Programmer 7500

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IV. The Learn Phase A. The <L>earn Command 1. Introduction To help you learn the Morse code, Super Morse provides a <L>earn function, which provides a series of lessons to gradually and logically introduce the Morse characters. The Learn menu is as follows: +-----------------------------------------------+ | | | <1> DITS & DAHS <6> Character Runs | | <2> DIT/DAH Combinations <7> Groups | | <3> Character Length <8> Levels | | <4> Character Rhythm | | <5> Character Steps <V>iew Groupings | | | +-----------------------------------------------+ 2. The Super Morse Teaching Method Unlike standard Morse code teaching methods, Super Morse does not initially introduce characters. Instead Super Morse starts with sounds only -- no characters are taught or displayed in the early lessons. The idea is to emphasize the fact that Morse code is a sound language and to teach the fundamentals of code sounds without the added complication of visual stimuli. Four sound-only exercises are provided. First, the basic DIT and DAH sounds are taught. Second, Super Morse puts the basic sounds together into the four fundamental two-sound combinations. Third, Super Morse teaches the first basic attribute of character recognition, character length, by asking the student to identify the total number of code sound elements in randomly sent but purposely unidentified characters. Finally, Super Morse teaches the second basic attribute of character recognition, rhythm, by asking the student to identify the number of DITS and DAHS in randomly sent characters. Only after the basic sounds, sound combinations, character lengths, character rhythms are taught does Super Morse start identifying particular characters. Before the standard code groups are introduced, code "steps" are sent. Code steps are groups of two similarly sounding characters. The student is thus gradually introduced to characters two at a time. The idea is that if the student can learn to distinguish similar sounding characters from the beginning, characters that do not sound so much alike will fall into place by themselves. Also the characters are slowly learned in an indirect fashion in that the student is encouraged to concentrate on the differences rather than the content of the characters themselves. Only when the steps are completed are the standard code groups introduced. The <L>earn subcommands 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. 3. Repeating Characters In the <L>earn mode characters can be repeated by pressing the <SPACE> bar at any prompt. 4. Feedback in the <L>earn Mode To enhance the learning experience, Super Morse provides feedback after each response in the <L>earn mode in the form of a report of the number of answers correct, the number of answers incorrect, a percent score, and the number of consecutive correct answers for the current session. Also, if an answer is wrong, the correct answer is displayed. The consecutive answers report is useful in determining when the user should go on to the next step in the <L>earn mode. 5. Character Speed in the <L>earn Mode Upon entry into the <L>earn mode the character speed is changed to 13 WPM to force learning the characters at the General Class License speed. This is universally accepted as the fasted way to reach that speed. The character speed can be increased, but it cannot be decreased below 13 WPM. Send and word speed can be changed through their full normal range. 6. DIT/DAH Frequency Split In Lessons <1> and <2> the DAH is sent at 5 Hz. lower in frequency than a DIT in order to facilite recognition of the difference between the two. B. Lesson 1 - DITS and DAHS, the Basic Code Sounds Lesson <1> 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. C. Lesson 2 - Sound Combinations Since Morse characters are comprised of combinations of DITS and DAHS, Lesson <2> is provided to introduce the four simplest combinations: DIT DIT, DIT DAH, DAH DIT, and DAH DAH. D. Lesson 3 - Character Length Lesson <3> sends a character and asks the user how many total sound elements (DITS and DAHS) are included in the character. This forces the to listen for the LENGTH of a character, which is a very important character attribute. E. Lesson 4 - Character Rhythm Lesson <4> forces the user to concentrate on character sound patterns and rhythms. This selection send a character and asks the user to enter the number of DITS or DAHS in the character. F. Lesson 5 - Character Steps Lesson <5> 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 randomly-selected characters from each step. 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 group and levels lessons. G. Lesson 6 - Character Runs The character steps idea is extended in Lesson <6>. This lesson forms groups of characters, each successive one of which differs by only a DIT or a DAH from the previous character. H. Lesson 7 - Character Groups Lesson <7> begins the traditional code groups as defined and used by the ARRL and others. This lesson <7> 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 Super Morse 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.SM using a text editor or word processor (you must use the ASCII output mode must be used so that nothing but printable ASCII characters are stored in the file. The initially installed groups are included in the file GROUPS.1, and a second grouping used in an older ARRL code booklet is included in GROUPS.2. To use either of these groups, just delete the current GROUPS.SM file and copy either GROUPS.1 or GROUPS.2 to the filename GROUPS.SM. 