HISTORIC MORSE CODE RADIO STATION KPH RETURNS TO THE AIR FOR "NIGHT OF
NIGHTS VII"
Former RCA Station KPH Celebrates Its 101st Anniversary
Coast Station KSM Celebrates Its 1st Anniversary
Coast Stations WLO, KLB and NMC To Be On The Air
New Frequencies for KSM and KLB
In the seventh annual event that has become known as the "Night of
Nights", historic Morse code radio station KPH will return to the air
in commemoration of the last commercial Morse message sent in the United
States. Frequencies and reception report information for all stations
appear below.
KPH, the ex-RCA coast station located north of San Francisco, will
return to the air for commemorative broadcasts on 12 July at 1701 PDT
(13 July at 0001 GMT), 7 years and one minute after the last commercial
Morse transmission in the US. These on-the-air events are intended to
honor the men and women who followed the radiotelegraph trade on ships
and at coast stations around the world and made it one of honor and skill.
Transmissions are expected to continue until at least midnight PDT
(0700GMT). Veteran Morse operators, including former KPH staff members,
will be on duty at the receiving station at Point Reyes, CA listening
for calls from ships and sending messages just as they did for so many
years before Morse operations were shut down.
The transmitters are located 18 miles south of Point Reyes in Bolinas CA
at the transmitting station established in 1913 by the American Marconi
Co. The original KPH transmitters, receivers and antennas will be used
to activate frequencies in all the commercial maritime HF bands and on
MF as well.
Many of the KPH transmitters will be 50s vintage RCA sets. KSM will use
a 1940s vintage Press Wireless PW-15 transmitter will be on its 12Mc
frequency. Power output will be 4 to 5kW. The transmitting antennas
include a Marconi T for MF, double extended Zepps for 4, 6 and 8Mc and H
over 2s for 12, 16 and 22Mc.
KPH will send traffic lists, weather and press broadcasts as well as
special commemorative messages, some of which will be sent by hand. At
other times the KPH and KSM "wheel" will be sent to mark the
transmitting frequencies.
Members of the public are invited to visit the receiving station for
this event. The station will be open to visitors beginning at 1500PDT
(3:00pm). The station is located at 17400 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard
and is on the route to the Point Reyes lighthouse. Watch for a cypress
lined driveway on the right about a mile past the entry to Coast Guard
station NMC.
KPH is operated by the Maritime Radio Historical Society in cooperation
with the Point Reyes National Seashore, part of the National Park Service.
Further information may be found on the Maritime Radio Historical
Society Web site at http://www.radiomarine.org or by contacting Richard
Dillman at +1 415-990-7090 (email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]) or Tom Horsfall
at +1 510-237-9535 (email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]).
BT
Station Information follows...
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KPH
KPH will transmit on 4247.0, 6477.5, 8642.0, 12808.5, 17016.8 and
22477.5kc on HF and 500 and 426kc on MF. These frequencies have been
made available through the generous cooperation of Globe Wireless, the
current owner of the KPH and KFS licenses. 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
Denice is a former KPH operator and was the first female telegrapher
hired at the station.
------------
KSM
(Note the addition of a 16Mc channel for KSM this year.) KSM will
transmit on 426, 500, 6474, 12993 and 16914kc. 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
------------
WLO
(This information has not been confirmed by WLO at the time of this
announcement.) WLO will transmit on 438, 500, 8514.0 and 12660.0kc
WLO will listen for calls from ships on 500kc and HF Channel 3 (see KPH
listing for frequencies). Reception reports may be sent to:
WLO/KLB, 700 RINLA AVENUE, MOBILE, AL 36619 USA. Or via email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
------------
KLB
(Note the expanded frequencies for KLB! This year KLB has added MF, a
2Mc frequency and a 12Mc frequency. A tip of the MRHS earphones to CJ of
KLB for all the work he has done to bring this about.) KLB will transmit
on 488, 500, 2063.0, 6411.0 and 12917.0kc KLB will listen for calls from
ships on 500kc and HF Channel 3 (see KPH listing for frequencies).
Reception reports may be sent to:
WLO/KLB, 700 RINLA AVENUE, MOBILE, AL 36619 USA. Or via email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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NMC
NMC will transmit on 448, 472, 500, 6383.0, 8574.0 and 17220.5kc NMC
will listen for calls from ships on 500kc and HF Channel 3 (see KPH
listing for frequencies). Reception reports may be sent to:
COMMANDING OFFICER, ATTN ITC ERIC SIMMONS, COMMUNICATIONS AREA MASTER
STATION PACIFIC, 17000 SIR FRANCIS DRAKE BLVD, POINT REYES STATION, CA
94956-0560 USA
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BT
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