{"id":13982,"date":"2015-07-09T16:52:16","date_gmt":"2015-07-09T20:52:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=13982"},"modified":"2015-07-09T16:53:33","modified_gmt":"2015-07-09T20:53:33","slug":"night-of-nights-xvi-july-12-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/07\/night-of-nights-xvi-july-12-2015\/","title":{"rendered":"Night of Nights XVI: July 12, 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Photo:<\/a>

Photo: US Coast Guard<\/p><\/div>\n

SWLing Post<\/em> contributor,\u00a0Brian D. Smith, writes:<\/p>\n

“Thought I\u2019d forward you this information on the annual \u201cNight of Nights\u201d event on July 12 (U.S. local time)\/July 13 UTC, which provides an opportunity for shortwave QSLs \u2013 assuming the listener understands Morse code!<\/p>\n

I\u2019m sure you\u2019re familiar with this one-night-a-year happening, in which maritime radio stations rise from the dead and transmit Morse code messages again for a few hours.<\/p>\n

As a guy who honed his CW sending skills by listening to these stations\u2019 constantly repeating messages, I have a sense of nostalgia and gratitude toward these stations, which helped me obtain my first Novice license, WN9ICB, at the age of 15 … less than 2 months after I taped the WWV recording that I submitted<\/a>.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Many thanks for the notice and sharing your nostalgia! Brian also forwarded an announcement from the Maritime Radio Historical Society of America<\/a>. The\u00a0MRHS\u00a0describe the event:<\/p>\n

It’s that time of year again. Time to honor all those ops who came before us by preserving their skills, traditions and culture through on the air operations.<\/p>\n

Why 12 July? Long time True Believers know the story. But it may be worth repeating for new arrivals and to remind everyone of the traditions we hope to keep alive.<\/p>\n

On 12 July 1999 some very tough looking grizzled old radio pioneers had tears in their eyes as the last commercial Morse code radiogram was sent. It was the end of an era. And as the last beeps faded away into the static they witnessed the end of the career to which they had devoted their lives.<\/p>\n

These men – and some women – had stood watch over the airwaves on shore and at sea. Theirs was mostly the business of maritime commerce. But when their ship was in peril they were called upon to send the most electrifying three letters in radio, S O S, knowing that all their fellow radio operators would press their earphones close to get every scrap of information and bring aid to their stricken ship.<\/p>\n

Once, our coasts were dotted with great Morse code radio stations, all communicating with ships at sea. They’re all gone now… all except one, the one they called the Wireless Giant of the Pacific, located at Point Reyes.<\/p>\n

On that sad day in 1999 another event took place. The Maritime Radio Historical Society (MRHS) was formed. We made it our life’s work to honor the men and women of wireless by restoring that wireless giant. One year and one minute later the giant’s voice once again spanned the oceas as we picked up the thread and kept the faith with our colleagues of the air.<\/p>\n

Every year since, in an event that became known as the Night of Nights, Morse code station KPH has returned to the air, joined by KFS and the station of the MRHS, KSM.<\/p>\n

This year our friends and colleagues at USCG station NMC have labored mightily to bring that storied call sign back to life on Morse code for the evening along with NMQ in Cambria, CA..<\/p>\n

And station NMW in Astoria, OR will be on the air as well.<\/p>\n

Stations WLO and KLB will join us again as hey have in years past.<\/p>\n

This is a global and local event. Hundreds of listeners around the world will be waiting with their earphones on, waiting for the signals of the great station to once again arc over the dome of the Earth to their receivers.<\/p>\n

You can be with us in person!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

My buddy, Mike (K8RAT) also notes that this “Night of Nights” event\u00a0may witness the last ever Morse communications from the US Coast Guard stations. Indeed, this is mentioned in\u00a0the MHRS newsletter<\/a>:<\/p>\n

This may very well be the last time ever that USCG stations can be heard on the air using A1A (Morse) emission. As new equipment is installed the hardware and wiring for Morse has been progressively removed. And the personnel who knowledgeable in the art retire or are reassigned. So be sure to listen for these stations.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I’ll not only listen to this Night of Nights, but hope to record some of the stations as well.<\/p>\n

The frequencies for this event are numerous!\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>I have listed the USCG (NMC) frequencies below, but please check the MHRS newsletter<\/a>\u00a0for\u00a0MRHS and other maritime station frequencies.<\/p>\n

Again, Brian, thanks for the heads-up!<\/p>\n

Happy listening, everyone!<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

NMC<\/strong> (Transmit Bolinas, Receive Pt. Reyes)<\/p>\n

Frequency\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Transmitter\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Antenna<\/p>\n

472.0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nautel ND2500TT\/6\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 173′ monopole tower
\n500.0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nautel ND2500TT\/6\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 173′ monopole tower
\n6383.0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Rockwell-Collins RT-2200\u00a0 Omni-directional
\n8574.0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Rockwell-Collins RT-2200\u00a0 Omni-directional
\n17220.5\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Rockwell-Collins RT-2200\u00a0 Omni-directional<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