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, they can be suppressed by using the F10 key. I. Lesson 8 - Character Learning Levels Lesson <8> permits the user to study the various groups in Lesson <7> 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 selected level number. After the new characters for each level are presented, you are asked to identify randomly presented characters from that level. J. Viewing the Character Groupings (Steps and Groups) The character steps and groups used in the preceding subcommands may be displayed using the <V>iew subcommand. V. The Build Phase A. Building Code Speed Once you have mastered the character sounds, you can work on increasing your speed by sending and receiving code. The Build menu is as follows: +---------------------------------------+ | | | <D>isk File <R>andom Groups | | <E>nter Message <S>tructured Groups | | <Q>SO <W>ords | | | +---------------------------------------+ B. Receiving Character Groups - the <R>andom Groups Command One of the classic ways of practicing code reception is sending five letter groups of random characters. The <R>andom Groups command does this. The characters to be received with the Groups function can be set with ALT-S. C. Receiving Character Groups - the <S>tructured Groups Command The <S>tructured groups command is similar to the <R>andom groups command except that the first and second characters of group are repeated in reverse order as the fourth and fifth characters. The third character is always a randomly selected number. This permits the user receive random code but have the ability to check his answer without looking at the screen. D. Receiving Complete Words - the <W>ords Command If you would rather work with real words, use this command. You are given a choice of either "regular" words, "ham" words, or call signs. The regular and ham words sent by this command can be changed by editing the files REGWORDS.SM and HAMWORDS.SM 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. The call sign feature is added since some users report difficulty with call signs as compared to words. The call sign "words" are randomly generated and cannot be configured by the user. D. Receiving a Simulated Radio Transmission - the <Q>SO Command Use this command if you would like to copy a simulated QSO (a radio contact). Random text is sent containing randomly chosen call, signs, names, etc., providing a variety of QSO combinations. The call signs are randomly selected from all the possible call signs, which means that some unissued calls signs will be used. The names, antenna types, city names, and rig types can be changed to reflect your desires by editing the files ANTENNAS.SM, NAMES.SM, CITIES.SM, RIGS.SM, and JOBS.SM with a word processor or text editor. Simply place a new 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.SM 50 15 CITIES.SM 200 15 JOBS.SM 100 20 NAMES.SM 200 10 RIGS.SM 100 15 STATES.SM 100 5 If the QSO is sent in the text hide mode, the user is given the opportunity to review the QSO before exiting. E. Receiving Text Entered via Keyboard - the <E>nter Command With this command you can have a friend enter test messages via the keyboard, and then attempt to copy. 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. F. Receiving Text in a Disk File - the <D>isk Command This command sends the contents of a disk text file in Morse code. At the prompt enter the name of the file (including the drive and subdirectory) to be sent. If you do not know the name of the file you wish to receive, you may enter a carriage return to obtain a disk directory. At the prompt enter the file specification in the form D:\SUBDIR\FILENAME.EXT, where "D:" is the drive designator, "SUBDIR" is the subdirectory name if applicable. If all files are desired, enter "*.*" in place of FILENAME.EXT. 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". 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.SM) or any of the other data files having the SM extension, although this will not provide very useful code practice. G. Receiving Groups in the Zoom Mode Either the <R>andom groups or the <S>tructure groups can be sent in the "zoom" mode in which 5 character code groups are sounded at increasing speeds. The zoom mode is enabled and disabled by pressing the ALT-Z key combination during any menu display. The current status of the zoom mode is shown on the bottom line of the screen. When the zoom mode is active and either of the groups functions is invoked, the user is asked to enter the start speed, the end speed, and the number of characters to be sent at each speed. After the specified number of characters is sent, the code speed is increased by 1 WPM until the end speed is reached. H. Selecting the Character Set The character set to be used in the <R>andom Group and <S>tructured Group functions can be set using the ALT-S key combination during any menu display. VI. The Enhance Phase A. Skill Enhancement The Enhance phase includes modes which are designed to "put the icing on the cake" by putting your code knowledge to work by sending code and by practicing via a modem with another code student. The Enhance Phase menu is as follows: +-------------------------------------+ | | | <K>eyboard Send <O>nline Practice | | <L>ag Copy <T>ypewriter Copy | | <M>anual Copy | | | +-------------------------------------+ B. Sending Code The send-related commands in the Enhance phase permit the user to practive sending Morse code either from the keyboard or manually using the ALT key as a straght key. 1. Sending from the <K>eyboard You may wish simply to enter individual keys to hear how they sound. This is the purpose of the <K>eyboard send function. You can type ahead of the Super Morse sender by 80 characters maximum. Unlike the <E>nter command, you do not have to press RETURN to start sending characters. 