Participants in the ARRL WD2XSH 630-meter experiment, Canadian radio amateurs, and members of the Maritime Radio Historical Society (MRHS) will participate in a special event on Sunday, November 13 (UTC) on 630 meters (the evening of Saturday, November 12, in US time zones). The event will commemorate the Berlin Treaty of 1906 that made 500 kHz the International Distress Frequency. US Part 5 Experimental licensees will operate in the 472-479 kHz band, using CW for two-way contacts and beacons with commemorative messages. There may also be some operation on 500 kHz.

“Canadian amateurs will also engage in QSOs in the 472-479 kHz band,” said ARRL 630-Meter Experiment Coordinator Fritz Raab, W1FR. “They will also participate in cross-band QSOs with amateurs operating on 160, 80, and 40 meters.”

Canadian radio amateurs gained 630-meter privileges in 2014. A proceeding that would grant similar privileges to US hams is still awaiting FCC approval.

The Maritime Radio Historical Society will activate the KSM/KPH transmitter in Bolinas, California, for a mini “Night of Nights,” with special messages and bulletins.

Confirmed Canadian participants include:

VA7MM (Mark) CN89 Coquitlam, British Columbia
Time: 0400-0800 UTC (Sunday, November 13 UTC)
TX Frequency: 475.0 kHz
RX (QSX) Frequency: 1.801 kHz, 3.574 kHz, 7.062 kHz

VE7BDQ (John) CN89 Delta, British Columbia
Time: 0300-0700 UTC (Sunday, November 13 UTC)
TX Frequency: 474.0 kHz
RX (QSX) Frequency: 3.555 kHz

VE7CNF (Toby) CN89 Burnaby, British Columbia
Time: 0300-0800 UTC (Sunday, November 13 UTC)
TX Frequency: 476.5 kHz
RX (QSX) Frequency: 1.836 kHz, 3.558 kHz, 7.031 kHz

VE7SL (Steve) CN88 Mayne Island, British Columbia
Time: 0200-0700 UTC (Sunday, November 13 UTC)
TX Frequency: 473.0 kHz
RX (QSX) Frequency: 3.566 kHz, 7.066 kHz

VE7CA (Markus) CN89 North Vancouver, British Columbia
Time: 0200-0700 UTC (Sunday, November 13 UTC)
TX Frequency: 477.5.0 kHz
RX (QSX) Frequency: 1.820 kHz, 3.550 kHz, 7.048 kHz

VO1NA (Joe) GN37 Torbay, Newfoundland
Time: 2130-0130 UTC (Saturday, November 12/Sunday November 13 UTC)
TX Frequency: 477.7 kHz
RX (QSX) Frequency: 3.562 kHz

VE3OT (Mitch) EN92 London, Ontario
Time: 0000-0400 UTC (Sunday, November 13 UTC)
TX Frequency: 477.0 kHz
RX (QSX) Frequency: 3.563 kHz, 7.058 kHz