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So, even though wireless transmission and reception of International Morse Code dates back earlier than 1919; employing CW (continuous wave) to send Morse Code seems to have began its popularity around that time.\u0026nbsp; AM (amplitude modulation) phone mode was also in use at the time, and grew in popularity during the 40's and 50's until more efficient voice modes overtook it in popularity for voice communication.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-ion0gV_FYpY\/YE0Zv9-YQOI\/AAAAAAAAx5g\/dGU_L4bhTlceUd8vphLCAk7V78JzJDdZQCLcBGAsYHQ\/image.png\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg data-original-height=\"622\" data-original-width=\"782\" height=\"509\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-ion0gV_FYpY\/YE0Zv9-YQOI\/AAAAAAAAx5g\/dGU_L4bhTlceUd8vphLCAk7V78JzJDdZQCLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h509\/image.png\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-b23n_CSuQ4M\/YFM2lJSolVI\/AAAAAAAAx98\/S1ijdqiTgh4Q7KxqQ-uMta3H2cBd7IREACLcBGAsYHQ\/image.png\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg data-original-height=\"697\" data-original-width=\"865\" height=\"515\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-b23n_CSuQ4M\/YFM2lJSolVI\/AAAAAAAAx98\/S1ijdqiTgh4Q7KxqQ-uMta3H2cBd7IREACLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h515\/image.png\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ERadio Telegrapher School for Enlisted Specialists 1921\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: courier;\"\u003EWhat other modes have remained as popular standards using standard ham equipment and continuously in use by amateur radio operators as CW?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMy GRC-9 was designed near the end of WW2 (circa 1945), and was in continuous production for various armed forces around the world until around 1974 (3 decades is a long production run).\u0026nbsp; My particular unit has a receiver manufactured by Telefunken in 1955 and a Lewyt manufactured transmitter from 1966.\u0026nbsp; I have made CW and AM QSOs with other amateur radio operators whose equipment ranged from home-brew xmtr\/rcvrs, Drake and Collins radios as well as shiny new Icom 7300 and Flex radio systems.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA modern amateur radio (typically a HF model) can be used to communicate with radios built 100 years in the past. The same might be said for AM fone (phone), but that mode has become a niche for a much smaller set of enthusiasts.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThere are lots of new and exciting modes of communication in amateur radio.\u0026nbsp; Many are pushing the boundaries of weak signal reception, or alternatively allow for high transfer rates of data. But it is somehow comforting to me to consider that amateur radio hobbyists have kept one mode in particular, CW, popular and in continuous use for over 100 years using equipment that remains compatible to communicate with one another.\u0026nbsp; I wonder if that will be the case in another century?\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now, so lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/8573908906877481778\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2021\/03\/the-endurance-of-cw-in-amateur-radio.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/8573908906877481778"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/8573908906877481778"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2021\/03\/the-endurance-of-cw-in-amateur-radio.html","title":"The Endurance of CW in Amateur Radio"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-ion0gV_FYpY\/YE0Zv9-YQOI\/AAAAAAAAx5g\/dGU_L4bhTlceUd8vphLCAk7V78JzJDdZQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-w640-h509-c\/image.png","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-1316214887413890709"},"published":{"$t":"2021-03-04T08:06:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-03-04T08:06:10.546-05:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Modernizing the DY-88 Power Supply"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch1 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EGo with a Modern Vibe\u003C\/h1\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe DY-88 Power Supply is a marvelous design... for the 1940's.\u0026nbsp; It could take 3 different DC input voltages (6v, 12v or 24v) and output the 2 different filament voltages (1.5v, 6.3v), plus the low and high B+ voltages (105v, 585v).\u0026nbsp; It was designed to be as efficient as possible when the radio wasn't in SEND mode (receiver only) by employing a mechanical vibrator and transformer to power the low B+ 105v at about 1 amp current (when running off a 12v input).\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-R-nh7Ru2dH4\/YEDU54Ve9TI\/AAAAAAAAx0U\/Rvdpa-n1c1gFOZH7K8vunC_Ys3JNmxuvACPcBGAsYHg\/s4032\/PXL_20210121_202648250.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"3024\" data-original-width=\"4032\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-R-nh7Ru2dH4\/YEDU54Ve9TI\/AAAAAAAAx0U\/Rvdpa-n1c1gFOZH7K8vunC_Ys3JNmxuvACPcBGAsYHg\/w640-h480\/PXL_20210121_202648250.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-jGvXbCmrIGA\/YEDU58NAPoI\/AAAAAAAAx0U\/OMv7HyqnHZQsfPjshXBWHaEEZrkEoODWACPcBGAsYHg\/s4032\/PXL_20210121_202232171.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"4032\" data-original-width=\"3024\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-jGvXbCmrIGA\/YEDU58NAPoI\/AAAAAAAAx0U\/OMv7HyqnHZQsfPjshXBWHaEEZrkEoODWACPcBGAsYHg\/w480-h640\/PXL_20210121_202232171.jpg\" width=\"480\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003ETurning low voltage to high voltage\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EPrior to the DY-88, I'd restored a 1960's Heathkit HP-13, which was a mobile DC to DC power supply.\u0026nbsp; It employed a multi-tap transformer and 2 transistors to create the needed low and high B+ voltages for Heathkit radios.\u0026nbsp; in the case of the HP-13, the two transistors worked in tandem to collapse the magnetic field in the transformer to create high voltage DC, which was rectified and filtered for the radio.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tvyAM3-rD3s\/YEDVU6YWPRI\/AAAAAAAAx0c\/RzAaP1iZGAsLXm69CvmjX11zK5skI7XSwCPcBGAsYHg\/s4032\/IMG_20200814_160925.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"3024\" data-original-width=\"4032\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tvyAM3-rD3s\/YEDVU6YWPRI\/AAAAAAAAx0c\/RzAaP1iZGAsLXm69CvmjX11zK5skI7XSwCPcBGAsYHg\/w640-h480\/IMG_20200814_160925.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EPrior to the DY-88, I'd never heard of, or encountered a mechanical vibrator used in power supplies; so it's been an interesting learning experience for me.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Vibrators were very common up until transistor revolution, for use in mobile applications where 12v needed to be transformed into much higher B+ voltages needed by hollow state equipment.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIn oversimplified terms: the vibrator makes DC look like a square wave version of AC which can then be used by a transformer to raise the voltage required by the circuit, then rectified back to DC.\u0026nbsp; Low voltage DC enters the Vibrator, which contains a relay that makes and breaks contact rapidly, chopping up the DC.\u0026nbsp; It occurs so fast that the unit \"vibrates\" or buzzes.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe contacts eventually, become worn and pit making the vibrator less reliable.\u0026nbsp; Additionally, military vibrators (maybe others) used a rubberized insulator that broke down over time inside the vibrator, releasing a corrosive gas that would further affect the components and essentially, \"stick\" the contacts on the relay together, making it difficult to get started or completely non-operational.\u0026nbsp; Depending on how it the contacts \"stick\" the vibrator can act as a short and unpleasantness ensues.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe vibrators were intended to be disposable devices but they aren't being made anymore.\u0026nbsp; What to do?\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EBad Vibrations\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EIn the case of my DY-88, when I received it the vibrator power supply refused to start but eventually, after a bit of percussive maintenance (banging) and reapplying power it started.\u0026nbsp; Over the past couple of weeks it usually will start, but there are still occasions where power has to be switched off and on repeatedly to get it to start.\u0026nbsp; It is obviously entering failure mode.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EThere is a procedure using an AC light bulb in series with the contacts to attempt to freshen a stubborn one up, but the procedure is hard on the contacts and generally only restores it for a while.\u0026nbsp; It needs to be replaced, and vibrator power supplies have not been manufactured for many decades.\u0026nbsp; The NOS vibrators are generally not good due to the breakdown of the materials inside over the decades rendering them bad even if they've never been used.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EThe solution is to replace the mechanical operation of the vibrator power supply with a solid state equivalent.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003ESolid State\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EEntering the age of the Jetsons, we have these nifty things called transistors that are excellent and making and breaking contact of DC voltages rapidly and reliably.\u0026nbsp; I found a number of articles describing a solid state circuit I could build but most did not offer much in the way of circuit protection if a component upstream failed, or if the circuit itself failed.\u0026nbsp; There are a lot of difficult or un-obtainable components in that DY-88 that I'd rather not have to replace due to the failure of the Vibrator Power Supply.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI read an article by a GRC-9 enthusiast from 2004 (NC6AV) on using a commercial circuit that was designed for this very purpose to replace mechanical vibrators in vintage automobile radios\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.radionerds.com\/images\/c\/cd\/Wire_VBN-1.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehttps:\/\/www.radionerds.com\/images\/c\/cd\/Wire_VBN-1.pdf\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp; In the article describes the procedure for using a solid state replacement.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI purchased my solid state module from\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/dodgem37.com\/vibrator-conversion-module\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/dodgem37.com\/vibrator-conversion-module\/\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;and ordered some high voltage diodes from antique radio supply to use in the conversion.\u0026nbsp; I cut apart a non-functional vibrator module to use the phenolic 7-pin base for the VBN-1 module.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-4UpjzmyQl6U\/YEDVtvdooWI\/AAAAAAAAx0k\/33_mi_vzaE4Oi4qX013gOXdqj0Gj4Ka6wCPcBGAsYHg\/s2404\/PXL_20210213_184008802%257E2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2049\" data-original-width=\"2404\" height=\"546\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-4UpjzmyQl6U\/YEDVtvdooWI\/AAAAAAAAx0k\/33_mi_vzaE4Oi4qX013gOXdqj0Gj4Ka6wCPcBGAsYHg\/w640-h546\/PXL_20210213_184008802%257E2.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003ENote\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe instructions for soldering the VBN-1 module are great with one exception.\u0026nbsp; From the instructions:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E. . . The pins are numbered 1 to 7, pin 1 is the \u003Cb\u003Elarge diameter pin on the right,\u003C\/b\u003E and pins are counted clockwise from that pin. . . .\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIf you are looking at the base of the vibrator there are 2 large diameter pins.\u0026nbsp; The instructions say count them from the \u003Cb\u003Epin on the right\u003C\/b\u003E.\u0026nbsp; That pin will be different if the large diameter pins are at the bottom rather than the top, when looking at the base.\u0026nbsp; Turn the base such that the two large diameter pins are facing you and located at the top (12 o'clock position).\u0026nbsp; Now the instructions will be correct.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;This may seem minor, but when I first read the instructions I was looking at the two large diameter pins situated in the 6 o'clock position and all the pins were off-by one.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EResults\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe replacement circuit works a treat, except that I can't hear the faint humming from the DY-88 now when the radio is in Receive mode.\u0026nbsp; Of course that is immediately obliterated as I turn the radio to SEND and the Dynamotor leaps to noisy life.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-oq3J119_TMY\/YEDXDu8VV8I\/AAAAAAAAx0w\/PuDuoX9V7A4L8JN9ZqwbxxJ7MxoEjef4gCPcBGAsYHg\/s4032\/PXL_20210304_021537433.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"4032\" data-original-width=\"3024\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-oq3J119_TMY\/YEDXDu8VV8I\/AAAAAAAAx0w\/PuDuoX9V7A4L8JN9ZqwbxxJ7MxoEjef4gCPcBGAsYHg\/w480-h640\/PXL_20210304_021537433.jpg\" width=\"480\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ENext step would be to JB-weld the can back to the base to restore the look, but I'm debating whether to do that.\u0026nbsp; I kinda like the look of the modern mixed with vintage vibe (vibe, get it?).\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now,\u0026nbsp; keeping my heavyweight QRP GRC-9 rig on the air, one repair at a time.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ELower your power and raise your expectations,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/1316214887413890709\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2021\/03\/modernizing-dy-88-power-supply.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/1316214887413890709"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/1316214887413890709"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2021\/03\/modernizing-dy-88-power-supply.html","title":"Modernizing the DY-88 Power Supply"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-R-nh7Ru2dH4\/YEDU54Ve9TI\/AAAAAAAAx0U\/Rvdpa-n1c1gFOZH7K8vunC_Ys3JNmxuvACPcBGAsYHg\/s72-w640-h480-c\/PXL_20210121_202648250.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-9019752532769116954"},"published":{"$t":"2021-01-24T09:43:00.011-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-01-27T19:03:38.922-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"AN\/GRC-9 aka \"Angry Nine\""},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch1 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;AN\/GRC-9 - Long lived military comms\u003C\/h1\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-8NadFEL13lI\/YAyLXraJ06I\/AAAAAAAAxH4\/igPxRwp_HO0LTUoOhRuSxBhReyCrlfl1ACPcBGAsYHg\/s3976\/PXL_20210120_184415512.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"3976\" data-original-width=\"2982\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-8NadFEL13lI\/YAyLXraJ06I\/AAAAAAAAxH4\/igPxRwp_HO0LTUoOhRuSxBhReyCrlfl1ACPcBGAsYHg\/w480-h640\/PXL_20210120_184415512.jpg\" title=\"RT\/77-GRC\/9\" width=\"480\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EMy lovely (and radioactive) RT\/77-GRC\/9\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EVideo summary\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"BLOG_video_class\" height=\"394\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/nbbvARDnZzU\" width=\"474\" youtube-src-id=\"nbbvARDnZzU\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EI don't recall where I first read about the Angry Nine, but it captured my imagination.\u0026nbsp; I read everything I could find about them and decided it would be great fun to operate such an antique on the ham bands.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;There is no logical reason to desire such a QRP radio.\u0026nbsp; The low power output on CW is indeed, 5 watts and high power is a pileup busting 15 watts.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;The AM transmission are 1 watt and 7 watts respectively.\u0026nbsp; That's almost QRPp for AM mode.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EI'd had some experience restoring old tube equipment; my Heathkit HW-101, Knightkits VFO and Hallicrafters keyer, and I figured I'd take the next plunge and learn to use a receiver-transmitter combination and see how mobile high-voltage power worked from Vibrators and Dynamotors.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EThese radios seemed to have been more plentiful in the surplus market 10 - 20 years ago.\u0026nbsp; Now you'll occasionally see one come up on eBay or other sites, but often times they are in very rough shape or the they are foreign language versions.\u0026nbsp; I bid on a few auctions over the past couple of years and the bidding always exceeded my threshold for what I thought it was worth.\u0026nbsp; The one above was part of an auction from an individual who had actually trained on these units prior to deploying to Vietnam.\u0026nbsp; Later in life he became interested in finding one and spent time in military surplus warehouses going through pallets of equipment to find one in good shape.\u0026nbsp; This particular unit is made up of a Lewyt manufactured transmitter and a Telefunken receiver.\u0026nbsp; The original owner preferred the receiver characteristics of the Telefunken over the Lewyt manufactured model, so he paired the two.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EMany of these old units are radioactive, due to the radium paint used on the front panels to make the lettering glow in the dark.\u0026nbsp; This particular unit is off the lower scale on the Geiger counter and must be handled with care.\u0026nbsp; Basically, I have to be careful to not touch my face with my hands after operating the unit and wash my hands thoroughly.\u0026nbsp; Radium emits Alpha particles, which are not especially strong but the resultant radioactive dust from the front panel shouldn't be breathed or ingested. I plan to paint a clear-coat over the remaining lettering to lessen the Alpha particle emissions..\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-VtAPjlZiSwE\/YA18ISQQzpI\/AAAAAAAAxOM\/FDKa58D4-kw4RlmqAIfMr7esWlGJy3gCQCPcBGAsYHg\/s4032\/IMG_0641.jpeg\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"3024\" data-original-width=\"4032\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-VtAPjlZiSwE\/YA18ISQQzpI\/AAAAAAAAxOM\/FDKa58D4-kw4RlmqAIfMr7esWlGJy3gCQCPcBGAsYHg\/w640-h480\/IMG_0641.jpeg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EHot receiver, in more ways than one\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EThe AN\/GRC-9 is a set of components primarily comprised of the RT-77\/GRC-9 receiver-transmitter, capable of operating between 2-12 MHz in CW, MCW and AM modes.\u0026nbsp; MCW is a modulated form of CW that can be received by radios that do not have a BFO (i.e. a normal AM receiver).\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EIt is a mid to late 1940's design and was first documented field use in the Korean War, and was in active use through the Vietnam War and continued to be maintained in US military warehouses until 1974.\u0026nbsp; It was in use by other nations long after, most notably the Dutch military.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-sUklwDlo0NI\/YAybjZgB3eI\/AAAAAAAAxJ4\/A4yJWovennQvNp-ua5okX6FNLJeEBsvOgCPcBGAsYHg\/s4032\/PXL_20210121_202141996%257E2.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"4032\" data-original-width=\"3004\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-sUklwDlo0NI\/YAybjZgB3eI\/AAAAAAAAxJ4\/A4yJWovennQvNp-ua5okX6FNLJeEBsvOgCPcBGAsYHg\/w477-h640\/PXL_20210121_202141996%257E2.jpg\" width=\"477\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EOut of the case, tracing a low B+ power problem\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dPbOSF9S5FY\/YAybjUuItqI\/AAAAAAAAxJ4\/SdDCjcmW10Ulc733CU6c2mjvcPKJlzo2wCPcBGAsYHg\/s4032\/PXL_20210121_202210033.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-bBa-XNREDyE\/YAybjZAD9nI\/AAAAAAAAxJ4\/4CL7cHL5XQwBB0uI1UIRptNLehm8qMtAwCPcBGAsYHg\/s4032\/PXL_20210121_202158644.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"4032\" data-original-width=\"3024\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-bBa-XNREDyE\/YAybjZAD9nI\/AAAAAAAAxJ4\/4CL7cHL5XQwBB0uI1UIRptNLehm8qMtAwCPcBGAsYHg\/w480-h640\/PXL_20210121_202158644.jpg\" width=\"480\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EReceiver as seen from the underneath with shield removed\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"3024\" data-original-width=\"4032\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dPbOSF9S5FY\/YAybjUuItqI\/AAAAAAAAxJ4\/SdDCjcmW10Ulc733CU6c2mjvcPKJlzo2wCPcBGAsYHg\/w640-h480\/PXL_20210121_202210033.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ETransmitter with a coil for each band and that nice 2E22 final output tube\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EPower on the move\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EDesigned to be used in the field, both vehicle mounted and carried by mobile infantry; there were a number of ways to supply power to the unit.\u0026nbsp; There were a few different Vibrator\/Dynamotor units, that could operate from common DC voltages of the time (6v, 12v, 24v) as well as a hand cranked, field portable generator.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EKeep in mind that the state of the art at the time of its design used vacuum tube technology and in the case of the RT\/77-GRC\/9 it required the following voltages:\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote style=\"border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cul style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETransmitter Plates -- 475 - 580 v @\u0026nbsp; 100ma\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETransmitter Filaments -- 6.5 - 6.6 v@ 2 amps\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EReceiver Plates -- 105 - 120 v @ 45ma\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EReceiver\u0026nbsp; Filaments -- 1.35 - 1.5 v @ 500ma\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EKeying Relay -- 6.0 - 6.9 v @ 575ma\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat's a tall order for mobile and portable power supplies but designers in the 1940's were quite clever in packing power supply units.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;I managed to obtain both the hand cranked GN-58 generator with the base chassis and seat for portable operations, and a DY-88 for fixed \/ mobile operations.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EDY-88 mobile power supply\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Ad5qjQzGOQA\/YAyY4wbnAtI\/AAAAAAAAxJU\/l17QkkpNO6gLL19EP4s4g1nCbGN_Wq0KQCPcBGAsYHg\/s3109\/DSCF0412.JPG\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"3000\" data-original-width=\"3109\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Ad5qjQzGOQA\/YAyY4wbnAtI\/AAAAAAAAxJU\/l17QkkpNO6gLL19EP4s4g1nCbGN_Wq0KQCPcBGAsYHg\/s320\/DSCF0412.JPG\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EDY-88 set to 12v powered by Amateur 12v supply\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: left;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-asXzWZat0bo\/YAyZMOZOhsI\/AAAAAAAAxJc\/6gCxBy7uDCA96nCVPPwkxcVVH-TxlYuwQCPcBGAsYHg\/s4032\/PXL_20210121_202648250.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"3024\" data-original-width=\"4032\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-asXzWZat0bo\/YAyZMOZOhsI\/AAAAAAAAxJc\/6gCxBy7uDCA96nCVPPwkxcVVH-TxlYuwQCPcBGAsYHg\/s320\/PXL_20210121_202648250.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EVibrator power supply for low B+\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: right;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-L2-79eq65TI\/YAyZMNkpaeI\/AAAAAAAAxJc\/u3sl5a0Poy0UPHJLWUsegE63maFBLsDqACPcBGAsYHg\/s4032\/PXL_20210121_202232171.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"4032\" data-original-width=\"3024\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-L2-79eq65TI\/YAyZMNkpaeI\/AAAAAAAAxJc\/u3sl5a0Poy0UPHJLWUsegE63maFBLsDqACPcBGAsYHg\/w300-h400\/PXL_20210121_202232171.jpg\" width=\"300\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EPower filtering\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI supply the DY-88 from either an RV battery or an amateur 12v power supply.\u0026nbsp; When in Standby the DY-88 draws less than 1 amp, but placing the radio in Send mode switches on the Dynamotor which draws 12 amps @12v, without key-down and up to 14 amps on high-output key-down.\u0026nbsp; It will drain an RV battery pretty quickly at that rate if the radio is left in Send mode, and works an amateur power supply pretty hard as well.\u0026nbsp; So don't expect to operate remote off a battery alone for too long if your having lengthy QSOs.\u0026nbsp; An added benefit of the DY-88 is that when the enclosed Dynamotor is running you'll have a nice extra 85 dB of generator noise to accompany your listening pleasure.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EGN-58 portable field hand-cranked power supply\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-T2oFWF_4l60\/YAyZ21BKETI\/AAAAAAAAxJs\/HNdi8o5gFiAncBjroeY6Oni1nEEcKGLcgCPcBGAsYHg\/s4032\/PXL_20210120_185200904.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"4032\" data-original-width=\"3024\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-T2oFWF_4l60\/YAyZ21BKETI\/AAAAAAAAxJs\/HNdi8o5gFiAncBjroeY6Oni1nEEcKGLcgCPcBGAsYHg\/w300-h400\/PXL_20210120_185200904.jpg\" width=\"300\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EGenerator head in carry bag\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-7Mg6HEpKHaY\/YAyZ26uv_iI\/AAAAAAAAxJs\/xQ1H4w5FvIs-z6MXfWTUByKVF4T_8tXfgCPcBGAsYHg\/s4032\/PXL_20210120_193006643.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"4032\" data-original-width=\"3024\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-7Mg6HEpKHaY\/YAyZ26uv_iI\/AAAAAAAAxJs\/xQ1H4w5FvIs-z6MXfWTUByKVF4T_8tXfgCPcBGAsYHg\/w480-h640\/PXL_20210120_193006643.jpg\" width=\"480\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EUnmounted as seen from the bottom\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-4HlHNINwb_I\/YBHvwx7pXuI\/AAAAAAAAxTo\/cHlHETEUXR85kTqVC2uItuGygw057u8oACPcBGAsYHg\/s4032\/PXL_20210127_220132167.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"4032\" data-original-width=\"3024\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-4HlHNINwb_I\/YBHvwx7pXuI\/AAAAAAAAxTo\/cHlHETEUXR85kTqVC2uItuGygw057u8oACPcBGAsYHg\/w480-h640\/PXL_20210127_220132167.jpg\" width=\"480\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EOn the stand with cover and handles disconnected\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/radionerds.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/ff\/SCR-694_GN-58_1.png\/400px-SCR-694_GN-58_1.png\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"470\" data-original-width=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/radionerds.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/ff\/SCR-694_GN-58_1.png\/400px-SCR-694_GN-58_1.png\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EDeployed\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe GN-58 is a tough workout since it has to be cranked by hand at 60 rpm continuously.\u0026nbsp; Obviously, you need a partner unless you can figure out how to crank it with your feet while sending CW. You will also want that partner to help you carry the GN-58, and the accompanying accessory bag for the chassis and seat.\u0026nbsp; IT'S HEAVY.\u0026nbsp; I haven't weighed everything, but according to the manual that came with the set, the radio \/ generator \/ accessories including antennas comes out around 120 lbs.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you have a BA-48 battery hooked up then your human power supply can pause cranking while your receiving.\u0026nbsp; I have a BA-48 battery enclosure that has been gutted of the original, long-dead material and replaced with 10x 9v batteries in series for the low B+ and two D-Cell batteries in parallel for the receiver filament supply.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EAccessories\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-U0z0viO8nQc\/YAyiHnEZRUI\/AAAAAAAAxKE\/s8QdC4IwnJwx25Rmb8wXxJBnpLoet8_gQCPcBGAsYHg\/s4032\/PXL_20210120_185153323.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"3024\" data-original-width=\"4032\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-U0z0viO8nQc\/YAyiHnEZRUI\/AAAAAAAAxKE\/s8QdC4IwnJwx25Rmb8wXxJBnpLoet8_gQCPcBGAsYHg\/w640-h480\/PXL_20210120_185153323.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EBag of goodies\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe radio itself has a carry bag, as well as a bag for the GN-58 legs and seat, the vertical antenna, and miscellaneous.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThere's another bag (shown above) for carrying power supply cables, keys, hand mic, long wire and doublet antennas, external speaker, torture device headphones, torture device in-ear phones, as well as a box of spare tubes for the radio.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIf you're traveling in a squad sized group, then many hands make light work, otherwise you're going to be making a lot of trips hauling your QRP rig up the hill.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EHeadphones\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThese Western Electric headphones clamp tightly over your ears sealing out QRM and squeezing your head like a vice.\u0026nbsp; After 10 minutes I was confessing to sins I'd never committed.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-ovbLEWporsM\/YA1yjyLwVyI\/AAAAAAAAxNg\/U65ou6RQtysQVHE0NejgANl692UPr08OACPcBGAsYHg\/s4000\/DSCF0428.JPG\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"3000\" data-original-width=\"4000\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-ovbLEWporsM\/YA1yjyLwVyI\/AAAAAAAAxNg\/U65ou6RQtysQVHE0NejgANl692UPr08OACPcBGAsYHg\/w640-h480\/DSCF0428.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-XtSyu12SvwE\/YA1yj4QxqqI\/AAAAAAAAxNg\/pgEOv7UrUeALpe9G4PlWz1blHN-CEVRywCPcBGAsYHg\/s4000\/DSCF0427.JPG\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"3000\" data-original-width=\"4000\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-XtSyu12SvwE\/YA1yj4QxqqI\/AAAAAAAAxNg\/pgEOv7UrUeALpe9G4PlWz1blHN-CEVRywCPcBGAsYHg\/s320\/DSCF0427.JPG\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-LjmGLLSjW5k\/YA1yj5BCIEI\/AAAAAAAAxNg\/4KbbRj8xldY-NZD-Pz5FnWrWLn8dcfxaACPcBGAsYHg\/s4000\/DSCF0425.JPG\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"3000\" data-original-width=\"4000\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-LjmGLLSjW5k\/YA1yj5BCIEI\/AAAAAAAAxNg\/4KbbRj8xldY-NZD-Pz5FnWrWLn8dcfxaACPcBGAsYHg\/s320\/DSCF0425.JPG\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-NoYbbB__nRI\/YA1yjyy0tqI\/AAAAAAAAxNg\/oM5grqE8CRkx_-PYRZ579klp75Z_Rcp5gCPcBGAsYHg\/s4000\/DSCF0426.JPG\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"3000\" data-original-width=\"4000\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-NoYbbB__nRI\/YA1yjyy0tqI\/AAAAAAAAxNg\/oM5grqE8CRkx_-PYRZ579klp75Z_Rcp5gCPcBGAsYHg\/s320\/DSCF0426.JPG\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-YrAL4e0Brso\/YA1yr1-OBoI\/AAAAAAAAxNk\/Mr8z8H3Mxb4BapHjAO2kC-MQCubanUgAgCPcBGAsYHg\/s3264\/PXL_20210120_183928315.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"3264\" data-original-width=\"2448\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-YrAL4e0Brso\/YA1yr1-OBoI\/AAAAAAAAxNk\/Mr8z8H3Mxb4BapHjAO2kC-MQCubanUgAgCPcBGAsYHg\/s320\/PXL_20210120_183928315.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIn order to use the headphones the RT\/77 receiver must be removed from the case and an impedance switch on the back, changed from 4000 to 250 using a screwdriver.\u0026nbsp; The ham I bought my set from had constructed a CW audio filter along with an impedance switch on an outboard box, that allowed the use of the headphones without switching the impedance on the receiver unit.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-kx4N102W2uI\/YA1z3mOPZ0I\/AAAAAAAAxNw\/dRQD_iG-cUAr2XlL8A4RvTeui4JsbIAyACPcBGAsYHg\/s4032\/IMG_0601.jpeg\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"3024\" data-original-width=\"4032\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-kx4N102W2uI\/YA1z3mOPZ0I\/AAAAAAAAxNw\/dRQD_iG-cUAr2XlL8A4RvTeui4JsbIAyACPcBGAsYHg\/w400-h300\/IMG_0601.jpeg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EHomebuilt CW filter with impedance switch\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003ESpeaker\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Vkyp769P9nE\/YA10cdcZ1vI\/AAAAAAAAxN4\/Py0C8iDleKgL_95opZbYFFn46ePzSaETwCPcBGAsYHg\/s4032\/PXL_20210123_193033282.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"3024\" data-original-width=\"4032\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Vkyp769P9nE\/YA10cdcZ1vI\/AAAAAAAAxN4\/Py0C8iDleKgL_95opZbYFFn46ePzSaETwCPcBGAsYHg\/w640-h480\/PXL_20210123_193033282.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe external speaker is a rugged, high impedance device (4k Ohms), that after all these years can still output audio at high volumes without distortion.\u0026nbsp; It has a built in thumbscrew clamp that allows it to be attached to vertical or horizontal objects.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAlternately, the thumbscrew can be used in combination with the vice-like headphones to extract information from a prisoner.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EAntennas\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe AN\/GRC-9 comes with 3 antenna systems; a multiple section, whip vertical for quick field setup and mobile use, a long wire that can be quickly deployed in a fixed station as a sloper, and a doublet for best reception, transmission in a fixed location.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-gxLIZNwmHDA\/YA1-z7W445I\/AAAAAAAAxOc\/sFKBryGqrEso0zkktptvDYK5NsxiLsaSgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1027\/Screenshot%2B2021-01-24%2Bat%2B9.05.12%2BAM.png\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"600\" data-original-width=\"1027\" height=\"374\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-gxLIZNwmHDA\/YA1-z7W445I\/AAAAAAAAxOc\/sFKBryGqrEso0zkktptvDYK5NsxiLsaSgCLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h374\/Screenshot%2B2021-01-24%2Bat%2B9.05.12%2BAM.png\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-HA0XYdGQOlw\/YA1_9yQgYGI\/AAAAAAAAxOs\/3XHkXCTkrwcLyP2XQJDJeYQu9_s2KitiACLcBGAsYHQ\/s878\/Screenshot%2B2021-01-24%2Bat%2B9.10.40%2BAM.png\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"474\" data-original-width=\"878\" height=\"346\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-HA0XYdGQOlw\/YA1_9yQgYGI\/AAAAAAAAxOs\/3XHkXCTkrwcLyP2XQJDJeYQu9_s2KitiACLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h346\/Screenshot%2B2021-01-24%2Bat%2B9.10.40%2BAM.png\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EFor testing purposes I have my radio hooked up to my 80m Windom, which it tunes very nicely on 80m, 60m, 40m and 10m bands.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EWhen the weather warms a bit I will be taking the radio out for some portable use and I'll try it out with the antennas that are part of the AN\/GRC-9 set.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3 style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003ESpares\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAs a military radio, it was expected that repairs should be performed in the field when possible.\u0026nbsp; The radio shipped with spare tubes for the receiver-transmitter, as well as spare tubes and vibrators for the DY-88 power supply.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-DT7fRFrYc5A\/YA2BXkKoQKI\/AAAAAAAAxO4\/zmnSYOWuKYkA9sL19mKdr6EkLSwLyGsswCPcBGAsYHg\/s4032\/PXL_20210121_202648250.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"3024\" data-original-width=\"4032\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-DT7fRFrYc5A\/YA2BXkKoQKI\/AAAAAAAAxO4\/zmnSYOWuKYkA9sL19mKdr6EkLSwLyGsswCPcBGAsYHg\/w400-h300\/PXL_20210121_202648250.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-5BedNYaaqmw\/YA2BXnNE5ZI\/AAAAAAAAxO4\/20kF0CwWHCUydIaAhaUIhfcxLH5S1jLNQCPcBGAsYHg\/s2453\/IMG_0617.jpeg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1635\" data-original-width=\"2453\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-5BedNYaaqmw\/YA2BXnNE5ZI\/AAAAAAAAxO4\/20kF0CwWHCUydIaAhaUIhfcxLH5S1jLNQCPcBGAsYHg\/w400-h266\/IMG_0617.jpeg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3 style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EMore to come\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIn the few days I've had the AN\/GRC-9 the only problems I've encountered have been related to the old DY-88 power supply.\u0026nbsp; Old vibrators cans are generally seized up, as was the case with mine.\u0026nbsp; Eventually mine became un-stuck after repeated applications of power but there are some methods to restore truly frozen ones using AC current and light bulbs (see Notes section below).\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI've made about half a dozen contacts on the ham bands, including a 40m contact to a station in TX which is kinda DX for my locale.\u0026nbsp; I've received nice signal reports.\u0026nbsp; I've specifically asked stations about my \"chirp\" during QSOs and they've reported it as \"not bad\" and \"charming\".\u0026nbsp; When operating from the VFO (master oscillator) rather than a crystal, the GRC-9 will \"chirp\". It was considered an acceptable design trade-off at the time.\u0026nbsp; I've listened to the transmitter from a remote WebSDR station to hear the chirp for myself, and I agree that it isn't extreme and lends some character to the station.\u0026nbsp; The unit does drift about 200 Hz during a QSO which I also think is quite acceptable for it's age.\u0026nbsp; It's possible that if I spent more time in Send mode prior to a QSO to allow the transmitter tubes to warm up the drift might be lessened, but keeping the radio in Send mode puts quite a load on the power supply (both the 12v supplying the DY-88 and the human cranking the GN-58).\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe RT-77 Telefunken receiver doesn't offer much in terms of selectivity and on a crowded band there's a lot of stations to contend with in the passband.\u0026nbsp; The outboard CW filter deals with this nicely, but it is so narrow that when shifting from Send to Standby, the resulting frequency shift often throws the station I'm receiving out of the filter's passband, so that's a bit tricky.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe receiver's tuning knob also is very coarse, in that fine adjustments are made by breathing on the knob.\u0026nbsp; However it has zero backlash, which is amazing in a piece of equipment this old.\u0026nbsp; The markings on the receiver are in 50 kHz intervals so the only way to really figure out where you are is to look at RBN for your spot.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-KUYHZmP2ER0\/YA2GEFaCCmI\/AAAAAAAAxPE\/Mki-1GEzs-4nyD8D8owWv84BaHlvkwZlACPcBGAsYHg\/s1920\/photo-2021-01-24%2B02-25-34.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1920\" data-original-width=\"1440\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-KUYHZmP2ER0\/YA2GEFaCCmI\/AAAAAAAAxPE\/Mki-1GEzs-4nyD8D8owWv84BaHlvkwZlACPcBGAsYHg\/w480-h640\/photo-2021-01-24%2B02-25-34.jpg\" width=\"480\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E50 kHz spacing when reading the frequency on the receiver\u003Cbr \/\u003ENote the 7.2 is 7.200 MHz in the 40m band\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EImages\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EEnjoy the pictures of the AN\/GRC-9\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Q3t53b7WQEw\/YA2HUUl5X2I\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/JPRVbbehzLor6Ic15IQ85AFbsPRVBEYEACPcBGAsYHg\/s1920\/DSCF0424.JPG\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1080\" data-original-width=\"1920\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Q3t53b7WQEw\/YA2HUUl5X2I\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/JPRVbbehzLor6Ic15IQ85AFbsPRVBEYEACPcBGAsYHg\/s320\/DSCF0424.JPG\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-2_ul2hnY_pE\/YA2HUc_MyqI\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/dH6PhY5UblsIad4ZTK5-6S5u5R5IdgYnwCPcBGAsYHg\/s4032\/PXL_20210123_193143256.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"3024\" data-original-width=\"4032\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-2_ul2hnY_pE\/YA2HUc_MyqI\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/dH6PhY5UblsIad4ZTK5-6S5u5R5IdgYnwCPcBGAsYHg\/s320\/PXL_20210123_193143256.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-6eDG_bHWrFs\/YA2HUUradII\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/tZZj9KDRBggr8ZUAOMl6Iqo2gdUQZw8aACPcBGAsYHg\/s4032\/PXL_20210123_193328696.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"3024\" data-original-width=\"4032\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-6eDG_bHWrFs\/YA2HUUradII\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/tZZj9KDRBggr8ZUAOMl6Iqo2gdUQZw8aACPcBGAsYHg\/s320\/PXL_20210123_193328696.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-54JWJaF8uyY\/YA2HUcDtp4I\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/ifwmS5Rhonc9-HLVWbX53AmcMxiOsRj-wCPcBGAsYHg\/s4032\/PXL_20210123_193600133.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"4032\" data-original-width=\"3024\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-54JWJaF8uyY\/YA2HUcDtp4I\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/ifwmS5Rhonc9-HLVWbX53AmcMxiOsRj-wCPcBGAsYHg\/s320\/PXL_20210123_193600133.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-f8lvQk1nzAk\/YA2HUSZfMSI\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/7YWAA-7HKtUHm9zN2MrNU_Q9CizU2j3xgCPcBGAsYHg\/s4000\/DSCF0407.JPG\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"3000\" data-original-width=\"4000\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-f8lvQk1nzAk\/YA2HUSZfMSI\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/7YWAA-7HKtUHm9zN2MrNU_Q9CizU2j3xgCPcBGAsYHg\/s320\/DSCF0407.JPG\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-zFSUboxHK1A\/YA2HUQpDGVI\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/PWC3jc4DjbsYFq8qDZq8hYDcBl3L9eTdwCPcBGAsYHg\/s4000\/DSCF0408.JPG\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"3000\" data-original-width=\"4000\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-zFSUboxHK1A\/YA2HUQpDGVI\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/PWC3jc4DjbsYFq8qDZq8hYDcBl3L9eTdwCPcBGAsYHg\/s320\/DSCF0408.JPG\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-UmhLVNSlQOg\/YA2HUfEpElI\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/SHyrEJO74NgxVnjD9onGL-l9GiS3RV-iQCPcBGAsYHg\/s4000\/DSCF0413.JPG\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"3000\" data-original-width=\"4000\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-UmhLVNSlQOg\/YA2HUfEpElI\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/SHyrEJO74NgxVnjD9onGL-l9GiS3RV-iQCPcBGAsYHg\/s320\/DSCF0413.JPG\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-DukKaphAnKA\/YA2HUf0aKSI\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/cJKdCJfMokYmvZ88kN3xFCRpcUPbBxI7QCPcBGAsYHg\/s4000\/DSCF0410.JPG\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2409\" data-original-width=\"4000\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-DukKaphAnKA\/YA2HUf0aKSI\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/cJKdCJfMokYmvZ88kN3xFCRpcUPbBxI7QCPcBGAsYHg\/s320\/DSCF0410.JPG\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-LAl-sFuxK08\/YA2HUR_-TNI\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/ipx5R8KvJxIijhDRA24NbG-vMRwwi34fACPcBGAsYHg\/s3743\/DSCF0409.JPG\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2807\" data-original-width=\"3743\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-LAl-sFuxK08\/YA2HUR_-TNI\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/ipx5R8KvJxIijhDRA24NbG-vMRwwi34fACPcBGAsYHg\/s320\/DSCF0409.JPG\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-wUIacga7va0\/YA2HUdybbpI\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/QYPJEb1Ae1kpEDbTP9pgPmcSWuWnLpmzwCPcBGAsYHg\/s1920\/photo-2021-01-24%2B02-26-42.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1920\" data-original-width=\"1440\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-wUIacga7va0\/YA2HUdybbpI\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/QYPJEb1Ae1kpEDbTP9pgPmcSWuWnLpmzwCPcBGAsYHg\/s320\/photo-2021-01-24%2B02-26-42.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-JNeyDKgjuXo\/YA2HUdxArcI\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/MDY_pxGRiDQV4XiXmOGkjRfKQiuBEWQSwCPcBGAsYHg\/s4000\/DSCF0414.JPG\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"3000\" data-original-width=\"4000\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-JNeyDKgjuXo\/YA2HUdxArcI\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/MDY_pxGRiDQV4XiXmOGkjRfKQiuBEWQSwCPcBGAsYHg\/s320\/DSCF0414.JPG\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-ERRDpx6oaYE\/YA2HUVXKBII\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/15gte5dkMYMmM5vI3d8zIkwkNRKwICLFACPcBGAsYHg\/s4000\/DSCF0415.JPG\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"3000\" data-original-width=\"4000\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-ERRDpx6oaYE\/YA2HUVXKBII\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/15gte5dkMYMmM5vI3d8zIkwkNRKwICLFACPcBGAsYHg\/s320\/DSCF0415.JPG\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-8COXP7HqBf8\/YA7amXH1isI\/AAAAAAAAxQc\/NYcqjZ0xKAsuDnUCKmfm3pwLAaVrRBoAwCPcBGAsYHg\/s4032\/PXL_20210125_042001849.MP.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"3024\" data-original-width=\"4032\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-8COXP7HqBf8\/YA7amXH1isI\/AAAAAAAAxQc\/NYcqjZ0xKAsuDnUCKmfm3pwLAaVrRBoAwCPcBGAsYHg\/s320\/PXL_20210125_042001849.MP.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EPhosphor glowing nicely on the GRC-9\u003Cbr \/\u003EAs opposed to the degraded glow of the radium infused lettering on the RT-77 half\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Ifnv9oN4HPw\/YA2HUf_SKEI\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/-mfY0wLpPrMPwQ21tbDPS0rLg7_dygslwCPcBGAsYHg\/s4000\/DSCF0416.JPG\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"3000\" data-original-width=\"4000\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Ifnv9oN4HPw\/YA2HUf_SKEI\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/-mfY0wLpPrMPwQ21tbDPS0rLg7_dygslwCPcBGAsYHg\/s320\/DSCF0416.JPG\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tRo1iDTWpfc\/YA2HUdly_AI\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/YeF3nJ67beMjfJehrY9KGSOAABvcwYv7QCPcBGAsYHg\/s4000\/DSCF0417.JPG\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"3000\" data-original-width=\"4000\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tRo1iDTWpfc\/YA2HUdly_AI\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/YeF3nJ67beMjfJehrY9KGSOAABvcwYv7QCPcBGAsYHg\/s320\/DSCF0417.JPG\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-HQqAkPaY0no\/YA2HUXHePyI\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/XTy44DjmGDkGzrDo7JlGg9HfAoUnfXyOACPcBGAsYHg\/s4000\/DSCF0419.JPG\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"3000\" data-original-width=\"4000\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-HQqAkPaY0no\/YA2HUXHePyI\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/XTy44DjmGDkGzrDo7JlGg9HfAoUnfXyOACPcBGAsYHg\/s320\/DSCF0419.JPG\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Y57AehInvyo\/YA2HUfznvAI\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/2TdodsT74B87-L1xdTXxxjfvN3OSc6w-ACPcBGAsYHg\/s4032\/PXL_20210123_193013175.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"3024\" data-original-width=\"4032\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Y57AehInvyo\/YA2HUfznvAI\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/2TdodsT74B87-L1xdTXxxjfvN3OSc6w-ACPcBGAsYHg\/s320\/PXL_20210123_193013175.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-IQI0xxO8QXA\/YA2HUcq10VI\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/8nbOq_gQCcADCDqHE3NpvbPazQN4B3gIwCPcBGAsYHg\/s4032\/PXL_20210123_192945932.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2659\" data-original-width=\"4032\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-IQI0xxO8QXA\/YA2HUcq10VI\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/8nbOq_gQCcADCDqHE3NpvbPazQN4B3gIwCPcBGAsYHg\/s320\/PXL_20210123_192945932.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-gBNlX_DpvYU\/YA2HUbGwdnI\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/h6MYQ5mlpTQJzTUGuJ6gt9rBIJXYcLYqwCPcBGAsYHg\/s3883\/PXL_20210123_192839574.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2912\" data-original-width=\"3883\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-gBNlX_DpvYU\/YA2HUbGwdnI\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/h6MYQ5mlpTQJzTUGuJ6gt9rBIJXYcLYqwCPcBGAsYHg\/s320\/PXL_20210123_192839574.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-RuKqMMH7V5s\/YA2HUb5O2NI\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/sGCNaOzSogkH_xOVcDpqi1tnLQI_MCGhgCPcBGAsYHg\/s4032\/PXL_20210123_192757882.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"3024\" data-original-width=\"4032\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-RuKqMMH7V5s\/YA2HUb5O2NI\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/sGCNaOzSogkH_xOVcDpqi1tnLQI_MCGhgCPcBGAsYHg\/s320\/PXL_20210123_192757882.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dluADwA7by8\/YA2HUeUXj6I\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/kSDtDTE4LzgqyhPwO0mzpvnYgRT_KHqxwCPcBGAsYHg\/s4032\/PXL_20210123_192729656.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"4032\" data-original-width=\"3024\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dluADwA7by8\/YA2HUeUXj6I\/AAAAAAAAxPQ\/kSDtDTE4LzgqyhPwO0mzpvnYgRT_KHqxwCPcBGAsYHg\/s320\/PXL_20210123_192729656.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;\"\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;\"\u003E73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;\"\u003ESo go heavyweight for you QRP station to get your excercise.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;\"\u003EDE AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003ENotes\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EInstructions for restoring a vibrator to operation\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EInstructions posted by:\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote style=\"border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERobert\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EGunner\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EUSN Retired\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMVPA 9480\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EVB-1 and VB-7 are interchangable. I think I recall reading somewhere that VB-7 is a \"lightweight\" version of VB-1 but I won't swear to that.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe base is 4-pin, and the pin numbers are counted as on a vacuum tube with the same base. I wish I could post an image here without uploading it somewhere but if it's possible I've not figured out how to do it. The pins count clockwise from 1 to 4 looking at the bottom of the vibrator or the wiring side of the socket. The two large pins are 4 and 1 and the two small ones are 2 and 3.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThere are two basic types of vibrators, called Series and Shunt. The Series type has a contact in series with the coil. VB-1, 7 and 16 are all Series types. I'll skip the Shunt type for now.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EPin 1 is common. Pin 4 is coil. Pin 2 is the NO (Normally Open) switching contact and Pin 3 is NC (Normally Closed). To test a VB-1\/7, use an ohmmeter to check continuity from 1 to 4. If the reading is infinity, the coil could be open but this seldom happens. The problem is probably the vibrator contact. If the reading is a few ohms, connect +6 VDC to Pin 4 and -6 VDC to Pin 1. The vibrator should run. If it doesn't, most likely the contact is welded. About the only solution is to open up the vibrator, unstick the contact and try to burnish the burn marks out of the contact.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIf the vibrator does run, go to the end of this screed and do the final test.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIf the reading is infinity, here's how to use the two or three lamps to (usually) fix the vibrator. SAFETY NOTE: bear in mind you are dealing with either 120 or 220 VAC. If you jury rig the hookup, do all of your connections and disconnections with the \"rig\" not connected to the AC line. In other words, don't touch anything except the plug on the line cord or (if you go to that much trouble) the ON-OFF switch when the line cord is plugged in.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EConnect the hot side of the AC line cord to one side of both lamps. Connect the ground side of the AC line cord to Pin 1 of the vibrator (or socket if you use one). Connect the other side of one of the lamps to Pin 4 and the other lamp to Pins 3 and 2. If you splurge and use three lamps, connect the \"cold\" side of the second and third lamps to Pins 2 and 3 respectively.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ECheck all the wiring and when satisfied all is OK, plug in the line cord. Probably nothing will happen immediately. Within a few minutes to a few hours lamp 1 should begin flickering and you should hear the vibrator hum. Run the test until the second lamp begins to flicker or until both the 2nd and 3rd lamps flicker.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIf you are only using two lamps, when the 2nd lamp begins to flicker, wait 1 or 2 minutes then remove power (unplug the line cord). Connect the 2nd lamp only to Pin 2 and plug in the line cord. If the 2nd lamp flickers, remove power, move the 2nd lamp connection to Pin 3 and apply power. In either case (with the 2nd lamp now connected to pin 2 or 3 only), let the test run until the 2nd lamp again flickers.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EFor a final test, connect one lamp to Pin 2 and one to Pin 3. Connect 6 VDC to Pins 4 and 1. With the vibrator vibrating apply power to the two lamps. They should flicker alternately. Note that for this test, either use a 6 volt battery or a 6 VDC supply with both outputs not grounded. I wouldn't try to use the battery in the Jeep just in case you mis-identify which side of the line cord is grounded and which is hot.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAlthough a vibrator that is going to be fixed by this procedure will usually begin to work after say no more than half an hour, I have seen it take several hours. So if I have one that didn't start working fairly quickly, I'll let the test run up to about 8 hours max (or overnight) before giving up.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/9019752532769116954\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2021\/01\/angrc-9-aka-angry-nine.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/9019752532769116954"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/9019752532769116954"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2021\/01\/angrc-9-aka-angry-nine.html","title":"AN\/GRC-9 aka \"Angry Nine\""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-8NadFEL13lI\/YAyLXraJ06I\/AAAAAAAAxH4\/igPxRwp_HO0LTUoOhRuSxBhReyCrlfl1ACPcBGAsYHg\/s72-w480-h640-c\/PXL_20210120_184415512.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-2909434708295007970"},"published":{"$t":"2020-02-15T22:59:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-02-16T07:10:42.182-05:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Hallicrafters HA-1 Electronic Keyer"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EHigh Voltage Electronic Keyer from 1960\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI've been interested in getting my hands on a Hallicrafters HA-1 since the first time I saw one online.\u0026nbsp; A 60 year old (as of this writing) all-tube keyer weighing in at 7.5 lbs.\u0026nbsp; Everyone needs one, right?\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-UgevjfeKB9s\/Xki2IJlC-gI\/AAAAAAAAs6I\/9O2NY9QKXn4FcArL0GztGYwHJJFzIceKACLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/hallicrafters%2B%252810%2Bof%2B12%2529.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"480\" data-original-width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-UgevjfeKB9s\/Xki2IJlC-gI\/AAAAAAAAs6I\/9O2NY9QKXn4FcArL0GztGYwHJJFzIceKACLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/hallicrafters%2B%252810%2Bof%2B12%2529.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe HA-1 uses a mercury wetted relay capable of switching up to 500v circuits.\u0026nbsp; Wow!\u0026nbsp; It employs four 12AU7 tubes to perform the mark-space morse timing and uses an OA2 and OB2 tubes for power regulation.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-TIXZlwc9OOw\/Xki4qvziYCI\/AAAAAAAAs6U\/5CVIER7pVGMG2r6WyF28qOMeommauSNwgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/hallicrafters%2B%25284%2Bof%2B12%2529.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1271\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"508\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-TIXZlwc9OOw\/Xki4qvziYCI\/AAAAAAAAs6U\/5CVIER7pVGMG2r6WyF28qOMeommauSNwgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/hallicrafters%2B%25284%2Bof%2B12%2529.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThey always auctioned for more scratch than I thought was reasonable or were so beat up that I assumed it had been buried in a damp basement since Eisenhower was president.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI finally won an auction for one that was in reasonable cosmetic condition and fully expected to have to overhaul the electrolytics and out-of-spec capacitors but I lucked out and received one that had been recently overhauled with new power caps and even had replacement polys.\u0026nbsp; The only issue was the the sidetone circuit was kaput because a neon bulb used in the relaxation oscillation circuit had broken its leads at some point (maybe during shipping) and was rattling around in the case when I received it.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EFortunately I had an old neon bulb in my junk box.\u0026nbsp; It was socketed rather than having the leads, but I soldered some leads to the socket and installed it where the other had broken off.\u0026nbsp; Wahlah, sidetone audio restored.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-mOOmAP0O_Hg\/Xki5G44s69I\/AAAAAAAAs6c\/ax1101Tcc_4Ws4DZQlvvBDRIc2aq_BPegCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IMG_20200214_120524.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-mOOmAP0O_Hg\/Xki5G44s69I\/AAAAAAAAs6c\/ax1101Tcc_4Ws4DZQlvvBDRIc2aq_BPegCLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/IMG_20200214_120524.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EWhat an electronic keyer was like 60 years ago\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAfter reading the manual and adjusting the circuit balance and element weighting, I had a go with it.\u0026nbsp; I found that it kept eating a DIT when it followed a DAH in a character like K or N.\u0026nbsp; I eventually realized that I was hitting and releasing the left paddle (dit paddle) before the current DAH was completing.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EA keyer without DIT \/ DAH memory\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThen it hit me... this tube circuitry doesn't have an \"memory\".\u0026nbsp; Modern, digital keying circuits have a memory as to what paddle was pressed while the current element is being completed, but this old electronic keyer is using all its tube goodness to complete the timing for the current element.\u0026nbsp; So in the case of a DAH, it doesn't have a place to buffer that I've pressed and released the DIT key while it was completing the DAH.\u0026nbsp; I have to be holding the DIT paddle after it's completed the DAH for it to recognize and begin the DIT element.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThat really calls for a change in my paddle usage.\u0026nbsp; My brain needs to keep in mind the length of DAHs so that I don't rush and release a following DIT before the current element completes.\u0026nbsp; This is a bigger problem below 25wpm given the longer length of the DAHs.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;\"\u003EThe Hallicrafters HA-1 manual states that the keyer is different from other electronic keyers and requires \"a knack\" to use effectively.\u0026nbsp; I think I've discovered whereof it speaks.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI practiced for about 30 minutes and then tried some on-air CW QSOs.\u0026nbsp; They were rough.\u0026nbsp; Leaving DITS out of K's, C's, Q's and N's and other such letters really changes what you're saying... C's become M's... K's become M's (mmm... M\u0026amp;Ms)\u0026nbsp; N's become T's... Anyway, you get it.\u0026nbsp; Very frustrating for both the sender and the receiver.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAs luck would have it, one of the stations I worked was also using an old Hallicrafters keyer.\u0026nbsp; Did I know because he was dropping DITs ?\u0026nbsp; No, I was telling him about the \"new\" keyer I was using and he responded that he was using one as well and went on to extoll it's virtues.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo I plan to use it and not relegate it as a shelf queen.\u0026nbsp; I figure with enough practice it will actually improve my technique and probably improve my bug fist as well since it causes me to be far more conscious of my inter-element timing when forming characters.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EConclusion\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIf you have a good, modern keyer and don't need to key high-voltage tube gear, I can't really recommend that you run out and find a Hallicrafters HA-1.\u0026nbsp; But if your taste runs toward the eclectic and you want a really, large electronic keyer with no memory functions that consumes 30 watts of power whenever it's on and provides you with a wonderful tube smell, and also requires soldering to hook-up the line to connect to an external transmitter... then this is the key for you.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EPlus it looks just like H.A.L. from the Space Odyssey\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-ptKmSqkZs3E\/Xki9z39bcbI\/AAAAAAAAs6o\/p9beYTrPhck0Qli-d42a2bxfJmffHEE9gCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/hallicrafters%2B%252812%2Bof%2B12%2529.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-ptKmSqkZs3E\/Xki9z39bcbI\/AAAAAAAAs6o\/p9beYTrPhck0Qli-d42a2bxfJmffHEE9gCLcBGAsYHQ\/s640\/hallicrafters%2B%252812%2Bof%2B12%2529.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo use a keyer with more wattage than your QRP station to get those extra DX contacts.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EDE AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/2909434708295007970\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2020\/02\/hallicrafters-ha-1-electronic-keyer.html#comment-form","title":"10 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/2909434708295007970"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/2909434708295007970"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2020\/02\/hallicrafters-ha-1-electronic-keyer.html","title":"Hallicrafters HA-1 Electronic Keyer"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-UgevjfeKB9s\/Xki2IJlC-gI\/AAAAAAAAs6I\/9O2NY9QKXn4FcArL0GztGYwHJJFzIceKACLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-c\/hallicrafters%2B%252810%2Bof%2B12%2529.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"10"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-6404639839771467195"},"published":{"$t":"2020-02-06T19:00:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-12-28T15:29:08.813-05:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Space in Morse Code"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003ESilence is Beautiful\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe space between characters and words is just as important as properly forming the characters.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"BLOG_video_class\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7NjiYHVTpOA\" width=\"320\" youtube-src-id=\"7NjiYHVTpOA\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIf you're rushing your characters the elements of one character will not be easily discerned from the next and the person your sending to will find it indecipherable and respond with a 73 and spin the dial.\u0026nbsp; I have a number of comments in my logs about operators who ran their characters and words together.\u0026nbsp; I tend to avoid those contacts down the log.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EBut, many of us, including myself, are guilty of rushing when we send, especially as a ragchew moves into the 3rd or 4th exchange.\u0026nbsp; I think the problem is that as the person \u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003Esending\u003C\/b\u003E \u003C\/i\u003Ethe code, I \u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003Eknow\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003Ewhat I am sending and in the excitement of wanting to get out all the things I want to say and turn it over, I start to rush and begin compressing the space between my sent characters and words.\u0026nbsp; After all, it's very clear in my head what I'm sending, it must be just as clear to the listener, right?\u0026nbsp; Wrong.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace;\"\u003ERRFBCPYALLWXHRISSUNNYES88FRIGISIC756PRORUNNING100WINTODIPOLEUP66FTDESM8ERW8BJOK\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe exchange above isn't far from reality and that's assuming the character spacing was good.\u0026nbsp; When the character spacing is rushed two characters become a different character or no character at all, and you sit there with your head tilted thinking \"what in the world are they saying?\"\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EProper Space (Timing)\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWhat is considered proper spacing?\u0026nbsp; Let's review some basics.\u0026nbsp; A DIT is counted as a single Morse Code element (think of it as a unit of time).\u0026nbsp; A DAH is counted as 3 times longer or 3 Morse Code elements (3 times the DIT time unit).\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EOf course the length (time) of a sent DIT or DAH will change with the speed you are sending.\u0026nbsp; As the word per minute speed rises, the length of of DITs and DAHs decreases accordingly and vice-versa.\u0026nbsp; Unless you're using Farnsworth timing, but that's a different discussion...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ESpace between DITS and DAHS in a Character\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ECharacters other than the E and T are made up of more than a single DIT or DAH.\u0026nbsp; Between each DIT and DAH making up a single character is\u0026nbsp;\u003Cb\u003Espace\u003C\/b\u003E.\u0026nbsp; The space between each DIT and DAH making up a single character should be as long as a single Morse Code element... a DIT.\u0026nbsp; So there's a DIT's space of silence between every DIT and DAH in a character.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace;\"\u003E\"R\" = DIT\u003Cb\u003E.\u003C\/b\u003EDAH\u003Cb\u003E.\u003C\/b\u003EDIT (where the '\u003Cb\u003E.\u003C\/b\u003E' is the length of a DIT)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ESpace between characters within a Word\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThere should be 3 Morse Code elements of silence between each letter in a word, or silence the length of a DAH, at the speed you are sending.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace;\"\u003E\"WORD\" = W-O-R-D (where the '-' is the length of a DAH)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ESpace between Words\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThere should be 7 Morse Code elements of silence between each word you send.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace;\"\u003E\"HERE\u0026lt;\u0026gt;ARE\u0026lt;\u0026gt;SOME\u0026lt;\u0026gt;WORDS\" (where the '\u0026lt;\u0026gt;' is the length of a the \u003Cb\u003EM\u003C\/b\u003E character)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe length of an \"M\" ??\u0026nbsp; Yes.\u0026nbsp; I was corrected about this in a video I made.\u0026nbsp; In that video I was counting the DITS and DAHS only, and said to count the inter-word space to be the length of the 'W' character because it is made of a DIT and two DAHS, but I was forgetting the space between the DITS and DAHS that make up the character.\u0026nbsp; A 'W' character contains 9 elements.\u0026nbsp; An 'M' contains 7 elements since it is 2 DAHS (3*2=6) plus the inter-character element that spaces them (1-element of silence) equals 7 Morse code elements.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EHow to Practice\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIf you use an electronic keyer it will take care of the inter-character spacing between the DITS and DAHS of your sent characters.\u0026nbsp; If you use a manual key you'll have to take care of that yourself.\u0026nbsp; You can practice by sending strings of DITS, listening to see if you are placing the same space between each DIT as the length of the DIT itself.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ETo practice spacing letters in a word, get used to the length of a DAH (a 'T' character).\u0026nbsp; Send a T over and over making sure you have the space of the character and the space of silence equivalent.\u0026nbsp; This gets a bit more complicated with different characters.\u0026nbsp; An 'E' character is of course much shorter than a 'Z' character but you need to have the same amount of space after each before sending the next character.\u0026nbsp; I find that I tend to rush into the next character after sending a long character like an 'F 'or an 'L' and add too much space after short characters like an 'E' or 'T'.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;If you use a decoder of some type it can be helpful in showing you timing mistakes.\u0026nbsp; Send into a decoder and see if it turns two of your characters into a different character (you rushed the timing), or see if it spaces the word out as if there's a word break (you're putting too much space between the letters).\u0026nbsp; It is a very humbling experience to send into a decoder.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESimilar to working on letter spacing, spacing for words is potentially an even more important skill.\u0026nbsp; When we listen to Morse at speed the rhythmic sound of the characters in a word as a whole tends to tell our brain what we've heard.\u0026nbsp; If the next word is rushed then we don't process the first and miss the beginning of the next.\u0026nbsp; Practice sending the 'M' character at your preferred speed and get used to the amount of time it takes to send.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EOne thing I've tried that works pretty well is setting the break-in timing of my transceiver to match the space I want between words.\u0026nbsp; At 20wpm the DIT length is between 50-60 milliseconds depending on the measurement you use.\u0026nbsp; So if I want to be sure I'm spacing properly I should have 7 time-units or 7*50 = 350 milliseconds break-in set in the transceiver.\u0026nbsp; Both my Elecraft KX3 and Ten-Tec Eagle support setting the break-in in milliseconds.\u0026nbsp; By being sure that I hear break-in occur between every word I know that I'm putting in a good minimum amount of spacing.\u0026nbsp; If I don't hear break-in occurring, it reminds me that I'm rushing my words.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace; font-size: large;\"\u003EWhen I hear break-in occur between every word I know that I'm putting in a good minimum amount of spacing\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EConclusion\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe silence you send is just as important as the signal.\u0026nbsp; Silence is golden\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EDE AA4OO\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/6404639839771467195\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2020\/02\/space-in-morse-code.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/6404639839771467195"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/6404639839771467195"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2020\/02\/space-in-morse-code.html","title":"Space in Morse Code"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/7NjiYHVTpOA\/default.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-7551326996124148271"},"published":{"$t":"2018-04-09T20:00:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-04-10T21:22:59.555-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Regulated voltage for Regenerative receiver project"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EMr. Regula-tor\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EBuilding a regenerative tube receiver seems to have been a rite of passage for all hams of yesteryear.\u0026nbsp; Although I built one from a kit (4-States QRP) as my first electronics project a couple years ago I thought I'd go for the real deal and build a vacuum tube regen receiver.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI'm building a design based around the 6SN7 tube. While I'm collecting parts and still locating a suitable chassis I decided to build a regulated power supply from the parts I have.\u0026nbsp; Anyone familiar with electronics could probably whip this together in no time, but being the electronics newbie that I am, it is a slow process.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI'm using a transformer from a 1950's Heathkit VTVM V-7 that I parted out. It supplies the 6.3V filament voltage from one set of windings (yellow wires)\u0026nbsp; those tested good. But the HV was an unknown as it was only half wave rectified when the transformer was used in the meter.\u0026nbsp; That meter's rectifier and power cap had gone bad so I didn't know what condition the HV side of the transformer.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EBreadboarded using a full wave rectifier created with 4 diodes, buffered by a 22uF electrolytic and a 10k resistor, I saw 189 volts, with no-load out of the high voltage side of the transformer. The amount of current the transformer could provide was still an unknown. I tested temporarily with a 2.5kOhm high wattage resistor and saw 56ma of current provided with a voltage sag down to 130V but the core of the transistor started heating up.\u0026nbsp; Within half an hour it was over 120F so I discontinued that load test.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFortunately, the regen circuit uses a ridiculously small amount of current for B+; about 4 to 5mA. Although I will likely change the audio side of the tube to deliver enough current for a speaker rather than the high impedance headphones in the current design, which may potentially double that to 10ma.\u0026nbsp; For the first incarnation I'll stick with high-impedance headphones.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe regen power supply requirements called for 6.3V@0.5A and 90V@4mA B+.\u0026nbsp; The B+ voltage\u0026nbsp; was based on using 10x 9V batteries and it stated that voltage wasn't critical but shouldn't fall much below 90V, going 12% above 90V should be OK.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EGenerally batteries are used with regenerative receivers because they are so sensitive to power supply noise, but I wanted to give the power supply a shot first and if it proves too noisy I can fall back to battery power for the B+ and just use the filament voltage provided by this transformer.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESince I have a OB2 voltage regulation tube I want to use. The OB2 regulates at 108V so that's what I'm going with.\u0026nbsp; An OB3 would regulate at 90V, but I don't have one of those.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-LPjSbO46NYQ\/WstHxlfPLVI\/AAAAAAAAkuY\/_7Uc_N-tG38X1wnJXZ_MZdRI1-zh3sEBwCKgBGAs\/s1600\/IMG_20180408_095738.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-LPjSbO46NYQ\/WstHxlfPLVI\/AAAAAAAAkuY\/_7Uc_N-tG38X1wnJXZ_MZdRI1-zh3sEBwCKgBGAs\/s640\/IMG_20180408_095738.jpg\" width=\"480\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EOB2 in action... Glow baby, Glow!\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ECalculating the resistor drop\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EA voltage regulating tube like a OB2 ionizes gas to maintain the voltage at the tube's specification.\u0026nbsp; In the case of an OB2 it tries to maintain voltage at 108V.\u0026nbsp; It requires a starting voltage higher than what it will regulate to, but ultimately can only dissipate so much current as it drops voltage.\u0026nbsp; So, a resistor must be put in series ahead of the VR tube to limit the current it will have to dissipate.\u0026nbsp; The resistor must be able to handle the current flowing through it, so that must be calculated as well.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe calculation for the dropping resistor resistance is:\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003ERdrop = (Vs - Vreg) \/ (Ireg + Isupply)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003ESo, in my case:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003EVoltage supply (Vs) = 189V\u003Cbr \/\u003Evoltage regulation (Vreg) = 108V\u003Cbr \/\u003Eregulator current (Ireg) the OB2 requires 5mA to do its job = 5mA\u003Cbr \/\u003Esupply current (Isupply) the actual current required by the 6SN7 up to ~ 5mA\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo, (189V - 108V) \/ (0.005A + 0.005A)\u0026nbsp; comes out to a resistor value of\u0026nbsp; 10,100 ohms.\u0026nbsp; 10k is the closest standard size resistor and at 108V it should be able to dissipate 1.166 watts.\u0026nbsp; So I'll need a 10k 2-watt resistor.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EParts is parts\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERunning the regulated power supply with a 10k Rdrop resistor for a few hours showed the transformer stabilize at 92F degrees at 70F amb.\u0026nbsp; I was using a separate 27k 2-watt resistor to simulate the ~4mA load that the receiver will draw at 108V.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAs you can see on the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/04\/metering-high-voltage-on-cheap.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Enewly restored, trusty Heathkit VTVM\u003C\/a\u003E; the voltage was holding steady around 108V.\u0026nbsp; With that little current, the OB2 is not visibly glowing but with the lights out the violet colored ionization is visible.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-mqi6l_-F46k\/WstB9Gp6a2I\/AAAAAAAAkuI\/6dWrrpohx4oP50oNzRna1Zz4j90RHVwAACKgBGAs\/s1600\/IMG_20180408_202127.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-mqi6l_-F46k\/WstB9Gp6a2I\/AAAAAAAAkuI\/6dWrrpohx4oP50oNzRna1Zz4j90RHVwAACKgBGAs\/s640\/IMG_20180408_202127.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ESummary\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI'm going to order a larger filter capacitor.\u0026nbsp; The only one I had to test with was 22uF 360V and I'd like to use higher capacitance value of 47uF with a more appropriate voltage rating of 250V.\u0026nbsp; I will also be adding 0.01uF caps at the input and output of the filter capacitor and I may add a 0.01uF across the OB2 pins 1\/7 to further attenuate any RF noise.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWith the current values I'm seeing 50mA ripple on my regulated voltage.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-w-i5NcGvMQE\/Ws1jTPFKrfI\/AAAAAAAAkxI\/AC5nXQ_faIga4-t0-n4DC0CJwmRWvh3aQCKgBGAs\/s1600\/IMG_20180410_204059.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-w-i5NcGvMQE\/Ws1jTPFKrfI\/AAAAAAAAkxI\/AC5nXQ_faIga4-t0-n4DC0CJwmRWvh3aQCKgBGAs\/s640\/IMG_20180410_204059.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EA bit over 50mA ripple\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAfter I get the new capacitor and get the 0.01uF caps in play to filter out noise, I'll hook it up to the oscilloscope to check for ripple.\u0026nbsp; I'll update the post at that time.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThat's all for now....\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power the old fashioned way, using a voltage regulator tube.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E72\/73\u003Cbr \/\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/7551326996124148271\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/04\/regulated-voltage-for-regenerative.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/7551326996124148271"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/7551326996124148271"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/04\/regulated-voltage-for-regenerative.html","title":"Regulated voltage for Regenerative receiver project"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-LPjSbO46NYQ\/WstHxlfPLVI\/AAAAAAAAkuY\/_7Uc_N-tG38X1wnJXZ_MZdRI1-zh3sEBwCKgBGAs\/s72-c\/IMG_20180408_095738.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-364280871153775018"},"published":{"$t":"2018-04-03T22:31:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-04-03T22:32:12.247-04:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Heathkit Art"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EHeathkit HP-23A and IM-11\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI had just buttoned up a HP-23A, after testing its transformer. A\u0026nbsp;fellow ham gave it to me for parts.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis old stuff looks cool, so I took a pic with the phone and thought I'd share.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EFeel free to use as a desktop background, but if you use it in on the web or publish provide proper attribution.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-UPCql8NhGPQ\/WsQ1dlmo7dI\/AAAAAAAAkok\/5caUUOsFbOgCTADsMSJlUKu5abjh-0yKwCKgBGAs\/s1600\/IMG_20180403_212137_processed.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1080\" data-original-width=\"1440\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-UPCql8NhGPQ\/WsQ1dlmo7dI\/AAAAAAAAkok\/5caUUOsFbOgCTADsMSJlUKu5abjh-0yKwCKgBGAs\/s640\/IMG_20180403_212137_processed.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/364280871153775018\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/04\/heathkit-art.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/364280871153775018"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/364280871153775018"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/04\/heathkit-art.html","title":"Heathkit Art"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-UPCql8NhGPQ\/WsQ1dlmo7dI\/AAAAAAAAkok\/5caUUOsFbOgCTADsMSJlUKu5abjh-0yKwCKgBGAs\/s72-c\/IMG_20180403_212137_processed.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-4405661364222815261"},"published":{"$t":"2018-04-01T15:08:00.004-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-04-07T14:54:07.278-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Metering High Voltage on the cheap"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E🗲\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003EHeathkit VTM model IM-11 🗲\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI recently got a taste for restoring and using vintage vacuum tube radio equipment.\u0026nbsp; Using equipment that requires 800+ volts for making QRP transmissions is counter-intuitive to the spirit of QRP ham radio, but it's part of my journey as a ham, so I'm writing about it.\u0026nbsp; Bear with me.\u0026nbsp; Once I receive a near fatal shock I'm sure I'll move back to 12v powered equipment again.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EUntil then...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EOne of the first issues I ran into while testing the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/02\/hp-23-upgrade-board-kit-from-k8gnz.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Epower supplies\u003C\/a\u003E I restored for my vintage gear was how to measure voltages beyond the range of my digital multi-meter.\u0026nbsp; Most consumer grade digital multi-meters (DMMs) can only measure up to 500 volts then display an error, or stop working altogether.\u0026nbsp; Previously, I was able to measure voltages over 500V by making a voltage divider out of two 100k 1w resistors and taking my measurement from the middle of the two resistors, but it was precarious in use and added even more danger when working with this old equipment.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI'd looked at getting a DMM capable of measuring high voltage, but the recommended ones, like a Tenma 72-1055 Benchtop Digital Multimeter, start around $100.\u0026nbsp; Used Fluke meters are even pricier.\u0026nbsp; I'm sure buying a more professional DMM would be a wise investment.\u0026nbsp; As I've evidenced many times; wisdom is omitted from my DNA.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ESo what did hams of yesteryear use?\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;\"\u003EBehold...\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: red;\"\u003EV\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003Eacuum \u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: red;\"\u003ET\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003Eube \u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: red;\"\u003EV\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003Eolt \u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: red;\"\u003EM\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003Eeter\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-98LkvMh_dYE\/WsDj5P3pEOI\/AAAAAAAAkjA\/JmbWYZt2jF4snRVky0Pq0YildFYO27D9wCLcBGAs\/s1600\/DSCF0115.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-98LkvMh_dYE\/WsDj5P3pEOI\/AAAAAAAAkjA\/JmbWYZt2jF4snRVky0Pq0YildFYO27D9wCLcBGAs\/s640\/DSCF0115.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EVacuum Tube Volt Meter\u003C\/h2\u003EThis Heathkit VTVM model IM-11 was available at my local Hamfest (Rarsfest) for \u003Cb\u003E5 dollars\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EDebugging\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EFive dollars is not a princely sum, but as with most things purchased from a hamfest, it required \u003Ci\u003Esome attention.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe 55 year old 16uFd@150V paper, electrolytic power filter capacitor was likely a ticking time bomb so I replaced it with a modern capacitor for safety concerns.\u0026nbsp; The closest one I had was a 33uFd@160V radial electrolytic.\u0026nbsp; I don't think double the capacitance will be a problem for a filter capacitor, it will just make the transformer work a little harder when it's first turned on. I calculated the initial charge time and it's 393ms vs 190ms for the original cap. I think the 10k resistor and transformer can handle the extra 200ms heavy load on power up.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EA few wires inside the meter had come loose from some very sparse solder points and a one intermittent connection in the range switch was especially troublesome to track down.\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe biggest mystery to solve was oversensitive resistance readings in the Ohms mode.\u0026nbsp; I replaced the C-cell battery in the battery cup and while I had it out I glanced at the\u0026nbsp;+ connection for the battery in the cup.\u0026nbsp; I appeared to have oxidized at some point in the past and was discolored.\u0026nbsp; I scraped it off until I saw shiny bits and thought all was good.\u0026nbsp; I spent more time tracing the circuit and thought I had a problem with the switch itself or the 9x resistors in the range circuit, as suggested in the troubleshooting section of the manual.\u0026nbsp; The problem turned out to be that oxidized bolt head that formed the positive battery connection in the battery cup.\u0026nbsp; Scraping it had not provided electrical contact.\u0026nbsp; In fact, when I removed the bolt (after having to disassemble the circuit board from the meter for the 2nd time), I filed down the head of the bolt\u0026nbsp; and could find no conductive metal left.\u0026nbsp; I'm guessing that a former leaky battery had converted the entire head of the bolt to a very hard, yet non-conductive material.\u0026nbsp; I've never seen anything like it before and it proved to be a useful lesson.\u003Cbr \/\u003EI had to find a replacement bolt and that lead to working on my lawn mower and then mowing the yard... not sure how that progression occurred...\u0026nbsp; Eventually I got the new bolt in the cup, the circuit board re-installed.\u0026nbsp; Ohms tested accurately, put it all back together and noticed the #50 pilot lamp had stopped working (sigh).\u0026nbsp; I removed the innards from the case one more time and got the pilot bulb settled (I think it's required to balance the filament circuit).\u0026nbsp; While I had it apart for the umpteenth time, I decided to reconnect the 1\/4\" plug that a former owner had disconnected while keeping their original modification allowing 1 mega-ohm to be switched in for the outermost probe when DC functions are selected but switched out when AC or Ohm functions are chosen.\u0026nbsp; I wanted to allow use of an original VTVM probe used in the 1\/4\" plug with its built-in 1 mega-ohm resistor.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhew!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAll-in-all, I probably spent 8 hours getting all the functions on my $5.00 meter to work, replacing old parts, undoing mods and aligning it for proper DC and AC readings.\u0026nbsp; It's a good thing I don't count my time in the cost of these projects, otherwise I could have purchased a couple Fluke meters for the cost of my time.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhat's the fun in buying something that works right the first time when you get it home, huh?\u0026nbsp; Are we hams, capable of solving problems, or appliance users?\u0026nbsp; Actually, it would have been nice if it worked without new parts and repairs, but I digress.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EBack to the story\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EThis meter can measure up to 1500 Volts 🗲\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe main reason I purchased this is to measure the high voltage in my tube equipment power supplies and 1500 VDC should just about cover it.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAlthough this meter uses a C-cell battery for measuring resistance, it runs off service mains to power the tubes which control the meter circuitry, so it must be plugged in to be used.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI love the look of its old \"Gran Tran\" power transformer inside the VTVM.\u0026nbsp; They just don't make'em like they used to.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-iBCn_Hv1wZY\/WsDl8ICWjmI\/AAAAAAAAkjM\/U78wWnTbD5IK4-LIQx1P1ehK68XFBicwgCLcBGAs\/s1600\/DSCF0103.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-iBCn_Hv1wZY\/WsDl8ICWjmI\/AAAAAAAAkjM\/U78wWnTbD5IK4-LIQx1P1ehK68XFBicwgCLcBGAs\/s640\/DSCF0103.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EWiring, lots of wiring\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis model was made by Heathkit, from 1961 through 1968, and used typical point to point wiring of the time, making circuit tracing loads of fun.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-EHWQhjW9Sr0\/WsDoqNWzaqI\/AAAAAAAAkjc\/2g3_gyCg9sgNhbhgs41dBH7ismy0gdA8gCLcBGAs\/s1600\/DSCF0105.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-EHWQhjW9Sr0\/WsDoqNWzaqI\/AAAAAAAAkjc\/2g3_gyCg9sgNhbhgs41dBH7ismy0gdA8gCLcBGAs\/s640\/DSCF0105.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EPoint to point wiring makes for interesting circuit tracing\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EShiver me timbers, it's got decks\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EFun fact:\u0026nbsp; When reading the schematic it will refer to \"decks\".\u0026nbsp; A \"deck\" is a wafer section.