Titanic's frequency
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Radio KH6O
May 20, 2021, 2:26:23 PM5/20/21
to radio-officers
ps parksstephenson.com
May 20, 2021, 2:46:02 PM5/20/21
to w1nzr via Radio Officers
I’m the middle of other work right now and don’t want to spend the time shifting through source material of the period that would confirm that the 600-metre wave was the normal one in use for maritime traffic in 1912.
But I can tell you off the top of my head the settings found in the Titanic wreck, which I found in my analysis and deciphered, so you would have to accept me as the primary source, showed that Titanic’s transmitter was configured to transmit at the 600-metre setting. These include the positioning of the brass plugs in the Swiss Commutator above the Main Condenser bank. With the pins found in plug holes 3, 6, and 10, that puts the 4 condensers into two groups of two insures, with the two groups being put into the circuit in parallel. This was a mid-range capacity and standard for the generation of the 600-metre wave, according to the 1913 edition of Handbook of Technical Instruction for Wireless Telegraphists by J.C. Hawkhead. The Earth Arrestor terminal and Extra Condenser used for the 300-metre wave was also found in the wreck to be bypassed out of the aerial circuit.
I believe that if you look at the first year (1913) edition of the The Year Book of Wireless Telegraphy, published by the Marconi Publishing Corporation, you find in the Ship Stations table, in the column for Wave-lengths in Metres, that the normal wave-lengths in use are in bold type. 1913 is of course the year after Titanic foundered, but you will see 600 metres in bold type for most entires, including Titanic’s sister ship, Olympic.
Parks
-------------------------------------
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/parks-stephenson/18/787/205
> On May 20, 2021, at 11:26 AM, Radio KH6O <radio...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> ps parksstephenson.com <p...@parksstephenson.com>
> 7:07 AM (4 hours ago)
>
> to radio-o...@googlegroups.com
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But I can tell you off the top of my head the settings found in the Titanic wreck, which I found in my analysis and deciphered, so you would have to accept me as the primary source, showed that Titanic’s transmitter was configured to transmit at the 600-metre setting. These include the positioning of the brass plugs in the Swiss Commutator above the Main Condenser bank. With the pins found in plug holes 3, 6, and 10, that puts the 4 condensers into two groups of two insures, with the two groups being put into the circuit in parallel. This was a mid-range capacity and standard for the generation of the 600-metre wave, according to the 1913 edition of Handbook of Technical Instruction for Wireless Telegraphists by J.C. Hawkhead. The Earth Arrestor terminal and Extra Condenser used for the 300-metre wave was also found in the wreck to be bypassed out of the aerial circuit.
I believe that if you look at the first year (1913) edition of the The Year Book of Wireless Telegraphy, published by the Marconi Publishing Corporation, you find in the Ship Stations table, in the column for Wave-lengths in Metres, that the normal wave-lengths in use are in bold type. 1913 is of course the year after Titanic foundered, but you will see 600 metres in bold type for most entires, including Titanic’s sister ship, Olympic.
Parks
-------------------------------------
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/parks-stephenson/18/787/205
> On May 20, 2021, at 11:26 AM, Radio KH6O <radio...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> ps parksstephenson.com <p...@parksstephenson.com>
> 7:07 AM (4 hours ago)
>
> No, Titanic was transmitting on the 600m wave, or 500 kHz.
> ===============
>
> Parks, please provide your definitive source.
>
> The 1906 International Radiotelegraph Convention in Berlin established the 600-metre (long wave) and 300-metre (short wave) as the two wave lengths authorized for general public service. The normal wave for shipboard use was established at that time as the 300-metre wave.
>
> 73, Jeff KH6O
>
> --
> ===============
>
> Parks, please provide your definitive source.
>
> The 1906 International Radiotelegraph Convention in Berlin established the 600-metre (long wave) and 300-metre (short wave) as the two wave lengths authorized for general public service. The normal wave for shipboard use was established at that time as the 300-metre wave.
