The NW7US Beacon

Happy Birthday, Samuel F.B. Morse!

We have a birthday anniversary, today! Samuel Finley Breese Morse (April 27, 1791 – April 2, 1872) was an American contributor to the invention of a single-wire telegraph system based on European telegraphs, co-inventor of the Morse code, and an accomplished painter. Samuel F. B. Morse was born in Charlestown, Massachusetts, the first child of the pastor Jedidiah Morse (1761–1826)—who was also a geographer—and Elizabeth Ann Finley Breese (1766–1828).

Samuel was a student at Yale College. During his time there, he became interested in both painting and electricity (the new area of science that was just emerging on the scene). After Morse graduated in 1810, he concentrated on painting. He become a well-known portrait artist.

In 1825, the city of New York commissioned Morse for $1,000 to paint a portrait of Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, in Washington. While Morse was painting, a horse messenger delivered a letter from his father that read one line, “Your dear wife is convalescent.” Morse immediately left Washington for his home at New Haven, leaving the portrait of Lafayette unfinished. By the time he arrived, his wife had already been buried. Heartbroken in the knowledge that for days he was unaware of his wife’s failing health and her lonely death, he moved on from painting to pursue a means of rapid long distance communication.

On the sea voyage home in 1832, Morse encountered Charles Thomas Jackson of Boston, a man who was well schooled in electromagnetism. Witnessing various experiments with Jackson’s electromagnet, Morse developed the concept of a single-wire telegraph, and The Gallery of the Louvre was set aside. The original Morse telegraph, submitted with his patent application, is part of the collections of the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institution. In time the Morse code would become the primary language of telegraphy in the world, and is still the standard for rhythmic transmission of data.

Samuel Morse received a patent for the telegraph in 1847. The “International Morse Code” is now in use by various services, including amateur radio (Ham radio).

More information on Mr. Morse is at the Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Morse

True Visionaries of the Future, in 1922

For what it is worth, there were moments of incredible vision and clarity in the magazine staff of “Radio News”. Here is an example. On the cover of the January 1922 edition, this picture predicts a time in the future when radio will become the “Street Organ of the Future.” Remember the Boom Box craze of the 1980s? And, now, as we have all our personal devices? This was truly visionary, back in 1922.

The FISTS International Morse Code Preservation Society Celebrates 25 Years In 2012

FISTS is an international group of individuals and clubs that support the use, preservation and education of Morse code. Practically speakinking, the club is devoted exclusively to the use of Morse code by way of radio, usually through the mode known as “CW”. CW operators, CW operating and people who are passionate about Morse code are welcome to be members.

FISTS is a well established and recognized Morse code (CW-mode on the radio) organization in the world of amateur radio. Founded in 1987 by Geo Longden, G3ZQS, it now has a membership in the thousands, is world-wide, and growing daily.

What FISTS wants to accomplish:

1. To further the use of CW on the amateur bands.
2. To encourage newcomers to the CW mode.
3. To engender friendship within the membership.

The International Morse Code, sometimes referred to as ‘CW’ in Amateur Radio jargon because a continuous wave is turned on and off with the long and short elements of the morse code characters, is a type of character encoding that transmits telegraphic information using rhythm. Morse code uses a standardized sequence of short and long elements to represent the letters, numerals, punctuation and special characters of a given message. The short and long elements can be formed by sounds, marks, or pulses, in on off keying and are commonly known as “dots” and “dashes” or “dits” and “dahs”. The speed of Morse code is measured in words per minute (WPM) or characters per minute, while fixed-length data forms of telecommunication transmission are usually measured in baud or bps.

Why is it called ‘Morse Code’? This character encoding was devised by Samuel F. B. Morse, the creator of the electric telegraph. This ‘Morse Code’ came in two flavors, in the beginning. One was in use by the railroads of America, and is known as ‘American Morse Code’. And, there was a unified, internationally-used version (adopted by radio operators), now known as the ‘International Morse Code’. Now, when most people refer to ‘Morse Code’ or ‘CW’, they mean, ‘International Morse Code.’

