My ideas for a software companion for W8BH Morse Tutor.
The Koch method:
What is the koch method? The Koch method, named after German psychologist Ludwig Koch, which uses the full target speed from the outset but begins with just two characters. Once strings containing those two characters can be copied with 90% accuracy, an additional character is added, and so on until the full character set is mastered. It's based on learned reflexes, and is arguably the best and fastest method available! Learning at speeds below 15 WPM is strongly discouraged because building reflexes does not work at slow speeds. More info about Koch's method here:
How morse code sounds at 15 wpm:
A graphical representation of what is possible at different speeds. These speed "limits" are approximated, it's easy for someone who handles 30 wpm to go slower. Something interesting happens when one can handle speeds above 30 wpm, you will start to hear the complete word!
But, there is a thing..
NO ONE HAS USED THIS METHOD TO TRAIN A PERSON HOW TO RECEIVE AND SEND!
It should work for both as it will teach muscle memory.
There are NO software that can teach both, only receive to my knowledge.
Koch himself, with hand-picked students, got a group to master receiving 12 wpm code in a mere 13.5 hours!
That's much faster than any other method in the psychological literature.
How the software should work,and it's modes:
It should keep track of the users progress,time used and other statistics. Some of it may be posted to if an API is available.
Cross platform ( Linux, Windows and mac ).
USB connectivity.
Training mode: First the program sends a series of K's in CW for 30 seconds while the character K is displayed. Then it repeats the procedure with the character M.
When that is complete it sends a four characters group using K and M in random places without displaying the signs. It then waits for a four characters input using the keyboard or the morse device, shows the characters you have gotten correct in green, the wrong ones in red.
That continues until the user has gotten 90 % correct of a number of groups, then a new letter is introduced ( for example X ), it is sent for 30 seconds while the character is displayed. Then the lesson continues using the new character until 90% of groups is correct, a new character or prosign is introduced and the lessons continues until all characters are learned.
It may also be possible to display the character K and send the character in morse 5 times and wait for 4~10 around seconds for the answer using the morse key or keyboard. There should be not to harsh timing requirements on receiving, some normal slack should be permitted as long as the CW decoder can decode perhaps 70% of the transmitted CW it should be good.?
It should also support multiple users on the same software instance.
It should also display statistics of a users progress and time used. The slowest permitted speed should be 13 WPM. Any speed below this is wasted time.
It should also be possible to adjust the mininum and maximum number of characters in the groups and if they are of random size. It should support Farnsworth timing, characters are sent at the same speed as at higher speeds, while extra spacing is inserted between characters and words to slow the transmission down.
The advantage of this is that you get used to recognising characters at a higher speed,the characters does not "blend together" as easily and thus it will be easier to increase the speed later on.
Realistic mode: Available during Realistic mode: signal fading and white noise to imitate more "realistic conditions", as Hannes Matuschek Kochmorse has it. It is available at: . Kochmorse does have a CW detector, but it can't be used to input characters during learning how to receive Morse and it seems not to support winkeyer interfaces.
Morse alphabets that should be used : Primarly International, but the possibility to add regional extras like the Norwegian ? ? and ?. Those extras should be possible to add to the characters learned with a option in settings.
Compatibility with a Murmur client that can connect to a murmur server, that enables chatting in morse code with other users. The client is available at: Similar low latency open source free software solutions could also be used.
A existing server already exists:
Suggestion for a plugin for mumble: This may be done by the software itself if a plugin is to cumbersome.
Compatible with Hamsphere:
Sadly, I cannot program at all.
So, any opinions on this ?
