MT Editor Sends Message Via Night of Nights

The following traffic was passed over KPH/KFS/KSM last night:

qtc
nr21 cknc san francisco radio kph/kfs/ksm 0100gmt 13 july =
to all ships and stations=
greetings from the site of the former station vbh kingston ontario. i have been an active radio listener for 50 years, an amateur for 35 years and the son of a landline telegrapher. i am a licensed captain and have used hf and vhf marine radio=
capt ron walsh/ve3go marine columnist monitoring times magazine ar

Very cool.

Night of Nights XI 2011 Details

There are some changes. This info comes from the MRHS web site.

KPH:

Transmit: 426 500 4247.0 6477.5 8642.0 12808.5 17016.8 22477.5

QSX: All ships can call on 500 kHz and ITU Channel 3 all bands.
Channel 3 freqs: 4184.0 6276.0 8368.0 12552.0 16736.0 22280.5kc

The KPH/K6KPH receive/operation site is open to the public beginning at 3 PM Pacific (5 minutes ago). Tours to the transmitter site are available for true believers in the benevolent god RF. This building has plenty of that. The transmitter site is remote controlled and quite distant from the receive.

KFS:

Transmit: 12695.5 17026.0
QSX 500 and Channel 3, same as KPH

12695.5 will be on a 1940s vintage Press Wireless PW-15, formerly at the KFS transmitter site in Palo Alto, CA and one of the transmitters on the air on 12 July 1999. 17026.0 will be on a Henry transmitter [commercial grade, and no slouch either].

KSM:

Transmit: 426 500 6474 8438.3 12993
QSX: 500 and Channel 3, same as KPH

(see KPH listing for frequencies).

QSL for KPH, KFS, and KSM:

Ms. DA Stoops
P.O. Box 381
Bolinas CA 94924-0381
USA

Denice is an ace telegrapher who worked at KPH in its heyday.

WLO:

Transmit: 4343.0 8658.0 12992.0 16968.5
QSX: 500 and Channel 3 (same as KPH)

(No 2 MHz this year.)

WLO is the ShipCom station in Mobile, AL. It still handles HF commercial ship traffic, though not in CW.

WLO QSL:
WLO Radio
7700 RINLA AVENUE
MOBILE, ALABAMA 36619
USA

KLB:

Transmit: 488 500 (A1 & A2), 8582.5 (A1A)
QSX: 500 8368.0

KLB is the ShipCom station in the Seattle area. QSL is same address as WLO.

KKUI:

WWII Victory ship SS AMERICAN VICTORY will be on the air attempting contact will all the coast stations above. They'll use the best calling frequency for the prevailing propagation at the time but they usually call KSM on 12552.0.

K6KPH:

Amateur station K6KPH will transmit and listen on 3550, 7050 14050 and 21050 for KPH, KFS and KSM reception reports.

Professional operators will be at the key and commercial procedures [see below] will be used. But please don't hesitate to call, no matter what your code speed or experience level may be. We look forward to your call.

[They switch to usual amateur procedure if there's a pileup, which there often is. There's more on the web site.]

QSL: Same as KPH.

It's Night of Nights Time!

It seems like a long time ago that commercial Morse code vanished in the United States, but even so I can't believe that this is the 11th one of these. Yes, Night of Nights XI is here.

Night of Nights came from the original defiance of a group of skilled Morse telegraphers and maritime radio people who decided they'd be damned before the most perfect communication system ever invented was going to vanish with all the other forgotten technologies. And now it's #11.

It seems almost beyond belief that the grand-daddy of West Coast stations, RCA's KPH, is back on the air, even one night a year. It is now part of the Pt. Reyes National Seashore, and the incredible dedication of these people have made its window-rattling Morse code audible again. (The rest of the year, the call belongs to Globe Wireless at another site, where the only on-air ID is a distinct hex code that can only be copied with special software.)

Every ham dreams of suddenly getting access to a rhombic farm and receive site with miles of antennas. Here is a group that actually did it.

MRHS:

Each year on 12 July the MRHS holds its Night of Nights event on the anniversary of the supposed last commercial Morse message sent in the US. On that night historic stations KPH and KFS return to the air along with our own KSM. Listen on the air or join us at the receive site in Point Reyes, CA.

While MRHS station KSM is on the air every Saturday, on Night of Nights we originate stations KPH and KFS in addition to KSM. We will joined on the air by KLB, WLO and KKUI. See below [next post -Hugh] for details.

