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CW.COM 10-04-87 ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Original Comprehensive Morse Code Training Program for the PC ----------------------------------------------------------------- **************************************************************** * PLEASE UPLOAD TO YOUR LOCAL COMPUTER BULLETIN BOARD SYSTEMS! * **************************************************************** **************************************************************** * PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU PASS YOUR CODE TEST USING CW ! * **************************************************************** I. Background A. Version This documentation is updated to version 3.16 of the program. B. Purpose CW was written to help prospective hams overcome what many perceive to be the biggest obstacle to obtaining an amateur radio license--learning the Morse code. There are numerous programs available in the public domain which send Morse code via a PC's speaker, but most are very limited and are written in BASIC, which requires a clumsy interpreter. CW seeks to provide a comprehensive program which provides several modes of learning and practicing the code. The best features of other programs are included and many new features have been added to those previously available. C. The Author The author is a registered patent attorney working with Rockwell International Corporation in Cedar Rapids, IA (the old Collins Radio Company). He can be contacted on Compuserve (ID No.: 71016,1355), or GEnie (Address: L.MURRAH), or by mail at the following address: 10 Cottage Grove Woods, S.E. Cedar Rapids, IA 52403 The home telephone number is (319) 365-6530. Credit must also be given to the users, many of whom have provided suggestions for improvement which have been incorporated into CW. D. The Software CW is written in Turbo Pascal. The development of CW began in early 1986 and has gone through a number of versions. New versions will be released as features are added and corrections are made to previously released versions. CWnnn.ARC contains the following files: Name Description Needed to Run? ---- ----------- -------------- ANTENNAS.CW - Names of antennas for QSO feature Yes CITIES.CW - Names of cities for QSO feature Yes CW.COM - the main executable file Yes CW.CFG - the CW configuration file Yes CW.DOC - this documentation file No FEEDBACK.FRM - Form for user feedback to author (Please!) No GROUPS.CW - Code groups for Learn feature Yes GROUP.1 - Alternate code group for Learn feature No GROUP.2 - Alternate code group for Learn feature No HAMRADIO.INF - A brief file on ham radio No HAMWORDS.CW - List of "ham" words for Receive feature Yes JOBS.CW - Name of occupations for QSO feature Yes LEARN.HLP - Help file for Learn feature Yes MAIN.HLP - Main help file Yes MYGROUP.CW - User defined group for Learn feature Yes NAMES.CW - Names of operators for QSO feature Yes PROBLEM.RPT - Problem report form for special problems No README.1ST - Important information about calibration No RECEIVE.HLP - Help file for Receive feature Yes REGWORDS.CW - List of "regular" words for Receive feature Yes RIGS.CW - Names of radio equipment for QSO feature Yes SEND.CW - Help file for Send feature Yes STATES.CW - States Yes STEPS.CW - Character pairings for Learn feature Yes E. Latest Version The latest version of CW can usually be found on GEnie or Compuserve. The latest version can also be obtained by sending a FORMATTED (360K) diskette and a STAMPED, SELF-ADDRESSED diskette mailer to the author at the above address. The request should also be sent with sufficient postage that it does not arrive with postage due. Although I do not operate an active bulletin board system, I do have RBBS software which I can load to permit downloading CW from my computer. If you do not have access to GEnie or Compuserve and would like to obtain the latest version of the program this way, please give me a call on weekends or during early evening hours, and I will set it up for you. II. Equipment and Program Configuration A. General CW can be run on the IBM-PC and compatibles having 192K of memory and one floppy disk drive. A hard disk is not required, although you will find that a hard disk will enhance operation of this and any other program. Your CONFIG.SYS file should authorize at least 20 files. This can be done with the following statement: FILES = 20 CONFIG.SYS may be edited using a word processor or program editor. B. Computer Clock Speed The clock speed for your computer will affect the code speed. Therefore, you should calibrate CW code speed for your computer. If you have a multiple speed system, use CW only in the calibrated clock speed unless you wish to recalibrate. C. Video Display Card The program was originally written for the Color Graphics Adapter. However, I have made changes which should permit it to work with a monochrome card. If you have problems with CW on a monochrome card, please send in the PROBLEM.RPT form. D. Memory Resident Programs Since the code speed for CW is determined by a software loop in order to provide greater code speed accuracy, you will need to recalibrate the code speed if memory resident programs are used or changed. Such programs affect the clock operation upon which the loop is based. III. Your Right to Use CW A. License As you may have noticed I have retained the copyright in CW, primarily in order to control its orderly development. However, I have granted the right to anyone to use the