Morse code was created by Samuel F. B. Morse in 1844. 162 years later, this code is still often used, especially by amateur radio operators. This code can be sent quickly by telegraph, and is very useful for transmitting SOS signals by radio, mirror, or flashlight, as well as means of communication for the disabled. In learning Morse code, the approach should be like learning a new language.
Step
Step 1. Listen carefully to a slowed down Morse code recording
You will hear a combination of dots (dots) and dashes (dash, also refers to dit or dah). Dit is a short line/beep, and bye is a long line/beep (three times dit), and each letter is separated by a short pause, while each word is separated by a long pause (three times a short pause).
You can look for recorded Morse code practice at a store, or use a shortwave receiver to listen to the original Morse code. Cheap and free Morse code practice software is also available on the internet and is usually of better quality than the recordings. The coded sentences can be set to random so that the exercise is not boring and can be determined according to taste. Never count the number of dots and dashes, learn the sounds of the letters. If you are using Farnsworth, set the pause between letters slower than the letter speed. Choose a letter speed slightly above the target and never lower it. You should only lower the pause speed. Here's how to learn Morse as a language, 15-25 words per minute or more. The following method works best if you don't intend to use Morse above 5 words per minute. You will be asked to get rid of old bad habits and start over
Step 2. View the Morse Code alphabetical list (as shown at the bottom of the page)
You can use the basic code table shown on the right of the English page of this article, or use the advanced table that includes punctuation, abbreviations, prosign and Q codes. Match the code you hear with the letters in the table. How? Did you manage to match them all?
Some people find it easier to learn Morse by writing letters as dots and dashes, then matching them against a code table. Some people think this will increase the code translation stage and slow down your learning process. Choose the method that suits you. If you want to stay away from the dot and dash method, use a pronunciation table that lists all the sounds of a Morse code signal so that the code is translated as sounds instead of dots and dashes.
Step 3. Say it
Do the practice of translating simple words into morse code. At first, you can write these codes, then pronounce them. For example, the word “cat” is written as:
-.-..- -
then sound the code (you can use the sound of the phone button or just say "beep" so that the codes can be learned more easily and quickly). In pronouncing Morse code, dit is pronounced "di" with a short i sound and a silent t. It's pronounced with a short a sound. So, the word cat is pronounced as dah-di-dah-di di-dah dah. If you can, try taking a children's book and translating its contents into Morse code without writing anything down. Record your translations, and play them back to assess their suitability.
Watch your pauses. Each letter is separated by a short pause of the same duration as dah (three dits). Each letter is separated by a long pause of seven dits in duration. The better your breaks, the easier the code will be to understand
Step 4. Memorize the easy letters first
"T" is a dah and "E" is a dit. Next, “M” is bye and “I: is dit-dit. Memorize letters consisting of three or four consecutive digits and dah. If so, proceed to the following combinations: dit-dah, dit-dah-dah, dit-dah-dah-dah, and so on. Memorize difficult combinations later. Fortunately, some difficult letter combinations are rarely used, such as Q, Y, X, and V. So memorize the most frequently used letter combinations first. Notice that E and T have the shortest symbols and K, Z, Q, and X have the longest symbols.
Step 5. Create associations
For each letter, try to think of a word or phrase that sounds similar. For example, the letter "C" is pronounced dah-dit-dah-dit (long short long short). Look for words that sound similar to the pronunciation earlier, for example cantick cantype, the phrase starts with the letter "C", and is pronounced the same way. How about "N" which is pronounced already-dit? Try to associate with nanti. This method is increasingly difficult to use for letters with complex combinations. There is a collection of Morse code mnemonics for English that you can buy or search the internet for.
If you're a music fan, try associating the pronunciation of the code with a familiar tone or melody. For example, the Symphony No. Beethoven's 5 works are short-short-short-length, or dit-dit-dit-dah, which is the pronunciation of the letter "V", the roman numeral of 5 (5th Beethoven's Symphony). Very suitable, right?
Step 6. Have fun
Invite your friends to learn along, and apply this code to fun things! For example, flash a friend's SOS code if your date goes awry. Pass secret messages in morse code, or write a diary in morse code, or make jokes in morse code so only you and your friends understand. Give a greeting card in morse code, or say "i love you" in morse code (the romance!). If you have friends to study with and apply it to fun things, the learning process will be fast and not boring.
Tips
- Use the Morse Code app for your phone or search the internet for Morse training software. Both will be very helpful!
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Exercise!
If you have free time, ask friends or family to sit down and listen to the code you pronounce. Provide a code table, and ask them to translate the code you speak. In addition to increasing your friends or family's knowledge of Morse code, you'll also be able to spot errors or bad habits that arise so they can be corrected before you get used to it.
- To hint that you are pronouncing wrong while the last word is being pronounced, say eight dots. The recipient of the message will know that you have made a mistake and the last word will be crossed out.
- Listen carefully. When learning do it slowly until you get used to it.
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Do not give up!
Learning Morse Code is not easy. It is like learning a new language. Morse has new letters, abbreviations, grammar and other things to learn. Don't be discouraged if you make a lot of mistakes. You can because it's normal.
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With the right tools, learning Morse code can be done easily.
Copy and laminate the table below and keep it in your wallet. You will remember the codes and their location faster. Read this table from top to bottom. White means dit and color means done. Starting from E and T, aka dit and dah. Read down on each line, so V is dit dit dit dah.
- Don't use visual tables because you want to train your ears, not your eyes. Do not use methods that will slow down your learning process. Your goal is to recognize the letters in a word instantly, and not count dit and dah. Use Koch and Farnsworth's computer program method.