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Re: Morse Keyboard Photos
Hello Ken, ? Yes I¡¯ve made contacts with the 20 meter QCX unit, but in all honesty it was while I was using a straight key (J-38) a while ago and not the Keyboard Keyer that is currently attached.? My longwire antenna here at the house broke a while ago during a storm and I have not repaired it yet. However, I did hook up a line to the house gutter which if I use the tuner in line should be just fine for the system that you see in the photo. I¡¯m planning on getting it up and running sometime this weekend and hope to be able to report on it and the keyboard keyer next week. ? The keyboard keyer box is one that I got from ¡°The Container Store¡± up in Kenwood, Ohio (a northern suburb across the Ohio River).? Only trouble with it was that it was a little delicate, one of the hinges broke the second time I opened the box.? I replaced the hinge pin with a short piece of brazing rod (the gold color of the right hinge in the picture). ?This was the time I decided to try a store bought box and I have had second thoughts about that after the hinge experience.? Just wanted something to keep the dust and grime out of the PC board material. ? All for now, 73, Allan,? WA9IRS ? Sent from for Windows ?
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From: Ken KM4NFQSent: Thursday, November 4, 2021 12:31 PM To: [email protected]Subject: Re: [w8bhMorseTutor] Morse Keyboard Photos ? Hello Allan, ? Thanks for your reply. I didn't even notice the long thin silvery box on the right. I really like your card catalog box. The box that the Keyboard Keyer is in looks good as well. Have you made contacts with the 20m QCX? ? Regards, Ken, KM4NFQ "Not Fully Qualified" /g/w8bhMorseTutor ? On Thu, Nov 4, 2021 at 10:08 AM Allan Hale <hale.allanm@...> wrote: >? > Hi Ken, >? > Yes, you are right.? The large ¡°box¡± in the left top of the photo is a SLA Battery inside an old card catalog box converted into a battery box for the field with diode polarity protection inside and a push to test meter on the front. The square clear plastic box is a 20-meter QCX transceiver and the long thin silvery box on the right side of the photo is one of those rechargeable 4.5-5 volt back up batteries for cell phones and other stuff using standard USB connections.? I wanted to show the W8BH Keyboard keyer hooked up to a portable QRP rig to show what is included for portable operating. >? >? >? > The keyboard keyer is really a lot of options packed into a small package! >? >? >? > All for now, >? > Allan,?? WA9IRS >? >? >? > Sent from Mail for Windows >? >? >? > From: Ken KM4NFQ > Sent: Thursday, November 4, 2021 9:50 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [w8bhMorseTutor] Morse Keyboard Photos >? >? >? > Looking Good, Alan! >? >? >? > What are all the gadgets in the second photo? >? > Power supply? QCX? Keyboard Keyer? >? >? >? > Regards, >? > Ken, KM4NFQ "Not Fully Qualified" >? > /g/w8bhMorseTutor >? >? >? > On Thu, Nov 4, 2021 at 6:25 AM Allan Hale <hale.allanm@...> wrote: >? > > >? > > >? > > >? > > >? > > >? > > Sent from Mail for Windows >? > > >? > > >? > > >? > > >? >? >? >? >? >? >? >? >? >? >? > ? ? ? ? ?
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Re: Morse Keyboard Photos
Hello Allan, Thanks for your reply. I didn't even notice the long thin silvery box on the right. I really like your card catalog box. The box that the Keyboard Keyer is in looks good as well. Have you made contacts with the 20m QCX? Regards, Ken, KM4NFQ "Not Fully Qualified" /g/w8bhMorseTutor
On Thu, Nov 4, 2021 at 10:08 AM Allan Hale <hale.allanm@...> wrote:
Hi Ken,
Yes, you are right. The large ¡°box¡± in the left top of the photo is a SLA Battery inside an old card catalog box converted into a battery box for the field with diode polarity protection inside and a push to test meter on the front. The square clear plastic box is a 20-meter QCX transceiver and the long thin silvery box on the right side of the photo is one of those rechargeable 4.5-5 volt back up batteries for cell phones and other stuff using standard USB connections. I wanted to show the W8BH Keyboard keyer hooked up to a portable QRP rig to show what is included for portable operating.
The keyboard keyer is really a lot of options packed into a small package!
