CQ SOWP  CQ SOWP  =  We of the Society of Wireless Pioneers welcome you to this page and our organization. We hope that the information herein is adequate and worthy of your interest...

2008 K2IC Memorial Roundup

600M Band opened for Experimental License

Fessenden 100th Anniversary - 100 years of radio voice... www.radiocom.net/Fessenden ...

9-15-2006 Experimental operation authorized on 505-510 khz.   http://500kc.com/  
Band is open and operable now. See Logs of stations worked and heard.  
http://w5jgv.com/cgi-bin/csvread.pl   73s de Dave - AA1A - WD2XSH/17 - 4150M

A real life saga in a Pan American Clipper during the beginning of WW2...   www.radiocom.net/Clipper 
Ride home with the crew via the 'Long Path'   

Who We Are     Membership     Board of Officers  

Net Times and Frequencies      High Speed Code Practice

        SOWP Roundup     Application

Wireless Pioneers 2002

Members and Distinguished Others

SOWP Information

The Society of Wireless Pioneers (SOWP) is dedicated to the collection and preservation of the history of communications, particularly wireless and radio telegraphy. SOWP is also a strong influence against efforts to eradicate CW as a mode of communications.

Stories, reviews, and news items are published regularly in the Society newsletter, The World Wireless Beacon. Regular contact with members is maintained on several amateur nets. Society activities include Chapter meetings and nets, a low-stress QSO Party-style contest, and similar events.

Although the foundation of the Society's structure is the Professional Operating Member, SOWP recognizes that there are many whose interests in wireless communications are just as deep. These include inventors and entrepreneurs, researchers and engineers, technicians, instructors, and authors and writers who have recorded the written knowledge of the art. SOWP also has a place for historians and collectors, who preserve our history and memorabilia.

If you have been a professional wireless operator, or are deeply interested in any of the areas of this great field noted above we invite you to inquire about membership in the Society. We may have a place for YOU!

For additional information contact SOWP Headquarters, Waldo T Boyd, Box 86, Geyserville, Ca. 95441-0086

or e-mail Waldo T. Boyd, Exec. Sec. K6DZY@comcast.net ...

SOWP Basic Information

• SOWP, founded in 1968 by William A. Breniman, is a non-profit (IRS 501(c)(3)) corporation chartered in California.

• Dues are US$15 per calendar year

• Editorial Office: The World Wireless Beacon, Earl D. Wilson Jr., K6GPB, 5319 Sierra Vista Road, Murphys, CA 95247 Earlw@goldrush.com

• SOWP emblems, stationery, etc.: Inquire at HQ, K6DZY@comcast.net

The Society of Wireless Pioneers, Inc.
Waldo T Boyd, 12 Chapala Drive, Santa Rosa CA 95403

K6DZY@comcast.net
copyright © 1999-2002, The Society, all rights reserved

The Society of Wireless Pioneers is an unique and outstanding society of professionals and amateurs nearly all of whom have a common bond of having mastered the art of communicating over world-distances via "Morse Code" with hand key or "bug." Many of us have had the weight of responsibility for safety of life directly upon our shoulders. We traveled and were paid for it. At the core of everything we did was our ability to hear through atmospheric noise and make sense of "dits" and "dahs," voiced code-words, and even at times to "make sense" out of unusual silences. And in our Ham operating today the thrill is still present; we have a language that relatively few members of the world's population even remotely comprehends.

The art and science of wireless communicating is changing more and more rapidly as each year comes into focus and disappears over the horizon. But in spite of the adoption of geo-positioning satellites, burst transmissions at thousands of characters per second, and spread-spectrum techniques for making our communications confidential, CW is an art that will be with us for centuries to come. It is done with the minds and muscles of man, the only artifacts being the key and the ear and their meld with the mind.

Our Society is dedicated to the preservation of both the history and the art of CW communication, and of its offshoots. We collect and preserve the history of each advance in the art, but our hearts remain with Morse, and we are content to know that one day someone's life may be in our hands and only our knowledge of Morse Code will bring help to preserve that life.

Along the way we publish a quarterly newsletter, The World Wireless Beacon. From time to time we publish Sparks Journal, a special historical perspective, and a Register of Members. There are arm patches, caps, and other items available from the "Slop-Chest" bos'n. We have independently financed chapters and periodic "Nets" conducted by those of us active in Amateur Radio. High-speed code practice is conducted on a regular basis. While the prime objective of The Society of Wireless Pioneers is that of recording the history of Wireless and Radio from its beginning, including the preservation of memorabilia pertaining to our modes of communication, we also bring together those with this common bond, reuniting fraternally with shipmates and associates of bye-gone days as well as meeting and conversing with those now engaged in communication in its many modern forms.

