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Koch method to learn Morse

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Re: Koch method to learn Morse

#61
post #41
post #31

Note that in a ham radio setting, morse code is only part of the equation. The conversations typically follow patterns that aren't very readable, even when transcribed to ASCII. http://lidscw.org/resources/cq-qso-template

While training for Amateur radio license, I came across interesting things which I hadn't observed before, mainly to do with the ProSigns (like the SOS °°°---°°°) * There is no word in English dictionary with HH (°°°° °°°°). Hence it's a code to indicate scratch the last word. * The washing machines & microwaves of many manufacturers often beeped AS (°-°°° i.e. Wait) in Morse when they were done, to indicate machine…

*withhold the last word?

Re: Koch method to learn Morse

#62
post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

More commonly, "uhh", "ahh", and "ehh" (and their elongations) -- though I imagine their function is either fulfilled in other ways in Morse (prosigns?) or simply not needed.

do you realistically see yourself, or anyone else keying in those ? Using morse is all about efficient transmission in high noise environments. Personally, I think I'd be annoyed if i had to decode that whilst sitting on a mountain top, or wherever (not being hyperbolic SOTA[1] and POTA[2] are real things folks participate in). [1]: Summits On The Air https://www.sota.org.uk/ [2]: Parks on the Air https://parksonthea…

I'm not a Morse operator, so I wouldn't know. That's why I said the function of these words may simply not be needed.

The poster earlier claimed that no English word contains the digraph "hh", however, which is simply untrue. It's quite uncommon, and I'm sure the prosign use of HH is grammatically unambiguous in general, but it being invalid otherwise is not a well-founded reason.

Re: Koch method to learn Morse

#63
post #51
post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

More commonly, "uhh", "ahh", and "ehh" (and their elongations) -- though I imagine their function is either fulfilled in other ways in Morse (prosigns?) or simply not needed.

My reference was towards unconjugated words. GP posted 'beachhead' - which is a colloquially derived American English word by conjugation of two common English words. Normally you don't see conjugated or stretchy words in amateur radio to facilitate esse. So Simple Wikipedia level of vocabulary, having words which are rather unambiguous to all English speakers. Outside of US, I am sure most people will pause to grasp…

That's totally fair! It sounds like these words simply aren't used in Morse communication, which seems reasonable due to its purpose. I imagine HH as a prosign is also fairly unambiguous in grammatical context, even if someone did need to key it as part of a word.

Re: Koch method to learn Morse

#64

OT, does anyone know of an app that will decode Morse code that I type in using a single key like the space bar, holding it down long for dah and pressing it quickly for dit? It should figure out the wpm I'm using on its own, like a human would, rather than making me specify it, or at least it should let me select an arbitrary (possibly fractional) wpm rather than offering only a fixed list like 15/20/25.

there is a _lot_ of ham radio software that decodes live morse from live sources where where's no clue what speed it'll be coming in at.

As well as dedicated hardware, to list but two examples:

http://www.morserino.info/

http://wb7fhc.com/m2-cw-decoder.html

Re: Koch method to learn Morse

#65
post #32

I haven't tried this site, but the most well known for learning Morse in your browser in Ham radio is: https://lcwo.net/ Which uses a similar technique. It also has quite a few more types of practice such as words, callsigns, games, contests etc. I learnt Morse code there last year before I did a CW academy online course and I really enjoyed the approach.

Interesting! I found myself struggling a lot on the linked site because the random groupings made it very easy for me to lose my place and feel like i've gotten behind, but LCWO's fixed groups of 5 help my find my place a lot better.

Re: Koch method to learn Morse

#66
post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While training for Amateur radio license, I came across interesting things which I hadn't observed before, mainly to do with the ProSigns (like the SOS °°°---°°°) * There is no word in English dictionary with HH (°°°° °°°°). Hence it's a code to indicate scratch the last word. * The washing machines & microwaves of many manufacturers often beeped AS (°-°°° i.e. Wait) in Morse when they were done, to indicate machine…

> There is no word in English dictionary with HH (°°°° °°°°). Beachhead

>> There is no word in English dictionary with HH (°°°° °°°°).

> Beachhead

Also bathhouse, fishhook, hitchhike, roughhouse, and withhold.

Re: Koch method to learn Morse

#67

OT, does anyone know of an app that will decode Morse code that I type in using a single key like the space bar, holding it down long for dah and pressing it quickly for dit? It should figure out the wpm I'm using on its own, like a human would, rather than making me specify it, or at least it should let me select an arbitrary (possibly fractional) wpm rather than offering only a fixed list like 15/20/25.

The "Morse Expert" App available for Android/iOS does a pretty good job of decoding CW 'in the wild'. It can adapt to different sending speeds and does a decent job with non-ideal character/element spacing.

The decoding algorithm uses some amount of Bayesian probabilities to decide what the proper decoding of the incoming signal is: http://ag1le.blogspot.com/2013/01/towards-bayesian-morse-dec...

Re: Koch method to learn Morse

#68
post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My reference was towards unconjugated words. GP posted 'beachhead' - which is a colloquially derived American English word by conjugation of two common English words. Normally you don't see conjugated or stretchy words in amateur radio to facilitate esse. So Simple Wikipedia level of vocabulary, having words which are rather unambiguous to all English speakers. Outside of US, I am sure most people will pause to grasp…

So no withhold, fishhook, or hitchhike? How do they handle names like Munchhausen?

Nicknames. Seriously.

I once knew a HAM that went by Gark in Morse because it was faster to key than Gary.

Re: Koch method to learn Morse

#69
post #67

OT, does anyone know of an app that will decode Morse code that I type in using a single key like the space bar, holding it down long for dah and pressing it quickly for dit? It should figure out the wpm I'm using on its own, like a human would, rather than making me specify it, or at least it should let me select an arbitrary (possibly fractional) wpm rather than offering only a fixed list like 15/20/25.

The "Morse Expert" App available for Android/iOS does a pretty good job of decoding CW 'in the wild'. It can adapt to different sending speeds and does a decent job with non-ideal character/element spacing. The decoding algorithm uses some amount of Bayesian probabilities to decide what the proper decoding of the incoming signal is: http://ag1le.blogspot.com/2013/01/towards-bayesian-morse-dec...

Do you have a link for Morse Expert? It sounds like exactly what I want, but I don’t see any exact name matches when I search for it in Apple’s U.S. App Store.

Re: Koch method to learn Morse

#70
post #56
post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> and you can't get out of it by sending ASCII binary? It's a minor point, but I doubt you'll find many people who can decode binary ASCII in their head (especially in contexts like tapping), not to mention that you'll need 7/8 bits per char instead of the ~3 Morse code uses.

Enter tap code, most often used by prisoners to communicate between cells. Row and column in a 5x5 table of chars, encoded by series of taps.

I did not know about this code. Just looked it up. Clever.

Does anyone know why C/K are overloaded rather than something like Q/Z?

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