.-. .. .--.

[gfish]

After my recent Morse code post, I decided to refresh my skills. I passed the 5 wpm test for my Tech Plus license with flying colors, but that was many years ago. I'm sad to report that the available practice software hasn't improved much in the intervening time. (Maybe the DOS-based one that sells for $24 is super awesome, but I'm not about to find out.) After several day's practice I'm back to where I used to be, which is nice.

It's too bad Morse is a dying art. It's so iconic, such a classic adventure skill. In a generation, no one will know it anymore.

Comments

[airlinepilot.livejournal.com]

I disagree. We use it quite a bit in aviation. As long as we have ground-based radio navigation sources, we'll still be using Morse code to identify them. While GPS-based navigation is becoming more prevalent, VORs and ILSs are not going away any time soon.

[randomdreams.livejournal.com]

yeahbut we don't have to transmit, and since the codes are shown graphically on most of the VFR charts I've used, it's not like we actually KNOW it -- we just verify that the callsign is the same as the symbol on the chart.

[gfish.livejournal.com]

I seem to remember neuro42 saying his instructor was surprised he could identify them by ear.

[encapsulate.livejournal.com]

I was just thinking about your post as I drove to work tonight. Specifically the fast tap/slow tap faux pas.

The thing that gets me about the nature of communication, is that at its base level, there only needs to be an agreement on the basic rules. In this case tapping out "bang.bang.bang.bang...bang...bang...bang.bang.bang" on the pipe in your cell, while not in the rules according to Hoyle, could do in a pinch, since it's been seen so often, it's an accepted ... Morse Dialect.

Now, granted, you aren't going to be able to send a lead pipe-o-gram with the text

--. --- --- -.. .... . .-.. .-.. --- ... .. .-. ... ..
.- -- ... --- -. --- ..-. .-.. .- - . -. .. --. . .-. ..
.- -. --- .. .-.. .--. .-. .. -. -.-. . .- -. -.. .- --
- .-. -.-- .. -. --. - --- -- --- ...- . ---.. -- ..
.-.. .-.. .. --- -. -.. --- .-.. .-.. .- .-. ... --- ..- -
--- ..-. - .... . -.-. --- ..- -. - .-. -.--

But in a pinch the slow/fast dialect would do. I think the spirit though, is that in any communication form, you should learn the rules first, before you break them.

[gfish.livejournal.com]

I'm sure you could make it work, with practice, but it's not something that someone who only knows Morse could understand immediately. To borrow a phrase, that's not how the myth is described.

.--. ... -.-- --- ..- ... .. -.-. -.- ..-. ..- -.-. -.-

[ewtikins.livejournal.com]

If I wanted to learn Morse, where would be a good (free) place to start?

[gfish.livejournal.com]

I've been using CW PLAYER (http://www.f1orl.org/cwpeng.htm), which works okay. Its preset lessons make a nice progression.

[tommusic.livejournal.com]

Re: the older post...

How about if you were doing different kinds of hits on the pipe (http://tommusic.net/i/grabbed/httpcns2.uni.eduwallingfblog-imagesartmagritte-not-a-pipe.jpg)? Er, I mean if you were striking the pipe in different ways?

For instance, if you strike a big pipe with a wrench and then immediately pull the wrench away vs. striking and letting the wrench sit against the pipe.

Would that essentially give you longer and shorter sounds?

[gfish.livejournal.com]

Possibly. Or tapping vs. scraping. But that isn't what is shown in movies. :)

[tommusic.livejournal.com]

Sadly, so true! It would take the protagonists MUCH more time to tap out letters if they only have one character to use... :-)

Good luck with the move!

[hollyking.livejournal.com]

G4FON (http://www.g4fon.net/) makes a good trainer that's free for the download.

[randomdreams.livejournal.com]

When I get a chance I am so totally building this (http://sci-toys.com/scitoys/scitoys/computers/radio/computer_controlled_transmitter.html) -- a morse transmitter for a computer using *one* component and an antenna.

[filkferengi]

For the truly esoteric, you could send Esperanto in Morse code.

If you have to send it again, does that result in re-Morse? [weg]