{"id":44713,"date":"2020-08-09T06:45:01","date_gmt":"2020-08-09T10:45:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=44713"},"modified":"2020-08-09T06:48:36","modified_gmt":"2020-08-09T10:48:36","slug":"k9zdk-return-of-a-silent-key","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/08\/k9zdk-return-of-a-silent-key\/","title":{"rendered":"K9ZDK: Return of a Silent Key"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Van Hoy (VR2HF), who writes:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

It was one of the most sublime moments in my 55+ years in radio. Almost every night I listen to shortwave station, KNLS in Anchor Point, Alaska, from my home in Hong Kong. KNLS broadcasts to Asia and the Pacific in English, Russian and Mandarin. The English broadcast is an amazing mix of secular and Christian music and topics, science, current affairs and more. It has something for both the seeker and the saint and is one of the most informative and entertaining shows on radio.<\/p>\n

On this particular Monday evening, August 3, 2020, I tuned in late to the English broadcast from KNLS at 1000 UTC, but went on to listen to the remainder of the show. To my complete surprise as the show closed I heard “73 de K9ZDK” in Morse code and quickly wrote down that callsign. I assumed it was the engineer on duty, obviously a ham, having a little on-air fun with a big transmitter and antenna.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A few minutes later, I also heard “CQ de K9ZDK” at the beginning of the Russian program at 1100 UTC. So, I looked up K9ZDK on QRZ.com<\/a> and found it was Zavier, a young ham who had become a silent key in June of 2019.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Zavier Klingensmith (K9ZDK) Silent Key<\/p><\/div>\n

A little more online sleuthing and a phone call later revealed that his father, Thomas, KL0K, was at the controls of KNLS that night sending Zavier’s final CQ and 73 on this planet with at least 1 million watts of power (ERP: 100KW TX + 10dBd TCI curtain array) all around Asia and the Pacific. His call on CW was heard on every English, Russian and Mandarin show that evening over 16 hours of broadcasts (two Continental 100 KW transmitters). Wow!<\/p>\n

In Zavier’s memory, Thomas has created a DIY kit for an Iambic Keyer and is offering it for FREE (though you might want to send some $$ for his production and mailing costs…my suggestion) to anyone who asks. Details can be found at Thomas’, KL0K, QRZ page<\/a>. Maybe one of the first things you can send when your keyer is completed is,”K9ZDK de YOUR CALL, 73 OM!”<\/p>\n

Thomas, our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. Thanks for the amazing on-air tribute to Zavier. I suspect he was listening with a big, big smile!<\/p>\n

Dan VR2HF, Hong Kong
\n(K7DAN, USA)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Van Hoy (VR2HF), who writes: It was one of the most sublime moments in my 55+ years in radio. Almost every night I listen to shortwave station, KNLS in Anchor Point, Alaska, from my home in Hong Kong. KNLS broadcasts to Asia and the Pacific in English, Russian […]<\/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":[3194,960,3,43],"tags":[6546,5154,34,5751,8730,8729],"class_list":["post-44713","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-guest-posts","category-international-broadcasting","category-news","category-shortwave-radio","tag-dan-van-hoy","tag-knls","tag-shortwave","tag-shortwave-memories","tag-thomas-j-klingensmith-kl0k","tag-zavier-klingensmith-k9zdk"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-bDb","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":19379,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/06\/shortwave-radio-recordings-knls-test-transmission-circa-1983\/","url_meta":{"origin":44713,"position":0},"title":"Shortwave Radio Recordings: KNLS test transmission circa 1983","author":"Thomas","date":"June 12, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"We've just posted yet\u00a0another excellent recording by Tom Laskowski\u00a0to the Shortwave Radio Audio Archive. I thought a number of Post readers might appreciate this one. Tom\u00a0notes: KNLS - Anchor Point, Alaska, from what I believe is a test transmission on August 1, 1983. According to Wikipedia, KNLS signed on the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A.4towers3antennas","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/A.4towers3antennas-e1465751191191.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/A.4towers3antennas-e1465751191191.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/A.4towers3antennas-e1465751191191.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/A.4towers3antennas-e1465751191191.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":64521,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/11\/hearing-alaska-and-hawaii-on-shortwave\/","url_meta":{"origin":44713,"position":1},"title":"Hearing Alaska and Hawaii on shortwave","author":"Thomas","date":"November 9, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dan Greenall, who shares the following guest post: Hearing Alaska and Hawaii on shortwave by Dan Greenall Alaska Since 1983, the New Life Station, KNLS, has been broadcasting from Anchor Point, Alaska.\u00a0 Beamed primarily to Asia, their signals were not received as well in\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\/2025\/11\/KWHR-1994.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/KWHR-1994.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/KWHR-1994.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/KWHR-1994.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/KWHR-1994.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":43283,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/05\/dans-fridge-counterpoise-and-butter-cookie-signal-booster\/","url_meta":{"origin":44713,"position":2},"title":"Dan’s Fridge Counterpoise and Butter Cookie Signal Booster","author":"Thomas","date":"May 12, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Van Hoy, who writes: Here's something you and the SWLing Post bunch might enjoy. My latest innovation in signal enhancement. Listening to KNLS from Anchor Point, Alaska on the 30m band. Not sure how much signal gain is achieved with the butter cookie\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Funny"","block_context":{"text":"Funny","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/funny\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Fridge-Counterpoise-1024x768.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Fridge-Counterpoise-1024x768.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Fridge-Counterpoise-1024x768.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":23522,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/01\/the-diminutive-but-brilliant-sony-icf-sw100-a-few-autumnwinter-dx-catches\/","url_meta":{"origin":44713,"position":3},"title":"The diminutive but brilliant Sony ICF-SW100: a few autumn\/winter DX catches","author":"Clint Gouveia","date":"January 20, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Hi there, I posted an article on this brilliant little radio a few months ago because\u00a0it had demonstrated a level of performance way beyond my expectations. Notwithstanding it's incredibly small size the DX results I obtained with it were beyond my ICF-SW55 and up there with the iconic ICF-2001D. Armed\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/icfsw100wood.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/icfsw100wood.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/icfsw100wood.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/icfsw100wood.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/icfsw100wood.jpg?resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2147,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2011\/11\/us-christian-broadcaster-still-believes-in-shortwave\/","url_meta":{"origin":44713,"position":4},"title":"US Christian Broadcaster Still Believes in Shortwave","author":"Thomas","date":"November 1, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: VOA News) With the rise of the Internet, some news broadcasters, including the Voice of America, are moving away from shortwave radio. But some religious broadcasters in America still believe in the medium. \"Our view is that there is a great future for shortwave,\" says Charles Caudil, president of\u00a0World\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/WorldChristianBroadcasting.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":18341,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/04\/madagascar-world-voice-now-broadcasting-on-shortwave\/","url_meta":{"origin":44713,"position":5},"title":"Madagascar World Voice now broadcasting on shortwave","author":"Thomas","date":"April 18, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Radio World) World Christian Broadcasting launched its second shortwave station, Madagascar World Voice, on Easter Sunday in late March. The nonprofit organization is based near Nashville, Tenn. Station KNLS launched in 1983.\u00a0 President\/CEO Charles H. Caudill announced the launch. \u201cMore than 10 years of planning and work have gone\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Madagascar-World-Voice","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Madagascar-World-Voice-1024x422.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Madagascar-World-Voice-1024x422.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Madagascar-World-Voice-1024x422.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44713","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=44713"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44713\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44713"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44713"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44713"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}