August 23, 2007 -- Wireless History Trivia

On this date in history... August 23, the first ship-to-shore wireless message in U.S. history is sent by Lightship No. 70 to a coastal receiving station at the Cliff House in San Francisco.

TRIVIA QUESTION:

In what year was the first Ship-to-Shore Signal to a U.S. Station made?

TRIVIA ANSWER:

August 23, 1899.

"Sherman is sighted," the message said, referring to the arrival of the troopship Sherman, which was returning a San Francisco regiment from the battlefields of the Spanish-American War. It marked the first use outside England of this technology, still in its infancy.

This message was sent during experiments conducted for 17 days with wireless telegraph equipment which was "not entirely successful." According to the ship's log, 6 carrier pigeons were sent ashore with messages during the test period.

Radio communication at sea quickly evolved into an indispensable safety aid for mariners. By the early 20th century ships were able to communicate with each other as well as with shore-based stations. The Japanese navy used radio communication to scout the Russian fleet during the Battle of Tsushima in 1905, a crushing Japanese victory and a turning point in the Russo-Japanese War.

The failure of radio communication played a major role in the Titanic disaster in 1912. The lone radio operator aboard the Californian had switched off his set for the night (as was common aboard vessels carrying a single operator) and never received the Titanic's distress signals. Had someone been at his post, the Californian -- by far the closest ship to the stricken liner -- could have arrived soon enough to save many of the lives that were lost.

To find out more about U.S. Coast Guard Lightships, visit this link: http://www.uscglightshipsailors.org/index.html

>>>>>>>> NET CHECK IN's <<<<<<<<

Congratulations to all who got the answer to tonight's Trivia Question and a hearty thank you to everyone for playing along. Here is the list of stations that checked in to tonight's net along with their answers:


* WB6A - Pat - 1888
* AC6AJ - Lee - 1904
* WB6ATV - Ron - 1907
* KE6CZH - Robert - 1942
* KG6DBL - Bill - 1909
* K6FCC - Khalil - 1907
* N6HY - Ernie - 1900
* KB6IS - Madeline - 1906
* KD6JEV - John - 1921
* N6KAS - Andy - 1913
* KG6KTC - Leon - 1900
* NY6L - Jay - 1901
* K6LMN - Roger - 1906
* KE6MSS - Thomas - 1899
* N6NGU - Lee - 1907
* KD6NIW - Oliver - 1901
* W6NVY - Gary - 1907
* KG6NWJ - Barry - 1895
* KF6PIH - Scott - 1903
* K6QVZ - Joe - 1906
* KG6RDA - Sidney - Checked in by ZQM
* KG6TRR - Bob - 1903
* AD6UP - Louie - 1902
* WA6USL - Murray -
* KF6YBM - Henry - 1919
* KF6ZQM - Harry - 1872
* N6ZZK - Theo - 1895
* KG6MZB - Matthew - 1899
* KI6ILV - Rob - 1922
* W6AID - Ara - No Answer
* KF6 MKN - Brad - 1907
* KI6GVX - Ryan - 1907
* KI6JVA - Mark - 1903

Thanks for all your support.

de N6CIZ.