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Author Topic: Maritime CW stories  (Read 1475 times)

WW5F

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Re: Maritime CW stories
« Reply #30 on: May 29, 2021, 05:18:11 AM »

"In the years preceding 1935, radio was still a new technology and it is obvious that Mr. Baarslag and those he writes about view it as both a marvel and a technological tool. To them it is amazing, it is magical, it is a source of income and it is means by which they can hire themselves out on a steamer and see the world. The tone of the writing fully captures these attributes and does so in a way that has appeal to the modern reader, even those without an understanding of radio or nautical terminology."

Yes, when I was 9 or 10 years old and learned of ham radio, it was amazing and magical to me and if it hadn't already been made (functionally) obsolete (1971 - 1972), I would probably have pursued it as a source of income.  I did "see the world," but not by maritime radio operations.  I wish I still had that magical and amazing feeling about ham radio today.

Looks like I would enjoy reading that book also.  I'll be searching for one.  Thanks.
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AE0Q

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Re: Maritime CW stories
« Reply #31 on: July 13, 2021, 07:14:06 AM »

I wonder how many stations worked KPH, KFS and K6KPH last night on the air?  I caught K6KPH (manned by op RH on 40m), after listening to him rag chew with a few other stations.  Big signal in Colorado.

MARITIME RADIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY "Night of Nights XXII"

https://conta.cc/36hA8bq

Three of us Navy guys drove up from Treasure Island to visit KPH on a Friday afternoon in Jan 1972.

https://www.qsl.net/k6ncg/kphkmi.htm

Glenn AE0Q
« Last Edit: July 13, 2021, 07:25:15 AM by AE0Q »
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ZL1BBW

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Re: Maritime CW stories
« Reply #32 on: July 13, 2021, 05:40:17 PM »

"In the years preceding 1935, radio was still a new technology and it is obvious that Mr. Baarslag and those he writes about view it as both a marvel and a technological tool. To them it is amazing, it is magical, it is a source of income and it is means by which they can hire themselves out on a steamer and see the world. The tone of the writing fully captures these attributes and does so in a way that has appeal to the modern reader, even those without an understanding of radio or nautical terminology."

Yes, when I was 9 or 10 years old and learned of ham radio, it was amazing and magical to me and if it hadn't already been made (functionally) obsolete (1971 - 1972), I would probably have pursued it as a source of income.  I did "see the world," but not by maritime radio operations.  I wish I still had that magical and amazing feeling about ham radio today.

Looks like I would enjoy reading that book also.  I'll be searching for one.  Thanks.

Get hold of Larry G4HLN good on qrz i think, he wrote/compiled whatever the book.
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ex MN Radio Officer, Portishead Radio GKA, BT Radio Amateur Morse Tester.  Licensed as G3YCP ZL1DAB, now taken over my father (sk) call as ZL1BBW.

AE0Q

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Re: Maritime CW stories
« Reply #33 on: July 13, 2021, 09:23:23 PM »

"In the years preceding 1935, radio was still a new technology and it is obvious that Mr. Baarslag and those he writes about view it as both a marvel and a technological tool. To them it is amazing, it is magical, it is a source of income and it is means by which they can hire themselves out on a steamer and see the world. The tone of the writing fully captures these attributes and does so in a way that has appeal to the modern reader, even those without an understanding of radio or nautical terminology."

<snip>

Looks like I would enjoy reading that book also.  I'll be searching for one.  Thanks.

Get hold of Larry G4HLN good on qrz i think, he wrote/compiled whatever the book.

I think he was referring to "SOS to the Rescue" by Karl Baarslag,  printed in 1935 :-)
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ZL1BBW

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Re: Maritime CW stories
« Reply #34 on: July 14, 2021, 12:21:46 AM »

Woops :)
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ex MN Radio Officer, Portishead Radio GKA, BT Radio Amateur Morse Tester.  Licensed as G3YCP ZL1DAB, now taken over my father (sk) call as ZL1BBW.

K8AXW

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Re: Maritime CW stories
« Reply #35 on: August 14, 2021, 02:05:27 PM »

I've been reading the posts posts here about the old maritime CW operations and am going to order the mentioned books.

