Posted: 7/9/2009 7:24:28 AM EDT
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Let me say first, learning and knowing Morse code (CW) can be an invaluable tool in an emergency. That said, I haven't contributed the time to learn it yet but it's on my radar.
For those of us (and I would bet it's the majority of the new ham's who have gotten our tickets in the past few years since the dropping of the code requirement) who don't yet know Morse code I have been thinking that one of these would be very useful to have. 
These handy little gadgets allow us to know what is being communicated via those dit's and da's over our radios. All you need to do is put this up to the speaker and it will display in text what is being transmitted. Morse code take up much less bandwidth than traditional voice/phone transmission and in an emergency key information may be passed this way that you wouldn't have been able to decipher without a tool like this unless you learn it. So for less than $100 I'm nominating this as a priority for communications if you don't yet know CW. |
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Good question but then again, if the reader can't hear it clear I bet a human couldn't either.
The MFJ-461 Morse Code Reader lets you watch Morse code signals turn into text messages. The words simply scroll across the LCD display. No cables to hook-up, no computer, no interface, no other equipment needed! Use it as a backup in case you miscopy a few characters. It makes working high speed CW a breeze –– even if you're rusty. Practice by copying alone with the MFJ-461. It will help you learn the code and increase your speed as you instantly see if you're right or wrong. Eavesdrop on interesting Morse code QSOs from hams all over the world. It is a universal language that is understood the world over in all languages. MFJ AutoTrak automatically locks on and tracks CW speed to decode high and low speed Morse code.
The most recently received 140 characters are buffered and can be instantly replayed. This lets you re-read or check your digs out weak signals and even tracks slightly drifting signals. Of course, nothing can clean up and copy a sloppy fist, especially with a weak signals with lots of QRM/QRN. The MFJ-461 has a 2-line LCD display with 32 large 1/4 inch high-contrast characters. You can display decoded CW as text and speed or switch to all text on both lines. Yet it is small enough to fit in your shirt pocket with room to spare –– it's smaller than a pack of cigarettes and weighs less than 5.5 ounces. A serial port lets you display CW text on a monitor using a computer and terminal program. (The cable is optional, see below). When it's too noisy for its microphone pickup, or when you don't want to hear CW you can connect the MFJ-461 to your receiver with a cable (not provided). A special battery saving feature puts it to sleep during periods of inactivity. This device requires a 9-Volt battery (not included). |
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I think Chino's question is if you have a few signals close together will it decode only one signal? Since this unit has been around for quite a while I doubt it uses DSP and would have a hard time picking out one particular signal amongst many.
Are there any reviews on this unit? |
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Quoted:
Good question but then again, if the reader can't hear it clear I bet a human couldn't either. Actually the human brain is a very effective CW filter 
I suppose it might be useful for a portable setup where you don't have access to a computer, but almost all digital mode software will decode CW –– just put your computer mic up to the rig speaker. Try Fldigi or CWget or MultPSK. Not to throw cold water –– I'm all for gadgets, trust me –– but I think if a person puts enough weight on the utility of Morse communications they'll probably be driven to learn the code themselves before dropping coin on the gadget. Morse Code is what actually got me into ham radio to begin with –– it's so versatile and useful I decided it was a necessity for me regardless of the testing requirement. Anybody can learn 5 WPM, and that's all you need to get a message through. And sending is easier than receiving, so you could learn the characters and at least send a 1-way message via any intermittent signal (by sound, light or touch) even if you don't have time to develop your receiving skills. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Good question but then again, if the reader can't hear it clear I bet a human couldn't either. Actually the human brain is a very effective CW filter
I suppose it might be useful for a portable setup where you don't have access to a computer, but almost all digital mode software will decode CW –– just put your computer mic up to the rig speaker. Try Fldigi or CWget or MultPSK. Not to throw cold water –– I'm all for gadgets, trust me –– but I think if a person puts enough weight on the utility of Morse communications they'll probably be driven to learn the code themselves before dropping coin on the gadget. Morse Code is what actually got me into ham radio to begin with –– it's so versatile and useful I decided it was a necessity for me regardless of the testing requirement. Anybody can learn 5 WPM, and that's all you need to get a message through. And sending is easier than receiving, so you could learn the characters and at least send a 1-way message via any intermittent signal (by sound, light or touch) even if you don't have time to develop your receiving skills. Agreed. I'm still a gadget freak though. 
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