The work incident to keeping the Society on a steady course is carried on by officers and members, all of whom volunteer their services and time without pay, a deserving tribute to our founder, William A. 'Bill' Breniman, who remained at our helm for over 20 years! Ours is a not-for-profit corporation registered in the State of California USA, with 501-c-3 IRS and post-office status. We invite you to apply for membership in our world-wide organization. If you are interested in fraternalism, memorabilia, and history of wireless and radio communications above and beyond the call of duty, we invite you to complete the accompanying application and return it to the address thereon. We'll do the rest.

Membership Application

73, Waldo T. Boyd, K6DZY, Executive Secretary, SOWP

12 Chapala Drive, Santa Rosa CA 95403
K6DZY@comcast.net

SOWP Nets & Schedules  

The Society of Wireless Pioneers, Inc.
Waldo T Boyd, 12 Chapala Drive, Santa Rosa CA 95403

copyright © 1999-2002, The Society, all rights reserved

SOWP 
Officers and Board of Governors

Joseph V. Gardner, K7CI, Rt. 7 Box 574B, Fairmont, WV 26554
e-mail:    k7ci@hotmail.com

Ms. Birgitta Gustafsson, Byjordsgatan 3 B, 4 SE-731 33 Koping, Sweden
e-mail: birgitta.gustafsson.221@telia.com

Theodore K. Phelps, W8TP, 8810 Walther Blvd  # 3307, Parkville, MD  21234-5771
e-mail: w8tp@comcast.net

Russell F. Latimer, 7 Parker St., Apt. 606, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 4A5 Canada

Alice S. E. Mitchell, 18, Burnards Court, Berrycombe Rd., Bodwin, Cornwall PL31 2NU England

Olive J. Roeckner, VA6ERA, 204 Fox Haven Drive, Sherwood Park, AB T8A 6J4 
e-mail: roeckner@telus.net

The Society of Wireless Pioneers, Inc.
Waldo T Boyd, Box 86, Geyserville, Ca. 95441-0086
copyright © 1999-2002, The Society, all rights reserved

Annual SOWP
International QSO Roundup 

DATE/TIME:  2009 to be announced

FREQUENCIES:

Five amateur bands, 3.5 MHz, 7 MHz, 14 MHz, 21 MHz, and 28 MHz are used. A ten (10) kHz portion is allocated at 50 to 60 KHz up from the low end of the bands. Example: 7,050 KHz to 7,060 KHz. Note: Listen for "DX" stations +/- 5 KHz above and/or below these segments.

MESSAGE EXCHANGE:

Message content shall be as follows:
NR - Your SOWP membership number without suffix
Call Sign - Your call sign
Name
Location - State, Province or Country

EXAMPLE: NR 783 W4HU John VA (no contact or RST reports required )

Note: NO CONTACT or QSO NUMBERS ARE TO BE SENT.

SCORING:

Each completed exchange with another SOWP member counts ONE (1) POINT. However, if you contact the same station on three (3) or more other bands, add three (3) points to your overall total point score for each station so contacted. 

Example: 50 QSOs, 2 stations on 5 bands, 5 stations on 4 bands, 10 stations on 3 bands
50 + 10 + 20 + 30 = 110

LOGS:

Please make your own log sheets. Include these columns: 

Band - Date/Time - SOWP # -  Station Worked - Name - QTH  ( State, Province or Country

The heading of your log sheet should show your own call sign and the text of the message you transmitted for each exchange - for example NR 881 W8TP TED DE. Your completed log sheets should be forwarded to: 

Send logs to: B. J. Russell, N6SL
7887 SW 80th Pl Road
Ocala, FL 34476-4511
or email: N6SL2007@yahoo.com

AWARDS:

Results will be posted on the web approximately 30 days after roundup ends..

73s and good luck 

YOUR S.O.W.P. ROUNDUP COMMITTEE:
Ben Russell, 1853-V, N6SL 
Ted Phelps, 0881-P, W8TP

The Society of Wireless Pioneers, Inc.
Waldo T Boyd, 12 Chapala Drive, Santa Rosa CA 95403
K6DZY@comcast.net
copyright © 1999-2002, The Society, all rights reserved

www.radiocom.net also hosts the following web pages:
www.radiocom.net/vx6   -  Operation Deep Freeze. U.S. Navy in the Antarctic...
www.radiocom.net/Fessenden   -   The story of an amazing radio pioneer... The world's first radio broadcast...
www.radiocom.net/stonehorse  -   USCG Lightship...    also  www.radiocom.net/TUK  Nantucket Lightship
www.radiocom.net/NMF  -   Saving Com-Sta Boston NMF heritage...