\u0026nbsp; When there are stacked sections as there are in the function and range controls the \"front deck\" is the one closest to the knob (front of the case) and the \"rear deck\" is the one furthest away, or in the case of working on it, the one closest to you.\u0026nbsp; When there are more than two decks, as is the case with the range control, it will refer to the \"second deck\".\u0026nbsp; As you'll likely guess by now, that is the second \"deck\" or wafer disc from the front of the instrument.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIt also refers to \"front half\" and \"rear half\".\u0026nbsp; The \"half\" is referring to a side of the deck, so in the case of \"front half\" it refers to the side of a particular deck facing the front of the instrument, while the \"rear half\" is the side of a deck facing back (or toward you).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-IRrte4GcodA\/WsDoqC6Jf7I\/AAAAAAAAkjg\/hizhGMKPhpUyUyCF8pgvZlT9iTBls3T4ACLcBGAs\/s640\/DSCF0106.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EClever voltage divider circuitry, what could possibly go wrong in this triple stack of wafer switches?\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-IRrte4GcodA\/WsDoqC6Jf7I\/AAAAAAAAkjg\/hizhGMKPhpUyUyCF8pgvZlT9iTBls3T4ACLcBGAs\/s1600\/DSCF0106.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-IRrte4GcodA\/WsDoqC6Jf7I\/AAAAAAAAkjg\/hizhGMKPhpUyUyCF8pgvZlT9iTBls3T4ACLcBGAs\/s1600\/DSCF0106.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe left knob controls on\/off and meter functions while the right knob controls the rather elegant voltage divider.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EA knob for every function and a function for every knob.\u0026nbsp; NOTE: do not plug your headphones into the 1\/4\" jack on the front unless you want to experiment with personal electro-shock therapy.\u0026nbsp; Better, yet, don't plug your headphones in there.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-h7FATXQxg7c\/WsDoqsjddeI\/AAAAAAAAkjk\/RWcCBD5HJU0YXxD1bD47DMIKvpwa65L8ACLcBGAs\/s1600\/DSCF0114.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1151\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"460\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-h7FATXQxg7c\/WsDoqsjddeI\/AAAAAAAAkjk\/RWcCBD5HJU0YXxD1bD47DMIKvpwa65L8ACLcBGAs\/s640\/DSCF0114.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ENot clearly shown in this photo, voltage divisions up to 1500 volts supported\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\"...Weighed in the scales and found wanting\"\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EOk, how many of you understand that completely unrelated biblical reference?\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI haven't used a meter like this since I used to plan my VFR flights using an \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=e6b+composite+computer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EE6B\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp; My modern, digital multi-meter is fairly idiot proof in terms of reading the results.\u0026nbsp; My DMM auto-ranges and displays the correct unit of measure along with the reading on its display.\u0026nbsp; It works well for a dummy like me.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EA VTVM on the other hand, has a number of scales that must be interpreted based on whether you are reading DC, AC or Ohms.\u0026nbsp; Additionally, you have to pay attention to the range chosen.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-UjJpLYDMqYk\/WsEY02btiJI\/AAAAAAAAkj8\/AZ_aCI0w1Fc8wUw21Xl9yyeuLPE-WxD9wCLcBGAs\/s1600\/DSCF0116.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1423\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-UjJpLYDMqYk\/WsEY02btiJI\/AAAAAAAAkj8\/AZ_aCI0w1Fc8wUw21Xl9yyeuLPE-WxD9wCLcBGAs\/s640\/DSCF0116.jpg\" width=\"568\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EChoose a reading... any reading, just use the correct scale\u003Cbr \/\u003ENote: the needle isn't at zero in this photo because I had just plugged it in before taking the picture and the tubes hadn't warmed up.\u0026nbsp; Ah, the joys of vacuum tube powered equipment\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe voltage markings for the range switch refer to the full scale reading.\u0026nbsp; Resistance is the top scale, but let's ignore that because we're talking about measuring voltage...\u0026nbsp; The second scale from the top is Voltage.\u0026nbsp; Even though it appears to refer to DC for the numbers on the top and AC for the numbers on the bottom of that second scale that's not what's going on.\u0026nbsp; The second scale is for both DC and AC.\u0026nbsp; The numbers on the top are when you are using a range that is a multiple of 15, such as 0-1.5V 0-15V 0-150V 0-1500V.\u0026nbsp; The numbers on the bottom of that scale are for the ranges using a multiple of 5, such as 0-5V 0-50V 0-500V.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Clever eh?\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EYou have to do a bit of math.\u0026nbsp; For example, if you if you're using the 1.5V range take your reading and move the decimal place one to the left.\u0026nbsp; So, a reading of 8 would represent 0.8V in the 1.5V range, while it would actually represent 8V in the 0-15V range and 80V in the 0-150V range, etc.\u0026nbsp; See, hams were smarter in the 1960s.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAlways start with a range larger than what you expect the voltage to be and reduce the range for a more accurate reading if it occurs in the lower 3rd of the range.\u0026nbsp; The voltage divider set by the range knob is protecting the circuits so if you have it in too low a range and apply high voltage, bad things will likely occur.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EOld school needle gauge.\u0026nbsp; There's a lot going on behind that needle.\u0026nbsp; It operates very smoothly.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tjYTsuCrl7Q\/WsEerBORcmI\/AAAAAAAAkkM\/S8QlA0XY8TwRwktR40sxkIGPCP3aTnbGACLcBGAs\/s1600\/DSCF0110.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tjYTsuCrl7Q\/WsEerBORcmI\/AAAAAAAAkkM\/S8QlA0XY8TwRwktR40sxkIGPCP3aTnbGACLcBGAs\/s640\/DSCF0110.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-1-w-JAiL4Ck\/WsJa167qO8I\/AAAAAAAAkmA\/YMBiweL2m1APJtf5Osg5W4wbvPwEvARWgCLcBGAs\/s1600\/heathkit-vtvm-im11.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-1-w-JAiL4Ck\/WsJa167qO8I\/AAAAAAAAkmA\/YMBiweL2m1APJtf5Osg5W4wbvPwEvARWgCLcBGAs\/s640\/heathkit-vtvm-im11.jpg\" width=\"480\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ESporting some temporary probe hookups\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EMaking probes\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis meter did not come with probes. I bought another older VTVM pretty cheap, for parts from a famous auction site because it was advertised as having a full compliment of probes, but alas, they were not usable. Even the 1\/4\" plug from those probes was a bust. However they did come with rebuildable probe \"ends\"\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI used a RG-58 cable as the high voltage DC wire using only the center conductor and grounding the shield even though it is not used as the ground return. I also placed a 1\/4 watt 1 mega-ohm resistor at the tip of the probe to limit any current through the probe cable.\u0026nbsp; That cable terminates in the 1\/4\" plug and is wired such that it is out of the circuit in the Ohms position. I secured the cable into the probe body with some glue and used two layers of shrink wrap as a strain relief.\u0026nbsp; I also put some shrink wrap near the probe tip as a bit of extra insurance.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;I used a spare DMM cable for the outer positive banana plug feed used by the AC and OHMS circuit and made a heavily insulated cable with an alligator clip for the ground probe that goes to the other banana plug.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe outer probes are used for measuring resistance, AC and low volage DC. The center probe is used only for high voltage DC positive.\u0026nbsp;Both positive probes would not be connected at the same time (as they are in the image below), and would present a shock risk if they were both connected when measuring voltage.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-pB2tKL2J4gs\/WskQlRoxLAI\/AAAAAAAAkq8\/J91mSatPcMc37Tl6RBryNBMp3Mf3yCtOQCKgBGAs\/s1600\/IMG_20180407_133002.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-pB2tKL2J4gs\/WskQlRoxLAI\/AAAAAAAAkq8\/J91mSatPcMc37Tl6RBryNBMp3Mf3yCtOQCKgBGAs\/s640\/IMG_20180407_133002.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-vXxQ7RT27X0\/WskQlQJmb3I\/AAAAAAAAkq8\/FcZQE35qgfcGCK9SLsNSaCbQBPz8fVt0ACKgBGAs\/s1600\/IMG_20180407_133056.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-vXxQ7RT27X0\/WskQlQJmb3I\/AAAAAAAAkq8\/FcZQE35qgfcGCK9SLsNSaCbQBPz8fVt0ACKgBGAs\/s640\/IMG_20180407_133056.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ESummary\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIf you need a way to measure high voltage or are looking for a really eccentric meter to make common measurements harder than they should be get one of these VTVMs.\u0026nbsp; They seem to be commonly available at hamfests and on famous auction sites for under $10.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003EDazzle your friends next time they ask you to measure something for them, by whipping this not-so-little-puppy out of your back pocket and powering it up.\u0026nbsp; As you're making your measurements quietly repeat \"Mmmm, yes.\u0026nbsp; Mmmm yes, I see now\".\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; They'll have no idea what you're referring to and be quite impressed.\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and measure it with the low-range on your snazzy Vacuum Tube Volt Meter\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/4405661364222815261\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/04\/metering-high-voltage-on-cheap.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/4405661364222815261"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/4405661364222815261"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/04\/metering-high-voltage-on-cheap.html","title":"Metering High Voltage on the cheap"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-98LkvMh_dYE\/WsDj5P3pEOI\/AAAAAAAAkjA\/JmbWYZt2jF4snRVky0Pq0YildFYO27D9wCLcBGAs\/s72-c\/DSCF0115.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-6066638012139063990"},"published":{"$t":"2018-03-15T07:29:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2019-06-10T11:59:55.649-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Remote VFO - Knight V-44"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EEveryone needs a remote VFO from 1955\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ELate night eBay surfing, and poor judgement led me to bid on a Knight V-44... and unfortunately won it...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003ENote to self: Never browse eBay just before you go to sleep\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003EThe 1955 remote VFO was unique because it had a built-in power supply.\u0026nbsp; It's also interesting that its base oscillation frequency is in the 160m band.\u0026nbsp; Using harmonics from the base frequency means it doubles for each subsequent band (x2 for 80m, x4 for 40m, etc.)\u0026nbsp; That doubling means it also multiplies the drift.\u0026nbsp; Specified drift is 300Hz an hour.\u0026nbsp; That doesn't sound too bad, but multiply that by x6 up in the 10m band and holy-smokes, it's drifting 1800Hz an hour.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThat's gonna make operating CW like a game of chase, or hide and seek after every exchange.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis is gonna be fun.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-EOuqb0UIXvE\/WqnDksrD-jI\/AAAAAAAAkT8\/uzIvunpciIYPRvjYtHuRG72LRO-x3awrACLcBGAs\/s1600\/MVIMG_20180314_184000.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-EOuqb0UIXvE\/WqnDksrD-jI\/AAAAAAAAkT8\/uzIvunpciIYPRvjYtHuRG72LRO-x3awrACLcBGAs\/s640\/MVIMG_20180314_184000.jpg\" width=\"480\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ESurprisingly the big dial is actually operating the variable cap through a reduction gear and it's very smooth\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-_LpDdPNAmJU\/WqnDkrBW0yI\/AAAAAAAAkT4\/AcQuLWSdEzsBQ1gy-5RnO4cF2iKJasrZgCLcBGAs\/s1600\/MVIMG_20180314_184923.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-_LpDdPNAmJU\/WqnDkrBW0yI\/AAAAAAAAkT4\/AcQuLWSdEzsBQ1gy-5RnO4cF2iKJasrZgCLcBGAs\/s640\/MVIMG_20180314_184923.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EUses 4 tubes. Power supply up top, VFO circuits in the bottom to minimize impact of heat from the PS.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-uqC_fVoIcQ4\/WqnDkQYCznI\/AAAAAAAAkT0\/mvx9-czIUW8mg0QEIlz4wNJ_hHHBpFHOwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/MVIMG_20180314_184932.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1305\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"522\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-uqC_fVoIcQ4\/WqnDkQYCznI\/AAAAAAAAkT0\/mvx9-czIUW8mg0QEIlz4wNJ_hHHBpFHOwCLcBGAs\/s640\/MVIMG_20180314_184932.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EPower supply\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-JH5TrwYQXDQ\/WqnDlpC0SOI\/AAAAAAAAkUA\/qSVWvwwD6PUUB0OSHvdDqLi32CyWA3hdgCLcBGAs\/s1600\/MVIMG_20180314_204325.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-JH5TrwYQXDQ\/WqnDlpC0SOI\/AAAAAAAAkUA\/qSVWvwwD6PUUB0OSHvdDqLi32CyWA3hdgCLcBGAs\/s640\/MVIMG_20180314_204325.jpg\" width=\"480\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003Eold electrolytic power filter cap\u0026nbsp; must be replaced\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-UwyEYdvThfU\/WqpvK1LIXvI\/AAAAAAAAkVs\/1-xeGpiuIbwbTtZMfQ1qHZqcsoB1j16yQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/IMG_20180314_220004.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1169\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"291\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-UwyEYdvThfU\/WqpvK1LIXvI\/AAAAAAAAkVs\/1-xeGpiuIbwbTtZMfQ1qHZqcsoB1j16yQCLcBGAs\/s400\/IMG_20180314_220004.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E10k 7watt resistor had failed\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EReplacement bits\u003C\/h4\u003EThe 450v electrolytic cap must be replaced for safety reasons. All the other components measured within 10% of specifications except for the 10k 7w resistor connected to the OA2 tube. It had gone up into mega ohms of resistance, which is likely when the VFO was taken out of use.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHandwritten notes inside the chassis indicated the VFO tubes had been replaced in 1977. Until I get the replacement parts for the power supply I won't know the condition of the tubes.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EPlans\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EI plan on using this with a Homebrew transmitter that I may build sometime this summer.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESurprisingly, it outputs 10 volts of signal, so I may also build an output filter and use it as a QRPp transmitter on its own.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe possibilities are endless.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EUpdate 3\/21\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ERepaired\u003C\/h3\u003EThe replacement parts arrived from Mouser...\u0026nbsp; A 500v 47uF electrolytic capacitor and a 10k Ohm 7-watt resistor.\u0026nbsp; The new high wattage resistor is tiny compared to the giant, defunct resistor that was in there before, and of course the capacitor was about 1\/3rd the size of the original.\u0026nbsp; I used some spaghetti on the capacitor leads since the lead lengths were so much longer with the replacement cap.\u0026nbsp; So the power supply section was now repaired.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI also replaced the 2-blade, non-polarized, ungrounded, un-fused 1950's power cord with a 3-pin grounded plug and added a 1-amp\/250v inline, replaceable fuse.\u0026nbsp; So hopefully there's a reduced risk of death or fire now.\u0026nbsp; Electrical safety didn't seem to be foremost on the minds of kit builders 60 years ago. The size of the 3 wire power cable and it's much thicker insulation didn't fit the opening in the back of the VFO as both the power cable and the VFO output come through the same hole, so I had to remove the insulation and use heat shrink to get things to fit.\u0026nbsp; Additionally the large in-line fuse holder didn't fit well inside the VFO housing so the wiring is quite a bit more cramped in there than it was before.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAfter the components were replaced and the wiring was complete I plugged it in... no-smoke.\u0026nbsp; Then I flipped the repaired switch (the phenolic disc for the on-off switch was broken in half when I received it), and wallah! The indicator light lit up through its pretty little blue jewel eye.\u0026nbsp; So I knew the transformer was supplying 6.3v for filament.\u0026nbsp; I heard a low hum from the little transformer and then the tubes began to glow.\u0026nbsp; The OA2 was glowing it's pretty violet color, and no bad smells were emanating.\u0026nbsp; I was ready to button it up and begin calibration.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe sparse instructions directed me to back out the tuning slug for the 80m band nearly to the end and screw in the slug for the other bands all the way, so I did so.\u0026nbsp; I set the trimmer caps C1 and C2 to their fully engaged positions.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI carefully re-installed the front face holding the VFO and PS sections it in its heavy-duty case, taking care to get all the new power cord\/fuse wiring inside the VFO section from binding up on the sharp edges of the case as it went in.\u0026nbsp; In screwed in the plentiful 10 screws that holds it together and Bob's your uncle.\u0026nbsp; Well, maybe Bob isn't your uncle but I just wanted to say that.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI had already attached an RG-58 coax to the output inside the VFO and run it out the hole with the new power cord, so I then installed a BNC connector on the end of the RG-58 to make hookup easy.\u0026nbsp; I like BNC connectors because they are secure and I have lots of adapters for different connectors.\u0026nbsp; I then connected the VFO output to my \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/01\/get-taste-rf-coming-and-going.html\"\u003EElecraft CP1 RF coupler\u003C\/a\u003E and terminated the other end with my \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/05\/twisted-dummy.html\"\u003Eugly dummy load\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp; I connected the RF coupled cable to \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/03\/oscilloscope-now-on-bench.html\"\u003Ethe Oscilloscope\u003C\/a\u003E and turned everything back on.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ECalibration\u003C\/h3\u003EI let it warm up 20 minutes or so.\u0026nbsp; The cabinet does not get very warm, just about 15 degrees above room temperature.\u0026nbsp; That's actually a good thing, from what I've read.\u0026nbsp; If the VFO is at room temperature then it's more susceptible to the variations of that room temperature.\u0026nbsp; Having the case stabilize above room temp can make the VFO more stable.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI had my frequency counter attached to an output from the oscilloscope.\u0026nbsp; In the 80m band setting with the VFO dial set to 3.5 Mhz the freq-counter was reading around 1.75'ish.\u0026nbsp; The VFO primary oscillation roams around the 160m band and generates the first harmonic in the 80m band.\u0026nbsp; The freq counter had trouble tracking due to all the harmonics, and the output on the oscilloscope was not very pretty because it was showing the primary frequency with the first harmonic interfering.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI was unable to properly calibrate the VFO using a frequency counter, due to the interference from the harmonics, so I turned on my \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/02\/spruce-up-basic-transceiver-with-sdr.html\"\u003ESDRPlay\u003C\/a\u003E, software defined radio.\u0026nbsp; It can display up to 10 mHz bandwidth but for this test I was displaying 2 mHz bandwidth so that I could easily see the harmonic for the band I was calibrating.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThat made quick work of calibration.\u0026nbsp; I adjusted the variable capacitor C1 (near the bottom left hand side of the VFO) for the 80m band and adjusted the one above it for the remainder of the bands.\u0026nbsp; I was able to verify that adjusting the VFO dial in the CW portions of the bands was extremely accurate with regard to frequency.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIt appears to work like a charm.\u0026nbsp; I hooked up a key and even sent some test messages and listened to them on the SDR.\u0026nbsp; I'd been advised to not key the VFO directly because it tended to chirp but frequency stability was much better than I expected.\u0026nbsp; Over the course of an hour that I was calibrating I saw very little drift after the initial warm-up.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHere's a little video demonstrating the completed calibration...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/CtQ2hUSClGY\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/CtQ2hUSClGY?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThat's all for now .\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo, warm up your Tubes and spray some RF into the air.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E73\u003Cbr \/\u003ERichard ,AA4OO\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/6066638012139063990\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/03\/remote-vfo-knight-v-44.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/6066638012139063990"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/6066638012139063990"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/03\/remote-vfo-knight-v-44.html","title":"Remote VFO - Knight V-44"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-EOuqb0UIXvE\/WqnDksrD-jI\/AAAAAAAAkT8\/uzIvunpciIYPRvjYtHuRG72LRO-x3awrACLcBGAs\/s72-c\/MVIMG_20180314_184000.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-8645941252658441194"},"published":{"$t":"2018-03-09T20:07:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-03-09T20:07:30.713-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Need a Vacuum Tube?"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003ESuperstore for Vacuum Tubes\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWhen I started restoring my \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/02\/the-heathkit-hw-101-lives-again.html\"\u003EHeathkit HW-101\u003C\/a\u003E I thought it might be difficult to find replacement tubes.\u0026nbsp; I initially only looked on eBay for tubes but then I was directed in a \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/forums.qrz.com\/index.php?forums\/boat-anchor-classic-equipment.68\/\"\u003Eboat anchor forum\u003C\/a\u003E to the vacuum tube superstore... \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/findatube.com\/\"\u003Efindatube.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EBob Dubush offers tubes at prices well below what you'll find on eBay.\u0026nbsp; When you order from \u003Ci\u003Efindatube \u003C\/i\u003Eyou'll receive NOS (new open stock) tubes in their original boxes and may receive them in a nifty original store display box...\u0026nbsp; Ah I can smell the 1950's\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-crQAyuJDjqo\/WqMtG9Tr1lI\/AAAAAAAAkPg\/JN-YDkMdhQA6GlC6zEfpS235RADlz7h6gCLcBGAs\/s1600\/MVIMG_20180309_192439.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1356\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"542\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-crQAyuJDjqo\/WqMtG9Tr1lI\/AAAAAAAAkPg\/JN-YDkMdhQA6GlC6zEfpS235RADlz7h6gCLcBGAs\/s640\/MVIMG_20180309_192439.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-5xaodeHLpn8\/WqMtGs1jstI\/AAAAAAAAkPc\/kTvzyk6_vpowE0KqrDZ3jNbmAnr-pL-0wCEwYBhgL\/s1600\/MVIMG_20180309_192154.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1029\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"410\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-5xaodeHLpn8\/WqMtGs1jstI\/AAAAAAAAkPc\/kTvzyk6_vpowE0KqrDZ3jNbmAnr-pL-0wCEwYBhgL\/s640\/MVIMG_20180309_192154.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u0026nbsp;He also carries hard to find tubes like the \u003Cb\u003E6GW8 \u003C\/b\u003Eat far better prices than what you'll find on the 'Bay.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo if you've been looking for a good source for all your classic vacuum tube needs visit...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-qQ8F3HeUN0A\/WqMuN38XI3I\/AAAAAAAAkPw\/LG15hk19tUkBAylUUD2ZSbFZfGkuYvIUQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/find-a-tube.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"913\" data-original-width=\"1327\" height=\"440\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-qQ8F3HeUN0A\/WqMuN38XI3I\/AAAAAAAAkPw\/LG15hk19tUkBAylUUD2ZSbFZfGkuYvIUQCLcBGAs\/s640\/find-a-tube.PNG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo fire up that high voltage power supply and warm your shack the old fashioned way\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/8645941252658441194\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/03\/need-vacuum-tube.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/8645941252658441194"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/8645941252658441194"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/03\/need-vacuum-tube.html","title":"Need a Vacuum Tube?"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-crQAyuJDjqo\/WqMtG9Tr1lI\/AAAAAAAAkPg\/JN-YDkMdhQA6GlC6zEfpS235RADlz7h6gCLcBGAs\/s72-c\/MVIMG_20180309_192439.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-7189000215476542362"},"published":{"$t":"2018-03-08T20:16:00.002-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-03-09T09:22:33.035-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Oscilloscope now on the bench"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003ETektronix 475\u0026nbsp;Oscilloscope and Android Signal Generator App\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWhen I was debugging problems with my \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/search?q=ten-tec+century%2F21\"\u003ETen-Tec Century\/21\u003C\/a\u003E, and especially my problematic \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/search?q=1-watter\"\u003Eone-watter kit\u003C\/a\u003E, I needed to see more than DC voltages.\u0026nbsp; I carried my problem stuff to my friend Paul to see what his scope and signal generator revealed.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWhy would a ham need a scope?\u0026nbsp; Audio and RF are both AC (alternating current) and a voltmeter alone doesn't offer much insight into that world of voltage across time and phase.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI almost bought an inexpensive digital scope last year, then thought better of it.\u0026nbsp; Then I almost bought a featured digital scope and checked my wallet and thought better of it. A good digital scope in the 100 Mhz and up range from reliable sources costs upwards of $500.\u0026nbsp; On the other hand, older professional scopes that have been well maintained and kept in calibration are excellent choices and will last a lifetime.\u0026nbsp; You do give up handy on screen cursors for measurements, so you have to count divisions by hand and do the math.\u0026nbsp; You also don't have digital storage in a digital scope, but smart phone cameras and video can make up for that.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWhen I saw this recently calibrated Tektronix 475 listed in the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.eham.net\/classifieds\/\"\u003Eclassifieds on eHam.net\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;for a nice price, I decided it was time to step into the world of \u003Cb\u003Evisualized AC\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-smVLMU-7Ro8\/WqF2YvUQ0EI\/AAAAAAAAkEc\/tc9SfIuWEMcviZDpRyUY7AVEcEni-LPhQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/MVIMG_20180308_074653.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1025\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"410\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-smVLMU-7Ro8\/WqF2YvUQ0EI\/AAAAAAAAkEc\/tc9SfIuWEMcviZDpRyUY7AVEcEni-LPhQCLcBGAs\/s640\/MVIMG_20180308_074653.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EWatching a capacitor charge 250 times a second\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe lines are a bit wide because the signal source was noisy\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ETek 475 Specs\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe Tektronix 475 is a \u003Ci\u003Eportable \u003C\/i\u003E(30 lbs),\u0026nbsp;dual-trace oscilloscope with dual time-bases similar to the 465, but with 200 MHz bandwidth and a maximum vertical sensitivity of 2 mV\/Div. It is all solid-state except for the CRT. It was introduced in November 1972.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis scope cost $3,000 when it was new.\u0026nbsp; Now you can find them in good condition for less than $200.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBandwidth --\u0026nbsp; 200 MHz (475), AC cutoff 10 Hz, switchable BW limit 20 MHz\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ERise time -- 1.75  ns (475)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDeflection -- 2 mV\/Div to 5 V\/Div, 1-2-5\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECascaded mode -- 400 μV\/Div, 50 MHz with CH1 input connected to CH2 VERT SIG OUT\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETime base -- 10 ns\/Div to 500 ms\/Div, 1-2-5, and ×10 magnifier\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EInput impedance -- 1 MΩ \/\/ 20 pF\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETriggering -- 0.3 Div (int) or 50 mV (ext) to 40 MHz, increasing to 1.5 Div\/250 mV at 200 MHz; AC coupling \u0026gt;60 Hz; LF REJ \u0026gt;50 kHz, HF REJ \u003C50 khz=\"\" li=\"\"\u003E\u003C\/50\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EX bandwidth -- 3 MHz\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EZ axis input -- 5 Vp-p, 50 MHz\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECalibrator -- 1 kHz, 30 mA \/ 300 mV square wave\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EOutputs -- CH2 Vert Signal Out, 20 mV\/Div into 1 MΩ or 10 mV\/Div into 50 Ω; A and B +GATE OUT, +5 V; \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/w140.com\/tekwiki\/wiki\/LEMO_S-series_connector\"\u003EProbe power jack\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECRT -- 8 × 10 cm², P31 phosphor (P11 opt.)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EPower -- 110, 115, 120, 220, 230 or 240  VAC ±10%, 48-440 Hz, max. 100 W\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EReal knobs and switches\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EOne advantage of an analog scope is that there is a labeled switch or knob for every function. No need to dig through menus to figure out how to do something.\u0026nbsp; To me this is the a true advantage to finding a well calibrated, analog scope.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-5QtQGK43qTo\/WqKYkqdgEII\/AAAAAAAAkMg\/nvtMUHVbWmotvT_VNNFUNub82Wa0SrCLwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/scope.gif\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"620\" data-original-width=\"1024\" height=\"386\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-5QtQGK43qTo\/WqKYkqdgEII\/AAAAAAAAkMg\/nvtMUHVbWmotvT_VNNFUNub82Wa0SrCLwCLcBGAs\/s640\/scope.gif\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EAn oscilloscope needs a function generator\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAn scope let's you visualize AC within a circuit, but when you testing\u0026nbsp; something you often need to inject AC into that circuit.\u0026nbsp; That's the role played by a function generator.\u0026nbsp; Function generators allow you to choose a frequency and a wave type (sine, triangle, square, etc.), or sweep across frequencies.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIn general, the higher the frequency they support the more they cost.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIf you have a mobile device you can get one that uses your headphone jack as output up to 22 kHz for free...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-zeLADcql7nE\/WqF6erXFP6I\/AAAAAAAAkEw\/zd1qzjLzJio407zF7yS7H9zFsJll1URagCLcBGAs\/s1600\/function-generator-app2.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"188\" data-original-width=\"509\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-zeLADcql7nE\/WqF6erXFP6I\/AAAAAAAAkEw\/zd1qzjLzJio407zF7yS7H9zFsJll1URagCLcBGAs\/s1600\/function-generator-app2.PNG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EFor a free app it is very nice.\u0026nbsp; It outputs sine waves very well, triangle waves are a bit soft pointed and square waves are for entertainment purposes only.\u0026nbsp; But it is free so I won't complain.\u0026nbsp; In the image below you can see the oscillations as it tries to generate a square wave but the audio amplifier of the mobile device just doesn't have that kind of control.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-PoXFp5wHlOs\/WqHcGy699VI\/AAAAAAAAkKQ\/kCnvlIbhmYkY8GKTy2B6rHbDi8wydm1hQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/MVIMG_20180308_192723.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-PoXFp5wHlOs\/WqHcGy699VI\/AAAAAAAAkKQ\/kCnvlIbhmYkY8GKTy2B6rHbDi8wydm1hQCLcBGAs\/s640\/MVIMG_20180308_192723.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EFrequency Generator App set to 1 kHz\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3 style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003ESquare Wave?\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-vDtQgLcj7NU\/WqHco0FwZ1I\/AAAAAAAAkKY\/PMr3mEIytIMp-dJqw59EMLzlzWRicAStACLcBGAs\/s1600\/MVIMG_20180308_192601.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"984\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-vDtQgLcj7NU\/WqHco0FwZ1I\/AAAAAAAAkKY\/PMr3mEIytIMp-dJqw59EMLzlzWRicAStACLcBGAs\/s640\/MVIMG_20180308_192601.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ESquare waves are not\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-26KQwaFJeYg\/WqHcrzZDxeI\/AAAAAAAAkKc\/XpLily1M3eYgpN5qUPvh-kT82Kmffd3xgCLcBGAs\/s1600\/MVIMG_20180308_192654.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"978\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"390\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-26KQwaFJeYg\/WqHcrzZDxeI\/AAAAAAAAkKc\/XpLily1M3eYgpN5qUPvh-kT82Kmffd3xgCLcBGAs\/s640\/MVIMG_20180308_192654.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\"\u003EReduce the time base to zoom in\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-OQWNYFMDNdk\/WqHcwEpX66I\/AAAAAAAAkKo\/ynXx-W7IC8kJ4ENrrl_4WlKpkSddsQArACLcBGAs\/s1600\/MVIMG_20180308_192704.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-OQWNYFMDNdk\/WqHcwEpX66I\/AAAAAAAAkKo\/ynXx-W7IC8kJ4ENrrl_4WlKpkSddsQArACLcBGAs\/s640\/MVIMG_20180308_192704.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EYea, square wave.... not so much\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EThe square wave is bad but sine and triangle waves look good until the frequency get's near the top of the range or the amplitude is raised too high.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-xDhPfCtJikc\/WqHbKc3snmI\/AAAAAAAAkKI\/utITgkEKljwXOU7nKQC17KFvI2IyQqNOACEwYBhgL\/s1600\/MVIMG_20180308_192534.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"970\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"388\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-xDhPfCtJikc\/WqHbKc3snmI\/AAAAAAAAkKI\/utITgkEKljwXOU7nKQC17KFvI2IyQqNOACEwYBhgL\/s640\/MVIMG_20180308_192534.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ESine Waves look good\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-HnXPeOyTb68\/WqHdxvZDi4I\/AAAAAAAAkLQ\/73OgaBU8qz8RZ2FUTvjfef83V3HABRfXgCLcBGAs\/s1600\/MVIMG_20180308_192550.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"970\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"388\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-HnXPeOyTb68\/WqHdxvZDi4I\/AAAAAAAAkLQ\/73OgaBU8qz8RZ2FUTvjfef83V3HABRfXgCLcBGAs\/s640\/MVIMG_20180308_192550.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ETriangle waves are on as well until you go up in frequency\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe free app is inadequate for bench testing\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWhile I appreciate that this would be a useful, portable signal generator for testing audio circuits, I'll be ordering a purpose-built function generator because generating clean square waves is an important test signal to be clean.\u0026nbsp; I also will need a generator that works above audio frequencies, hopefully up the the IF frequencies of the some of the equipment I'm testing.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EOnly the beginning\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EHaving an oscilloscope is a new adventure for me.\u0026nbsp; I have another 1-watter kit ready to build that I've been holding off on because I wanted a scope for troubleshooting.\u0026nbsp; In the meantime I'm using the scope to watch transistors trigger and measure the timing circuits I'm building and learning how to control the scope.\u0026nbsp; The Tektronix 475 is a feature-rich analog scope.\u0026nbsp; If you plan to fix your own equipment or do some homebrew electronics work a scope can come in handy.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThat's all for now\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESow lower your power and sample it with a scope\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E72\/73\u003Cbr \/\u003ERichard AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/7189000215476542362\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/03\/oscilloscope-now-on-bench.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/7189000215476542362"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/7189000215476542362"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/03\/oscilloscope-now-on-bench.html","title":"Oscilloscope now on the bench"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-smVLMU-7Ro8\/WqF2YvUQ0EI\/AAAAAAAAkEc\/tc9SfIuWEMcviZDpRyUY7AVEcEni-LPhQCLcBGAs\/s72-c\/MVIMG_20180308_074653.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-5299481690811743112"},"published":{"$t":"2018-02-28T18:51:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-03-05T14:33:51.174-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Feeling gassy"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EIonization is a beautiful thing\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EA reader asked me to video the pulsing of the OA2 voltage regulator tube in action.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-Rz1zBEEvB90\/Wpbub9udmqI\/AAAAAAAAj7M\/A5wKtngw9c8oSJKRl_hj4b9DcYRcFkfNwCKgBGAs\/s1600\/MVIMG_20180227_204044.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1216\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"486\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-Rz1zBEEvB90\/Wpbub9udmqI\/AAAAAAAAj7M\/A5wKtngw9c8oSJKRl_hj4b9DcYRcFkfNwCKgBGAs\/s640\/MVIMG_20180227_204044.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EOA2 VR tube glowing beautifully in back corner\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/EwLpeMsS7N0\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/EwLpeMsS7N0?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI turned the room lights down to capture the OA2 in its glowing gas glory and noticed a problem with the V15 6EA8 tube that creates the sidetone oscillation and Vox control. A patch inside was glowing a brilliant violet color when the CW switch was engaged. Glowing gas inside a gas filled tube is pretty but glowing gas inside a vacuum tube is a no-no.\u0026nbsp; I've noticed my sidetone volume (which is unadjustable) going a bit soft over the past week and now I understand why. The vacuum tube has developed a leak and has \"air\" inside.\u0026nbsp; That \"air\" is mostly nitrogen which ionizes with this brilliant violet color.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-0uPCd_K_fFw\/WpbuvD299yI\/AAAAAAAAj7Q\/JkWaqM605v4Y_s0elakIacYR8s5wbBs_ACKgBGAs\/s1600\/MVIMG_20180227_205555.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1574\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-0uPCd_K_fFw\/WpbuvD299yI\/AAAAAAAAj7Q\/JkWaqM605v4Y_s0elakIacYR8s5wbBs_ACKgBGAs\/s640\/MVIMG_20180227_205555.jpg\" width=\"628\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ETbis 6EA8 should not be glowing violet\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ELots of flatulent tubes\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAfter I saw that I started looking and noticed I also have an 12AX7 beginning to go gassy as well so I ordered some new tubes from www.findatube.com\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo let's keep the gases where they belong.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ESolved a bit of a mystery tonight\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI had a problem that I've just tracked down. Most boat anchor guys would probably already have known how to solve this but it a new discovery for me.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMy audio was occasionally scratchy with a bit of popping.\u0026nbsp; Sometimes when working CW the other stations signal would jump around slightly in frequency, like 20Hz - 50Hz.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI'd already re-seated most of the tubes, re-tightened screws, DeOxit'd switches, etc.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThen I noticed that V1's tube shield was not bonded to the tube socket finger thingy (sorry don't know what it's called).\u0026nbsp; The other tube shields were soldered and I hadn't noticed that this tube shield was new and looking at the socket spring thing appears it had never been soldered.\u0026nbsp; After pulling that tube and its shield I scraped the paint from the shield where the socket spring presses onto it and cleaned the socket spring as well.\u0026nbsp; Apparently those tubes leak RF and the tube shields catch the stray signals and send them to ground.\u0026nbsp; Without proper bonding the tube is spraying RF around.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat turned out the be the problem, now all is good. Received signals are rock steady and the audio is very clean.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-WARwsZYGpMs\/WpdpVLCkQWI\/AAAAAAAAj8Q\/lQiGzcCmT2wMiqJC3D-7gP9kEU6RpPv9wCLcBGAs\/s1600\/IMG_20180228_192108.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1290\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"516\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-WARwsZYGpMs\/WpdpVLCkQWI\/AAAAAAAAj8Q\/lQiGzcCmT2wMiqJC3D-7gP9kEU6RpPv9wCLcBGAs\/s640\/IMG_20180228_192108.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ETube shield needed to be grounded to the socket spring\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis problem had been periodic and was driving me a little nuts.\u0026nbsp; I'd read that grounding the tube shields was important but somehow I'd missed that this shield was not properly bonded to the finger thingy.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EOn the positive side, I am growing a tube collection by purchasing replacements that are not needed :)\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo lower your atmospheric pressure and raise your B+ voltage\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/5299481690811743112\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/02\/feeling-gassy.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/5299481690811743112"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/5299481690811743112"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/02\/feeling-gassy.html","title":"Feeling gassy"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-Rz1zBEEvB90\/Wpbub9udmqI\/AAAAAAAAj7M\/A5wKtngw9c8oSJKRl_hj4b9DcYRcFkfNwCKgBGAs\/s72-c\/MVIMG_20180227_204044.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-888885816128878098"},"published":{"$t":"2018-02-24T14:57:00.002-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-02-26T20:24:34.278-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Voltage regulation, tube style"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EHigh voltage indeed\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe Meter on my Heathkit HW 101 stopped displaying ALC (dropped down to the negative stop).\u0026nbsp; So, I opened up the old rig to have a look. I found that the B+ voltage was reading 33 volts higher at one of the test points than it should. Ultimately that voltage didn't turn out to be the problem with the alc meter instead the meter switch had become dirty and needed to be cleaned. But in the process it got me to studying the way voltage is regulated in the Heathkit and I learned a bit about voltage regulation tubes like the OA2 used by Heathkit.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-lTAyrj5Vvqg\/WojPDc2Wl6I\/AAAAAAAAjn0\/Ljax1UrOWrEHdjvq45OkJ8gJyVz_oQ-FACLcBGAs\/s1600\/MVIMG_20180217_192938.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1518\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-lTAyrj5Vvqg\/WojPDc2Wl6I\/AAAAAAAAjn0\/Ljax1UrOWrEHdjvq45OkJ8gJyVz_oQ-FACLcBGAs\/s640\/MVIMG_20180217_192938.jpg\" width=\"606\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EOA2 tube\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-BlwPI3i-DtQ\/WpHCCV0leBI\/AAAAAAAAjsY\/MgAhTAZjeRQrCkrW48lWgCiSVPIsvx1GACLcBGAs\/s1600\/hw-101-tubes%2B%25286%2Bof%2B13%2529.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1443\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"577\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-BlwPI3i-DtQ\/WpHCCV0leBI\/AAAAAAAAjsY\/MgAhTAZjeRQrCkrW48lWgCiSVPIsvx1GACLcBGAs\/s640\/hw-101-tubes%2B%25286%2Bof%2B13%2529.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EOA2 in action at the right rear of the Audio board, notice the glowing gas inside\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMore Glow...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-b2KxVzOoRk4\/WpSyybIQ50I\/AAAAAAAAjxg\/6bWVeVBaie87-_nD5iDyc8WWWmEKhr6qQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/MVIMG_20180226_160528.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1493\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"596\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-b2KxVzOoRk4\/WpSyybIQ50I\/AAAAAAAAjxg\/6bWVeVBaie87-_nD5iDyc8WWWmEKhr6qQCLcBGAs\/s640\/MVIMG_20180226_160528.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ELook at the pretty violet glowing gas in the OA2\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe OA 2 is actually not a vacuum tube it contains a gas that ionizes and in the process of ionization acts as a voltage regulator.\u0026nbsp; In a vacuum tube, if you see glowing gas inside the tube that means it's leaking and has become \"gassy\", that's a bad thing.\u0026nbsp; In the case of a gas filled tube like an OA2 you expect to see glowing gas and if you do not, then there's a problem.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIn this case The OA2 regulates voltage to 150 volts and current is limited by the two high-wattage resistors connected in circuit to that tube (seen beside the OA2 in the photo above). Those resistors are dissipating a lot of heat.\u0026nbsp; I measured over 300F degrees with my IR temperature gauge (ouch).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ETube Testing without a tube tester?\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EI emailed one of the members of my local club, Joe WA4GIR to ask about tube testing and he sent me the following,\u0026nbsp; which he gave me permission to post:\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cdiv id=\"m_-7807493801518840927yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1518730912968_5536\" style=\"font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;\"\u003EThe lack of a tube tester is not a limitation.\u0026nbsp; You can tell a lot about a tube test by looking at the voltages in the circuit.\u0026nbsp; If the filament goes out, the tube is dark and does not conduct.\u0026nbsp; That one is pretty obvious.\u0026nbsp; If the tube cathode loses it's ability to emit electrons, the voltages dropped across the cathode resistor and any resistors in the plate or screen grid circuits will change (the voltage drops across those resistances will drop).\u0026nbsp; A good tube tester will measure the ability of the tube to vary the plate current for changes in grid voltage, and you can see this with a scope by looking at the AC voltages on those elements, at least for the audio circuitry.\u0026nbsp; Probably not so much for the RF circuits as you are affecting the circuit when you probe it.\u0026nbsp; The best way to check for a suspect tube is to replace it with another.\u0026nbsp; I have 0A2's new in the box.\u0026nbsp; I may have the other tubes pulled from radios but it takes longer to look through those as sometimes the numbers are hard to read.\u0026nbsp; \u003Cb\u003EHint. to bring out a faded number, rub it on the hair on the back of your neck-- better if it's oily.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv id=\"m_-7807493801518840927yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1518730912968_5537\" style=\"font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv id=\"m_-7807493801518840927yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1518730912968_5538\" style=\"font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;\"\u003EA lot of resistors in old tube-type radios were 20% tolerance so don't expect the voltages to be that precise.\u0026nbsp; Tube rigs had much more variability than modern solid state circuits.\u0026nbsp; For the unregulated voltages, the precise voltage will depend component tolerances, tube health, and line voltage.\u0026nbsp; The line voltage here is about 125 when where I lived in Raleigh it was around 110.\u0026nbsp; You can do the percentages but that alone will account for some of the variation you might see.\u0026nbsp; I don't think that any of your tubes were damaged by overvoltage.\u0026nbsp; If they are drawing too much current, they will get hot, and in severe cases, the plates will glow red.\u0026nbsp; That's a concern.\u0026nbsp; Much less than that, the life might be reduced but I don't think you will see any short term effect.\u0026nbsp; When I've run tubes too hot, you might see signs of the tube going gassy, which is indicated by a blue low in the space inside the tube that is supposed to be a vacuum.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv id=\"m_-7807493801518840927yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1518730912968_6808\" style=\"font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv dir=\"ltr\" id=\"m_-7807493801518840927yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1518730912968_6851\" style=\"font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;\"\u003EIf you want to see the plates of a tube glow red, operate the final mistuned so it is drawing too much current.\u0026nbsp; They will glow red, haha.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv id=\"m_-7807493801518840927yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1518730912968_6191\" style=\"font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv dir=\"ltr\" id=\"m_-7807493801518840927yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1518730912968_6716\" style=\"font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;\"\u003EThe voltages out of the 0A2 are different -- they should be held pretty closely to 150V. I don't know the exact tolerance.\u0026nbsp; It might be a few percent.\u0026nbsp; So in your radio, 150V supply and any that are derived from it are the only ones that would have a\u0026nbsp; tighter tolerance.\u0026nbsp; The 0A2 has an operating current range of 5 to 30ma, and an operating voltage of 150V.\u0026nbsp; The supply voltage should be at least 185V to get the tube to \"fire\" but once \"on\", the voltage feeding will drop to the 150V level and be regulated there by the action of the tube which causes the voltage drop across to change (like zener diode regulators).\u0026nbsp; The regulation comes from the fact that a very small increase in the voltage across the tube results in a significant increase in the current so the resistor values are chosen so that the current through the tube remain in the 5 to 30ma range as the input voltage and the current draw of the regulated circuits varies for whatever reason.\u0026nbsp; Remember the current draw when you first turn on the rig will be low because the tubes don't conduct until the cathode gets heated so the designer must account for that in the selection of the input resistors to that circuit.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EMore to learn about hollow state\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAs a young-ish ham I certainly have a lot to learn about old tube radios but I'm enjoying the journey. Just the thought of transistors operating by thermionic emission, tossing their electrons across empty space, being attracted to a plate with more positive voltage is fascinating to contemplate.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThat's all for now\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power... or at least regulate it with a OA2... and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E73\u003Cbr \/\u003ERichard, AA4OO"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/888885816128878098\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/02\/voltage-regulation-tube-style.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/888885816128878098"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/888885816128878098"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/02\/voltage-regulation-tube-style.html","title":"Voltage regulation, tube style"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-lTAyrj5Vvqg\/WojPDc2Wl6I\/AAAAAAAAjn0\/Ljax1UrOWrEHdjvq45OkJ8gJyVz_oQ-FACLcBGAs\/s72-c\/MVIMG_20180217_192938.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-2161210542838449970"},"published":{"$t":"2018-02-17T20:39:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-02-21T15:44:03.764-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Self-service audio station report"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EGet a remote signal report via WebSDR\u003C\/h2\u003EI've been making modifications \/ upgrades to my old Heathkit HW-101.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI've had a good number of CW QSOs and a couple of phone contacts with it so far and received good reports.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;One concern I had, regarded losing the first DIT of a letter on initial relay closure.\u0026nbsp; There is an upgrade article for the HW-101 with a section describing a fix for losing the first DIT of a letter on the initial close of the relay.\u0026nbsp; The modification involve replacing a resistor with a lower value that triggers the VOX.\u0026nbsp; It's a resistor change from 470k to 1k which seems kind of extreme to me.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAccording to the article you will hear the initial DIT in the sidetone but above 20wpm that DIT is not transmitted due to a delay of the relay closure because it's driven by a VOX circuit.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis test is difficult to describe to a remote CW operator.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI recalled that \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.websdr.org\/\"\u003EwebSDR \u003C\/a\u003Estations usually offer a remote recording facility.\u0026nbsp; I found a webSDR station that was within propagation on 40m today and sent my CQ with my call while recording from that remote station.\u0026nbsp; My call, of course, begins with\u0026nbsp; the letter A, which begins with a DIT.\u0026nbsp; I paused for the VOX delay to timeout between sending my call-sign, thus causing AA4OO to be sent with the relay closing at the beginning each time.\u0026nbsp; I started the recording before my call and stopped when I was finished and downloaded it.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-QsNxTPvb0Pg\/WojWlMx_c9I\/AAAAAAAAjoI\/64nDgKVspKM_cGbj0jzBpsnbAzcbpos4ACLcBGAs\/s1600\/websdr%2B2.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"663\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"264\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-QsNxTPvb0Pg\/WojWlMx_c9I\/AAAAAAAAjoI\/64nDgKVspKM_cGbj0jzBpsnbAzcbpos4ACLcBGAs\/s640\/websdr%2B2.PNG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003Eremote webSDR station recorder\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI confirmed, that although the initial DIT was shortened a bit above 20wpm, it was still being heard and didn't affect copy of words that began with a DIT on relay closure.\u0026nbsp; So I've decided to not do that modification at this time.\u0026nbsp; I previously used DEOXIT on the both sets of relay contacts in the HW-101, because there seemed to be some corrosion present that was affecting receive at times, and that has cleaned up the performance of the relay considerably.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo if you're wondering how to get a remote signal report when no one is answering your call the facilities of a remote webSDR station may help.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ENOTE: The HW-101 doesn't have a precise VFO readout, even after calibrating it with the built-in crystal calibrator.\u0026nbsp; I use the reverse beacon network to spot me and take the frequency reported by remote beacon to enter into the frequency of the webSDR station to find my signal.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EThis works for getting a SSB report as well\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis is also useful for determining how your SSB signal sounds.\u0026nbsp; So if you verify your audio from a remote station, try using a remote webSDR station recording capability for checking your rig.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EOne way transmissions are prohibited aren't they?\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EYou may be thinking that using webSDR to check your station might be considered a one-way transmission or fall under the prohibition to broadcast by amateur stations.\u0026nbsp; But Section 97.111(b) provides for one-way communications. In summary, auxiliary, beacon, space and stations in distress are specifically authorized to make certain one-way transmissions. Additionally, an amateur station may transmit the following types of one-way communications:\u0026nbsp; \u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBrief transmissions necessary to make adjustments to the station\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E; ...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo just keep your transmissions brief and only use them to make adjustments.\u0026nbsp; I send them as a CQ and follow-up if I receive an answer to my call.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/2161210542838449970\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/02\/self-service-audio-station-report.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/2161210542838449970"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/2161210542838449970"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/02\/self-service-audio-station-report.html","title":"Self-service audio station report"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-QsNxTPvb0Pg\/WojWlMx_c9I\/AAAAAAAAjoI\/64nDgKVspKM_cGbj0jzBpsnbAzcbpos4ACLcBGAs\/s72-c\/websdr%2B2.PNG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-3955152007529621852"},"published":{"$t":"2018-02-13T23:01:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-02-13T23:01:44.616-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The dark side"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EOh my, what have I done\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EDon't take away my QRP CW card.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-HBaoSV2ixKU\/WoOtuemywwI\/AAAAAAAAjg8\/nt3mEb0d4q4sl947YF1knKXpPtw6txTfQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/MVIMG_20180213_202942-01.jpeg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1418\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-HBaoSV2ixKU\/WoOtuemywwI\/AAAAAAAAjg8\/nt3mEb0d4q4sl947YF1knKXpPtw6txTfQCLcBGAs\/s640\/MVIMG_20180213_202942-01.jpeg\" width=\"566\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI picked up an old, high impedance Heathkit microphone having the appropriate 2-pin connector.\u0026nbsp; One pin is the mic line and the other is for the PTT switch. The shield is common.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI set the mic level to indicate some movement on the ALC and peaks were occurring around 100w.\u0026nbsp; QRP SSB will be tough to achieve.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI worked a few stations on 80m and they delivered great reports and offered their own stories of Heathkit radios.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe old rig is certainly a conversation starter.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo... well, my QRP saying doesn't go with this post, so...\u0026nbsp; warm your tubes and smell the cooking resistors\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/3955152007529621852\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/02\/the-dark-side.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/3955152007529621852"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/3955152007529621852"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/02\/the-dark-side.html","title":"The dark side"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-HBaoSV2ixKU\/WoOtuemywwI\/AAAAAAAAjg8\/nt3mEb0d4q4sl947YF1knKXpPtw6txTfQCLcBGAs\/s72-c\/MVIMG_20180213_202942-01.jpeg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-4460838720482682687"},"published":{"$t":"2018-02-12T07:03:00.003-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-03-20T14:19:07.471-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Totally Tubular - images"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EThe inside of a Heathkit HW-101 is too interesting not to photograph\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EList of tubes and their function used in the HW-101\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003EOA2\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003ERegulator (150 V).\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E6HS6\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003ERF amplifier.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E6HS6\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E1st receiver mixer.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E6AU6\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EIsolation amplifier.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E6AU6\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E1st IF amplifier.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E6AU6\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E2nd IF amplifier.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E6BN8\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EProduct detector and AVC.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E6AU6\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EVFO Amplifier.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E6CB6\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E2nd transmitter\u0026nbsp; mixer.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E6CL6\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EDriver.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E6EA8\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003ESpeech Amplifier\u0026nbsp; and cathode follower.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E6EA8\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E1st transmitter\u0026nbsp; mixer.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E6EA8\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;2nd receiver mixer and relay amplifier.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E6EA8\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003ECW side-tone oscillator and amplifier.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E6GW8\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EAudio amplifier and audio output.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E12AT7\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EHeterodyne oscillator and cathode follower.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E12AT7\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EVOX amplifier and calibrator oscillator.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E12AU7\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003ESideband oscillator.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E6146\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EFinal amplifiers (2).\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EThe glowing filaments and grids of tubes are a sight not often seen in today's transistorized world of amateur radio.\u0026nbsp; I hope you enjoy the images...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-CL31t9eJGio\/WoF8rGEunzI\/AAAAAAAAjcI\/4TYkw8hCZLgaONAtSUyyY-mDbM8r8gxBACLcBGAs\/s1600\/hw-101-tubes%2B%25281%2Bof%2B13%2529.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1162\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"464\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-CL31t9eJGio\/WoF8rGEunzI\/AAAAAAAAjcI\/4TYkw8hCZLgaONAtSUyyY-mDbM8r8gxBACLcBGAs\/s640\/hw-101-tubes%2B%25281%2Bof%2B13%2529.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-J8wkOsnJIGU\/WoF8mBsOGJI\/AAAAAAAAjcA\/NiDzTcUCi_w6_LDlvVuuf1oVwmch72iGQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/hw-101-tubes%2B%252810%2Bof%2B13%2529.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"847\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"338\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-J8wkOsnJIGU\/WoF8mBsOGJI\/AAAAAAAAjcA\/NiDzTcUCi_w6_LDlvVuuf1oVwmch72iGQCLcBGAs\/s640\/hw-101-tubes%2B%252810%2Bof%2B13%2529.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-KvdR5vk9elU\/WoF83StGCuI\/AAAAAAAAjcY\/jQhfIg6BkGkzT5Qzc04GZ9ZMEjXjnmtHwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/hw-101-tubes%2B%25284%2Bof%2B13%2529.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1006\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"402\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-KvdR5vk9elU\/WoF83StGCuI\/AAAAAAAAjcY\/jQhfIg6BkGkzT5Qzc04GZ9ZMEjXjnmtHwCLcBGAs\/s640\/hw-101-tubes%2B%25284%2Bof%2B13%2529.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-fHI5DRJGkP0\/WoF8_mDKNsI\/AAAAAAAAjck\/urAhzzw5g8ANEC5rfhMM_4w8O5qZXY2YQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/hw-101-tubes%2B%25285%2Bof%2B13%2529.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-fHI5DRJGkP0\/WoF8_mDKNsI\/AAAAAAAAjck\/urAhzzw5g8ANEC5rfhMM_4w8O5qZXY2YQCLcBGAs\/s640\/hw-101-tubes%2B%25285%2Bof%2B13%2529.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-ssWKOpYq9VA\/WoF89qQTXbI\/AAAAAAAAjcg\/MNmK0-F9M6s-9ZTDUgkKX5cIROodXNiRgCLcBGAs\/s1600\/hw-101-tubes%2B%25286%2Bof%2B13%2529.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"981\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-ssWKOpYq9VA\/WoF89qQTXbI\/AAAAAAAAjcg\/MNmK0-F9M6s-9ZTDUgkKX5cIROodXNiRgCLcBGAs\/s640\/hw-101-tubes%2B%25286%2Bof%2B13%2529.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-ilXiUqV3LZI\/WoF9F337QcI\/AAAAAAAAjcs\/TGPsHvfP4D8usGVqoKW9fytQPzpQQ2-nwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/hw-101-tubes%2B%25288%2Bof%2B13%2529.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-ilXiUqV3LZI\/WoF9F337QcI\/AAAAAAAAjcs\/TGPsHvfP4D8usGVqoKW9fytQPzpQQ2-nwCLcBGAs\/s640\/hw-101-tubes%2B%25288%2Bof%2B13%2529.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-BuxXlESikBo\/WoF9GUQFZsI\/AAAAAAAAjcw\/msUTnNwDn5ohT4Cxw4cXssHiPetHcYuTACLcBGAs\/s1600\/hw-101-tubes%2B%25289%2Bof%2B13%2529.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1154\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"460\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-BuxXlESikBo\/WoF9GUQFZsI\/AAAAAAAAjcw\/msUTnNwDn5ohT4Cxw4cXssHiPetHcYuTACLcBGAs\/s640\/hw-101-tubes%2B%25289%2Bof%2B13%2529.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-Z7nVozCmjKE\/WoF84kDEwNI\/AAAAAAAAjc4\/bd6AsVpG2PE5gw0z1uHUnAmR1eEEUAzkACPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/hw-101-tubes%2B%25283%2Bof%2B13%2529.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-Z7nVozCmjKE\/WoF84kDEwNI\/AAAAAAAAjc4\/bd6AsVpG2PE5gw0z1uHUnAmR1eEEUAzkACPcBGAYYCw\/s640\/hw-101-tubes%2B%25283%2Bof%2B13%2529.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-1DKMh6BKIgs\/WoF8vf1QwrI\/AAAAAAAAjcQ\/owkbaJH16T86ix6AyJNow_rg5bZzR6mfwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/hw-101-tubes%2B%252813%2Bof%2B13%2529.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1235\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"492\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-1DKMh6BKIgs\/WoF8vf1QwrI\/AAAAAAAAjcQ\/owkbaJH16T86ix6AyJNow_rg5bZzR6mfwCLcBGAs\/s640\/hw-101-tubes%2B%252813%2Bof%2B13%2529.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EVideo with CW QSO\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EBrief video ending with WES exchange CW QSO.\u0026nbsp; Listen to the old girl in action...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/fjXC19989gg\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/fjXC19989gg?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EUpdate:\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EGreat resource for information on tubes and old radio design...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.tubebooks.org\/index.html\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/www.tubebooks.org\/index.html\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/4460838720482682687\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/02\/totally-tubular-images.html#comment-form","title":"3 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/4460838720482682687"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/4460838720482682687"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/02\/totally-tubular-images.html","title":"Totally Tubular - images"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-CL31t9eJGio\/WoF8rGEunzI\/AAAAAAAAjcI\/4TYkw8hCZLgaONAtSUyyY-mDbM8r8gxBACLcBGAs\/s72-c\/hw-101-tubes%2B%25281%2Bof%2B13%2529.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"3"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-2320109674287286838"},"published":{"$t":"2018-02-10T16:51:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-03-09T23:28:36.975-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The Heathkit HW-101 lives again"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EAh, the sweet smell of hot tubes and resistors\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-ZRc0gZdzNGY\/Wn9futp1rsI\/AAAAAAAAjWQ\/SoOaplPLbm4t6auuN-7unOOw5JjT5xifQCEwYBhgL\/s1600\/MVIMG_20180210_154223.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"954\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"380\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-ZRc0gZdzNGY\/Wn9futp1rsI\/AAAAAAAAjWQ\/SoOaplPLbm4t6auuN-7unOOw5JjT5xifQCEwYBhgL\/s640\/MVIMG_20180210_154223.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EHeathkit HW-101 after it's first QSO under new ownership\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI completed my rebuild of my Heathkit HP-23B power supply this morning.\u0026nbsp; There was a bit of frustration on my part as I followed the instructions because they only have photos of a HP-23 which has adjustable bias and no LV switch.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIt left me scratching my head a couple times, and I had to locate a schematic of a HP-23B to complete the work.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-Ay_ElGH1y4g\/Wn9c53uWPZI\/AAAAAAAAjV0\/tQGnwtSoC8ALrL-rvVFkeZbcHg0riOcvQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Heathkit%2BHP-23B%2B23A.bmp\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1506\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"602\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-Ay_ElGH1y4g\/Wn9c53uWPZI\/AAAAAAAAjV0\/tQGnwtSoC8ALrL-rvVFkeZbcHg0riOcvQCLcBGAs\/s640\/Heathkit%2BHP-23B%2B23A.bmp\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EHeathkit HP-23B Schematic\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EI really need to learn more about electronics\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIn the midst of the rebuild I thought I had a problem with the transformer.\u0026nbsp; Both low voltage winding taps\u0026nbsp;(275v and 350v) showed very low resistance (about 5 Ohms) to chassis ground, which led me to believe there was a short in the transformer.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI called my mentor in all things Ham radio, Paul AA4XX, and described the issue.\u0026nbsp; He walked me through the schematic and had me unsolder a couple points to confirm his guess that all was well.\u0026nbsp; That double tap, low voltage winding presents very low resistance to ground but it is not a short in the world of AC.\u0026nbsp; I continue struggling to wrap my head around the differences in AC and DC, but I'm slowly learning and fortunately haven't caught anything on fire yet.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EOut with the old, in with the new\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-QNuvvvZNihA\/Wn9rq--x00I\/AAAAAAAAjX4\/Pms3wpD_1Twu8SZJGwbxXSWdKWR-7YruwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/MVIMG_20180209_204122.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-QNuvvvZNihA\/Wn9rq--x00I\/AAAAAAAAjX4\/Pms3wpD_1Twu8SZJGwbxXSWdKWR-7YruwCLcBGAs\/s640\/MVIMG_20180209_204122.jpg\" width=\"480\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EOld components\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ETesting High Voltage\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMy Multi-meter can only measure up to 600v, so in order to measure the 800v output I used two 3 watt 100 kOhm resistors in series as a voltage divider.\u0026nbsp; When in use, the MM will read half the voltage.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-rJJLw1KVs6k\/Wn9hBrU_qqI\/AAAAAAAAjWk\/6pq3IURrgY8kqqcVpwKuh4mTrH6O_-x9wCLcBGAs\/s1600\/MVIMG_20180210_114612.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-rJJLw1KVs6k\/Wn9hBrU_qqI\/AAAAAAAAjWk\/6pq3IURrgY8kqqcVpwKuh4mTrH6O_-x9wCLcBGAs\/s640\/MVIMG_20180210_114612.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EVoltage divider for measuring the high-voltage output\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-laUJ1QWjZ64\/Wn9jVlFuYJI\/AAAAAAAAjXo\/sWZ_vzAZ_WABheVuOpiI64_UMJkAIzzCACLcBGAs\/s1600\/Screen%2BShot%2B2018-02-10%2Bat%2B4.25.01%2BPM.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1334\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"532\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-laUJ1QWjZ64\/Wn9jVlFuYJI\/AAAAAAAAjXo\/sWZ_vzAZ_WABheVuOpiI64_UMJkAIzzCACLcBGAs\/s640\/Screen%2BShot%2B2018-02-10%2Bat%2B4.25.01%2BPM.png\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EWith the voltage divider the HV power measured 401v which works out to 802v undivided\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ECompleted upgrade\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe kit places all the components in the base and the holes that the old big filter capacitors used to be in are now just ventilation.\u0026nbsp; I need to put a wire shield over those holes because high voltages are present just below, as well as some really hot resistors.\u0026nbsp; With the top cover back on it, there shouldn't be a problem but the wire mesh shield is still recommended, especially if it's to be used inside a Heathkit speaker, where the top cover is not used.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-L1dJ3OcjP_Y\/Wn9hGntzq_I\/AAAAAAAAjW8\/_JtBCzn5fOc68M6l2muudmSsZMxX9_VHACLcBGAs\/s1600\/MVIMG_20180210_120009.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-L1dJ3OcjP_Y\/Wn9hGntzq_I\/AAAAAAAAjW8\/_JtBCzn5fOc68M6l2muudmSsZMxX9_VHACLcBGAs\/s640\/MVIMG_20180210_120009.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EWith the PCB board, all the components are out of sight in the base except the big resistors\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EReplaced the HW-101 antenna connector with a BNC\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EOriginal antenna connector was a RCA with questionable integrity.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-JqBOghtZ9Zo\/WoG5HeqaLcI\/AAAAAAAAjds\/ROc2T228I60P9JsuM48FgZxdfW71kQBvQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/IMG_20180203_175158.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"910\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"362\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-JqBOghtZ9Zo\/WoG5HeqaLcI\/AAAAAAAAjds\/ROc2T228I60P9JsuM48FgZxdfW71kQBvQCLcBGAs\/s640\/IMG_20180203_175158.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EOriginal RCA antenna jack (viewed from inside chassis)\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EReplaced with BNC jack which fits without enlarging the original hole.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-9SrrWNmzFaA\/WoG5ZjPDVgI\/AAAAAAAAjdw\/9yAeM90mwGIHjbVER9Fx7CFbeN3ZMJcfwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/IMG_20180203_202327.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1068\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"426\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-9SrrWNmzFaA\/WoG5ZjPDVgI\/AAAAAAAAjdw\/9yAeM90mwGIHjbVER9Fx7CFbeN3ZMJcfwCLcBGAs\/s640\/IMG_20180203_202327.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ENew antenna jack\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EThe old radio now has power\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI replaced the old paper 350v 20uF electrolytic capacitors in the HW-101 and then connected the power cable and switched it on via the switch in the HW-101.\u0026nbsp; I didn't hear any audio at first and thought something was wrong.\u0026nbsp; Silly me, those tubes need a bit to warm up.\u0026nbsp; After a minute I was hearing audio and used the built-in crystal calibrator to check the VFO dial.\u0026nbsp; It was pretty close to spot on.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI ran through some initial checks according to the Heathkit manual.\u0026nbsp; Receive worked well.\u0026nbsp; I listened to some SSB and then dropped down to the 40m CW portion of the band and listened to CW.\u0026nbsp; I waited about 30 minutes for the tubes to warm up.\u0026nbsp; I didn't hear any drift on CW stations I was monitoring.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI found an open frequency, checked the plate current and then tuned up, outputting only about 10 watts because I don't know what state of alignment the finals are in yet.\u0026nbsp; This is the first time I've tuned a tube rig and that was interesting.\u0026nbsp; You have to peak the preselector in receive mode first, then when in tune mode, quickly work back through the preselector, final tune and load levers to peak the RF output.\u0026nbsp; It reads more complicated than it actually is.\u0026nbsp; My OCFD antenna has about a 1.7:1 SWR on 40m so it didn't need much tweaking from the initial settings.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI tuned around and answered N4PGJ, Ron in NY, and had a brief WES exchange.\u0026nbsp; The relay control time set by VOX delay needs to be bumped up a bit as it was dropping between every word break, but other than that it worked like a charm.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI'll make a video soon, but initial impressions are positive.\u0026nbsp; The audio quality was astoundingly good, and the CW filter really did a much better job than I expected.\u0026nbsp; It has a very pleasant sine-wave sidetone rather than the raspy square wave sidetone of my Ten-Tec Century\/21.\u0026nbsp; I really think I'm going to enjoy using this old rig.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EUPDATE\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI got the rig buttoned up and on the desk.\u0026nbsp; Here's a video...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/fjXC19989gg\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/fjXC19989gg?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-jF_Q5L5v5Zc\/WohVqH1N_gI\/AAAAAAAAjm0\/AhxGN5Yj4s4tDNC7WTic5NIh-Fow80pxACLcBGAs\/s1600\/MVIMG_20180216_191418-01.jpeg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"908\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"362\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-jF_Q5L5v5Zc\/WohVqH1N_gI\/AAAAAAAAjm0\/AhxGN5Yj4s4tDNC7WTic5NIh-Fow80pxACLcBGAs\/s640\/MVIMG_20180216_191418-01.jpeg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EOldie but goodie\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe width=\"320\" height=\"266\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/VXUibUTWATU\/0.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/VXUibUTWATU?feature=player_embedded\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo lower your power and warm up those tubes.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/2320109674287286838\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/02\/the-heathkit-hw-101-lives-again.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/2320109674287286838"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/2320109674287286838"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/02\/the-heathkit-hw-101-lives-again.html","title":"The Heathkit HW-101 lives again"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-ZRc0gZdzNGY\/Wn9futp1rsI\/AAAAAAAAjWQ\/SoOaplPLbm4t6auuN-7unOOw5JjT5xifQCEwYBhgL\/s72-c\/MVIMG_20180210_154223.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-9077562501652282939"},"published":{"$t":"2018-02-08T19:22:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-02-08T19:22:24.802-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"HP-23 upgrade board kit from Old Heathkit Parts"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EBreath new life into a Heathkit HP-23 power supply\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMy recent interest in restoring a 1970s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/01\/before-transistors-there-were-tubes.html\"\u003EHeathkit HW-101\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;tube radio, is leading me down quite a winding path.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EBefore I can even test the HW-101 I must be able to supply it with power.\u0026nbsp; Vacuum tube radios need multiple voltages for the different tubes in use.\u0026nbsp; In the case of the 20 vacuum tubes used in the HW-101, it needs the following voltages to operate, 800v, 350v, -130v and 12.6v.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIf you've followed previous posts you'd read that I thought I'd be clever (as if), and restore a Heathkit power supply that runs off of 12v so that I could use it mobile or from my 12v linear supply in the shack.\u0026nbsp; Well, I \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/02\/noisy-power-supply-heathkit-hp-13.html\"\u003Erestored a HP-13\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;and if you read that post and watched\/listened to the video you and I now both understand why operators only used those power supplies out of earshot, like in the trunk of their automobile, or in the next county.\u0026nbsp; It makes way too much audio racket to be at my operating position.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo, pouring a bit more money into this effort, I bought a AC\/mains powered supply; the Heathkit HP-23B... but alas it has old components and also needs to be restored.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-S4alsL7soDI\/WnzfZOdv86I\/AAAAAAAAjJY\/mSHFU0jOMgcJSa8d_1LobsD3ckPxQNsIQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/s-l1600.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-S4alsL7soDI\/WnzfZOdv86I\/AAAAAAAAjJY\/mSHFU0jOMgcJSa8d_1LobsD3ckPxQNsIQCLcBGAs\/s400\/s-l1600.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EHeathkit HP-23B\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-6scfjb_rCCI\/Wnzfs9TtwzI\/AAAAAAAAjJc\/Ye40rUEoAvkt7VNb_ZWSK3oAHTs1ltXfACLcBGAs\/s1600\/s-l1600%2B%25281%2529.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-6scfjb_rCCI\/Wnzfs9TtwzI\/AAAAAAAAjJc\/Ye40rUEoAvkt7VNb_ZWSK3oAHTs1ltXfACLcBGAs\/s400\/s-l1600%2B%25281%2529.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ENo direct replacement capacitors\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThose large capacitors in the first photo have no modern equivalent in terms of the pin-outs and the HP-23B chassis used some phenolic wafers that are rather fragile after this many years, to hold those capacitors.\u0026nbsp; There are some videos showing how to adapt modern capacitors to fit and that would help maintain it's classic look, but it seemed a bit fiddly to do.\u0026nbsp; Also, you can see that in the base of the power supply there are numerous other axial caps and resistors that need replacing and it's a frightening mess of wiring in there given the voltages present.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EOld Heathkit Parts to the rescue\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis is such a common issue with these power supplies, that K8GNZ designed a PCB compatible with modern electronic components that would replace that tangle of wiring.\u0026nbsp; It can be ordered from \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.oldheathkitparts.com\/\"\u003EOld Heathkit Parts\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;for a reasonable sum and comes with a CD listing the components that need to be ordered as well as instructions for building the PCB and wiring it up with the HP-23B.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis board gives you one convenient place to populate all the components and hookup the wiring in the HP-23 chassis.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-0t8MeVgM7hQ\/WnzidSTrrCI\/AAAAAAAAjJ4\/g9Gv-aahw1MDks2AZ2_phUuSrjKo-nAhQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/MVIMG_20180208_161755.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1118\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"446\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-0t8MeVgM7hQ\/WnzidSTrrCI\/AAAAAAAAjJ4\/g9Gv-aahw1MDks2AZ2_phUuSrjKo-nAhQCLcBGAs\/s640\/MVIMG_20180208_161755.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EHP-23D PCB\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-QC8pWcLfUeE\/WnzidZU3l8I\/AAAAAAAAjJ0\/K9nvvScxNmQtFLSUtPDu288hLTPwT-nIgCLcBGAs\/s1600\/MVIMG_20180208_170619.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1245\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"498\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-QC8pWcLfUeE\/WnzidZU3l8I\/AAAAAAAAjJ0\/K9nvvScxNmQtFLSUtPDu288hLTPwT-nIgCLcBGAs\/s640\/MVIMG_20180208_170619.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EThe 3w 100k resistors go on the bottom mounted 1\/4\" off the board so they don't burn the board (they get hot)\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-cPAw46UimK0\/Wnzie18F1wI\/AAAAAAAAjKA\/WNGWZrX-ynIANntsNjn5JeMbNn-QoOTfgCLcBGAs\/s1600\/MVIMG_20180208_170627_1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1245\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"498\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-cPAw46UimK0\/Wnzie18F1wI\/AAAAAAAAjKA\/WNGWZrX-ynIANntsNjn5JeMbNn-QoOTfgCLcBGAs\/s640\/MVIMG_20180208_170627_1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EPartially populated board\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-qaTE0UefLS8\/Wnzie3f2OlI\/AAAAAAAAjJ8\/_OCmVboevyIzRe10wj3RdtXIf7gwJCo9QCLcBGAs\/s1600\/MVIMG_20180208_171933.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1289\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"514\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-qaTE0UefLS8\/Wnzie3f2OlI\/AAAAAAAAjJ8\/_OCmVboevyIzRe10wj3RdtXIf7gwJCo9QCLcBGAs\/s640\/MVIMG_20180208_171933.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EAll done, ready to wire up to the HP-23 transformer and choke\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ENote how much smaller the 4 new 450v caps are than the ones they replaced in the photo at the top of the post.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe next step is to tear down the old HP-23B and prepare for this board to replace its innards.\u0026nbsp; Maybe this weekend.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EGotta get the power from the supply to the radio\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe power supply has 8 connections to the radio and Amphenol 11-pin plugs are used for the connections.\u0026nbsp; I purchased a wiring kit on eBay that I'm not really pleased with so I won't provide a link to the seller.\u0026nbsp; It works but there were some compromises.\u0026nbsp; If I need another cable I think I'll just find a used one.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-LJKZGHnF1m4\/Wnzia4rG8YI\/AAAAAAAAjKU\/tHW3_aLx7cYdGgXiYvoj9c-vl2DxrBx0wCEwYBhgL\/s1600\/MVIMG_20180208_113109.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"982\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-LJKZGHnF1m4\/Wnzia4rG8YI\/AAAAAAAAjKU\/tHW3_aLx7cYdGgXiYvoj9c-vl2DxrBx0wCEwYBhgL\/s640\/MVIMG_20180208_113109.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EPower cable\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI also added an amp-key line out from pins 5 (ground) and 11 (relay) for future projects.\u0026nbsp; I terminated it into a female RCA plug.\u0026nbsp; I have previously used the amp-key line from my Ten-Tec Eagle to trigger the protective relay on my \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/02\/spruce-up-basic-transceiver-with-sdr.html\"\u003ESDR\u003C\/a\u003E, so I may use it for that, or something else.\u0026nbsp; I figured as long as I was soldering 16 connections in those plugs I could solder a couple more.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-AefBdxrINVI\/Wnzia0ojzFI\/AAAAAAAAjKU\/uAE2SGimx6Uvbr3CxIzKlX1kQBMqebmOgCEwYBhgL\/s1600\/MVIMG_20180208_113052.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"988\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"246\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-AefBdxrINVI\/Wnzia0ojzFI\/AAAAAAAAjKU\/uAE2SGimx6Uvbr3CxIzKlX1kQBMqebmOgCEwYBhgL\/s400\/MVIMG_20180208_113052.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EAmp-key line out\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI've also purchased an additional NOS female Amphenol 11-pin chassis plug that I plan to wire up from the Grove connector on the HP-13 so that I can just use the HP-23 cable with the HP-13 if I wish to in the future.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo just a few more hours of work and I should be able to light up the old HW-101 for the first time in decades.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EThe smell of hot tubes awaits...\u0026nbsp; or magic smoke...\u0026nbsp; I hope it's the former\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/9077562501652282939\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/02\/hp-23-upgrade-board-kit-from-k8gnz.html#comment-form","title":"8 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/9077562501652282939"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/9077562501652282939"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/02\/hp-23-upgrade-board-kit-from-k8gnz.html","title":"HP-23 upgrade board kit from Old Heathkit Parts"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-S4alsL7soDI\/WnzfZOdv86I\/AAAAAAAAjJY\/mSHFU0jOMgcJSa8d_1LobsD3ckPxQNsIQCLcBGAs\/s72-c\/s-l1600.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"8"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-8604321695457340156"},"published":{"$t":"2018-02-02T20:51:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-02-02T20:51:29.727-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Noisy power supply -- Heathkit HP-13"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EResurrecting a Heathkit HP-13\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAs seen in my previous post I've taken the dark plunge into the world of tube radios.