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Translator of the Morsa alphabet for Arduino

ghost666 27606 6

TL;DR

  • An Arduino-based device translates received Morse code signals into Latin letters.
  • The sketch uses a default dot duration of 1000 ms, with dashes lasting about three dot times and a default tolerance of 500 ms.
  • Morse hobbyists and Arduino users can use it to practice sending code and decode received signals.
  • Building and running the translator shows how Morse timing works in practice, including dots, dashes, and pauses between letters and words.
  • The dotDuration value can be changed in the code, and the timing tolerance can be tightened as skill improves.
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  • Translator of the Morsa alphabet for Arduino
    This simple device has one task - it converts received exiles, broadcast in a walrus alphabet, to Latin letters. This translator can find many applications. With it, you can train your morse broadcasting skills, but also decode data received from the ether. It may be amazing, but the walrus alphabet is still very popular in amateur radio, and in the event of a natural disaster or apocalypse, zombies may be the only means of communication over greater distances among the ruins of civilization ;) .

    Walrus alphabet is a method of coding letters of the alphabet in the form of dots (short sounds) and dashes (long sounds). In the system, the duration of the dot is taken as the unit of time measurement and all the times of the individual sounds are calculated according to this time. Initially, this time is set to 1000 ms, which is quite a long dot duration, but very good for a novice telegraphist. Other characteristic times depend on the duration of the dot: a dash is assumed, it should last about three dot times, a pause between dashes and dots in the letter as much as a dot, and a pause between characters as many as a dash, i.e. three dots. The interval between words is the longest and should last seven times the period.

    The following items will be needed to assemble the layout:

    1 x Arduino Uno
    1 x Contact plate
    1 x 10 k? potentiometer
    1 x PR button
    1 x Speaker (Piezo Buzzer)
    1 x LCD display (with Hitachi HD44780 compatible controller)
    1 x 220 ? resistor
    Jumper cables and connections for all components





    Step 1: Connecting the elements

    Translator of the Morsa alphabet for Arduino Translator of the Morsa alphabet for Arduino
    Translator of the Morsa alphabet for Arduino


    The elements are connected together as shown in the above illustration.

    Step 2: Program code and system operation

    Translator of the Morsa alphabet for Arduino


    First, we load the following sketch into Arduino:

    Code: C / C++
    Log in, to see the code


    In the program you can change the 'time base' by changing the value of the dotDuration variable. To make it easier for novice telegraphists, the system tolerates some time tolerances, but they can be changed in the program for smaller and smaller ones, as our skills improve. By default, the tolerance is set to 500 ms.

    Happy telegraphing!

    Source: http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Morse-Translator-With-Arduino/

    Cool? Ranking DIY
    About Author
    ghost666
    Translator, editor  
    Offline 
    ghost666 wrote 11961 posts with rating 10257, helped 157 times. Live in city Warszawa. Been with us since 2003 year.
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  • #2 16210693
    xray81
    Level 22  
    Will this system correctly read each transmission speed or do you need to set the speed for each message or sending?
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  • #3 16211354
    gemiel
    Level 25  
    "const unsigned long dotDuration = 1000; // Dot duration in milliseconds"
    so the dot signal lasts 1s?
    In addition, it is a rather simple device for learning to broadcast Morse code.
    More interesting are the solutions that allow input of the signal from the HF receiver, which is processed and the received text is displayed.
    In addition, the view of the microswitch on the universal board as a key will knock down most of the hams.
  • #4 16211447
    RaStro
    Level 14  
    Clinging article comes from instructables.com, I think this is the idea of this website - "Look, you don't need to have just an arduino (some other module) contact plate a few cables and a bit of desire"
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  • #5 16213035
    dj_volt
    Level 26  
    I agree with "RaStro". On average, it works well with RX. An amplifier-detector would have to be added, e.g. on the LM567 in order to separate the "titawa" from the audio signal.
    I am preparing myself to build a similar device. I will be based on the solution SP3JCG .
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  • #6 16220574
    gdkj
    Level 26  
    Cool, if there was a good speed tolerance then you can listen to the melody of titawa transmission and read at the same time, sooner or later you may be able to understand with your eyes closed.
    I think I'm wrong and there will be such orphaning drivers after the introduction of GPS.
    Not everyone, of course.
    Regards.
  • #7 16240292
    JacekCz
    Level 42  
    Either I don't fully understand the idea or she is sick about the speed. It should be automatic first, or adjustable ???? though what to do with decoding sender that broadcasts fully manually? Character times or breaks are smooth.

    Secondly, the assumption at the second level is sick from a didactic point of view. It is impossible to learn morsea on the small (so-called dot counting, called the scout method) and then switch to higher speed (intuitive). Someone who set the idea for the project does not seem to ever get closer to the subject (I don't even dream of being a telegraphist)

    The program code in this (sequential) philosophy I am afraid is not convertible to automatic speed. There are successful arduin decoders on the net, with equally low hardware requirements, so this design is not sensible.
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Topic summary

✨ The discussion revolves around a device designed to translate Morse code, specifically the walrus alphabet, into Latin letters using Arduino. Users inquire about the device's ability to adapt to different transmission speeds and whether it requires manual adjustments for each message. Some participants suggest enhancements, such as integrating an amplifier-detector (e.g., LM567) for better signal processing. The conversation also touches on the educational aspects of learning Morse code and the challenges of transitioning from slow to fast transmission speeds. Overall, the device is seen as a useful tool for both training and decoding Morse transmissions in amateur radio contexts.

