USS Nero (1898-1922) -- 1912 Alaskan Radio Equipment

 

This page presents photographs of the radio equipment installed in two of the radio stations in Alaska visited by USS Nero during the 1912 Alaskan Radio Expedition. Two models were installed in the Navy's six main Alaskan stations, a 10-kilowatt quenched spark high frequency model at Unalga, Cordova, and Sitka and a 5-kilowatt quenched spark high frequency model at Dutch Harbor, St. Paul, and Kodiak. St. George had only a half-kilowatt auxiliary set for communications with St. Paul. The parameters of each set were customized to their location. All but one of the photos here are of the 5-kilowatt model at St. Paul, which transmitted on wavelengths of 300, 600, and 1000 to 4200 meters, using 1400 meters and above for long distance communications and the 300, 600, and 1000 meter bands for local work with ships and nearby stations.

At night the 10-kilowatt stations communicated regularly as far as California and Honolulu (Sitka also logged St. Petersburg, Russia), and the 5-kilowatt stations could also reach Mare Island and Eureka in California (St. Paul did so frequently). All six stations communicated regularly with other stations on the Alaskan coast including cannery stations, revenue cutters, steamers crossing the Northern Pacific, ships on the Nome-Seattle route, and whaling vessels at Akutan. They handled both official and commercial traffic. Ranges were much less in the daytime, limiting communications to nearby Alaskan stations and ships. Cordova and Sitka also had cable connections to the Army's Alaska Military Cable.

This page features views related to USS Nero's participation in the 1912 Alaskan Radio Expedition.

For other images concerning this ship, see:

  • USS Nero (1898-1922, later AC-17)
  • USS Nero -- 1912 Alaskan Radio Radio Expedition
  • USS Nero -- 1912 Alaskan Radio Radio Stations and Settlements

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    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: None

    Radio equipment at Dutch Harbor, Alaska, 1912

    The station's 5-kilowatt Telefunken radio set. Photographed by USS Nero.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation (NHF-165-A).

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

     
    Photo #: None

    Radio equipment at St. Paul, Pribilof Islands, Alaska, 1912

    The station's 5-kilowatt radio set in the transmitting room. Photographed by USS Nero.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation (NHF-165-A).

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

     
    Photo #: None

    Radio equipment at St. Paul, Pribilof Islands, Alaska, 1912

    An unidentified 20-kilowatt installation, probably in the transmitting room. Photographed by USS Nero.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation (NHF-165-A).

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

     
    Photo #: None

    Radio equipment at St. Paul, Pribilof Islands, Alaska, 1912

    The other end of the 20-kilowatt installation shown above. The electric motor in the left foreground was made by Crocker-Wheeler. Photographed by USS Nero.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation (NHF-165-A).

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

     
    Photo #: None

    Radio equipment at St. Paul, Pribilof Islands, Alaska, 1912

    An operator's station in the operating room. Photographed by USS Nero.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation (NHF-165-A).

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

     
    Photo #: None

    Radio equipment at St. Paul, Pribilof Islands, Alaska, 1912

    A 5-kilowatt Telefunken apparatus in the operating room. Photographed by USS Nero.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation (NHF-165-A).

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

     
    Photo #: None

    Radio equipment at St. Paul, Pribilof Islands, Alaska, 1912

    A switchboard in the operating room. Photographed by USS Nero.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation (NHF-165-A).

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

     
    Photo #: None

    Radio equipment at St. Paul, Pribilof Islands, Alaska, 1912

    A probable operator's station in the operating room. Photographed by USS Nero.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation (NHF-165-A).

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

     
    Photo #: None

    Radio equipment at St. Paul, Pribilof Islands, Alaska, 1912

    A 500-cycle generator, an engine, and an air tank in the power house. Photographed by USS Nero.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation (NHF-165-A).

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

     

    For other images concerning this ship, see:

  • USS Nero (1898-1922, later AC-17)
  • USS Nero -- 1912 Alaskan Radio Expedition
  • USS Nero -- 1912 Alaskan Radio Radio Stations and Settlements

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    Page made 21 April 2021