Learning Morse Code?

Feuer Frei! · 07-27-11, 09:11 PM

Here's a simple chart to aid in the practice of learning Morse Code:

http://i.imgur.com/vvEsG.jpg

Sailor Steve · 07-27-11, 09:23 PM

I quit the Boy Scouts because I just couldn't earn that Morse Code merit badge.

Then I joined the navy and they made me a radioman. When I got to my ship I was the most recent 'A'-School graduate, so I got assigned to recieve any Morse messages that came in, and reply.

Once I got out I did everything I could to forget it all as fast as I could. And I did a great job.

nikimcbee · 07-27-11, 10:34 PM

You can come to the pt boat to practice, as all of that equipment works.

...and Steve, you can finally earn that merit badge.

Sailor Steve · 07-27-11, 11:28 PM

Mumblegrumblerazzafrazzahateyoumumblegrumble...

Growler · 07-28-11, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Then I joined the navy and they made me a radioman. When I got to my ship I was the most recent 'A'-School graduate, so I got assigned to recieve any Morse messages that came in, and reply.

Yeah, that sounds about right. Like making the guy who can't, cook, or the kid that couldn't sort right from left, quartermaster.

Useful little chart, though, I'll say that much.

frau kaleun · 07-28-11, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Growler

Yeah, that sounds about right. Like making the guy who can't, cook, or the kid that couldn't sort right from left, quartermaster.

One of my favorite Tom Lehrer quotes, about the US military: "Not only do they prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, creed and color, but also on ability."

Osmium Steele · 07-28-11, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Then I joined the navy and they made me a radioman. When I got to my ship I was the most recent 'A'-School graduate, so I got assigned to recieve any Morse messages that came in, and reply.

Once I got out I did everything I could to forget it all as fast as I could. And I did a great job.

Ok, that's scary. Its almost like you were writing my back story...
Do you still pound the keyboard while typing as hard as I do? Those teletype keys were like pounding nails.

VirtualVikingX · 07-28-11, 07:58 AM

I like it! Thanks for posting. (I did the SOS, instant understanding of the principle)

Growler · 07-28-11, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Osmium Steele

Do you still pound the keyboard while typing as hard as I do? Those teletype keys were like pounding nails.

Get out of my office and quit using my keyboard.

Reece · 07-28-11, 08:17 AM

Twice I tried learning morse code, I could send ok but stuffed if I could receive, at any speed!!

Gave up in disgust!!

Sailor Steve · 07-28-11, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Osmium Steele

Do you still pound the keyboard while typing as hard as I do? Those teletype keys were like pounding nails.

No, I made a point of forgetting that part too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by REECE

Twice I tried learning morse code, I could send ok but stuffed if I could receive, at any speed!!

Gave up in disgust!!

The navy has an interesting way of teaching things, or at least they did then. First up is typing class. They don't teach finger positions or anything like that. They sit you in the classroom in front of a typewriter and say "In front of you is a code book. You don't have to know the code, or learn it. You only need to copy it. Type what you see in front of you. You're going to be in this room eight hours a day until you can type 40 words per minute. If that takes all four years of your hitch, so be it, but you're not leaving this room except for breaks and lunch, until you can type 40 words per minute."

I never heard of anyone being in that room for more than a week, and you never saw more guys who could type 40 words per minute with two fingers.

Morse code was taught the same way. We learned a new letter every hour, and spent the whole hour practicing sending and receiving. When receiving we didn't learn to recognize the letters, so hearing Morse wasn't easy. Instead we learned to instinctively type the letter as it came through. We'd hear "di-dah" and not think "That's an 'A'", but just type 'A'.

It wen't pretty quickly, but I never stopped hating it.

Diopos · 07-28-11, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frau kaleun

One of my favorite Tom Lehrer quotes, about the US military: "Not only do they prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, creed and color, but also on ability."

Good one frau !

.

frau kaleun · 07-28-11, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diopos

Good one frau !

.