You can participate by listening or by visiting the ex-RCA receive site to see the action in person. If you'd like to operate K6KPH just bring your key. No license required!

Here are the details of the event:

Date: 12 July 2011 Pacific time, 13 July gmt
Doors open: 3:00pm Pacific time
On air time: 5:01pm Pacific time, 0001 gmt

Freqs & QSL info in the next post!

Night of Nights 2011 Official Announcement

From R. Dillman, MRHS:

[Details are subject to change. Check our Web site at http://www.radiomarine.org for updates.]

Each year the MRHS commemorates 12 July 1999, the date on which the supposed last commercial message was sent in the US. On that date we pick up the thread, keep the faith and maintain the traditions of maritime radio communications so that the skills and traditions of all the radiotelegraphers who came before us will be maintained.

While MRHS station KSM is on the air every Saturday, on Night of Nights we originate stations KPH and KFS in addition to KSM. We hope that other stations will join us on the air this year including KLB and WLO.

You can participate by listening or by visiting the ex-RCA receive site (details below) to see the action in person. If you'd like to operate K6KPH just bring your key. No license required! If you have a commercial radiotelegraph license bring it along. You can sit the circuit at KSM and have your license endorsed for coast station service.

Here are the details of the event:

Date: 12 July 2010 Pacific time, 13 July gmt

Doors open: 3:00pm Pacific time

On air time: 5:01pm Pacific time, 0001 gmt

Station and frequency information (subject to change):

-----

KPH

KPH will transmit on 426, 500, 4247.0, 6477.5, 8642.0, 12808.5, 17016.8 and 22477.5kc.

MF and 22Mc will be on Henry transmitters, rest of KPH HF on 1950s vintage RCA K and L sets.

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

-----

KFS

KFS will transmit on 12695.5 and 17026.0 -

12695.5 will be on a 1940s vintage Press Wireless PW-15, formerly at the KFS transmitter site in Palo Alto, CA and one of the transmitters on the air on 12 July 1999. 17026.0 will be on a Henry transmitter.

KFS will listen for calls from ships on 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

-----

KSM

KSM will transmit on 426, 500, 6474, 8438.3 and 12993kc.

We don't have enough antennas to accommodate the other KSM frequencies when KPH and KFS are on the air. A failure of any of the RCA transmitters may cause a KSM transmitter to be diverted to cover KPH.

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

-----

To be confirmed

WLO

WLO will transmit on 2055.5, 4343.0, 8658.0, 12992.0 and 16968.5kc

WLO will listen for calls from HF Channel 3(see KPH listing for frequencies).

Reception reports may be sent to:

WLO Radio
7700 RINLA AVENUE
MOBILE, ALABAMA 36619
USA

-----

To be confirmed

KLB

KLB will transmit on 488, 500 (A1 & A2), 8582.5kc

KLB will listen for calls from ships on 500kc and 8368.0kc.

Reception reports may be sent to:

WLO Radio
7700 RINLA AVENUE
MOBILE, ALABAMA 36619
USA

-----

K6KPH

K6KPH, the MRHS amateur station, will transmit and listen on 3550, 7050 14050 and 21050kc for KPH, KFS and KSM reception reports.

Professional operators will be at the key and commercial procedures will be used. But please don't hesitate to call, no matter what your code speed or experience level may be.

K6KPH verification reports may be sent to:

Ms. DA Stoops
P.O. Box 381
Bolinas CA 94924-0381
USA

-----

Remember, this is a public event. If you are in the area you are invited to join us at the RCA receive site, 17000 Sir Francis Drake Blvd in the Point Reyes National Seashore north of San Francisco. If using a computer mapping program add "Inverness" after the address above even though the station is well beyond that town.

Doors open at 3:00pm Pacific time. Snacks will be served. Tours of the transmitting station may be arranged for "true believers" by appointment only.

VY 73 de MRHS

Is the Japanese Whaling Fleet Using HF CW?

I was keeping this quiet because both sides of the famous "Whale Wars" dispute monitor the Internet almost as intently as the radio, looking for any information on position and course of the others. However, they have now made contact, and awareness of the existence of communication no longer gives either one useful information for location.

The "Whale Wars" are, of course, the yearly Japanese whaling expedition to the Southern Ocean every summer, and the efforts of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society to shut it down. This is shown every year, a few months later, on the Animal Planet TV show with this name.

