FYI!
Bob, K8LR, [log in to unmask]
NIGHT OF NIGHTS 2013 FINAL INFORMATION
USCG WILL PARTICIPATE IN NIGHT OF NIGHTS!
Event Date: 12 July 2013 Pacific Daylight Time
First Transmission form MRHS Stations: 5:01pm Pacific Daylight Time 12 July,
0001Z 13 July
Historic coast stations KPH, KFS and KSM will return to the air
CA "H Set" Transmitter 298 to be on the airUSCG Coast Stations NMC and NMQ
will be on the airstoric Stations WLO and KLB may join the event
K6KPH will be listening for calls and signal reports
Join us in person or on the air
Morse code.
It's just beeps in the air. Yet on 12 July 1999 some very tough looking
grizzled old radio pioneers had tears in their eyes as the last commercial
Morse code radiogram was sent. It was the end of an era. And as the last
beeps faded away into the static they witnessed the end of the career to
which they had devoted their lives.
These men - and some women - had stood watch over the airwaves on shore
and at sea. Theirs was mostly the business of maritime commerce. But when
their ship was in peril they were called upon to send the most electrifying
three letters in radio, S O S, knowing that all their fellow radio operators
would press their earphones close to get every scrap of information and
bring aid to their stricken ship.
Once, our coasts were dotted with great Morse code radio stations, all
communicating with ships at sea. They're all gone now... all except one, the
one they called the Wireless Giant of the Pacific, located at Point Reyes.
On that sad day in 1999 another event took place. The Maritime Radio
Historical Society (MRHS) was formed. We made it our life's work to honor
the men and women of wireless by restoring that wireless giant. One year and
one minute later the giant's voice once again spanned the oceas as we picked
up the thread and kept the faith with our colleagues of the air.
Every year since, in an event that became known as the Night of Nights,
Morse code station KPH has returned to the air, joined by KFS and the
station of the MRHS, KSM.
This year our friends and colleagues at USCG station NMC have labored
mightily to bring that storied call sign back to life on Morse code for the
evening along with NMQ in Cambria, CA.
We hope that stations WLO and KLB will join us again as hey have in years
past.
This is a global and local event. Hundreds of listeners around the world
will be waiting with their earphones on, waiting for the signals of the
great station to once again arc over the dome of the Earth to their
receivers.
You can be with us in person!
Dozens of people will join us at the RCA receiving station in the Point
Reyes National Seashore to watch as the signals are transmitted by hand
using vintage telegraph keys.
A guest operating position will be available so bring your key and 'phones
or use ours and operate K6KPH. No license required! So if you're an
ex-commercial op who never became a ham here's your chance to sling some
Morse again. Or if you hold a current commercial radiotelegraph ticket you
can operate KPH, KFS and/or KSM and have your license endorse to that
effect.
Date: Friday 12 July 2013 Pacific Daylight Time
Location: RCA receiving station, 17400 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Point
Reyes National Seashore
Click HERE for a map of the location from Google Maps
Time: Doors open at 3:00pm pdt, first transmission 5:01pm pdt (0001gmt 13
July)
Refreshments: Served
Photographs: Encouraged
Tours: Given
None of this would have been possible without the trust and vision of the
Point Reyes National Seashore. The only reason these facilities were spared
the bulldozer that visited all the others is that they are on park land.
And the only reason they have been restored to operation is that the PRNS
staff understood their importance and trusted the MRHS to restore them to
life.
THIS IS THE MOST ACCURATE AND COMPLETE NIGHT OF NIGHTS 2013 INFORMATION
AVAILABLE AT PRESS TIME BUT LAST MINUTE CHANGES MAY TAKE PLACE
This year we will send last minute changes and signal reports by Twitter.
You can join Twitter free at:
https://www.twitter.com
and follow us at @Radiomarine
MRHS Stations
Sixteen transmitters will be on the air from the MRHS transmitter site in
Bolinas. That doesn't include transmitters held in ready reserve in case of
failure. Members of the crack MRHS Transmitter Department and the H Set
Team will be on hand to assure that all goes well.
KPH:
frequency Transmitter Antenna
500/426 Henry MF-5000D Marconi T
4247.0 RCA K Set Double Extended Zepp
6477.5 RCA K Set Double Extended Zepp
8642.0 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
The restoration of the H set has been chronicled in past issues of the
Newsletter. It will return to revenue service for the first time in decades
for Night of Nights. See Newsletter No. 38 for information about and photos
of this magnificent transmitter.
FLASH! We have just confirmed that Point Reyes National Seashore
superintendent Cicely Muldoon will press the button to formally dedicate H
Set Transmitter 298 and put it on the air for Night of Nights!
KFS
Frequency Transmitter Antenna
12695.5 Press Wireless PW15 H over 2
17026.0 Henry HF-5000D H over 2
KSM
Frequency Transmitter Antenna
500/426 Henry MF-5000D Marconi T
8438.3 Henry HF-5000D Double Extended Zepp
12993.0 Henry HF-5000D H over 2
16914.0 Henry HF-5000D H over 2
K6KPH
Frequency Transmitter Antenna
3550.0 Henry HF-5000D Double Extended Zepp
7050.0 RCA L Set Double Extended Zepp
14050.0 Henry HF-5000D H over 2
21050.0 Henry HF-5000D H over 2
Reception Reports
Reception 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
Station Telephone
The receive site may be contacted by phone on +1 415-669-9646
USCG Stations
NMC (Transmit Bolinas, Receive Pt. Reyes)
Frequency Transmitter Antenna
448.0 Nautel ND2500TT/6 173' monopole tower
472.0 Nautel ND2500TT/6 173' monopole tower
500.0 Nautel ND2500TT/6 173' monopole tower
6383.0 Harris RT-2200 Conical omni-directional
8574.0 Harris RT-2200 Conical omni-directional
17220.5* Harris RT-2200 Conical omni-directional
NMQ (Transmit Cambria, Receive and Control Pt. Reyes)
Frequency Transmitter Antenna
448.0 Nautel ND2500TT/6 173' monopole tower
472.0 Nautel ND2500TT/6 173' monopole tower
500.0 Nautel ND2500TT/6 173' monopole tower
Reception Reports
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
Shipcom LLC Stations
The participation of Shipcpm LLC stations WLO and KLB was unconfirmed at
press time but the stations used these frequencies for previous Night of
Nights events. We list them so you can make them part of your listening
scan - just in case!
But Wait! Just before pressing the Send button we received word that WLO
and KLB will be on the air for Night of Nights 2013!
WLO
2055.5
4343.0
8658.0
12992.0
16968.5
KLB
488.0
500.0
8582.5
Reception Reports
No information is available for the Shipcom LLC stations
Calling Channels
All commercial and USCG stations listed above will listen for calls from
ships on 500kc and on ITU Channel 3 HF:
4184.0
6276.0
8368.0
12552.0
16736.0
22280.5
Listen on these frequencies if you want to copy both sides of ship to
shore contacts.
Commemorative Messages
Was your father, uncle or grand dad a commercial op or amateur operator?
Would you like to send a commemorative message in their honor over KPH, KFS
and KSM? We have sent several of these messages in past events and they
were all very moving. If you would like us to send such a message this year
please send it to us no later than Thursday 11 July pdt so we can be sure to
include it. Sent it to [log in to unmask]
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