Apologies for absebce this year / due to Various Commitments unable to attend.

We have been contacted by Dr. Jo Stanley requesting information from our members about female Radio Officers. Jo asks “ I’m writing an educational book about women’s history at sea, which includes a chapter on R/Os. Already I’ve put together something from a Ship’s Nostalgia discussion, Joanna Greenlaw’s book, and various other sources. But I could do with the professional advice of some veterans. It would be really helpful if your members could help me:

1. link up with any such women and those who’ve worked with them

2. by sharing any stories about women R/Os on ships

3. advise me about how to understand their situation in the different periods of history”

I have had a long and pleasant conversation with Jo and given her some information and she has already closed the loop with Rose King, who is, of course, the perfect person to speak to.  Can any members who feel they can assist Jo in the first instance please send an email to Tony Selman who will pass the details on to Jo.

Does anyone know the call sign of the LOF ship MV London Statesman circa 1970?

I need it for a bit of research that I am doing.

Thanks

Jeremy

GW3VOL   /   SV0XBJ

Greetings from an old Lady in deepest West Cork. [the vessel I mean|],   MV Coos Bay /EINX, sends a hello. Got my copy of ‘THE SILENCE’ and am savouring it.   Fantastic job done and they can’t totally forget us all now.         One little crib,  there seems to be a lack of “ship to ship” lateral contact between members of the Cloth and thats a pity as today we all have enough electronics on hand to fill the Prom deck of RMS Queen Mary!.         So here I sit apparently the sole surviving Sparkie in Southern Ireland wondering if theres any one into a bit of communication?

The scene here is a now laid up schooner fitted with Marconi gear, a virtual museum, slowly attempting to restore it to er, futile operation.    GLD, where art thou now?.    So a bit of advice OM would not come amiss. Like the wee Salvor2 TX is reddening its 807″s and won’t load up. No drive?.    Anyone know of a supplier of Octal KTW63′s for my senile Ellectra?.  Stuff like that.       I really don’t want to regress to a Quenched Arc Spark yoke when the micro chips all die!   [Only joking].

And, does anyone know about antennas?.     Earthing plates on wooden vessels?.    Come on, talk to me Guys and Gals.              73′s,     BGraham.

Full page advert for the book on page 7 and a very nice book review on page 41 of March’s Radcom.
Well done chaps.
Robin Powell

Am trying to locate the Chief RO, John or was it Val [?] Gannon from Ballinrobe Co Mayo who ”educated” a rather callow trainee fresh out of Tivoli REI, Cork, back in 1965 onboard ore carrier MV PENNYWORTH . Anyone with info?.  73′s, Bruce Graham.

Tony Sedman pointed out that there’s some doubt as to whether MRD lasts 35 or 36 hours.  I’m not sure myself!  I’ve seen both times from different members of the organising team.  I would think if you’re still on the key at 2300 (which will be midnight by then, BST) you won’t care if it shuts down then or at 1 am – you’ll probably be in bed anyway!

Dave.

Was reading the info on this event which is to take place from 1200Z April 14th to 2300Z April 15th and notice that you have quoted the elapsed time to be 36 hours.

For the times given 1200Z from one day to 2300Z the next day the elapsed time is 35-hours and not 36-hours.

I think, Dave, you may mean operation from 1200Z to (2400Z) 2359Z (to be pedantic) is indeed 36-hours.

Please clarify.

Incidently I have applied for CEPT operation from Mugla-Dalaman using the call TA4/MX0ROA over this period of time. Lets hope there is a favourable outcome from TCSWAT!

73 de Tony SEDMAN

Ex-R/Os organise a Marine Radio Day on the air each year.  During this time, those with a radio amateur license go on air and exchange callsigns and names of their last or favourite ship.  QRK and QSA is given and Silence Periods observed.

The number of participants is very impressive – many thousands over the 36-hour event.  Some old friends are reunited, new ones made, and everyone has a lot of fun.  A fair number of ex-coast station operators come up and act as coast stations on the day – GKA, PCH, DAN and further afield.

This year’s event takes place from 1200Z April 14th to 2300Z April 15th.  All bands will be used, though from experience the busiest is 40m.

As part of the ROA drive for more publicity, we are going to use the club callsign MX0ROA.  All QSOs will be used to advertise ourselves.  I believe we are the first of the various RO associations to do this.

We are looking for UK-licensed operators to use the MX0ROA callsign in 2-hour slots.  You can do this from your own home-based station.  I hold the license for this callsign, and all you need is my permission.  Two slots are already taken, so don’t hang about!  Of course, you can revert to your own callsign outside the 2-hour slot and carry on working the event

If you are unlicensed, but would like to get on the key for this event, it can be done.  You need to visit with a licensed operator and, under the terms of the license, he can allow you to use his station and callsign “under supervision.”  Imagine working GKA or another ship on the key after all these years!  If you would like to do this, get in touch and we will try to link you up with a suitable operator.

The ROA input is being organised by the ROARS group.  Please get in touch if you would like more information or wish to participate.

This event was started many years ago by our own David Barlow, but is now organised by Rolf Marschener with another German and Italian colleague.  The website is http://www.doese-apprt.de/mrd.  Whether you are going to use MX0ROA or not, you are requested to register with the website for the event.

Hope to work you on air on the day!

Dave Ellis.

My copy of “The Long Silence Falls” has arrived.  A very professional production indeed!  I had a quick glance at the content and have already begun browsing.  It’s going to be good reading for some time to come.

So congratulations to the whole team for bringing this huge project to such a successful conclusion.  The amount of work and professional dedication is a credit not only to them but to the ROA as well.

Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year to the team and all ROA members.

Dave Ellis.

On December 12 – 13 the Amateur Radio Cubesatwill be using its optical LED beacon to flash a message in Morse Code over the USA and the British Isles/Europe which may be visible to the unaided eye althogh binoculars are advised.

For the UK it looks like Thursday December 13 at 22:10:1030 GMT is the time to watch.

See http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=11815

Charles Shelton ROARS

Hi Kris.     QSL on that info OM, many thanks esp ”SS Horsted GJQD” an elderly Stevie Clark collier  they put me on.   The ”Moorpark” connection explains a mystery as I didn’t in fact serve on a ghost ship ‘cos the origonal Horsted was sunk in WW2!.     Cheers, Bruce Graham/633.

In the QRZ column of the December 2012 QSO, I am attributed with the idea of the ROARS banners. I think it was actually Geoff Valentine-Love’s idea.
Dave Ellis.

Marine Radio Museum Society (Wirral) looking for either an

ALERT or MONITOR  stand alone 24v emergency rxer – does anyone know if they are still around?

Most of you have probably heard this before, but just in case you haven’t…

Mike Batt was head Womble of Wimbledon…

CIrca 7017 kc/s is the prime frequency at present.  Charles G0GJS

I have recently become friendly with Joe Clark who is a former Orient Line Purser.  Joe left the sea and went into banking but retained his love of the sea and once he retired he turned his hand to producing maritime nostalgia dvd’s with a particular emphasis on Ocean Liners and Cruising.  For perhaps obvious reasons he has a slight bias towards P&O and Orient Lines (quite rightly so in my opinion!) but his output is by no means exclusive to them and many more shipping lines are covered in his repertoire.  He regards production of the dvd’s as a hobby rather than a business but that does not do justice to some very interesting watching in my opinion.  I think it is fair to say that his output is not as well known as the more extensive range from Snowbow and some members I have spoken to about maritime nostalgia did not know about Joe’s dvd’s.  I provide a link below to his website and hasten to add I am not on commission but I think it might be useful to a few members whom I know, like me, are avid collectors of maritime nostalgia.

http://www.joeclarkfilms.com/ships.htm

Hi Tony.   Many thanks for trying.   Bit odd no record of those 2 Home trade vessels I served on not being listed whilst sailing under the British flag,  [ss Horsted - of Stephenson Clarke and mv Free Enterprise 1 - of Townsend Ferries],  circa mid 1960′s.     Anyone with info?.  73′s.  BGraham.

I noted the discussions in the latest issue of QSO. How about a “broadcast” of Radio Officers?

Many years ago while being part of the VHF squad at Marconi Depot in Liverpool I had the task of investigating the strange happenings concerning the Master on the Irish Ferry “Munster”.

