This program teaches you to receive Morse code (CW).
It starts with two letters and adds more when it sees that you are ready. This is the easiest way to learn code because the computer thinks about the practice you need next instead of wasting your time with stuff you already know or confusing you with stuff that you don’t.
The original idea comes from Ward K9OX (http://c2.com/morse/).
The app uses the Koch method letter sequence and starts with the first two letters: K and M.
For Each letter you have a column showing how high is your error score. It starts from 100 and lowers as you start guessing letters right and increases when you are wrong or you take too much time to recognize it.
SETTINGS
WPM (Words Per Minute): let you set the speed of the CW playing. The suggested speed is 20. The minimum is 15. You should choose a speed that does help you focus on the sound of each letter and not on the dits and dahs.
CW TONE: choose a tone frequency that suits your ears. Default is 700Hz
LESSON: sets the lesson level. By default you start with lesson 1 (2 letters) and as you get confident with them new ones are addedd.
MINIMUM LEVEL: sets the minimum average error level before adding a new letter.
RESET SETTINGS: resets the error level of each letter back to 100%.
The app can be found here:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.iu4apc.morsemachine
Any feedback and suggestion is more than welcome!
72/73, Andrea IU4APC
If there was an iOS or web-based version of this, I would be a very happy future ham.
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iOS version is in development. It should be available later this month.
Check the KX3Companion blog to stay updated and see some screenshot of the development of it: http://kx3companion.com/category/blog/
Thanks for the interest.
72/73 Andrea IU4APC
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Hope you’ll be able to release it soon!
You’ve got here an impatient admirer!
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Excellent app. I really enjoy it 🙂
One question about the “minimal level” setting:
Does 25% means that a new char is introduced when i read 75% of the chars correct ?
I ask because (for my personal feeling) the app introduces new chars very fast and i
Would like to slow this down a bit (i mostly use the app in the subway. Not the perfect
Environment, of course).
73 55
Andreas
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Thanks a lot! I’m happy that you like it.
The 25% is the average error level of all the letters.
Each letter starts with 100% and, depending on how fast you guess the letter, the error level can go down up to around 3%. If you feel that it goes too fast you can decrease this value but not too much otherwise the already learned letter will be repeated too rarely.
I found that 25% is a good level. But feel free to try other error levels and see what’s the one that better suits your needs.
72/73 Andrea IU4APC
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Thanks For the clarification. I will try different settings.
73 55 Andreas
P.S: Your response time (9 minutes !!!) is more than impressive :
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Sorry that it took me so long… I was having dinner 😀
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Hi Andrea,
any progress with IOS version?:)
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Hi Dawid,
unfortunately not. I had almost no time for (personal) development in the last months 😦
I hope to get back soon as it’s pretty close to be ready.
72/73 Andrea IU4APC
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Hi Andrea, when I heard about Morse Machine I dusted off an old Galaxy S3 and I must say I’m quite impressed with your app. It’s REALLY helping me improving my code skills. I want to thank you for the app, that’s it. And hope you can have the time to develope the iOS version: you’ve got a client with me! Tks & 73 from Daniel, EA3GEO
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Thanks a lot Daniel!
I’m just working on a complete rewrite or it (and other apps) that will let me easily deploy to Android/iOS and also Windows Phone.
The Morse Machine is a very helping app and definetly one of my favourite ones.
I have some ideas to make it even more engaging.
72/73 Andrea IU4APC
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These are very good news indeed! 😊
I’ll be eagerly awaiting your new developments on Morse Machine apps.
Keep this good work going ahead!
73 ES GD DX DE EA3GEO
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An option to choose only the letters, numbers or(and) punctuation would be welcome. Bug sometimes on my galaxy S3 with crackling in the sound. Statistics sometimes become wrong and after a reset, it starts again at 0.
But it’s still a good application.
Regards.
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Thank for the suggestion and bug report.
I’m working on a new version that I should be able to release in the coming weeks.
72/73 Andrea IU4APC
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I agree. An option to choose only numbers, letter or punctuation would be helpful. Also it would be good having some kind of results register in an order to evaluate progress. Another interesting option could be sending groups of letters. I find myself with near no mistakes at 20 wpm and 4 secs of no warning but I’m stuck on the quantity of letters I’m able to “process” in 10 min. If I reduce the “no warning” to say 2 sec that’s a bit of a disaster. I suppose I just need to put some more work! Bst rgds & 73.
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Thanks for suggestions.
I’ll try to take it into account for the next version.
It’ll be a complete rewrite with many new features.
72/73 Andrea IU4APC
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Hi Andrea.
How to calculate the statistics in this application, if it is not a secret?
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Ciao Andrea, thanks for your great work on morse-machine.
