October 4, 2013

HINDENBURG



Chief Operator Willy Speck in the radio room of the zeppelin Hindenburg in photo courtesy of the Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmBH Archive. Speck died of injuries sustained in the May 6, 1937, explosion of the airship at Lakehurst, New Jersey. 




Hindenburg's radio room - located in the hull just above the control car - was equipped with both long wave and short wave radios capable of transmitting at 200 watts. The zeppelin's radio call sign was DEKKA.

May 22, 2013

CLEAR CHANNEL AM


On Nov. 11, 1928, the U.S. implemented General Order 40, classifying AM allocations as local, regional or clear channel. Radio fans refer to clear channel stations as "flamethrowers" or "blowtorches" because of their high power -- 50,000 watts.

LIST AS OF 2013:


(*) designates full power stations on same frequency
(Class B) denotes lower power station on same frequency

540 CBK, Watrous, Saskatchewan, Canada
640 KFI, Los Angeles, CA
650 WSM, Nashville, TN
*660 WFAN, New York, NY
*660 CFFR, Calgary, Alberta Canada
670 WMAQ, Chicago, IL (KBOI, Boise, Idaho: Class B) 
*680 KNBR, San Francisco, CA
*680 CJOB, Winnipeg, Alberta Canada
*680 CFTR, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
700 WLW, Cincinatti, OH
710 WOR, New York, NY
710 KIRO, Seattle, WA
720 WGN, Chicago, IL (KDWN, Las Vegas, NV: Class B) 
730 CKAC, Montreal Quebec, Canada
750 WSB, Atlanta, GA
760 WJR, Detroit, MI
*770 WABC, New York, NY (KKOB, Albuquerque, NM: Class B) 
*770 CHQR, Calgara, Alberta, Canada
*780 WBBM, Chicago, IL (KKOH, Reno, NV: Class B)
*780 CFDR Dartmouth, Nova Scoia, Canada
810 KGO, San Francisco, CA 
810 WGY, Schenectady, NY
820 WBAP, Fort Worth, TX
830 WCCO, Minneapolis, MN
840 WHAS, Louisville, KY
850 KOA, Denver, CO
860 CJBC, Toronto Ontario, Canada
870 WWL, New Orleans, LA
*880 WCBS, New York, NY (KRVN, Lexington, NE: Class B) 
*880 CHQT, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
890 WLS, Chicago, IL (KDXU, St. George, UT: Class B)
990 CBW, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada 
*1000 WLUP, Chicago, IL
*1000 KOMO, Seattle, WA
1010 CBR, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
1020 KDKA, Pittsburgh, PA (KCKN, Roswell, NM Class B)
1030 WBZ, Boston, MA (KTWO, Casper, WY: Class B) 
1040 WHO, Des Moines, IA
*1060 KYW, Philadelphia, PA
*1060 CKMX Calgary, Alberta, Canada
*1070 KNX, Los Angeles, CA
*1070 CBA Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
*1080 WTIC, Hartford, CT
*1080 KRLD, Dallas, TX
*1090 KAAY, Little Rock, AR
*1090 WBAL, Baltimore, MD
1100 WTAM, Cleveland, OH (KNZZ, Grand Junction, CO: Class B) 
*1110 WBT, Charlotte, NC
*1110 KFAB, Omaha, NE
1120 KMOX, St. Louis, MO (KPNW, Eugene, OR: Class B) 
*1130 KWKH, Shreveport, LA
*1130 WBBR, New York, NY
*1130 CKWX, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
1140 WRVA, Richmond, VA 
1160 KSL, Salt Lake City, UT
*1170 KVOO, Tulsa, OK
*1170 WWVA, Wheeling, WV
1180 WHAM, Rochester, NY (KOFI, Kalispell, MT: Class B) 
1190 KEX, Portland, OR
*1200 WOAI, San Antonio, TX
*1200 CFGO, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
1210 WPHT, Philadelphia, PA (KGYN, Guymon, OK: Class B) 
*1500 WFED, Washington, DC
*1500 KSTP, St. Paul, MN
*1510 WLAC, Nashville, TN
*1510 KGA, Spokane, WA
*1520 WWKB, Buffalo, NY
*1520 KOMA, Oklahoma City, OK
*1530 KFBK, Sacramento, CA
*1530 WCKY, Cincinatti, OH
1540 KXEL, Waterloo, IA
*1560 KNZR, Bakersfield, CA
*1560 WQEW, New York, NY

May 21, 2013

TITANIC RADIO LOG


News of the disaster was sent by wireless


Titantic's SOS as copied by SS Birma


Photo of Titanic wireless station

Following is a log of wireless traffic between the HMS Titanic and ships steaming to her rescue on April 15, 1912. All times are by the ship's clock.