The most popular current use of Morse code is by amateur radio operators, although it is no longer a requirement for amateur licensing in many countries. In the professional field, pilots and air traffic controllers are usually familiar with Morse code and require a basic understanding. Navigational aids in the field of aviation, such as VORs and NDBs, constantly transmit their identity in Morse code. Morse code is designed to be read by humans without a decoding device, making it useful for sending automated digital data in voice channels. For emergency signaling, Morse code can be sent by way of improvised sources that can be easily “keyed” on and off, making Morse code one of the most versatile methods of telecommunication in existence.

More information:
+ My CW / Morse code website - http://cw.hfradio.org/
+ The FISTS Website - http://FISTS.org

Alaska Storm Batters Western Coast: Amateur Radio to the Rescue

Here is a story that is quite common, these days, as we find modern technology, or more specifically, our modern communications infrastructure, not always up to the task during emergencies:

The jet stream feeding the wintery sea-spun tempest that sideswiped Alaska’s western coast wasn’t the only worldwide conveyer belt in motion this week. As howling winds whipped up and crashing waves pounded beaches, the people who live in the remote, isolated villages along the storm’s path stayed connected via a web of global radio frequencies.

When other communications failed, ham radio operators came to the rescue. Throughout the storm, they were the eyes for scientists in Fairbanks and Anchorage who otherwise would have been blind to weather conditions they could predict but not see.

“They were providing critical observations. We don’t have a lot of meteorological observations in the west. We don’t have the instruments out there,” Carven Scott, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Anchorage, said Thursday as messages sent via the amateur radio network zapped into his inbox.

Read the rest of the story at The Alaska Dispatch.

Radio Slovakia International Competition

Our friend at the Radio Listening blog posted the following:

Historic Hotels of Slovakia

Radio Slovakia International hereby starts a new competition where you can win interesting prizes including a one week stay for two in Slovakia.

In the Historic Hotels of Slovakia cycle we will introduce to you 10 hotels transformed into luxurious first class accommodation. Every first weekend of the month we will explore the nooks and crannies of Slovak castles, châteaux and other historical buildings which all have an interesting story to tell. After each round we ask you a question and the winner drawn from the correct answers receives a prize. At the end of the cycle, two lucky participants will win the main prize.

Before you decide to take part in our competition, we have to notify you about two important rules. The first rule states that the winner of the main prize pays the expenses of travelling to Slovakia and the other one is that only listeners without permanent residence in Slovakia may take part in the competition.

Our second stop is Necas’s Villa in the Northern Slovakia. Please listen carefully to the audio report at the bottom of this page on Radio Slovakia’s International Radio website.

The question for this round is: What was the original purpose of Necas’s Villa?

Please send your answers by December 1st, 2011.

Respond by regular post at:

Radio Slovakia International
English Section
Mýtna 1, POBOX 55
817 55 Bratislava,
Slovakia

 or email us to englishsection@slovakradio.sk

(Source : Radio Slovakia International)

I am the 1%

I watch the Sun, both night and day, and listen for faint whispers of Human Communications…

And I cast my voice and my thoughts out to the world by way of the Ionosphere, sharing and educating about shortwave radio, space weather, and the propagation of radio signals — the freedom of Human Communication.

I #OccupyShortwave

Help me reach the 99%

… the 99% who are not connected by the Ionosphere and the Sun … the 99% who are not YET Amateur Radio Operators and who are not yet shortwave radio-enabled …

I’m the 1% … educating and enabling THAT 99% … to communicate … outside of the establishment…

One of my shortwave radio (and fellow amateur radio) acquaintances, a fellow who blogs over at Shortwave America, Tweeted some sentiment along the lines of wanting to have our own ‘movement’ to change the world, at least the world of shortwave radio.  A type of “occupy shortwave” where we could stem the tide against the eroding away of shortwave relevance in a communications world tied together by fiber optics, satellite links, and instant gratification.

