Become a Morse Code Expert

Before cell phones even before telephones, people communicated through Morse code.
Before the invention of Morse Code and the electric telegraph, messages were still handwritten
and carried by horseback. Morse Code changed the way we communicated. In the time of its
invention, it was the fastest long distance form of communication. Despite being a technology
that is over 175 years old, it’s still used today among amateur radio users and on some ships. If
you were in Boy Scouts, you might have messed around with Morse code or maybe you had a
grandpa who used it on his ham radio. Learning Morse is a fun and engaging hobby you can
share with gramps and an interesting man skill to possess. But, What is Morse Code? What is the
history of Morse Code? How is Morse Code used today? And how can you convert Morse Code
to text?

Morse code is a code in which letters are represented by combinations of long and short
signals of light or sound. Itwas invented by Samuel F. B. Morse in the 1830s. He began work on
the electric telegraph in 1832, developed a practical system in 1844, and patented his technology
in 1849. The code that Morse developed for use with his system went through a few
transformations before arriving at the code we’re familiar with today. Initially, Morse code only
transmitted numbers. The transmission’s receiver would then have to use a dictionary to translate
the numbers into words. But that proved to be tedious. Soon the code was expanded to include
letters and even punctuation.

Morse Code can be transmitted through a number of ways. First, the original electric
telegraph system had an apparatus on the receiving end that spat out a string of paper with
indentations on it. Short indentations were called “dots” which can be read as "dit" and the
longer ones “dashes” which can also be read as "dah". As telegraph users became more proficient
with the code, they soon dispensed with the paper tape and deciphered code by year. Second,
through light, long flash as dash and short flash as dot. And lastly, through sound, long beep as
dash and short beep as dot. In situations like these, the receiver of the message will read the
flashes and listen the sounds and convert it back to text.

Morse code became extremely important in maritime shipping and aviation. Pilots were
required to know how to communicate using Morse code up until the 1990s.
 Morse Code allowed for ships at sea to communicate over long distances using large
lights. Morse Code was especially pivotal during the second World War because it greatly
improved the speed of communication. Naval war ships were able to communicate with their
bases and provide critical information to each other. War planes also used Morse Code to detail
locations for enemy ships, bases, and troops and relay them back to headquarters.

Morse Code has also been used as an alternative form of communication for people with
disabilities or whom have their abilities to communicate imparied by stroke, heart attack, or
paralysis. There have been several cases where individuals have been able to use their eyelids to
communicate in Morse Code by using a series of long and quick blinks to represent that dots and
dashes.

Morse code is a way to communicate using tones and clicks when you are unable to
speak or do not want your conversation to be detected. However, the latter only works if others
that could be listening in don't also know morse code.

Learning Morse code is like learning any language. You have to practice, practice,
practice. Here are some resources to help you get started on the path to becoming a master
telegraph operator. First, you have to get familiar with the code. The first thing you’ll need to do
is get familiar with what the alphabet looks like in Morse code. Second, start listening to Morse
code. You’re going to have to actually listen to Morse code if you ever want to learn it. Last, you
can practice with the AA9PW app. You can also try out “The Mill.” It’s a downlodable app that
not only allows you to use International Morse code, but also American Morse code. Morse Code
is simple to use, can be used to same skilled person, no power required for transmission, but it
has its disadvantages also where it cannot be transmitted or received by any person and not an
up-to-date technology.

In conclusion, Morse code might had a small impact in the history because it only helped
during the civil war and that too for northern who wanted to stop spreading the slavery.
However, due to the invention of telegraph and Morse code, we are able to communicate across
the world and even type this paper easily. If not for the thoughts and rigorous work behind this
invention, we might not be able to enjoy the great new technology.