12-15 a.m
CQD (6 times) DE (this is) MGY (6 times) position 41.44 N. 50.24 W
La Provence and Frankfurt receive Titanic's first distress signals.
Titanic sends position to FrankfurtFrankfurt says "OK: stand by"

12-15 a.m
Mount Temple heard Titanic sending CQD Says require assistance. Gives position. Cannot hear me (sic). Advise my Captain (sic) his position at 41.46 N. 50.24 W.

12-15 a.m.
Cape Race coast station hears Titanic giving position on CQD 41.44 N. 50.24 W.

12-18 a.m.
Ypiranga hears CQD from Titanic.   Titanic gives CQD here (sic).  Position 41.44 N. 50.24 W. Require assistance (calls about 10 times).

12-25 a.m.
Carpathia calls Titanic and says "do you know that Cape Cod is sending a batch of messages for you ?"
Titanic says "Come at once. We have struck a berg.
It's a CQD OM (it's a distress situation old man) Position 41.46 N. 50.14 W."
Carpathia says "Shall I tell my Captain ?. Do you require assistance ?"
Titanic says "yes, come quick"

12-25 a.m.
Cape Race hears MGY (Titanic) give corrected position 41.46 N. 50.14 W. Calling him, no answer.

12-25 a.m.
MGY (Titanic) says CQD, Here (is my) corrected position 41.46 N. 50.14 W. Require immediate assistance. We have collision with iceberg. Sinking. Can hear nothing for noise of steam (engineers releasing excess steam pressure from boilers to minimise risk of explosion) Sent about 15 to 20 times to Ypiranga.

12-26 a.m.
DKF (Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm) calls MGY (Titanic) and gives position at 12 a.m. 39.47 N. 50.10 W.
MGY (Titanic) says, "Are you coming to our ?" "We have collision with iceberg. Sinking. Please tell Captain to come." DKF says, "O.K. will tell"

12-27 a.m.
Titanic sends following: "I require assistance immediately. Struck by iceberg in 41.46 N. 50.14 W."

12-30 a.m.
Caronia sent CQ message (message addressed to all ships) to MBC Baltic and CQD (ie: a distress relay message): MGY(Titanic)  struck iceberg, require immediate assistance

12-30 a.m.
Mount Temple hears MGY (Titanic) still calling CQD. Our (sic) Captain reverses ship. We are about 50 miles off.

12-34 a.m.
Mount Temple hears Frankfurt give MGY (Titanic) his position 39.47 N. 52.10 W.
Titanic says (to Frankfurt) " are you coming to our
assistance ?"
Frankfurt says : "what is the matter with you ?"
Titanic says "We have struck an iceberg and sinking. Please tell Captain to come"
Frankfurt replies "O.K. Will tell the bridge right away"
Titanic says "O.K., yes, quick."

12-45 a.m.
Titanic calls Olympic (Olympic is Titanic's sister ship - 500 miles away en route to England) SOS.

12-50 a.m.
Titanic calls CQD and says, "I require immediate assistance. Position 41.46 N. 50.14 W." Received by Celtic.

12-53 a.m.
Caronia to MBC (Baltic) and SOS,"MGY (Titanic) CQD in 41.46 N. 40.14 W. Wants immediate assistance."

1-0 a.m.
MGY gives distress signal. DDC (Cincinnati) replies. MGY's position 41.46 N. 50.14 W. Assistance from DDC (Cincinnati) not necessary as MKC (Olympic) shortly afterwards answers distress call.

1-0 a.m.
Titanic replies to Olympic and gives his position as 41.46 N. 50.14 W., and says, "We have struck an iceberg."

1-2 a.m.
Titanic calls Asian and said, "Want immediate assistance" Asian answered at once and received Titanic's position as 41.46 N. 50.14 W., which he immediately takes to the bridge. Captain instructs operator to have Titanic's position repeated.

1-2 a.m.
Virginian calls Titanic but gets no response. Cape Race tells Virginian to report to his Captain the Titanic has struck iceberg and requires immediate assistance.

1-10 a.m.
Titanic to MKC (Olympic), "We are in collision with berg. Sinking Head down. 41.46 N. 50.14 W. Come soon as possible."

1-10 a.m.
Titanic to MKC (Olympic), Captain says, "Get your boats ready. What is your position?"

1-15 a.m.
Baltic to Caronia, "Please tell Titanic we are making towards her."

1-20 a.m
Virginian hears MCE (Cape Race) inform MGY (Titanic) "that we are going to his assistance. Our position 170 miles N. of Titanic."

