How about a real puzzle cointest?

[+LadyBee4T]

I think it will be easier to folow him around and find one in a cache! Might be more fun too!! LOL

[+MommyFinder]

Please pass the Excedrin

[+LadyBee4T]

Please pass the Excedrin

 

The band is playing live in the basement so I could use some too!!

[+Scoutbound]

Brain hurts.. and I'm getting frustrated (my 99.9% turned out to be about 85%) =(

You should see my sticky note.. It's covered in M, O, S, C and W.

 

I'll check back in a little while..

[SCYoli]

Hubby says: "almost 100% sure, you need to use a square to decode, then take the decoded cipher text and run it through either Caesar, Vigenere, or a keyword code. Finding the right square pattern is the trouble, but I bet the square pattern will be the keyword for the 'decoded' cipher text. We went with "moscw" and "mscow" in the square, and not "Moscow" since the O's would repeat and cause problems decoding. "

[+MommyFinder]

Brain hurts.. and I'm getting frustrated (my 99.9% turned out to be about 85%) =(

You should see my sticky note.. It's covered in M, O, S, C and W.

 

I'll check back in a little while..

Sticky notes? I'm using full sheets of paper, front and back!

[+LadyBee4T]

Hubby says: "almost 100% sure, you need to use a square to decode, then take the decoded cipher text and run it through either Caesar, Vigenere, or a keyword code. Finding the right square pattern is the trouble, but I bet the square pattern will be the keyword for the 'decoded' cipher text. We went with "moscw" and "mscow" in the square, and not "Moscow" since the O's would repeat and cause problems decoding. "

 

That's what I have been doin and so far nothing that makes sense

[+MommyFinder]

Hubby says: "almost 100% sure, you need to use a square to decode, then take the decoded cipher text and run it through either Caesar, Vigenere, or a keyword code. Finding the right square pattern is the trouble, but I bet the square pattern will be the keyword for the 'decoded' cipher text. We went with "moscw" and "mscow" in the square, and not "Moscow" since the O's would repeat and cause problems decoding. "

 

That's what I have been doin and so far nothing that makes sense

That's been my approach, too.

[+IBcrashen]

So why is the code over the moth? Keyword maybe?

[+moscow32]

Hi guys! I just got back from a cache run where I ran out of daylight too fast! Lots of fun, and no, I didn't drop any coins tonight. (Sorry, The Walkabouts, LB4T, and SOC...)

 

Like I said before, I'm ok if it doesn't get solved tonight. So far, I have not received the correct answer.

 

You won't like the next hint, so don't ask for it until you are absolutely ready for it. I promise. You won't like it.

 

Group effort is one of my favorite things to see, rather than solo effort.

 

Good luck! And really, you won't like the next hint. I promise!

[Son of Cyclops]

What is the square cypher everyone is using?

[+Mr.Explorer3]

How would one decypher this if the keyword was TRAVELER?

[+SCBrian]

What is the square cypher everyone is using?

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADFGX_cipher

[+sillygirl & jrr]

I agree about the square (well really rectangle). As for the size, there are 128 characters in the original puzzle 128 is not a perfect square but it is divisible by 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64. Was going to post earlier but internet connection went down.

 

We have a similar puzzle here and I finally put all the letters into and MS Word table (each letter one cell) so that I could manipulate it without rewriting the grids. Don't have time to work on it now...

 

Actually now that I look at the link, I am thinking of a different cipher. On based on something in a Dan Brown novel.... I'll go find that link.

Edited August 18, 2007 by sillygirl & jrr

[+SCBrian]

How would one decypher this if the keyword was TRAVELER?

 

Traveler is kinda large what I was doing is:

 

m s c o w

m a b c d e

s f g h i j

c k l m n o

o p r s t u

w v w x y z

(I left of "q" but in theory any letter could be missing/ or combined. i/j as one, etc.)

 

so "Hello" would read CS WM SC SC WO.

[+SCBrian]

32 x 4 = 128. I'm just having trouble seeing the grid your using, 'course I've been up since 4am...

[+SCBrian]

32 x 4 = 128. I'm just having trouble seeing the grid your using, 'course I've been up since 4am...

 

having to break 4 grids would just stink....

