[Elecraft] O.T.: End of (another) era

[Phil Kane]

On 7/15/2013 12:48 PM, Edward R Cole wrote:

> In 2043 historians will be recording the last users of this archaic
> electronic language to preserve it (I will be 99).

>From radiomarine.org:    (Please indulge me...)

It's just beeps in the air. Yet on 12 July 1999 some very tough looking
grizzled old radio pioneers had tears in their eyes as the last
commercial Morse code radiogram was sent. It was the end of an era. And
as the last beeps faded away into the static they witnessed the end of
the career to which they had devoted their lives.

These men - and some women - had stood watch over the airwaves on shore
and at sea. Theirs was mostly the business of maritime commerce. But
when their ship was in peril they were called upon to send the most
electrifying three letters in radio, S O S, knowing that all their
fellow radio operators would press their earphones close to get every
scrap of information and bring aid to their stricken ship.

Once, our coasts were dotted with great Morse code radio stations, all
communicating with ships at sea. They're all gone now... all except one,
the one they called the Wireless Giant of the Pacific, located at Point
Reyes.

On that sad day in 1999 another event took place. The Maritime Radio
Historical Society (MRHS) was formed. We made it our life's work to
honor the men and women of wireless by restoring that wireless giant.
One year and one minute later the giant's voice once again spanned the
oceans as we picked up the thread and kept the faith with our colleagues
of the air.

Every year since, in an event that became known as the Night of Nights,
Morse code station KPH has returned to the air, joined by KFS and the
station of the MRHS, KSM.

[And do not forget K6KPH, running 1500 watts from turned-down 5000 W
commercial  CW/RTTY transmitters!]      More info at www.radiomarine.org

73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane
T2-00000208 - MRHS True Believer
Elecraft K2/100   s/n 5402

>From a Clearing in the Silicon Forest
Beaverton (Washington County) Oregon