Why?
Morse Code can be laborious to send and slow when using a hand pump style of key. Therefore various code systems were used by operators to shorten the time it took to send messages. In the early days of Morse code on ships there was a book published which has these codes in it. of those short version codes CQ, 73's 88's and a few other number codes are the only one remaining.
In the case of CQ it was simply a invitation for any wireless operator who could receive the call to answer. There were varients of this CQ followed by the callsign such as "CQ CQ CQ G4ZQM DE G0TMH " was a specific request for a station to reply ( In the example radio station G0TMH is calling G4ZQM the DE means 'from'). CQDX requests a long distance communication. (All of these codes are used by radio hams today using Morse).
CQD was the internationally recognised call requesting any station to respond to a distress call (One assumes the D of CQD stands for "distress").
Other codes and cyphers existed such as the number codes 73's and 88's which were used by radio operators to shorten messages for passengers on ships who regularly said the same thing such as "Best wishes" (73) and "Love and kisses" (88). Most of these number codes have been lost in time and there is no copies of the radio offices code books available. It is also likely that each shipping company had its own short version codes to encrypt traffic from other companies and ships listening in.
SOS
The letters of S O S in Morse code are the sounds ... --- ... (short short short, long long long, short short short);
These are the extremes of opposite in Morse code. Consider that 911 in USA is used on the key pad for a phone because it is at the extreme ends of the keypad and therefore unlikely to be pressed by accident. The same logic occurs in Morse.
Later on the letters S O S were attributed to the phrase Save Our Souls but in fact had nothing to do with the reason SOS was chosen.
The emergency distress signal is typically represented by the internationally recognized distress signal "SOS," which can be transmitted in Morse code as three short signals, three long signals, and three short signals (· · · — — — · · ·). This signal indicates an urgent need for help. In addition to Morse code, visual signals like flares or signaling with a mirror can also be used to communicate distress. Remembering these signals can be crucial in emergency situations to attract attention and request assistance.
The Morse code for SOS is represented as three short signals, followed by three long signals, and then three short signals again. In Morse code, this is written as "··· --- ···". The SOS signal is universally recognized as a distress call and is used in emergency situations to indicate a need for assistance.
CQD in Morse Code means "All stations: Distress", and was used as a distress signal. Both Jack Phillips and Harold Bride used this code and the newer SOS when they attempted to reach out to ships during the Titanic sinking.
it means save our soulsSOS isn't actually an abbreviation, so it doesn't technically stand for anything. Those letters were chosen as the Morse code for a distress signal because they are easy to transmit. Over time, the code became associated with phrases like "save our souls" and "save our ship".
The Morse code
Morse code allows transmission of information using signals that stop and start at various known intervals, such as radio signals or lights, or electrical signals, making it extremely simple to build a transmitter. Others have said They have the morse code so people can send cryptic messages that are easy to understand.
Morse Code, invented in the 1830s, uses two symbols, the dot and the dash, in sequences, to indicate letters. In 1836, Samuel Morse demonstrated the ability of a telegraph system to transmit information over wires. The information was sent as a series of electrical signals. The most well-known usage of Morse code is for sending the distress signal: SOS. In the year 1999, Morse code is being replaced by a new satellite-based system for sending distress calls at sea.
You can use Morse code to communicate messages by representing each letter with a series of dots and dashes. For example, "SOS" in Morse code is "... --- ...", which is the universal distress signal.
There is no full for SOS, but it is a distress signal in the Morse code, which goes like this : (· · · - - - · · ·)
Morse code can save your life by providing a means of communication in situations where verbal communication is impossible, such as during emergencies or when lost in remote areas. By using simple signals like tapping or flashing lights, you can convey distress signals (e.g., SOS) to rescuers. Its simplicity and effectiveness in conveying messages across distances can alert others to your location and needs, potentially leading to timely help. Additionally, understanding Morse code can enable you to interpret signals from others, enhancing your situational awareness in critical moments.
A Morse code machine typically consists of a key or button that can be pressed to create short or long signals (dots and dashes) representing letters or numbers. These signals are then translated into corresponding letters or numbers based on the Morse code alphabet. This allows messages to be sent and received using a series of short and long signals.
SOS, the internationally recognized distress signal, was established in 1905 and adopted by the International Radiotelegraphic Convention in 1906. It was first used in maritime communication starting in 1909. The signal is represented in Morse code as three short signals, three long signals, and three short signals (• • • – – – • • •).