October 17, 2009

KPH Radio Station at Point Reyes


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

At the end of that "cypress tree tunnel" shot I showed yesterday is part of the historic radio station KPH.   This building contained the receiving half of the station -- the broadcast transmitters were located 18 miles to the south in Bolinas to minimize interference.

Mundane weather reports and traffic lists were pretty much all that went out or came in to KPH, although I suppose the occasional S.O.S. would liven the place up a bit.



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

Well, I mentioned the Cypress Tree Tunnel -- that's why I was out there -- but imagine my surprise when the massive door to KPH opened and Amanda Tomlin, an archivist for the National Park Service, asked me if I wanted to come in and see what was inside.

Well, when I saw the Kenwood R-5000 receiver (lower left in photo) I couldn't contain myself -- "Hey, I've got one of those" was my loud report.   Looking around the room I saw several other R-5000's -- I always knew it was a good receiver (cost me an arm and a leg).



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

Well, these days I suppose all those wires would be replaced by something solid-state about the size of a postage stamp, but I like my electronics "old school" -- you know, vacuum tubes and all that jazz.



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

Well, there you have it -- pretty much the whole world.   Dit, Dit, Dat.



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

Well, you and the rest of the crew would probably be in big trouble if you found yourself turning the cranks (there are two) of this marine emergency radio.


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2 comments:

Marvin said...

Definitely a time warp. Cool shots.

Brad said...

Oh man, memory lane...

I still have a Kenwood R1000 (definitely not in the same league as an R5000). And used to have a Yaesu FRG-7000.

Always wanted a JRC NRD, but those were way too pricey for me. And a Collins or Watkins-Johnson, ha, forget it...

Down in Los Alto/Mountain View was KFS, and there was a station south of Half Moon Bay on the coast.

 
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