2. Sending with a <M>anual "Key" You may also wish to practice your "fist", i.e., your manual sending ability, by using the a designated key as a telegraph key. The default designated key is the ALT key, but this can be changed using the <M>anual Key function in the Tools phase. In this function SUPER MORSE decodes the character that you send and displays it on the screen. SUPER MORSE is initialized to the send speed displayed on the status line. However, SUPER MORSE automatically adjusts to your sending speed as it changes. Since this adjustment takes place slowly, you may have to send several characters before SUPER MORSE determines your speed and displays the correct character on the screen. C. <L>ag Copy In order to learn to copy Morse code at high speeds, it is necessary to remember several characters behind the one presently being sent. The <L>ag copy function helps you learn this skill. Instead of entering the character that was most recently sent as in all other functions of Super Morse, this function asks you to enter the PREVIOUS character sent. But do not forget the character most recently sent because you will have to enter it after the next character is sent! This exercise is very hard at first, and you may have to use pencil and paper to get the hang of it. D. Copying on a <T>ypewriter The military services train their Morse code operators to use a typewriter to record incoming messages since it is much faster than copying by hand. The <T>ypewriter Copy permits you to use the keyboard for "copying on the mill", as that method is termed. In this function only the characters typed by the user are displayed on the screen--the code being sent is not displayed--and the sending of code does not depend upon typing the correct response (or any response at all) on the keyboard. The characters used in the Typewriter Copy function can be set using the ALT-S key as described above in "Using Super Morse". E. Two Way Practice Via Telephone Modem 1. The <O>line Command The <O>nline command provides simple terminal program which permits a user with a telephone modem connected to his computer to call another similarly equipped user and carry on a real time QSO in Morse code. A modem using the Hayes AT command set is assumed. 2. General Description of the <O>n Line Command When <O>n Line is selected, the computer's communications port is initialized to the parameters stored in the configuration file, the default values of which are COM1, 1200 baud, 8 bits, no parity, and 1 stop bit. The modem is initialized to automatically answer calls from another computer on the first ring. In order for a connection to be successfully made, both computers must be set to the same baud rate and communications parameters. The On Line commands may be displayed using the usual <ALT-H> specific help key. All On Line commands are invoked using the <CTRL> key in combination with another key. For example, the communications parameters may be changed by pressing the <CTRL-P> key combination and by selecting the desired parameter combination. Initially, the On line function is in the "Terminal" mode, which means that it will act just like a normal modem program and will not sound Morse code. The terminal mode should be used to make a connection with the other computer, and then you should switch to the "CW" mode by pressing <CTRL-C>. You can switch back to the terminal mode by pressing <CTRL-T>. Initially Super Morse will sound both the received and sent characters. This can be selectively changed using the <CTRL-R and CTRL-S> commands. Super Morse also adds line feeds to all carriage return characters. If received lines are double-spaced, this can be changed with the <CTRL-L> command. If you would like to have characters sent to the modem during the time that Super Morse is not connected to another computer, use the <CTRL-E> command. To dial another computer, use the <CTRL-D> command. To disconnect the phone, use the <CTRL-X> command. In either mode characters can be sent from the keyboard, or a disk file can be sent using the <CTRL-F> command. In addition to these commands, all the Hayes "AT" commands can be used. 3. Making a Connection with Another Computer To connect with another computer you should prearrange the call with the other operator. Both copies of SUPER MORSE should be in the On Line function, and both should set SUPER MORSE On Line to the terminal mode with <CTRL-T>. Both must set their communications parameters, other than the communications port, to the same values. Decide who who will initiate the call and who will receive it. Since both modems are already initialized to answer a call on the first ring, it does not matter which computer is chosen. The call initiator presses <CTRL-D> and enters the telephone number of the call receiver and presses <RETURN>. He then selects either tone (if he has a touch tone phone) or pulse dialing (if he has a