Morse2Go – Version 2 Introduction

Morse2Go – Version 2
Page 1
10/08/14
Introduction
Morse2go Version 2 is a small, low-cost communication device for people struggling with
speech and movement. Text can be keyed into the M2G using your finger, foot, head, or mouth
switch. Words display on the LCD screen. Text is spoken through a small built in speaker or by
plugging in an external powered speaker easily available from a retail store or online.
Morse Code is the language used to create the text. Morse Code was invented over 150 years
ago along with the Telegraph system. This invention enabled people in distant places to
communicate in ways that had never before been possible. Morse Code consists of “dots” and
“dashes” - short and long signals. When put together, they are used to make words or abbreviated
symbols. For example, “... --- ...” is the familiar “SOS” distress call.
In addition to keying in the full text of a message, the M2G has short codes available which
produce longer messages. For example, “:IH” produces the message “I am hungry”. The user can
create their own codes and messages. Codes can be up to 10 characters long and messages can be
up to 80 characters.
Quick Start
Let's get started. Read the sections at the end if you want to customize your M2G by
putting in your own codes or increase the typing speed.
You'll first power up the M2G. This is done by plugging a USB cable into a computer and
the other end into the USB connector on the left side of the M2G. You should hear the startup
greeting.
For battery power, there is a power connector on the left side, just in front of to the USB
connector. Plug in the power cord and connect the other end to your battery supply. This can be
any 6 to 9 volt supply, such as four rechargeable “AA” batteries, a 6 Volt lantern battery or a
rechargeable gel-cell. You can also use a power cord that connects to a wall-wart power supply if
you have an AC receptacle available.
Next plug in your switch or switches. You can use either one or two switches. If you use one
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switch, your dots will be short and dashes longer (about 3 times longer). If you use two switches,
your dots will be on switch one (left) and dashes on switch two (right). A toggle switch on the
M2G indicates “1” or “2”. When changing this switch, the M2G must be turned off and back on
to reset it.
After the M2G is setup, try typing “HI”, using this sequence “.... ..”. Press four short dots, a
slight pause, then two short dots. You can make corrections by holding down button one for about
2 seconds. To clear the screen, hold down button one for five seconds or restart the M2G.
To hear the text typed into the M2G, enter a period “.”. You will then hear what has been
typed so far. To hear only the last sentence, clear the screen (hold switch one down seven seconds),
then type the sentence (with period) or short code (no period).
You'll notice that timing matters. If your dots and dashes are too far apart, they won't be
recognized (you'll see a ? mark). If there is too much time between letters, you'll get an extra space.
Usually, this doesn't matter – your reader will understand, but you can actually erase the extra
space (2 second press). You'll be able to adjust these timing values in the next section. For now, just
practice until you have mastered sending short messages that someone else could understand.
Hold button one down for about 2 seconds and the previous character is erased. Hold
button one down about 5 seconds and the M2G clears the screen.
The Appendix contains a list of the Morse Codes and numbers. Also included is a list of
short codes to abbreviate messages, adapted from Tania Finlayson's Tandem Master Morse USB
Interface (www.tandemmaster.org), another great Morse Code device that helps people with
disabilities communicate.
Adding Short Codes
Short codes enable the user to enter custom messages that can be recalled and used rapidly.
By now, you should have practiced using short codes. For example, the code “:ay” generates the
message “I really appreciate your assistance”. To enter a new code for “What time is the meeting?”,
enter this: “:wtm=What time is the meeting?=”.
The code, in this example, is “:wtm”. The code always begins with a colon “:” and must be
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two to 8 characters long. The text is the part between the equal signs. The final equal sign is
important. The second equal sign tells the software where the end of the text is. It will not be
included in the text. It is important not to use an equal sign in your text, except at the beginning
and end.
To use the new code, enter the command: “:wtm” and the text will be displayed.
To erase the new code, enter the command: “:wtm==” - two equal signs together.
To change a short code, just enter it again. For example, “:wtm=What type of music do you
like?=” changes the previous message.
Changing Timing Values
After you have learned Morse Code and feel proficient using the M2G, you may want to go
faster. Increasing the speed is a matter of trial and error, but make changes slowly, so you don't lose
control of the M2G by making it perform outside of your possible speed. You can also slow down
the M2G, if this is more to your liking.
As a default, the maximum time for a dot is 225 milliseconds (ms), about 1/4 of a second.
To decrease this value, say to 210 ms, you would type in “/DO=210”. To see the current value of
the dot maximum value, just type in “/DO” and the value will be shown on the LCD display (but
not on the smartphone display). When changing values, note that no spaces are used. The
“/DO=210” doesn't have a space. If you pause between the = and the 2, a space will be added, just
like a space is added between words. So if this happens, wait a couple of seconds and start over
again. As a precaution, if you try to increase or decrease the timing more than 10%, this is treated
as an error. Try a smaller change.
Note that Morse Code for the slash is “-..-. “, the same as the letters “DN” without a pause
between the letters. Equal is “-...-”, the same as “TV”, again without a pause.
The maximum time for a dash is 1000 milliseconds (1 second). To change the maximum
dash time to 990 milliseconds, use this command: “/DA=990”. See precautions in the previous
paragraph. As before, to lookup the value of the dash value, use “/DA”. While keying, if you exceed
the maximum time, no action is taken.
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Note that if you are using the two button mode, the dot and dash times are not applicable.
