MFJ MFJ-414 User Manual

MFJ-414 Instruction Manual Classroom Morse Code Tutor

Contents

THE BASICS

Introduction................................................................................................................................1

Getting Started: How to Use the Menu System.........................................................................1

Fast Start: Using the MFJ-414 ..................................................................................................3

Using the MFJ-414 As a Standalone Morse Code Trainer..................................................3

Using the MFJ-414 As a Keyer...........................................................................................4

Using the MFJ-414 For Over-the-Air Code Practice..........................................................5

Connecting to a Computer..........................................................................................................7

Connecting to a Printer...............................................................................................................8

Learning Morse Code.................................................................................................................8

THE DETAILS

The Menus: Detailed Descriptions............................................................................................9

Setup Mode.........................................................................................................................9

Keyer Menu......................................................................................................................10

Overall Speed Menu .........................................................................................................11

Farnsworth Menu..............................................................................................................11

Tone Menu........................................................................................................................12

Set Menu...........................................................................................................................12

Beginner Sets.............................................................................................................12

The Combine Menu:...........................................................................................13

The Group Menu:...............................................................................................13

Advanced Sets ...........................................................................................................14

The Random Words Database:........................................................................... 14

Transferring a Random Words Database From the Computer.....................15

Transferring the Random Words Database to the Computer.......................15

Custom Sets...............................................................................................................16

Custom Characters:.............................................................................................16

Custom Words:...................................................................................................17

Memory Sets..............................................................................................................17

Preparing Messages:...........................................................................................18

Uploading and Downloading Messages:.............................................................21

Loading a Memory Bank From the Computer.............................................21

Sending Contents of a Memory Bank to the Computer...............................22

Interactive Menu...............................................................................................................22

New Play Menu.................................................................................................................22

i

MFJ-414 Instruction Manual Classroom Morse Code Tutor

Repeat Play Menu.............................................................................................................23

Print Play Menu................................................................................................................23

The Front and Back Panels ......................................................................................................24

APPENDICES

Factory Defaults............................................................................................................... ........26

Self Test...................................................................................................................... .............27

Troubleshooting.......................................................................................................................28

Error Messages.........................................................................................................................29

MFJ Pre-wired Cables and Open End Cables..........................................................................30

Morse Code Character Set .......................................................................................................30

Some CW Abbreviations..........................................................................................................32

Meaning of Q Signals...............................................................................................................33

Menus System Chart ................................................................................................................34

Schematic.................................................................................................................................36

Memory Banks Chart...............................................................................................................38

Technical Assistance................................................................................................................38

ii

MFJ-414 Instruction Manual Classroom Morse Code Tutor

The Basics

Introduction

The MFJ-414 Professional Classroom Code Tutor is the most capable and versatile Morse code
training tool on the market. This unit can be used by individuals to practice receiving and sending
code, by instructors to provide practice to their classes, by clubs and other groups to provide on­the-air code practice through all types of radios and repeaters, by Volunteer Examiners in
preparing and administering code examinations, and as a keyer by amateur operators on all bands.

Its strong, high-quality audio, its ability to work with a computer and its printer output port make it
a valuable tool for any training environment. The MFJ-414 can provide:

• Individual or group code practice with random sending of:

Basic, advanced or custom-configured character groups, including:

All characters in the FCC code tests and more
Preprogrammed or custom-configured sets of words
Exam-style sample amateur QSOs

• Printouts of practice sessions, for grading purposes, via its printer port

• Ability to tape-record practice sessions via its audio port

• Practice, demonstrations or examinations for large groups via either its built-in speaker or by

feeding its audio output to a Public Address system

• Custom practice sessions downloaded from a computer, including the ability to generate a

complete FCC code test for a VE session

• Over-the-air code practice via its radio interface for FM, AM or SSB transceivers

• Iambic or semi-automatic keying of CW transcei vers.

