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Titanic radio traffic link

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Hunsdon Cary III

Titanic radio traffic link

The sinking of the Titanic
A very interesting version of the wireless narrative of the sinking of the Titanic is offered by the BBC World Service. BBC producers used computer generated voices of actual telegraphic exchanges to simulate the frantic network traffic.

I expect this is of deep meaning to all amateur radio operators. The very foundations of our service are clearly laid in this narrative. You'll hear urgency, courage and disbelief from the wireless operators. You'll hear our on-air jargon even as it is used today. You'll recognise network message frustrations. You will be amazed when you hear echoes of our amateur radio service as it is today--especially in times of disaster and recovery. Please have a listen.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00q89fy

The valent efforts of the wireless officer John George "Jack" Phillips as his ship sank are beyond description.

73,
H. Cary, K4TM
K3-100 #3448
KPA-500 #698
[hidden email]

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Ken G Kopp

Titanic radio traffic link

I have a -very- large antenna insulator from Marconi's original station
at Glace Bay, NS. It was given to me during a visit there a few years
ago by the site's caretaker, who's a descendant of Marconi's foreman
and lives in Marconi's house. The attic has a big pile of Marconi's
"apparatus", but sadly, no keys. (:-(

I've been to radio's "Mecca" ...

73! Ken Kopp - K0PP
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Nate Bargmann

Re: Titanic radio traffic link

In reply to this post by Hunsdon Cary III

In addition to the link provided by the OP, here are a couple more
gleaned from a thread in the News forum at QRZ.com:

IEEE:

http://spectrum.ieee.org/static/the-titanics-role-in-radio-reform

A short film:

http://www.youtube.com/jkilts

Look for the "Last Signals" video. It is a movie portrayal of Jack and
Harold.

For whatever reason the Titanic's call of MGY (IEEE seems to have gotten
it incorrect as MQY in the article above) made perfect sense as it was a
UK flagged vessel. I was reminded of mention that the "M" stood for
Marconi in a later post. 1912 was long before internationally allocated
radio prefixes. Oops!

In response to the BBC verbalizing of the Morse messages I posted:

Nicely done!

What was left unsaid, and likely not germane to the story of the sinking
of Titanic, is that the actions of too many of the amateurs and
competing wireless companies' operators that night and in the aftermath
led directly to radio licensing. In the USA the Radio Law of 1912
established the federal government's authority over all things wireless
and banished the amateurs to a wavelength of 200 Meters. It also
required that prospective radio amateurs pass an examination and receive
an operator's and station license from the Department of Commerce. The
law had the consequence of cutting the number of amateur stations
drastically but also eliminated the free-for-all days of wireless. It
also had a few other unintended effects as well--official recognition of
amateur radio and rather than killing off amateur radio as originally
intended, it resulted in the eventual discovery of our presently known
shortwave spectrum along with the drive toward CW replacing spark as the
latter was more difficult to use on the higher frequencies.

So while I salute those earliest radio amateurs, our service as we know
it was truly born as a result of the tragic loss of the Titanic.

73, de Nate, N0NB >>

--

"The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all
possible worlds. The pessimist fears this is true."

Ham radio, Linux, bikes, and more: http://www.n0nb.us
______________________________________________________________
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kevinr@coho.net

Re: Titanic radio traffic link

Too bad Pete Hoover is no longer with us. He could describe how his
grandfather helped form amateur radio service in those days after the
Titanic sank.
Kevin. KD5ONS

On 4/12/2012 6:08 PM, Nate Bargmann wrote:

> In addition to the link provided by the OP, here are a couple more
> gleaned from a thread in the News forum at QRZ.com:
>
> IEEE:
>
> http://spectrum.ieee.org/static/the-titanics-role-in-radio-reform
>
> A short film:
>
> http://www.youtube.com/jkilts
>
> Look for the "Last Signals" video. It is a movie portrayal of Jack and
> Harold.
>
> For whatever reason the Titanic's call of MGY (IEEE seems to have gotten
> it incorrect as MQY in the article above) made perfect sense as it was a
> UK flagged vessel. I was reminded of mention that the "M" stood for
> Marconi in a later post. 1912 was long before internationally allocated
> radio prefixes. Oops!
>
> In response to the BBC verbalizing of the Morse messages I posted:
>
> Nicely done!
>
> What was left unsaid, and likely not germane to the story of the sinking
> of Titanic, is that the actions of too many of the amateurs and
> competing wireless companies' operators that night and in the aftermath
> led directly to radio licensing. In the USA the Radio Law of 1912
> established the federal government's authority over all things wireless
> and banished the amateurs to a wavelength of 200 Meters. It also
> required that prospective radio amateurs pass an examination and receive
> an operator's and station license from the Department of Commerce. The
> law had the consequence of cutting the number of amateur stations
> drastically but also eliminated the free-for-all days of wireless. It
> also had a few other unintended effects as well--official recognition of
> amateur radio and rather than killing off amateur radio as originally
> intended, it resulted in the eventual discovery of our presently known
> shortwave spectrum along with the drive toward CW replacing spark as the
> latter was more difficult to use on the higher frequencies.
>
> So while I salute those earliest radio amateurs, our service as we know
> it was truly born as a result of the tragic loss of the Titanic.
>
> 73, de Nate, N0NB>>
>