>
> 73, Jeff KH6O
>
> OUR FACEBOOK PAGE:
> https://www.facebook.com/groups/707451009311335/
>
> THIS IS THE "RADIO OFFICERS, &C" MAIL LIST - SUBSCRIBE, UNSUBSCRIBE AND OTHER SETTINGS ARE BELOW.
>
> --
> Have your R/O friends join the group by visiting https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/radio-officers and requesting membership. We'd love to have them.
>
> --
>
> To contact list owner or managers:
> https://groups.google.com/forum/#!contactowner/radio-officers
>
> --
> ---
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Radio Officers" group.
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David J. J. Ring, Jr.
May 20, 2021, 4:52:45 PM5/20/21
to radio-o...@googlegroups.com
Hello Jeff,
Unfortunately the 1906 Radiotelegraph Convention seems to have been
published with a very unfortunate error. It's contradicted by other
publications and the contradictions align with what I know to be true
that 600 meters was the "normal" wave and 300 meters was mostly reserved
for "small ships" just as 2 MHz was reserved for that use (2039 kHz was
the calling and working channel in nations that used 2 MHz WT. UK used 2
MHz for their warships, and Japan used 2039 for their fishing vessels
equipped with WT.
Below you will clearly see what must be the error because the 1906 information is corrected by U.S. Army book published in 1914. Unless of course, there was an official change between 1906 and 1914, which I cannot find.
Here's the part of the 1906 Radiotelegraph Convention you mention:
1. ORGANISATION OF RADIOTELEGRAPH STATIONS.
I.
The choice of the radiotelegraphic apparatus and arrangements to be
used by coast stations and ship stations is unrestricted. The installation
of these stations must keep pace as far as possible with scientific and
technical progress.
II .
Two wave-lengths, one of 300 and the other of 600 metres, are allowed
for general public correspondence. Every coast station open for this service
employs one or other of these two wave-lengths. During the whole period
for which it is open for service, every station must be in a position to receive
calls made by means of its own wave-length, and it must not make use of
any other wave-length for the service of general public correspondence.
Nevertheless, each Government may authorise the use at any coast station
of other wave -lengths for the purpose of providing a long-distance service,
or a service other than that of general public correspondence, established
in accordance with the provisions of the Convention, on condition that these
wave-lengths do not exceed 600 metres or do exceed 1,600 metres.
III .
1. The normal wave -length for ship stations is 300 metres. Every ship
station must be installed in such a way as to be capable of using this
wave-length. Other wave- lengths may be used by these stations on condition
that theydo not exceed 600 metres.
2. Ships of small tonnage, which it would be materially impossible to
equip with plant producing a wave-length of 300 metres, may be
authorised to use a shorter wave-length.
IV.
1. By the agency of the International Bureau, a list shall be prepared of
the radiotelegraph stations indicated in Article 1 of the Convention. This
list shall give the following particulars regarding each station:
(i) Name, nationality, and geographical position in the case of coast
stations; name, nationality, distinguishing signal under the
International Code and indication ofthe ship's port of registry,
in the case of ship stations;
(ii) Call-signal ( the call-signals must be distinguished from one another
and must each be composed of a group of three letters);
(iii) Normal range;
(iv) System of radiotelegraphy;
(v) Nature of receiving apparatus (recording, sound -reading, or other
apparatus);
(vi) Wave-lengths used by the station (the normal wave-length is under
lined);
(vii) Nature of the service performed by the station: - General public correspondence;
Restricted public correspondence, correspondence with the.....;
correspondence with the shipping lines ships...
correspondence with ships equipped with apparatus of the ..... system; &c.);
Long- distance public correspondence;
Private correspondence of the owners of the station;
Special correspondence (correspondence of an exclusively official
nature); &c.;
(viii) Hours of service;
(ix) Coast or ship charge.