SWLing Post contributor,\u00a0Brian D. Smith, writes: “Thought I\u2019d forward you this information on the annual \u201cNight of Nights\u201d event on July 12 (U.S. local time)\/July 13 UTC, which provides an opportunity for shortwave QSLs \u2013 assuming the listener understands Morse code! I\u2019m sure you\u2019re familiar with this one-night-a-year happening, in which maritime radio stations rise […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[81,3,305,43,1167],"tags":[3963,3965,3969,3962,3966,456,3967,3968,3964],"class_list":["post-13982","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-events","category-news","category-nostalgia","category-shortwave-radio","category-whats-on-shortwave","tag-brian-smith","tag-klb","tag-maritime-radio","tag-maritime-radio-historical-society-of-america","tag-mrhs","tag-night-of-nights","tag-nmc","tag-uscg","tag-wlo"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-3Dw","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":33166,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/07\/night-of-nights-returns-tonight\/","url_meta":{"origin":13982,"position":0},"title":"“Night of Nights” Returns Tonight!","author":"Thomas","date":"July 12, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Brian Smith (W9IND), who writes: The cast may be smaller than in previous years, but the \u201cNight of Nights\u201d nostalgia show will go on. At 8:01 p.m. Eastern Time today (0001 UTC July 13), two maritime CW stations operated by the Maritime Radio Historical\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Current Events"","block_context":{"text":"Current Events","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/current-events\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Night-Of-Nights.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Night-Of-Nights.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Night-Of-Nights.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Night-Of-Nights.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":20006,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/07\/night-of-nights-xvi-july-12-2016\/","url_meta":{"origin":13982,"position":1},"title":"Night of Nights XVI: July 12, 2016","author":"Thomas","date":"July 11, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Update: Please read Brian's update regarding frequencies. SWLing Post contributor,\u00a0Brian D. Smith, writes: \"Thought I\u2019d forward you this information on the annual \u201cNight of Nights\u201d event on July 12 (U.S. local time)\/July 13 UTC, which provides an opportunity for shortwave QSLs \u2013 assuming the listener understands Morse code! I\u2019m sure\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Chief Operator Richard Dillman at Position 1 (Source: Maritime Radio Historical Society)","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Night-Of-Nights.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Night-Of-Nights.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Night-Of-Nights.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Night-Of-Nights.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":38460,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/07\/night-of-nights-cw-event-returns-tonight\/","url_meta":{"origin":13982,"position":2},"title":"\u201cNight of Nights\u201d CW Event Returns Tonight!","author":"Thomas","date":"July 12, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Brian Smith (W9IND), who shares the following announcement: \u201cNight of Nights\u201d CW Event Returns Friday (U.S. Time)\u00a0 \u201cIt was 20 years ago today,\u201d say members of the Maritime Radio Historical Society, but they\u2019re not covering a famous Beatles song. They\u2019ll certainly be on key,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Maritime-Historical-Night-of-Nights-e1562898985768.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Maritime-Historical-Night-of-Nights-e1562898985768.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Maritime-Historical-Night-of-Nights-e1562898985768.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":26961,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/07\/guest-post-night-of-nights-july-12-2017\/","url_meta":{"origin":13982,"position":3},"title":"Guest Post: \u201cNight of Nights\u201d July 12, 2017","author":"Thomas","date":"July 9, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Brian Smith (W9IND), who shares the following guest post: \u201cNight of Nights\u201d 2017 by Brian D. Smith, W9IND \u201cNight of Nights XVIII\u201d \u2013 radio\u2019s answer to \u201cNight of the Living Dead\u201d \u2013 will again unfold on July 12 (July 13 UTC) with the return\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Night-Of-Nights.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Night-Of-Nights.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Night-Of-Nights.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Night-Of-Nights.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14453,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/08\/guest-post-brians-1974-mix-tape-of-off-air-shortwave-radio-recordings\/","url_meta":{"origin":13982,"position":4},"title":"Guest Post: Brian’s 1974 mix tape of off-air shortwave radio recordings","author":"Thomas","date":"August 29, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post\u00a0and Shortwave Radio Audio Archive contributor, Brian Smith, for the following guest post and vintage recording: Shortwave Radio 1974: Canada, Argentina, Spain, West Germany, Albania, utility stations -Brian Smith (W9IND) Want to know what shortwave radio sounded like in 1974? This 55-minute recording, recovered from a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Guest Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Guest Posts","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/guest-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"HalliDial","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/HalliDial-1024x400.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/HalliDial-1024x400.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/HalliDial-1024x400.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":17638,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/03\/radio-time-travel-brians-1974-shortwave-radio-recording\/","url_meta":{"origin":13982,"position":5},"title":"Radio Time Travel: Brian’s 1974 shortwave radio recording","author":"Thomas","date":"March 7, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post and SRAA\u00a0contributor, Brian D. Smith (W9IND),\u00a0for the following guest post and recording. Note that Brian could use your help to ID a few unidentified broadcasters in this recording. If you can help, please comment: Shortwave Radio 1974: Canada, Argentina, Spain, West Germany, Albania, utility stations\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"HalliDial","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/HalliDial.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/HalliDial.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/HalliDial.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/HalliDial.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13982","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13982"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13982\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13982"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13982"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13982"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}