Morse code is a type of character encoding that transmits
telegraphic information using rhythm. Morse code uses a standardized
sequence of short and long elements to represent the letters, numerals,
punctuation and special characters of a given message. The short and long
elements can be formed by sounds, marks, or pulses, in on off keying and are
commonly known as "dots" and "dashes" or "dits" and "dahs". The speed of
Morse code is measured in words per minute (WPM) or characters per minute,
while fixed-length data forms of telecommunication transmission are usually
measured in baud or bps.
Originally created for Samuel F. B. Morse's electric telegraph in the early
1840s, Morse code was also extensively used for early radio communication
beginning in the 1890s. In the early part of the twentieth century, the
majority of high-speed international communication was conducted in Morse
code, using telegraph lines, undersea cables, and radio circuits. However,
the variable length of the Morse characters made it hard to adapt to
automated circuits, so for most electronic communication it has been
replaced by machine readable formats, such as Baudot code and ASCII.
The most popular current use of Morse code is by amateur radio operators,
although it is no longer a requirement for amateur licensing in many
countries. In the professional field, pilots and air traffic controllers are
usually familiar with Morse code and require a basic understanding.
Navigational aids in the field of aviation, such as VORs and NDBs,
constantly transmit their identity in Morse code. Morse code is designed to
be read by humans without a decoding device, making it useful for sending
automated digital data in voice channels. For emergency signaling, Morse
code can be sent by way of improvised sources that can be easily "keyed" on
and off, making Morse code one of the most versatile methods of
telecommunication in existence.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The International morse code characters are:
| 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
--..
|
0
-----
|
1
.----
|
2
..---
|
3
...--
|
4
....-
|
5
.....
|
6
-....
|
7
--...
|
8
---..
|
9
----.
|
Fullstop .-.-.-
|
Comma --..--
|
Query ..--..
|
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