[Elecraft] "QRRR" (OT)

[Mike Morrow]

Paul wrote:

>Around 1969 or 70 I was taught in both code classes offered by a local club 
>and "getting started" kinds of books (probably ARRL publications) that QRRR 
>was a standard distress signal. I remember having the impression that SOS 
>was "old fashion" and that QRRR was preferred.

That's one of many examples why ham-info should *always* be considered suspect
until it has been checked against facts from outside the ham community.

>I've never heard either one in actual use.

I wonder if SOS has ever been used on the ham bands and documented.  I've never
heard of such, in 40 years.  I kept a receiver on the maritime MF distress
and calling frequency (500 kHz) nightly for many years and never
heard a distress call.  (I did hear a lot of other interesting stuff there.)

There's a very clear and concise explaination of these distress and safety
prosigns at http://ship25bsa.org/mayday.html .  The text cites the Marconi 
"Yearbook of Wireless Telegraphy and Telephony" (1918) as saying:

"[SOS] was adopted simply on account of its easy radiation and its unmistakable
character.  There is no special signification in the letter themselves, and it
is entirely incorrect to put full stops between them [the letters]."

>I think that from a practical point of view I would stick with SOS (or "Mayday"
>on voice) because of the almost universal recognition that comes from the 
>hundreds or thousands of TV and movie scenes that have used these over the
>years.

However, the SOS on most of these movies is sent as three individual characters,
not as the correct single character.  One movie from 1979 is even titled
"S. O. S. Titanic" although IIRC the Morse transmissions in the opening credits
sent the sign properly, even to the point of simulating the sound of a spark
transmitter.  But even if incorrectly sent as S O S, it makes much more sense than
that idiotic QRRR proposition. 

For a tremendously interesting description of maritime Morse operations on 500 kHz
(the most important Morse frequency of all time) from only 30 years ago, see the
seven part series written by KH2PZ at http://jproc.ca/radiostor/cw500pt1.html .
Part six describes his first SOS as a US Coast Guard coast station radio operator.

Its all gone now, except for a few who try to keep memories alive in the only place
where Morse (of some nature) is still in service (the ham bands).

Mike / KK5F