The Morse alphabet, also Morse code or Morse code, is a way to convey letters, numbers, special characters, and other characters of punctuation. The Morse alphabet is based on the fact that an acoustic or visual signal is switched on and off. The signal is either long or short and is separated by pauses. The Morse alphabet can be transmitted via radio and audio signals or as an electrical pulse as well as mechanically or optically. (→ here is the online translator for Morsecode).
The term goes back to Samuel Morse, who in 1833 developed the first writing telegram, which actually worked. At that time the Morse code contained only the ten digits (0-9), whereby the transferred numbers could be translated into letters and words by means of a table. Alfred Lewis Vail, an engineer and coworker Morses, developed around 1838 the first code, which encompassed besides the numbers also letters: the first Morse alphabet. This was in use until the 1960s, ie over 100 years.
Note: In the following, we present the Morse alphabet and also the numerals and selected special characters, give all the letters audio examples, and finally refer to some exercises in order to learn and use the Morse alphabet independently.
Note: The length of a Morsecode depends on how often a character is used. This is especially true for the letters. Letters that are used very often have a short Morse code (T, E), letters that are rarely used have a longer length.
Overview: The most important aspect of the Morse code at a glance
The Morse alphabet is a system for transmitting letters by means of a signal. This signal can be transmitted visually or acoustically. The only important thing is that the selected signal can distinguish between lengths and shortening. Therefore, knocking signals, as often shown in films, are not suitable. It can not be separated between long and short tapping. Klopfzeichen alphabets are suitable (polybios cipher).
In 1833, Samuel Morse developed the very first writing telegram, which actually worked. The proposed Morse alphabet was based only on numbers. Alfred Lewis Vail later developed the first Morse code based on letters and numbers.
The well-known SOS, which is dispatched as a distress call in the shipping sector, was created because it was easy to identify with morsen and clearly. The meanings Save our Souls or Save our Ships were only interpreted in hindsight.
A fast radio operator creates around 50 words per minute to spark (WpM). The above examples, which appear to us fast, have only a WpM of 18. The following sample code is intended for beginners. The WpM is at 6.
Code crack: If you feel like, try to decide the following. The speed was throttled to 6 WpM.