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code communications.
Gary Bold, in his Letters to the Morseman
in 18 Everything You Ever
this issue, mentions some of his own experiences in Wanted to Know...
this regard. I recently read an article saying that Morse 22 US Subscriptions via
Wise Owl Worldwide
was archaic, obsolete and nished as far as commer-
cial use was concerned, and therefore for every other 23 Bookshelf
24 Showcase
application, too! It was so vitriolic, not just express-
26 Info Please!
ing the opinion that Morse was dead and buried, but
27 Reections from
virtually dancing on its grave as well that by the
time Id nished reading the article I felt quite sick. Uncle Bas 17
30 Letters to the Morseman
My faith in humankind and balanced argument
the 33 Bunnell/MartinMystery
was restored, however, by another article, in
34 Book Review:
Spring 1993 issue of the US journal Communications
The Eavesdroppers
Quarterly. This acknowledges that the communica-
tion an is changing, and that Morse codes usefulness 38 Morse Rhythm
in radio is less than it once was, but goes on to 38 Surprise
be 39 Your Letters
explore the many other uses to which Morse can
in situations or by the handicapped. 46 Index to Issues 2528
put, emergency
We hope to reprint this latter article in MM shortly
I dont think that I could bring myself to give
We are sorry that the promised
further exposure to the rst one I mentioned! article Key Design' has had to
I am a great believer in the sentiment expressed be held over, and will appear
in the next issue of MM
by the old saying horses for courses in other
words, select the means best suited to each job you
have to tackle. It rather appeals to my warped sense
of humour that Morsum Magnicat and its sister dverttlsement
magazine Radio Bygones, two publications dealing
with subjects which some condemn as archaic, Index
are both produced on computer, using the most
modern electronic publishing equipment available.
9 CalAv Labs
22 FISTS CW Club
22 G-QRP Club
37 G4ZPY Keys
We WW 1993
{Mews
Morsecodians at Alice 93
MEMBERS OF THE SYDNEY including key, sounder, resonator box,
galvo and simplex relay, which
MORSECODIANS FRATERNITY they had
par- restored prior to handing it over to the
ticipated again this year in the Alice
Friends of the Telegraph Association
Springs Heritage Week, at
opening up the Tennant Creek.
Historic Telegraph Station for
their A worrying development in
annual hook-up with the National terms of
Science future activities is the
and Technology Centre in policy of the NSTC
Canberra an to change their exhibits
oldtime direct
telegraph line halfway every one or two
years. The telegraph installation has actu-
across the continent, utilising modern
ally been there for over 5 years, since the
technology, courtesy Telecom Australia.
NSTC opened in fact, and they have indi
The crew this year was John
Houlder, cated that it may have to nd another
Fred Ryan, Reg (Curly) home.
Moger (all It is hoped that a
readers of MM!), and Ray Langtip. compromise may
The result in leaving the channel in
circuit was open from Saturday, situ, with
April 24 the Morsecodians
re-installing the equip-
until Sunday, May 2. Once
again visitors ment each year prior to the Alice Springs
were offered free telegraph
messages and event, but this is by no means certain
a total of 1479 messages were yet.
transmitted, (John Houlder continued on a
an almost 50 per cent increase touring
on the holiday in the Northem Territory after the
gures for 1992, with many people taking
Alice Springs Heritage Week and
the opportunity to send
Mothers Day sent MJVI
this report direct from Crocodile
greetings messages. Dundee
Courttry. He tells us that he and his wife
There was a large increase in tourists have done a lot of swimming in the
from Germany this year, and Na-
a number of tional Parks in
messages were transmitted in the German crystal clear pools and
tumbling waterfalls, but swimming
language. areas
have to be chosen carefully as the
At the end of week, Fred and water-
Ray ways up this way are ll of man (and
travelled 300 miles north to Tennant
female) eating crocodiles 1).
Creek where the circuit was extended for
the weekend, May 23, as
pan of the Fake Distress Calls
fund-raising activity for restoration of A FAIRFAX (VIRGINIA)
the old repeater station
buildings there,
amateur
radio operator, whose phoney
while John manned a combiner unit Maydays
at created a wildgoose chase in the West
Alice Springs, jointing the two voice-
Indies last summer, has agreed to reim-
frequency telegraph circuits together. burse the US Coast Guard $50 000, and
The Morsecodians had acquired
a dispose of his ham equipment, as part of a
complete set of telegraph equipment,
plea bargain.
2
9M9 gamut 1995
Jorge Mestre NS3K, age 50, pleaded same as turning the transmitter off and
guilty and was Sentenced on May 12 to on. The FCC simply measured and
60 days home connement with work re-
carefully analysed the signal risetime with
lease privileges and one years probation.
an oscilloscope.
In addition he was ordered to perform 200
By examining the radio signal signa-
hours of community service,
pay a $50 ture, the FCC was able to identify two
special assessment and permanently sur- turn-on characteristics that, when
render his Amateur Extra Class ham tick- matched with those qualities contained
et. He could have received up to six
years on another recording from the same trans-
imprisonment and a ne of $250 000. mitter, clearly identied it as having sent
Over a period of time he is suspected the false CW distress messages.
of having put out a number of false dis- The two identied characteristicswere
tress signals, and on 7 August 1992, he transmitter instantaneous frequency and
falsely reported a sinking vessel in the transmitter power. In theory a transmitter
British West Indies. He transmitted in should turn on instantly with full
both SSB and CW, including the use of power
on the frequency it is set to. In practice,
SOS in CW. it cannot do that.
The Coast Guard immediately began a Two different transmitters adjusted
major search and rescue operation which to the same level in frequency will differ
cost more than $100 000; the government in their measured tum-on characteris-
of the Turks and Caicos Islands launched tics. A study of their instantaneous fre-
their patrol craft, and merchant ships in
quency and magnitude of output power
the area were advised of a vessel in
during the rst one hundred milliseconds
distress.
or less after tum-on conclusively reveals
The FCC recorded the false trans- different and distinctive characteristics,
missions. Using direction-nding data,
even between different transmitters of the
subsequent detailed technical analysis of same manufacturer and model.
the tape recordings, and information
pro- ( Condensedfrom the W5YI Report,
vided by other ham operators, they
were 1 June 1993)
able to later identify Mestres
amateur
radio station as the source of the false Europe for QHP Weekend 1993
distress messages. ALL LICENSED RADIO AMATEURS
The FCC used basically the same are invited to take part in this contest
method of analysing radio signals that
organised jointly by the GQRP Club
they developed in the famous Captain and the OKQRP Club.
Midnight and Playboy satellite jamming Dates and times: From 1600 UTC on
cases. There are certain parameters of a October to 2359 UTC on October 3.
1
signal that are peculiar to a specic radio Mode and frequencies: CW only on
transmitter. One of these is the turmon
3.560, 7.030, 14.060, 21.060 and
time until a rig gets to full
power on a 28.060MH2, all ilOkHz.
specic frequency. When Mestre used Power: Not to exceed 5 watts RF output.
CW on August 7 this was essentially the Stations unable to measure output, take
W9 aw: 1993 3
half DC input. (10W input = 5W output, known as National Radio Examiners, and
and so on). proposed to the FCC that its Registered
Call when seeking contacts: CQ EU Examiners would be both currently
QRP. licensed Commercial and Extra Class
Exchanges: RST, Power Output, Name radio operators. It is now in the process
of Operator. All to be logged for a valid of approving examiners, with priority for
contact. Chief Examiner status given to holders of
Scoring: Contacts with own country do the General Radiotelephone and Commer
not score. EU stations score 1
point for cial RadiotelegraphOperator licences.
each EU contact and 3 points for each It will not be necessary, however,
contact outside Europe. Stations outside for approved Amateur Extra Class level
Europe score 5 points for each contact examiners to hold a commercial radio
with Europe. The nal score is the sum of license to conduct commercial radio oper
the points scored on each band used. ator testing. Amateur and Commercial
Logs: Separate log sheets required for each Radio Operators interested in particip
band, showing contact date, time, call, ating as examiners or in establishing a
RST, name, and power, received and sent. Commercial Operator Testing Center are
A summary sheet should show call, name urged to contact: The W5YI Group Inc.,
and address, claimed score for each band, National Radio Examiners, PO Box
total claimed score, and brief details of the 565206, Dallas, Texas 75356. Telephone
equipment used. Send logs to: P. Doudera (817) 461-6443.
