Morse Code USB/HID Interface (The Gadget)

Description

Morse code or Continuous Wave (CW) is an amazing technology. in 1991 in an effort to revive flagging interest in HAM radio the FCC removed the requirement to know how to send and receive Morse code. Everyone predicted Morse would quickly become extinct. A funny thing happened, Morse code usage exploded. There are now more people in the world who use Morse code, then at any time in the past, ever! My project is a device that lets you connect up a CW key or paddle to a computer/tablet/iPhone/Android. It basically turns your single or double key tapping into a full USB keyboard. Why? There are plenty of apps and software that help you learn how to receive or understand Morse, there are very few that allow help you learn how to use a key or paddle or simply practice and get better. I have also created software that gamifies using a CW Key or paddle to help people learn. I needed the gadget to interface the key with the game.

Details

Some people might consider Morse Code a dead language, certainly ancient history, not the stuff of Sci/Fi or the future...

These people need to get out more...

Morse Code is amazing- with it and a handful of inexpensive parts and a battery you can build a radio and communicate around the world.

My project consists of a Seeduino, (a very small Arduino) a 3d printed case, a micro jack some wire, a USB-c/USB cable and software that will let you connect up either a simple key (1 contact) or a paddle (2 contacts) to any device that supports a USB keyboard.

The gadget converts the users tapping to characters and then types them via the USB cable. You can then hook up to a computer, laptop, tablet, iPhone, or Android and use a CW Key/Paddle to type.

That in itself opens up amazing possibilities, Texting with CW key... word processing with one button...

The reason I wanted to be able to do this is I am creating video games to help people learn Morse code. Many many apps and programs will play Morse code for you to learn. Very Very few let you play it back. The gadget also allows you to use gamification to improve your Morse Sending, by analyzing your speed and rhythm and helping you improve.

The .stl files and plans and code are in the files section of this page.so that anyone who wants to, can easily build one.

Files

CWG_Gadget_Multimode_ver3.ino

Version 3 of the gadget Multimode arduino script, this one actually works.

ino - 21.26 kB - 06/30/2022 at 22:28

Download

CWG_Gadget_Multimode_ver1_10.ino

Multi-mode version of Arduino Gadget Script (still a work in progress, this is version 1.10

ino - 21.94 kB - 06/30/2022 at 21:45

Download

CW_gadget_choice_flowchart.pdf

The gadget can be set to use different kinds of keys and react at different speeds.

Adobe Portable Document Format - 18.70 kB - 06/30/2022 at 21:27

Preview

SeeeduinoXIAO Pinout.png

Wiring diagram for the Seeduino

Portable Network Graphics (PNG) - 290.37 kB - 06/30/2022 at 21:00

Preview

CWG Gadget Case Ver 11.stl

3d printed Seeduino Gadget case

Standard Tesselated Geometry - 22.93 kB - 06/30/2022 at 21:00

Download

Discussions

Gordon wrote 05/01/2024 at 14:47

What keyboard library did you use?

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Don wrote 01/27/2024 at 16:14

Found this project and really like the idea. Going to be building it and want to reach out to see if you made any enhancements to it? Also, if you have a way of adding a pizzo buzzer or something simple to hear the sounds?

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Diaz wrote 01/26/2024 at 20:02

Hi! I just built this little device but what about the software? Any progress or is there other software which can be used with this?

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Pat wrote 06/12/2023 at 20:31

I already built some nice trainer hardware from a kit. But I wanted to work on Morse with a friend who is remote. With Gboard now supporting Morse, I figured this may be a way to break out of the canned learning programs and get into a more live environment. I'm excited that it is a way for people with handicaps to learn, so this is my way, more so than sign language.

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BG6LH wrote 02/06/2023 at 03:57

I just made a CW HID keyboard by this project. It works!!!

however, I and I realized if I input CW to a remote FLdigi by this keyboard, then, Fldigi sent CW to a rig, this is asynchronous keying system, there are two speed, the WPM of keyboard, and WPM of fldigi keying. it's really different feel to play CW directly beside the rig. especially using a straight key.

Anyway, it's a remote CW input solution using morse key, It's funny than a computer keyboard!

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BG6LH wrote 02/09/2023 at 03:42

if you can made a sidetone, it will be perfect

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BG6LH wrote 02/02/2023 at 21:28

It's really cool!

I am finding a solution to make a hand CW morse input for my Remote Radio Shack, there is running a FLdigi with VNC. I can sent FSK CW by keyboard. But I really love the sense of handmade CW. this project is a simply way, better than those winkey emulation keyer.

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ckarnstedt wrote 10/13/2022 at 19:13

Cool project. What do you use to hear the tone that you are sending? I didn't see anything in the project that controls an audio oscillator. Thanks!

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teraz wrote 09/27/2022 at 18:48

send svg trought cw ;-)

sorry morse code is death

but move this projekt to send tnc frame,

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Morse Code USB/HID Interface (The Gadget)

Description

Details