program for private, non-commercial use without further permission from me. That is, you can copy it, use it, and share it so long as you do not charge any money for it. B. Contributions Several users have asked me whether I require payment of a "shareware" fee in order to use the program. The answer is "No"; but if you would like to support CW with a small contribution (say $5), we certainly would not refuse your generosity. It would certainly help in continuing to improve the program. IV. Tips on Learning the Morse Code 1. Learn the characters by sound, not by sight. Each of the characters has its own characteristic length and rhythm. Do not memorize the characters using the visual dot and dash symbols. That will slow you down! 2. Set the character speed to 13 words per minute and the send speed at whatever lower speed you desire. Since your ultimate goal is 13 words per minute, it is much easier to learn how the characters sound at that speed even though they are sent at a lower speed. This helps to eliminate the "hump" that most people experience around 10 words per minute. 3. Study every day, but if you feel you are stuck and not making progress, take a few days off. It's amazing how this will sometimes clear your head. 4. Try to copy code in you head as much as possible. 5. Get access to a ham receiver and try to copy off real transmissions off the air. 6. As soon as possible learn the sounds of whole words. 7. Turn on the CW <G>roups function and let it send in the background while you are doing something else, such as reading the paper or working on a construction project. Try to identify characters while doing the other activity. This will help your brain shift to "automatic" and will help the code sounds become a natural "part of the wallpaper." 8. Although the code test no longer requires that you demonstrate an ability to send code, you should get a code practice oscillator or use the <S>end <M>anual feature and practice your sending. 9. As soon as you pass the novice test, get a rig on the air and operate on the novice bands. Nothing will increase your speed and concentration as well as the pressure of an on-the-air contact. Don't worry about being perfect--the other guy is probably in the same boat as you. 10. Tape a CW session using a cassette recorder and listen to the tape while driving to work. V. Using CW A. The Character Set Since several Morse code procedure signs are not printable as ASCII characters since they are a combination of two characters, special characters are used to represent them as follows as follows: Prosign ASCII Representation Meaning ------- -------------------- ------- <AR> @ Over <SK> $ End of contact, end of message <AS> ! Wait, stand-by <KN> # Over-specified station only B. Setting Up CW 1. The Configuration File The default values for code timing, code speed, oscillator tone, screen graphics type, and screen colors are contained in the CW.CFG file. If this file is not found when the CW is first run, it will be created. The code speed and oscillator tone can be changed using the function keys as defined hereinafter any time code is being sent. The user is given the opportunity to save the new settings when the program is exited using the <X> command. The default values for code timing, screen graphics type, and screen colors can be changed from within CW using the <U>tilities command in the main menu. 2. Code Timing The timing of the code in CW is initially set assuming a computer clock speed of 4.77 MHz. If your computer runs at a different speed or uses background programs which steal clock cycles, you will need to use the <T>iming subcommand in the <U>tilities menu to change the timing factor. To decrease code speed increase the value of the timing factor and vice versa. Use the <S>peed Test option and a clock with a sweep second hand to test the speed resulting from a new setting. Keep changing the factor until the proper code speed in attained. With a clock speed of 4.77 HMz. and with no memory resident programs installed, the author has found that a timing factor of about 1075 is necessary. You can also use the <A>uto Calibrate feature to automatically set the timing factor to APPROXIMATELY the correct setting. Due to vagaries of the PC clock, this method may be off by several percent. This may be fine for general use, but before relying upon the speed as when preparing for your code test, you should manually calibrate the speed as described in the preceding paragraph. This feature is a good way to start the calibration process described above. You should ALWAYS check the code speed for your computer before relying upon CW. 3. The Code Speed The code speed can be set at any time code is being sent using the function keys as follows: F1 - Decrease SEND Speed F2 - Increase SEND Speed F3 - Decrease CHAR Speed F4 - Increase CHAR Speed F5 - Decrease WORD Speed F6 - Increase WORD Speed F9 - Set SEND, CHAR, and WORD to Same Speed You can set the speed at which the character is sent separately from the overall send speed (the Farnsworth method). For example, you can set the send speed at a slow speed but set the characters to be sent using shorter dits and dahs equivalent to a much faster send speed. This makes it easier to increase your code speed since you will already know the sound of the characters at the higher speed. You can also set the word speed separately from send and character speed. This permits you to learn the sounds of whole words individually sent at high speeds but spaced at a much slower speed. The minimum code speed is 3 WPM, and the maximum is 99 WPM (good luck with that setting!). The send speed and character speeds are coupled so that the send speed will never exceed the character speed. Also in the speed test mode, the word speed will automatically be set to the send speed so that the test is valid. 