OKlCZ, U1 baterie 1, 16200 Praha 6,
Czech Republic, by 15 November 1993. Concem About US Code Exemptions
Awards: Merit certicates will be award- VOLUNTEER EXAMINER COORDI
ed to the three leading stations from each NATORS representing more than 98 per
continent. Thejudges decision is nal in cent of all amateur radio license examina-
the case of dispute. tions conducted in the Amateur Service
(Informationfront Gus Taylor G8PG, met on June 1718 in Gettysburg, PA,
Communications Manager, G-QRP Club) for their annual conference. Also in
attendance were representatives from
W5Yl Group now a COLEM the American Radio Relay League, the
THE W5YI GROUP, which administers National Amateur Radio Association,
35 per cent of all amateur radio operator various amateur radio training and pub-
licence testing in the USA was the rst of lishing groups, and many senior FCC
nine organisations to be chosen by the ofcials, including FCC Chief-of-Staff
FCC as a COLEM (CommercialOperator Brian Fontes.
Licensing Examination Manager) to man He addressed the conference on the
age the newly privatised commercial ex- budgetary difculties of the FCC and how
amination program which was described private sector programs such as the VEC
in MM27, p.6. System and privatised Commercial Radio
The W5YI Group Inc. established a testing assists in this area. During this
commercial operator testing division discussion, Ralph Haller, Private Radio
4 W9 zgwt 1999
Bureau Chief announced the selection of New Morse Test Standard
Fred Maia and the WSYI Group as one of FOR THE FIRST TIME, the VECs
the nine new COLEMs, as reported above.
adopted a telegraphy examination stand-
In the discussion on the Morse code ard which must be used on all code exams
examination process, Jim Georgias administered in the VEC system. Only
W9JUG, who heads the Great Lakes VEC, one minute solid copy, answering seven
pointed out that Morse code examination out of ten questions or multiplechoice
applicants are sometimes improperly pass- code exams may be used to prove tele
ing the 5 wpm telegraphy examination graphy knowledge.
and then going to their doctor to obtain a If the multiple choice answer format
falsely claimed exemption for the 13 and is used, then there must be ten questions,
20 wpm telegraphy requirement. with seven correct passing. A minimum
It was recommended that the FCC of four choices (answer/distractors)
follow up every telegraphy exemption must be included on all multiple choice
request to verify that the doctor agrees questions.
that handicap code credit is justied. No True/False code exams or tran-
The second day of the meeting was scriptions of the telegraphy text with ten
mainly devoted to presentations and dis- missing words will be permitted. The new
cussions with the standard must be put
FCC, and during one into effect as soon as
session, Carol Fox-
possible but no later
Foelak, of the FCCs than January 1994.
1
ComplianceDepart- If sevenout-of
ment, discussed pre- ten questions or
venting unqualied multiple-choice te-
licensees. The hand-
legraphy answer for
icap telegraphy ex- mats are used, then
emption program, the VE team must
she said, was being 7779 lmy/Key also submit the ap~
abused. To reduce
plicants answer
misuse, the new rewritten Form 610 will sheet to their VECshowing what the
ap-
contain a more complete doctors infor- plicant actually wrote down. VE teams
mation and certication section. FCC and VECs should review the code tran-
Gettysburg has been asking doctors to scribed by the examinee to determine that
conrm medical conditions and many he/she was able to answer the exarnina
telegraphy exemptions have been denied. tion questions from the copied text.
If at all possible, compliance problems (From the WSYI Report, 1 July 1993)
should be prevented before they reach the
FCC level. VECs should intercept irregu- Lilliput Key
larities and invalidate questionable test AN INGENIOUS MINIATURE KEY
sessions to avoid lengthy and expensive from Spain, The Lilliput, is made from a
FCC involvement. Bambina staple gun. Constructed around
W9 ~ zgzm 1993 I
a piece of solid brass, 50 x 10 x 10mm, For anyone visiting eastern France
and weighing 50 grams, it has an adjust- this museum, located in the small town
able aluminium bridge which allows the of Riquewihr, 10km NNW of Colmar, is
contact gap to be varied. Limited tension well worth a detour; and there are also
adjustment is possible by dismantling the excellent museums in Mulhouse for
key and bending the spring steel tension motorcar and railway enthusiasts.
strip in a machine vice. Held on the (Contributed by Ken Quigg GI4CRQ,
operating table by a small piece of Blu Belfast, Northern Ireland. Ken has sent
Tack (provided), this tiny key was found MM some photos of the inventions of
by MM (TS) to have a surprisingly solid docteur Dujardin, and is trying to obtain
feel in use. more information about them which we
The key is designed and constructed hope to publish later. FLuther reportsfront
by MM reader Jero Orellana Ramirez readers on museums containing material
EA3DOS, who wonders if it is the small- of interest to Morse enthusiasts will be
est known key in the world? Useful for welcome. Please write to Tony Smith, at
miniaturised stations, camping or holiday the address given inside our front cover.)
operation, where space or weight is at a
premium, or of interest as a collectors News from France
item, the key can be obtained from Jero at: NOCODE REFERENDUM: Anticipat-
Av. Roma 10, 08015 Barcelona, Spain, ing that discussions on the subject would
price 10 sterling (he suggests sending a be held at the IARU Region Conference
1
10 note wellprotected), and the key in Belgium, in September, the April 1993
will be sent by return by registered post. issue of Radio-REF, journal of the French
(Does anyone know ofa smaller prac- national radio society, REF, announced
tical working key? Ed.) the referendum mentioned in MM28, p.3.
The question to be answered was: Do
Museums of Interest you want radio amateurs to have access to
FRANCE: La Muse dHistoire des P'IT 28MHZ (observing the IARU bandplan)
THIS MUSEUM has a wide range of ex- without having to pass a Morse code
hibits dating from about 1830, including examination? Yes or No? The June
SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE
Designed for optimum performance in a traditional operating environment, the
SPIRITTM provides familiar functionality
very Similar to a mechanical key. Its
solid-state force sensors activate when a given, preset force is
Contact noise and bounce are a thing of the past. Independent exceeded.
left and right
adjustments have infinite resolution, and will accommodate Operators with
light or heavy touch. This extremely stable key weighs five a
move from its desired position.
pounds and will not
UNCOMPROMISING QUALITY
Currently available as a limited-production edition for the
discerning enthusiast,
superior workmanship is evident in its polished, solid, machined-brass
construction. Each key is individually serialized, and be further customized
to a users preferences: engraving of an individuals can
available, as is a variety of other finishes. Detachable
name or call letters is
cabling accommodates
a wide variety of keyers.
PRICES ORDERING
Inpolished brass US $430 Direct orders accepted world-wide
Chrome over nickel US $480 via Visa or Mastercard; shipment
Gold over copper US $580 from Stock to 45 days, f.o.b.
It was 1988, when if you asked a ham canteen. PA3DWS has ruled WE are go-
when do you go to Utrecht? he automat- ing to enjoy a nice cup ofcoffee and some
ically replied with the date of his next cake while the other candidates down on
exam. The technical exams were held in the 9th oor are stirring each other up
the Jaarbeurs, the big trade-fair exhibi- waiting for the test.
tion halls and the Morse tests were held, Even in this lions cage, the coffee is
appropriately, in the FIT headquarters, a normal and capable of passing down a
lS-storey building severely constricted
with ne views throat, and I gaze out
overlooking the en-
tire neighbourhood.
PA-CW-test at the view from the
llth oor windows
My turn to go to across the red roof
Utrecht for my tiles of Utrecht.
Morse test was on PA3DWS misses
May 18 of that year, nothing. Remember
an overcast but dry that beautiful view.
day. I had time off You will never see
from work and Piet, it again! Witty fel-
my 0M (who pre low. I understand
fers gardening!) also what he is trying to
had the day off. The say!
time of my test was
15.00 hrs but my Ten Minutes to G0
CW-elmer for the Still half-
last six months, paralysed, I am
by Mon/la Pauw-Amo/aPA3FBF
another Piet, aware of my sur-
PA3DWS, came to roundings as if
my home at 11.30 through a small
joking about nervousness in general and passband audio/visual lter. Internally, I
the lifechanging event of becoming a PA3 talk to myself. To pass this test has been
in particular. my cherished wish for a long time. I have
Ninety minutes before the hour of looked forward to this event so very much.
truth, we enter the FIT building and go An event which can result in permission
by lift to the llth oor to the telecom for me to work into every hidden comer of
10 / zgwt 1993
the world on short-waves! This ritual
has previous times and why they are still
kept me going all day until now.
