Headlines Trainer v2

Practise copying current news headlines sent in Morse code. This is the next version of the Headlines Trainer: the same feeds and settings, with the new sequence controls and realistic band conditions (set in the ).

Choose the news
 
How to practise Help
Configure: | | | | |
 
 
/

Each message

1: Before - hear or see the message first

The shortest time the flashcard is shown before the Morse. With Speech on as well, it stays until the speech has finished. A bare number is milliseconds; add a unit to follow the speed instead: 5dit, 3fdit, 1ws.

Speech says the message and Flashcard shows it. The flashcard is shown for at least the time in the box; with Speech on as well, it stays until the speech has finished, so the step lasts as long as the longer of the two. A bare number is milliseconds. Add a unit to follow the Morse speed, e.g. “5dit”, “3fdit”, “1ws”. The set the voice, and the the flashcard size, case and contrast.

Speech synthesis is not available. Open for details.

2: Morse - copy the message

The gap between one play of the Morse and the next, when Count is more than 1. A bare number is milliseconds; add a unit to follow the speed instead: 5dit, 3fdit, 1ws.

One of these is always on. Morse plays the message at your speed. Speed Racer plays it faster (or slower) first, stepping down (or up) to your speed; configure it in the .

Count plays the Morse 1 to 5 times, or until Next is pressed, with the time in the box between plays. A bare number is milliseconds. Add a unit to follow the Morse speed, e.g. “5dit”, “3fdit”, “1ws”.

The set the speed, pitch and volume. The set the noise, fading and other stations it is heard through.

3: Recognise - time to work out what it was

The time to recognise the message after the Morse, when Hold is off. A bare number is milliseconds; add a unit to follow the speed instead: 5dit, 3fdit, 1ws.

Either Hold until you press Play, or wait for the time in the box. A bare number is milliseconds. Add a unit to follow the Morse speed, e.g. “5dit”, “3fdit”, “1ws”.

4: After - hear or see what it was

The shortest time the flashcard is shown after the Morse. With Speech on as well, it stays until the speech has finished. A bare number is milliseconds; add a unit to follow the speed instead: 5dit, 3fdit, 1ws.

Speech says the message and Flashcard shows it. The flashcard is shown for at least the time in the box; with Speech on as well, it stays until the speech has finished, so the step lasts as long as the longer of the two. A bare number is milliseconds. Add a unit to follow the Morse speed, e.g. “5dit”, “3fdit”, “1ws”.

Speech synthesis is not available. Open for details.

5: Morse again - hear it once more

The gap after the Morse is played again. A bare number is milliseconds; add a unit to follow the speed instead: 5dit, 3fdit, 1ws.

Morse plays the message once more, followed by the time in the box. A bare number is milliseconds. Add a unit to follow the Morse speed, e.g. “5dit”, “3fdit”, “1ws”.

6: Bell - the message is over

The gap after the bell. The same setting as in the Bell Controls. A bare number is milliseconds; add a unit to follow the speed instead: 5dit, 3fdit, 1ws.

Bell rings at the end of each message, followed by the time in the box. The set the sound and volume.

7: Then - what comes next

Next Message off stops after this message, on plays the next message, and 1 plays this message again.

Practise
   

Review

History

Your practice history, grouped by day. Select a row to show its timing chart; use Play to hear a message.
Time Play Message Speed Recording Play Your sending Speed Result Repeats Delay (ms)
No practice recorded yet.

Export history

How much?
As what?

Clear History

This clears the practice history for this tool only. Other tools keep their history.

Clear just today’s practice, or everything recorded for this tool?
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.

Reset Settings

Are you sure you want to reset all settings in this page to their default values?

Upload Settings

Uploading new settings will overwrite your existing ones. Are you sure you want to continue?

New Settings Applied

Your uploaded settings have been applied to the page.

Notes

There are many . Press ? to list them.

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

Acknowledgements

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

    Morse Controls

    Playback Medium

    Timing

     

    No character speed fits the other settings

     

    No Farnsworth speed fits the other settings

     

    No Wordsworth speed fits the other settings

     

    Sound

     
     
     

    Speech Controls

    No text-to-speech voices found

    Check your browser and system speech synthesis settings.

    You are offline: only local voices are available.

     

    Bell Controls

     

    Flashcard Controls

    Aa

    Speed Racer Controls

    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.

    Band Conditions

    Make the Morse sound like it came off the air rather than out of a signal generator: atmospheric noise, fading, a receiver filter, and other operators on the band. The noise floor is calculated from the location, season and the time of day.

    Your station

     
     
     
     

    Conditions

     
     

    Speech Error

    Speech isn't working

    Some devices — especially Safari on iOS — need a direct tap before they will speak. Tap this to start speech:

    Tip: speech is much more reliable if you tap any button on the page before you press Play.

    If you are offline, choose a voice labelled "local" in the Speech controls.

    You can also turn speech off in the settings to continue without it. Avoid letting the browser go to the background or locking the device while it is speaking.

    Speech Error

    Speech did not start

    This may be because you are offline. If so:

    1. Open the controls
    2. Choose a voice that is labelled as "local"
    3. Try again

    Alternatively, you can disable speech in the settings to continue without it.

    Keyboard Shortcuts

    On the numeric keypad:

    • Play/Pause: 0
    • Replay the current message from start: 1 or Enter
    • Speak the current message: 2
    • Play the next message: 3
    • Next message: 6
    • Message visibility toggle: 5

    On the main keyboard:

    • Play/Pause: / or Space
    • Replay the current message from start: R
    • Speak the current message: W
    • Play the next message: M
    • Next message: . or K
    • Stop: S
    • Play the VVV intro: V
    • Message visibility toggle: H
    • Repeat / Repeat 1 toggle: L
    • Save audio: D
    • Set the play count: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 or 6
    • Flashcard toggle, before & after: Shift+C & C
    • Speech toggle, before & after: Shift+T & T
    • Morse repeat toggle: Shift+M
    • Bell toggle: B
    • Character speed +/-: Shift+X / Shift+Z
    • Farnsworth speed +/-: X / Z

    Standard navigation with Tab and Return is supported, and to show this help is ?

    Welcome back

    There have been some updates since you were last here:

      If you are able and willing to support further development, please...

      ♥︎ Donate

      Change Log

        Enable Audio

        Your browser requires a mouse click or screen tap to enable audio and speech. Please click the button below to continue.

        Server Error

        Sorry, there was an error fetching the news feed. Please try again.

        I am a husband and father

        a foster carer

        a salsa teacher

        an owner of a holiday home

        and in my spare time I write and maintain this web site

        Morse Code World logo

        © Copyright Stephen C. Phillips, 2015-2026
        Opt-out │ Privacy │ Licences │ Donate │

        Theme

        Page Colour Scheme Choice