One of a kind vehicle:
I saw a ham
radio antenna on my walk. That brought
back so many memories. One of my jobs in the USAF was with MARS (Military Affiliated
Radio System) It is a backup system for
communications tying military and international ham radio operators in national
emergencies. Replacing phones and internet if lost.
The process
maybe a little odd, but it is simple. A soldier in Germany goes to the MARS station to call his wife at 333 777 9898. The radio
operator locates Keesler AFB call sign and places a call "AFDDJ this is AfCCO" with a phone patch. Once the radio connection is made. The Keesler operator dials the given # and tells the person answering he has a phone
patch, are they familiar? If no he explains, you have a call from Germany it is
on the radio. He will speak first you will hear him but he cannot hear you
until you hear him say ‘over’ then it will be your time to talk. Once you have
responded just say over and he will come back to you.
It takes a
few tries, every one laughs. There is no privacy, everyone in the room can hear
both sides of the conversation.
There are lots
of funny stories, One I remember on the USS Independence. WE were at sea. My shipmate Daniel called his
wife back in Norfolk.
Keep in mind we’re all in one compartment, about 8 guys can hear the
entire conversation. Hello honey, this
is Danny ‘Over’.
“Where the
hell are you? Are you drunk?”---pause--- (operator says m’am you must say over when you
finish) “OVER”
“Sweetheart
we are at sea. I cannot tell you where, but I wanted to tell you I am okay.”
OVER
“I bet you
are. I know you cannot call from a D-- ship. You are drunk at some bar in
Norfolk!” “M’am you must say.. “I know,
OVER”
“Honey honest I am on the ship at sea, I must get off other guys are
wanting to call their wives. I love you.” OVER
“I will say
this, whenever you get home you are going to get what for because you didn’t
call from a phone booth instead of the bar.”…… --silence--….. Operator:
She has hung up, we are ‘OUT’.
Needless to
say Daniel took a lot of ribbing over the rest of the cruise. He decided to just write…..
(MARS at West Point)
Fortunately
with progress both ends can communicate without the radio ‘over and out’
protocol. Of course now with the internet most conversations are via cell
phone.
NiteShipslog
PS:
+018.jpg)
+040aa_edited-1.jpg)
5 comments:
My dear FIL was really into the ham radio! Good memory.
oh my that story is hilarious ! Yes thankfully phone calls are now easy with a cell phone. I never used to call people long distance because it was too expensive. Now it doesn't cost anything more. Thankfully some things do change !!
I read this to Tom and we both laughed so hard. I'd love to know 'the REST of the story' (as Paul Harvey used to say).
The only experience with HAM radio communications occurred back in 1960(?) when, shortly after my parents built a rental house in Punta Gorda, a hurricane hit the area. My dad knew someone at the lab who dabbled in HAM and we all trooped over to his house to see if he could find any details. I'm sure my mouth was agape!
LOL, this was a trip! The only thing I ever remember the ' over and out ' with was on CB's...something my x and I used to use to communicate with trucker friends on the road all the time. I know it's entirely different. The ham radios tho, were something my dad and twin were familiar with in their service days. Thanks for the memories. I know a phone call to the 'x' when our daughter was born, went to Germany and it cost over $30 bucks for a min. For today's technology improvements, I'm grateful.
loven'hugs to you and your lovely bride from our chilly, snow-covered North.
For a while I could not comment but it somehow fixed itself while I was just clicking around.
I no longer get emails when someone comments on my post and that bother me. I have to log onto my blog each day to see my comments. I love reading them.
Lisa
Post a Comment