About a week ago, suspicious Morse code comms were heard on 12443 kHz CW. This frequency is in the ship CW working band, but it is not an international channel. It's one kHz off from 12442.0, the ship transmitting side of a duplex pair with 9MG, Penang, on 12943.5 kHz.

These comms, however, are simplex. The ship operator sends Morse with a standard "straight key," not a "bug" or automatic keyer. Content is mostly numbers, though the people who are able to hear this have reported non-international Morse characters that could be Japanese or other languages.

One listener in New Zealand reports that he copied the words "Sea Shepard." It's not known whether the CW op misspelled it or it was a typo. He also notes that he has heard Antarctic CW activity on 12443 kHz simplex in previous Southern Hemisphere summers.

This activity coincides with reports on the Sea Shepherd web site of a series of complex tactical maneuvers ending in their intercepting the factory ship Nisshin Maru, making it impossible to process whales and bringing the Japanese whaling to at least a temporary halt.

So, have utility listeners done the seeming impossible, and heard the Nisshin or one of its associated vessels? This is not known. It could be another vessel mentioning the activity. It's sure fun to speculate, though. Did the whaling fleet think no one would check the old CW frequencies?

But, regardless of who you think is right in this yearly dispute, anything actually associated with it would be a major utility catch. Who says there's nothing on short wave?

UK Proposes Massive Coast Guard Cuts

A leaked plan from the UK Department for Transport proposes the reduction of Coast Guard facilities from 19 to 8, only 3 of which would operate 24/7.

The new full-time maritime centers would be at Aberdeen, Southampton/Portsmouth, and Dover. Five sub-centers would be open in daylight hours only, at Swansea, Humber, Falmouth, Belfast or Liverpool, and Stornoway or Shetland.

One immediate issue of contention is that this plan leaves only one Coast Guard base in Wales.

In addition, the transport secretary continues with plans to privatize the search and rescue operation. The Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, and Coast Guard's "aging" Sea King helicopters would be replaced with a SAR system supplied by a private contractor.

The effects of all this on Coast Guard radio are not yet known, since nothing is as yet definite.

Bangkok Weather Fax Is Not Dead

This grungy chart was copied on 7396.9 kHz (tune 7395.0), around 1730 UTC on December 1. It's from HSW, Bangkok, Thailand, and should put to rest the claims that this station has left the air. It remains quite active on this single frequency.

The DX-Tuner in Hong Kong was used. Signal was good at start, but dropped off into the crud.

Denice Stoops Ships Out!

Denice Stoops worked at KPH when the station closed for commercial traffic. She was the first, and to my knowledge only, female Morse telegrapher at this station. She recently decided to get back into the business via the US sealift command, and after training she is shipping out. This comes from Richard Dillman of MRHS:

Our very own Ms. Denice Stoops has completed training and been assigned to MSC ship USNS Wally Schirra (T-AKE-8). She's on her way to meet the ship in San Diego, CA. See details and more photos in the "Denice's Excellent Adventure" section of our Web site. And join us in wishing her fair winds and following seas...

VY 73 ES BV,

RD

I also wish her the best!

Happy Thanksgiving from Utility World.

Carnival Splendor ops on COTHEN

The US Coast Guard High-Endurance Cutter Morgenthau, a ship which recently returned to service from its base in Alameda, CA, and which was known to be on-scene with the distressed cruise ship Carnival Splendor, has been heard here sounding on the COTHEN net, frequency of 8912 kHz USB ALE, at 2322 UTC on 9 November.

The signal was much louder in Southern California than usual for COTHEN players. The Los Angeles Times has reported that Morgenthau is escorting the cruise ship as she is towed into port by two Mexican tugs.

The Carnival Splendor went dead in the water on 8 November, after a fire disabled the main generators.

International Lighthouse/ Lightship Weekend, Aug. 21-22

International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend

Full details here

AN ANNUAL AMATEUR RADIO WEEKEND EVENT.
CONDUCTED UNDER THE SPONSORSHIP OF THE AYR AMATEUR RADIO GROUP, SCOTLAND ON THE THIRD FULL WEEKEND IN AUGUST.
THIS YEAR'S EVENT - 21-22 AUGUST 2010

The event came into being from the Scottish Northern Lighthouses award weekend . See also the Ayr Group web site for further history and here for the original ILLW web site and 1998 list by Bob Dixon, GM3ZDH. Over the past 13 years it has grown to over 400 lighthouses in some 50 countries around the world participating in the event.