The three of us go down to the necessary. He explains how the test will
9th be administered and asks
floor, to a crowded corridor outside the if there are
any questions. Just a few. What about the
examination room. The other candidates
Dutch ij? Are we to take and send
are there, sitting on the oor, backs to the a y
in place of this as in the
wall, talking, grinning, all nerves ofcourse. past? We will not
make any error if we take down or send
The doors of the room are still
closed, precisely the text we hear or read. Also we
the test starts in 10 minutes. I
light a need not take down the +s
cigarette. I am hoping this is preceding and
my last one ending the receiving test, nor send them in
as PEIMHL.
the sending test.
We go in. The dedicated test
room has I begin to feel better. I smile
rows of chairs and desks, with the at the
neces- warming-up music heard softly in the
sary test equipment; windows from oor
background since we entered the room.
to ceiling; and wall-towall thick, sound
Smash hits from the past, trying to dis-
absorbing, carpet. From the provision of
this professional setup I perse our nervous tension. The music stops.
sense a certain We ll in our forms, put on
respect from the FTP for us radioama- our head-
phones, the exam begins.
teurs. A respect which I further sensed
when the PI'Ts letter INVITED
me to Only Five Left
take the examination!
The rst text,5 minutes at 12
My psychological paralysis begins to wpm, I
write down easily, also the second
ease off. Looking round, I count 19 other text,
with no mental blocks. Is this
candidates. All have found their because I
seats; are am a CW addict, with 99
reading the two pages of instructions; per cent of my
listening time on CW? During the small
adjusting their keys; or are having a last break between tests the music
chat among themselves. comes
back, Isnt this a lovely day?. I shall
always remember this day, even if its
Warming-up Music
only for the PITS efforts to relax the
The door closes. We will be
cut off tensed up candidates!
from the outside world for the
next 45 Now there is "a longer break and
minutes. During this time we will
experi tension rises again. Those who failed
ence a great change in our lives. From both receiving tests leave the
PEls we will turn into PA3s. Looking at room. This
the clock above the door, the humiliating ritual tends to mar todays
second hand harmonic relationship with ofcialdom.
has not moved.
I do not look round when
The chief invigilator, Mr Den hearing empty
Ridder, chairs being put back behind deserted
welcomes us and introduces the
other desks.
examiners. Photographs on
our passports I am halfway through.
or driving licences are checked to make Somehow I am
not a common PEl any more. I have the
sure there is no cheating. Mr Den
Ridder impression of looking down on
explains why Morse tests were held in myself
from above. Everything looks different
yet
may ujun 1993
11
remains the same. I nally do look around Five minutes must have passed.
and cannot believe my eyes. Out of 19, During a short break a noisy rattle is
only 5 candidates are left and the only YL heard behind a wooden sliding door at
candidate is still there! Later, when we the back of the hall. Oldfashioned print-
wondered why so few had passed, the ers are churning out our rst tests for
consensus of opinion among the exam judging. From my experience with
iners and instructors was that an obscure PA3DWS I know that he would have found
lets simply have a try virus had perhaps 3 errors, but not the 8 allowed in
infected PA on this occasion. Too many this test. But perhaps the computer here
candidates with insufcient experience judges more harshly than Piets Tono. ..
had come to the exam. A pity about their
20 fee going down the drain... Concentration Gone
Halfway through the second sending
Sending Test test, my concentration deserts me. I have
The door closes again. There is a difculty in following the text. I even
last chance to adjust and practice on the have to remind myself that I am expected
Junker keys provided. The texts to be to send it down the line. My stomach
sent are distributed. We are to send these turns, stars dance before my eyes, cold
simultaneously into the famous, but not sweat runs down my back, tingling in my
visible, CW-computer. The text is some- arms and legs, my shaking hand almost
thing about navigation, QRGs and UTC. refuses to send any further code. Was that
As there are only ve of us, we can sit really ME who was so condent with that
near the front of the room if we wish. We rst text?
all do, each convinced that optimum I try to hide my distress. I dont want
power for our last big effort, in the face to make things worse for my neighbours
of possible failure, will be better attained who may be in the same state. Making
sitting as close to each other as possible. the best of a bad job, I pound out the rest
We read the text in advance and are of the text. The computer will surely nd
asked to send the rst 6 letters of our more than 8 errors this time.
surname into the computer to link each The texts are collected up. What a pity
candidate with his text and to trigger the we cannot keep them as souvenirs of this
computer to our personal speeds. The rst fatal day. For the last time the printers
of the two 5minute sending tests is about rattle out our results while we chat and
to begin. nervously grin at each other.
You may begin now... I make myself There is no more happy background
more comfortable. A dangerous action music. The exam is over. The OM in
but I cant remember the last time my front of me has failed. Listening to his
concentration reached such a high level. tape produces no better result. Each candi-
No shaking in my key hand, which was dates sending is recorded on audio tape
what I feared the most. I am engrossed in as well as by computer in case a marginal
sending this maritime text, alternating failure can be reversed to the advantage
gures with letters. Soon I have nished. of the candidate. I learn this by catching
12 W9 zgwt 1995
pans of the muffled conversation between Sunshine in the End
him and one of the examiners. I am torn two
ways. On' one side there
is the delight of now being
Congratulations! ofcially ac-
knowledged as a member of the world-
Another examiner appears at my side. wide HF ham fraternity, and on the other
a
Congratulations on achieving your perverse disappointment that my very rst
A-licence. On receiving I had no faults, Morse test has also been my last it had
and on sending l fault. We shake hands been an enjoyable experience in the end!
and I sign a form agreeing with the In the corridor, PA3DWS awards me
examination committees assessment. It an Oscar for my success (although that
is rather sad, though, that a candidate who
success was a result of HIS work with me
fails has to give his consent to his own for many months, seven evenings at week).
failure! He gives me a pigeons feather which he
I am a real PA3 at last... The
room is found this morning when walking Sheba,
full of sunlight, which is odd as the sun is his Rottweiler dog.
still hidden behind the grey clouds. [chat
On the way home, to nish
with my neighbour. The door my Morse-
opens and test day in style, and this story too, the sun
my Pietmen drag me out. They say I have comes out to shine from behind the clouds.
been talking too long. I want to examine
That pigeons feather still shines too, on
the computer-like instrument beside the the power supply of my HF rig.
door, resembling a terminal at PCH (the
(Monika tells us that as from 1992
Netherlands maritime coast radio station, a
new computer is in use and the tests are
Scheveningen Radio. Ed. ), but my re- now held in a gymnasium at Nieuwegein,
sistance is low, burnt out.
near Utrecht. Ed.) MM
Readers 1125
WANTED EXCHANGE
Marconi Key, Type 971, or W.H.Y? Keys offered for exchange: Czech
Wyn Davies, Pen-y-Maes, Halcog, Army keys (2 off), RAF bathtub keys
Brymbo, Wrexham, Clwyd LL11 5DR, (2 off), Key & Plug Assembly No8
Wales, phone 0978 756330. tted with WT 8 amp key, Unit
Operator
Nol fitted with WT 8 Amp keys (2
Back issues of MM. All issues before off). What offers please? Wyn Davies,
er9, also Nrs 22, 23, 25. Boris Real
Pen-y-Maes, Halcog, Brymbo, Wrexham,
F5TFS, Box 49, F-59730 Solesmes, Clwyd LL11 5DR, Wales, phone
France. 0978 756330.
GEO-Mam/
cwesy
Photograph
18
W9 - zzy/at 1993
and private experimental station appara- Morse Code Standards
tus, either on his own account or for There are no international Morse
another, must have proved his ability to code speed standards. Theoretically, just
transmit passages in the Morse code and recognising the Morse sounds and being
to read in telegraphy reception by ear, able to hand send the characters meets all
passages thus transmitted. He may be international requirements. It is our FCC
replaced only by authorised persons that provides for the three different levels
possessing the same qualications. of telegraphy prociency 5, l3, and 20
In I947 (Atlantic City WARC), the words per minute.
regulations (Article 42, Section 1003.3) On 22 June 1982, the FCC published a
included for the rst time a frequency Public Notice detailing the specications
limit above which a test in Morse code used by them for amateur radio Morse
may be waived, and set this limit at code test tapes. This has more or less
lOOOMc/s. become the de facto standard used in
In 1959 (Geneva WARC), this fre- Morse code testing in the USA. Here is
quency limit was dropped to 144MHz and the text of that Bulletin:
in 1979 (another Geneva WARC) to its The international standards for the
current 3OMHz. relative duration of elements and spacing
This cut-off point has been lowered at employed in the Morse code are dened
every general WARC since 1947, and it is in CCITT Recommendation R.l40 as
wondered what will happen at the next adopted by the VIIth Plenary Assembly
general WARC, which should take place in November 1980. The 13 and 20 word
around the end of the century. Many be- per minute amateur radio test tapes con-
lieve that the amateur radio Morse code form to these standards.
