[ morse ] [ enigma ] [ computercode ]

Morse code

Morse code is a system of signals. It is admirably suited to a simple transmitter, the emission or continuous wave (CW) from which only has to be turned on or off in order to transmit the code.
There is one high-tech industry where Morse code is still used today - airline pilots have to know it.
The system which all countries use now; expect the USA & Canada; is an adaptation of Morse code, the original telegraphic alphabet was devised by an American inventor called Samuel F. B. Morse. The USA & Canada did not adopt the International Morse Code when other countries did in the 1850s; instead, the USA & Canada continued to use the original Morse code. Today, International Morse Code is rarely used, because radiotelegraphy has been replaced by printing telegraph systems, & facsimile transmission.

Different versions of Morse code

Morse's original code was not quite the same as the one in use today. This 'American' morse code was in wide use until the 1920's. For international use it was modified as a result of a conference in Berlin in 1851; this regularised the code on a more rational basis & eliminated the spaces within the letters.
Both the original code & the current International Code use the same principle; with the commonest letters have the shortest codes. 'e' has the shortest code, 'dit', where as 'z' & 'q' is the longest.


                                                    The Two Different Morse Codes


Letter                     American             International


A                             . _                        . _
B                             _ . . .                    _ . . .
C                             . .     .                   _ . _ .
D                             _ . .                      _ . .
E                             .                           .
F                             . _ .                      . . _ .
G                            _ _ .                      _ _ .
H                            . . . .                      . . . .
I                              . .                         . .
J     `                      _ . _ .                    . _ _ _
K                           _ . _                      _ . _
L                           _____                   . _ . .
M                         _ _                        _ _
N                          _ .                         _ .
O                         .   .                         _ _ _
P                          . . . . . .                  _ _ .
Q                         . . _ .                     _ _ . _
R                         . .     .                    . _ .
S                          . . .                        . . .
T                         _                           _
U                         . . _                      . . _
V                         . . . _                    . . . _
W                       . _ _                      . _ _
X                        . _ . .                     _ . . _
Y                         . .     .                   _ . _ _
Z                         . . . .                     _ _ . .

Number


1                         . _ _ .                   . _ _ _ _
2                         . . _ . .                  . . _ _ _
3                         . . . _ .                  . . . _ _
4                         . . . . _                  . . . . _
5                         _ _ _ .                  . . . . .
6                         . . . . . .                 _ . . . .
7                         _ _ . .                   _ _ . . .
8                         _ . . . .                  _ _ _ . .
9                         _ . . _                   _ _ _ _ .
0                         ______                _ _ _ _ _