[HBQRP] Some CW resources for learning/practicing

[Darrell Fulmer]

 Here are some resources I have found useful for learning or practicing
Morse. I know that you old timers are aware of these, but in case someone
who is just getting started finds this . . .

If you are an Android user, I highly recommend “CW Trainer”, by Wolfgang
Phillips. It has MANY options, and is a wonderful bargain for $2.99 from
the Play store. It is a great help in learning to copy Morse. (Phillips
also has several other ham radio related apps -
http://www.wolphi.com/ham-radio-apps/  )

Of course, there are excellent code practice transmissions by the ARRL’s
W1AW. Do a web search for the frequencies and schedules. Or, you can
download practice files ranging from 5 to 40 words-per-minute here:
http://www.arrl.org/code-practice-files

If you can tune CW signals on your own receiver, great, but there are many
WebSDR receivers you can listen to simply using your web browser. You can
see a “waterfall” of the frequencies the receiver is monitoring, with the
various signals it is hearing moving vertically on the display. You can
tune to a particular signal, and specify its mode, to hear and interpret
it. For example, besides CW, you can listen to commercial AM radio, SSB,
PSK31, RTTY, Olivia, etc. Here is a good place to start looking for WebSDR
receivers:  http://www.websdr.org/


FLDIGI

“Fldigi” is a terrific program for converting CW and several digital mode
signals to text. It is a great working tool, and a helpful learning tool.
It has many powerful features, but I will not deal with them. (
https://sourceforge.net/projects/fldigi/ ) I am NOT an fldigi expert, and I
speak only from my experience with fldigi on Windows computers, but may
give you some clues as to how to get it running for your learning purposes.

Basically, you must download and install the program, and make sure your
computer’s sound system is properly configured in fldigi – only two simple
items. From the program’s main menu: Configure > Sound Card

Make sure “Port Audio” is checked. The default “Capture” and “Playback”
options may work fine for you. Here is one way to check:
Download one of the ARRL practice files from
http://www.arrl.org/code-practice-files . On the left of the screen, under
Code Practice Files, click the speed you would like to download, for
example “10 WPM Code Archive”. You will see files that were transmitted on
certain dates in a table to the right. Just choose one by RIGHT clicking
its MP3 link, and choose “Save Link As …”, tell the machine to save it
where you want, and with the name you want, for example, TEST.

Find the file you just saved, RIGHT click it, and choose “play”. You should
hear the practice code.

If it is not already running, start fldigi.

With both the practice code, and fldigi running, you should see a blue
waterfall at the bottom of the fldigi screen, with the practice code signal
running down. If you do not see the signal, go to fldigi Configure > Sound
Card > Capture , and try selecting other choices from the list.

When you have a waterfall showing the signal,  go to fldigi OpMode, and
select CW.

On the waterfall, use your cursor to grab the red bandwidth box, and slide
it so that it is centered on the signal. As you tune around, you will see a
green line in the center of the box that you can put precisely on the
center of the signal. You should now see the text being generated in the
yellow section of the fldigi screen.

After you get fldigi running, there are various ways you can use it to help
learn/practice Morse. Some of them might require you to change the Capture
option for Sound Card setup.

Find CW signals in WebSDR, and let fldigi convert them. (Of course, you can
also use it to convert digital modes.)

With my Capture set to Microphone, I can use a practice oscillator to feed
fldigi. If fldigi can properly convert my sending to text, a human should
understand it. If fldigi sees T I instead of D, I need to practice.

I have also connected my key to my PicoKeyer (
http://www.hamgadgets.com/ham-radio/ ),  and plugged the keyer into the
mike jack on my computer.

-- 
Darrell Fulmer - ADØEF