4. The Oscillator Tone The oscillator tone can be set to suit your tastes at any time code is being sent with the function keys as follows: F7 - Decrease Speaker Tone F8 - Increase Speaker Tone The minimum tone is 400 Hz., and the maximum is 1200 Hz. The author has found that abouRt 500 Hz. is optimum for sound and volume. 5. Video Type At program invocation CW will determine the color video type. However, this can be changed if necessary (e.g., you have two video cards installed) with the <V>ideo Type command. Screen colors will automatically be set for the selected video card. 6. Screen Colors The colors of the screen, the windows, and the highlighting can be set to suit your taste using the <U>tilities command and the <C>olors subcommand when the utilities menu window appears. The colors are initialized for a black on white when CW is first run. 7. Hiding the Text If you would like to hide the text so that you are not tempted to peek, this can be done with the F10 key at any time code is being sent. This can be reversed using the same key. The current status is displayed on the status line. With some functions the text will be hidden regardless of the setting of the hide subcommand. The hide function also suppresses the display of 'DIT' and 'DAH' in the <L>earn mode. 8. Speed Test You can check the speed at which CW sends by using the <U>tilities command and the <S>peed Test subcommand. Simply count the number of times that the word PARIS is sent in one minute, and that will be the code speed. You will probably need to use this command in conjunction with the <T>iming command to calibrate code speed if your computer runs at other than 4.77 MHz., or if you are running background programs which steal clock cycles. IT IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA TO CHECK THE CODE SPEED PRIOR TO RELYING UPON CW TO PREPARE YOU FOR A CODE TEST. 9. Altering the Data Files Certain of the data files may be customized to suit your desires. This is described more fully in connection with the <Q>SO and <W>ords function under the <R>eceive command. C. The CW Status Lines 1. The Message Line (Top) At all times while CW is running, the top line of the screen is used to identify the current function and the key necessary to abort the current function. Most functions can be exited using the <ESC> key. 2. The Parameters Line (Bottom) Likewise, the bottom line at the bottom of the screen will display from left to right the code send speed in words per minute, the code character speed in words per minute, the oscillator tone frequency in cycles per second, and whether or not the text is displayed. D. The ESC Key At any time that code is being sent, the current operation can be aborted by pressing the <ESC> key. A positive indication is given by a beep sound and a large right pointer is printed on the screen. In some functions it is necessary to press another key to continue as indicated on the message line. The <ESC> can be used to abort any time a user input is requested. E. The Function Keys The function keys are active any time code is being sent. They are defined as follows: F1 - Decrease SEND Speed F2 - Increase SEND Speed F3 - Decrease CHAR Speed F4 - Increase CHAR Speed F5 - Decrease WORD Speed F6 - Increase WORD Speed F7 - Decrease Speaker Tone F8 - Increase Speaker Tone F9 - Set SEND, CHAR, and WORD to Same Speed F10 - Hide/Unhide Text F. Starting Out--The <L>earn Command To help you learn the Morse code, CW provides a <L>earn function, which introduces the basic code sounds and then puts them together in characters and groups of characters. The <L>earn subcommnads are numbered to slowly build up your knowledge of the characters in a very logical way. It is recommended that the <L>earn subcommands be used in the same order as the selections are numbered. 1. The Basic Code Sounds--DIT and DAHS The <1> selection teaches you the basic DIT (short) and DAH (long) sounds. After sending DITS and DAHS in various formats, you are asked to identify randomly presented DITS and DAHS using the '1' key for DITS and the '2' key for DAHS. 2. Character Length The <2> selection sends a character and asks you how many total sound elements (DITS and DAHS) are included in the character. This forces you to listen for the LENGTH of a character, which is a very important character attribute. 3. Character Pattern Selections <3> and <4> force the user to concentrate on character sound patterns and rhythms. The <3> selection sends a character asks the user to enter the number of DITS in the character. The <4> selection does the same thing for DAHS. 4. Character Steps The <5> selection combines the previously learned DITS and DAHS into complete character sounds. The characters are paired with similar sounds in a series of increasingly harder steps, and the user is asked to identify the characters in each step randomly chosen. The user should start with step 1 and learn to distinguish the characters in each step before continuing on to the next higher step. After all 63 steps have been mastered, the user should be ready to start with the <G>roups and <L>evels commands. 