Hellschreiber

The Hellschreiber is an early faximile communication, where only upper case letters were transmitted and received.

Hellschreiber is an asynchronous transfer mode where the signal is discretely coded. This means two things:

The transmitter does not tell the receiver how fast it transmits. It simply sends the message in it's own speed and the receiver must do it's best.
Hellschript is transmitted with either on or off signal. It was hence easy to implement on available radio equipement. One simply connected the transmitter to where the morse key would be. Such signals are very sturdy to radio noise. All unwanted frequencies may be filtered away.

The hellschreiber was invented by Dr. Rudolf Hell in 1929. It was used by the Germans during WW2 and some receivers was built by the British and Americans to intercept enemy communications.

LA0BX Sigfus has programmed a HELL schript program that uses a JVFAX or HAMCOM modem. This is available HERE. Download and un-zip. To be used on a DOS computer.

The annual Hell contest is arranged by DARC and takes place first full wekend of October for HF, and the following Thursday on VHF/UHF. Rules at http://www.darc.de/referate/hf/contest/hell.html.

Further information is available at :

DF5BX, Werner Ludwig
Postfach 12 70
D-49110 Georgsmariehutte
Germany

A weekely net is also active on Sundays 1330 Central European local time on 7035 kHz and on 1630 Central European local time on 3580 kHz.

From Simon Collings, G4SGI I received a list of frequencies for Beijing Meteo. They use Hellschript commercially. I have not listened to them. Anyone who has more information, please report to me. Here is the list:

PEKING METEO
Record# FREQ SERVICE MODE CALLSIGN PLACE LAT LONG

1 5526.4 HF FAX FAX BAF 6 Beijing 39 55N 116 20E

2 8122.0 HF FAX FAX BAF 36 Beijing 39 55N 116 20E

3 10117.0 HF FAX FAX BAF 4 Beijing 39 55N 116 20E

4 14367.0 HF FAX FAX BAF 8 Beijing 39 55N 116 20E

5 14545.0 HF FAX FAX BAF ? Beijing 39 55N 116 20E

6 16025.0 HF FAX FAX BAF 9 Beijing 39 55N 116 20E

7 16032.5 HF FAX FAX BAF ? Beijing 39 55N 116 20E

8 18237.0 HF FAX FAX BAF 33 Beijing 39 55N 116 20E

Record#	FREQ	SERVICE	MODE	CALLSIGN	PLACE	LAT	LONG
1	5526.4	HF FAX	FAX	BAF 6	Beijing	39 55N	116 20E
2	8122.0	HF FAX	FAX	BAF 36	Beijing	39 55N	116 20E
3	10117.0	HF FAX	FAX	BAF 4	Beijing	39 55N	116 20E
4	14367.0	HF FAX	FAX	BAF 8	Beijing	39 55N	116 20E
5	14545.0	HF FAX	FAX	BAF ?	Beijing	39 55N	116 20E
6	16025.0	HF FAX	FAX	BAF 9	Beijing	39 55N	116 20E
7	16032.5	HF FAX	FAX	BAF ?	Beijing	39 55N	116 20E
8	18237.0	HF FAX	FAX	BAF 33	Beijing	39 55N	116 20E

Hellschreiber

Further Reading