Learn CW Resources
Thanks to TARC member Steve, K4EU for preparing this excellent resource for those interested in learning CW or in improving their CW skills:
Software for Learning Morse code:
| Just Learn Morse Code | Windows |
| RufXP | Windows |
| Morse Runner | Windows |
| Morse Camp | Web Browser |
| ebook2cw | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| Morse Toad | iOS |
| Ham Morse | iOS |
| Seiuchy | Web Browser |
| Morse Trainer (G4FON) | Windows |
| LCWO (Learn CW Online) | Web Browser |
| SCPhillips Morse Code Trainer | Web Browser |
| Pile Up Practice | Windows |
| QRQ | Linux, Windows, Mac |
| CW Forever | Windows |
| AA9PW | Web Browser, iOS |
| Ham Whisperer Morse Code Course | Web Browser |
| KY8D Morse code Books and Scripts | MP3 Player |
| K7QO Code Course | MP3 Player |
| Morse WW1 game | Web Browser |
| IZ2UUF Morse Koch CW | Android |
| Continuous Wave | Alexa Skill |
| Morse C.O.D. game | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| Morse Mania | Android |
| Koch Morse Trainer Pro | Android |
| Morse Machine for Ham Radio | Android |
| CW Teacher | Windows |
| CyberCWContest | Windows |
Other resources for learning Morse code:
| CW Academy | Excellent hands-on help and advice. Classes are offered free three times a year. |
| Long Island (New York) CW Club | Offers CW classes |
| The Art and Skill of Radio-Telegraphy by William Pierpont (N0HFF) | Free book with practical advice and history |
| Zen and the Art of Radiotelegraphy by Carlo Cosoli (IKYGJ) | Free book with a recommendation on how to learn Morse code |
| The Code Book: Morse Code Instruction Manual by Robert Betts (N1KPR) | Book on how to approach learning Morse code and get unstuck — $14.40. |
| DITS and DAHS: The ABC’s of Morse Code Operating by Ed Tobias (KR3E) | Book sold by CQ Magazine — $18.95 |
| Learning CW Code | Facebook group. Great for connecting with others learning Morse code |
| QRQcw | Group focused on QRQ (fast) CW. Forum with additional chat, video, and practice files. |
On-air Practice:
| ARRL W1AW Broadcast | Code sent at 5 to 35wpm on a schedule. Great for on-air practice. Transmits on 1.8025, 3.5815, 7.0475, 14.0475, 18.0975, 21.0675, 28.0675, 50.350, and 147.555 MHz. |
| CWT (CWOps Tests) | 1 hr mini-contest held every Wednesday at 13, 19, and 03 UTC (7am CT / 1pm CT / 9pm CT) using 10, 15, 20, 40, 80, and 160m. Suggested frequencies are from 28 to 38kHz up from the band edges. Three times a year on the second Wednesday in March, June, and November participants are asked to keep their CW speed at or below 20wpm to honor the graduating CW Academy students and encourage them to take part in the CWTs. |
| SKCC Sked Chat | Create an account and request a scheduled contact. SKCC (Straight Key Century Club) members are friendly and will generally bend over backward to help out guys and gals trying to get started with on-air practice. |
| NCCC Sprint | Contesting practice session on Thursdays (sometimes Friday) at 2:30 – 3:00Z. The format follows that of the major upcoming contest. |
| NAQCC QRS Nets | 3.564Mhz Monday 7pm CT / 7.031Mhz 7:30pm CT / Tue and Thru 4pm MT 14.060Mhz / Tue and Thru 4:30pm MT 7.062.5 / Wed 8pm ET 7.035Mhz / Thru 4:00pm PT 3.5566Mhz |
Interactive Online Resources:
| Discord CW WW | Daily practice at 7:30 pm Pacific time. In addition to a computer and microphone, you will need a paddle, key, and way to generate a sidetone. |
| iCW | CW over Internet Protocol. High quality. Allows hooking up physical paddle/keyer to the computer. |
| Morse.me | Provides online Morse code chat channels. The keyboard is used as a straight key. |
| Morse Power | Software uses USB to serial adapter to hook up a paddle/keyer. I am unsure of how active the user group is. |