[+sillygirl & jrr]

I was thinking we needed to use the Digital Fortress cipher, or something similar.

[+MommyFinder]

How would one decypher this if the keyword was TRAVELER?

 

Traveler is kinda large what I was doing is:

 

m s c o w

m a b c d e

s f g h i j

c k l m n o

o p r s t u

w v w x y z

(I left of "q" but in theory any letter could be missing/ or combined. i/j as one, etc.)

 

so "Hello" would read CS WM SC SC WO.

Actually, I believe "Hello" would read SC MW CS CS CW. The examples I've seen read row then column.

[+SCBrian]

My brain is kicking out random thoughts now, don't know if this will help or not but a-z = 26, moscow = 6 26+6 = 32.

 

moscow as the keyword in the square?

ie. Moscowabcde or tuvwxyzmoscow?

[+SCBrian]

Actually, I believe "Hello" would read SC MW CS CS CW. The examples I've seen read row then column.

QFT.

 

If anyone needs I have a list of the pairs I'm using:

 

MM OO CC CS OM MM CM MW OW OC OC OM CW CS OS OO MS MM MW

MM CS CS MC MC OM OM SW SW CS SC SS CC OS MO OW MC MS SC

WW SC CS MS CC WW CO SC CS CO OM MM SM MO MC SO WS SC OM

MC CM WC CM CC OC CS

[+stepshep]

First a power chain, now this? I'll pass. Good luck to all who are giving it a try!

[+GPX Navigators]

I was thinking we needed to use the Digital Fortress cipher, or something similar.

 

Yep, exactly what I was thinking based on the numbers. And I played with it this way earlier. Never thought there would be such a good link on the web. I just gave the book back to the person I borrowed it from. I had written the code and how to down but heck knows where I saved it - lol.

 

Oh well - back from an event cache meeting. Time to tackle again - maybe.

[+moscow32]

I was thinking we needed to use the Digital Fortress cipher, or something similar.

 

That's cool! I just finished reading Digital Fortress a few weeks ago, and I had thought about trying to solve the code, but never got around to it. Small world!

[+surteb]

I know I got caught up in the type of moth pictured, but what if the code has more to do with the fact that the wings are identical, like mirror images of one another?

[+SCBrian]

I know I got caught up in the type of moth pictured, but what if the code has more to do with the fact that the wings are identical, like mirror images of one another?

 

My daughter has a vanity, it has a mirror on it...

"Vanity" = mirror image? would tie in with your thoughts on the moth, and why he chose that particular book.

 

Of course all the stuff I learned about the book and the time period I learned today, goes out the window...

 

So far I think we've reached a consensus it's a square, followed by some version of cipher text. I think we just need to figure out the right keywords...

[wwflover13]

Well I'm back from another unsuccessful coyote stakeout (don't ask) To find that nobody has solved this puzzle yet!

 

I know I got caught up in the type of moth pictured, but what if the code has more to do with the fact that the wings are identical, like mirror images of one another?

 

I thought about that also - because since the answer is one word, not all of the groups of letters can mean someting (not many 26 letter words exist)

[+surteb]

Guess I'll have to ponder this one overnight. Good luck to all.

[+bluecherry]

I thought that maybe it had something to do with the name of the moth but I think the mirror thing makes more since now. You guys are smart.

[+SCBrian]

Well I'm back from another unsuccessful coyote stakeout (don't ask) To find that nobody has solved this puzzle yet!

 

I know I got caught up in the type of moth pictured, but what if the code has more to do with the fact that the wings are identical, like mirror images of one another?

 

I thought about that also - because since the answer is one word, not all of the groups of letters can mean someting (not many 26 letter words exist)

 

the answer doesn't have to be in the text. it could decode to something like "whatistwentysevenplusseven" or whatever the answer would then be "thirtyfour", which broken down would add up to whatever...

Edited August 18, 2007 by SCBrian

[+Damenace]

Hubby says: "almost 100% sure, you need to use a square to decode, then take the decoded cipher text and run it through either Caesar, Vigenere, or a keyword code. Finding the right square pattern is the trouble, but I bet the square pattern will be the keyword for the 'decoded' cipher text. We went with "moscw" and "mscow" in the square, and not "Moscow" since the O's would repeat and cause problems decoding. "

 

I'm with you on this, I understand the actual decoding of this I am just not sure what to set up as the Square code? I am almost thinking that the words on the picture are the plain text. The problem is you have to reverse engineer the words to get what is needed.

