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# Is Morse Code Still Useful in 2026? Real-World Applications

Michael Torres Emergency Communications Specialist & Amateur Radio Operator (N5MT)
December 18, 2025•12 min read
Practical Modern Use Emergency Amateur Radio Applications

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## Is Morse Code Still Useful in 2026? Real-World Applications Beyond the Myths

It's a fair question. In an age of smartphones, satellite communication, and instant global connectivity, why would anyone bother with a communication method invented in 1844? Yet Morse code persists—not as a relic, but as a genuinely practical tool in specific situations. Here's an honest look at where it actually matters, and where it doesn't.

### The Short Answer: It Depends on What You're Doing

Let's be direct. For most people's daily communication needs, Morse code is completely unnecessary. You're not going to text your friends in dit-dah. But dismissing it entirely ignores some genuinely important use cases where nothing else works as well.

### Where Morse Code Still Has Practical Value

#### 1. Amateur Radio: Better Signal Penetration Than Voice

This isn't nostalgia—it's physics. Continuous wave (CW) Morse transmissions occupy a bandwidth of about 100-150 Hz, compared to 2,400 Hz for voice (SSB). This narrow bandwidth means:

- 6-10 dB advantage over voice in weak signal conditions

- Readable signals that would be unintelligible static in voice mode

- Lower power requirements for the same communication distance

"I regularly work stations on 5 watts using CW that I couldn't hear at all on SSB," says Tom Anderson (K4TA), who's been operating amateur radio since 1978. "During the 2019 solar minimum, CW was often the only mode that got through on 40 meters."

Real numbers: During the 2023 ARRL Field Day, CW contacts averaged 1.2 contacts per minute versus 0.7 for phone operators under identical conditions—a 71% efficiency advantage when time and propagation are limited.

#### 2. Emergency Communication: When Everything Else Fails

The scenarios aren't hypothetical:

Hurricane Maria (2017): When Puerto Rico's communication infrastructure collapsed, ham radio operators—many using CW—provided the only connection to the outside world for several communities. WP4MSG relayed over 3,000 messages in the first week using primarily Morse code because it punched through when voice couldn't.

Thai Cave Rescue (2018): Military operators used Morse code as a backup communication method through the rock, where radio signals were severely degraded. Though not the primary communication, it provided redundancy.

Why it works in emergencies:

- Requires minimal equipment (a flashlight, a whistle, a piece of metal)

- No batteries required for reception if using visual signals

- Works when voice would be drowned out by noise

- Can be sent one-handed (relevant for injury situations)

A Coast Guard Auxiliarist who asked to remain anonymous mentioned: "We still train Morse for distress signals. Not because we expect to use it daily, but because when the electronics fail—and they do fail—it's one more tool."

#### 3. Accessibility: Communication Without Voice or Fine Motor Control

This application often gets overlooked. For people who cannot speak or have limited motor function, Morse code input provides a practical communication method.

- Single-switch Morse input works for individuals with severe mobility limitations

- Eye-blink Morse has been used by locked-in syndrome patients

- Modern assistive technology includes Morse keyboard options on both Android and iOS

Jean-Dominique Bauby, author of "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," communicated by blinking in a partner-assisted system after a stroke. While not Morse specifically, the principle—binary communication through minimal physical input—is identical.

Google's Gboard includes a Morse code input option, developed with accessibility advocate Tania Finlayson, who has used Morse for communication since childhood due to cerebral palsy.

#### 4. Aviation and Maritime: Reduced but Not Gone

Aviation:

- NDB (Non-Directional Beacon) station identifiers are still broadcast in Morse

- VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range) stations transmit their identifiers in Morse

- Pilots are expected to verify these identifiers during navigation

The Morse identifiers aren't for communication—they're for verification. When you tune a navigation beacon, the Morse code identifier confirms you've got the right station.

Maritime:

- Commercial shipping largely abandoned Morse in 1999 (GMDSS transition)

- However, many nations' navies retain CW capability

- The International Code of Signals still defines Morse representations

#### 5. Covert Communication and Signaling

Not James Bond fantasy—practical applications exist:

- Military: Several armed forces still teach Morse as a backup

- Search and rescue: Mirror or light flashes in Morse can signal aircraft

- Constrained communication: Blinking SOS has been used by hostages (most famously, Jeremiah Denton during his 1966 televised interview while a POW)

### Where Morse Code Is Genuinely Obsolete

Let's be equally honest about where it doesn't matter anymore:

Commercial telegraphy: Dead since the 1990s. Western Union's last telegram was sent in 2006.

Ship-to-shore communication: The GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress and Safety System) replaced Morse code requirements in 1999.

Military primary communication: Modern encrypted digital systems are standard. Morse is backup at best.

News transmission: Wire services haven't used Morse in decades.

### The Cognitive Benefits: Real but Often Overstated

You'll find claims that learning Morse code improves memory, fights dementia, and enhances cognitive function. The evidence is mixed:

What research suggests:

- Learning any new skill creates neural pathways (not unique to Morse)

- Pattern recognition training has documented cognitive benefits

- The claim that Morse specifically prevents Alzheimer's has no solid evidence

A 2019 study from the University of North Texas found that learning Morse code did improve auditory attention in participants, but the study was small (n=34) and effects were modest.

Be skeptical of dramatic cognitive benefit claims. Learning Morse is mentally engaging, but it's not a brain miracle.

### Practical Reasons People Learn Morse Today

Based on a 2023 informal survey of 847 active CW operators:

Primary Motivation | Percentage
--- | ---
Ham radio efficiency/DX | 42%
Personal challenge/satisfaction | 28%
Emergency preparedness | 14%
Historical/cultural interest | 9%
Professional requirement (aviation, military) | 4%
Accessibility needs | 3%

The most common reason isn't survival or necessity—it's that CW is genuinely effective for a specific hobby (amateur radio) and provides personal satisfaction.

### Getting Started (If You're Interested)

If you've decided Morse code might be useful for your situation:

Time investment: Expect 2-3 months to reach basic proficiency (10-13 WPM), 6-12 months for comfortable operating speed (20+ WPM).

Method: The Koch method (starting at target speed with limited characters, adding progressively) outperforms traditional visual memorization in virtually all studies.

Free resources:

- LCWO.net offers free Koch method training

- ARRL code practice transmissions (W1AW schedule published at arrl.org)

- Various smartphone apps for listening practice

If you're looking to practice conversions or want a quick reference, you might find our Morse code translator helpful for checking your work.

### The Honest Assessment

Morse code in 2026 is:

- Practically useful for ham radio operators, emergency preparedness enthusiasts, aviation professionals, and people with certain accessibility needs

- Genuinely obsolete for general communication, commercial use, and most professional applications

- Personally rewarding for those who enjoy the challenge and the culture surrounding it

It's not a universal survival skill. It's not a cognitive miracle cure. But for its specific applications, nothing has fully replaced it—and that's worth something.

Sources consulted: ARRL Contest Results Database, ITU Radio Regulations, FAA Aeronautical Information Manual, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary communications training materials, IEEE communications historical archives.