The world of amateur radio often spills into popular culture, whether it’s being used as a plot device in a murder mystery show or a video game designed to teach Morse code. Read about some of our favorite occurrences of ham radio and Morse code in movies, music, and more in these OnAllBands posts.
While spotting your favorite hobby on the big screen is fun, you may want to keep your eyes focused on things you use in your daily life to discover Morse code messages that designers have been incorporating into a range of products.
Recently, Nike revealed the Nike Cortez “Morse Code.” The shoe, which will be available in fall 2025, features brown leather with suede accents, but the real cool-factor can be found on the lateral heel and insole, where Nike is spelled out in Morse code:
Jeep’s “The Call of Adventure” + Easter Eggs
Jeep is one of the most famous brands to use Morse code. In 2022, they did a series of ads for United Arab Emirates called “The Call of Adventure,” which used the company’s iconic grille and turned it into code spelling phrases like “exhale,” “disconnect,” and “off-grid.” It was designed to provide a puzzle that could be deciphered using a website provided in the campaign, a call to adventure without actually using a call to adventure. Of course, hams could make short work of figuring out the messages. Read more about the campaign at commarts.com.
This was not the only time Jeep used Morse code. Sometimes you can find little dots and dashes stamped somewhere in your vehicle. These “Easter Eggs,” as they’re referred to by Jeep lovers, vary from animals hidden on the outside of the car to the slotted grille design stamped on the car’s interior. Some eagle-eyed enthusiasts have also noticed the words “Sand, Snow, Rivers, Rocks” in Morse code on the dead pedal of the Jeep Compass, which first appeared in 2018. Check it out for yourself at the Mopar Insiders website.
Hyundai
Morse code is being used in other forms of branding, too. For Hyundai, it’s being employed in its line of electric vehicles like the Ioniq 5 and Hybrid options like the 2024 Santa Fe. Much like how Nike is using it, the code spells out the letter H (….) and can be found on the steering wheel airbag covers.
It’s a unique way to convey branding that, in our minds, stands out more than if they just slapped the regular H on it (not too hard, I hope…don’t want to trigger the airbag).
So there you have it, three manufacturers that have used Morse code to convey their branding to the masses. It’s always fun to be reminded of how far-reaching this amazing hobby is and how many people it affects every day, whether they recognize it or not. So be on the lookout for Easter Eggs whenever you’re using your favorite non-ham-related brand. We sure will.
