From MHRS Newsletter No. 60
(Links to orig. with photos here
http://radiomarine.org/)
(Also note WLO will not be on the air this year. )
> Night of Nights XVIII!
That's right, July is coming up and that means it's almost time for Night of Nights. We've held this event every year since 2000. It's always held on 12 July to commemorate the date of what was supposed to be the last commercial Morse transmission in the. But on that day in 1999 the MRHS was founded with the goal of honoring all our heroes and heroines who came before us and made the profession of radiotelegrapher one of honor and skill. We would do this by restoring station KPH, the Wireless Giant of the Pacific, to full operation - clearly an absurd idea. No coast station had ever been returned from the dead. The bulldozers were waiting at the gates, their engines quietly idling, ready to scrape the site clean of every trace of the station. But KPH survived physically and, as all True Believers know, the voice of this great station can once again be heard across the world.
For the complete origin story of Night of Nights please see our Newsletter 59.
Chief Operator Richard Dillman prepares to send the opening message on a past Night of Nights under the watchful gaze of former KPH Senior Morse Operator Ray Smith
While KPH is on the air every weekend, Night of Nights is special. In addition to KPH several other famous coast stations return to the air to re-create those wonderful days of yesteryear when these great stations stood shoulder to shoulder across the spectrum, each with its own personality and tone. Operations begin at 5:01pm PDT (0001 GMT), X number of years and one minute after the supposed commercial transmission was made. Thus we pick up the thread and continue the traditions of Morse code maritime communications.
For Night of Nights XVIII we anticipate that civilian stations KPH and KFS will be joined by US Coast Guard stations NMC, NMN, NMQ and NMW. Full frequency information for these stations appears below.
But first, the details:
When - Wednesday12 July PDT (13 July GMT). On air operations begin at 5:01pm PDT (0001 GMT).
Where - RCA receive site, 17400 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Point Reyes National Seashore. Doors open at 3:00pm PDT.
What - You are invited to join us over the air or in person at the receive site. Full tours of the facility will be given. Light refreshments will be served. See real live radiomen in their natural habitat! Those who whisper the words True Believer will be offered a personal tour of the Treasure Room. Tours of the transmitter site can be arranged on a case by case basis. At 4:55pm the crowd will be called to silence and a description of Night of Nights will be given. Then, at precisely 5:01pm the transmissions begin and Night of Nights XVIII will be underway!
Commemorative Messages - Each year we transmit special commemorative messages submitted by True Believers. These are often in the form of message to a father who sailed as a RO and has now passed on or a beloved uncle who instilled the magic of radio in a young boy by allowing him into his ham shack. If you would like us to transmit your commemorative message we'd love to hear from you. Just write to info@radiomarine.org
Contact: By email at info@radiomarine.org or by phone (only when the station is in operation) on +1 415-669-9646.
Particulars of Stations:
Here's the information for the MRHS stations that will be on the air for Night of Nights XVIII:
KPH - Bolinas, CA
500
426
4247.0
6477.5
8642.0
12808.5
17016.8
22477.5
NOTE: All these frequencies except 500 and 426 will be originated by vintage "heavy iron" transmitters, RCA H, K and L sets from the 1950s. 500 and 426 will be originated by a 1990 vintage Henry MF5000D transmitter.
NOTE: Broadcasts including commemorative messages, weather, traffic lists, etc., will be sent via KPH only. KFS will send the station identification "wheel" on all HF channels when not working ships.
Reception reports may be sent to:
Maritime Radio Historical Society
Post Office Box 392
Point Reyes Station, CA 94956
USA
Note: Self addressed stamped envelopes would be greatly appreciated! Please, no "green stamps".
1942 PW15 transmitter in action on KFS 12695.5
KFS - Bolinas, CA
500
6365.6
12695.5
17026.0
22581.5
NOTE: 12695.5 will be originated by a 1942 Press Wireless PW15 transmitter, the actual transmitter that was on the air on that frequency on 12 July 1999. The other frequencies will be originated by 1990 vintage Henry commercial HF5000D transmitters.
KPH and KFS operators will listen for calls from ships on 500kc MF and ITU Ch 3 HF:
4184.0
6276.0
8368.0
12552.0
16736.0
22280.5
Reception reports may be sent to:
Maritime Radio Historical Society
Post Office Box 392
Point Reyes Station, CA 94956
USA
Note: Self addressed stamped envelopes would be greatly appreciated! Please, no "green stamps".