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Buddy Brannan

Re: Titanic radio traffic link

In reply to this post by Hunsdon Cary III

The saddest part of this report (at least on a personal level) is that I know most of the text to speech synthesizers they're using. Not sure how I feel about that. But, yes, this was very well done. (It's probably good that I didn't produce this, as I'd have them talking at least twice as fast.)
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY

On Apr 12, 2012, at 5:14 PM, Hunsdon Cary III <[hidden email]> wrote:

> The sinking of the Titanic
> A very interesting version of the wireless narrative of the sinking of the Titanic is offered by the BBC World Service. BBC producers used computer generated voices of actual telegraphic exchanges to simulate the frantic network traffic.
>
>
> I expect this is of deep meaning to all amateur radio operators. The very foundations of our service are clearly laid in this narrative. You'll hear urgency, courage and disbelief from the wireless operators. You'll hear our on-air jargon even as it is used today. You'll recognise network message frustrations. You will be amazed when you hear echoes of our amateur radio service as it is today--especially in times of disaster and recovery. Please have a listen.
>
>
> http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00q89fy
>
>
> The valent efforts of the wireless officer John George "Jack" Phillips as his ship sank are beyond description.
>
> 73,
> H. Cary, K4TM
> K3-100 #3448
> KPA-500 #698
> [hidden email]
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

k6dgw

Re: Titanic radio traffic link

On 4/12/2012 6:49 PM, Buddy Brannan wrote:
> The saddest part of this report (at least on a personal level) is
> that I know most of the text to speech synthesizers they're using.

I don't think that was quite it, Buddy. Knowing the BBC, I think they
translated the Morse to "normal" English, what ever that is. "DE"
became "This is," "MGY" became "Titanic," QTH became "Our position is,
and the like. I'm not sure why they went for the sort-of computer
voice, it actually sounded more to me like a real human trying to sound
a little computer-ish. But I did think it began to give a feeling for
the dire moments. I suspect "Shut Up, Shut Up" might have been QRT or QRX

We also need to realize that the RO's were not using Elecraft equipment.
:-) Their rotary sparks were hugely noisy, their receivers [and the RO]
heard [if it was very strong] whatever the antenna did not filter out,
DSP hadn't been invented yet, nor had keyers, QSK, or cans that covered
your ears and suppressed some of the external noise.

I've always wondered what it was like at Cape Race during the Titanic
sinking. I got to handle one small sort-of emergency while at the
coastal marine station. I was about to leave for college and I think
the OG's wanted me to get one emergency in my logbook. All sorts of
images went through my mind, none of which actually happened aboard the
ship of course. No one sank, no one even got wet ... but it was a very
exciting hour or so for me, the CG was having problems copying them, QSP
for the USCG was a big deal for a 16-yr old ham of 3 years.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2012 Cal QSO Party 6-7 Oct 2012
- www.cqp.org

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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Nate Bargmann

Re: Titanic radio traffic link

In reply to this post by kevinr@coho.net

* On 2012 12 Apr 20:20 -0500, kevinr wrote:
> Too bad Pete Hoover is no longer with us. He could describe how his
> grandfather helped form amateur radio service in those days after the
> Titanic sank.

It has been some time since I read it, but isn't a lot of Herbert
Hoover's actions with regard to amateur radio as Commerce Secretary
recounted in '200 Meters and Down'? No question, the radio amateurs of
the early days had a great friend and asset in the person of Mr. Hoover.

73, de Nate, N0NB >>

--

"The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all
possible worlds. The pessimist fears this is true."

Ham radio, Linux, bikes, and more: http://www.n0nb.us
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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David Cutter

Re: Titanic radio traffic link

In reply to this post by Hunsdon Cary III

Thanks for the link Hunsdon.