I remember that quote from the spoken introduction to one of his songs on a live album of his that I used to have. I'm pretty sure this was the song:

"It Makes A Fella Proud To Be A Soldier"

Which reminds me, I need to get my Lehrer stuff back. All I had was vinyl and those are long gone.

yubba · 07-28-11, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

You can come to the pt boat to practice, as all of that equipment works.

...and Steve, you can finally earn that merit badge.

you got short wave on the boat ??? ,I got acouple of jokers running 40 and 80 meter die pole ham sets next door, kickin a thousand watts, waiting for them to fry my machine, can hear them on my speakers when they key up

07-28-11, 04:45 PM

I earned my Signaler Badge when I was in Boy Scouts way back in the early '70's.

That badge was dropped around 1990 something but revived for the Hundred year anniversary.

Requirements

To obtain a Merit Badge for Signaling, a Scout must:

Make an electric buzzer outfit, wireless, blinker, or other signaling device.
Send and receive in the International Morse Code, by buzzer or other sound device, a complete message of not less than 35 words, at a rate of not less than 35 letters per minute.
Demonstrate an ability to send and receive a message in the International Morse Code by wigwag and by blinker or other light signaling device at the rate of not less than 20 letters per minute.
Send and receive by Semaphore Code at the rate of not less than 30 letters per minute.
Know the proper application of the International Morse and Semaphore Codes; when, where, and how they can be used to best advantage.
Discuss briefly various other codes and methods of signaling which are in common use.

I went on to the 'Order of The Arrow' shortly after that.

07-27-11, 09:11 PM	#1
Feuer Frei! Navy Seal Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Valhalla Posts: 5,295 Downloads: 141 Uploads: 17	Learning Morse Code? Here's a simple chart to aid in the practice of learning Morse Code: http://i.imgur.com/vvEsG.jpg __________________ "History is the lies that the victors agree on"- Napoleon LINK TO MY SH 3 MODS

07-27-11, 09:23 PM	#2
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	I quit the Boy Scouts because I just couldn't earn that Morse Code merit badge. Then I joined the navy and they made me a radioman. When I got to my ship I was the most recent 'A'-School graduate, so I got assigned to recieve any Morse messages that came in, and reply. Once I got out I did everything I could to forget it all as fast as I could. And I did a great job. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

07-27-11, 10:34 PM	#3
nikimcbee Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Patroling the Slot. Posts: 17,952 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	You can come to the pt boat to practice, as all of that equipment works. ...and Steve, you can finally earn that merit badge. __________________

07-27-11, 11:28 PM	#4
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Mumblegrumblerazzafrazzahateyoumumblegrumble... __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

07-28-11, 08:17 AM	#10
Reece CINC Pacific Fleet Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Down Under Posts: 34,701 Downloads: 171 Uploads: 0	Twice I tried learning morse code, I could send ok but stuffed if I could receive, at any speed!! Gave up in disgust!! __________________ *Sub captains go down with their ship!*

07-28-11, 07:58 AM	#8
VirtualVikingX Captain Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Bergen, Norway Posts: 262 Downloads: 40 Uploads: 0	I like it! Thanks for posting. (I did the SOS, instant understanding of the principle)

07-28-11, 04:45 PM	#15
Madox58 Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	I earned my Signaler Badge when I was in Boy Scouts way back in the early '70's. That badge was dropped around 1990 something but revived for the Hundred year anniversary. Requirements To obtain a Merit Badge for Signaling, a Scout must: Make an electric buzzer outfit, wireless, blinker, or other signaling device. Send and receive in the International Morse Code, by buzzer or other sound device, a complete message of not less than 35 words, at a rate of not less than 35 letters per minute. Demonstrate an ability to send and receive a message in the International Morse Code by wigwag and by blinker or other light signaling device at the rate of not less than 20 letters per minute. Send and receive by Semaphore Code at the rate of not less than 30 letters per minute. Know the proper application of the International Morse and Semaphore Codes; when, where, and how they can be used to best advantage. Discuss briefly various other codes and methods of signaling which are in common use. I went on to the 'Order of The Arrow' shortly after that.