rotary dial phone) and presses <RETURN>. He will hear the call receiver's telephone ring and the his modem answer the phone, followed by a brief carrier tone. Both screens should indicate "Connected to Remote SUPER MORSE." Both should enter the CW mode by pressing <CTRL-C> and proceed with the landline QSO. 4. CONTROL Commands Following is a summary of the CONTROL commands used in the <O>nline function: <CTRL-C> - Activate CW (Morse) mode <CTRL-D> - Dial a number <CTRL-F> - Send a disk file <CTRL-E> - Echo/No echo of characters sent to modem <CTRL-L> - Add/remove linefeeds from received text <CTRL-M> - Hang up modem <CTRL-O> - Online HELP <CTRL-P> - Set baud rate and other communications parameters <CTRL-R> - Enable/disable Morse mode for received characters <CTRL-S> - Enable/disable Morse mode for transmitted characters <CTRL-T> - Activate Terminal (non-Morse) mode 5. Problems with <O>nline Command Experienced modem users will recognize that some of the above commands can be duplicated using the standard Hayes "AT" commands. If you have any difficulty with the online mode, just remember that it is nothing more than a simple terminal program which has the capability of sounding transmitted and received characters in Morse code. Check with a friend who understands the operation of Hayes and compatible modems. If the screen shows "Character Not Sent - Check Modem," the power to your modem is probably not switched on. The message will be sent several times before the ESC key will be recognized. Correct the problem and try again! VII. The Measurement Phase A. The <M>easure Command The <M>easure command provides several ways to test your Morse code progress as discussed in the following sections. The Measure menu is as follows: +-------------------------------+ | | | <F>CC Test <M>emory Test | | <K>eyboard Test | | | +-------------------------------+ B. Simulated <F>CC Test 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. After the test has been taken, the user is given the opportunity review the text of the test QSO. C. <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 in the exam, it is the fastest way to copy code and is the method used by all the military services. If you type the incorrect key, the character is printed in reverse video and sent again. The computer also remembers wrong characters and sends them more often than the other characters until you correctly identify it. The character set used in the test can be configured using the ALT-S key as described elsewhere. D. <M>emory Test This function tests your ability to remember a sequence of 3 randomly sent characters. After the group of 3 characters is sent, you will be asked to enter either the first, second, or third character. The character set used can be confifured using the ALT-S key as described elsewhere. VIII. We Need Your Feedback and Help! A. Feedback It is my goal that Super Morse be absolutely the best Morse code training program available anywhere, commercial or otherwise. If it is not the best, I will endeavor to make it so. To achieve this I NEED YOUR INPUT! Please let me know what you like about Super Morse, 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. If you have used another Morse code program that you like better, tell me the name of the program and why you like it better. Please take the time to answer and return the questions in the registration form contained in the file REGISTER.FRM to me. If the registration form is inadequate, write me a letter. If a letter won't do the job, give me a call! I particularly need feedback from those who use Super Morse to train novices. If I know what your needs are, I will endeavor to add those features to Super Morse. Your help would be much appreciated. Remember Super Morse is for you! So tell me what you want it to do for you. Please give me your constructively frank opinion. B. Help Others Learn about SUPER MORSE If SUPER MORSE is helpful to you, you can help others learn about it in the following ways: 1. Give a copy to your friends. 2. Upload SUPER MORSE to your local computer bulletin board system. 3. Leave a message on your computer bulletin board recommending SUPER MORSE. 4. Tell your ham club about it, especially the person in charge of license classes. 5. Write a letter to a ham radio magazine recommending SUPER MORSE. 6. Write a review of SUPER MORSE for a ham radio or computer magazine. C. Send Me Your Good News! If Super Morse 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! IX. Troubleshooting A. Read the Instructions! Most problems are caused by a failure to read the installation instructions! So go read the section on installation and make sure you have installed the program correctly! B. 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 Super Morse depends upon for proper timing. C. 'File Not Found ' or 'I/O Error 02' Message 1. Make sure that all files with an HLP and an SM extension are copied to the subdirectory containing SM.EXE. 2. Make sure all the required files listed early in this documentation are on the program disk. 3. Make sure the program disk is in the currently active drive when run. 4. Make sure that SM.CFG is present and is not shown with 0 bytes. If the latter happens, erase SM.CFG and start the program again. D. 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, Super Morse will not work. E. Strange Values on the Status Line and Other Weird Happenings Erase the SM.CFG file and start over!