I was a little surprised by the speed of the Morse being sent early on; I
always imagined that on-off keying of spark was relatively slow. I suppose
this was made possible with the rotary spark machine.

Anybody know more on this?

David
G3UNA

----- Original Message -----
From: "Hunsdon Cary III" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Thursday, April 12, 2012 9:14 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] Titanic radio traffic link

> The sinking of the Titanic
> A very interesting version of the wireless narrative of the sinking of the
> Titanic is offered by the BBC World Service. BBC producers used computer
> generated voices of actual telegraphic exchanges to simulate the frantic
> network traffic.
>
>
> I expect this is of deep meaning to all amateur radio operators. The very
> foundations of our service are clearly laid in this narrative. You'll hear
> urgency, courage and disbelief from the wireless operators. You'll hear
> our on-air jargon even as it is used today. You'll recognise network
> message frustrations. You will be amazed when you hear echoes of our
> amateur radio service as it is today--especially in times of disaster and
> recovery. Please have a listen.
>
>
> http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00q89fy
>
>
> The valent efforts of the wireless officer John George "Jack" Phillips as
> his ship sank are beyond description.
>
> 73,
> H. Cary, K4TM
> K3-100 #3448
> KPA-500 #698
> [hidden email]
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Pete Smith N4ZR

Re: Titanic radio traffic link

In reply to this post by Nate Bargmann

I just found my copy of "Two Hundred Meters and Down." According to
DeSoto, the Congressional effort to suppress amateur radio predated the
Titanic by at least 3 years, and a series of bills were proposed in
Congress during the years leading up to 1912, when one was finally
passed. DeSoto describes this as principally an effort by United
Wireless and the Navy to avoid having to invest in more selective
equipment; he says that Marconi already had such equipment, wanted the
Navy to buy their equipment, and consequently allied themselves with the
amateurs.

At least from this account, interference with maritime communications
was the principal problem the Congress ostensibly wanted to deal with,
but the underlying cause was competing commercial interests. The book
doesn't mention the Titanic in this or any other context I could find on
a quick search of that period. Since the Titanic was the latest and
greatest, and Marconi provided its communications, perhaps the
interference with its emergency comms is folklore?

73, Pete N4ZR
The World Contest Station Database, updated daily at www.conteststations.com
The Reverse Beacon Network at http://reversebeacon.net, blog at reversebeacon.blogspot.com,
spots at telnet.reversebeacon.net, port 7000 and
arcluster.reversebeacon.net, port 7000

On 4/12/2012 10:51 PM, Nate Bargmann wrote:

> * On 2012 12 Apr 20:20 -0500, kevinr wrote:
>> Too bad Pete Hoover is no longer with us. He could describe how his
>> grandfather helped form amateur radio service in those days after the
>> Titanic sank.
> It has been some time since I read it, but isn't a lot of Herbert
> Hoover's actions with regard to amateur radio as Commerce Secretary
> recounted in '200 Meters and Down'? No question, the radio amateurs of
> the early days had a great friend and asset in the person of Mr. Hoover.
>
> 73, de Nate, N0NB>>
>

Pete Smith N4ZR

Re: Titanic radio traffic link

In reply to this post by Nate Bargmann

According to Wikipedia, Herbert Hoover was working as a mining
consultant from 1908-1914, and did not become Secretary of Commerce
until the Harding Administration took office in 1921. He had a strong
interest in regulating radio, principally broadcasters, but hams had
been around for a long time by then.

73, Pete N4ZR
The World Contest Station Database, updated daily at www.conteststations.com
The Reverse Beacon Network at http://reversebeacon.net, blog at reversebeacon.blogspot.com,
spots at telnet.reversebeacon.net, port 7000 and
arcluster.reversebeacon.net, port 7000

On 4/12/2012 10:51 PM, Nate Bargmann wrote:

Arie Kleingeld PA3A-2

Re: Titanic radio traffic link

In reply to this post by Hunsdon Cary III

Thanks for the link to that impressive podcast.

73,
Arie PA3A

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Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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Dave-3

Re: Titanic radio traffic link

In reply to this post by Hunsdon Cary III

Titanic while under construction used the callsign MUC. It didnt start using
MGY till it set sail. MGY was previously assigned to the "US vessel Yale"
see http://www.hf.ro/ The 1st letter "M" indicated a Marconi
installation...Marconi issued the callsigns!

