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Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show Video:

Created by tarc.org on 2005-05-15

Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show Video:

Download the (~ 8 MB) video clip here:

LINK

N4FWD 2006-03-28
RE: Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show
I use WD40 on the squeaky door hinges. Works great!
VE7FD 2005-12-09
RE: Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show
Chip have you got a video of this event that shows you sending the word "car". If you do would you be kind enough to send a link for it. Thanks 73 Cliff
K7JA 2005-12-01
RE: Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show
If you watch my fingers on the video, you'll see an "r" (in "car") duly being formed.

Dit dit de Chip, K7JA
VE7FD 2005-11-27
Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show Vide
Chip you and Ken did a magnificent job. But I do have a question for you. I have played the video over several times, and with the noisy background and Jay Leno calling the play by play, it seems to me that when you sent the word "car" did it come out as "cas" ??

My old ears must be playing tricks but it sounds that way to me.

One other thing, I know it will never change, but most people have a habit of calling the International code, Morse code. Which isnt correct of course. Sort of rubs us old morse operators the wrong way. Best regards from Langley.
K7JA 2005-10-05
RE: Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show
One more thing. . .we were working at about 50% of the communication speed Ken and I are capable of working at. In the venue we operated in (a national TV audience), the "sweaty fingers factor" must be included in any fancy mathematical analysis, and I do not believe a rigorously-determined factor could reasonably be applied.

Bottom line: this was supposed to be fun. Analysis beyond that should only be done to add to the fun!

73,

Chip Margelli, K7JA
K7JA 2005-10-05
RE: Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show
I believe the rules for speed text messaging competitions do not allow the use of predictive tools, and the little shoot-out on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno was conducted in that manner.

As to "fair?" Anyone who has ever been in a Ham Radio contest knows that if it were fair, it wouldn't be fun! ;o)

73,

Chip Margelli, K7JA
LAILOKEN 2005-09-27
Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show Vide
I've got a couple of questions about this, and I think this is the best place to ask.

Firstly I would like to say that I was a bit sceptical before seeing the video and was truly amazed. Well done.

I'm not a HAM operator and don't know morse-code well.

My observation is thus: Morse code uses some (assumingly) huffman-style compressed tree format of encoding characters using probabilistic distribution based on English use. (shorter codes for often used letters, right?) This would only seem logical. But what about Chinese?

Further, it's not fair to pit asynchronous connection-less media (SMS) against a fixed point-to-point synchronous method in a situation best suited to morse-code. (SMS supports N-to-N sending and the destination is chosen at time of sending). Admittedly I'm sure you can just prepend a callsign in front of a broadcast on HAM radio to indicate intended recipient, but then they must all be listening on the same channel. But then again, this is a medium problem, and I'm sure SMS medium can be enhanced to be almost immediate for the sake of this test.

It would have been more "fair" if they recorded only the time taken to enter the message, and not how long it takes to be received, for SMS is the protocol system including encoding, whereas morse-code is only the encoding. What they *should* thus have tested was cellphone-multitap-english vs. cellphone-predictive-english vs. morse-code-english.

For surely, SMS would be faster to receive on average if the destination was a random valid English recipient worldwide?

Anyway, my second point is that the same test needs to be done using an average person with only a 5-minute introduction to both technologies.

Theoretically, predictive text input needs less 'taps' to *enter* the same message, and thus a sufficiently advanced SMSer will always beat a morse-coder.

Anyway... I'm not trying to attack anyone, please be patient with me since I may not know all I need to about HAM and morse-code. (but have a solid grasp of encoding and math). I'm a bad SMSer and did not come close to the time on the video clip using predictive text (was about 30s, right?) But then again, I used to have a Nokia 9110 (with built-in full keyboard), and our local cell phone network used to be blazingly fast, and I could send that same message in about 15 secs (with delivery)... and it would be a true SMS in all the senses of the word... but that would not be fair right? Why?

Anyone care to comment on this?

PS: Can anyone confirm or deny the use of predictive text input on that video clip?

Thanks in advance,
Lailoken
K7JA 2005-08-03
RE: Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show
Many thanks. . .it was a lot of fun, though the butterflies were definitely active in the tummy just before we went on stage.

OM Ken was very cool under pressure and with lots of QRM in the "shack!"

73 de Chip, K7JA
HUFFDAWG 2005-08-02
Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show Vide
Hey guys from someone who has copied a lot of code in my days (USAF 207X1), coping plain text is much harder than chatter and you guys did great. I don't think i could copy it without my headphones. Great Job.
K7JA 2005-07-29
RE: Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show
Dave, AL2I: I'd sure love to know how many downloads of the Leno clip you've done.

