What do I need/what is available

[MedMan4040]

Hello low power Morse Code experts!
New to this board but have a question I'm sure you all can puzzle out.
I was at a lethargic point in my amateur radio life until a month ago. Sure I participated
in the local nets and attend our local amateur society meetings but 4-5 weeks ago I stumbled
on a YouTube of a man in Arizona way off the road with a small radio communicating with
someone in Montreal.....

Then I found ThomasK4SWL.
I've been studying CW ever since
A good thing at my age (approaching 70)....might help
keep the dementia away for a while haha.

So far I'm learning Morse via phone apps and YouTubes.
I do not have an HF rig yet (but am studying for a General license
and another radio (I'm licensed at Tech Plus and have several 2m/70cm radios).

I wonder if there is something I can purchase (affordable since I'm saving money for the radio) that
would allow a Morse Code key to be plugged in that I could practice on. I would need to purchase
a key as well. This something needs of course to allow me to hear what I'm key'ing but would allow
me to start encoding in my mind what it actually feels like to key, establish a rhythm, etc.

So is there something out there?
Thanks. Robert W6RYM

[MedMan4040]

I think I may have found a Morse Code training device....per this video-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmhrpzS8fyw

[MedMan4040]

Sadly discovered the CW trainer in the FX-4CR is for a previous generation of firmware
that could be added to the radio. If I bought that radio as a 'trainer' today I could not put
the wanted firmware on it
So back to square one.

[Brian - K3ES]

Hi MedMan4040,

Welcome! A few things in the low cost / no cost price range:
1. CWMorse.us makes and sells a variety of 3-D printed keys. They work adequately for practice and field use. They also sell code practice oscillators. You will need to decide on straight key or paddles, both for the key and for the oscillator.
2. Websdr.org gives you access to software defined radio receivers around the world. You can use their web-based software to listen to CW on the air, without any extra hardware. Only your computer and speakers / headphones.
3. https://morsecode.ninja/ has a huge number of practice files suitable for practicing copy skills at any level of proficiency.

Best 73 de Brian - K3ES

[MedMan4040]

Brian thanks for writing back!
I ordered from CWMorse these two items-
My Key Mouse - Morse Code Key to USB Adapter
and
SP4 POTA/SOTA Morse Code Magnetic Tension Paddle

Hoping the two will work together and that there is a computer
software that will work with them. I'll need a paddle anyway and
since I will ultimately get a small QRP rig that paddled looked appropriate.

Thanks again for replying Brian.

[w2tef]

Robert,

Welcome to CW!

I use that SP4 paddle some (mostly at home).

If you're going to learn to send with a paddle, you may appreciate having a keyer to generate a sidetone. I have built a few that use the K3NG software. Alternatively you can buy one from CW Morse or a kit from 4SQRP. I'm told there are lots of varying quality available from overseas.

An FX-4CR is an amusing device to consider for CW training! They sure look attractive! I'm also a fan of my (significantly cheaper) QRP-Labs QMX (or, someday, QMX+). These are economically priced and great for field op's. I keep the CW Decoder turned on for transmit only, allowing me to see how intelligible the radio finds my code / spacing. Sometimes I used to hook up a dummy load so I could practice sending and get that feedback.

In the end, though, I find that listening to good code (MorseCode Ninja, W1AW) and sending practice are the most helpful, basic practices.

Also, when I was initially learning the letters, I used https://lcwo.net/ a lot. (Suggestion: don't bother learning with character speeds any lower than 20wpm. 30+ wpm, with big spaces in between, is better. Once you recognize the letters that way, slower code will be easy to listen to.)

GL es 72 de Todd W2TEF

[MedMan4040]

Todd thanks for chiming in!
I ordered this-
Morse Code Key to USB Adapter
From CW Morse.
I'm hoping it will plug into my computer's usb
and allow me to use my computer's sound board to hear what I'm keying.

[WE5J]

If that doesn’t work out, look at V-Band. It is an interface to from 3.5mm to the usb. They also have a website where you can practice or find others on to chat with via cw. Pretty cool!

[MedMan4040]

Thanks so much!
Can't believe I'm going down this rabbit hole
Just ordered a QRP Labs qrp radio and on the verge of ordering
a CFT1.....and my FT710 (though shipped from DXEngineering) isn't
even here yet haha!

[rcoulas]

You can also use any of the rigs you have ordered as an oscillator. You can generate the side tone without transmitting. The QRP labs and CFT1 will have a test or practise mode and the FT710 will also create a side tone without transmit. They all have a keyer built in for the paddle as well.

VE3JO
Randy