Morse code timing, explained

The five timing rules

All Morse timing is counted in units, where one unit is the length of a dot.

1. A dot lasts 1 unit.
2. A dash lasts 3 units.
3. The gap between dots and dashes inside one character is 1 unit.
4. The gap between characters is 3 units.
5. The gap between words is 7 units.

These ratios are set out in Part I, section 2 of Recommendation ITU-R M.1677-1.

From WPM to milliseconds

Speed is measured in words per minute using the reference word PARIS, which is exactly 50 units long including the 7-unit gap after it. So at W words per minute there are 50 × W units per minute, and

unit length (seconds) = 60 ÷ (50 × WPM) = 1.2 ÷ WPM

What is Farnsworth timing?

Farnsworth timing sends each character at a faster “character speed” but stretches the gaps between characters and words so the overall rate equals a slower “effective speed”. Learners hear each letter as a single sound pattern instead of counting dots, then shrink the gaps as they improve.

Morse Orbit uses the method published by the ARRL: the extra delay per PARIS word is(60 × c − 37.2 × s) ÷ (s × c) seconds for character speed c and effective speed s, shared across the 19 spacing units of the word (3 for each letter gap, 7 for the word gap). Dots, dashes and the 1-unit gaps inside characters are untouched.

Try it: lower the Farnsworth slider above and watch only the gaps grow. Then practise with the speed test.