Morse Code, is it still relevant?

zman308

zman308

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Sep 3, 2007
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Was looking on the Canadian Survival site and noticed that they had a morse code section and translator. The last time I used morse code was when I got my BS Signaling Merit Badge back in the 50's. I also remember they gave us a code test when I went into the military to see if we were a candidate for the Signal Corps. How many of you still know it or use it? And what conditions would we encounter to make a knowledge of code necessary?
 
It comes in handy when you have low signal and voice/data won't transmit well, and if you have to improvise a radio out of scavenged parts and have no microphone. That's just a couple of the reasons it is good.
 
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Morse code will usually get through when nothing else will. it takes less band width and the signal seems to travel farther then voice. It is no longer required for a ham license in the US, but is still in use. I learned it but have not used it so I would have to go back and brush up on it before I would even try it again. Doug kc2mvc
 
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Last I heard was that the FCC no longer requires Morse Code proficiency in getting a radio license and hasn't for several years now. What this means is that if you can transmit the code, there is no guarantee that there will be someone on the other end that can interpret it. Morse might not be dead yet, but it's definitely on the way out.

That said, things like SOS are always going to be around, but to transmit messages and whatnot? Nah.
 
When I was out in the wilderness of Idaho with Ron Hood, we used morse code to signal for the bush plane to pick us up. That was fun!
 
No code is required anymore for getting your HAM ticket, but it is still handy to know.
 
Nordic Viking said:
Brian, didn't you guys send daily updates, via morse, to Radio Ray to post online, too?
Click to expand...

Yes, that's right, we did! I almost forgot about that...actually, Radio Ray was on the trip with us, and he was the one who sent all the morse code messages that were then transcribed and posted online.
 
There was a recent news item about an injured hiker who used CW to get help. Yes there are many who still use CW ,it won't disappear . Dropping CW requirements has been happening all over the world.I don't use it but it's there if you want to. AC2RC
 
It is correct that it is no longer required to get you license. It is actually the first digital mode that was used. While it takes a little work to learn and use. The equipment to do it can be remarkably simple to build. Because of the nature of a persons hearing it will get through at times when voice would never get through at often one tenth and even less power than would be required for voice. I wish I was better at it but I just don't practice enough. It really is a fantastic mode but it is probably going the way of the dinosaur.


Recent CW contact from backcountry

KR
 
For grins and giggles, I programmed my calculator to "sing" the alphabet to me in morse code. It's an HP-38, but you could do it with a couple of different types of calcs.

Theoretically I guess you could use it to set up an unmanned distress beacon type of thing with GPS coordinates, date of incident, last message to wife, etc.. Just a thought, but I admit there are easier ways that don't use a calculator.

Also if anyone wants to practice their morse code skills, boy's life mag has a page where you can practice both sending and receiving:
http://www.boyslife.org/games/online-games/575/morse-code-machine/
 
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Hmmm... just a few weeks ago here an elderly lady fell and injured herself inside her home. She laid there for quite some time before crawling over to her nightstand and managed to get ahold of her flashlight. She signaled SOS with it toward her window. A young kid was walking his dog and seen the flashes and went over to check it out. Went up to the window and asked if everything was ok. Don't recall if he knew if it was morse code, but sure did make her day. This story was on the news.
 
The story about the lady reminds me of an important component of morse that I think is being overlooked. It is not limited to radio or even audio contact. Radio, flashlight, drums, mirror, etc. etc. Archaic but still valuable to this wannabe Luddite.
 
Its one of those things that you may not use much but if and when you need it, it's usually darn important.
 
An interesting aspect of Morse is that it is useful for certain military communications because it will get through under difficult conditions. A corollary of this is that it doesn't take a trained linguist to copy a Morse transmission in a foreign language. Any Morse operator familiar with the international version can copy any language for translation later. Johnny Cash used to copy it when he was in the Air Force.
 
A few years back (2003?) some buddies and I went down to Fort Bragg to hit some schwag stores (gun, pawn, surplus, etc.) and also to look up a Special Forces sergeant that one of the guys had served with in the 82nd. When we found him he was "off" for the day, at home, but was having to study Morse for an upcoming test or promotion. He said it was still considered a valuable skill, although I don't know how much they use it.

We STILL talked him into going to Hooters for lunch though...

:D :D :D :D :D
 
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