Morse Code

Morse code is the famous encoding of letters using a sequence of “dots” and “dashes.” This code is useful to send a message using a mode of communication that can only transmit on and off. The signal is turned on momentarily for a dot and a little longer for a dash.

Morse code was originally used to transmit messages over an electric telegraph in which a sender closed a circuit on one end to activate a clicker on the other end. But Morse code can also be communicated with beeps of sound or flashes of light.

Here is a table for the international Morse code.

Although some people have memorized Morse code, most have not. So, you should always provide the Morse code table unless you are very sure that the players have memorized it.

Although you could provide a Morse code message on a piece of paper drawn in circles and lines, the fun part of Morse code is to hide it in a beeping or flashing item. This can be trickier to create than a simple printed message or image. A straightforward way to provide a Morse code message is to create an audio or video file that can be played on any number of devices.

A fun thing to do with a Morse code message is to hide it in some unrelated sight our sound. Spell the Morse code message in car horn honking, a dog barking, or any other theme-appropriate repetitive sound. Or maybe that flashing light on a buoy or satellite has a flashing pattern.

Players inexperienced with interpreting Morse code are likely to find the task difficult. Therefore, it is best to keep the message short (one or two words at most) and to give the code out slowly.