[CW] Fake or Real? MGY

[Richard Knoppow]

    The requirements for both amateur and commercial licenses can 
be found in old books. C.1929, from the "Radio Manual" for the 
highest class Commercial Extra First was 30 WPM sending and 
receiving Continental code five letter code groups and 25 WPM 
plain language American Morse. The next was the First Class 
requiring sending and receiving of 20 WPM Continental code groups 
and 25 WPM plain language.
    The ham requirements are probably there too but I think the 
highest class ham license was the same as the Commercial First.
    American Morse was required because the connections between 
land stations was by conventional telegraph circuits which used 
American Morse. A commercial op in a land station had to be 
proficient in both.  In the bio of Ted McElroy is says he had to 
learn Continental code when he was hired by RCA because he had 
previously worked only on land lines.
    The spacing of the signals in the recording, when slowed 
down, seem to show the slight irregularities typical of a hand 
key. Most of the remarks by the narrator about bugs is nonsense.
    Also, comments in books from around 1900 about land telegraph 
operation suggest that a good operator could work at 40 WPM or 
higher. The speed and accuracy required in large office 
operations was pretty great and necessary to earn top dollar.
    There were not many regulations regarding distress traffic 
before the Titanic went down. Its sinking resulted in a 
considerable expansion of regulations, so I don't know if there 
was a regulation about the speed of distress traffic but later 
practice was to avoid high speed in order to make sure distress 
messages were easily received.
    I realized after listening that the narrator is not N1EA
On 2/9/2020 8:21 PM, D.J.J. Ring, Jr. wrote:
> From: *Joe Pontek Sr* <v31jp1957 at gmail.com 
> <mailto:v31jp1957 at gmail.com>>
> Date: Sun, Feb 9, 2020, 22:14
> To: D.J.J. Ring, Jr. <n1ea at arrl.net <mailto:n1ea at arrl.net>>
>
> Valdemar Poulsen invented the wire recorder in around 1889 
> and it may well have been used to record the transmission of MGY.
> I have heard this recording before, but have not seen any 
> reporting or evidence as to it authenticity.
>
> I do laugh at comments about CW speed with straight keys as 
> oneof my Elmers, as we call them today, was a maritime operator 
> in the Caribbean and when he checked me out for I took my Extra 
> exam could still send around 30-35 WPM on a straight key.  I 
> could easily copy it, but my failing was being able to write 
> fast enough, 20-25 WPM was my limit.  That was in 1968, now 
> probably worse now with progressive arthritis.
>
> -- 
> Regards, Joe, K8JP/V31JP, Ronnie, Martin & Sidney Pontek
> 175 Diamond Loch Rd., Apt. 5
> Gilmer, TX 75644-9374
> U.S.A.
> or
> P.O. Box 280, Dangriga, Stann Creek District
> (Hopkins Village) Belize
>
> 903-204-2318 (My TX cellular)
> 903-884-5990 (Skype telephone number, Belize & TX)
> Also, K8JP, member FOC-1743, QCWA-LM21894, OOTC-4607, A1OP, SKCC-3171T, NAQCC-5798, Flying Pig-2819, FISTS-7625CC951, A1C-2299, SOC 1075, 10-10 22977, PG1915841, CW Rag chewers #21,
> Facebook: Joe Pontek
> Skype: v31joepalooka
> I am looking for Vibroplex Model X and prefer basket case to restore.
> LotW
>
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> =30=

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