8. Release Notes

8.1. Version 3.0.0 (February 2026)

New Features

1. "Follow Me" Game

  • New game mode: Trainer plays a growing morse sequence, player must repeat it back

  • Progressive difficulty: Each correct repetition adds one character to the sequence

  • Score tracking: Current score and best score (session) displayed on screen

  • Replay button: Re-hear the current sequence at any time (resets input for a fresh attempt)

  • Touch-to-scroll: Tap the sequence display to scroll through the full sequence when truncated

  • Truncated display: Shows last 4 characters with ~ prefix when sequence exceeds 5 characters

  • Koch mode support: When Koch mode is active, characters are drawn from the Koch sequence at the current level

  • Localized: "Follow Me" title and button labels in EN, FR, DE

2. Loop Playback for Listen and Send Letters Games

  • Press-and-hold Play (>1s): Enters loop mode — generates a new word, plays it, waits 5 seconds, repeats

  • Visual indicator: Play button locks down while looping

  • Short press to stop: Tap Play during loop to stop immediately

  • Works with custom word lists: Loop mode uses practice text when enabled

3. Custom Practice Word Lists via Web Interface

  • New `/practice` web page: Paste custom practice text into a textarea

  • Toggle control: Enable/disable custom text mode from the web interface

  • Used in games: Listen and Send Letters games pick random words from the practice text

  • Word length controls hidden: When custom text is active, the word length slider/label are automatically hidden (not relevant)

  • Up to 200 words: Text is split by whitespace and stored as individual words

  • Factory reset clears: Practice text and custom text mode cleared on factory reset

4. Settings Page Enhancements

  • Audio Output toggle: Switch between 3.5mm audio output and key signal output directly from Settings page 1

  • Koch Mode toggle: Enable/disable Koch training mode from Settings

  • Koch Level slider: Set Koch level (2-40) with a slider

  • Auto-hide: Koch slider and level display hidden when Koch mode is off

5. About Page — IP Address Display

  • Station mode: Shows local IP (e.g. 192.168.1.42)

  • AP mode: Shows AP IP (192.168.4.1)

  • No WiFi: Shows No WiFi

8.2. Version 2.0.4 (November 2025)

Critical Bug Fixes

  1. WiFi Connection Timeout Fix

  • Fixed boot hang: Device now boots successfully even when configured WiFi network is unavailable

  • 10-second timeout: Maximum 10 seconds (100 × 100ms) to attempt WiFi connection before continuing

  • Graceful fallback: Automatically enters AP mode if WiFi connection fails

  • Improved reliability: Device always completes boot sequence regardless of network availability

  1. Morse Character Gap Timing Fix

  • Corrected timing: Character gap reduced from 5× to 3× dot length (standard Morse timing)

  • Better recognition: Characters decode faster and more accurately

  • Prevents merging: Fixed issue where characters would merge together due to excessive gap timeout

  • Standard compliance: Now matches worldwide Morse code timing standards

  • Example at 20 WPM: Character gap reduced from 300ms to 180ms

  1. ELIZA Word Spacing with Farnsworth

  • Always includes spaces: ELIZA responses now properly play spaces between words

  • Farnsworth support: Word spacing honors Farnsworth timing settings

  • Adaptive spacing: - Standard mode: 7 dot lengths for word spacing - Farnsworth mode: Extended spacing (FARNSWORTH + 4 dot lengths)

  • Fixed delays: Uncommented delay calls that were preventing proper timing

  • Responsive abort: Delays broken into 50ms chunks for quick Done button response

Straight Key Improvements

  • Stereo Audio Output: Fixed audio only coming from right channel when using headphones in straight key mode

    • Audio outputs to both DOT_OUT_PIN and DASH_OUT_PIN for stereo

    • Respects AUDIO_VOLUME setting (0-100%)

    • Consistent with paddle mode implementation

  • WPM Timing Updates: Web interface WPM changes now immediately update straight key timing

    • Automatic recalculation of DOT_LENGTH, DASH_LENGTH, and CHARACTER_GAP_MS

    • Fixes bug where WPM changes had no effect on straight key detection

    • Web interface now behaves identically to Nextion screen adjustments

Bug Fixes

  • Fixed straight key stereo audio output (was mono, right channel only)

  • Fixed WPM timing synchronization for straight key mode

8.3. Version 2.0.3 (November 2025)

Network Configuration Improvements

  • DHCP Hostname: Device now properly registers as "morsetrainer" with DHCP servers instead of using default ESP32 hostname

  • mDNS/Bonjour Support: Full zero-configuration networking implementation

    • Access device at http://morsetrainer.local without knowing IP address

    • Works in both Station mode (WiFi connected) and AP mode

    • Cross-platform: macOS, iOS, Linux (Avahi), Windows (Bonjour Print Services)

    • Automatic startup when WiFi connects

Bug Fixes

  • LEDC Channel Management: Fixed potential GPIO interrupt conflicts by using explicit LEDC channel assignments

    • Channel 0: Internal buzzer (7-bit resolution)

    • Channel 1: Dot audio output (12-bit resolution)

    • Channel 2: Dash audio output (12-bit resolution)

  • Straight Key Buzzer Volume: Volume control now properly applied in straight key mode, consistent with paddle mode behavior