| MoIP | Morse over IP. Software uses Serial to USB or Bluetooth to hookup a paddle. Software runs on Arduino, Linux, iOS, OS X, and Windows. |
| Zoom | General purpose video conference solution that is known to work well for online Morse code practice. The CW Academy has mostly transitioned to it. For the best audio, be sure to disable the “Automatically adjust microphone settings.” In addition to a computer and microphone, you will need a paddle, key, and way to generate a sidetone. |
| Mumble | General purpose audio bridge that is known to work well for online Morse code practice. It is free and open source. In addition to a computer and microphone, you will need a paddle, key, and way to generate a sidetone. |
Hardware for Learning Morse code:
| CW Trainer | A combination of Windows software and firmware that runs on the Begali CW Machine. It also supports connecting to another user over the internet. |
| Morserino-32 | Full featured standalone learning tool. Check out the review video. |
| MFJ-418 Code Tutor with LCD Display | Pocket-sized and convenient |
| K1EL Morse Tutor Keyer Kit | Two of them can be hooked up together for classroom practice! |
| OZ1JHM Timing Keyer | An open hardware and open source keyer that allows you to precisely diagnose any timing errors in your keying. Check out the review video. The software for it can be found here. |
Resources for software and hardware developers:
| K3NG CW Keyer | Arduino based keyer. It is open source and would make a great platform to further develop and extend. |
| morse.py | Python program used to translate text to Morse code |
| Morserino-32 | ESP32 based keyer and tutoring tool. It is open source and written using the Arduino IDE. It is a complete platform. |
Morse code related information and distractions:
| Dit Dit Podcast | Popular podcast focused on Morse code |
| CQ Serenade | A song produced sometime between 1965 and 1970 by Maurice Durieux, VE2QS |
| Go with the flow | A captivating article written by Nancy Kott WZ8C (Silent Key) on why hams fall in love with CW. |
| K9YA Telegraph Newsletter | Free high quality newsletter that often has CW related articles. Subscribe here! |
| Compendium of Automatic Morse Code by Ed Goss (N3CW) | It is an excellent hardback book with informative text and over 1,100 high-quality photos covering Morse code devices from the early 1800s to today. (The link provided goes to Amazon, but it is available from other retailers.) |
| Smithsonian Institute (SI) Collection | High quality images of telegraph keys |
| K9DE’s advice for learning Morse Code | It a good read and reinforces the sage advice of avoiding to count dits and dahs. |
| Morsum Magnificat : The Morse Magazine | Archive for Morse code magazine that ran from 1986 to 2004 |
| Iambic Keying – Debunking the Myth | Iambic or “squeeze” keying is one of the “Great Expectations” in CW operation. Is it really a good idea? |
| FCC to Reinstate Morse Code test | Delightful April Fool’s Joke |
| High Speed Morse Code HSC VHSC SHSC EHSC | Facebook group |
| Open Morse Runner Contest | Facebook group. Friendly competition to see who can score the highest score in Morse Runner within 10 minutes. |
| Morse Code Ring Tones | Make Morse code ring tones for any cell phone that uses MP3 files. |
| Sparks Telegraph Key Review | Info and pictures of old keys. Check out The Virtual Spark Transmitter for a nice explanation of how the old spark gap transmitters worked. |
| Steampunk Workshop | A detailed blog about building a sounder and an interface to send Morse from an RSS feed coming from his computer |
| Telegraph History | Stories about the men and companies of the old land line telegraph days |
| U.S. Early Radio History | Covers 1830s to 1940s — Telegraph to WWII era |
| Distant Writing | A history of the Telegraph Companies in Britain between 1838 and 1868 |