73 de Chip, K7JA
KR4EC 2005-06-28
RE: Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show
"Sure can. You just use a chat room. Realtime communications. Or you could use a unix terminal montior and see it as it's typed even. So, yes, actually."

Ok, lemme see you send that chatroom message from inside your car, during a hurricane created blackout...
KI4JIH 2005-06-06
RE: Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show
Smokin'!

Great job guys, i hope a lot of people watched this.
Only goes to prove that well used older technology will kick a** on gee whiz tech.

In other news....in target shooting equipment helps, but it doesn't beat experience plus equipment. The skills required for over one hundred years still apply .....they have just been refined......one gets better with continual practice.

I still prefer wet film cameras. There is a glow and warmth to the photo that you just can't get with digital.....(hmmm warmth and glow.....i could be describing old tube radios). If you still want to get the best possible quality photo, you still use technology and equipment that was used over one hundred years ago. The only things that have changed is that the art and the science have been refined.....like a fine vintage.....improves and mellows with age.

I remember in a Sci-Fi story someplace where Morse code was used, something about all other comms being inoperative and some innovative folks built a rig from whatever they could find and voila!.....they had comms!

Tom
VECTORSC 2005-06-03
RE: Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show
Sure can. You just use a chat room. Realtime communications. Or you could use a unix terminal montior and see it as it's typed even. So, yes, actually.

However, the fastest method of communications is the baseball bat. Yup, it sure gets the point across instantly! Doesn't even need words, but it can say so much.
CONZAR 2005-06-03
RE: Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show
This contest really doesn't prove anything. There would be no contest here if the "text message" guys would have used a blue tooth keyboard. Then again, if the radio guys used a keyboard that converted to M-code, then it the contest is how fast someone can type on a 104-standard keyboard.
N8JEB 2005-06-03
RE: Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show
QUOTE "I type 130 words per minute, and that's on typing tests that throw in special characters and like to include funky words that you've never typed before. What was the phrase they had to type? I think it was "I just saved a ton of money on my car insurance". I could have typed that at least 7 times in the time it took them to send the message =) "

Well sure you can, but can you send that message to someone and have them receive it faster than these guys did with CW?
W3CE 2005-06-03
Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show Vide
Chip, were you really sending over the air? If so did you ID your transmissions. You may take the fifth if you want. HI HI

AL w3ce
RUBY 2005-06-03
Tonight Show (Leno) CW vs. Text Messaging Archive
Just another mirror

http://toddy.dyndns.org/misc/lenomorse_show.avi

enjoy! The clip is funny, and shows CW kicking the crap
out of the 'boys'. The level of ignorance in today's world
is amazing. Proving yet once again, technology that is
being dished out today is not very enabling at all (at least
regarding certain criteria, like the amount of time it takes
to learn and utilize it)...

Makes me proud to hark back to the days of yesteryear
and embrace rather dated technologies. BeOS comes to mind :)

\t
WR8Y 2005-06-02
RE: Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show
""""""""Something interesting seems to be happening from the bits and pieces I see and hear here in NYC. As the official requirement for CW is being reduced, interest in the mode is starting to actually pick up."""""""""

After thinking about it a bit, this does not surprise me. I love CW, and felt bad when they started to do away with the requirement for a license. HOWEVER, I think that, by NOT making new hams learn it, you avoid some aspects of a built-in resentment towards it.

Any way, from the first day (in 1973, at the age of 13) of learing the code, I knew that this was gonna be fun. I sure can't put it into words, but CW is more fun than any other mode. (BUt that doesn't mean you won't hear me on SSB or FM at times.)

I sure hate to see others miss out on the fun. As far as it being a 'pain' to learn: Yes, it can be. But that part passes quickly and all you are left with is listening for hours to get your speed up.
WB7CYO 2005-05-27
Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show Vide
Well done gentlemen.
My compliments to both of the cw ops.
RADIOHEAD 2005-05-25
RE: Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show
Did the girl Leno ask really know what Morse code is? I think the word code can be deceiving in that a person unfamiliar with the technology might think the encoding and decoding process is long and arduous.
ALTEREGO 2005-05-24
RE: Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show
"Anyone who knows anything about CW or has ever operated code knows it is one of the fastest, and probably still THE FASTEST method of relaying a message if you don't have the ability to actually send a voice message."

I type 130 words per minute, and that's on typing tests that throw in special characters and like to include funky words that you've never typed before. What was the phrase they had to type? I think it was "I just saved a ton of money on my car insurance". I could have typed that at least 7 times in the time it took them to send the message =)
W0LC 2005-05-24
Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show Vide
Did you notice the cw ops were not sending that fast either (for those of you that know code)?

Really says a lot for skill and experience.
WA7VTD 2005-05-22
RE: Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show
All doubters must be those who have never succumbed to the joys of speedy telegraphy!!

