Wires; who needs them in this Golden Age of Wireless!!! For less than $10USD you can rid yourself of the pesky wires on your CW key while decreasing both your sending speed and accuracy as shown in our "CQ CQ" demo vid:
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While you are here; take a look at our other projects. 73!
Ham radio clubs, like bars; have
their own personality. If you stroll into the wrong one for you,
your instincts tell you right away. Keep looking for a club that
fits your interests.
The hobby is as cheap (or as
expensive) as you want it to be.
Plan on spending a great deal of
time untangling wires. And...
If you get a HF rig there will be
a big knob on it. Enjoying spinning it because you will do that a
lot also.
Asking for an opinion on an
antenna is like asking which beer/religion/truck/etc is better.
There is never a consensus and everyone knows best.
The FM satellites are fun to work
even if you don’t make a contact. Eventually you will and will be
stunned that you communicated via a “spacecraft”.
Morse Code (not required) is a fun
challenge. You will make mistakes on the air, but since it is
impossible to YELL in CW the operators on the bands genuinely seem
to enjoy newcomers. This is not universally true of HF phone or
repeaters.
Call CQ and don't be frustrated if
nobody comes back. That's the way it works, but keep trying.
I am continually amazed at the
generosity ham radio enthusiasts have towards helping promote their
hobby.
Ham Radio has been called “1000
hobbies in 1”. Find the few that interest you today and focus
there. Enjoy the diversity as your interests change.
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While you are here; take a look at our other projects. 73!
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There are plenty of ways to irritate your XYL with an obsession of ham radio; but if you feel you need just one more then keep reading. The black box above is actually a clock. It's a cool clock if you know Morse Code (or CW), but it is worthless if you don't.
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The brains of the Morse Code clock is an ESP8266 with on board WiFi. At power up, the rig connects to WiFi and fetches the time from the internet (so always accurate). On first run the 'clock' sends out some Self Test tones after getting the time. These Self Test tones can be something like a callsign, but it could be anything or even nothing. The pace (or WPM) of the Morse Code is adjustable by a variable in the source code. In the example videos it is 10WPM as calculated by "The Paris Standard".
From that point on the time of day (localized to your time zone) is output to a speaker and LED tower in Morse Code (24 hour format) as HHMM. A calm quite house is filled with dit-dah tones and flashing light.
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The build is not that difficult as shown in the schematic below. On the bench it looks something like this:
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A metal box found around the shack was repurposed to clean up the look. This vid shows the end result. At power up the LED tower flashes until it gets the time from the internet. Then the Self Test tones and LED flashes happen. After that, only the time is "announced" when the red button is pressed.
It all came out pretty nice.
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If you decide to duplicate the build here is the simple schematic:
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And the Arduino/ESP8266 IDE Source Code:
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/* * NOV2018 * CW "Talking Clock" * WhiskeyTangoHotel.Com * * Get Internet time. * Upon a button press, convert the Internet time to defined local time zone. * Parse the Internet time to HHMM (24 hr format) * Convert the HHMM time to Morse Code (CW) dits and dahs * Play the Morse Code converted times over a speaker and a LED. * * Hold the button down for over a second and get a random letter or number played. * * At startup a self test sends a callsign (or user define msg) to * the speaker in CW. * * BTW, CW is fun to learn. * --... / ...-- // --... / ...-- * */
#include <time.h>
// Set up or the Wireless. We wil need this to get the internet time #include <ESP8266WiFi.h> #include <WiFiClient.h> #include <ESP8266WebServer.h>
