Examples
SOS: ••• −−− ••• (universal distress signal)HELLO: •••• • •−•• •−•• −−−GENFY: −−• • −• ••−• −•−−Complete alphabet: A=•−, B=−•••, C=−•−•, D=−••, E=•, etc.In ham radio: 'CQ' (−•−• −−•−) means general call for contact
FAQ
Why is SOS ••• −−− •••?
SOS doesn't stand for 'Save Our Souls'. It was chosen because it's an easy-to-recognize sequence that's hard to confuse: three dots, three dashes, three dots, with no internal spaces. It's a distinctive visual and auditory pattern detectable even in weak signals.
Is Morse Code still used professionally?
Yes, though marginally. Aviation eliminated it in 1999, but amateur radio operators and military maintain it as a backup channel. Some automated maritime lighthouses transmit identification in Morse. It's more cultural and backup than daily use.
Can I learn Morse Code with apps?
Yes, apps like Morse Mania, Gboard (Google's Morse keyboard), and IZ2UUF Morse Koch offer progressive training. The Koch method trains first at high speed with few letters, gradually adding more characters. Achieving fluency takes weeks of daily practice.