All for now,
Allan, WA9IRS
Sent from Mail for Windows
From: Ken KM4NFQ
Sent: Thursday, November 4, 2021 9:50 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [w8bhMorseTutor] Morse Keyboard Photos
Looking Good, Alan!
What are all the gadgets in the second photo?
Power supply? QCX? Keyboard Keyer?
Regards,
Ken, KM4NFQ "Not Fully Qualified"
/g/w8bhMorseTutor
On Thu, Nov 4, 2021 at 6:25 AM Allan Hale <hale.allanm@...> wrote:
Sent from Mail for Windows
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Re: Morse Keyboard Photos
Hi Ken, Yes, you are right.? The large ¡°box¡± in the left top of the photo is a SLA Battery inside an old card catalog box converted into a battery box for the field with diode polarity protection inside and a push to test meter on the front. The square clear plastic box is a 20-meter QCX transceiver and the long thin silvery box on the right side of the photo is one of those rechargeable 4.5-5 volt back up batteries for cell phones and other stuff using standard USB connections.? I wanted to show the W8BH Keyboard keyer hooked up to a portable QRP rig to show what is included for portable operating. ? The keyboard keyer is really a lot of options packed into a small package! ? All for now, Allan,?? WA9IRS ? Sent from for Windows ?
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From: Ken KM4NFQSent: Thursday, November 4, 2021 9:50 AM To: [email protected]Subject: Re: [w8bhMorseTutor] Morse Keyboard Photos ? Looking Good, Alan! ? What are all the gadgets in the second photo? Power supply? QCX? Keyboard Keyer? ? Regards, Ken, KM4NFQ "Not Fully Qualified" /g/w8bhMorseTutor ? On Thu, Nov 4, 2021 at 6:25 AM Allan Hale <hale.allanm@...> wrote: >? >? >? >? >? > Sent from Mail for Windows >? >? >? > ? ? ? ? ?
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Re: Morse Keyboard Photos
Looking Good, Alan! What are all the gadgets in the second photo? Power supply? QCX? Keyboard Keyer? Regards, Ken, KM4NFQ "Not Fully Qualified" /g/w8bhMorseTutor
On Thu, Nov 4, 2021 at 6:25 AM Allan Hale <hale.allanm@...> wrote:
Sent from Mail for Windows
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Re: new project: LED tester
Greetings, I have built the LED Tester project on a breadboard, following the tutorial that Bruce wrote. I used a 400 tie-point Solderless Plug-in BreadBoard with power rails from Busboard Prototype Systems (BB400).
My Build Notes can be found at Bruce's GitHub site:
Bruce's tutorial will take you step-by-step from Blink on the SeeedStudio XIAO MCU to a working LED Tester. Following the tutorial will allow you to check all the main components (MCU. OLED, Digipot, & Rotary Encoder). I discovered that the reason my LED Tester did not work properly was due to a very small whisker of solder bridging the SPI pins on the MCU. Si I highly recommend breadboarding the project first, before soldering a PCB.
Regards, Ken, KM4NFQ "Not Fully Qualified" /g/w8bhMorseTutor
On Sun, Oct 17, 2021 at 2:23 AM Jim Pruitt < jpruitt67@...> wrote: > > I would also be interested in a LED Tester pc board if anyone has extras for sale.? I am also still looking for a Pocket MCT pc board if anyone has an extra laying around. > > Thank you. > > Jim Pruitt > WA7DUY > > On 10/16/2021 7:38 AM, J.C. Hassall wrote: > > Does anyone have an extra PCB for sale? ? > > TIA > > jim > > On Sun, Sep 26, 2021 at 2:45 PM Bruce Hall < bhall66@...> wrote: >> >> Here is the documentation for an LED tester.? For $20-25 in parts, you can build a battery-operated, microcontroller-based device for characterizing that box of assorted LEDs. ? It shows you the current and forward voltage at varying resistances.? I am still working on the documentation. >> >> Project description: ? >> Schematic: ? >> Source code: ? >> PCB Gerbers: >> >> Bruce >> > > > > -- > jim ?W4BEA > > The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not. > Thomas Jefferson > > I sometimes feel bad for the smart people - being simple-minded and easily entertained is totally the way to go! ;-) > J. Stoll > >
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Re: new project: LED tester
I would also be interested in a LED Tester pc
board if anyone has extras for sale.? I am also still looking for
a Pocket MCT pc board if anyone has an extra laying around.