While stationed in Germany and a new ham, I was called one night by a ham in Tel Aviv just as the 20m band was going out.  A dying woman in Tel Aviv needed a specialized medicine within 24 hours.  Would I take the traffic?  That small incident left me rattled.  I can't imagine the stress these operators experienced knowing that the health and welfare of the whole ship depended on my skills!

One statement I read here really caught my eye was:

Beware, reading these will definitely put you off ever going on a cruise on a passenger ship...

Glenn AE0Q
« Last Edit: May 23, 2021, 10:40:28 AM by AE0Q »Report to moderator    Logged

THAT possibility was taken care of in 1954!  You can read about this here:

http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~slowbell/misc/responce.htm

Scroll down to 15r, starts with "Greetings."

Al - K8AXW

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ZL1BBW

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Re: Maritime CW stories
« Reply #36 on: August 14, 2021, 03:26:58 PM »

I've been reading the posts posts here about the old maritime CW operations and am going to order the mentioned books.

While stationed in Germany and a new ham, I was called one night by a ham in Tel Aviv just as the 20m band was going out.  A dying woman in Tel Aviv needed a specialized medicine within 24 hours.  Would I take the traffic?  That small incident left me rattled.  I can't imagine the stress these operators experienced knowing that the health and welfare of the whole ship depended on my skills!



You relied on the professionalism of your brother & Sister RO's afloat or ashore.

Only had to call once whilst at sea, and that was a PAN MEDICO I have never heard 2182 go so quiet so quickly as NITON Radio answered me and imposed control on the frequency, that turned out well for the person who was being rushed ashore by another boat with a heart attack.

Ashore, we used to ring Plymouth Naval Hospital and they would work through it with us and the the ship either by QTC or if possible a linkcall,  but it was understood if you picked up a Medico you stuck with it until the end of yr shift and someone was assigned to take it off you, hot seat.

It wasnt all beer n skittles being at sea.

Cheers  Gavin ZL1BBW
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K8AXW

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Re: Maritime CW stories
« Reply #37 on: August 14, 2021, 09:22:27 PM »

Gavin: Tell me two things.  1-During these stressful times did you ever become so focused or as is sometimes called, "in the zone" that when the time came you reluctantly gave up your position?

2- What's a skittle?"

73

Al - K8AXW
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ZL1BBW

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Re: Maritime CW stories
« Reply #38 on: August 14, 2021, 10:36:21 PM »

Gavin: Tell me two things.  1-During these stressful times did you ever become so focused or as is sometimes called, "in the zone" that when the time came you reluctantly gave up your position?

2- What's a skittle?"

73

Al - K8AXW

2. Is much easier to answer, its wooden pins that you roll a bowl at, much like 10 pin, but the alley is not so long wide or fast, also impossible to play skittles at sea, imagine the alley rolling even 5 degrees side to side.

1.  No to be honest, we were there to do a job, sometimes you just passed it along to another op, they always were passed over, not just put back in the Q.  We used to hand ships over all the time,  the overseer (floor manager) was always informed if you had a priority ship to deal with, sometimes they would bring up a transmitter on a spare frequency and then it was much easier to move it along if you were wkd on a TX on yr own instead of sharing it with other operators.  We used to do a 0800 1340  back at 2300 to 0800 then onto rest day/s.  If you picked up a ship with a lot of tfc at say 0730 you just watched for someone to come in and take them off you.

It must be remembered that we had loads of ops on from 0800 - 2300 and a reduced staff of around 25 at night 2300-0800.

The main thing was never to leave anybody in the lurch.

This is A wing in the old stn, everybody looking relaxed.  https://www.shipsnostalgia.com/media/portishead-radio.123340/

Cheers  Gavin

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AE0Q

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Re: Maritime CW stories
« Reply #39 on: August 15, 2021, 07:57:40 AM »


One statement I read here really caught my eye was:

Beware, reading these will definitely put you off ever going on a cruise on a passenger ship...

Glenn AE0Q

THAT possibility was taken care of in 1954!  You can read about this here:

http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~slowbell/misc/responce.htm

Scroll down to 15r, starts with "Greetings."

Al - K8AXW

Al, that was the most disgusting trip at sea I've ever imagined or heard described !!

When working on Navy destroyers for a few months at a time, there were days when I couldn't go below for meals, one trip in the North Atlantic in October was pretty rough.  I remember having to clamp the metal food tray to the table with one hand to keep it from flying up as the bow of the ship pitched down.  The galley was located down and forward in the destroyers, at times I barely got food down and had to rush back up to the hanger where my equipment van was located.  Near the middle of the ship the pitching wasn't so bad and I never got sick, although came close a few times.