In this manual, we'll start by explaining the basics of the MFJ-414, then show how you can quickly
start using it for some of its major functions. In this Fast Start section, we'll concentrate on putting
the unit to work for you immediately. As you'll see, you can start using it in just a few minutes. In
later sections, we'll cover all its capabilities and features in full detail.

Getting Started: How to Use the Menu System

You may set up the MFJ-414 to perform any of its many functions by making the appropriate
selections from its menu system. T his system consists of eleve n main menus, eight of which have
submenus. You make your select ions using the three buttons under the LCD display−Previous,
Next and Select. These buttons do the following:

1

MFJ-414 Instruction Manual Classroom Morse Code Tutor

• Previous−Selects the previous main menu, or the previous item in a submenu.

• Next−Selects the next main menu, or the next item in a submenu.

• Select−Enters a submenu to allow changing your choices within that submenu. To do this,

press and release the Select button within one second (as we'll see later, this button does other
things when held down longer than one second).

The menus are arranged in a "wrap-around" structure, so that pressing the Next or Previous button
will bring up another menu or submenu item in a sequence. Figure 1 shows the sequence of the
main menus. Notice the availability of the Combine, the Group and the Interactive menus depends
on the selection in the Set menu. When power is turned on, the menu displayed is the one that was
displayed when the unit was last turned off.

Figure 1. MFJ-414 Main Menu System.

To see how the menu system works, consider the following example.

2

MFJ-414 Instruction Manual Classroom Morse Code Tutor

EXAMPLE: If the display shows that you are in the Overall Speed menu, pressing the
Next button would put you in the Farnsworth menu and pressing the Previous button
would put you in the Keyer menu. Pressing the Select button would put you in the
Overall Speed submenu. This is indicated by a blinking block at the right side of the
LCD display. While this block appears, you may raise the speed by pressing the Next
button or lower it by pressing the Previous button. Once you have selected the speed you
desire, you may leave the submenu by pressing the Select button again.

Once you have made your choices within the unit's submenus, they will be saved in non-volatile
memory for your next session.

Fast Start: Using the MFJ-414

In the following sections, we'll show how you can quickly set up the MFJ-414 to perform each of
its major functions. To start, power up the unit and press the Next button until you reach the first
menu mentioned, then follow the instructions.

Using the MFJ-414 As a Standalone Morse Code Trainer

• Keyer Menu−Set to "Keyer Off"

• Overall Speed Menu−Enter this submenu by pressing Select and choose your overall sending

speed (using the Next and Previous buttons), then exit the submenu by pressing Select again.

• Farnsworth Menu−Farnsworth spacing means that individual characters are sent faster than the

overall sending speed. For example, many 13-wpm Amateur Radio examinations consist of
characters sent at 18 wpm, but spaced out to reduce the overall sending speed to 13 wpm. To
choose Farnsworth spacing, press Select. The blinking block will appear. Use the Next and
Previous buttons to select the Farnsworth speed you desire. Setting the Farnsworth speed the
same as the overall sending speed will turn Farnsworth spacing off.

• Tone Menu−Press Select to enter this submenu and select the audio tone you desire. If you're

preparing for a code examination, you should know that most exams are given using audio
tones between 700 and 800 Hz, so you may want to stay within that range so it sounds familiar
to you during the exam. Pressing Select again will exit the Tone menu and return you to the
main menu sequence.

• Set Menu−This selects the set of characters (or words or QSOs) that will be randomly sent.

The MFJ-414 offers a wide variety of practice sessions applicable to many different code­training techniques and to all stages of your code training. The character sets available are:
nine beginner sets, eleven advanced sets, four custom sets you may program yourself, and
sixteen memory sets you may program yourself. As you step through these options, the
contents of the sets are displayed on the LCD.

3

MFJ-414 Instruction Manual Classroom Morse Code Tutor

When you have selected the sec ond or higher Beginner Set or the sec ond or higher Custom
Character Set, the Combine menu allows you to combine previous Beginner or Custom
Character sets into a single set for practice purposes.