1-25 a.m.
Caronia tells Titanic, "Baltic coming to your assistance"

1-25 a.m
Olympic sends position to Titanic 4-24 a.m. G.M.T. 40.52 N. 61.18 W, and asks "Are you steering southerly to meet us?" Titanic replies, "We are putting the women off in the boats."

1-27 a.m
Titanic says, "We are putting the women off in the boats."

1-30 a.m
Titanic tells Olympic, "We are putting passengers off in small boats." "Women and Children in boats, can not last much longer"

1-35 a.m.
Olympic asks Titanic what weather he had. Titanic replies, "Clear and calm."

1-35 a.m
Baltic hears Titanic say "Engine room getting flooded." 

1-35 a.m.
Mount Temple hears DFT (Frankfurt) ask "are there any boats around you already?" No reply

1-37 a.m.
Baltic tells Titanic, "We are rushing to you."

1-40 a.m.
Olympic to Titanic "Am lighting up all possible boilers as fast as (we) can."

1-40 a.m.
Cape Race says to Virginia: "Please tell your Captain this: "The Olympic is making all speed for Titanic, but his (Olympic's) position is 40.32 N. 61.18 W. You are much nearer to Titanic. The Titanic is already putting women off in the boats, and he says the weather there is calm and clear. The Olympic is the only ship we have heard say, "Going to the assistance of Titanic.  The others must be a long way from Titanic

1-45 a.m.
Last signals heard from Titanic by Carpathia, "Come as quickly as possible old man: the engine-room is filling up to the boilers"

1-45 a.m.
Mount Temple hears Frankfurt calling Titanic. No reply.

1-47 a.m.
Caronia hears Titanic though signals unreadable still. Virginia hears Titanic calling very faintly, his power being greatly reduced.

1-48 a.m.
Asian heard Titanic call SOS Asian answers Titanic but receives no answer.
DFT (Frankfurt) calls Titanic and says, "What is the matter with u ?"

1-50 a.m.
Titanic says to Frankfurt "You fool, stdbi and keep out"
Caronia hears Frankfurt working to Titanic.  Frankfurt according to position 172 miles from MGY (Titanic) at time first SOS sent out.

1-55 a.m.
Cape Race says to Virginian "we have not heard Titanic  for about half an hour. His power may be gone."

2-10 a.m.
Virginian hears 2 v's signalled faintly in spark similar to Titanic's.

2-17 a.m.
Virginian hears Titanic call CQ (call to all ships) , but unable to read him. Titanic's signals end very abruptly as (if) power suddenly switched off. His spark rather blurred or ragged...

2-17 a.m.
Virginian Called Titanic and suggested he should try emergency set, but heard no response.

2-20 a.m.
Virginian to Olympic,"have you heard anything about Titanic"   Olympic says, "No. Keeping strict watch, but hear nothing more from Titanic. No reply from him"

[2-20 a.m. was the official time the ship foundered in 41.46 N. 50.14 W. as given by the Carpathia in message to the Olympic.]

2-35 a.m.
Mount Temple hears MPA (Carpathia) send, "If you are there we are firing rockets."

2-40 a.m.
MPA (Carpathia) calling MGY (Titanic).

2-58 a.m.
SBA (Birma) thinks he hears Titanic so sends, "Steaming full speed for you. Shall arrive you
6-0 in morning. Hope you are safe. We are only 50 miles now."

3-0 a.m.
MPA (Carpathia) calling MGY (Titanic)

3-28 a.m.
La Provence to Celtic, "Nobody has heard the Titanic for about 2 hours."

4-24 a.m.
SBA (Birma) says "we are 30 miles S.W. off Titanic".

6-40 a.m.
Parisian hears weak signals from MPA (Carpathia) or some station saying Titanic struck iceberg. Carpathia has passengers from lifeboats

6-40 a.m.
Asian, with German oil tank in tow for Halifax asked what news of MGY (Titanic). Sends service (message) later saying heard MGY (Titanic) v. faint working. C. Race up to 10.0 p.m., local time. Finished calling SOS midnight.

7-40 a.m.

6-45 a.m. Mount Temple hears MPA (Carpathia) report rescued 20 boat loads.

8-07 a.m.
Baltic sends following to Carpathia: "Can I be of any assistance to you as regards taking some of the passengers from you? Will be in position about 4-30. Let me know if you alter your position."

8-10 a.m.
Baltic in communication with MPA. (Carpathia). Exchanged traffic re passengers, and get instructions to proceed to Liverpool

8-15 a.m.
Baltic turns round for Liverpool, having steamed 134 miles W. towards Titanic

8-40 a.m.
Mount Temple hears MPA (Carpathia) call CQ and say, no need to std. Bi (stand by) him. Advise my Captain (sic), who has been cruising round the icefield with no result. Ship reversed.

