Comments on: Become a Morse Code Expert

By: old crusty ham

old crusty ham — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 08:45:48 +0000

If you’re interested in code, just study for your amateur radio license. Most countries don’t have a code requirement anymore. If you get your license you can practice to your heart’s content on the air. Don’t be shy. Everyone had to start somewhere. Go 1 or 2 WPM if that’s as fast as you want to go. Some hams only operate CW and enjoy helping newbies out. Ham radio is a disproportionately made hobby, so maybe CW shouldn’t be a manly skill. Women should get involved as well.

In the US, the beginner’s license (Technician) usually takes a week or two of study. The other two license classes might take a month each, less if you already know basic electronic theory and can manipulate simple algebraic equations. This description also applies to Canada (two license classes) and the British exams.

Brett — I think your article rocks, but just one point. The “dot-dash” system is useless. It’s better to show a chart using the “dit-dah” system. A number of posters have pointed out that the “sound it out” method is the best way. I agree — I never learned my code looking at a chart. Better yet, just put up an mp3 file of the letter and number sounds. Sight charts are nigh useless in learning the code.

dadadididit didididadah dadidadit didadidit didididadidah!

By: ARTS2090: Distribution Assessment « swei247′s Blog

ARTS2090: Distribution Assessment « swei247′s Blog — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 03:32:50 +0000

[...] artofmanliness.com/2008/10/09/morse-code/ [1] Williams, R. Television: Technology and Cultural Form. London: Fontana, 1974 [...]

By: Ed Kiser

Ed Kiser — Sun, 30 May 2010 21:07:02 +0000

Banging a wrench on a bulkhead is TAPPING. Pressing a telegraph key is KEYING. Not the same thing. To distinguish that wrench bang dash from the dot, the dash is made by a double bang, quickly, similar to “double click” on a computer mouse. To use “pause” after a bang to identify that last bang as being a dash leads to ambiguity. How can one tell if that pause meant that is the end of the character, or that last bang was a dash AND was at the end of a word. Too easily confused. The BANGBANG of dash takes just as much time as BANG of dot. Let PAUSE separate characters and words. The signal become much more easily undestood this way.

By: Gina

Gina — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 23:52:53 +0000

Ok, so we are well on the way to teaching our son Morse Code. I only ever considered it as in input method (if you look on our blog at Morse the Movie you can see how I started teaching him (this was for him to take to school with him and more for the benefit of the teachers).

But now I wonder, if he learned to translate it, could he listen to texts, books etc quicker than having to listen to an audio book in normal spoken language speed. Mac is vision impaired so reading is out of the question, but I wonder how you actually translate, is it similar to reading where you hear it in your head, but don’t have to say it out loud? We read silently much quicker than we read out loud – I wonder if it is worth pursuing?

By: Benjamin Arie

Benjamin Arie — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 11:20:05 +0000

On a whim a few weeks ago I decided to start learning Morse code. Now, I’m addicted! Using Morse for communication is truly fascinating — if you look into early telegraph keys, the signal lamps used on Navy ships in all those WWII movies, etc etc — the history behind it is just so interesting.

I don’t think it’s a useless skill. At the very least, it’s a good hobby to keep your mind sharp. And I think every man should have a few crazy skills that he can pull out of nowhere when needed. There’s something very “MacGyver” about knowing Morse.

Side note — Any here a fan of “J.A.G.?” Remember that old episode where Harm was being held hostage, pretended to be lighting a cigar, and sent a Morse signal with his lighter? Kickass.