
     Morse Machine version 2.5 by G4VWL
     ==================================


Morse Machine is a combined Morse Tutor and Morse Reader designed to
help beginners learn Morse.

1. System Requirements
----------------------

The Morse Machine should run on most Windows 3.1, 95 and 98 computers.
It has not been tested on Windows NT.  It requires the following files
in your Windows\System\ directory:

   CMDIALOG.VBX     INPOUT16.DLL     VBRUN300.DLL

The first two files are included in the Morse25.zip package and
Vbrun300.dll is available from many sources, including computer
magazine 'cover disks'. It is also available from my website at:

    http://www.vwlowen.demon.co.uk/radio/files.htm

The reason for not including it with the Morse25.zip package is that
it is quite a large file to download and many people will already have
a copy anyway. If you run any of the popular Windows Packet Radio
programs, you will almost certainly already have a copy.


The Morse Machine generates the Morse tones through the PC's internal
speaker so a soundcard isn't required. However, if you wish to use the
Morse Machine to read Morse from an external source (see later in this
document), your PC will need a Game/Joystick port which is usually
part of the soundcard.


Unfortunately, the on-line help System doesn't work with Windows 3.1
so this document is provided mainly for their benefit.


2. Installation
---------------

a. Create a new folder (for example c:\morse ),  unzip the following
   files into it from Morse25.zip and create a Desktop shortcut to
   Morse.exe:

     MORSE.EXE
     MORSE.HLP
     MORSE.CNT

b. From Morse25.zip, unzip the following files into your
   windows\system\ folder:

     CMDIALOG.VBX
     INPOUT16.DLL

c. Check that you also have VBRUN300.DLL in your windows\system\
   folder.


3. The Morse Tutor
------------------

Most of the features are self-explanatory so the following is just a
brief summary of the main Menu options:


  * File | Open:     Used for loading external Text files for the
                     Morse Machine to send using the "Free Text"
                     button. The text would, typically, be pre-
                     prepared tutorial files. Note that 'procedural'
                     codes, such as CT (begin transmission) may be
                     included in text by prefixing them with the !
                     character (eg:  !CT).

Configure Menu Options:
-----------------------

  * Clear Screen:    There are three ways to clear the main text
                     window. This menu option, pressing Ctrl+S and
                     the 'Clr Screen' button on the Morse Machine's
                     front panel.

  * Default Size:    This option allows you to quickly reset the
                     Morse Machine to its default size.


Checkmark Options:

  * Upper Case:      Allows the main window to display text in either
                     upper or lower case letters.

  * CT/AR:           Allows all Morse sending to begin with the
                     'commence transmission' and end with the 'end
                     message' procedural codes.

  * Speed x2:        Changes the range of the 'Speed' slider control
                     from 8 - 16 wpm to  16 - 32 wpm (approximately).

  * Punctuation:     When sending Mixed letters & numbers, or when
                     sending Free Text, punctuation characters may be
                     included or ignored.

  * Special Chars:   Requested by Scandinavian users, setting this
                     option will allow the sending of accented
                     characters:             


System Configuration Options:

  * Groups..         Sets the number of 5-character groups that will
                     be sent each time one of the main buttons is
                     pressed.
                     Also allows 'blocks' of letters to be selected
                     so that the Morse code can be learnt one (or
                     more) blocks at a time.

  * Tone..           Sets the frequency of the tone from the PC's
                     internal speaker.

  * Font..           Sets the Font to be used in the main text window.

  * Game Port..      Used to read Morse from an external source. Use
                     this option to set the hardware IO address of the
                     PC's Game/Joystick port. This is usually 0200H.

++++ The Morse Machine attempts to verify that you have set this
     address correctly but it's not foolproof!  In some rare
     circumstances, setting this address incorrectly could cause
     your PC to 'freeze' - in this event, you will need to press the
     PC's reset button to return to normal operation or (in Win95)
     use Ctrl+Alt+Del, select Morse.exe and click 'End Task'.


