To answer some of the questions I have received:
1. The original intent was to do the skit using American Morse on sounders, however based upon the short notice, it was not possible to get a second Morse operator so we switched to CW.
2. Ben (the text message sender) was just getting ready to start
entering the last 2 words when I was done.
3. None of us had any idea of the text we would be sending, not
only for the "show" but also for the rehearsals (in
which we smoked em every time)
4. Chip, K7JA was sending and Ken, K6CTW was receiving.
5. The radios were FT-817's provided by Chip with backup radios
provided by HRO. Reason for that choice was that we needed the most
frequency agile radios we could get. When I talked to the technical folks,
they recommended we START at 2 meters and go up because of all of the
lower frequency noise and RFI from the other TV equipment. When I got
there, we took out a spectrum analyzer and studied all of the interference
possibilities. I ended up choosing 432.200 MHz because that guaranteed no
RFI from their equipment and we were high enough not to overload their
front ends either. This was then verified and it was what we were using at
the FT-817's lowest power setting.
6. I already knew that 28-30 wpm would easily keep us in front
of even the current world record holder, and it is the fastest speed that
I can make nice readable copy on paper with a "stick".
I was assuming that because they could, that they would also be doing a
close-up of my copy for verification, and therefore it had to be readable.
Otherwise with shorthand or with my usual "mill"
(typewriter) we could have gone faster.
7. The telegrapher "costumes" were the
producer's idea but it was fun for both Chip and I.
8. In rehearsal I ( K6CTW) had a number of lines which would
have really done a nice job of plugging ham radio and telegraphy however
at our last dress rehearsal, they decided to cut them out to make the
segment "fit". (maybe next time).
9. I decided that I would be the receiver because I'm not
bothered by crowd noise etc.
10. My XYL, Connie, originally answered the call, at my home, from the producers of the show and it was she who explained that I operated both codes (American Morse and Continental code) and that I considered myself to be a good but not exceptional operator. By spending 45 minutes on the phone answering a plethora of questions, I am convinced that it was she who "sold" the producers that the skit could work.
11. When the producers contacted me later that afternoon, I explained that my wife was correct, I am a competent CW and Morse operator but if they wanted a real speed daemon they would need someone else.
12. It is interesting that the producers did try and get the fastest text messengers they could fly in.
13. I did explain to the producers after the show that if they had been able to get the equivalent world record holder in CW to do this, it would have been at almost TRIPLE the speed we were going at.
14. Since we did not have the time to set up headphones, I just added some extra volume for me, had the stage folks cut my mike (to prevent feedback and overload) and copied off the speaker.
15. To re-emphasize the point, I'm just an average CW op who occasionally operates the CW SS QRP, with my K2 of course, and really enjoys CW, and traffic handling.
Hope this helps to clarify some points and answer some of the usual questions that have been coming up in emails I have received.
Also, if you haven't done so already please contact Jay Leno and let him know what you thought. Another suggestion I received, which I really liked as well, is to send Jay a QSL card! The address is:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
3000 W. Alameda
Ave
Burbank, CA 91523
Or you can email the show at:
Thanks for the kind comments from all and let's keep on having fun! (It is a hobby after all).
73,
Ken, K6CTW