3 ms·
Morse operators don't need to think about things because the sequences are so short and there's a rythim that keeps letters distinct. Abstractly dot dot dot wit
by Retric 3y ago
Morse operators don't need to think about things because the sequences are so short and there's a rythim that keeps letters distinct. Abstractly dot dot dot with even spacing could be EEE or S but not EI or IE. Listing to longer messages makes the pause pattern clear, and you can even learn who's sending the message based on how they encode it.
However, with SOS anyone can just dot dot dot, dash dash dash, dot dot dot longer pause on repeat and the message is clearly SOS not EEETTTEEE. That's why SOS was chosen it allows out of band communication of information. Even better triangulation adds location information allowing effectively anyone to say HELP I AM AT LAT X LONG Y.
For a slightly less trivial sequence like HAMBURGERANDACOKE you very much need 3 distinct types of pauses to make things understandable. Further you really need to try communicating to someone else not just congratulating yourself after doing something simpler than average Morse code.
- WalterBright 3y ago> you really need to try communicating to someone else not just congratulating yourself after doing something simpler than average Morse code. I didn't advocate something simpler than Morse, I wrote that Morse was more efficient than Tap. Nor did I "congratulate" myself. Your reply also seems answer points I did not make. SOS is also easy to remember without knowing full Morse.
- Retric 3y ago> SOS is also easy to remember without knowing full Morse. It's not simply a question of memory. SOS and Morse are meaningfully different protocols. But I don't think I conveyed that bit particularly well. Try alternating between IAB, SOS, and IJS all are are dot dot dot dash dash dash dot dot dot. However, IAB and IJS is uses 3 different pauses not just 2. And that's before your tap morse code adds yet another type of pause.