SOWP 
Membership Application

I hereby apply for professional LIFE MEMBERSHIP in the Society of Wireless Pioneers, Inc., certifying on my honor that I have been assigned (gainfully employed) as a professional wireless/radio operator at a bona fide ship, aircraft or shore station (govt., military, commercial, or private) handling messages and traffic on radio-telegraph circuits using one of the recognized international codes of the world.

If I have not had professional operating experience, then I do hereby apply for LIFE MEMBERSHIP as a TECHNICAL ASSOCIATE, and so mark that category in the classification listing that follows; landline ops welcome.

I understand and agree to these conditions of membership, (a) That I will keep the Society informed of any changes in (1) my post office and/or E-mail address; (2) Telephone number; (3) Amateur call sign and status; (4) Marital status. (b) I agree to the inclusion and publication of personal information or letters in Society publications unless I specifically advise the Secretary to the contrary.

I am sending by post office $15.00 USA funds for one year's dues, plus $5.00 one-time new-member fee (Total: $20.00), the current established rate. Dues are payable by January of the following year to maintain Active Status; I understand that if dues become delinquent no further publications will be mailed until the Secretary is notified of my intention, although my LIFE MEMBERSHIP continues.

Members are classified as ACTIVE or INACTIVE. Active members are those who pay their annual dues. Inactive members are retained in the Society's roster but receive no publications until dues for the current year are paid. Past publications may be purchased at cost if available.

The date and your signature on your check (cheque) or money order will be considered acceptance of the above described commitment. While we do not recommend that you send cash through the mail, if you chose to pay your dues in this way you may enclose a signed note stating that you accept the conditions and undertake the membership freely and willingly. If you do not wish to include personal information such as requested below in an E-mail communication, please request a formal application blank be sent by postal airmail, and read this communication for information only, as representative of the application blank that you will receive.

* Cut and Paste from below, or DOWNLOAD APPLICATION  then E-Mail to: K6DZY@comcast.net
or Snail mail to;  Waldo T Boyd, 12 Chapala Drive, Santa Rosa CA 95403

CLASSIFICATION: (Check the line that corresponds with your experience).

Senior Spark-Gap Pioneer (Service prior to 1915)   ___

Spark-Gap Pioneer (Service 1915-1926 inclusive)   ___

Pioneer (Service 1926-1939 inclusive)   ___

Veteran (Service 1940-1949 inclusive)   ___

Regular Pro Member "M" (Service 1950 to date)   ___

Technical Associate (Amateur, Teacher, Historian, Etc.)   ___

Family Name Given Name Initial   ________________   ___   ________________

Address City/Town   _________________________________________________

State, Province or? Country   __________________________________________

Postal Suffix (Zip Code)   _______

Telephone E-Mail address   _______________________________

Web address Fax   ______________________________________

Spouse name   _________________________________________

List your first Professional Assignment Sine   ______________________________

Date began ended   ___________________________________________________

(Send other professional data by Post, e-mail .rtf, FAX by arrangement, or other Internet service)

AMATEUR ACTIVITIES:

Present Callsign:                                 First Callsign:

Your "handle" or "nickname":

Voice CW sine:

NOTE: The above data may be filled out and sent as-is. You may also request the application form by direct e-mail by sending a message to K6DZY@comcast.net . If you are skilled in use of a text-editor and wish to do so, filling the blanks can be quite easily done, and the resulting block of text can be sent as the message, underlining not necessary.

ADDITIONAL HISTORICAL DATA:

We ask that you send any historical information regarding your station experience, of a more bulky nature, via regular or airmail post. A photo by e-mail or post will be appreciated. If you were involved in receipt or sending of a MAYDAY or SOS or CQD during your professional service, we will appreciate the details and any supporting documents that you may have. Please send electrostatic copies only — do NOT trust vital personal documents to the mail. Receipt of your Application for Membership by E-mail or web form will be acknowledged immediately, but will not be acted upon until dues and fee are in hand. Allow about 3 weeks for membership card, certificate(s) and formal letter of welcome.)

K6DZY@comcast.net Secretary...

The Society of Wireless Pioneers, Inc.
Waldo T Boyd, 12 Chapala Drive, Santa Rosa CA 95403
K6DZY@comcast.net
copyright © 1999-2008, The Society, all rights reserved

Bio's and Obits

• Centenarian - (Reproduced with consent from Shift Colors)