Brevity by Dan Thompson for June 09, 2021

We use ASCII in this house, young man! Don’t you forget it!

Well how else are they going to learn Morse code ?

I just checked the requirements for First Class Scout. No more Morse code. But you do have to demonstrate the use of GPS. Not the only thing that’s changed in 60+ years.

If there’s no more MORSING AROUND why not try some HAMMINESS with a RADIO.;D

All they can do is dash. She’s got all the dots!

As with many other changes, it is pain stupid. Morse was a savior for our POWs and allowed them to communicate. Favoring GPS is a double dumb as map and compass are the valuable skills. We run rescues of hikers all the time as their cells and/or GPS failed. With no survival training they are traumatized by any time spent along in the forest. People these days are not prepared.

this time she’s really hoping they get the message…

I think shes got a code. She sounds a little morse.

That’s a spark gap transmitter. They have been illegal to use since 1929.

… _ _ _ …

Those kids look like they could use LOTS of exercise.

The kids show no re-morse.

…—-… the only Morse code I know.

That is an odd looking telegraph key!

My grandpa was a telegrapher for UP RR, grandma used to take me to visit his office. I watched him send messages. When he retired after 40 years there was an article in the paper: “Brasspounders Fading Away.”

At least it’s not smoke signals!

Question for experienced Morse code operators:

When manually sending a real SOS call by code, do you send a double “S” or just a single one? For example, SOSOSOSOSOSOSOS versus SOSSOSSOSSOSSOS.

I’ve seen some automatic SOS lights that don’t flash a double S and some that do. It seems to be that SOSOSOSOS would be easier to send manually and would be just as understandable as sending a “correct” sequence.