I hate to seem like a one-trick pony, only writing about CW, but all this talk of the elimination of the Morse Code requiement has generated a flurry of articles on the topic. I already mentioned the article in the NY Times, but there has also been stuff written for kids. The Weekly Reader, a magazine for kids, recently published the article “SOS for Morse Code.”
On the SKCC Yahoo Group, Glen K9STH noted:
The NSA (National Security Agency / Central Security Service is encouraging young people to learn the International Morse code! Seems like the NSA recognizes a need for those who can copy the International Morse code proficiently!
On the NSA website, there’s a section called CryptoKids, and Morse Code is a part of this section. To access “Operation Dit Dah,” an online game designed to teach kids Morse Code:
- Go to http://www.nsa.gov/kids/home.cfm.
- Click on Games and Activities.
- Click on Online Games.
- Click on Operation Dit Dah.
K8ELR says
Dan, I just checked out the NSA site. I have no excuse now to not learn code.
larry says
I too hate what the FCC did on this as in my opinion many might never learn it and it was so much fun to learn. If you pardon the expression even a 9 yr old could learn it. I got mine back when it was still 13 wpm and it was fun but I really enjoyed it. The way its going our licenses might be going the wrong way but you can;t convince the no code hams.Its a sasd day for hams and in my mind any future wannabe should learn the code as we did.
julia morgan says
I am a teaching assistant at a school in Solihull, West Midlands. I am running a little course for some children who have learning difficulties – find it hard to listen, keep focussed etc. One thing the three boys and I have to do is learn a new skill together. I suggested a number of things and they chose Morse Code! I have been looking on the Internet for ‘child-friendly’ sites and I thought SOS for Morse Code and the quiz etc looked ideal! I am particularly interested as my father served in Air-Sea Rescue during WW2 and was a radio operator, using morse code, on his boat in the Mediterranean, based in Cyprus. He often used to mess about sending us messages when we were children on the kitchen table at home. Anyway, hope the children at school enjoy it too!
Dan KB6NU says
Very cool, Julia. Please keep us informed on your progress……..Dan
Kathleen says
I am writing from Edmonton, Alberta Canada. I am looking for a websites that would aid my son in obtaining his Tawny Star for Cub Scouts Canada. One of the requirements that could be done is learning to send and receive morse code. The Dit Dah Game is a fantastic tool! As a Canadian many of us grew up watching the Canadian Vignettes of history on tv done by the CBC . One that sticks in my mind is the “Halifax Explosion” where an amunition ship collided with another ship in Halifax harbour and was going to explode. It was the telegraph operator who ran back and messaged the oncoming train to stop it. He was able to send the message and stop the train in time before the ship exploded and saved those on the train. Unfortunately the telegraph operator died in the explosion. You can watch this one minute video on http://www.youtube.com search Halifax Explosion. Show this to your kids, it gives them an idea of the importance of knowing mose code and how it played an important role in Canadian history.