As he wrote:

Early on in the evening of November 6th, 2011, after watching a fast decline in amateur radio use, shortwave broadcast, and growing fatigue by members of the radio community on both ends of the spectrum, hastag #OccupyShortwave started showing up on twitter. Before a complete hour could elapse, pirate operators started showing up on 6945Khz and then the famed NW7US almost immediately joined the quickly-growing movement.

Why occupy shortwave? To bring about a new growth, awareness, and popularity to both the amateur radio and shortwave / HF radio communities. Members of the movement want to get the message through that there is more than just studying a license manual and going to class, and earning a license. There is more than being an SWL who sits at the radio receiver spinning a dial, chasing QSL cards and free swag from shortwave stations and amateur operators.

#OccupyShortwave members are the 1% trying to reach the 99% who are not yet amateur operators or SWL’s. There is a whole lot of science and learning involved in radio. There is truly something for everyone, whether it be those of you who are math geniuses who love electronic component level work, those of you who like to enjoy the science of antenna feedlines, antennas, power supplies, and radio propagation which in turn gets you into space weather, or those of you who like to engineer sound, learn about geography and culture, radio / satellite communications, maritime radio operations, etc.

Communicate outside the establishment, become a convert from the 99% to the 1% who educate and enable people to become involved in radio. Radio involvement could be an avocation for you, or a career. It could be a volunteer experience on the weekends or during times of distress, it could be whatever experience you are looking to have; but you have to actually take that initiative. Together, if we all get “radio active”, we CAN be the 99% instead of the 1% who are hardly noticed or cared about anymore.

Together, we can put radio on the map again! #OccupyShortwave on FACEBOOK and Twitter. The Internet is only a tool, a promotion medium. The Internet relies upon an infrastructure that can always have the plug pulled. Occupying shortwave and amateur radio lawfully, means that we all get behind the mic in the studio or in our shacks and fire up the bands according to license class privilege to make a difference!

WE WILL Occupy!

My friend is on to something.  The shortwave radio slice, starting from just above the AM Broadcast band (say, 1800 KHz) up to 30 MHz, is still a critical slice of the radio spectrum.  You will find it occupied by trans-continental air traffic control (pilots aboard airliners flying over the oceans, talking with ground control about their flight plans, for instance), Arctic fishing vessels, Military air traffic, Amateur Radio operators, science expeditions, ships navigating rough seas, sailing vessels seeking the help of a coast guard because pirates have started the chase… and so much more.  Shortwave radio is not just the spectrum of International Broadcasters like the Voice of America or the BBC.  It even gives voice to clandestine and pirate broadcasters…

Shortwave radio is not dead.  Shortwave radio is viable.  But, International Shortwave Broadcasting is becoming more and more challenged because of the current World Economy.  More and more International Broadcasting stations are cutting back or even going off the air permanently because they simply do not have a budget to continue broadcasting.

But, perhaps Shortwave Radio is not dying.  Perhaps Shortwave Radio just needs to become a priority again, to the masses.

I believe we must each do our part. We must reach out to each other, assisting, educating, encouraging. We who are part of the 1% must help expand our ranks, because freedom to communicate using technology must remain a skill and an option for all peoples. And, this mode of communication is possible by way of the Ionosphere, without the need for satellites, cables, fiber optics, or any other infrastructure, but with only radio waves with the help of the Ionosphere under the influence of the Sun.

#OccupyShortwave

Feel free to visit my shortwave page: http://swl.hfradio.org

#OccupyShortwave

A truly enjoyable experience: shortwave radio via the ionosphere, great Darjeeling tea, a warm pipe with slow-burning fine tobacco, while taking notes of the wispy Morse code signals with a medium-point nibbed fountain pen…

I started listening to shortwave radio when I was about seven years old.  I discovered the world, just by tuning a dial and letting the ionosphere bring in exotic signals from around the globe.  Africa, Asia, Europe, and broadcasts from closer stations, too.  Those days were not Internet days.  Television was not yet the hundred-channelized cable experience.  But, radio was red-hot.

