[MRCA] Clandestine CW Radio Ops at MRCA Meet

[Ray Fantini]

That’s asking a lot for some of us who just barely squeaked thru the code test thirty years ago! May try packing up huge Harris  AN/URC-94 unfortunately that being my smallest frequency agile transceiver and want to know if I can get extra credit running it from a MEP-015A generator?
What's the plan for sixty meter USB net on Friday or Saturday? 

Ray Fantini KA3EKH

-----Original Message-----
From: MRCA [mailto:mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Radio Station KW1I
Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2014 10:15 AM
To: mrca at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [MRCA] Clandestine CW Radio Ops at MRCA Meet

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!