Morse Code

[xoxoxoBruce]

Does anyone use code anymore? I assume there are nostalgia freaks who play with it, maybe prisoners between cells, but any serious applications?

[BigV]

Lots can be expressed with just dot, dash, and space. Very interesting. Cool graphic xoB, thanks.

[xoxoxoBruce]

I can't figure out when they're recieving words, how do they tell if it's I(dit dit) W(dit dah dah) or it's V(dit dit dit) M(dah dah)?
Oh, and S(dit dit dit) O(dah dah dah) S(dit dit dit) could be I(dit dit) J(dit dah dah dah) S(dit dit dit).
I've listened to incoming Morse Code at a historic Coast Guard Station, and could tell the dits from dahs, but not any noticable breaks between letters.

[Gravdigr]

As of a few years ago most short wave radio stations still used Morse code in station identification, while still broadcasting the program. Takes literally less than a second a lot of times, and comes in such a fast burst that you need a decoder.


A little FYI: People who used to use Morse to communicate (ham radio operators, for instance), could identify the person sending code by the word rate, and recognizing the unique techniques of specific individuals. Your individual traits were known as your 'fist'. As in, "Hey there's Bob on the key, I'd know his fist anywhere."

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by Gravdigr

As of a few years ago most short wave radio stations still used Morse code in station identification, while still broadcasting the program. Takes literally less than a second a lot of times, and comes in such a fast burst that you need a decoder.

I seem to recall hearing in the not too distant past, they dropped the Morse Code test for a ham license, which caused some grumbling from current holders.
Damn whippersnappers, get off my frequency.

[orthodoc]

I gather that was important during the second world war - it was possible to tell if a radio operator had been taken out, and someone substituted, by the change in fist.

[Lamplighter]

Originally Posted by orthodoc

I gather that was important during the second world war
- it was possible to tell if a radio operator had been taken out,
and someone substituted, by the change in fist.

... especially if they spoke Navaho

.

[footfootfoot]

This is a cool program that teaches you morse code.
http://www.g4fon.net/CW%20Trainer.htm

...a method of CW training developed by a German psychologist called Ludwig Koch back in the 1930's...Basically you start off learning the code at the speed you would like to achieve. Unlike the Farnsworth method which seeks to reduce the gap between the letters as you become more efficient, Koch came up with the idea that you should start off just learning two letters at full speed and add an additional letter once you reach 90% proficiency until you have mastered them all. Since you are only learning one new letter or figure at a time, your frustration is significantly reduced.

It reminds me a bit of the Pimsleur language method, you get good at two letters, then they add a couple more, and then review what you already knew, and so on.

It's cool to listen to the code at different speeds and see how fast you can still discriminate.

[tw]

Dah Dah Dah. Dit Dit Dit Dit. . Dit Dit Dit. Dit Dit Dit Dit. Dit Dit. Dah.

[Gravdigr]

Originally Posted by tw

Dah Dah Dah.

[Undertoad]

Originally Posted by Gravdigr

Trio - Da-Da-Da

I love you man

[Gravdigr]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

I love you man

[sexobon]

I think SF commo men are still trained in code in case they have to transceive encrypted code over indigenous/expedient nets; or, monitor code transmissions. They didn't really use it after they went to burst devices back in the 1980s when the KY-879/P Digital Message Device was issued (that's what my A-Team used). It was a special version of the MA-4450 (MEROD), developed by Racal Communications Inc. in Salisbury, UK, for the US Special Forces.

Perhaps code could still be useful to auxiliaries and undergrounds in low intensity conflicts in some countries; but, it's no longer required for a ham radio license here and you can't WIRE PALADIN SAN FRANCISCO anymore.

[xoxoxoBruce]

I see the main drawback to using it as a last resort, or unusual circumstances, is you still need a skilled person on each end. I would think even trained people would get rusty only using it every couple years. It's tough to wing it. I'm guessing here having no direct knowledge, but it seems logical with military special teams, each man has so many skills he must know, finding time to keep Morse skills sharp, must be tough.

[Gravdigr]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

I seem to recall hearing in the not too distant past, they dropped the Morse Code test for a ham license, which caused some grumbling from current holders.

Originally Posted by sexobon

...but, it's no longer required for a ham radio license here and you can't WIRE PALADIN SAN FRANCISCO anymore.

I know they dropped the Morse requirement for some classes of ham licenses. Have they dropped it for all classes now?

And, Bruce is right, some of the more hardcore hammers were not happy when the Morse requirement was dropped for some classes of licenses.