| ou are camping out it is necessary to have | | | | happen, you have sent an incorrect signal by error, |
| knowledge about Morse signaling because it is very | | | | send a quick series of eight dots. |
| helpful during an emergency. In this article you will find | | | | If the receiver has understood a word, he notes the |
| more about Morse Code. | | | | fact by sending back a dot, the letter E. If he has |
| Morse code | | | | not understood it, he sends back the letters IM, in |
| The one signaling method in use throughout the | | | | which case you repeat the last word. |
| world is the Morse code. Even though other faster | | | | When you have finished your message, signal the |
| methods of transmitting messages exist today, the | | | | fact by sending AR. If the receiver has understood it, |
| system of dots and dashes has not outlived its | | | | he signs off with the letter R. |
| usefulness. You and your friends can have fun | | | | International Morse Code |
| communicating this way and perhaps some day the | | | | For a well-functioning signaling post, you need three |
| Morse code will prove truly useful for getting help in | | | | people: a signaler, an observer and a writer. The |
| an emergency. With this signal system you can send | | | | signaler has to be easily visible to the receiver; the |
| any sort of message over long distances in a very | | | | other two can lie flat on the ground near him. When |
| short time. When intermediate posts are set up, the | | | | the background is dark, use a bright semaphore. |
| distances covered can be stretched as far as you | | | | When the background is light, use a dark semaphore |
| like. | | | | signaling over Great Distances |
| The principle of the Morse code is that every letter is | | | | When the weather is clear and the countryside is |
| made up of dots and dashes, which can be translated | | | | open you can send signals over great distances if |
| into long and short sounds, or long and short light | | | | your semaphores are large. Since handling very large |
| flashes. The only way to master the Morse code is | | | | flags is awkward, you will need to build an apparatus |
| to learn the signals by heart. Once you have | | | | to rig them up on. The accompanying illustration |
| memorized them, practice sending and receiving | | | | shows a model for this, consisting of a double |
| messages until it too becomes automatic. You will | | | | scaffold made of sticks. Fasten a pair of pulleys on |
| quickly discover how to impress the numbers on your | | | | each horizontal bar for the draw cords to run |
| memory, since they all have five dots or dashes. | | | | through. Hang a small signaling cloth on one set of |
| When you are camping out, a convenient way to | | | | pullies to make the "dot", a large one on the other |
| transmit Morse code is with semaphore flags, | | | | set to represent the "dash". Fasten the cloths to the |
| swinging the flag to the right for a dot, to the left | | | | ground so that they can be drawn taut when pulled |
| for a dash. Now you need to know a few details, | | | | up. Practice to develop your signaling skill. Some boys |
| and you will be ready to send your first dispatch. | | | | who used this system were able to send messages |
| To make connections, that is, when you want to | | | | over a stretch of 20 miles when the weather was |
| send a message, get the receiver's attention by | | | | clear. |
| signaling AAAA, sent as one letter. When he is ready | | | | You and your friends can have fun communicating |
| to receive your message, he signals the letter K. | | | | this way and perhaps some day the Morse code will |
| To signal the end of a word, bring the flag down in | | | | prove truly useful for getting help in an emergency |
| front of you until it almost touches the ground, and | | | | especially when you are out in camp. |
| then bring it back to the upright position. If, as can | | | | |