The Master reported that every time he used the Argonaut VHF he got an electric shock.
No other officer had had the same experience.

I had been called to the ship twice before and no matter how I operated the VHF even while grasping the brass Telegraph most firmly, I never receive one tingle.

On this third occasion, both the Master and myself were getting quite concerned, and as the Master assured me he had received quite a “shock” while docking that morning so matters had to be firmly taken in hand.

I thought we now had to go into the realms of “Psychology” to try and convince the poor man that it was all in the mind.

Clipping my big Avo 8 to the brass telegraph and placing the wheelhouse chair close by, I lay the handset on the chair (like an operating table) and proceeded to push the prod end into the hard bakelite body -. slowly we worked along the press arm and down towards the mouthpiece.
Suddenly when I reached the corner where the pressel arm disappeared into the base of the handset, the Avo 8 needle shot up to 110Volts.
One of us was extremely amazed, the other in thankfulness!

I could not believe it, but on close examination, I found that moisture and dust had formed a conduction path down into the mouthpiece, where lay the pressel contacts which keyed the transmitter.

All the other Officers using the handset, had operated with their hand at the centre. While the Master had been holding it at the extreme end near the mouth piece, which, when he gripped the Telegraph gave him a 110 volt belt as he earthed himself – nearly dispatching him through the wheel house window.

There is an element of truth in all things!

Stan McNally

The Marconi New Street works are being commemorated as a  centenary of operations on Saturday 23 rd. June.  Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society (CARS) are supporting the Day’s events at the Chelmsford Science and Industry Museum, which of course  houses the ROA memorabillia.  Two HF stations will be operating in the amateur bands – one of unique significncance.  Tears of nostalgia are expected to flow as some 200/300  former employees including a number of ex-R/Os’ and the general public, turn up with their families.

Please go to the CARS website  www.gomwt.org.uk for full details.  Its also listed in the ROA website link list.

Charles Shelton

To those of us of a more ‘laid-back’ inclination, the sight today on TV of the winner of the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot – ‘Prince of Johanne’ ridden by John Fahy – with “ROA” emblazoned across his Jockey’s colours, must call for hearty congratulations to our PR Department.

I hope at 16-1 Members gave the bookies a hard time!

Error in published link address.  Apologies.  Should read www.ycoyacht.com   then go to ALL NEW  then go to LONE RANGER

Hi Clive.  Will QSX for QRP at end of net 3538/7017 circa.  Probably condx will dictate 7017.  QRA?

73 de Charles G0GJS

For Gordon Shelton G0MMD. You never told me deep sea rescue was like this.  Please see link www.ycoyacht.com/loneranger.  Why did you swallow the anchor?

Lone Ranger is up for sale at a mere$20m.  Might make a small dent in your salvage ‘pot’ !

Hope your recovery going to plan.

73 de Charles Shelton G0GJS

I am seeking to buy a radio room clock and a registry of  ship call signs from the period 1955 – 1965…….Any help would be appreciated……..Dave Clemson

On the good ship Lloydcrest when we docked in Rotterdam after a fairly rough passage across the Atylantic, I was visited by the Radio Surveyor.

I had been reported  by the American’s for being  off frequency during my Short Wave transmissions. When he saw what I was operating with a Marconi 381/398 transmitters and I told him how the aerial  swayed during the passage and the buffer amp  was not much good, he was a lttle more understanding. Further assuring him that I would get the Terch’s aboard when we got back to the UK, he left quite satisfied

I felt you  were’nt a fully trained RO until you had been reported by the Yanks.

I also got one for calling too many times without giving my callsign

Try getting through to Mena Al Amadi (MBU)  if you did’nt call him about 20 times( MBU  MBU   MBU etc) before giving you callsign- you would never get through – when he said “de” you jumped in with both feet!

He would only select about ten ships before he called it a day.

Stan McNally

CQ,CQ,CQ.    Can anyone help me?.    I have this now defunct ex Marconi ships radio station/EINX and I’m trying to restore it for er, Posterity and the PO hand book for Radio Officers and List of Ship Stations [1980's] succumbed to decades of damp.  Would be pleased to do a deal with any one who can assist.   Phone +353 087 2176286 or Email me at coosbay1968@gmail.com   TKS.73;s.

