01/01/2008 | K6KPH Number of contacts: 25

It was another wonderful SKN at K6KPH.

As many may know, K6KPH uses the transmitters, antennas and receivers of ex-RCA coast station KPH. The transmitting and receiving sites are separated by about 20 miles and the transmitters are remotely controlled from the receive site. As usual for SKN, we had transmitters active on fixed frequencies in the 3.5, 7 and 14Mc bands.

Operations began at 0100Z. A couple of contacts were made on 14Mc before that band closed. 3.5 and 7Mc were filled with signals from end to end. It was a real pleasure to hear the bands full of signals, just like the old days.

Later in the evening 7Mc was so crowded that even with the 100cps filter of the Watkins-Johnson receiver it was hard to separate stations.

It was a pleasure to work several ex-Radio Officers who communicated with KPH during their seagoing careers. My favorite contact on the evening was with K7AYO, ex-RO on SS PRESIDENT JACKSON. As soon as I heard that I advised that I was QTC1 for his ship. Of course he gave a snappy QRV in reply and I rattled off a message of greeting to him which he acknowledged in the professional manner that one associates with former commercial operators.

I must offer my apologies to the stations who were unable to contact K6KPH. There were so many calling it was not possible to work everyone. I certainly gained renewed respect for those coast station operators who worked ships one after the other for an eight hour shift!

For those who would like to contact K6KPH before the next SKN, we usually guard 7050kc and 14050kc each Saturday beginning at about 2000Z. Please use commercial calling procedures: Send "K6KPH" repeatedly (within the limits of FCC rules for station identification of course) until the K6KPH operator responds with "DE", then give your call sign.

VY 73 and Happy New Year to All...

RD - Chief Operator KSM/K6KPH -- W6AWO