Reader for automated Morse call signs

[iscanvnc2]

Many businesses are virtually impossible to positively ID from content and I never learned Morse code (at 80 I’m not about to).

I’ve read about and seen videos of use of the MFJ-461. As I understand it, place it close to the receiver and it will decode the audio. If you’ve used the MFJ-461 to decode random Morse call sign IDs from a scanner, I’d like to know your experience.

 

[vagrant]

I have one and it is an effort in frustration. I found smart phone apps work better to some degree.

Holy cats! They want $120 for that? I paid $5 at a ham swap years ago for it and that seems about right.

 

[n2nov]

Many businesses are virtually impossible to positively ID from content and I never learned Morse code (at 80 I’m not about to).

I’ve read about and seen videos of use of the MFJ-461. As I understand it, place it close to the receiver and it will decode the audio. If you’ve used the MFJ-461 to decode random Morse call sign IDs from a scanner, I’d like to know your experience.

I use the free software FLdigi. Since most CW IDs are at 20 WPM, that is where I set the software. Any internal or external sound card will work with it.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

I committed the numbers (and some letters) to memory but do keep a chart handy for reference when ID'ing repeaters in my area. FLDigi is reliable but not always 100% accurate depending on signal strength/noise. I record the audio then use Audacity to play it back & take a look at the wave form. As long as I get the trailing digits (highly unlikely though not impossible that a frequency in the same region will have the same 3 trailing digits) & take a look at licenses in my region I can usually nail it down for a DB submission

 

[letarotor]

I have one and it is an effort in frustration. I found smart phone apps work better to some degree.

Holy cats! They want $120 for that? I paid $5 at a ham swap years ago for it and that seems about right.

When I looked at it last night after seeing this thread, it said it was $250. I thought how crazy is that!


Oh wait, I did a search for the MFJ461 but obviously I was looking at the MFJ464 I just noticed.

Brian
COMMSCAN

 

[letarotor]

I committed the numbers (and some letters) to memory but do keep a chart handy for reference when ID'ing repeaters in my area. FLDigi is reliable but not always 100% accurate depending on signal strength/noise. I record the audio then use Audacity to play it back & take a look at the wave form. As long as I get the trailing digits (highly unlikely though not impossible that a frequency in the same region will have the same 3 trailing digits) & take a look at licenses in my region I can usually nail it down for a DB submission

I've done the same thing when trying to confirm callsigns or things like beacons. Record the audio and then look at the waveform, usually with Audacity, and it is much easier to see the "dots and dashes".

Brian
COMMSCAN

 

[merlin]

I just use 'Sorcerer, Decodes CW just fine.
Decodes a lot of stuff.
Sorcerer Decoder Download | KD0CQ

 

[merlin]

I use the free software FLdigi. Since most CW IDs are at 20 WPM, that is where I set the software. Any internal or external sound card will work with it.

Yea, they can range from 12 WPM to 21 WPM. I do OK to about 18 WPM.
Using Sorcerer, it has auto detect, shows the speed, then set for that it decodes nice.
73s

 

[merlin]

Many businesses are virtually impossible to positively ID from content and I never learned Morse code (at 80 I’m not about to).

I’ve read about and seen videos of use of the MFJ-461. As I understand it, place it close to the receiver and it will decode the audio. If you’ve used the MFJ-461 to decode random Morse call sign IDs from a scanner, I’d like to know your experience.

Sheesh, I am 70, been away from code decades. Some effort I'll get back to 21 WPM.
Took me a week to learn code then practice-practice-and a lot more practice you get better and faster.

 

[littona]

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned one of the smartphone apps, where you just hold your phone up to the radio's speaker and it decodes whatever it hears. Yeah, they're not foolproof, but I've gotten them to successfully decode repeater ID's. A couple I've played with on Android are Morse Code Reader and Morse Expert.

 

[ArtU]

I just use 'Sorcerer, Decodes CW just fine.
Decodes a lot of stuff.
Sorcerer Decoder Download | KD0CQ

Scan you post a screen shot of the program in action? Does it have a GUI or is it command line driven?

 

[merlin]

A nice easy to use GUI. Start the app, add decoder, select from the list.
First shot is gibberish decoding background noise from my mic.
Second, shows decoder list. Except CW the others open a sublist of various protocols of decoders.
Yes, it does WeFax also.
73s