[R-390] Off-topic questions on coastal stations

[Dave Maples]

All: Many thanks to Don for his patience.

I visited Point Reyes, CA this past week and encountered the coastal station
there; that reawakened some questions I had:

1. There was a second coastal station down at Half Moon Bay, CA.  Was this
associated with the station at Point Reyes (e.g. the transmitting half of
the station at Point Reyes)?  I think it was, but I'm not sure.  It now
belongs to Globe Wireless, and I think is shared with ARINC.

2. WCC used to belong to Mackay Radio, I believe.  It disappeared into the
ether some time ago, leaving WLO, etc.  I believe that Globe Wireless
obtained the license.  Did WCC ever show up anywhere else?

3. In tuning the coastal bands, I am now hearing what appears to be a
different format.  It starts with what appears to be a long SITOR stream
repeated several times (kinda like Pactor I), followed by a few short SITOR
bursts like would be heard if the station had connected to another station
(e.g. a ship), followed by some much higher-speed bursts.  I'm not familiar
with the higher-speed bursts.  Anyone have a clue what's happening here?  Is
there a replacement for SITOR in the works?

4. Globe Wireless used to look for SWL reports.  It's very hard to find out
anything about what GW is doing on HF from their Web site now.  Do they
still welcome questions about their operations?  This is not to diminish
what GW is doing--they have obviously made a new silk purse out of a a purse
that nobody else valued.

5. Does anyone besides me recall the really interesting "fist" that WLO used
to have in the late 60s on their CQ tape (slower speed, very long dahs, and
very short dits as I recall)?  Again, no criticism, just thought it was
interesting.

6. I checked the USCG web site, and they don't list anything on MF any more.
I see the notes about NAVTEX operation around 500 kHz, but I get the sense
that nothing else is happening there now.  Is this correct?

Dave WB4FUR