Could you please explain the switches of the unactivated letters/signs/numbers (narrow switch OVER the letter) … when i point the finger f.e. on the unactivatet 4 –> a big amount of other unactivated will go active.
I searched for a explanation like faq but found no answer …
Thanks, 73 de Ben DM4ZZ
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Hi, just bought the app for my iPad. Seems to have downloaded, PayPal took my money, app says it is compatible with my device but I can’t find it on my machine to open! Help🙀
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Love this app but if I could change one thing would be to be able to disable the hint letter or have the letter only appear after the morse sound has been replayed x times. I sometimes miss the first attempt to recognise a letter but on hearing it again would get it, having the letter show spoils that for me.
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This is a wonderful app! One think I would like to ask is this: I have a mac bluetooth keyboard that I can use with some of the other apps on my Samsung Galaxy. Your app does not seem to play well with my keyboard, so it is a little challenging for me. I can type on a real keyboard but can’t go much over 5 wpm on a touch screen. Any thoughts?
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Love the app, It would be nice if you could backup the progress….
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Hello Andrea, I just purchased Morse Machine for my Android devices. Great app and the best I have tried. I would like to know if you have thought about being able to customize the spacing of the characters sent. That seems to help me focus a bit more when the characters come a little faster. Keep up the good work!!
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OK. I have been using this about 2 weeks. It is by far the best morse tutor I have ever used. I am running 94%+ on all of my sessions. GET. THIS. APP.
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Ciao Andrea,
I bought this on Play Store (Android) and I have to say I like it a lot but I had to refund it since I have an issue. When the letter starts, the first quarter/half second is silent so it get’s hard to understand what letter has been played. For example, “U” is sometimes a dot and a dash, sometimes just a dash, never the entire sound. Do you have any idea how this could be solved? I think your app is awesome and would really like to be able to use it!
Thanks,
David.
Oneplus 3T (A3003), Android 8.0.0, Build number ONEPLUS A3003_28_180915
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Hello David,
that’s strange. It’s the first time that it is reported.
Are you using any kind of bluetooth audio device to listen to it? Because sometimes Bluetooth audio devices take a little to start playing sound (exactly about 1/4 – 1/2 second). If so then the solution is simple. Use a wired one or listen to the phone directly.
If that’s not the case, then unfortunately I have no idea of what can cause it 😦
Cheers,
Andrea
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Yes, I was using a Bluetooth headset and yes, that was the issue! Thank you very much for your quick and helpful reaction! 🙂
David
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Very good! Happy that it solved 😉
Andrea
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Definitely, this is the best available software for morse training.
No plans for an iPhone version yet, Andrea?
Tks & 73
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Hello Daniel,
Thanks a lot!
I’m writing a complete rewrite of the app and it’ll be available for both Android and iOS finally 😉
Just a little more patience.
Cheers,
Andrea
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Ciao Andrea,
I joined an online Morse class to learn the code, but it is your app that is really doing the the most for me! It is fantastic!!! Many thanks to you for the work you have done. I have learned a few things in my efforts to learn the code. Most important – Don’t be old! Even with that hurdle your app, which I am mainly using on a PC with an Android emulator, is the best! You are doing a great service for those who can access your program.
If I may I would like to suggest a few ways to make the program a little more flexible.
#1 The ability to turn off the programmed teaching routines to allow a full character “pop quiz” of all the characters without first having to complete a full programmed letter sequence.
#2 The ability to enable or disable any number of the characters for the same reason..
#3 A text to code player to allow hands free copy practice.
#4 Native PC operation.
Please don’t feel insulted by my suggestions, Yours is the only program I would even expend the effort on to try to improve.
By the way I have tried many other apps, but ONLY yours is a contender for the best. Followed by Wolphi’s Morse Trainer for its tremendous flexibility, and Morse Toad for it’s sense of fun! I would definitely pay more money for your program.
Sincere Thanks and 73 from an old man,
Jim Morrison
VE7IBI
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Hello Jim,
I’m working on a totally new version of the app that will also be available on iOS. It should be ready in the coming weeks.
Thanks for the suggestions. They are good ones. Can’t promise they’ll be in the new one immediately but probably will work on it sooner or later.
Keep on learning and thanks a lot for the comments.
Cheers,
Andrea
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Hi,
Initial trials of the new version have been very positive, apart from the occasional sending of two chars together – which I assume is the reason for the latest Bugfix. Personally I preferred the previous interface, but it’s hard to see how that would work with the multi char “top words” option.
I noticed the permissions have changed to include full network access and wonder what the reason is for this?
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Hello,
Yes the new version is a first step towards fixing this bug but not yet perfect. Later this week I’ll release the definitive fix.
