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Cailean MacLean

Trusadh: Series 6: Episode 11: Dot Dash: Teachdairean na Mara/The Wave Messengers

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Episode 11: Dot Dash: Teachdairean na Mara/The Wave Messengers

Series 6

Dot Dash: Teachdairean na Mara/The Wave Messengers

BBC ALBA - Trusadh, Series 6, Dot Dash: Teachdairean na Mara/The Wave Messengers

A look at the use of Morse Code at sea, and the importance of sea messengers.

The use of Morse Code at sea. Former Radio Officer Hamish Taylor examines the importance of the seldom-mentioned sea messengers.

Morse Code, sreath de chomharran goirid is fada a dh'fhaodadh gnìomhaiche rèidio ealanta a chleachdadh son teachdaireachd de sheòrsa sam bith a chur air feadh an t-saoghail. Faodaidh streapadair ann an èiginn cuideachd an aon chòd a chleachdadh aig an ìre as bunaitiche son teachdaireachd S.O.S. a chur air falbh le biùgan. Chan fhàgadh bàta mòr port às aonais an oifigear-rèidio. Le prìomh uallach airson sàbhailteachd aig muir, sna làithean ro saideal agus conaltradh telex, b' e obair an luchd-rèidio sgileil seo an aon dòigh anns am b' urrainn dha soithichean teachdaireachd fhaighinn dhachaigh. Bho thoiseach an fhicheadamh linn deug, bha na h-Oifigearan Rèidio nan dreuchd fad cha mhòr ceud bliadhna. B' ann ach aig deireadh an linn a chaidh siostaman saideil a chur nan àite. Morse Code, a series of dots and dashes that can be used by a skilled operator to send almost any message across the world using radio waves. The same code can be used in its most basic form by a mountaineer in distress to send an S.O.S. using only a flashlight. The ship's radio officer was the only member of crew without whom a big ship couldn't leave port. Primarily responsible for safety of life at sea, in the age before satellite and telex communications, these highly qualified radiomen were the only channel through which ships could send messages home. Beginning at the turn of the 20th century, Radio Officers manned the airwaves for almost 100 years. They were only replaced with satellite based systems towards the end of the last century. Ex R.O. Hamish Taylor of Harris guides us through this programme which seeks to recognise the importance of the seldom mentioned sea messengers.

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Series 6

Episode 11: Dot Dash: Teachdairean na Mara/The Wave Messengers

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