KPH, the ex-RCA coast station located north of San Francisco, will return to the air with several other historic coastal stations for commemorative broadcasts on 12 July at 1701 PDT (13 July at 0001 GMT), 7 years and one minute after the last commercial Morse transmission in the US. These on-the-air events are intended to honor the men and women who followed the radiotelegraph trade on ships and at coast stations around the world and made it one of honor and skill.
Transmissions are expected to continue until at least midnight PDT (0700GMT).
The first "Night of Nights," as it was called, was so successful that everyone practically demanded that it be made a yearly event on the anniversary of the end of commercial maritime Morse code wireless telegraphy in the United States. The last CW message was sent at 0000 UTC on July 13, when Globe Wireless reluctantly pulled the plug on a money-losing service. Since then, it has become not only a commemoration and salute to the dedicated members of the maritime radio profession, some of whom lost their lives pounding out distress calls on the high seas, but almost an act of defiance of the corporate monotony that has transformed radio in the globalization/privatization era.
We recommend that you keep an ear on the ship frequencies, because some surprises nearly always turn up. Especially keep an ear out for any of several restored radio rooms on WW II era vessels.
Here's full information:
KPH
KPH will transmit on 4247.0, 6477.5, 8642.0, 12808.5, 17016.8 and
22477.5kc on HF and 500 and 426kc on MF.
These frequencies have been made available through the generous cooperation of Globe Wireless, the current owner of the KPH and KFS licenses.
KPH operators will listen for calls from ships on ITU Channel 3 in all bands. The Channel 3 frequencies are 4184.0, 6276.0, 8368.0, 12552.0, 16736.0 and 22280.5kc on HF and 500kc on MF.
Reception reports may be sent to:
Ms. DA Stoops
P.O. Box 381
Bolinas CA 94924-0381
USA
Denice Stoops is a former KPH operator and was the first female telegrapher hired at the station.
------------
KSM
(Note the addition of a 16Mc channel for KSM this year.)
KSM will transmit on 426, 500, 6474, 12993 and 16914kc.
KSM will listen for calls from ships on 500kc and HF Channel 3 (see KPH listing for frequencies).
Reception reports may be sent to:
Ms. DA Stoops
P.O. Box 381
Bolinas CA 94924-0381
USA
------------
WLO
WLO has just confirmed its frequencies for Night of Nights VII. The list includes a new 4Mc frequency.
WLO will transmit on 4343.0, 8514.0 and 12660.0kc.
WlO will listen for calls from ships on ITU channel 3 in each band.
Unfortunately, due to antenna problems caused by Hurricane Katrina, WLO will not be on MF this year.
Reception reports may be sent to:
WLO/KLB
700 RINLA AVENUE
MOBILE, ALABAMA 36619
USA
Or via email to: wloradio@wloradio.com
------------
KLB
(Note the expanded frequencies for KLB! This year KLB has added MF, a 2Mc frequency and a
12Mc frequency. A tip of the MRHS earphones to CJ of KLB for all the work he has done to bring this about.)
KLB will transmit on 488, 500, 2063.0, 6411.0 and 12917.0kc
KLB will listen for calls from ships on 500kc and HF Channel 3 (see KPH listing for frequencies).
Reception reports may be sent to:
WLO/KLB
700 RINLA AVENUE
MOBILE, ALABAMA 36619
USA
Or via email to: wloradio@wloradio.com
------------
NMC
NMC will transmit on 448, 472, 500, 6383.0, 8574.0 and 17220.5kc
NMC will listen for calls from ships on 500kc and HF Channel 3 (see KPH listing for frequencies).
Reception reports may be sent to:
COMMANDING OFFICER
ATTN ITC ERIC SIMMONS
COMMUNICATIONS AREA MASTER STATION PACIFIC
17000 SIR FRANCIS DRAKE BLVD
POINT REYES STATION, CALIFORNIA 94956-0560
USA
------------
NOJ
(Note that NOJ will be operational on MF this year!)
NOJ will transmit on 416, 470, 500, 8650.0, 12889.5 and 16909.7kc.
NOJ will listen for calls from ships on Channel 3 (see KPH listing for frequencies).
Reception reports may be sent to:
COMMANDING OFFICER
ATTN OSCM WILLIAM KECKLER
US COAST GUARD COMMUNICATIONS STATION KODIAK
PO BOX 190017
KODIAK, ALASKA 99619
USA
Internet Stream
New this year. A receiver tuned to KPH will be streamed at http://kumr2.lns.com:7000 .
There is also, of course, the excellent DX-Tuners membership network.
(No QSL for net reception, of course.)
General Info
Veteran Morse operators, including former KPH staff members, will be on duty at the receiving station at Point Reyes, CA listening for calls from ships and sending messages just as they did for so many years before Morse operations were shut down.
The transmitters are located 18 miles south of Point Reyes in Bolinas, CA at the transmitting station established in 1913 by the American Marconi Co. The original KPH transmitters, receivers and antennas will be used to activate frequencies in all the commercial maritime HF bands and on MF as well.
Many of the KPH transmitters will be 50s vintage RCA sets. KSM will use a 1940s vintage Press Wireless PW-15 transmitter will be on the KSM 12Mc frequency. Power output will be 4 to 5kW. The transmitting antennas include a Marconi T for MF, double extended Zepps for 4, 6 and 8Mc and H over 2s for 12, 16 and 22Mc.
KPH will send traffic lists, weather and press broadcasts as well as special commemorative messages, many of which will be sent by hand. At other times the KPH and KSM "wheel" will be sent to mark the transmitting frequencies.
Members of the public are invited to visit the receiving station for this event. The station will be open to visitors beginning at 1500PDT (3:00pm). The station is located at 17400 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard and is on the route to the Point Reyes lighthouse. Watch for a cypress lined driveway on the right about a mile past the entry to Coast Guard station NMC.
KPH is operated by the Maritime Radio Historical Society in cooperation with the Point Reyes National Seashore, part of the National Park Service.
Further information may be found on the Maritime Radio Historical Society Web site at http://www.radiomarine.org or by contacting Richard Dillman at +1 415-990-7090 (email: rd@radiomarine.org) or Tom Horsfall at +1 510-237-9535 (email: wa6ope@hotmail.com).
12 MHz TX & Antenna Tests
We have a special request for those who will be monitoring KPH on 12808.5kc on Night of Nights.
The Transmitter Department plans to alternate transmitters and, more important, antennas on this frequency at the top of each hour during this year's Night of Nights.
Both antennas will be directional H over 2 types but one will be oriented north/south, the other east/west. The Transmitter Department will keep a careful log of which antenna is being used at which time and compare this against incoming reports.
So for all reception reports, but especially those for 12808.5, please include the time you heard the signal and a detailed signal report.
The two transmitters on 12808.5 will be an early 1990s vintage Henry and a 1950s vintage RCA "L" set. Some slight difference in keying may be noted between them.