I’ll soon be adding the possibility to record your statistics and key progress so that you can use the app on multiple devices and take with you your progress.
Also maybe I’ll add a global leaderboard and who knows some sort of distance challenges between users to add a little bit of fun to the whole process.
Cheers,
Andrea
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Excellent, that’s what I was hoping. How are you finding flutter to work with? I have recently set it up on a spare box here, but not really had time to look at it much yet.
Thanks again, oh – and welcome to sunny Britain by the way 😉
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Flutter is AWESOME! It’s really making app development so much fun and faster than any other mobile development framework, native or hybrid.
Morse Machine is the first app I developed in Flutter and I’m really happy about how it came out. I really used it to learn it. Still lot to learn but I’m really loving it. Definitely worth trying. I use React Native every day since about 2 years now and I prefer Flutter by far. Maybe because it’s new LOL!
Yeah… sunny Britain! I’m quite used to rain now but at times it can be really frustrating, specially if you come from Italy 😀
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Yeah, from the brief look I had at the docs and getting started guide it looks to be really good. As soon as I get chance I plan to try porting a couple of my apps to it as a test. My day job keeps me busy with a whole range of tools platforms and frameworks, so the prospect of learning yet another is a little daunting. But if it is as good as it sounds, I guess it’s a direction to move in.
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Totally understand you. It took me months (years?) to seriously start coding with Flutter (or in general after spending 8 hours coding). But Flutter gave me the sprint to do it and that’s mainly why I’m so enthusiastic about it.
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Hello Andrea,
The hint letter is gone in the new version! It is still referred to in instructions under letter timeout. I sometimes need a hint.
P.S What is with refusal to post comment without filling in a website?
Jim Morrison
VE7IBI
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Hello Jim,
I’ll reintegrate in one of the following updates.
Thanks for the request. You are not the only one missing that feature 🙂
Cheers,
Andrea
P.S. The approval for posting comments is needed to avoid the huge amount of spam that it would otherwise fill the comments 😉
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Hello Again Andrea,
I have installed the update on my phone, but haven’t yet done it on my PC. I wanted to be sure I liked it first. I Do! However the lack of the hint and the clear highlighting of the key that has been pressed has also caused me to delay my PC install. The old app has this and I find it useful. I hope you will consider these things on a future update. You have previously said that the hint will be back. Thank You.
Is there a way to roll back the update on my phone until a little bit later ( or perhaps the location of an archived .APK file) ? I appreciate that these are small things, but still useful to me. If I had enough years left and the drive to do so I would roll all of the best features of your program, “CW (Morse) Trainer” by Wolphi, and “Koch Morse Trainer Pro” Into one super program usable on all platforms. The demand is surely there! But I am getting on in years and you can’t have everything. I am deeply appreciative for what you have done for us.
Jim Morrison
VE7IBI
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Yes Jim. I’ll integrate the hint and other minor feature that were in the old version and it’s been delayed in the new one. But the new one will have also more features that I’m sure you’ll appreciate.
Cheers,
Andrea
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Hi,
Out of curiosity I have just installed the MM app onto my Chromebook – it works really well
But… just a quick thought:
As I have a real keyboard in front of me it seems a shame not to be able to use it rather than stabbing at my screen.
Would it add a huge overhead to the code to add hardware poll for a keyboard (real / bluetooth) at startup and if found add a keycode scan to for suitable devices?
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I’m working on supporting physical keyboard. I already had some requests for that 😉
Thanks for reporting that the app works fine on Chromebooks… sooner or later I have to get one! 😀
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OK… another radical thought on possible input methods… What about voice recognition?? That way phone could be in pocket, and you could listen to the characters via earphones and just say the letter you heard. Ideal for the walk to the office 🙂
It looks like flutter copes with speech rec without too many problems –
https://pub.dartlang.org/packages/speech_recognition
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Oh… and talking of chromebooks again : https://proandroiddev.com/flutter-development-on-a-pixelbook-dde984a3fc1e <— very interesting read – as chromebooks (mostly!) now support both linux and android apps, it is possible to run Android studio with the flutter plugin AND to run the resulting apps direct on the chromebook – vastly improved workflow and no need to run in emulation. I'm still running a few tests now, but its looking like this may be my preferred platform for future app dev.
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Hello CJ,
yes is a nice idea. The only problem is that usually voice recognition relies on online services. I have to find a way to make it work fast and offline. Maybe using some ML and some initial training. We’ll see.
About the article I already red it just before you commented on the Chromebook and that’s the main reason for my reply. If I can develop with a Chromebook it’d be a great solution.
Thanks again for your great comments 😉
Cheers,
Andrea
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