requirement will be totally eliminated. The 5 word per minute amateur radio
test tapes are constructed using Morse
Creative Interpretation letters sent at 13 words per minute, but
While code-free amateur radio with additional spacing between charac
operation isnt supposed to take place on ters and words to provide an effective
the short-wave HF bands under 30MHz, rate of 5 words per minute. This method,
Japan allows it by creatively interpreting commonly referred to as the Farnswonh
the rules. system, is favored for slow telegraph
They maintain that any radio opera- speeds because it is believed to facilitate
tion is legally permitted under the Inter- the attainmentof higher speed.
national Radio Regulations provided it Specications
does not cause interference to others. For the 5 words per minute tapes, the
No country has complained to the modulation rate and duration of unit
ITU about the codefree operation of the interval are calculated using 13 words per
Japanese voice class license, and Japan minute as the desired code speed.
has over one million of these licensees Duration of code elements
using 10 watts on the HF amateur bands Dot unit interval
1
20 W9 1411511. 1993
The tests may be taken in reverse going vessels. This ruling basically sig
order if desired that is, 20 wpm before
'
nals the demise of radio operators and
13 wpm. If the 20 wpm is failed, then the manual telegraphy aboard ocean-going
applicant may try the 13 wpm. As a gener- vessels.
al rule, Morse hand sending examinations Maritime radio rst used Morse code
are not administered, since the FCC has to enhance the safety of life at sea. Now,
taken the position Passing a telegraphy a new automated satellite based Global
receiving examination is adequate proof Maritime Distress and Safety System will
of an examinees ability to both send and allow the crew to send a distress signal
receive telegraphy. The administering simply by pushing a button. Ships will
VEs, however, may also include a sending also carry a radio beacon which would
segment if they feel it important. (A new give the ships position via GMDSS if it
telegraphy testingstandard, to be adopted were to sink suddenly. Morse code, which
by all VECs not later than 1 January 1994, has been the foundation of maritime dis-
is reported in the News pages of this issue tress and safety messages since the turn of
of MM. Ed.) the century, now becomes obsolete.
Telegraphy can, however, be an inter-
Is the Morse Code Necessary? esting and fun way to communicate. It
Technologyhas progressed to the point allows more amateurs to use the bands at
where the reasons for retaining the code as one time due to its efcient use of spec-
a prerequisite for amateur radio operation trum. CW is also an international language
are becoming outdated. Newer digital understood by most amateurs of the
communicationsmodes now can do what world...
code trafc handled by humans cannot 1993, CQ Magazine
that is, assure accurate delivery of import (MM footnote: The FCC no longer ad-
ant trafc. ministers amateur radio operator tests of
Automatic message correction through any type and all testing is carried out by
electronic handshaking' circuitry has teams of three volunteer examiners, linked
made the last stronghold of hand sent/ to the FCC through Volunteer-Examiner
received telegraphy, the Maritime Radio Co-ordinators (VECs).
Service, unnecessary. Large ocean-going The W5Yl-VEC, of which Fred Maia
vessels are in the process of being tied is the Co-ordinator, last year examined
into digital networks relayed by satellites. more than 35 000 applicants for the six
Simply stated, shipto-shore short-wave US amateur radio licence levels, and au-
communication is fast becoming part of thorised 20 000 licences. This organisa-
the romantic past history of ships at sea. tion comprises over 13 000 registered
In 1988, the International Maritime VEs, holding senior level amateur opera-
Organisation made a decision to end Morse tor licences. It is organised into nearly
code on the high seas. The IMO is the 900 volunteerexaminer teams and admin-
United Nations agency dedicated to the istered nearly 60 000 examination ele-
safety of ocean shipping. They represent ments (separate examinationparts Ed.)
some 97 per cent of the worlds ocean- in 1992. The average test session
G-QRP Club
The G-QRP Club promotes and encourages low-power operating
on the amateur bands with activity periods, awards and trophies. Facilities include a
quarterly magazine, Morse training tapes, kits, traders discounts and a QSL bureau.
Novices and SWLs welcome.
Enquiries to Rev. George Dobbs G3RJV, St Aidans Vicarage,
498 Manchester Road, Rochdale, Lancs OL11 3HE. Send a
large s.a.e. or two lFle
Goadrar
Donn/s
Photo:
V/brop/ex ape semiautomatic key made by Dennis Goacher GSZZZ 777/5 trey
campuses .93 separate components,mosth/brass, mm a fews/tyerstee/pa/ts
anda x/n m/tdstee/base 777e f/ngerpaoze rs teak and the ringerbutton
a/urn/n/urn An extra weightcan be addedto mependu/urn for very s/ow key/no
and the damperbnoge h/nges back to expose the end oth'iepeno'u/unz hence
re /arye knuneonut
24 W9zgwt 1993
GJLLZ
Gaaazer
Den/7A3:
Coi/xtrbnkoo
7055
F
Boa/can
Darn/Irma
Co/lw'oW/Iala'
meow
Sheen
Dale/r
Co/lee/Ibn/Phara'
Ga/udac
le
Jean
Marinate/7 wanted
26 We -f41gust 1993
HE BRITISH FREIGHTER a job and it did that magnicently. Even
SS EUDOXIA, in which I served foreign sailors, wherever they were in the
as a radio ofcer for a very short world, knew about the green shed and
period, stands out in my memory for a how its staff found and arranged jobs in
number of reasons. a fast and simple manner. I never sailed on
All the labour contracts on the foreign a Dutch ship so how Dutch sailors got
ships in which I sailed lasted exactly a job on those I don't know. Perhaps
two years unless the through the services
vessel visited a of an ofcial labour
northern European
port. In that case,
Reflections from exchange ofce.
To get on the
one could leave the
ship if one wished.
I usually ended up
Uncle Bas 17
AShOlt Voyage
- joblist of the
Green Shed you
had to pay a small
on vessels of the fee after showmg
Never-Come-Back [3631]? vanEsPAofw
your papers and of-
Line and eventual- cial certicates.
ly signed off in After a time, usually
some far distant place, having been on very quickly, you were signed on.
the ship for several years, bored with the It was always very hectic in and around
ship and with the people. the Green Shed, and when one of the staff
When I got home again after such a started to read out a list of vacancies the
long time at sea, my parents were ex- sailors waiting pushed and struggled to
tremely happy to see me and cuddled me get to the front.
and fed me as if I were a puppy. Of course,
after a few weeks of this I would ask More Sophisticated
myself What am I doing here? Id rather For captains, mates, engineers and
be back at sea! the like, the methods were more sophistic-
ated. They were ushered into a small
The Green Shed room and treated quite differently. You
In those days, in the fties, there was, will no doubt agree that there is a differ-
in Rotterdam, a little ofce known as the ence between an AB and a captain apart
Green Shed which arranged jobs for from the wages!
sailors on foreign ships. Evidently this One night, when it was already past
was not a very protable enterprise be midnight, the bell rang at the door of my
cause I remember vividly the poor aspect parents house. It was a staff member from
of the wooden building with the interior the Green Shed who told me there was an
matching the poverty-strickenappearance urgent request for a radio ofcer.
of its exterior. Without pausing for breath, he went
Its purpose, though, was to get sailors on, Please get your suitcase and coat
M0129 //Izgzz.rt 1993 27
because a British freighter is ready to What a Mess!
leave port and the captain doesnt want to I was transferred from the pier to
take the risk of sailing without a Sparks. the ship in a small motor launch. The
After hastily saying goodbye to Mom night was pitchblack and the big
and Dad, we jumped into a taxi which freighter could not be seen until the
was waiting in the street; the ofcial launch bumped against the steel plating of
shouted to the cabby Coaltip Frans Swan- its hull. I climbed a rope-ladder on board.
touw, Waalhaven, and the taxi shrieked I could see very little and almost tripped
away into the night. over a hawser lying on the deck.
The mate, who was
waiting, used a ashlight
and guided me to my cabin
which had the radio cabin
next to it. No sooner had I
shut the door and taken my
coat off when I heard the
captain shouting to the tugs
and the propeller revolu-
tions increasing.
I looked round the
radio cabin and its equip-
ment, and my rst impres-
sion was What a bloody
mess!
W9 ltgust 1993 29
OBIN, ZLIIC, sent me one of terric bang, as occurs for grid keying, or
the earliest articles on break- keying the high voltage lead. But from the
in keying, from QST, Sep- breakin standpoint, it is not always possi-
tember 1926. This is so common in mod- ble to stop the tube oscillating even when
ern transceivers that we take it for granted. the key is wide open.
