FRIENDS OF THE SAAF MUSEUM, SWARTKOP, 02nd February 2006.
WIRELESS SECTION REPORT. For JANUARY 2006.
SATURDAY MORNINGS.
Although the usual Saturday activity (4 mornings in
January) is to join with the SA Antique Wireless Association, we do get a few visitors. The children are the most intrigued by the use of Morse Code.
Saturday 28-01-2006 was of particular interest as we made contact with a special event station ZS5A1GP run by the Durban Hams and set up somewhere near the track of the A1 Grand Prix in Durban!!!
THE Q-Code.
Some of our “research” involves a “bit of paper work”. The following item resulted from a request from Evert for something regarding Morse Code for publication in The String Bag.
In order to shorten any message a system of three letter groups, each one beginning with the letter “Q” representing often sent phrases, was devised. Two examples are QSY = Change frequency to ….. and QTH = My position is ……
When asking a question, a question mark is added after the last letter, QTH? = What is your position?
The longest sentence we have come across contains 32 words!!
QNH is slightly shorter with the question representing 29 words and the answer 31!!
The series QAA to QNZ are reserved for aeronautical services whilst QOA to QQZ are for maritime use.
I general radio amateur “conversation” abbreviations of words, similar to those used cell-phone SMS’s are used.
Some cell-phones also make use of morse code, the letters SMS are sent as dididit dadah dididit.
The following items in the Q-code might be of interest to the Friends”. The “Unofficial” meaning is put in the right hand column.
Little is known about the origins of this
|
Official Meaning. |
Unofficial Use |
| QAW |
I am about to overshoot the runway. |
I have made a slight error!! |
| QBF? |
Are you flying in the clouds? |
We think you are a little confused. |
| QTW? |
What is the condition of the survivors? |
Did you have a good good party? |
Another story comes to mind During the liberation of some Far Eastern Country (probably Burma) the Allied forces were approaching a POW camp which house certain air force officers, mainly RAF. In order “encourage” their liberators the letters QED were written on the roof of a building! The polite meaning is “Please hurry up”
HISTORIC DATES.
01/02/1920 START OF SAAF
02/02/1946 Last Lancaster delivered to RAF
22/02/2003 B-P Birthday (Boy Scout Fame!!)