However, stating that 300 meters is the "normal" frequency seems to be an
extremely unfortunate typographical or transcription error because in the
"Regulations Governing Commercial Radio Service Between Ship and Shore
Stations" https://books.google.com/books?id=qRBLAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA128&dq=list+of+ship+and+coast+stations&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwipkIKrh9nwAhVHmuAKHdWXCCYQ6AEwCHoECCgQAg
published by the United States Army in 1914, it states this:
CHAPTER V.
OPERATION - TRANSMISSION OF MESSAGES-SPECIAL SIGNALS.
POWER.
193. All stations must communicate with the minimum power to
effect reliable communication . Commercial ships are forbidden to use more than 1 kilowatt of power at generator terminals under
normal circumstances and when within 200 miles of the nearest coast
station .
194. Every station which has occasion to transmit a radiogram requiring the use of high power shall first send out three times the
signal of warning [HERE IT GIVES IN GRAPHIC FORM THE "high power" warning signal which is dah-dah-di-di-dah-dah]
with the minimum of power necessary to reach the neighboring stations. It shall not begin to transmit with high power until 5 seconds after sending the signal of warning
CODE.
195. The International Morse Code shall be used exclusively .
WAVE LENGTHS.
196. Two wave lengths, one of 600 meters and the other of 300 meters, are authorized for general public service.
All Army stations, ship and coast, must use these wave lengths when communicating with commercial ships or
commercial coast stations. In general, the standard length used is 600 meters, and all stations opened to
commercial work are prepared to use that length. Such stations may listen in on that wave length for at least
5 minutes every quarter hour, except when engaged in communication on other wave lengths, in which case they must
cease every 15 minutes and listen in for 3 minutes on 600 meters . A wave length of 1,800 meters is authorized for certain communication,
as explained in paragraph 273 .
Here's paragraph 272 through 274:
(6) MESSAGES FROM SHIPS.
272. In general, ships shall transmit their radiograms to the nearest
coast station open to commercial business. A sender on board a vessel
shall, however, have the right to designate the coast station through
which he desires to have his radiogram transmitted. The ship shall then
wait until such coast station shall be the nearest.
273. In exceptional cases transmission may be made to a more distant
coast station, provided that: (a) The radiogram is intended for the
country in which such coast station is situated and emanates from a ship
subject to that country. (b) Both stations use for calling and
transmission a wave length of 1,800 meters. (c) Transmission with this
wave length does not interfere with a transmission made by means of the
same wave length by a nearer coast station, (d) The station on shipboard
is more than 50 nautical miles distant from any coast station open to
commercial business. The distance of 50 miles may be reduced to 25
miles, provided the maximum power at the terminals of the generator
does not exceed 5 k.w.
274. Operators will note that this permission to communicate with other
than the nearest station is very much restricted. Foreign vessels on the
coast of the United States have no right to do so, nor has any ship the
right, when, by so doing, it interferes with business of a nearer
station. Operators shall report to the zone officer all violations of
this section coming under their notice.
This completely is in accord to what I understood, also the frequency of
300 meters which is using today's more common kHz frequency measurement system
is 1,000 kHz which is in the middle of the MW (medium wave) broadcast band.
During the 1920s when broadcasting began, operators were licensed by the
Department of Commerce thus were licensed with examination in
proficiency of Morse code, and broadcast stations were required to
monitor for SOS while on the air and to immediately terminate
broadcasting upon reception of SOS. A watch receiver for 600 meters
(and probably 300 meters) was set up at the broadcast station's manned
control point and monitored by the licensed opertor.
Also at some time later, ships were forbidden to use the shorter 300
meter wave when (if I remember correctly) 125 miles from shore and
eventually the 300 meter frequency was removed from authorization
(except in cases of distress which permits any mode (even spark) any
frequency to obtain assistance.
I tried to look at my List of Coast and Ship Stations to see if I could find
published field strentgh of Titanic's sister ship, Olympia, but the earliest
"Bern Book" that I could find was dated 1936.
