[CW] The Origin of Distress Signals

[David J. J. Ring, Jr.]

CQD was a Marconi signal.  Society of Wireless Pioneers (http://SOWP.ORG) had a long article about the development of Distress signals. Telefunken/Debug had adopted SOE as a distress signal.prior to 1903, because in 1903 the first International Wireless Conference took place in Berlin, "CQD was added for the distress call and the Germans continue to use SOE ". 
 
"Article XVI", "Service Regulations annexed to the International Radiotelegraphic Convention" (Berlin, November 3, 1906) https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044103239133&view=1up&seq=36

During this period, wireless companies like Telefunken, Marconi International Marine Communication Company Limited (MIMCO) (see  https://www.baesystems.com/en/marconi-company-page-part-1) and others leased ship radio stations, and radio officers to shipping companies according to MIMCo https://www.baesystems.com/en/marconi-company-page-part-1:

From:  OLD TIME WEST COAST WIRELESS STA 110NS, SHIPS AND OPERA TORS By Edmund H. Marriner W6BLZ
http://www.sowp.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/LR-2306031801-Old-Time-Stations-Marriner.pdf

1902 U .S. Naval officers return from Europe and decide the U.S. Navy should install German made Slaby-Arco equipment. De Forest equipment is also recommended . I 9 0 3 First real message sent across the Atlantic ocean. Th e U.S . Army established communication in Alaska. The first mesage sent on Aug . 7th,

1903. The U .S. Navy establishes six telegraph wireless stations. Because ot foreign control on the Marconi equipment, a complete change was made to Slaby-Arco equipment. The first International Wireless Conference takes place in Berlin . CQD was added for the distress call and the Germans continue to use SOE . The New York Navy Yard has a wireless school now with I 3 students in training. De Forest goes to England to demonstrate speed Morse sending. "Pop" Athem and Harry Brown, two De Forest men set up a station in Shantung, China. The Lake Erie to Buffalo, N .Y. net is in operation the full 180 miles.

The wireless operators examinations were given in the USA, and the examination for commercial radio operator (at that time the only type of radio operator) included examination in sending and receiving both American Morse and Continental (International) Morse code.  USA coastal radio stations like CC (later, MCC (Marconi), shortly after that when call signs no longer identified radio operating companies, but nations, MCC became WCC.)

USA ships were required to use American Morse with American coast stations, and both ship and USA coast stations were required to use Continental Morse with foreign ships and coast stations.

At some date unknown to me the USA licensing requirement was changed to no longer require American Morse.

Ships used both the 600 metre and 300 meter frequencies for distress.  (500 kHz and 1000 kHz respectively.)

Broadcast stations started being licensed in 1921 by the Commerce Department, and a person with a suitable radio operator's certificate was required to be on duty at all times the station was transmitting.  Part of the licensed Tzu operator's duties included keeping a watch on both 500 and 1000 kHz and if a distress was heard, the broadcast station was required by law to stop transmitting immediately and to tension off the air until the distress communications ceased.

It was during this period that the economically prudent practice of communications between the radio broadcasting studio which was often in the city at a hotel and distant transmitting facilities which were located in a location with good conductivity like farmland or littoral salt marsh, as the cost of immediate telephone calls being long distance where at that time prohibitively expensive, thus the practice of transmitting by American Morse from the studio by the Chief Radio Engineer to the transmitter house began she was still in use at least until 1995 when I confirmed this with then Chief Engineer of WBZ Boston (Brighton), Norm Graham, who transmitted transmitter orders (on off) to the remote 50 kW transmitter site in Hull, Massachusetts. Also Hull could telegraph Boston in case there was a problem with the 50 kW set that required Boston to start up their local 10 kW transmitter in Brighton so Hull could perform repairs.

73

David N1EA