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#1
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NIST Makes Astounding Discovery
NIST scientists have figured out that Morse code may get through poor
transmission conditions when voice does not. "...first responders may be able to receive and see simple patterns—like Morse code—from a survivor repeatedly turning a radio or phone on and off, in cases where the signal was too weak to receive audible voice messages." http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/r...ion_dcconv.htm 73 de Jim, N2EY |
#2
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On Sat, 01 Jan 2005 13:38:44 +0000, N2EY wrote:
NIST scientists have figured out that Morse code may get through poor transmission conditions when voice does not. [snip] ....and guess what? It probably cost the American taxpayer hundreds of thousands of dollars to arrive at a conclusion that most good radio operators knew about decades ago!!! Doh!.... Larry VE7EA |
#3
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On Sat, 01 Jan 2005 10:13:02 -0800, Larry Gagnon
wrote: On Sat, 01 Jan 2005 13:38:44 +0000, N2EY wrote: NIST scientists have figured out that Morse code may get through poor transmission conditions when voice does not. [snip] ...and guess what? It probably cost the American taxpayer hundreds of thousands of dollars to arrive at a conclusion that most good radio operators knew about decades ago!!! Doh!.... Larry VE7EA I'm with you there. The logical thing would be to develop a digital system (after all morse is digital) that would appear as text (so non-operators could grok it), and with variable transmission rates to get the message through - auto repeat? (and/or lots of abbreviations). Then test it on some blown up buildings. But if I were the NIST "scientist" would my primary goal be to solve the problem or make money studying it? |
#4
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On Sat, 01 Jan 2005 16:50:28 -0500, default wrote:
On Sat, 01 Jan 2005 10:13:02 -0800, Larry Gagnon wrote: On Sat, 01 Jan 2005 13:38:44 +0000, N2EY wrote: NIST scientists have figured out that Morse code may get through poor transmission conditions when voice does not. [snip] ...and guess what? It probably cost the American taxpayer hundreds of thousands of dollars to arrive at a conclusion that most good radio operators knew about decades ago!!! Doh!.... Larry VE7EA I'm with you there. The logical thing would be to develop a digital system (after all morse is digital) that would appear as text (so non-operators could grok it), and with variable transmission rates to get the message through - auto repeat? (and/or lots of abbreviations). When Morse failed to get through, the locally-based branch of a mutlinational oil produced resorts to ... FAX. Write the message with a broad-tipped felt pen and send radiofax. Worked for them. Usually their last Morse transmission as conditons deteriorated was "send fax ... send fax ..." Then test it on some blown up buildings. But if I were the NIST "scientist" would my primary goal be to solve the problem or make money studying it? If I were him, right now I'd be keeping a very low profile after such an astonishing announcement of the very obvious. |
#5
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In article , Bill Turner
writes: First of all, this anecdote has the ring of untruth. Roughly about 12 bells all ringing out some jolly tune. :-) First of all, Air Regulations are in place, have been in place for decades, to handle aircraft without working radio equipment. Those are lights in hand-held spotlights. While it is an Air Regulation that aircraft operating into, over, and out of air traffic controlled airports must have radios for normal traffic guidance, there are also safety regulations which anticipate that someone at some time might have equipment problems. Flight instructors would surely know that. In a real-life happening about two decades ago in Los Angeles, a helicopter instructor's microphone somehow got stuck on transmit on the normal tower frequency. Having had an aircraft receiver on in my workshop one Saturday (house is about a mile and a half from Bob Hope Airport - formerly the Burbank-Glendale- Pasadena Airport in the east end of San Fernando Valley), I heard the happening. All listeners could hear the the instructor advise his student about helicopter hover flying. Somehow the mike was connected to both the helo intercom and the aircraft radio. Being AM, the stuck helo transmissions would block all weaker signals on the BUR tower frequency. BUR tower could overpower the helo's radio because it was higher power and had elevated antennas of good size. However, all other traffic was blocked out for the BUR tower and they had to get a temporary recording going on other frequencies (approach, departure, radar vectoring) plus advising VNY (Van Nuys, center of Valley) and LAX of the problem. The radio blockage continued for about a half hour and disrupted normal afternoon flying at BUR. How the helo was informed isn't known but one circulating story has it that an FAA van drove out to the end of the airport where the hovering took place and signalled to the helo somehow, perhaps by lights. The helicopter instructor apologized (apparently when signalled) over the radio and the frustrated tower operators (at least two voices) told him, also over the radio, to "report to the tower." :-) But even if true, this is a perfect example of the wrong way to solve a problem. Instead of relying on Morse for a backup, how about having a second radio, perhaps an HT, in the plane? That's quite common in this area for general aviation aircraft who don't already have two comm radios installed. The Greater Los Angeles section has an extraordinary amount of aircraft traffic. IFR applies to some localized areas. Generally, the FAA can transmit voice over the VOR and/or Localizer in the adjacent radionavigation band (108 - 118 MHz, also AM). The major HT manufacturers all produce a civil aviation model for private aircraft use. Lacking that, the towers have fairly biright aimable spotlights which they can use to signal an aircraft; seldom used, they are there for emergencies. Lacking recognition by a "silent" aircraft, the FAA is prepared to handle it as best as other traffic allows. The FAA air controller's school does not have morse code cognition in its curriculum. Posted on 17 Jan 05 |
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