Iran hostages used Morse code in solitary

[k4kyv]

One of the British seamen held hostage in Iran has told how they used Morse code to stay in touch with one another while imprisoned.

I am wondering how and why they learnt the code. Does the Royal Navy routinely teach Morse code to all its sailors? If so, why did UK eliminate the code test from its amateur exams? Also, the captives would have had to transfer from the long and short beep CW sounds, to clicks, like what is heard with an old fashioned landline telegraph sounder.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages....omments (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=447331&in_page_id=1770&in_page_id=1770&expand=true#StartComments)

[n4sva]

Good to see they were not QRM'd by RTTY contesters. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[n6hcm]

Quote[/b] (k4kyv @ April 09 2007,11:33)]Does the Royal Navy routinely teach Morse code to all its sailors? If so, why did UK eliminate the code test from its amateur exams?
probably because the UK authority for amateur radio operators didn't expect many of its licensees would be snatched from the seas by the iranian revolutionary guard.

[KD6NIG]

The question is, did any of their guards know it, and also know english, so they could intercept the messages?

In this case, though its not likely they would have escaped, I'm sure they were using the code so their captors couldn't tell what they were saying to each other.....

[K8MHZ]

It's doubtful they used Morse Code. #They probably used some form of code by tapping on wood, but it would have been difficult to send Morse in that manner, if they even knew it.

Metal 'rings' and dits and dahs can be sent by striking the metal and muting the ring to coincide with the characters sent. #That doesn't work with wood.

The reporters probably don't know even know what Morse Code is.

[KC0W]

Quote[/b] (k8mhz @ April 09 2007,20:15)]#They probably used some form of code by tapping on wood, but it would have been difficult to send Morse in that manner, if they even knew it.
Yes, you can send a kind of CW without "dits" & dahs".

Quite a few years ago, I spent some time learning the Tap Code: Link Here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tap_Code) but since 98% of amateurs do not know Tap Code, it quickly faded from my memory since I didn't have anyone to practice it with on amateur radio.


Tom kcØw

[N2RJ]

Quote[/b] (KC0W @ April 09 2007,15:31)]Yes, you can send a kind of CW without "dits" & dahs".
In fact that's how they first did it.

Clickity clack clickity clack.

[KD6NIG]

Well, the only reason I ask is because, if I wanted military people to be able to communicate in that situation, I don't think I would want them to be using a code that is freely available for anyone to study and learn.

You'd want them to use something else, probably http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[k4kyv]

One year I passed by a booth at Dayton where they had an old clickity-clack sounder connected up to a machine running a modern code practice tape. I was amazed at how easy the code was to understand in my head, even that was the first time I had actually listened to it and tried to read it.

[K8MHZ]

Quote[/b] (KC0W @ April 09 2007,08:31)]Quote[/b] (k8mhz @ April 09 2007,20:15)]#They probably used some form of code by tapping on wood, but it would have been difficult to send Morse in that manner, if they even knew it.
Yes, you can send a kind of CW without "dits" & dahs".

Quite a few years ago, I spent some time learning the Tap Code: Link Here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tap_Code) but since 98% of amateurs do not know Tap Code, it quickly faded from my memory since I didn't have anyone to practice it with on amateur radio.


# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #Tom kcØw
I like the tap code!

It's not Morse though, but not a bad thing to know how to use.

[K8MHZ]

Quote[/b] (AB2MH @ April 09 2007,08:33)]Quote[/b] (KC0W @ April 09 2007,15:31)]Yes, you can send a kind of CW without "dits" & dahs".
In fact that's how they first did it.

Clickity clack clickity clack.
I saw a demo of a sounder. More of a modulated click-thud-click to me.

I would have needed a Prince Albert can lid I sadly admit.

[ka5piu]

Hello.

EVERY follower of Islam is trained in a code that can be sent by CW but is normally sent by drum.
I can send both international morse code and extended Arabic morse as well as drum code with a straight key.
And at least 10% of the members of my Mosque will understand.
So, to say that the prisoners could send morse code and not be detected would be a stretch.
The call to prayer is done by singing if local but drum if far away.
And the original time signals may have been Arabic.
Bells are never used.

[KC9ECI]

Someone get me my hip waders, it's getting deep in here.

[nz3m]

Quote[/b] (ka5piu @ April 08 2007,15:52)]Hello.

EVERY follower of Islam is trained in a code that can be sent by CW
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[G0GQK]

Perhaps the Royal Navy is now teaching its personnel enciphered finger tapped code.! I bet they were just banging on the wall like they do in those old convicts in prison Hollywood B films.

[KC0W]

The very first example of Tap Code that I remember was on Hogan's Heroes. Anyone here also recall seeing that episode?


Tom kcØw

[ka5piu]

Hello.

I might be getting deep, but.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drum_(communication)
The slit drum is a staple in Arabic culture.
Both folk dances and communications are carried out by drum.
http://www.hobgoblin.com/local/cartdrum.htm
http://www.al-bab.com/arab/music/instruments.htm
One of the first things I learned when playing with radio was how to set the BFO to get both tones.
Both tones!?
The next thing I learned was that Arabs took the old drum code, a high pitch and a low pitch, and transposed this to radio.
The trick is to do FSK, but with a twist.
A paddle is connected.
No pressure and no carrier.
Depress one side and you get the low carrier.
The other and you get the high carrier.
Later, 2 transmitters were used and a bit more spread was employed, a simple means of encryption.
I send this mode to this day, and have for as long as I have been a ham.
I modded a Texas Star linear/CW transmitter, adding 2 master oscillators to do this very thing a few years back.
In the Amateur band I sent plain text ID and keep the spread consistant with a FSK signal.
But, again, this is one of my normal modes.
The FT-8x7 series is very easily adapted to this, nothing but a cable from the FSK to a paddle.
The AN/GRC-9 needs the FSK unit/RF amp but a simple 2 transistor mod was common at one time.
The TS-430 needs little, again just FSK.
The code can also be sent in monotone, at that point a standard straight key is used, but the vocabulary is very limited with only one "beat".

[wa4brl]

Why does everyone insist upon tapping or scratching as the only methods of creating Morse without mechanical/electronic assistance? There is an amazing range of sounds we can make using our mouths, with or without engaging the vocal cords.

Try whistling. Or hissing. Or humming. Or blow air between your lips (bbbbbbbbb), you horn players know what I mean. You guys are inventive, think of some more. [Speak amongst yourselves.]

Having a variety of sounds at one's disposal is good. Various wall materials and noise environments require specialized sounds cut through them and still be "copiable". Who knows, even scratching and tapping might occaisionally come in handy.

[KC7ATO]

Don't forget you can always use the letters in alphabet soup to send secret messages to. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[NA4BH]

Quote[/b] (KC7ATO @ April 09 2007,16:44)]Don't forget you can always use the letters in alphabet soup to send secret messages to. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
You can encrypt that code with Alpha-Bits cereal. #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif # #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif # #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[ka5s]

Quote[/b] (KC7ATO @ April 09 2007,19:44)]Don't forget you can always use the letters in alphabet soup to send secret messages to. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Now we're "passing" traffic, eh?

FWIW, I also think it likely the code used would be a 5X5 (in English) "prisoners code." But sailors whose navy uses blinker light signals may well know IMC .



Cortland
KA5S

[KD6NIG]

I'm sure if they get caught that they didn't do anything to them, hopefully.

I remember a friend of mine whose Dad spent some time in a prisoner camp in Vietnam telling me what they did to guys who tried to send messages or anything like that.

If you want to talk about inhuman punishment.....