Thanks for making this video. I am reminded of my late mother who was a radio operator in the Navy during WW2. As a child I loved to watch war movies. Inevitably there would be a segue scene where morse code was being played. In some movies (the better ones I guess) she would read off what was being keyed. In the cheesy movies she would yell at the TV saying that's just nonsense. 🙂
My grandfather was a radioman on a navy repair ship in the Pacific in WWII. He (and two other radiomen, in case one of them made a mistake) would copy coded radio transmissions, which were sent as a long series of five letter "words", in five word "groups". It looked like gibberish, but they were allowed to decode the first line to see if their ship was the recipient. If they were, the message would be passed along to the chief radioman for full decoding. If necessary, a coded response would be prepared and sent back. So basically he just sat there for his entire shift copying gibberish and he never knew what any of it said. Funny story, he wasn't very good at it, so they made him a cook in the officer's mess, and he was a lot happier after that : )
I bought the MFJ-418 for over 100 bucks. It does not decode, so basically it serves the same function as LCWO (learn CW online), which is free. Problem with LCWO for me is I am a HORRIBLY slow typist, so my copy is even slower as I hunt for the key. I bought this thing for myself before you posted this. I find your review spot-on. Between this little gizmo and just learning to head copy from Morse Code Ninja, I think I'm set.
One comment. All of the good training programs (including military) will tell you that looking at dots and dashes will guarantee you never learn morse code at speed. You have to learn the code by listening to the rhythm of the code. Studies have shown that individuals who try to learn by looking at dits and dahs never progress. I think it was a mistake for the developers to include showing dots and dashes.
Thanks for making this video. I've made the same resolution for 2024 to learn CW and do a few POTA activations by the end of the year. Can't wait to see more videos and good luck! 73 W4LLS
Looks like a great tool. Just like you I want to learn CW for 2024 and got the Putikey paddle key as a gift. I never came across this on Amazon when researching keys. Thanks for the video.
Thanks for watching! I actually had to look surprisingly hard to find this CW trainer. It was pretty far down in the Google results when I came across it. One of the best finds of 2023 for me, as well as the $35 PUTIKEEG straight key. Hope to catch you on the air soon, hopefully on CW! 73, Chase - KI5IRE!
I got this unit from AliExpress in bundle with their paddle. I like the design and the electronics. But software is mediocre. Maybe good for straight key but with squeeze two paddles it sometimes locks up when sending (tested also with other better quality key same issue). So they need to work out some timings. Menu is pretty basic, its either free sending mode or repeat the characters and there are few groups of characters to chose from. Then settings and view different code groups. Everything fine but i wish there was an option for custom groups. On the positive side I love how small and compact this device is, very handy and sell contained. I really hope they release some updates ro firmware or open source it.
Thanks for the video. I need your opinion and advice. 40 years ago I was a professional radio officer on merchant ships. I would like to become active in HAM radio communications, so I would train my typing speed with the electronic key. Can this device be useful for me or can you suggest something else? Thank you. 73
I kept checking Amazon and it popped up a red one was available about a week ago. They showed unavailable the next day but I ordered one and it's showed waiting to ship until today and shows tracking and will be delivered Friday! Will let you know if I actually get it. Must not be making many or something.
Thanks for making this video. I am reminded of my late mother who was a radio operator in the Navy during WW2. As a child I loved to watch war movies. Inevitably there would be a segue scene where morse code was being played. In some movies (the better ones I guess) she would read off what was being keyed. In the cheesy movies she would yell at the TV saying that's just nonsense. 🙂
My grandfather was a radioman on a navy repair ship in the Pacific in WWII. He (and two other radiomen, in case one of them made a mistake) would copy coded radio transmissions, which were sent as a long series of five letter "words", in five word "groups". It looked like gibberish, but they were allowed to decode the first line to see if their ship was the recipient. If they were, the message would be passed along to the chief radioman for full decoding. If necessary, a coded response would be prepared and sent back. So basically he just sat there for his entire shift copying gibberish and he never knew what any of it said. Funny story, he wasn't very good at it, so they made him a cook in the officer's mess, and he was a lot happier after that : )
I bought the MFJ-418 for over 100 bucks. It does not decode, so basically it serves the same function as LCWO (learn CW online), which is free. Problem with LCWO for me is I am a HORRIBLY slow typist, so my copy is even slower as I hunt for the key. I bought this thing for myself before you posted this. I find your review spot-on. Between this little gizmo and just learning to head copy from Morse Code Ninja, I think I'm set.
One comment. All of the good training programs (including military) will tell you that looking at dots and dashes will guarantee you never learn morse code at speed. You have to learn the code by listening to the rhythm of the code. Studies have shown that individuals who try to learn by looking at dits and dahs never progress. I think it was a mistake for the developers to include showing dots and dashes.
Thanks for making this video. I've made the same resolution for 2024 to learn CW and do a few POTA activations by the end of the year. Can't wait to see more videos and good luck! 73 W4LLS
I've been looking at this trainer for a while vs the Hamcube. Thanks for your indepth review. I too, am trying to learn code. Cheers, Michael
Looks like a great tool. Just like you I want to learn CW for 2024 and got the Putikey paddle key as a gift. I never came across this on Amazon when researching keys. Thanks for the video.
Thanks for watching!
I actually had to look surprisingly hard to find this CW trainer. It was pretty far down in the Google results when I came across it. One of the best finds of 2023 for me, as well as the $35 PUTIKEEG straight key.
Hope to catch you on the air soon, hopefully on CW!
73, Chase - KI5IRE!
I read that wrong. Thought said, “Looks like a great tool, just like you…” I was like dude, be nice! Then I reread it.
Thanks for the video. Enjoy your journey man.
Thanks for watching!
Does it have the capability to change the mghz at which the signal is transmitted?
I got this unit from AliExpress in bundle with their paddle. I like the design and the electronics. But software is mediocre. Maybe good for straight key but with squeeze two paddles it sometimes locks up when sending (tested also with other better quality key same issue). So they need to work out some timings. Menu is pretty basic, its either free sending mode or repeat the characters and there are few groups of characters to chose from. Then settings and view different code groups. Everything fine but i wish there was an option for custom groups. On the positive side I love how small and compact this device is, very handy and sell contained. I really hope they release some updates ro firmware or open source it.
I think it is from the UK as the way practice is spelled using an "s" where we use an "s".
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I have the same issue with dits not registering properly on mine, though it usually results in extra dits being inserted into what I'm trying to key.
I guess these things don’t exist anymore. Unavailable everywhere
they don't even show it on their website at all
Can you share more details on the training tools? Does it use Koch method?
This unit is not available anywhere. Too bad.
Thanks for the video. I need your opinion and advice. 40 years ago I was a professional radio officer on merchant ships. I would like to become active in HAM radio communications, so I would train my typing speed with the electronic key. Can this device be useful for me or can you suggest something else? Thank you. 73
Thank you for sharing but I have the Morseino 32 that works for me.
Anyone find any of these?
I’m in the same boat. I went to go purchase it and they have been out stock on Amazon for a long time and non existent on AliExpress.
I kept checking Amazon and it popped up a red one was available about a week ago. They showed unavailable the next day but I ordered one and it's showed waiting to ship until today and shows tracking and will be delivered Friday! Will let you know if I actually get it. Must not be making many or something.
ew. Square wave.
I've been looking at this trainer for a while vs the Hamcube. Thanks for your indepth review. I too, am trying to learn code. Cheers, Michael