Thank you.
Jim Pruitt
WA7DUY
On 10/16/2021 7:38 AM, J.C. Hassall
wrote:
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Does anyone have an extra PCB for sale???
TIA
jim
On Sun, Sep 26, 2021 at 2:45
PM Bruce Hall < bhall66@...>
wrote:
Here is the documentation for an LED tester.?
For $20-25 in parts, you can build a battery-operated,
microcontroller-based device for characterizing that box of
assorted LEDs.? ?It shows you the current and forward
voltage at varying resistances.? I am still working on the
documentation.
Project description:??
Schematic:??
Source code:??
PCB Gerbers:?
Bruce
--
jim?
W4BEA
The
democracy will cease to exist when you take
away from those who are willing to work and
give to those who would not.
Thomas
Jefferson
I sometimes feel bad for the smart people -
being simple-minded and easily entertained is
totally the way to go! ;-)
J. Stoll
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Re: new project: LED tester
Does anyone have an extra PCB for sale???
TIA
jim
On Sun, Sep 26, 2021 at 2:45 PM Bruce Hall < bhall66@...> wrote: Here is the documentation for an LED tester.? For $20-25 in parts, you can build a battery-operated, microcontroller-based device for characterizing that box of assorted LEDs.? ?It shows you the current and forward voltage at varying resistances.? I am still working on the documentation.
Project description:?? Schematic:?? Source code:?? PCB Gerbers:?
Bruce
-- jim? W4BEA
The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.
Thomas Jefferson
I sometimes feel bad for the smart people - being simple-minded and easily entertained is totally the way to go! ;-) J. Stoll
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LED Tester on a Breadboard Build Notes
#build
Greetings,
I recently built the LED Tester on a breadboard.
As I built the circuit, I drew a few diagrams.
The diagrams are organized in an HTML page that can be viewed with a web browser.
Bruce W8BH, put my notes up at his GitHub account:
The latest documentation for the W8BH LED tester is now available.
This is a fun project that results in a very useful piece of test equipment.
A while back I bought a few Grab Bags of LEDs without any documentation.
Also, this will be a helpful tool for figuring out what all those loose LEDs in the junk box are.
Hopefully helpful.
--
Regards,
Ken, KM4NFQ "Not Fully Qualified"
/g/w8bhMorseTutor
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Does anyone have an extra Pocket Tutor pc board they want to part with?
Does anyone in the group have an extra bare
pocket tutor pc board they would be willing to part with?
Thank you.
Jim Pruitt
WA7DUY
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Bruce,
Thanks for the keyer design, on my future list of projects to be sure!
As a note, a while back I experimented with several USB shields for Arduino like??and?
The first pretty much worked out of the box and I seem to remember that I got the second one working t0o. They both have some sample keyboard reading software. Proved that to my satisfaction that it basically worked, but didn't stress test it at all.
I used it with a mini wireless keyboard:
Just a thought if anybody wants to take your design and add USB (wired or wireless) connection to your keyboard design. Definitely more expensive than your solution, but the wireless mini keyboard has interesting possibilities for SOTA, etc.
73
Mark
AJ6CU
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Ah, that 'splains it. No problem...keep us posted when/if you decide to release it.
And if you need a beta tester, let me know.? :)
73...??? Mark
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Re: new project: LED tester
Greetings,
Thank you Bruce W8BH for sharing your LED Tester project with us.