The event is always held on the 3rd full weekend in August starting at 0001 UTC on Saturday and finishing at 2359 UTC on Sunday. It also now coincides on the Sunday with the International Lighthouse Day which is an event organised by the International Association of Lighthouse Keepers whereby as many world lighthouses will be open to the public for the day.

PURPOSE

The basic objective of the event is to promote public awareness of lighthouses and lightships and their need for preservation and restoration, to promote amateur radio and to foster International goodwill.

So come and join us in the fun of the weekend, establish a station at a lighthouse, lightship or maritime beacon. The more the merrier. If you decide to join us in the fun just fill in the official online entry form with your details. This will enable other stations to be aware of who is participating in the event. You may also send you entry, or any questions regarding the rules, via the "Contact Webmaster link in the main menu.

Don't Forget Night of Nights XI

I can't believe it's been 11 years since the last stations pulled the plugs on commercial Morse telegraphy in the US.

Be that as it may, this infamous anniversary will once again be marked by several large stations spitting dits and dahs defiantly into the Ether as if nothing had changed. All hail to the Martitime Radio Historical Society for taking the point on this important work.

Period equipment will be used on many frequencies, and ships may call on the receiving frequencies (500 kHz and HF calling Channel 3). KKUI, the restored SS American Victory, has announced its plan to work all stations. They most frequently use the 12 MHz frequency of Channel 3, but others are possible.

The fun starts at the exact time Morse went away, or 0001 UTC on the 13th. Reception reports are welcome, and QSL info is here.

For those in the Bay Area, the receiving station on Point Reyes is open for visitors starting 15 minutes ago. Trust me: it's worth the trip. Directions to the receive site are at the same link. GPS is desirable for navigation, if you have it. The place is really out there.

Here are the frequencies:

KPH
Xmit: 426, 500, 4247.0, 6477.5, 8642.0, 12808.5, 17016.8, 22477.5
Rcv: 500; 4184.0, 6276.0, 8368.0, 12552.0, 16736.0, 22280.5 (C3)

KSM
Xmit: 426, 500, 6474, 8438.3, 12993
Rcv: Same as KPH

KFS
Xmit: 12695.5, 17026.0
Rcv: HF Channel 3 (same as KPH)

WLO
Xmit: 2055.5, 4343.0, 8658.0, 12992.0 and 16968.5
Rcv: 500; 8368 (C3)

NMC (USCG CAMSPAC Pt. Reyes))
Xmit: 448, 472, 500, 6383.0, 8574.0 and 17220.5
Rcv: HF Channel 3 (same as KPH)

NMN (USCG CAMSLANT Chesapeake)
Xmit: 8471.0, 12718.5 and 16976
Rcv: HF Channel 3 (same as KPH)

K6KPH
Simplex 3550, 7050 and 14050 (taking reports)
K6KPH ops use some commercial procedures. DE means about the same as QRZ?

All emission CW Morse telegraphy, and loving it!

Updated July 12 Night of Nights IX Information

Each year the Maritime Radio Historical Society commemorates 12 July 1999, the date on which the supposed last commercial message was sent in the US. On that date we pick up the thread, keep the faith and maintain the traditions of maritime radio communications so that the skills and traditions of all the radiotelegraphers who came before us will be maintained.

While MRHS station KSM is on the air every Saturday, on Night of Nights we originate stations KPH and KFS in addition to KSM. Other stations join us on the air, this year including KLB, WLO, NMC and NMN.

Flash! The SS AMERICAN VICTORY/KKUI radio department has advised that they will try to work every coast station on the air for Night of Nights XI. KKUI can most often be heard on 12Mc ITU channel 3 (see KPH listing for channel 3 frequencies) but may use other channels as well. If KKUI contacts KPH, KFS or KSM all the transmitters for those stations will be keyed during the contact so listeners will have a good chance of hearing at least the shore side of the exchange.

You can participate by listening or by visiting the ex-RCA receive site to see the action in person. If you'd like to operate K6KPH just bring your key. No license required!

Here are the details of the event:

Date: 12 July 2010 Pacific time, 13 July gmt
Time: 5:01pm Pacific time, 0001 gmt

Station and frequency information (subject to change):

-----

KPH

KPH will transmit on 426, 500, 4247.0, 6477.5, 8642.0, 12808.5, 17016.8 and 22477.5kc.

MF and 22Mc will be on Henry transmitters, rest of KPH HF on 1950s vintage RCA K and L sets.