4. The Main Buttons
-------------------

  The 'Letter Blocks Panel'
  ------------------------

Morse Machine can be configured to only send selected blocks of
letters, which can be useful during the early stages of learning.
These blocks may be selected either under the Groups menu option or
by clicking on the four green indicators in the Letter Blocks panel.
If the "Special Characters" option is selected, any of those
characters may be randomly sent regardless of which Letter Blocks are
selected.

  Letters, Numbers, Mixed
  ----------------------

Sends random 5-character groups and displays them in the text window.
The same groups may be sent again by pressing the "Free Text" button
while the groups are still displayed on the screen. Sending may begin
from any group by highlighting that group before pressing the "Free
Text" button.

  Free Text button
  ----------------

In addition to its use shown above, any text may be typed, pasted or
loaded into the main text window (using the File | Open option) and
sent using the "Free Text" button. Letters prefixed with a ! will be
sent as one character. For example !CT will send the commence
transmission code (dah di dah di dah).


5. External button
------------------

When this button is pressed, the letters, Numbers, Mixed & Free Text
buttons are disabled and the Morse Machine is ready to accept Morse
input from an external source plugged into the PC's Game port. To
return to normal operation, press the Stop button.

The Morse Machine adjusts automatically to the speed of the Morse but
may take a few characters to determine the speed. These first few
characters will not be displayed correctly.


  External sources:
  -----------------

Any external source of Morse may be used. It should be connected to
pin 2 of the Game port, with pin 4 as ground. The source should be
'active low' - that is 0v represents "key down" and +5v represents
"key up".  The Game port has an internal pull-up resistor so the 
key up position need not be explicitly connected externally.

  Morse key
  ---------

                     ---------------------------> Pin 1 (+5v)
                     |
                    BZ1  (5v buzzer - optional)
                     |
     V_____o---------+--------------------------> Pin 2
      ^----o------------------------------------> Pin 4

I haven't been able to get the Morse Machine to generate a sidetone
while reading external Morse so the optional 5v buzzer can be used
provided it only draws a few milliamps from the Game port. I use one
primarily designed as the internal "reminder buzzer" for a domestic
burlglar alarm which oscillates at about 850Hz when operating on
5 volts (ideal!).


  Tone Decoder
  ------------
                                          +5v
                 +----------+----------------->
                 |         4|             Pin 1
                12k      ___|________
                 |      3|           |
          +------+--||---|           |
          |      | 100n  |  LM567    |3    Pin 2
         330k    |      7|           |-------->
 In       |   |  /     +-|           |5 
 o--+-||--+---|/ BC147 | |           |---+
    | 100n    |\       | |___________|   |
  +-+            \     |  1|  2|  6|    10k variable
 +| |           e|     |  +|  +|   |_1k__|
 D1 D2           |     |  _|_ _|_ _|_
  | |+           |     |  --- --- --- 
  | |            |     |   |   |   |       Pin 4
 o+-+------------+-----+---+---+---+---------->
                          2u2  1u  220n       
                                             /|\
                                              |
               Connections on 15-pin D-Type___|

   D1 & D2 are 1N914

   Adjust the 10k Variable pot to give a low
   (0v) output when a 800Hz tone is received.


--------------------------------------------------------------------

Morse Machine and its associated files are copyright G4VWL. It may be
freely distributed by any means provided the *entire* Morse25.zip
package (including this document) is distributed and that no charges,
other than reasonable 'media' and postage expenses, are made.

Thanks for all the reports of the Beta versions and special thanks to
Mike, VK5ELL for his suggestions, Per-Gunnar, SM7VRJ (and others)
for their help with Scandinavian characters and Arend (VK3CHP) for the
cool Morse-key Icon.


john@vwlowen.demon.co.uk
john@sparks98.freeserve.co.uk
G4VWL @GB7DEE.#51.GBR.EU

Updates of this program (and vbrun300.dll) can be found at:
  http://www.vwlowen.demon.co.uk/radio/files.htm    

08 May 1999
