SMOKE SIGNALS OVER THE PRAIRIE - Part 2

Articles In This Section:

· THE SEMAPHORE

· SMOKE SIGNALS OVER THE PRAIRIE - Part 1

· SMOKE SIGNALS OVER THE PRAIRIE - Part 2

· SMOKE SIGNALS OVER THE PRAIRIE - Part 3

Morse Code

The one signaling method in use throughout the world is the Morse Code. Even though other faster methods of transmitting messages exist today, the system of dots and dashes has not outlived its usefulness. You and your friends can have fun communicating this way and perhaps some day the Morse Code will prove truly useful for getting help in an emergency. With this signal system you can send any sort of message over long distances in a very short time. When intermediate posts are set up, the distances covered can be stretched as far as you like.

The principle of the Morse Code is that every letter is made up of dots and dashes, which can be translated into long and short sounds, or long and short light flashes.

The only way to master the Morse Code is to learn the signals by heart. Once you have memorized them, practice sending and receiving messages until it too becomes automatic. You will quickly discover how to impress the numbers on your memory, since they all have five dots or dashes.

When you are camping out, a convenient way to transmit Morse Code is with semaphore flags, swinging the flag to the right for a dot, to the left for a dash.

Now you need to know a few details, and you will be ready to send your first dispatch.

To make connections, that is, when you want to send a message, get the receiver's attention by signaling AAAA, sent as one letter. When he is ready to receive your message, he signals the letter K.

To signal the end of a word, bring the flag down in front of you until it almost touches the ground, then bring it back to the upright position.

If, as can happen, you have sent an incorrect signal by error, send a quick series of eight dots.

If the receiver has understood a word, he notes the fact by sending back a dot, the letter E. If he has not understood it, he sends back the letters IM/, in which case you repeat the last word.

When you have finished your message, signal the fact by sending AR. If the receiver has understood it, he signs off with the letter R.