End of an era: Western Union stops sending telegrams

[YWD67]

One of the earliest high speed communication services comes to an end.
http://news.newstimeslive.com/story.php?id=79465

[lifehacker]

The link is not working. Anyways I didnt now anybody still used those. There really isnt a point in telegrams with all the technology these days.

[shawners]

With email, cell phones, faxes, wire transfers, as well as mIRC, messengers, blogs... Even cell phones with pictures and video recording.

[moneoa]

fixed it....

[The Hunter]

Actually I believe it still has a place during disasters. When towers go out, and other communications wont work, you can still cheaply, and easily set up to send code. When static,and interference knock out more popular types of communications again you can still get by usig Morse.

[CrashPeer44]

Actually I believe it still has a place during disasters. When towers go out, and other communications wont work, you can still cheaply, and easily set up to send code. When static,and interference knock out more popular types of communications again you can still get by usig Morse.

Hunter is 100% right, with all these new inovations we have today, even though they might be EXTREAMLY more complex and have a greater use, when something as simple as a tower or eletrical surge, teligrams often still work

[mcovey]

It'd be nice if we could hold onto this bit of history a little longer... but if it's dying, then let it go.

I'd still like to build my own quick wire telegram someday, and string it across the house just to see how they work.

[The Hunter]

Morse is still used by ham operators in emergencies, and I still have my key to hook up to my little 2510 radio.

[Potato]

With email, cell phones, faxes, wire transfers, as well as mIRC, messengers, blogs... Even cell phones with pictures and video recording.
You're assuming that everyone has these means of communication available to them.

[The Hunter]

Exactly, and when communications are most needed, IE in a disaster they often are not available.

[CrashPeer44]

Hunter, How do you build One?

[The Hunter]

I didnt build it, it was a purchased morse code key, IE sending device, and that plugs into a transmitter. My 2510 is a small mobile radio that can send voice on AM, FM, or singlesideband, known as SSB, as well as Morse code using an old fashoned key. If the power goes out, I can hook it up to a battery, and if needed make my own antenna using some copper wire. We used to assemble radios from kits, but with todays technology that has pretty much become obsolete, as to find the parts to build a transmitter would be hard to find.

[CrashPeer44]

cool i might look into just building a make-shift one

or even a FM Radio Brodcaster (Pirate Radio! Mwhahah!)

[pimpinaman]

Ham radio has always been kind of a curiosity to me....sounds really cool, but the cost to get a basic set-up is kinda high isn't it? Plus it isn't condusive to apartment living.

as far as an FM broadcaster....bigger anntenna on your itrip :)

[The Hunter]

Radios like this are all that many people are using to get started these days.

http://www.hamcity.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=5

[shawners]

You're assuming that everyone has these means of communication available to them.

i assume if their IMPORTANT enough to get a telegram. There important enough to have a cell phone.

[moneoa]

i assume if their IMPORTANT enough to get a telegram. There important enough to have a cell phone.....that almost sounded ignorant......maybe you assume too much. Importance has nothing to do with it and I am being really nice here.

Telegrams are a bit more affordable than having cell phones.
Telegrams are not an over glorified status symbol (i.e an accessory you can talk on)
It's so you can communicate, phones are too but you don't need a goddamn cell phone.
the world ran just fine before you "had" to have a cell phone.

I disagree too that only important people have cell phones....
having one makes you no more important than the guy next to you.
So you can afford to send a telegram but not fork over obcene amounts of money for a cell phone.
This must mean they are not important enough? Wtf?.....

Now I know you might not have quite meant it that way but if you take what you said as a whole
its a pretty crappy statement, we need the old technology because when the new technology
fails it will be the old school that saves our asses.

Not everyone who gets telegrams has a cell and thats the point.
In emergencies when that crap fails we will need these things.

[shawners]

Tell me, what are the places you get a TELEGRAM at?? 1. work. 2. home. 3 Hotel.. Each of these locations have a PHONE you can use, most likely a fax machine and maybe computer access.. Why was the telegram invented and what year??? Before the communcation age of telephones or any other way of sending information.. Now as we advanced in the technical field, this communication is no longer important, and if it was still important. IT be making money where they wouldnt stop it.
Now tell me what type of people recieve telegrams and do you think that type of person wouldnt have another way of being accessed??
Tell me, how do you get the message to western union so they can send the message to the person you want to reach?? BY PICKING UP THE PHONE ANd calling their ass.

YOu dont have to have a home phone anymore as you can use a cell phone for your home and when your traveling around. I have both, i had to be able to be reached by doctors when our son was at the hospital. I still keep it since it serves a purpose incase I have broken down or having to be reached. If there was an emergency, i can go to the neighbors or use my cell phone. Telegrams are sent to places you be at, and the places your at may have other communcation devices. And if all else fails, most likely you have a car to drive to where ever it is a person needs you. Its simpler to call then to talk to western union, and have them send a message and drive to the place to give it to you..

Incase of an EMERGENCY. . I wouldnt be home to wait for a message that couldnt AID me nor help me. Its a message, its not first aid kit. Most likely i be hauling ass to the hospital or use a phone to call for help, rather then calling western union to send a message to someone so far away to have them stop what they are doing and come down to help me.. even though i know they have a telephone and could of just called them. Rather then waiting for the telegram while im dieing.

[The Hunter]

It is the end of an era, one that I can well understand. What I was making refference to was that there is still a good use for Morse code, using transmitters in an emergency.

[moneoa]

Tell me, what are the places you get a TELEGRAM at?? 1. work. 2. home. 3 Hotel.. Each of these locations have a PHONE you can use, most likely a fax machine and maybe computer access.. Why was the telegram invented and what year??? Before the communcation age of telephones or any other way of sending information.. Now as we advanced in the technical field, this communication is no longer important, and if it was still important. IT be making money where they wouldnt stop it.
Now tell me what type of people recieve telegrams and do you think that type of person wouldnt have another way of being accessed??
Tell me, how do you get the message to western union so they can send the message to the person you want to reach?? BY PICKING UP THE PHONE ANd calling their ass.

YOu dont have to have a home phone anymore as you can use a cell phone for your home and when your traveling around. I have both, i had to be able to be reached by doctors when our son was at the hospital. I still keep it since it serves a purpose incase I have broken down or having to be reached. If there was an emergency, i can go to the neighbors or use my cell phone. Telegrams are sent to places you be at, and the places your at may have other communcation devices. And if all else fails, most likely you have a car to drive to where ever it is a person needs you. Its simpler to call then to talk to western union, and have them send a message and drive to the place to give it to you..

Incase of an EMERGENCY. . I wouldnt be home to wait for a message that couldnt AID me nor help me. Its a message, its not first aid kit. Most likely i be hauling ass to the hospital or use a phone to call for help, rather then calling western union to send a message to someone so far away to have them stop what they are doing and come down to help me.. even though i know they have a telephone and could of just called them. Rather then waiting for the telegram while im dieing.
You present a good argument sir

[The Hunter]

I fully agree, as the use of morse on a hard wire system in not very usefull these days.