Portishead Radio - a new book

G

GM0WEZ

Super Member
Recently published is a history of the maritime radio coast station Portishead Radio:Portishead Radio- A friendly voice on many a dark night by Larry Bennet G4HLN, a former R/O at the station.

Unlike many specialist interest books it is rather well written and professionally produced. If you are interested in maritime radio like I am it's pretty much a must have. However if your interest is purely in morse radiotelegraphy, then you will still find perhaps a third of the book interesting. Especially the chapter on the goodbyes from the station on the last day of CW operation, and the annex on the keys used at Portishead (including the electronic keyers).

 
GM0WEZ said:
...Especially the chapter on the goodbyes from the station on the last day of CW operation...
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I'm not sure if you are aware of it, but there is a DVD available that was recorded at some of the coastal stations when they made their final transmissions.

It's an odd DVD to watch in a way, as there is about a two minute spoken introduction, and the final fifty minutes plus of the DVD is in CW (or rather the sound track is).

I grabbed a copy years ago when it first came out, and it has a reproduction of a hand drawn sleeve cover featuring a PS213 key, some headphones, and a sinking vessel!

The newer ones use a different cover, a kind of montage of assorted radio items.

I did try to find a link to show the cover style on the one I have here but so far no luck.

You can still purchase the DVD here >>> https://www.discoveryfilms.co.uk/1009


73, Mark...

EDIT: Just had yet another look, no sign of the original cover, so will have to take a few photos of mine and post them on the forum...
 
Hi, I've just joined the forum and spent an enjoyable half-hour or so trawling the pages. Very pleased to see the mention of my book about Portishead Radio/GKA where I worked from 1980 until closedown in 2000. Sales have exceeded my expectations, with nearly 1,000 copies sold worldwide. Reviews have also been very kind.

Copies can be obtained through Amazon and other online retailers at a cost of £9.99 plus postage, and I hold a limited number of copies which I will be happy to sign if required. These can be ordered via the Portishead Radio website www.portisheadradio.co.uk and cost £14.19 including postage, packing and PayPal fees. I can only despatch copies to UK addresses due to the expensive cost of postage overseas - plus the fact that some copies sent abroad have gone 'astray'.

Happy to answer any questions about GKA - my email address is on the website.

73

Larry G4HLN +
 
Thanks Larry. I greatly enjoyed the book. I learned quite a few things I hadn't known before from it (for example some extra facts regarding Donald Crowhurst, who disappeared during the Golden Globe yacht race in 1968, and more information on the keys used at GKA).
 
Just ordered the book, I think it's fascinating history.

I always said I was born too late, all the way through primary school and into high school, I was convinced I was going to be a RO when I grew up, combining my interest in radio and desire to go to sea. Then life happened...
 
Larry G4HLN

I presume that, as you've given your callsign, you're still operating. Given that you were once a professional operator, could you tell us something about how you find the amateur radio world? And what parts of it do you operate in?
 
foggycoder said:
Larry G4HLN

I presume that, as you've given your callsign, you're still operating. Given that you were once a professional operator, could you tell us something about how you find the amateur radio world? And what parts of it do you operate in?
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Still operating indeed - virtually all on cw these days, tend to operate on HF only. Although first licensed in 1977 I came off the bands for over 25 years when I worked at GKA. After a 5-hour w/t shift at work the last thing I wanted to do was another session on the key when I got home! After GKA closed and a career change I returned to the amateur bands in 2010 and have been here ever since. After taking early retirement at the end of last year I am even more active on HF. Only 100w into a vertical aerial, but it gets me around most of the world.

The amateur radio world had changed dramatically when I did return - electronic logs and QSLs, data transmissions and internet DX spotting. Still don't use any of them except the latter. And sadly, the standard of operating seems to have declined. The indiscipline on the bands is certainly more marked, especially when chasing DX. Every week I manage an initial contact with a DX station who reponds with "G4???" only to be swamped by a high-powered Italian or Spanish station ignoring the request. There are some really good cw operators, and of course, some really poor ones - and that aspect has never really changed.