5. Character Groups The <6> selection lets you study each character group separately. The characters from the selected group are presented randomly, and you are asked to identify them. The groups used in CW are those used in the ARRL publication "Tune in the World with Ham Radio". If you are using materials having a different grouping, you can change the groups by altering the contents of the file named GROUPS.CW using a text editor or word processor (you must use the ASCII store mode so that nothing but printable ASCII characters are stored in the file. The groups which are initially installed are included in the file GROUPS.1, and a second grouping used in older ARRL code booklets are included in GROUPS.2. To use either of these groups, just delete the current GROUPS.CW file and copy either GROUPS.1 or GROUPS.2 to the filename GROUPS.CW. Please note that only the letters and numbers can be changed. Punctuation and prosigns are automatically added as the last two group. If the display of 'DIT' and 'DAH' prove to be distracting in either this or the <L>evels command which follows, they can be suppressed by using the F10 key any time code is being sent. 6. Character Learning Levels The <7> selection permits you to study the various groups in a progressive manner starting with the simple Level 1 sounds and adding characters with each level. Each level is simply a combination of groups 1 as defined above through the group whose number is the same as the level number. After the new characters for each level are presented, you are asked to identify randomly presented characters from the level selected. 7. User Defined Group If you are having a particularly hard time with several characters, you can create your own special character group and study it using the <M>y Group subcommand. The special group can be created by editing the file MYGROUP.CW with a word processor in the ASCII output mode or an editor. The file can have only ONE line and is limited to 10 characters! 6. Viewing the Character Steps and Groups The character steps and groups used in the preceding subcommands may be displayed using the <V>iew subcommand. G. Receiving Code Once you have mastered the character sounds, you can work on increasing your speed. CW provides several ways to do this: 1. The <G>roups Command One of the classic ways of practicing code reception is sending five letter groups of random characters. The <G>roups command does this. 2. The <W>ords Command If you would rather work with real words, use this command. You are given a choice of either "regular" words or "ham" words. In order to promote recognition of whole words, the words are not printed on the screen until the entire word has been sent in code. The words sent by this command can be changed by editing the file WORDS.CW with a word processor. Make sure each word is on a separate line followed by a carriage return and that there are no blank lines after the last entry. The maximum number of words which may be entered into the file is 500. Each word may be up to 11 characters in length. 3. The <Q>SO Command Use this command if you would like to copy a simulated QSO (a radio contact). A standard pattern is used, but the call signs, names, etc., are randomly selected from a list. The call signs are randomly selected from all the possible call signs. This means that some calls signs which have not yet been issued will be used. The names, antenna types, city names, and rig types can be changed to reflect your desires by editing the files ANTENNAS.CW, NAMES.CW, CITIES.CW, RIGS.CW, and JOBS.CW with a word processor. Simply place your entry on a single line followed by a carriage return. Make sure there are no blank lines in the middle of the file or after the last entry. The maximum number and length of the entries are as follows: File Max. No. Entries Max. Length Each Entry ---- ---------------- ---------------------- ANTENNAS.CW 50 15 CITIES.CW 200 15 JOBS.CW 100 20 NAMES.CW 200 10 RIGS.CW 100 15 STATES.CW 100 5 If the QSO is sent in the text hide mode, the user is given the opportunity to review the QSO before exiting. 4. The <E>nter Command With this command you can have a friend enter test messages via the keyboard, and you can attempt to copy it without looking at the screen. The maximum length of the message is 255 characters. This command differs from the <K>eyboard Send command in that nothing is sent until RETURN is pressed. 5. The <D>isk Command This command sends the contents of a disk text file in Morse code. If you do not know the name of the file you wish to receive, you may enter an asterisk ("*") and a listing of the current will be displayed. You can practice by having someone create a text file of unknown content. Another idea is to exchange disks with a friend who is also studying the code and carry on a 'disk QSO' between the two of you. The <D>isk command is also useful to VEC's for giving code tests. The disk file required for this command can be any ASCII text file created with a text editor or a word processor. If a word processor is used, make sure it is in the ASCII store mode so that only ASCII characters are stored in the file. Unprintable characters are ignored, but a time delay for the missing character is inserted, which slows down the send speed. To familiarize yourself with the use of this command, you can enter the name of the words file (WORDS.CW) or any of the other data files having the CW extension, although this will not provide very useful code practice. 