2006-08-30 10:17:36 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
See Others S.O.Sing
2006-08-30 10:23:53 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The signal used before SOS was CQD. The CQ (seekyou) was a general call sign with D for distress added to show an emergency.
SOS doesn't stand for anything, but it is a very symetrical and easy to understand signal. German vessels often used SOE before the system was standardised.
Incidentally, the voice equivalent MAYDAY comes from the French M'aidez (help me). Mayday is awlays said three times, just as SOS or CQD are three letter codes.
2006-08-30 18:04:27 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Common belief is that SOS stands for "Save Our Ship" but in fact, SOS in not an acronym and it doesn't represent anything at all. The first distress signal was CQD, the "CQ" for a general notice that a message is coming, and "D" for "danger" or "distress." However, this was cumbersome in Morse code.. So CQD was dropped.
In 1908, an international committee tried to come up with a distress signal that would be easy to remember during a crisis, and could be transmitted by an amateur with only rudimentary knowledge of Morse Code. They decided a simple combination of threes: three letters, each represented by three mark. he only letters represented by three identical marks are O (three dashes) and S (three dots).
The committee considered OSO, but dashes are longer electrical signals to transmit than dots. An urgent message needed to be broadcast as quickly as possible and use as little power as possible, and so SOS became international standard.
2006-08-30 17:49:16 · answer #3 · answered by Violet Pearl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Save Our Souls
2006-08-30 17:23:19 · answer #4 · answered by Stewart H 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Save Our Ship
This was initiated in the early 1900's as a call, because ships had wireless transmitters. The Acronym is used for the same reason people don't use proper English in text messaging!
Say thank you to Marconi.
2006-08-30 17:20:15 · answer #5 · answered by Bob Mahn III 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Save Our Souls.
2006-08-30 17:20:36 · answer #6 · answered by Strives to be Something 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well, if you order it in a restaurant, SOS means Sh*t on a Shingle. From the old Army chow, Sausage Gravy on Toast.
But, in this case, I know Save Our Ship is correct.
2006-08-30 17:28:08 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Save. Our. Souls.
2006-08-30 17:24:14 · answer #8 · answered by shadowspothost 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Violet Pearl and silverbirch are right. The others are just keeping the myth alive.
SOS was selected because it was easy to remember and quick to send.
2006-08-31 00:24:34 · answer #9 · answered by wires 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sinking Our Ship.
2006-08-30 17:32:51 · answer #10 · answered by happyman 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