Learning Morse
 

Can someone recommend good (free or cheap) resources for learning Morse? Preferably something I can listen to in the car.

I'm at the stage in my PPL training where I need to be able to identify VORs, NDBs, etc.

Don't worry about it. Most maps have the morse code of a beacon printed right next to the frequency and other important information. Very easy to see if you've got the right beacon.

Failing that, most kneeboards have a list of morse codes printed on them.

Unless this is a lifetime ambition of course. In that case there are several morse code tutor programs available on the internet or from the usual online aviation suppliers.

I made myself up a tape (simulating morse idents etc). worked well took about two days to get up to speed for the test

since when did learning morse become a requirement of the ppl syllabus???

-... --- .-.. .-.. --- -.-. -.- ...

Who uses it anyway, most DME's give you the beacon in text.

Well, kwachon, I do, when my Boeing doesn't auto-ident the station early enough, or if I'm flying one of my other aircraft without auto-ID. So do the other people on my fleet. We learnt it properly years ago so as not to reproduce famous accidents. It's not hard - and it's fun with your kids, if you want to play little games.

If you are aiming to teach yourself, learn at an appropriate speed (words per minute). I can only dream of getting to the speed my Dad achieved in the war.

Zorst
 

I learnt morse too back in the early 70's, all my flying is now done in a glass cockpit where morse idents are translated into text and to be truthful, with the FMS on auto tune, it does all the idents for me. I do understand your point though, the only morse ident I always verify these days is the approach aid in use especially when operating at airports with parallel runways.

Try this: http://www.lrjet.com/morse%20code.htm

I taught myself using a programme that I download from the web called pilotmorse. It was something like a $15 fee but worth every penny.

You don't need morse for anything under JAA anymore but as has been pointed out by others it is fun to learn and can come in useful.

If you contact the RSGB they will be able to provide you with dates and times of slow morse transmissions designed for those who are learning it.

At what speed do beacons etc put out morse (i.e. how many WPM) ?

Beacons are very slow - something like 5 wpm.

The RSGB slow morse transmissions are useful but you'd need the right receiver to pick them up. I'd go with one of the free "computer trainers". I wrote one 20-odd years ago, and doubt it would work with a modern PC, but I'm sure there are some out there.

I'll second the PilotMorse software.
It took me about 2 evenings with it to get confident for the old CPL Signals exam.

I learnt about 30% of the alphabet on a flight to the US, using a PDA program. It was enough to answer the one question on the IMC test. Good job it was multiple choice ;)

Do bear in mind that like any other language, if you don't use it you'll lose it. :(

Back in 2001 I learned Morse well enough to pass the old CPL exam. But these days I've forgotten most of it - I can barely ident VORs, and often have to check my map or kneeboard. I'd really be inclined to say don't bother with the whole thing. Just make sure you know TST, in case the VOR is being tested, and if it's not that, write down what it's transmitting and look it up.

I used the £10 CD-ROM sold by Transair, I think it was called Morse Cracker or something like that, I also bought a cheap old (Royal Navy?) Morse tutorial course book for a couple of quid (Ebay) that both did the trick. The book was particularly good and no-nonsense despite being old-fashioned in layout with no fancy colours or pretty graphics.

I just write the morse for each beacon down on my plan, along with the frequency, the radial I want, and so on.

That would depend on how it's learned though... If learned properly, it means 2 - 4 hours training per day for at least six months straight. It's not learning, it's brain washing... And if that's how you learned it, you'll never forget it!

This helped me
 

http://justlearnmorsecode.com/

Cheers

I'm an amateur radio operator and I learned morse with the tapes from the ARRL. www.arrl.org. They're radio-oriented instead of aviation-oriented in content but you'll know morse well enough to have a conversation. One tip is: don't write down the dots and dashes. Like any language, morse is a language of sounds. If you'll follow the tapes and translate straight from sound to letters, you're brain will have to perform one less step. This will be really helpful in the air when your busy.