Radio KH6O wrote:
Thu, May 20, 2021 at 11:26:10AM -0700
> to radio-o...@googlegroups.com
Unfortunately the 1906 Radiotelegraph Convention seems to have been
published with a very unfortunate error. It's contradicted by other
publications and the contradictions align with what I know to be true
that 600 meters was the "normal" wave and 300 meters was mostly reserved
for "small ships" just as 2 MHz was reserved for that use (2039 kHz was
the calling and working channel in nations that used 2 MHz WT. UK used 2
MHz for their warships, and Japan used 2039 for their fishing vessels
equipped with WT.
Below you will clearly see what must be the error because the 1906 information is corrected by U.S. Army book published in 1914. Unless of course, there was an official change between 1906 and 1914, which I cannot find.
Here's the part of the 1906 Radiotelegraph Convention you mention:
1. ORGANISATION OF RADIOTELEGRAPH STATIONS.
I.
The choice of the radiotelegraphic apparatus and arrangements to be
used by coast stations and ship stations is unrestricted. The installation
of these stations must keep pace as far as possible with scientific and
technical progress.
II .
Two wave-lengths, one of 300 and the other of 600 metres, are allowed
for general public correspondence. Every coast station open for this service
employs one or other of these two wave-lengths. During the whole period
for which it is open for service, every station must be in a position to receive
calls made by means of its own wave-length, and it must not make use of
any other wave-length for the service of general public correspondence.
Nevertheless, each Government may authorise the use at any coast station
of other wave -lengths for the purpose of providing a long-distance service,
or a service other than that of general public correspondence, established
in accordance with the provisions of the Convention, on condition that these
wave-lengths do not exceed 600 metres or do exceed 1,600 metres.
III .
1. The normal wave -length for ship stations is 300 metres. Every ship
station must be installed in such a way as to be capable of using this
wave-length. Other wave- lengths may be used by these stations on condition
that theydo not exceed 600 metres.
2. Ships of small tonnage, which it would be materially impossible to
equip with plant producing a wave-length of 300 metres, may be
authorised to use a shorter wave-length.
IV.
1. By the agency of the International Bureau, a list shall be prepared of
the radiotelegraph stations indicated in Article 1 of the Convention. This
list shall give the following particulars regarding each station:
(i) Name, nationality, and geographical position in the case of coast
stations; name, nationality, distinguishing signal under the
International Code and indication ofthe ship's port of registry,
in the case of ship stations;
(ii) Call-signal ( the call-signals must be distinguished from one another
and must each be composed of a group of three letters);
(iii) Normal range;
(iv) System of radiotelegraphy;
(v) Nature of receiving apparatus (recording, sound -reading, or other
apparatus);
(vi) Wave-lengths used by the station (the normal wave-length is under
lined);
(vii) Nature of the service performed by the station: - General public correspondence;
Restricted public correspondence, correspondence with the.....;
correspondence with the shipping lines ships...
correspondence with ships equipped with apparatus of the ..... system; &c.);
Long- distance public correspondence;
Private correspondence of the owners of the station;
Special correspondence (correspondence of an exclusively official
nature); &c.;
(viii) Hours of service;
(ix) Coast or ship charge.
However, stating that 300 meters is the "normal" frequency seems to be an
extremely unfortunate typographical or transcription error because in the
"Regulations Governing Commercial Radio Service Between Ship and Shore
Stations" https://books.google.com/books?id=qRBLAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA128&dq=list+of+ship+and+coast+stations&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwipkIKrh9nwAhVHmuAKHdWXCCYQ6AEwCHoECCgQAg
published by the United States Army in 1914, it states this:
CHAPTER V.
OPERATION - TRANSMISSION OF MESSAGES-SPECIAL SIGNALS.
POWER.
193. All stations must communicate with the minimum power to
effect reliable communication . Commercial ships are forbidden to use more than 1 kilowatt of power at generator terminals under
normal circumstances and when within 200 miles of the nearest coast
station .
