With some keyers (KIEL - CWMorse Pro Keyer / k3ng_cw_keyer) you can adjust the "dot/dash weighting."
That weighting setting determines how long or short the Morse elements are compared to the standard time unit. This influences the sound character.
The standard (ITU) Morse ratio is:
• 1 unit for a dot
• 3 units for a dash
• 1 unit for the pause between elements within a character
• 3 units between letters
• 7 units between words
By applying weighting, the sound character also changes.
Weight | Dot duration (in time units) |
Dash duration (normally 3x dot) |
Intra-element pause |
Result Sound character |
40% | 0.8 | 2.4 | 1.2 | Short, staccato, “chopped” signal |
50% | 1.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | Neutral – standard timing (ITU) |
55% | 1.1 | 3.3 | 0.9 | Slightly fuller – smoother Morse |
60% | 1.2 | 3.6 | 0.8 | Longer elements – sounds “fatter” |
70% | 1.4 | 4.2 | 0.6 | Very heavy – dashes sound long, short intra-pauses |
Most operators choose a weighting between 50% and 60%, depending on personal preference, sending speed, and type of receiver.
This makes dots/dashes heavier or lighter, but keeps the pause after each element at 1T.
Basis (ITU): T = 1 unit (dot length).
Formulas
• dit_mark = T * (W / 50)
• dah_mark = 3T * (W / 50)
• element_gap = T ← (always 1T, unchanged)
Where W=50 = standard, W > 50 = heavier, W < 50 = lighter.
Note: the total character time changes with this (characters become longer with heavier weighting).
Here you make the mark longer/shorter but compensate in the following pause, so that the sum (mark + element_gap) remains equal to the standard. This way the character speed stays nicely constant.
Define a weight deviation a around zero:
• for example, choose a = (W - 50) / 50 (so W=50 → a=0, W=60 → a=+0.2, W=40 → a=-0.2)
Formulas
• dit_mark = T * (1 + a)
• dit_gap = T * (1 - a)
• dah_mark = 3T * (1 + a)
• dah_gap = T * (1 - a)
The word space is unaffected by weighting.
Simple weighting:audibly “fuller/lighter” signal, but characters last longer/shorter → may affect rhythm.
Balanced:sound changes, speed/rhythm stay identical → usually more pleasant for accurate timing.