Learning the Code

Before the days of broadcasting as we know it, all radio communication was carried on in code. Although the use of code was necessitated primarily by the type of transmitting equipment then in use, this was a happy accident since code is still considered the best means of communication for accuracy and speed.

Code is nothing more or less than the transmission of intelligence by comibnations of dots and dashes which form letters of the alphabet. Of the two types of code, Morse and Continental, the latter is used exclusively in radio work and with it communication may be carried on in any language. Amateurs also use the code in combination with abbreviations called the Q signals which may be considered an international language. By means of the Q signals it is thus possible to carry on a limited conversation with an amateur in any part of the world.

Amateur License - The Federal Communications Commission has done away with all code proficiency testing for amateur radio licenses, but prior to 2006, it was necessary to pass a code test to demonstrate the ability to copy Morse code in order to gain access to the High Frequency bands.

Present Use of the Code - Code is inivinitely more exclusive and thirlling than phone (voice communication) as it requires some measure of skill and practice whereas no special technique is required for phone operation. The beginner should concentrate on the use of code since the code transmitter is simpler and more easily constructed; it is less expensive, and greater distances can be covered with a given amount of transmitter power.

Learning the Code - Learning the code is the logical start in amateur radio. Briefly, there are three steps in mastering the code:

Memorize the character sounds
Practice on a code oscillator.
Copy actual messages

The code alphabet is given here as a first step. It is proper to think of the characters NOT as dots and dashes but as short sounds (dits) and long sounds (dashes) - you should learn the 'sound' of each character rather than envision the sound in dots and dashes and then translate the dots and dashes into letters in your mind.

A di-dah N dah-dit

B dah-di-di-dit O dah-dah-dah

C dah-di-dah-dit P di-dah-dah-dit

D dah-di-dit Q dah-dah-di-dah

E dit R di-dah-dit

F di-di-dah-dit S di-di-dit

G dah-dah-dit T dah

H di-di-di-dit U di-dah-dah

I di-dit V di-di-di-dah

J di-dah-dah-dah W di-dah-dah

K dah-di-dah X dah-di-di-dah

L di-dah-di-dit Y dah-di-dah-dah

M dah-dah Z dah-dah-di-dit

Here are the letters grouped in easily memorized groups, which may be learned group by group.

GROUP ONE GROUP TWO

E dit T dah

I di-dit M dah-dah

S di-di-dit O dah-dah-dah

H di-di-di-dit

GROUP THREE GROUP FOUR

A di-dah U di-di-dah

W di-dah-dah V di-di-di-dah

J di-dah-dah-dah

GROUP FIVE GROUP SIX

G dah-dah-dit N dah-dit

Z dah-dah-di-dit D dah-di-dit

P di-dah-dah-dit B dah-di-di-dit

GROUP SEVEN GROUP EIGHT

R di-dah-dit K dah-di-dah

F di-di-dah-dit X dah-di-di-dah

L di-dah-di-dit C dah-di-dah-dit

Y dah-di-dah-dah

Q dah-dah-di-dah

THE NUMBERS

Numbers are unique because they have five sounds per number and are easily memorized because they follow a straight-forward pattern...

1 di-dah-dah-dah-dah 6 dah-di-di-di-dit

2 di-dit-dah-dah-dah 7 dah-dah-di-di-dit

3 di-di-dit-dah-dah 8 dah-dah-dah-di-dit

4 di-di-di-dit-dah 9 dah-dah-dah-dah-dit

5 di-di-di-di-dit 0 dah-dah-dah-dah-dah

PUNCTUATION MARKS

Just like when writing using letters and numbers, punctuation marks are also used when sending code...

Full stop (period) di-dah-di-dah-di-dah

Comma dah-dah-di-di-dah-dah

Question Mark di-di-dah-dah-di-dit

Equals Sign dah-di-di-di-dah

PRO SIGNS

There are certain pro signs or shorthand characters you should be aware of when sending or copying Morse code.

AR End of Message di-dah-di-dah-dit

AS Wait di-dah-di-di-dit

BT Break in text dah-di-di-di-dah

CL Clear (off air) dah-di-dah-di-di-dah-di-dit

SK End of transmission di-di-di-dah-di-dah

james m. surprenant