Combine
MF-HF-Main transmitter, "Nera" with
1.2 KW |
In
the background, the "Redifon" main receiver. |
|
On the "Terje Vigen" I traveled only
as a vacation agent , but she nevertheless deserves attention because she
was no normal freighter, rather a ferry ship on line service between
(Danish) Aarhus and Oslo.
She could carry 400 passengers in
1'st and 2'nd class, 165 trucks, and 19 trailers. The departure time
in Aarhus was 4:00 pm and arrival time in Oslo was 8:00 am. The traffic
increase was high, but simple. Most passengers had almost no voice
in preference of radio communication over UKW, Lyngby Radio, Skagen Radio,
or Tjöme Rado at all times with respect to the ship's position.
Passenger communication was several
decks lower in a telephone room, where I put through the radio connections.
Back and forth it went about arrival time through bad weather. I
might for two hours use a channel to the respective coastal station. One
day I remember very well that I must send a telegram of about 150 words
from a passenger to England. I welcomed the opportunity to finally
use the telegraph key. During the ten minute exchange with Portishead
Radio there was burning dust from the transmitter which had not been used
for perhaps a month.
It was very unlucky that the arrest
and holding cell was directly over my room. Regrettably, every night
there was a passenger "too deep in the glass" in there, making noise. (small
wonder with the low price for alcohol) Many "Board Commandos" lay
there in high form singing and carrying on. Mostly I would go to
the bar in hopes that my cell-neighbor would go to sleep....
So it was on the "Terje Vigen" - this
ship was the end of my active sea-faring time. It is perhaps the
only one of my former ships that today sails. Recent good information
is that today it is the "Min Nan" in distant China.
My later radio career is now under
Norddeich
Radio. |