----- Forwarded message from Ron D'Eau Claire <[log in to unmask]> -----

To: 'elecraft' <[log in to unmask]>

There are a number of historic short wave and medium wave broadcasts
occurring today in the USA that might be of interest to the gang here -
especially CW buffs.

The US Coast Guard today officially retires their version of the CW
operator, the Telecommunications Specialist Enlisted Rating. The retirement
of "Sparks" is being observed with a number of special broadcasts from Coast
Guard Communications Area Master Station Pacific (CAMSPAC), Pt Reyes,
California and other sites as follows:

A commemorative message will be sent at 12 noon, PDST, (1900 UTC) lasting
approximately 20 minutes and is expected to be acknowledged by radio
stations KFS, KPH, WLO, and KLB who will be on-air as well. WLO in Mobile
Alabama will be transmitting on 12660.0, and will listen for ships on the 12
MHz calling frequencies.

Coast Guard Communications Area Master Station Pacific (CAMSPAC) will send a
preliminary call on 500Khz followed by the commemorative message on 448Khz
and 8574Khz.

Simplex Radioteletype will be available on 9373Khz and a voice broadcast
will be made on the following NMC voice broadcast frequencies: 4426, 8764,
13089, 17314 kHz (USB).

Coastal Radio Stations KPH will activate its HF and MF transmitters to
participate in this historic event and to give listeners the opportunity to
hear three US coast stations on the air - possibly for the last time.

KPH will transmit on 6477.5, 8642.0, 12808.5 and17016.5 on HF and on 500 and
426kc on MF. KFS will transmit on 17026.0kc. These frequencies have been
made available through the generous cooperation of Globe Wireless, the
current owner of the KPH and KFS licenses.

KPH and KFS operators will listen for calls from ships on 6276.0, 8368.0,
12552.0 and16736.0 on HF and 500kc on MF.

QSLs to CAMSPAC may be sent real-time via email directly to the
Telecommunication Specialist In Charge, TCCS Bill Heckler at:
[log in to unmask]

Your Email QSLs will be posted real time so that members in attendance will
have an opportunity to see who is listening and read their comments during
the event. Those sending QSLs will receive a commemorative QSL card response
along with a copy of the commemorative message.

Looking at the frequencies involved, maybe this is a call for a "General
Coverage" Elecraft receiver??  OTOH, this is also the "end of an era" and
future broadcasts will dwindle over time. "Radio" communications has a rich
history and dedicated groups channel the efforts of a great many volunteer
commercial ops and hams to curate that history for future operators. One
such group is the Maritime Radio Historical Society who maintains an
excellent web site at:  http://www.radiomarine.org/

Ron AC7AC
K2 # 1289



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----- End forwarded message -----

--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV/3   | "And if the ground yawned,
Phone: (814) 455-7333     | I'd step to the side and say,
Email: [log in to unmask]  | "Hey ground! I'm nobody's lunch!"
http://www.ycardz.com/    | --Eddie From Ohio