8-45 a.m.
Olympic sent MSG (message) to Owners, New York via Sable Island saying, "Have not communicated with Titanic since midnight."

8-55 a.m.
Carpathia replies to Baltic, "Am proceeding to Halifax or New York full speed. You had better proceed to Liverpool. Have about 800 passengers on board."

9-0 a.m.
Carpathia to Virginian: "We are leaving here with all on board about 800 passengers. Please return to your Northern course."

May 17, 2013

EKKO STAMPS




In the 1920's, EKKO stamps were a staple of the DX hobby.

Radio stations awarded EKKO stamps in exchange for reception reports and DXers collected the stamps in specially designed EKKO albums. 

The EKKO Company of Chicago made a tidy profit selling the stamps to the stations and the albums to the DXers.

Business was so good that the PM Bryant Company, also of Chicago, went into competition with EKKO.

Hundreds of broadcasters participated in the stamp programs.
For more information, click here.

PEACE AND PROGRESS





Photo:
Glenn Hauser's World of Radio


Radio Station "Peace and Progress" broadcast from the Soviet Union during the Cold War, supplementing Radio Moscow's programming with Soviet "public opinion." The station took to the airwaves in 1964, establishing a harsher tone than Radio Moscow even though it pledged to promote "mutual understanding, trust and friendship." Peace and Progress utilized Radio Moscow's shortwave transmitters. Its signal faded with the demise of the Soviet Union, representing genuine "Peace and Progress."

May 9, 2013

SHORT WAVE CRAFT







Hugo Gernsback

Short Wave Craft was one of a stable of magazines published by Hugo Gernsback, who made significant contributions to the growth of early broadcasting.

The magazine was published in the 1930's and sponsored an organization called the Short Wave League. It featured construction projects, articles on the future of communications, station logs, reader correspondence - and colorful cover art.  

Gernsback's other publications included:
  • Radio and Television
  • Radio-Craft — July 1929 to June 1948 — became Radio-Electronics
  • Radio Electronics — July 1948 to January 2003
  • Radio Electronics Weekly Business Letter
  • Radio Listeners Guide and Call Book 
  • Radio News — July 1919 (as Radio Amateur News) to July 1948
  • Radio Program Weekly
  • Radio Review
  • Science and Invention — formerly Electrical Experimenter. Published August 1920 to August 1931.
  • Science and Mechanics — originally Everyday Mechanics. Changed to Everyday Science and Mechanics in 1931. "Everyday" dropped as March 1937 issue. Published as Science and Mechanics until 1976.

He also started WRNY, a New York City radio station that operated from 1925 to 1934. It was one of the first stations to have regularly scheduled experimental television broadcast starting in August 1928, according to Wikipedia.

However, Gernsback is best remembered as a science fiction writer and publisher of the magazines Amazing Stories and Wonder Stories. Today, the World Science Fiction Convention's annual awards are named "The Hugos" in Gernsback's honor.

For more Short Wave Craft covers, click here.


May 8, 2013

ALBANIA




The little county roared on 41 meters.

Radio Tirana, from the capital of Albania, was a major player in international shortwave radio during the Cold War.

The Balkan country was ruled by Stalinist dictator Enver Hoxha, who broke with the Soviet Union and allied with China.

China supplied Radio Tirana powerful shortwave transmitters that beamed programming to North America.

The transmitters also relayed Radio Peking.

Programming included "Leafing Through Our Listeners' Letters" and "Culture and Art in Socialist Albania."

At sign-off Radio Tirana played the communist anthem "Internationale." 



Radio Tirana QSL Card from 1970s

For information on Radio Tirana today, click here.

April 26, 2013

AT&T HIGH SEAS




The AT&T High Seas Service operated a ship-to-shore HF radio network consisting of stations WOO in New Jersey, WOM in Florida and KMI in California (photo).

The High Seas Service ceased operations on Nov. 9, 1999.

Today, WLO in Mobile, Alabama, is the only full service ship-to-shore provider of voice, data and e-mail services in the continental U.S.

WLO is operated by ShipCom, LLC.

For frequencies and other information , click here.

April 25, 2013

RADIO CAROLINE




Pirate station "Radio Caroline" went on the air in March 1964. It was anchored in waters off the United Kingdom. The station broadcast from a variety of vessels into the 1980s on medium wave. Transmitter strength over the years ranged from 10 kilowatts to 50 kilowatts. Its initial frequency was 199 meters (1485/1520 kHz). Broadcasts later moved to 259 meters (1169/1187 kHz).