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Using the Buzzer      How do we send coded messages with a buzzer? It’s fairly easy. The buzzer is a form of doorbell, the kind that rings steadily as long as the button is held in. By depressing the buzzer’s code key for a split second, we produce a short sound. And by holding the key clown a trifle longer, we produce a longer sound.      These short and long sounds can be combined in different ways to represent letters of the alphabet. The Morse code, a sound language used by radio operators all over the world, tells us what combination of short and long sounds (dots and clashes) stands for each letter.

Y

M

A

N

Z

B

O

1

C

P

2

D

Q

3

E

4

R

F

S

5

G

6

H

T

U

I

7

V

8

J

W

K

9

L

0

X

OVER

COMMA

OUT

PERIOD

Actually, you can “talk” Morse code as well as send it by key. For example, in pronouncing the letter a (• -), an experienced radio operator would say, di dah. For the letter b ( -•••),he would say dah di di dit. Knowing the sounds of each letter in this manner helps in learning the code.

When sending a message, allow a little time between letters and more time between words. The message “good night” should go like this:

G       O       O      D              N     I      G     H    T

If the sender of this message wanted a reply, he would wait a moment and tap the letter k (). This is code talk for “over.” In effect it means, “It’s your turn to send.” If the sender expected no reply, he would tap out the letters ar(), without a pause between letters. This is also code for “out.” And this, in effect, means, “I won’t be sending or receiving any more, for now.”