When you have selected a character set, the Group menu lets you set the number of characters
to be sent in each group.

For complete details of the Set menu, see page 12.
To decide which of these sets to choose, you must first decide how you are going to approach

the task of gaining code proficiency. See the section titled "Learning Morse Code" on page 8
for information about different code-training techniques.

• Interactive Menu−With the Interactive function turned on, the unit will halt after sending one

or more (your choice) words or code groups and wait for you to press the Next button before
sending the next word(s) or group(s). If you want this feature activated, pr ess Select to turn
Interactive on, then Next or Previous to choose how many words or groups the unit should
send before halting. When you have made this selection, press Select again to exit this menu.

• New Play Menu−Press Select to have the unit star t sendi ng cod e. T o p ause the sending, pre ss

Select again (the word
Select button and hold it down for more than one second (the word

"PAUSE"

will appear in the display). To stop the sending, press the

"STOP"

will appear in the

display).

• Repeat Play Menu−If you wish to hear the previous session sent again, press Select.

• Print Play Menu−Pressing Select in this menu also will cause the previous session to be

replayed, and in addition will send the text to a printer. This is particularly useful if you wish
to grade yourself on how accurately you copied.

Using the MFJ-414 As a Keyer

With the MFJ-414, you may send Morse code in all the major ways commonly in use. This
includes both Iambic A and B automatic keyer modes with dual-lever paddles, semi-automatic key
mode using a single-lever paddle, or even with a straight key or mechanical, semi-automatic "bug."
The unit comes with Iambic A selected as the default keyer mode. To change this, you enter the
Setup menu, which is described on page 9.

The Key Input jack accepts a 1/4-inch stereo phono plug. For dual-lever "squeeze" keys, connect
the dot wire to the tip of the plug and the dash wire to the ring. Use two-conductor shielded cable,
or, if two shielded cables are used, connect the shields together. The shield must be connected to
the plug's ground.

To use a straight key or "bug," also use a stereo phono plug; a mono plug will not work. Connect
one wire to the p lug's ring and the othe r to the ground ( the tip is not used ). Yo u then must enable
the Semi-Auto mode and disable the Reverse function (both done from the Setup menu).

4

MFJ-414 Instruction Manual Classroom Morse Code Tutor

• Keyer Menu−Press Select to turn the keyer to "on." T he keyer speed and the audio tone will

be the same as those last selected from those menus. However, you can change both (as well
as the PTT hang time for the radio interface) from within the Keyer menu when the keyer is
turned on. To do this, press Select briefly. Three numbers showing, from left to right, speed,
tone and PTT hang time will be displayed on the second line of the display. One of these will
have a set of square brackets around it. Pressing the Select button will move the brackets to
the next parameter, such as from speed to tone. You can change the value within the brackets
by pressing the Next or Previous buttons. To turn the keyer off, press the Select button and
hold it down for more than one second.

PTT hang time indicates the amount of time the PTT line will be active after you have sent
your last charac ter. You may adjust this to your liking for o n-the-air sending.

• Overall Speed Menu−When the keyer is turned "on," it is automatically set to the last speed

selected. Speed can be selected from within the Keyer menu as described above. This menu
has no effect when using a straight key or bug.

• Farnsworth Menu−Not used in this function.

• Tone Menu−When the keyer is turned "on," the tone is automatically set to the last tone

selected. The tone can be selected from within the Keyer menu as described above.

• Set Menu−Not used in this function.

• Combine Menu−Not used in this function.

• Group Menu−Not used in this function.

• Interactive Menu−Not used in this function.

• New Play Menu−Not used in this function.

• Repeat Play Menu−Not used in this function.

• Print Play Menu−Not used in this function.

