Morse ICR Trainer vs OpenShack Morse Code Trainer

Morse ICR Trainer Morse ICR Trainer is an interactive training tool for ham radio operators who want to develop true Instant Character Recognition — the ability to copy Morse code in their head, instinctively and effortlessly, without writing anything down. And it's free! • How It Works The app plays Morse code characters one at a time. Your goal is to say each character aloud before the computer announces the answer. When you respond correctly within the recognition window, you beat the round. When time runs out, the computer's voice speaks the answer — so you always know what you heard, even when you couldn't place it. This tight feedback loop — hear it, say it, confirm it — is the fastest known path from conscious decoding to automatic, reflexive character recognition. • Training Controls * Speed (WPM) — Set character playback speed from comfortable beginner rates to contest-grade copying speeds and higher. * Recognition Time — Control how long you have to respond before the computer speaks. Shorten the window as your recognition improves. * Extra Gap — Add silence between characters to give yourself breathing room at higher speeds. * Character Set — Focus on specific letters, numbers, or punctuation marks you need to practice most. Mix and match as you choose. • Session Tracking The app captures every session's results, and with speech recognition enabled (experimental), automatically tracks which characters you recognized and which you missed. The Focus page shows your problem characters using a heat map, so you can target your practice where it matters most. Use the "Focusizer" slider to automatically select characters starting with your most challenging. Adjust it to include progressively easier ones. "Percentage correct" is automatically calculated to keep you in the learning zone. Automatically created session logs can be annotated and exported in standard CSV file format for your own records or to share progress with an Elmer. Each session is saved to a Training Log screen that automatically captures date/time, duration, focus characters, WPM, recognition time, and extra gap. A freeform notes box is available for the session. Your total training time is calculated on the Training Log page. Logs can be exported using the standard share-sheet, in CSV format for easy spreadsheet import. • Speech Recognition and Voice Morse ICR Trainer listens for your spoken responses using on-device speech recognition — no network connection required. Because the microphone stays open continuously during a session, wired or Bluetooth headphones are required when Speech Recognition is enabled for best performance. The computer voice can be switched off completely for "missing fast" training. The app automatically selects the highest-quality voice available on your device — Enhanced or Premium if you have downloaded one in iOS Settings → Accessibility → Spoken Content → Voices. Spoken announcements are pre-rendered at session start for consistent, low-latency playback throughout your training. • Countdown Timers Set a session length and train against the clock. The countdown keeps sessions focused and makes it easy to build a daily practice habit. Three programmable timers are available. • Background Audio Train with your screen off. Morse ICR Trainer continues playing in the background with lock-screen controls (play/pause), so you can practice hands-free, no matter where you are. Pop in your earbuds, launch the app, and let 'er rip! --... ...-- K3CDY

The app has several parts: - Morse Trainer: learn CW one character at a time, copying and sending - Advanced Trainer: once you know your alphabet, work on character groups, words, ham radio abbreviations and callsigns, copying and sending - Morse Decoder: reads your sending back to you - Morse Sender: turns text into CW audio, typed live or by copy and paste - Morse Chat: send and decode CW 1:1 with other ops, multi-user, with your own rooms Note: You can send with the on-screen key or with a connected straight key or paddle. There are several hardware options. The most versatile and accurate is the OpenShack Box from openshack.com, but interfaces that emulate a keyboard, such as VBand and Morserino, work too. LEARN MORSE CODE A complete CW course for beginners in 40 lessons. Set your speed and spacing. Farnsworth spacing gives you more time to copy. PRACTISE YOUR SENDING Send with the on-screen key or a connected key. The app shows how even your characters and spacing are, and where your fist departs from standard timing. YOUR PROGRESS The start screen shows your lesson, your practice time and how solid each learned character is. Review your mistakes and drill the difficult characters. Progress and settings stay on your device. Back up and restore your profiles. Compatible trainer profiles from OpenShack for Windows can be imported too. TRAINER FOR ADVANCED OPS With the Advanced Trainer you work on characters, groups, words, ham radio abbreviations and callsigns. Copy what you hear and type it in, or key it back. Set your speed, with longer spacing (Farnsworth) if you want it, and train copying or sending. MORSE DECODER Send with the on-screen key or a connected key and check your fist. The app shows what you send as text. Turn on 'Allow uneven timing' while your spacing still varies. MORSE SENDER Type or paste text and hear it as CW at 5 to 100 WPM, with Farnsworth spacing if you want it. With Immediate on, each character sounds as you type. Sent text is highlighted and the field scrolls along. MORSE CHAT Practise CW or ragchew with other ops over the internet. Type your message, or send with the on-screen key or a connected key. Invite others to a room by link or QR code. They can join free in a browser, no app needed. A callsign or name is all you need to connect. English interface for iPhone and iPad. One purchase includes all five parts. No subscription, no ads and no account registration. With the optional OpenShack Box you can use your own paddle and analyse your fist to the millisecond. The Box also works as a rig keyer and for remote operation. It is sold separately and connects via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. You'll find the manual and help under About. Try it free in your browser: https://cw.openshack.com OpenShack Box: https://openshack.com/en/keyer/ OpenShack CW Suite for Windows (sold separately): https://openshack.com/en/cw/ OpenShack CW by DL2CC.