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The message: “19 people rescued. You're next. Don't lose hope.” More info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Better_Days_(Natalia_Gutierrez_y_Angelo_song) https:

The message: “19 people rescued. You're next. Don't lose hope.” More info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Better_Days_(Natalia_Gutierrez_y_Angelo_song) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Better_Days_(Natalia_Gutierrez...

aardvarkr 4y ago
If you know what to listen for it’s pretty easy to figure it out. Here’s the song on YouTube and the morse code part starts around 2:30. Super cool. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fVUWjoTxOU8 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fVUWjoTxOU8
- 7402 4y ago
  It's not easy for me to figure out. I'd guess it's at around 25 wpm. (Anybody know?) At that speed with an absolutely clear signal and when I'm totally relaxed I can copy maybe 50% of what I hear. I can barely get a letter or two from that song - there's a lot going on on top of the Morse code. When code was required for US ham radio licenses, it took passing a 20 wpm test to get the top license (Amateur Extra). Commercial Radiotelegraph Licenses used to require 20 wpm for a second class license and 25 wpm for a first class license. Unless someone was in the equivalent of the Signal Corps, I'd be surprised if they could copy the message.
  - thaumasiotes 4y ago
    I assume this got played more than one time. The message is included three times per play of the song. And the hint of a message was surely enough to motivate hostages who noticed it to focus on decoding it over time. It wasn't necessary for everyone to be able to decode it themselves: > one rescued hostage spoke of hearing the Morse code message in his psychological evaluation and had passed on its meaning to his fellow captives.
  - wglb 4y ago
    Brief review it seems to be about 20 wpm. It is tricky, as it seems to go from channel to channel. Among hams, this was not all that strenuous to decode, particularly if the song is repeated. Many hams, particularly in Europe, work contests at speeds at or over 40 wpm. I'm one of the ones that got the Extra class license at 20 wpm. My peak speed was about 40 wpm. One of the teachers not far from where I grew up, W7QYA, Flo, was usually found at 60 wpm. There is a weekly operating activity called CWT from CWops where the speeds are often on the order of 40 wpm. It sounds like their basic training covered Morse Code. I know that pilots used to be required to know the code. Some time ago, the requirement for Merchant Marine operators to know code was dropped. Nowadays, it is pretty much ham radio operators that have facility in morse code operation.
    - icehawk 4y ago
      It flips between channels but I don't think it's supposed to be listened to in headphones
- countmora 4y ago
  Just to add: The sentences start a bit after 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 respectively.
deleted 4y ago
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Garlef 4y ago
Additional TL;DR (so you don't need to go to Wikipedia): The message was embedded as morse code into the chorus.
- Stratoscope 4y ago
  The chorus ends with "escuchas esta mensaje, hermano" ("listen to this message, brother"). And then the Morse code is in the instrumental break right after that.
deleted 4y ago
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aardvarkr 4y ago

If you know what to listen for it’s pretty easy to figure it out. Here’s the song on YouTube and the morse code part starts around 2:30. Super cool. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fVUWjoTxOU8 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fVUWjoTxOU8

7402 4y ago
It's not easy for me to figure out. I'd guess it's at around 25 wpm. (Anybody know?) At that speed with an absolutely clear signal and when I'm totally relaxed I can copy maybe 50% of what I hear. I can barely get a letter or two from that song - there's a lot going on on top of the Morse code. When code was required for US ham radio licenses, it took passing a 20 wpm test to get the top license (Amateur Extra). Commercial Radiotelegraph Licenses used to require 20 wpm for a second class license and 25 wpm for a first class license. Unless someone was in the equivalent of the Signal Corps, I'd be surprised if they could copy the message.
- thaumasiotes 4y ago
  I assume this got played more than one time. The message is included three times per play of the song. And the hint of a message was surely enough to motivate hostages who noticed it to focus on decoding it over time. It wasn't necessary for everyone to be able to decode it themselves: > one rescued hostage spoke of hearing the Morse code message in his psychological evaluation and had passed on its meaning to his fellow captives.
- wglb 4y ago
  Brief review it seems to be about 20 wpm. It is tricky, as it seems to go from channel to channel. Among hams, this was not all that strenuous to decode, particularly if the song is repeated. Many hams, particularly in Europe, work contests at speeds at or over 40 wpm. I'm one of the ones that got the Extra class license at 20 wpm. My peak speed was about 40 wpm. One of the teachers not far from where I grew up, W7QYA, Flo, was usually found at 60 wpm. There is a weekly operating activity called CWT from CWops where the speeds are often on the order of 40 wpm. It sounds like their basic training covered Morse Code. I know that pilots used to be required to know the code. Some time ago, the requirement for Merchant Marine operators to know code was dropped. Nowadays, it is pretty much ham radio operators that have facility in morse code operation.
  - icehawk 4y ago
    It flips between channels but I don't think it's supposed to be listened to in headphones
countmora 4y ago
Just to add: The sentences start a bit after 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 respectively.

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]

Garlef 4y ago

Additional TL;DR (so you don't need to go to Wikipedia): The message was embedded as morse code into the chorus.

Stratoscope 4y ago
The chorus ends with "escuchas esta mensaje, hermano" ("listen to this message, brother"). And then the Morse code is in the instrumental break right after that.

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]