[Elecraft] Commercial CW Station KSM on the air

[Fred Jensen]

Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:
 > For you CW buffs who miss SWLing commercial CW stations, copying
 > wx reports, etc., the announcement below came from Richard
 > Dillman this afternoon. KSM is QSA5 here in N.W Oregon on 6477.0
 > on my K2 and on 12993.0 on my KX1.

 > Ron AC7AC

For What It's Worth:

<www.radiomarine.org>

The MHRS, with the cooperation of the owner, Global Wireless, and the 
Pt. Reyes National Seashore, has restored the site and equipment of the 
KPH Coastal Marine Station.  With the demise of HF marine 
radiotelegraphy in the latter half of the 20th century, the GW-assigned 
frequencies were slowly being converted to "more technological" modes. 
The MRHS applied for and, wonder of wonders, received the license for 
KSM, to be co-located at the KPH Tx and Rx facilities, but with its own 
set of assigned frequencies which will thus be preserved.  I don't know 
for sure, but it has to be the first coastal marine telegraph license 
issued in 20+ years, and kind of cool that our otherwise hugely 
bureaucratic government can recognize the value of some historical 
preservation.

KSM Tx and Rx sites are N of the Golden Gate (in Sonoma County, I think) 
on the coast at about 38N or so, and a little over 100mi W of me.  426 
Kc (all the OT's use Kc since Hertz hadn't been invented in the heyday 
of marine radiotelegraphy) is normally a KPH frequency, and they're 
quite strong over here in the Sierra foohills on Sat afternoons, usually 
running either press or marine weather.  I copied them once after dark 
on a "Night of Nights" celebration and they were full-scale on the 
S-meter using my flag pole as the Rx antenna [LF is a lot different than 
20m :-) ].

KSM will confirm reception reports on authentic marine radiogram forms. 
  The stations are usually activated on most Sat afternoons, and you can 
sent your report to K6KPH (at op position #2) on 7050 or 14050 Kcs.  The 
last report I sent them read: "2255GMT K6DGW QLB KPH 426 QSA 5/KSM 6477 
QSA 5"

73,

Fred K6DGW
Auburn CA CM98lw

Footnote:  The KPH/KSM Chief Engineer is Steve Hawes.  As a 17 yr old 
college freshman, I worked with Steve (also about my age) at KPFA in 
Berkeley, and he led a crew of us that built the first transmitter site 
on Mt. Wilson for KPFK in Los Angeles one summer.