Instant Character Recognition

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It's generally accepted that learning to recognise each letter at high speed instantly is key to becoming a proficient CW operator. This highly-customisable tool supports a range of learning styles to suit all.

Practise Content

Choose which characters to practise and which order to learn them in:

Alphabetical, but not the best order for learning.

Select characters in the grid above by type:

Each CW Academy Beginner session introduces a few letters. Use the dark red buttons to select each session's letters.

Select characters in the grid above by type:

Extras not included in the CW Academy Beginner course:

The traditional Koch method ordering (as used in G4FON).

Select characters in the grid above by type:

Extras not included in the Koch ordering:

The order used by Learn CW Online.

Select characters in the grid above by type:

Extras not included in the LCWO ordering:

The order used by the LICW Club. Use the dark red buttons to select each “Beginners' Carousel” session.

Select characters in the grid above by type:

Extras not included in the LICW ordering:

Donate

Photo of Stephen

There are no paid adverts on this page. If you find this software useful, please make a small donation (and convince my wife that the time spent on it is worthwhile).

Thank you!

Message Options

The best way to get started is with single letters. Choose your playback options below and give it a go!

The selected letters are shuffled to make nonsense “words” with length to characters.

The selected letters are shuffled to make nonsense “words” with length to characters.

A “sentence” is then made using to words.

Message (hideshow)

Playback Controls [ Help ]

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Simulated Morse key

Playback style

Character /Chrcter Farnsworth

/

Play

Play starts playback (/ , Space or 0). With Repeat it will continue.

Next plays the next message (M). Move to the next with . or K.

VVV plays VVV to preview the CW tempo (V).

Play options

Repeat / Repeat-one plays new messages continuously or repeats the current message (L).

Save Audio saves the current message as an audio file (D).

Message Modifier - modify the message in different ways

Build Up builds each message up, so e.g. NICE is preceded by N NI NIC or UP WE GO by UP UP WE (see help). Play the current message using Build Up with E.

Speed Racer boosts the initial speed by 50% and then repeats the message, stepping down the speed to your chosen values. Morse Repeat will play at the boosted speed if selected. Use the to configure (see help).

Toggle the buttons to choose what sequence to play and show for each message:

Toggle the buttons to choose what sequence to play and show for each message; configure Morse, speech and bell:

1: Show & Say Before - option to see the flashcard or hear the message spoken before the Morse is played

Display the Flashcard for ms (Flashcard Time) (Shift+C). Use the to configure the flashcard size, case and contrast.

Speak the message (Shift+T). Use the to configure the speech voice, volume, rate, pitch, and pause.

Speech synthesis is not available. Open for details.

2: Morse - play the message using sound, light, vibration

Use the to configure the Morse (speed, volume, pitch and playback medium).

After each message, a pause of is used.

Count controls how many times the message is played, with an Extra Gap of ms between repeats (1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 or 6).

3: Recognition - optional extra time for you to recognise the message

There is a pause of after a message (currently ms).

Add Recognition Time of ms.

4: Show & Say After - option to see the flashcard or hear the message spoken after the Morse is played

Display the Flashcard for ms (Flashcard Time) (C). Use the to configure the flashcard size, case and contrast.

Speak the message (T). Use the to configure the speech voice, volume, rate, pitch, and pause.

Speech synthesis is not available. Open for details.

5: Morse Repeat - option to play the Morse message again

Repeat the Morse (Shift+M).

There is a pause of after a message (currently ms).

Add an Extra Gap of ms.

6: Bell - optional bell played to indicate the end of the sequence

Play a Bell (B). Use to configure the Bell type, volume, and duration.

Add a Bell Gap of ms.

Configure the pauses used in the sequence:

Recognition Time (ms)

Flashcard Time (ms)

Extra Gap (ms)

Bell Gap (ms)

Morse timing within a message is configured in the

Speed Racer lets you try copying at a higher speed than you are used to, and then gradually reduces the speed to a more comfortable one. Or you can start at a slower speed and gradually increase it.

You can choose to vary the character speed, Farnsworth speed, or both:

The table below shows the percentage speed change along with the character and Farnsworth speeds for each time the message will be played.

You can adjust the number of times the message is repeated (2 to 5), the maximum percentage change (-99% to +100%), and your base character and Farnsworth speeds:

Message speeds
Repeat	Percentage Change	Character Speed	Farnsworth Speed
	%



1	None

The Farnsworth Speed cannot go above the Character Speed: where the modified Farnsworth Speed has been limited by the Character Speed, it is shown in red.

Your advanced timing settings in mean that there is no simple Character Speed and/or Farnsworth Speed. The boosted speeds will use precise Character/Farnsworth speeds and the final play will use your custom settings.

History

Time	Replay	Message	Speed	#

Settings [ Help ]

Load some settings from a file (overwriting your current choices), or Save all the settings for this page in a file. Share Settings generates a link to bookmark your settings, insert into a document, or share with someone else. The Reset Settings button changes everything in this page to its default value.

General Notes

There are many which can also access additional functions. Press ? to list them.

General help on the playback controls and Morse Controls (Timing) can be found in a separate page.

This tool works in most browsers: please see the FAQ if you are having problems.

Acknowledgements

Many kind people have sent me bug reports and ideas for features for this page: thank you to all of them. Special thanks go to Glenn (W4YES) of CW Innovations and Tom (W0FN) for their help with reviewing the playback interface. Various features have been copied (with permission) from the Morse Code Ninja materials, and the parameters for different keys from Seiuchy.

Change Log