Morse is part of our intangible heritage. It originated in the era of telegraph services and later became a cornerstone of wireless communication, both professionally and in the amateur radio world. Despite digitalisation, Morse remains relevant and in use today, among radio amateurs, beacons, and specialised services such as certain military units.
The code has several unique characteristics:
1. Morse is identical worldwide — the same alphabet is used everywhere.
2. Thanks to abbreviations and Q‑codes, communication is compact and transcends language barriers.
3. The technique is extremely simple, requires little bandwidth, and works even with very weak signals — ideal for QRP and simple setups.
Learning Morse requires time and consistency. The most commonly used learning method is the Koch method: starting with a few characters at full speed and gradually expanding. Daily practice is essential.
Nowadays, practising has become much more accessible. Thanks to apps and smartphones, anyone can train at any moment, greatly simplifying the learning process.
The first radio devices were spark transmitters, mainly used as emergency transmitters on ships. They were not selective and had no receiver. Building a complete transceiver required considerable technical knowledge and creativity at the time.
Over the years, radio equipment became increasingly compact. Today, miniature transceivers exist — such as those from QRP Labs — offering possibilities that were once unimaginable. Microprocessors replaced analogue circuits and enabled digital communication modes, including modes that operate below the noise floor (such as WSJT modes).
The Morse key also evolved: from the classic “pump” to modern paddles, often true examples of mechanical craftsmanship.
Antennas have always played a crucial role. During wars they were even used as visual markers by enemies, making mobility and discretion important. Large antennas for international broadcasting were impressive in size, and multiband antennas posed a technical challenge.
Power supply used to be a major challenge: heavy generators, lead‑acid batteries and expensive power supplies were necessary. Modern electronics and solar energy have changed that landscape significantly and opened new possibilities.
Despite being more than a century old, Morse is still very much alive. Due to its simplicity, reliability and universal nature, it remains an essential part of radio communication, including in emergency beacons, satellites, trackers, buoys, beacons and applications in space technology.