Morse Code

In the 1836, inventors Samuel F. B. Morse and Alfred Vail created the electric telegraph, which they began operating in 1944. Morse later created a type of code that would enable messages to be sent via that telegraph. That code became known as Morse code, and would prove to be well-used. Before the invention of the telephone, Morse code was the main form of “high speed” communication, and radio communications in the 1890's. In the early part of the 20th century, most international communication was done by using Morse code, through radio circuits, telegraph lines and under water cables. It was the only form of long distance communication until 1920.

Early Morse Code Machine

To put it in the simplest of terms, Morse code is a form of character coding. Combinations of dots and dashes, or “dits” and “dahs”, represent letters, numbers, other special characters and punctuation marks. How fast one can create a message using Morse code is called Words Per Minute (WPM). This code was designed so that people could easily read it without having to have some sort of device to decode the messages.

Today's Morse code is somewhat different than the original. In 1948, Friedrich Clemens Gerke created the Modern International Morse Code, or the continental code, which was initially used for communications between Hamburg and Cuxhaven, Germany. By 1965, most of the kinks had been worked out, and Morse code was standardized at the International Telegraphy conference in Paris. The International Telecommunications Union officially dubbed it as International Morse Code. The original Morse code was then referred to as American Morse code, or “railroad code”, but this is not used much these days, except for historical re-enactments.

One of the best-known uses for Morse code is the SOS signal. This is a universal signal, and there are a variety of ways it can be sent other than radio: turning light switches or flashlights on and off, tapping on a wall or window, even blinking your eyes.

Morse code used to be a mandatory skill for all amateur radio operators in the US, with five wpm being necessary for an amateur class license and 20 wpm for the Extra Class license. In 2003 World Radio Communication Conference made Morse code skills optional. Due to this, there were many countries that changed their rules about mandatory knowledge of Morse code, and in 2007, the requirement was lifted by the FCC. In some countries, there are specific parts of amateur radio bands that are used only for Morse code signals.

In a nutshell, here's how you create Morse code messages: An iambic paddle is used with an electronic keyer to create Morse code quickly. The paddle is pressed with the right side of the thumb, which creates dits, and how long those dits are depend on a sliding weight at the end of the machine. If the paddle is pressed by the knuckle of the index finger, it creates dahs. If you need multiple dits or dahs, you need to press as many times as needed. Morse code is all about rhythm. Don't worry if you are left handed...if you want to learn how to use Morse code, you can get a unit made in a mirror image for lefties.

There are five basic elements to the International Morse Code:
Dot or dit (.) is one unit long
Dash or dah (-) is three units long
intra-character gap (this is between dots and dashes that are part of a character) is one unit long
Short gap is three units long
Medium gap is seven units long

There are two popular methods of learning Morse code. The Farnsworth method (named for Donald R. Farnsworth) demonstrates how to send and receive letters and symbols at a high speed. In the beginning, those learning to use Morse code through this method use longer-than-normal spaces between symbols and words to make it easier to learn. With time and practice, these spaces will disappear.

German Psychologist Luudwig Koch is the inventor of the Koch method. His method has learners going at high speed immediately, using two characters. When the learner can create strings of these two characters this fast and be 90% correct, they are then able to add another letter, continuing with this pattern until they have learned Morse code.

The table below contains numbers and letters used in Morse code

Here are some symbols as they are used in Morse code:

There is no symbol for the exclamation mark.

Morse code prosigns