Chip, way to go! Loved the costumes, too.

Anyone using CW on an even occasional basis should have guessed that it would cream the text messagers! There are three simple reasons: (1) A single character of Morse can be keyed in less time than a single character can be entered on the cell phone with the "TAP" method. (2) With the bug, there is no delay created by moving the finger from button to button. (3) Most importantly, however, the text message is time-shifted, whereas the CW transmission is real-time.
When the sender is done, the recipient is done also.

Nice work, Chip and colleague!

Just received my limited edition Vibroplex 100-year Anniversary bug. Have taken first place three times in the international Friendship Radiosports Games speedy telegraphy sending competition with a Vibroplex. Will get this one broken in, and see you on the air, OM!

Who came up with this idea, Chip?

73,

WA7VTD
A61Q 2005-05-21
RE: Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show
Weldone Guys that was Great Job and cheers CW!
KG9IO 2005-05-21
RE: Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show
Quoting KU4UV - "Hey Chip, you should have told Jay Leno that you guys are trained professionals and under no circumstances should kids try this at home."

Maybe kids SHOULD try this (CW) at home
KC7ZZY 2005-05-19
RE: Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show
I showed this video to my middle school ham radio class. They were so excited to see the contest. The whole school probably heard the screaming cheer at the end when you two won. They talked about it all day.

Great job guys!
W5ACM 2005-05-18
RE: Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show
Great Job Chip!! We (about 10 of us - mostly hams) were on a fishing trip to Lake Livingston (TX). WA5LHM announced that we would have CW vs Text Messaging on Leno. Fish talk stopped, the TV clicked on... We were delighted! It sure sounded faster than 28 wpm to me! Nice costumes too!
AE5DW 2005-05-16
Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show Vide
Great job as usual Chip & Ken! You guys are the final story in the upcoming Amateur Radio Newsline to be released on Friday the 20th (maybe a bit earlier due to Hamvention travel schedules).

See you at Dayton!

Don Wilbanks, AE5DW
Amateur Radio Newsline, Inc.
KA0GKT 2005-05-16
RE: Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show
It took me twice through to get the copy solid. There was someone named Jay QRMing you and I couldn't get the DSP on the lap top to work! :-D

I sincerely wish that someone would make a phone which is a PHONE. Let it receive text messages from e-mail, but forget all of the bells and whistles which obscure the intended use of the phone...a voice communications device.

FB on the win in the technology play-off.

73 DE KA0GKT/7
KD6ANF 2005-05-16
Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show Vide
Hi All

Thanks are in order to Dave, AL2I for providing the video clip of Chip's great skill as a CW operator, and in a compatible format. Once this file was downloaded it was watched on my friends iMac, TWICE!

Chip, it was great viewing you two experts in action! I don't know how you guys do it, as it has been a real "stumbling block" for me to learn CW.

Doo Da Doo Da Day...

BTW, did you remember to "ID" your station?

Best regards

george potter KD6ANF
KU4UV 2005-05-16
Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show Vide
Hey Chip, you should have told Jay Leno that you guys are trained professionals and under no circumstances should kids try this at home.

73,
KU4UV
KU4UV 2005-05-16
Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show Vide
WD40, you're killing me dude!

KU4UV
KU4UV 2005-05-16
Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show Vide
It was kind of funny how the girl in the audience that Jay was talking with thought that the text messaging guys would win easily, yeah right sister. Anyone who knows anything about CW or has ever operated code knows it is one of the fastest, and probably still THE FASTEST method of relaying a message if you don't have the ability to actually send a voice message. Friday night's show certainly proved that the most modern technology isn't always the fastest.

73,
KU4UV
K7JA 2005-05-16
RE: Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show
Thanks again to all for the kind words and the cheers!

Indeed, we prevailed in the walk-through and the rehearsals, but you have to make it happen when the real moment comes.

It's what we do.

73 de Chip
N2XE 2005-05-16
RE: Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show
You gentlemen were fantastic! You looked professional, carried yourselves well and were quite funny without being dorky. I enjoyed Chip blowing off his fingers after that scorching sentence. In addition, the old Bencher, which seems to get blasted by guys who prefer $1000 paddles, served you well. I can't imagine how anyone could represent the hobby any better.

Congratulations and thank you!

N2XE
KL7FH 2005-05-16
Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show Vide
Great job guys! Loved it!
73 es CU in Dayton
W2IRT 2005-05-15
RE: Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show
Hi Chip,

Ya done us proud OM. Question: In the rehearsals, did you beat the SMS kiddies there, too?

Something interesting seems to be happening from the bits and pieces I see and hear here in NYC. As the official requirement for CW is being reduced, interest in the mode is starting to actually pick up. In our club we have a number of Techs wanting to learn code for HF and a few "extra-lites" wanting to become more proficient.

