On all other nights, we use voice or digital modes. Why, on this night alone, do we use good old Morse telegraphy?
Father:
Because July 12 is the Night of Nights, one of the great moments in human defiance, when the barbaric yawp of Morse code comes once again from the RCA Radiomarine transmitter farm at KPH in Bolinas. The corporate Pharoahs gave KPH and CW up for dead, but they were led to freedom by the Maritime Radio Historical Society. On this night alone, we commemorate this miracle.
The frequencies
KPH has fixed its MW antenna, and, gods be willing, will be on this band again this year.
KPH frequencies:
500/426 Henry MF-5000D Marconi T
4247.0 RCA K Set Double Extended Zepp
6477.5 RCA K Set Double Extended Zepp8642.0 RCA L Set Double Extended Zepp
12808.5 RCA L Set H over 2
17016.8 RCA L Set H over 2
22477.5 RCA H Set H over 2
K6KPH will again invite amateur QSOs, as propagation and the number of available operators permit. Frequencies (+/- QRM):
3550.0 Henry HF-5000D Double Extended Zepp
7050.0 RCA L Set Double Extended Zepp
14050.0 Henry HF-5000D H over 2
18097.5 Henry HF-5000D H over 2
21050.0 Henry HF-5000D H over 2
KSM, a real genuine commercial maritime coastal station at the KPH sites, will be using:
500/426 Henry MF-5000D Marconi T
8438.3 Henry HF-5000D Double Extended Zepp
12993.0 Henry HF-5000D H over 216914.0 Henry HF-5000D H over 2
KFS, a call that is now licensed to Globe Wireless, will be heard on:
12695.5 Press Wireless PW15 H over 2
17026.0 Henry HF-5000D H over 2Reception reports and verification requests for the MRHS stations listed above may be sent to:
Maritime Radio Historical Society
PO Box 392
Point Reyes Station, CA 94956
USA
415-669-9646
The Coast Guard CAMSPAC will again take to the CW airwaves, and this might well be the last year due to big changes at this station. They will also be using the remotes in Astoria, OR and Cambria, CA (usually more associated with NAVTEX).
NMC, Pt. Reyes:
472.0 Nautel ND2500TT/6 173' monopole tower
500.0 Nautel ND2500TT/6 173' monopole tower
6383.0 Rockwell-Collins RT-2200 Omni-directional
8574.0 Rockwell-Collins RT-2200 Omni-directional
17220.5 Rockwell-Collins RT-2200 Omni-directional
NMQ, Cambria:
448.0 Nautel ND2500TT/6 Inverted L
500.0 Nautel ND2500TT/6 Inverted L
NMW, Astoria:
448.0 Nautel ND2500TT/6 Capacitive top hat
500.0 Nautel ND2500TT/6 Capacitive top hat
NOTE regarding NMC/NMQ/NMW MF transmissions. Only one MF transmitter will be in service at each station. Morse transmissions will be made on an as-available basis from each station as USCG operators must also accommodate scheduled NAVTEX transmissions.
Reception reports and verification requests for the USCG stations listed above may be sent to:
Attn: OSCS Phil Marsh
USCG CAMSPAC Point Reyes
17000 Sir Francis Drake Blvd.
Point Reyes Station, CA 94956
USA
You've read about ShipCom in the UP column, and you'll read about them again because the HF 911 project is coming along nicely. Meanwhile, good old WLO (AL) and KLB (WA) will come back on the CW airwaves:
WLO:
2055.5
4343.0
8658.0
12992.0
16968.5
KLB
488.0
500.0
8582.5
Reception reports via email (for both stations) to: wloradio@wloradio.com
W4WLO
Another amateur station will be available for QSOs around 7055/14055 kHz.
Duplex calling channels
Usually at least one ship calls up and passes traffic using standard commercial procedures. Most years, there's way more than one. Monitor these calling channels for some great catches:
500 (international MW calling channel)
ITU Channel 3 HF:
4184.0
6276.0
8368.0
12552.0
16736.0
22280.5
Catch some dits and dahs starting at 0001 UTC. That's in a little over two hours!