5.5. ELIZA Interactive Mode

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The Morse Trainer includes an interactive ELIZA mode where you can have two-way conversations in morse code.

Touching on the green box where ELIZA is showing what's sent toggles to hide and show the text.

Two Game Modes

Practice Mode

  • Free-form conversation without pressure

  • No scoring or progress tracking

  • Best for casual practice and conversation skills

  • Focus on natural QSO flow

Learning Mode

  • Structured QSO protocol teaching

  • Tracks 6 QSO elements: RST, QTH, NAME, RIG, ANT, WX

  • Visual progress indicators

  • Transitions to free-form after covering 5/6 elements

  • Best for beginners learning proper QSO protocol

How It Works

  1. ELIZA sends CQ call: CQ CQ CQ DE M0GUY M0GUY K

  2. You respond with your callsign: Send your callsign (e.g., W1ABC or DE W1ABC)

  3. ELIZA greets you: Sends RST, QTH, NAME and asks how you copy

  4. You exchange information: Send your details (location, name, rig, antenna, weather)

  5. Natural conversation: ELIZA responds intelligently to your messages

  6. Sign off: End with 73 when ready to finish

Callsign Recognition

ELIZA supports multiple callsign formats:

  • Standard: DE W1ABC K

  • Simplified: W1ABC or M0GUY

If ELIZA can't recognize your callsign, it will respond:

SRI UR CALL NOT COPIED PSE AGN DE M0GUY K

Simply resend your callsign in one of the supported formats.

Response Timing

ELIZA waits for a configurable delay (default 10 seconds) after your last morse input before responding. This mimics natural conversation pacing in real QSOs. You can adjust the ELIZA Response Delay via the web interface (Morse Configuration page).

Aborting Playback

Press the Done button at any time to:

  • Abort morse playback immediately (within 60-120ms)

  • Return to main screen

  • Cancel current transmission

The display and buttons remain responsive even while ELIZA is transmitting morse.

Configuration

ELIZA Response Delay

  • Default: 10 seconds

  • Range: 5-60 seconds

  • Configure via web interface (Morse Configuration page)

Farnsworth Spacing

  • Range: 50-2000ms

  • Extra spacing between characters for learning

  • Applies to ELIZA's morse playback

  • Configure via web interface (Morse Configuration page)

Common QSO Abbreviations

  • QSO: Contact/conversation

  • CQ: General call (seeking any station)

  • DE: "From" (e.g., CQ DE W1ABC)

  • K: "Over" (invitation to transmit)

  • BK: "Back to you"

  • GM/GA/GE: Good morning/afternoon/evening

  • OM: Old man (fellow ham)

  • UR: Your/you're

  • FB: Fine business (great!)

  • TKS: Thanks

  • FER: For

  • CPY: Copy (understood)

  • HW: How

  • RST: Readability-Signal-Tone (signal report)

  • 599: Perfect signal

  • QTH: Location

  • WX: Weather

  • ANT: Antenna

  • RIG: Radio equipment

  • 73: Best regards (end of conversation)

  • SK: End of contact