But even back in the 19605, it was usually I understand that a selfrectied trans-
necessary to throw several switches in mitter had raw AC applied to the plate,
home-brew rigs to and made its own
change from trans- DC. The simplest
mit to receive
(switch the antenna Letters to the breakin method
described is to use
over, de-mute the
receiver, apply pow Morseman separate antennas.
But the receiving an-
er to the nals...) Like MM, Dr Gary Bold ZL1AN in New tenna may pick up
and I remember the Zealand, is Flying the Flag for Morse. enough of the trans-
thrill I got when I He receives many interesting letters mitters voltage to
nally implement- addressed to his monthly column, The cause rather disas-
ed, with an assort- Morseman, in Break-In, journal of trous sparking in the
ment of Post-Ofce NZAFIT, and the selection here is from mesh of the detector
relays, a system that some of the correspondencehe has tube, and grid leaks
allowed oneswitch reported in his column over the last and condensers will
change-over. year or so, kicking off with a letter on be burned open.
Later, I even early break-in keying methods Theres more.
evolved (with an We are told that it
6SN7 Schmitt trig helps to have the
ger) a setup that switched automatically transmitter and receiver widely separated.
wheneverI hit the Morse key, and changed Some operators kept the transmitter in the
back after a couple of seconds of Morse- back garden in a sort ofdog kennel. Weve
lessness! Now, all transceivers can do that. come a long way.
But at the time, it was impressive.
I digress. The problems of implement- Morse at the Ballgame
ing break-in in I926 were enormous. Even Laurie, ZL2RL, sent me a clipping
standard keying methods sound somewhat and photograph from the Albuquerque
primitive, and rather daunting: Joumal. The photo caption says Discreet
The ideal method of keying a self- Morse Code adorns the scoreboard at
rectified transmitter, or one employing Bostons Fenway Park, spelling out the
chemical rectiers is in the primary ofthe initials of the late Red Sox Owner
plate transformer. The inductance of the Thomas A. Yawkey and his widow,
transformer allows the keying current to Jean R. Yawkey. The romance of code,
reach the tube gradually, instead of with a more than its utility, keeps it alive.
W9 zgzm 1993 31
14 080/14 099.5, RTTY The operation of these stations is of
14 100 World-wide course attracting other AMTOR stations
HF beacon chain and the incident that really got me going
14100.5/14112 New modes took place on 20m during June this year
such as HF packet. (i.e., I992. Ed).
What has happened to this plan that I have in memory a polite
message
has worked very well for years? Well, HF which I transmit in AMTOR MODE B
packet has moved down to at least 14 090 when I encounterQRM from an AMTOR
and I have even heard packet on 14 063. QSO whilst I am operating CW. The mes-
RTI'Y is still keeping to 14 080 and above sage requests the station to QSY above
but seems to be avoiding the intrusion of 14 070 pointing out the frequency is in
packet by keeping below approximately the exclusive pan of the band.
14 090. However AMTOR stations, in the I was clobbered by a
very strong
main keeping below 14080 (although AMTOR station whilst in the midst of a
today I heard a German station on 14 083) CW QSO on 14 065. I identied the sta-
are causing a really big problem. tion as KC7OJ in QSO with NJ7D. I sent
I have identied 34 APLINK sta- my AMTOR message requesting them to
tions below 14 070 (I admit to being an QSY, etc. KC7OJ did not acknowledge
AMTOR/RTTY userl). These are unat- my transmission,he said to NJ7D What a
tended stations providing a bulletin board, jerk, doesnt that guy know CW is dead.
message service and a link to the local You may or may not agree with the
VHF/UHF packet network. Their frequen- rst part of his message, but he is dream
cies are published via bulletins obtained ing if he thinks CW, the original data
from VKZAGE who runs an excellent mode, is dead. The human brain, with
APLINK station on 14 075/ 14 077. the help of very narrow lters can handle
I contacted Craig, the system opera- QRM but can you imagine the antics
tor at WA8DRZ, and his comments are those dumb computers get up to as they
interesting: Max, band sharing is a con try and maintain an ARQ link?
cern, especially on 20 meters because it is There are already signs of a mode
so popular. With the growth of the digital war starting on this part of 20m and I
modes (Packet, R'ITY and AMTOR) the admit I am doing my best to make sure
users of those modes naturally spread out there is plenty of CW activity! However
as the initial area becomes crowded and this sort of behaviour is not good for the
spill over into adjacent pans of the band. image of Ham Radio and I wonder if it
If these areas are less crowded, operation is a reection of the continual erosion of
continues and the new mode takes over. the requirements to hold a licence.
The dividing line between the parts of In conclusion, there are two points I
the band used by various modes is not a would like to stress:
xed line, but a moving target that evolves ' Use it or lose it! HF amateur radio makes
over time. Craig. the world a village and our actions are felt
Craigs message is very clear: USE IT around the globe. So come on you Morse-
OR LOSE IT! man readers, ll up the CW parts of the
32
W9 at/5t 1993
band and do your bit to re-estahlish the
deplored, and does not project a good
IARU band plan. image for ZL amateurs to be heard
0 Write to
your IARU Director and let around the world. All very sad, and
him know your views. another example why we must resolve
this issue quickly. I hope this is not the
Postscript end of the Amateur Radio I have known.
As I was nishing this note at my Come on Bill, you also use 4 other fre-
operating desk (0504 UTC/July 20) an quencies above 14 070, so why not set a
example of the change in operating stand good example and stop using 14 069?
ards happened. I heard a station calling After reading the latest APLINK
CQ, manual Morse, on 14069. The directory, the good news is that SUIER
station did not give any identication but has stopped using 14066. VKZDDA and
judging by the signal strength it was KAZRD are now no longer operational.
probably a VK. The bad news is that seven, yes SEVEN
To my utter amazement a station came new ones have appeared between 14 066
up on CW and said piss off de ZL4**. and 14 069. AASAU and KC7OJ
I immediately sent to ZL4** that that
appear to be running a personal mailbox
sort of language was unacceptable. I did on 14 065.
not get a response! (Extracted and adapted for MM from
ZL4** runs an APLINK station on Gary Bold s The Morseman column in
14 069. This type of behaviour is to be Break-In, joumal of NZ4RT).
nicat
. .
27 ONLY now available,
'Alicliilldiirsszmh
at 2.20 each to UK addresses,
Reigned Supreme 2.25 overseas (surface mail)
syllabary. This was chosen because its set Unit was a deliberate misnomer to cloak
of characters could be used to write and the true purpose of the intercept unit.
pronounce, phonetically, traditional Japa The chart shown on the opposite page
34 W9 zzywt 19.93
K~ ,1 PHm-d rm
The Katakana Chart: t:
t
_
7 1) 5mm
UE
COLUMN
l
LINE
SINGLE
VOWEL
bv~~~
(.17
77
Am
4 -
S
SAG!) SHICV SUCO)
T 27.5: /_
2221/
TA(N CHI(F) TSUCF TECA) T005
N
NA(R) NICC) 'N.'\J(IH) _.-._
Nco) ,.__
N007)
H/..\ 742%
7EAXE
(i) "lid-6:!) H.505) 1.0.0)
M __...._. ,. Mlej_ ..
.. iVI-EC;
MAcx) MUCT Med)
Y i7
.-
LL
g YU2;)
El
iljjl/l/D
Pan 0/1/78 Ira/a/ra/Ia YA(w, YO (M)
-
1140/39 coda usedby #19
j
Chad comp/7360]JackB/eak/ey
\
and/epmz/z/ced/Iom The
Eavesdroppers byk/ha'
pem/Jss/boft/Ia au/lmr
W '7
WA
-
(
N 6")
a
. _ -
W0 (3')
W9 /Iz{ywt 1993 35
the war in the Pacic from September was derived. The undoubted importance
194] to September 1945. Each chapter is of that role prompted a comment after
well illustrated with maps of the campaigns the war by General C.A. Willoughby,
and numerous supporting photographs, and MacArthursG.2 (Intelligence)Chief, that
there is a comprehensive 8page index. signal intelligence chopped two years
A large number of Japanese messages are off the war in the Pacic.
