Morse code and divers.

[cummings66]

I used to use CW during field day and could hit 50 wpm then, normally I could do 40 wpm but now after years of neglect I'm at 20 wpm.

I can't do it by light or reading. I have to translate it into a sound and then I understand it. Even the simple SOS sent above took me a bit because I had to go dit dit dit dah dah dah dit dit dit to get it.

I'd say doing it by light would be fun for a gimmick but ASL is the way to go.

 

[ArcticDiver]

To say nothing of other uses for ASL vs. Morse. Except for hobbiests there isn't much use for morse any more. It is long gone as the language of last resort in the maritime world. Modern data transmissions are much faster and penetrate the QRM better.

But, why are we going any route but voice? From what we see on Discovery Channel and the PBS specials voice comm is available. Why not just do that? With an appropriate "OFF" switch of course!

 

[H2Andy]

mullah

them stuff be expensive

 

[ArcticDiver]

mullah

them stuff be expensive

So your clients get a rate increase? Or, you have to work another few hours a month? Its' only for a little while until there is enough demand to bring down prices. Besides, the cost of this stuff pales beside what you already have spent on this addiction, eh?

 

[H2Andy]

well ... then you have to buy a full-face maks, which complicates OOA issues ... not
to mention switching deco gases ... can be done, but what a pain in the butt

basically, i need to know three things from my buddy:

i am ok (sweet!)

i am turning the dive (ok)

i am out of air (crap!)

all of which can be easily signed. everything else (from "I am entangled" to
"there's a shark") can be figured out by pointing with your index finger at
the appropriate problem.

that basically is it. everything else can really either be written on a slate if it's important enough or it can wait til we're out of the water.

 

[mike_s]

Many of us know (or knew) Morse Code. It used to be a requirement for your "Ham" radio license (and still should be!).

It's not hard to learn, but I agree that you learn the sound as the "whole letter" of "beeps and dashes" instead of individual dots and dashes.

However, learning it by "light" I'm sure is much harder.


But I don't want to be bothered by a bunch of flashing lights either while I'm diving. Unless it's a real emergency. Which brings to "light" another question. You flash lights all the time during a dive, how you going to get someones attention if there really is an emergency?

However, with all of this said... I've got to commend JS9999 for taking the effort here to try to "build a better mousetrap". So though this isn't for most divers, I say we pat him on the back for his contribution.

-Mike

 

[wardric]

sign language could be cool underwater... as long as you dont wear 3 fingered mitts. Then, you're screwed with some words

 

[herman]

. ............It is long gone as the language of last resort in the maritime world. Modern data transmissions are much faster and penetrate the QRM better.....................

QRM = morse operator shorthand for noise, fading and interfernce. Q signals are similar to the well know 10 codes.....10-4.

No doubt modern data modes are faster but they still can't rival the well trained CW op in bad conditions. The well trained part is what's now missing. The more I think about this the more I may just have to build something.

 

[andydiver06]

I can say hi with my rattler - .... ..-

 

[LavaSurfer]

sign language could be cool underwater... as long as you dont wear 3 fingered mitts. Then, you're screwed with some words

Ya, I like to keep my middle finger free. I use that sign when someone kicks my mask. :11: