Night Of Nights 2017

I just received the Marine Radio Historical Society News letter.
Here are the details for Night Of Nights:

Night of Nights XVIII!

That's right, July is coming up and that means it's almost time for Night of Nights.  We've held this event every year since 2000.  It's always held on 12 July to commemorate the date of what was supposed to be the last commercial Morse transmission in the.  But on that day in 1999 the MRHS was founded with the goal of honoring all our heroes and heroines who came before us and made the profession of radiotelegrapher one of honor and skill.  We would do this by restoring station KPH, the Wireless Giant of the Pacific, to full operation - clearly an absurd idea.  No coast station had ever been returned from the dead.  The bulldozers were waiting at the gates, their engines quietly idling, ready to scrape the site clean of every trace of the station.  But KPH survived physically and, as all True Believers know, the voice of this great station can once again be heard across the world.

While KPH is on the air every weekend, Night of Nights is special.  In addition to KPH several other famous coast stations return to the air to re-create those wonderful days of yesteryear when these great stations stood shoulder to shoulder across the spectrum, each with its own personality and tone.  Operations begin at 5:01pm PDT (0001 GMT), X number of years and one minute after the supposed commercial transmission was made.  Thus we pick up the thread and continue the traditions of Morse code maritime communications.

For Night of Nights XVIII we anticipate that civilian stations KPH and KFS will be joined by US Coast Guard stations NMC, NMN, NMQ and NMW.  Full frequency information for these stations appears below.

But first, the details:

When - Wednesday12 July PDT (13 July GMT).  On air operations begin at 5:01pm PDT (0001 GMT).

Where - RCA receive site, 17400 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Point Reyes National Seashore.  Doors open at 3:00pm PDT.

What - You are invited to join us over the air or in person at the receive site.  Full tours of the facility will be given.  Light refreshments will be served.  See real live radiomen in their natural habitat! Those who whisper the words True Believer will be offered a personal tour of the Treasure Room. Tours of the transmitter site can be arranged on a case by case basis.  At 4:55pm the crowd will be called to silence and a description of Night of Nights will be given.  Then, at precisely 5:01pm the transmissions begin and Night of Nights XVIII will be underway!

Commemorative Messages - Each year we transmit special commemorative messages submitted by True Believers. These are often in the form of message to a father who sailed as a RO and has now passed on or a beloved uncle who instilled the magic of radio in a young boy by allowing him into his ham shack.  If you would like us to transmit your commemorative message we'd love to hear from you.  Just write to info@radiomarine.org

Contact: By email at info@radiomarine.org or by phone (only when the station is in operation) on +1 415-669-9646.

Particulars of Stations:

Here's the information for the MRHS stations that will be on the air for Night of Nights XVIII:

500

426

4247.0
6477.5
8642.0
12808.5
17016.8
22477.5

NOTE: All these frequencies except 500 and 426 will be originated by vintage "heavy iron" transmitters, RCA H, K and L sets from the 1950s.  500 and 426 will be originated by a 1990 vintage Henry MF5000D transmitter.  

NOTE: Broadcasts including commemorative messages, weather, traffic lists, etc., will be sent via KPH only.  KFS will send the station identification "wheel" on all HF channels when not working ships.

Reception reports may be sent to:

Maritime Radio Historical Society

Post Office Box 392

Point Reyes Station, CA 94956

USA

Note: Self addressed stamped envelopes would be greatly appreciated!  Please, no "green stamps".

KFS - Bolinas, CA

500
6365.6

12695.5
17026.0
22581.5 

NOTE: 12695.5 will be originated by a 1942 Press Wireless PW15 transmitter, the actual transmitter that was on the air on that frequency on 12 July 1999.  The other frequencies will be originated by 1990 vintage Henry commercial HF5000D transmitters.

KPH and KFS operators will listen for calls from ships on 500kc MF and ITU Ch 3 HF:

4184.0
6276.0
8368.0
12552.0
16736.0
22280.5

Reception reports may be sent to:

Maritime Radio Historical Society

Post Office Box 392

Point Reyes Station, CA 94956

USA

Note: Self addressed stamped envelopes would be greatly appreciated!  Please, no "green stamps".

Here's the information for the USCG stations that will be on the air for Night of Nights XVIII:

NMC - Bolinas, CA 

448 

500 

6383 

8574 

17220.5 

NMW - Astoria, OR 

448 

500 

NMQ - Cambria, CA 

448 

500 

NMN - Chesapeake, VA 

8465 

12718.5 

16976

NOTE: The presence of NMN on CW is a very big deal and a technical challenge.  NMN will be remote controlled from NMC.  Big thanks to ET1 Mike Leska without whom the entire USCG Night of Nights operation would not be possible.

Reception reports may be sent to:

ET1 Mike Leska 

ESD Ketchikan - QSL 

1300 Steadman St 

Ketchikan, AK 99901

USA

Note: Self addressed stamped envelopes would be greatly appreciated!  Please, no "green stamps".

We are sorry to report that station WLO, Mobile, AL will be unable to participate in Night of Nights this year.  We hope to hear that famous call back on the air again soon!

That's the information we have as we go to press.  Any changes will be sent in subsequent updates. Now it's up to you.  Check those frequencies, worm up your receiver, put on a pot of coffee and travel back in time with us for Night of Nights XVIII.

Please visit their sitefor more info, pictures and videos.

MARINE RADIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY