The following is the last message traffic, transmitted via Morse Code, by the U.S. Coast Guard. "Copied" live (off-air) on 8471 kHz on 0001Z; 01 April, 1995 (Actually 5:01 pm MST on 31 March, 1995), it marks the end of an era, in which many of us "worked the circuits" with CW, over many, many years. I myself, was one of the last CW operators at COMTRAPAC Communications (NPL3 - 4335 kHz) in San Diego, and in fact, hold the last "Speed Key Ticket" from this command. During my duty there, I worked many USCG cutters… their Radiomen were some of the best. Thomas C. Dailey - USN RM

NMN NMN
BT
O 1 1Z APR 95
FM COGARD CAMSLANT CHESAPEAKE/NMN
TO CQ
BT
U.S. COAST GUARD IS NOW CLOSING DOWN CONTINUOUS HF CW WATCH AND CEASING ALL MORSE CODE OPERATIONS IN THE HF BAND. AS WE CONCLUDE OUR WATCH WE WISH THE MARITIME COMMUNITY FAIR WINDS AND FOLLOWING SEAS. THE COAST GUARD IS PROUD OF ITS TRADITION AND LONG STANDING SERVICE TO THE MARINER ON HF MORSE CODE WHICH BEGAN IN 19 1 WITH THE REVENUE CUTTER SERVICE ACTIVELY EXPERIMENTING WITH WIRELESS AS A REGULAR MEANS TO COMMUNICATE ON LAND AND AT SEA TO THE FIRST MORSE CODE RADIO INSTALLATION ABOARD THE CUTTER GRANT IN 19 3. OUR ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS MISSION WAS TO RECEIVE DISTRESS ALERTS. HOWEVER SINCE 19 1 THE COAST GUARD HAS FAITHFULLY AND DILIGENTLY LISTENED FOR TRAFFIC ON BOTH MF AND HF COPYING AND RESPONDING TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CALLS FROM MARINERS IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE OR REPORTING POSITION WEATHER NAVIGATIONAL OR SAFETY INFORMATION. OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE PROVIDED MARINERS WITH URGENT SAFETY AND NAVIGATIONAL WARNINGS OVER HF MORSE CODE AND RECEIVED VESSEL LOCATION UPDATES THROUGH THE AUTOMATED-MUTUAL VESSEL RESCUE SYSTEM. WE WILL FEEL A SENSE OF LOSS WITH THE PASSING OF CW. THE NEED FOR OPERATORS WITH SENSITIVE EARS AND A FAST PRECISE KEY WILL BE REPLACED BY COMPUTERS MODEMS AND AUTO ALARMS. THE SPECIAL EMOTION AND EXCITEMENT ENJOYED BY CW OPERATORS CANNOT BE DUPLICATED AND THE CHILLING S O S SIGNAL WILL NEVER AGAIN BE RECEIVED BY A COAST GUARD RADIO STATION. BUT CW HAS RUN ITS COURSE AND THE COAST GUARD LOOKS FORWARD TO SERVING YOU ON THE NEXT GENERATION OF COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEMS, THE GLOBAL NATIONAL DISTRESS AND SAFETY SYSTEM WHICH WILL OPERATE WITH INCREASED EFFICIENCY RELIABILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS. FROM ALL COAST GUARD TELECOMMUNICATION SPECIALISTS WE BID YOU 73S. WHAT HATH GOD WROUGHT. SIGNED CG CAMSLANT.
BT
DE NMN
SK

At the end of the message, I heard many anonymous signals sending "QSL AR" and as I added my own, signing my old callsign, I sent "DE NPL3 QSL ZUT AR" …several ZUT's came back… The meaning? The US Military used not only "Q" signals, but "Z" signals as well, and it happened that a radioman from the CG Cutter Durable (NRUN) told me once, that (unofficially) Z-U-T meant… "CW Forever"

March 18, 2008