194. Every station which has occasion to transmit a radiogram requiring the use of high power shall first send out three times the
signal of warning [HERE IT GIVES IN GRAPHIC FORM THE "high power" warning signal which is dah-dah-di-di-dah-dah]
with the minimum of power necessary to reach the neighboring stations. It shall not begin to transmit with high power until 5 seconds after sending the signal of warning
CODE.
195. The International Morse Code shall be used exclusively .
WAVE LENGTHS.
196. Two wave lengths, one of 600 meters and the other of 300 meters, are authorized for general public service.
All Army stations, ship and coast, must use these wave lengths when communicating with commercial ships or
commercial coast stations. In general, the standard length used is 600 meters, and all stations opened to
commercial work are prepared to use that length. Such stations may listen in on that wave length for at least
5 minutes every quarter hour, except when engaged in communication on other wave lengths, in which case they must
cease every 15 minutes and listen in for 3 minutes on 600 meters . A wave length of 1,800 meters is authorized for certain communication,
as explained in paragraph 273 .
Here's paragraph 272 through 274:
(6) MESSAGES FROM SHIPS.
272. In general, ships shall transmit their radiograms to the nearest
coast station open to commercial business. A sender on board a vessel
shall, however, have the right to designate the coast station through
which he desires to have his radiogram transmitted. The ship shall then
wait until such coast station shall be the nearest.
273. In exceptional cases transmission may be made to a more distant
coast station, provided that: (a) The radiogram is intended for the
country in which such coast station is situated and emanates from a ship
subject to that country. (b) Both stations use for calling and
transmission a wave length of 1,800 meters. (c) Transmission with this
wave length does not interfere with a transmission made by means of the
same wave length by a nearer coast station, (d) The station on shipboard
is more than 50 nautical miles distant from any coast station open to
commercial business. The distance of 50 miles may be reduced to 25
miles, provided the maximum power at the terminals of the generator
does not exceed 5 k.w.
274. Operators will note that this permission to communicate with other
than the nearest station is very much restricted. Foreign vessels on the
coast of the United States have no right to do so, nor has any ship the
right, when, by so doing, it interferes with business of a nearer
station. Operators shall report to the zone officer all violations of
this section coming under their notice.
This completely is in accord to what I understood, also the frequency of
300 meters which is using today's more common kHz frequency measurement system
is 1,000 kHz which is in the middle of the MW (medium wave) broadcast band.
During the 1920s when broadcasting began, operators were licensed by the
Department of Commerce thus were licensed with examination in
proficiency of Morse code, and broadcast stations were required to
monitor for SOS while on the air and to immediately terminate
broadcasting upon reception of SOS. A watch receiver for 600 meters
(and probably 300 meters) was set up at the broadcast station's manned
control point and monitored by the licensed opertor.
Also at some time later, ships were forbidden to use the shorter 300
meter wave when (if I remember correctly) 125 miles from shore and
eventually the 300 meter frequency was removed from authorization
(except in cases of distress which permits any mode (even spark) any
frequency to obtain assistance.
I tried to look at my List of Coast and Ship Stations to see if I could find
published field strentgh of Titanic's sister ship, Olympia, but the earliest
"Bern Book" that I could find was dated 1936.
Radio KH6O wrote:
Thu, May 20, 2021 at 11:26:10AM -0700
> to radio-o...@googlegroups.com
> No, Titanic was transmitting on the 600m wave, or 500 kHz.
> ===============
>
> Parks, please provide your definitive source.
>
> The 1906 International Radiotelegraph Convention in Berlin established the
> 600-metre (long wave) and 300-metre (short wave) as the two wave lengths
> authorized for general public service. The normal wave for shipboard use
> was established at that time as the 300-metre wave.
>
> 73, Jeff KH6O
>
> ===============
>
> Parks, please provide your definitive source.
>
> The 1906 International Radiotelegraph Convention in Berlin established the
> 600-metre (long wave) and 300-metre (short wave) as the two wave lengths
> authorized for general public service. The normal wave for shipboard use
> was established at that time as the 300-metre wave.
>
> 73, Jeff KH6O
>
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