Short button presses work on both keys.
The maximum time allowed to end a letter (letter is complete - no more dots and dashes) is
2000 milliseconds (2 seconds). If paused more than this value, the end of word is assumed and a
space is automatically generated. To change this time to, say, 1900ms, use this command:
“/LT=1900”. Again, the lookup is “/LT”.
So, once a letter is entered, wait from 1000 to 2000 ms (1-2 seconds) and the letter is
finalized. If there is another letter in the word, start entering it before 2 seconds has elapsed. If
you're ready for the next word, wait 2 seconds (or more) and a space will be generated.
To clear the screen, press and hold button one five seconds. To change this to 5.5 seconds,
enter “/CL=5500”. To lookup the current value, enter “/CL”.
If you change a timing value to something that you cannot match (try to avoid this), there is
a way to fix the M2G. Enter the undo code: “/U” (-..-. ..-). This will undo the previous timing
code entered. You can undo up to 25 timing codes; Then the M2G reverts to the factory defaults.
If you enter the delete code: “/D” ( -..-. -.. ), this deletes all the timing codes you've entered
and return the M2G to the factory defaults. If this doesn't work, turn off the M2G and remove the
Micro SD card from the M2G (see below for more details), connect the Micro SD card to your
computer and delete the file “USR_PARM.CSV”. Be careful not to delete any other files on the
Micro SD card. Reinstall the Micro SD card and restart the M2G.
If you enter the list code: “/L”, you'll see all four timing codes used by the M2G (DO – dot,
DA – dash, LT – time between letters, and CL – time to clear the screen).
Code Table Maintenance
All of the codes used by this device are contained in a Google Document – see the website
(www.morse2go.org) for the actual link. You can copy this document to your own Google
Document and make changes or additions to it. You cannot change the original, so if you make a
mistake and delete something, you can always return to the original.
The first 50 or so rows is the “mcode” section - the Morse Code letters. Column A
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indicates the type of code, in this case “mcode”. Column B contains the code itself. Instead of dots
and dashes, we use a series of 1s and 2s. For example, the letter “A” is 12, for dot-dash, letter “Z” is
2211, for dash-dash-dot-dot, and so on. Column C is the actual letter.
Next comes the “scode” section. Column B contains the short code (2 to 10 characters),
always preceded by a colon “:”. Column C contains the message generated by the short code.
Next comes the “pcode” section. These are system timing parameters – timing between
individual dots, dashes, words, etc. Column B is the name of the parameter. Column C is the time
in milliseconds. Column D is the explanation, repeated here.
/do
/da
/lt
/cl
225
1000
2000
7000
maximum length of a dot
maximum length of a dash
maximum time between letters
minimum time to clear screen
Note that System Parameters always start with a slash “/”.
If you make changes to this spreadsheet, it would be primarily in the “scode” section to add
additional short codes. However, an easier procedure is to add short codes, as described above in
the section, “Adding Short Codes”.
Once you have made changes to the Google Docs Spreadsheet, download it to your
computer (File | Download as | comma-separated Values). Once saved on your hard drive, locate
the file and change it's file name to “CODE.CSV”.
Turn off the M2G. Take the Micro SD card out of the M2G. Push on it lightly and it will
pop out. Install this card in a Micro SD card adapter and connect it to your computer. Once you
see the files on the SD card, backup and then delete the “CODE.CSV” file on the SD card, then
copy the new CODE.CSV file onto the Micro SD. Reinstall the Micro SD card in the M2G and
turn it back on. The new codes will be in effect.
Check the M2G and see if it is working correctly. If not, you may need to install the
original CODE.CSV onto the Micro SD card and test again. If problems persist, check the format
of the Google Docs file, making sure the preceding colons and slashes are correct.
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Adaptive Design Association: www.adaptivedesign.org and Hall of Science Amateur Radio Club: www.hosarc.org
Morse2Go – Version 2
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Appendix
List of Short Codes
:ab
:ap
:ay
:cb
:ch
:mc
:cy
:dn
:eb
:gb
:hu
:hv
:ib
:ic
:ie
:ih
:it
:iu
:mw
:nc
:np
:rp
:sp
:tc
:tw
:ty
:cc
:vf
:wl
:wn
:wr
:ws
:wt
:ww
:yn
M2G Version 2 Sponsored by Adaptive Design and HOS Amateur Radio Club
Hello I have an appointment with
I really appreciate your assistance.
I can understand everything you say and I can hear fine.
Can I help you?
I operate my communicator by sending Morse code
See ya!
Do you need anything else?
Could you please press the elevator buttons for me I am going to the
Good-bye
How are you?
I have to
I need to go to the bathroom.
I have to make a call.
I have a headache.
I am hungry.
I am thirsty.
I have to hurry.
My money is in my wallet.
Nice to see you!
No problem
Could you please repeat that?
I sign by a stamp
Take care
Could you please tell me where ?
Thank you!
My credit card is
Very Funny!
I would like to
What's new?
What is wrong?
What did you say?
What time is it?
I was wondering if
Pls ask questions that I can answer with Yes or No
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Page 1 of 1
International Morse Code
1. The length of a dot is one unit.
2. A dash is three units.
3. The space between parts of the same letter is one unit.
4. The space between letters is three units.
5. The space between words is seven units.
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
file:///E:/usr/jim/ada/docs/userman/International_Morse_Code.svg
8/26/2014