Display During Keyer Operation: When using the unit in Keyer mode, except when the Semi­Auto function is enabled, the code sent is displayed on the front-panel LCD and sent to the Serial
Port. If the Keyer Memory is enabled, the cod e sent with the paddles also is stored in the non­volatile Keyer Memory. The keyer memory bank has a maximum capacity of 1022 characters. If
more than that are sent, the newest characters will replace the oldest ones−a "circular" memory
arrangement. Invalid code is displayed as a lowercase "x" and is not stored in memory.

Using the MFJ-414 For Over-the-Air Code Practice

The MFJ-414 allows you to send code practice sessions over the air, using all types of transceivers.
The Key Output jack on the rear panel provides keying for solid-state CW transmitters. The Radio

5

MFJ-414 Instruction Manual Classroom Morse Code Tutor

Output jack, also on the rear panel, provides PTT switching and audio for sending Morse code as
audio tones thr ough an FM, SSB or AM transmitter. With this function, you may, for example,
send Morse code using FM transceivers on VHF simplex frequencies or over repeaters.

Important Note: With the MFJ-414, you may send Morse code using several different emission
types as defined b y the FCC. The FCC r egulatio ns regard ing emission types ap ply whether you're
sending Morse code or voice signals with that type of emission. Thus, for example, when you
connect this unit to an FM transmitter, you are sending Morse code by FM, not by CW. That
means you must remain within the band limits designated for FM transmissions. In the amateur
six- and two-meter bands, the subbands 50.0 - 50.1 MHz and 144.0 - 144.1 MHz are reserved
exclusively for CW transmissions. If you're sending Morse code as audio tones with an SSB
transmitter on the HF bands, you must remain within the band segments designated for SSB; you
cannot transmit this type of emission in the CW bands.

Also remember to identify your station at least once every 10 minutes during your code practice
transmission.

Hooking Up to the Radio

Connect your radio to the unit, using a cable run from the Radio Output jack on the MFJ-414 to
your radio. MFJ sells cables for most major brands of radios. See the list on page 30 for the
appropriate stock number. If you wish to make your own table, below is a diagram of the standard
5-pin DIN jack on the MFJ-414 and a table showing its connections.

Pin Radio Output Function

1 Transmit Audio
2 Ground
3 PTT
4 No Connection
5 No Connection

• Keyer Menu−If your over-the-air code practice is to be sent using the unit's character sets or

text loaded into its memory, turn the keyer function off. If you're going to send the practice
session yourself with a key or paddle, select the type of keying you want to use, as described
above in the section on using the 414 as a keyer.

• Overall Speed Menu−Select the overall speed at which you wish the practice session to be

sent. If you're sending the se ssion yourself using the keyer function, select the speed just as
you would any other keyer.

6

MFJ-414 Instruction Manual Classroom Morse Code Tutor

• Farnsworth Menu−If you're sending from the MFJ-414's character sets or from text you

entered into the unit's memory banks, you may choose a Farnsworth speed for the over-the-air
practice session. If you're sending the code practice yourself using the keyer function, the
Farnsworth mode is temporarily disabled.

• Tone Menu−If you're using the MFJ-414 to key a CW transceiver, the Tone menu is not

applicable. If, however, you're using the MFJ-414 to send Morse code as audio tones over an
FM, AM or SSB transceiver, the Tone menu allows you to choose the audio tone sent.

• Set Menu−Choose a set for transmission unless you're sending the code practice yourself with

the keyer.

• Combine Menu−Not used if you're sending the practice yourself. Otherwise configure

accordingly just as you would if using the unit as a standalone tutor.

• Group Menu−Not used if you're sending the practice yourself. Otherwise choose the number

of characters per group just as you would if using the unit as a standalone tutor.

• Interactive Menu−Not used in this function.

• New Play Menu−Not used if you're sending the practice yourself. Otherwise start a new

session just as you would if using the unit as a standalone tutor.