8.4. Version 2.0.1 (November 2025)

New Audio Features

  • Audio Output on 3.5mm Jack: The 3.5mm jack can now output PWM-generated audio tones for connecting external speakers or headphones

  • Dual-Mode 3.5mm Jack: Switchable between Key Output mode (digital signals for LEDs/keying circuits) and Audio Output mode (morse code tones)

  • Independent Volume Controls: Separate volume sliders (0-100%) for both the internal buzzer and 3.5mm audio output

  • Master Sound Control: Unified sound enable toggle affects both buzzer and audio outputs

Web Interface Improvements

  • Reorganized Hardware Page: Settings now organized into logical sections with visual grouping:

    • Master Sound Control (affects all outputs)

    • Key Input configuration

    • Output Configuration (3.5mm jack settings)

    • Buzzer Volume control

  • Improved Settings Organization: Paddle Hand setting moved to Morse Configuration page for better logical grouping

Straight Key Enhancements

  • Adaptive Timing Detection: Intelligent auto-detection of WPM and dot/dash timing for straight key operation

    • Automatically analyzes timing patterns from a circular buffer of 30 samples

    • Finds natural clustering between dots and dashes to determine optimal threshold

    • Auto-calculates WPM based on average dot length using PARIS standard

    • Continuously adapts to operator's keying speed changes

    • No manual WIGGLE adjustment needed

Documentation Updates

  • New section on Audio Output explaining both operating modes

  • Updated Hardware Configuration documentation with detailed audio settings

  • Enhanced web interface documentation reflecting reorganized settings

8.5. Version 2.0.0 (November 2025)

New Features

  • ELIZA: QSO Chat bot. Hold a complete QSO with the trainer or just have a chat

  • Farnsworth Timing: implemented in ELIZA mode and all morse playback

  • Conditional Firmware Update Button: Update button intelligently hidden when in AP mode (no internet access)

User Experience Improvements

  • Morse Playback Abort: Done button now aborts morse playback within 60-120ms instead of waiting for entire message

  • Screen Updates During Playback: Display and buttons remain responsive while morse is being transmitted

  • Interrupt-Based Paddle Detection: Enhanced with 20ms debounce time and 30ms element spacing for reliable operation

8.6. Version 1.7.8 (September 2025)

  • Improved battery performance by shutting down WIFI module when not required.

8.7. Version 1.7.7 (2nd September 2025)

8.8. Version 1.7.6 (1st September 2025)

  • Slight shift around on the About screen

  • Added percent correct counter on Random letter game

  • New Update service

  • Support for Special Editions

8.9. Version 1.7.5 (24th August 2025)

  • Add Incorrect and Percentage correct values to Random Letter Game. How is your accuracy?

8.10. Version 1.7.4 (16th August 2025)

  • Fixed pass through when using straight key

8.11. Version 1.7.3 (15th August 2025)

  • Fixed issue with Mute when using a straight key

8.12. Version 1.7.2 (14th August 2025)

  • Fixed issue with setting SSID and password on screen. If you can't set the WIFI details

    or

    • Create a temporary WIFI network (eg Phone hotspot) with the following values and upgrade normally.

      • SSID Morse Trainer

      • PASSWORD emj@ghm6cph*mcp8AKC

8.13. Version 1.7.1 (3rd August 2025)

  • Localisation with initial support for the following languages

    • English

    • French

    • German

  • Fixed issue with Random letter, when hiding the required morse it would show again on next character

  • Send game word hidden until touched

  • Listen Game characters hidden until touched

8.14. Version 1.6.5 (31st July 2025)

  • Fixed issue with entering SSID and Password via console connections

8.15. Version 1.6.4 (15th July 2025)

  • Display ID of unit on About screen

8.16. Version 1.6.3 (14th July 2025)

  • Fixed show hide for send and listen games.

  • Changed slide limits to 2-10 for send and listen games

  • Fixed Show hide morse for Random Character game.

8.17. Version 1.6.2 (8th July 2025)

  • Fixed issue with Random letter game sometimes showing a blank Character

8.18. Version 1.6.1 (7th July 2025)

  • Removed quote (") from list of chars, it was causing issues in Random letter Game

  • Fixed issue with slow morse decode when not on main screen.

  • Fixed issue on "Send Game" where slider didn't update size of characters to send

  • Updated straight key support, added "Wiggle" slider. Adds a wiggle factor for the length of a dot and dash. Adjust along with the WPM.

  • Removed the "Pullup/down" button, all the "offical" trainers no longer require this.

8.19. Version 1.5.6 (16th June 2025)

  • Adding "Calibrate" command to serial console

8.20. Version 1.5.5 (10th June 2025)

  • Check which screen is currently displayed and switch from boot screen if necessary inside loop

  • Updated screen firmware to feed back which screen is being displayed

8.21. Version 1.5.4 (10th June 2025)

  • Removed the multiplication symble as a seperate char. It's the same as 'x'

8.22. Version 1.5.3 (4th June 2025)

  • Display longer version numbers

  • Align boot screen version information

  • Fixed issue with storing WIFI credentials

8.23. Version 1.4 (27th May 2025)

  • Adding console commands

  • Hide, Tone and Octave sliders when selecting "active" buzzer

  • Improved feedback for firmware update, new update page, with progress bar