Category Archives: Special Events

Museum Ships Weekend Operating Event 6/3-4/2023

MUSEUM SHIPS WEEKEND EVENT is sponsored by
The Battleship New Jersey Amateur Radio Station

As of May 30, 100 ships have signed up to participate, including the Iowa. This is NOT a contest! It is a FUN Event!

All stations that work at least 15 different ships of those participating (listed here) will receive a certificate if they send a copy of their log entries. Working the same ship on different frequencies or different modes DOES NOT count as 2 ships. Working a ship not listed will not count.

While operation on any amateur frequency is allowed, most ships will be operating in the General portion of the bands. Some ships could also be on PSK31, FT4/8, or 3880 KHz – 3885 KHz and 7290 KHz AM with either their ship’s original equipment or with modern equipment.

More information is available at https://nj2bb.org/museum/

LHA 6 USS America Amphibious Assault Ship Arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week

LHA 6 USS America Amphibious Assault ship arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week
LHA 6 USS America Amphibious Assault ship arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week

LHA 6 USS America Amphibious Assault ship arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week
LHA 6 USS America Amphibious Assault ship arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week

LHA 6 USS America Amphibious Assault ship arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week
LHA 6 USS America Amphibious Assault ship arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week

LHA 6 USS America Amphibious Assault ship arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week
LHA 6 USS America Amphibious Assault ship arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week

LHA 6 USS America Amphibious Assault ship arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week
LHA 6 USS America Amphibious Assault ship arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week

LHA 6 USS America Amphibious Assault ship arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week
LHA 6 USS America Amphibious Assault ship arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week

LHA 6 USS America Amphibious Assault ship arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week
LHA 6 USS America Amphibious Assault ship arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week

LHA 6 USS America Amphibious Assault ship arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week
LHA 6 USS America Amphibious Assault ship arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week

LHA 6 USS America Amphibious Assault ship arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week
LHA 6 USS America Amphibious Assault ship arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week

LHA 6 USS America Amphibious Assault ship arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week
LHA 6 USS America Amphibious Assault ship arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week

LHA 6 USS America Amphibious Assault ship arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week
LHA 6 USS America Amphibious Assault ship arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week

LHA 6 USS America Amphibious Assault ship arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week
LHA 6 USS America Amphibious Assault ship arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week

Guided Missile Destroyer Wayne E. Meyer DG 108 Arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week

Guided Missile Destroyer Wayne E. Meyer DG 108 arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week
Guided Missile Destroyer Wayne E. Meyer DG 108 arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week

Guided Missile Destroyer Wayne E. Meyer DG 108 arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week
Guided Missile Destroyer Wayne E. Meyer DG 108 arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week

Guided Missile Destroyer Wayne E. Meyer DG 108 arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week
Guided Missile Destroyer Wayne E. Meyer DG 108 arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week

Guided Missile Destroyer Wayne E. Meyer DG 108 arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week
Guided Missile Destroyer Wayne E. Meyer DG 108 arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week

Guided Missile Destroyer Wayne E. Meyer DG 108 arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week
Guided Missile Destroyer Wayne E. Meyer DG 108 arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week

Guided Missile Destroyer Wayne E. Meyer DG 108 arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week
Guided Missile Destroyer Wayne E. Meyer DG 108 arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week

Guided Missile Destroyer Wayne E. Meyer DG 108 arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week
Guided Missile Destroyer Wayne E. Meyer DG 108 arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week

Guided Missile Destroyer Wayne E. Meyer DG 108 arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week
Guided Missile Destroyer Wayne E. Meyer DG 108 arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week

Guided Missile Destroyer Wayne E. Meyer DG 108 arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week
Guided Missile Destroyer Wayne E. Meyer DG 108 arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week

Guided Missile Destroyer Wayne E. Meyer DG 108 arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week
Guided Missile Destroyer Wayne E. Meyer DG 108 arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week

Guided Missile Destroyer Wayne E. Meyer DG 108 arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week
Guided Missile Destroyer Wayne E. Meyer DG 108 arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week

Guided Missile Destroyer Wayne E. Meyer DG 108 arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week
Guided Missile Destroyer Wayne E. Meyer DG 108 arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week

Guided Missile Destroyer Wayne E. Meyer DG 108 arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week
Guided Missile Destroyer Wayne E. Meyer DG 108 arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week

Guided Missile Destroyer Wayne E. Meyer DG 108 arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week
Guided Missile Destroyer Wayne E. Meyer DG 108 arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week

Guided Missile Destroyer Wayne E. Meyer DG 108 arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week
Guided Missile Destroyer Wayne E. Meyer DG 108 arrives in Los Angeles for LA Fleet Week

Gray Radio Gang Legacy Radio Activation on IOWA

Under the auspices of the Battleship Iowa Amateur Radio Association, the “Gray Radio Gang” will sign NI6BB as they operate the IOWA’s legacy gear on 18.164 MHz J3E. The “Gang” expects to be on the air from 1700 UTC to 2200 UTC Saturday during Museum Ships Weekend with some operations possible on Sunday.

