Lecture 1 EARLY DIGITAL CODES

Introduction to Digital Communications Morse Code

What is Digital Communication?
DIGITAL COMMUNICATION
DIGITAL
• Root term digit which came from the Latin
word “digitus” which means fingers/toes.
• In context, digital refers to binary 1 or 0 which
makes the signal more discrete unlike with
analog which is varying or changing
COMMUNICATION
• came from the words “communis” (n) which
means common and “communicare” (v) which
means to share.
• It is simply the act of conveying information
from one place to another.
➢ The first digital code created by Samuel Morse
using a telegraph in 1844.
➢ It consists of dots and dashes that represents
the letter of the alphabet, numbers and even
punctuation marks.
➢ A dot is a short burst of RF energy, and a dash
is a burst of RF that is three times longer than a
dot.
➢ The first message sent over the telegraph is
“What hath God wrought?” (Numbers 23:23) on
May 24, 1844 from Washington, D.C. to
Baltimore, Maryland.

DIGITAL COMMUNICATION
➢ It is the process of sharing (sending and/or
receiving) of digital information (signals) from
one point to another over a communication
medium. Baudot Code
➢ Digital information are series of discrete ➢ It is used in early teletype machines for
signals (1’s and 0’s) and are now often referred sending and receiving coded signals over a
as data. communication link.
➢ Data can be any information such as text, ➢ The Baudot code used 5 bits to represent
audio/voice, video, image, or even any complex letters, numbers, and symbols.
set of instructions sent from one device to
another.

Evolution of Communication
ANCIENT MODE OF COMMUNICATION
Smoke Signals
➢ Smoke signals are the oldest form of visual Radio Telegraph
communication which was used as early as 150- ➢ The wireless telegraph involved radio
200 BC from the ancient culture of Great Wall of technology.
China and from Greek Historian Polybius to
➢ Communicate with ships and other moving
represent the letters of the alphabet.
vehicles.
Courier
➢ Cross national boundaries, natural
➢ Philippides/ Pheideppides
boundaries.
Carrier Pigeon
➢ Downfall of the nationally supported
➢ Used in ancient wars to deliver messages.
monopolistic telegraph companies.
➢ Also used in both World War.

Nikka