Here's the information for the USCG stations that will be on the air for Night of Nights XVIII:
NMC - Bolinas, CA
448
500
6383
8574
17220.5
NMW - Astoria, OR
448
500
NMQ - Cambria, CA
448
500
NMN - Chesapeake, VA
8465
12718.5
16976
NOTE: The presence of NMN on CW is a very big deal and a technical challenge. NMN will be remote controlled from NMC. Big thanks to ET1 Mike Leska without whom the entire USCG Night of Nights operation would not be possible.
Reception reports may be sent to:
ET1 Mike Leska
ESD Ketchikan - QSL
1300 Steadman St
Ketchikan, AK 99901
USA
Note: Self addressed stamped envelopes would be greatly appreciated! Please, no "green stamps".
We are sorry to report that station WLO, Mobile, AL will be unable to participate in Night of Nights this year. We hope to hear that famous call back on the air again soon!
That's the information we have as we go to press. Any changes will be sent in subsequent updates. Now it's up to you. Check those frequencies, worm up your receiver, put on a pot of coffee and travel back in time with us for Night of Nights XVIII.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And from a supplement:
Night of Nights:
12 July 2017
17400 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Point Reyes National Seashore
Doors open at 3:00pm PDT
Operations begin at 5:01pm PDT
Dedicated to True Believers Worldwide
Subscribe to the MRHS Newsletter HERE
Review back issues of the MRHS Newsletter HERE
Visit the MRHS Web site HERE
28 June 2017
> K6KPH Information
Information for MRHS amateur station K6KPH was inadvertently left out of Newsletter 60. It's all included below. But before we get to the frequencies and hours of operation for K6KPH, let's talk about procedures.
Of course you can contact K6KPH using the procedures you would for any other amateur station. But we try to operate K6KPH as close as possible to a commercial coast station: fixed frequency, one transmitter and antenna for each frequency, remote keying, etc. So if you're an ex-RO or would just like to use commercial procedures - great! Here's the info:
Amateur - K6KPH K6KPH K6KPH DE W6AWO W6AWO W6AWO K
Commercial - K6KPH K6KPH K6KPH continuously until the op replies with DE, then send your call.
Commercial Extra - K6KPH K6KPH K6KPH continuously until the op replies with DE, then send your call followed by QSS 060 UP =, meaning my working frequency is (megahertz) 060 I'm going up in frequency. The K6KPH op will look for you there and work you duplex. For example if you are on 7Mc your working frequency would be 7060 (or whatever you designate). Only the last three digits of your working frequency need be sent. The K6KPH will not repeat back those three digits because, in commercial service, ships hearing those digits would pile on that frequency trying to get the coast station. The K6KPH op will simply respond with R UP = .
QRY - If a lot of stations are calling the K6KPH may use QRY (your turn is) followed by a number, eg W6AWO DE K6KPH R QRY 3 meaning you are station number 3. Just standby and the K6KPH will call you in turn. It's just like taking a number at the bakery.
QTC - If you have traffic for K6KPH (signal reports, general greetings, radiograms to loved ones) just list that traffic on your initial call up, eg, K6KPH DE W6AWO QTC2 meaning you have two radiograms. If the radiogram is going to a third party, please include the email address. We'll send it directly from the K6KPH email account.
K6KPH will guard its usual frequencies:
3550
7050
14050
18097.5
21050
Official operations will start by 5:01pm PDT (0001 GMT) but may begin earlier depending when guest operators arrive and on what transmitters the Transmitter Department can bring on line earlier. Operations usually continue until about 9:30pm PDT.
Guest operator Rick Wahl (ex-NMC, ex-KPH) using his Bengali paddle at K6KPH Position 4
Guest operators? You bet. If you would like to be a K6KPH operator just bring your key and earphones. No license required, just a working knowledge of Morse. But if you want to bring your license we will endorse if with the special MRHS stamp and seal certifying you as a K6KPH operator.
Since operators usually rotate among the 6 operating positions you'll probably encounter different folks at different time through the evening.
Questions? No worries, just write to info@radiomarine.org
Show Posts