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

-----

KFS

KFS will transmit on 12695.5 and 17026.0 -

12695.5 will be on a 1940s vintage Press Wireless PW-15, formerly at the KFS transmitter site in Palo Alto, CA and one of the transmitters on the air on 12 July 1999. 17026.0 will be on a Henry transmitter.

KFS will listen for calls from ships on HF Channel 3 (see KPH listing for frequencies).

Reception reports - same as KPH

Ms. DA Stoops
P.O. Box 381
Bolinas CA 94924-0381
USA

-----

KSM

KSM will transmit on 426, 500, 6474, 8438.3 and 12993kc.

We don't have enough antennas to accommodate the other KSM frequencies when KPH and KFS are on the air. A failure of any of the RCA transmitters may cause a KSM tx to be diverted to cover KPH.

KSM will listen for calls from ships on 500kc and HF Channel 3 (see KPH listing for frequencies).

Reception reports - same as KPH

-----

WLO

WLO will transmit on 2055.5, 4343.0, 8658.0, 12992.0 and 16968.5kc

WLO will listen for calls from HF Channel 3(see KPH listing for frequencies).

Reception reports may be sent to:

WLO Radio
7700 RINLA AVENUE
MOBILE, ALABAMA 36619
USA

-----

KLB

KLB will transmit on 488, 500 (A1 & A2), 8582.5kc

KLB will listen for calls from ships on 500kc and 8368.0kc.

Reception reports - same as WLO

-----

NMC - US Coast Guard Point Reyes, CA

NMC will transmit on 448, 472, 500, 6383.0, 8574.0 and 17220.5kc

NMC will listen for calls from ships on HF Channel 3 (see KPH listing
for frequencies).

Reception reports may be sent to:

Commanding Officer
USCG CAMSPAC
17000 Sir Francis Drake Blvd.
Point Reyes Station, CA 94956-0560
Attn: Operations Specialist in Charge (OSIC)


-----

NMN - US Coast Guard Chesapeake Bay, VA

NMN will transmit on 8471.0, 12718.5 and 16976.0kc

NMN will listen for calls from ships on HF Channel 3 (see KPH listing
for frequencies).

Reception reports may be sent to:

Commanding Officer
USCG CAMSLANT
4720 Douglas A. Munro Rd.
Chesapeake, VA 23322
Attn: Operations Specialist in Charge (OSIC)

-----

K6KPH

Amateur station K6KPH will transmit and listen on 3550, 7050 and 14050kc for KPH, KFS and KSM reception reports.

Professional operators will be at the key and commercial procedures will be used. But please don't hesitate to call, no matter what your code speed or experience level may be.
K6KPH verification reports may be sent to:

Ms. DA Stoops
P.O. Box 381
Bolinas CA 94924-0381
USA

-----

Remember, this is a public event. If you are in the area you are invited to join us at the RCA receive site, 17000 Sir Francis Drake Blvd in the Point Reyes National Seashore north of San Francisco. If using a computer mapping program add "Inverness" after the address above even though the station is well beyond that town.

Doors open at 3:00pm Pacific time. Snacks will be served. Tours of the transmitting station may be arranged for "true believers" by appointment only.

[Plus you can get a piece of Night of Nights cake! -Hugh]

GL de MRHS

Maritime CW "Night of Nights" Coming July 12!

Night of Nights will be held on 12 July 2010.

Night of Nights is the annual event of the Maritime Radio Historical Society, commemorating that sad day on 12 July 1999 when what were thought to be the last commercial Morse messages in the US were sent. However the reports of the demise of commercial Morse were exaggerated. By the next year the MRHS had restored enough of ex-RCA station KPH to hold the first Night of Nights. Since then the event has expanded to include the return to the air of not only KPH but KFS and KSM, the station of the MRHS. Other coast stations typically join us on the air. In the past these have included WLO and KLB. This year we hope that at least two US Coast Guard stations will be on the air as well.

Night of Nights is a public event. You're invited to join us at the RCA receive site in Point Reyes, CA. Special visits to the transmitter site can be arranged for "true believers". Wherever you are you can tune in to the event at 5:01pm Pacific time/0001gmt as we pick up the thread and keep the faith with all the radiotelegraph operators who came before us.

More details will be posted as Night of Nights draws near.

If you would like to receive information about Night of Nights and other MRHS activities directly just send an email to radiomarine-subscribe@yahoogroups.com .

