has changed significantly since then so menu selection #7 will no longer work. There may be other things that aren't quite right - send me an email of problems and I will fix them if I can find time.
The program is self explanatory but very unsophisticated. Here is a description of the various sections.
OPENING SCREEN
The opening screen gives you a visual display of the morse codes. This is the actual file the program uses to generate code.
Each character is followed by the corresponding code, starting with the space characater that has no code but is included because the program uses it for spaces between words. Following that are all the punctuation characters and their codes, then the numbers and letters.
You should already have this code in a better format but you can select, copy and print it if you need.
|
Enter the speed you want to use for learning. Start out at 5 wpm, the lowest, until you are comfortable with increasing.
After entering the speed you will be asked which character set you want to use. You can choose between ALPHA only, enter 1, NUMERIC only, enter 2, or ALPHANUMERIC, enter 3.
I suggest you stick with alphanumeric from the start. Much of morse code uses the numerals and you need to be just as proficient with them as the characters. Otherwise, you will be hit with a numeral and miss code while you try and remember which digit it is. The goal here is to have your brain recognize complete character patterns. While you are still hearing dots and dashes, you will never get up to speed. Eventually you will hear them as complete characters but it takes hours of practice.
Next it will remind you to set the CAPS LOCK on - the program only uses and recognizes upper case as there is no lower case in Morse Code.
You will now be asked if you want to include the punctuation characters. Again I recommend you include them from the start. They are a real bitch and if the truth is known, you should learn them first so they aren't a stumbling block later. But if it is too frustrating, omit them until you get familiar with the program.
THE MAIN MENU
| 1. CHARACTER DEMONSTRATION MODE. - I PLAY CODE AND PRINT CHARACTER |
| Use this section to get familiar with the sounds of the characters. Watch the character on the screen as you listen so you connect them together. |
| 2. WORD DEMONSTRATION MODE. - I PLAY CODE AND PRINT RANDOM WORD |
| This builds on the character learing by grouping them into words. You get an understanding for the space between characters. |
| 3. SENTENCE DEMONSTRATION MODE. I PLAY CODE AND PRINT RANDOM SENTENCE |
| This introduces the space between words as an added pattern to the sound of code. |
| 4. CHARACTER TEST MODE. - I PLAY CODE AND RUN TIMER UNTIL YOU ENTER CHARACTER |
| This is probably the most important selection once you have learned the basic code. It will repeat playing the code until you get it right. Eventually you should be able to get each one without errors and you can concentrate on getting the timer numbers as low as possible. |
| 5. WORD TEST MODE. - I PLAY CODE AND WAIT FOR WORD TO BE ENTERED |
| 6. SENTENCE TEST MODE. - I SEND SENTENCE AND ALLOW SIMULTANEOUS KEYBOARD ENTRY FOR COMPARISON TO ACTUAL SENTENCE. |
| 7. YOU SEND CODE AND I TRY TO READ IT. |
| This will probably not work as it accessed the keyboard hardware directly and keyboard structure has changed immensly since the Tandy computer days. |
HOW TO DOWNLOAD THE PROGRAM
When you click on the link below you will be presented with a "FILE DOWNLOAD" box in which you have the choice of just executing the program from RAM or keeping a copy on disk for future use. Either choice will work. Save it to disk if you are serious about regular practice. You will be able to specify a disk location.
Before downloading it will probably warn you that it is dangerous to download programs from strangers like me. This is where you need a degree of faith. Our website has been here for a few years now and you can check us out if you want. After downloading the program you can then run it. There are additional help lines on the options available at each stage.
OOPS. Update 2004. In their effort to prevent the spread of viruses, my website host will no longer allow me to store programs with the .exe file type extension.
So to get around the problem I've changed the name of the program to MORSE3.XEX instead of .EXE
So when you click on it you have to save it somewhere convenient on your disk and then change the XEX back to EXE to run it.
Some people have had problems running it under modern operating systems. When a reader contacted me I had the same problem but it went away and now I can't trouble shoot it.
It has been suggested that running in "Legacy" mode will work. Please email me at tech@yandina.com if you have problems.
DOWNLOAD THE PROGRAM NOW.