[Milsurplus] TBW A1 v. A2

[C Whitaker]

de WB2CPN       South Central Pennsylvania    

Re A2:  Code could be sent to towers, airways stations,
home base, DF, etc, if the mic circuitry didn't work.  These
operators were taught 5 wpm by light gun and tone.  In some
airplanes the mic circuitry included a lot of other equipment.
(Light guns were called "Biscuit Guns"?  Why?)  

Re Chirp:  Modern day CW operators wouldn't know this, but
it's easier to copy a station with the right kind of a chirp.
The receiver is tuned so that the audio freq decreases on
a dash.  Not much noticeable on a dot.  Chirps gave a
transmitter its own personal characteristic.  Someone should
design a CW monitor that had a built-in chirp.

73  Clete      Tower and Radio Op back then.