DL0SFK / MGY “TITANIC MUSEUM RADIO ROOM”

Article by Radio Officer Sylvester Föcking now DH4PB

A short story of how three RO’s took part in the MRD in an Titanic Exhibition in the Historical Museum in Speyer.

R/O Sylvester Föcking at the TITANIC Museum

The Historical Museum of Speyer presents “TITANIC” the exhibition with real discoveries from 21st of December 2014 until the 28th of June 2015.
The main attraction of this exhibition are the original artefacts that have been salvaged from the seabed. The Exhibition includes presentation of  passenger accommodations including class differences of the passengers on board from 1st to third class. The atmosphere in the showrooms is rather sombre which gives you a feeling of the oncoming catastrophe.

Left to right RO’s of the “Seefunkerkamaradschaft Bremen” Paul Hag, Walter Baumann and Sylvester Föcking

Three former RO’s of the “Seefunkerkamaradschaft Bremen” Paul Hag, Sylvester Föcking and Walter Baumann had the idea to set up an amateur radio station within the premises of the exhibition. As date we choose the two MRD days. This idea was submitted to the authorities of the museum, which in turn gave us  their approval to do so. Furthermore we were assured the help of the technical staff which helped us in every way they could.

To make a long story short. the presentation of our simulated “Titanic Radio room” in full action was short of a sensation. In addition of demonstrating QSO’s, RO Föcking had had a great idea to give the visitors the possibility to address Telegrams to their friends and loved ones. For this purpose a “Telegram-Office” with exactly the same Telegram Forms as were used on the Titanic was set up.  Once the peoples understood what we were doing we were nearly run over by visitors wanting to send a telegram.

The procedure was simple. The visitors had to fill in their address, choose a phrase from among  five pre taped sentences, sign the form and pay one Euro.

Then the telegram was brought to the Radio Room from where it was per QSG transmitted to our colleagues at DAN, Nordeich Radio. Nordeichradio in turn forwarded each and every telegram to the address. SLT

The whole operation was an unexpected success and this thanks to the help of the Historical Museum. Visitors and staff of the museum were literally enthusiastic watching their telegrams transmitted by radio.

73’s

Radio Officer Sylvester Föcking now DH4PB