I was contacted about a week ago; by a private telecommunications firm in California. They are experiencing some intermod or some kind of mixing problem on one of their repeaters, I guess. They asked me if I'd be willing to listen to a Morse Code ID that is coming in over their system; and if I could, would I please translate for them?
The engineer in charge sent me a WMA file and the CW ID, while kind of raspy, was clear enough for easy copy. I'd say it was at a rate of about 20 WPM or so.
In any event, I was able to e-mail back with the two commercial IDs that I was able to hear; for which they were most grateful. I think that now, they'll be able to contact the other parties and clear up their unintentional interference problems.
I guess being able to understand Morse Code still counts for something. I also guess that a lot of folks are either visiting this site; or my Website - or maybe Googling Morse Code comes up with a link to me pretty high up in the chain? In any event, it's fun to get e-mails like that and being able to help.
73 de Larry W2LJ
That is very cool Larry, glad you were able to help them out!
ReplyDelete73 de Jeff, KE9V
It is very cool! But they might have used a PC decoder or comparable piece of hardware. But, then you wouldn't have a great story to tell :)
ReplyDeleteIn all honesty, the thought never occurred to me to direct him towards "CW Get" or one of the other CW decoding programs. I suppose that would have worked just as well; but would have been a bit impersonal.
ReplyDeleteI was happy to provide the service; and I really got a kick out of the experience. And maybe, just maybe this gentleman now has a favorable image of Amateur Radio and Amateur Radio ops.
Personally, I was also quite relieved that the callsign was commercial and not Amateur.
73 de Larry W2LJ