Historic coast stations KPH, KFS and KSM will return to the air

RCA "H Set" Transmitter 298 to be on the air

USCG Coast Stations NMC and NMQ will be on the air

Historic Stations WLO and KLB may join the event

K6KPH will be listening for calls and signal reports

Join us in person or on the air

 Morse code.  

It's just beeps in the air. Yet on 12 July 1999 some very tough looking grizzled old radio pioneers had tears in their eyes as the last commercial Morse code radiogram was sent. It was the end of an era. And as the last beeps faded away into the static they witnessed the end of the career to which they had devoted their lives.

These men - and some women - had stood watch over the airwaves on shore and at sea. Theirs was mostly the business of maritime commerce. But when their ship was in peril they were called upon to send the most electrifying three letters in radio, S O S, knowing that all their fellow radio operators would press their earphones close to get every scrap of information and bring aid to their stricken ship.

Once, our coasts were dotted with great Morse code radio stations, all communicating with ships at sea. They're all gone now... all except one, the one they called the Wireless Giant of the Pacific, located at Point Reyes.

On that sad day in 1999 another event took place. The Maritime Radio Historical Society (MRHS) was formed. We made it our life's work to honor the men and women of wireless by restoring that wireless giant. One year and one minute later the giant's voice once again spanned the oceas as we picked up the thread and kept the faith with our colleagues of the air.

Every year since, in an event that became known as the Night of Nights, Morse code station KPH has returned to the air, joined by KFS and the station of the MRHS, KSM.

This year our friends and colleagues at USCG station NMC have labored mightily to bring that storied call sign back to life on Morse code for the evening along with NMQ in Cambria, CA.   

We hope that stations WLO and KLB will join us again as hey have in years past. 

This is a global and local event.  Hundreds of listeners around the world will be waiting with their earphones on, waiting for the signals of the great station to once again arc over the dome of the Earth to their receivers.   

You can be with us in person!   

Dozens of people will join us at the RCA receiving station in the Point Reyes National Seashore to watch as the signals are transmitted by hand using vintage telegraph keys.   

A guest operating position will be available so bring your key and 'phones or use ours and operate K6KPH.  No license required!  So if you're an ex-commercial op who never became a ham here's your chance to sling some Morse again.  Or if you hold a current commercial radiotelegraph ticket you can operate KPH, KFS and/or KSM and have your license endorse to that effect.   

Date: Friday 12 July 2013 Pacific Daylight Time 

Location: RCA receiving station, 17400 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Point Reyes National Seashore  

                Click HERE for a map of the location from Google Maps 

Time: Doors open at 3:00pm pdt, first transmission 5:01pm pdt (0001gmt 13 July)

Refreshments: Served

Photographs: Encouraged

Tours: Given

None of this would have been possible without the trust and vision of the Point Reyes National Seashore.  The only reason these facilities were spared the bulldozer that visited all the others is that they are on park land.  And the only reason they have been restored to operation is that the PRNS staff understood their importance and trusted the MRHS to restore them to life. 

> MRHS Merchandise

 Support the MRHS and look cool at the same time. Such a deal!  We've got hats, mugs, T shirts, belt buckles and bumper stickers, all with variations of the MRHS logo.  Get a hat and mug for yourself and a put yourself in solid with the XYL by getting her a MRHS hoodie.

 Just click on the images above to go to the MRHS True Believers store and browse our offerings.  Thanks!