[+SCBrian]

The mirror thing sent me looking at other ciphers and I hit this dead end:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacon's_cipher

 

But I was scarred away by a swedish rock group..

 

[wwflover13]

the answer doesn't have to be in the text. it could decode to something like "whatistwentysevenplusseven" or whatever the answer would then be "thirtyfour", which broken down would add up to whatever...

Hmm... well that puts a new spin on what I was doing.

[+SCBrian]

code words to think about/play with

 

Moscow (and derivites of him)

...Mscow,Moscw, wocms, wcsom

 

Moth, I O MOTH, Lepidoptera, Automeris io, and all backwards spellings. I'm not to far from unconsciousness, so I've a feeling the left coast folks can build on the framework...

[+MommyFinder]

the answer doesn't have to be in the text. it could decode to something like "whatistwentysevenplusseven" or whatever the answer would then be "thirtyfour", which broken down would add up to whatever...

That's the way I've been attacking it. I just can't figure out what the keyword would be. I've used all of the obvious.

[Son of Cyclops]

I think that bacon thing is the final cypher but we first need to change the words to 2 different letters only.

[+SCBrian]

surteb - I wonder if you might be onto something:

it answers the book question I've been having... Thank God I've dealt with Sissy and fendog in my area!

 

"Vanity Fair" Vanity = Mirror; fair = fairplay (the basic square cipher)

[+LadyBee4T]

surteb - I wonder if you might be onto something:

it answers the book question I've been having... Thank God I've dealt with Sissy and fendog in my area!

 

"Vanity Fair" Vanity = Mirror; fair = fairplay (the basic square cipher)

 

I mentioned the playfair cypher a long time ago....

[Son of Cyclops]

Well playfair cipher with 6 letter keyword Moscow comes up with:

ww ss ww cm ms wc mm ww so sw cs oo ow ws so sc os mm so os ss sw

 

No idea what it means

[+SCBrian]

your right, you did. Just thinking out loud... the more I think about it, the more I like it, but I cant seem to make it work, I'm feeling strongly that "Vanity Fair" = Mirror & Playfair; but I cant see it working. I like the ADFGX cipher and it makes more sence, but...?

[+SCBrian]

something else to think about, in the original string of letters there are some repeats in a row:

MM CS CS MC MC OM OM SW SW CS perhaps someone can use this to brute force something out of it?

[Son of Cyclops]

Notice that can spell Moscow again.

[+SCBrian]

Notice that can spell Moscow again.

 

back to square 1?

 

ok, it's time for those of us on the east coast to drop off to bed and try not to dream about random strings of MOSCOW & IO Moth running through my head. Good luck to those on the west coast!

[+MommyFinder]

After midnight here, can't keep my eyes open any longer. I'm going to sleep on it, and I'll check back in the morning!

[Son of Cyclops]

Yes, I have been here hours with out any luck so good night.

[+bluecherry]

Well I'm going to call it quits for the night good luck to everyone. I sent an email with what I thought it was but after reading all of your guy's comment I'm think I'm way off. I need to give my brain time to thing about it. I do like the mirror thing. I really has to have some thing to do with the moth. I do not know if the name is important or not.

[+LadyBee4T]

This is not computing--as if it ever really was. But since I'm on the east coast I'm heading off to be. If someone solves it let me know the trick. Thanks!

[+rchdlyn]

Well I'm back from another unsuccessful coyote stakeout (don't ask) To find that nobody has solved this puzzle yet!

 

I know I got caught up in the type of moth pictured, but what if the code has more to do with the fact that the wings are identical, like mirror images of one another?

 

I thought about that also - because since the answer is one word, not all of the groups of letters can mean someting (not many 26 letter words exist)

 

Mind you, there are 26 letters in the alphabet. I have found if I try hard, I can make it close to quite a few words ..... none much help. Perhaps it spells red herring? Still early in the evening for us downunder fellas.

[+deafnut]

Sorry ... still try to get it !!!!

[+moscow32]

Good morning! I have not yet received the correct answer. Keep playing!