Practice Morse Code
Allen Yerke
These practice tests help gauge your ability listen to, understand, and recognize audio Morse code and translate them into written text. These tests are available in varying difficulty levels, with level 1 being the easiest. As the level increases, the difficulty increases. With each higher level, the speed of the Morse code you hear will be faster and the words or phrases become more lengthier. There is no time limit on these tests. However, you will lose your progress if your browser session expires due to an extended period of inactivity.
These tests are free and you can take it as many times as you like. A random set of words or phrases will be selected each time you take the test. This Morse code audio practice test tool is intended for entertainment and educational purposes only.
Listed here are W1AW code practice transmissions for the dates and speeds indicated. The files are in MP3 format, playable using Windows Media Player, RealPlayer or your favorite MP3 player.
The first link is used for streaming audio -- click on the link to have the player play the code practice as it receives it. It may also be used to download the code-practice file to disk for later playback. (In Windows, right-click on the link to the file you want to save to get a menu of options.) Not all MP3 players will treat the link the same, and some players may not work on the link type.
The second link is the actual text of the code practice file. Please note that the text file may contain control characters. You will hear these characters as regular Morse code prosigns or abbreviations.
The 18 WPM is a "transition" file to help bridge the gap from 15 to
20 WPM. The file contains word and letter groups sent at 18 WPM
with an 18 WPM character speed.
This particular file is actually part of the W1AW CW bulletin from
previous weeks. This allows for a different transition file with
each update.
The 40 WPM file is composed of texts taken from the lower speed files.
For those who want to listen to each character separately, you can find them here on the Code Character web page.
The various TEXT files contain the actual code practice text used in each run. Please note the embedded "control characters" (used to
generate the CW prosigns) are included in the text.
Please note the tone frequency is 750 Hz.
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If you have an iOS device like an iPhone or iPad, I have also written the Ham Morse iOS application that will allow you to practice morse code on your personal device. You can practice everything from the individual letters all the way up to CW QSOs, and even news from around the world.
My 8yr old son, Alex, practices his spelling words in Morse code every night. He gets 50 homework points for coding his spelling words in any way he likes so why not learn Morse code at the same time, right?
Mark, it definitely sounds like you need CW training in some sort of asynchronous format like audio or video recordings that will allow you to practice during lunch breaks and any short openings you might have in the day.
A real-life example: I wanted to implement regular light stretching into my daily routine, but I was finding it difficult to remember. Out of entire week, I might remember to stretch two or three times.
Hi re morse learning. Copy the slow section to a dvd. Put it in the vehicle and just leave it playing whilst your driving. No need to concentrate on the cw as your brain will be in auto so to speak its a psychological trick that over time with the different speeds you will be surprised when you come to try your hand at doing. cw. I have done this and it works for me. No matter how long it takes, you will know when your good and ready by reading cw automatically at a good speed, I found,as in other cases that when you can read cw at the comfortable speed you want, then and only then start to send cw,otherwise you will find yourself going backwards, OK hope this may help. Good luck with it. Jim
Long Island CW club is another fantastic option. They run classes at all times of the day and night and a lot are available recorded. Their carousel system where you can jump in and out at any point as it simply rotates (like a carousel) and they have multiple of the same class everyday all week. There is normally something that can be fit into a busy schedule.
Lastly Morse.Ninja has a fantastic resource of pre recorded practice sessions. From very basic character recognition at 12wpm with a fransworth of 5wpm to full blown ragchews, even story books at 50 wpm. There is literally something for everyone. And Kurt publishes this all free on YouTube.
But whatever tool you choose the key is repetition, repetition repetition. A quality 2 mins three times a day will be vastly more beneficial than an hour of slogging through a class. And of course, get on the air. People love to work and help those who are new and still struggling. People will slow down for you and will repeat things as many times as is necessary. Every body was on day one once upon a time.
BEST- this FREE website, requiring that you create an account, and lessons are designed to help you learn the letters in logical pairs and listen to practice code and either record on paper, or better, use your keyboard, to tap out the code you hear and see your results immediately (when using your keyboard). You can adjust the speed and Farnsworth spacing, and the frequency of the tones, as well as other parameters. Learn CW Online:
In addition, I created a chart of mnemonics from various sources that help me recall the sounds that start with the letter and have the rhythm of the word eg A= a-BOUT, B= BOB is the man, C= CAN-dy CAN-dy, etc.
To learn the initial characters, I really relied on LCWO.net as also mentioned already. This will require 10-15min of your time set aside each day. The Morse Machine setting really helped drive the letters home, as it is very repetitious, and only goes at your speed. Once you have the characters, then start pushing yourself with speeding things up just past your comfort level using the lessons.
Great suggestions above. Reiterating the app-based methods and adding one more as a shameless plug, I suggest picking whichever works best for a platform you can fit into your day (phone, web, or desktop):
* Less is Morse: Just released a few weeks ago, this free, downloadable desktop game for Windows, Mac, or Linux can also be played in most desktop browsers. The developer (me) intends to add more modes, but it currently covers Koch training and word-based speed drills: -is-morse
Taking if a step farther is the idea of Instant Character Recognition, ICR. Become so familiar with the sound of a character that it is instantly recognized. Then, move into word building and head copy.
Currently using the Morse ninja videos to get familiar with letters and words. Then after listening throughout the day I will practice using Morse Typer, Morse mania or one of the other apps to see how I am doing on retaining the knowledge. Enjoy the hobby. If you enjoy it and keep it fun, you will be making time for it.
KO4ESA/WRJR757
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This is an instructable on how to make a small, portable morse code practice keyer that you can put in your pocket, take anywhere and practice learning Morse Code. It is composed of only two components and takes about half an hour or less to make.
I have taken a keychain tone generator, used for tuning musical stringed instruments, and simply added a contact switch between the tone generator circuit and it's speaker. Very cheap, portable and useful for learning Morse Code.
Watch the video to see how it works.
You can get to 60wpm with practice. You have to move from ICR (Instant Character Recognition) to IWR (Instant Word Recognition). Instant Character Recognition requires the unconscious mind to turn dits and dahs into characters. Instant Word Recognition requires the unconscious mind to turn multiple sequences of dits and dahs into words.
If you can, find the tapes from the old Heathkit General Class study course. The voice is a very pleasant young lady who starts out with the letters. Then she does the numbers, etc. The key is that the letters are transmitted at 20wpm but spaced so that they can sink in. I got up to 16wpm and who I took the code test in 1980, the code was sent at the, then, required speed of 13wpm. Piece of cake
I recently spoke to a group of middle school ACE students about STEM and aviation careers. And I mentioned to them the high tech stuff now becoming available. At the end of the session, one of the students ask me of all all the airplanes I had flown, including jumbo jets, which one I liked the most. She was shocked when I told her the most pleasure and enjoyment I have ever experienced was flying a Piper J3 Cub with no starter, no radio, and just four simple instruments Airspeed, Altimeter, Compass, Oil Press/Temperature. Low and slow with the door open and feeling free as a bird!
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