The Second Hundred Years of SOS Begins Today
Back when I was a boy scout, you had to learn either semaphore or Morse code to earn First Class Scout rank. Most kids in my troop learned semaphore because it was easier to learn. I'm proud to say I learned Morse code. I still remember the code for "a," "e," "I" "n" "o" "s" and "t." So, if the chips were down, I could tap out "I eat no oats," or "Note, I see stones."
The first ship to transmit an SOS distress call was the Cunard liner Slavonia on June 10, 1909, when it went aground on rocks off the Azores.
Prior to that, ships used a variety of distress calls, such as:
-.-. -.. --.- CDQ (subject to misunderstanding)
..- .... / --- .... / .-- . / .- .-. . / ... .. -. -.- .. -. --. UH OH WE ARE SINKING (much clearer)
.. / - .... .. -. -.- / .. / .... .. - / .- / --. --- -.. -.. .- -- -. / .. -.-. . -... . .-. --. I THINK I HIT A GODDAMN ICEBERG (No doubt at all here)
... .... .. .--. / -.-. .- .--. - .- .. -. / -....- / ..-. .- .. .-.. SHIP CAPTAIN - FAIL!
A while back, Jay Leno gave identical messages to the "world's fastest texter" and an old time Morse code expert and set a contest to see who could send it faster. The Morse code blew the texter away. Sort of like John Henry beating the steam drill. Video is here.
.. / .-- .- -. - / - --- / -.. .. . / .--. . .- -.-. . ..-. ..- .-.. .-.. -.-- / .. -. / -- -.-- / ... .-.. . . .--. --..-- / .-.. .. -.- . / -- -.-- / --. .-. .- -. -.. ..-. .- - .... . .-. .-.-.- .-.-.- / -. --- - / ... -.-. .-. . .- -- .. -. --. / .- -. -.. / -.-- . .-.. .-.. .. -. --. / .-.. .. -.- . / - .... . / .--. .- ... ... . -. --. . .-. ... / .. -. / .... .. ... / -.-. .- .-. .-.-.-
the latest
latest episodes
using slashes works for the inter-word spaces, but you really need SOMETHING for the inter-character spaces.
One of my cube neighbors is a HAM and made a big deal about the Leno Morse code challenge, so I had him start the video and I texted him the message before the Morse code dude was finished. Now I do use a Nokia E70 so it may not have been a fair fight. :)
Interesting. I remember a couple of years ago when Morse code officially became unoffical, on that day I remember reading a small blurb about it either online or in the paper. Regardless we were watching TV that night and suddenly
...---... ...---... repeated over and over for about a minute on the TV audio. I was confused but then remembered the blurb and realised a Ham operator somewhere was slaming the airwaves with an Obit to the humble morse code.
I don't think it's the code so much as the interface. Morse code dude had an interface that had been refined to perfection for what he was doing; the texter had something that's still a kludge. Morse vs touch-typist would be a better measure of the utility of Morse code and the alphabet.
The original post says "CDQ," but should say "CQD."
A few years ago I created audio files for SOS and CQD using Black Cat CW Keyer (http://www.blackcatsystems.com/software/bccwkeyer.html) and contributed them to Wikipedia, where you can still listen to them today.
-Dave A.
I'll never be a Rihanna, the old guy sitting next to me who pulled the AC plug on my disco hit music project saw to that, but hey ..--.. --..-
Yes, I've decided. Is this legal?
My grandfather died that way too! Small world.
I don't understand why there isn't a morse code text input for phones.
This is an interface, using one button (optionally two), that you do not have to look at, and everyone can learn in a week.
It was easy to use a T9 text input while driving in Boston traffic with a manual transmission. My old Nokia 3650 with its fucked-up rotary keypad was far more difficult. My iPhone requires I look at the freaking thing while typing, possibly use two hands -- which makes it almost impossible to do while driving (imagine me shifting and steering with my knees). No I don't really do this.
