The one true practical use for Morse Code in Amateur Radio licensing

[GlobalNorth]

We are all getting older...

Dementia Patients Used Morse Code Training to Escape From a Senior Living Facility

Security experts analyze the clever way the husband and wife briefly broke free.

www.popularmechanics.com

 

[drdispatch]

That guy is my hero. I would drive down there just to buy him a beer.
"Youth and skill are no match for old age and treachery."

 

[techman210]

Most likely it wasn’t Morse code. This guy likely had a good “musical ear”.

I knew someone that could decode DTMF by ear long before DTMF display decoders existed. He credited his musician background.

 

[jonwienke]

Keypads don't use Morse code, they use DTMF tones. Yet another case of stupid reporters getting basic facts wrong in an article, and proofreaders and editors missing the obvious.

 

[drdispatch]

The article didn't say that the keypad used Morse Code. "The man said he had previously worked with Morse code in the military, and his ear was trained enough to figure out the code on the pad from the noise it made. He reportedly duplicated the numbers to unlock the door." (Direct quote from article, emphasis mine.) It also didn't say how many attempts he made before he got it right.

And let's face it, the code was probably something original like "1-2-3-4".

 

[captaincab]

Having worked in Ems in My experience most places use something simple the last four digits of the phone number or the numerical address or the month and year example 0921 most places tend to change it monthly or yearly say 2021 22 etc they are usually very easy to guess

 

[a417]

That guy is my hero. I would drive down there just to buy him a beer.
"Youth and skill are no match for old age and treachery."

A cagey, veteran maneuver.

 

[W0JOG]

There are many uses for a simple communication method such as Morse Code. We just have morphed to a society too interested in gadgets and not in exploring simple ways to communicate in a pinch. Try having an operation on your brain and waking to discover you are in recovery and no one around you knows you are awake again. Been there, done that thanks to an EMT who also is/was a Boy Scout. He sensed my measured squeezing of his hand as I said "Hi."

de W0JOG

 

[drdispatch]

A cagey, veteran maneuver.

We don't call them The Greatest Generation for nothing....

 

[drdispatch]

...I knew someone that could decode DTMF by ear long before DTMF display decoders existed. He credited his musician background.

I was stationed with a guy in Germany who could whistle at 2600Hz and disconnect your AUTOVON call.

 

[merlin]

Back in my day, code was required to get your license so I learned it.
One form of communication that should never die IMHO.
SWLing, the first thing I look for is CW.

 

[WB9YBM]

Yet another case of stupid reporters getting basic facts wrong in an article, and proofreaders and editors missing the obvious.

Or they're just not technically trained. I've seen the same thing in other areas, too like HR departments where the HR person does the basic interviewing and not have a concept of what they're hiring for.

 

[WB9YBM]

Back in my day, code was required to get your license so I learned it.
One form of communication that should never die IMHO.
SWLing, the first thing I look for is CW.

Yup, few things beat CW when trying to punch through noise.

 

[N8LHG]

I have an advanced class. For those out there, it is a class retired, but still valid, requiring CW. I'm glad I know it, for there are still repeaters that ID in CW, as well as long time CW perfectionists on HF bands. I personally can't understand why you wouldn't want it as a requirement, or at least have a basic memorization of it. But I'm old school that has been an operator since the 70s. I've worked stations in QRP mode that would be almost impossible on voice. It can be a blast. Anyway... That's my 2 cents.

 

[drdispatch]

I have an advanced class. For those out there, it is a class retired, but still valid, requiring CW. I'm glad I know it, for there are still repeaters that ID in CW, as well as long time CW perfectionists on HF bands. I personally can't understand why you wouldn't want it as a requirement, or at least have a basic memorization of it. But I'm old school that has been an operator since the 70s. I've worked stations in QRP mode that would be almost impossible on voice. It can be a blast. Anyway... That's my 2 cents.

Kudos to you sir, for being one of the few "Masters of Morse". You have my respect.
👍

 

[Golay]

The original post reminds me of a story that floated around the local repeaters around me about a dozen years (at least).
So I may not have this story entirely correct, but this is what I recall:

One of the hams somewhere here in Metro Detroit was visiting someone in a nursing home. While walking down the hallway, there was a patient he didn't know tapping CQ out on the side of the table or wheelchair or something like that. The ham replied "CQ" and one of the patients family members said "What are you talking about?". Turns out the patient had a stroke, couldn't speak, and had been tapping out CQ to everyone he seen. When the family member realized he was sending code, she started crying. Right on the spot, the ham and the patient worked it out so she understood K and N. Yes and no. When the story hit the repeaters, someone donated a CPO to the family. And some of the family learned all the characters. The family had not been able to communicate with him since his stroke.

The one thing I never did know is was he a ham? Or maybe just someone that knew code? Maybe in the military? Not sure about that.
If I recall right, he knew code just fine. And I believe someone said he had a good fist. And he could understand everything someone spoke to him.