VY 73,

RD

KSM CW Now Up, All Freqs

500 kHz is not being copied in SoCal (wrong time of day). Everything else is audible at 1851 UTC, with 8 MHz loudest and 6 MHz just behind. The station is currently running a VVV de KSM wheel.

MRHS Ship Simplex now on 12552 CW

At 1821 UTC, KKUI is calling KYVM on 12552 kHz CW. Signal is good in SoCal. So far no joy.

KSM Special Event in Progress

KSM is currently up on 6474 kHz CW working an unknown vessel. Signal is typically strong in Southern California.

The vessel is one of three that are participating in special contacts for the Sacramento River cruise of the SS Jeremiah O'Brien (KXCH).

Other participating vessels are the SS Red Oak Victory (KYVM), and the SS American Victory (KKUI).

All vessels will be using 500 kHz (calling) and 425 kHz (working), in CW. KSM, on the shore side, will simulkey all of its HF frequencies, making reception possible over a very wide area. These are:

4350.5
6474.0
8438.3
12993.0
16914.0
22445.8

In addition, ship-to-ship contact may be audible on 12552 kHz CW.

This operation is scheduled to continue until 2200 UTC, with a lunch break at local noon (1900 UTC).

Loran-C Is Gone (at least in southern CONUS)

The Loran-C navigational chain that has burned up 100 kHz on the US West Coast since the late 1950s is off the air. The switch was pulled soon after 2000 UTC today (Feb 8), a time that had been previously announced by the US Coast Guard.

The silence is a bit unsettling. Quiet out there. Too quiet.

A UDXF member reports that the Loran-C station in Jupiter Inlet, FL, has also left the air.

US Coast Guard Axes Loran-C

At 2000 UTC on 8 Feb, 2010, LORAN (LOng RAnge Navigation) is dead in the United States. It follows such other systems as Omega, DECCA, and Hyperfix into post-GPS oblivion.

This happened rather quickly, being published in the Federal Register only 10 days ago. It is not much of a surprise, though.

From USCG:

*** Special Notice Regarding LORAN Closure: ***

In accordance with the DHS Appropriations Act, the U.S. Coast Guard will terminate the transmission of all U.S. LORAN-C signals effective 2000Z 08 Feb 2010. At that time, the U.S. LORAN-C signal will be unusable and permanently discontinued. This termination does not affect U.S. participation in the Russian American or Canadian LORAN-C chains. U.S. participation in these chains will continue temporarily in accordance with international agreements. You may read more and download pertinent documents via our LORAN-C page.

More in the April Utility World.

[UDXF] K6KPH on for SKN - KSM Too

The MRHS amateur station K6KPH will participate in the annual Straight Key Night once again this New Year's Eve.

Coast station KSM will be on the air as well to give listeners a chance to hear the station in later evening hours than usual.

Straight Key Night is sponsored by the ARRL for those who love Morse and enjoy practicing the art using manual, non-electronic keys. K6KPH will be on 3550kc and 7050kc. Both Denice Stoops and myself will be at the key.

For information about Straight Key Night see:

http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2009/skn.html

KSM will be on the air as well. Transmissions will take place on 426kc in the medium frequency band and on 4, 6, 8 and 12Mc HF. Press and weather will be transmitted. It's our hope that the lateness of the hour and the winter season will allow listeners to copy the station on frequencies they may not have heard before. We're especially hopeful that distant listeners will be able to copy us on 426kc.

Operations will probably begin sometime between 2100 and 2200 Pacific time (0500 - 0600Z) and last for about two hours.

Reception reports and QSLs may be sent to the QSL Mistress at:

Denice Stoops
PO Box 381
Bolinas, CA 94924-0381
USA

VY 73,

RD

=================================
Richard Dillman, W6AWO
Chief Operator, Coast Station KSM
Maritime Radio Historical Society
http://www.radiomarine.org
=================================

So Who Is GM-11F?

"GM-11F" is the identification on mysterious radiofaxes apparently coming from the Ukraine, perhaps the Russian Navy in Sevastopol, on 5103 and 7090 kHz USB. These have been seen in Germany for at least a year. Content is the usual marine weather information. One transmission occurs daily at 1430 UTC.

7090 kHz is in the 40 meter amateur band, but other Russian military stations also operate there. This includes one of those single-letter beacon clusters (ENIGMA designator MX). "D" (Sevastopol, 7038.7) and "C" (Moscow, 7039.0) are especially loud pretty much 24/7 in central Europe.