MFJ MFJ-413, MFJ-417 User Manual

Table of Contents
Introduction ..........................................................................................................	1
Battery..................................................................................................................	1
Tone Control ........................................................................................................	1
Audio....................................................................................................................	2
Operation..............................................................................................................	2
Speed Button .................................................................................................	2
Group Button.................................................................................................	3
Set/Play Button..............................................................................................	3
Combine Mode.......................................................................................	4
Reset All Settings ..........................................................................................	5
Farnsworth Mode ..........................................................................................	5
Interactive Mode ...........................................................................................	5
Instant Play....................................................................................................	6
Recall Settings...............................................................................................	6
Self Test ...............................................................................................................	7
Troubleshooting ...................................................................................................	9
Technical Assistance ............................................................................................	9
Morse Code Character Set..................................................................................	10
Some CW Abbreviations....................................................................................	11
Meaning of Q Signals.........................................................................................	12
SettingSaverTM Chart...........................................................................................	13
Schematic ...........................................................................................................	14

MFJ-413/417 Instruction Manual

Pocket Morse Code Tutor

Introduction

The MFJ-413 and MFJ-417 Pocket Morse Code Tutors are microprocessor controlled devices that can help a beginner learn Morse code or an experienced Ham to increase code speed. The MFJ-413 generates the required characters for the FCC code exam. In addition to all the features of the MFJ-413, the MFJ-417 contains words commonly used in amateur radio and a random QSO generator to simulate "on the air" contacts. Also, the MFJ-417 has a non-volatile memory.

Note: All references to the non-volatile memory apply to the MFJ-417 only.

Battery

The Code Tutor uses a nine-volt battery (not included). MFJ recommends the use of alkaline (or rechargeable nicad) batteries to reduce the risk of equipment damage from battery leakage. Avoid leaving battery in this unit during periods of extended storage. Battery life will vary depending on usage, so always keep spares on hand. Remove weak battery immediately!

To install a nine-volt battery:

1.Turn off the power to the Tutor.

2.Slide battery cover from back of the Tutor.

3.Remove old battery (if one), and insert the new battery.

4.Slide battery cover back in place, then turn the Tutor on by turning the OFF/Volume control toward the buttons.

Important: Always make sure the power is off before removing and installing the battery.

Tone Control

The Tone control allows you to set the sidetone pitch in the range of approximately 300 to 1000 Hz. The sidetone is designed without harsh key clicks. It's a sine wave, instead of a harsh square wave. Every dot and dash has a rise and decay time of approximately 5 ms for smooth transition. This lets you concentrate on learning code without the distraction of harsh key clicks.

To change the pitch frequency:

1.Turn off the power to the Tutor.

2.Remove the two screws and the box's bottom cover.

3.Locate the small trimpot, between the OFF/Volume control and the headphones jack, on the circuit board.

4.Press and hold all three buttons while turning the power on until there's a beep. Release the buttons to start sending. Adjust the volume if so desired.

5.Using a small flat-headed screwdriver, adjust the pitch by turning the trimpot clockwise to increase pitch and counter-clockwise to decrease pitch.

MFJ-413/417 Instruction Manual

Pocket Morse Code Tutor

The new pitch takes effect after the character in progress is finished. Be very careful not to touch other components on the circuit board.

6.Turn off the power after setting the desired pitch frequency.

7.Secure the battery cable between the post and the side of the box. Make sure the knot of the cable is located on the side of the post closest to the control panel.

8.Re-assemble the box enclosure and secure it with the two screws.

Audio

The Tutor has a 3.5 mm headphones jack for audio output located on the control panel. This jack accepts both stereo and mono plugs.

Operation

When powered on, one of the Tutor's mode is selected. For the MFJ-417, all mode settings are automatically saved into non-volatile memory immediately before playback, ready to use the next time.

While turning the power on, the three button combinations have different functions. These functions/modes are discussed later.

	Button1		Power-On
Speed	Group	Set/Play	Operation
			Reset all settings.
•			Enable Farnsworth mode.
	•		Enable interactive mode.
•	•		Enable Farnsworth and interactive modes.
		•	Instant play.
•		•	Perform self test.
	•	•	Recall previous/default settings.
•	•	•	Set tone control.

Note:

1. Button pressed and held in while turning the power on is indicated by a dot (•); blank space means the button is not pressed.

Speed Button

The Speed button allows you to set the code speed in the range of 3 to 60 WPM. Word-per-minute speed is based on the standard word "PARIS" which is 50 units in length. For standard timing, dot = 1 unit, dash = 3 units, intra-character space = 1 unit, inter-character space = 3 units, and word space = 7 units. The word "PARIS" is sent 10 times in one minute if the code speed is 10 WPM.

Press the Speed button to increase the code speed. Each button press increases the code speed by one WPM and is confirmed with a beep.

!SPEED = 3 WPM

MFJ-413/417 Instruction Manual

Pocket Morse Code Tutor

" SPEED = 4 WPM

# SPEED = 5 WPM $ SPEED = 6 WPM

%SPEED = 7 WPM

•• •

∑SPEED = 60 WPM

Code requirement is 5 WPM for the Novice and the Technician. Both General and Advanced levels have a code requirement of 13 WPM. Extra class has a 20 WPM requirement.

Group Button

The Group button adjusts the number of characters for a character group. The options are random length group or fixed length group ranging from one to eight characters per group. The random length generates variable length of up to eight characters per group. This option is only applicable to character sets.

To change the group length, press the Group button to increase the group length. Each button press increases the group length by one character and is confirmed with a beep.

!GROUP = RANDOM

" GROUP = 1-CHARACTER

# GROUP = 2-CHARACTER $ GROUP = 3-CHARACTER % GROUP = 4-CHARACTER & GROUP = 5-CHARACTER ' GROUP = 6-CHARACTER ( GROUP = 7-CHARACTER

)GROUP = 8-CHARACTER

Set/Play Button

The Set/Play button selects one of the characters, words, or QSOs set and plays it using the current settings. To select a set, press the Set/Play button. Each button press selects the next set as listed below as the active set and is confirmed with a beep. Playback starts if the button is released for more than one second; therefore, pause between button presses must be less than one second. For example, to play the third set only, press and release the Set/Play button three times. Approximately one second after the last button release, the Tutor starts sending code with the selected set. Holding the Set/Play button down for one second enables the Combine mode (discusses next).

At any time during sending or halting for interactive feedback, press and hold the Set/Play button for one second until there's a beep to repeat the current session. Replaying a session allows you to recopy the same code to check your accuracy.

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