>>Trivia question: when first establishing contact, the stations would
>>often send a series of "RY" characters repeatedly. Why?
>>
>
> Alternating pattern of 0s and 1s in 5-level Baudot code....useful for
> adjusting receiver/TU tuning, rangefinder setting on printer, etc. as
> well as distinctive sounding.
>
>
> ***** Moderator's Note *****
>
> Closer still. _How_ was the receiver/TU adjusted?
>
> Bill Horne
> Temporary Moderator
>
As a quick and dirty adjustment of the Range Finder we'd set up to receive RYs (alternating marks and spaces) and then adjust the Range Finder one way until the printer garbled and then adjust it the other way until it garbled again. Setting the Range Finder midway between the two positions produced good copy.