[K3CAL] CDQ, transmitted in Morse code

[N3QHC]

CQD 

CQD, transmitted in  <http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Morse+code>
Morse code as  – · – ·    – – · –    – · ·  is one of the first distress
signals adopted for  <http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Radio> radio
use. It was announced on 7 January 1904, by
<http://www.earlyradiohistory.us/1913dist.htm> "Circular 57" of the
<http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Marconi+Company> Marconi
International Marine Communication Company, and became effective, beginning
1 February 1904 for Marconi installations.

Land telegraphs had traditionally used
<http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/CQ+%28call%29> "CQ" ("sécu," from
the French word sécurité
<http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/CQD#cite_note-1> [1]) to identify
alert or precautionary messages of interest to all stations along a
telegraph line, and CQ had also been adopted as a "general call" for
maritime radio use. However, in landline usage there was no general
emergency signal, so the Marconi company added a "D" ("distress") to CQ in
order to create its distress call. Thus, "CQD" is understood by wireless
operators to mean, "All stations: distress." Contrary to popular belief, CQD
does not stand for "Come Quick, Danger", "Come Quickly: Distress", or "Come
Quick — Drowning!"; these are
<http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Backronym> backronyms.

Although used worldwide by Marconi operators, CQD was never adopted as an
international standard since it could be mistaken for a general call "CQ" if
the reception was poor. At the second International Radiotelegraphic
Convention, held in  <http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Berlin>
Berlin in 1906,  <http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Germany>
Germany's Notzeichen distress signal of three-dots/three-dashes/three-dots
(· · · – – – · · · ) was adopted as the international Morse code distress
signal. (This distress signal soon became known as "
<http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/SOS> SOS". Germany had first
adopted this distress signal in regulations effective April 1, 1905.)

Between 1899–1908, nine documented rescues were made by the use of wireless.
The first distress call was simply "HELP". By February 1904, the Marconi
Wireless Company required all of its operators to use CQD for a ship in
distress, or requiring URGENT assistance. In the early morning of 23 January
1909, whilst sailing into New York from Liverpool,
<http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/RMS+Republic+%281903%29> RMS
Republic collided with the Italian liner SS Florida in fog off the island of
<http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Nantucket> Nantucket,
Massachusetts,  <http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/United+States>
United States. Radio Operator Jack Binns
<http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/CQD#cite_note-2> [2] sent the CQD
distress signal by  <http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Wireless>
wireless transmission. This was the most famous use and rescue using
wireless prior to the
<http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/RMS+Titanic> RMS Titanic.

In 1912,  <http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/RMS+Titanic> RMS
Titanic radio operator Jack Phillips initially sent "CQD," which was still
commonly used by British ships.
<http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Harold+Bride> Harold Bride, the
junior radio operator, jokingly suggested using the new code, "
<http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/SOS> SOS." Thinking it might be
the only time he would get to use it, Phillips began to alternate between
the two.

 

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