73 de Graham, G4JBD
With thanks to Fabian, DJ5CW for jscwlib
Key Benefits and Features:
Realistic Simulation:
The G4JBD Morse player app includes seven simulated band conditions (from quiet to "hard" contest noise) and allows independent adjustment of Morse tone frequency, character speed versus overall text speed, helping you adapt to varying HF operating environments.
Flexible Practice Material: You can select from 7 different weekly RSGB news articles (with historical archives), random character sets (letters, numbers, cut-numbers, punctuation), 1000 random common words, (which I jumble each week) and imaginary call signs to target specific skill gaps. There is even a simulated 2-way QSO option for you to listen to, with random information being exchanged.
User-Friendly Design: As a browser-based player, the G4JBD Morse app requires no installation; settings are embedded in the URL, allowing you to save and share specific practice sessions or download MP3 files for offline study. An on-screen 'highlighter' shows you which letter is currently being played.
Progressive Learning: The interface supports a wide range of skill levels, from absolute beginners learning basic letters and numbers to experienced operators refining their ability to copy signals through heavy QRM (interference), QRN (natural noise) or to increase your copy speed.
It's affordable:
Well, it is completely free and always will be! I don't event ask you to provide any personal details - just feel free to use it whenever you want.
It's the right tool for the job:The most effective method for learning to understand Morse code by ear is head copy, where you recognize the rhythmic Morse code sound of a character directly as a letter without visualizing dots and dashes or counting signal units.
To achieve this, the G4JBD app lets you hear individual characters at a higher speed (e.g., 20 words per minute) with large spacing between characters from the very beginning. You choose how much spacing you need. This helps your brain to learn the unique "sound" of each letter rather than its individual dits and dahs.
You can adjust the Farnsworth speed to get wider spacing between characters.
This slows down the overall text, to help you to distinguish individual letter sounds without the overwhelming your brain with a high number of words per minute. This is also known as the Koch method.
For example, when you first begin to learn Morse, try a letter speed of 12 wpm, and a Farnsworth speed of 2 wpm or slower. Experiment to see what works best for you - aim to challenge yourself!
You can even set fractional speeds, such as 0.4 WPM, 2.7 WPM etc, giving you complete control over your progression at the very beginning of your journey into the wonderful world of Morse code.
Having said that, you can also use the G4JBD Morse player to test your absolute limits for world-speed-record attempts, or for testing computer decoding at super-human speeds.
Practical steps to master the Morse Code skill include:
Listen Daily: Dedicate at least 30 minutes a day to listening to your favourite G4JBD Morse code practice content to build familiarity with the rhythm.
Focus on Rhythm: Train your ear to hear the entire character as a single "word" sound rather than a sequence of individual beeps.
Practice Real Content: Progress from random character groups to copying real words, GB2RS news scripts, and simulated QSOs (radio conversations) to improve speed and comprehension.
Get ready for real Morse Code converstions on the air:
Introduce background noise to simulate the sound of real radio transmissions. The G4JBD app has several levels and types of background noise, to suit all abilities.
Have fun and please let me know how you get on :-)
73, Graham G4JBD
A sample of this week's news for Sunday 10th May, 2026 :-
This week's GB2RS news bulletin, from the Radio Society of Great Britain. Converted to Morse Code, with kind permission from the RSGB, for Morse practice & training purposes.
We had another mixed week of HF propagation, with a Kp index of 6 , dropping to a Kp of 1 in the space of only 3 days.
The index hit 6.33 on the evening of Monday the 4th of May, sparking aurora and poor HF conditions. By Wednesday the 6th of May it was back down to 0.67, so, you can see why it is hard to predict HF conditions, which are driven by the geomagnetic status rather than the solar flux index.
According to the CDXC, DX worked over the past week included TZ4AM in Mali on 10m CW; T31TTT from Central Kiribati on 12m and 15m FT8; XQ6CF in Chile on 17m CW; VP8A on the Falkland Islands on 60m CW; 3B9G on 20m CW and TL8BNW from Central African Republic on 40m SSB.
So, there is DX about if you hunt for it. Interestingly, all of the above, apart from T31TTT, were on southward paths, perhaps reflecting poorer conditions on polar paths at times of elevated Kp index.
Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will be between 115 and 130 with calm geomagnetic conditions for the first half of the week. However, unsettled geomagnetic conditions are forecast for the 15th to the 18th of May with a possible Kp index of 5.
With five sunspot groups visible on the Sun’s surface, and active region 4419 the source of two X-Flares on Friday the 24th of April, and about to face earth again, it is anyone’s guess what could happen next!