reproduced, including the ill-advised sig- The book is an excellent recOrd of the
nal made by the Japanese Commander, whole operation, with a particular added
South Eastern Air Fleet, at Rabaul, which interest for those who know what CW is
disclosed Admiral Yamamotos itinerary all about. In relation to that specic area,
of visits to operational bases. His aircraft however, it would be of greater reference
was intercepted by US Navy ghters and value if it contained more infonnation
shot down. about how it was done with detail in
A further example vividly illustrates depth on the equipment used by both
just how much detail the interceptors were sides. Comments on Japanese operating
able to pick up apart from daytoday op- procedures and the views of the intercep-
erational data. Among the rst messages tors on the skill of the Japanese operators
after the Nagasaki bomb were directives would also have made fascinating read
to outlying bases to immediately place all ing. The mere thought of kana code at
prisoners-ofwar on rations at least to the 50 wpm made me feel quite ill!
scale of Japanese troops and release all
Red Cross parcels to them. All ofcers Availability
were to report the present conditions of The Eavesdroppers, by Jack Bleakley,
prisoners as it is anticipated that Eng- pub. AGPS 1991, reprinted April 1992,
land and US will conduct strict investiga- is available from The Commonwealth
tion of their treatment and will require lnfomiation Service, Mail Order Section,
details of prisoners who have died the Australian Government Publishing Serv-
burning of this dispatch is directed. ice, GPO Box 84, Canberra, ACT 2601,
Australia. Price (paperback), including
Central Bureau surface mail to the UK, Aus$12.95, or
Detailed information is given about plus Aus$26.00 for airmail delivery. Pay-
the part played by the RAAF WUs which ment must be made by bank draft in
worked in close co-operation with Ameri- Australian currency. MM
can forces. They operated in the eld as (For early (1924) background infor-
forward elements of the clandestine mation on the Japanese code, and some
Allied sigint organisation known as rnher examples of the WWII intercep-
Central Bureau. Their primary role was tors' interpreting code, see The Japanese
to provide actual intercepts of enemy sig- Operators' Diiculties', MM15, p.42.
nal trafc from which vital intelligence Ed.)
may2W: 1993 37
ROBABLY THE MOST three, four, one, two,
DIFFICULT aspect of teaching etc., until his
Morse code is to get the learner concentration wanes.
to recognise and adopt the correct timing Intoning the numbers is an
and spacing within a consistent rhythm at essential part of the exercise and must be
whatever speed he chooses to send. One done during the early stages although it
has only to listen on the HF bands to may later be replaced by foot tapping.
recognise those who When the correct
failed to do so. ratio of dots to dash-
A great deal of es and their spacing
mythology about
Morse Rhythm is achieved, the key-
timing and spacing ing speed is steadily
still continues to sur-
by Tom Manseld G3E$H increased to 12
face as each new words per minute.
batch of learners The accuracy of the
takes to the key, and it is passed on timing at 12 wpm is determined on-air
from one generation to another without with a metronome or an accurately cali-
any real attempt to check its authenticity. brated electronic keyer producing 300
Sometimes the effects of the mythology unweighted audible dots, or 150 dashes
can be so damaging to the learner that it per minute. The learner is discouraged
is necessary to stop him sending and take from sending Morse code characters until
him back to rst principles to straighten the drummers routine becomes second
out his problems. nature and gains the tutors approval.
In his regular onair Morse workshops, The next stage is to extend the rhythm
Bob, G4ZIK, a blind operator and ex- routine to:
drummer, uses a technique with learners
which has proved so successful that the etc., at 12 wpm keying speed. Once this
local Morse examiners say they can rec pattern has been mastered, the learner will
ognise Bobs students as soon as they start feel condent that there is no symbol in
sending. Morse code he or she cannot master,
The learner is rst required to practice including the eight-dot error signal required
the drummers routine of: by the RSGB Morse test, and that the
accurate rhythm developed will be carried
etc., (unbroken by spaces) at a comforta forward as speed ability increases.
ble keying speed while saying one, two, MM
38 W9
ywt 1993
I
YourLetters
Readers Vetters on any Morse sob/edare
a/ways webome, butmaybe err/ledwhen soace is
nm/ted When more than one sob/eonscot/ereo, letters
maybe (traded/Mo srng/e sub/eels In order
to onng comments on venous matters rogeMertor
easy reference
Trade Union Morse Government in ofce at the time so it was
When Australian public broadcasting all smoothed over. The key was
removed
really got going in mid1924 it was, for and the Labor Council was given a slap on
the most part, controlled by
entrepreneurs, the wrist. 2KY is still in operation today
big business and newspapers. However, and is still owned by the Labor Council of
in October 1925, the trade union move
NSW on behalf of its member unions.
ment obtained a licence to establish a Colin MacKinnon VK2DYM
broadcast station in New South Wales with
Glenhaven, NS W, Australia
the callsign 2KY.
(More details of the setting-up of 2KY,
They built their own transmitter, using and of other early developments in radio
union labour, and broadcast music, politi-
broadcasting in Australia, are contained
cal talks, etc., as well as
announcing in a new title which will shortly be
horse race meetings which they felt would
available from the MM Bookshelf The
be of particular interest to the workers Dawn of Australias Radio Broadcasting,
and unionists.
by Philip Geeves.
One day, the local Radio Inspector
made an inspection of the station and had M will welcome other out-of-the-
ordinary stories about the use of Morse,
a t when he saw a Morse key connected either as letters or articles. Ed.)
to the 1500 watt transmitter! It transpired
that the NSW Labor Council (i.e., the trade
Abbreviations and Procedures
union coordinating body) intended to When I was a point-to-point telegraph
communicate by Morse with union of
operator before WWII, working as a
cials throughout the state, after normal civilian for the US Signal Corps, we
broadcast hours, to disseminate union used Z-signals. I still remember some of
information and keep tabs on unionists them, e.g., ZMA meant I have a mes-
in other areas.
sage; ZOT, Go ahead; ZFD, Send Vs.
This was of course verboten in I have seen a list of Z-signais in
terms of the licence and caused quite a recent
years, but they were not the same.
stir, leading to claims that the Labor ZZA meant Stand By. On one occa-
Council was plotting anarchy and could sion our signal ofcer noticed an
organise strikes, etc., using wireless for operator
who was neither sending nor receiving.
rapid communications (telephones were The ofcer didnt know much about radio
scarce and unreliable in 1925). operating, but could tell that the operator
Luckily, there was 21 Labor Party was inactive.
W9 zgust 1993 39
He asked the operator to get busy. Im felt the need of some procedure signal to
ZZAing, was the reply. The signal officer indicate that the following word is a
looked at him and ordered, Well, dont proper noun and its initial letter should be
just sit there, ZZA! capitalised. Some ships were equipped
Later, during WWII, I was on radio with telegraphic typewriters, with both
location with the RAF at Scarlet Point, upper and lower case capitalised, so there
Isle of Man. We sent our plots by voice was no problem there. When no such type-
cable to Preston on the mainland, but when writer was supplied, I would use my own,
the cable was down we used a radio always copying in upper case.
circuit; and of course the plots were Reg Presser GW4BUS
coded for security. Caernarfon, Gwynedd, Wales
It wasnt my job, but I sometimes
stood in for the radio operator and I re- Other Applications for Morse Code
member we used signals consisting of three Further to the letter from Dennis Goacher
numerals beginning with the number 5. (MM26, p.39), some IBM computers send
We called them 5 signals but for the life a D to mean one of several different
of me I cant remember any of them now. things, like no display adaptor present,
Jim Farrior W4FOK adaptor defective, adaptor wrongly con-
Fernandina Beach, Florida, USA gured. But sometimes it sends a B for
(Can anyone provide a list of the Z- these defects, especially if it is a VGA or
signals mentioned by Jim please? And EGA adaptor. An 1 means a variety of
does anyone remember the 5 signals' and things, depending on what is being
their meanings? ~ Ed.) checked.
The AMI (American Megatrends) set-
When I was an Operator Wireless & up program uses strings of dots (four for
Line, Bl, in the Royal Signals in WWII, timer not operational, ve for processor
pink-checked subaltems would peer over error, etc). It would be stretching the
my shoulder as I copied plainlanguage imagination to call this a Morse code
Morse in long-hand and berate me for error signal, but D for display or drive
my illiteracy. seems quite credible.
My God, manl they would accuse Bob Eldridge VE7BS
me. Dont you know that British is Pembenon, BC, Canada
spelt with a capital B"? , and so on with
similar proper noun occasions. Golden Section Key Great!
It was little use me trying to explain Having seen Jim Lycetts Golden Section
that you just cant anticipate where and Key, and nding that it handled like a
when a proper noun would occur within dream, I just had to have one. Earlier this
a message received in Morse. Grammat- year Jim sent me the plans and I staned
ical sensibilities had been offended. Best work immediately. It took just over three
act the idiot Tommy Atkins! months but it was well worth it. Not only
Since those days, and in thirty years does it look good but it handles good,
spent as a ships radio ofcer, I have often proving to me that the design is just right.
