[CW] PBL

[Richard Knoppow]

As always I forgot something, namely a link to the flag signals. 
One is:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Code_of_Signals
    A google search will find others and some history.

On 7/2/2019 2:37 PM, Richard Knoppow wrote:
>      May be OT. I have a copy of Mary Texanna Loomis' book "Radio 
> Theory and Operating" 3rd eidition (1927)
> http://hamgallery.com/Tribute/W3YA/
>   and many other sites found by Google
>     Even though I've had it for years and read through it I still 
> sometimes discover something new. This time it was the 
> explanation of what PBL means. One finds PBL at the head of lists 
> of "Q" signals in many books, especially older ones. It is 
> sometimes called "Preamble" and is listed as meaning:
> As a question "Do you want to communicate with me by the 
> International code of signals?" and as a statement "I want to 
> communicate with you by the International code of signals."
>    So what is that?  Turns out that by International code of 
> signals is meant the international system of flag signals. These 
> are the things one sometimes sees flying off a halyard on a ship, 
> particularly Navy vessels. So, what has this do to with radio? 
> Its not obvious but each signal flag is represented by a letter 
> of the alphabet or number. So, a series of flags can be written 
> as a text message and therefore can be sent in Morse. The 
> relevant part is that there is a whole lexicography of flag 
> messages, which are the same in all languages of the flag code. 
> That is, when a ship flies flags the message is understandable in 
> many languages, one looks it up in the flag code book. Well, this 
> applies to flag messages sent in Morse as well as visually. So, 
> suppose one needs to communicate with a ship where the radio 
> operator does not understand your language you can send a message 
> via the flag code which he can interpret in just the same way as 
> a visual array.
>      I don't know to what extent this was practiced but its 
> usefulness is obvious. And so we have the mysterious sign PBL 
> sitting up there at the head of the Q signals (P comes before Q).
>      Many books don't show it but then many books have incomplete 
> Q signal lists, particularly ham radio handbooks. Mary Loomis' 
> book is the only place I've seen it explained.
>      If you look up Mary Texanna Loomis also look up her father, 
> Mahlon Loomis, who claimed to have invented wireless well before 
> Marconi. I don't think anyone really "invented" wireless and am 
> rather skeptical of Loomis claims but both he and his daughter 
> are interesting characters in the history of radio.

-- 
Richard Knoppow
1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com
WB6KBL