The ROARS group has recently updated their pages on this site.  A lot of dated material has been archived and their mission is now displayed prominently.  New information has been posted showing clearly how RO’s can contribute to and help the amateur radio fraternity, especially in times of national disaster or emergency.  It offers assistance to those RO’s who would like to use their CW skills again, with help in obtaining a license, setting up a small station in your home, and even antenna installation.  Well worth a visit!

Dave Ellis.

Hi,

This is Stan McNally

Just like to say I mangaed to get into the group, web Site after a few attempts.
Hello All
I really enjoyed the AGM and the meal and conversation at the end was really great .
Hope you enjoyed the vist to our FORT PERCH ROCK. and thanks for taking part in our salute to Capt Robin Woodall (Ex Capt QE2)

Best regards,

Stan

Hi all

Any former Shell people might be interested in Kees van Helder’s excellent web site that you can find here.  It lists just about every Shell tanker that ever existed, with pictures and lots of other details.  It even allows you to add the date(s) that you sailed on each one.

Nostalgia, or what!  Some of them were ugly so-and-so’s though…

Cheers

Bernard Kates

Those of you that attended the AGM last year know that the Committee agreed to undertake the task of seeing if a book that was generically titled “The Best of QSO” could realistically be created.  There have been many excellent articles in QSO over the years and it was thought that not all members will have had the chance to read all the QSO’s over that time plus the Committee wanted to leave some form of legacy of the Radio Officer’s profession and this seemed the best way.

I am delighted to advise you that due to the hard work of Ian Channing and Roger Bentley a most interesting selection of stories has been pulled together.  Tony Selman is currently proof reading the copy and making some layout adjustments.  We will have a draft copy to present to members at the AGM, although the final published version will not in actual fact be produced in the same way, but the contents will be the same.  A title that the editors think is highly appropriate has been chosen but we will save this as your Saturday morning surprise at the AGM!  As it stands we expect the book to comprise some 400 A4 pages and will contain some 30 pages of photos within that total.  The total number of pages has not yet been finalised.

This has not been an easy task as QSO over the years has been created and edited on 5 different computers and saved on 5 different media formats and standardising the layout, tabbing and paragraphs has been in the nightmare category.  Some stories from early QSO’s cannot be traced electronically.

If all goes according to plan we would anticipate publishing the book during the late Spring/early Summer and the cost will be kept as low as possible as the Committee does not intend this to be a profit making exercise.  It is to be hoped that as many members as possible will purchase the book.

Tony Selman

21 March 2012

my vote goes to the newer version of the braid. also interested to find out what the briaid is for passenger ship comanies as I suspect there is now no common braid.if we could settle this then I would try and get recognition for a common braid for new generation of ETO. Clive evans 071050z

greetings gents

there was an article in the latest qso about satellite coverage in the arctic regions. at the end was a suggestion of using irridium in the gmdss system. would the author please contact me as would like to persue this idea via the professional and technicall forum at nautilus to try and push this on an agenda.

clive evans

ex shell international shipping

vice chair of professional and technical forum at nautilus

Gentlemen – congratulations brilliant web site .

There was talk earlier (I think from Tony) of posting photographs in the gallery of those who can still get into their uniforms.  This should be fun!  Whereabouts in the gallery should they be inserted?

Dave Ellis.

Quote from Daily Telegraph 7th January in obituary about actor Frederick Treves:-
“After the Nautical College, Pangbourne, Freddie joined the Merchant Navy at the age of 17. While serving in a convoy seeking to relieve Malta, he was one of the few survivors when his frieghterWaimarama, which was carrying high explosives and aviation fuel, was sunk on August 13 1942. Treves saved the life of Radio Officer John Jackson, and was awarded the BEM.”
As Treves was born in 1925 he was only 17 years old when he saved John Jackson. I wonder if John Jackson is still alive today?

David Barlow

The new website is a great improvement over the old one – well done Tony and the team.

Dave Ellis.

Very impressed  Good luck with the Forum

I would like to start a debate on antennas. Did anybody do any serious study for PMG on antennas, or was it just, connect it and off you go