As I grew older, I was infected with the Morse code bug, and then joined the Military to become a Signal Corpsman.  After that, I became an amateur radio operator.  Earlier in my life journey, the pipe and its peaceful joy entered into my experience, along with the fountain pen addiction.  And fine teas.  Real tea.  Not herbal beverages, though those suffice at times.  No, fine teas like a refreshing Darjeeling.  Or an invigorating Earl Grey.

The love of the pipe came during my high school days, actually.  I know what you might conclude: what a terrible habit to acquire.  Although it is not a habit like cigar or cigarette smoking, as I only smoke a pipe on special occasions (typically on cold Autumn or Winter nights, or while camping, or maybe while listening to exotic shortwave signals—never on a daily basis), I will argue that for me, it is not a terrible habit.  It is a great stress relief, all in itself.  

For those in the know, pipe smoke is not inhaled in the same way as cigarette smoke.  Pipe smoke is enjoyed more in the sinus realm.  That helps regulate breathing.  Some say that this aspect of pipe smoking extends the life of the pipe smoker.  

My first real experience with pipe was when my older brother went through his outdoors, “Mountain Man / Foxfire” mode—a mode he really has never grown out of.  He’s now living here in Montana, too, raising horses, a family, and living somewhat of a “Foxfire” life.  He picked up the pipe because all Mountain Men smoked pipes, too, you know.  My brother was, of course, my role model.  What he did was cool by me.  Therefore, the pipe became attractive.  Yet, I did not just go start smoking a pipe.  It was just attractive as an image.

Then, I discovered J.R.R.Tolkien and Middle Earth.  Hobbits and Elves and Dwarves, and of course, wizards all filled my imagination.  A certain Gandalf was known to smoke a rather contemplative pipe.  And, so did Mr. Tolkien.

That pushed me over the edge.  You see, I fancied myself a contemplative, literate sort of fellow, too.  And, I loved mushrooms and travels.  After all, I was a shortwave radio listener, and dabbled in the magic of the ionosphere and sunspots.

So began my venture into my enjoyment of a warm, glowing bowl of fine tobacco, a journey actually of trying many flavors and types of fine mixes of tobaccos, as I came to discover.  That in itself has become a hobby.

And that’s when I discovered the world of tea.  There’s so much more to tea than just dropping a tea bag from the local super market into a hot cup of water.  Oh, my, yes.  So much more.

Just like with pipe tobacco, there is a multitude of varieties of teas.  On the highest level, there are green teas, white teas, oolong teas, and black teas.  And within each of those categories, there are many different types, based on the region from which they are grown and harvested, how they are “cured”, from what part of the plant they are harvested, and even how the tea is brewed!  It is an art.  And, therefore, a very enjoyable and relaxing form of life-giving activity that I find part of my daily ritual.

Lately, I have decided that I must include in my life the human expression of the art of hand writing.  Not sitting at the computer typing out my thoughts.  No.  I feel that picking up a fountain pen, and letting my thoughts flow out onto paper is a pure form of personal expression.  I’ve missed that. I’ve let that lapse for far too long.  My penmanship has truly suffered after years of neglect.  Now, I take it very slowly, and enjoy the discipline of re-acquiring my handwriting skills.

When all of these great stress-relieving aspects of daily life come together in one exercise of the hunt for exotic world signals, my joy is complete.  Nothing is more thrilling than hunting for a faint signal from some remote part of the world, and finally catching it.  All the while, enjoying the other aspects of my vices.  Yes, these vices converge at the moment I “bag the prize” of the hunt.  If this is an amateur radio moment and I am actually able to make a two-way contact, even more is my joy.

How about you?  Do you have a combination of “vices” with which you enjoy your hobby?

Below: My current shortwave station (both transmit and receive). Yes, I smoke my pipe out on the patio (upstairs).  I can take my radio out with me…