Anyway, it is very silly to me that such a long-time efficient method of text-input is completely ignored by the devices that need it the most: pocket cell phones.
I just love the fact that the girl in the audience is a home loan officer and when Leno asks to hear her "turn down" line, she acts shocked and says "We NEVER turn anyone down!"
FAIL
--- .-.. -.. / .--- --- -.- .
It's interesting to note that in the Morse code community there was some trepidation as to whether or not they'd win.
I think with the phone that kid was using, there was no way morse code could lose. Poor interface, sometimes he's got to press a button three times for a single letter, and he's probably watching the screen for typos.
Morse guy has to press his button a whole lot more for each letter, but there's only one button to press.
With the qwerty interfaces available now it'd be a much tighter contest.
--- -- .. .-. --..-- ;*
@8 I agree completely - I hate SMS messaging on my cellphone but might take it up more often if I could use Morse.
Also, I really dislike the modern internet way of visually representing the code with hyphens and periods. It not only looks ugly, but it is difficult to read. I propose doing it the old fashioned way:
Di-dah-di-dit di-dit dah-di-dah dit Dah di-di-di-dit di-dit di-di-dit
By the way, Morse Code is far from dead. In recent news, we here in the US are sending a team to compete in an upcoming high speed Morse competition in Bulgaria this September. Apparently in Eastern Europe high speed Morse contests are a pretty big sport.
http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/06/03/10858/
I myself have been working towards having at least one two-way Morse code conversation with all fifty states (via HF radio from my home). As of yesterday, I only have only five more to go.
(The name for this goal is "W.A.S. CW" and it's not uncommon in the Ham radio community.)
It's always bothered me that nobody has ever aknowledged, the text guy on the receiving end was free to do whatever he wanted while awaiting a message. Even send out his own messages if he wanted.
The Morse Code guy on the receiving end had to sit there the entire time to actively receive the message.
.... ..
Try this one!
"In 1924 in the Boston Postal Telegraph office a wire chief claimed he could simultaneously copy one message in French with one hand and another in English with the other hand. His chief operator took the challenge, promptly went out and picked up one message in each language, provided pencils and pads to the wire chief, and had the two messages sent to him simultaneously at the usual keying speeds. The wire chief made good on his word in the presence of all the other operators in the office, and made perfect copy on both."
More: http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk/extra/morse/html/c34.htm
What a coincidence!
.. / .-.. --- ...- . / - .... .- .. / ..-. --- --- -.. / - --- ---
I learned Morse Code in the 1970s when I needed it for my ham radio license. Back then, Morse Code had one major advantage that nothing else could compete with: It required the least amount of power to establish a link and it was the most efficient use of bandwidth available at the time.
That finally ended in the 1990s, when sound cards and advanced coding techniques caught up with the efficiency of Morse Code. Today, those who want to run weak signals through noisy links use modulation such as PSK31 and PUA43.
Morse still has an edge of simplicity, but only just. It's not easy to key a transmitter on and off while keeping it free of chirps and clicks.
I still like Morse Code and I still use it for fun. It still has some use as an automatic identification method for transmitters. Many aviation beacons still use it, though the pilots don't need to know the code. It is printed on the charts...
Not only are there licensed hams and others using International Morse, but there is a group using old landline sounders (think clicking and clacking) with American Morse (a different language primarily used before radio) with their equipment interfaced through free software on the web.
Are you listening, out there in iPhone AppDevLand? Give us a morse code input for texting!
I learned Morse code to get a ham license in 1962. I used it almost exclusively when I had my radio station over the next 5 or 6 years, but never since then. Sometimes, however, I still catch myself reading signs in code in the back of my mind. And I could easily still copy what that guy was sending, when Leno wasn't talking too loud. Amazing what the mind can remember.
#22 I'm too lazy to jump through the hoops to get you a link, but search the App Store for "Morse-It"
I've got an app on my g1 that converts sms text messages into morse code and uses the vibrator to, uhm, voice them.