[MRCA] Clandestine CW Radio Ops at MRCA Meet

[Radio Station KW1I]

Clandestine CW Radio Ops  Saturday Sept. 20, 1:30 pm

This event is an opportunity to act as a clandestine radio CW operator with 
only a minimum of Morse Code experience.  You will only have to recognize 
your own call sign and only a few extra letters.  You will have to send a 
short message in a specific format which you can practice beforehand.  Code 
speed will be slow.

Check in at the Base Station in the Howell building to receive an assigned 
operating location and be added to the agent call up list before you leave 
for your clandestine deployment. You will have approx. 30 minutes to travel 
and set up your station. Your antenna, power source and radio equipment must 
be independent of any vehicle or structure.  AC powered rigs are OK if you 
can find AC power at your assigned location (not likely) or if you bring 
generator or inverter equipment.  You will listen at the assigned time on 
3570 kHz for Base, W3PWW, to call up agent stations.  The call up will be 
the letters “MRCA” repeated for a few minutes so agent stations can find the 
frequency and zero beat if necessary.   At some point “MRCA” will be 
followed by a call to a specific agent station from the Base Station check 
in list.  When called you will answer and transmit a request for signal 
report; “HW CPY”.  When base acknowledges your signal it will send a request 
to transmit your report; “SND RPRT”.   The agent will send a report in a 
specified format including signal report, radio in use, antenna in use and 
status for successful agent operations; repeat either ready, “READY”, for 
activation with the local clandestine forces, or not ready, “NOT READY” 
based on suitability of the location, equipment factors or proximity of 
opposing forces, etc.  It's up to you whether you think you are ready.  If, 
as you are operating neighborhood dogs are barking at you, and a bunch of 
kids on bicycles are watching you, and you are being bitten by a cloud of 
mosquitos, you should send “NOT READY”.   Base will acknowledge receipt of 
your report with a “QSL” or ask for a repeat “PSE RPT” if not received 
correctly.   When one agent's report is acknowledged Base will call up the 
next station on the list.  If an agent cannot check in when called, Base 
will recall you at the end of the list.  Since everyone's transmissions will 
be very similar even a code beginner should be able to pick up bits and 
pieces from other clandestine agent station contacts with Base.

As a courtesy to code beginners, those that are experienced should stay 
within the message formats and the slow CW speed until all agents have 
passed their traffic.  Base will send CW at the same speed as the agent 
sends.

Format of a base / agent contact:

Base:    M R C A     M R C A     M R C A    M R C A    M R C A    M R C A

Base:    K A 1 X X X    K A 1 X X X    D E    W 3 P W W    K

Agent:  W 3 P W W     DE     K A 1 X X X     H W    C P Y    B K

Base:    B K    C P Y    O K   -   S N D    R P R T     B K

Agent:   B K    U R    S I G    OK   -   R I G    G R C 9   -    ANT   V E R 
T   -    S T A T U S     R E A D Y     B K

Base:    Q S L   T U         or          B K    P S E    R P T    B K

Note:  “BK” means “Break” or “Back to You” , “TU” means “Thank You”.
           “ - “ is  the dash character;   “dah dit dit dit dah”


Check out your equipment before deployment!