As we enter mid-May we get closer to summer HF conditions. So Sporadic-E on the higher HF bands, lower maximum usable frequencies overall, but perhaps 14MHz staying open all night, are features to watch out for. Look out for 10m band openings to Southern Africa around midday and paths to South America during early and late evening. The current period of weather seems to be a mix of weak high-pressure and low-pressure systems vying for dominance. This implies a mix of radio conditions will share our attention, with weak tropo from ridges of high pressure, but no big highs on the chart; and frontal rain bands or heavy showers bringing a chance of rain scatter for GHz operators.
The prospects for meteor scatter may remain good for a while since we have only just passed the peak of the Eta Aquarids on Wednesday the 6th of May. Remember the early morning hours tend to be best for meteor activity in general.
The aurora alerts have continued to provide a glimmer of hope, but mostly for weak enhancements, so look for a Kp value of 5 or greater and signs of ‘watery’ sounding signals on the HF bands before turning the VHF beams to the north.
As we move into the early part of the Sporadic-E season, it will become the mode of choice for us during the next few months. The general rule is to check for the two main periods of activity, in mid-morning and again late afternoon or early evening. Listen for strong signals on the 10m band from Europe and then, as the event develops, the higher frequency bands will open up too. In a strong event, the 2m band can even sound like 20m. However, early season events tend to favour the 10 and 6m bands.
EME now. The Moon is past minimum declination and increasing, giving lengthening Moon windows and increasing peak elevation. Path losses are decreasing now after apogee on Monday the 4th of May. 144MHz sky temperature is low all week until Saturday the 16th of May when the Sun and Moon are close in the sky. Each RSGB Board Director has a liaison role between the Board and certain parts of the work we do. This focuses on the work done by RSGB volunteers in committees, groups and teams as well as by the Honorary Officers and Champions. In a role swap that has been planned for some time, Ben Lloyd, GW4BML will become Board Liaison for the RSGB Regional Team and Nathan Nuttall, MM9OCC will become Board Liaison for the RSGB Youth Committee. New Board member Graham Smith, G4NMD takes responsibility for the exam portfolio, which was held by retired director Len Paget, GM0ONX. We'll announce other roles and responsibilities soon. In the mean time, if you need help on where to direct an enquiry regarding a Board Liaison matter, please contact Board Chair Stewart Bryant, G3YSX. To find out more or to see contact details for each Board Director, go to rsgb.org/board
This year, International Women in Engineering Day is on the 23rd of June 2026. It is a celebration of the amazing work of women engineers worldwide. People who have an interest in amateur radio often have careers related to Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics, also known as STEM. STEM subjects are an effective way for the RSGB to introduce amateur radio to new audiences and young people. To mark the day, we will share stories of how amateur radio has helped female engineers in their lives and careers. The theme for International Women in Engineering Day 2026 is Engineering Intelligence and is an opportunity to recognise the women engineers who solve complex challenges and help drive change. Are you involved in a research project? Perhaps you are designing something new, or re-working a project to make it more accessible to others? Maybe you’re part of a team that is analysing data to find a solution to a problem? Whatever your story, we would love to hear from you so we can help to inspire future generations of girls and young women. If you’d like to share your story, please send a photo and a summary of what you have been doing to comms@rsgb.org.uk by the 31st of May. Membership sits at the heart of the RSGB, and at our AGM in April, RSGB President Bob Beebe, GU4YOX shared a message on this important topic. During his video message Bob spoke about the wide range of services that we offer our members. He went on to explain that we are reviewing our membership offering and how that will happen in the coming months. This important message is available for all radio amateurs on the RSGB YouTube channel. Go to youtube.com/thersgb and select the RSGB 2026 AGM playlist to start watching now. Remember to share this video with your friends, local club and the rest of the amateur radio community. The BBC has announced that the Droitwich Transmitter on 198kHz will close permanently at a date to be announced in 2026. The Scottish Long Wave transmitters at Burghead and Westerglen will also shut down. The Droitwich transmitter was commissioned in September 1934. These transmissions have always been part of our lives as radio enthusiasts. The BBC haven't yet announced a date, but they will give two months’ notice to listeners. The RSGB and the BBC Amateur Radio Group plan to mark this occasion on the air and will share details of how this will be achieved will be available soon. Please email ContestClub@rsgbcc.org to register your interest.
Remember to listen for stations taking part in the Mills on the Air event today, the 10th of May. Radio amateurs are on the air from a wide range of interesting locations and are keen to take your call.