Morse Code Facts: Keep Your Secrets Intact With Dots And Dashes

Morse code is used to transmit messages.

Morse code signals were invented after finding out that the telegraph could send electric pulse signals. The revelation that messages could be passed secretly over a wire opened new doors of communication for experts, who became eager to figure out this method of communication.

A Morse code message is referred to as a 'straight key'. The first original Morse code was called the American Morse code.

The Morse code was introduced to translate pulses into the English language. It is done by assigning both long and short morse signals to each number and letter. After the launch of Morse code and the telegraph, long-distance communication changed forever.

Invention Of Morse Code

A few people are responsible for creating and modifying morse code the way you see it today. In the United States, the first morse code was discovered in the 1840s by Samuel Morse, along with Alfred Lewis Vail. In 1848, Continental Morse Code, or the international version, was introduced by Friedrich Clemens Gerke.

Before it became the international Morse code, a few changes were made and standardized before 1865. In Washington, DC, to test the recordings of dots and dashes, the first recorded US telegram was sent by Samuel Morse.

The final message was sent to Alfred Vail, his assistant in Baltimore. This message says, 'What hath God wrought?' It was a biblical phrase suggested by an onlooker to Morse, a painter by profession who went on to invent the telegraph.

Morse is known for creating a portrait of the famous Revolutionary War hero, Marquis de Lafayette. He was respected and known for his art and was remembered as a gifted inventor.

His full name was Samuel Finsley Breeze Morse. The idea of inventing this code came after he encountered a tragedy in 1835.

When working in Washington, DC, he received a letter from his wife, which revealed she was ill. She was staying in Connecticut, and before he could reach home, she passed away. This situation has encouraged him to develop a Morse code to transfer long signals through radio waves or electrical pulses.

Many people were working in this sector, but Samuel Morse was the first to develop the Morse code. He worked hard to create these codes with different lengths, which could be sent anywhere. In morse code, the things included are punctuation marks, the alphabet, and numerals. They are arranged using spaces, dashes, and dots.

International Morse Code

The American Morse code, the first set of special characters, was complicated compared to the international one. Here, the complexity indicates that more errors were made here.

The main differences between the international and American versions are that the American versions include more dots and several different lengths of dashes. The international code is comparatively easier to understand as it has the same one-long dash.

In this international version, almost all the numbers and eleven letters are different, making it unique. Due to several dashes that you can see within the American version, radio communication looks more compressed but could be sent faster.

In Morse code, tracking different lengths of dashes was a challenge as more dots were present. It means there is more distortion when there are long lines. It is the main reason why the international version became the standard one and was accepted by many. Many people across the world now use this morse code.

Morse Usage Today

The main advantage of Morse code is that it can be used in any circumstance, and it is possible to create a distress signal of any sort. It can take various forms, such as flashing lights, symbolic images, written images, or tapping on something. This form of language is also used in radio communication.

The flexibility of using distress signals in all scenarios, like training for soldiers, shows how they are used. Language can be a barrier when it comes to sending secret messages, but now you can find a solution with a series of common codes.

SOS is the most famous distress signal and was designed as a universal distress signal in 1905 by the German government.

The SOS signal is simple and is represented using three dashes, three dots, and three more dots. You could find its use during World War II and the Vietnam and Korean wars. It remained the standard format for ocean communication and was replaced in 1999 by the Global Maritime Distress Safety System.

However, this code is still being used in many places as it is cheaper and wireless, making the entire process simpler. This code is more prevalent in the aeronautical and aviation fields as radio navigational aids.

For example, NDBs and VORs still identify it. Also, the US Coast Guard and Navy still use signal lamps to communicate through this code.

Importance Of Morse Code

The new generation does not really realize the need to learn Morse code when there are so many easy ways of communication. Let us see the importance of learning Morse code.

Become a Better Ham Radio Operator: There is an increasing interest within the new generation in ham radio. Ham radios let you have an adequate flow of information post-disaster.

It indicates that you will be in a better position to make a wiser and safer call. Ham radio or telegraph operators let you connect with your loved ones easily in some forms of grid-down and communications-down scenarios.

Needed Less Power To Transmit: These codes need less power to operate compared to other voice signals. You can send your messages to long distances, which is otherwise considered impossible. With that, it would be feasible to carry a lighter radio to transmit the message in a bug-out operation.

Enhanced Message Security: Many people think they have to invest a lot of time in learning Morse code. But it doesn't need a long time, and once you learn, you can enjoy high-grade message security. By utilizing Morse code, you can reduce the risk of eavesdropping.

No specific process says how the message is transmitted using morse code. It means that learning the language would be easy, adding another layer of disaster resilience. It's not compulsory, but learning this language could enhance your radio skills.

FAQs

Why was Morse code important?

The Morse code was important as it could transmit complex thoughts in the easiest way possible to loved ones, irrespective of the distance.

Why is Morse code called so?

This code is named after Samuel Morse, the inventor of this new mode of communication.

What was the first Morse code message?

The first morse telegraph message sent by Samuel Morse said, 'What hath God wrought?'.

How do you use Morse code?

Morse code uses alphabets consisting of dashes and dots to transmit the message. Some examples include three dashes used to designate 'o' and three dots for 's'.

How do you say hello in Morse code?

Four dots for h and two dots for l.

What do seven dots mean in morse code?

Seven dots are equivalent to the space that you find between two words.