Don't understand morse code? Shame on you... It really isn't all that hard. If you're a ham, you're really missing a fun mode of communications. Morse code gets through where nothing else does. I've personally worked many stations on morse where I could not get thru on voice. One recent example was KC4AAA, at the South Pole.
This dramatic point was even brought out in the movies. The next time you watch Independence Day notice how the earth forces communicate plans with each other even though "normal" modes of communications have been disabled by the aliens. With good old morse code.
One day, I'll tell you the story of me learning morse code. I remember saying to Becky "there is no way I will ever be able to learn this" to "I hate it" to "no one ever uses morse code any more". But after 3 weeks of daily practice (30 minutes each), I got the hang of it. And after a few scary weeks of on-air contacts with morse code, I became quite proficient, and actually prefer cw (morse code) today.
And that's the key: practice, practice, practice. You'll be surprised how easy and how much fun morse code can really be.
Our code message says...
"Tnx fer stopping by 73"
[To shorten communication, note the abbreviations:
Tnx = thanks
fer = for
73 = best wishes]
The morse message on this page says:
"CQ TEST DE N2KJM" = a general call to all contest stations from me
[CQ = Calling hams
TEST = contest
DE = from
N2KJM= me!]
Tnx fer stopping by. 73, de N2TES es N2KJM