Myself included. In 1981 I took the Canadian Advanced license at 15 WPM (3 minutes, 100% perfect copy, send and receive -- with no Q&A -- as a pass requirement), but dropped the code the minute I passed that test. After moving down here and needing only 5 WPM for everything, I find myself loving CW all the more, and have recently earned my CW DXCC. I'm still not much beyond 10-12 WPM in ragchews but I contest and DX at 30-38 and love it!

Thanks, Chip, for showing a few million folks that Code can really be a lot of fun and for putting a great face on Amateur Radio. Now if only we can convince Martti to build a TXT-to-CW converter into the next generation of Nokia phones, and maybe add a set of pop-out paddles on the bottom <grin>! Imagine if the next generation of cell-phone addicted kids became CW mavens 'cuz it was "cool."

See you in Dayton!
AJ5TT 2005-05-15
RE: Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show
Chip,

Great job.. watched the show on Leno. Glad someone created the file so I could watch again. Caught some of what was sent, still a little fast for me but I will get there.

73,
John
K7JA 2005-05-15
RE: Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show
Thanks to all. Yes, indeed, those were FT-817s; I borrowed one from Dan, N6PEQ and took mine.

It was intended to be fun, and it turned out that way; hope everybody enjoyed it!

CU at Dayton.

73 de Chip, K7JA
"As Seen on TV"
;o)
K2ROK 2005-05-15
RE: Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show
That was really cool and a funny bit! Especially classic is the look on the younger "text messenging" guy's face when he was obviously defeated. Were those 817s and actually over the air? That's what it looked like. Also -- great concentration considering the audience noise.
K0EWS 2005-05-15
RE: Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show
Nice going, Chip! I watched the broadcast, and have since looked at it again via the intenet. Your fist was great, and you sure did a great job on the paddles. Kudos to you and Ken for representing ham radio with CLASS. Very well done, and would love to see you guys do something like that again! 73

Eric
k0ews
KA4KOE 2005-05-15
RE: Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show
From a bug man to a paddle man, well done chap. You upheld the family honor!
AL2I 2005-05-15
RE: Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show
I placed a converted copy on a server for my own benefit, but anyone else can view it as well. I warn you though, it is BIGGER than the original clip.

Video is MPEG4 and Audio is MPEG3:

http://davemcgraw.com/movies/mp4_mp3_lenomorse.avi

73,
Dave/al2i
W5EEX 2005-05-15
Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show Vide
Chip...good fist OM....it was good to hear that CW coming out of the TV!! The receiving op did a good job too considering the audience "QRM" and not using headphones. I would venture to guess that a short CW message could even beat a live cell phone call message given the connect time that I often experience....they should try that sometime. Good show!!!
73
K7JA 2005-05-15
RE: Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show
Let me assure you that we never saw that message before I flipped the blue card over. Each message, in rehearsal, was different. The character count was the same as the one during dress rehearsal, though, to account for the time slot.

And they put the card on the table "upside down" creative to how I flipped it, as you can see on the video.

So that was the first time we saw it. But I did save a ton of money on my car insurance.

73,

Chip Margelli, K7JA


KQ6EA 2005-05-15
RE: Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show
xine and mplayer should both work. I played it on a Linux machine and a FreeBSD machine without a hitch.
KD6ANF 2005-05-15
Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show Vide
Please understand, I was filled with expectations beyond any ones imagination at the thrill of actually viewing ham radio operators operate CW, as I have never really seen this in person before.

Of course I've heard it many times in the past and still hear it to this day, repeaters ID'ing and on the HF bands, etc. But believe it or not, I have never actually seen another person perform this highly skilled operation.

My anticipation and excitement was abound.... I was jazzed!

However, after downloading this 12.8 MB file on my "dial-up" network connection I realized it was not compatible with my UNIX based operating system! It would be great if this video was a standard "MPEG" format instead of the "windows media video" format, as I DO NOT use microsoft products!

Would it be asking to much to have someone provide this website, eHam.net, with a standard MPEG copy? Or better yet, maybe someone else already has this in "MPEG" available on their site.

Perhaps others have also observed this "incompatibility" after downloading.

Best regards

george potter KD6ANF
W1YR 2005-05-15
RE: Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show
Oh it was fixed for sure. An UFO was spotted over Leno's studio during the show. The HAM receiving the code got the sentence telepathically from the mother ship.

PS. Aliens have to pass a code test even though it's mind to mind transmission. I wonder how they handle QRM?
WD40 2005-05-15
Morse Code Versus Text Messaging Tonight Show Vide
Well if you axe me I think it was rigged. The CW ops already knew what the received message would be to ensure the show's continuity.