[GreenKeys] Slightly OT: CW keyer for a transmitter?

[Roy Morgan]

On Jan 3, 2014, at 3:41 AM, Dave <dave.g4ugm at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> 
> Definitely CW it looks like the bit we can see sends "ris" but it seems a very expensive way to send a short phrase in Morse.  

As I understand it, such machines were used by the maritime service shore stations. They were called “the wheel”.   The thing would run for hours on end, for years, to send the call and short message on the shore station frequency so the marine at-sea operators could tune in the signal and know the station was ready for business.

At that time, teletype and marine stations used equipment that was meant to last, and last, and last ….

Also, the transmitting station might well be separated from the receive site by many miles (perhaps 30 or more) so  a “dit” sent by a ship between characters of the shore station would be heard by the op on duty, and he would shift to the hand key to answer the calling station.

Dick Dillman is a West Coaster and chief operator at the Marine Station KPH there. Check out their noble efforts at:
http://www.radiomarine.org/

Their FCC-licensed station KSM is on the air frequently with the original equipment and facilities of KPH at Pont Reyes near San Francisco, CA.
From the KSM web page, 
http://www.radiomarine.org/gallery/show?keyword=ksmstation&panel=pab1_2#pab1_2

"On CW, KSM broadcasts its "wheel" (a repeating message inviting ships to call and giving the frequencies being used).”

Perhaps Dick will read this and point us to a picture of their “wheel” among the many fascinating pages of their web site.

Roy

Roy Morgan
RoyMorgan at alum.mit.edu
K1LKY Since 1958