For an interesting account of Artie Moore who received the titanics signals
in south wales on his hb rx , reported it to the police who dismissed his
reports until 2 days later (when the story hit thr local press) see
http://www.gb100ggm.co.uk/. I will visit the GB100GGM site tomorrow

Dave

ww2r, g4fre

From: Nate Bargmann <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Titanic radio traffic link
To: [hidden email]
Message-ID: <[hidden email]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

In addition to the link provided by the OP, here are a couple more
gleaned from a thread in the News forum at QRZ.com:

IEEE:

http://spectrum.ieee.org/static/the-titanics-role-in-radio-reform

A short film:

http://www.youtube.com/jkilts

Look for the "Last Signals" video. It is a movie portrayal of Jack and
Harold.

For whatever reason the Titanic's call of MGY (IEEE seems to have gotten
it incorrect as MQY in the article above) made perfect sense as it was a
UK flagged vessel. I was reminded of mention that the "M" stood for
Marconi in a later post. 1912 was long before internationally allocated
radio prefixes. Oops!

In response to the BBC verbalizing of the Morse messages I posted:

Nicely done!

What was left unsaid, and likely not germane to the story of the sinking
of Titanic, is that the actions of too many of the amateurs and
competing wireless companies' operators that night and in the aftermath
led directly to radio licensing. In the USA the Radio Law of 1912
established the federal government's authority over all things wireless
and banished the amateurs to a wavelength of 200 Meters. It also
required that prospective radio amateurs pass an examination and receive
an operator's and station license from the Department of Commerce. The
law had the consequence of cutting the number of amateur stations
drastically but also eliminated the free-for-all days of wireless. It
also had a few other unintended effects as well--official recognition of
amateur radio and rather than killing off amateur radio as originally
intended, it resulted in the eventual discovery of our presently known
shortwave spectrum along with the drive toward CW replacing spark as the
latter was more difficult to use on the higher frequencies.

So while I salute those earliest radio amateurs, our service as we know
it was truly born as a result of the tragic loss of the Titanic.

73, de Nate, N0NB >>

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Buddy Brannan

Re: Titanic radio traffic link

In reply to this post by k6dgw

Hi Fred,

No, I got that they were translating morse shorthand into plain English, but I can absolutely assure you that those were, in fact, software based speech synthesizers. I'm not sure about the German accented one, or the one that played the part of Olympic, but I definitely heard Neospeech Paul, Cepstral David and Cepstral Frank, Realspeak Tom and Realspeak Lee, and the part of Titanic was played by, I think the actual company is Babelsoft, anyway, his name's Peter. There might have also been Realspeak Daniel in there as well, I don't recall. This shows just how far text to speech has come. You're right in one respect though; those voices are modeled on and synthesized from actual human speech.

--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY

On Apr 12, 2012, at 10:25 PM, Fred Jensen <[hidden email]> wrote:

> On 4/12/2012 6:49 PM, Buddy Brannan wrote:
>> The saddest part of this report (at least on a personal level) is
>> that I know most of the text to speech synthesizers they're using.
>
> I don't think that was quite it, Buddy. Knowing the BBC, I think they
> translated the Morse to "normal" English, what ever that is. "DE"
> became "This is," "MGY" became "Titanic," QTH became "Our position is,
> and the like. I'm not sure why they went for the sort-of computer
> voice, it actually sounded more to me like a real human trying to sound
> a little computer-ish. But I did think it began to give a feeling for
> the dire moments. I suspect "Shut Up, Shut Up" might have been QRT or QRX
>
> We also need to realize that the RO's were not using Elecraft equipment.
> :-) Their rotary sparks were hugely noisy, their receivers [and the RO]
> heard [if it was very strong] whatever the antenna did not filter out,
> DSP hadn't been invented yet, nor had keyers, QSK, or cans that covered
> your ears and suppressed some of the external noise.
>
> I've always wondered what it was like at Cape Race during the Titanic
> sinking. I got to handle one small sort-of emergency while at the
> coastal marine station. I was about to leave for college and I think
> the OG's wanted me to get one emergency in my logbook. All sorts of
> images went through my mind, none of which actually happened aboard the
> ship of course. No one sank, no one even got wet ... but it was a very
> exciting hour or so for me, the CG was having problems copying them, QSP
> for the USCG was a big deal for a 16-yr old ham of 3 years.
>
> 73,
>
> Fred K6DGW
> - Northern California Contest Club
> - CU in the 2012 Cal QSO Party 6-7 Oct 2012
> - www.cqp.org
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html