42 We 215924;: 1993
VYCKJUMBEFGOLDSPHINXQWARTZ (296) TWICE (46) IN (18)
60 (40) SECONDS (70) JIGS (46) DOWN (48) HANDKEY (72)
164 (52) TIMES (38) USING (48) 592 (54) UNITS (42) . (24)
DIVIDING (74) BY (32) 50 (38) WILL (46) SCORE (54) 11.84 (96)
WPM (40) FOR (40) QUICK (62) EXERCIZE (74) REVIEW (52)
STOP (46) BEST (34) 73s (44)
e.g., 2.75 mins x 50 = 137.5; divide 1700 on a bug. A genuine case of key-
by the result, i.e., 1700/1375 = 12.36 wpm. ambidexterityll
The text itself describes an even shorter I would like to know, however, if there
test! is in existence a bug specially made for
Make your own practice text using use by left-handed operators? Does any-
the following values for letters plus letter one know please?
space of 3 units (dit equivalents). The Boris Real F5TF S, Solesmes, France
values in brackets are for letters plus (Many left-handed operators simply
word-space of 7 units and apply to the learn to use a standard bug with their
last symbol of each word or group. le hand, reversing the conventional use
E=4(8),IT=6(10),ANS=8(12),DH of their ngers.
MRU=10(14),BFGKLVW5=12 Others adapt their bugs to stand up-
(l6),COPXZ46=14(18),JQY37= side down, as described by Murray Willer
/=16(20),28-?=18(22),l9.;:=20 in MM12, p.38; and at least one bug,
(24), 0 , (
= 22 (26). RCAF Ref. [OF/7390, made by Wilson
Gaspard Lizee VEZZK Mfg Co. of Toronto in 194042, was made
Laprairie, Quebec, Canada to be used either way up (or on its side
as a straight keyi). Does anyone know
Left-handed Operator of any other purposemade lefthanded
I would like to know if others have bugs? Ed.)
the same problem that I have. I am left-
handed, so with an electronic paddle No-code Arguments in France
keyer I simply reverse the wiring of the This year has been rather hectic in our
plug to send dashes with my lefthand country as far as ham radio is concerned,
forenger, and dits with my left-hand especially with the nocode arguments.
thumb. Early in the year, the staff of REF, our
With a straight key there are no prob- equivalent of the RSGB, told us about
lems of this kind, but to use one of my the IARU Region 1
Conference in Sep-
semi-automatic bug keys I have had to tember. They said that REF needed to
learn to send with my right hand. Some decide its policy concerning the possib-
times I play a little game which involves ility of access to the HF bands without
sending dashes with my left hand on a code knowledge.
straight key, and dits with my right hand They then held a referendum among
W9 zgurt 1995 43
all members of the society, asking the society. Some were very polite, some were
question: insulting, alternating continuously!
Do you want amateurs in our country In conclusion, my own view is that
to have access to the 28MHZ band (fol- we are, in our country, a lazy bunch (only
lowing the IARU bandplan) without a 15 000 radio amateursl), always trying to
code examination? get things free without giving anything
The possible answers were yes or in exchange, especially when learning
no, and the closing date was May 15. Morse is involved!
The results did not surprise me: out of Maurice Colombani-Gailleur F611E,
2835 votes received, 1872 said yes, 764 Toulon, France
no, and 199 nil (spoiled? Ed). Vice-President, Union Frangaise des
My own opinion is that if you offer Telgraphistes
an Austin Mini owner the free use of a top
of the range Bentley or Rolls Royce, he The Most Important
would be mad to say no! The vote was The following extract from Long Range
secret, but Im sure that a critical analysis, Desert Group by W.B. KennedyShaw,
showing how each class of licence voted originally published by Collins in 1945,
would be very revealing! says it all concerning the skills of an
Following this referendum result, our operational signaller. Fifty years on, we
society will be proposing at the next can still admire their great achievements.
IARU Region 1 Conference that access Most men in LRDG were specialists
be given to ten metres without a code in something and of all these experts the
requirement. signalmenwere probably the most import-
This, of course, will have to be ap- ant, though the navigators ran them close.
proved by the other membersof the IARU, For what was primarily a reconnaissance
and eventually by the French licensing unit good signals were essential. Without
authority. Before this, as we say in France, them a patrol, three or four hundred miles
water will have to travel far away from away from its base, could neither send
under the bridge. . .! back vital information nor receive fresh
It is interesting that even some of the orders. If signals failed the best thing to
older members of UFT think that opening do was to come home.
ten metres to B licensees would be a good And looking back now I realise how
opportunity for them to try HF. Others seldom they did fail. We were far too
(like me!) still think this is not a good way often unkind to the signalmen. We cursed
into ham radio, even though I have been them for having to halt at given times to
called an Ayatollah because of my critiv come up for Group HQ; we disliked
cism of lazy people! their poles and aerials which might
The strange thing is that criticism of advertise to the enemy the presence of a
the (past) president of REF (FSFOD) patrol; we scoffed at their atmospherics,
came from both the yes and no sides! skip distances and interferences; we
Kilometres (yes, kilometres!) of FAX blamed them when they could no get
were received at the headquarters of the through and when ciphers would not come
'
QBinaersfor Morsum Magni t
Tidy up your bookshelf
with these attractive binders.
Covered in a hard-wearing red grained finish,
with the magazine title blocked in gold on the
front cover, each binder holds eight issues of
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Price 5.20 each to UK addresses (inc. VAT).
Overseas addresses by surface mail:
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All prices include postage and packing.
W9 ay/st 1993 45
M07311111 M@711
t Nottingham Morse Seminar
NZ Codeless Licence No'
Points tor Beginners
R. Wilson
News
G. Longden
28
27
27
5
3
32
Index to 'ssues
-
NOS 25 _ 28 QRPp Activity Day Monthly OK QRP Club 27 5
Straight Key Evening Edgware & DRS 27
Amumn 1992 to June 1993 Test ExemptionsQuestioned
8
FCC 27 8
TOPS Activity Contest 1992 TOPS
. 25 3
SUBJECTITITLE AUTHOR/ORIGIN
(BC = back cover. C = inside back cover)
8
a":
UK Morse Test Changes
UK Novice Frequencies More
RA-DTI 25 3
RA-DTI 27 4
Well Done Keith! (Novice Awd) G-QRP-C 26 4
ACTIVITIES/EVENTS
Why Ht? T, Manslietd 28 24
AGCW-DL Hand Key Party AGCW-DL 28 3 World QRP Day IARU 27 5
Clayesmore Morse Festival G. Arnold 27 9
Dorset Morse Festival W/E Announcement 26 2 ARMY
EUCW FratemisingParty 1992 EUCW 25 2 Early Military
Nottingham Morse Seminar R. Wilson 26 2 Airborne Telegraphy E.F. Jones 28 26
Nottingham Morse Seminar R. Vllson 27 4 IndoChina Memories F. Marinesco 26 18
Nottingham Morse Seminar R. Vllson 28 5
NZ Morse Competitions Break-In 25 4 BEGINNERS'CORNER
ORPp Activity Day Monthly OK QRP Club 27 5 Points for Beginners G. Longden 27 32
Straight Key Evening Edgware & DRS 27 8 Why HI? T. Manseld
TOPS Activity Contest 1992 28 24
TOPS 25 3
World ORP Day IARU 27 5 CARTOON
1'" use CW next time A. Troubachov 25
AIR FORCE 48
Vlreiess During a Flight RFC 1916 27 22 CIRCUITS
Zogging (ltr) R.A. Parrott 26 39 CMOS Super Keyer II Idiom Press 25 19
Electronic Feather Touch Key Data Eng. Inc. 26 22
AMATEUR RADIO
Morse Box tone converter MTC 28 36
Abbrevs 8 Procs (ltrs) Various 25 38 Spacematic 218 Keyer Data Eng. Inc. 25 8
Abbrevs & Procs (ltrs) Various 26 42
Abbrevs & Procs (ltrs) Various 27 46 CIVIL AVIATION
Amateurs on 500kHz? (ltr) J. Davies 27 42 More on Aeroflot L.J. Derenette 25 36
Annoying Obstacle (ltr) B, Eldridge 27 45
ARRL Supports Code W5YI Report 27 3 CLANDESTINEJSPECIAL OPERATIONS
Clayesmore Morse Festival G. Amotd 27 9 Illegal Callsign N. Schitthauer
CMOS Super Keyer ||
27 20
G.BoId/J.Fiehak 25 18
CodeIree Ucence? T. Smith 26 7 CLUBS
CW Etiquette (ltr) J. Worthington 25 44 News from Duxlord Duxlord RS 25 7
CW Etiquette (Ilr) M. Pouw-Amold 25 44 MEGS Encouragement (ltr) S. Spence 28 47
CW Etiquette (ltr) G. Longden 25 45 Prolile 6 BTC, Belgium BTC 25 16
CW Increasing! R868 26 3 Protile 7 HCC, Spain HCC 26 36
CW/Mobile (ltrs) Various 27 42 Prolile 8 MEGS, Scotland MEGS 27 38
CW/Mobile Safety (ltr) N. Uttie 26 47
Dorset Morse Festival W/E Announcement
-
Protile 9 MTC, USA MTC 28 35
26 2 Young Ops lntemationatClub YOPS, Russia 25 17
EUCW FratemisingParty 1992 EUCW 25 2
Future HF Band Planning IARU 26 2 CODES/ABBREVIATIONS, ETC.