Glenn AE0Q
NAVSECGRU DIRSUP 1972-74
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K8AXW

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Re: Maritime CW stories
« Reply #40 on: August 15, 2021, 10:32:21 AM »

Gavin:  Thank you. I learned a couple things today!   :)

Glenn:  Absolutely disgusting! Agreed!  I wrote that many years ago when the WWW was very young.  I got several responses to that piece.  All agreed that their experiences crossing the Atlantic by troop ship was very similar.

Even after 67 years those images are still very vivid.  Although I have TOTAL respect for the navy, I simply cannot wrap my head around why anyone would volunteer to go to sea!

I have questioned former sailors for more than 40 years and they to the man loved their experience!   :o
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ZL1BBW

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Re: Maritime CW stories
« Reply #41 on: August 23, 2021, 01:58:01 PM »

Just sitting in the shack eating my toast, and listening to

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLQ_8fT1GAs&ab_channel=TheAmisiek

Just like being back in the radio room.
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AE0Q

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Re: Maritime CW stories
« Reply #42 on: August 23, 2021, 07:49:42 PM »

Just sitting in the shack eating my toast, and listening to
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLQ_8fT1GAs&ab_channel=TheAmisiek
Just like being back in the radio room.

Gavin, thanks for posting that link !  I'm surprised, though at all the pretty bad fists and the fairly slow speed most are going in that recording.  Maybe the person recording them didn't copy very fast and he focused on the ones he could copy...

I found this set of recordings from 1974 on the same freq, and most are zipping along at a good clip.  More what I remember hearing in the late 60's and 70's.

https://youtu.be/RRak_yBhrwA

The Russian ship-to-shore nets that we monitored in the Navy were usually 30 wpm and faster.

Glenn AE0Q
« Last Edit: August 23, 2021, 08:00:58 PM by AE0Q »
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https://radioandtravels.blogspot.com/
http://www.qsl.net/ae0q/

ZL1BBW

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Re: Maritime CW stories
« Reply #43 on: August 23, 2021, 10:39:36 PM »

Just sitting in the shack eating my toast, and listening to
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLQ_8fT1GAs&ab_channel=TheAmisiek
Just like being back in the radio room.

Gavin, thanks for posting that link !  I'm surprised, though at all the pretty bad fists and the fairly slow speed most are going in that recording.  Maybe the person recording them didn't copy very fast and he focused on the ones he could copy...

I found this set of recordings from 1974 on the same freq, and most are zipping along at a good clip.  More what I remember hearing in the late 60's and 70's.

https://youtu.be/RRak_yBhrwA

The Russian ship-to-shore nets that we monitored in the Navy were usually 30 wpm and faster.

Glenn AE0Q

Your right, I think it must have all been selected bits n b obs, the other link have hard before, I love the way PCH @ 3:30 send TTT in a very commanding way.

Used to be strange when I was with NZ Shipping we used to leave the UK outbound and down the channel working as we went, then out into western approaches and gradually GLD (landsend) would be lost and then it was all HF to GKA,   weather msgs sent every 6 hours, then PJC Curacao for bunkers, through the Panama canal, and outbound maybe stop at Fiji then ZL coasting to VK coasting then off home, normally via Durban for bunkers, then as you worked your way up the african coast u would start to hear GLD again, by then everybody had "The CHannels" eager anticipation of getting home after maybe 6 - 7 months away, first port could be anywhere but often either Avonmouth nr Bristol or Newport in S.Wales.

AS for the quality of the morse, there were a few ships that were so bad, two ops at GKA would take the same msg and see what bits they had to make3 the wordcount right, truly awful morse.

Take care,  Cheers   Gavin
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GW3OQK

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Re: Maritime CW stories
« Reply #44 on: August 24, 2021, 06:27:03 AM »

That 1974 link from Glenn had at just after 6 minutes an XXX from OXZ  Lyngby, QSW 487. I wonder what that was about, recalling the only time I sent XXX was when we were in gravest danger off a lee shore in a cyclone.

The delightful chirp on EAC, EAO, EAP makes me suppose they were using the same type of LC master oscillator transmitter. Thanks for memories
73, Andrew
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