Text 1511, 93 rader
Skriven 2006-05-30 09:17:18 av Mike Luther (1:396/45.0)
   Kommentar till text 1508 av Carol Shenkenberger (1:261/1466.0)
Ärende: none
============
Hi Carol ...

And for those who really don't know the origin of SOS .. grin!

CS> He is right in one tiny small way though.  A rare but still seen CS>
tertiary backup comm method is 'flashing light' codes, based on morse. CS>
'SOS' and others can be sent that way still but it's chancy if anyone CS> in
sight range will be able to read it (though for SOS more likely than CS> any
other).

Here is the real story.  The original 'distress' call was actually CQD.  It was
adapted from the CQ which acutally comes from the phrase Call (from) Quarters. 
A general call to anyone in quarters who wanted to talk.  To raise the alert
level the letter D as in 'distress' was added to make the help alert call CQD. 
But as you note the SOS is more likely than any other.  You are precisely
correct as to your post!

There were a number of instances in which the CQD went unnoticed, early on. And
in casting about for something that could be a better distress signal,the
choice of SOS was actually made and adopted for a very important reason. The
marine radio operators actually slept, in many or most cases in the early
times, in the radio shack!  That was, among other things, so that even if they
were sleeping, there would be a chance to perhaps hear a call for help from
some other ship.  What most folks won't know is that, just like in the world of
aviation where the VHF frequency 121.5 MHZ is reserved for emergency purposes,
a low frequency channel, in the frequencies for shipboard telegraphy just below
the AM Broadcast Band, was reserved for emergency and calling purposes.

The mission of being a shipboard operator includes listening to that calling
channel even if you aren't up and on-line, including, in theory, when you aere
asleep in the bunk in the radio shack!  And yes, I've been there, in the
converted WWII wooden hulled minesweeper that the Texas A&M University had for
it's then named Resarch Vessel Hidalgo, with the FCC assigbed call sign KCHI
for telegraphy use.  Been there through more than one Gulf of Mexico hurricane
so bad that I had to lash myself into the bunk to stay there and lash myself to
the seat in front of the old AF167BY HF marine rig which it was my job to have
the weather OBS data to a US shore station every hour on the hour, 24 hours a
day, seven days a week while were at sea.  Yes, up to two weeks solid of that
duty, just to help pay my way through Texas A&M University with a wife and four
kids at home then as well too.

So I can tell you that in sleep state, it is very difficult for the radio
operator to tell the difference between the CQ and CQD if he needs to wake up
to save lives!  It's dah-dit-dah-dit dah-dah-di-dah for the plain CQ and it is
dah-dit-dah-dit dah-dah-di-dah dah-dit-dit for CQD.  No wonder you wouldn't
hear the difference when asleep.

So the idea was put forth that the distress call had to be the most easily
recognizable code pattern that even a sleeping operator might catch in sleep
and be awakened by!  Hence the simple dit-dit-dit dah-dah-dah dit-dit-dit for
the letters SOS was suggested!  Yes!  That's the reason for the choice!  It has
absolutely nothing to do with the fabled Save Our Souls or Save Our Ship which
many people believe is the reason for the letters.

The conversion from CQD to SOS, then, of course, brought confusion in the ships
at sea during the conversion.  With some operators still using CQD and others
using SOS.  So I believe, this actually may have figured into the loss of the
Titanic, of all things.  If you know your history, a passing liner actually
sailed within a relatively few miles of the Titanic when she was sending out
the earliest of the distress calls!  And .. yep .. the radio operator aboard
that passing vessel was asleep in the shack.  So noted, the operator of the
Titanic was sending CQD .. and then with no answer, both CQD and SOS as well. 
Which later, was caught by the awakening operator on the opther boat!  Which
did turn back for the rescue mission.

So the question will be forever un-answered.  What if the SOS was used only as
the distress call from the Titanic?  Would it have awakened the radio op
earlier in process?  Could more lives have been saved if?

A fascinating book I have, pretty rare, and actually out at the 1:117/3000
remote Fido site is titled "SOS to The Rescue".  I'd cite the author and book
number if it were here for all, but I can't at the moment.

And, yes, your comment that SOS has a chance to be recognized for pure help us
purposes because of the unique sound or visual pattern that is involved in the
Morse Code is precisely on target.  If you were in a situation where you were
facing death or serious injury, wouldn't you even try Morse Code to get help
for this reason?  Sure you would!  Anybody would!

And you can bet the real pride is in recognizing that call,  And being able to
do something for the souls in need.  And if it happens, you'll realize that
Morse Code is far from dead, chuckle.

Mike Luther N117C on remote .. and old T1-HQ-3665 First Class Tel Operator

Dah-dah-dah-dit-dit-dit dit-dit-dit-dah-dah

Mike Luther

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