Operating USS Missouri Radio Room

[Jesse]

Not too many folks get to see this room but amateur radio operators are welcome to use the equipment as long as a general class license is held by the operator. I actually had somewhat of an ironic QSO with a Japanese station during operation. The radios used were obviously not original but I was pleased to use the original forward dipole array. I was very grateful for this opportunity. Here are some photos of the KH6BB station and others.

I'll post more pictures later if allowed, I'm not sure if there is a cap on this forum per post or whatever.

 

[W4ASZ]

More pictures, please ! (Or, MO pictures !)

From the KH6BB site :

"The principal HF transmitting antenna was this "discage" antenna up on the bow. It has two 1-5/8 inch heliax feedlines. When fed at the top, between the apex of the wire cone and the skeleton disk, it functions as a wide-band discone antenna in the 10-30 MHz range. When fed at the base of the cone against ground, it becomes a wide-band monopole in the 6-10 MHz. Range. The discone feed is the principal KH6BB antenna today."

I imagine that this antenna is a Collins Radio product and was installed as part of the refit of the vessel in the 1980s. I can only imagine working one of those beasts against a salt-water groundplane.

Now, how do we load it up on 160 meters ?

 

[Diamondback]

Actually, I have Original and 1980s Iowa-class models side-by-side on my workbench and the forward antenna is clearly post-refit; I'd be surprised if any of the original radio aerials remained, with the total redesign of the mast structure.

 

[W4ASZ]

Get Low, the RCA Way - 1941

Actually, I have Original and 1980s Iowa-class models side-by-side on my workbench and the forward antenna is clearly post-refit; I'd be surprised if any of the original radio aerials remained, with the total redesign of the mast structure.

I was making a half-guess on that. Thanks, Diamondback.

What they needed to have for you to use, Jesse, is one of these, the Navy RAZ-1 receiver set, tuning 15 -600 kc. (No kHz ! This is vintage !) :

I have one like the one pictured, with preselector (left) and power supply (right). The contract date on the plate of mine is December 2, 1941.

CW sounds great on a vacuum tube, regenerative detector radio. WCC in Chatham, MA used to rock and roll on 500 kc on my RAZ-1.

Ah, Nostalgia !

 

[Chasseur]

Great photos! Love the Missouri, I was just on her again a couple of weekend ago for a conference. But like a dunderhead I forgot to take photos this time...:eusa_doh:

 

[Jesse]

Glad to see some fellow HAMs on the board.

One thing I'm sure you are all aware of is how widebands are not exactly resonant :/

Running that thing takes some serious tuning but it was worth it.

Here are some more pics taken in and around the site.

 

[Jesse]

 

[W4ASZ]

Work 'Em Danno ! Then QSL.

A few minutes into the first episode of the new Hawaii Five-O you get a good look at the USS Missouri and that fabulous discage antenna in the background as McGarret (Alex O'Loughlin) and the Her Excellency the Governor (Jean Smart) converse.

 

[Jesse]

A few minutes into the first episode of the new Hawaii Five-O you get a good look at the USS Missouri and that fabulous discage antenna in the background as McGarret (Alex O'Loughlin) and the Her Excellency the Governor (Jean Smart) converse.

Hey alright, I have it on TiVo, I'll look for it.