Learn Morse Online

Welecome to the AARC Morse Code Online Training Program The goal of this three-phase Morse code training program is to prepare you to operate an amateur radio station using International Morse Code. In particular this course may be especially helpful for training participants for the ARRL Field Day event, held yearly the last full weekend in June.

Phase I Morse code uses a standard sequence of short and long elements to represent letter, numerals, punctuation and special characters of a given message. The short and long elements can be formed by sounds and transmitted by on-off keying. The basic building block of every Morse Character are the sound elements commonly called "dits" and "dahs". There are not little dots and dashes because dots and dashes have no sound. Morse code is simply a combination of the sounds dit and dah. All letters, numerals, punctuation and procedure signs (Prosigns) consist of one or more dits or dahs or a combination of both. A few word about punctuation and procedural signs.

Punctuation -- The combination of dits and dahs for punctuation characters (comma (MIM), question mark (IMI), period (AAA) and the slant bar (TF or XE) are longer than any other characters. When copying them we normally replace the Morse characters with the usual punctuation symbols. However, if you copy them as MIM or IMI, etc., place a horizontal line over the MIM or IMI to indicate these letters were sent as one continuous character.

Procedure Signs -- AR, BT and SK are sent as continuous characters similar to the punctuation characters. When copied as a procedural sign, we put a horizontal line above the AR, BT and SK to indicate that they are procedural signs. AR can be replaced with "+", BT with "=" and SK with "*". AR indicates the end of a message. BT is used to separate the text from the other components of a message (e.g. Preamble or postamble). SK indicated the end of communications (You are going off the air).