[GreenKeys] TTY Order Wire

[Richard Dillman]

I thought that Greenkeys members might enjoy knowing that we plan to restore the TTY order wire at KSM.

As most members doubtless know, large coast stations typically had separate transmitting and receiving stations.  Early on, these stations communicated by land line telegraph to coordinate transmitter changes, equipment failures, etc.  Later, land line teleprinters replaced the keys and sounders.  We actually have a couple of rolls of TTY paper from the order wire at KFS which makes fascinating reading.

Right now our order wire is a VHF voice circuit.  It works but it is certainly not authentic to the station.  The MRHS transmitting staff have made good progress toward restoring the TTY link between the two stations, which will be much more satisfying.  As part of that, the land line key and sounder system will be restored too!

We'll be using a Model 28ASR at the receive site.  It hasn't been decided what we'll use at the transmitting site yet.  But whatever it is I can't wait to send five bells followed by "THE 8MC TRANSMITTER IF OFF LINE WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING DOWN THERE?"

Too much fun...

RD

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Richard Dillman, W6AWO
Chief Operator, Coast Station KSM
Maritime Radio Historical Society
http://www.radiomarine.org
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