Morse Code

Morse Code, named after inventor Samuel Morse, was the main type of high speed communication in the late 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. Though initially used with the telegraph, Morse Code can also be used effectively to communicate via flashing lights or repeated sounds. Although rapidly fading from usage, it is still popular with amateur radio operators.

Fast Facts

1. First transmission: May 24, 1844
2. Inventor: Samuel Morse
3. First used on: Telegraph
4. Uses dashes (dahs), dots (dits) and four types of gaps
5. "Help": SOS (Morse: ... --- ...)

SOS

Despite common misconceptions, SOS does not stand for "Save Our Ship" or "Save Our Souls". The sounds are easiest to hear through static, which is why they were selected as the standard international distress call. Though adopted in 1908 as the standard distress calls, others were also in use until shortly after the Titanic sinking on April 15, 1912

SOS Facts

• Became standard distress call: July 1, 1908
• First SOS transmitter: Cunard liner Slavonia
• Date: June 10, 1909
• Previous distress call: CQD (Come Quick Distress)
• Titanic used both CQD and SOS
• U.S. Coast Guard stopped listening for SOS signals in 1990s

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