At the end of the day, it is just a hobby and it may be a bit harsh of me to assume the standards of operating would be anywhere near that I have been used to. And don't forget there were also a few very poor operators on the maritime bands back in the day. Not many, but they were certainly out there.

Larry +
 
MI0PYN said:
Just ordered the book, I think it's fascinating history.

I always said I was born too late, all the way through primary school and into high school, I was convinced I was going to be a RO when I grew up, combining my interest in radio and desire to go to sea. Then life happened...
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Received payment, many thanks. I will sign your book and get it in the post tomorrow. Really hope you enjoy it!

Larry +
 
G4HLN said:
...Received payment, many thanks. I will sign your book and get it in the post tomorrow. Really hope you enjoy it!

Larry +
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Hiya Larry. (Welcome to the forum by the way.)

Am I correct in thinking the copies of your book purchased via Amazon will be unsigned? Or, conversely, do you sign all of the copies of the book purchased via your website, or only if the buyer asks?

Thanks, Mark...
 
Ham4CW said:
G4HLN said:
...Received payment, many thanks. I will sign your book and get it in the post tomorrow. Really hope you enjoy it!

Larry +
Click to expand...

Hiya Larry. (Welcome to the forum by the way.)

Am I correct in thinking the copies of your book purchased via Amazon will be unsigned? Or, conversely, do you sign all of the copies of the book purchased via your website, or only if the buyer asks?

Thanks, Mark...
Click to expand...

Hi Mark,

Any copies sold via Amazon, Waterstones etc. will not be signed as they are ordered directly from the publisher. Copies ordered via the Portishead Radio website or directly to myself will be signed (and dedicated if specified) as I have a limited stock put by. As of today I have only 86 left, although I can order more if necessary.

Hope this clarifies...

73

Larry +
 
Thanks for the reply, Larry. I've QSO'ed with a number of ex-professional CW operators, mainly ex-military guys of various nationalities but also with a couple of Australian outback telegraph operators. They've been invariably courteous and helpful, and I find it very encouraging that they still operate. Their presence is a reminder of the foundations upon which the modern hobby stands.
 
G4HLN said:
...As of today I have only 86 left...

73

Larry +
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No, surely you mean 85 ;D

Ordered one from your site earlier, thought I would see what all the fuss is about! :)

73, Mark...
 
Ham4CW said:
G4HLN said:
...As of today I have only 86 left...

73

Larry +
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No, surely you mean 85 ;D

Ordered one from your site earlier, thought I would see what all the fuss is about! :)

73, Mark...
Click to expand...

Posted your copy today - should be with you on Thursday all being well....

73 Larry +
 
Forgot to say Larry, the book turned up safe and sound the other day.

I love some of those photographs, they really bring the book to life.

Great stuff! bd

73, Mark...
 
I meant to come back and say thanks for the book too Larry, it really is fascinating how so much was accomplished without the sort of infrastructure we take for granted now.

Super book I'll be coming back to reread over and over again I think.
 
AE0Q said:
I just ordered a copy from Barnes & Noble in the US :-)

Glenn AE0Q
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Does it cost much more to buy a copy over there in the States than compared to the UK?

Mine worked out roughly $19 including postage (that's a signed copy from the author's website).

73, Mark...
 
Ham4CW said:
Does it cost much more to buy a copy over there in the States than compared to the UK?

Mine worked out roughly $19 including postage (that's a signed copy from the author's website).

73, Mark...
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I wish I could have gotten a signed copy :-(  It cost $20.88 with tax and shipping from the US seller.  Shipping was $4.99, $0.90 was tax.

Glenn AE0Q
 
I received Larry's book here in Colorado, it's fascinating reading !!!

I wish I could have worked at one of the coast stations years ago, but my involvement with commercial and military CW in the 70's was strictly in a monitoring capacity (US Naval Security Group) ...  I was on the air as a ham, though :-)

Glenn AE0Q
 
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