• Repeat Play Menu−Not used if you're sendi ng the practice yoursel f. If sending a Tutor session

over the air, you can repeat the session if desired.

• Print Play Menu−Not used in this function.

When you begin sending, make sure your radio goes into transmit mode. If it does not, or if it
transmits continuously whether or not the MFJ-414 is sending, you will need to adjust the PTT
Keying Adjust trimpot, accessible from the back panel. Use a small, flathead screwdriver to adjust
this pot so that your radio transmits when the MFJ-414 is sending and does not transmit when the
unit is not sending. You may adjust the level of the transmitted audio with the Line Audio Adjust
trimpot, also on the back panel. Monitor the signal transmitted by your radio or have someone else
do this and adjust for a comfortable audio level.

Connecting to a Computer

You may connect the MFJ-414 to a computer using the unit's serial port, on the back panel. A 9­pin-to-9-pin serial cable is provided with the unit. If your computer has a 25-pin serial port, you
can use a 9-pin-to-25-pin adapter.

To use a computer with the MFJ-414, run a terminal program that will upload and download
ASCII files, and configure the terminal program to do so. Set the terminal program for 1200 baud,
8 data bits, no parity and one stop bit. If you see extraneous linefeeds on the computer screen

7

MFJ-414 Instruction Manual Classroom Morse Code Tutor

when receiving data from the MFJ-414, you may configure your software to strip out these extra
linefeeds.

During New Play, Repeat Play or Print Play, the characters sent by the MFJ-414 are sent through
the serial port, so you may use your computer to monitor the transmitted copy. You may find this
particularly convenient.

You also may upload and download text files between the MFJ-414 and your computer. For
details on this, see the discussion of the Set Menu starting on page 12.

Connecting to a Printer

The printer port will send your practice session to any Epson compatible printer. This function is
only active during Print Play, which repeats the previous session. The printer must be connected
and turned on before starting Print Play; otherwise you will get an error message saying

FAULT."

press Previous to abort the operation; if you wish a printout, make sure the printer is properly
connected and powered up, then press Select to retry.

This message includes Abort and Retry options. If you selected Print Play by mistake,

"PRINTER

Learning Morse Code

Learning Morse code is a matter of practice, practice and more practice. Whether you're just
starting to learn the characters or working on high-speed "head co pying," you'll succeed through
regular, frequent practice. That is why the MFJ Classroom Morse Code Tutor is the ideal tool for
learning the code. It provides an extremely wide variety of practice sessions, all sent in truly
random fashion and with high-quality audio like that used in examination sessions.

Unlike tapes, which you quickly can memorize and thus defeat the purpose of the practice, the
Classroom Code Tutor sends a new practice session every time to hone your skills. The keyer
functions allow you to practice sending. With speeds from 3 to 60 wpm and sets from a few
characters to the entire character set, then words and QSOs, this unit can take you from no code
skills at all up to the ranks of high-speed CW contesters.

Over the years, many different programs for building code proficiency have been developed, but
the common element to all these programs is regular practice. With the MFJ-414, you may follow
any training program you desire. This unit is extremely versatile and allows you to tailor its
functions to provide the type of code practice you desire. It also allows you to customize your
practice sessions to focus on any particular trouble spots that may arise during your training.

A traditional method of gaining code proficiency has been to learn all the characters, then slowly
build speed. While this succeeds for many people, it proves frustrating for others. A common
complaint is that, at about 10 wpm, students hit a "plateau," where they see no increase in their

8

MFJ-414 Instruction Manual Classroom Morse Code Tutor

copying speed for some time. An alternative method, devised by a psychologist in the 1930's,
starts students at full speed, say 15 or 20 wpm, but with only a limited set of characters at the
beginning. T his Koch Method, named after its inventor, showed the fastest training progress o f
any method ever published in the psychological journals.

