July 12, 2024 Night of Nights KPH KFS

[D.J.J. Ring, Jr.]

July 12, 2024 Night of Nights KPH KFS

Night of Nights

Coast Stations KPH/KFS

k...@radiomarine.org
KPH Station Phone: 1.415.669.9646

Maritime Radio Historical Society

Nights of Nights begins at 1700Z, 1000 PDT
Nights of Nights ends After Closing Message
Sent at 2400Z, 1700 PDT

Frequencies to listen to: All frequencies are keyed at same time, try next higher band if KPH is not heard.

KPH transmits on:

Stations local to San Francisco will hear KPH make initial calls to "All Stations" (CQ) on the 500 kHz calling frequency and shifts to KPH working frequency of 426 kHz to transmit messages. 

If KPH is called by a ship on 500 kHz, KPH will shift to 500 kHz to answer then shifts back to KPH working frequency of 426 kHz. 
500 kc (Calls only) 

All working frequencies are used at the same time. If 12552.0 is weak, try 17016.8. The further away from San Francisco, the higher the optimum frequency will be. As the day progresses, the optimum frequency will be higher, as night approaches it may decrease. 

500 kc - CQ for traffic list and WX and answering ships.
426 kc - Traffic and Broadcast frequency
4247.0 kc
4184.0 kc
6477.5 kc
6276.0 kc
8642.0 kc
8368.0 kc
12808.5 kc
12552.0 kc
17016.8 kc
16736.0 kc
22477.5 kc
22280.5 kc

KFS transmits CW on:
12695.5 kc

KPH transmits RTTY/SITOR on:
6324.5 kc
8427.0 kc
12585.5 kc

KPH listens for ships calling on:
500 kc (Ship shifts as KPH orders.)
4184.0 kc
6276.0 kc
8368.0 kc
12552.0 kc
16736.0 kc
22280.5 kc

UTC (Z) TO LOCAL TIME CONVERSION

Starting Time:
1700Z = 1300 EDT
1700Z = 1200 CDT
1700Z = 1100 MDT
1700Z = 1000 PDT

Closing at:
2400Z = 2000 EDT (8 PM)
2400Z = 1900 EDT (7 PM)
2400Z = 1800 EDT (6 PM)
2400Z = 1700 EDT (5 PM)

UTC SCHEDULE 
1700  Free Press (CW)
1800  Free Press and WX (RTTY/SITOR)
1900  Listen for Ships (CW)
2000  Traffic List, Listen for Ships (CW, KPH only)
2030  East Pacific High Seas Weather (CW, KPH only)
2200 Listen for Ships (CW) (*KPH approx. after WX)
2400 Closing Message (CW)

AMATEUR RADIO STATION K6KPH
Will be transmitting simultaneously on
3550, 7050, 14050, 18097.5, and 21050 kHz. 

Not all bands will be used at the same time due to demand by KPH for transmitters. Often 14050, 18097.5, and 21050 kHz will be used at the same time and as needed 3550, 7050, 14050 kHz will be used.

All K6KPH transmitters in use will simultaneously be keyed in parallel. K6KPH uses commercial - not amateur radio - practices - they "never" call CQ, they just monitor and await blind calls on their  frequency.  

They operate "SIMPLEX" - sending and receiving on the same frequency. Example they listen on 14050, 18097.5, and 21050 kHz.  Call them even if you don't hear them, if they hear you, they will reply.

Monitor the K6KPH frequency closest to the KPH frequency you are hearing the strongest.  KPH strongest on 12552.0 kc and 16736.0 kc suggests 14050 kc will be optimum. Listen first always!

If you do not hear K6KPH after listening for five minutes, call K6KPH on it's fixed frequency. K6KPH just like KPH is transmitting on assigned fixed frequencies and cannot shift up and down like a typical amateur station. K6KPH receivers like KPH are located in Point Reyes National Seashore and their transmitters are approximately 23 miles to the southeast in Bolinas, California.