\u0026nbsp; I want to start restoring my Heathkit HW-101, but before I can do that I must be able to power it.\u0026nbsp; As I previously wrote, I taken the road less travelled and got an old (circa 1965) HP-13 mobile power supply because I thought it would be nice to power the radio from a 12v source rather than mains.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-q99K9zDn_1g\/WnT90foYqXI\/AAAAAAAAi38\/447MwnaKido-ZA8yO0vvja50LbnIFvbCwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/MVIMG_20171228_154610.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"638\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-q99K9zDn_1g\/WnT90foYqXI\/AAAAAAAAi38\/447MwnaKido-ZA8yO0vvja50LbnIFvbCwCLcBGAs\/s640\/MVIMG_20171228_154610.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EUnrestored HP-13 with broken solder joints and trashed capacitors\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWell there seems to be a reason these don't seem very popular... I'll get to that.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI found a very nice article from RDF-Electronics regarding \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.rdfproducts.com\/vr_apl_002.pdf\"\u003Emodernizing the HP-13 power supply\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp; That document includes the components and part numbers for everything you will need to restore your HP-13.\u0026nbsp; My parts arrived from Digi-key and I began snipping and desoldering the old component off the PC board.\u0026nbsp; The replacement electrolytic capacitors are all much smaller and have radial rather than axial leads.\u0026nbsp; That makes placing things on the board require a bit more creativity.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-gqi1x3jWEl8\/WnT_BQMX6lI\/AAAAAAAAi4M\/QvU9QgrYWRwfTAIc1PpgRaVvegkqN4O7QCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Screen%2BShot%2B2018-02-02%2Bat%2B7.14.19%2BPM.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1259\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"502\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-gqi1x3jWEl8\/WnT_BQMX6lI\/AAAAAAAAi4M\/QvU9QgrYWRwfTAIc1PpgRaVvegkqN4O7QCLcBGAs\/s640\/Screen%2BShot%2B2018-02-02%2Bat%2B7.14.19%2BPM.png\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EHP-13 Schematic\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe only truly problematic components to replace was replacing the twin positive axial lead electrolytic (C11) with two electrolytic capacitors (space issue) and replacing the C1 and C12 due to the tricky wiring around the transistors.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-rWIHScqCOow\/WnT_Yez4qLI\/AAAAAAAAi4Q\/RLNiK4BQTOcFgESfrj6YSjiOFUfydLqSwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/MVIMG_20180202_080329.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-rWIHScqCOow\/WnT_Yez4qLI\/AAAAAAAAi4Q\/RLNiK4BQTOcFgESfrj6YSjiOFUfydLqSwCLcBGAs\/s400\/MVIMG_20180202_080329.jpg\" width=\"300\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EThe orange cap on the left under the Q1 (C1) was tough to replace with a much smaller radial lead capacitor\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe article suggested replacing\u0026nbsp;the original 100 uF\/50 V capacitor with a 4,700 uF\/35V to better control ripple.\u0026nbsp; The article goes into quite a bit of detail concerning his testing of ripple using an oscilloscope.\u0026nbsp; Finding room for that big cap and it's accompanying filter disc required a bit of creativity as seen below, where it's laying on its side between two of the rectifier caps.\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI will glue all the caps to the board before I put the power supply into service.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-uKtCGRIWUpo\/WnUBj19P5hI\/AAAAAAAAi5Q\/y8lINCKVBg0PyytosYZ0G1WpT9cw9hCuQCEwYBhgL\/s1600\/MVIMG_20180202_131032.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-uKtCGRIWUpo\/WnUBj19P5hI\/AAAAAAAAi5Q\/y8lINCKVBg0PyytosYZ0G1WpT9cw9hCuQCEwYBhgL\/s640\/MVIMG_20180202_131032.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ENew capacitors and diodes\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI replaced all the electrolytic caps and diodes.\u0026nbsp; The diodes might have been ok but they are blocking over 300 volts each and a single failure would let the smoke out for sure.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-cdBU7UwKlRw\/WnUAYO-fw4I\/AAAAAAAAi4o\/D-cPPeu2BhEwIxHE_sNMoL6fSWnIMcF7QCLcBGAs\/s1600\/MVIMG_20180202_110654.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-cdBU7UwKlRw\/WnUAYO-fw4I\/AAAAAAAAi4o\/D-cPPeu2BhEwIxHE_sNMoL6fSWnIMcF7QCLcBGAs\/s640\/MVIMG_20180202_110654.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EOut with the old\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-0o8Yv8iAxWs\/WnUAkDth37I\/AAAAAAAAi44\/HvxFUVO0O6MnlRvhhy1umN__8omlg0gVgCLcBGAs\/s1600\/MVIMG_20180202_131021.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-0o8Yv8iAxWs\/WnUAkDth37I\/AAAAAAAAi44\/HvxFUVO0O6MnlRvhhy1umN__8omlg0gVgCLcBGAs\/s640\/MVIMG_20180202_131021.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EIn with the new\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAll the resistors except one 100k 2 watt were ok.\u0026nbsp; So I only replaced that resistor.\u0026nbsp; The 1.6kv disc caps even measured ok.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe internals look a bit different now with the new caps standing up where the old, larger axial lead components laid flat.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-_pVv_m1ufDE\/WnT9JPK8_bI\/AAAAAAAAi34\/ikXRbso6ERMAZF6g9xQGgyvufnGEjnsAACEwYBhgL\/s1600\/HP-13-recapped-thumb.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"810\" data-original-width=\"1080\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-_pVv_m1ufDE\/WnT9JPK8_bI\/AAAAAAAAi34\/ikXRbso6ERMAZF6g9xQGgyvufnGEjnsAACEwYBhgL\/s640\/HP-13-recapped-thumb.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EReady for testing\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ETesting\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAfter performing resistance and continuity checks I buttoned it up for the test.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EThe Noise\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI had no idea how audibly noisy this power supply would be.\u0026nbsp; The switching that occurs in the transformer creates a very loud whine.\u0026nbsp; I understand why hams would install these in the trunk.\u0026nbsp; There's no way you'd be able to stand this for long if it was sitting next to your station.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI have a longish intro in the video.\u0026nbsp; Skip towards the end to hear it powered up... turn your volume down when you see the \"hearing protection\" sign come up in the video.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe width=\"320\" height=\"266\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/F7RXsATCGmo\/0.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F7RXsATCGmo?feature=player_embedded\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EConclusions\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis was a good learning experience.\u0026nbsp; I learned about high voltage transformers and got some practice restoring older equipment.\u0026nbsp; I practiced electrical safety and didn't kill myself, so I'm pleased about that.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI now have a power supply I could use from a sturdy 12v source if I needed it, BUT due to the noise in operation I'm going to look into restoring a HP-23 which runs off house mains (AC) and is mostly silent.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI'll keep this on the shelf waiting for a day that I need to run the HW-101 mobile.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/8604321695457340156\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/02\/noisy-power-supply-heathkit-hp-13.html#comment-form","title":"3 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/8604321695457340156"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/8604321695457340156"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/02\/noisy-power-supply-heathkit-hp-13.html","title":"Noisy power supply -- Heathkit HP-13"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-q99K9zDn_1g\/WnT90foYqXI\/AAAAAAAAi38\/447MwnaKido-ZA8yO0vvja50LbnIFvbCwCLcBGAs\/s72-c\/MVIMG_20171228_154610.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"3"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-2449383710938835333"},"published":{"$t":"2018-01-27T18:28:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-01-28T17:15:22.889-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Before transistors there were TUBES"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EOh Boy, what have I gotten myself into\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-1Dj9r04pipA\/Wm0BV6t-9XI\/AAAAAAAAiuM\/Du5CFHHfyO0v_RMsAEsj5u7f7EHYqE5HACLcBGAs\/s1600\/tubes.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1214\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"484\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-1Dj9r04pipA\/Wm0BV6t-9XI\/AAAAAAAAiuM\/Du5CFHHfyO0v_RMsAEsj5u7f7EHYqE5HACLcBGAs\/s640\/tubes.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ETUBES\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EA few months after re-entering the hobby in 2015 I picked up a \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/10\/ten-tec-century-21-cw-only-rig-ahead-of.html\"\u003ETenTec Century\/21\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp; It has been one of my favorite radios to operate and it is the most aesthetically pleasing radio I own.\u0026nbsp; After working with it's older (circa 1977) discrete transistorized technology and debugging some of it's problems, I became interested in building kits to learn about electronics.\u0026nbsp; I built a number of \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/03\/its-alive.html\"\u003Eradio kits\u003C\/a\u003E from different sources and some of the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/02\/making-use-of-elecraft-mini-module-kits.html\"\u003Emini-module kits from Elecraft\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EBut I kept wondering about tube radios.\u0026nbsp; I came to the hobby well past the tube radio era and although I've read a lot about valve technology I didn't have any first hand experience.\u0026nbsp; I kept watching auctions for old Heathkits and Military radios and even bid on a few but lost the bids.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis past Christmas I decided that in 2018 I'd do something about this lingering interest.\u0026nbsp; I knew I'd eventually want to operate one mobile because, well that would certainly make it harder.\u0026nbsp; The power requirements of tubes are orders of magnitude greater than the QRP transistorized rigs I'd purchased.\u0026nbsp; Not knowing what I was doing I figured I could re-work an old Heathkit HP-13 power supply to give me what I'd need for an old military radio like the GRC-9.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-mWmBJQkXxl0\/Wmz-fNeQ1nI\/AAAAAAAAit8\/YCYQQ83aI5UGODqmMvGlOVU8DbRjFCU4QCLcBGAs\/s1600\/MVIMG_20171228_154610.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"638\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-mWmBJQkXxl0\/Wmz-fNeQ1nI\/AAAAAAAAit8\/YCYQQ83aI5UGODqmMvGlOVU8DbRjFCU4QCLcBGAs\/s640\/MVIMG_20171228_154610.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EHeathkit HP-13a\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EUnsurprisingly, I was the only bidder and got one for $30 along with the odd grove power connectors that it uses. But I didn't do my research, and soon learned that the magic for these high voltage power supplies lies in the very specific design of their transformers.\u0026nbsp; In the case of the HP-13 it is operated much like an old military vibrator power supply with two germanium transistors acting as the vibrator.\u0026nbsp; Current is applied to to the core until it saturates and then a specific voltage determined by the number of turns is generated, the saturation drops the current to that winding and it starts over with the other transistor and the other winding.\u0026nbsp; I couldn't easily, or practically lower the 800v high voltage down to 580v required by the military radio I wanted and even the low voltage windings produce 300v and 250v respectively which is far beyond the 105v needed by the military radio.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI was warned off actually purchasing a military vibrator power supply due to a number of issues so I decided I'd start out with the radio this supply was designed for, a Heathkit HW-101.\u0026nbsp; All the electrolytic capacitors have to be replaced, and I plan to replace the diodes to be on the safe side as well.\u0026nbsp; I'm hoping the old transistors are still serviceable as I can't find any information on direct replacements for those.\u0026nbsp; I've ordered the replacement caps, diodes and resistors so I'll see how my refurb of this old power supply works out.\u0026nbsp; Working with voltages that can kill me is a bit daunting and I'm being very careful with the limited power-up tests I've performed so far.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EHeathkit HW-101\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat brings me to the newest arrival.\u0026nbsp; If you read my blog you know I like to do photography and it's no fun to photograph ugly radios so I kept watching auctions for HW-101s that were in good cosmetic condition.\u0026nbsp; I knew I'd have to do a good bit of refurbishment on whatever I ended up with but at least I could start with a \"looker\".\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-QJI3Ywzu6Fc\/Wm0CATz29aI\/AAAAAAAAiuU\/04YOuHK9lYsPTHCQ9NpoA0D5-CmbLac3ACLcBGAs\/s1600\/00100dPORTRAIT_00100_BURST20180127160750098_COVER.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1089\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"434\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-QJI3Ywzu6Fc\/Wm0CATz29aI\/AAAAAAAAiuU\/04YOuHK9lYsPTHCQ9NpoA0D5-CmbLac3ACLcBGAs\/s640\/00100dPORTRAIT_00100_BURST20180127160750098_COVER.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EHeathkit HW-101\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI plan, of course, to use it primarily for CW.\u0026nbsp; I'm aware that this radio is NOT particularly pleasant for CW due to the clacking relay as well as the poor filtering, but I've gotten accustomed to hearing lots of CW stations at once while working with my Century\/21 so I think I can adapt.\u0026nbsp; All my other radios have full break-in so this will be a challenge to deal with, but I'm up to seeing what it was like for old time hams.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-oPBwsxHWUTk\/Wm0CyX2AfEI\/AAAAAAAAiuc\/SHSZXwz9mdgv28eA_VAqC16OG41i2ArgQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/heathkit%2Bcrystal%2Bfilter.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"922\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"230\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-oPBwsxHWUTk\/Wm0CyX2AfEI\/AAAAAAAAiuc\/SHSZXwz9mdgv28eA_VAqC16OG41i2ArgQCLcBGAs\/s400\/heathkit%2Bcrystal%2Bfilter.png\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ECrystal filter\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWhile it has a crystal filter, 6dB of filtering at 400Hz will not offer much rejection to the out of band signals.\u0026nbsp; I guess I'll see.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAdmittedly this is far from QRP radio but I will endeavor to operate mobile at least a few times just for the experience.\u0026nbsp; I plan to operate at QRP levels to the extent I'm able.\u0026nbsp; There's just so much for me to learn.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIf I don't maim myself or burn my house down, be on the lookout for posts as I resurrect the power supply and the old girl and get it on the air.\u0026nbsp; I have some ideas for photography involving glowing tubes that I think will be fun to figure out.\u0026nbsp; My bigger challenge is that I have no room for this thing at my operating position, so I'm trying to figure that out as well.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo drop me a line if you have restoration experience with these rigs.\u0026nbsp; Of course I'm reading what I can and look forward to learning how to align the transmit tubes and all the things I've had absolutely no experience with in the world of transistorized radios.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo warm up your tubes and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/2449383710938835333\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/01\/before-transistors-there-were-tubes.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/2449383710938835333"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/2449383710938835333"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/01\/before-transistors-there-were-tubes.html","title":"Before transistors there were TUBES"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-1Dj9r04pipA\/Wm0BV6t-9XI\/AAAAAAAAiuM\/Du5CFHHfyO0v_RMsAEsj5u7f7EHYqE5HACLcBGAs\/s72-c\/tubes.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-2368242901942259052"},"published":{"$t":"2018-01-24T19:04:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-01-24T19:04:14.580-05:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Need help with a Ham Christmas QSO card"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EToo early to plan the Christmas QSO card?\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EOk, so it's only January but Christmas is just around the corner and I need help with a verse to go with my 2018 Christmas QSO card.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIt starts like this...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;\"\u003EWe three keys from ham shacks are,\u003Cbr \/\u003ESending code that travels afar,\u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;\"\u003E. . .\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all I got.\u0026nbsp; Help me out.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-CB-FZ8W29io\/WmZTk6WCRkI\/AAAAAAAAipo\/sSCUdVCm0ckVU_YgbRAmgAkh69Mrh3TywCLcBGAs\/s1600\/maxresdefault.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"720\" data-original-width=\"1280\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-CB-FZ8W29io\/WmZTk6WCRkI\/AAAAAAAAipo\/sSCUdVCm0ckVU_YgbRAmgAkh69Mrh3TywCLcBGAs\/s640\/maxresdefault.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EJust a bit of silliness\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/2368242901942259052\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/01\/need-help-with-ham-christmas-qso-card.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/2368242901942259052"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/2368242901942259052"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/01\/need-help-with-ham-christmas-qso-card.html","title":"Need help with a Ham Christmas QSO card"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-CB-FZ8W29io\/WmZTk6WCRkI\/AAAAAAAAipo\/sSCUdVCm0ckVU_YgbRAmgAkh69Mrh3TywCLcBGAs\/s72-c\/maxresdefault.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-435961317080536984"},"published":{"$t":"2018-01-18T17:39:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-01-18T17:39:41.174-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Giant Blizzard! Not really, but my antenna is down"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EWe aren't supposed to get this much snow in central NC\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWe received a remarkable amount of snow yesterday here in central NC, my antenna iced up and looked very pretty, then the wind picked up and my antenna fell down.\u0026nbsp; Boo-hiss !\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMy \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/11\/the-amazing-80m-multi-band-windom.html\"\u003Ehomebrew OCFD\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;antenna is constructed from donated, surplus, lightweight doorbell type wire attached to a 4:1 current balun in a PVC tube with threaded nuts to hold each end of the dipole on top and a coax connector on the bottom.\u0026nbsp; An eyelet through the top of the balun suspends it all via some 10 year old dacron rope (dacron rope is amazing stuff), which is attached to the eave at the peak of my roof.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHow, pray tell did I get the rope attached to the peak of roof 33 feet up in the air you ask, having no tall ladders or Spiderman abilities? I'm glad you asked... Well, the rope is tied inexpertly, using granny knots, to one side of an S-hook.\u0026nbsp; I use a cane-pole fishing rod as an extension with a piece of masking tape on the end lightly holding the S-hook. Then I precariously lean out my 3rd story window eight feet under the eave (don't try this at home) and \"fish\" the S-hook through a loop at the peak of the eave, that was installed there by my nice painter, many years ago.\u0026nbsp; Once the S-hook is in the loop, I tug on the fishing pole and the masking tape lets loose of the S-hook and the S-hook remains in the loop, holding a few feet of old dacron rope.\u0026nbsp; QRP-indeed !\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis incarnation of the antenna was first installed November 2015.\u0026nbsp; In that time an ice storm drug it to the ground, and a tropical storm broke the mooring as well.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAmazing stuff, doorbell wire and old dacron rope.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;\"\u003EThat gleaming line of ice from right to left in the picture below used to be elevated a bit more\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Yx5FoL7pHgs\/WmC5sFkXTXI\/AAAAAAAAil8\/jnupLPDzCcUUF8NTuUIQ0aEh17NIGz6AgCLcBGAs\/s1600\/antenna%2Bdown.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"703\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"280\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Yx5FoL7pHgs\/WmC5sFkXTXI\/AAAAAAAAil8\/jnupLPDzCcUUF8NTuUIQ0aEh17NIGz6AgCLcBGAs\/s640\/antenna%2Bdown.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EEven with my outdoor antenna down, I was able to make a contact on 80m last night using \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/08\/the-attic-antenna-revisited.html\"\u003Ethe 68'ish foot long doublet in my attic\u003C\/a\u003E so wasn't completely incommunicado.\u0026nbsp; It shouldn't be hard to get the OCFD operational again.\u0026nbsp; A bit harder will be repairing the blueberry cage that collapsed under the weight of snow on top of the netting.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EThis antenna is designed to fail gracefully\u003C\/h3\u003EI wanted to be sure that when the antenna was under stress it would relieve itself at the easiest place to repair.\u0026nbsp; The rope on the long end of offset dipole runs through a pulley attached, with a zip tie, at the top of a set of sturdy, stacked fiberglass tent poles.\u0026nbsp; The rope runs through the zip-tie attached pulley to a long, lightweight, spring (the kind used for a small fence gate) along with the pulley provides the strain relief when it's windy. The zip tie holding the pulley at the top of the pole is intentionally the weak link.\u0026nbsp; When the forces become too much the zip tie breaks and the long, heavy side of the antenna falls across the garden.\u0026nbsp; It's a simple matter to pull a section of the fiberglass pole loose, attach a new zip tie, and Bob's your uncle.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;\"\u003ESo when you design your next wire antenna, plan ahead for easy repair.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your power... and antennas after they fall\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/435961317080536984\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/01\/giant-blizzard-not-really-but-my.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/435961317080536984"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/435961317080536984"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/01\/giant-blizzard-not-really-but-my.html","title":"Giant Blizzard! Not really, but my antenna is down"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Yx5FoL7pHgs\/WmC5sFkXTXI\/AAAAAAAAil8\/jnupLPDzCcUUF8NTuUIQ0aEh17NIGz6AgCLcBGAs\/s72-c\/antenna%2Bdown.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-2881730581765007742"},"published":{"$t":"2018-01-07T21:08:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-01-07T21:08:17.760-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Troublesome characters to copy in Morse Code"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EThe trouble with DITS\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-f9kklX6Dmxk\/WlLQ2bUZZOI\/AAAAAAAAiao\/gUaD4UX8lOIpBiUfr6uIlWobwYvrJxmEgCLcBGAs\/s1600\/trouble-with-dits%2B%25283%2Bof%2B3%2529.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-f9kklX6Dmxk\/WlLQ2bUZZOI\/AAAAAAAAiao\/gUaD4UX8lOIpBiUfr6uIlWobwYvrJxmEgCLcBGAs\/s640\/trouble-with-dits%2B%25283%2Bof%2B3%2529.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EKX3 Displaying some sent code and a Palm Single paddle in front, magnetically attached to a steel base\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAs I've learned the code one problem area, early on, was dealing with words that started with characters that were all DITS.\u0026nbsp; I'm probably not alone in having my puny brain overloaded when I am trying to head copy words that start with DITS.\u0026nbsp; I would panic because the all-dits character would fly by and I'd get fixated on trying to figure out what that was and miss the rest of the word.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;\"\u003ETo overcome DIT panic, I started training on the all DIT characters of E, I, S and H\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EUsing \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/lcwo.net\/\"\u003Ehttps:\/\/lcwo.net\/\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp; I'd configure it to send only those characters, and practice them alone.\u0026nbsp; Then I started creating words that began with DIT characters and I'd practice recognizing them.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAfter two and half years I still get tripped up on occasion but I'm doing much better.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI also like to practice sending DITS.\u0026nbsp; The following sentence is fun to practice: \"SHE IS 55 ES IS HIS SISTER\"\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe width=\"320\" height=\"266\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/Y77TZ6pEu9c\/0.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Y77TZ6pEu9c?feature=player_embedded\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo how do you deal with DIT overload?\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003Ede Richard AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\/\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/4gven\"\u003Ehttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/4gven\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/2881730581765007742\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/01\/troublesome-characters-to-copy-in-morse.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/2881730581765007742"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/2881730581765007742"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2018\/01\/troublesome-characters-to-copy-in-morse.html","title":"Troublesome characters to copy in Morse Code"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-f9kklX6Dmxk\/WlLQ2bUZZOI\/AAAAAAAAiao\/gUaD4UX8lOIpBiUfr6uIlWobwYvrJxmEgCLcBGAs\/s72-c\/trouble-with-dits%2B%25283%2Bof%2B3%2529.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-7328260367522700903"},"published":{"$t":"2017-12-30T18:21:00.004-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-01-01T08:25:39.274-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Don't forget -- Straight Key Night 2018 is tomorrow ! "},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EStraight Key Night -- 2018\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EDon't forget January 1st, 2018 starting 00:00 GMT (7pm EST Dec 31) is the start of Straight Key Night 2018.\u0026nbsp; Bring your tired, old equipment on-air and mash your favorite mechanical key.\u0026nbsp; This is not a contest, just an opportunity to make lots of fun QSOs.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI'll be on the air with my \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/10\/ten-tec-century-21-cw-only-rig-ahead-of.html\"\u003E1977 Century\/21\u003C\/a\u003E using my \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/11\/german-telegraph-key-junker-mt-honnefrh.html\"\u003EJunker Straight key\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/11\/dont-bug-out-when-hearing-vibroplex.html\"\u003EStandard Vibroplex Bug\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dglsI4QF5Ao\/WkgecrXZhuI\/AAAAAAAAiYY\/HmPtIquvAhcd3kpvcgMUfSaHgkI_mx1VQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/antique_radios%2B%25281%2Bof%2B1%2529.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1158\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"462\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dglsI4QF5Ao\/WkgecrXZhuI\/AAAAAAAAiYY\/HmPtIquvAhcd3kpvcgMUfSaHgkI_mx1VQCLcBGAs\/s640\/antique_radios%2B%25281%2Bof%2B1%2529.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EARRL has details on their website...\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.arrl.org\/straight-key-night\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/www.arrl.org\/straight-key-night\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EVideo from 2018 SKN\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIf you hang in there until the 2:08 mark you'll see my new, spiffy, dual camera angle recording method that I plan to use in all my videos.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/nB-kZQBs3fk\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/nB-kZQBs3fk?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo, lower your power, and raise your expectations...\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/7328260367522700903\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/12\/dont-forget-straight-key-night-2018-is.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/7328260367522700903"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/7328260367522700903"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/12\/dont-forget-straight-key-night-2018-is.html","title":"Don't forget -- Straight Key Night 2018 is tomorrow ! "}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dglsI4QF5Ao\/WkgecrXZhuI\/AAAAAAAAiYY\/HmPtIquvAhcd3kpvcgMUfSaHgkI_mx1VQCLcBGAs\/s72-c\/antique_radios%2B%25281%2Bof%2B1%2529.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-17426326751798375"},"published":{"$t":"2017-12-30T17:30:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-12-30T17:30:17.636-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Video recording woes"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EGetting the audio right shouldn't be this hard...\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI've spent a considerable amount of time lately creating machine generated Morse code videos for copy practice.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI've created videos of the top 100 Words, 500 Words and today, the top 100 most common words in a QSO, at different speeds.\u0026nbsp; I'm machine generating rather than keying them by hand because I would make too many mistakes.\u0026nbsp; I do this through my \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/01\/quirky-keyer-mfj-493.html\"\u003Ememory keyer\u003C\/a\u003E connected to the computer via a terminal application and capture the text being sent along with the audio.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EGetting the audio right has been hard. When I record screen captures on my PC it wants the audio to be recorded at 44 kHz but when I transfer that to a Mac to use my video editing software, it expects the audio to be recorded it 48 kHz, and converting the audio in the video just doesn't work well.\u0026nbsp; I use an H2 USB mic for the recording.\u0026nbsp; If I set the mic and the PC screen capture software to 48 kHz I get no audio. So I have had to record at 44 kilohertz on the PC. I'm sure there's better screen capture software that could be used on the PC but I haven't been able to find it for free. I guess I'm too cheap.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis has caused my videos to have popping noises in the transferred audio. While I've tried to fix it during the editing process, it still sounds bad to me.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo, you may wonder why haven't I just recorded the videos on a Mac from the beginning rather than using a PC?\u0026nbsp; Well, I haven't been able to get the OSX terminal application to talk to my 1990's MFJ Super Memory keyer via the serial cable. For some reason my Mac doesn't have a driver for the usb dongle I used to talk to the old memory keyer but my PC does. I searched a bit more and found a non-free terminal application that will let me connect to this serial cable.\u0026nbsp; Now I connect from the Mac and capture the keyer output.\u0026nbsp; I'll spend hundreds of dollars on ham gear but ask me to shell out $30 for computer software and I balk.\u0026nbsp; And after all, I'm a software developer, shame on me.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo, starting today, my new videos should have improved audio and be at a higher resolution than previous videos recorded from the PC.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThese practice Morse code videos seem to be popular with folks, so I hope they're helping people. They're a lot of work but I guess they're worth it.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe width=\"320\" height=\"266\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/JskAldoROMM\/0.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JskAldoROMM?feature=player_embedded\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo lower your power, and raise your expectations\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard AA4OO\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003Ehttp:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/17426326751798375\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/12\/video-recording-woes.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/17426326751798375"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/17426326751798375"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/12\/video-recording-woes.html","title":"Video recording woes"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/JskAldoROMM\/default.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-3864428534538883953"},"published":{"$t":"2017-12-10T17:45:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-12-10T17:45:27.935-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"No love for CW in ARES \/ RACES"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003ECW - emergency communication ?\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWith the recent spate of natural disasters and dire warnings of impending doom, from terrorists and rogue nations alike, it got me to looking into my previous emergency ops participation.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWhen I was a newly minted amateur operator about a decade ago, I participated some in traffic nets and obtained FEMA certifications to participate in emergency operations.\u0026nbsp; At the time I had built my go-kit, consisting of battery powered FM 2m\/440 equipment and portable J-poles.\u0026nbsp; It even had wheels and a pull handle, very spiffy.\u0026nbsp; But I wasn't much concerned with CW.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-6Q-5_nq1c2A\/Wi2u0tpfy6I\/AAAAAAAAiF4\/EYb1kHOoEvI0HdvdN1phVEVn8oxwJAnmACLcBGAs\/s1600\/ares.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"660\" data-original-width=\"896\" height=\"235\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-6Q-5_nq1c2A\/Wi2u0tpfy6I\/AAAAAAAAiF4\/EYb1kHOoEvI0HdvdN1phVEVn8oxwJAnmACLcBGAs\/s320\/ares.PNG\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWith a re-kindled interest in QRP and CW operations, it got me to looking again at participation in emergency ops, and to my surprise there are few states that even list CW as a mode for emergency communication frequencies.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe following \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.idahoares.info\/resources_ares_frequencies.shtml\"\u003Etable\u003C\/a\u003E lists the only pre-approved ARES frequencies I can find, designated for CW.\u0026nbsp; There are 37 states missing from this list... If you live in a state other than those listed below;\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Eno CW emcomm for you buddy\u003C\/i\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003E\u003C!--td {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}--\u003E\u003C\/style\u003E\u003Ctable border=\"1\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" dir=\"ltr\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; border: none; font-family: arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; table-layout: fixed; width: 0px;\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xhtml\"\u003E\u003Ccolgroup\u003E\u003Ccol width=\"100\"\u003E\u003C\/col\u003E\u003Ccol width=\"100\"\u003E\u003C\/col\u003E\u003Ccol width=\"100\"\u003E\u003C\/col\u003E\u003Ccol width=\"100\"\u003E\u003C\/col\u003E\u003Ccol width=\"262\"\u003E\u003C\/col\u003E\u003C\/colgroup\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr style=\"height: 21px;\"\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;STATE\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: #ffffcc; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 6pt; font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top;\"\u003ESTATE\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;FREQUENCY\\nkHz\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: #ffffcc; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 6pt; font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top;\"\u003EFREQUENCY\u003Cbr \/\u003EkHz\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;MODE\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: #ffffcc; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 6pt; font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top;\"\u003EMODE\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;SECTION\\nDISTRICT\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: #ffffcc; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 6pt; font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top;\"\u003ESECTION\u003Cbr \/\u003EDISTRICT\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;DESCRIPTION\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: #ffffcc; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 6pt; font-weight: bold; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: top;\"\u003EDESCRIPTION\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr style=\"height: 21px;\"\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;AR\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003EAR\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-numberformat=\"[null,2,\u0026quot;#,##0.00\u0026quot;,1]\" data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:3,\u0026quot;3\u0026quot;:3570}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003E3,570.00\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;CW\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003ECW\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;MTN\/OZ, KCW Traffic NET\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003EMTN\/OZ, KCW Traffic NET\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr style=\"height: 21px;\"\u003E\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;CA\u0026quot;}\" rowspan=\"2\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"max-height: 42px;\"\u003ECA\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-numberformat=\"[null,2,\u0026quot;#,##0.00\u0026quot;,1]\" data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:3,\u0026quot;3\u0026quot;:7111}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003E7,111.00\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;CW\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003ECW\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;SAC\u0026quot;}\" rowspan=\"2\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"max-height: 42px;\"\u003ESAC\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;(UP) NTS\/ARES\/Traffic\/Calling, Daytime\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003E(UP) NTS\/ARES\/Traffic\/Calling, Daytime\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr style=\"height: 21px;\"\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-numberformat=\"[null,2,\u0026quot;#,##0.00\u0026quot;,1]\" data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:3,\u0026quot;3\u0026quot;:3711}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003E3,711.00\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;CW\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003ECW\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;(UP) Daytime\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003E(UP) Daytime\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr style=\"height: 21px;\"\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;LA\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003ELA\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-numberformat=\"[null,2,\u0026quot;#,##0.00\u0026quot;,1]\" data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:3,\u0026quot;3\u0026quot;:3673}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003E3,673.00\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;CW\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003ECW\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;LA\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003ELA\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;NET\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003ENET\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr style=\"height: 21px;\"\u003E\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;MI\u0026quot;}\" rowspan=\"3\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"max-height: 63px;\"\u003EMI\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-numberformat=\"[null,2,\u0026quot;#,##0.00\u0026quot;,1]\" data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:3,\u0026quot;3\u0026quot;:1812}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003E1,812.00\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;CW\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003ECW\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;MI\u0026quot;}\" rowspan=\"3\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"max-height: 63px;\"\u003EMI\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Alternate Emergency Frequency (Winter\/low flux)\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003EAlternate Emergency Frequency (Winter\/low flux)\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr style=\"height: 21px;\"\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-numberformat=\"[null,2,\u0026quot;#,##0.00\u0026quot;,1]\" data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:3,\u0026quot;3\u0026quot;:3563}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003E3,563.00\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;CW\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003ECW\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Emergency\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003EEmergency\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr style=\"height: 21px;\"\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-numberformat=\"[null,2,\u0026quot;#,##0.00\u0026quot;,1]\" data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:3,\u0026quot;3\u0026quot;:7068}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003E7,068.00\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;CW\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003ECW\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Alternate Emergency Frequency (Summer\/high flux)\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003EAlternate Emergency Frequency (Summer\/high flux)\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr style=\"height: 21px;\"\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;MN\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003EMN\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-numberformat=\"[null,2,\u0026quot;#,##0.00\u0026quot;,1]\" data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:3,\u0026quot;3\u0026quot;:3568}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003E3,568.00\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;CW\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003ECW\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;MN\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003EMN\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;ARES\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003EARES\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr style=\"height: 21px;\"\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;MS\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003EMS\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-numberformat=\"[null,2,\u0026quot;#,##0.00\u0026quot;,1]\" data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:3,\u0026quot;3\u0026quot;:3570}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003E3,570.00\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;CW\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003ECW\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;MS\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003EMS\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;MS\/AR CW Traffic Net\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003EMS\/AR CW Traffic Net\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr style=\"height: 21px;\"\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;NE\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003ENE\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-numberformat=\"[null,2,\u0026quot;#,##0.00\u0026quot;,1]\" data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:3,\u0026quot;3\u0026quot;:3540}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003E3,540.00\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;CW\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003ECW\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;NE\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003ENE\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Primary\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003EPrimary\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr style=\"height: 21px;\"\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;NM\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003ENM\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-numberformat=\"[null,2,\u0026quot;#,##0.00\u0026quot;,1]\" data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:3,\u0026quot;3\u0026quot;:3540}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003E3,540.00\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;CW\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003ECW\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;NM\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003ENM\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Primary\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003EPrimary\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr style=\"height: 21px;\"\u003E\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;NC\u0026quot;}\" rowspan=\"2\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"max-height: 42px;\"\u003ENC\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-numberformat=\"[null,2,\u0026quot;#,##0.00\u0026quot;,1]\" data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:3,\u0026quot;3\u0026quot;:3573}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003E3,573.00\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;CW\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003ECW\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;NC\u0026quot;}\" rowspan=\"2\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"max-height: 42px;\"\u003ENC\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Primary\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003EPrimary\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr style=\"height: 21px;\"\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-numberformat=\"[null,2,\u0026quot;#,##0.00\u0026quot;,1]\" data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:3,\u0026quot;3\u0026quot;:3571}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003E3,571.00\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;CW\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003ECW\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Alternate\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003EAlternate\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr style=\"height: 21px;\"\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;OH\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003EOH\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-numberformat=\"[null,2,\u0026quot;#,##0.00\u0026quot;,1]\" data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:3,\u0026quot;3\u0026quot;:3577}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003E3,577.00\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;CW\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003ECW\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;OH\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003EOH\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr style=\"height: 21px;\"\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;OR\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003EOR\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-numberformat=\"[null,2,\u0026quot;#,##0.00\u0026quot;,1]\" data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:3,\u0026quot;3\u0026quot;:3587}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003E3,587.00\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;CW\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003ECW\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;OR\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003EOR\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Daily 1830 and 2200 Oregon Section Net\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003EDaily 1830 and 2200 Oregon Section Net\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr style=\"height: 21px;\"\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;SD\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003ESD\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-numberformat=\"[null,2,\u0026quot;#,##0.00\u0026quot;,1]\" data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:3,\u0026quot;3\u0026quot;:3578}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003E3,578.00\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;CW\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003ECW\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;SD\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003ESD\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;net during an emergency\/drill\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003Enet during an emergency\/drill\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr style=\"height: 21px;\"\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;WI\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003EWI\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-numberformat=\"[null,2,\u0026quot;#,##0.00\u0026quot;,1]\" data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:3,\u0026quot;3\u0026quot;:3555}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003E3,555.00\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;CW\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003ECW\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;WI\u0026quot;}\" style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana; font-size: 7pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003EWI\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;\"\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EExcerpt from\u0026nbsp;http:\/\/www.idahoares.info\/resources_ares_frequencies.shtml\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;I looked in a number of ARES\/RACES sites listing nationwide frequencies and they appeared to have the same list\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EWhy no love for CW?\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI understand that CW is a slow mode of communication and not well represented by the amateur radio masses, but let's face it, CW has more efficiency at getting a signal through in marginal conditions than FM or SSB.\u0026nbsp; When a disaster strikes and the electrical grid is down for hundreds of miles and gasoline for running generators is short, you won't be operating QRO stations or have power to run computers for digital modes.\u0026nbsp; Powering a 12v battery with a solar panel may be your only option.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ECW's power density is superior to any non-digital mode.\u0026nbsp; A 5 watt CW signal packs as much punch\u0026nbsp; as 100 watt SSB and let's not even discuss the inefficiency of FM or AM.\u0026nbsp; In extended emergency conditions, using CW could mean the difference between getting a message through and not.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EOperating CW in Emergencies\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo if there were an extended emergency, shouldn't there be some fallback plan for use of low cost, easy to build and store XTAL controlled radios?\u0026nbsp; Many home-built XTAL controlled CW radios use QRP watering hole frequencies for their center frequency; 3560, 7030 and 14060 kHz.\u0026nbsp; Why not designate those frequencies using CW as standards for emergency communication?\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMaybe CW is sinking so far into obscurity in amateur radio, this sort of thinking doesn't enter the consciousness of those in charge, but I don't think it should.\u0026nbsp; Maybe CW clubs like FISTS and SKCC could partner with QRP clubs (who tend to be CW focused) to form a homespun group of emergency operators prepared to use CW when all else fails.\u0026nbsp; It might be fun to organize, and who knows, it could save a life, or reunite separated family members.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\/\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003E\u003C!--td {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}--\u003E\u003C\/style\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/3864428534538883953\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/12\/no-love-for-cw-in-ares-races.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/3864428534538883953"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/3864428534538883953"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/12\/no-love-for-cw-in-ares-races.html","title":"No love for CW in ARES \/ RACES"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-6Q-5_nq1c2A\/Wi2u0tpfy6I\/AAAAAAAAiF4\/EYb1kHOoEvI0HdvdN1phVEVn8oxwJAnmACLcBGAs\/s72-c\/ares.PNG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-7613842712847223917"},"published":{"$t":"2017-12-02T17:41:00.002-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-12-02T19:35:37.012-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Morse Chrome"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EChrome browser extension for Morse Code\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI'm always interested in finding new ways to practice my copy skills when away from the radio.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhile there's a growing number of mobile device apps for sending and practicing Morse Code, as well as excellent websites like www.lcwo.net, it's always fun to stumble upon a new one.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-3_i91tkFqHE\/WiMohnAkG4I\/AAAAAAAAh8g\/nyumSa_2xnk-BpGDshpKO2YyUQH96s6kgCLcBGAs\/s1600\/morse-chome-grab.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"898\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"358\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-3_i91tkFqHE\/WiMohnAkG4I\/AAAAAAAAh8g\/nyumSa_2xnk-BpGDshpKO2YyUQH96s6kgCLcBGAs\/s640\/morse-chome-grab.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/chrome.google.com\/webstore\/detail\/morse-chrome\/mcgjcnemliplogmakfelldipnhbpnmob?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMorse Chrome\u003C\/a\u003E is an extension for the Chrome web browser that allows you to select text on a web page, and send it as Morse Code.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAfter installing the extension, select text on a web site of your choice and right click (or in the case of a Macintosh, CTRL-click) and one of the options in the right-click dialog will be \"Play Morse\".\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIt will proceed to \u003Cb\u003Eplay\u003C\/b\u003E the selected text as Morse Code.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe speed and pitch can be managed from your Chrome Extension options for Morse Chrome\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-Rf8qpCKlXI0\/WiMpZBjs_NI\/AAAAAAAAh8o\/RB6w2zNXH2QpJgZe9FgbMdpVyrenV5H1gCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-12-02%2Bat%2B5.14.32%2BPM.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"268\" data-original-width=\"576\" height=\"186\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-Rf8qpCKlXI0\/WiMpZBjs_NI\/AAAAAAAAh8o\/RB6w2zNXH2QpJgZe9FgbMdpVyrenV5H1gCLcBGAs\/s400\/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-12-02%2Bat%2B5.14.32%2BPM.png\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe generated code sounds accurate to me but it is generated with a rather harsh ramp (possibly a pop) at the beginning of each element.\u0026nbsp; I've heard other computer generated Morse sound similar so it may simply be a problem with the the audio API in the browser.\u0026nbsp; I've played around with different pitch settings and can't reduce the pop. It may be better or worse on different computers.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe only real complaint I have is that I can't find a way to stop it from playing without closing the browser.\u0026nbsp; So if you select a rather large block of text you'll have to wait for it to finish sending before being able to select another selection, unless you exit and restart your browser.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EBut it's another tool in the arsenal of practicing Morse Code practice so I'm glad to have it.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\/\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/7613842712847223917\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/12\/morse-chrome.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/7613842712847223917"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/7613842712847223917"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/12\/morse-chrome.html","title":"Morse Chrome"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-3_i91tkFqHE\/WiMohnAkG4I\/AAAAAAAAh8g\/nyumSa_2xnk-BpGDshpKO2YyUQH96s6kgCLcBGAs\/s72-c\/morse-chome-grab.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-4388450122318341951"},"published":{"$t":"2017-11-26T17:07:00.002-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-11-26T17:20:48.733-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"CQ WW Contest"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EFT8 hasn't killed CW yet\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI'm not a contester but I enjoy listening to some amazing contestants pulling in those weak signals flying by at 30 wpm during CW contests.\u0026nbsp; Today is the last day of the...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 30px; font-weight: 400; margin: 10px 0px; text-align: center;\"\u003ECQ WW Contest\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-QTGOxPclpvE\/Whs3CBqEEmI\/AAAAAAAAhlQ\/yhwKDnUKgNsqgMQ7tRBtUu-vKXTDx5oMACLcBGAs\/s1600\/CW%2BDX%2BContest%2B40m.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"519\" data-original-width=\"1555\" height=\"212\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-QTGOxPclpvE\/Whs3CBqEEmI\/AAAAAAAAhlQ\/yhwKDnUKgNsqgMQ7tRBtUu-vKXTDx5oMACLcBGAs\/s640\/CW%2BDX%2BContest%2B40m.PNG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ELots of CW stations grabbing those final contacts of the contest\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI was listening via my \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/02\/spruce-up-basic-transceiver-with-sdr.html\"\u003ESDRPlay \u003C\/a\u003Econnected to a short piece of wire in my garage.\u0026nbsp; Even with this highly compromised \"antenna\" I was hearing wall-to-wall CW stations vying for a piece of the action.\u0026nbsp; I listened to W4SO and other big-gun stations, pulling in DX contacts one after another.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI'm looking forward to the day when my brain can decode call signs at that rate.\u0026nbsp; I need to spend more time wi\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/lcwo.net\/callsigns\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eth LCWO.net callsign trainer\u003C\/a\u003E...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-RXXFJavPsnY\/Whs600Ul1UI\/AAAAAAAAhlc\/kuss6S4ADlY1hpqbqGU8HhxwSbHz-0ScACLcBGAs\/s1600\/kwco%2Bcallsign%2Btraining.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"523\" data-original-width=\"814\" height=\"410\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-RXXFJavPsnY\/Whs600Ul1UI\/AAAAAAAAhlc\/kuss6S4ADlY1hpqbqGU8HhxwSbHz-0ScACLcBGAs\/s640\/kwco%2Bcallsign%2Btraining.PNG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003EThat's all for now...\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/4388450122318341951\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/11\/cq-ww-contest.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/4388450122318341951"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/4388450122318341951"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/11\/cq-ww-contest.html","title":"CQ WW Contest"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-QTGOxPclpvE\/Whs3CBqEEmI\/AAAAAAAAhlQ\/yhwKDnUKgNsqgMQ7tRBtUu-vKXTDx5oMACLcBGAs\/s72-c\/CW%2BDX%2BContest%2B40m.PNG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-2365914411169511423"},"published":{"$t":"2017-11-23T13:57:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-05-15T08:43:55.635-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"German Telegraph Key Junker M.T. Honnef\/Rh"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EUnfortunate name for a Great key\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe Junker is one of the finest telegraph keys ever manufactured.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIn 1926, engineer and marine captain Joseph Junker, founded a factory in Berlin which made equipment for radios and submarines. He was the creator of the Junker telegraph key.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAt the end of World War II, the factory was moved to Honnef\u0026nbsp; just before Joseph died in 1946.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-DNTgTNy_DDE\/Whb1R6aSFKI\/AAAAAAAAhbA\/nCoO9g-xeZgBf22TFt6zFBh79aQIg48vQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/DSCF3642.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1029\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"410\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-DNTgTNy_DDE\/Whb1R6aSFKI\/AAAAAAAAhbA\/nCoO9g-xeZgBf22TFt6zFBh79aQIg48vQCLcBGAs\/s640\/DSCF3642.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EGerman precision - Micrometer gap adjustment\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe phrase \"German precision\" is applicable here.\u0026nbsp; Historically, German engineers seem to go above and beyond what is minimally required for a design and often \"over-engineer\" their products.\u0026nbsp; This key is a perfect example.\u0026nbsp; The Junker excels in the precision of its construction, and may have the most controllable gap adjustment of any straight key in the world, resulting in the ability to send very clean CW.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-BbMdx4J09_Q\/Whb1UWoIDFI\/AAAAAAAAhbc\/vizp8Sef5owin_WZ65aZr935sx09dAJNQCEwYBhgL\/s1600\/DSCF3646.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"988\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"394\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-BbMdx4J09_Q\/Whb1UWoIDFI\/AAAAAAAAhbc\/vizp8Sef5owin_WZ65aZr935sx09dAJNQCEwYBhgL\/s640\/DSCF3646.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EBall-bearing plunger under the gap adjustment\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe knob at the rear of the key moves in precise clicks controlled by a ball bearing plunger under the knob, engaging small detents underneath the wheel.\u0026nbsp; Each click moves the gap one-tenth of a millimeter.\u0026nbsp; That is \"very\" precise.\u0026nbsp; \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-KvVhq2dm9RE\/Whhny7qBO_I\/AAAAAAAAhfw\/wRTKv8XcVOkwfTo0yYduefH-IEl6tBwDQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/MVIMG_20171124_110907.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"915\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"227\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-KvVhq2dm9RE\/Whhny7qBO_I\/AAAAAAAAhfw\/wRTKv8XcVOkwfTo0yYduefH-IEl6tBwDQCLcBGAs\/s400\/MVIMG_20171124_110907.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003Eclick stop gap adjustment\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EUnlike most straight keys when the gap is set at it's minimum it's calibrated to actually be a minimum gap and not allow the contacts to touch.\u0026nbsp; I don't have a feeler gauge thin enough to measure the gap but it's there.\u0026nbsp; It's so small, that I can't discern the lever actually moving when I operate the key, but it makes clean contact with zero mushiness and nearly effortless operation of the key.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-St8xHzsyen4\/WhhoSwVFrcI\/AAAAAAAAhf8\/5E9pu_VA4NosMqzwCSsREiyNIYLTZ3XxgCLcBGAs\/s1600\/MVIMG_20171124_110956.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-St8xHzsyen4\/WhhoSwVFrcI\/AAAAAAAAhf8\/5E9pu_VA4NosMqzwCSsREiyNIYLTZ3XxgCLcBGAs\/s400\/MVIMG_20171124_110956.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003Egap at 2-clicks\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe lever force, or tension adjustment is singular as well.\u0026nbsp; The smaller knob on the left trunnion base moves a cantilever under the base of the key that moves a plate under the lever spring.\u0026nbsp; So rather than compressing the spring from the top of the lever at it's narrowest, it is compressed smoothly from the base up into the lever.\u0026nbsp; Just amazing!\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESome Junkers came with an RF suppression coil comprised of a many turns of hand-wound, insulated wire tied into a tight loop and held with ties fitted up into a circular recess in the base of the key.\u0026nbsp; My key did not have the RF suppression coil, which is fine, since I am not operating a high-voltage keying circuit that might benefit from the coil.\u0026nbsp; I've read that some users have encountered problems due to the fine wire of the RF coil providing too much resistance and have bypassed it.\u0026nbsp; No need here.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-HjyFm2lqsFg\/WhhpaOcaz3I\/AAAAAAAAhgM\/UYuBPOBiE00A2cnX6UgXSVtsFpVH2-LNQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/MVIMG_20171124_110924.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1541\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-HjyFm2lqsFg\/WhhpaOcaz3I\/AAAAAAAAhgM\/UYuBPOBiE00A2cnX6UgXSVtsFpVH2-LNQCLcBGAs\/s640\/MVIMG_20171124_110924.jpg\" width=\"616\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003Eunder the base of the key, notice the armature for adjusting the lever tension.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EIn use\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMost straight keys I've used in the past two years employ a Navy-knob style grip that I've grown accustomed to.\u0026nbsp; The Junker has a lower (about 2.5\" above table), flat lever disc.\u0026nbsp; It's odd how used to the Navy style grip I've become.\u0026nbsp; I practiced for about 15 minutes trying various grips.\u0026nbsp; I still operate with my arm in free-space and I imagine with this key I'm supposed to rest my elbow on the desk but I don't have room for that at my station so I operate with the key at the edge of the desk.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAnyway, I settled for now on sort of a loose fist style grip where I'm resting the first knuckle of my middle finger on the dish of the key while lightly gripping the disc.\u0026nbsp; Seems to work and the more I operate the more comfortable I'm becoming with it.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe level of adjustment is truly amazing.\u0026nbsp; Being able to quickly change gap adjustment during a QSO to relieve fatigue or just try a different spacing, without messing around with a set nut, or worrying about actually closing the contact was novel, and fun.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EA bit of refinishing\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ENot being terribly enamored with the rough appearance of the old key I removed the aluminum corrosion from the cover and the heavy handed brushed paint from the base with a bit of light sanding, and sprayed it with hammered silver.\u0026nbsp; I also made a proper cable and plug for it.\u0026nbsp; Now it's fresh as a German daisy.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-QVczr5ctLJ0\/WhiCusyDHJI\/AAAAAAAAhhE\/8yJ4gQ1_GJ4XoRxEOS47wLnq-qOm1vLZACLcBGAs\/s1600\/MVIMG_20171124_152942.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"934\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"372\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-QVczr5ctLJ0\/WhiCusyDHJI\/AAAAAAAAhhE\/8yJ4gQ1_GJ4XoRxEOS47wLnq-qOm1vLZACLcBGAs\/s640\/MVIMG_20171124_152942.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EA re-spray has spruced it up\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EVideo\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe demonstration QSO below was my first contact using the Junker after a few minutes of practice.\u0026nbsp; I'm sending at about 17-18wpm.\u0026nbsp; After a couple more QSOs and bit more practice I was easily sending at 20wpm which is faster than I'm comfortably able to operate my other straight keys.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFollowing the introduction to the Junker is a full length QSO using the Junker on it's first Amateur radio QSO with W4PCA.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/uxkeZOzzhSI\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/uxkeZOzzhSI?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ECompared to my other favorite key, Navy Flameproof\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI'm looking forward to using this Junker and comparing it head-to-head with my \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/01\/in-navy-you-can-sail-seven-seas.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ENavy Flameproof\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp; Initial impressions between the Flameproof and the Junker give the nod to the Junker.\u0026nbsp; The Flameproof was previously the most controllable and precise straight key I owned but the Junker makes it feel mushy in comparison.\u0026nbsp; I do prefer the grip of the Navy, so time will tell whether I become as comfortable using the Junker as I am the Navy Flameproof.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations...\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/2365914411169511423\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/11\/german-telegraph-key-junker-mt-honnefrh.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/2365914411169511423"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/2365914411169511423"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/11\/german-telegraph-key-junker-mt-honnefrh.html","title":"German Telegraph Key Junker M.T. Honnef\/Rh"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-DNTgTNy_DDE\/Whb1R6aSFKI\/AAAAAAAAhbA\/nCoO9g-xeZgBf22TFt6zFBh79aQIg48vQCLcBGAs\/s72-c\/DSCF3642.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-2906883376232472417"},"published":{"$t":"2017-11-20T09:42:00.002-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-11-20T09:42:31.215-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"CW rhythm words"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EBENS BEST BENT WIRE\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EDue to the inherent rhythm in Morse Code, some stuff is just fun to hear.\u0026nbsp;If you swing your Bug a bit or don't have the most perfect 3:1 DAH-DIT element timing it can sound even more interesting.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe old timers all know this stuff but for those of us new(ish) to CW there are still these little gems we keep finding... like how sending the words \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBENS BEST BENT WIRE\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E sound in CW when they are all crammed together .\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIf you've never played around with rhythmic sounding words during your off-air practice just give it a whirl.\u0026nbsp; If you do it on a bug with a bit of liberal timing it can be even more fun.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;\"\u003EBENS BEST BENT WIRE\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"border-style: dashed; border-width: thin; padding: 6px; text-align: center; width: 350px;\"\u003E\u003Ctable\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Ca href=\"javascript:playpause();\" id=\"playbutton\" style=\"background-color: #dddddd; border-style: outset; border-width: 4px; color: black; font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;arial\u0026quot;; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;\"\u003EPlay \/ Pause\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E \u003Ctd\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Caudio autobuffer=\"\" controls=\"\" id=\"lcwoplayer\" style=\"height: 28px; width: 200px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Csource src=\"http:\/\/cgi2.lcwo.net\/cgi-bin\/cw.mp3?s=20\u0026amp;e=20\u0026amp;f=620\u0026amp;t=bensbestbentwire \" type=\"audio\/mp3\"\u003E\u003C\/source\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Csource src=\"http:\/\/cgi2.lcwo.net\/cgi-bin\/cw.ogg?s=20\u0026amp;e=20\u0026amp;f=620\u0026amp;t=bensbestbentwire \" type=\"audio\/ogg\"\u003E\u003C\/source\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHTML5 Audio tag not supported :-( \u003C\/audio\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/lcwo.net\/\" style=\"color: black; font-size: 10px;\"\u003ELearn CW Online - LCWO.net\u003C\/a\u003E - \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/lcwo.net\/text2cw\" style=\"color: black; font-size: 10px;\"\u003EText to Morse Converter\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cscript\u003Efunction playpause() { var p = document.getElementById('lcwoplayer'); if (p.paused) { p.play(); } else { p.pause(); } } \u003C\/script\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo play around with it and if you have other interesting sounding texts in CW please comment or email them to me.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe width=\"320\" height=\"266\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/Urxdjy0780g\/0.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Urxdjy0780g?feature=player_embedded\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThat's all for now...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E72\/73\u003Cbr \/\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/2906883376232472417\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/11\/cw-rhythm-words.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/2906883376232472417"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/2906883376232472417"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/11\/cw-rhythm-words.html","title":"CW rhythm words"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/Urxdjy0780g\/default.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-7488440293100662565"},"published":{"$t":"2017-11-14T21:15:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-11-14T21:23:26.923-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Thank you for my signal report"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E3 numbers can mean a lot\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-oWHb15XEIGs\/WguhR_xDOlI\/AAAAAAAAhEg\/-zi8ENCFk1UVge2CYJtUPhTdR1xILdQmgCLcBGAs\/s1600\/hny-8.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"949\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"189\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-oWHb15XEIGs\/WguhR_xDOlI\/AAAAAAAAhEg\/-zi8ENCFk1UVge2CYJtUPhTdR1xILdQmgCLcBGAs\/s320\/hny-8.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EQRP operators strive to make the most out of a little.\u0026nbsp; So when we receive a signal report it means a lot to us.\u0026nbsp; But the common signal report, given using the R-S-T System, seems often to be misunderstood by some amateur radio operators.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERST has 3 elements:\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ER \u003C\/b\u003Estands for Readability.\u0026nbsp; How easy or difficult is it to copy the characters or words being sent on a scale from 1 to 5, with 1 meaning unreadable ranging up to 5 meaning perfectly copy-able.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ES \u003C\/b\u003Estands for Signal Strength.\u0026nbsp; How \u003Ci\u003Estrong\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;is the signal on a scale from 1 to 9, with 1 being barely perceptible up to 9, being extremely strong.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ET \u003C\/b\u003Estands for Tone.\u0026nbsp; This is only used to describe a CW signal's tone.\u0026nbsp; Given modern transceivers there are few cases where you'd send anything other than a 9 meaning perfect tone, devoid of ripple or modulation. You'll rarely hear a report with a Tone report other than 9, but if you hear ripple or modulation artifacts you may send lower numbers but it will likely just confuse the other operator.\u0026nbsp; If you hear chirp (a rising or falling tone) you may wish to append a 'C' to the RST to indicate that.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI want to concentrate on Readability and Signal strength.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EReadability\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI believe most of us are guilty of focusing on the signal strength portion of the report rather than readability.\u0026nbsp; But readability can convey a lot to the operator receiving the report.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EFor instance if you have a lot of local noise or if the band is noisy due to magnetic disturbance or there's QRM or QRN readability may be difficult.\u0026nbsp; Similarly, if the operator is using poor technique and running letters or words together that affects readability.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIt's possible that signal strength may be good or even moderately strong (6 or 7) but for some reason copy is difficult.\u0026nbsp; It would be worthwhile to send a 2 (Barely readable, occasional words distinguishable) or a 3 (Readable with considerable difficulty) for the 'R' portion of the signal report as in 359.\u0026nbsp; Then follow up with WITH QRM or WITH POOR SPACING, to make the other operator aware that you're having trouble copying.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI will occasionally have an operator send me a 3 for R but it seems to always be related to low signal strength.\u0026nbsp; If someone sends you a 3 or a 4 and it's not followed by an equally low signal strength number inquire as to the difficulty in readability.\u0026nbsp; It may be something you can correct on your end.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ESignal\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESignal seems obvious but it's not.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI believe that many operators use the reading on their S-meter to report the Signal strength but different manufacturers calibrate their S-meters quite differently. The difference between S-units is supposed to be 6 dB but that's often not the case.\u0026nbsp; On many rigs the use of the preamp or the attenuator also effects the displayed S-meter reading.\u0026nbsp; So the S-meter is not an accurate reflection of what Signal strength is supposed to convey.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMy old Ten-Tec Century\/21 doesn't even have an S-meter.\u0026nbsp; Neither do my homebuilt QRP radios.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo, what should we be using?\u0026nbsp; Well how about the actual meaning of the system:\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Col\u003E\u003Cli\u003EFaint—signals barely perceptible\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EVery weak signals\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EWeak signals\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EFair signals\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EFairly good signals\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EGood signals\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EModerately strong signals\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EStrong signals\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EExtremely strong signals\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ol\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EObviously this is a subjective report, but on my KX3 my S-meter may read 2 when the signal actually sounds Good (6), so I send a 6 even though the meter reads 2.\u0026nbsp; If I were to send the other station the S-meter reading of 2 they'd assume I'm barely copying them, because I sent them a 529.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI think you can start to see the point.\u0026nbsp; Use the system as it was designed, before radios had S-meters and the Signal report will have more meaning to the station receiving the report.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMy Ten-Tec C21 doesn't have an S-meter but it does have AF and RF gain controls.\u0026nbsp; I will commonly run my AF gain at a high level and use the RF gain to control the volume of the received signal.\u0026nbsp; This increases the SNR (signal to noise) and gives me a relative gauge of how strong the sender is.\u0026nbsp; If I have my RF gain turned all the way down and still clearly hear the other station they have an extremely strong signal (9).\u0026nbsp; If I have to turn my RF gain all the way up just to copy then the signal is very weak, or faint (2 or 1).\u0026nbsp; In between those extremes I offer a relative report based on the signal strength\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003E\u0026nbsp;I\u0026nbsp; \u003C\/i\u003Eam hearing.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ESo, use the system as it was intended\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo, reconsider how you give a signal report.\u0026nbsp; Think about the original intent of the R-S-T System and you'll be conveying far more information in your report that may help the other station know for certain how they are being heard.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI start most QSOs at QRP levels.\u0026nbsp; If the other station sends me a report that is below a 5 in readability or a signal strength 5 or below I change antennas or raise power, if I'm able, to make their copy of my station more pleasurable, but if they send me a 599 when they are barely copying me or losing me in QSB then how can I know to make a change?\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMaybe this is a radical idea but for my own operation I will strive to start sending more accurate reports and help the other station truly know how they are being copied.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/7488440293100662565\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/11\/thank-you-for-my-signal-report.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/7488440293100662565"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/7488440293100662565"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/11\/thank-you-for-my-signal-report.html","title":"Thank you for my signal report"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-oWHb15XEIGs\/WguhR_xDOlI\/AAAAAAAAhEg\/-zi8ENCFk1UVge2CYJtUPhTdR1xILdQmgCLcBGAs\/s72-c\/hny-8.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-8452845441261983143"},"published":{"$t":"2017-11-12T18:38:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-11-12T18:38:07.910-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The top 100 word practice"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003ELearn the words to learn the language\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ELearning the characters of Morse Code is just the start.\u0026nbsp; Letters make up the words, but words make up the language.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI practice copying random words in morse code regularly.\u0026nbsp; Along with actually getting on the air and having QSOs it's a crucial to learn common words in order to be comfortable copying ragchews, outside of standard exchanges.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EVideos\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe following videos contain the top 100\u0026nbsp; English words along with the text of the words at different speeds up to 38 wpm.\u0026nbsp; At the higher speeds you will find that the characters disappear and you begin to only hear words.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI hope you find this instructive.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe width=\"320\" height=\"266\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/m6JVPQJOfrc\/0.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/m6JVPQJOfrc?feature=player_embedded\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E15 WPM\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe width=\"320\" height=\"266\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/adQnv8LRb00\/0.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/adQnv8LRb00?feature=player_embedded\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E20 WPM\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe width=\"320\" height=\"266\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/j_39X3w947c\/0.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/j_39X3w947c?feature=player_embedded\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E25 WPM\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe width=\"320\" height=\"266\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/zceZ2-6TDdc\/0.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/zceZ2-6TDdc?feature=player_embedded\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E38 WPM -- Rock On!\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThat's all for now...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E72\/73\u003Cbr \/\u003ERichard AA4OO\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/8452845441261983143\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/11\/the-top-100-word-practice.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/8452845441261983143"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/8452845441261983143"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/11\/the-top-100-word-practice.html","title":"The top 100 word practice"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/m6JVPQJOfrc\/default.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-5170572752284529067"},"published":{"$t":"2017-11-12T17:27:00.002-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-11-12T17:27:21.493-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Novice Morse proficiency exam practice"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003ETime warp - Simulated Novice FCC exam\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIn the past couple of years my copy speed has increased to the point where I'm able to have QSO’S at 25 wpm, but I still remember when 5 wpm was a struggle.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMy keyer dates back to when morse code proficiency exams were still a thing to study for and my MFJ-493 keyer has a FCC Exam Simulator mode.\u0026nbsp; I set the speed to 17 wpm with a Farnsworth spacing of 5 wpm and let it rip.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis was painfully slow to listen to, but a little over 2 years ago when I rebooted my Morse Code learning for using QRP I would have struggled to copy it. So I'm posting a video with the simulated exam and for those of you new to studying morse code or just feel stuck, you may wish to use this for practice.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI've included the real time text sent in the video so you can check yourself or see what you've missed.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIf you're still working to copy 5wpm be encouraged that with practice your speed will improve.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe width=\"320\" height=\"266\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/pteBFEjLCaw\/0.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/pteBFEjLCaw?feature=player_embedded\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003ESimulated Novice Proficiency Test\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThat's all for now...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E72\/73\u003Cbr \/\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/5170572752284529067\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/11\/novice-morse-proficiency-exam-practice.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/5170572752284529067"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/5170572752284529067"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/11\/novice-morse-proficiency-exam-practice.html","title":"Novice Morse proficiency exam practice"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/pteBFEjLCaw\/default.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-1640987528079781619"},"published":{"$t":"2017-11-02T20:54:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-11-02T21:02:56.311-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"2B Radio Parts replacement bumpers for Vibroplex keys"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ERubber baby buggy bumpers\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESometimes I needlessly struggle with a problem because I'm cheap.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EMy Vibroplex Vibrokeyer was manufactured in 1960.\u0026nbsp; My Vibroplex Bug was manufactured in the mid 1970s.\u0026nbsp; In both cases the once flexible, non-skid rubber feet have since turned to hardened rubber fossils. In order to use the keys without them skating all over the desk I employ a variety of non-skid solutions, except for the obvious.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EFor some reason I seem to have to move stuff on my desk all the time.\u0026nbsp; I guess I'm never content and constantly reorganize the station and accessories.\u0026nbsp; Inevitably I misplace a rubber mat or some rubberized shelf liner sticks out from under a key in an unsightly manner.\u0026nbsp;In general it makes the station look shoddy.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-EjuYignQIxg\/Wfu0CNkRdBI\/AAAAAAAAgmg\/djkwkXLHiao2PY8_WJkxBe5BGCU_Hg2UgCLcBGAs\/s1600\/IMG_20171101_213252063.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-EjuYignQIxg\/Wfu0CNkRdBI\/AAAAAAAAgmg\/djkwkXLHiao2PY8_WJkxBe5BGCU_Hg2UgCLcBGAs\/s640\/IMG_20171101_213252063.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EFossil feet on a 1960 Vibroplex Vibrokeyer\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EBring out the buggy bumpers\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EEnter '\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.2bradioparts.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E2B Radio Parts\u003C\/a\u003E'.