The history of morse code
At the beginning of the 19th century, with the creation of the railway, it was necessary to create a system or method to transmit messages, between the different existing cabins, to communicate the departure and arrival of trains. For this reason, in the year 1830 Alfred Vail developed the telegraphic code, which was later patented by the painter and physicist, Samuel FB Morse, born in the year 1791, from which he takes his last name. Telegraphic messages were sent through this device, through cables, just like the telephone companies did. Morse code consisted of the transmission of electrical impulses of different sizes, messages could also be sent through other means, such as light, mechanical or visual. It was made up of a set of lines and dots, which when put together formed symbols, words and numbers. Time later it was baptized with the name of “American code morse”.
The telegraph, invented in 1829 by Joseph Henry, began to be used with the Morse code. This device was divided into several parts, on the one hand, it had a battery of electricity, a receiver that was governed by an electromagnet, which collected the dots and lines that formed the code, and that vibrated with the sound waves of the man’s voice. On the other hand, it had a manipulator, which was in charge of opening and closing the electric current circuit.
The electromagnet that was part of the telegraph, when it remained activated, attracted to it another piece of the same metallic material in the shape of a punch, which marked a strip of paper, which moved thanks to some rollers. It also housed a kind of tubes with ink, which were the ones that printed the dots and lines on said paper.
The coded messages were transmitted by means of electrical pulses, which were sent intermittently, and which traveled long distances, through the electrical lines that were located in the different countries of the world. In this way, communication was also possible between people who were unable to see each other in person and had no other means of speaking to each other. The morse code from its creation took several years until it was finally established in Europe.
Morse code messages are transmitted by pressing a telegraphic key, which opens and closes an electrical circuit, and is pressed with two fingers. That key is connected to a cable.
The telegraph can be used through a ground connection, that is to say, introducing its cable into the earth and taking from some way the amount of electricity it needs to work.
Over the years, the telegraphic key ended up being replaced by a more modern one and the button on the same key was started only by pressing with the index and middle fingers, without the need for further maneuvers.
In World War II the telegraph was established, and the distress code, known as SOS, arose, whose translation from English to Spanish means, “Save our souls”. This was an emergency call, which was used at the time, to communicate that the ship and its crew were in danger and needed help. On some occasion the air force was forced to resort to telegraphy to send urgent messages from their war planes. This method is still used today, especially at sea, when weather conditions destroy the systems available to ships, so they tend to resort to this method of yesteryear.
How to learn morse code?
Morse code is usually differentiated between dots and dashes which are separated by small pauses, which are usually known as dits, which are shorter, and dats, which are longer. This code is not easy to learn, as it requires prior study and dedication to know how to use it correctly. First of all, as in any other language, the most basic signs must be learned, that is, the numbers, vowels and consonants that make up the alphabet, after that, it will be possible to write and translate messages. Over time, and with the necessary experience and skill, messages will be sent more quickly, as well as easier to transcribe.
It is important to take into account the following aspects:
- The line is equal to three points
- The point is equal to 1/25 seconds
- Each letter or number of the Morse code is made up of one or more dots and dashes, which are separated by pauses in time.
- Between the issuance of one letter and the next, the pause must be three points long.
- Between one word and another, the pause time must be five points long.