GAMl on CW G. Williams 27 9 Abbrevs & Procs (ltrs) Various 25 38
German HST results 1992 HSC/DARC 25 2 Abbrevs & Procs (ltrs) Various 26 42
GIeanings Irorn France RadioREF 28 3 Abbrevs & Procs (ltrs) Various 27 46
GMORSE Allocated to MEGS MEGS 25 5 VA or SK? G. Arnold 26 8
How became a Morse Teacher R. Whittaker
I
28 28
Icelandic Novices R.H Stelansson 25 7 COMPETITION
Morse QSLs Series Various 25 C Christmas Competition MM 25 23
-
Morse OSLs Series Various 26 C Christmas Competition Results MM 27 17
Morse OSLs Series Various 27 C Christmas Competition (ltr) D.A. C06 28 43
Morse QSLs Series
Various 28 C
Morse Tests in NZ Break-In 25 4 EARLY WIRELESS
New Products Sanelli Tech 26 3 Alexanderson Alternator, The F. Roddy 28 40
Nocode - A Hidden Agenda? News (RSGB) 27 2 Coherer Puzzle (ltr) R. lMIson 26 46
Nocode Update News (RSGB) 28 6 Coherer Puzzle Answered? (ltr) B. Eldridge 28 47
Nottingham Morse Seminar R. Vllson 26 2 Early Military
Nottingham Morse Seminar R. Mlson 27 4 Airborne Telegraphy E.F. Jones 28 26
46 WBzgwt 1993
Isle oi Wight (Marconi) (Itr) D. Byme 26 8 How I became a Morse Teacher R. Whittaker 28 28
Learning Aid (Itr) C. Bisaillion 26
HIGH SPEED TELEGRAPHY Morse Learning (Itr) J. Goldberg 25 43
German HST results 1992 HSC/DARC 25 m Morse Programs Avail to All G. Bold 26
0n Learning Morse P. Davies 26 27
ILLUSTRATIONS Sounder or Tone? (Itr) G. Brown
B.T.H. Headphones Advert 1925 26 Well Done Michael! (Itr) M. Hindley 27 41
Keys and Codes Porthcumo Mus. 27 8888
Mirror or retlecting galvo Porthcumo Mus. UGHT SIGNALLING
Optical Telegraphy 1924 Ponhcumo Mus. 25 Lamp Signalling Daylight (Itrs) Various
Hgm1%6 47
Museums of Interest Various 28 4 Gamages Key? H. Mace 27 42
Porthcumo Telegraph Mus. (ltr) J. Packer 26 46 G-OHP Novice Starters D. 27 41
Gosling
GW Man Alive and Well! W. Davies 26 40
NAVY Isle of Wight (Marconi) D. Byme 26 46
Aerials lor Subs 3 C. Claydon 26 32 Key with Spark Gap (MM25) Various 26 41
KFS, More on Flod B. Deakin 27 47
NOCODECONTROVERSY KMK-2 Key and Batch Coding
ARRL Supports Code W5YI Report 27 3 lot Signals Equipment Various 28 45
Code-treeLicence? T. Smith 26 7 Lamp Signalling Daylight Various 26 47
Gleanings from France RadioREF 28 3 Learning Aid C. Bisaillion 28 48
Nocode A Hidden Agenda? News (RSGB) 27 2 Lelt-handed? (re Vibroplex) G. Uzee 26 40
Nocode Update News (R868) 28 6 Lorenz~sty|e Key D. Goacher 25 40
N2 Codeless licence 'No News 27 3 Magnetic Relay G. Stancey 26 37
Media CW (More) Various 25 43
OBITUARIES Media CW (More) Various 26 45
John I. Brown, G3EUF! 27 7 Media CW (More) B. Eldridge 28 43
Media CW (Yet More) T. Zimmer 27 45
OPERATING, GENERAL MEGS, EncouragingResponse S. Spence 28 47
Abbrevs8 Procs (ltrs) Various 25 38 Morse at the Movies HA. Solomon 28 45
Abbrevs8 Procs (ltrs) Various 26 42 Morse Learning J. Goldberg 25 43
Abbrevs8 Procs (ltrs) Various 27 46 Morse Music M. Pouw-Amold 26 37
Abbrevs8 Procs (ltrs) Various 28 44 Morse Music C. Bisaillion 28 43
CW Etiquette (ltrs) Various 25 44 Morsum is Best! R. Harry 26 40
CW Etiquette (More) (ltr) J.P. Lagerberg 26 45 Natural Break RH Stelansson 25 45
GAMt on CW G. Williams 27 9 Natural Breaks (More) Various 26 41
Natural Break (ltr) RH Stelansson 25 45 No paddle! B. Eldridge 28 44
Natural Breaks (More) (ltrs) Various 26 41 Oldest Working Galvo? J. Houlder 25 42
No paddlel (ltr) B. Eldridge 28 44 Other Applications lor Morse
Various 26 39
Sounder or Tone? (ltr) G. Brown 27 46 Porthcumo Telegraph Museum J. Packer 26 46
Thumb Dah Paddle (ltr) l. Sharkey 27 40 Sounder or Tone? G. Brown 27 46
VA or SK? G. Arnold 26 8 Super Keyer I! J. Burgess 27 44
Who was at the Key? 1 LR. Moreau 28 30 Thumb Dah Paddle |. Sharkey 27 40
Why HI? T. Manslield 28 24 Unknown Key (MM24) - Various 25 41
\broplex Keying C, Waters 27 44
OPERATING SKILLS Well Done Michael! M. Hindley 27 41
CW/Mobr'le (ltrs) Various 27 42 What Makes a Good Key? G. Stancey 25 41
CW/Mobile Salety (ltr) N. Uttie 26 47 Zogging RA. Parrott 26 39
Two-handed Coding D.K. deNeui 28 34
REFLECTIONS FROM UNCLE BAS
READERS LETTERS Other Duties 27 30
B. van E5
Abbrevs 8 Procedures Various 25 38
Abbrevs8 Procedures Various 26 42 REVIEWS, BOOKS
Abbrevs8 Procedures Various 27 46 The Morse code for R/Amateurs T. Smith 25 26
Abbrevs8 Procedures Various 28 44
Amateurs on 500kHz? J. Davies 27 42 REVIEWS, EQUIPMENT
Annoying Obstacle B. Eldridge 27 45 CMOS Super Keyer || G.BoId/J.Rehak 25 18
Changes in the Code B.Hammond 26 48
Christmas Competition D.A. Coe 28 43 SCOUTING
Closures. More (C/Stations) 8. Morris 27 43 Learning Aid (ltr) C. Bisaillion 28 48
Coherer Puzzle Fl.Wilson 26 46
Coherer Puzzle Answered? B. Eldridge 28 47 SUBMARINE TELEGRAPHY
CW Etiquette Various 25 44 Doubleended Test Key (ltr) J. Packer 26 38
CW Etiquette (More) J.P. Lagerberg 26 45
CW/Mobile Various 27 42 VISUAL SIGNALS
CWlMobile SaIety N. Little 26 47 Lamp Signalling Daylight Various 26 47
Doubleended Key Various 25 4O
Doubleended Key (More) Various 26 38
.
For Information on the current
_
Double Needle Speed J. Worthington 25 44
Eariy Galvo P. Lord 27 45 ' ' ' 0f '
avauabd'ty baCk.ISsuesf
Early Sounder r. Gurton 26 4o
Early Starter M. Hindley 26 42 please see the latest Issue 0
Early Starters Various 27 4o Morsum Magnicat
Exchanges Wanted M. Lubomirov 27 45
48
W3 /Zzgu.it1993
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