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E2B Radio Parts, provide replacement parts for Bugs, paddles for various makes of keys.\u0026nbsp; I ordered Replacement Vibroplex \u003Cb\u003EBumpers\u003C\/b\u003E (6 \u003Cb\u003EBumper\u003C\/b\u003E Pack).\u0026nbsp; I wasn't aware the 'feet' were called 'bumpers', but there you have it... I have new rubber baby buggy bumpers for my bug and vibrokeyer.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-s9Bn6SDFy-0\/Wfu3PBX3oRI\/AAAAAAAAgms\/2fZbShqOAJQfmDVyC8YHa3vaTMoNxavFQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/IMG_20171101_220801.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"976\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"195\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-s9Bn6SDFy-0\/Wfu3PBX3oRI\/AAAAAAAAgms\/2fZbShqOAJQfmDVyC8YHa3vaTMoNxavFQCLcBGAs\/s320\/IMG_20171101_220801.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe 6 bumper pack replaced the feet on both keys.\u0026nbsp; In case you never noticed, many keys, including those made by Vibroplex, have 3 feet rather than 4.\u0026nbsp; It keeps the key from rocking on a surface that isn't entirely level or flat.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EParts is Parts\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe replacement feet... err... bumpers from 2B, fit fine. They were nearly an exact match for the old feet on the 1970s bug but were a smidge taller and slightly different design than those on the 1960 Vibrokeyer.\u0026nbsp; The older key had a chambered, internal design that I'd guess had a bit more cushion back when it was new.\u0026nbsp; 57 years later, the rubber foot is a brittle relic of its former self.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-uUTjDZVC2ec\/Wfu305pyfLI\/AAAAAAAAgm0\/eCNhuCi6IvIUYeRTLVCF1yP9IQeUIbjtwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/IMG_20171101_220452.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1040\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"416\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-uUTjDZVC2ec\/Wfu305pyfLI\/AAAAAAAAgm0\/eCNhuCi6IvIUYeRTLVCF1yP9IQeUIbjtwCLcBGAs\/s640\/IMG_20171101_220452.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003Enew bumper left, 1960 Vibrokeyer bumper right\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-whSwBD70ruM\/Wfu4mR-GZWI\/AAAAAAAAgnA\/NoP-7gIDf2gIP9qP2DgRCQqJnzmPu5QzwCEwYBhgL\/s1600\/IMG_20171101_220628.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1243\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"496\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-whSwBD70ruM\/Wfu4mR-GZWI\/AAAAAAAAgnA\/NoP-7gIDf2gIP9qP2DgRCQqJnzmPu5QzwCEwYBhgL\/s640\/IMG_20171101_220628.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003Enew bumper left, 1960 Vibrokeyer bumper right\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAhhh, no more slip siding away\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe old feet are simply held on by countersunk machine screws and the receiving holes in the new bumpers fit without a hitch.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-MWeogs3JIQk\/Wfu6GtWF7AI\/AAAAAAAAgnM\/fHe9xL1QafQo0SMXuHZP0BhYrPeCueIDwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/IMG_20171101_214038715.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-MWeogs3JIQk\/Wfu6GtWF7AI\/AAAAAAAAgnM\/fHe9xL1QafQo0SMXuHZP0BhYrPeCueIDwCLcBGAs\/s640\/IMG_20171101_214038715.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EShod with new boots, shoes, feet, bumpers, whatever\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-XlLWz32gTSI\/Wfu_5EsWFNI\/AAAAAAAAgnc\/KDBhYuplyhgGCoiTwwEkXfHi247JhyUVgCLcBGAs\/s1600\/IMG_20171101_214649265.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-XlLWz32gTSI\/Wfu_5EsWFNI\/AAAAAAAAgnc\/KDBhYuplyhgGCoiTwwEkXfHi247JhyUVgCLcBGAs\/s640\/IMG_20171101_214649265.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EMy Vibroplex Bug has a more solid disposition as well now\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;\"\u003EThe moral of the story is stop being cheap and buy some new feet!\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThat's all for now...\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EP.S.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Oh, speaking of which (lowering your power and raising expectations)... I was sending out my call on 7030 unsuccessfully a couple nights ago, for about 10 minutes.\u0026nbsp; I was using my TenTec Century\/21 at 5 watts QRP and getting lousy spots on RBN (6 to 9dB SNR).\u0026nbsp; I decided to keep sending CQ a couple more minutes and was finally answered by S51MF, Franz in Slovenia, 4700 miles away.\u0026nbsp; You just never know what your QRP signal is going to net you.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E72\/73\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\/\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/1640987528079781619\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/11\/2b-radio-parts-replacement-bumpers-for.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/1640987528079781619"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/1640987528079781619"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/11\/2b-radio-parts-replacement-bumpers-for.html","title":"2B Radio Parts replacement bumpers for Vibroplex keys"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-EjuYignQIxg\/Wfu0CNkRdBI\/AAAAAAAAgmg\/djkwkXLHiao2PY8_WJkxBe5BGCU_Hg2UgCLcBGAs\/s72-c\/IMG_20171101_213252063.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-1464281023128611023"},"published":{"$t":"2017-10-22T12:27:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-11-03T06:38:01.851-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Squeeze Keying - Iambic mode operation"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI\u003Cspan style=\"color: red;\"\u003EA\u003C\/span\u003EM\u003Cspan style=\"color: red;\"\u003EB\u003C\/span\u003EIC modes of electronic keying\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIambic mode keying occurs when you squeeze dual lever paddles, and then release both paddles simultaneously.\u0026nbsp; If the keyer is in mode A, it will finish sending the current element (dit or dah), and then stop. If the keyer is in mode B, it will finish sending the current element, then send another element, and stop.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;\"\u003EElectronic keyers provide Iambic modes to allow for fewer strokes while keying, thus improving keying efficiency\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EMode B requires fewer strokes than Mode A\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EYou can stop reading now, if you'd like.\u0026nbsp; The remainder is just me prattling on.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-cRWNaTfY15Q\/Wey2GuO95EI\/AAAAAAAAgfI\/3GHxoyYUEaoK_YEmQ9Ip3EAQzsmtE-TjwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/iambic%2B%25281%2Bof%2B1%2529.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"675\" data-original-width=\"1243\" height=\"347\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-cRWNaTfY15Q\/Wey2GuO95EI\/AAAAAAAAgfI\/3GHxoyYUEaoK_YEmQ9Ip3EAQzsmtE-TjwCLcBGAs\/s640\/iambic%2B%25281%2Bof%2B1%2529.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EIambic?\u003C\/h3\u003EIambic modes were a mystery when I began learning the code.\u0026nbsp; My first transceiver defaulted to Mode A and I had Bencher paddles so I got used to squeeze keying a bit but only in Mode A.\u0026nbsp; When I got my TenTec Eagle, its internal keyer only supported Mode B and that totally screwed me up.\u0026nbsp; I didn't know what was going on and thought something was wrong with the radio.\u0026nbsp; I ended up using my old \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/11\/can-straight-key-really-coexist-with.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EHamKeyer external keyer\u003C\/a\u003E with the TenTec Eagle rather than figure out Iambic mode B.\u0026nbsp; But, as with most things in this hobby, I eventually decided I wanted to understand what the Iambic modes were about and how to use them.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIambic refers to a pattern of syllables, typically in a line of poetry.\u0026nbsp; There are various \"meters\" that describe different syllabic patterns.\u0026nbsp; Iambic is a pattern that has a short sound followed by a long sound, as in \u003Cb\u003EdeDUM\u003C\/b\u003E or\u0026nbsp;\u003Cb\u003EditDAH\u003C\/b\u003E. If you've ever used a CW dual paddle key with an electronic keyer and squeeze the paddles you'll be greeted with\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003Cb\u003EditDAH\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cb\u003EditDAH\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cb\u003EditDAH\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cb\u003EditDAH\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cb\u003EditDAH ...\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp; Aha! Iambic meter.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIambic keying saves strokes.\u0026nbsp; Comparing the number of strokes necessary to key all letters of the alphabet and all digits with different keys and keyers yields the following result, provided the operator is consistently squeezing with twin-lever keyers:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;straight key\u0026nbsp; 132\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026nbsp;semi-automatic \"bug\" key\u0026nbsp; 100\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026nbsp;single-lever keyer\u0026nbsp; 73\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026nbsp;iambic keyer\u0026nbsp; 65\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Caudio controls=\"\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Csource src=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/site\/hamradioqrpfiles\/cw-files\/iambic-pattern.mp3\"\u003E\u003C\/source\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIf you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/audio\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EIambic Paddles?\u003C\/h3\u003EUnless you like to practice sending Walt Whitman poems, there's not much direct relationship between \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/93cxZrLp3yc\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eham radio and poetry\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp; But I've read CW operators referring to Iambic \"paddles\" or advertising an \"Iambic paddle\".... Well, I'll argue there's no such thing as an Iambic paddle because a paddle by itself whether it is a single lever paddle or dual lever cannot make an Iambic pattern on it's own.\u0026nbsp; A paddle is only half a CW key, it needs a keyer, and the code in the keyer is what makes Iambic possible!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhew! Alright, I got that off my chest. I'm not sure what get's me so worked up about this sort of \"yes it matters\" things... I blame being locked in the basement as a child, but that's fodder for another blog post...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EIambic keying requires a dual-lever paddle and an electronic keyer\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EOk, back on topic; a \u003Cb\u003Edual lever paddle\u003C\/b\u003E \u003Ci\u003Ecan be\u0026nbsp;used with\u003C\/i\u003E \u003Ci\u003Ean electronic electronic keyer\u003C\/i\u003E, that supports Iambic mode(s).\u0026nbsp; A \u003Cb\u003Esingle lever paddle\u003C\/b\u003E when used with an electronic keyer cannot make use of Iambic mode, so called, squeeze keying modes.\u0026nbsp; So when we talk about using a paddle with an electronic keyer for Iambic mode keying we are referring to a dual-lever paddle connected to an electronic keyer (or the electronic keyer circuit built into a transceiver).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-1FA-gvzvneQ\/WIPQpBwNy-I\/AAAAAAAAdGk\/I73qXnTNGrI-BSUybykotVMWZNnx15jnQCPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/mfj-493-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1228\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"490\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-1FA-gvzvneQ\/WIPQpBwNy-I\/AAAAAAAAdGk\/I73qXnTNGrI-BSUybykotVMWZNnx15jnQCPcBGAYYCw\/s640\/mfj-493-2.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EA two lever paddle is required because the Iambic modes of the keyer are employed while both levers are pressed and released at the same time.\u0026nbsp; What happens when both levers are released simultaneously depends on the Mode that the keyer is using.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-eT7recazR4I\/VtmkA4kTp9I\/AAAAAAAAYvc\/qs9gB3q3Q9c35CMFgsCiOSq--p1LQLnPACPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/AA4OO%2BZN-QRP.1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"390\" data-original-width=\"520\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-eT7recazR4I\/VtmkA4kTp9I\/AAAAAAAAYvc\/qs9gB3q3Q9c35CMFgsCiOSq--p1LQLnPACPcBGAYYCw\/s1600\/AA4OO%2BZN-QRP.1.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EA dual lever paddle\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EThe Modes only matter when the paddles are squeezed and released together\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe difference in the two modes only matters when you release both paddles simultaneously.\u0026nbsp; So if you never release both paddles together, you won’t see a a difference.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EMode A -- The keyer will complete the element being sent (either a dit or a dah) when the paddles are released\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EMode B -- The keyer sends an additional element when the paddles are released\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EYou can avoid Iambic Modes altogether\u003C\/h3\u003EYou can avoid interaction of either Iambic mode if you release each paddle as it finishes its final element rather than releasing them together.\u0026nbsp; For example with the letter \"C\", DAHditDAHdit, release the DAH paddle during the final DAH, and release the dit paddle during the final dit.\u0026nbsp; For a letter ending in DAH like \"A\", ditDAH, release the dit paddle during the final dit, and then release the DAH paddle during the final DAH.\u0026nbsp; This will produce the correct code whether the keyer is in Iambic mode A or B.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EVideo\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe following video shows the different modes in action...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/6R4t3Wq1Gic\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/6R4t3Wq1Gic?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ETo Squeeze or Not to Squeeze? That is the question\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EOk, I'll admit squeeze keying allows you to send kinda lazy, and it's cool when you demonstrate CW to someone how little motion you can use with paddles compared to a straight key.\u0026nbsp; However, there are numerous articles out there for and against squeeze keying, and I think they both make good points but some proponents of each treat it as a somewhat religious doctrine and I just can't get that serious about it.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EPersonally I enjoy squeeze keying when I'm sending at 20 words per minute or less because it's relaxing and is a bit nerdy to let the keyer do a dit of extra work for me now and again (see what I did there).\u0026nbsp; But I start making more mistakes as the speed increases past 23 wpm and I absolutely can't squeeze-key above 27 wpm.\u0026nbsp; I have trouble using a dual paddle above 25wpm because I accidentally squeeze key when I shouldn't and Iambic stuff occurs accidentally.\u0026nbsp; I could likely improve with practice, but higher speeds are easier for me with my Bug or a single paddle key so I haven't really tried to speed up using dual paddles.\u0026nbsp; For now it's not much of an issue because I rarely QSO above 23wpm.\u0026nbsp; I only key above 25wpm when working a DX station and it's such brief bursts that I just use my bug or send my \"5NN TU dit dit\" using a keyer macro.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EHistory of Keyers and modes\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThe following excerpt is used by permission of Karl Fischer, DJ5IL.\u0026nbsp; Karl has written an excellent article entitled \"All about Squeeze-Keying\" available in its entirety at:\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp; \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cq-cq.eu\/\"\u003Ewww.cq-cq.eu\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIn 1951 an electronic single-lever key was described\u003Csup\u003E1\u003C\/sup\u003E which used 5 tubes to send self-completing dot- and dash-elements with automatic spacing between letters and words. But its continuously running time-base resulted in an uncontrollable beast so that the author himself wrote he does \"not feel that any but the most feverish electronic key enthusiasts will wish to build one of these infernal, maddening machines\", but nevertheless he hoped that the idea might provide an inspiration for further development.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EJohn Kaye, W6SRY, accepted that challenge and came up with a rather ingenious design which he published\u003Csup\u003E2\u003C\/sup\u003E as the Ultimatickey in QST magazine in 1953 . The circuit is based on 3 tubes and 7 relays and sticks to the basic idea of a continuously running time-base, which is the only weak spot of his design: pulses from the time-base trigger the generation of dot and dash-elements, and so they do not start immediately with the closure of a key contact but only with the next pulse. By addition of dot\/dash-memories he avoids dropping of leading elements and transforms the beast into a beauty: once a contact of the singlelever key has been closed, that closure is retained by a memory-relay contact parallel with the key contact and the associated dot- or dash-element is properly generated as soon as the trigger pulse arrives, even if that key contact is open again or the opposite key contact is closed by then. The dot\/dash-memory relays are reset and their contacts opened by the closing contacts of the associated dot\/dash-generator relays. The dot\/dash-memories are independent of each other and because a dot and dash often are rapidly stored together before keying starts, a sequencing circuit retains the proper order in which the dot\/dash-generators are initiated.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis combination of independent dot\/dash memories which not only avoid dropping of leading elements but also provide tremendous timing leeway with sequencing allows the storage not only of a single dot or dash but of a whole dot + dash or dash + dot sequence. While this initial design still used a single key lever, his next version\u003Csup\u003E3\u003C\/sup\u003E which appeared in 1955 was the first twin-lever electronic keyer and ancestor of the modern squeeze-keyers which we use today, and it is this key’s action that gave the \"ultimatic\" mode its name. The circuit is based on 11 tubes and only one relay and the time-base, memory and sequencer are functionally identical to the first version. But because contrary to a single-lever both contacts of a twin-lever key can be closed at the same time, a seizure circuitry was added: whenever a lever makes contact, it seizes control and the subsequent elements correspond to that lever until the other lever makes contact or the lever is released.\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhile one lever contact is closed the twinlever Ultimatic generates a string of dot- or dash elements,\u003Cbr \/\u003Eexactly like any single-lever keyer does. However, when the levers are squeezed so that both contacts are closed, it generates a string of elements from whichever lever was pressed last. So any closure of a lever contact guarantees at least one element of that type, generated in correct relationship to the order of closure.\u0026nbsp; This key can be attacked as if it were a semi-automatic (bug) key or a single-lever electronic keyer or with any intermediate technique. And at that time it was considered the \"ultimate\" key because it sent perfect code without the need for the operator to send it perfectly, or in the words of W6SRY \"a key that gives Klein output with Lake Erie input. It does everything for the operator\u003Cbr \/\u003Ebut spell and punctuate\" (alluding to the characteristic \"Lake Erie swing\" of some bug operators).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe vast majority of today's electronic twinlever Morse code keyers operates in iambic mode, derived from the iambus which is a metrical foot in poetry with alternating short and long syllables like \"dah-di-dah-di-dah\". In 1967 Harry Gensler Jr., K8OCO, described\u003Csup\u003E5\u003C\/sup\u003E his Iambimatic keying concept together with an adapter for the Hallicrafters HA-1 single-lever keyer in QST magazine. Pressing one\u003Cbr \/\u003Elever generates a string of dot- or dash-elements only, exactly as in ultimatic mode - but contrary to that, squeezing both levers generates a string of alternating dot- and dash-elements with the\u0026nbsp; commencing element corresponding to the lever which was hit first. So basic iambic keying with self-completing dots and dashes can be generated by executing this simple set of instructions: poll both levers alternately, if the lever is pressed generate the corresponding element and continue polling. The iambic mode is most effective for characters with alternating elements. All characters of the alphabet, except for the \"P\" and \"X\", and all digits can be generated with less than three strokes. However, only the \"C\" needs less strokes than in ultimatic mode.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch4\u003Ethe Curtis-keyer (came to be called Mode A)\u003C\/h4\u003EThe first iambic keyer EK-38 by John Curtis, K6KU, which appeared on the market in 1969, already\u003Cbr \/\u003Eextended that basic iambic logic by a dot-memory. As we already know, this feature was originally developed by W6SRY, but his very ambitious Ultimatic key did not gain too much popularity. Then it was reinvented by Dave Muir, W2YVO, who recognized the problem of dropping single embedded or final dots e.g. in letters like \"K\" or \"G\" because the operator is too quick (continuously running time-bases were outdated and hence dropping of leading elements was no more a problem) and who filled the gap between simple circuits and the Ultimatic with his Penultimatic single-lever electronic keyer described\u003Csup\u003E6\u003C\/sup\u003E 1962 in QST. And because it is more likely to press and release the short dot too early during the long dash than the long dash during the short dot, the first Curtis-keyer had a dot-memory only but no dash-memory exactly like the single-lever keyer by W2YVO. In 1973 John Curtis brought out the 8043 CMOS chip, the first integrated-circuit iambic keyer with dot-memory.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch4\u003Ethe Accu-keyer (came to be called Mode B)\u003C\/h4\u003EThe Accu-keyer by James Garrett, WB4VVF, featuring dot- and dash-memory as well as automatic\u003Cbr \/\u003Echaracter spacing, was published\u003Csup\u003E7\u003C\/sup\u003E in QST magazine shortly after John Curtis' 8043 chip appeared. The behaviour of the Accu-keyer can be described by the basic iambic set of instructions together with the following dot\/dash-memory rule: if anytime during generation of an element the alternate lever was pressed, generate an extra alternate element. So neglecting the fact that the Accu-keyer has both dot and dash-memory, the only procedural difference is that it just remembers a state \"pressed\" of both levers while the Curtis-keyer remembers a change of state or a transient \"from unpressed to pressed\" of the dotlever during the generation of an opposite element, and if that happened both keyers generate an extra alternate element.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch4\u003Eiambic type \"A\" and \"B\"\u003C\/h4\u003EIn 1975 the 8044 chip was introduced by John Curtis, an improved version of the 8043 with dot- and\u003Cbr \/\u003Edash-memory. At that time most telegraphy operators already used iambic keyers - but scarcely anybody in basic iambic mode without dot\/dash-memory, because neither the Curtis-keyer nor the Accu-keyer allowed to disable that feature. So over the years two schools of iambic keying developed, differing only in the dot\/dash-memory logic which the operators initially learned but rarely scrutinized or even changed: Curtis keyer and Accu-keyer. In light of that fact, Curtis named his own logic iambic type \"A\" and that of the Accu-keyer iambic type \"B\" and in 1986 he introduced\u003Cbr \/\u003Ethe 8044ABM chip which offered selectable \"A\" or \"B\" type of iambic keying.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch4\u003Ereferences\u003C\/h4\u003E1. Jack W. Herbstreit, W4JNX: \"Automatic Spacing of Letters and Words for the Electronic Key\", QST, April 1951, p. 46\u003Cbr \/\u003E2. John Kaye, W6SRY: \"The 'Ultimatic' - The Key with a Memory\", QST, February 1953, p. 11\u003Cbr \/\u003E3. John Kaye, W6SRY: \"The All-Electronic 'Ultimatic' Keyer\", QST, April 1955, p. 11\u003Cbr \/\u003E4. Alvin F. Kanada, K0MHU: \"The 'Ultimatic' - Transistorized\", QST, September 1920, p. 27\u003Cbr \/\u003E5. Harry Gensler Jr., K8OCO: \"The 'Iambimatic' Concept\", QST, January 1967, p. 18\u003Cbr \/\u003E6. Dave Muir, W2VYO: \"The Penultimate Electronic Key\", QST, March 1962, p. 15\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EPlease leave a comment regarding you experience with squeeze-keying.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations...\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/1464281023128611023\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/10\/squeeze-keying-iambic-mode-operation.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/1464281023128611023"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/1464281023128611023"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/10\/squeeze-keying-iambic-mode-operation.html","title":"Squeeze Keying - Iambic mode operation"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-cRWNaTfY15Q\/Wey2GuO95EI\/AAAAAAAAgfI\/3GHxoyYUEaoK_YEmQ9Ip3EAQzsmtE-TjwCLcBGAs\/s72-c\/iambic%2B%25281%2Bof%2B1%2529.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-4812304640081416593"},"published":{"$t":"2017-10-22T09:47:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-10-23T09:34:20.793-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Vibroplex Vibrokeyer"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EGet it right the first time\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe electronic keyer, for sending Morse code, came into into use in the late 1950's and early 1960's.\u0026nbsp; Vibroplex introduced their first paddle key, the Vibrokeyer, in 1960.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-f8W-EmjJcEM\/WeyRcrY7CNI\/AAAAAAAAgeg\/jZ4w02f9A_EGTfFjcq8--WxP8GVuRkMawCLcBGAs\/s1600\/vibrokeyer%2B%25283%2Bof%2B5%2529.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"929\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"370\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-f8W-EmjJcEM\/WeyRcrY7CNI\/AAAAAAAAgeg\/jZ4w02f9A_EGTfFjcq8--WxP8GVuRkMawCLcBGAs\/s640\/vibrokeyer%2B%25283%2Bof%2B5%2529.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E1960 Vibroplex Vibrokeyer\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe Vibrokeyer key looks like a stunted Vibroplex Bug.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Vibroplex took the frame, pivot and lever mechanism straight from the Bug and simply did away with the sprung pendulum.\u0026nbsp; After all, why wouldn't they?\u0026nbsp; The Vibroplex Bug had been one of the best selling keys for sending Code for decades, and its design had barely changed since 1947.\u0026nbsp; Vibroplex had a winner with the Bug.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EBut did that same design translate well to a key for use with an electronic keyer?\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-_wBUmlCjn0Q\/WeyRyiY0DLI\/AAAAAAAAgeo\/xUO1O32mdsEESLwm09NWEx9d4siVjjFBwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/vibrokeyer%2B%25281%2Bof%2B5%2529.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1225\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"490\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-_wBUmlCjn0Q\/WeyRyiY0DLI\/AAAAAAAAgeo\/xUO1O32mdsEESLwm09NWEx9d4siVjjFBwCLcBGAs\/s640\/vibrokeyer%2B%25281%2Bof%2B5%2529.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EVibrokeyer next to a Bug\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EThe roots of the design\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EVibroplex carried over the roots of their design principles, and two things stand out that make them different from other modern day keys designed for use with an electronic keyer...\u0026nbsp; The finger-pieces and the non-symmetrical, left-right movement.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EThe ergonomic finger-piece\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe tip of our thumb obviously does not reach as far as our index finger without contorting your hand, so why do most key manufacturers make finger-pieces that assumes your thumb reach is equal to your other fingers?\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe Vibroplex finger-piece takes the shorter thumb into account by allowing the thumb to contact nearer the hand than the index finger.\u0026nbsp; It just makes sense, right?\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ENon-symmetrical lever operation\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe split, and unequal length design of the lever requires different forces from the DIT and the DAH side.\u0026nbsp; Again, this is a carry over from the Bug, but it makes ergonomic sense.\u0026nbsp; We employ more force from our thumb than our index finger when moving the paddle lever.\u0026nbsp; It's simply the natural mechanics in the hand when it's in that position.\u0026nbsp; So, the Vibrokeyer not only provides different spring pressure adjustments, but also makes the mechanics of the DIT side different from the DAH.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI don't know whether this was intentional or just making use of their existing Bug design, but in my opinion, the result makes the Vibrokeyer a better paddle with regard to the dynamics of our hand movements than keys with a symmetrical design.\u0026nbsp; Our thumb and forefinger do not move symmetrically.\u0026nbsp; The force and stroke length of the unequal lengths of the Vibrokeyer lever compliment our non-symmetric design.\u0026nbsp; Maybe it's my imagination, because other keys allow for independent tension and distance adjustment but the Vibrokeyer just feels different.\u0026nbsp; It feels more natural.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-lfnC39GidgY\/WeyWqsq2lwI\/AAAAAAAAge4\/i59VELhWrQchtJK1mnA8hf_QZYAjOPt7wCLcBGAs\/s1600\/vibrokeyer%2B%25286%2Bof%2B13%2529.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1105\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"442\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-lfnC39GidgY\/WeyWqsq2lwI\/AAAAAAAAge4\/i59VELhWrQchtJK1mnA8hf_QZYAjOPt7wCLcBGAs\/s640\/vibrokeyer%2B%25286%2Bof%2B13%2529.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ENon-symmetric split lever design\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EWhat's not to like?\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe Vibrokeyer seems to check all the boxes, and patents have long since expired. So, why don't other modern keys copy this design?\u0026nbsp; For one thing it's a single lever paddle... In the 1970s IAMBIC keyer circuitry became popular, sparking the surge of dual-lever paddles that took advantage of squeeze keying.\u0026nbsp; Single lever paddles seemed to fall from grace for all but the QRQ crowd.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI own a work of art, dual-paddle key, from \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/03\/the-n3zn-iambic-cw-paddle.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EN3ZN\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;that I enjoy using.\u0026nbsp; But I admit that even with the N3ZN key on my desk, right next to my Bug, I would frequently choose the Bug.\u0026nbsp; Part of it was the challenge and the anachronistic nature of the Bug, but now with the Vibrokeyer I find that the finger-piece and split bar design just seems to feel more natural and comfortable for my hand than a traditional dual paddle, symmetric design.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;\"\u003EWhen Vibroplex created their first paddle-key, I think they got it right the first time\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/SE5UkFgg9Kg\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/SE5UkFgg9Kg?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EVibroplex Vibrokeyer video\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations...\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/4812304640081416593\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/10\/vibroplex-vibrokeyer.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/4812304640081416593"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/4812304640081416593"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/10\/vibroplex-vibrokeyer.html","title":"Vibroplex Vibrokeyer"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-f8W-EmjJcEM\/WeyRcrY7CNI\/AAAAAAAAgeg\/jZ4w02f9A_EGTfFjcq8--WxP8GVuRkMawCLcBGAs\/s72-c\/vibrokeyer%2B%25283%2Bof%2B5%2529.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-8509035259154198514"},"published":{"$t":"2017-10-13T16:07:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-10-15T08:53:27.940-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Vibroplex Bug Vari-Speed"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EHow Slow Can You Go ?\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMy friend Kurt (\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;\"\u003EN4KJK\u003C\/span\u003E) has loaned me his Vibroplex Original Deluxe Bug.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EShiny, Indeed!\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-rRa6RGeHhuo\/WeEVS8oniuI\/AAAAAAAAgVY\/THFY8ToFluEoZ23DE17ca644N6pYkvCBgCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Vibroplex_bug_deluxe_varispeed%2B%25284%2Bof%2B4%2529.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"818\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"326\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-rRa6RGeHhuo\/WeEVS8oniuI\/AAAAAAAAgVY\/THFY8ToFluEoZ23DE17ca644N6pYkvCBgCLcBGAs\/s640\/Vibroplex_bug_deluxe_varispeed%2B%25284%2Bof%2B4%2529.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EVibroplex Original Deluxe Bug with Vari-Speed\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI've enjoyed\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/04\/bugging-out.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Emy used Vibroplex Standard Bug\u003C\/a\u003E made in the 1970's.\u0026nbsp; That bug has really grown on me and it's now my preferred key for casual operation.\u0026nbsp; But when I want to work operators who prefer speeds below 20wpm I either have to add a pile of magnets onto my already \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/01\/weight-for-it.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Enon-standard pendulum weight\u003C\/a\u003E or switch to the straight key.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EVari-Speed to the rescue\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe Vari-Speed, sold by \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.vibroplex.com\/contents\/en-us\/p50_Round_Arm_Vari-Speed.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EVibroplex\u003C\/a\u003E, gives the bug an enhanced range down from its high-speed at 30+ WPM down to about 13 WPM.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-74ijHRUEMhQ\/WeEVANHpbjI\/AAAAAAAAgVU\/5EYvjotlsGIintf-WjtoJNuv5LJIKZ31QCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Vibroplex_bug_deluxe_varispeed%2B%25283%2Bof%2B4%2529.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1501\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-74ijHRUEMhQ\/WeEVANHpbjI\/AAAAAAAAgVU\/5EYvjotlsGIintf-WjtoJNuv5LJIKZ31QCLcBGAs\/s640\/Vibroplex_bug_deluxe_varispeed%2B%25283%2Bof%2B4%2529.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe Vari-Speed accessory is affixed to the pendulum arm, near the middle, and moves the weight up onto the rotating arm of the Vari-Speed.\u0026nbsp; To change speed, instead of moving the weight along the pendulum, the Vari-Speed arm carrying the re-located weight is pivoted toward front or back of the key.\u0026nbsp; The added weight of the Vari-Speed attachment coupled with the ability to move the weight further to the rear is what allows the DIT speed to drop all the way down to 13 WPM.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EOther options exist to slow down a bug this much but they usually involve extending the weight behind the bug through extension of the pendulum tube.\u0026nbsp; I don't have room at my desk for that option, and additionally, the pendulum extensions don't allow for the bug to be returned to a QRQ speed without quite a bit of effort.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EHow does it perform?\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIn practice the Vari-Speed does its job.\u0026nbsp; It allows the DIT speed to be slowed down a ton compared to other options that don't extend the pendulum arm.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EHowever, there are some drawbacks...\u0026nbsp; Changing speed now becomes a two handed operation.\u0026nbsp; You can't loosen the nut holding the Vari-Speed arm and move it to a new position single-handedly (or at least I couldn't) so it requires reaching over the bug and using one hand to loosen-tighten the set screw while the other hand moves the Vari-Speed back and forth.\u0026nbsp; This is a bit awkward and much slower that simply gripping the standard configured weight on a bug and sliding it forward or backward on the pendulum with one hand from the side.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe second issue, is the amount of mass added to the pendulum. It is considerable, even when the Vari-Speed is not being used to slow down DITS it makes operation feel quite different than a standard bug.\u0026nbsp; I found that my inter-character timing suffered due to the extra mass and getting the DIT arm moving for initial DIT elements of a character.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Admittedly, I've spent very little time with the Vari-Speed so I'm sure I would adapt, but I've had the opportunity to try about 6 different bugs at this point and none of them felt this strange for initiating the DITs.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EFollowing is a video demonstrating the Vari-Speed.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/R_BsbJHcoI4\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/R_BsbJHcoI4?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u0026nbsp; de AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003Ehttp:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/8509035259154198514\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/10\/vibroplex-bug-vari-speed.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/8509035259154198514"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/8509035259154198514"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/10\/vibroplex-bug-vari-speed.html","title":"Vibroplex Bug Vari-Speed"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-rRa6RGeHhuo\/WeEVS8oniuI\/AAAAAAAAgVY\/THFY8ToFluEoZ23DE17ca644N6pYkvCBgCLcBGAs\/s72-c\/Vibroplex_bug_deluxe_varispeed%2B%25284%2Bof%2B4%2529.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-4216079470891891801"},"published":{"$t":"2017-10-10T19:54:00.003-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-10-10T20:09:12.846-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"CW tone comparison C21 to KX3"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EThe old ways are sometimes best\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis is a short one.\u0026nbsp; I haven't found much time lately to enjoy the hobby, but the past few evenings I've been firing up the old \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/10\/ten-tec-century-21-cw-only-rig-ahead-of.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ETen-Tec Century\/21\u003C\/a\u003E and just listening to CW while I tend to other duties.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Tonight, I managed to find time before dinner to have a brief ragchew with fellow SKCC member WV8DH (Dave in West Virginia) using my old rig.\u0026nbsp; It reminded me how much I enjoy the sound of CW coming out of that radio.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-d73vkuOCGUA\/Wd1e9usqqSI\/AAAAAAAAgSQ\/_kjNpFHkxxclZVB3el8i96AGOsJYyQULQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/IMG_20171010_092733753.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-d73vkuOCGUA\/Wd1e9usqqSI\/AAAAAAAAgSQ\/_kjNpFHkxxclZVB3el8i96AGOsJYyQULQCLcBGAs\/s320\/IMG_20171010_092733753.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI was too lazy to set the camera up to capture the QSO, but after the QSO I dropped down the band to find a good ragchew going on and grabbed my smartphone and shot a quick comparison of the CW tone presented by the 40 year old\u0026nbsp;TenTec radio and my new, modern, Elecraft KX3.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAfter listening to the video I realize that a lot of wonderful sound, including harmonics are not captured by the microphone on the phone and can't be heard in the video.\u0026nbsp; Nonetheless, I think you'll agree that the older rig has finer CW audio. It's certainly more pleasant to listen to for long stretches.\u0026nbsp; The KX3 audio still wears me out if I operate more than an hour.\u0026nbsp; I wrote a \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/05\/listen-to-music.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Edetailed post comparing the KX3 to the Ten-Tec Eagle last year that pointed out what I believe the culprit of the tainted audio on the KX3\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp; The Eagle is presently off the desk and if anything the older Ten-Tec Century\/21 sounds even better than the newer Ten-Tec Eagle.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EBut here's the brief, badly made smartphone video comparison of the C21 and the KX3...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/video.g?token=AD6v5dyxuFrE37SEF91y8mBut6K3ApAPY_0mLlZD4voOmzjIVJNfOt2gFRl_wdk0sjET5XkTKT06FPLufUA0x46icQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0' \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EComparing CW tone from TenTec C21 to a modern Elecraft KX3\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now.\u0026nbsp; I'm going to be reviewing a nice bug that a friend has loaned me soon.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73 Richard\u0026nbsp; AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/4216079470891891801\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/10\/cw-tone-comparison-c21-to-kx3.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/4216079470891891801"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/4216079470891891801"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/10\/cw-tone-comparison-c21-to-kx3.html","title":"CW tone comparison C21 to KX3"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-d73vkuOCGUA\/Wd1e9usqqSI\/AAAAAAAAgSQ\/_kjNpFHkxxclZVB3el8i96AGOsJYyQULQCLcBGAs\/s72-c\/IMG_20171010_092733753.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-8435565198760729441"},"published":{"$t":"2017-09-09T12:25:00.004-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-09-09T12:29:00.403-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Been busy lately?"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EHow much are you operating?\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo are you working on your CW skills? How much are you on-the-air? Are you a casual operator or are you a CW-aholic?\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-aHCsE9qOaKg\/WbQSEVJVa7I\/AAAAAAAAfiY\/BJGWfoiP6mMZ5teYwuPb3K40wQCAoVNdACLcBGAs\/s1600\/bug-n-c21.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1299\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-aHCsE9qOaKg\/WbQSEVJVa7I\/AAAAAAAAfiY\/BJGWfoiP6mMZ5teYwuPb3K40wQCAoVNdACLcBGAs\/s640\/bug-n-c21.jpg\" width=\"518\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EThere's a tool to help you track your on-air activity\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.reversebeacon.net\/dxsd1\/dxsd1.php?f=0\u0026amp;c=aa4oo\u0026amp;t=dx\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ERBN\u003C\/a\u003E (reverse beacon network) is a collection of reporting stations that run CW-Skimmers and report what they hear to the RBN network. \u0026nbsp;It is a very useful tool to see where your signal is going and how strong you're being heard.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe RBN stores a lot of data and makes it freely available. \u0026nbsp;One industrious amateur operator \u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/fkurz.net\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EFabian Kurz\u003C\/a\u003E, DJ1YFK operates a website that presents all manner of useful historical information based on RBN data. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBy entering your callsign in the URL or using the entry box on the page you can see your activity by day with a \"heat map\" look. \u0026nbsp;Darker green means it heard your call more times that day. \u0026nbsp;You can inspect any individual day to see what bands you were operating and also when.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-UIOY-6iuDac\/WbQSuv6xYPI\/AAAAAAAAfig\/2bEBAhAVRto8U_MFmj053ZrPROzTZrRdwCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-09-09%2Bat%2B12.11.06%2BPM.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"947\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"378\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-UIOY-6iuDac\/WbQSuv6xYPI\/AAAAAAAAfig\/2bEBAhAVRto8U_MFmj053ZrPROzTZrRdwCLcBGAs\/s640\/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-09-09%2Bat%2B12.11.06%2BPM.png\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ERBN activity tracker\u0026nbsp;https:\/\/foc.dj1yfk.de\/activity\/W1AW\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EYou can also use it to view other amateurs activity and determine what times of day and bands they prefer to operate on.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EHere' the URL\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/foc.dj1yfk.de\/activity\/W1AW\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehttps:\/\/foc.dj1yfk.de\/activity\/W1AW\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat will show you activity for W1AW but enter your own call-sign to see your information. \u0026nbsp; Now keep in mind that RBN only tracks you when you call CQ so if you operate mainly search and pounce (i.e. only answer others calls) you won't see a fair representation of your activity.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/8435565198760729441\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/09\/been-busy-lately.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/8435565198760729441"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/8435565198760729441"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/09\/been-busy-lately.html","title":"Been busy lately?"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-aHCsE9qOaKg\/WbQSEVJVa7I\/AAAAAAAAfiY\/BJGWfoiP6mMZ5teYwuPb3K40wQCAoVNdACLcBGAs\/s72-c\/bug-n-c21.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-1792846624014381900"},"published":{"$t":"2017-07-29T13:17:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-02-14T07:27:30.029-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Sticker Shock"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003ECW keys cost too much, or do they?\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI read various forums and blogs for the same reason you might be reading this one. \u0026nbsp;I'm always interested in learning more or trying to answer someone's question in a forum, etc. etc.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EA recent forum post went something like...\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\"CW straight key prices are so obscenely inflated that I lost interest in learning CW...\"\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI'll admit that I've been shocked at the prices of some CW keys but to say that because some CW straight key prices are high that would make me lose interest in learning seems a bit non-sequitur. \u0026nbsp;I'm not going to debate the logic\/illogic of not learning CW due to the high cost of straight keys but I would like to explore the current cost of straight keys. \u0026nbsp;So are CW keys really that expensive? \u0026nbsp;Let's have a look...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.morseexpress.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMorse Express\u003C\/a\u003E offers a good selection of keys and I've had good experience purchasing from them. \u0026nbsp;At the time of this writing they offer an AMECO straight key for $12.50, the Hi-Mound model 705 for $50 and a Nye Viking Speed-X for $85. \u0026nbsp;Prices can certainly go up from there... A Begali Spark (available from \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.i2rtf.com\/spark.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBegali\u003C\/a\u003E) is approximately $150 and more custom keys and materials can go up and up and up.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThere may be less expensive new straight keys than the AMECO $12.50 model but let's start there.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo from a 1958 radio shack advertisement we see:\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-JvSlphyiwaI\/WXynellqBkI\/AAAAAAAAfMM\/FHMJQ5Dv99kxjvEJlkY_hmgsSlFHT0NHgCLcBGAs\/s1600\/january-58-code-keys.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1128\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"449\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-JvSlphyiwaI\/WXynellqBkI\/AAAAAAAAfMM\/FHMJQ5Dv99kxjvEJlkY_hmgsSlFHT0NHgCLcBGAs\/s640\/january-58-code-keys.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E1958 Radio Shack ad\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe 99 cent \"Skillman 'jr' Speed Key\" appears to be equivalent to the AMECO AM-K1 advertised at \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.morseexpress.com\/ameco\/keys.htm\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMorseX site\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;What is 99c in today's money... about $8.50 \u0026nbsp;So yes by that measure the absolute cheapest key you could buy from Radio shack in 1958 would cost only 75% of what you'd pay today. \u0026nbsp; What about the next model up, the \"Deluxe High Speed Brass Key\" is probably equivalent to a Nye Viking Speed-X. \u0026nbsp;So $2.95 versus $85... Hmmm inflation says the Nye Viking should cost $25 based on that comparison. \u0026nbsp;Maybe the Speed-X is better made than the 1958 Radio Shack \"Deluxe High Speed Brass Key\" but probably not 3-4 times better.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMy goodness, straight key manufacturers are gouging us aren't they?\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ESo it would seem straight key prices are significantly higher now than in the 1950s \u0026nbsp;Why is that?\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ECould it be the cost of manufacturing...\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-MdEfakxX6jQ\/WXyskWA1NxI\/AAAAAAAAfMU\/TJKGEuZnFzw5h0DfAlupo4-0C5KaxkW5QCLcBGAs\/s1600\/Economies_of_scale.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"828\" data-original-width=\"1034\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-MdEfakxX6jQ\/WXyskWA1NxI\/AAAAAAAAfMU\/TJKGEuZnFzw5h0DfAlupo4-0C5KaxkW5QCLcBGAs\/s400\/Economies_of_scale.JPG\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EAs quantity of production increases from Q to Q2, the average cost of each unit decreases from C to C1. LRAC is the long run average cost (Source Wikipedia)\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EThere was a far higher demand for keys in the past than at present\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo according to \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/apps.fcc.gov\/edocs_public\/attachmatch\/DOC-308680A1.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethis 1958 FCC Report\u003C\/a\u003E there were 180,738 licensed amateur radio operators in the USA in 1958. \u0026nbsp;ALL of those operators were required to both learn morse code and were originally restricted to only operate CW until a license upgrade occurred. \u0026nbsp;Even after that I'd argue (and I'd like to hear from operators from that era) that CW continued to be a far more common mode of communication for hams than phone modes at the time. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo guess what? \u0026nbsp;All these operators were purchasing morse code keys. \u0026nbsp;I don't think the electronic keyer had come into common use at the time so they would be buying straight keys or bugs of some type (not discounting cooties but hey let's admit using a cootie takes a special kind of strange).\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EFast forward to the \u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EPRESENT\u003C\/span\u003E: \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMorse code is not required to obtain a FCC amateur radio license.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThere are ~744000 licensed hams but ~373000 are Technician class; so although they \u003Ci\u003Emight \u003C\/i\u003Ebe exercising CW in their limited band portions I think we'd all agree that's highly unlikely. \u0026nbsp;So that leaves us with 371,000 operators that could be operating CW. \u0026nbsp;Seems like a big number.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMy personal anecdotal experience from visiting local Amateur radio clubs tells me that less than 1 in 20 licenced operators regularly use CW and of those the majority use electronic keyers with paddles or operate with a keyboard, rather than using a mechanical key.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.skccgroup.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESKCC \u003C\/a\u003Eis a club\/association for straight key and mechanical key operators. \u0026nbsp;From what I can tell it is the most popular CW related club at present. \u0026nbsp;As of this writing it has 17385 members. \u0026nbsp;Since all these members are using mechanical keys that's a good gauge of active straight key operators at present.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ECurrent market for straight keys\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EOk making a semi-sketchy educated guess out of this combination of my assumption filled math moderated by anecdotal experience and one actual real number; I'm guessing there are 18,000 active mechanical key operators at present in 2017 compared to 180,738 in 1958 (not taking into account other potential buyers straight keys outside of amateur radio).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThere is likely less than 10% of the 1958 market for straight keys now. \u0026nbsp;Add to this that's it's likely easier to obtain a used key today from an auction or ham swap sites that further dilutes sales potential of new straight keys.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo with greater than 90% market erosion we look back up at the cost of manufacturing chart and see why straight keys cost so much now compared to when you were an aspiring novice back in the 1950s.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EWhat is a CW key worth?\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI've mentioned this in other articles but\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EOf every item in your shack, what are you going to actually touch as much as your CW key? \u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EYou will physically interact more with you CW key than any piece of equipment you own. \u0026nbsp;It's kinda like comfortable shoes. \u0026nbsp;Sure you can buy a pair of $10 flip flops or you could have \u003Cspan id=\"goog_1854295199\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.stemarshoes.com\/stemar-227013\/pid-384.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E$3,000 custom made Italian shoes\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan id=\"goog_1854295200\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan id=\"goog_1854295202\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/\"\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan id=\"goog_1854295203\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E. \u0026nbsp;Somewhere in between lies something that's both functional, comfortable and durable. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe same is true for CW keys. \u0026nbsp;You could buy the $12.50 AMECO plastic key or a \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.i2rtf.com\/sculpture-swing.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E$540 Begali sideswiper\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;Both work, but what you can be happy with likely lies somewhere in-between. \u0026nbsp;Folks will happily spend big bucks for a ham radio microphone to achieve that \"full fidelity sound\" (in ahem 2.8kHz bandwidth) but they balk at spending over $100 for a CW key. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESeems to me that keys aren't getting the love they deserve.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo before you decide that you won't learn CW until the price of Morse Code Straight Keys comes down from today's obscene prices, consider what it is you're actually buying and why they just might cost more today than when you were a lad and all automobiles had to be hand cranked.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\/\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/1792846624014381900\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/07\/sticker-shock.html#comment-form","title":"12 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/1792846624014381900"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/1792846624014381900"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/07\/sticker-shock.html","title":"Sticker Shock"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-JvSlphyiwaI\/WXynellqBkI\/AAAAAAAAfMM\/FHMJQ5Dv99kxjvEJlkY_hmgsSlFHT0NHgCLcBGAs\/s72-c\/january-58-code-keys.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"12"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-4983499313000746508"},"published":{"$t":"2017-04-11T21:06:00.003-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-04-12T06:22:41.733-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"QRPP QSO with QRM"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EHard fought QSO with the 1Watter\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI haven't used the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/03\/its-alive.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E1Watter\u003C\/a\u003E in a while so I thought I'd pull it off the shelf and hook it up for a QSO. \u0026nbsp;The 40m band was in pretty good shape but the frequencies covered by my XTAL controlled 1Watter are pretty limited and trying to find an open frequency was tough.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-opyZOiokAQQ\/WO10QvPXjdI\/AAAAAAAAdvk\/GF21tBxoVy0kRUj-v5wFztw2KV8jkEg_wCLcB\/s1600\/1watter-1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-opyZOiokAQQ\/WO10QvPXjdI\/AAAAAAAAdvk\/GF21tBxoVy0kRUj-v5wFztw2KV8jkEg_wCLcB\/s640\/1watter-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI received a response to my call from N1WHT up in CT, but the station was a little off frequency and the 1Watter doesn't have a RIT so I had to change frequency to bring him into my passband. Then another much stronger station came in right beside us which overwhelmed the 1Watter AGC when I sent my final response. \u0026nbsp;I've tried a number of things to correct the AGC issue on my radio and haven't had success. \u0026nbsp;I've just learned to deal with having the audio from my sidetone drop out when sending in such circumstances.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis was a rather hard fought QSO. \u0026nbsp;I used my \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/12\/finer-than-frogs-hair-split-twice.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EElecraft AF-1 audio filter kit\u003C\/a\u003E to help eliminate the stronger station on receive but the passband was so narrow that I had to turn it off to hear some of my sidetone when sending. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo I made a contact but it wasn't the most elegant or pleasant QSO of the evening. \u0026nbsp;In any event, it's communication so soldier on.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EHere's a video of the QRPP adventure...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/3_UErKn39mg\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/3_UErKn39mg?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/4983499313000746508\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/04\/qrpp-qso-with-qrm.html#comment-form","title":"3 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/4983499313000746508"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/4983499313000746508"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/04\/qrpp-qso-with-qrm.html","title":"QRPP QSO with QRM"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-opyZOiokAQQ\/WO10QvPXjdI\/AAAAAAAAdvk\/GF21tBxoVy0kRUj-v5wFztw2KV8jkEg_wCLcB\/s72-c\/1watter-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"3"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-8106663282147955002"},"published":{"$t":"2017-04-04T20:51:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-11-15T06:35:44.002-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Space, the final frontier in CW"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EGive your CW a \"break\"\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI was listening to CW stations tonight through my SDR having extended QSOs on 40m between 7015 and 7035. \u0026nbsp;There seemed to be a good number of stations sending between 24 wpm and 28 wpm, maybe a bit faster. The signals were strong and I had good signal to noise on most of the conversations. \u0026nbsp;24-28wpm is generally faster than I'm able to comfortably copy but I use these listening sessions to improve my head copy skills.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAs I listened I realized that I could copy some stations nearly 100% while with others sending at about the same speed I just could not head copy no matter how hard I concentrated. \u0026nbsp;One particular QSO had two stations operating at the same speed and about the same SNR. \u0026nbsp;I'd guess they were operating about 25wpm. \u0026nbsp;One of the stations I copied easily without thinking much about it while the other I just caught a word here or there. \u0026nbsp;The difference was their space between words. \u0026nbsp;Not necessarily space between characters but between the words. \u0026nbsp;I started paying closer attention to the station I could copy clearly and I could count about a one second pause between each of his words. \u0026nbsp;The other station was running one word into the next.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThen I started switching back and forth between a number of QSOs and I recognized that my comprehension was very dependent on word spacing. \u0026nbsp;I could even copy bug operators who had their DITS flying over 30wpm with 20wpm spaces clearly as long as they paused between words.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ESilence is golden\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe artist \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sting_(musician)\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESting \u003C\/a\u003Eis a famous bass player. \u0026nbsp;I am also a bass player, certainly not a famous one, but I follow bass players and enjoy their different styles. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EIn an \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sting.com\/news\/article\/38\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Einterview in 2000\u003C\/a\u003E Sting said:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EFor me, the sound is only half of music - the space between the notes is also vitally important...\u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003EIs \u003Ci\u003Espace \u003C\/i\u003Ethe final frontier in being able to copy CW? \u0026nbsp;Why is it that some CW operators, and I'll venture to say most CW operators don't put adequate space between their words. \u0026nbsp;CW is not a fast mode of communication so why not give each word the importance it deserves? \u0026nbsp;Why be in a rush?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI'm going to strive to put more space between my words in my next QSOs. \u0026nbsp;It may just make copy for the other operator a bit easier and rather than them bailing on you after an exchange or two you may just chat away for an hour because they enjoy the solid comprehension of every word you send. \u0026nbsp;If you work me and don't hear me putting an adequate pause between my words, call me out on it.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThat's all for now\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power, and \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;pause \u0026nbsp; before \u0026nbsp; your \u0026nbsp; next \u0026nbsp; word, \u0026nbsp;then raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E72\/73\u003Cbr \/\u003ERichard AA4OO\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\u003C\/a\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/8106663282147955002\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/04\/space-final-frontier-in-cw.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/8106663282147955002"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/8106663282147955002"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/04\/space-final-frontier-in-cw.html","title":"Space, the final frontier in CW"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-4170969466479519721"},"published":{"$t":"2017-03-26T15:52:00.002-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-03-26T16:20:35.317-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"More power to you with the Elecraft PXA100"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EWhen 5 watts is not enough\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EGasp! \u0026nbsp;My blog is called \"HamRadioQRP\"... so what sort of heresy would lead me to post a topic on using more than 5 watts...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EWill I have to turn in my QRP card?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003EI bit the expensive bullet and bought a used PXA100 amp for my KX3 this past week. There, I've got it off my chest. \u0026nbsp;I've come out of the closet. Go ahead and unfriend me and unsubscribe from my blog...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-vUGHeAQLO5g\/WNgIDZpbj4I\/AAAAAAAAdok\/iDM40Fk6og4Z6REwqZWvuM8LYaWU7j7CwCLcB\/s1600\/DSCF3402.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"304\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-vUGHeAQLO5g\/WNgIDZpbj4I\/AAAAAAAAdok\/iDM40Fk6og4Z6REwqZWvuM8LYaWU7j7CwCLcB\/s640\/DSCF3402.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ENormal Elecraft KX3 -- Notice the RF scale goes from 1w up to 12 watts\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-FsJj-MIrvvo\/WNgH_0NPLTI\/AAAAAAAAdoo\/mbuJOvGlOdkzzYVmVpXl9Tws54Hh7RPNACEw\/s1600\/DSCF3403.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"314\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-FsJj-MIrvvo\/WNgH_0NPLTI\/AAAAAAAAdoo\/mbuJOvGlOdkzzYVmVpXl9Tws54Hh7RPNACEw\/s640\/DSCF3403.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EElecraft KX3 with a PXA100 -- note the RF scale now goes up to 110 watts\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOK, for those still reading...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EThis is my first time into the bottom of a solar cycle running QRP\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIf you've been operating for the past 6 months I'm sure you've noticed the band conditions have been getting pretty poor, and while I continue to try and make contacts and have ragchews using QRP power levels sometimes I feel bad for the other fella who is not QRP struggling to copy me.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI enjoy the challenge of making contacts at QRP levels but I also enjoy exchanging more than my call and an RST. \u0026nbsp;When the other station gives me a 559 or worse, or the QSB is getting bad I want to give them a few more dB to work with. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EI've written before that QRP operators can be compared to certain persons with dietary habits. \u0026nbsp;Sometimes vegetarians will eat dairy but if your vegan then you're abstain from anything that didn't grow from a root. \u0026nbsp;Well I'm more of a QRP \u003Ci\u003Evegetarian\u003C\/i\u003E who will occasionally put a slice of bacon on my sandwich if I think it will improve the taste. \u0026nbsp;I'm certainly no vegan when it comes to operating QRP alone. \u0026nbsp; I've used my TenTec Eagle and TenTec C21 to go beyond 5w when the mood struck and in the case of SSB I've rarely operated at QRP levels with success so there I'm usually running well over QRP levels but I'd pretty much stuck to QRP for CW until recently.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EElecraft PXA100\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EElecraft makes some very elegant equipment. \u0026nbsp;The KX3 by itself, running on internal batteries and with a built-in auto-tuner is an amazingly portable and full featured QRP rig. \u0026nbsp;With the newest version of firmware (MCU 2.70 \/ DSP 1.49, 2-27-2017) the KX3 will produce up to 15 watts of output on 80m, 40m and 20m when used with an external 13.8v power source, but if you want more than that you need an external amplifier.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI've been reading lots about the Hardrock 50 external amp and had even bid on a couple of Ten Tec 405 QRP amplifiers (which I lost) recently. \u0026nbsp;The Hardrock 50 was compelling for the price because it could be built with a full QSK option, whereas the old TenTec 405 did not have a full break in option but both would get my output up to 50 watts which is about 3-5 dB more output than the KX3 on it's own.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EBut my normal operating mode is to begin at QRP and if that's insufficient I turn up my power. \u0026nbsp;In the case of most external amplifiers I would be over driving them if I kept the KX3 at 5 watts input to the amp. \u0026nbsp;It would require dropping my KX3 input power to the amp and fiddle with the output until I was at the power level I wanted.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EOn the other hand, the Elecraft PXA100 is fully integrated with the KX3 and I can simply turn up the power knob of the KX3 and when the power exceeds what the KX3 is capable of on its own the PXA100 electronics take care of adjusting the KX3's input into the amp to give me a smooth power output up to 100 watts. \u0026nbsp;Additionally, when using the internal tuner option with PXA100 I can use two antenna outputs from the PXA100 and switch between them using the ANT button on the KX3 while the PXA100 tuner maintains independent tune memories for each antenna. It is a very slick package but an expensive one. \u0026nbsp;Purchasing a used KX3 and PXA100 together puts you well over the $2k mark which you can certainly find more full featured 100w desk radios in that price. \u0026nbsp;So for price conscious hams this is not a sensible option. \u0026nbsp;I won't argue that this makes sense from a financial aspect, but I did it anyway. \u0026nbsp;Given the vibrant used market for ham equipment I wouldn't pay new prices for these but it still comes out to be a pricey desk rig even when purchased used.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-aITbZ7e9xo0\/WNgg-ocao9I\/AAAAAAAAdqA\/7XyeDjLKk_gB3H-rt3EsUu0kAu7InglzQCLcB\/s1600\/DSCF3406.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"528\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-aITbZ7e9xo0\/WNgg-ocao9I\/AAAAAAAAdqA\/7XyeDjLKk_gB3H-rt3EsUu0kAu7InglzQCLcB\/s640\/DSCF3406.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-UjswVMkeYeg\/WNgg-_aJbTI\/AAAAAAAAdqE\/3jn4hUnM1zAzNcuII8T7SQnk6UWG79QFACLcB\/s1600\/DSCF3407.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-UjswVMkeYeg\/WNgg-_aJbTI\/AAAAAAAAdqE\/3jn4hUnM1zAzNcuII8T7SQnk6UWG79QFACLcB\/s640\/DSCF3407.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EOK, back to the PXA100. \u0026nbsp;One absolutely brilliant aspect of the PXA100 when using the internal tuner option is that its tuner seems every bit as good as the KX3's internal tuner. \u0026nbsp;I think it will tune a spoon on 160m (admittedly I haven't tried that). \u0026nbsp;It has no trouble tuning my ladder line fed attic Doublet which has some serious impedance mismatches on certain bands, so being able to quickly switch between my attic doublet and my outdoor Windom has been a real boon that I don't think other desk rigs can match with their internal tuners. \u0026nbsp;I could be wrong, but Elecraft's tuners and super fast matching algorithms are pretty much legendary in the industry.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.elecraft.com\/tmp\/images\/KXPA100_rear_1280.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/www.elecraft.com\/tmp\/images\/KXPA100_rear_1280.jpg\" height=\"268\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAnother nice thing about the KX3\/PXA100 combo is that full break-in QSK is maintained and there are no fans. My shack stays very quiet (I hate fans). \u0026nbsp;The amp has a massive finned heat sink on top that while getting quite warm to the touch has not become overheated even on extended transmissions at 100w into non-resonant loads. \u0026nbsp;I still haven't delved into digital modes but I'm confident that while the KX3 struggles to maintain its cool when used for full cycle modes at 5w and above, when used with the PXA100 this combo avoids that problem because the KX3 is only running between 2-3w intput into the amp and can dissipate its heat at that level with no problem.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo for the past week I've been using this combo and I'm quite pleased.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHere is a video that I made today in a contact on 30m where I started at 5w and moved up to 25w and switched antennas during the QSO.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/aRmc5F-wAto\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/aRmc5F-wAto?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations, but when expectations fail, use an amp\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ERichard AA4OO\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\u003C\/a\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/4170969466479519721\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/03\/more-power-to-you-with-elecraft-pxa100.html#comment-form","title":"4 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/4170969466479519721"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/4170969466479519721"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/03\/more-power-to-you-with-elecraft-pxa100.html","title":"More power to you with the Elecraft PXA100"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-vUGHeAQLO5g\/WNgIDZpbj4I\/AAAAAAAAdok\/iDM40Fk6og4Z6REwqZWvuM8LYaWU7j7CwCLcB\/s72-c\/DSCF3402.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"4"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-1029348244996553589"},"published":{"$t":"2017-03-05T16:30:00.002-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-03-05T16:35:19.043-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Non-resonant versus resonant antenna for receive only use"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EWell... that's not what I expected\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI've been playing around with my \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/02\/spruce-up-basic-transceiver-with-sdr.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESDRPlay \u003C\/a\u003Eand have been thrilled with its sensitivity when connected to my attic antenna. \u0026nbsp;My \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/08\/the-attic-antenna-revisited.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eattic antenna\u003C\/a\u003E is a 68 foot doublet that weaves around my attic and is fed with 450 ohm ladder line. \u0026nbsp;I use a 1:1 balun connected to the ladder line and a short run of coax with the RF-front-end-protection \u0026nbsp;to feed my SDR. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMy Doublet antenna is not resonant on any ham band and requires matching to bring the impedance in line with something my transceiver wants to transmit into.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMy outdoor antenna is an 80m OCF Dipole (aka Windom) in the 1\/3 configuration, meaning that the short side of the dipole is 1\/3 the length of the long side. \u0026nbsp;Its been a good performer for me and is resonant on 80m, 40m, 20m, 17m, 12m and 10m . \u0026nbsp;While using the indoor Doublet antenna as a receive antenna for the SDR (with front-end protection and a relay to switch out the SDR during transmit) I use the Windom connected to my transceiver.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis configuration has worked well and the SDR feeding HDSDR as a panadapter has been a real boon to finding stations quickly as well as being a wideband audio feed to CWSkimmer.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-HyUbLD3GAWA\/WJZ_RtzUEdI\/AAAAAAAAdUU\/YlUuxxz5nzYG5-oHQmkWW62r0t4i_pYbQCPcB\/s1600\/hdsdr-waterfall.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"340\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-HyUbLD3GAWA\/WJZ_RtzUEdI\/AAAAAAAAdUU\/YlUuxxz5nzYG5-oHQmkWW62r0t4i_pYbQCPcB\/s640\/hdsdr-waterfall.PNG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EHDSDR fed by my SDRPlay\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EFor grins I wondered how much better the Windom would be as a receive antenna for the SDR on the resonant Ham bands... Well it was between 6dB to 10dB down on reception on most bands when used with my SDR. \u0026nbsp;I tested this by alternately connecting the Windom and the Doublet to the SDR for repeated tests.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis doesn't make sense to me. \u0026nbsp;I assumed that a resonant antenna (and one that's much longer) would be a better antenna than the Doublet for the SDR but it's not working that way in my case. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWhen I use the Doublet with the transceiver it is used with an autotuner. \u0026nbsp;In general my A\/B tests using my transceiver between the Doublet and the Windom are about 3dB to 6dB weaker for the Doublet on receive but I often get better RBN signal reports using the Doublet by a few dB on transmit.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI'm really perplexed. \u0026nbsp;I expected the Windom to be a better receive antenna for the SDR.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI have a \u003Cb\u003Elot \u003C\/b\u003Emore to learn about antennas.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/1029348244996553589\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/03\/non-resonant-versus-resonant-antenna.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/1029348244996553589"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/1029348244996553589"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/03\/non-resonant-versus-resonant-antenna.html","title":"Non-resonant versus resonant antenna for receive only use"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-HyUbLD3GAWA\/WJZ_RtzUEdI\/AAAAAAAAdUU\/YlUuxxz5nzYG5-oHQmkWW62r0t4i_pYbQCPcB\/s72-c\/hdsdr-waterfall.PNG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-2945154890415488332"},"published":{"$t":"2017-02-24T06:00:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-02-26T17:30:45.643-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Spruce up a basic transceiver with an SDR"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EUsing SDRPlay as a panadapter for the Ten-Tec Eagle\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sdrplay.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESDRPlay\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;produces a nice middle of the line Software Defined Radio (SDR)\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESDRs are a lot of fun to play with simply as broad band receivers. \u0026nbsp;I've used the regenerative receiver I built for some shortwave listening but that isn't even in the same universe of capability as a good software defined receiver. \u0026nbsp;SDRPlay is significantly better than what you'll find with simple RTL-SDR dongles but costs around $150 as compared to $25 for the dongles. \u0026nbsp;Since there are other reviews of SDRPlay out there so I won't go into details other than to mention that it offers continuous coverage from 10kHz to 2 GHz, has a 12-bit ADC rather than the 8-bit ADCs in dongles and provides up to 10 MHz bandwidth at a time.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tRwU-Udkr0M\/WK-QzH-hDnI\/AAAAAAAAdec\/KNF5UrSMcdU6hccDJlTJYQKwsILpwgIAwCLcB\/s1600\/sdr-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"398\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tRwU-Udkr0M\/WK-QzH-hDnI\/AAAAAAAAdec\/KNF5UrSMcdU6hccDJlTJYQKwsILpwgIAwCLcB\/s640\/sdr-2.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EOne of the ADCs on the SDRPlay board\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EUsing SDRPlay as a panadapter\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIn addition to using SDRPlay as an incredible broadband receiver, I wanted to use it as a panadapter for my Ten-Tec Eagle. \u0026nbsp;My Eagle is an early run model that does not provide an IF output or the circuitry to drive a panadapter. \u0026nbsp;It is possible to splice into the Low Pass filter line of the Eagle with some minor surgery to provide receive antenna input to the SDR but if I did that the SDR could only be used when the radio is turned on and its receive bandwidth is limited to the Low Pass filter switched in the Eagle at the time. \u0026nbsp;I didn't want that limitation or to have to keep switching the receiver's antenna inputs when I switched back and forth. \u0026nbsp;So I decided to keep the receive antenna external from the Eagle.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EBut to do that I had to protect the front end of the SDR from the transmitter or it would be overloaded and destroyed. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace; font-size: large;\"\u003EWARNING: Input to the SDRPlay cannot exceed 0dBm without causing damage so be very careful when using your SDR with a transmitter\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EFront end protection\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThere are a number of designs for protecting receivers from overload used in multi-station events. \u0026nbsp;A common circuit is a bulb with two reversed diodes to shunt off extra energy. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.kb6nu.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/ad5x-front-end-protection-schematic.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/www.kb6nu.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/ad5x-front-end-protection-schematic.jpg\" height=\"152\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI considered building one but when I priced out the parts and a metal enclosure I decided to just buy one. \u0026nbsp;I found one made by a ham in Slovenia (Aleš S59MA) that was reasonably priced and available on a famous auction site.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.ebay.com\/itm\/RF-Limiter-Receiver-Front-End-Protector-RF-Fuse-for-Hamradio-HF-QRO-use-\/282234181986\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-pMmocnzPL78\/WK-TEGFLEsI\/AAAAAAAAdes\/sF59TSvBT6USfc1iM1XOFkhhx93vRN8pgCLcB\/s320\/s-l1600.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.ebay.com\/itm\/RF-Limiter-Receiver-Front-End-Protector-RF-Fuse-for-Hamradio-HF-QRO-use-\/282234181986\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis allows me to use a receive antenna connected to the SDR with this protector in-line while I transmit on my outdoor antenna.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat works but the panadapter display really lights up when I transmit and while the specs say everything should be safe I'll feel better switching out the receive antenna on transmit. \u0026nbsp;I ordered a kit from \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/ok1rp.blogspot.ch\/2015\/03\/front-end-saver-for-lb-antennas.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EOK1RP\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;The kit requires some extra parts (2x2N2222 transistors and 4x4k7 resistors) to complete that most hams already have but my junk box is pretty shallow so I ordered the 2N2222 transistors from DigiKey. \u0026nbsp;The part specs are listed on OK1RP's page.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-o-D0Eg-VwoQ\/WK-UGupC0VI\/AAAAAAAAde4\/VDMye69TSywABAS4_Xdgmfe7NiMhm8I6ACLcB\/s1600\/IMG_9755.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-o-D0Eg-VwoQ\/WK-UGupC0VI\/AAAAAAAAde4\/VDMye69TSywABAS4_Xdgmfe7NiMhm8I6ACLcB\/s640\/IMG_9755.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-LFSW9aF8oMI\/WK-UNc3VsJI\/AAAAAAAAde8\/xNeyYKy0ATcJU7GMUc7vwTagRPvPpkXVACLcB\/s1600\/sdr-5.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"486\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-LFSW9aF8oMI\/WK-UNc3VsJI\/AAAAAAAAde8\/xNeyYKy0ATcJU7GMUc7vwTagRPvPpkXVACLcB\/s640\/sdr-5.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ESimple receiver switching circuit can be built in 30 minutes\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ENote that this relay defaults to the receiver output being switched off when there's no power supplied to the relay. \u0026nbsp;The relays are so quiet I have to hold it up to my ear to hear it operate. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EA bit of extra armor\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe SDRPlay RSP1 comes in an unshielded plastic enclosure but I wanted to keep noise and near-field RF at bay. \u0026nbsp;So I added layer of protection from near field RF by putting it in an aluminum enclosure. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-Qj-_dy3yU4c\/WK-pAShfldI\/AAAAAAAAdfk\/PmVRTdJt84Mu4YNUPJBAXGxwPx9bH3jtQCLcB\/s1600\/sdr-1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"464\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-Qj-_dy3yU4c\/WK-pAShfldI\/AAAAAAAAdfk\/PmVRTdJt84Mu4YNUPJBAXGxwPx9bH3jtQCLcB\/s640\/sdr-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EOriginal plastic enclosure to the right\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-2az4yVDr2fs\/WK-o_e30i4I\/AAAAAAAAdfg\/TVcLiR9CI1cpHELfFk74y1bQZrROisTGACLcB\/s1600\/sdr-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"452\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-2az4yVDr2fs\/WK-o_e30i4I\/AAAAAAAAdfg\/TVcLiR9CI1cpHELfFk74y1bQZrROisTGACLcB\/s640\/sdr-4.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E$20 aluminum enclosure\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EMaking it work as a panadapter\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EBring in the CAT - Computer Aided Transceiver\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESDRPlay feeds IF\/IQ to software defined receivers like \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hdsdr.de\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EHDSDR\u003C\/a\u003E. That provides a way to view and listen to all that can be received by the SDR, not just ham bands but any signal from 10kHz up to 2GHz. \u0026nbsp;But to use it as a panadapter for my Eagle I needed a way to control both HDSDR and my transceiver.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.dxatlas.com\/omnirig\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EOmniRig\u003C\/a\u003E is CAT control software that simplifies software control of receivers and transceivers. \u0026nbsp;It communicates through COM ports. \u0026nbsp;The Eagle has a USB to serial interface that uses a hardware COM port but HDSDR is software with no physical COM port. \u0026nbsp;HDSDR can be CAT controlled as well using either a Virtual COM port or DDE interface. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo I created a Virtual serial port using VSPE software to create a virtual serial port \"pair\". \u0026nbsp;The first COM port is considered the INPUT from HDSDR. \u0026nbsp;The second pair of the COM ports is the OUTPUT to be used by the listening application (OmniRig). \u0026nbsp;OmniRig needs to know the \"type\" of \"radio\" it's talking to. \u0026nbsp;HDSDR uses the Kenwood CAT protocol so I chose Kenwood when configuring OmniRig.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EHDSDR also provides the ability to synchronize the CAT traffic between two OmniRig connected radios. \u0026nbsp;This ability to sync two rigs is the key to making this work. \u0026nbsp;It syncs with the transceiver so that changes made in HDSR are sent via CAT control to the Eagle and vice-versa.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ESDRs have huge bandwidth\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESDRPlay can send up 10MHz of bandwidth to the SDR software receiver. \u0026nbsp;That much bandwidth isn't terribly useful other than at the macro scale of seeing if there are signals. \u0026nbsp;More typically I set the IF bandwidth to 2MHz which easily covers an entire ham band and use the zoom control in HDSR to narrow it even further. \u0026nbsp;What's further, I can feed IF audio from what's being received by the SDR to programs such as CWSkimmer. \u0026nbsp;CWSkimmer has an interface for the SoftRock SDR to receive up to 192kHz. \u0026nbsp;The issue was how to get the audio output from HDSDR to the CWSkimmer application.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ETo accomplish that I use \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/vb-audio.pagesperso-orange.fr\/Cable\/VirtualCables.htm\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EVB-Audio virtual audio cable\u003C\/a\u003E to route 192kHz bandwidth of audio from HDSDR to CWSkimmer's SoftRock IF\/IQ interface. CWSkimmer also has an OmniRig interface so that is configured to read the second virtual COM port pair from HDSDR. \u0026nbsp;Thus I can control the Eagle from either HDSDR or from CWSkimmer and vice-versa, changing the VFO on the Eagle commands HDSDR and thus CWSkimmer to follow it.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIt's a thing of beauty.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EVideo Demonstration\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/ZYlMuNCCExg\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ZYlMuNCCExg?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/2945154890415488332\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/02\/spruce-up-basic-transceiver-with-sdr.html#comment-form","title":"5 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/2945154890415488332"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/2945154890415488332"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/02\/spruce-up-basic-transceiver-with-sdr.html","title":"Spruce up a basic transceiver with an SDR"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tRwU-Udkr0M\/WK-QzH-hDnI\/AAAAAAAAdec\/KNF5UrSMcdU6hccDJlTJYQKwsILpwgIAwCLcB\/s72-c\/sdr-2.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"5"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-3074624084103607356"},"published":{"$t":"2017-02-14T20:55:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-02-14T20:55:14.189-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"All keyed up"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003ESometimes I can't decide which CW key to use\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAs I've been posting videos I've received requests to display the translation of the CW as it's received and sent. \u0026nbsp;I have tried narrating a bit in some of the videos but that doesn't cut it. \u0026nbsp;So I did this little video test to see how FLDIGI would translate the code and capture that translation from my computer screen then display it in the video at the bottom.