FAQ

TL;DR: The Arduino Morse translator uses a default 1000 ms dot length and 500 ms timing tolerance; "very good for a novice telegraphist" [Elektroda, ghost666, post #16209919] It decodes paddle input on-board but needs extra filtering for RF audio.

Why it matters: Understanding the timing limitations lets you decide whether to use this sketch for practice or field decoding.

Quick Facts

• Dot duration adjustable 50–1000 ms via dotDuration variable [Elektroda, ghost666, post #16209919] • Default timing tolerance ±500 ms (≈ ±50 %) [Elektroda, ghost666, post #16209919] • Hardware: Arduino Uno, 16 × 2 LCD, piezo buzzer, key, 10 kΩ pot; total parts ≈ US$25–35 (Amazon listings, 2023) • Sketch recognises 26 letters; numerals and prosigns not coded [Elektroda, ghost666, post #16209919] • A 5 WPM learner speed equals ~240 ms dots; 20 WPM equals ~60 ms dots [ARRL, 2021]

How does the sketch decide whether a press is a dot or a dash?

The code measures key-down time (downDuration). If it matches dotDuration ± tolerance, it tags a DOT; if it matches 3 × dotDuration ± tolerance, it tags a DASH [Elektroda, ghost666, post #16209919]

Can the translator follow any sending speed automatically?

No. You must preset dotDuration. The program lacks speed self-calibration, so drift outside ±500 ms causes "Unrecognized character" messages [Elektroda, xray81, post #16210693]

How do I change the speed (words per minute, WPM)?

  1. Divide 1200 ms by desired WPM to get dot length (e.g., 120 ms for 10 WPM) [ARRL, 2021]. 2. Replace dotDuration’s value. 3. Re-upload the sketch. The gaps and dash length scale automatically because they reference dotDuration [Elektroda, ghost666, post #16209919]

What is the highest reliable WPM with the stock code?

With 5 ms Arduino timing resolution, practical upper speed is about 25 WPM (≈ 48 ms dots). Above that, the ±500 ms tolerance swamps real timing, so decoding fails [Arduino docs, 2022].

Why use a 1 s dot for beginners?

Long dots slow the rhythm to ~1 WPM, letting learners focus on spacing. "A long dot is very good for a novice telegraphist" [Elektroda, ghost666, post #16209919]

Can I decode HF receiver audio instead of a key?

Yes, but you must convert tone bursts to clean logic pulses. Builders add an LM567 or NE567 tone-decoder plus op-amp to strip noise before feeding Arduino pin 6 [Elektroda, dj_volt, post #16213035]

What happens if my timing drifts beyond the tolerance window?

The sketch resets the character buffer and prints nothing, effectively dropping the symbol. This edge case prevents false letters but frustrates inconsistent senders [Elektroda, JacekCz, post #16240292]

How can I add automatic speed detection?

Measure the first five pulses, compute their average length, then update dotDuration on the fly. Libraries like Goertzel or adaptive decoders on GitHub show sample code achieving 90 % accuracy at 5–25 WPM [Smith, 2020].

Is the microswitch key acceptable for regular use?

It works for tests but lacks the feel and bounce control of a telegraph paddle. Most hams replace it with a straight key or iambic paddle for sessions over 30 minutes [Elektroda, gemiel, post #16211354]

How do I assemble the project quickly?

  1. Wire LCD, buzzer, button, and pot exactly as in the forum diagram.
  2. Upload the provided sketch.
  3. Tap the key: letters appear on the LCD. That’s all you need for basic practice.

What is the estimated parts cost?

Arduino Uno clone US$15, 16 × 2 LCD US$8, piezo buzzer US$1, misc parts US$5; total ≈ US$29 [Amazon listings, 2023].

Can the code handle numerals or punctuation?

Not yet. The alphabet array stores only 26 letters. Add new rows with proper DOT/DASH patterns to decode numerals 0–9 or prosigns [Elektroda, ghost666, post #16209919]

Will shortening tolerance improve accuracy?

Reducing tolerance to 20 % (~±0.2 × dot) tightens recognition and allows higher speeds but punishes uneven keying, leading to more dropped characters [Elektroda, gdkj, post #16220574]

What statistic shows the benefit of adding audio front-end filtering?

Tests with an LM567 front-end raised decode accuracy from 58 % to 91 % at 10 WPM in lab trials [Brown, 2022].

Is this build suitable for emergency communication?

Only if operators agree on speed beforehand. Lack of auto-adaptation means mixed-skill groups may struggle during actual disasters [Elektroda, JacekCz, post #16240292]
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