WHile this isn't specifically TenTec, I can't resist.
I have to ask: did any of you learn anything about operations during
WW II? In particular, Army company or battalion command posts must've
been involved in two-way CW comms. And, in doing so, they and the
enemy must've run across each other. I'm sure they didn't have
careful band plans so as to avoid each other. In any event, any idea
what happened when one side heard the other? Did the one not actively
communicating harass the other, or would they QSY in some
pre-arranged fashion? I've always been curious about this...
No, I was never in the military, though my Dad was. I've forgotten
what they called it, but he was in the Army Air Force's equivalent of
the Signal Corps and operated a LORAN slave station on Padre Is.,
training (it turns out) B-29 crews for missions to Japan.
Yes, I used to engage in CW traffic nets as a kid and I loved it. CW
traffic nets were truly well-oiled machines. I was even a NCS a
couple of times for a regional net. Alas, CW nets have gone the way
of the dodo, it seems.
Please feel free to reply off-list.
Kim Elmore, N5OP
At 06:20 PM 1/15/2007, you wrote:
It's always interesting in hearing about military "Radio Men".
I served during the Korean conflict when cw and radio teletype were
the main modes at that time. Most transmissions were encrypted. I
was an intercept operator with the Army Security Agency and was
stationed in Germany during the Berlin blockade. My MOS was 1766
and I still have my graduation diploma from the Southeastern Signal
School which is located at Ft. Gordon, Georgia. My certificate
reads: "High Speed Radio Operation Course (1766)" The following
courses composed the curriculum:
Signal Corps Orientation: 6 hrs
International Morse Code 702 hrs
Radio Procedure 64 hrs
Field Radio Sets 104 hrs
RTTY 44 hrs
Tape Relay (RTTY) procedure 32 hrs
Communications Center Operation 104 hrs
Total 1056 hrs About 6
months in duration.
We were taught typing and used Underwood upright typewriters (Mills)
to copy code. Our standard receivers were
Hammarlund Super Pros. To attain this certificate,we had to pass 25
wpm in the allotted time. (5 letter encrypted groups)
Those that couldn't, either got a an 18 wpm medium speed certificate
or washed out. A few washed out... but not many.
When I went overseas, we continued to use the Super Pro receivers,
and our standard transmitter was the BC-610.
As you can see, when you run a soldier through basic training
(varies from 8 to 16 weeks) and train him to be a top cw operator,
it is very costly and time consuming. For this reason I think the
military abandoned cw. It is not because of efficiency... in my
humble opinion. A properly trained cw net is a beautiful thing to
behold.... kind of like a symphonic orchestra!! In fact, some of
the best operators are also excellent musicians... they usually have
perfect timing, rhythm and balance.
During my 3 year enlistment, I made friends with some of the
greatest guys one could imagine. It was an honor to serve my
country as a "Radio Man"...... and it was that experience that led
me into this wonderful hobby that we all enjoy.
73
Walt K5VV
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