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIt worked reasonably well for this short message but I think when I have my next video QSO I'll need to capture the entire FLDIGI translation window and include it as a video insert. \u0026nbsp;This was just a test for me to see how to use iMovie to overlay a video within a video.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EHopefully you'll enjoy this little test... No QSO, just me rotating sending different words across each type of key I had on the desk.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe width=\"320\" height=\"266\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/S-DGvvrCLIE\/0.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S-DGvvrCLIE?feature=player_embedded\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/3074624084103607356\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/02\/all-keyed-up.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/3074624084103607356"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/3074624084103607356"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/02\/all-keyed-up.html","title":"All keyed up"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/S-DGvvrCLIE\/default.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-6060962419571586076"},"published":{"$t":"2017-02-12T20:49:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-02-13T12:43:09.327-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"First Down Under contact"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EThe bands aren't dead yet\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EStill relatively new to the HF CW scene I have a bit over 1400 contacts and I've found that more than half my calls now are with stations I've previously worked. \u0026nbsp;Don't get me wrong, that's not a problem, and I enjoy the camaraderie of frequent chats. \u0026nbsp;But even so, I want to expand my reach and begin working some DX stations on a more regular basis.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMy 80m OCF Dipole (Windom) is resonant (below 2:1 SWR) on 80m, 40m, 20m, 17m, 12m, 10m and 6m. \u0026nbsp;So I've been spending time on 17 and 10 meters, trying to work beyond my normal circle of CW contacts. \u0026nbsp;Yes the solar cycle is definitely on the wane but I am pulling in a few contacts on 17m and each one is a new call for me.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis afternoon, after about 10 minutes of fruitless calling on 18.080 I spun the VFO and \u003Cb\u003Ebehold,\u003C\/b\u003E I heard a VK station (VK2DX) calling on 18.074. \u0026nbsp;I had to send my call a few times but he copied me and we exchanged reports and names. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EA QSO with Australia, I was psyched! \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-7bS4jumzZoE\/WKEGobBPj3I\/AAAAAAAAdYE\/0CYAMx_I5R0dczvM_QmokztLpE6tMuQUwCLcB\/s1600\/First%2BVK%2Bcontact.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-7bS4jumzZoE\/WKEGobBPj3I\/AAAAAAAAdYE\/0CYAMx_I5R0dczvM_QmokztLpE6tMuQUwCLcB\/s1600\/First%2BVK%2Bcontact.PNG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EMy first VK contact with VK2DX in Australia -- 9636 miles\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ERF is indeed magic\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ENow for you old timers with thousands of contacts in the log and dozens of VK's in the log you're thinking no big deal, but if you're new to this and started on the downside of the solar cycle you may be thinking, like me, that 10,000 mile DX is rarer than hens teeth. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo, if you're still new to HF and you think you'll need to wait until the solar cycle 25 for a CW contact with the other side of the world, because your using a low power radio and a wire antenna; just keep plugging along and you'll probably find the RF pixies are smiling at you.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo give those higher frequencies a shot even when they sound dead and RBN shows nary a spot.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EEDIT:\u003Cbr \/\u003EJust checked my RBN spot page (\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.reversebeacon.net\/dxsd1\/dxsd1.php?f=0\u0026amp;c=aa4oo\u0026amp;t=dx\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Espots for AA4OO\u003C\/a\u003E) and I did indeed get picked up by a RBN station in Australia but on 20m rather than 17m. \u0026nbsp;So maybe it's not so surprising that I was able to work him today. \u0026nbsp;I need to pay more attention to my RBN spots.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-TJj57kLOrkc\/WKHv2ch1PCI\/AAAAAAAAdZ0\/bUdwtxzmitUCkmE3FWMwEJJTX53VkbttACLcB\/s1600\/Screenshot_2017-02-13-12-39-42.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-TJj57kLOrkc\/WKHv2ch1PCI\/AAAAAAAAdZ0\/bUdwtxzmitUCkmE3FWMwEJJTX53VkbttACLcB\/s640\/Screenshot_2017-02-13-12-39-42.png\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E73\/72\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\/\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/6060962419571586076\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/02\/first-down-under-contact.html#comment-form","title":"4 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/6060962419571586076"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/6060962419571586076"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/02\/first-down-under-contact.html","title":"First Down Under contact"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-7bS4jumzZoE\/WKEGobBPj3I\/AAAAAAAAdYE\/0CYAMx_I5R0dczvM_QmokztLpE6tMuQUwCLcB\/s72-c\/First%2BVK%2Bcontact.PNG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"4"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-3812966819932688583"},"published":{"$t":"2017-02-04T21:10:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-02-05T08:43:50.898-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Over the waterfall"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003ESituational awareness\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAfter reading all the hoopla surrounding the ICOM 7300 with its nice touch screen and waterfall\/spectrum display, it got me to thinking that I was missing out on something.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-HyUbLD3GAWA\/WJZ_RtzUEdI\/AAAAAAAAdUQ\/ze97s0peASsecBFKpLjmgAPF3JnxWDcdwCLcB\/s1600\/hdsdr-waterfall.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"340\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-HyUbLD3GAWA\/WJZ_RtzUEdI\/AAAAAAAAdUQ\/ze97s0peASsecBFKpLjmgAPF3JnxWDcdwCLcB\/s640\/hdsdr-waterfall.PNG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EHDSDR display on 40m tonight\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWhen I first got my Electraft KX3 I hooked it up to \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hdsdr.de\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EHDSDR \u003C\/a\u003Erunning on my PC and played around with the panadapter display. I admit it is very cool to visualize signals on the band. \u0026nbsp;That 44kHz view shown in HDSDR covers a large portion of the commonly used CW band segments. \u0026nbsp;I'd click on a signal and bam there it was tuned right in. I'd listen for a while and click another, and another. It was like shooting fish in a barrel (although I admit I've never tried shooting fish in a barrel). \u0026nbsp;After a while the novelty wore off and I went back to just tuning around the band.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThere seemed to be more magic in stumbling upon someone calling CQ than looking at the bandscope and choosing the strongest signal.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ETaking it all in\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EBut I'm starting, just starting, to be more interested in working DX and potentially doing some contesting this year and for that I can definitely see an advantage to using a panadapter with the radio to see what's around me at a glance.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EHowever, \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/01\/my-tentec-eagle-sounds-better-than-my.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eas you may have read\u003C\/a\u003E, I prefer using my TenTec Eagle over my KX3 at the desk. \u0026nbsp;But my Eagle is an older model made before the panadapter output came standard and even before they offered a provision for hooking one up.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMy friend \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/search?q=contest+station\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAA4XX \u003C\/a\u003Euses a separate SDR with a input splitter and a DX Engineering RTR-1A receive interface to switch the SDR out of the chain when transmiting. The advantage of his solution is that it works with any transceiver but the relay in that unit is quite noisy and I appreciate the quiet full QSK offered by my radios.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-xgh4xzQcBaQ\/VuXLayM-KGI\/AAAAAAAAY9Y\/Zct1kD_9lcgmYHIdiCFcrWvN7HN_WKy1gCPcB\/s1600\/Paul-160cw-contest-6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"260\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-xgh4xzQcBaQ\/VuXLayM-KGI\/AAAAAAAAY9Y\/Zct1kD_9lcgmYHIdiCFcrWvN7HN_WKy1gCPcB\/s400\/Paul-160cw-contest-6.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EUsing a SDR as a receiver \u003Cbr \/\u003Eprotected during transmit by a DX-Engineering RTR-1A\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EOne option for an older Eagle like mine is to take the input for a SDR straight from the input of the Low Pass Filter. That line is switched out on transmit by the Eagle to protect its own receiver so no separate switching circuit is required. \u0026nbsp;There's a tiny coax that would need to be spliced into which Paul assures me is doable mod with the right equipment. I would still need to buy an external SDR and it should be a good quality one or there's little point. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo I've been operating my KX3 at the desk this week using its built in RX\/IQ to feed HDSDR to see if I like the idea enough to spend the money on doing this for the Eagle. \u0026nbsp;It's been over a year since I had this setup and I've switched computers so I had to go throuth the setup again and I thought it was worth documenting in case there are others that want to do this with their KX3's.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHDSDR is a really nicely done program, doubly so because it's free. It can be fed from an SDR or from your sound card. It interfaces to the control the radio using Omni-rig software.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo the setup is in two parts, configuring Omni-rig and secondly configuring four your sound card.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EOmni-rig\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.dxatlas.com\/omnirig\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EOmni-rig\u003C\/a\u003E is freeware CAT control software. \u0026nbsp;In the case of the KX3 it interfaces using the USB control cable that comes with the KX3. \u0026nbsp;Simply choose the serial port that your computer assigned to the KX3 and match the baud rate settings in the KX3.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-4ILuwMdTzPg\/WJaAE3yARGI\/AAAAAAAAdUY\/PSz1MzR46McPNVdM5VqEpAmT6iNA-tloACLcB\/s1600\/omni-rig-kx3.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-4ILuwMdTzPg\/WJaAE3yARGI\/AAAAAAAAdUY\/PSz1MzR46McPNVdM5VqEpAmT6iNA-tloACLcB\/s400\/omni-rig-kx3.PNG\" width=\"222\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003Eomni-rig settings for my KX3\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EHDSDR configuration\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EDownload \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hdsdr.de\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EHDSR\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EConfiguration for the KX3 is mostly straightforward. Click the options button HDSDR. \u0026nbsp;The only part that trips me up each time is configuring the CW offset in [RF Front end configuration]. Make note of your side tone Hz setting on your KX3 by pressing and holding the CMP\/PITCH button. Also be sure that you haven't inadvertently set CW reverse on some bands because that will really have you pulling your hair out as you try and figure out why the signals line up on some bands but not others.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo to set your CW offset correctly put your sidetone Hz as a negative number in CW_L and subtract your sidetone from 1000 Hz and put that value in CW_U as shown below. \u0026nbsp;Everything else should be set as shown.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-LIXFV_OY9po\/WJaBggzVpEI\/AAAAAAAAdUk\/-KrhuYltVkoeDHCk45TmQPiGSk0WFz4IgCLcB\/s1600\/rf-front-end-frequency-options.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-LIXFV_OY9po\/WJaBggzVpEI\/AAAAAAAAdUk\/-KrhuYltVkoeDHCk45TmQPiGSk0WFz4IgCLcB\/s1600\/rf-front-end-frequency-options.PNG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ERF-front end configuration screen\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EChoose the Omni-rig configuration as shown below to match your station settings.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-UivqRVn3_mg\/WJaCILQiD3I\/AAAAAAAAdUs\/0yS-u3sZyzg0RD8pN9ax7ahLHjLByhDjwCLcB\/s1600\/omni-rig-hdsdr-setttings.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-UivqRVn3_mg\/WJaCILQiD3I\/AAAAAAAAdUs\/0yS-u3sZyzg0RD8pN9ax7ahLHjLByhDjwCLcB\/s1600\/omni-rig-hdsdr-setttings.png\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ECAT to radio settings\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ELastly make sure RX\/IQ output is turned on in your KX3 by setting MENU: RX I\/Q to ON. \u0026nbsp;Run the KX3 RX\/IQ cable to your mic input on your PC. \u0026nbsp;Then\u0026nbsp; choose your sound card bandwidth setting in HDSDR. \u0026nbsp;I'm not sure what the available bandwidth from the KX3 RX\/IQ actually is but on all the PCs I've tried it with a bandwidth of 44100 seems to work best. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-HMWvV6vUv54\/WJaC5V2jeDI\/AAAAAAAAdUw\/B-VJrUsuXIIAbQf918B4gCjNiv0ky7SSQCLcB\/s1600\/soundcard%2Bbw.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-HMWvV6vUv54\/WJaC5V2jeDI\/AAAAAAAAdUw\/B-VJrUsuXIIAbQf918B4gCjNiv0ky7SSQCLcB\/s1600\/soundcard%2Bbw.PNG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003Esoundcard bandwidth\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThat's basically all there is to it. If you see a bunch of \"lines\" in the waterfall display that do not correspond to signals and if there is a thick signal line right at your input frequency then your station grounding is insufficient. \u0026nbsp;See my article on \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/01\/the-ground-is-not-beneath-your-feet.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Egrounding\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;When I first set this up I had insufficient station grounding and saw a lot of artifacts in HDSDR that were due to bad grounding between my PC and the radio. \u0026nbsp;So it will let you know if you have grounding problems.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo if you're lusting after that pretty display in the IC-7300 and don't want to shell out for another shiny toy, you can at least get a pretty display out of your KX3 without buying a PX3. \u0026nbsp;Just use HDSDR and the built-in RX\/IQ.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThat's all for now...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo lower your power and see the signals in technicolor\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E72\/73\u003Cbr \/\u003ERichard AA4OO\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/3812966819932688583\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/02\/over-waterfall.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/3812966819932688583"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/3812966819932688583"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/02\/over-waterfall.html","title":"Over the waterfall"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-HyUbLD3GAWA\/WJZ_RtzUEdI\/AAAAAAAAdUQ\/ze97s0peASsecBFKpLjmgAPF3JnxWDcdwCLcB\/s72-c\/hdsdr-waterfall.PNG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-4711916441191738186"},"published":{"$t":"2017-01-25T07:00:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-25T07:02:20.041-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Hard fought SKCC QSO using the Ten-Tec Century\/21"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2 class=\"tr_bq\"\u003ESometimes you need to move your QSO\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-av-iAb1Tgcs\/WIgEX8jw95I\/AAAAAAAAdNg\/d9D_E_hr5jUuL0ia5l3RaskPAZdKDgzUwCLcB\/s1600\/fisheye-station-1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-av-iAb1Tgcs\/WIgEX8jw95I\/AAAAAAAAdNg\/d9D_E_hr5jUuL0ia5l3RaskPAZdKDgzUwCLcB\/s640\/fisheye-station-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EMy ever changing station configuration\u003Cbr \/\u003ELeft to right - Elecraft KX3, Ten-Tec Century\/21 with Ten-Tec Eagle on top, the MFJ 493 keyer on the right\u003Cbr \/\u003E4 keys - Navy Flameproof, Kent Hand Key, Vibroplex Bug, N3ZN QRP paddle\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe Elecraft AF1 audio filter is sitting unused in front of the Century\/21\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EAfter starting our QSO the ARRL QST program started right on top of us causing QRM that forced us to move to another frequency\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMy old \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/10\/ten-tec-century-21-cw-only-rig-ahead-of.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ETen-Tec Century\/21\u003C\/a\u003E is a lot of fun to use and its direct conversion receiver makes CW sound beautiful. But the frequency dial is fairly imprecise so when I asked the station to QSY up 1kHz finding him again was a bit of a challenge. \u0026nbsp;When I heard him I had to zero-beat him again to make sure I was on the correct side of the direct conversion receivers passband.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EEnjoy the QSO and the QRM dodging...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/TnCaN0C7T5Q\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/TnCaN0C7T5Q?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EShooting this video\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis video was a bit harder to shoot than what I normally do. \u0026nbsp;I usually place my camera to one side but I wanted to use my fisheye lens and shoot the QSO from above. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWhile shooting I was straddling the tripod with the camera right in front of my face so I was reaching around the tripod to use my keys and get to my keyboard for logging. \u0026nbsp;It was a bit awkward, and in the video you'll see me bump the VFO while trying to operate the radio because I couldn't really see what I was doing. \u0026nbsp;It's always fun to add a level of difficulty while making these videos.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/4711916441191738186\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/01\/hard-fought-skcc-qso-using-ten-tec.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/4711916441191738186"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/4711916441191738186"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/01\/hard-fought-skcc-qso-using-ten-tec.html","title":"Hard fought SKCC QSO using the Ten-Tec Century\/21"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-av-iAb1Tgcs\/WIgEX8jw95I\/AAAAAAAAdNg\/d9D_E_hr5jUuL0ia5l3RaskPAZdKDgzUwCLcB\/s72-c\/fisheye-station-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-7454990125183364991"},"published":{"$t":"2017-01-24T20:47:00.002-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-24T20:47:46.363-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Weight for it..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003ESlowing a Vibroplex Bug using an aftermarket 1.9 oz weight\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-f1YdMz0QItw\/WIf-onjhZuI\/AAAAAAAAdNQ\/pRHZqPa94yoSjfdrY7UCV4Weu_XYaDnaQCLcB\/s1600\/bug-weight.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"502\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-f1YdMz0QItw\/WIf-onjhZuI\/AAAAAAAAdNQ\/pRHZqPa94yoSjfdrY7UCV4Weu_XYaDnaQCLcB\/s640\/bug-weight.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ELeft to right - 1.9 oz weight, standard bug weight, homemade weight\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI've been using my Vibroplex bug about a year now. \u0026nbsp;When I first received it I slowed it down with a homemade weight made from a couple of steel spacers on a drywall screw anchor that fit over the end of the pendulum. \u0026nbsp;It was effective at slowing the bug down to about 15wpm (words per minute) but I couldn't go over 17wpm when it was on the end of the pendulum. \u0026nbsp;My homemade weight is fiddly to take on and off when I want to go to a faster speed.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThere are a number of aftermarket options for slowing down a bug. \u0026nbsp;One of the more common options is the vari-speed armature that Vibroplex sells. \u0026nbsp;But I think they are ugly and I think it makes the DITS sound mushy because it places the weight above the pendulum and causes some twisting. \u0026nbsp;So I ordered the heaviest aftermarket weight I could find which was a 1.9 oz stainless weight. \u0026nbsp;It looks like the standard weight and still allows me to take my speed up to 24 wpm by sliding it forward.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EBut it didn't slow the bug down as much as I'd hoped. \u0026nbsp;On my Standard Vibroplex but it only slows it down to 20wpm and I was hoping for more. \u0026nbsp;The largest weight Vibroplex shipped with their bugs was a 1.1 oz weight and with that one the slowest my bug will send is 24wpm but it goes up over 35wpm at it's fastest position. \u0026nbsp;I can't send or copy much above 25wpm yet so I was hoping for something that would give me a range of 15wpm to 25wpm.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThere is variability in the spring tension of many bugs so it may slow yours down more than mine and I've borrowed a friends Champion bug which is significantly slower with its standard weight, so maybe I'll try and get a Champion to go alongside my Standard at some point.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis video demonstrates the different weights\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe width=\"320\" height=\"266\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/TO7ymV93Ewg\/0.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/TO7ymV93Ewg?feature=player_embedded\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EFor grins I made a video of what the pendulum is doing in slow motion\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe width=\"320\" height=\"266\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/ZYYukPBh-MA\/0.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ZYYukPBh-MA?feature=player_embedded\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/7454990125183364991\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/01\/weight-for-it.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/7454990125183364991"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/7454990125183364991"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/01\/weight-for-it.html","title":"Weight for it..."}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-f1YdMz0QItw\/WIf-onjhZuI\/AAAAAAAAdNQ\/pRHZqPa94yoSjfdrY7UCV4Weu_XYaDnaQCLcB\/s72-c\/bug-weight.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-7673346675180872984"},"published":{"$t":"2017-01-21T17:47:00.003-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-10-16T16:28:54.437-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Quirky Keyer - The MFJ-493"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EThe MFJ-493 has some cool tricks and some not so cool flaws\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-1FA-gvzvneQ\/WIPQpBwNy-I\/AAAAAAAAdGc\/3eWwW18GkSMZsB6QymJZ4904unWHmpgKACLcB\/s1600\/mfj-493-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"490\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-1FA-gvzvneQ\/WIPQpBwNy-I\/AAAAAAAAdGc\/3eWwW18GkSMZsB6QymJZ4904unWHmpgKACLcB\/s640\/mfj-493-2.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EMFJ-493 \"Super\" Menu Driven Memory Keyer\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EMemory keyers do the repetitive and boring stuff\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe bands have not been kind in this declining sunspot cycle and I've been sending out my call repeatedly on occasions before receiving a response. \u0026nbsp;I wanted to get a memory keyer to lessen the burden of repeatedly sending my call and to also give me opportunities to do a bit of contesting this year.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIf you want a good memory keyer, the K1EL Winkeyer is the natural choice to go with, so of course, I chose to acquire a 23 year old MFJ product instead. \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003ETake the road less traveled and you'll find wonders or fall in a ditch, I always say\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe MFJ-493 is no longer sold but you'll frequently see them available used for reasonable prices and MFJ still sells a less featured variant (the MFJ-492).\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-gXxtqjcQV3A\/WIPW-gHRtmI\/AAAAAAAAdGs\/3s1zRoUtUXMJ92e4HEgqpEZETn9Fl6IAQCLcB\/s1600\/mfj-493-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"436\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-gXxtqjcQV3A\/WIPW-gHRtmI\/AAAAAAAAdGs\/3s1zRoUtUXMJ92e4HEgqpEZETn9Fl6IAQCLcB\/s640\/mfj-493-4.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EMemory keyer at the the ready\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EFeatures\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ETypical of many memory keyers the MFJ-493 let's you store messages in up to 8 memories of 4,000 character each using your paddle, an external keyboard plugged into the back or a terminal program via the serial interface. \u0026nbsp;If you make a mistake while entering a message you can send 8-DITS and it will erase the previous word and send the last word in the message so editing is fairly easy. \u0026nbsp;Messages can be constructed from other memories, i.e. you can store your call in Memory #1 and then use \"\/1\" in other messages to reference your call. \u0026nbsp;Repeats and timers are available within the messages as well.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAny of the 8 messages can be sent with the press of a button, although to send messages 4-8 you switch to the second bank of memories.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI won't list all the features because I think they are relatively common across memory keyers and I've posted a link to the manual later in the post, but I will mention that I enjoyed the ability to vary the character AND word spacing sent in messages. \u0026nbsp;So you can create \"Farnsworth\" type messages that sound (to my ears) far more natural than the typical \"squashed\" sounding CW sent from most memory keyers. \u0026nbsp;I demonstrate that in the video review. \u0026nbsp; I know a contester would never want to slow down the CW sent from his memory keyer but I have different priorities.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMost of the functions are clearly visible on the front panel so you don't need to refer to the manual to operate most features. \u0026nbsp;Some of the commands are not listed on the front panel so don't totally ignore the manual.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-7vd3vDfv-rY\/WIbJWYM1CyI\/AAAAAAAAdJk\/0pQ4fAp0VaQWZa9zMXtGDachsFCEaCVcwCLcB\/s1600\/IMG_20170123_200140266.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"564\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-7vd3vDfv-rY\/WIbJWYM1CyI\/AAAAAAAAdJk\/0pQ4fAp0VaQWZa9zMXtGDachsFCEaCVcwCLcB\/s640\/IMG_20170123_200140266.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EBack panel\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003EThe back panel sports a couple interesting ports.. an external keyboard interface and a serial port interface. \u0026nbsp;The external keyboard can of course be used to generate Morse code without a paddle and can make programming memories easier.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe serial port can be used with a terminal emulator like PuTTY set to:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E1200 baud\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E8 data bits\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E1 stop bit\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003Eno parity\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ExOn\/xOff flow control.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIf you power up the keyer while it's attached to a terminal emulator you can see some interesting information:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace; font-size: x-small;\"\u003EMFJ-493 MEMORY KEYER VERSION 1.1.2C. \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;COPYRIGHT MFJ ENTERPRISES, 1993.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace; font-size: x-small;\"\u003ETYPE \"[help]\" (USING BRACKETS AND LOWER CASE LETTERS) FOR ON LINE HELP INDEX.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace; font-size: x-small;\"\u003E[help]\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace; font-size: x-small;\"\u003EHELP INDEX FOR MFJ-493 MEMORY KEYER\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace; font-size: x-small;\"\u003E1. \u0026nbsp;TYPE [help-program] FOR HELP ON PROGRAMMING MESSAGES\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace; font-size: x-small;\"\u003E2. \u0026nbsp;TYPE [help-transmit] FOR HELP ON SENDING MESSAGES\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace; font-size: x-small;\"\u003E3. \u0026nbsp;TYPE [help-setup] FOR HELP ON CONFIGURING YOUR MFJ-493\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace; font-size: x-small;\"\u003E4. \u0026nbsp;TYPE [help-list] FOR LIST OF ALL COMMANDS\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace; font-size: x-small;\"\u003E[help-list]\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace; font-size: x-small;\"\u003EHELP-LIST INDEX FOR MFJ-493 MEMORY KEYER\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace; font-size: x-small;\"\u003E[help] \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; LISTS GENERAL TOPICS\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace; font-size: x-small;\"\u003E[help-program] \u0026nbsp; LISTS MEMORY STORING INSTRUCTIONS\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace; font-size: x-small;\"\u003E[help-transmit] \u0026nbsp;LISTS TRANSMITTING INSTRUCTIONS\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace; font-size: x-small;\"\u003E[help-setup] \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; LISTS KEYER SETUP INSTRUCTIONS\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace; font-size: x-small;\"\u003E[help-list] \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;LISTS ALL COMMANDS\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace; font-size: x-small;\"\u003E[start#] \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; STARTS KEYER MESSAGE NUMBER # STORAGE ROUTINE\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace; font-size: x-small;\"\u003E[stop] \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; ENDS KEYER MESSAGE STORAGE ROUTINE\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace; font-size: x-small;\"\u003E[{#}] \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;MARKS FILE FOR ASCII UPLOAD TO MEMORY\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace; font-size: x-small;\"\u003E[send#] \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;SENDS MESSAGE NUMBER #\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace; font-size: x-small;\"\u003E[show#] \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;DISPLAYS MESSAGE NUMBER # CONTENTS\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace; font-size: x-small;\"\u003E[co] \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; STARTS KEYER COMMAND MODE\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003EAmong other commands. \u0026nbsp;There are also commands for printing out the contents of the memories.\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo the keyer has a sort of built-in manual if you connect it to a terminal. \u0026nbsp;Very full featured at used prices.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EUsing a terminal to the keyer via the serial port also displays everything you send with your key as well as allowing keyboard (terminal) input to the memories or allowing you to send code by typing in the terminal emulator. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ELastly regarding commands.. a useful command to know that's not on the front panel, is that you can reset the 493 to factory settings by holding the menu button down while turning it on.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ECool features not seen in other memory keyers\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ETwo functions FCC Exam Practice and QSO Simulator are lots of fun. \u0026nbsp;The FCC Exam practice sends a standard FCC CW exam from back when code was required for license upgrades. \u0026nbsp;It varies up the messages but sends the standard elements required back then. \u0026nbsp;Good for practice.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EBut the super-cool feature is \"QSO Simulator\". This mode performs an interactive QSO with you.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EAre band conditions getting you down? \u0026nbsp;No one answers your calls? \u0026nbsp;Have a QSO with your keyer!\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI'll leave the video to do most of the explaining but basically, the keyer will listen to you send CQ and answer your call and then exchange information with you answering after the turn around. \u0026nbsp;You're expected to get the call it SENDS you correct or it won't answer you back. \u0026nbsp;If you send poor CW it makes raspberry sounds at you. \u0026nbsp;It's just a lot of fun to play around with and copy.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EMFJ-493 \"QSO Simulator\" demonstration\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/Yiez5teSqYY\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Yiez5teSqYY?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ENits\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EA couple features that are completely useless are the \"hand key\" mode and the \"semi-automatic-mode\". \u0026nbsp; Once the hand-key mode is enabled you can use either paddle as a straight key but it is very unresponsive at anything over 5-10 wpm. \u0026nbsp;So keep your straight key wired into the output of this keyer. \u0026nbsp;Similarly the \"semi-automatic\" mode is supposed to simulate a bug, where the DITS are sent automatically but the DAHS are manual. \u0026nbsp;Well it's even worse than the hand-key mode, don't bother as it's for entertainment purposes only.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAnother problem with this keyer is related to the weighting commands 'C' and 'W'. \u0026nbsp;If you have either of them set to a value other than zero you cannot accurately record a message into memory using the paddles.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI'd hoped to be able to run both my paddle and bug into the input of this keyer and switch it to hand mode when I wanted to use the bug and use it as a bug \"de-scratcher\" but it doesn't buffer the bug input and in hand key mode misses about a third of the DITS sent by a bug so no joy there. \u0026nbsp;I'll just keep using my old Ham-Keyer as my bug de-scratcher.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EMFJ-493 Manual\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMany thanks to Paul\/N6MGN for sending me a copy of the manual and schematic for this keyer so I could share them.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/viewer?a=v\u0026amp;pid=sites\u0026amp;srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnxoYW1yYWRpb3FycGZpbGVzfGd4OjcwMWMyM2FhOGFlMWZmMmM\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EView manual\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/site\/hamradioqrpfiles\/manuals\/MFJ-493_Manual.pdf?attredirects=0\u0026amp;d=1\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDownload manual\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/viewer?a=v\u0026amp;pid=sites\u0026amp;srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnxoYW1yYWRpb3FycGZpbGVzfGd4OjQ1MTU3YjkzYjUwMmVmMTc\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EView Schematic\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/site\/hamradioqrpfiles\/manuals\/mfj493.pdf?attredirects=0\u0026amp;d=1\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDownload Schematic\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ESo many connections\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAdding this additional keyer finally made me break down and build a connection box for all my keys and rigs. \u0026nbsp;I have 4-5 CW keys on my desk at any given time and 3-4 radios. \u0026nbsp;Each of the two external keyers have female RCA jacks for output. \u0026nbsp;The Ham Keyer uses 2 independent 1\/4\" inputs for straight key and paddle while the MFJ-493 uses a 1\/8\" stereo plug for the paddle. \u0026nbsp;The Ham Keyer expects the DIT to be the tip of the plug and the MFJ (by default) expects the DIT to be the ring of the plug.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EArrrgh!\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ETo top it off, each of my primary 3 radios expect different wiring from an external keyer. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe Elecraft KX3 needs a 1\/8\" stereo plug with the ring terminal un-grounded\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe TenTec Eagle needs a 1\/8\" stereo plug with the ring terminal grounded or a mono 1\/8\"\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMy TenTec Century\/21 needs a 1\/4\" mono plug (my rig is modified, I believe a stock C21 needs a male RCA\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo I took a project box drilled it for 5 phono jacks wired in various configurations for each of the rigs and keyer inputs. \u0026nbsp;I still can't leave the KX3 key plugged in when not in use because when that radio is turned off it presents a high impedance on the plug and makes the C21 think the key is down... \u0026nbsp;(nothing is ever simple) but now I don't have a bunch of 1\/4\" to 1\/8\" and stereo to mono plug connectors chained together like a box-cars on a train.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EVideo review\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis video review demonstrates a few of the features and contains the same QSO in the video above at the end...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/v27zV6KPxio\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/v27zV6KPxio?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ESummary\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe MFJ-493 is a feature rich yet somewhat flawed keyer. \u0026nbsp;For the price I think it's a good buy but don't expect some of the more esoteric functions to work up to your expectations.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations... and send your call a couple dozen times using a memory keyer\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/7673346675180872984\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/01\/quirky-keyer-mfj-493.html#comment-form","title":"5 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/7673346675180872984"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/7673346675180872984"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/01\/quirky-keyer-mfj-493.html","title":"Quirky Keyer - The MFJ-493"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-1FA-gvzvneQ\/WIPQpBwNy-I\/AAAAAAAAdGc\/3eWwW18GkSMZsB6QymJZ4904unWHmpgKACLcB\/s72-c\/mfj-493-2.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"5"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-20487027228043208"},"published":{"$t":"2017-01-18T07:01:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-18T07:01:58.249-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Callsign lookup when portable"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EObtaining callsign info when portable\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWhen I operate portable I travel light and don't take a computer but I do carry my smartphone. \u0026nbsp;As long as I have a signal I can lookup callsign information using my phone. \u0026nbsp;One clean and simple website I've found to use while mobile is\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/callook.info\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehttps:\/\/callook.info\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EHowever a big drawback is that it is only for US stations because it is using the FCC ULS. \u0026nbsp;To lookup a US callsign call keep callook.info in one of your browser tabs open.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-qsJTUwVz2rs\/WH9VAuZsQQI\/AAAAAAAAdFE\/4VCl3QzS_PEYEKdax0wRGRzYi7EKED29wCLcB\/s1600\/Screenshot_20170118-063330.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-qsJTUwVz2rs\/WH9VAuZsQQI\/AAAAAAAAdFE\/4VCl3QzS_PEYEKdax0wRGRzYi7EKED29wCLcB\/s640\/Screenshot_20170118-063330.png\" width=\"360\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003Ecal look.info website\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EQRZ.com?\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EQRZ is one of the more popular websites for looking up callsigns but the website is not formatted for use on mobile devices. \u0026nbsp;It can be used but pinch-zoom is required and honestly the ridiculous number of blinking ads on the website is obnoxious so I stay away from it as much as I can.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EHere's what QRZ.com looks like on my mobile phone...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-3v5OrnMBk40\/WH9VGrCjDNI\/AAAAAAAAdFM\/m4NYA0rGyhAmCTOwzmSPMEJmbF2aRMWqACLcB\/s1600\/Screenshot_20170118-063559.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-3v5OrnMBk40\/WH9VGrCjDNI\/AAAAAAAAdFM\/m4NYA0rGyhAmCTOwzmSPMEJmbF2aRMWqACLcB\/s640\/Screenshot_20170118-063559.png\" width=\"360\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EUgh!\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EThere's an app for that...\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThese days there's always \"an app for that\". \u0026nbsp;There are a number of mobile apps that can lookup callsign information as well. \u0026nbsp;I've used \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?hl=en\u0026amp;id=com.qrz.database.callsign\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EQRZDroid\u003C\/a\u003E with success and it is not limited to US callsigns. \u0026nbsp;I'm confident there's something equivalent for IOS devices.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-oYWWVAVh7cg\/WH9VGN7gubI\/AAAAAAAAdFU\/9mN_lYD69Hof-sJnq_v4LGbm_m4OvT6UACEw\/s1600\/Screenshot_20170118-063623.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-oYWWVAVh7cg\/WH9VGN7gubI\/AAAAAAAAdFU\/9mN_lYD69Hof-sJnq_v4LGbm_m4OvT6UACEw\/s640\/Screenshot_20170118-063623.png\" width=\"360\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EQRZDroid mobile app\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/20487027228043208\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/01\/callsign-lookup-when-portable.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/20487027228043208"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/20487027228043208"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/01\/callsign-lookup-when-portable.html","title":"Callsign lookup when portable"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-qsJTUwVz2rs\/WH9VAuZsQQI\/AAAAAAAAdFE\/4VCl3QzS_PEYEKdax0wRGRzYi7EKED29wCLcB\/s72-c\/Screenshot_20170118-063330.png","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-4445417605238680186"},"published":{"$t":"2017-01-15T17:00:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-15T17:27:01.368-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Have KX3 - will travel"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EPorch Portable\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EDuring a break visiting relatives in Western NC I went outside and threw my end-fed antenna up into a tree and sat on the front porch swing and worked stations in Maine, Kansas and Cuba.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-hDM23_53Na4\/WHrVbsa_i6I\/AAAAAAAAdDM\/N8THyUu5xyQ63Yt_ietlBGsFCIS5lpjigCLcB\/s1600\/IMG_20170114_163428352.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"474\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-hDM23_53Na4\/WHrVbsa_i6I\/AAAAAAAAdDM\/N8THyUu5xyQ63Yt_ietlBGsFCIS5lpjigCLcB\/s640\/IMG_20170114_163428352.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EElecraft KX3 -- Palm Single Key -- and Index cards for logging\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EPortable Ease\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe Elecraft KX3 is such a fabulously portable radio. \u0026nbsp;It is very totable with sidekicks panels and cover, the only exposed part during transport is the BNC connector. \u0026nbsp;I just make sure that's pointing \"up\" in the backpack. \u0026nbsp;I didn't take the time to put the internal batteries back in the KX3 so I carried a small 3ah gel cell battery, good for hours of operation. \u0026nbsp;My antenna is a 9:1 balun fed insulated wire. \u0026nbsp;I get it up in the tree using a throwing weight and heavy line, then untie the weight, attach the wire and pull it up. \u0026nbsp;The coax serves partly as a counterpoise, and I clip two more wires cut to different lengths for additional counterpoise. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EThe KX3's built-in auto-tuner will tune a spoon so it was no problem tuning the end-fed\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EOperating\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe North America QSO party was in full swing and I was looking for casual ragchews so I headed to 30m and heard a number of QSOs but signals were not strong. \u0026nbsp;Checking RBN from my smartphone I saw that I wasn't getting very good reverse beacon reports. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-T04CIU3h1Uw\/WHra3STr_lI\/AAAAAAAAdDg\/tut8IA9TnmgsoGsBBPDZZhKVKGX1KHhqACLcB\/s1600\/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-01-14%2Bat%2B9.11.37%2BPM.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"516\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-T04CIU3h1Uw\/WHra3STr_lI\/AAAAAAAAdDg\/tut8IA9TnmgsoGsBBPDZZhKVKGX1KHhqACLcB\/s640\/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-01-14%2Bat%2B9.11.37%2BPM.png\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EReverse beacon reports while operating portable\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAfter sending my call out manually a few times I put the KX3's built in keyer memory to work sending out my call and eventually I received answers to my calls.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI only had about 90 minutes to operate but I had a good time working a few stations and listening to other QSOs. \u0026nbsp;Packing up the radio, \u0026nbsp;key and pulling the wire down didn't take long. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI'm still thrilled to have the Elecraft KX3 for such opportunities.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/4445417605238680186\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/01\/have-kx3-will-travel.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/4445417605238680186"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/4445417605238680186"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/01\/have-kx3-will-travel.html","title":"Have KX3 - will travel"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-hDM23_53Na4\/WHrVbsa_i6I\/AAAAAAAAdDM\/N8THyUu5xyQ63Yt_ietlBGsFCIS5lpjigCLcB\/s72-c\/IMG_20170114_163428352.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-3732335076338524441"},"published":{"$t":"2017-01-11T23:00:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-11T23:00:18.855-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Get a grip"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EThe Navy Knob exposed\u003C\/h2\u003EOne of the more popular CW straight keys in the venerable \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/01\/in-navy-you-can-sail-seven-seas.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ENavy Flame Proof\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;You grip this key using its \u003Cb\u003ENavy style\u003C\/b\u003E knob. \u0026nbsp;The \"navy style\" is tallish and rounded on top, usually with a skirt underneath. \u0026nbsp;I demonstrate the \"grip\" used for the Navy style key in an \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/01\/in-navy-you-can-sail-seven-seas.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eearlier\u003C\/a\u003E post.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBut what's this old knob made from? \u0026nbsp;Compressed horse hair and tar?\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-E7ziS8TOQ8c\/WHOHr9DJ3CI\/AAAAAAAAc8Y\/KGMp0Ov7Ri8cpGPlVNr_eWlhO16j5TPIQCLcB\/s1600\/hny-5.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-E7ziS8TOQ8c\/WHOHr9DJ3CI\/AAAAAAAAc8Y\/KGMp0Ov7Ri8cpGPlVNr_eWlhO16j5TPIQCLcB\/s640\/hny-5.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ENavy Flame Proof Key contains \"fillers\" in the bakelite material\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EAs I photographed the key I noticed that up-close the knob of my old service key appears to contain fibrous material and it got me wondering about what material they used to make these knobs...\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EThis knob is made of Bakelite\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EBakelite is interesting stuff. \u0026nbsp;It was one of the first commercially successful \"plastics\"\u0026nbsp;developed by the Belgian-American chemist Leo Baekeland in Yonkers, New York in 1907. \u0026nbsp;Leo incorporated \"filler\" materials in bakelite to give it strength. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAll sorts of ground up stuff went into bakelite including \u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003Easbestos\u003C\/span\u003E. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo maybe my \"Flame Proof\" key really IS flame proof...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/e\/eb\/Weigh_Room_Liquid_Materials_1935_Bakelite_Review_Silver_Anniversary_p12.tif\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"476\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/e\/eb\/Weigh_Room_Liquid_Materials_1935_Bakelite_Review_Silver_Anniversary_p12.tif\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EBakelite factory\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EOn the other \"hand\", \u0026nbsp;here's the Kent Hand Key knob for comparison...\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-LjwWK6uXTiw\/WHODB18mCzI\/AAAAAAAAc8I\/4aT6aYe3oQI7CqniaHtcc_aus2iWqppPwCPcB\/s1600\/hny-1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"502\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-LjwWK6uXTiw\/WHODB18mCzI\/AAAAAAAAc8I\/4aT6aYe3oQI7CqniaHtcc_aus2iWqppPwCPcB\/s640\/hny-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EKent Hand Key up-close-and-personal\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/3732335076338524441\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/01\/get-grip.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/3732335076338524441"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/3732335076338524441"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/01\/get-grip.html","title":"Get a grip"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-E7ziS8TOQ8c\/WHOHr9DJ3CI\/AAAAAAAAc8Y\/KGMp0Ov7Ri8cpGPlVNr_eWlhO16j5TPIQCLcB\/s72-c\/hny-5.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-366563935134030945"},"published":{"$t":"2017-01-08T18:43:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-20T17:08:23.817-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"My TenTec Eagle sounds better than my Elecraft KX3"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EYour eardrums will thank you\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EComing back to the hobby in 2015 I re-entered as a CW \/ QRP operator and I\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/08\/finding-right-qrp-radio.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Esearched for a good QRP radio\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;The Elecraft KX3 certainly qualified and it has been a great radio to use, especially when portable.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-uc0a77Ikvpw\/WHKei1yLFzI\/AAAAAAAAc6g\/nw-VFjbVeisjW68oVQ-bd8LsrlKtXhAWACLcB\/s1600\/hny-7.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"340\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-uc0a77Ikvpw\/WHKei1yLFzI\/AAAAAAAAc6g\/nw-VFjbVeisjW68oVQ-bd8LsrlKtXhAWACLcB\/s640\/hny-7.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EElecraft KX3 -- stellar radio for portable QRP operations\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EBut a few months after getting my KX3 an old TenTec Century\/21 found it's way onto my desk and through numerous blog entries you may note that for some reason I kept gravitating to use it rather than my KX3 when I operated from the shack, even though the KX3 beats the old C21 technically in absolutely EVERY regard. \u0026nbsp;I just enjoyed operating CW with the old radio more than the KX3. I couldn't explain why.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EFast forward to late March of 2016. \u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/03\/the-eagle-has-landed.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EI purchased a used TenTec Eagle\u003C\/a\u003E from my friend AA4XX and began using it as my primary radio when I wasn't portable. \u0026nbsp; Here again the KX3 trumps the Eagle in nearly every technical aspect and offers dozens more features. \u0026nbsp;I just kept gravitating to use the TenTec radios rather than the Elecraft. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI used the my KX3 for \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/06\/first-field-day-as-cw-operator.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EField Day in 2016\u003C\/a\u003E and after I packed up and brought it home the KX3 stayed in my backpack and only came out for portable outings. \u0026nbsp;It did not go back on my desk. \u0026nbsp;The KX3 cried little electronic tears while the Eagle gloated...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-atIHlIG_KwE\/WHKe0ANUuzI\/AAAAAAAAc6k\/4p_EI3r50iYzCwFUonTPS47ii1uLHB5kQCLcB\/s1600\/hny-8.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"256\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-atIHlIG_KwE\/WHKe0ANUuzI\/AAAAAAAAc6k\/4p_EI3r50iYzCwFUonTPS47ii1uLHB5kQCLcB\/s640\/hny-8.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ETen-Tec Eagle -- compact \/ simple HF transceiver\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EWhy no love for the KX3?\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ETime passed, and over the new year break I got to thinking about what I missed about having my KX3 on the desk; like its RX\/IQ output for HDSDR and the ease working DX splits using it's dual watch capability and it's integration to logging applications like the ability to trigger CW macros from my logging software. \u0026nbsp;The list of \"nice-stuff\" goes on and on since the KX3 contains multiple kitchen sinks... \u0026nbsp;So I re-organized my desk to make room for the KX3 again and operated with it exclusively over the past few days... \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI was getting ear fatigue and my ears rang in the evenings. \u0026nbsp;This was not the sort of ringing in the New Year that I wanted. I had been previously operating the same amount with the Eagle over the past month without the earaches. \u0026nbsp;Something was amiss.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EHad I finally discovered why I keep going back to my TenTec radios?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EAudio, Audio, Audio\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo over time, even when I switched back and forth between radios there was a subtle \"ouch\" occurring when I used the KX3. \u0026nbsp;I enjoy CW and digging out weak signals can be fun... or it can be painful. \u0026nbsp;I guess when I sat down to use a radio and my hand hovered between the \"Oh-so-feature-rich\" KX3 and the \"Nice-personality\" Eagle my brain was saying \"choose the nice personality\" you're happier that way. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBut there was a underlying reality to the choice I was making.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EJust the facts mam\u003C\/h3\u003EI used an audio frequency analyzer to capture audio from each radio by sandwiching the microphone in my headphones. \u0026nbsp;It hears what I would hear. \u0026nbsp;And the graphs tell a tale.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBelow is one graph for each radio. \u0026nbsp;The \u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: red; font-size: large;\"\u003ERED\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E graph line in each chart is the averaged \"peaked\" frequency output audio during the same QSO. \u0026nbsp;Ignore the green line as it was just the instantaneous \u0026nbsp;audio at the time I froze the display between takes. \u0026nbsp;The CW sidetone on each radio is set to 620Hz.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI re-ran this capture for each radio a few times during a lengthy ragchew between two stations. \u0026nbsp;The signal strength was around S5-S7. \u0026nbsp;It wasn't a strong signal which is typical of what I work, especially as the Solar cycle winds down. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI tried the captures with and without noise reduction on each radio. \u0026nbsp;The RF was rolled off as evenly as I could determine for each and both were set to a DSP filter bandwidth of approximately 400Hz. \u0026nbsp;Both radios were using the same antenna and everything was as similar as I make it. \u0026nbsp;RCVR EQ was set flat for the KX3.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-O0gSF374Nl4\/WHKcLDYB-NI\/AAAAAAAAc6Q\/kCh3Hl_aIMEaN0OUvAPBE9CZJKtxz3G_ACLcB\/s1600\/Spectrum_2017_01_08_14_19_43.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg height=\"640\" padding=\"80px\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-O0gSF374Nl4\/WHKcLDYB-NI\/AAAAAAAAc6Q\/kCh3Hl_aIMEaN0OUvAPBE9CZJKtxz3G_ACLcB\/s640\/Spectrum_2017_01_08_14_19_43.jpg\" width=\"465\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EElecraft KX3 CW audio (ignore green graph line)\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-qbVkKKHtXHA\/WHKcLDbR6JI\/AAAAAAAAc6U\/jMrI_6HUOXsOK1TdXRTmxjImFgEUEFSbwCLcB\/s1600\/Spectrum_2017_01_08_14_21_06.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg height=\"640\" padding=\"80px\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-qbVkKKHtXHA\/WHKcLDbR6JI\/AAAAAAAAc6U\/jMrI_6HUOXsOK1TdXRTmxjImFgEUEFSbwCLcB\/s640\/Spectrum_2017_01_08_14_21_06.jpg\" width=\"465\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ETen-Tec Eagle CW audio (ignore green graph line)\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EThe CW audio output from each of the two radios is distinctive\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-dFttq0HWQA4\/WHK8W9k4iPI\/AAAAAAAAc68\/DrDA5teYL4sUNeTPVRko5woHcsTMIvWxgCLcB\/s1600\/Spectrum_kx3-crop.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-dFttq0HWQA4\/WHK8W9k4iPI\/AAAAAAAAc68\/DrDA5teYL4sUNeTPVRko5woHcsTMIvWxgCLcB\/s200\/Spectrum_kx3-crop.jpg\" width=\"127\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EKX3 audio demonstrates \u003Cbr \/\u003Eshoulder noise\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: left; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-hqm_yFe-ZkE\/WHK8umxxIRI\/AAAAAAAAc7A\/q7X9VF04-pg85s3jrN98TlBdIAtKR8OcACLcB\/s1600\/Spectrum_eagle-crop.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-hqm_yFe-ZkE\/WHK8umxxIRI\/AAAAAAAAc7A\/q7X9VF04-pg85s3jrN98TlBdIAtKR8OcACLcB\/s200\/Spectrum_eagle-crop.jpg\" width=\"127\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EEagle has clean audio\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThere's clearly a CW signal peak around 620Hz in each radio but the KX3 shows a significant shoulder of audio just 9dB down from the peak below the center frequency\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWhereas the Eagle has a clear peak presenting a narrow tone range at the sidetone pitch with narrow shoulders down to the filter width.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EConfirmation of my subjective tests\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWhen I saw this I literally said \"Aha!\" \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis confirmed what my ears and my subconcious had been telling me. \u0026nbsp;The KX3 is more fatiguing to listen to than the Eagle because it presents more noise in the audio or at least a wider audio signal given the same DSP filter setting. \u0026nbsp;I've always remarked about my TenTec radios that their CW seemed to float above the noise. \u0026nbsp;I believe it's related to the cleaner audio filtering. The TenTec Eagle just has cleaner audio out of the box. It has no audio adjustments beyond AF and NR, no menus for fine tuning. \u0026nbsp;My old TenTec Century\/21 sounds the same when using its 500Hz selectivity setting.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIn my opinion Ten-Tec just got CW right.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EYes, I have tried using the KX3 RCVR EQ settings to reduce that lower frequency noise and the problem IMO is that the EQ is more for SSB audio. \u0026nbsp;I think the Q for each setting is too broad and when I try to reduce the low frequency noise IMO it just makes the audio sound mushy. \u0026nbsp;I just can't get as \"clean\" sounding CW tone out of the Elecraft as I can the Ten-Tec.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EOK, \"\u003Cb\u003Esound\u003C\/b\u003E\" is a subjective thing. \u0026nbsp;No two people will hear the same thing the same way and frequencies that bother me may not bother you, but it seems pretty clear from the graphs that the CW audio from the KX3 doesn't match the Eagle.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ESummary\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAdmittedly, my test involved a very small sample size of one radio from each manufacturer. \u0026nbsp;It's just that I'd put the KX3 back on the desk after a many month absence and my ringing ears got me to investigate the cause a bit more scientifically. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI will continue to use the KX3 for portable ops because it is a great self-contained radio and when I work portable I usually operate for much shorter periods so the audio doesn't become an issue.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMan, I hope \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.tentec.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ETen-Tec\u003C\/a\u003E can come back from the grave. They sure made some fine radios for CW operators.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/366563935134030945\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/01\/my-tentec-eagle-sounds-better-than-my.html#comment-form","title":"10 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/366563935134030945"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/366563935134030945"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/01\/my-tentec-eagle-sounds-better-than-my.html","title":"My TenTec Eagle sounds better than my Elecraft KX3"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-uc0a77Ikvpw\/WHKei1yLFzI\/AAAAAAAAc6g\/nw-VFjbVeisjW68oVQ-bd8LsrlKtXhAWACLcB\/s72-c\/hny-7.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"10"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-6998459752000717595"},"published":{"$t":"2017-01-07T02:00:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-07T08:45:16.395-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"What's in your log?"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EPeeling the ADIF onion\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI try to keep a log of my contacts, mostly to know if I've previously worked someone and for keeping up with my SKCC awards. \u0026nbsp;I also keep notes from each QSO in my log so I can reference them during followup contacts. I'm not a contester or a DX chaser although I occasionally will take a look at the cluster spots and see if I can work someone across the pond if they're sending slow enough for me to copy.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMostly I just send out my call and see who turns up.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EBut with the new year I was curious about how many States I'd worked in the past year and a half, during casual contacts. \u0026nbsp;Turns out I've worked all US states except Nevada and Nebraska (but I could swear I've had QSOs with Nebraska). \u0026nbsp;Unfortunately my logs are incomplete. \u0026nbsp;I've had computer screw-ups where I've lost logs and for about 2 months last year my logging software stopped working due to a Windows 10 update issue and I kept trying to log using the QRZ online site but I found it difficult to use. \u0026nbsp;Also, when I'm portable I rarely transfer my paper records back to electronic logs. \u0026nbsp;I usually just scribble down some notes during my Portable QSOs. \u0026nbsp;So I'm likely missing a few dozen QSOs here and there. \u0026nbsp;I know I should get my logging act together but then the hobby starts to seem like work.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAnyway, poking through my log led me to wonder if I could generate some statistics. \u0026nbsp;I'd previously written a Python application using \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/n1ywb\/python-hamtools\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Epython hamtools\u003C\/a\u003E after my first 100 QSOs to parse my log and determine the average age of operators that I'd worked. \u0026nbsp;I wrote about those results in\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/09\/morse-code-is-only-mostly-dead.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/09\/morse-code-is-only-mostly-dead.html\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;But I couldn't find the program I wrote back in 2015 (I'm not very organized) and as I started to write a new parser it got me thinking there must be existing applications to analyze my log and provide insights. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo how do you analyze your log file? \u0026nbsp;By exporting it in ADIF format.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EADIF\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EADIF stands for \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/adif.org\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAmateur Data Interchange Format\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E. \u0026nbsp;Most Ham logging programs can export and import data using this format. \u0026nbsp;It can have lots of fields here's an example record:\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace; font-size: x-small;\"\u003E\u0026lt;a_index:1\u0026gt;7 \u0026lt;ant_az:3\u0026gt;334 \u0026lt;ant_path:1\u0026gt;S \u0026lt;state:2\u0026gt;MI \u0026lt;band:3\u0026gt;30m \u0026lt;call:4\u0026gt;K8BZ \u0026lt;cont:2\u0026gt;NA \u0026lt;country:13\u0026gt;United States \u0026lt;cnty:7\u0026gt;GLADWIN \u0026lt;cqz:1\u0026gt;4 \u0026lt;distance:4\u0026gt;1045 \u0026lt;dxcc:3\u0026gt;291 \u0026lt;eqsl_qsl_rcvd:1\u0026gt;R \u0026lt;eqsl_qsl_sent:1\u0026gt;R \u0026lt;freq:8\u0026gt;10.11403 \u0026lt;freq_rx:8\u0026gt;10.11403 \u0026lt;gridsquare:6\u0026gt;EN73SX \u0026lt;ituz:1\u0026gt;8 \u0026lt;lotw_qslsdate:8\u0026gt;20170105 \u0026lt;lotw_qsl_rcvd:1\u0026gt;R \u0026lt;lotw_qsl_sent:1\u0026gt;Y \u0026lt;mode:2\u0026gt;CW \u0026lt;my_country:13\u0026gt;United States \u0026lt;my_cq_zone:1\u0026gt;5 \u0026lt;my_gridsquare:6\u0026gt;FM05OP \u0026lt;my_itu_zone:1\u0026gt;2 \u0026lt;my_name:4\u0026gt;Rich \u0026lt;name:25\u0026gt;Steven C Wuelfing (Steve) \u0026lt;operator:5\u0026gt;AA4OO \u0026lt;station_callsign:5\u0026gt;AA4OO \u0026lt;qso_date:8\u0026gt;20170103 \u0026lt;qso_date_off:8\u0026gt;20170103 \u0026lt;qth:7\u0026gt;Gladwin \u0026lt;rst_rcvd:3\u0026gt;599 \u0026lt;rst_sent:3\u0026gt;569 \u0026lt;rx_pwr:1\u0026gt;0 \u0026lt;time_off:6\u0026gt;191503 \u0026lt;time_on:6\u0026gt;185344 \u0026lt;tx_pwr:2\u0026gt;5 \u0026lt;k_index:1\u0026gt;3 \u0026lt;lat:7\u0026gt;43.3504 \u0026lt;lon:8\u0026gt;-84.5603 \u0026lt;notes:97\u0026gt;rig ic7600 ant g5rv, rainy temp 38f, lil snow, left hand sending with single lever, likes my pics \u0026lt;pfx:1\u0026gt;W \u0026lt;sfi:2\u0026gt;73 \u0026lt;app_log4om_validated_callsign:1\u0026gt;Y \u0026lt;eor\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/eor\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/app_log4om_validated_callsign:1\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/sfi:2\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/pfx:1\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/notes:97\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/lon:8\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/lat:7\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/k_index:1\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/tx_pwr:2\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/time_on:6\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/time_off:6\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/rx_pwr:1\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/rst_sent:3\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/rst_rcvd:3\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/qth:7\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/qso_date_off:8\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/qso_date:8\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/station_callsign:5\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/operator:5\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/name:25\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/my_name:4\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/my_itu_zone:1\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/my_gridsquare:6\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/my_cq_zone:1\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/my_country:13\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/mode:2\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/lotw_qsl_sent:1\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/lotw_qsl_rcvd:1\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/lotw_qslsdate:8\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/ituz:1\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/gridsquare:6\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/freq_rx:8\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/freq:8\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/eqsl_qsl_sent:1\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/eqsl_qsl_rcvd:1\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/dxcc:3\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/distance:4\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/cqz:1\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/cnty:7\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/country:13\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/cont:2\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/call:4\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/band:3\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/state:2\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/ant_path:1\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/ant_az:3\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/a_index:1\u0026gt;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EA web search for ADIF parsers and generators abound. \u0026nbsp;There was a promising Excel macro but it didn't work for me. \u0026nbsp;A bit more searching turned up a really cool site...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EQScope to the rescue\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EQScope\u0026nbsp;(\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/qscope.org\/\"\u003Ehttps:\/\/qscope.org\u003C\/a\u003E) is a website that allows you to upload your ADIF file and provides a bunch of statistics and charts. \u0026nbsp;There is standard stuff like \"Stations worked\", \"Bands\" etc. and for contesters there are statistics for QSO rates (i.e. how fast are they logging contacts). \u0026nbsp;I was actually more interested in how many of my QSOs were over an hour but it didn't have a statistic for that :)\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo here is a small sample of statistics and charts that QScope was able to tell me from my log...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EBasic Statistics\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003ENumber of QSOs\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E1304\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003ENumber of Dupe QSOs (same Call, Band, Mode)\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E254\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003EImported on\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E2017-01-06\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003EFirst QSO at\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E2015-07-29 19:25:17+00\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003ELast QSO at\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E2017-01-05 00:04:46+00\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003EEvent duration\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E525 days 04:39:29\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003EDistinct callsigns\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E911\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003EDistinct CQ Zones (if specified in the ADIF log)\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E20\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003EDistinct ITU Zones (if specified in the ADIF log)\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E24\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003EDistinct DXCC (if specified in the ADIF log)\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E56\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003EDistinct Locators\/Grid Squares (if specified in the ADIF log)\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E863\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Pb0sZvNPuFE\/WHA42LOkoBI\/AAAAAAAAc2g\/aXnVM-IUlhICdt9nyKxxbmmVbX9a98CKgCLcB\/s1600\/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-01-06%2Bat%2B7.28.26%2BPM.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u0026nbsp;QSOs per band\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-9D9jeYQzNcM\/WHA42U8h5AI\/AAAAAAAAc2k\/Pv_RDn3sFgcwajEl5sV_KhK8tbBIEkcfACLcB\/s1600\/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-01-06%2Bat%2B7.28.57%2BPM.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-9D9jeYQzNcM\/WHA42U8h5AI\/AAAAAAAAc2k\/Pv_RDn3sFgcwajEl5sV_KhK8tbBIEkcfACLcB\/s400\/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-01-06%2Bat%2B7.28.57%2BPM.png\" width=\"398\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EWhere is your antenna beaming?\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis chart is very interesting to me. \u0026nbsp;It shows that 93% of my QSOs are from antenna bearing between 270-300 deg. \u0026nbsp; An OCFD and a Doublet should not be this directional so I'm very curious.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-TRDP45khAWM\/WHBYh6ZC3VI\/AAAAAAAAc24\/8UWm5c4gvtkAOby1oZP39KzjIX9Fmo8FwCLcB\/s1600\/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-01-06%2Bat%2B9.54.14%2BPM.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"398\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-TRDP45khAWM\/WHBYh6ZC3VI\/AAAAAAAAc24\/8UWm5c4gvtkAOby1oZP39KzjIX9Fmo8FwCLcB\/s400\/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-01-06%2Bat%2B9.54.14%2BPM.png\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ECool stuff with Maps\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe Google map KML support is impressive. \u0026nbsp;You can download KML files generated by QScope and watch animations of your contacts over time and groups of stations contacted in each DXCC region.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-cHRYBuHkieM\/WHA423osd3I\/AAAAAAAAc2o\/D3azEIi-XTAI2Wg9z6bdhKrzUTVXXnSHgCLcB\/s1600\/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-01-06%2Bat%2B7.31.19%2BPM.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"424\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-cHRYBuHkieM\/WHA423osd3I\/AAAAAAAAc2o\/D3azEIi-XTAI2Wg9z6bdhKrzUTVXXnSHgCLcB\/s640\/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-01-06%2Bat%2B7.31.19%2BPM.png\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ESummary\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThere's a lot of information in your log. \u0026nbsp;So if you're a new operator like me take some time and determine if there are states you haven't worked or if there's a state you overwork (most my contacts this past year were in Ohio). \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EFor starters I'm going to figure out if there are SKCC operators in Nevada and Nebraska that I can schedule some QSOs with to complete my WAS. \u0026nbsp;I'm not looking for an award or a plaque, I just think it would be cool to say that I've worked every state in the US QRP.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/6998459752000717595\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/01\/whats-in-your-log.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/6998459752000717595"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/6998459752000717595"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/01\/whats-in-your-log.html","title":"What's in your log?"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-9D9jeYQzNcM\/WHA42U8h5AI\/AAAAAAAAc2k\/Pv_RDn3sFgcwajEl5sV_KhK8tbBIEkcfACLcB\/s72-c\/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-01-06%2Bat%2B7.28.57%2BPM.png","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-8315648512204109328"},"published":{"$t":"2017-01-04T18:00:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-04T19:53:21.018-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The ground is not beneath your feet"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EYet another article about proper grounding (yawn)\u003C\/h2\u003EIt seems as though one of the biggest misunderstandings in amateur radio is the issue of \"grounding\". I have probably read more than a dozen articles about grounding and sprinkled a little from each regarding setting up my station. \u0026nbsp;But there always seems to be more to learn. \u0026nbsp;This time I learned more about electrical grounding rather than RF grounding.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ESituation\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI generally try and send my CQ calls at 5 watts RF output or less. If I receive a really poor signal report from the answering station I'll raise my power if I'm able to 20-40w to give them 6-12 more dB to make it more pleasant for them to work me. \u0026nbsp;Propagation has been really poor for me over the past few weeks and I've found myself getting lots of 339, 459 reports etc. and I've been using the Eagle to bump the power into QRO range of up to 80 watts sometimes (gasp). \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EHowever whenever I raised my power in such a situation my TenTec Eagle would behave oddly...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAfter I'd finish keying there would be a brief audio drop and sometimes a pop as the audio came back. \u0026nbsp;I thought an \u003Cb\u003Eunder voltage\u003C\/b\u003E situation was occurring so I measured the voltage from the power supply to the rig while transmitting into a dummy load. \u0026nbsp;The voltage only dropped from 13.8v down to 13.6v so that didn't seem to be the problem. \u0026nbsp;Even transmitting QRO levels into the dummy load sometimes resulted in the audio pop but it was always \u003Ci\u003Eafter\u003C\/i\u003E I un-keyed, never during the actual transmission.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI was perplexed. \u0026nbsp;So I put my question to the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/groups.yahoo.com\/neo\/groups\/TenTec_Eagle\/conversations\/messages\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ETenTec Eagle Yahoo Group\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;Over the past year I have learned more from the technical discussion in that group than pretty much any other single forum... \u0026nbsp;A frequent contributor to the TenTec Eagle Yahoo Group, Bob, K4TAX, answered my question:\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003EYes, the Eagle chassis is \"floating up\" that is to say the DC negative is not really at zero volts as current increases with higher power. \u0026nbsp; I suggest a dedicated ground from the Eagle chassis ground terminal to the power supply ground terminal. \u0026nbsp;For all of my ground jumpers I use #10 AGW auto primary wire to which I crimp and solder a proper lug to each end...\u003C\/blockquote\u003EI did already have the station ground connected to the AC service ground via a fused connection but it was a small guage wire and apparently insufficient to tie the radio back to the power supply ground. \u0026nbsp;So what did this mean? \u0026nbsp;Bob, K4TAX followed up with an email a couple days later to see if I'd resolved my issue...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;Many, I find, believe the DC Negative is adequate between the radio and power supply. \u0026nbsp; In as much as the radio ground system internally has in effect two ground systems, one being for digital ground and one being for analog ground, we commonly find that the resistance between the power supply and the analog ground does allow the radio to float up above zero volts when in transmit. \u0026nbsp;To test for this condition, measure the voltage between the power supply ground and the ground terminal on the radio. \u0026nbsp; Put the radio in CW and key down. \u0026nbsp;The voltage should be less than 0.25 VDC. \u0026nbsp; If it is greater than this, the voltage drop is caused by the resistance in the DC power cable or the ground method used for the station. \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;For this reason it is strongly suggest one have a dedicated ground connection between the radio and the station power supply. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/blockquote\u003EWhen I performed this measurement I saw that the DC negative between the radio and the station ground was in fact \"floating up\" by more than 0.5 VDC. \u0026nbsp;When I shortened the DC cable to only 18\" between the power supply and the rig that resolved the float but the proper answer was addressing my DC electrical ground.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EStation and A.C. Electrical Service Grounding\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-opOI16pLqPw\/WGvKwYXfhwI\/AAAAAAAAczw\/D-grxdiVFiMReHs8fKDAwsbqNDBC_OflACEw\/s1600\/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-01-03%2Bat%2B10.58.22%2BAM.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"234\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-opOI16pLqPw\/WGvKwYXfhwI\/AAAAAAAAczw\/D-grxdiVFiMReHs8fKDAwsbqNDBC_OflACEw\/s640\/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-01-03%2Bat%2B10.58.22%2BAM.png\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Col\u003E\u003Cli\u003EIf not already in place, add Chassis Ground terminal to your Power Supply, and internally bond chassis ground to D.C. negative terminal.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EConnect all station equipment chassis grounds direclty to P\/S chassis ground. See \u003Cb\u003EFigure 1\u003C\/b\u003E below.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EP\/S MUST have three wire A.C. connector, plugged into mating receptacle with ground tied back to A.C. Main Service Entrance ground.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe P\/S chassis ground is your Station ground. The A.C Power connector ground bonds to your A.C. Main Service ground.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ol\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFigure 1\u003C\/b\u003E below depicts ground wire from each piece of equipment is tied back to the Power Supply Chassis Ground.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe Power Supply MUST have Service Ground on A.C.Connector to complete an effective Station AND Service Ground.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-_a0f1I3QiSw\/WGvK-3XUAxI\/AAAAAAAAczw\/ygWh_qE2JL4pX21jbxfEfzRFWRxGBI-tgCEw\/s1600\/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-01-03%2Bat%2B10.59.16%2BAM.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"256\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-_a0f1I3QiSw\/WGvK-3XUAxI\/AAAAAAAAczw\/ygWh_qE2JL4pX21jbxfEfzRFWRxGBI-tgCEw\/s640\/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-01-03%2Bat%2B10.59.16%2BAM.png\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EThe fix\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMy station grounding was somewhat haphazard. \u0026nbsp;As I'd added equipment I'd added ground straps between new components and whatever was nearby. \u0026nbsp;I had different gauge wires, and sometimes used RF straps for DC grounding and... well it was a mess. \u0026nbsp;Armed with new knowledge from Bob I went to Home Depot and purchased 50ft of #10 AWG with #10 AWG terminal eyes and #10 AWG butt connectors. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI cut a 6ft piece of the #10 AWG wire and every 18” along the length solder\/spliced in a 10# AWG wire adding a butt connector resulting in 18” jumpers that allowed each piece of equipment to be attached via a jumper with the butt connector. Each jumper had a male butt connector on one end and a terminal connector to connect it to station grounds at the other. \u0026nbsp;That allows me to easily move equipment around the station ground without unscrewing the ground lugs. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI now have all the radios, tuner, switches and power supply bonded together properly. I also bonded to the chassis ground of my filtered power strip that feeds AC to all the components.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAlso at Bob's recommendation I disconnected my station from the separate ground wire that ran to my outdoor ground rods. \u0026nbsp;My outdoor OCF Dipole comes back through an Alpha Delta spark arrestor that still ties into that ground rod system which is also tied into the house service entrance ground. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EThe result\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI'm happier than a slinky on an escalator... Ok I've used that one before but it's applicable again.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Col\u003E\u003Cli\u003EFirst, there is no longer a rats nest of ground wires running between everything. \u0026nbsp;Ok, points for neatness.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EI can individually disconnect a component without removing the ground wire through the removable butt connector. \u0026nbsp;Points for not fighting with the ground lugs when I need to pull a component or re-configure the station.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMy Eagle can run QRO up to 100 watts out if required with no DC floating issues.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EHere's the phenomenal bit... the band noise at my station is now One S-units lower on 40m and 20m and Three S-units lower on 30m. \u0026nbsp;Honestly I have a hard time believing that re-working the DC ground and disconnecting from the long outside ground wire made that big a difference in my noise levels but it has.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ol\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ESummary\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThere is so much to learn in this hobby. \u0026nbsp;My \"aha\" moments just keep coming.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo if you're like me and didn't know that your radio may have separate Negative VDC voltages between its power and its chassis and what the ramifications could be if they were unmatched, well now you know. \u0026nbsp;Just a few Ohms difference between the power supply negative ground and radio chassis ground can have side effects inside your radio. \u0026nbsp;You may not even know there are problems brewing inside there, so ground that station properly for VDC!\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAlso, if you're running a long ground wire to your station separate from your AC mains safety ground then you're creating a ground loop of at least a few Ohms that gonna cause problems. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI am not saying that you shouldn't (if your run to ground is short enough) run a ground for an antenna grounding system. \u0026nbsp;But that is RF grounding and its a very different topic.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo get rid of that long ground wire, properly ground your station to your power supply and make proper use of your AC mains safety ground.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/8315648512204109328\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/01\/the-ground-is-not-beneath-your-feet.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/8315648512204109328"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/8315648512204109328"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/01\/the-ground-is-not-beneath-your-feet.html","title":"The ground is not beneath your feet"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-opOI16pLqPw\/WGvKwYXfhwI\/AAAAAAAAczw\/D-grxdiVFiMReHs8fKDAwsbqNDBC_OflACEw\/s72-c\/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-01-03%2Bat%2B10.58.22%2BAM.png","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-6970774346352583906"},"published":{"$t":"2017-01-01T11:24:00.003-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-02T09:23:42.705-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"In the Navy... You can sail the seven seas..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003ENavy Flame Proof 26003A key\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIn my journey with amateur radio using CW and mostly low powered operations (QRP) I've slowly been accumulating and learning to use different kinds of Morse Code keys.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-rrpRoxAANTY\/WGkZlfq9SRI\/AAAAAAAAcxc\/g5VWUfNjJ7cSMSgDv_K7rVrBc854cl37ACLcB\/s1600\/skn-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-rrpRoxAANTY\/WGkZlfq9SRI\/AAAAAAAAcxc\/g5VWUfNjJ7cSMSgDv_K7rVrBc854cl37ACLcB\/s640\/skn-3.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ENavy Flame Proof (front adjustment screw is from my Nye Viking key)\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EBut first...\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EBefore I talk about the Navy Flame Proof let me go backwards a bit and discuss CW keys in general and why there are so many types of keys.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EBroadly defined, I think most Hams lump CW keys into two categories... paddles and mechanical keys. Paddles are used with an electronic keyer that produces the actual DIT-DAH Morse Code elements where the operator is only responsible for initiating a Morse element, not controlling the duration. \u0026nbsp;Conversely, mechanical keys rely upon the operator to correctly time the length of the elements. \u0026nbsp;In the case of a \"Bug\" style key, the mechanical key automatically times the duration of DITS but the operator is responsible for the timing of the DAHs.