KPH, the ex-RCA coast station returns to the air for commemorative broadcasts every year on July 12 at 5:01 pm PDT (13 July at 0001 GMT). On July 12, 1999, the last commercial Morse transmission in the U.S. was thought to have been broadcast at 5 pm PDT (13 July at 0000 GMT). Transmissions are expected to continue until at least midnight PDT (0700 GMT).
This year's event that the annual Night of Nights event will be run in the Park, and that limited staff access is permitted.
It is a major milestone to return to BL and RS for Night of Nights, but we must operate under strict guidelines with limited numbers of vaccinated crew at both locations. Regretfully the festivities will not be open to visitors or guest operators this year, so sadly Night of Nights XXII must be a non-public event.
K6KPH, the amateur radio station of the Maritime Radio Historical Society, will also be on the air receiving signal reports and messages from Morse code enthusiasts around the world. At 5:01 pm PDT on July 12 (0001 GMT 13 July), the MRHS volunteers will send the traditional Night of Nights opening message. They will then stand by for calls or will call CQ NON or CQ NIGHT OF NIGHTS.This gives Maritime Radio Historical Society information about how well the stations are being heard and gives amateur stations the experience of what it was like to work a real coast station.
Stations on the Air:
Stations KPH, KFS and K6KPH will be participating in Night of Nights XXII. Here are the particulars for these stations:
KPH: 426, 500, 4247.0, 6477.5, 8642.0, 12808.5, 17016.8, 22477.5
KFS: 12695.5
KPH and KFS will listen for calls from ships on 500kc and ITU Channel 3 on HF. Here are the frequencies for ITU Channel 3 in each band:
4184.0, 6276.0, 8368.0, 12552.0, 16736.0, 22280.5
K6KPH: 3550, 7050, 14050, 21050
K6KPH calling procedure: We follow commercial operating practices as closely as possible for K6KPH. To call K6KPH select one of the frequencies above and call K6KPH repeatedly until the operator responds with DE. Then send your call sign and any other relevant information.
Since Night of Nights is usually a busy event for K6KPH you may find the station already in contact with another station. In that case make your call using the above procedure at the end of the previous contact. The operator at K6KPH may respond with QRY and a number. This means that you are number 1, number 2, etc., on the list. It's just like taking a number at the bakery. Stand by and the K6KPH operator will call you in turn.
> Commemorative Messages
Was your father, uncle or grand dad a commercial op or amateur operator? Would you like to send a commemorative message in their honor over KPH? We have sent several of these messages in past events and they were all very moving. If you would like us to send such a message this year please send it to us no later than Saturday 10 July Pacific time so we can be sure to include it. Send it to [email protected]
> Reception Reports
Reception reports and verification requests for the MRHS stations listed above may be sent to:
Maritime Radio Historical Society
PO Box 392
Point Reyes Station, CA 94956
USA
Note: Self addressed stamped envelopes would be greatly appreciated!
