Evening star., 1923-02-11
RADIODOT ANDDASH GIVE
EXPERT TASK SAVED FAN
Languages of All World Same in Code
Though Difficulty Of Transcribing Is
One of Concern to Station Men.

by the recent radio-telephone tests
held between New York and London.
On the other hand American and
French radio operators. for example,
will experience no difficulty in ex-
changing messages through space In
their respective tongues through the
medium of the radio code. and while
neither may be understood by the
other, nevertheless, the communica-
tions will be correctly transcribed for
those who understand the languages
in which the messages were originally
written. .asts.
Unaffected by speech.
In the case of American and Eng
lish operators no difficulties what
ever will be experienced due to accet-
uation and mannerisms of speech as
the radio code Is impervious to these.
The alphabet of the radio language
consists of combinations of dots and
dashes corresponding to the twenty
seven other combinations correspond
ing to the accented letters of the Ger
man, French, Spanish and Scandi-
navian languages. Ten other compi-
nations correspond to the numerals.
while twenty-one other combinations
! comprise the ordinary punctuation
and other signs used in correspon-
dence
This makes sixty-four dot and dash
characters with which the radio oper-
as to be as second nature to him. He
must master this code SO that he can
rapidly convert correspondence into
! II without special mental effort az he
transmits messages through space on
| the one hand, and interpret the incom-
| ing signals into their corresponding Ian
guage on the other hand.
There are also some seventy-nve
special international signal groups:
each consisting of combinations of
hrno
| daily use throughout the word. and
| which must also become as second
| nature to the radio operator.
For example, If an operator at a GER
\ tain station finds that he cannot copy
! the signals from distant station which
! is endeavoring to communicate with
! him. due to heavy atmospherics or
! static, he does not engage in lengthy
explanatory conversation, but simply
| makes the international signals QRT
! QRN.
| These brief signals signify to the
| sending operator to stop sending" is
! ''heavy static prevails at the receiving
station and the operator cannot copy
| the messages through the interference.
Not An Easy Task.
| Obviously the mastering of all these
dot and dash letters, numerals, pune
! tuations. special signals. etc, by the
| young men who man our radio stations
| is other than an easy task. The aSplr-
j ing radio operator must nave perSeFeT-
ance and engage in constant practice
| every day for intervals OF from four to
| eight months and sometimes for even
! longer intervals. depending on his apti-
tude for the work.
| 1t rarely happens that an aspiring
operator fails to become a proficient
SENDER" although the quality OF his
| sending may be poor and therefore diffi.
\ cult to read should he not have good
! control Of his wrist. 1t not infrequently
happens that the aspiring operator fails
to master the more difficult of ''receiy.
ing" however, and consequently give:
up in despair.
The international radio code is known
as the Continental Morse code. 1t is ar
adaptation OF the original Morse code
as developed In Europe after the In
auguration of land wire telegraphy il
the United States by the American In
ventor, Morse.
Approximately half the number o
characters in the Continental MORSE
code differ from those in the American
Morse code as used by our land wire
telegraph companies.
The construction of the Continenta
code is superior for telegraphinl
through space. as static interference af
fects 1t less adversely than the Ameri
can code. The American code permit
more rapid sending by hand. however
hence we employ both codes, whereas II
Europe and other parts Of the worlt
only the Continental code is used 70
all purposes.