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI would venture to guess that nearly all contesters use paddles because paddles (either dual or single) require less effort and are less fatiguing to use than a mechanical key. \u0026nbsp;It also seems that the majority of QRQ operators use paddles, likely for the same reason. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EBut for whatever reason I'm a bit anachronistic and I usually prefer to use mechanical keys.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI started with a cheap, Philco plastic straight key hooked up to a MFJ practice oscillator. \u0026nbsp;It worked, and I made CW contacts using that key (not the practice oscillator). \u0026nbsp;I'm sure a lot of code has been sent over the years by amateurs \u0026nbsp;with such a key but no one would call a Philco a precision instrument. \u0026nbsp;I knew I wanted another straight key besides the Philco. \u0026nbsp;But unless you can visit a ham with a large CW key collection you're at a bit of disadvantage deciding what kind of key you'd like. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003ECW keys are devices you have to interact with before you know if you'll enjoy them\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EYou can read descriptions and watch videos, but using a CW key is a totally hands-on sorta thing. You might like the looks of a key but if it doesn't feel good eventually you'll set it on the shelf. \u0026nbsp;I find it fascinating how different simple mechanical switches can feel under my hand. \u0026nbsp;We are created in all shapes and sizes and with different preferences. No one is going to determine the \"best key\" for someone else when it comes to a device that is physically touched and manipulated tens of thousands of times over the course of its use.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EOK... let me get back on topic\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAlrighty then, so based on that segue it seems that reading a review and watching a video about a CW key is nearly useless. But I'm all about fruitless activity so here goes...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-FXXWnY6m6vQ\/WGkbgOZIQlI\/AAAAAAAAcxk\/_mef7fbJqrwGJiGtR2V1m8ymWdneshmgQCLcB\/s1600\/skn-1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"412\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-FXXWnY6m6vQ\/WGkbgOZIQlI\/AAAAAAAAcxk\/_mef7fbJqrwGJiGtR2V1m8ymWdneshmgQCLcB\/s640\/skn-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe Navy Flame Proof key was originally manufactured by several suppliers, the Navy 26003A Flame Proof key was manufactured to meet the Table of Equipment needs for ships and planes. During the last three decades of production (ending in 1988), J.H. Bunnell \u0026amp; Co. was the sole source of the Flame Proof key. Bunnell Flame Proofs have \"CJB-26003A\" stamped on them. Other letters indicate different manufacturers. \u0026nbsp;The \"Flame Proof\" designation is because the contacts are sealed inside the key where any potential sparking is confined.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThere have been different types of Flame Proof keys manufactured through the years but the 26003A specification was the last design of the series. \u0026nbsp;My key was manufactured by J.H. Bunnell \u0026amp; Co. but I don't know the vintage. \u0026nbsp;It seems to have been in service with the Navy because it has a very worn ship stamp on the bottom of the key and the knob itself has seen quite a bit of handling. \u0026nbsp;There are a lot of NOS (new old stock) keys out there that were never in service are are basically \"new\". \u0026nbsp;I haven't had the chance to use one of those so my review is based on this used service key. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Av0wMeQ5zxo\/WGph-6ekCCI\/AAAAAAAAcyo\/OF3WaV0ILDMMLN7wL5fRyL56RNc2sRZFACLcB\/s1600\/skn-1-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"326\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Av0wMeQ5zxo\/WGph-6ekCCI\/AAAAAAAAcyo\/OF3WaV0ILDMMLN7wL5fRyL56RNc2sRZFACLcB\/s400\/skn-1-2.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ENavy Knob grip\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe first thing you may note is the \"\u003Cb\u003Egrip\u003C\/b\u003E\" on the key (see the above photo). \u0026nbsp;This key has what is referred to as a \"Navy knob\". \u0026nbsp;That means it has a tall-rounded knob where you grip it. \u0026nbsp;This makes it distinct from J-38 style keys that are low to the desk. \u0026nbsp;You can mount this key directly to your desk to reduce the height but it is still going to present a taller grip than a typical American style key. \u0026nbsp;My preference is for tall keys because I operate \"European Style\" where my arm is not resting on the table. \u0026nbsp;I find it less fatiguing. This \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.mtechnologies.com\/wordpress\/?p=16\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Earticle at Morse Express\u003C\/a\u003E has a good description of the differences in European and American style keys and operation.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-xllIBrD69J4\/WGkmIOiXfKI\/AAAAAAAAcyE\/RsunXpycBBoCPuKQ_58eeyQRosRCAZo7wCLcB\/s1600\/skn-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-xllIBrD69J4\/WGkmIOiXfKI\/AAAAAAAAcyE\/RsunXpycBBoCPuKQ_58eeyQRosRCAZo7wCLcB\/s640\/skn-2.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EKent Hand (left) \u0026nbsp;Navy Flame Proof 26003A (right)\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EYou can also see my Kent Hand Key in photo above next to the 26003A. \u0026nbsp;It has a different shape to the knob and the disc underneath is different as well. \u0026nbsp;The difference in the two knob shapes results in a markedly different feel to gripping the key. \u0026nbsp;My first interaction with the 26003A was uncomfortable. \u0026nbsp;I was gripping it as I would the Kent and it hurt my thumb, but within an hour of use I'd adjusted my grip and the key became quite comfortable.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EYou'll note that my key has a non-stock gap adjustment screw in the front and no plastic cover for the terminals (partly why I got it so cheaply). \u0026nbsp;When it arrived it had a standard slotted 8-32 screw in that position but I wanted to be able to easily adjust it so I borrowed a knurled 8-32 screw and nut from my Nye Viking key (which I've never grown fond of) and put it in service. \u0026nbsp; J.H. Bunnell \u0026amp; Co. still has parts and I plan to order the matching screw and nut if I keep this key on the desk.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe Kent is a rather traditional straight key (albeit Euro style) with the contact in front of the bearings, whereas the Navy Flame Proof has the contacts behind the bearings. \u0026nbsp;Both the difference in leverage and travel to the contact gives it a different feel than the Kent.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-DcnFwcX-YG0\/WGkh6z3I51I\/AAAAAAAAcx0\/ft3AOnasIlElwO51F8a84qsPO5N4b0XjgCLcB\/s1600\/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-01-01%2Bat%2B10.35.36%2BAM.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-DcnFwcX-YG0\/WGkh6z3I51I\/AAAAAAAAcx0\/ft3AOnasIlElwO51F8a84qsPO5N4b0XjgCLcB\/s640\/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-01-01%2Bat%2B10.35.36%2BAM.png\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EInterior\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo, the difference in grip, knob height and gap from my Kent combines to make the 26003A feel like a very different key. \u0026nbsp;Without trying I naturally send about 2 wpm faster on this key than my Kent. \u0026nbsp;When I try to go fast with my Kent things go awry but I can comfortably operate this key at 19 wpm. \u0026nbsp;A 3rd class radioman in the Navy passed a 20 wpm test so I'm confident that this key can be used faster than I'm operating it.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EReady - Set - Action !\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIn use, the Navy Flame Proof is quiet. \u0026nbsp;The contacts are inside the metal body and the only real noise is the arm striking the gap setting front screw. \u0026nbsp;Some folks seem to find that noisy and offer various recommendations for quieting that gap screw. \u0026nbsp;I've mounted my key to an inexpensive award plaque (under $3) and it's resting on thin shelf lining. \u0026nbsp;Compared to my Kent Hand Key which sounds like a woodpecker in action this key is downright silent.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe following video was made during last night's ARRL straight key night event and you can see how I use the key during a QSO.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/Wj5UP5jtR74\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Wj5UP5jtR74?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ESummary\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo should you get one? \u0026nbsp;Absolutely! There's a strong market on e$ay for these keys so if you don't like it you can easily find it a new home. \u0026nbsp;These keys tend to auction from as little as $36 up to $150. \u0026nbsp;The average auction price at present seems to be in the $90 range. \u0026nbsp;I kept bidding low on different auctions and eventually picked this one up one for $41 including shipping, so if you're patient you can give it a try for about the cost of a J-38.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIf you've not gripped a \"Navy knob\" previously give your hand some time to find a comfortable hold, you may also want to experiment with different base heights. \u0026nbsp;I've had mine on a couple different scrap wood bases to try different heights and presently I like this 1\/2\" base but I might find a piece of steel to attach it to get it down low.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo get a bit of salt air in your shack with a Navy Flame Proof key.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-hTO85J4QRmc\/WGkl4lPZ7CI\/AAAAAAAAcyA\/zH9IcTq7rDgWFF-58a0TnIeRrTzsfu7EQCLcB\/s1600\/skn-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"406\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-hTO85J4QRmc\/WGkl4lPZ7CI\/AAAAAAAAcyA\/zH9IcTq7rDgWFF-58a0TnIeRrTzsfu7EQCLcB\/s640\/skn-4.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EAnachronisms\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/6970774346352583906\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/01\/in-navy-you-can-sail-seven-seas.html#comment-form","title":"5 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/6970774346352583906"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/6970774346352583906"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2017\/01\/in-navy-you-can-sail-seven-seas.html","title":"In the Navy... You can sail the seven seas..."}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-rrpRoxAANTY\/WGkZlfq9SRI\/AAAAAAAAcxc\/g5VWUfNjJ7cSMSgDv_K7rVrBc854cl37ACLcB\/s72-c\/skn-3.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"5"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-8257023845495021934"},"published":{"$t":"2016-12-30T17:27:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-01T09:29:28.267-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Peace on Earth... and in the Shack"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EQuieting a noisy power supply\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWith a bit of time over the Christmas break I'm finally getting around to work on things that have bugged me for a while... like my noisy power supply.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/i.onionstatic.com\/avclub\/3647\/57\/16x9\/700.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/i.onionstatic.com\/avclub\/3647\/57\/16x9\/700.jpg\" height=\"180\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EMy TenTec Century 21 doesn't have a fan\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Eand\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;it has a built-in power supply, so no fan noise. \u0026nbsp;My Elecraft KX3 has no fan, so no fan noise and it can run all day from a small 12v battery. \u0026nbsp;My TenTec Eagle only runs fans when the finals get hot and even then the fans are in the interior of the case and are speed controlled, low-speed, high-volume dudes that I have never heard. I can feel air moving through the Eagles vents so I know the fans work, their just silent. \u0026nbsp;But the Eagle needs an external power supply.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EThe calming sound of CW wafting forth from the Eagle is soon destroyed by a sound not unlike an air-raid siren emitted from my Astron power supply as it kicks its fan into high gear\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EProblem\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EMy power supply has a single, large fan that makes me jump every time it whirs into action. \u0026nbsp;Admittedly, my power supply was near the bottom of the range in the Astron lineup. \u0026nbsp;I assume they have speed controlled fans, or at least quieter fans further up the product line. \u0026nbsp;I purchased this one used, about 9 years ago, so who knows, maybe their new power supply's have speed controlled fans.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAnyway, on my model, the muffin fan produces a hurricane force blow switched by a thermocouple located on the transistor heat sink (right hand side). \u0026nbsp;It is a very simple design... when the thermocouple trips it closes a circuit to the fan. \u0026nbsp;When heat sink temperature falls below the threshold it cuts off. \u0026nbsp;So the fan is either ON or OFF. \u0026nbsp;Normally the fan doesn't come on when the rig is idling, and it will only come on once in a while at QRP levels. \u0026nbsp;I just never know when, but I'm always anticipating... like the jerk kid that would flick your ear when he walked by back in school (hmm, I feel as though I may have some un-dealt with issues from childhood). \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe fan seems to have a knack for coming on when I'm working a station that is fading into the noise and remaining on until I've missed some key piece of the QSO.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ESolution\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EWhat I wanted to do was keep the air moving like a gentle breeze rather than a pulsing Category 5, but still allow the fan to come on full speed if needed. \u0026nbsp;So the trick was to get the fan to run continuously at a slow speed whenever the power supply was on but still allow the thermocouple to give it the gas.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe label on the fan says it's 1.4w 12v... I rummaged through my junk box looking for 2w and higher resistors. \u0026nbsp; I didn't find a lot to choose from, since I just haven't been at this electronics building stuff all that long. \u0026nbsp;I had a number of very low resistance ones from 2 ohm to 20 ohm and everything else was 650 ohm or higher.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI clipped test leads to both sides of the thermocouple on the heat sink that controls the fan. \u0026nbsp;I wanted to try different resistor values to see what happened. \u0026nbsp;Predictably, the low value resistors acted pretty much like a closed circuit and the fan ran near full speed. \u0026nbsp;I could have strung a number of the low value resistors in series but that seemed messy and the values were mostly very low. \u0026nbsp;I tried my next lowest value 2-watt resistor, 650 ohm. \u0026nbsp;The fan didn't even come on with 650 ohm resistance. \u0026nbsp;I didn't have anything in between so I put two of the 650's in parallel and it turned verrrry slooowwwly. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003EYou can find TOTAL RESISTANCE in a Parallel circuit with the following formula: 1\/Rt = 1\/R1 + 1\/R2 + 1\/R3 + ... \"\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOk I was on to something. \u0026nbsp; Turned out that 5 of the 650 ohm 2w resistors in parallel did the trick... That turned out to be near 130 ohm. \u0026nbsp;I left them hooked up for an hour or so to make sure more current wasn't being pulled than I expected, and they only became slightly warm to the touch so I figured my redneck engineering was good to go. \u0026nbsp;I soldered the bundle of resistors leads in parallel and used some heat shrink to keep it neat.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI've used the power supply for a good part of a day and it stays nice and quiet now. \u0026nbsp;Not silent, but good enough to where I can't hear it at all with my headphones on. \u0026nbsp;A key down test into a dummy load at QRO power repeated times confirmed that the fan will go to full speed after a while but in normal operation, the thermocouple never triggers. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBy my low standards, I deem this a success.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Z7vVUr-fyUw\/WGbUe1P6iQI\/AAAAAAAAcvU\/S6jH4b0_yuI30o83wFFrKwVLLgezfqKqwCLcB\/s1600\/IMG_20161230_104747606.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Z7vVUr-fyUw\/WGbUe1P6iQI\/AAAAAAAAcvU\/S6jH4b0_yuI30o83wFFrKwVLLgezfqKqwCLcB\/s400\/IMG_20161230_104747606.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003Eredneck ham engineering\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EPerform this mod at your own risk\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis is certainly not a manufacturer approved modification and your power supply may be quite different than mine so tinker at your own risk. \u0026nbsp;Oh, and be careful when you have the cover off a power supply there are multiple, high voltage components in there. \u0026nbsp;Make sure it's unplugged and has plenty of time to bleed off power from the big capacitors before you start messing with anything in there.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo lower your fan speed and raise your quality of life...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/8257023845495021934\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/12\/peace-on-earth-and-in-shack.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/8257023845495021934"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/8257023845495021934"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/12\/peace-on-earth-and-in-shack.html","title":"Peace on Earth... and in the Shack"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Z7vVUr-fyUw\/WGbUe1P6iQI\/AAAAAAAAcvU\/S6jH4b0_yuI30o83wFFrKwVLLgezfqKqwCLcB\/s72-c\/IMG_20161230_104747606.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-5505219249385792294"},"published":{"$t":"2016-12-29T15:15:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-29T15:45:33.895-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Making your old Morse straight key look the part"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EVintage Wiring\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIn honor of the upcoming \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/12\/go-straight-on-jan-1-2017-with-navy.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESKN\u003C\/a\u003E I wanted to spruce up my \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/05\/let-your-fingers-do-talking.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EKent Hand key\u003C\/a\u003E by replacing the ratty cable that I'd hastily made back in 2015 by hacking a cheap, old electric guitar cable with something more suitable to the Kent's grande and imposing nature.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI also wanted a vintage look. \u0026nbsp;I've always liked the look of old fabric covered wires, although not their dubious safety record. \u0026nbsp;But alas, modern times and a desire in some quarters for a \"retro-look\" for antique lighting gives us cotton covered, dual conductor, twisted wire. \u0026nbsp;The actual stranded wire core is covered by teflon covering for proper insulation.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-Be7ZHS7MD5M\/WGVtYW5C8eI\/AAAAAAAActA\/6RkpY6ajPrsUSzmgH-OOFWmEZfNY5zwQwCLcB\/s1600\/IMG_20161229_134918621.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-Be7ZHS7MD5M\/WGVtYW5C8eI\/AAAAAAAActA\/6RkpY6ajPrsUSzmgH-OOFWmEZfNY5zwQwCLcB\/s640\/IMG_20161229_134918621.jpg\" width=\"480\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ECotton covered wire to suit the key\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EMaking your cable\u003C\/h3\u003EFabric covered wire is available from a number of sellers and provides a vintage look for your old CW straight key. \u0026nbsp;There appear to be mainly two different types of fabric covered wires, Rayon and Cotton. \u0026nbsp;The Rayon covered wires look \"shiny\" due to the synthetic material, they also are likely sturdier. \u0026nbsp;Cotton covered wires are not shiny and get a bit fuzzy with handling. \u0026nbsp;I went with Cotton covered wire but I'm sure Rayon would be fine too.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EYou can't just use wire cutters or a wire stripper on the cloth covered wires. \u0026nbsp;That just makes a fabric \"blob\" (ask me how I know). \u0026nbsp;I used a very sharp knife to cut the fabric around the insulation where I was going to strip, then used a wire stripper on the teflon covered portion of the wire. \u0026nbsp;Also note that cloth fabric will fray when it's been cut so use some heat shrink tubing to neaten it up, or if you really want to get fancy; lash the fraying bit with some thread for a half inch or so and tie it off. \u0026nbsp;I'm not patient enough to do that so I used heat shrink tubing. \u0026nbsp;I used another piece of larger heat shrink around both conductors further up the wire to keep them from unwinding.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIf you use Rayon covered wire be careful with the heat gun when you shrink the tubing, as the Rayon probably has a low melting temperature.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ELastly, since the new cable is un-shielded, keep lengths reasonably short so as not to become RF conductors in the shack.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThat's all for now...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E72\/73\u003Cbr \/\u003ERichard AA4OO\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\/\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/5505219249385792294\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/12\/making-your-old-morse-straight-key-look.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/5505219249385792294"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/5505219249385792294"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/12\/making-your-old-morse-straight-key-look.html","title":"Making your old Morse straight key look the part"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-Be7ZHS7MD5M\/WGVtYW5C8eI\/AAAAAAAActA\/6RkpY6ajPrsUSzmgH-OOFWmEZfNY5zwQwCLcB\/s72-c\/IMG_20161229_134918621.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-5539361951015827663"},"published":{"$t":"2016-12-27T16:24:00.002-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-29T21:41:06.391-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Go straight on Jan 1, 2017 with the Navy"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E ARRL Straight Key Night is January 1 starting 0000 UTC\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot;;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI have a new straight key for the upcoming ARRL Straight Key Night...\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-XA0bMFzgBC0\/WGLTdwjPOwI\/AAAAAAAAcq0\/5xhF4bvXPkcO1L-9SGfHgKT6H1NhUa3SACLcB\/s1600\/flameproof.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-XA0bMFzgBC0\/WGLTdwjPOwI\/AAAAAAAAcq0\/5xhF4bvXPkcO1L-9SGfHgKT6H1NhUa3SACLcB\/s400\/flameproof.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"font-size: 12.8px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ENavy Flameproof Key in need of some TLC\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EA recent low-bid, on a famous auction site, netted me this Navy Flameproof key. \u0026nbsp;A mismatched screw and nut from my Nye Viking key is serving \u0026nbsp;as the closure spacing adjustment until I get a replacement screw and nut specific to the Flameproof from\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/jhbunnell.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EJH Bunnell Co\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;I've been using it on the air and it has a distinctly different feel from my other straight keys. \u0026nbsp;There's a lot going on inside that little enclosure.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI will have this key as well as my\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/05\/let-your-fingers-do-talking.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EKent Hand Key\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;on-the-air during this year's straight key night driving my\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/12\/qso-fun-with-c21.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E1977 TenTec Century 21 CW rig\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-VYxXo1JxORs\/VlHC7JchVYI\/AAAAAAAAXT4\/_0hsJ6jRZ4o6l2R6sG-0P5vMd5djvcv_gCPcB\/s1600\/2015-10-26_10-34-06.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-VYxXo1JxORs\/VlHC7JchVYI\/AAAAAAAAXT4\/_0hsJ6jRZ4o6l2R6sG-0P5vMd5djvcv_gCPcB\/s400\/2015-10-26_10-34-06.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"font-size: 12.8px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EKent Hand Key in front of TenTec C21\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Ch3 style=\"margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E ARRL Straight Key Night\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.arrl.org\/straight-key-night\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EStraight Key Night\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;(aka SKN) occurs on the first day of each year (beginning at 0000 UTC)\u0026nbsp;and runs for 24 hours. \u0026nbsp;In addition to dusting off your straight key, it has sort of become a tradition to drag out all the vintage equipment you can muster and get it on-the-air. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E What should you expect on SKN?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ELast year I heard old tube rigs with a power supply issues causing chirp to rival the loveliest song bird and shaky FISTS that required full concentration to decipher. \u0026nbsp;I had a grand time hearing paddle-only operators trying to regain the knack for using their straight keys, and I could almost smell the dust burning off the tubes of those old rigs that hadn't been fired up in a year.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EWhen you send your CQ also send SKN if you'd like. \u0026nbsp;This is not a contest and there are no awards for the most contacts, so have some good ragchews and get to know the fellow on the other side of the key. \u0026nbsp;Enjoy the slow(er) pace of working straight key stations and settle in for interesting QSOs.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAlthough you'll hear a lot of vintage equipment, that is certainly not required to get on the air. If you don't have a straight key you might just have a clothespin and some screws...\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/i43.photobucket.com\/albums\/e363\/Sharpshooter1\/HAM%20Radio\/key4_zpsa043019c.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/i43.photobucket.com\/albums\/e363\/Sharpshooter1\/HAM%20Radio\/key4_zpsa043019c.jpg\" height=\"298\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E SKN times...\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EDon't forget SKN begins at 0000 UTC which means for those of you on the East coast of the US SKN starts 7pm December 31st and for those of you on the left coast it begins at 4pm, So you can get a few hours in before the bell tolls 2017 for your time zone. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESKN runs for 24 hours, but don't put away your straight key just because it's over. \u0026nbsp;Join in the fun with the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.skccgroup.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESKCC\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/a\u003Eall year 'round.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"margin: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations...\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E72\/73\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ERichard, AA4OO \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/5539361951015827663\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/12\/go-straight-on-jan-1-2017-with-navy.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/5539361951015827663"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/5539361951015827663"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/12\/go-straight-on-jan-1-2017-with-navy.html","title":"Go straight on Jan 1, 2017 with the Navy"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-XA0bMFzgBC0\/WGLTdwjPOwI\/AAAAAAAAcq0\/5xhF4bvXPkcO1L-9SGfHgKT6H1NhUa3SACLcB\/s72-c\/flameproof.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-2209594072815026068"},"published":{"$t":"2016-12-24T08:48:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-25T14:57:06.363-05:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Merry Christmas 2016"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EA Ham's Night Before Christmas\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-xFt2RI-mmNI\/WF55vG-0soI\/AAAAAAAAckg\/ydPhmXYll5U5yE_-oIVZtCtqGLQAjMjjwCLcB\/s1600\/DSCF3276.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-xFt2RI-mmNI\/WF55vG-0soI\/AAAAAAAAckg\/ydPhmXYll5U5yE_-oIVZtCtqGLQAjMjjwCLcB\/s640\/DSCF3276.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EThe snow inside is frightful\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E'Twas the night before Christmas, \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAnd all through two-meters, \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ENot a signal was keying up \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAny repeaters.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe antennas reached up\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EFrom the tower, quite high,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ETo catch the weak signals\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThat bounced from the sky.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe children, Tech-Pluses,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ETook their HT's to bed,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAnd dreamed of the day\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThey'd be Extras, instead.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EMom put on her headphones,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI plugged in the key,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAnd we tuned 40 meters\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EFor that rare ZK3.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EWhen the meter was pegged\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003Eby a signal with power.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EIt smoked a small diode,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003Eand, I swear, shook the tower.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EMom yanked off her phones,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAnd with all she could muster\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ELogged a spot of the signal\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAnd the DX Packet Cluster,\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EWhile I ran to the window\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAnd peered up at the sky,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ETo see what could generate\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ERF that high.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EIt was way in the distance,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EBut the moon made it gleam -\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EA flying sleigh, with an\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EEight element beam,\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp; And a little old driver\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EWho looked slightly mean.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESo I thought for a moment,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThat it might be \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wayne_Green\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EWayne Green\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp; But no, it was Santa,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe Santa of Hams.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EOn a mission, this Christmas,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ETo clean up the bands.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EHe circled the tower,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThen stopped in his track,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAnd he slid down the coax\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ERight into the shack.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EWhile Mom and I hid\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EBehind stacks of CQ,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThis Santa of hamming\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EKnew just what to do.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EHe cleared off the shack desk\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EOf paper and parts,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAnd filled out all my late QSLs\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EFor a start.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EHe ran copper braid,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ETook a steel rod and pounded\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EIt into the earth, till\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe station was grounded.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EHe tightened loose fittings,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EResoldered connections,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ECranked down modulation,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EInstalled lightning protection.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EHe neutralized tubes\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EIn my linear amp...\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E(Never worked right before-\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ENow it works like a champ).\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EA new, low-pass filter\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ECleaned up the TV.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EHe corrected the settings\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EIn my TNC.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EHe repaired the computer\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThat would not compute,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAnd he backed up the hard drive\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAnd got it to boot.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThen, he reached really deep\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EIn the bag that he brought,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAnd he pulled out a big box.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EA new rig? I thought!\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EA new Kenwood? An Icom?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EA Yaesu, for me?!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E(If he thought I'd been bad \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EIt might be QRP!) \u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003Ehaha\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EYes! The Ultimate Station!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EHow could I deserve this?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ECould it be all those hours\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThat I worked Public Service?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EHe hooked it all up\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAnd in record time, quickly\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EWorked 100 countries,\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAll down on 160.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI should have been happy,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EIt was my call he sent.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EBut the cards and the postage\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EWill cost two month's rent!\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EHe made final adjustments,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAnd left a card by the key:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\"To Gary, from Santa Claus.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESeventy-Three.\"\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThen he grabbed his HT,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ELooked me straight in the eye,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EPunched a code on the pad,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAnd was gone - no good-bye.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI ran back to the station,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAnd the pile-up was big,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EBut a card from St. Nick\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EWould be worth my new rig.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EOh, too late, for his final \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ECame over the air.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EIt was copied all over.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EIt was heard everywhere.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe Ham's Santa exclaimed\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EWhat a ham might expect,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\"Merry Christmas to all,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAnd to all, good DX.\"\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E(c)1996 \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.hamradionow.tv\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EGary Pearce KN4AQ\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EPermission granted for any print\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003Eor electronic reproduction.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EA Morse Code Christmas message\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe width=\"320\" height=\"266\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/BHD13V0vous\/0.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/BHD13V0vous?feature=player_embedded\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/2209594072815026068\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/12\/merry-christmas-eve-2016.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/2209594072815026068"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/2209594072815026068"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/12\/merry-christmas-eve-2016.html","title":"Merry Christmas 2016"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-xFt2RI-mmNI\/WF55vG-0soI\/AAAAAAAAckg\/ydPhmXYll5U5yE_-oIVZtCtqGLQAjMjjwCLcB\/s72-c\/DSCF3276.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-5624366398869856925"},"published":{"$t":"2016-12-21T16:51:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-21T18:38:56.719-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Ewww Cooties"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ETake a swipe at it\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe \"Cootie\" key or \"Sideswiper\" is basically a double-sided straight key and has a reputation for being very hard to learn, possibly harder even than the Vibroplex Bug. \u0026nbsp;My recent bug practice has been going well so I figured I would add a new level of difficulty by adding a completely different style of key into my brain mix...\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EA Cootie key\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-adoFOqHDvOY\/WFruKkDEEwI\/AAAAAAAAchc\/3_UZEbMRTCc0t0V-pB2qyqfAMPxsLIT3QCLcB\/s1600\/cootie-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"366\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-adoFOqHDvOY\/WFruKkDEEwI\/AAAAAAAAchc\/3_UZEbMRTCc0t0V-pB2qyqfAMPxsLIT3QCLcB\/s640\/cootie-2.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EUsing a Palm Single in Sideswiper mode. \u0026nbsp;It is magnetically attached to a solid steel base.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EMy Palm Paddle Single has an internal adjustment that turns it into a sideswiper...\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-_9wtHaSWfec\/WFruVa_Lh4I\/AAAAAAAAchg\/CbHjQada3ucwVLk5nlPioTpC3E5To7OhgCLcB\/s1600\/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-12-21%2Bat%2B4.02.14%2BPM.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"364\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-_9wtHaSWfec\/WFruVa_Lh4I\/AAAAAAAAchg\/CbHjQada3ucwVLk5nlPioTpC3E5To7OhgCLcB\/s400\/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-12-21%2Bat%2B4.02.14%2BPM.png\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EInstructions for turning the Palm Single into a Sideswiper\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThat means that touching either side of the paddle closes the tip contact of the key jack, rather than operating the ring and the tip independently. \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ECooties?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EGoogle \"cootie\" and you come up with 'body louse'... well at least you come up with that definition. \u0026nbsp;(hopefully you don't actually get body lice). \u0026nbsp;We are talking about a different kind of cootie here...\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EMorse Express has an article with an excellent description and history of the cootie key\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.mtechnologies.com\/cootie.htm\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI had some interest in operating a sideswiper because a good friend of mine Kurt (N4KJK) uses one regularly and I admire his skill with it. \u0026nbsp;I spent a short time in 2015 practicing with my Palm Single as a sideswiper and was horrible. \u0026nbsp;I quickly gave up. \u0026nbsp;Now with another year of CW in my brain and different types of keys (straight, iambic paddle and bug) swimming around my consciousness I took another shot.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI figured that I would spend an hour practicing side-swiperry and if I was making some progress I would continue the process, and maybe build a real side-swiper key using a hacksaw blade. \u0026nbsp;Before building a key I wanted to practice with what I already had. \u0026nbsp;I spent an hour this morning practicing sideswiper style with the Palm Single in Cootie mode and I went from \u003Ci\u003Ereally terrible\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;to simply \u003Ci\u003Eterrible, \u003C\/i\u003Ewhich in my book is great progress.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ELevel of Difficulty ?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EYou might have heard that the sideswiper is hard to learn... In general I'd say it is very different to what you may have already learned. \u0026nbsp;If the sideswiper were the first key you tried to use you might have no more difficulty learning it that anything else. \u0026nbsp;The problem is that it's completely different than EVERY OTHER morse key in the way it's operated.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe sideswiper is operated by swinging your thumb and forefinger back and forth rhythmically, where each opposing finger operates the key once for an individual element, rather than repeating any elements on one finger. \u0026nbsp; For a straight key you are always operating in the same direction... down. \u0026nbsp;Repeating elements, say the 3 DITS in an 'S' are repeated downward on the key. \u0026nbsp;In the case of a paddle or bug, your left thumb is pressing to repeat the 3 elements of an 'S'. \u0026nbsp;In the case of the letter 'O', your right index finger (or fingers) are accomplishing the repeating elements (DAHs in this case). \u0026nbsp;In the case of the sideswiper\/cootie each finger participates in repeating elements and the order in which finger begins the process is completely up to chance. \u0026nbsp; So for an 'S' or an 'O' you might start with the thumb or the index finger depending on which finger last operated the key... the finger that's swinging toward the key at the time performs one element of the character then leaves the next element to the other finger...\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;\"\u003E\"Arrrgh... it burns, it burns\"\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThis is so completely different than operating other keys you simply must practice the mechanics that you've painstakingly built into your hand away to the beautiful simplicity of the cootie. \u0026nbsp;Or at least that's what I'm telling myself.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESo operating a bug takes some getting used to because you are timing the inter-character element transitions from index finger to thumb rather than an electronic keyer, but at least it's similar enough to a paddle that you are expecting to do the DAHs with your index and middle finger and your DITs are always accomplished by your thumb. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe old rules are gone. \u0026nbsp;All your finely tuned muscle memory is thrown to the ether. \u0026nbsp;You are freed of preconceptions of sending code and you become \"Ambidextrous\" with regard to DITs and DAHs. \u0026nbsp;All your political affiliations are out the window as you now are able to approach a character from the \u0026nbsp;RIGHT or LEFT.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EOk I'm obviously just being silly now but maybe you get my point. \u0026nbsp;Give the sideswiper a try. \u0026nbsp;It will absolutely clean plaque out of your brain. \u0026nbsp;I'm fairly certain that just as learning and using Morse Code staves off brain disease... using all 4 types of Morse code keys in a round-robin fashion (Straight, Paddle, Bug and Cootie) will make your brain look like a young Arnold Schwarzenegger back in his Mr. Universe days.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EVideo\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EHere's a demonstration after an hour of practice... be kind in the comments section :)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ciframe width=\"320\" height=\"266\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/5LsRpn-1bmA\/0.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5LsRpn-1bmA?feature=player_embedded\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESo lower your power and take a swipe at your key... from both directions\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E72\/73\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/5624366398869856925\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/12\/ewww-cooties.html#comment-form","title":"5 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/5624366398869856925"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/5624366398869856925"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/12\/ewww-cooties.html","title":"Ewww Cooties"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-adoFOqHDvOY\/WFruKkDEEwI\/AAAAAAAAchc\/3_UZEbMRTCc0t0V-pB2qyqfAMPxsLIT3QCLcB\/s72-c\/cootie-2.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"5"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-6447141363308303285"},"published":{"$t":"2016-12-20T14:52:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-20T14:52:55.377-05:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Now where did I put that?"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EHamRadioQRP now has a TOC\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThis blog has grown a bit over the past year since I do tend to blah, blah, blah about things. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe standard blogger toolbox allowed me to add a search box (located in the upper right of desktop viewed pages) and an \"archive\" tab that allowed you to choose a month of posts in the past, but it has become difficult to find a particular post and there was no built-in way to offer a Table of Contents.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-OhJn6ABqGQk\/WFl_Sp86WFI\/AAAAAAAAchA\/Sqw8P_s0x_A3wlIjCvuaNm1w82xQsssTQCLcB\/s1600\/toc-pic.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"242\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-OhJn6ABqGQk\/WFl_Sp86WFI\/AAAAAAAAchA\/Sqw8P_s0x_A3wlIjCvuaNm1w82xQsssTQCLcB\/s400\/toc-pic.png\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESo this week through some \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/helplogger.blogspot.com\/2013\/12\/add-sitemap-table-of-contents-to-blogger.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EJavascript wizardry\u003C\/a\u003E I added a \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/p\/skin-for-blogger-tabbed-layout-toc.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ETable of Contents page\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;This is accessible from the menu bar at the top on desktop versions of the site. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EIf you visit using a mobile device the site formats to a more mobile friendly display and you can't see the menu bar in its entirety. \u0026nbsp;If you're viewing on a mobile device you have to touch the bar near the top of the display labeled \"Home\" and then choose \"Table of Contents\",\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ENow when I add new posts they will be automatically added to the TOC in an alphabetized list. \u0026nbsp;Newer articles will be marked with \"New\". \u0026nbsp;Unfortunately I'm a bit too clever with the titles of many of my posts; so often times you can't really tell what a post is about without clicking on the title but at least the opportunity to go exploring is available now.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAdditional categorization coming\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI'll be adding some additional subheadings to the TOC as I figure out how to better divide the content. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThis blog has grown a bit beyond my initial plans. \u0026nbsp;I originally intended it to simply be a sort of personal journal of what I was discovering as I learned about QRP and Morse Code but based on the response of viewers, my musings seem to have become useful or at least entertaining to other ham radio operators. \u0026nbsp;So hopefully the TOC will make it easier to find older content than scrolling page by page into the past.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EJust a reminder that this blog is my own journey of discovery and I am far, far from an authority on most of what I write about. \u0026nbsp;I often find out that I'm quite mistaken about something I've written so take the information you find here with a double bag of salt :)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EQuestions or ideas for new posts?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAs you read the blog, if you have questions or corrections and even suggestions for new posts please add comments to any of the posts. \u0026nbsp;I try and check on comments at least once a week and I'll follow-up as I'm able.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations...\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E72\/73\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/6447141363308303285\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/12\/now-where-did-i-put-that.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/6447141363308303285"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/6447141363308303285"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/12\/now-where-did-i-put-that.html","title":"Now where did I put that?"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-OhJn6ABqGQk\/WFl_Sp86WFI\/AAAAAAAAchA\/Sqw8P_s0x_A3wlIjCvuaNm1w82xQsssTQCLcB\/s72-c\/toc-pic.png","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-8268265307733054684"},"published":{"$t":"2016-12-15T04:00:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-21T16:56:27.647-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"QSO fun with a C21"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EIt doesn't get much simpler\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAfter dinner tonight I headed up to the shack to make a couple of QSOs. \u0026nbsp;I felt nostalgic and powered up the old \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/10\/ten-tec-century-21-cw-only-rig-ahead-of.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ETenTec Century 21\u003C\/a\u003E rather than one of my modern radios. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMy \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/11\/dont-bug-out-when-hearing-vibroplex.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EVibroplex Bug\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/search?q=kent+hand+key\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EKent Hand key\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;are connected in series and I plugged into the straight key input on the back of the C21. I tuned as near to 3550 kHz as I could determine from the somewhat vague VFO dial and listened for a clear frequency. \u0026nbsp;I adjusted the output until I was producing somewhere around 10 watts to \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/11\/the-amazing-80m-multi-band-windom.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Emy lovely, no-tune OCF Dipole\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;This old radio doesn't have a tuner so it's nice to use an antenna that is resonant on the bands the I use.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI turned on my camera, sent my call out once and was immediately answered by Dick (WB3AVF) up in Pennsylvania. \u0026nbsp;Turns out he was using a Standard Vibroplex bug that is very similar to mine. \u0026nbsp;It was my first contact with WB3AVF and we had a nice chat.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-NivWIRKK1wY\/WFHx77pjhTI\/AAAAAAAAccM\/PJw8wz3Xl_U7QySzjKfa6uxFmK2eItq4ACLcB\/s1600\/c21-bug-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-NivWIRKK1wY\/WFHx77pjhTI\/AAAAAAAAccM\/PJw8wz3Xl_U7QySzjKfa6uxFmK2eItq4ACLcB\/s640\/c21-bug-2.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EFired up the 1977 TenTec Century 21 for a couple of old-fashioned QSOs\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ESwitching the keys around\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EDick and I had a couple exchanges and then he switched from his Vibroplex bug to a straight key so I followed suit on my next exchange, using my ever so clackety-clackety Kent Hand Key.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-QK5oZFVIMMs\/WFHx7QFFLNI\/AAAAAAAAccU\/234VjEeqmi46DwAn3CovGbc9GFVIQhoxACEw\/s1600\/c21-bug-1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"418\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-QK5oZFVIMMs\/WFHx7QFFLNI\/AAAAAAAAccU\/234VjEeqmi46DwAn3CovGbc9GFVIQhoxACEw\/s640\/c21-bug-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EVibroplex Bug and Kent Hand Key... both date to long before I became a Ham\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EThe joys of an old radio\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIf you watch the video you'll note me chasing around the caller with the TenTec's audio offset knob. \u0026nbsp;I wasn't changing frequency with the VFO, I was trying to keep his signal in the audio bandpass sweet spot on the C21. \u0026nbsp;Unfortunately, my offset knob has become extremely touchy; as you can see in the video. \u0026nbsp;When I barely touch it, it will jump by a 100 Hz so it's fiddly to use. \u0026nbsp;I need to open up the rig again and find the out of spec components. \u0026nbsp;Maybe a Christmas project but I'm kinda hoping I get a new transceiver kit to build this year. \u0026nbsp;I keep planning to work on the C21 but other projects get in the way.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EYou can hear that the VFO drifts a bit as it warms up. That was the first QSO after turning on the radio so you'll hear after every exchange that Dick's station had dropped in frequency a bit and I was compensating with the offset knob. \u0026nbsp;He probably had to chase me about 300 Hz during out QSO while the components stabilized.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis C21 is from 1977 and uses a direct conversion receiver allowing you to hear the same station on both sides of the zero beat. \u0026nbsp;That makes for interesting zero beating... \u0026nbsp;I normally tune from a higher frequency to lower while keeping the offset set to the high side of the zero beat, about 600 Hz. \u0026nbsp;That way as I approach a signal and it's pitch decreases from high to around 600Hz I know that I'm on the correct side of the pass band. \u0026nbsp;If QRM becomes bad during the QSO I'll use the offset knob to jump to the other side of the zero beat and often that gets me away from an interfering station by moving their received \"pitch\" out my audio passband. \u0026nbsp;It's more complicated to explain than demonstrate. \u0026nbsp;I didn't do that during this QSO but, trust me it works well unless the band is really crowded.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-CJjcWTlNg6A\/WFHx7UfKH0I\/AAAAAAAAccU\/mI_7D18Be4U0UaM3Wq3L6erRL3Os2H4OACEw\/s1600\/c21-bug-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-CJjcWTlNg6A\/WFHx7UfKH0I\/AAAAAAAAccU\/mI_7D18Be4U0UaM3Wq3L6erRL3Os2H4OACEw\/s640\/c21-bug-3.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EThe offset knob works on both sides of the signal due to the direct conversion receiver in the C21\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EConditions\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EBand conditions on 80m were nice tonight. \u0026nbsp;I was outputting around 10w and Reverse Beacon network showed that I had good coverage to the North which my antenna favors.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-bMu_kxhxvRs\/WFH6CHmChXI\/AAAAAAAAccc\/qmohaUWMuB8kSyH_oGXCxP35yg2iEdgBACLcB\/s1600\/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-12-14%2Bat%2B9.02.02%2BPM.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"434\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-bMu_kxhxvRs\/WFH6CHmChXI\/AAAAAAAAccc\/qmohaUWMuB8kSyH_oGXCxP35yg2iEdgBACLcB\/s640\/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-12-14%2Bat%2B9.02.02%2BPM.png\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/www.reversebeacon.net\/dxsd1\/dxsd1.php?f=0\u0026amp;c=aa4oo\u0026amp;t=dx\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI saw decent RBN spotter reports even though I was using low power and my antenna is compromised for 80m use since it is only 25 feet above ground at it's apex and slopes down to 10 feet AGL on the long end of the OCF.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EYou can see that one report was as high as 34 db over noise and 9 reports were 20+ db over noise range, so not too shabby for the poor solar cycle and low power. \u0026nbsp;There were some faint static crashes, which are frequent on 80m especially in the summer but they weren't bad tonight. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI really enjoy the 80m band in the winter for ragchewing in the evenings. Other than QRN it's much lower band noise for me and not as busy as 40m. \u0026nbsp;I can use my older radio without trying to dodge QRM from close packed stations.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-x6PPj3tsZ1k\/WFH6uqCWCVI\/AAAAAAAAccg\/lfQgcPgkfOk6tdXHVKo9vwb2Mm0kgCfEwCLcB\/s1600\/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-12-14%2Bat%2B9.05.31%2BPM.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"521\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-x6PPj3tsZ1k\/WFH6uqCWCVI\/AAAAAAAAccg\/lfQgcPgkfOk6tdXHVKo9vwb2Mm0kgCfEwCLcB\/s640\/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-12-14%2Bat%2B9.05.31%2BPM.png\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERight after the first QSO was over I was called from different station, also in PA, and that operator was also named Dick. \u0026nbsp;So it was an evening of QSO coincidences. \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMake some calls and see how many QSO coincidences you enounter.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EAh.. the sounds of a 1977 QSO...\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003EI hope you make it to the Kent Straight key clacking toward the end\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i9.ytimg.com\/vi\/xlIPkIEQpLw\/default.jpg?sqp=CKC9yMIF\u0026amp;rs=AOn4CLB136v2H_VLcCID6wRO_sBW0M3f0g\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xlIPkIEQpLw?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI'm glad I had the camera rolling when WB3AVF\u0026nbsp;answered my call. \u0026nbsp;I enjoy listening to a two-way Vibroplex bug QSO. \u0026nbsp;I know the copy is a bit rough in a couple of places since I had not warmed up prior to the QSO. I normally need 15 minutes or so of time with my bug to smooth out my sending, and that didn't happen tonight. \u0026nbsp;If I can make the time, I'll add a transcript. Or if someone wants to send me a transcript of this QSO I'll give them full credit and include it here.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations... (and use old crufty radios)\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EUPDATE:\u003Cbr \/\u003EI've added a video detailing operation of a Century 21...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe width=\"320\" height=\"266\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/dlv9WrcjgJI\/0.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/dlv9WrcjgJI?feature=player_embedded\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/8268265307733054684\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/12\/qso-fun-with-c21.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/8268265307733054684"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/8268265307733054684"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/12\/qso-fun-with-c21.html","title":"QSO fun with a C21"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-NivWIRKK1wY\/WFHx77pjhTI\/AAAAAAAAccM\/PJw8wz3Xl_U7QySzjKfa6uxFmK2eItq4ACLcB\/s72-c\/c21-bug-2.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-377812656766466243"},"published":{"$t":"2016-12-12T20:04:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:29:15.105-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The SKCC is a rewarding group"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2 class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.8px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAA4OO achieved SKCC Tribune x4 status\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;\"\u003EThe \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.skccgroup.com\/\" style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESKCC \u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;\"\u003E(Straight Key Century Club) is a fast-growing and well run group dedicated to supporting and promoting mechanical key, CW operators. \u0026nbsp;Mechanical CW keys are pretty much anything \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ci style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;\"\u003Eother than\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;\"\u003Ea paddle and electronic keyer.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.8px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.8px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EWhen making SKCC contacts you can use a straight key, a side-swiper (cootie key) or a bug to count towards your contacts. \u0026nbsp;If a medical condition prevents you from effectively using a mechanical key special wavers are allowed for using paddles with a keyer.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.8px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-8ClUwO8ORX0\/WE9JzPrVtRI\/AAAAAAAAcbg\/ffGegV2xnewFKWhpvU7YTEpakw75eiYTACLcB\/s1600\/skcc.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"131\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-8ClUwO8ORX0\/WE9JzPrVtRI\/AAAAAAAAcbg\/ffGegV2xnewFKWhpvU7YTEpakw75eiYTACLcB\/s640\/skcc.PNG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.8px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.8px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.8px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI joined the SKCC group in August of 2015 shortly after I got on the air with my budding Morse Code skills. \u0026nbsp;The group offers monthly and special contests especially suited for new CW operators due to the more laid-back speed of the code being sent by mechanical key operators. You can continue to obtain points contacting other operators at any time, not just during the contests. The SKCC group appeals to seasoned operators as well due to all the special categories of awards that can be obtained and the good natured comradarie among the operators.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.8px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-372Iu-KNSnw\/WE9Axl3PKFI\/AAAAAAAAcbQ\/RD6AO8oi04otXpN8tHh4cBnoxPaxsB72wCLcB\/s1600\/Tribune%2Bx4.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-372Iu-KNSnw\/WE9Axl3PKFI\/AAAAAAAAcbQ\/RD6AO8oi04otXpN8tHh4cBnoxPaxsB72wCLcB\/s400\/Tribune%2Bx4.PNG\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAA4OO's Tribune x4 certificate\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.8px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.8px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe SKCC does not collect any dues but donations are welcome as well as volunteering to serve in different roles.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.8px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ETongue in cheek awards\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.8px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAfter finishing this past weekend sprint (WES) I'd accumulated enough additional contacts since obtaining my initial Tribune status to progress to Tribune X4 (every additional 50 unique operators is a x1). \u0026nbsp;The SKCC has a well written logging application that is both a logging program and award application processor. \u0026nbsp;It can parse ADIF files from other logging programs to help you keep track of your unique SKCC contacts over time.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.8px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.8px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EWhen you submit an award application and are approved, you get a fun and silly email like the following:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.8px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote style=\"font-size: 12.8px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.8px;\"\u003EHear Ye! Hear Ye! Gather 'round and pay heed to the news of this day!\u003C\/span\u003ELet there be revelry \u0026amp; celebration for yet another Centurion has advanced to the Tribune Tx4 level of SKCC achievement !!!\u003Cbr \/\u003ERich Carpenter, AA4OO, SKCC# 14276T, has achieved the coveted 2nd generation SKCC member achievement known far and wide as the Tribune Tx4 award.\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe Tribune Tx4 award is earned by SKCC Centurions who work 200 other Centurions, Tribunes, or Senators.\u003Cbr \/\u003ERich's log \u0026amp; application were submitted to the Tribune Administrator. The Tribune award Analysis Team performed an exhaustive review of the submitted documentation. The process confirmed that all of the 200 required contacts had indeed been made with established SKCC Centurions, Tribunes or Senators subsequent to Rich's Tribune date.\u003Cbr \/\u003EHaving submitted a log and sworn statement, both of which have survived the intense tests used by the Tribune administrator, Rich Carpenter, AA4OO, is duly proclaimed to be SKCC Tribune Tx4.\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis SKCC member shall, from this day forward, proclaim to all that their SKCC Number ends with T. He shall enjoy all the honor and privilege that appertains thereto and all shall accord him the esteem and respect appropriate to their achievements.\u003Cbr \/\u003ETribune Xn Operators are permitted to use the Xn designator as they see fit whenever discussing their Tribune status.\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe Master Tribune List has been duly scribed where all SKCC Members may reflect upon and pay tribute to this momentous achievement.\u003Cbr \/\u003ECongratulations to: Rich Carpenter, AA4OO, SKCC# 14276T, Tribune Tx4\u003Cbr \/\u003EDuly approved, recorded, and published.\u003Cbr \/\u003EI set forth my hand and key on\u0026nbsp;\u003Cspan class=\"aBn\" data-term=\"goog_974346362\" style=\"border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;\" tabindex=\"0\"\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"aQJ\" style=\"position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;\"\u003E12-Dec-2016\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"aBn\" data-term=\"goog_974346362\" style=\"border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;\" tabindex=\"0\"\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"aQJ\" style=\"position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003EPhil Barsky, K3EW\u003Cbr \/\u003ESKCC 10605T\u003Cbr \/\u003ESKCC Tribune Administrator\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESign up and contribute\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EIf you're not already an SKCC member and you enjoy using a mechanical key \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.skccgroup.com\/membership_data\/member_application_form.php\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Esign up\u003C\/a\u003E and get in the mechanical CW fun.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe regular monthly sprints occur on the second weekend of each month and are called the WES (weekend sprint). \u0026nbsp;The suggested CW watering holes are near the following frequencies: 1.820, 3.530 , 3.550, 7.055 , 7.120, 10.120, 14.050, 14.114 , 18.080, 21.050, 21.114, 24.910, 28.050, 28.114, 50.090, 144.07.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe typical exchange during a WES is as follows:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ECalling: \u0026nbsp;CQ WES DE [CALL]\u0026nbsp;\u003Ccall\u003E K\u003Cbr \/\u003ESend: DE [CALL]\u003Ccall\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EExchange: \u0026nbsp;UR [RST]\u003Crst\u003Ex2 [STATE]\u003Cstate\u003Ex2 [NAME]\u003Cname\u003Ex2 [SKCC NR]\u003Cskcc nr=\"\"\u003Ex2 BK\u003C\/skcc\u003E\u003C\/name\u003E\u003C\/state\u003E\u003C\/rst\u003E\u003C\/call\u003E\u003C\/call\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EIf you want to chat a little or throw in a good morning, afternoon or a TNX and GL (thanks and good luck), no one is going to mind. \u0026nbsp;These are not high pressure contests.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ELong ragchews are encouraged\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EOutside of the WES I've had many long ragchews with other SKCC members. \u0026nbsp;They always seem to be in the mood to shoot the breeze with you and talk about their stations and different keys as well as their grandkids and local going-ons. \u0026nbsp;Long ragchews are encouraged so much that there's a special Marathon award for those operators that have participated in 100 QSOs lasting 60 minutes or longer with other SKCC members. \u0026nbsp;That's about as far from normal contesting as I've found. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EContesting not required\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI am far from a contester and I don't participate in every WES, in fact I'm pretty hit or miss. \u0026nbsp;I think I probably accumulate more SKCC contacts through casual operating during nights and weekends than directly in a WES but if you want to rack up the contacts the sprints are the place to do it.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ENot specific to QRP\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe SKCC is not limited to QRP operators but they have special award classifications for QRP SKCC contacts. \u0026nbsp;I haven't applied for any of those because I don't keep precise enough records of when I'm solely operating QRP or if I bumped up my power to maintain a QSO but you'll certainly work a lot of QRP stations who are SKCC members. \u0026nbsp;A simple homebuilt QRP radio operated with a mechanical key can be a satisfying part of the hobby.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EIf you're new to CW or you've been sending code for 50 years I think you'll enjoy the group.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThat's all for now...\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations... using that mechanical key\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E72\/73\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/377812656766466243\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/12\/the-skcc-is-rewarding-group.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/377812656766466243"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/377812656766466243"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/12\/the-skcc-is-rewarding-group.html","title":"The SKCC is a rewarding group"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-8ClUwO8ORX0\/WE9JzPrVtRI\/AAAAAAAAcbg\/ffGegV2xnewFKWhpvU7YTEpakw75eiYTACLcB\/s72-c\/skcc.PNG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-5102638298893289176"},"published":{"$t":"2016-12-11T16:20:00.002-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-11-15T06:37:35.493-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Gamify Morse Code"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EMorse Toad -- the game\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-DGzN5TJH2RQ\/WE29s5JRUXI\/AAAAAAAAcZs\/Q7P7g0IgatAMxoGqQkGRWdSARQVezctlQCLcB\/s1600\/morse%2Btoad.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-DGzN5TJH2RQ\/WE29s5JRUXI\/AAAAAAAAcZs\/Q7P7g0IgatAMxoGqQkGRWdSARQVezctlQCLcB\/s400\/morse%2Btoad.png\" width=\"225\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI've been looking for ways to interest others in learning Morse Code. \u0026nbsp;I've found \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/04\/the-best-cw-training-app-for-android.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Egood mobile apps\u003C\/a\u003E for learning the code but they are for serious study and not in the form of a game.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EYoung people are really into their mobile game apps and they always seem to be on the lookout for new mobile apps to try.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThere may be other mobile app games that use morse code but this is the first one I've run across. \u0026nbsp;Morse Toad app is available for both Android and IOS. \u0026nbsp;It might, just might, be fun enough to get people to learn the code for the fun of it.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EIt's a bit of a silly game but there are lots of silly games out there and people still seem to play them. \u0026nbsp;So now you can show the folks you see with their nose buried in their smart phone; tap, tap, tapping away at some game about a really challenging brain teaser game. \u0026nbsp;\"Morse Toad\"\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EBefore you know it there will be millions of new Morse Code operators just itching to get their Ham ticket (unlikely).\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EGame Play\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-AMvqPYH5znQ\/WE2--eI6xVI\/AAAAAAAAcZ0\/YlYoj-gjUd4-HCuknv06DTmSqZfRUy70gCLcB\/s1600\/morse%2Btoad%2Blevel.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-AMvqPYH5znQ\/WE2--eI6xVI\/AAAAAAAAcZ0\/YlYoj-gjUd4-HCuknv06DTmSqZfRUy70gCLcB\/s400\/morse%2Btoad%2Blevel.png\" width=\"225\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe game begins by presenting the player with a couple of letters lit on a keyboard (A and T). \u0026nbsp;Then it plays a sound and the player has to tap the correct letter. \u0026nbsp;After each successful level another letter is added to the keyboard.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EObviously this isn't much of game for someone that already knows the code but it might prove interesting enough to hold someone's attention long enough for them to actually become interested in learning Morse Code for real.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EMy wife made me stop playing it after a couple of levels, she hears enough morse code in the house without this being added to the mix, but I'll find my headphones and see how far I can get.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EGame Availability\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EMorse Toad is available for download from the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.mikelovesrobots.morsetoad\u0026amp;hl=en\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EGoogle Play Store\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;or from the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/morse-toad\/id906586079?mt=8\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EApple App Store\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThat's all for now...\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E72\/73\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/5102638298893289176\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/12\/gamify-morse-code.html#comment-form","title":"5 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/5102638298893289176"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/5102638298893289176"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/12\/gamify-morse-code.html","title":"Gamify Morse Code"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-DGzN5TJH2RQ\/WE29s5JRUXI\/AAAAAAAAcZs\/Q7P7g0IgatAMxoGqQkGRWdSARQVezctlQCLcB\/s72-c\/morse%2Btoad.png","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"5"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-2001363409515376227"},"published":{"$t":"2016-12-10T17:39:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:29:15.060-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"No love for my station from RBN on 10m today?"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003ERBN is a great tool but sometimes it doesn't tell the whole story\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESince it's the second weekend of the month I got on the air to make\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/12\/qrp-fun-and-games-in-december-skcc-wes.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESKCC WES\u003C\/a\u003E contacts. \u0026nbsp;The SKCC Weekend Sprint is great fun because it's a slow paced, friendly, pseudo contest for SKCC members. \u0026nbsp;There's even a page that you can \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.obriensweb.com\/sked\/index.php?board=skcc\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eschedule a contact \u003C\/a\u003Ewith another SKCC member if you're needing their state, grid square, another Senator, whatever. \u0026nbsp;Well, this post isn't really about the SKCC WES other than to give it a plug that it's super fun for both those new to CW and old-timers as well wanting a slow paced alternative to high pressure contests. \u0026nbsp;And no one gets mad at you for using a bug.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI like to use \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/12\/can-anybody-hear-me.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ERBN\u003C\/a\u003E to determine if I'm getting out on a band before I spend too much time sending my call. \u0026nbsp;I find an open frequency, send my QRL? a couple of times and then send my call. \u0026nbsp;If no one responds I take a look at the RBN report.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-GKyHgRexXyY\/WEx4RGEK72I\/AAAAAAAAcYo\/-1z-kHCjumgR__e-xY8eXlmA-mNVRk_iwCLcB\/s1600\/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-12-10%2Bat%2B4.41.37%2BPM.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"503\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-GKyHgRexXyY\/WEx4RGEK72I\/AAAAAAAAcYo\/-1z-kHCjumgR__e-xY8eXlmA-mNVRk_iwCLcB\/s640\/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-12-10%2Bat%2B4.41.37%2BPM.png\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ERBN spot search for AA4OO\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EBand conditions\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-DYXSAvF8EPM\/WEx5DRW09rI\/AAAAAAAAcYs\/yrY82Y98pHM5QoOogobKhsQYxlcJSS6swCLcB\/s1600\/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-12-10%2Bat%2B4.51.19%2BPM.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-DYXSAvF8EPM\/WEx5DRW09rI\/AAAAAAAAcYs\/yrY82Y98pHM5QoOogobKhsQYxlcJSS6swCLcB\/s320\/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-12-10%2Bat%2B4.51.19%2BPM.png\" width=\"318\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI was working SKCC members on 20m because I've worked all the nearby states and it was not giving me great results. \u0026nbsp;Everyone seemed a bit in the noise which isn't unexpected given the current lousy band conditions. \u0026nbsp;So I opened up RBN to look for spots from AA4VV who is a spotting station within about 50miles of me. \u0026nbsp;Looking at a nearby spotting station using RBN DE spot versus DX spot shows you what they are hearing from all the bands they cover and it showed activity up on 15m. Other spotting stations were even seeing traffic on 10m today.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E10 meters? \u0026nbsp;In this lousy part of the solar cycle?\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo I hopped up to the CW portion using my \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/08\/the-attic-antenna-revisited.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Emighty attic doublet\u003C\/a\u003E and heard a bunch of stations sending CQ at 27 - 35 wpm. \u0026nbsp;Well, they likely were not SKCC dudes since even the SKCC bug operators usually stay below 23wpm. I found an open frequency and sent my call out a few times and no one responded. \u0026nbsp;I checked RBN and it only showed \u003Cb\u003Eone\u003C\/b\u003E spot for me up in Wisconsin with a lousy 5db over noise report. \u0026nbsp;No one was going to hear me that close to noise. \u0026nbsp;But obviously there was a lot of traffic on 10m so I went up to the phone portion of the band around 28350 kHz and heard dozens of operators working a 10m contest. Of course this wasn't the SKCC WES but I responded to a couple of them and what do you know, they heard me, and in most cases I didn't have to repeat my call or my state report. \u0026nbsp;Now most contesters don't take the time to give an honest signal report and I received 59 from all of them except a couple of the more laid back operators giving honest reports, but the point was I was getting out on 10m just fine. \u0026nbsp;There was a station who was only S5 to me for whom I had to repeat my call and state about half a dozen times to complete the contact.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo why didn't I get any love from RBN spotting stations when I was obviously getting out well on 10m? \u0026nbsp;I don't have an answer. Maybe many of the RBN spotters have stopped monitoring 10m. \u0026nbsp;10m wasn't flying as far as it normally would as I was making contacts with stations in MI, WI, OK, and AR. \u0026nbsp;I was hearing stations in UT but they were very weak. I only made one DX contact in Mexico, but the band was open for my station. \u0026nbsp;I was using my attic doublet which is about 68 feet long. \u0026nbsp;I've tried modeling it but I'm not too practiced with the modeling tool, but what I have modeled estimated that on 10m I may get 9-12 db of gain in some directions which I'm guessing accounts for the strength of my signal on SSB. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EThe point?\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERBN and other spotting tools don't necessarily always tell the whole story. \u0026nbsp;Just because you aren't getting spots doesn't mean you aren't getting out. \u0026nbsp;I had to quit shortly after making a dozen SSB contacts on 10m but next time I'll be more diligent and try to schedule some SKCC contacts on 10m when I'm hearing stations from their region, no matter what the RBN is telling me. \u0026nbsp;I'm still missing some SKCC operators on the west coast and up in Alaska. \u0026nbsp;Given the lousy state of the solar cycle I'm unlikely to get them on the lower bands so I'll keep an eye out for when 15m or 10m opens up. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe band conditions may be very poor right now but radio is still magic.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/2001363409515376227\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/12\/no-love-for-my-station-from-rbn-on-10m.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/2001363409515376227"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/2001363409515376227"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/12\/no-love-for-my-station-from-rbn-on-10m.html","title":"No love for my station from RBN on 10m today?"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-GKyHgRexXyY\/WEx4RGEK72I\/AAAAAAAAcYo\/-1z-kHCjumgR__e-xY8eXlmA-mNVRk_iwCLcB\/s72-c\/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-12-10%2Bat%2B4.41.37%2BPM.png","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-3156228566104135175"},"published":{"$t":"2016-12-04T16:40:00.004-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:29:15.087-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Make the RF jump"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EConstructing an RF jumper cable for BNC to PL-259\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EHF QRP radios and accessories typically use BNC antenna connectors. \u0026nbsp;But most HF amatuer station equipment like antenna switches and tuners are designed for PL-259 connectors. \u0026nbsp;Adapters are available to convert between the two but every additional connection adds some resistance with a bit of loss. \u0026nbsp;Plus, all those adapters add weight and create torque on fragile QRP BNC connectors.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-_RaONT7PNyo\/WER727dJ2iI\/AAAAAAAAcVU\/tJb6meGj8E452-PhrMCYPDrK0pIZGWYrgCLcB\/s1600\/jumper-cable-8.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-_RaONT7PNyo\/WER727dJ2iI\/AAAAAAAAcVU\/tJb6meGj8E452-PhrMCYPDrK0pIZGWYrgCLcB\/s640\/jumper-cable-8.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EBNC to PL-259 jumper cable\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAs the number of connections between radios, switches, meters and tuners increases the number of adapters you need to adapt different connector types becomes a bit crazy. I have a box of the things and I still run into configurations where I don't have the right combination. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E50 ohm jumper cables between different connector types can be purchased, but making them yourself will both save you money and will increase your Ham mojo. \u0026nbsp;Usually \"crimp-on\" connectors, which are a bit of a misnomer because soldering is required, can be purchased for less than $1 per connector. \u0026nbsp;While the braid is \"crimped-on\" the center conductor should be soldered to the center pin.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERG-58A\/U (flexible, stranded center conductor) is inexpensive and suitable for jumpers. \u0026nbsp;It has more loss and less power handling than larger coax cables but given the short length of jumpers the loss is not significant at HF frequencies and is suitable up to 100w. \u0026nbsp;Note that RG-58 coax is solid conductor. \u0026nbsp;Stranded is more flexible and durable (usually noted as RG-58A\/U).\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EEquipment needed\u003C\/h3\u003EBesides a soldering iron you'll need the following, and some heat shrink tubing if you wish to make it look neat.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-1phh8eZZO40\/WESBehtPCwI\/AAAAAAAAcVg\/ZRc1JXFpkCUiYlc7BcPc-53iNltCm4McACLcB\/s1600\/jumper-cable-1-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"460\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-1phh8eZZO40\/WESBehtPCwI\/AAAAAAAAcVg\/ZRc1JXFpkCUiYlc7BcPc-53iNltCm4McACLcB\/s640\/jumper-cable-1-3.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ERG-58A\/U, Crimper, Coax stripper, PL-259 and BNC connectors\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ETrying to crimp a connector with pliers will only bring you grief (trust me I know). \u0026nbsp;Additionally, trying to strip your coax with a knife rather than a dedicated tool will lead you to use vocabulary that would make your momma wash your mouth out with soap. \u0026nbsp;A decent crimper and coax cutter are not expensive and will save you a ton of time as well as make your work go much quicker.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EBring out the stripper -- No bachelor party required\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-526qcLYGtDU\/WESDy6egswI\/AAAAAAAAcVw\/Ka3QhPQfBcYDbz6VsPRbEvKhOwcuwNrcgCLcB\/s1600\/jumper-cable-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-526qcLYGtDU\/WESDy6egswI\/AAAAAAAAcVw\/Ka3QhPQfBcYDbz6VsPRbEvKhOwcuwNrcgCLcB\/s400\/jumper-cable-3.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EStripped coax\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003EThe coax stripper tool has two blades which are adjusted for cutting depth as well as spacing. \u0026nbsp;You will need to sacrifice a bit of coax for test cuts as you adjust the blade cutting depth. \u0026nbsp;One blade should be adjusted so that it just barely cuts through the outer sheath without cutting the braid while the second blade is adjusted to cut deeper, through both the outer sheath, braid and insulator around the center conductor without touching the conductor.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EOnce you've adjusted the blades no further adjustment should be required as long as you're using the same coax. \u0026nbsp;Just be patient as you get the settings correct.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe length of insulator remaining over the center conductor will be longer for the PL-259 versus the BNC. \u0026nbsp;Watch the video for how to measure.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EConnectors\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-do8MwGKtTns\/WESCj0Rpc7I\/AAAAAAAAcVo\/Nr2mBsKZOS4NLOPNdI4r6dMW198-5GhWgCLcB\/s1600\/jumper-cable-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"257\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-do8MwGKtTns\/WESCj0Rpc7I\/AAAAAAAAcVo\/Nr2mBsKZOS4NLOPNdI4r6dMW198-5GhWgCLcB\/s400\/jumper-cable-2.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EPL-259 and BNC crimp-on connectors\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ENote that both connectors come with a sleeve that will be crimped over the knurled section of the connector, clamping the shield braid against the knurled section of the connector. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ENote in the photo that the BNC center conductors are not built into the connector. Their center pins have to be carefully placed over the center conductor of the coax and soldered before inserting \u003Ci\u003Ethrough\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;the BNC connector body. \u0026nbsp;The length of the center conductor above the folded braid is important so be prepared to sacrifice one or two connectors to get the hang of it.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWhen you cut the coax you need to leave enough center conductor to emerge out through the center tip of the PL-259 so that solder will wick down the center.