Interactive Morse Telegraph Keyer
Practice sending Morse code with a virtual telegraph key or your keyboard. Tap for dots, hold for dashes, and see your Morse decoded in real time.
Free Keying Mode
Free Keying allows you to send any Morse message using mouse, touch, or spacebar. Your dots and dashes will decode live in real time below.
SESSION STATISTICS
RECENT TIMING VISUALIZER
Sending Morse Code vs. Reading Code
Sending Morse code is different from simply looking up dots and dashes. You need to control the length of each signal and the spaces between them.
The Morse Code Keyer lets you practice that process directly in your browser. Tap or press the virtual key to send a dot, hold it longer to create a dash, and watch your Morse decode as you send it. It gives you a simple way to practice sending without needing a physical telegraph key.
How to Use the Morse Code Keyer
The keyer is designed to be simple and intuitive:
On a desktop computer, hold the Spacebar or click the on-screen key with your mouse. On a phone or tablet, press and hold the keyer button.
A short press produces a dot (.). A longer press (over the classified threshold) produces a dash (-).
Your dots and dashes appear live in sequence (e.g. .... . .-.. .-.. ---).
The keyer decodes the signal in real time into readable text (e.g. HELLO), giving immediate practice feedback.
How a Morse Code Keyer Works
A telegraph key is essentially a switch. The operator controls when the electrical or simulated signal starts and stops. A straight key uses one lever: you press it down to close the contact and release it to stop the signal.
With a browser-based keyer, your mouse, touchscreen, or spacebar acts as that input lever. The crucial skill is controlling duration and spacing.
ITU-R M.1677-1 Standard Ratio Principles
A short signal is a dot. A signal about three times as long is a dash. The spaces between signals determine where one Morse character ends and the next begins. The International Telecommunication Union defines these exact timing relationships in recommendation ITU-R M.1677-1.
Morse Code Timing: Dots, Dashes, and Gaps
Good Morse sending depends on rhythm. International Morse uses a standard mathematical timing ratio:
| Morse Part | Standard Length | Ratio Context |
|---|---|---|
| Dot (.) | 1 unit | Base time unit (dit) |
| Dash (-) | 3 units | Three times dot duration (dah) |
| Gap between elements | 1 unit | Pause between dots/dashes inside a letter |
| Gap between letters | 3 units | Pause separating individual characters |
| Gap between words | 7 units | Pause separating complete words |
These ratios (1:3:1:3:7) are more important than attempting to key as fast as possible. Clean timing prevents separate characters from running together and becoming undecodable.
Practice Sending Morse Code
The easiest way to build sending skill is to start with short, high-frequency characters:
Once these individual characters feel comfortable, combine them into short words like SOS (... --- ...) and HELLO (.... . .-.. .-.. ---).
To expand your practice, explore our detailed guide on how to learn Morse code or view the complete Morse Code Alphabet reference.
How to Improve Your Morse Code Sending
Start slowly
A slower speed gives you complete control over your keying. Do not rush to achieve high WPM early, as poor timing habits at high speeds are difficult to unlearn.
Listen while you send
Enable key audio feedback to listen to the tone. Sending should produce a steady, musical rhythm rather than erratic short and long bursts.
Practice short daily sessions
5 to 10 minutes of daily keying practice is far more effective than an occasional hour-long marathon session.
Practice complete characters
Think of ".-" as the complete acoustic character A, rather than calculating "dot, pause, dash" in your head.
Check your live decoded text
Use the live decoder output as your objective instructor. If your target is HELLO but the output produces HELO, your timing or letter spacing needs adjustment.
Common Morse Code Keying Mistakes
If a dot is held too long, the keyer will classify it as a dash. Keep your dot taps light and brief.
A dash must be roughly 3 times the duration of a dot. Short dashes make characters ambiguous.
... is S, but . . . represents three Es. Inter-character pauses carry essential information.
Words require 7 timing units of pause compared to 3 units for letters.
Straight Key vs. Paddle vs. Electronic Keyer
In physical amateur radio telegraphy, three main types of keying hardware are used:
- Straight Key: Uses a single lever. The operator manually controls both dot and dash durations and element spacing. This web keyer simulates a straight-key experience.
- Paddle (Iambic): Uses separate left/right levers for dots and dashes.
- Electronic Keyer: An electronic circuit that automatically generates perfectly timed dits and dahs when triggered by a paddle.
Morse Code Keyer vs. Morse Code Translator
These tools fulfill different jobs in your Morse learning journey:
| Tool | Main Purpose | Primary User Action |
|---|---|---|
| Morse Code Keyer | Practice sending Morse code manually | Tap/hold key lever to produce signals |
| Morse Code Translator | Convert text to Morse or Morse to text | Type text or paste Morse strings |
| Morse Code Decoder | Decode Morse patterns & inspect symbols | Paste dots/dashes to troubleshoot code |
Frequently Asked Questions
Practice Morse Code With the Keyer
The best way to improve Morse sending is to practice the physical rhythm of dots, dashes, and gaps. Start with simple characters, keep your timing consistent, and monitor the live decoded output.