[CW] KPH/KSM Reception QSL

[David J. Ring, Jr.]

The 500 kHz frequency is a frequency for calling only.  It is not a 
"working" frequency - no "traffic" occurs on 500 kHz - EXCEPT for distress 
traffic - where you were supposed to use 500 kHz as a working frequency - so 
everyone could copy both sides of the exchanges.

KPH made the announcement on 500 kHz:

CQ CQ CQ DE KPH KPH KPH = SPECIAL BROADCAST, WEATHER AND OTHER INFORMATION 
BROADCASTS QSW 426 KHZ AND HF =

(Or words to this effect.)

Then the operator would push the QSY button and the BIG antenna switch at 
the "tuning house" at the base of the Marconi T antenna at Bolinas, CA would 
be remotely controlled and the transmitter would shift to 426 kHz, 
additional coil to resonate the Marconi T would be inserted and the 
transmitter would be ready to send.  This all happens with a button push 
from the receiving site in Pt. Reyes, CA which is about 20 miles to the 
south of the Transmitter site of Bolinas, CA.

Then the operator would broadcast on the working frequency of 426 kHz.

During a normal day when KPH was involved in communications with ships on 
426 kHz, the operator would either keep a "split phone" watch - a headset 
with two plugs, one for each ear so he could use two receivers - one on 426 
and one on 500 kHz.  Or the operator would use a "speaker watch" on 500 kHz. 
FCC and International regulations specified that ALL stations using the band 
410 to 515 KHz (MF band) "shall maintain a continuous watch on 500 kHz".

Say KPH was sendng out traffic to a ship on 426 and a ship called on 500 
kHz.  The operator at KPH would hear the station on 500, stop sending on 
426, and shift to 500 kHz to answer:

WABC DE KPH HR QTC2 PLS UP 425/426 QRY2 QRL WAIT

and the ship would answer:

KPH DE WABC R TU UP EE

KPH would give him a EE and shift back to 425 kHz and resume sending traffic 
to the ship he was engaged in communications.

At one time KPH had the ability to use two transmitters at the same time on 
the MF band.  Other stations such as KFS in San Francisco, and WNU in 
Slidell, LA had transmitters for two working frequencies as well as 500 kHz. 
Some had just one transmitter for two working frequencies and 500 kHz.  WNU 
advertised to ships that "during traffic lists and weather you can call us 
on 500 kHz to pass traffic" - when WNU was broadcasting traffic lists or 
weather on 478 kHz, they could answer on 500 kHz with another transmitter, 
and then use 435 kHz for traffic.

So the short answer is that 500 KHz is only used very briefly - otherwise it 
would have been terrible to listen to - too much noise from unnessecary 
broadcasts!

73

David N1EA


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ken Brown" <ken.d.brown at verizon.net>
To: "CW" <CW at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, August 06, 2005 3:10 PM
Subject: [CW] KPH/KSM Reception QSL


Hi all,

I received my QSL from DA at KPH/KSM this week. All of their frequencies
were circled, except 500 kc, which I did not hear or report hearing. And
there was a note saying "I got em all!" I am interpreting this to mean
that I heard all their transmitters, and the the 500 kc transmitter is
the same transmitter that I did hear on 426 kc. I guess I just was not
listening at the right time for 500 kc.

DE N6KB


_______________________________________________
CW mailing list
CW at mailman.qth.net
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/cw


-- 
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.338 / Virus Database: 267.10.0/63 - Release Date: 8/3/2005