// WiFi Connection Information const char* ssid = "Virus-2.4"; // PRIVATE: Enter your personal SSID setup information. *PRIVATE* const char* password = "zenakelsocats"; // PRIVATE: Enter your personal PASSWORD setup information. *PRIVATE* ESP8266WebServer server(80);
// Define and set up some variables int timezone = 18; // Chicago = 18 int dst = 0; // 0 or 1. 1 for DST or "Summer Adjusted Time" String Callsign = "W1AW"; // ALL CAPS!!! Used for self test 'beeps' at startup. Could be anything alphanumic you like String Time_substring; // Used for parsing String Parsedtime; // Feteched internet time boiled down to HHMM in 24 hr format. String Dit_or_Dah; // Output a dit or dah to the speaker. Used when parsing a character
int Pitch = 600; // Normally around 600Hz. This this the pitch frequency of the CW tones float WPM = 12; // How fast the letters are sent to the speaker using the "Paris Standard" in Words per Minute (8-25; depending on skill level) // Paris Standard formula: Tmsec = (1200 / WPM) WPM is the desired speed in words-per-minute. T is the dit time in mSecs float Tmsec = 1200 / WPM; float Dit = Tmsec; float intercharacter_spacing = Dit; float Dah = Tmsec * 3; float interword_spacing = Dah; int Random_CW; // Random number generated to select a random character String Random_CW_Character; // This is the random character sent to speaker/LED
// Load the CW database 'dits' and 'dahs' for each Alphanumeric. Boring.... String A = ".-";; String B = "-..."; String C = "-.-."; String D = "-.."; String E = "."; String F = "..-."; String G = "--."; String H = "...."; String I = ".."; String J = ".---"; String K = "-.-"; String L = ".-.."; String M = "--"; String N = "-."; String O = "---"; String P = ".--."; String Q = "--.-"; String R = ".-."; String S = "..."; String T = "-"; String U = "..-"; String V = "...-"; String W = ".--"; String X = "-..-"; String Y = "-.--"; String Z = "--.."; String zero = "-----"; String one = ".----"; String two = "..---"; String three = "...--"; String four = "....-"; String five = "....."; String six = "-...."; String seven = "--..."; String eight = "---.."; String nine = "----.";
// Output pins const int led = 2; // NEGATIVE Logic (LOW is ON) Blue on board LED is on PIN2 for this NoderMCU 1.0 ESP8266. const int speaker = 14; // tone outputs to the EXTERNALLY amplified speaker to pin 14 int time_buttonPin = 4; // When button pressed CW the time to the speaker. pin 4 boolean buttonState = LOW; // for the time_buttonPin status
void setup(void){ // This is run once. Serial.begin(115200); // turn on the serial monitor for debug //Serial.setDebugOutput(true); // Turn on the Serial Debugger if desired
//Define the I/O pinMode(led, OUTPUT); // set up the onboard Blue LED as an output. pinMode(time_buttonPin, INPUT); // Input for the button switch. if HIGH (pressed) play CW the time to the speaker
// Connect WiFi. Is the WiFi working? WiFi.begin(ssid, password); Serial.println(""); // Wait for connection while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) { Serial.print("Trying to connect to "); Serial.print(ssid); Serial.print(" on "); Serial.println(WiFi.localIP()); for (int x = 0; x < 20; x++) { // digitalWrite(led, !digitalRead(led)); // toggle state of the on board blue LED. Shows program is trying to WiFi connect delay(50); } // endfor WiFi blink connect } Serial.print("Connected to "); Serial.println(ssid); Serial.println(WiFi.localIP());
//Send tones for the variable Callsign to the speaker as a self test. Serial.println("Sending " + Callsign + " as Self Test......"); int L = Callsign.length(); for (int i=0; i<L; i++) { // Start Self Test Convert the time numbers to dit and dahs Time_substring = Callsign.substring(i, i+1); if (Time_substring == "0") { Time_substring = zero; } if (Time_substring == "1") { Time_substring = one; } if (Time_substring == "2") { Time_substring = two; } if (Time_substring == "3") { Time_substring = three; } if (Time_substring == "4") { Time_substring = four; } if (Time_substring == "5") { Time_substring = five; } if (Time_substring == "6") { Time_substring = six; } if (Time_substring == "7") { Time_substring = seven; } if (Time_substring == "8") { Time_substring = eight; } if (Time_substring == "9") { Time_substring = nine; } if (Time_substring == "A") { Time_substring = A; } if (Time_substring == "B") { Time_substring = B; } if (Time_substring == "C") { Time_substring = C; } if (Time_substring == "D") { Time_substring = D; } if (Time_substring == "E") { Time_substring = E; } if (Time_substring == "F") { Time_substring = F; } if (Time_substring == "G") { Time_substring = G; } if (Time_substring == "H") { Time_substring = H; } if (Time_substring == "I") { Time_substring = I; } if (Time_substring == "J") { Time_substring = J; } if (Time_substring == "K") { Time_substring = K; } if (Time_substring == "L") { Time_substring = L; } if (Time_substring == "M") { Time_substring = M; } if (Time_substring == "N") { Time_substring = N; } if (Time_substring == "O") { Time_substring = O; } if (Time_substring == "P") { Time_substring = P; } if (Time_substring == "Q") { Time_substring = Q; } if (Time_substring == "R") { Time_substring = R; } if (Time_substring == "S") { Time_substring = S; } if (Time_substring == "T") { Time_substring = T; } if (Time_substring == "U") { Time_substring = U; } if (Time_substring == "V") { Time_substring = V; } if (Time_substring == "W") { Time_substring = W; } if (Time_substring == "X") { Time_substring = X; } if (Time_substring == "Y") { Time_substring = Y; } if (Time_substring == "Z") { Time_substring = Z; }
// Now send the dit/dahs for the Self Test Callsign Character int CW_length = Time_substring.length();
for (int j=0; j<CW_length; j++) { // Send tones and blink LED in CW digitalWrite(led , HIGH); // NEGATIVE LOGIC. Make sure the onboard LED is off Dit_or_Dah = Time_substring.substring(j, j+1); //Serial.println(Dit_or_Dah);
if (Dit_or_Dah == ".") { // process a Dit digitalWrite(led , LOW); //tone(speaker, Pitch, Dit); // Comment for LED only; no BEEPS on Self Test delay(Dit); digitalWrite(led , HIGH); } // end if process a Dit
if (Dit_or_Dah == "-") { // process a Dah digitalWrite(led , LOW); // tone(speaker, Pitch, Dah); // Comment for LED only; no BEEPS on Self Test delay(Dah); digitalWrite(led , HIGH); } // end if process a Dah
delay(intercharacter_spacing); // a delay of "1 Dit" between dit/dahs in a character } // send for loop dit/dahs for selected time number delay (interword_spacing); // done with sending character, so a longer "3 * Dit" delay" } // end for loop on the Self Test
// Do we want summertime or standard time? Default is standard time dst = 0. 1 for DST or "Summer Adjusted Time" int buttonState = digitalRead(time_buttonPin); if (buttonState == HIGH) { // if the button is pushed after the self test; then set to Summer Time; dst = 1 tone(speaker, Pitch, Dit); // Quick 'dit' to say "I'm in Summer Time mode" dst = 1; }
// Get the current time from "THE INTERNET! and adjust for timezone and dst" configTime((timezone + dst) * 3600, 0, "pool.ntp.org", "time.nist.gov"); Serial.println("\nWaiting for time"); while (!time(nullptr)) { Serial.print("."); delay(100); }
Serial.println("Self test completes!!!"); digitalWrite(led , HIGH); // turn off the LED Serial.println("");
delay(1000);
} // End void setup loop
void loop(void){ // Loop forever waiting for button push. If pushed CW the local time as HHMM in CW and go back to waiting for that button int buttonState = digitalRead(time_buttonPin); // check if the pushbutton is pressed. if (buttonState == HIGH) { // button is pressed, CW time to speaker or random character? delay(1000); int buttonState = digitalRead(time_buttonPin); // check if the pushbutton is STILL pressed. if (buttonState == HIGH) { // if the button is still pressed after the delay then rnd character, not time. digitalWrite(led , LOW); // NEGATIVE LOGIC. Blink the LED to show RND char mode entered delay(150); digitalWrite(led , HIGH); // NEGATIVE LOGIC. Make sure the LED is off delay(1000); do { Random_CW = random(48,90); //48 is 0. 57 is 9. A is 65. Z is 90 } while (Random_CW > 57 and Random_CW < 65); // if the random# did not map to a letter or number then try again. char Random_CW_Character = Random_CW; Serial.print("Random CW Character is: "); Serial.println(Random_CW_Character);
Time_substring = Random_CW_Character; if (Time_substring == "0") { Time_substring = zero; } if (Time_substring == "1") { Time_substring = one; } if (Time_substring == "2") { Time_substring = two; } if (Time_substring == "3") { Time_substring = three; } if (Time_substring == "4") { Time_substring = four; } if (Time_substring == "5") { Time_substring = five; } if (Time_substring == "6") { Time_substring = six; } if (Time_substring == "7") { Time_substring = seven; } if (Time_substring == "8") { Time_substring = eight; } if (Time_substring == "9") { Time_substring = nine; } if (Time_substring == "A") { Time_substring = A; } if (Time_substring == "B") { Time_substring = B; } if (Time_substring == "C") { Time_substring = C; } if (Time_substring == "D") { Time_substring = D; } if (Time_substring == "E") { Time_substring = E; } if (Time_substring == "F") { Time_substring = F; } if (Time_substring == "G") { Time_substring = G; } if (Time_substring == "H") { Time_substring = H; } if (Time_substring == "I") { Time_substring = I; } if (Time_substring == "J") { Time_substring = J; } if (Time_substring == "K") { Time_substring = K; } if (Time_substring == "L") { Time_substring = L; } if (Time_substring == "M") { Time_substring = M; } if (Time_substring == "N") { Time_substring = N; } if (Time_substring == "O") { Time_substring = O; } if (Time_substring == "P") { Time_substring = P; } if (Time_substring == "Q") { Time_substring = Q; } if (Time_substring == "R") { Time_substring = R; } if (Time_substring == "S") { Time_substring = S; } if (Time_substring == "T") { Time_substring = T; } if (Time_substring == "U") { Time_substring = U; } if (Time_substring == "V") { Time_substring = V; } if (Time_substring == "W") { Time_substring = W; } if (Time_substring == "X") { Time_substring = X; } if (Time_substring == "Y") { Time_substring = Y; } if (Time_substring == "Z") { Time_substring = Z; }
int CW_length = Time_substring.length();
for (int j=0; j<CW_length; j++) { // Send tones and blink LED in CW digitalWrite(led , HIGH); // NEGATIVE LOGIC. Make sure the onboard LED is off Dit_or_Dah = Time_substring.substring(j, j+1); //Serial.println(Dit_or_Dah);
if (Dit_or_Dah == ".") { // process a Dit digitalWrite(led , LOW); tone(speaker, Pitch, Dit); delay(Dit); digitalWrite(led , HIGH); } // end if process a Dit
if (Dit_or_Dah == "-") { // process a Dah digitalWrite(led , LOW); tone(speaker, Pitch, Dah); delay(Dah); digitalWrite(led , HIGH); } // end if process a Dah
delay(intercharacter_spacing); // a delay of "1 Dit" between dit/dahs in a character } // send for loop dit/dahs for selected time number
} // end of if the button is still pressed after the delay then rnd character, not time. else { // random character code above; time code below time_t now = time(nullptr); Serial.println("---------------------------------------"); Serial.print("Internet time adjusted to tone zone: "); Serial.println(ctime(&now)); Parsedtime = (ctime(&now));
// Build the Parsed time from the internet time. The time is 24 hr format and always 4 characters in HHMM Parsedtime = Parsedtime.substring(11,12) + Parsedtime.substring(12,13) + Parsedtime.substring(14,15) + Parsedtime.substring(15,16); Serial.print("Parsedtime as HHMM is: "); Serial.println(Parsedtime);
for (int i=0; i<4; i++) { // Convert the time numbers to dit and dahs. Always 4 characters in HHMM Time_substring = Parsedtime.substring(i, i+1); Serial.print("Currently sending Parsedtime character: "); Serial.println(Time_substring);
if (Time_substring == "0") { Time_substring = zero; } if (Time_substring == "1") { Time_substring = one; } if (Time_substring == "2") { Time_substring = two; } if (Time_substring == "3") { Time_substring = three; } if (Time_substring == "4") { Time_substring = four; } if (Time_substring == "5") { Time_substring = five; } if (Time_substring == "6") { Time_substring = six; } if (Time_substring == "7") { Time_substring = seven; } if (Time_substring == "8") { Time_substring = eight; } if (Time_substring == "9") { Time_substring = nine; }
// Now send the dit/dahs for the time number processed int CW_length = Time_substring.length();
for (int j=0; j<CW_length; j++) { // Send tones and blink LED in CW digitalWrite(led , HIGH); // NEGATIVE LOGIC. Make sure the onboard LED is off Dit_or_Dah = Time_substring.substring(j, j+1);
if (Dit_or_Dah == ".") { // process a Dit digitalWrite(led , LOW); tone(speaker, Pitch, Dit); delay(Dit); digitalWrite(led , HIGH); } // end if process a Dit
if (Dit_or_Dah == "-") { // process a Dah digitalWrite(led , LOW); tone(speaker, Pitch, Dah); delay(Dah); digitalWrite(led , HIGH); } // end if process a Dah
delay(intercharacter_spacing); // } // send for loop dit/dahs for selected time number delay (interword_spacing); } // end for loop Convert the HHMM time numbers to dit and dahs
Serial.println("Sending time tones completed!!!"); delay(1000); // Delay for a sec just beacause... } // If checking for long press for RND character } // End button press if } // End of Loop forever waiting for button push. ________________________________________________________
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Thanks for stopping by and 73!