The MFJ-414's Custom Character sets allow you to use the Koch Method in an easy,
straightforward manner. For full details on the Koch Method, as well as on CW operating and the
history of Morse code, see the book, "Morse Code: Breaking the Barrier" (MFJ-3400), available
from MFJ Enterprises, Inc.

The Details

The Menus

Setup Mode

Entering the Setup mode allows you to change some basic functions of the Tutor and the Keyer.
To enter the Setup mode, first turn off power to the unit, then press and hold both the Previous and
Select buttons while turning power on. When
In the Setup mode, press Previous or Next button to select the previous or next submenu,
respectively, and press the Select button to toggle the options within that submenu.

To exit the Setup mode, press and hold the Select button for one second. If the Keyer Memory
option has be en c hange d,
the change (and erase the content of the last memory bank), or press the Select button to cancel the
change. Release the button after

You choose Setup options from seven submenus. These are:

• On-the-Fly Speed: With this option ON, you may change the sending speed while the Tutor

is sending, as described belo w in the section on the Play menus. In Setup mode, you may turn
this feature OFF to avoid accidentally changing the speed during a session.

• Play Format: This selects the order in which the character is sent to the display and the

speaker. You may choose to have the character sent to the display first, then the speaker, or
vice-versa.

"CHG KEYER MEMORY"

"EXIT"

−−−−

Detailed Descriptions

"ON-THE-FLY SPEED"

will appear. Press the Previous button to confirm

appears to resume with normal operation.

appears, release the buttons.

• Semi-Auto: With the Semi-Auto option OFF, the keyer functions as an iambic keyer, for use

with a dual-lever paddle. As an iambic keyer, the MFJ-414 has dot and dash memories, for
"squeeze keying," and functions just like other iambic keyers, both standalone keyers and

9

MFJ-414 Instruction Manual Classroom Morse Code Tutor

those built into radios. With Semi-Auto turned ON, the keyer can be used with a single-lever
key, with dots generated automatically and dashes formed manually by the user. This
emulates the function of a mechanical, semi-automatic "bug." You also may use this unit with
a straight key or a b ug−connect the key or bug to the ground and the dash line. With semi­auto turned ON, the MFJ-414 will not display the code sent or record to the keyer memory.

• Iambic: There are two different types of iambic keying, and both are available. The

difference in behavior of these two modes occurs when both paddles are squeezed, then
released. In iambic mode A, the keyer will simply complete the element (dot or dash) in
progress, then stop sending. In iambic mode B, the keyer will complete the element in
progress, then send an additional opposite element. You may choose either mode.

• Reverse: When using paddles, the MFJ-414 normally expects the dot paddle to be connected

to the tip of the plug and the dash paddle to be connected to the plug's ring. If your paddles
are wired in the opposite manner, or you wish to change between right- and left-handed
operators, you may turn Reverse ON to switch the paddle functions. You can also set this
mode by simply pressing the paddle you desire to designate as the dot paddle.

• Keyer Memory: With Keyer Memory turned O N, you change the last memory ba nk (Bank

P) into a keyer memory. If you change the state of this memory, you erase its contents. When
Keyer Memory is turned on, the text you send with the paddles is saved into memory and can
later be played back. This memory has a total capacity of 1022 characters. If more than that
are sent, the newest characters will replace the oldest characters, in a "circular" memory
arrangement. Duri ng sending, invalid cod e is displayed as a l owercase "x" but not store d in
the memory.

Hint: To store an extra word space, send an invalid code and pause for a word space.

When switching from the Keyer mode to Tutor mode (by pressing Select for one second), a 5­digit number will appear indicating the number of characters sent (plus two for "[" and "]")
and stored into the keyer memory. If more than 1022 characters were sent,

"FULL"

will be

displayed. In that case, only the last 1022 characters will have been stored.

• Write Protection: Turning this function ON prevents the non-volatile memories, the random

words and memory banks, from being accidentally overwritten. In order to download files
into the MFJ-414 memory, this option must be OFF.

Keyer Menu

10