6. The <Z>oom Command This command lets the user receive 5 character code groups at increasing speeds. The user is asked to enter the start speed, the end speed, and the number of groups to be sent at each speed. After the specified number of groups is sent, the code speed is increased by 1 WPM until the end speed is reached. H. Sending Code 1. The <K>eyboard Send Command You may wish simply to select enter individual keys to hear how they sound. This is the purpose of the <K>eyboard send function. You can type ahead of the CW sender by 80 characters maximum. Unlike the <E>nter command, you do not have to press RETURN to start sending characters. 2. The <M>anual Key Command You may also wish to practice your "fist", i.e., your manual sending ability. This can be done by using the ALT key as a telegraph key. You may not wish to overuse this command due to the possible wear on the ALT key. I. The <T>est Command 1. The <F>CC Test Command This command permits you to take a simulated code test much (but not exactly!) like the one you would take when you sit for your license exam. The test is based upon the simulated contact used for the <Q>SO command discussed above. The number of questions asked does not necessarily correspond to the actual number on the test. Recommendations for increasing the realism of this function are solicited from users. After the test has been taken, the user is given the opportunity review the text of the test QSO. 2. <K>eyboard Receive Test This command lets you test your approximate receive speed. The computer will send a character and wait for you to type in the correct key. When you exit this function using the ESC key, the computer will print out your the approximate send speed, your approximate receive speed, and your accuracy rate. This command can also be used to learn to copy code on a keyboard. Although you will not be tested on a keyboard, it is the fastest way to copy code and is the methos used by all the military services. VI. We Need Your Feedback and Problem Reports A. Feedback As I continue to improve CW, it is helpful for me to have you feedback about what you like about CW, what you don't like about it, any bugs or cosmetic defects you have discovered, what you would like to see changed or added, etc. Please take the time to fill out and mail the form in the file FEEDBACK.FRM to me. It would be much appreciated. If you would like to have the latest version of CW, please send a FORMATTED (360K) diskette and a self-addressed, stamped diskette mailer along with your feedback form. I particularly need feedback from those who use CW to train novices. If I know what your needs are, I will endeavor to add those features to CW. B. Problems If you encounter severe problems in running CW, please complete and return PROBLEM.RPT to me. C. Send Me Your Good News! If CW helps you obtain your license or upgrade to a higher class of license, I would love to hear about it! Please take the time to drop me a and let me hear your good news! VI. Timing Calculations A. Element Lengths 1. One bit is defined as one dot time. 2. Thus the code elements are defined as follows: dot = 1 bit dash = 3 bits space between dots and dashes = 1 bit space between characters = 3 bits space between words = 7 bits B. Speed Calculations in General 1. The word PARIS is used as the standard word, i.e. the code speed is the number of times PARIS is sent in one minute. 2. PARIS has 31 bits, or an average of 6.2 bits per character. C. Speed Calculations for keyboard test function. 1. The average number of bits per character in all the numbers and letters is 9.83. 2. The average character takes 9.83/6.2=1.58 times as long to send as the average character in the standard word. 3. A word is assumed to be 5 characters in length. 4. A 7 bit wordspace is added for every 5 characters -- 0.71 character lengths. 5. Thus, wpm can be estimated as recv_speed*60/5*1.58. 8. Spaces between characters are ignored. VII. Join the ARRL If you are a prospective ham, you may wish to join the American Radio League, which is the official organization representing amateur radio in the United States. The ARRL publishes a monthly magazine called QST and provides many helpful services and publications. The address is: American Radio Relay League 225 Main Street Newington, CT 06111 VIII. Troubleshooting A. Code Speed Is Too Fast or Too Slow Calibrate the program as described hereinabove and in the README.1ST file. For best results you should disable memory resident programs since they steal clock cycles which CW depends upon for proper timing. B. 'File Not Found ' Message 1. Make sure all the required files listed early in this documentation are on the program disk. 2. Make sure the program disk is in the currently active drive when run. 3. Make sure that CW.CFG is present and is not shown with 0 bytes. The latter is caused if the program is rebooted while setting program parameters or using certain utilities. If this happens, erase CW.CFG and start the program again. You will be forced to reconfigure CW unless you have saved your current configuration in a backup file. C. Program Works, but No Sound 1. Try another program which makes sounds or plays music. If that program does not work, then the problem is in your system. If you do not have such a program, check your distribution disk for a BASIC music program which you can run using BASICA. 2. Apparently some IBM clones do not fully implement the speaker output and will make bell sounds (beep) only. If you have such a machine, CW will not work on this type of system.