OPERATIONAL NOTES:

This activity requires a minimum of 5 “Gray Radio Gang” team members. Two are in the transmitter room on Deck 3, one is in FACCON I on the main deck where the receivers and switching is located and two are on the bridge with one doing the talking on the “Red Phone” and a second to log.

When transmitting the receivers are protected from overloading by cutout relays. As such there is an approximate two second delay from the time the operator stops transmitting and the receiver returns to service. In order to be heard, COUNT TO TWO after the NI6BB operator stops transmitting or you will not be heard. Also recognize that the EARS on the ship are not as sensitive as you might expect so be prepared to hear us much stronger that we will be hearing you.

QSL per information on NI6BB at QRZ.com and note LEGACY QSO on your card.

David Kulcinski (WD6AJR) calling CQ on 20 Meters from the Captain's Chair on the navigation bridge
David Kulcinski (WD6AJR) calling CQ on 20 Meters from the Captain’s Chair on the navigation bridge

Red Phone
Red Phone

Red Phone closeup
Red Phone closeup

Red Phone call log during Museum Ships on the Air weekend 2016
Red Phone call log during Museum Ships on the Air weekend 2016

Captain's Chair on the IOWA
Captain’s Chair on the IOWA

Captain's communications console
Captain’s communications console

NEPM Radio Call Sign Presentation

For those trained to read maritime signal flags, the four flags that appear on the IOWA’s port side up near the ship’s bridge, spell out NEPM. NEPM was the ship’s assigned radio call sign from 1942 until 1997 when it was stricken from the official register. Later the call sign NEPM was assigned to the US Coast Guard Cutter Heron.

N
N
E
E
P
P
M
M

In 2015, Mr. Bob Burchett contacted a USCG Spectrum Management Consultant to request that the NEPM call sign be reassigned back to the IOWA. After several months of negotiations his request was approved and the USCG Heron’s call sign was reassigned to the Battleship IOWA. The Heron now has a new call sign NHRN.

On May 28, 2016 in a ceremony aboard the IOWA, Mr. Burchett made a presentation to senior members of the Pacific Battleship Center, including Mr. Jonathan Williams, President & CEO and Mr. David Canfield, Vice President of IT / Security & CIO along with members of BIARA and Mr. Bryan Moss, who served as a radio operator on the IOWA during the Korean War from 1952-1953.

Below are photos taken during the ceremony.

Radio call sign signal flags flying on the port side
Radio call sign signal flags flying on the port side

Mr. Doug Dowds with Mr. Bob Burchett
Mr. Doug Dowds with Mr. Bob Burchett

Mr. Bob Burchett (WB6SLC) presenting the plaque
Mr. Bob Burchett (WB6SLC) presenting the plaque

Presentation of the NEPM call sign banner
Presentation of the NEPM call sign banner

Mr. Doug Dowds introduces Mr. Bryan Moss
Mr. Doug Dowds introduces Mr. Bryan Moss

Mr. Bryan Moss served as a radio operator on the IOWA during the Korean War, 1952-1953
Mr. Bryan Moss served as a radio operator on the IOWA during the Korean War, 1952-1953

Mr. David Canfield accepting the plaque with Mr. Jonathan Williams
Mr. David Canfield accepting the plaque with Mr. Jonathan Williams

Mr. David Canfield accepting the plaque with Mr. Bryan Moss
Mr. David Canfield accepting the plaque with Mr. Bryan Moss

NEPM Presentation Plaque
NEPM Presentation Plaque

Dorothy Grant Elementary School Amateur Radio Club, K6DGE, visits USS IOWA and BIARA

On Saturday, February 27, about fifty 4th and 5th grade students of Dorothy Grant Elementary School in Fontana, California and their families visited the USS IOWA museum ship and the Battleship Iowa Amateur Radio Association station NI6BB in the ship’s Communications Room.

The students are members of the school’s ham radio club, Dorothy Grant Elementary School Amateur Radio Club, K6DGE under the direction of Beverly Matheson, WA6BK.

Several club members have already passed their Technician Class exam including Suzette, KK6TQK and Jocelyn, KK6TQS.

Not only are the students active DXers, but David Collingham, K3LP, co-leader of the recent VP8 DXpedition to South Sandwich/South Georgia is the K6DGE club license trustee and an alumnus of the school.

To learn more about their club visit: www.k6dge.com

Doug Dowds, W6HB, goes over the morning's schedule of activities
Doug Dowds, W6HB, goes over the morning’s schedule of activities

Here we come...
Here we come…

This is just like Chutes and Ladders
This is just like Chutes and Ladders

Let's play Hide and Seek
Let’s play Hide and Seek

Smiling visitors are happy visitors
Smiling visitors are happy visitors

Time for a rest on the main desk
Time for a rest on the main desk

Now for some serious DX rag chewing with a friend in New Zealand
Now for some serious DX rag chewing with a friend in New Zealand

Jocelyn, KK6TQS, is ready to make a new contact
Jocelyn, KK6TQS, is ready to make a new contact