I know that I, for one, am very interested in building this project. My current LED tester consists of: a bench power supply, two DMMs; one to measure Voltage, and the other to measure Current, a Resistor Substitution Box, a breadboard where it is all connected together and where I insert the LED.
It works great, but it is rather large. 8^D
Regards, Ken, KM4NFQ "Not Fully Qualified" /g/w8bhMorseTutor
On Sun, Sep 26, 2021 at 2:45 PM Bruce Hall < bhall66@...> wrote: Here is the documentation for an LED tester.? For $20-25 in parts, you can build a battery-operated, microcontroller-based device for characterizing that box of assorted LEDs.? ?It shows you the current and forward voltage at varying resistances.? I am still working on the documentation.
Project description:?? Schematic:?? Source code:?? PCB Gerbers:?
Bruce
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Hi Mark.
You are correct.? I did not publish the code for the YouTube version.? ?It is incomplete.
Bruce
Hi Bruce...
The code you link to does not seem to match the clock in the YouTube video. The three screens are there but the touch zones seem to be different and there's no audio code and no speaker or moon icons. I'm using the GPS_CLOCK_triple code. Is that the latest source?
73...???? Mark???? AA7TA
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Hi Bruce...
The code you link to does not seem to match the clock in the YouTube video. The three screens are there but the touch zones seem to be different and there's no audio code and no speaker or moon icons. I'm using the GPS_CLOCK_triple code. Is that the latest source?
73...???? Mark???? AA7TA
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Here is the documentation for an LED tester.? For $20-25 in parts, you can build a battery-operated, microcontroller-based device for characterizing that box of assorted LEDs.? ?It shows you the current and forward voltage at varying resistances.? I am still working on the documentation.
Project description:?? Schematic:?? Source code:?? PCB Gerbers:?
Bruce
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The following breakout board is not nearly as clever as Ken's design, but it's what I used when breadboarding the keyboard keyer.
Description:?? PCB Gerbers:??
Bruce
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Re: New Project: keyboard keyer
Greetings,
Thank you Bruce W8BH, for sharing such a fun project with the World..
I recently built the Keyboard Keyer on a breadboard. To do so, I needed to breadboard the PS/2 port. My solution was to use some stripboard to make a BreakOut Board (BOB). This is the diagram of the BOB I made:
This is what the actual breakout board looks like after soldering it together.
I superglued the FR4 sides of the stripboard together, lining up the holes. For vias, I used pieces of resistor wire, bent in a U shape. I soldered the free ends of the U first, then soldered the U side, then clipped off the U. The support tabs on the PS/2 port hang over the edge and do not need to be soldered.
I was able to plug the BOB into the breadboard, then add the voltage divider resistors to the breadboard.
I soldered male headers on the OLED, so it fit on the breadboard. Likewise for the XIAO.
Here is a short video clip of Step 3b of the Keyboard Keyer tutorial:
My eyes are not what they used to be, so I drew diagrams for the XIAO, OLED, and the Piezo.
Finally, here is a snapshot of the completed breadboard with the final KeyboardKeyer sketch uploaded.
It works as advertised.
This is a fun project to breadboard.
Regards, Ken, KM4NFQ "Not Fully Qualified" /g/w8bhMorseTutor
On Fri, Aug 27, 2021 at 6:31 PM Bruce Hall < bhall66@...> wrote: Here is a small project you might like:? a keyboard-to-Morse code interface.? I am working on the documentation now.
Project Description:? Schematic:? Builder's Guide: User's Guide: Source Code and PCB:?
I am still proofreading so I apologize in advance for any typos.? The source code and PCB gerbers are not yet public, but should be ready in a few days.
As always, your comments and suggestions are much appreciated.
Bruce
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Mine, too.? Thankfully the biggest chip in my project only has 48 pins.? And it has real leads.
Bruce
those 100+ pin ICs are a bit beyond my skill level. :)
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Ken KM4NFQ
Bruce Hall