Sounds like morse codel...

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nrps801

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I keep listening to St. Catharines FD and it sounds like morse code pops through every so often, and usually nothing follows it. I'm just curious as to what it means.
 

WouffHong

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Id Cw

:roll:

Whats that used for? Or.. what does it do

As he mentioned, it is used to ID the Transmitter in accordance with FCC regulations. The CW (Morse Code tones) sends the station official Call-Sign periodically.

That'll go away before long - The FCC and Government/Military requirements for the Military Communications chaps learning how to use the Morse Code (actually American Morse Code") have been eliminated, taking away the most reliable and simplest electronic communication mode ever.. Now nobody but us "ol Phats" or die-hard hams know how to use it/read it without a computer.. :-(

bummer.... :-(

Tom
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http://wouffhong.org
 

mikewazowski

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:roll:

As he mentioned, it is used to ID the Transmitter in accordance with FCC regulations. The CW (Morse Code tones) sends the station official Call-Sign periodically.

Tom
W4NOV (extra-class)

Yeah, because stations in Canada really care about FCC regs.

:roll:
 

n5ims

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American vs International Morse Code

As he mentioned, it is used to ID the Transmitter in accordance with FCC regulations. The CW (Morse Code tones) sends the station official Call-Sign periodically.

That'll go away before long - The FCC and Government/Military requirements for the Military Communications chaps learning how to use the Morse Code (actually American Morse Code") have been eliminated, taking away the most reliable and simplest electronic communication mode ever.. Now nobody but us "ol Phats" or die-hard hams know how to use it/read it without a computer...

Actually the FCC requires the IDs to be in "International Morse Code" (aka Continental Morse Code) not "American Morse Code" "By transmitting the call sign in International Morse Code at least once each hour." "American Morse Code" is the version used by the US railroads which has several "wierd" codes that differ from "International Morse Code" such as a long dash (4 time units) for "L" and an even longer dash (5 time units) for zero "0", vs .-.. and ----- as we normally see. There are also some "wierd" spacing both within characters and other times when using American Morse Code.

More info on "International Morse Code" is here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morse_code
More info on "American Morse Code" is here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Morse_code

I hope this helps!
 
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wlmr

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The original post is talking about Canadian radio signals, kinda think any discussion about the FCC really doesn't apply! :)

So in Canada is there a regulatory agency that is the same as the FCC in the US that has rules that require similar identifying of radio frequencies? Could that requirement still be the source of the morse code the OP is hearing?
 

mikewazowski

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Yes, Industry Canada has similar regs and the morse code that is being heard is probably the station identifier.

And of course, any discussion of FCC requirements doesn't apply since we're in Canada.
 
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