Signals/Telecom Section
Museum of Applied Military History
c/o
12 1950Z July 2004
Distribution List
OPERATIONS ORDER – “NIAGARA 2004”
Time Zone Used Throughout
This Order Is: Eastern Daylight Saving Time
Refs:
A. email Webb to Watt,
B. email
C. email McRae to MAMH, 11 Dec 03: 2004 Event Schedule
D. email Sullivan to MAMH, 13 Apr 04: Ft George Display Jul 17-18
E. email
F. email Sullivan to
G. email Sullivan to MAMH, 18 Jun 04: One Month Warning
H. email
Outline Plan (enclosed)
J. email Sullivan to
1.
SITUATION. Parks
Canada has requested the assistance of re-enactors to support their program at
2.
3. EXECUTION
A. General Outline.
(1) The static display will represent a Battalion Headquarters signalling section consisting of Wireless Sets (No. 19 and No. 48), Line Equipment (UC-6 switchboard and D Mk V field telephones) and Visual Signalling equipment (Flags, 2 Foot and Signalling Lamp). The display will be centred on a 2nd WW bell tent with appropriate antenna masts. All equipment will be operational. The display will be manned by a uniformed re-enactor who will describe the technology of the period and outline the capabilities of the equipment.
(2) The active display is primarily for the benefit of 19 Set Group members and other amateur radio operators. This will consist of an evening Morse code sked on 80 and 40 meters (Friday and Saturday). In addition, a carefully controlled experiment will be conducted to determine the ground-wave range of the Wireless Set No. 48. This experiment will be conducted exclusively between VA3ORP and VE3BBN.
B. Grouping and Tasks
(1)
On-Site Group. D. Lawrence
(VA3ORP) will install and man the display at
(2) Out-Stations. All members of the Wireless Set No. 19 Group are invited to participate as out-stations during the evening skeds. Use of both modern and vintage equipment is acceptable. QSOs will be kept short to permit the maximum number of out-stations to participate and qualify for a Special Event QSL card. Exchange to include: name, location, equipment and signal report. As this is a weekend event, high levels of QRM can be anticipated. Out-stations should search aggressively to find the NCS within +/- 10 KHz of the advertised frequencies.
C. Co-ordinating Instructions
(1)
ETA for D. Lawrence at
(2) Evening (DX) Skeds:
(a) Friday, 16 Jul
-
- 20:30 to 21:00 hrs on 7.020 MHz
(b) Saturday, 17 Jul
-
- 20:30 to 21:00 hrs on 7.020 MHz
(3) 48 Set Ground-Wave Test:
(a) Saturday, 17 Jul
-
(b) Sunday, 18 Jul
-
(4)
Departure from
4.
SERVICE SUPPORT. MAMH
coordinator for 2nd WW displays is Mr. Tim Sullivan ([email protected]
, 905-385-2701 – home). He will
act as Point-of-Contact between Sigs/Telecom Section and Mr. Dave Webb, Parks
Canada,
A. display space for bell tent (20 foot dia.)
B. tables, six-foot, folding, quantity two (2)
C. chairs, stacking or folding, quantity three (3)
D. space for antenna mast (20 ft dia.), approx 150 ft from tent
E. 110 volt AC power within 100 feet of tent
F. rations for one person for 17 & 18 July
G. entry passes for three persons
(David Lawrence, Theresa Lawrence and David Wilson)
H. storage area for utility trailer
(one table, six foot, folding plus three chairs)
5.
COMMAND AND SIGNAL. David
Lawrence is in command of the Signals/Telecom Section’s part in this
operation. He may be reached by
email at [email protected] (note: no final
“e” in “dlawrenc”, only eight characters) or by telephone at
613-387-2094. He will be departing
(original signed by)
D.G. Lawrence, VA3ORP
O/C Sigs/Telecom Sect
Enclosures: (2)
- Op “NIAGARA 2004”: Outline Plan:
- Op “NIAGARA 2004”: Radio
Skeds
Distribution List
Action Info
D.
T. Sullivan J. McRae, MAMH
Mbrs, 19 Set Gp
Operation
“NIAGARA 2004”
Outline
Plan
Purpose
To conduct ground-wave, range tests with the Wireless Set No. 48
Background:
The Wireless Set No. 48 (and its British counterpart, the Wireless Set No. 18) was the main wireless set for battalion to company communications during the 2nd WW. There are many cases where this link was reported to have been unreliable at distances that would seem to be within its capability. Whether this loss of communications was the fault of the set, atmospheric conditions, operator inexperience or simply using the set beyond its capabilities is unclear. Operation NIAGARA 2004 provides an opportunity to add to the pool of knowledge concerning 2nd WW wireless communications. Specifically, this is an excellent opportunity to identify the actual ground-wave range of the 48 Set under known conditions.
Proposal
A 48 Set ground station will be established at
For the mobile station, modern equipment will be used but with the power output set to a low level (equal to a 2nd WW set). The antenna on the vehicle will be a centrally mounted, base loaded whip. This configuration is a close equivalent to that used during the 2nd WW.
The
Using “Signal Training Pamphlet 2, Part VIII – Ground-Wave Ranges of
Wireless Sets, 1944”, the performance of the 48 Set in the Niagara area has
been estimated. For voice
transmission this is 2.5 miles (midnight) to 4.5 miles (midday) and 6.5 miles
(midnight) to 11 miles (midday) for CW transmission.
Open spaces with consistent soil conditions of these dimensions are
available in the
Operation
“NIAGARA 2004”
Radio
Skeds
(all
times are EDST)
1. Evening (DX) Skeds.
Purpose is to give Group members and the general amateur radio population an opportunity to work a Special Event station that is using vintage Canadian equipment (Northern Electric 19 Set) from an historic Canadian site (Fort George, Niagara-on-the-Lake). Three-quarter wavelength horizontal antenna to be used.
a. Friday (16 July)
(1) 2000-2030 hrs 3.705 MHz CW
(2) 2030-2100 hrs 7.020 MHz CW
b. Saturday (17 July)
(1) 2000-2030 hrs 3.705 MHz CW
(2) 2030-2100 hrs 7.020 MHz CW
2. Ground-Wave Skeds.
Purpose is to determine the actual range of the W.S. No. 48 under known conditions. Ten foot whip antenna to be used. Coordination between ground station and mobile station to be arranged using modern 2 M equipment.
a. Saturday (17 July)
(1) 2200-2230 hrs 7.020 MHz AM & CW
b. Sunday (18 July)
(1) 1000-1030 hrs 7.020 MHz AM & CW