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EFor the BNC you will trim the center conductor shorter so that it just fits inside the center pin and comes to the correct length when the connector is placed over the cable.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003EVery Important... Don't forget to put the crimp tube and the heat shrink onto the coax before pulling back the braid or soldering on the connector. \u0026nbsp; I seem to only learn from my mistakes but hopefully you can avoid this annoying mistake.\u003C\/blockquote\u003EIt's always fun to realize you've forgotten to slide the crimp collar or heat shrink onto the coax after you've folded back the braid on the coax or better yet, soldered on the connector and have to desolder it now to get the collar behind it.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Zlwi2hgxHZk\/WESGyNKM_hI\/AAAAAAAAcV8\/ZCURXB-pAvghz1eI2iBlCNARFCeyJssIgCLcB\/s1600\/jumper-cable-1-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Zlwi2hgxHZk\/WESGyNKM_hI\/AAAAAAAAcV8\/ZCURXB-pAvghz1eI2iBlCNARFCeyJssIgCLcB\/s400\/jumper-cable-1-2.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ENote the hole through the center pin of the PL-259\u003Cbr \/\u003ENote the crimp collar is ALREADY on the coax (in the shadow behind my thumb)\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/--ul-_KKvwlY\/WESGyXK_YZI\/AAAAAAAAcV4\/34omX5UMBWsL3RICeO04t_Usw26yDVsdACLcB\/s1600\/jumper-cable-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/--ul-_KKvwlY\/WESGyXK_YZI\/AAAAAAAAcV4\/34omX5UMBWsL3RICeO04t_Usw26yDVsdACLcB\/s400\/jumper-cable-4.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ECenter conductor exiting the center pin of the PL-259 so that solder can wick down into the pin\u003Cbr \/\u003ECut the conductor that's sticking out of the tip off after it's been soldered.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI solder the center pin and test that by pulling before crimping the braid so that I can be sure that the pin is firmly soldered to the center conductor.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-XQ42VV-ksR8\/WESH2fRJkII\/AAAAAAAAcWA\/q-3BQZgsfKcXXKGrv5TkN-cfzvaeyTXbgCLcB\/s1600\/jumper-cable-7.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-XQ42VV-ksR8\/WESH2fRJkII\/AAAAAAAAcWA\/q-3BQZgsfKcXXKGrv5TkN-cfzvaeyTXbgCLcB\/s400\/jumper-cable-7.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EUse some heat shrink over the crimped connection because it's sharp\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ENeaten up the connection with a bit of heat shrink tubing after you crimp the collar, and wallah!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EDemonstration\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EHere is a little demonstration video. \u0026nbsp;I forgot to make clips showing the actual use of the stripper (all you do is spin it around the cable) and soldering the BNC center pin, but you should get the gist of it. \u0026nbsp;I have a terrible cold today which distracted me bit and made me sound like a frog.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/WCaO8aYcIGA\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WCaO8aYcIGA?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ESummary\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ETake pride that you've made your very own RF jumper cables to connect your BNC equipment to standard PL connected equipment and when other envious HAMs ask where you bought those nifty jumper cables you can look at them with a quizzical gaze and ask \"Why would I purchase such a thing, I'm a HAM?\"\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/3156228566104135175\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/12\/make-rf-jump.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/3156228566104135175"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/3156228566104135175"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/12\/make-rf-jump.html","title":"Make the RF jump"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-_RaONT7PNyo\/WER727dJ2iI\/AAAAAAAAcVU\/tJb6meGj8E452-PhrMCYPDrK0pIZGWYrgCLcB\/s72-c\/jumper-cable-8.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-8267258533492259857"},"published":{"$t":"2016-11-23T18:06:00.004-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:29:15.226-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"This is not the wattage you're looking for... move along"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EGetting hot under the collector\/base junction\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EWhere did my power go?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EMy \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/01\/ive-got-power.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EElecraft W1 power meter\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;has been absent from the antenna chain for a while due to a jumper cable shortage when I last reconfigured my shack\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E. \u0026nbsp;But now the W1 meter is back in the chain and it revealed something a bit worrisome\u0026nbsp;about the\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/03\/its-alive.html\" style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E1Watter\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E transceiver...\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI've had a bunch of QSOs using the 1Watter both in the shack and in the great \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/04\/1-watt-in-great-outdoors.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eoutdoors\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;The 1Watter is my first home built transceiver (albeit from a kit) and has been a great learning experience. It is called a 1Watter\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E(or 1H2O as Diz calls it)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;because it nominally produces an output of 1 watt.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe Elecraft W1 power meter is a nice, inexpensive QRPp to QRO meter because it measures from 150 watts all the way down to 150mw.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe little 1Watter transceiver does indeed produce just a hair over 1 watt when it's first powered up. Tonight I tossed my call out on 7030 kHz and was promptly answered by N4DR up in Maryland. \u0026nbsp;He was running a YOUKITS TJ5A at 5w. When we started the QSO my W1 meter showed that my 1Watter was outputting between 900mw and 1w to my \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/08\/the-attic-antenna-revisited.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Emighty attic antenna\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThen by the second exchange in the QSO I noticed my output power dropping down to 700mw. \u0026nbsp;By the end of our ragchew my 1Watter output had dropped to 500mw. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-evuDIk_3mVA\/WDYZOPUUD8I\/AAAAAAAAcQI\/l0scciV6hs8J1EoPNJ8CeHQr5xpp6XyUACLcB\/s1600\/IMG_20161123_170943699%2B%25281%2529.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-evuDIk_3mVA\/WDYZOPUUD8I\/AAAAAAAAcQI\/l0scciV6hs8J1EoPNJ8CeHQr5xpp6XyUACLcB\/s640\/IMG_20161123_170943699%2B%25281%2529.jpg\" width=\"600\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EPower meter in background showing 500mw by the end of the first QSO\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAs I ended that first QSO I was called by another station (AF4YF) who was running a 2 watt homebrew xcvr. \u0026nbsp;And by the end of that QSO the 1Watter was producing less than 300mw. \u0026nbsp;I felt that some investigation was in order.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EHeat is the enemy\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe 1Watter uses a 2N5109 NPN RF transistor for a final. Transistors really are not fans of heat. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe maximum power output available from a power transistor is closely linked to temperature, and above 25°C falls in a linear manner to zero power output as the maximum permissible temperature is reached.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EMy 1Watter kit included a friction fit heat sink, seen at the top of the photo below. But apparently this heat sink either saturates quickly or doesn't have sufficient surface to conduct away the heat. \u0026nbsp;My enclosure is not vented but it is alumunium and I don't feel any appreciable temperature rise above ambient so I don't think venting is in order yet.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-oUHfyzvExTw\/WDYbCoRq-FI\/AAAAAAAAcQU\/7HLHju4YA2I6bSnokMVcNf8h2OMsVUGLQCLcB\/s1600\/1-watter-lives-6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-oUHfyzvExTw\/WDYbCoRq-FI\/AAAAAAAAcQU\/7HLHju4YA2I6bSnokMVcNf8h2OMsVUGLQCLcB\/s400\/1-watter-lives-6.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI allowed the 1Watter to rest for 30 minutes following the QSOs, still powered but not transmitting. \u0026nbsp;That only resulted in the output power getting back into the 700mw range. \u0026nbsp;I'm considering increasing the bias to start with a higher transmit power so that it will maintain 100mw but I'm afraid of destroying the transistor. \u0026nbsp;I might also try some conductive paste but it's messy and I'm not sure it will help if it can't be pressed between two surfaces.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI'd appreciate any constructive suggestions. \u0026nbsp;I'm still a noob at this electronics stuff.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EBut the real moral of the story is...\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-eZYDsPq7Z8c\/WDYfG4q31LI\/AAAAAAAAcQg\/8X5VHYrIPvkW80Uih7LSNaYKaMO-oPmRwCLcB\/s1600\/band%2Bcondx.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-eZYDsPq7Z8c\/WDYfG4q31LI\/AAAAAAAAcQg\/8X5VHYrIPvkW80Uih7LSNaYKaMO-oPmRwCLcB\/s1600\/band%2Bcondx.PNG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EBand conditions on the evening of this QSO\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESo as I sat here wondering why my 1 watt radio was only producing a 1\/2 watt now, \u0026nbsp;I reminded myself that I was having extended QSOs using a (now) 500mw radio with other QRP operators (5w and 2w). \u0026nbsp;I was also using my \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/08\/the-attic-antenna-revisited.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eattic antenna\u003C\/a\u003E, not some multi-element beam on a tower. Band conditions on 40m were also a limiting factor tonight (see snapshot at right).\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThese were not simply swap 599 TU QSOs, we were exchanging information on multiple go-rounds with solid copy.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESo if you're reading this blog you likely have some interest in QRP. \u0026nbsp;Hopefully this is just yet another reminder that we often don't need as much power as we think we do for communications. \u0026nbsp;I was getting discouraged this summer due to the decreasing sunspot cycle and thinking \"I'm gonna need to operate QRO more and likely get a real antenna put up in my yard\". \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EBut it's times like this with my 1Watter that keeps reminding me to lower my power and raise my expectations.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations...\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E72 \/ 73\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/8267258533492259857\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/11\/this-is-not-wattage-youre-looking-for.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/8267258533492259857"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/8267258533492259857"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/11\/this-is-not-wattage-youre-looking-for.html","title":"This is not the wattage you're looking for... move along"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-evuDIk_3mVA\/WDYZOPUUD8I\/AAAAAAAAcQI\/l0scciV6hs8J1EoPNJ8CeHQr5xpp6XyUACLcB\/s72-c\/IMG_20161123_170943699%2B%25281%2529.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-3468293924648932254"},"published":{"$t":"2016-11-13T10:00:00.003-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-12-30T17:52:03.610-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Get used to the common stuff"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch1\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E Common QSO words...\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h1\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-fDbKNrstLFw\/WCjpS2aglCI\/AAAAAAAAcLY\/E-9e2ggXTAowxDP4AYMdgbUtt96xF7pAwCLcB\/s1600\/zero-beat.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"\" border=\"0\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-fDbKNrstLFw\/WCjpS2aglCI\/AAAAAAAAcLY\/E-9e2ggXTAowxDP4AYMdgbUtt96xF7pAwCLcB\/s400\/zero-beat.jpg\" title=\"TenTec Century21\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERick -- KA8BMA, kindly shared with me some common QSO words that he uses for practice. These practice groups go from short 2 letter words\/symbols up through 6 letter words. Also included here are the most commonly used abbreviations and lastly the most common 100 words used in a QSO.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWork your way through these and develop an ear for the most common words used in a CW QSO.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI've created 22 wpm audio files that you should be able to simply click and listen to, assuming your browser supports embedded audio controls. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ENote that I accidentally have some \u0026lt;\u003Cu\u003EBT\u003C\/u\u003E\u0026gt;\u0026nbsp;prosigns thrown in there that are not listed in the text. \u0026nbsp;\u0026lt;\u003Cu\u003EBT\u003C\/u\u003E\u0026gt; means \"new paragraph\" and operators often throw those in to separate topics or if they can't think of something to send as a space filler. \u0026nbsp;If I get a chance I'll regenerated these audio files without the hidden \u0026lt;\u003Cu\u003EBT\u003C\/u\u003E\u0026gt;\u0026nbsp;prosigns.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIf you don't want to hear the code at 22wpm copy the text of these groups into your own CW Trainer application for practice at any speed.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ECommon \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/site\/hamradioqrpfiles\/cw-files\/cw-2-letter.mp3?attredirects=0\u0026amp;d=1\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E2 letter words and punctuation\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003Eto \u0026nbsp; of \u0026nbsp; it \u0026nbsp; in \u0026nbsp; do \u0026nbsp; so \u0026nbsp; is \u0026nbsp; we \u0026nbsp; on \u0026nbsp; or \u0026nbsp; oh \u0026nbsp; uh \u0026nbsp; at \u0026nbsp; my \u0026nbsp; if \u0026nbsp; be \u0026nbsp; as \u0026nbsp; go \u0026nbsp; Im \u0026nbsp; he \u0026nbsp; me \u0026nbsp; up \u0026nbsp; tu \u0026nbsp; cq \u0026nbsp; dx \u0026nbsp; es \u0026nbsp; fb \u0026nbsp; go \u0026nbsp; ge \u0026nbsp; hi \u0026nbsp; hr \u0026nbsp; hw \u0026nbsp; nr \u0026nbsp; om \u0026nbsp; wx \u0026nbsp; 73 \u0026nbsp; KN \u0026nbsp; BK \u0026nbsp; AS \u0026nbsp; = \u0026nbsp; + \u0026nbsp; * \u0026nbsp; . \u0026nbsp; ? \u0026nbsp; \/ \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Caudio controls=\"controls\" format=\"audio\/mpeg\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Csource src=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/site\/hamradioqrpfiles\/cw-files\/cw-2-letter.mp3\"\u003E\u003C\/source\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIf you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/audio\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ECommon \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/site\/hamradioqrpfiles\/cw-files\/cw-3-letter.mp3?attredirects=0\u0026amp;d=1\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E3 letter words including Q-codes\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003Eand \u0026nbsp; the \u0026nbsp; you \u0026nbsp; but \u0026nbsp; was \u0026nbsp; not \u0026nbsp; for \u0026nbsp; all \u0026nbsp; one \u0026nbsp; are \u0026nbsp; not \u0026nbsp; can \u0026nbsp; out \u0026nbsp; got \u0026nbsp; now \u0026nbsp; lot \u0026nbsp; had \u0026nbsp; how \u0026nbsp; get \u0026nbsp; see \u0026nbsp; too \u0026nbsp; did \u0026nbsp; and \u0026nbsp; Ive \u0026nbsp; our \u0026nbsp; any \u0026nbsp; rtu \u0026nbsp; tnx \u0026nbsp; rst \u0026nbsp; agn \u0026nbsp; ant \u0026nbsp; pse \u0026nbsp; pwr \u0026nbsp; QRL \u0026nbsp; QRM \u0026nbsp; QRN \u0026nbsp; QRQ \u0026nbsp; QRS \u0026nbsp; QRZ \u0026nbsp; QTH \u0026nbsp; QSB \u0026nbsp; QSY \u0026nbsp; hw? \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Caudio controls=\"\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Csource src=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/site\/hamradioqrpfiles\/cw-files\/cw-3-letter.mp3\"\u003E\u003C\/source\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIf you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/audio\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ECommon \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/site\/hamradioqrpfiles\/cw-files\/cw-4-letter.mp3?attredirects=0\u0026amp;d=1\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E4 letter words\u003C\/a\u003E -- No, not the ones your thinking\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThere is an abbreviation in this set \"efhw\" that I've never personally heard on-air. \u0026nbsp;I believe it stands for \"end fed half wave antenna\". \u0026nbsp;I'm including it because it was in Rick's word group but YMMV on how often you hear that word\/abbr.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003Ethat \u0026nbsp; know \u0026nbsp; yeah \u0026nbsp; they \u0026nbsp; like \u0026nbsp; have \u0026nbsp; just \u0026nbsp; well \u0026nbsp; what \u0026nbsp; them \u0026nbsp; mean \u0026nbsp; dont \u0026nbsp; with \u0026nbsp; when \u0026nbsp; from \u0026nbsp; some \u0026nbsp; were \u0026nbsp; your \u0026nbsp; name \u0026nbsp; beam \u0026nbsp;efhw \u0026nbsp; g5rv\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;test \u0026nbsp; icom \u0026nbsp; knwd \u0026nbsp; temp \u0026nbsp; warm \u0026nbsp; cold \u0026nbsp; cool \u0026nbsp; rain \u0026nbsp; snow \u0026nbsp; hail \u0026nbsp; jt65 \u0026nbsp; hour \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Caudio controls=\"\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Csource src=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/site\/hamradioqrpfiles\/cw-files\/cw-4-letter.mp3\"\u003E\u003C\/source\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIf you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/audio\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ECommon \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/site\/hamradioqrpfiles\/cw-files\/cw-5-letter.mp3?attredirects=0\u0026amp;d=1\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E5 letter words\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003Ethink \u0026nbsp; about \u0026nbsp; thats \u0026nbsp; right \u0026nbsp; other \u0026nbsp; where \u0026nbsp; yaesu \u0026nbsp; sunny \u0026nbsp; clear \u0026nbsp; sleet \u0026nbsp; windy \u0026nbsp; psk31 \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Caudio controls=\"\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Csource src=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/site\/hamradioqrpfiles\/cw-files\/cw-5-letter.mp3\"\u003E\u003C\/source\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIf you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/audio\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ECommon \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/site\/hamradioqrpfiles\/cw-files\/cw-6-letter.mp3?attredirects=0\u0026amp;d=1\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E6 letter words\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003Ereally \u0026nbsp; dipole \u0026nbsp; windom \u0026nbsp; sloper \u0026nbsp; tentec \u0026nbsp; alinco \u0026nbsp; cloudy \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Caudio controls=\"\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Csource src=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/site\/hamradioqrpfiles\/cw-files\/cw-6-letter.mp3\"\u003E\u003C\/source\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIf you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/audio\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ECommon \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/site\/hamradioqrpfiles\/cw-files\/cw-23-letter.mp3?attredirects=0\u0026amp;d=1\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E2 and 3 letter words together\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003Eto \u0026nbsp; of \u0026nbsp; it \u0026nbsp; in \u0026nbsp; do \u0026nbsp; so \u0026nbsp; is \u0026nbsp; we \u0026nbsp; on \u0026nbsp; or \u0026nbsp; oh \u0026nbsp; uh \u0026nbsp; at \u0026nbsp; my \u0026nbsp; if \u0026nbsp; be \u0026nbsp; as \u0026nbsp; go \u0026nbsp; Im \u0026nbsp; he \u0026nbsp; me \u0026nbsp; up \u0026nbsp; tu \u0026nbsp; cq \u0026nbsp; dx \u0026nbsp; es \u0026nbsp; fb \u0026nbsp; go \u0026nbsp; ge \u0026nbsp; hi \u0026nbsp; hr \u0026nbsp; hw \u0026nbsp; nr \u0026nbsp; om \u0026nbsp; wx \u0026nbsp; 73 \u0026nbsp; KN \u0026nbsp; BK \u0026nbsp; AS \u0026nbsp; = \u0026nbsp; + \u0026nbsp; * \u0026nbsp; me \u0026nbsp; up \u0026nbsp; tu \u0026nbsp; cq \u0026nbsp; dx \u0026nbsp; es \u0026nbsp; fb \u0026nbsp; go \u0026nbsp; ge \u0026nbsp; hi \u0026nbsp; and \u0026nbsp; the \u0026nbsp; you \u0026nbsp; but \u0026nbsp; was \u0026nbsp; not \u0026nbsp; for \u0026nbsp; all \u0026nbsp; one \u0026nbsp; are \u0026nbsp; not \u0026nbsp; can \u0026nbsp; out \u0026nbsp; got \u0026nbsp; now \u0026nbsp; lot \u0026nbsp; had \u0026nbsp; how \u0026nbsp; get \u0026nbsp; see \u0026nbsp; too \u0026nbsp; did \u0026nbsp; and \u0026nbsp; Ive \u0026nbsp; our \u0026nbsp; any \u0026nbsp; rtu \u0026nbsp; tnx \u0026nbsp; rst \u0026nbsp; agn \u0026nbsp; ant \u0026nbsp; pse \u0026nbsp; pwr \u0026nbsp; QRL \u0026nbsp; QRM \u0026nbsp; QRN \u0026nbsp; QRQ \u0026nbsp; QRS \u0026nbsp; QRZ \u0026nbsp; QTH \u0026nbsp; QSB \u0026nbsp; QSY \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Caudio controls=\"\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Csource src=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/site\/hamradioqrpfiles\/cw-files\/cw-23-letter.mp3\"\u003E\u003C\/source\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIf you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/audio\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ECommon \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/site\/hamradioqrpfiles\/cw-files\/cw-234-letter.mp3?attredirects=0\u0026amp;d=1\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E2, 3 and 4 letter words together\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003Eto \u0026nbsp; of \u0026nbsp; it \u0026nbsp; in \u0026nbsp; do \u0026nbsp; so \u0026nbsp; is \u0026nbsp; we \u0026nbsp; on \u0026nbsp; or \u0026nbsp; oh \u0026nbsp; uh \u0026nbsp; at \u0026nbsp; my \u0026nbsp; if \u0026nbsp; be \u0026nbsp; as \u0026nbsp; go \u0026nbsp; Im \u0026nbsp; he \u0026nbsp; me \u0026nbsp; up \u0026nbsp; tu \u0026nbsp; cq \u0026nbsp; dx \u0026nbsp; es \u0026nbsp; fb \u0026nbsp; go \u0026nbsp; ge \u0026nbsp; hi \u0026nbsp; hr \u0026nbsp; hw \u0026nbsp; nr \u0026nbsp; om \u0026nbsp; wx \u0026nbsp; 73 \u0026nbsp; KN \u0026nbsp; BK \u0026nbsp; AS \u0026nbsp; = \u0026nbsp; + \u0026nbsp; * \u0026nbsp; me \u0026nbsp; up \u0026nbsp; tu \u0026nbsp; cq \u0026nbsp; dx \u0026nbsp; es \u0026nbsp; fb \u0026nbsp; go \u0026nbsp; ge \u0026nbsp; hi \u0026nbsp; and \u0026nbsp; the \u0026nbsp; you \u0026nbsp; but \u0026nbsp; was \u0026nbsp; not \u0026nbsp; for \u0026nbsp; all \u0026nbsp; one \u0026nbsp; are \u0026nbsp; not \u0026nbsp; can \u0026nbsp; out \u0026nbsp; got \u0026nbsp; now \u0026nbsp; lot \u0026nbsp; had \u0026nbsp; how \u0026nbsp; get \u0026nbsp; see \u0026nbsp; too \u0026nbsp; did \u0026nbsp; and \u0026nbsp; Ive \u0026nbsp; our \u0026nbsp; any \u0026nbsp; rtu \u0026nbsp; tnx \u0026nbsp; rst \u0026nbsp; agn \u0026nbsp; ant \u0026nbsp; pse \u0026nbsp; pwr \u0026nbsp; QRL \u0026nbsp; QRM \u0026nbsp; QRN \u0026nbsp; QRQ \u0026nbsp; QRS \u0026nbsp; QRZ \u0026nbsp; QTH \u0026nbsp; QSB \u0026nbsp; QSY \u0026nbsp; that \u0026nbsp; know \u0026nbsp; yeah \u0026nbsp; they \u0026nbsp; like \u0026nbsp; have \u0026nbsp; just \u0026nbsp; well \u0026nbsp; what \u0026nbsp; them \u0026nbsp; mean \u0026nbsp; dont \u0026nbsp; with \u0026nbsp; when \u0026nbsp; from \u0026nbsp; some \u0026nbsp; were \u0026nbsp; your \u0026nbsp; name \u0026nbsp; beam \u0026nbsp; efhw \u0026nbsp; g5rv\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;test \u0026nbsp; icom \u0026nbsp; knwd \u0026nbsp; temp \u0026nbsp; warm \u0026nbsp; cold \u0026nbsp; cool \u0026nbsp; rain \u0026nbsp; snow \u0026nbsp; hail \u0026nbsp; jt65 \u0026nbsp; hour \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Caudio controls=\"\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Csource src=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/site\/hamradioqrpfiles\/cw-files\/cw-234-letter.mp3\"\u003E\u003C\/source\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIf you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/audio\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ECommon \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/site\/hamradioqrpfiles\/cw-files\/cw-2345-letter.mp3?attredirects=0\u0026amp;d=1\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E2, 3, 4 and 5 letter words together\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003Eto \u0026nbsp; of \u0026nbsp; it \u0026nbsp; in \u0026nbsp; do \u0026nbsp; so \u0026nbsp; is \u0026nbsp; we \u0026nbsp; on \u0026nbsp; or \u0026nbsp; oh \u0026nbsp; uh \u0026nbsp; at \u0026nbsp; my \u0026nbsp; if \u0026nbsp; be \u0026nbsp; as \u0026nbsp; go \u0026nbsp; Im \u0026nbsp; he \u0026nbsp; me \u0026nbsp; up \u0026nbsp; tu \u0026nbsp; cq \u0026nbsp; dx \u0026nbsp; es \u0026nbsp; fb \u0026nbsp; go \u0026nbsp; ge \u0026nbsp; hi \u0026nbsp; hr \u0026nbsp; hw \u0026nbsp; nr \u0026nbsp; om \u0026nbsp; wx \u0026nbsp; 73 \u0026nbsp; KN \u0026nbsp; BK \u0026nbsp; AS \u0026nbsp; = \u0026nbsp; + \u0026nbsp; * \u0026nbsp; me \u0026nbsp; up \u0026nbsp; tu \u0026nbsp; cq \u0026nbsp; dx \u0026nbsp; es \u0026nbsp; fb \u0026nbsp; go \u0026nbsp; ge \u0026nbsp; hi \u0026nbsp; and \u0026nbsp; the \u0026nbsp; you \u0026nbsp; but \u0026nbsp; was \u0026nbsp; not \u0026nbsp; for \u0026nbsp; all \u0026nbsp; one \u0026nbsp; are \u0026nbsp; not \u0026nbsp; can \u0026nbsp; out \u0026nbsp; got \u0026nbsp; now \u0026nbsp; lot \u0026nbsp; had \u0026nbsp; how \u0026nbsp; get \u0026nbsp; see \u0026nbsp; too \u0026nbsp; did \u0026nbsp; and \u0026nbsp; Ive \u0026nbsp; our \u0026nbsp; any \u0026nbsp; rtu \u0026nbsp; tnx \u0026nbsp; rst \u0026nbsp; agn \u0026nbsp; ant \u0026nbsp; pse \u0026nbsp; pwr \u0026nbsp; QRL \u0026nbsp; QRM \u0026nbsp; QRN \u0026nbsp; QRQ \u0026nbsp; QRS \u0026nbsp; QRZ \u0026nbsp; QTH \u0026nbsp; QSB \u0026nbsp; QSY \u0026nbsp; that \u0026nbsp; know \u0026nbsp; yeah \u0026nbsp; they \u0026nbsp; like \u0026nbsp; have \u0026nbsp; just \u0026nbsp; well \u0026nbsp; what \u0026nbsp; them \u0026nbsp; mean \u0026nbsp; dont \u0026nbsp; with \u0026nbsp; when \u0026nbsp; from \u0026nbsp; some \u0026nbsp; were \u0026nbsp; your \u0026nbsp; name \u0026nbsp; beam \u0026nbsp; efhw \u0026nbsp; g5rv\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;test \u0026nbsp; icom \u0026nbsp; knwd \u0026nbsp; temp \u0026nbsp; warm \u0026nbsp; cold \u0026nbsp; cool \u0026nbsp; rain \u0026nbsp; snow \u0026nbsp; hail \u0026nbsp; jt65 \u0026nbsp; hour \u0026nbsp; think \u0026nbsp; about \u0026nbsp; thats \u0026nbsp; right \u0026nbsp; other \u0026nbsp; where \u0026nbsp; yaesu \u0026nbsp; sunny \u0026nbsp; clear \u0026nbsp; sleet \u0026nbsp; windy \u0026nbsp; psk31 \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Caudio controls=\"\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Csource src=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/site\/hamradioqrpfiles\/cw-files\/cw-2345-letter.mp3\"\u003E\u003C\/source\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIf you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/audio\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EMost common \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/site\/hamradioqrpfiles\/cw-files\/cw-qso-abbr.mp3?attredirects=0\u0026amp;d=1\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eabbreviations during a QSO\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003Er\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E   \u003C\/span\u003Etu\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E   \u003C\/span\u003Ertu\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E   \u003C\/span\u003Etnx\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E   \u003C\/span\u003Ename \u0026nbsp; rst\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E  \u003C\/span\u003Ecq \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;agn \u0026nbsp; ant \u0026nbsp; dx \u0026nbsp; es\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E   \u003C\/span\u003Efb\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E   \u003C\/span\u003Ega\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E   \u003C\/span\u003Ege \u0026nbsp;\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003Ehi \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;hr hw\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003Enr\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003Eom\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E   \u003C\/span\u003Epse\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E   \u003C\/span\u003Epwr\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E   \u003C\/span\u003Ewx \u003Cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E73\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Caudio controls=\"\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Csource src=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/site\/hamradioqrpfiles\/cw-files\/cw-qso-abbr.mp3\"\u003E\u003C\/source\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIf you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/audio\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EMost common \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/site\/hamradioqrpfiles\/cw-files\/cw-QSigs.mp3?attredirects=0\u0026amp;d=1\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EQ signs during a QSO\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003EQRG \u0026nbsp; QRL \u0026nbsp; QRM \u0026nbsp; QRN \u0026nbsp; QSB \u0026nbsp; QRO \u0026nbsp; QRP \u0026nbsp; QRQ \u0026nbsp; QRS \u0026nbsp; QRT \u0026nbsp; QRU \u0026nbsp; QRV \u0026nbsp; QRZ \u0026nbsp; QSL \u0026nbsp; QSX \u0026nbsp; QSY \u0026nbsp; QTH \u0026nbsp; QTR \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Caudio controls=\"\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Csource src=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/site\/hamradioqrpfiles\/cw-files\/cw-QSigs.mp3\"\u003E\u003C\/source\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIf you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/audio\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/site\/hamradioqrpfiles\/cw-files\/cw-100-words.mp3?attredirects=0\u0026amp;d=1\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E100 Most common words during a QSO\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003Eand \u0026nbsp; the \u0026nbsp; you \u0026nbsp; that \u0026nbsp; a \u0026nbsp; to \u0026nbsp; know \u0026nbsp; of \u0026nbsp; it \u0026nbsp; yeah \u0026nbsp; in \u0026nbsp; they \u0026nbsp; do \u0026nbsp; so \u0026nbsp; but \u0026nbsp; is \u0026nbsp; like \u0026nbsp; have \u0026nbsp; was \u0026nbsp; we \u0026nbsp; its \u0026nbsp; just \u0026nbsp; on \u0026nbsp; or \u0026nbsp; not \u0026nbsp; think \u0026nbsp; for \u0026nbsp; well \u0026nbsp; what \u0026nbsp; about \u0026nbsp; all \u0026nbsp; thats \u0026nbsp; oh \u0026nbsp; really \u0026nbsp; one \u0026nbsp; are \u0026nbsp; right \u0026nbsp; uh \u0026nbsp; them \u0026nbsp; at \u0026nbsp; there \u0026nbsp; my \u0026nbsp; mean \u0026nbsp; dont \u0026nbsp; no \u0026nbsp; with \u0026nbsp; if \u0026nbsp; when \u0026nbsp; can \u0026nbsp; as \u0026nbsp; his \u0026nbsp; from \u0026nbsp; had \u0026nbsp; by \u0026nbsp; some \u0026nbsp; were \u0026nbsp; out \u0026nbsp; other \u0026nbsp; where \u0026nbsp; your \u0026nbsp; up \u0026nbsp; QRL \u0026nbsp; QRM \u0026nbsp; QRN \u0026nbsp; QRQ \u0026nbsp; QRS \u0026nbsp; QRZ \u0026nbsp; QTH \u0026nbsp; QSB \u0026nbsp; qrp \u0026nbsp; QSY \u0026nbsp; r \u0026nbsp; tu \u0026nbsp; rtu \u0026nbsp; tnx \u0026nbsp; name \u0026nbsp; rst \u0026nbsp; cq \u0026nbsp; agn \u0026nbsp; ant \u0026nbsp; inv v \u0026nbsp; dipole \u0026nbsp; beam \u0026nbsp; efhw \u0026nbsp; g5rv\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;windom \u0026nbsp; ocf \u0026nbsp; sloper \u0026nbsp; vertical \u0026nbsp; dx \u0026nbsp; es \u0026nbsp; fb \u0026nbsp; gm \u0026nbsp; ga \u0026nbsp; ge \u0026nbsp; hi \u0026nbsp; hr \u0026nbsp; hw \u0026nbsp; nr \u0026nbsp; om \u0026nbsp; pse \u0026nbsp; pwr \u0026nbsp; wx \u0026nbsp; 73 \u0026nbsp; = \u0026nbsp; + \u0026nbsp; * \u0026nbsp; bk \u0026nbsp; kn \u0026nbsp; rig \u0026nbsp; QRP \u0026nbsp; age \u0026nbsp; yrs \u0026nbsp; test \u0026nbsp; icom \u0026nbsp; knwd \u0026nbsp; yaesu \u0026nbsp; tentec \u0026nbsp; elecraft \u0026nbsp; heathkit \u0026nbsp; alinco \u0026nbsp; collins \u0026nbsp; psk \u0026nbsp; swr \u0026nbsp; wx \u0026nbsp; temp \u0026nbsp; warm \u0026nbsp; hot \u0026nbsp; cold \u0026nbsp; sunny \u0026nbsp; cool \u0026nbsp; cloudy \u0026nbsp; clear \u0026nbsp; rain \u0026nbsp; snow \u0026nbsp; sleet \u0026nbsp; hail \u0026nbsp; windy \u0026nbsp; fog \u0026nbsp; jt65 \u0026nbsp; hour \u0026nbsp; . \u0026nbsp; ? \u0026nbsp; \/ \u0026nbsp; 599 \u0026nbsp; 589 \u0026nbsp; 579 \u0026nbsp; 479 \u0026nbsp; 359 \u0026nbsp; 489 \u0026nbsp; 559 \u0026nbsp; hw? \u0026nbsp; cw \u0026nbsp; am \u0026nbsp; ssb \u0026nbsp; usb \u0026nbsp; lsb \u0026nbsp; psk31 \u0026nbsp; psk \u0026nbsp; digital \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Caudio controls=\"\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Csource src=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/site\/hamradioqrpfiles\/cw-files\/cw-100-words.mp3\"\u003E\u003C\/source\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIf you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/audio\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations...\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E72 \/ 73\u003Cbr \/\u003ERichard AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/3468293924648932254\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/11\/get-used-to-common-stuff.html#comment-form","title":"7 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/3468293924648932254"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/3468293924648932254"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/11\/get-used-to-common-stuff.html","title":"Get used to the common stuff"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-fDbKNrstLFw\/WCjpS2aglCI\/AAAAAAAAcLY\/E-9e2ggXTAowxDP4AYMdgbUtt96xF7pAwCLcB\/s72-c\/zero-beat.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"7"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-4457229454359928206"},"published":{"$t":"2016-11-07T20:20:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:29:15.117-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"You can swing a dead cat but you shouldn't swing your Bug"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E If it ain't got that swing, that's a good thing\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe bane of those who work Bug key operators is the dreaded \"swing\". \u0026nbsp;Swing is when the DAH to DIT length doesn't match the accepted ratio of 3 to 1... often with Bug ops the length of the DAHs stretch out to way more than the accepted ratio and the poor schmuck at the receiving end has to make sense of someone speaking CW with a thick accent.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-H2LhXTaQKes\/WCElCmbcrxI\/AAAAAAAAcBw\/PJaGQ0o8H8Akp0jdAqA3g068dXTQGiI-wCLcB\/s1600\/swing-bug.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"297\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-H2LhXTaQKes\/WCElCmbcrxI\/AAAAAAAAcBw\/PJaGQ0o8H8Akp0jdAqA3g068dXTQGiI-wCLcB\/s400\/swing-bug.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESometimes a bit of swing on a manual key adds some interest to the sound of the CW and when Bug ops work other Bug ops we often throw some extra-spicy whoop-swing into our FIST. \u0026nbsp;But by and large non-standard DAH to DIT timing is frowned upon because, after all, we are supposed to be communicating and communication is easiest when it is understandable.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EMake 'em think you're using a Paddle\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAs I've been learning to send CW with my circa 1970s Standard Vibroplex Bug, I've strived to make my FIST sound as close to the accepted timing of a paddle through an electronic keyer as I can. \u0026nbsp;I'm very much still in training, as you'll hear in the video, but I thought it might be helpful to have a little show and tell.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003EWow! I need practice. \u0026nbsp;After listening to my video I realized my inter-character spacing was terrible with too little spacing between characters. \u0026nbsp;So please don't run your characters together like I did... \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/Y8d13cd5fKg\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Y8d13cd5fKg?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EPracticing the bug to sound like... errr well a paddle\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr class=\"Apple-interchange-newline\" \/\u003E The phrase I'm sending at the end of the video is a quote from Albert Einstein..\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination\"\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThat's all for now...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations, and \"enunciate\" your DAHs\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/4457229454359928206\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/11\/you-can-swing-dead-cat-but-you-shouldnt.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/4457229454359928206"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/4457229454359928206"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/11\/you-can-swing-dead-cat-but-you-shouldnt.html","title":"You can swing a dead cat but you shouldn't swing your Bug"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-H2LhXTaQKes\/WCElCmbcrxI\/AAAAAAAAcBw\/PJaGQ0o8H8Akp0jdAqA3g068dXTQGiI-wCLcB\/s72-c\/swing-bug.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-2072082899993080314"},"published":{"$t":"2016-11-05T13:15:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:29:15.067-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Head Copying CW"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EThere's more to using Morse Code than Learning Morse Code\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIt's been about 18 months since I started learning Morse Code in order to use it for making CW contacts in amateur radio. \u0026nbsp;Learning the code allows you to recognize the letters, numbers and punctuation but it's akin to when you learned your \"letters\" when you were a child. \u0026nbsp;Knowing the alphabet is just the first step to \"reading\". \u0026nbsp;So it is with learning Morse Code. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-09tm2eFKVzQ\/WB4Q2wwZcdI\/AAAAAAAAcBg\/xKnL4tTFDgArsYqXoLAdpoqlCUJ3qRtOwCLcB\/s1600\/gibberish-meaningful-blabber.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"237\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-09tm2eFKVzQ\/WB4Q2wwZcdI\/AAAAAAAAcBg\/xKnL4tTFDgArsYqXoLAdpoqlCUJ3qRtOwCLcB\/s400\/gibberish-meaningful-blabber.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWhen I started making contacts using CW it was fairly formulaic. I even had my QSOs written out with regard to what I was planning to send and what I expected to hear during each exchange.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EBut then my copy and sending speed increased beyond 17-19 words per minute and I could no longer type or write down what I copied fast enough to comprehend and I began to head copy.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EHead Copying\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EHead copying is when you stop transcribing what you hear and listen to it as you would a conversation and only take notes on salient points. \u0026nbsp;This was a big step for me and it has been a difficult transition. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EUsing Morse Code to communicate at speeds faster than it can be written straddles the weird place between hearing and reading. \u0026nbsp;We learn morse code by its sound but at slower speeds, say below 30wpm what we are \"hearing\" is letters, not words so we are having to buffer those letters in our head to spell words. \u0026nbsp;When we \"listen\" to someone speak we are not hearing them speak letters but complete words, when we \"read\" our brains are not looking at individual letters but at complete words. \u0026nbsp;When we hear Morse code at 20-25 wpm we are hearing very slowly pronounced words and it is a new skill that has to be learned.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis skill is necessary for ragchewing. \u0026nbsp;A ragchew is a long QSO between two amateur radio operators. This is generally what amateur radio operators are doing on the radio when they're not contesting, ...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EHow to practice for a ragchew\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo after you learn the code, how do you learn to use it in a conversation? \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI struggled with copying ragchew QSOs at 20+ words per minute for most the spring and early summer of 2016. \u0026nbsp;Just listening to QSOs alone wasn't cutting it for me. \u0026nbsp;During my lunch time at work I began regularly using \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/04\/the-best-cw-training-app-for-android.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Emy CW training application\u003C\/a\u003E on my phone to send the top 500 words at 25wpm and it has been a big help to me. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI had to learn the skill of not just recognizing letters but holding what I was hearing in my brain long enough to turn it into a word and just as importantly not to get hung up on a word that I couldn't immediately recognize but let it go and pay attention to the next. \u0026nbsp;To me, this has been a bigger learning curve than recognizing the alphabet and numbers at speed.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIn addition to learning to buffer the letters until they form a word I must also keep the slowly accumulating set of words in my head until it forms a sentence or makes sense as to what is being communicated. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003ETHIS IS COMMUNICATION with Morse Code and it is different than anything else we are familiar with so treat it as learning a new skill.\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ENow if all you are trying to do with CW is contests, you don't need this skill. \u0026nbsp;You just need to be able to copy a call and whatever designators are sent after it for the contest rules (state abbreviation or a contest number or grid square) and get it copied into your logging program. \u0026nbsp;But if you want to \u003Ci\u003Ecommunicate\u003C\/i\u003E at speeds above 20wpm you will need this new skill.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ENext steps\u003C\/h3\u003EAfter you've practiced with machine sent top 100 or top 500 words you'll still need time copying actual QSOs because more often than not, most operators you will communicate with have lousy spacing and run their words together or use so many abbreviations that you'll have to learn to hear the abbreviations as new words. \u0026nbsp;When I work an operator who runs things together I'll first try to really exaggerate my word spacing during my exchange to give them a hint and if that doesn't work I ask them put more space between their words. \u0026nbsp;Some will comply, but some folks just don't seem to know how to leave space so I'll catch what I can, politely respond to what I could understand and then move on.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo if you're getting discouraged when you reach a wall of comprehension, try the steps above and with time I think you'll find your comprehension during a ragchew improving and it will take you to a new place in the hobby.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThat's all for now\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations... and put extra space between your words!\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E73\u003Cbr \/\u003ERichard AA4OO\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EUpdate 11\/7\/2016:\u003C\/h3\u003EKA8BMA pointed me to a nice reference created by W0XI for the top 100 \"Ham Words\" used in QSOs... check it out\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.4sqrp.com\/resource\/w0xi\/w0xi-100\/most_common.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Emost common ham words\u003C\/a\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/2072082899993080314\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/11\/head-copying-cw.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/2072082899993080314"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/2072082899993080314"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/11\/head-copying-cw.html","title":"Head Copying CW"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-09tm2eFKVzQ\/WB4Q2wwZcdI\/AAAAAAAAcBg\/xKnL4tTFDgArsYqXoLAdpoqlCUJ3qRtOwCLcB\/s72-c\/gibberish-meaningful-blabber.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-7544201238878289071"},"published":{"$t":"2016-06-27T07:33:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:29:15.215-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"First Field Day as a CW operator"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EField Day 2016 with the Knightlites QRP club\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI had the privilege to be part of the Knightlites WQ4RP 2016 Field Day event. \u0026nbsp;They are a great bunch of folks dedicated to QRP radio. \u0026nbsp;They operated CW and SSB on 80m, 40m, 20m, 15m, 6m, 2m and 440.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAfter listening to CW for nearly 19 hours straight; my brain is turning even normal sounds into morse code... \u0026nbsp;I may have had a psychotic break. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-9oKISLNTf7E\/V3BKn95bkXI\/AAAAAAAAaN0\/ZjCE2-9FHegW5JZl5anO3dEVr9sPdOquwCLcB\/s1600\/fd-2016-18.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"414\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-9oKISLNTf7E\/V3BKn95bkXI\/AAAAAAAAaN0\/ZjCE2-9FHegW5JZl5anO3dEVr9sPdOquwCLcB\/s640\/fd-2016-18.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"font-size: 12.8px;\"\u003EGary, N3GO, operating 80m straight through the night without leaving the oh-so-comfortable lawn chair\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EMy 80m\/15m station\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis is my first year operating CW and my first full, field day event. \u0026nbsp;I've dabbled in field day (FD) in the past but did not work it as part of a club.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFor this FD I was responsible for supplying the equipment to get a station on the air for 80m and 15m. \u0026nbsp;The WQ4RP club operates QRP only using battery power, so anything associated with transmitting was to be battery powered including the computer. \u0026nbsp;My Elecraft KX3 was powered by a 12 year old 50ah UPS battery and the laptop was powered using an inverter with a large deep cycle battery. \u0026nbsp;Following 20 hours of operation the UPS battery had only dropped to 12.2v \u0026nbsp;The Elecraft KX3 is frugal with power even after hundreds of contacts.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMy antenna was the one \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/03\/aim-high.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ewe'd previously installed at Excalibur during the spring\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;Paul brought it down for us to use at the FD site. \u0026nbsp;We cut the 40m part of the fan dipole to work for 15m. Tall trees on either side of the tent provided the antenna supports and the tent was positioned to be close to the feed point of the ladder line.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-WqTL30gQFbQ\/V3BLAMETTWI\/AAAAAAAAaN8\/fhDZqRlHB6IBFKWC_FENIaqzz0V7XC7kACLcB\/s1600\/fd-2016-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-WqTL30gQFbQ\/V3BLAMETTWI\/AAAAAAAAaN8\/fhDZqRlHB6IBFKWC_FENIaqzz0V7XC7kACLcB\/s640\/fd-2016-2.jpg\" width=\"480\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E80m - 15m Fan dipole with home brew ladder line\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EHonda generators powered the lights in the evening and fans\/AC during the heat of the day. Honda generators are quiet in both the audio and radio spectrums. \u0026nbsp;Three Knightlite stations used Honda generators to power equipment not related to transceivers.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-4uX4RvWVGM4\/V3BOloqAROI\/AAAAAAAAaOM\/XFge2NI6MBwy3Q3N-aslOKKhb4bpvpa_wCLcB\/s1600\/fd-2016-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"257\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-4uX4RvWVGM4\/V3BOloqAROI\/AAAAAAAAaOM\/XFge2NI6MBwy3Q3N-aslOKKhb4bpvpa_wCLcB\/s320\/fd-2016-3.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EPower was supplied to all stations by Honda i-series generators\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EOperating CW during Field Day\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EUnfortunately for FD operations I'm the opposite end of a CW contester. \u0026nbsp;Since starting my CW\/Morse Code journey last year I've just worked at getting my ragchew (conversations in CW) skills improved. \u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/04\/the-best-cw-training-app-for-android.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EI practice listening to the most common 500 words and listening to e-books sent as Morse Code\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;I'm not good at copying calls, when they are sent at 25wpm. \u0026nbsp;Compounding my new(ish) operator struggle is that FD uses an abbreviated exchange, so it was tough going for me when operations kicked off at 2PM local time Saturday and the exchanges began flying by...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EA Field Day CW exchange\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003ECalling Station sends an abbreviated CQ, sometimes the CQ and the ending FD were omitted:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace; font-size: large;\"\u003ECQ FD N4HOG N4HOG FD\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003EAnswering Station sends call by itself, repeating as necessary:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace; font-size: large;\"\u003EWQ4RP\u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;(repeat call after a brief pause if no response)\u003C\/blockquote\u003ECalling Station sends my call back to me then his station class and \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.arrl.org\/section-abbreviations\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Esection\u003C\/a\u003E:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EWQ4RP 1E NC\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003EAnswering Station sends station class and section:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace; font-size: large;\"\u003E3A\u0026nbsp;NC\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003ECalling Station sends thank you and that's it, you're done:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace; font-size: large;\"\u003ETU\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003ESince we were operating QRP we often had to repeat our call and our class and \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.arrl.org\/section-abbreviations\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Es\u003C\/a\u003Eections. \u0026nbsp;I don't have much experience at copying calls at speeds above 20wpm. \u0026nbsp;The 15m band was weak and most signals were no better than S2 or S3. I was trying to copy calls sent at speeds higher than my norm with QSB (fading) and I was getting frustrated. \u0026nbsp;Paul came and sat beside me to coach and provide some encouragement. \u0026nbsp;He is a patient tutor.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI was advised to operate \"search and pounce\" rather than sending CQ myself because I needed to hear a caller complete a QSO once or twice to copy their call and their response but even then copying the section was often harder for me than the call. \u0026nbsp;Many of the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.arrl.org\/section-abbreviations\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Esections\u003C\/a\u003E are 3 letter designations that I was unfamiliar with (i.e. California has 10 sections abbreviations). \u0026nbsp;Between QSOs Paul would explain where each of the sections were located. I should have studied up on this stuff prior to FD. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI'd hear the station class (a number and a letter) and then while my brain was chewing on that I'd miss the section. \u0026nbsp;So I was sending a lot of \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace;\"\u003EAGN?\u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;to get the stations to repeat their response. Sometimes I'd finish a contact and realize I'd mistyped part of the response so I would wait and listen for the caller to go through another contact to hear what they sent to copy it correctly for the log. I wasn't really racking up the contacts.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis type of operating is very challenging for me. \u0026nbsp;While I can understand why contesters enjoy honing these skills, for me, it was stressful and wore me down mentally. \u0026nbsp;I took breaks at least every hour and asked other, more seasoned operators to take the helm (errr. key) while my brain cooled down.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E80m magic\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWhen dusk arrived 15m contacts were few and far between and I switched to 80m. \u0026nbsp;Gone were the weak signals and speed demons on 15m. \u0026nbsp;The 80m band was surprisingly QRN free and stations sending FD calls were stacked like firewood throughout the CW portion of the band. \u0026nbsp;Our QRP station was also heard better by the callers with fewer needs to repeat the call or the response. \u0026nbsp;I had more enjoyable time working 80m. \u0026nbsp;Paul still sat with me and offered advice which I greatly appreciated.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EGary N3GO, loves the 80m band and he is the Knightlites anchor man for running 80m through the night. \u0026nbsp;Gary sat down at 10PM to begin his shift on 80m and he didn't get out of that chair until 5AM. \u0026nbsp;I was dozing on and off (more off than on) in the tent and doing my best to head copy what he was working. \u0026nbsp;Seven straight non-stop hours of CW later Gary needed a break and I spelled him for a while. \u0026nbsp;After a bit of rest he was back for more and operated until the band gave out in the morning.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-GfT50BgAzEA\/V3BXQrJ81FI\/AAAAAAAAaOc\/5CPUXTnnpd4t8JYrFtXlkhQ-paN86v72QCLcB\/s1600\/fd-2016-14.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-GfT50BgAzEA\/V3BXQrJ81FI\/AAAAAAAAaOc\/5CPUXTnnpd4t8JYrFtXlkhQ-paN86v72QCLcB\/s640\/fd-2016-14.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EN3GO is the anchor man for 80m through the night shift\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/lpBZgLmyDWg\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/lpBZgLmyDWg?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EWQ4RP Knightlites\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe Knightlites operate using the club call WQ4RP. \u0026nbsp;Here are some of the participants from the 2016 FD.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-oVbDiamW0uw\/V3BYQNhBEmI\/AAAAAAAAaOo\/q5FcKZqMQd8VqSbEQ2Y-Vly9FhZgU4WDgCLcB\/s1600\/fd2016-023.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-oVbDiamW0uw\/V3BYQNhBEmI\/AAAAAAAAaOo\/q5FcKZqMQd8VqSbEQ2Y-Vly9FhZgU4WDgCLcB\/s640\/fd2016-023.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ELeft to right: AA4OO,\u0026nbsp;WA4GIR, WF4I, (visiting ham in red ????), KD4PBJ, KC4PHJ, AA4XX, AB4PP\u003Cbr \/\u003EThanks to\u0026nbsp;\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: \u0026quot;arial\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;\"\u003EW4MPS for taking the photo\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EPhotos\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-IotjM7BEDo0\/V3BwFaWylHI\/AAAAAAAAaQw\/YsVHLQnKhJEofDun1tIoHHDIkCk0ehUmQCLcB\/s1600\/fd2016-022.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-IotjM7BEDo0\/V3BwFaWylHI\/AAAAAAAAaQw\/YsVHLQnKhJEofDun1tIoHHDIkCk0ehUmQCLcB\/s640\/fd2016-022.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\"JP\" AB4PP -- 20m Band captain\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-wvEqt5j5PFo\/V3Bv6IIDvdI\/AAAAAAAAaO4\/E0gL1_JcZPoo5KkV9fc5FjL0vt69n9LjQCLcB\/s1600\/fd-2016-1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"338\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-wvEqt5j5PFo\/V3Bv6IIDvdI\/AAAAAAAAaO4\/E0gL1_JcZPoo5KkV9fc5FjL0vt69n9LjQCLcB\/s640\/fd-2016-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;Kurt N4KJK - assisted with 15m CW\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-_camQOeNxyo\/V3BwCy6CRvI\/AAAAAAAAaQQ\/rzNvPSWnrrEnQLXB22G8RqJwZMlY9yJGACLcB\/s1600\/fd-2016-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-_camQOeNxyo\/V3BwCy6CRvI\/AAAAAAAAaQQ\/rzNvPSWnrrEnQLXB22G8RqJwZMlY9yJGACLcB\/s640\/fd-2016-4.jpg\" width=\"532\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E6m \/ 2m \/ 440 stack - Thanks Alex!\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-GePH4X8_AW0\/V3BwCvVrqDI\/AAAAAAAAaQI\/IPf2I_I4CTw6L8iz-Dmb5aFLg6mZ9-AeQCLcB\/s1600\/fd-2016-5.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-GePH4X8_AW0\/V3BwCvVrqDI\/AAAAAAAAaQI\/IPf2I_I4CTw6L8iz-Dmb5aFLg6mZ9-AeQCLcB\/s640\/fd-2016-5.jpg\" width=\"546\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EAlex KC4PHJ -- Band captain for 6m \/ 2m \/ 440\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-YIRU1wOxyaA\/V3BwECwIDYI\/AAAAAAAAaQc\/fWJZvYzxbaYHEVUn7wPi_j_X8tC7NzncACLcB\/s1600\/fd-2016-6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"472\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-YIRU1wOxyaA\/V3BwECwIDYI\/AAAAAAAAaQc\/fWJZvYzxbaYHEVUn7wPi_j_X8tC7NzncACLcB\/s640\/fd-2016-6.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EJoe WA4GIR - 40m band captain\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-9czbFN4fmjg\/V3BwEpulArI\/AAAAAAAAaQk\/2cCpxRYsyTcGs0pD1BV1D7IUDmRV8S_2ACLcB\/s1600\/fd-2016-7.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-9czbFN4fmjg\/V3BwEpulArI\/AAAAAAAAaQk\/2cCpxRYsyTcGs0pD1BV1D7IUDmRV8S_2ACLcB\/s640\/fd-2016-7.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E40m Station\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-MQTeitkdTCg\/V3BwEudnnlI\/AAAAAAAAaQo\/dqA9jVE236MRMPTZ7xJ8LP_6FdtwQCTaACLcB\/s1600\/fd-2016-8.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-MQTeitkdTCg\/V3BwEudnnlI\/AAAAAAAAaQo\/dqA9jVE236MRMPTZ7xJ8LP_6FdtwQCTaACLcB\/s640\/fd-2016-8.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E40m Loop\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-XgKe98qWjdk\/V3Bv9U92oNI\/AAAAAAAAaPo\/shlK93GW68IFx1ZzkjsslbcIs5vO47p1ACLcB\/s1600\/fd-2016-15.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-XgKe98qWjdk\/V3Bv9U92oNI\/AAAAAAAAaPo\/shlK93GW68IFx1ZzkjsslbcIs5vO47p1ACLcB\/s640\/fd-2016-15.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EDerek WF4I - working 40m at dawn\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-U5TeTaL2XmU\/V3Bv96P0dZI\/AAAAAAAAaPs\/Km8jKa0RoL8HZp68HL5EgyLVtVCQM-oCACLcB\/s1600\/fd-2016-16.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"288\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-U5TeTaL2XmU\/V3Bv96P0dZI\/AAAAAAAAaPs\/Km8jKa0RoL8HZp68HL5EgyLVtVCQM-oCACLcB\/s640\/fd-2016-16.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ESunday daybreak and the 80m station is still cranking\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-NbRRnfdJSPc\/V3Bv_pSv3aI\/AAAAAAAAaP0\/AlBdxptj6ikMSMy3WjBbjWIv7dWN4X8SwCLcB\/s1600\/fd-2016-17.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-NbRRnfdJSPc\/V3Bv_pSv3aI\/AAAAAAAAaP0\/AlBdxptj6ikMSMy3WjBbjWIv7dWN4X8SwCLcB\/s640\/fd-2016-17.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ELots of weed eater support lines tied off at the base of this tree\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ESummary\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMy first FD as a CW operator was challenging but fun, \u0026nbsp;The WQ4RP club has some patient and talented operators, many of whom have rarely missed operating a FD since becoming hams. \u0026nbsp;I enjoyed getting to learn from them.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ENext year I will make the effort to practice copying FD exchanges prior to the event so that I'm not so overwhelmed. \u0026nbsp;It also turned out I'd made a poor choice for logging software. \u0026nbsp;The RumNLog software for my Mac laptop didn't have a preset for the FD contest. \u0026nbsp;I had to use a general contest setting and now will have to programmatically manipulate the resulting ADIF output to have the necessary fields for submission.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe Elecraft KX3 is unsurprisingly a good QRP field day radio. \u0026nbsp;It's small size, low power consumption and phenomenal internal auto tuner made it a pleasure to work with. \u0026nbsp;It has a knob, button or display element for everything you could want. \u0026nbsp;For instance, the dedicated knob for changing internal keyer speed was very useful to fit each station we worked during an exchange. \u0026nbsp;I also used the secondary frequency display area to check on the power supply voltage throughout the event. \u0026nbsp;The KX3 truly does have the kitchen sink.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EUpdate 7-11-2016\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EPaul sent me the Knightlites field day results. Lists below. \u0026nbsp;I'm interested to see how our group fared .\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cpre style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003ECall Used: WQ4RP     GOTA Station Call: (none)     ARRL\/RAC Section: NC     Class: 3A\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EParticipants: 10     Club\/Group Name: KnightLites QRP Society\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EPower Source(s): Battery\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EPower Multiplier: 5X\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBonus Points:\u003Cbr \/\u003E  100% Emergency power                            300\u003Cbr \/\u003E  W1AW Field Day Message                          100\u003Cbr \/\u003E  Submitted via the Web                            50\u003Cbr \/\u003ETotal Bonus Points                                450\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EScore Summary:\u003Cbr \/\u003E                  CW  Digital  Phone  Total\u003Cbr \/\u003E   Total QSOs    539      0      58\u003Cbr \/\u003E Total Points   1078      0      58   1136   Claimed Score = 5,680\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/pre\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/7544201238878289071\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/06\/first-field-day-as-cw-operator.html#comment-form","title":"8 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/7544201238878289071"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/7544201238878289071"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/06\/first-field-day-as-cw-operator.html","title":"First Field Day as a CW operator"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-9oKISLNTf7E\/V3BKn95bkXI\/AAAAAAAAaN0\/ZjCE2-9FHegW5JZl5anO3dEVr9sPdOquwCLcB\/s72-c\/fd-2016-18.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"8"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-9138096970793490541"},"published":{"$t":"2016-05-27T17:48:00.003-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:29:15.255-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Let your fingers do the talking..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003ELet them play different instruments\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-9FILuQ-abZk\/V0iyeDJDOUI\/AAAAAAAAZ74\/WMAyMINGrCoXc8Y96dQQI2iHo8qAQ7UiQCLcB\/s1600\/keys-to-success-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"424\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-9FILuQ-abZk\/V0iyeDJDOUI\/AAAAAAAAZ74\/WMAyMINGrCoXc8Y96dQQI2iHo8qAQ7UiQCLcB\/s640\/keys-to-success-3.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EKeys left to right\u003Cbr \/\u003ENye Viking, Kent Hand key, Vibroplex Original Bug, N3ZN ZN-QRP paddle, Palm Single paddle\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMy collection of keys has grown over the past few months and I find that I like each for their particular qualities.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EKeys from left to right\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe Nye Viking is somewhere between a traditional J-38 low style American key and a tall European style. \u0026nbsp;At first I couldn't get any sort of coordination with it even after a couple hours of practice and it stayed in the closet for a few months. \u0026nbsp;Eventually I wanted to leave a key hooked up to the old Century\/21 so I didn't have to move the output of my external keyer so the Viking came back out. \u0026nbsp;I've finally become accustomed to it and am even beginning to enjoy it as much as the Kent. \u0026nbsp;I'm amazed at how different two straight keys can be.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/09\/review-of-kent-hand-key.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EKent Hand key\u003C\/a\u003E continues to be my favorite key for straight key operation. \u0026nbsp;The Kent is operated using your entire arm off the desk and when I send using it above 15wpm I get the entire desk shaking with the motion. \u0026nbsp;My desk light starts casting dancing shadows across the equipment from the vibration and with the clacking of the key and the blare of the sidetone the world of CW becomes visceral.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/11\/dont-bug-out-when-hearing-vibroplex.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EVibroplex Bug\u003C\/a\u003E remains at the center of the collection because I have some strange affinity for the quirky bug. \u0026nbsp;I use it on every QSO where I hear another bug operator or with SKCC operators that are sending faster than 17wpm. \u0026nbsp;It has a non-cosmetic, yet effective, weight added from an old steel spacer to slow it down to a range of 21wpm to 16wpm and some dental floss around the DIT contact spring to reduce the potential bounce which results in scratchy sounding DITS.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/03\/the-n3zn-iambic-cw-paddle.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EN3ZN ZN-QRP\u003C\/a\u003E paddle is a work of art and when I'm working higher speed CW it's my go-to key. \u0026nbsp;The carbon fiber finger pieces and lightweight clickety action always puts a smile on my face. \u0026nbsp;I keep it connected to the external \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/11\/can-straight-key-really-coexist-with.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EHam Keyer\u003C\/a\u003E which has a handy knob to for quickly adjusting keyer speed.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/08\/palm-single-key-review.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPalm Single\u003C\/a\u003E to the right is magnetically mounted to a steel base a friend made for me. I pull it off the base when I go portable as it's my go-to key for all my portable operations. \u0026nbsp;But when I'm at the home station I leave it hooked up to the keyer input on the Ten-Tec Eagle because the Eagle's keyer is only Iambic-B mode and I just can't get used to \"\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.palm-radio.de\/pdf\/IambicPaddleModeAorBfunction-1.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EB-Mode\u003C\/a\u003E\". \u0026nbsp;Using a single, non-iambic paddle eliminates the weird timing of the B iambic mode. \u0026nbsp;I really should learn mode-B since it seems to be standard on Ten-Tec and Kenwood radios.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-KsBh3WumT6o\/V0i3pCrt5bI\/AAAAAAAAZ8Q\/9N_EXfwScvETb-N0VeEvYx7e5PlTwRVKQCLcB\/s1600\/keys-to-success-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"419\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-KsBh3WumT6o\/V0i3pCrt5bI\/AAAAAAAAZ8Q\/9N_EXfwScvETb-N0VeEvYx7e5PlTwRVKQCLcB\/s640\/keys-to-success-2.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EThe 3 stars in the center are the Kent Hand key, Vibroplex Original Bug and the N3ZN paddle\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe 3 keys in the middle (Kent Hand key, Vibroplex Bug and N3ZN paddle) remain hooked up to the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/11\/can-straight-key-really-coexist-with.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EHam Keyer\u003C\/a\u003E and I move the output of that keyer to whichever rig I'm primarily using at the time. \u0026nbsp;That keyer uses Iambic-Mode-A which I'm comfortable with and it debounces the scratchiness of the Bug. \u0026nbsp;I hook the output of the keyer up to either the PTT line on the Eagle or the secondary key input on the KX3. \u0026nbsp;When using the C21 I just use the Nye straight key.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EDebouncing a Vibroplex Bug\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESide story on the Bug... If you get a Vibroplex bug and hook it up to the PTT line of your radio you may find that you're missing DITS or that the output sounds broken or scratchy. \u0026nbsp;The PTT line of many radios is not \"buffered\" meaning it is reacting to every contact closure. \u0026nbsp;On a bug, the DIT contact is actually bouncing potentially hundreds of times a second since the contact force is so light and doesn't make a clean closure. \u0026nbsp;Many keyers will filter out those multiple contacts or bounces. \u0026nbsp;My old HAM KEYER weight control actually serves as a DIT weight control for the manual keys as well so it's ideal for use with the bug.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EKE6EE offered me this nice explanation of what was going on:\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; line-height: 17.3333px;\"\u003EThe more usual term for the process of dealing with problems of contact closure is \"debouncing.\" Google and you will find lots of interesting visuals and explanations.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; line-height: 17.3333px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; line-height: 17.3333px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; line-height: 17.3333px;\"\u003EThe actual start and finish of contact closures and openings in switches, relays and keys, is not a simple off-and-on process but a series of \"bounces.\" Dit contact closures on a bug are likely to be very bouncy.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; line-height: 17.3333px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; line-height: 17.3333px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; line-height: 17.3333px;\"\u003EBug dit contact design and bug maintenance and adjustment are critical for minimizing bounce. Ops with Vibroplex-style dit contacts often put a piece of rubber or plastic foam in the U-shaped dit contact spring. The Begali bug uses a unique pointed and spring-loaded dit contact. Many bug ops, from my observations on the air, do not adjust their dit weight properly to minimize a scratchy sound.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; line-height: 17.3333px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; line-height: 17.3333px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; line-height: 17.3333px;\"\u003ETransmitter keying circuits are usually \"debounced\" in various ways, the simplest perhaps being to put a capacitor across the key contact circuit. A PTT circuit doesn't need to be debounced so it isn't. Keyers often have debounce circuits designed to be used with straight keys and bugs.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ETry different keys\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo if you are getting into CW try some different keys. \u0026nbsp;I think you'll be surprised by the differences and find that your mood or situation will dictate the use of one key over another. \u0026nbsp; Morse keys on the used market aren't expensive if you shop carefully so you can build quite a collection. \u0026nbsp;They also tend to hold their value if you find that you've obtained a key or two that you just can't grok.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-iTozW8Nj_wk\/V0i3l461IaI\/AAAAAAAAZ8M\/GuEAXWUUFhEh-ek8uhpNXuaSVUkmWbMogCLcB\/s1600\/keys-to-success-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"410\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-iTozW8Nj_wk\/V0i3l461IaI\/AAAAAAAAZ8M\/GuEAXWUUFhEh-ek8uhpNXuaSVUkmWbMogCLcB\/s640\/keys-to-success-4.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-p12VQVANNZY\/V0i3li_7OOI\/AAAAAAAAZ8I\/X7UfEzfw6x89hyhO9c5WiA6KO3Vrd1u0QCLcB\/s1600\/keys-to-success-1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-p12VQVANNZY\/V0i3li_7OOI\/AAAAAAAAZ8I\/X7UfEzfw6x89hyhO9c5WiA6KO3Vrd1u0QCLcB\/s640\/keys-to-success-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EMy ever changing station sporting a spiffy new chair\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026nbsp;That's all for now\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E73\u003Cbr \/\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/9138096970793490541\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/05\/let-your-fingers-do-talking.html#comment-form","title":"3 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/9138096970793490541"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/9138096970793490541"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/05\/let-your-fingers-do-talking.html","title":"Let your fingers do the talking..."}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-9FILuQ-abZk\/V0iyeDJDOUI\/AAAAAAAAZ74\/WMAyMINGrCoXc8Y96dQQI2iHo8qAQ7UiQCLcB\/s72-c\/keys-to-success-3.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"3"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-4962499588385726616"},"published":{"$t":"2016-05-19T06:53:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:29:15.124-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Peanut whistle"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe Elecraft KX2\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.elecraft.com\/KX2\/kx2_large.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/www.elecraft.com\/KX2\/kx2_large.jpg\" height=\"462\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESteve (WG0AT) published a video demonstrating Elecraft's newest QRP radio. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe tiny \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.elecraft.com\/KX2\/kx2.htm\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EKX2\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/rAFYDJRZlHw\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/rAFYDJRZlHw?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI'm sure there will be more news about this new wonder-rig from Elecraft announced at Hamvention this week.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe width=\"320\" height=\"266\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/2CyCoqBhlCQ\/0.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2CyCoqBhlCQ?feature=player_embedded\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESpecs\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/qrznow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/kx2-11.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/qrznow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/kx2-11.jpg\" height=\"439\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E72\/73\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\/\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/4962499588385726616\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/05\/peanut-whistle.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/4962499588385726616"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/4962499588385726616"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/05\/peanut-whistle.html","title":"Peanut whistle"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/rAFYDJRZlHw\/default.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-6253631427200458406"},"published":{"$t":"2016-05-15T17:30:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:29:15.197-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Listen to the music"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EComparing CW audio\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EThe Elecraft KX3 and the Ten-Tec Eagle\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe bands were very poor today from my home and finding stations to operate were few and far between, especially at QRP power. \u0026nbsp;So I thought I'd take a break from operating and create a brief video demonstrating the CW audio differences between the Ten-Tec Eagle and the Elecraft KX3.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/uVaTbGj5QZo\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/uVaTbGj5QZo?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EThe radios\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe Elecraft KX3 and Ten-Tec Eagle don't have much in common apart from having DSP architectures and both being from American radio manufacturers. \u0026nbsp;The Eagle is devoid of bells, whistles and has no-menus. \u0026nbsp;On the Eagle, what you see is all you get, as opposed to the KX3 which has multiple kitchen sinks stuffed into it's tiny enclosure.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ESetup\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EBoth radios have their pre-amps off and DSP bandwidth set to 500 Hz. \u0026nbsp;I have the RF gain reduced by about 15dB on each radio since turning up the RF gain on a noisy day like today just makes for white noise. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EDuring the video I operated the NR (noise reduction) button on the Eagle to demonstrate how it makes a signal pop and in the same manner operate the APF (audio peaking filter) on the KX3. \u0026nbsp;I end the demonstration by reducing the DSP bandwidth down to about 100 Hz on each radio. \u0026nbsp;The Eagle has both 600 Hz and a 300 Hz IF filters so it gets a bit of insertion loss when I pass through the 300 Hz setting. \u0026nbsp;There were no adjacent signals so the IF filtering wasn't doing anything for either radio in this case.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe audio from the Eagle is coming from its built-in speaker, while on the KX3 I'm using an iHome external, self-powered, speaker. \u0026nbsp;The KX3 has an abysmal internal speaker and there's little point in trying to listen to it compared to a radio with a real speaker. \u0026nbsp;In my opinion that speaker is one of the few serious flaws in the KX3. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAfter I shot the video I realized that there was a bit of a bias against the Eagle's audio because the microphone in the camera was below the top of the Eagle's case and thus wasn't directly hearing the cabinet speaker, whereas it was in direct view of the external speaker connected to the KX3. \u0026nbsp;The Eagle's audio sounds crisper than this in person when your ears have a straight shot to the speaker.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ESubjective listening\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAudio is a very subjective thing because people can hear the same thing very differently so I won't comment on my opinion on which I prefer.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI would however be curious to hear other's opinions.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E73\/72\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERich, AA4OO\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\/\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/6253631427200458406\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/05\/listen-to-music.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/6253631427200458406"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/6253631427200458406"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/05\/listen-to-music.html","title":"Listen to the music"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/uVaTbGj5QZo\/default.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-5205441456471257718"},"published":{"$t":"2016-05-10T05:00:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:29:15.146-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Twisted dummy"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EImproving the ugly dummy load\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003EA few months back \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/02\/resistance-is-not-futile.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EI built an ugly dummy load\u003C\/a\u003E using the simplest method I could... \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI soldered 20 2watt 1k ohm resistors across two pieces of romex wire and soldered it to a UHF connector. \u0026nbsp;Voila, had a 50ohm dummy load effective for extended QRP use and brief bursts of QRO power. \u0026nbsp;But as I analyzed the balun and noted in the previous post, some capacitance due to the simplistic design made it less than perfect at higher frequencies.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI got to thinking that the capacitance might be lessened by making those two antenna looking pieces of wire used in the balun into a different shape.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-ibdflLhX4Zg\/VzE358N_VLI\/AAAAAAAAZ3Y\/whcDDzbd5sIs7A9BHEZyH2APu_eTDzZ5wCLcB\/s1600\/dummy-redo-6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-ibdflLhX4Zg\/VzE358N_VLI\/AAAAAAAAZ3Y\/whcDDzbd5sIs7A9BHEZyH2APu_eTDzZ5wCLcB\/s640\/dummy-redo-6.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ECroissant Balun\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ETwist and shout\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo I twisted the parallel wires of the balun into a concentric loop \u0026nbsp;like a croissant and the result was promising. \u0026nbsp;Reactance is a bit less from 20m through 15m resulting in the SWR remaining as flat as my MFJ commercial balun.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-QcOWnKlO2nE\/VzE426ew2xI\/AAAAAAAAZ3k\/vyCLN4FFFeYrkuZqRlTV1suYzhM5YjkcwCLcB\/s1600\/dummy-redo-1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-QcOWnKlO2nE\/VzE426ew2xI\/AAAAAAAAZ3k\/vyCLN4FFFeYrkuZqRlTV1suYzhM5YjkcwCLcB\/s320\/dummy-redo-1.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-qt2OtLthi6A\/VzE425iTk1I\/AAAAAAAAZ3o\/CM9ZNPP7GnYOQt8K3faf0bZNGwLn-NpQQCLcB\/s1600\/dummy-redo-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-qt2OtLthi6A\/VzE425iTk1I\/AAAAAAAAZ3o\/CM9ZNPP7GnYOQt8K3faf0bZNGwLn-NpQQCLcB\/s320\/dummy-redo-2.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-yumxMy1lBRs\/VzE42znGVLI\/AAAAAAAAZ3s\/HqmEjfP0j6Ed6nPU8jEr-QEWve8ZYptCACLcB\/s1600\/dummy-redo-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-yumxMy1lBRs\/VzE42znGVLI\/AAAAAAAAZ3s\/HqmEjfP0j6Ed6nPU8jEr-QEWve8ZYptCACLcB\/s320\/dummy-redo-3.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-PaDwiIu9bQc\/VzE4_5pV7NI\/AAAAAAAAZ30\/uoC9nBAoBd8nOu-h9zfQPXwY3y-7BMAkQCLcB\/s1600\/dummy-redo-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-PaDwiIu9bQc\/VzE4_5pV7NI\/AAAAAAAAZ30\/uoC9nBAoBd8nOu-h9zfQPXwY3y-7BMAkQCLcB\/s320\/dummy-redo-4.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-WIalSMPTFVU\/VzE4_0rBmuI\/AAAAAAAAZ3w\/wOFzSxJRQKMySXN_Os37lHvpnYYlZPXSQCLcB\/s1600\/dummy-redo-5.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"239\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-WIalSMPTFVU\/VzE4_0rBmuI\/AAAAAAAAZ3w\/wOFzSxJRQKMySXN_Os37lHvpnYYlZPXSQCLcB\/s320\/dummy-redo-5.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/samanthapfield.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/never-give-up.gif\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/samanthapfield.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/never-give-up.gif\" height=\"135\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EThink like a Thermian -  Never Give up, Never Surrender\u003Cbr \/\u003EYes, I have an odd choice in favorite movies\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo when you have a project that doesn't work quite as expected keep the little grey cells churning. \u0026nbsp;You'll likely come up with some alternatives. If someone who understands RF can explain to me why this helped I'd like to know.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis ugly balun is going fellow Ham who is getting back into the hobby following a hiatus and is in need of a balun. \u0026nbsp;This balun is still not ideal but it's become more useable and the parts cost less than $10.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThat's all for now\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E 73\/72\u003Cbr \/\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\u003C\/a\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/5205441456471257718\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/05\/twisted-dummy.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/5205441456471257718"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/5205441456471257718"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/05\/twisted-dummy.html","title":"Twisted dummy"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-ibdflLhX4Zg\/VzE358N_VLI\/AAAAAAAAZ3Y\/whcDDzbd5sIs7A9BHEZyH2APu_eTDzZ5wCLcB\/s72-c\/dummy-redo-6.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-8548704863529681348"},"published":{"$t":"2016-05-09T05:00:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:29:15.239-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Not all things are QRP"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003EThis is not a QRP antenna rotor\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003EAnother Saturday morning working at the Excalibur antenna site... \u0026nbsp;Dick (N4HAY) and I were doing more maintenance on the tower. Part of that effort was to determine why the mast rotor had stopped working.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003EPaul (AA4XX) and Dick had cranked the tower down and lowered it to ground the previous weekend to remove the beam and gain access to the rotor. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-o1eJk_FOQ_4\/Vy-JptrmhcI\/AAAAAAAAZ1g\/EaLCL7EFIF0Kfs3vZ2xlI134wMYsyHpyACLcB\/s1600\/rotor-1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-o1eJk_FOQ_4\/Vy-JptrmhcI\/AAAAAAAAZ1g\/EaLCL7EFIF0Kfs3vZ2xlI134wMYsyHpyACLcB\/s640\/rotor-1.jpg\" width=\"480\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003EMast rotor is a prop-pitch motor from a WW2 aircraft\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe rotor is an old prop pitch motor from a WW2 aircraft so it's both heavy and heavy duty but it wasn't turning the mast. The motor was firmly attached via a number of rusted and inaccessible bolts. At first we weren't sure we'd be able to free it from the tower but after an hour of copious application of WD40 and slowly working the blots back and forth we were able to liberate it to freedom.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EOnce the motor was free we saw that the thrust bearing for the mast was seized. \u0026nbsp;That will be addressed in a coming weekend. \u0026nbsp;Until then Dick tested the rotor on the bench and found it still functioning so that was good news. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EDick recorded a brief video showing that the rotor was alive albeit moving a bit slowly with only 12v powering it.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/video.g?token=AD6v5dxcZ8NEHgUJbeGoJNm5Kr7ebN_5wfHa7SSCJXm7BWmbYGH8QAfgq4Exp4Imfhe2VfRdf3o3fRid846SRs-grA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0' \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003ETaking turns with QRPp\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003EDick and I took turns fighting the bolts holding the rotor while the other worked 40m using the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/03\/its-alive.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E1Watter I built\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp; Band conditions weren't the best and we had the feed line to the doublet crossing some elevated counterpoise wires installed for the 160m antenna so antenna access to the 40m\/80m Doublet wasn't ideal as we still focus our work on the shack and tower.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThere was considerable DX chasing going on which made finding an opening in the narrow tuning range of the 1Watter a challenge. \u0026nbsp;I did managed a 559 report from a station in WV. \u0026nbsp;I managed some ?? responses from a few stations but didn't work anyone else. \u0026nbsp;I need to work on the feed line situation before using the 1Watter there next time.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E72\/73\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/8548704863529681348\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/05\/not-all-things-are-qrp.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/8548704863529681348"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/8548704863529681348"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/05\/not-all-things-are-qrp.html","title":"Not all things are QRP"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-o1eJk_FOQ_4\/Vy-JptrmhcI\/AAAAAAAAZ1g\/EaLCL7EFIF0Kfs3vZ2xlI134wMYsyHpyACLcB\/s72-c\/rotor-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-6765259388163690733"},"published":{"$t":"2016-05-06T05:00:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:29:15.203-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"You have two ears but only one mouth"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EListen more than you send\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EIn honor of\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mother%27s_Day\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMothers Day\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;this weekend here in the U.S. we recall what our wise Mothers told us...\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;\"\u003EListen more than you talk because God gave you two ears but only one mouth\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ELearning CW is more about learning to copy what you hear than sending. \u0026nbsp;So listen, listen, listen.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EListening to on air CW QSOs using your own HF radio...\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EOf course the best CW copy practice comes while listening to stations using your own HF radio and having on-air QSOs. So make the most of your opportunities to listen to live QSOs from your home station.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EFind conversations that are at different speeds for your practice copy. \u0026nbsp;In my experience, when I only practice copying higher speed CW for a time, my ability to recognize slower CW gets rusty so practice copying all speeds. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI was worked by a station some months back when I was sending at only 13wpm who came back on the second exchange and replied that I was too slow to copy and he quit the QSO. \u0026nbsp;I don't want to be like that. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAlong with copying QRS stations, practice copying stations that are well above your comfortable copy speed in order to stretch yourself. You will likely miss much of the conversation but your ability to start recognizing common words and abbreviations will increase. Another side effect I find is that when I listen to a 25wpm (well above my present copy speed) exchange between two operators who have equally strong signals, I'll usually copy one station better than the other. \u0026nbsp;I try to figure out why that's the case. \u0026nbsp;Something about that operator's style is easier to copy and when I discern why that is, I try to emulate it.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI want to be able to copy all speeds of CW; both to encourage new QRS operators and ragchew with the QRQ old-timers.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-t1-pur_bK-Y\/Vyv35YPi9nI\/AAAAAAAAZ0M\/CSEZ1JT6VtYgMEPmriIQZq5mPrMT-czggCLcB\/s1600\/DSCF3112.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-t1-pur_bK-Y\/Vyv35YPi9nI\/AAAAAAAAZ0M\/CSEZ1JT6VtYgMEPmriIQZq5mPrMT-czggCLcB\/s640\/DSCF3112.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EOn Air Practice\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EListen to on air CW QSOs using remote radios\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EWhen you don't have hands-on access to an HF radio or when propagation is poor at your QTH w\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003Eeb SDR stations are great resources for\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ECW copy practice\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EWeb SDR stations are accessible from\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/websdr.org\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/websdr.org\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;and allow you to listen to CW anytime you have access to the internet. \u0026nbsp; Web SDR stations are available from around the world, potentially from countries you haven't been able to regularly hear from your QTH. \u0026nbsp;So it allows you to hear different sending styles from around the world.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-q9OaXRRqJGM\/Vyv6CQ-eg0I\/AAAAAAAAZ0Y\/ISj4afwp0g0T0TxUSIFfMamJURwMZakTACLcB\/s1600\/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-05-05%2Bat%2B9.46.09%2BPM.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-q9OaXRRqJGM\/Vyv6CQ-eg0I\/AAAAAAAAZ0Y\/ISj4afwp0g0T0TxUSIFfMamJURwMZakTACLcB\/s640\/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-05-05%2Bat%2B9.46.09%2BPM.png\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EWeb SDR station\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EListen to machine generated CW\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EWhen live CW is unavailable you still have machine generated CW as an option. \u0026nbsp;Practice copy of machine generated CW is a pale comparison to actual CW QSOs but it has it's uses and it's always available. \u0026nbsp;The Morse Trainer App for Android devices offers most features standard in other learning applications plus a built-in list of randomized top English words and an e-book reader.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-Z0ckJO8OmqE\/Vyv6ClqLR9I\/AAAAAAAAZ0c\/je7o6R7JhKMJ2URozQkO0kjC_f1GM_-1gCKgB\/s1600\/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-05-05%2Bat%2B9.47.13%2BPM.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-Z0ckJO8OmqE\/Vyv6ClqLR9I\/AAAAAAAAZ0c\/je7o6R7JhKMJ2URozQkO0kjC_f1GM_-1gCKgB\/s640\/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-05-05%2Bat%2B9.47.13%2BPM.png\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EMorse Trainer app for Android\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESights and sounds\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThis following video demonstrates the copy methods above.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/aQCrJq7ODUg\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/aQCrJq7ODUg?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESo listen more than you send and your CW copy, as well as your interpersonal skills, will improve with practice at listening.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E73\/72\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/6765259388163690733\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/05\/you-have-two-ears-but-only-one-mouth.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/6765259388163690733"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/6765259388163690733"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/05\/you-have-two-ears-but-only-one-mouth.html","title":"You have two ears but only one mouth"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-t1-pur_bK-Y\/Vyv35YPi9nI\/AAAAAAAAZ0M\/CSEZ1JT6VtYgMEPmriIQZq5mPrMT-czggCLcB\/s72-c\/DSCF3112.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-5979275359274365530"},"published":{"$t":"2016-05-03T22:29:00.002-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:29:15.186-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Beep Beep - No not the Road Runner"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EPractice sending CW\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ELet's turn back the wheel of time a bit. \u0026nbsp;This entry is about how I practiced Morse Code earlier in in my CW Journey. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMy first key was a MFJ-557 practice oscillator. \u0026nbsp;I used to set it on the center console of my vehicle and practice sending code while I drove when I first practiced for my General ticket 9 years ago. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMore recently I used it as my straight key when I restarted my CW journey 9 months ago. \u0026nbsp;I compared it to my \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/09\/review-of-kent-hand-key.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EKent Straight key back in September\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-hS4LnLPFtF4\/VcERF-XqJJI\/AAAAAAAAU2I\/UBWhn8XRRw8fC-7Qug_4gpev7vWdPv_pwCKgB\/s1600\/DSC_5017.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-hS4LnLPFtF4\/VcERF-XqJJI\/AAAAAAAAU2I\/UBWhn8XRRw8fC-7Qug_4gpev7vWdPv_pwCKgB\/s640\/DSC_5017.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EMFJ-557 Practice key with a 2m\/70cm SWR Power meter as a background prop\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe practice oscillator doesn't have to be used with the less than stellar, check that, absolutely terrible, Philmore straight key attached to it. \u0026nbsp;You can wire the ocillator to other straight keys or any manual key providing a radio-free way to practice your code anywhere you wish.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EHowever, practicing with paddles is more complicated and requires the use of an external keyer or a radio with an internal keyer set to not transmit.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EYour electronic teacher\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EYou may think you're the bomb when it comes to sending code but it could be that you \u003Ci\u003Eare \u003C\/i\u003Ebombing out on sending code others can copy. \u0026nbsp;You need an objective critic.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/vD6ft2tKCwFYH37O-T2xSaleac3bl0Y_yLgX-uK7rW_EVV3Xv9-a24zzqKY5lt8Dhf46=h900\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/vD6ft2tKCwFYH37O-T2xSaleac3bl0Y_yLgX-uK7rW_EVV3Xv9-a24zzqKY5lt8Dhf46=h900\" width=\"384\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EMorse Code Reader App\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI use the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=org.jfedor.morsecode\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMorse Code Reader\u003C\/a\u003E to check what I send. \u0026nbsp;It isn't perfect but it's a good portable solution to act as your Morse Code critic.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EDemonstration\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EHere is a video demonstrating use of an \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.mfjenterprises.com\/Product.php?productid=MFJ-557\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMFJ-557 practice oscillator\u003C\/a\u003E with your standard manual keys. \u0026nbsp;Additionally I address configuring your HF rig's built-in keyer to practice with a paddle. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ENOTE: I mistakenly say in the video that I have the keys wired in series. \u0026nbsp;That's not correct. They are wired in parallel.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/MyYvcJa7Y-s\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/MyYvcJa7Y-s?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EPractice, practice, practice\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EIt is better to send good code than receive\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThat's all for now...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E72\/73\u003Cbr \/\u003ERichard, AA4OO"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/5979275359274365530\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/05\/beep-beep-no-not-road-runner.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/5979275359274365530"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/5979275359274365530"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/05\/beep-beep-no-not-road-runner.html","title":"Beep Beep - No not the Road Runner"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-hS4LnLPFtF4\/VcERF-XqJJI\/AAAAAAAAU2I\/UBWhn8XRRw8fC-7Qug_4gpev7vWdPv_pwCKgB\/s72-c\/DSC_5017.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-585494783521615633"},"published":{"$t":"2016-04-28T19:20:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:29:15.176-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Just the medicine for lowering impedance"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EPill bottle balun\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EJack-WD4E is a fellow \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.naqcc.info\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ENAQCC\u003C\/a\u003E member and he sent me one of his QRP creations that I just had to share.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EIf you are staying on your meds you probably have the perfect enclosure for a QRP Balun.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-1eQxUuotF6A\/VyKYJo0FM0I\/AAAAAAAAZx8\/QtKUXGOoQl8Qxouew68h_qO0zYcoeUGnwCLcB\/s1600\/Pill%2Bbottle%2Bbalun-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"377\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-1eQxUuotF6A\/VyKYJo0FM0I\/AAAAAAAAZx8\/QtKUXGOoQl8Qxouew68h_qO0zYcoeUGnwCLcB\/s640\/Pill%2Bbottle%2Bbalun-3.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EIf I could save RF in a bottle...\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EJack encloses his home-brew wound toroids in pill bottles. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe child and arthritis proof cap keeps the goods away from young and old alike...\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Oxb3Umpvk8A\/VyKYIckr95I\/AAAAAAAAZyA\/b7CHsUEYu-EHK1ul1k8FCFbtMn2_8Z_AQCKgB\/s1600\/Pill%2Bbottle%2Bbalun-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Oxb3Umpvk8A\/VyKYIckr95I\/AAAAAAAAZyA\/b7CHsUEYu-EHK1ul1k8FCFbtMn2_8Z_AQCKgB\/s640\/Pill%2Bbottle%2Bbalun-2.jpg\" width=\"522\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;\"\u003EJust what the doctor prescribed...\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-mKPASTZ0QBA\/VyKYIOOl6nI\/AAAAAAAAZyA\/5vpUtsj5uy02F9oPApyr7-2JOchoikWVQCKgB\/s1600\/Pill%2Bbottle%2Bbalun-1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"262\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-mKPASTZ0QBA\/VyKYIOOl6nI\/AAAAAAAAZyA\/5vpUtsj5uy02F9oPApyr7-2JOchoikWVQCKgB\/s400\/Pill%2Bbottle%2Bbalun-1.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;\"\u003ESo re-purpose your medicare paid goodness and put it to work for you\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESorry all you\u0026nbsp;entrepreneurs, Jack told me that he's already applied for the patent so you won't be competing with Facebook with this product idea. \u0026nbsp;He owns it.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E72\/73\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/585494783521615633\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/04\/just-medicine-for-lowering-impedance.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/585494783521615633"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/585494783521615633"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/04\/just-medicine-for-lowering-impedance.html","title":"Just the medicine for lowering impedance"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-1eQxUuotF6A\/VyKYJo0FM0I\/AAAAAAAAZx8\/QtKUXGOoQl8Qxouew68h_qO0zYcoeUGnwCLcB\/s72-c\/Pill%2Bbottle%2Bbalun-3.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-109354011028279494"},"published":{"$t":"2016-04-27T18:00:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:29:15.040-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"QRP in many languages"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThinking\u0026nbsp;Multicultural\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EHam Radio and CW is used and heard throughout much of the world. \u0026nbsp;We live among many great cultures, each with their own language. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Gi10xhty3Y8\/VyFrQjqiBDI\/AAAAAAAAZxg\/qFb_gzoedI8RE01UUiCmiDlem6VBFDhigCLcB\/s1600\/flag-globe-efile.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Gi10xhty3Y8\/VyFrQjqiBDI\/AAAAAAAAZxg\/qFb_gzoedI8RE01UUiCmiDlem6VBFDhigCLcB\/s1600\/flag-globe-efile.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI thought it would be fun to see the QRP motto in different languages...\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI am a typical insular American and only know a wee-bit from languages other than English, so if the translations below are in-error blame Google translate.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ETranslations listed alphabetically\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EChinese Simplified:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E降低你的力量，唤起你的期望\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECzech:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESnižte své moci a zvýšit vaše očekávání\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDanish:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESænk din magt og Hæv dine forventninger\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDutch:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EVerlaag je vermogen en verhoog je verwachtingen\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EEnglish:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ELower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EEstonian:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAlam oma võimu ja tõsta oma ootusi\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFinnish:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EPienempi teho ja nostaa odotukset\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFrench:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAbaissez votre puissance et soulevez vos attentes\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EGerman:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESenken Sie Ihre macht und wecken Ihren Erwartungen\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHaitian Creole:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESenti pouvwa ou ak ekspetasyon nou leve ti moun\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHebrew:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003Eלהוריד את הכוח שלך ולהעלות את הציפיות שלך\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHindi:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003Eअपनी शक्ति को कम और आपका उम्मीदें उठाएँ\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHungarian:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAlacsonyabb a hatalom és a raise your elvárások\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EItalian:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EIl tuo potere di abbassare e alzare le vostre aspettative\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EJapanese:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003Eあなたの力を下げ、あなたの予想を上げる\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EKlingon\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E(note: Klingon's aren't really the \"QRP type\"):\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EHoS ghuS je pIHbogh laHwIj pep\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EKorean:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E낮은 힘 및 인상 기대\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ENorwegian Bokmål:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ELavere makt og større forventninger\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ERussian:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EОпустите ваши силы и поднять ваши ожидания\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESlovenian:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ENižje svojo moč in poveča vaša pričakovanja\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESpanish:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EBaje su energía y elevar sus expectativas\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESwedish:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESänka din makt och höja dina förväntningar\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWelsh:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EEich pŵer a chodi eich disgwyliadau\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EGuess which language takes the most letters to spell the phrase? \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EIf you guessed German you're close, but another language listed above beat it by one letter.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI drive an QRP Italian car (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/pVjs3y\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EFiat 500 Abarth\u003C\/a\u003E) so...\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Il tuo potere di abbassare e alzare le vostre aspettative\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E72\/73\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/109354011028279494\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/04\/qrp-in-many-languages.html#comment-form","title":"7 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/109354011028279494"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/109354011028279494"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/04\/qrp-in-many-languages.html","title":"QRP in many languages"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Gi10xhty3Y8\/VyFrQjqiBDI\/AAAAAAAAZxg\/qFb_gzoedI8RE01UUiCmiDlem6VBFDhigCLcB\/s72-c\/flag-globe-efile.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"7"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-1696064278882568464"},"published":{"$t":"2016-04-26T16:15:00.003-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:29:15.056-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Where is that blasted noise coming from?"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EEvil RF noise in Ethernet over power adapters\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EMy internet comes in at a corner of the house.\u0026nbsp; In that room I have my cable modem and a WIFI router.\u0026nbsp; Unfortunately the WIFI is seemingly non-existent at the other end of my house and especially in the upper floor opposite the WIFI router.\u0026nbsp; I tried re-orienting it and different antennas to no avail.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAs a solution, I purchased an Ethernet over powerline adapter.\u0026nbsp; This route\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003Ed\u003C\/span\u003E the Ethernet through the house wiring to receivers plugged into outlets at points where the WIFI \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003Ewas\u003C\/span\u003E weak, thus provid\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003Eing\u003C\/span\u003E Internet access to those rooms.\u0026nbsp; The model I purchased also had ethernet ports which I needed for some of my older devices.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EEthernet over powerline seemed like an ideal solution.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/tr1.cbsistatic.com\/hub\/i\/2015\/05\/07\/46a8dec5-f497-11e4-940f-14feb5cc3d2a\/xavb5501_lores.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/tr1.cbsistatic.com\/hub\/i\/2015\/05\/07\/46a8dec5-f497-11e4-940f-14feb5cc3d2a\/xavb5501_lores.jpg\" height=\"304\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ETypical Ethernet over powerline adapter\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAll was well until a few months ago... I noticed a broadband noise on 40m and 80m in my shack.\u0026nbsp; I turned off the power to the house and switched to battery on my \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/search?q=kx3\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EKX3\u003C\/a\u003E and the noise was gone.\u0026nbsp; So the interference was coming from my house.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe Search\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI restored the power and fired up my Yaesu HT which has general coverage receive and tuned it to 7030kHz.\u0026nbsp; I walked around the house and conducted a bit of a fox-hunt for the offending noise.\u0026nbsp; The noise occurred at every outlet in the house !!!\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI tracked it down to one of the Ethernet powerline receivers.\u0026nbsp; I unplugged it from the wall and discovered blissful silence.\u0026nbsp; I figured it had just gone bad.\u0026nbsp; It was out of warranty so back to the store I went and purchased another set.\u0026nbsp; This time it was a different brand, as the first one was no longer carried.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI installed the new adapters and everything was fine... for a time.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EFool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThis week the noise returned with a vengeance.\u0026nbsp; Being wiser I went straight to the new adapter and unplugged it.\u0026nbsp; Yep it had gone bad again.\u0026nbsp; It was in warranty but I'd learned my lesson.\u0026nbsp; Whatever sort of RF filtering these devices have doesn't last.\u0026nbsp; Something zaps them.\u0026nbsp; I can't plug the receiver into a AC line filter because it stops it from receiving the Ethernet over powerline.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESo out they came and back to the electronics store I went.\u0026nbsp; This time I purchased a WIFI extender with \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EE\u003C\/span\u003Ethernet ports built-in.\u0026nbsp; I'm back to blissful RF quiet (to a degree) at my QTH.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe moral of the story\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EIf you have RF noise at your shack and you use these devices, check them out.\u0026nbsp; They could be the S9 noise culprit.\u0026nbsp; If you haven't bought them, take my advice and don't chance it.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI didn't think a WIFI extender would work for me because my laptop can't even detect the WIFI in some of my rooms but the WIFI extender (at least the Netgear model) seems to work well.\u0026nbsp; I \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003Enow have \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003Eblessed Internet in every room and no \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003Emore b\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003Er\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003Eoadband RF noise\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower you power and raise your expectations (and rid yourself of pesky RF noise)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E72\/73\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\/\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/hamradioqrp.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/1696064278882568464\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/04\/where-is-that-blasted-noise-coming-from.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/1696064278882568464"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/1696064278882568464"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/04\/where-is-that-blasted-noise-coming-from.html","title":"Where is that blasted noise coming from?"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-7169634736016308600"},"published":{"$t":"2016-04-24T16:18:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:29:15.207-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The Best CW training app for Android"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 30px; line-height: 35px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EMorse Trainer for Ham Radio\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI'm always on the lookout for useful tools to help increase my copy speed and enjoyment of CW\/Morse Code. \u0026nbsp;Training applications for beginners that teach letters and letter groups are great to get started but after you're making QSOs and copying at useful speeds those apps get a little stale.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI recently \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/04\/get-your-news-old-fashioned-way.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ewrote about\u003C\/a\u003E using the \"Morse News\" RSS reader application for PCs. What I liked about Morse News was that it would send the text of news articles as CW. \u0026nbsp;I found it useful as a natural language trainer but I didn't like being tied to my PC during training. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI wanted a similar application for my smart phone.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EJust the mobile ticket to CW training\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI'm not sure how I missed the \"Morse Trainer for Ham Radio\" app up t\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003Eo\u003C\/span\u003E now but I've been using it for a couple of weeks now and really find it useful.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-nF7HSSQX1Ig\/VxdaTw4HI8I\/AAAAAAAAZrk\/5okEr2wU-goPvq07xCek0iMD4nKjvHPigCLcB\/s1600\/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-04-20%2Bat%2B6.29.29%2BAM.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"348\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-nF7HSSQX1Ig\/VxdaTw4HI8I\/AAAAAAAAZrk\/5okEr2wU-goPvq07xCek0iMD4nKjvHPigCLcB\/s640\/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-04-20%2Bat%2B6.29.29%2BAM.png\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EMorse Trainer in QSO Text Mode\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ETraining Modes\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThis app has all the standard Morse Code training tools such as letter training, letter groups, callsign training etc. It also can send the most common 500 words as well as a random sample QSO training mode. \u0026nbsp;That's all great but what I \u003Ci\u003Ereally\u003C\/i\u003E find useful is the ability to send your own text that you type or paste into the app and even... wait for it... an ebook reader! \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI must really be a geek but I find the ebook reader makes this a must have CW training app for me. \u0026nbsp;I converted some of my ebooks into plain text (using \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/calibre-ebook.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECalibre\u003C\/a\u003E) and placed them in the CWTrainer's application folder on my smart phone. \u0026nbsp;I then choose the ebook mode, choose a book and it will send it as CW to me and keep track of where I left off. \u0026nbsp;I use this ebook reader mode to break the monotony of my long drive time. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-9OjOmn24ja0\/VxdXjhYNQEI\/AAAAAAAAZrY\/FqDzuGnEY94k-TFkTdsnRLURxb6Qc8lQgCLcB\/s1600\/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-04-20%2Bat%2B6.17.14%2BAM.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"323\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-9OjOmn24ja0\/VxdXjhYNQEI\/AAAAAAAAZrY\/FqDzuGnEY94k-TFkTdsnRLURxb6Qc8lQgCLcB\/s640\/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-04-20%2Bat%2B6.17.14%2BAM.png\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003Eebook mode\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EIt's great fun to witness the expression of the person beside you at a stoplight hearing Morse Code pouring out of your car. \u0026nbsp;Priceless.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI keep the speed higher than I can comfortably copy so I'm missing some of what is sent. There's nothing like reading an action novel where you're missing half of what's going on. Did Tex get shot or not? I missed that word, hehe.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EWhile this app doesn't read RSS feeds like Morse News application for PC's the text and ebook reader modes more than make up for it. The only bug to-date that I've noticed on my phone is that if I rotate the phone while it's playing it will reset where it was reading from back to the beginning.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EHere's a video from the application's author describing it's functions...\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/muRK90yFpu8\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/muRK90yFpu8?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAnd here's a link to the application in the Google Play store.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.wolphi.morsetrainer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003Ehttps:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.wolphi.morsetrainer\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI have no affiliation with the maker of this application. \u0026nbsp;I just wanted to share.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E73\/72\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/span\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/7169634736016308600\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/04\/the-best-cw-training-app-for-android.html#comment-form","title":"5 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/7169634736016308600"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/7169634736016308600"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/04\/the-best-cw-training-app-for-android.html","title":"The Best CW training app for Android"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-nF7HSSQX1Ig\/VxdaTw4HI8I\/AAAAAAAAZrk\/5okEr2wU-goPvq07xCek0iMD4nKjvHPigCLcB\/s72-c\/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-04-20%2Bat%2B6.29.29%2BAM.png","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"5"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-8455265170167650069"},"published":{"$t":"2016-04-19T19:03:00.003-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:29:15.235-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Stuck at 20wpm"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ELearning CW is not a sprint\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI am in the 9th month of my CW \/ Morse Code journey and I will readily admit that in my case it has been slow, steady progress rather than a sprint.\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp; \u003C\/span\u003ESome weeks I think I'm doing well while at others I seem to be stuck or losing my copy skills, even with daily practice and QSOs.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EDuring my\u0026nbsp;off-air training I had raised my copy speed of news stories sent in CW to about 23wpm with 80% comprehension but as that happened I somehow reduced my ability to copy slower speeds. This was especially noticeable in on-air qsos. So I have gone back a bit to practice slower speeds. It's difficult to explain to myself how that happened. I guess I'd become accustomed to the higher sp\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003Ee\u003C\/span\u003Eed characters and lost recognition at slower speeds.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAs my copy speed has increased, my on-air sending speed has gone up which of course results in the other side of the qso being sent at a higher speed as well. I'm still very limited when I work an unusual FIST or someone who doesn't leave space between their words.\u0026nbsp; I'm normally starting more of my qsos with a paddle\/keyer than straight key now at around 17-19wpm resulting in the responding stations generally working me a couple wpm faster than I send. I'm working fewer straight key operators as I work outside \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003Ethe\u003C\/span\u003E SKCC frequencies\u0026nbsp; although I still seem to encounter lots of bug operators.\u0026nbsp; I happy to work a bug op because I switch to my bug for the qso.\u0026nbsp; I still enjoy the SKCC group and ops but I can't send well above 16wpm on a straight key so that is limiting me working faster ops. I generally can work the bug around 19-20 wpm on the SKCC frequencies but then I get bug operators coming back at me with 27wpm dits which I have great difficulty copying.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI began the habit of spending some time\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E most\u003C\/span\u003E mornings before work just listening to higher speed ops chat with each other at speeds around 25wpm on 80m and 40m.\u0026nbsp; There's almost always a couple of CW qsos going on at that speed between 6-7 AM Eastern time. I miss much of what they are saying but it's a good supplement to the machine generated copy study that I do at lunchtime and get\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003Es\u003C\/span\u003E me used to real FISTS at my target speed of 25wpm. All this listening is of course followed up with actual qsos in the evenings and weekends as time allows at 17-20wpm.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EStuck at 20wpm\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/basementrejects.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/many-adventures-of-winnie-the-pooh-live-pooh-stuck-in-rabbits-hole.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/basementrejects.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/many-adventures-of-winnie-the-pooh-live-pooh-stuck-in-rabbits-hole.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EStuck and need help from friends\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E20wpm seems to be a wall of sorts. I have difficulty reliably having real qsos at and above 20wpm. I've been stuck at this speed for a couple months now and would appreciate suggestions at moving beyond the wall as I find myself still having to ask stations sending above 20wpm with tight spacing to slow down.\u0026nbsp; Some days it seems to click, but when I think back I believe it has more to do with a good FIST of the other operator than my copy skill.\u0026nbsp; \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAll I can reliably say is real people rarely sound like machine generated CW and all the off-air machine practice in the world doesn't reveal my real ability to copy, or not copy, like real qsos do.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESo the journey continues. I plan to occasionally blog about my progress and copy speed as much for my own record as anything else but maybe it will be of some encouragement to others as well.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E73\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/8455265170167650069\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/04\/stuck-at-20wpm.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/8455265170167650069"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/8455265170167650069"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/04\/stuck-at-20wpm.html","title":"Stuck at 20wpm"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-8903278850110076584"},"published":{"$t":"2016-04-17T17:56:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:29:15.251-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Bum Rap"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EHow the End-Fed antenna get's a bad reputation\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI regularly use an end-fed antenna when I operate portable because it's so easy to just get one end of it up in a tree.\u0026nbsp; I then only have to get some coax to the balun and attach a couple of counterpoises to the radio ground for the band I want to work and voila I have an easy setup\/tear-down antenna solution.\u0026nbsp;The higher the feedpoint the better the antenna will perform, and as long as I have a good tuner I can work a lot of different bands.\u0026nbsp; \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EHowever when used in a shack you hear all manner of stories of how the end-fed random wire antenna absolutely wreaks havoc with RF at the station.\u0026nbsp; So what's the deal?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EWhat's going on with an end-fed antenna?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI'm still learning about this stuff so here's my simple minded understanding along with some results of my own experimentation.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESo when you put some fire in the wire (remember this is alternating current at a particular frequency) the RF will run down that wire and when it gets to the end it will run back.\u0026nbsp; Part of the power will be radiated, the part that does not will come back and want to push against something.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EIn a dipole the power runs out one leg and when it runs back it has the other balanced leg of the dipole to run to and repeats the process until it's radiated either as a signal or heats up your coax. The end fed wire doesn't have that balanced leg to push against so it will flow back into your equipment and radiate from there along with anything it can find to get into that your equipment is attached to.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EWhen your portable, operating low power, this isn't very noticeable and since I'm generally operating from a battery that returning RF isn't heading off into a power supply and into the mains, etc.\u0026nbsp; But when operating from a shack and especially if I'm operating at QRO levels (gasp!) that RF can generate a hum in your equipment, distort your signal,\u0026nbsp; bite you on the hand or lip depending on paths to least resistance.\u0026nbsp; Worst case it can fry something in the shack or nearby sensitive electronic equipment.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThus the bad rap.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EBackground\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EHere's my experience...\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAt my QTH I reconfigured my external 40m Windom (aka OCF dipole) to an 80m OCF Dipole.\u0026nbsp; When I was using the 40m Windom I could tune the 30m band without difficulty but the high impedance nodes occur in different places on the 80m OCF and make 30m over 10:1 SWR.\u0026nbsp; Certainly not efficient and impossible to tune for some internal tuners.\u0026nbsp; My attic doublet can tune 30m but my attic seems to be an especially noisy place for 30m and it was really limiting my ability to work 30m.\u0026nbsp; I've discussed the woes of getting antennas outdoors at my QTH previously so I was looking for an easy way to get back on 30m.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI thought I'd give the much maligned end-fed a try\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI cut about 150 feet of wire and attached it to the long-wire post of my trusty MFJ Deluxe Versa Tuner II and ran it up around my room and out out my 3rd story window to a tree in the front yard.\u0026nbsp; It is very stealthy and doesn't raise the ire of the neighbors.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe MFJ matched the end-fed easily on 30m and reception was about \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E2\u003C\/span\u003E S-units less noise than with the attic antenna.\u0026nbsp; So far so good.\u0026nbsp; I made some contacts using 5w but was hearing some hum in my headphones so I knew something was rotten in Denmark (sorry Denmark).\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI have some counterpoise wires running from the back of the tuner but when I took stock of what I had I realized none of them were 1\/4 wavelengths for 30m.\u0026nbsp; This afternoon I cut some of my surplus insulated 18 gauge wire 23ft long, insulated the end and attached it to the back of the tuner.\u0026nbsp; I ran the counterpoise into the attic clear of other wiring and what do you know.\u0026nbsp; No more hum.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI then tried the wattage up at QRO levels and still no hum.\u0026nbsp; The RF just wanted something to push against to keep it out of the station wiring.\u0026nbsp; I got good reports from RBN stations so the antenna is working for 30m.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-fJXyS7ZTpkE\/Vx9KwdpSoDI\/AAAAAAAAZug\/DIBqjLIcL0MpCtv2MgM60bJOxaWdQOP6gCLcB\/s1600\/30m%2Bend%2Bfed-2.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-fJXyS7ZTpkE\/Vx9KwdpSoDI\/AAAAAAAAZug\/DIBqjLIcL0MpCtv2MgM60bJOxaWdQOP6gCLcB\/s1600\/30m%2Bend%2Bfed-2.PNG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EEnd Fed performance on 30m\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI know that a single counterpoise will likely create directivity to the signal so I'll need to add some more counterpoise wires but the moral of the story is that end-fed antennas are not evil, they are just misunderstood.\u0026nbsp; Like a vertical, the RF just needs something to push against.\u0026nbsp; In the case of a vertical if you have insufficient counterpoise at the feedpoint you just warm the earth. But in the case of the end-fed your equipment becomes the other side of the antenna.\u0026nbsp; Not good.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EEnd-fed antennas can be a useful solution\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EIf you have limited options for deploying wire antennas, the end-fed is about the easiest type to deploy.\u0026nbsp; I don't think it will give you the propagation of a dipole or doublet but it shouldn't be dismissed out of hand as an option.\u0026nbsp; Just be sure to cut 1\/4 wavelength counterpoise wires for the bands you wish to work and attach them to the ground of the tuner or ground side of the balun you are using for the long wire.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESafety considerations\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EKeep in mind that the entire length of the end-fed wire is radiating starting right at the point where it exits your tuner\/balun so position it in such a way that you or others will not accidentally touch it during operation.\u0026nbsp; Also take care in how its routed so as not to put it near or run in parallel with house wiring.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EOk so end-fed antenna's get a bad reputation for some good reasons and if you have other options use them first but don't completely put it out of the running if it can solve your antenna problem.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E73\/72\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/8903278850110076584\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/04\/bum-rap.html#comment-form","title":"5 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/8903278850110076584"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/8903278850110076584"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/04\/bum-rap.html","title":"Bum Rap"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-fJXyS7ZTpkE\/Vx9KwdpSoDI\/AAAAAAAAZug\/DIBqjLIcL0MpCtv2MgM60bJOxaWdQOP6gCLcB\/s72-c\/30m%2Bend%2Bfed-2.PNG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"5"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-5758455657786410027"},"published":{"$t":"2016-04-14T21:23:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:29:15.170-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Bugging Out"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EVibroplex Bug QSO\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESometimes I'm in a mood to use my bug. \u0026nbsp;I'm still a relatively new CW operator and using my Vibroplex Original Bug is both novel to me and a challenge compared to my Kent Straight Key or using paddles.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-B-u9IlJmHcU\/VxA6haZysZI\/AAAAAAAAZns\/BgyX5vYSPLA7ML2wNyviblZAhL5QBSHMwCLcB\/s1600\/bug-life-1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-B-u9IlJmHcU\/VxA6haZysZI\/AAAAAAAAZns\/BgyX5vYSPLA7ML2wNyviblZAhL5QBSHMwCLcB\/s640\/bug-life-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe key lineup with the Bug in the center\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI purchased my bug used on a well known auction site for about $65. \u0026nbsp;It dates to sometime in the mid 1970s but it doesn't differ much from bugs made in the past 75 years. \u0026nbsp;I have added some weight to slow it down to around 19 wpm DITs by taping a heavy spacer onto the factory pendulum weight as well as adding a heavy metal spacer to the end of the pendulum. \u0026nbsp;The weight on the end of the pendulum is held on by a simple plastic drywall screw anchor. \u0026nbsp;I can pull the weight off the back quickly if I want to let it go up to about 25wpm DITs. \u0026nbsp;Without the extra weights this bug sends at around 27wpm at it's slowest speed and up to... well I don't know how fast because I can't control it at the fastest speed yet and I certainly can't copy others at that speed so I usually keep it below 20wpm for now.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EIf you haven't used a bug I encourage you to give it a try. \u0026nbsp;It's a challenging key to get the hang of but the effort to learn it is fun and rewarding. I especially enjoy the tactile feedback from that swinging pendulum and the the click-clacking of the pendulum against the hanging damper.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI was using my Ten-Tec Eagle (model 599) purchased used from a local ham. \u0026nbsp;The Eagle is a super little QRO radio although in this QSO my output is 5w. \u0026nbsp;If you have sharp eyes you may see that the power level is set to 7w but that is actually 5w output according to my external meter. \u0026nbsp;The 100 number under the CW symbol is the bandwidth that I was using. \u0026nbsp;I generally keep the bandwidth at 500 Hz but there was a station operating above us that I wanted to mask.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-eOhOXrx-Cns\/VxA6gwUlRNI\/AAAAAAAAZn0\/WmD7WdSe_rMuZ8u7t9Y6A3w8oGgnEqqJgCKgB\/s1600\/eagle-599-1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"488\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-eOhOXrx-Cns\/VxA6gwUlRNI\/AAAAAAAAZn0\/WmD7WdSe_rMuZ8u7t9Y6A3w8oGgnEqqJgCKgB\/s640\/eagle-599-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ETen-Tec Eagle 599\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe Eagle is a great CW rig. \u0026nbsp;This model has 3 front end crystal filters 2400Hz, 600Hz and 300Hz giving it nice selectivity for any mode.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI was working Ed, KG4W in VA who is an SKCC member. \u0026nbsp; If you want to work other manual key stations 3550 kHz is a calling frequency for the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.skccgroup.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESKCC\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;Ed told me during the QSO he was using a VIZ vertical bug which is a unique and interesting bug design. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EHe reported my signal as 599 and he was 599 as well. \u0026nbsp;I was running 5w output power to my 80m OCF Dipole. He was using an Yaesu at 100w to a fan dipole. \u0026nbsp;5w was sufficient for this QSO but if he had reported me as 559 or weaker I would have raised my power to 20w to make copy for him easier. \u0026nbsp;I enjoy using QRP but when I rag chew I don't want to make it difficult for QRO stations to copy me if I can help it so having the Eagle allows me to raise my power if necessary for the communication.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe QSO\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESo here's the qso between two bug operators. \u0026nbsp;I hope you enjoy it...\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/fnrU2GGoY9E\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/fnrU2GGoY9E?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E72\/73\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/5758455657786410027\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/04\/bugging-out.html#comment-form","title":"3 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/5758455657786410027"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/5758455657786410027"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/04\/bugging-out.html","title":"Bugging Out"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-B-u9IlJmHcU\/VxA6haZysZI\/AAAAAAAAZns\/BgyX5vYSPLA7ML2wNyviblZAhL5QBSHMwCLcB\/s72-c\/bug-life-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"3"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-2739105959098019962"},"published":{"$t":"2016-04-11T06:17:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:29:15.083-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"1 Watt in the Great Outdoors"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ETaking the 1Watter 40m portable\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThis past Saturday I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work with Paul AA4XX, Dick N4HAY, Marty W4MY and Marc W4MPS. \u0026nbsp;We hung drywall at the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/aa4xx.com\/2016\/01\/12\/knightlites-excalibur-site-gets-a-new-radio-shack\/comment-page-1\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Enew shack at the Excalibur antenna site\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;During our most excellent lunch break replete with Dominos pizza provided by N4HAY I decided to try out the\u0026nbsp;1Watter I'd built for portable operation.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI pulled the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/03\/its-alive.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E1Watter\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;radio out of my backpack and attached it to the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/03\/aim-high.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E40m Doublet we'd put up a couple of weeks ago\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;and used my\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/03\/i-will-have-blt-please.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBLT+\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;as the antenna tuner. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI could tell the little radio was just bursting with anticipation so I pulled up a couple of plastic chairs for an impromptu operating position.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-a0urLOllfF0\/VwsSFKL4cMI\/AAAAAAAAZms\/4swu1hQhQ5AWYnSpmr0yn7nNfKW1eBpXw\/s1600\/1-watter-portable-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"550\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-a0urLOllfF0\/VwsSFKL4cMI\/AAAAAAAAZms\/4swu1hQhQ5AWYnSpmr0yn7nNfKW1eBpXw\/s640\/1-watter-portable-2.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E1Watter connected to BLT+ tuner which is connected to a\u0026nbsp;ladder line\u0026nbsp;fed 40m doublet\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI powered the 1Watter with the same 3ah 12v battery I've used for the past couple of weeks. \u0026nbsp;The 1Watter is such a power frugal radio that a battery seems to last a long, long time. \u0026nbsp;It would probably be a good candidate for solar operation. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-GFHqg0uPt1g\/VwsSkjZ4yyI\/AAAAAAAAZmw\/TnBqtp4O2ews1wso5KN6gukdk3Us7n2Mg\/s1600\/1-watter-portable-1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-GFHqg0uPt1g\/VwsSkjZ4yyI\/AAAAAAAAZmw\/TnBqtp4O2ews1wso5KN6gukdk3Us7n2Mg\/s640\/1-watter-portable-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EWhat a great little rig\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EUsing the 1Watter and BLT+ together\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe BLT+ tuner has a Tune\/Operate switch. \u0026nbsp;When the switch is the Tune position it presents a 50 Ohm match to the radio to protect a\u0026nbsp;home-brew radio final transistor. \u0026nbsp;The LED SWR indicator lets me know when a match has\u0026nbsp;occurred by going dim\u0026nbsp;to off. \u0026nbsp;The RF from the radio powers the LED indicator light. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI found a clear frequency near 7030 kHz to tune. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe 1Watter has a number of commands built into the internal keyer. \u0026nbsp;The commands are accessed by pressing the Command button on the side of the enclosure above the key input. \u0026nbsp;Pressing the Command button sends a 'R' on the sidetone indicating it's ready for a command. \u0026nbsp;I sent the letter 'X' placing it in Tune mode which generated a\u0026nbsp;continuous carrier and illuminated the BLT+ SWR indicator LED. \u0026nbsp;Obtaining a match to the antenna was quickly achieved by observing when the LED indicator light dimmed while turning the tuner knobs. \u0026nbsp;I then sent a Dit, taking the 1Watter out of Tuning mode.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI \u0026nbsp;flipped the Tune\/Operate switch on the BLT+ to the Operate position and\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;sent out my call a couple of times. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;was promptly answered by \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPete\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E-\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EN4KXG\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;who gave me a \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E589\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E report into Florida. \u0026nbsp;He reported using an Icom 718 running 90w into a wire antenna so neither of us had antennas with much if any gain on 40m.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-TbFkL0R54wc\/VwsT9zrZ3NI\/AAAAAAAAZm4\/zrpAT11RH3gkGvmroae2fM0bDW84J6ZAg\/s1600\/1-watter-portable-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"528\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-TbFkL0R54wc\/VwsT9zrZ3NI\/AAAAAAAAZm4\/zrpAT11RH3gkGvmroae2fM0bDW84J6ZAg\/s640\/1-watter-portable-3.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESending using the fine little Palm Single paddle key\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EDuring the QSO Pete commented on the nice performance of the little 1 watt radio. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAfter the QSO it was time to get back to work on the shack so I put the little rig away in the backpack for another day. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe weather\u0026nbsp;wasn't really conducive to operating outdoors. \u0026nbsp;A cold front was moving in and the wind was really whipping the antenna around with gusts up to 40 mph. \u0026nbsp;I ran the ladder line through the slats in the back of the chair while keeping my foot on the chair leg to prevent it from yanking the tuner and radio away as the antenna danced in the air and tugged on the feedline. \u0026nbsp;We still don't have the ladderline suspended yet so about 20 feet of it was laying\/writhing around on the ground during the QSO.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EBut the moral of the story is...\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EOperating portable with a 1watt radio is more than a possibility; it's a piece of cake.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESo lower your\u0026nbsp;power and raise your expectations\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E73\/72\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EP.S.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI want to offer my\u0026nbsp;sincere thanks to Paul - AA4XX for taking the pictures while I operated.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/2739105959098019962\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/04\/1-watt-in-great-outdoors.html#comment-form","title":"7 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/2739105959098019962"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/2739105959098019962"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/04\/1-watt-in-great-outdoors.html","title":"1 Watt in the Great Outdoors"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-a0urLOllfF0\/VwsSFKL4cMI\/AAAAAAAAZms\/4swu1hQhQ5AWYnSpmr0yn7nNfKW1eBpXw\/s72-c\/1-watter-portable-2.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"7"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-4678653281157962798"},"published":{"$t":"2016-04-10T17:47:00.002-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:29:15.120-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Giving tests is more fun than taking them"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003EYay, I'm a Volunteer Examiner (VE)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003EAfter \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/02\/feeling-extra-hammy.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Epassing my Extra Class license exam\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;I wanted to take the next step and give back to the hobby by serving as a Volunteer Examiner. \u0026nbsp;I took the open book test and sent in my paperwork to the ARRL to become accredited. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-R7nBzUE5O5M\/VwrG6R5lJwI\/AAAAAAAAZmQ\/A538yZ7xG_Y-yEhPj4ZAK0xP-cF69sUMA\/s1600\/20160326_153053-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"286\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-R7nBzUE5O5M\/VwrG6R5lJwI\/AAAAAAAAZmQ\/A538yZ7xG_Y-yEhPj4ZAK0xP-cF69sUMA\/s400\/20160326_153053-2.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003EVE accreditation\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003ESince receiving my VE accreditation I had a privilege of serving as a VE at a testing session today (No photos from the test session in this post because the results of the testing sessions are private). \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003EI enjoyed being able to personally say congratulations to new hams and those getting their upgrades. Those who failed to pass were heartily encouraged to not give up. \u0026nbsp;There was also fun camaraderie amongst the VE's there. \u0026nbsp;One of them was a fellow CW operator (W8WZ) who shared some good information with me.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003EIf you have an Extra ticket I encourage you to serve the hobby in this capacity.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E73\/72\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/4678653281157962798\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/04\/giving-tests-is-more-fun-than-taking.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/4678653281157962798"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/4678653281157962798"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/04\/giving-tests-is-more-fun-than-taking.html","title":"Giving tests is more fun than taking them"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-R7nBzUE5O5M\/VwrG6R5lJwI\/AAAAAAAAZmQ\/A538yZ7xG_Y-yEhPj4ZAK0xP-cF69sUMA\/s72-c\/20160326_153053-2.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-2204442922500240830"},"published":{"$t":"2016-04-05T06:30:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:29:15.071-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Get your news the old fashioned way"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EMorse News\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI'm always looking for ways to improve my CW copy skills. \u0026nbsp;When I'm away from the radio and have some spare time I use a program called \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/morse-rss-news.sourceforge.net\/rssmorsedoc\/news.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMorse News\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-qVlAVVufWw0\/VwPbQLdVTXI\/AAAAAAAAZjo\/pKdLajvKVukW70ErIqppqu_g_GSX_nA3A\/s1600\/Morse-news-marked.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-qVlAVVufWw0\/VwPbQLdVTXI\/AAAAAAAAZjo\/pKdLajvKVukW70ErIqppqu_g_GSX_nA3A\/s1600\/Morse-news-marked.PNG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EMorse News interface displaying a \"Top 100 words\" feed scrolling at the bottom\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EIt's an application that pulls RSS feeds and translates them to Morse. \u0026nbsp;It has useful configuration options and even allows different \"sounders\" to be used.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EFor instance: you can listen to Morse the way railroad and Civil War telegraphers heard it via the clacking Telegraph sounder, or the early 20th century spark gap transmitters.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe application is free but only runs on Windows computers. \u0026nbsp;I'd love to see something like this for my phone.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAs with all software downloads from an untrusted source \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003Euse your own best judgement \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003Ewhether to install this software and protect yourself from malware.\u0026nbsp; I haven't detected any malware from my install but that doesn't mean it's not there.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EHere's the link: \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/sourceforge.net\/projects\/morse-rss-news\/files\/Morse%20Code%20Tools%203.2\/MorseTools32Setup.exe\/download\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/sourceforge.net\/projects\/morse-rss-news\/files\/Morse%20Code%20Tools%203.2\/MorseTools32Setup.exe\/download\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E72\/73\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/2204442922500240830\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/04\/get-your-news-old-fashioned-way.html#comment-form","title":"4 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/2204442922500240830"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/2204442922500240830"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/04\/get-your-news-old-fashioned-way.html","title":"Get your news the old fashioned way"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-qVlAVVufWw0\/VwPbQLdVTXI\/AAAAAAAAZjo\/pKdLajvKVukW70ErIqppqu_g_GSX_nA3A\/s72-c\/Morse-news-marked.PNG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"4"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-5042647946208795040"},"published":{"$t":"2016-03-30T12:50:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:29:15.128-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Swinging QRP"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003EPark Swing QRP\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003EDuring lunch today I went to nearby city park. \u0026nbsp;I threw my end-fed antenna up in a tree and made a couple of contacts on 40m while rocking on the swing.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003EBeautiful weather, a swing and CW. \u0026nbsp;What more could you ask for?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003EWell, if I'd only had my Vibroplex Bug with me I could have been swinging the CW while I was swinging on the bench.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-x2Tw1u6MuUA\/VvwIth8tB4I\/AAAAAAAAZbA\/_QCRsZr1wVQ0IBJSVZ6QI2Xwa-Aotmy0w\/s1600\/20160330_124833.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"460\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-x2Tw1u6MuUA\/VvwIth8tB4I\/AAAAAAAAZbA\/_QCRsZr1wVQ0IBJSVZ6QI2Xwa-Aotmy0w\/s640\/20160330_124833.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003Eoperating position\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-TRHsMCI_T-Q\/VvwIvXawr6I\/AAAAAAAAZbE\/SwiF3L13iacM_8hvozS0xhDD8jC80B-Cw\/s1600\/20160330_124846.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-TRHsMCI_T-Q\/VvwIvXawr6I\/AAAAAAAAZbE\/SwiF3L13iacM_8hvozS0xhDD8jC80B-Cw\/s640\/20160330_124846.jpg\" width=\"412\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003EThe radio and log\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E72\/73\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/5042647946208795040\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/03\/swinging-qrp.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/5042647946208795040"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/5042647946208795040"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/03\/swinging-qrp.html","title":"Swinging QRP"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-x2Tw1u6MuUA\/VvwIth8tB4I\/AAAAAAAAZbA\/_QCRsZr1wVQ0IBJSVZ6QI2Xwa-Aotmy0w\/s72-c\/20160330_124833.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"},"georss$featurename":{"$t":"Raleigh, NC, USA"},"georss$point":{"$t":"35.7795897 -78.638178700000026"},"georss$box":{"$t":"35.3677027 -79.28362570000003 36.1914767 -77.992731700000022"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-3280829183758303174"},"published":{"$t":"2016-03-29T06:18:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-06-11T07:59:03.234-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"It's ALIVE !"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe 1Watter 40m #551 -- Lives\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-nFO-GTTUNWY\/VvnSuoFfbnI\/AAAAAAAAZXE\/PFvG9PMZOP4nx43GrKB0G9XwKhr0oRGpA\/s1600\/1-watter-lives-6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-nFO-GTTUNWY\/VvnSuoFfbnI\/AAAAAAAAZXE\/PFvG9PMZOP4nx43GrKB0G9XwKhr0oRGpA\/s640\/1-watter-lives-6.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe 1Watter 40m on it's inaugural QSO\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-ocdbhW5-44E\/VwRKdfhcbMI\/AAAAAAAAZj8\/Va0jzgUWRLw71Ic_aV9bOJeaPz9L_VkBQ\/s1600\/1-watter-case-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-ocdbhW5-44E\/VwRKdfhcbMI\/AAAAAAAAZj8\/Va0jzgUWRLw71Ic_aV9bOJeaPz9L_VkBQ\/s640\/1-watter-case-3.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EInside the enclosure\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe 1Watter is a kit from \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.kitsandparts.com\/1watter-V3.php\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ekits and parts dot com\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe Universal 1Watter (also called the 1H2O) is a full featured little superhet radio transceiver that you can build for about $50. \u0026nbsp;It doesn't come with an enclosure, a tuning pot, speed pot or an on\/off switch so that will cost extra unless you already have\u0026nbsp;some in the junk bin.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESome of the features include;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E1 \u003Ci\u003Emighty\u003C\/i\u003E watt of output\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EGood selectivity from the 3 crystal filters\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EA VCXO tuned frequency range for the 40m band from approximately 7,020 kHz through 7,039 kHz\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EA built-in full functioned keyer with provision for adding a speed pot and messages\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EIncluded command button accesses the functions of the electronic keyer\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ENatural sounding sidetone (nicer than my Ten-Tec Century\/21)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe Build\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe kit is delivered in a box and inside are a couple of brown paper bags stapled together. \u0026nbsp;Inside one of the bags are a couple of plastic bags with the components. \u0026nbsp;The other bag contained the header kit. \u0026nbsp;The ferrite toroid mix types are separated in different unmarked plastic bags so don't mix them up (the instructions tell you which bag has each mix). \u0026nbsp;If anything is missing the kit supplier (Diz, W8DIZ) is very responsive. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe kit includes both SMT caps and through hole caps. \u0026nbsp;I tried to solder one of the SMTs but I didn't have the right kind of tweezers to hold it in position for soldering so I used the through hole caps.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-P4dYe9eNR84\/VvncRg_BwSI\/AAAAAAAAZXU\/EG0o2Uf2McwaSUDi849NS-FR0UHhEZK-Q\/s1600\/1-watter-kit-9.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-P4dYe9eNR84\/VvncRg_BwSI\/AAAAAAAAZXU\/EG0o2Uf2McwaSUDi849NS-FR0UHhEZK-Q\/s640\/1-watter-kit-9.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESMT and through hole caps are supplied\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-xdZnwq1yYWE\/Vvncieds0uI\/AAAAAAAAZXY\/wD8BUph0kBsTXTpBt6Dx-FncTLvDoIGog\/s1600\/1-watter-kit-8.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-xdZnwq1yYWE\/Vvncieds0uI\/AAAAAAAAZXY\/wD8BUph0kBsTXTpBt6Dx-FncTLvDoIGog\/s640\/1-watter-kit-8.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThis is the 3rd revision of the Universal 1Watter board and I was the first to build the 40m version. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EWhile the schematic was correct, some of the instructions weren't sorted out properly for the 40m kit. \u0026nbsp;I related issues as I found them to the designer and he promptly updated the online documentation.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI soldered the components and wound toroids as I had time over a few evenings and the initial voltage tests went well.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-GeeiYUeuuLM\/VvnhZX1afpI\/AAAAAAAAZXw\/hCT2VeRpEHcLTYmnVC8lPo5GfalJ1x2wg\/s640\/1-watter-kit-6.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003Eusing through hole capacitors rather than the SMTs\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-SGg-uEssLw4\/VvnhYVGI7WI\/AAAAAAAAZXs\/548LuiTchHA2Lp-64bsilDBUUkjAtzMUA\/s640\/1-watter-kit-7.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003Esome of the bits and bobs\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-7LcvMdgX5Fs\/Vvnhy_SECrI\/AAAAAAAAZX4\/hDEvz8G9Dcos4vntaLZLemJeJkAt1rUJw\/s640\/1watter-power-11.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003Ebuild is progressing\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-nngdMU1_nc8\/VvnhwgCyKTI\/AAAAAAAAZX0\/P_a8Mj35ybcGJP8brQMNwP0ZLH7oYZOGQ\/s1600\/1watter-power-12.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"458\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-nngdMU1_nc8\/VvnhwgCyKTI\/AAAAAAAAZX0\/P_a8Mj35ybcGJP8brQMNwP0ZLH7oYZOGQ\/s640\/1watter-power-12.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003Eclose up\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-Yyjn2zFEsR8\/VvpZncOh5MI\/AAAAAAAAZY4\/9NMxzu9FWvMWLu5QvNRxjGeczv7LSkA1Q\/s1600\/20160303_232546.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-Yyjn2zFEsR8\/VvpZncOh5MI\/AAAAAAAAZY4\/9NMxzu9FWvMWLu5QvNRxjGeczv7LSkA1Q\/s640\/20160303_232546.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EXTAL filters give it good selectivity\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-w3YEaQbUC8o\/VvpZr1swVdI\/AAAAAAAAZY8\/izKedj2tsx8RYm0H7oq3ZCt1JewQ3_ljg\/s1600\/20160301_072535.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-w3YEaQbUC8o\/VvpZr1swVdI\/AAAAAAAAZY8\/izKedj2tsx8RYm0H7oq3ZCt1JewQ3_ljg\/s640\/20160301_072535.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EEverything except the final transistor\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-oQ7uCIi_i-U\/Vvxy6kmjNDI\/AAAAAAAAZcA\/lchCD_5FMw8TDUeM0gvKFXsgn8wOUyJKQ\/s1600\/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-03-30%2Bat%2B8.31.47%2BPM.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-oQ7uCIi_i-U\/Vvxy6kmjNDI\/AAAAAAAAZcA\/lchCD_5FMw8TDUeM0gvKFXsgn8wOUyJKQ\/s320\/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-03-30%2Bat%2B8.31.47%2BPM.png\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAGC circuit\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EDebugging\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EWhen the build was completed I connected the rig to an antenna and heard nothing.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe keying circuit and transmitter worked fine and I verified those functions but the receiver was deaf as a stump.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThus began a number of days of investigation. \u0026nbsp;Diz (the creator of the board) guided me through a number of debugging steps. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe first recommendation was to examine and rewind the binocular toroid balun that transformed the impedance from the xtal filters to the input of the U5 oscillator. \u0026nbsp;He believed that I may had wound it incorrectly. \u0026nbsp;I desoldered it and rewound it but that did not resolve the issue.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EHe then guided me through determining if one of the filter crystals or filter capacitors was bad. \u0026nbsp;I desoldered a few components as a tests but that did not resolve the issue.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThere are 3 identical mixer chips on the board. \u0026nbsp;I swapped them around as there was a suggestion that there were some faulty chips in one of Diz's shipments.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI then took the board to my Elmer Paul Stroud AA4XX. \u0026nbsp;He had a signal generator, Oscilloscope and RF detector. \u0026nbsp;He traced the RF and all looked well but we still were unable to obtain any signal through the U5 mixer. \u0026nbsp;Lastly we tried disconnecting the AGC transistor to see if it was clamping it and that didn't resolve it either.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EDiz asked me to return the radio to him so he could take a look. \u0026nbsp;After a couple weeks he emailed me saying he thought the BFO xtal might have a problem. \u0026nbsp;But he later discovered that the oscillator in U5 was not starting up. \u0026nbsp;Apparently the circuit design had a low Q and needed more current to get the oscillator working. \u0026nbsp;He modified the design, adding a 16k resistor to the bottom of the board on U5 to get the oscillator going. \u0026nbsp;After that all was well and he shipped the board back to me.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-OVyKF0kWtDU\/VvpgPDsw6JI\/AAAAAAAAZZg\/NkEYSAx7c9YTTdtl0YF1gUXnIq1-Slh_g\/s1600\/20160329_065642.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"222\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-OVyKF0kWtDU\/VvpgPDsw6JI\/AAAAAAAAZZg\/NkEYSAx7c9YTTdtl0YF1gUXnIq1-Slh_g\/s400\/20160329_065642.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe FIX for all those problems required an extra resistor connected across U5\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ELearning from problems\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EBeing the\u0026nbsp;first person to build a particular version of a kit brings its own set of challenges, especially when you're as new to kit building debugging RF problems as I am. \u0026nbsp;However I'm actually glad the kit didn't work right at the initial build.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe process of debugging the board, was a great learning process. \u0026nbsp;I studied the schematics and learned, as best I could, the function of each circuit so that I could better understand how to test it. \u0026nbsp;During the debugging process Diz instructed me that although RF signal generators and scopes are useful you can tell a lot by touching a RF component with an inductive metal object and listening for a buzz or hum from the BFO.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESo all-in-all, even though the bug in the board was not due to a error on my part, I'm glad it occurred. \u0026nbsp;I understand more about superhet radio design than I did before and more than if the kit had worked right off the bat.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EOn the air\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAfter receiving the board back, I hooked up the frequency XCO potentiometer, paddle, command button, audio and output potentiometer and an external speaker. \u0026nbsp;I then connected a 12v battery and heard the 1H2O keyer chip announce itself at power up in Morse \"1 W\".\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/--cvCS-0kt4I\/VvnnWSN8OzI\/AAAAAAAAZYY\/S4TVX5s0QSMvkIyWmN1UR_LNU2YGBNqrw\/s1600\/1-watter-lives-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/--cvCS-0kt4I\/VvnnWSN8OzI\/AAAAAAAAZYY\/S4TVX5s0QSMvkIyWmN1UR_LNU2YGBNqrw\/s640\/1-watter-lives-4.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EFrequency control pot on the left\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-zd4jF30UCG8\/VvnnWFvlRyI\/AAAAAAAAZYU\/W2_i88ygUIkd7Yq5N5wwzkgiiAkv4hGIA\/s1600\/1-watter-lives-5.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-zd4jF30UCG8\/VvnnWFvlRyI\/AAAAAAAAZYU\/W2_i88ygUIkd7Yq5N5wwzkgiiAkv4hGIA\/s640\/1-watter-lives-5.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EVolume control, output jack, cmd pot and paddle input\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EYou can change speeds and modify settings via the command button which I have not reviewed yet. \u0026nbsp;I also plan to add the speed pot so that I can easily change keyer speed without entering the command menu.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EFor this first on-air excursion I was using it at the default startup 15wpm keyer speed. \u0026nbsp;You can default the speed higher with a different resistor value. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI have a resistor shrink wrapped and connected in-line to the blue-white wire coiling above the radio connecting to the speed pot terminal. \u0026nbsp;In\u0026nbsp;essence fixing the speed at 15wpm until I add the speed pot.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-u2xtsRUhLHc\/VvnnU6zrz1I\/AAAAAAAAZYQ\/YkJB4927jboLbcZpgLrfQdzG9abza5WfQ\/s1600\/1-watter-lives-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"434\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-u2xtsRUhLHc\/VvnnU6zrz1I\/AAAAAAAAZYQ\/YkJB4927jboLbcZpgLrfQdzG9abza5WfQ\/s640\/1-watter-lives-3.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EReady to transmit\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-9IUVrPWbjkU\/VvnnKRTSrBI\/AAAAAAAAZYM\/2AZTfOd4d7UGFENpQYrRXpIDUtWKQjj-Q\/s1600\/1-watter-lives-1.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-9IUVrPWbjkU\/VvnnKRTSrBI\/AAAAAAAAZYM\/2AZTfOd4d7UGFENpQYrRXpIDUtWKQjj-Q\/s640\/1-watter-lives-1.png\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EOn the air... I was using my paddle out of the photo to the right of the Bug\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EFirst On Air QSO\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI tuned around and found a strong station at the end of a QSO near 7030 kHz. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EWhen he sent the final dit-dit I called and\u0026nbsp;\u003Cb class=\"f14\" style=\"background-color: white; font-size: 1.4em; white-space: nowrap;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.qrz.com\/db\/WD4AXJ\" style=\"text-decoration: none;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EWD4AXJ\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;answered my first call. \u0026nbsp;He was in TN near Knoxville, and I received a 559. \u0026nbsp;We chatted for about 10 minutes. Sorry about the blurry video. \u0026nbsp;I thought I'd focused.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/hJqelJ8e8bg\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/hJqelJ8e8bg?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAfter I recorded this video I found an open frequency and sent out my call. \u0026nbsp;Very shortly thereafter\u0026nbsp;\u003Cb class=\"f14\" style=\"background-color: white; font-size: 1.4em; white-space: nowrap;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.qrz.com\/db\/KD2FSH\" style=\"text-decoration: none;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EKD2FSH\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003Eanswered my call and reported me as 599!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EWhoo - hoo. \u0026nbsp;599 for my little 1Watter 40m.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI was transmitting using my \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/08\/the-attic-antenna-revisited.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E40m attic antenna\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;So deed restricted HAMs take note. \u0026nbsp;You can build a one-watt radio and make contacts using your attic antenna. Haha.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EYou'll hear in the video there is some weirdness going on with the audio derived AGC. \u0026nbsp;It is clamping down sometimes and is worse when I don't have the volume turned up very loud. \u0026nbsp;When I began calling it clamped after every semi-break-in but didn't do it much after that. \u0026nbsp;I'll have to look into that.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe AGC clamping may be a side effect of the increased gain Diz added to the BFO oscillator. \u0026nbsp;I'll ask the forum. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EOther than the AGC issue I'm super pleased with the little board. \u0026nbsp;I touched the heat sync a couple of times\u0026nbsp;after transmitting my side of\u0026nbsp;the qso and it was warm but not really hot. \u0026nbsp;It seems as though as long as you have a reasonable match to the antenna the power transistor should be happy.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EMy next steps are to get it in an enclosure and get it out to the Excalibur antenna site to hook onto that nice 40m doublet we put up a couple weekends ago. \u0026nbsp;I plan to use my efficient little BLT tuner for that purpose. \u0026nbsp;I will do a further review of the feature set on the keyer and record some more qsos for a later review.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESummary\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe band was fairly busy and the little 1Watter did a fine job with stations on nearby frequencies. You can hear some getting around the passband but it is not bad at all. \u0026nbsp;I'll do some\u0026nbsp;tests to further define it's selectivity but at first glance it is far\u0026nbsp;better than my old Ten-Tec Century\/21. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EMy calls were answered quickly and I received good signal reports. It didn't sound as though the transmitter was drifting at all during the QSO. That's one advantage of using VCXO in the design. \u0026nbsp;The disadvantage of using a crystal controlled oscillator for the frequency control is limited tuning range. \u0026nbsp;The transmitter only has about a 18 kHz tuning range around 7030 kHz and I don't find many of the SKCC folks around that frequency but it is the QRP watering hole for 40m.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EIt is possible to shift the frequency with some capacitance changes but I think I'll leave it as is for a time and see how many states I can work.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EJust imagine. \u0026nbsp;This little $50 single band kit has good selectivity, a nice built-in keyer with a natural sounding sidetone, and lest we forget... You get a \u003Cb\u003EMIGHTY 1 WATT of OUTPUT\u003C\/b\u003E. \u0026nbsp;What more could a QRP ham need.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThat one-watt of output was sufficient for all the QSOs I attempted tonight.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E72\/73\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EUPDATE: 04\/01\/2016\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI  am still having the AGC pumping issue and others on the list have  reported similar issues but only on receive. \u0026nbsp;It happens to me when I  key unless I turn up the volume very high. \u0026nbsp;I did get it installed in a  case but I still need to wire up a real power connector rather than  using\u0026nbsp;alligator\u0026nbsp;clips.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-4p8ABAEBEWk\/Vv8TdNK9P2I\/AAAAAAAAZeU\/UK1OlZ2pV4gIv-LM0ShzX7z64QMO2oM1A\/s1600\/20160401_202657.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-4p8ABAEBEWk\/Vv8TdNK9P2I\/AAAAAAAAZeU\/UK1OlZ2pV4gIv-LM0ShzX7z64QMO2oM1A\/s640\/20160401_202657.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E!Watter installed in a case\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch4 style=\"-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EUPDATE: 04\/05\/2016\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAfter doing quite a bit of reading I learned that the LM386 op-amp used in the \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E1\u003C\/span\u003Ewatter  is rather notorious for audio oscillations. \u0026nbsp;There are a number of  suggested fixes. \u0026nbsp;I went with a 4.7uf cap connecting Pin 7 on U6 (the  LM386) to ground. \u0026nbsp;That hasn't totally resolved the issue but it's much  less pronounced now. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-mrn5pLFAOyo\/VwRLw0N1Y3I\/AAAAAAAAZkI\/smE4O2AZKT8SaLcl4EPVsrKLLHL_mb6gQ\/s1600\/1-watter-case-1.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-mrn5pLFAOyo\/VwRLw0N1Y3I\/AAAAAAAAZkI\/smE4O2AZKT8SaLcl4EPVsrKLLHL_mb6gQ\/s320\/1-watter-case-1.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003Ecap fix for LM386 oscillations\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI  have it in the case with all the proper plugs now (see below) so I'm  happy. \u0026nbsp;I've been making QSOs every day with it and it continues to  amaze me and the stations that work me. \u0026nbsp;It is stable as a rock with  regard to frequency and the large knob with the single turn 10k pot  seems to work well for tuning. \u0026nbsp;I have enough control to vary the  frequency slightly without having to turn it too much. \u0026nbsp;The tuning range  is only about 20kHz so just 3 frequency markers are plenty to let me  know what frequency I'm near. \u0026nbsp;The selectivity is just fantastic for  such a simple little radio. \u0026nbsp;Diz has created an inexpensive winner.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-L62zs3pssmQ\/VwRLyBuftII\/AAAAAAAAZkM\/ao3asqeMHjMCciE2OE4RmNUTCzHl_rIvg\/s1600\/1-watter-case-3.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-L62zs3pssmQ\/VwRLyBuftII\/AAAAAAAAZkM\/ao3asqeMHjMCciE2OE4RmNUTCzHl_rIvg\/s640\/1-watter-case-3.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E1Watter in enclosure with all the proper connectors for the case\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EInformation on case and knobs:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv dir=\"auto\" style=\"font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.696px; text-align: start;\"\u003EJPM Supply\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv dir=\"auto\" style=\"font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.696px; text-align: start;\"\u003E\u003Ca data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=en\u0026amp;q=http:\/\/www.jpmsupply.com\u0026amp;source=gmail\u0026amp;ust=1497268505211000\u0026amp;usg=AFQjCNHyCExo9_ZF3jdRyD1aQkyvxBCe3w\" href=\"http:\/\/www.jpmsupply.com\/\" style=\"color: #4285f4; text-decoration-line: none;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/www.jpmsupply.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv dir=\"auto\" style=\"font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.696px; text-align: start;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv dir=\"auto\" style=\"font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.696px; text-align: start;\"\u003E\u003Ctable bgcolor=\"#EEEEEE\" style=\"font-size: 13.696px; table-layout: auto !important; width: 100%px;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECode\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cb\u003EItem\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cb\u003EQty\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPrice\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cb\u003EGrand Total\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E44088\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EAluminum Electronics Project Box 4.73 x 3.62 x 2.09 inches Enclosure\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E1\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cu\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"m_-5628407356953582293money\"\u003E$7.99\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cu\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cu\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"m_-5628407356953582293money\"\u003E$7.99\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cu\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E62411\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003ERound Knob 1\/4 Shaft with White Indicator\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E1\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cu\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"m_-5628407356953582293money\"\u003E$0.99\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cu\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cu\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"m_-5628407356953582293money\"\u003E$0.99\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cu\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E62424\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EKnob, 1.28\" Black with white indicator, 6mm Shaft with set screw\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E1\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cu\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"m_-5628407356953582293money\"\u003E$0.89\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cu\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cu\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"m_-5628407356953582293money\"\u003E$0.89\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cu\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E62405\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003ERound Star Knob 1\/4 Shaft with White Indicator\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E1\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cu\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"m_-5628407356953582293money\"\u003E$0.99\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cu\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cu\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"m_-5628407356953582293money\"\u003E$0.99\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/3280829183758303174\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/03\/its-alive.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/3280829183758303174"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/3280829183758303174"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/03\/its-alive.html","title":"It's ALIVE !"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-nFO-GTTUNWY\/VvnSuoFfbnI\/AAAAAAAAZXE\/PFvG9PMZOP4nx43GrKB0G9XwKhr0oRGpA\/s72-c\/1-watter-lives-6.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-5452155516138575380"},"published":{"$t":"2016-03-26T15:03:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-08T16:41:42.766-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The Eagle has landed"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2 class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ETen-Tec Eagle -- A CW masterpiece\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI've had the opportunity to bring another wonderful radio from Ten-Tec into the shack. \u0026nbsp;The Ten-Tec Eagle.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-os4tHvm5IqE\/VvbUf59gDmI\/AAAAAAAAZVk\/tLbjWE4_Tf4VAYVRF6l6rvHuwvmP27Ccw\/s1600\/eagle-has-landed-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-os4tHvm5IqE\/VvbUf59gDmI\/AAAAAAAAZVk\/tLbjWE4_Tf4VAYVRF6l6rvHuwvmP27Ccw\/s640\/eagle-has-landed-3.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ETen-Tec Eagle HF transceiver\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;\"\u003EThe Eagle is \u003Cb\u003ENOT\u003C\/b\u003E a feature laden radio and using it is a bit quirky. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThere are no menus on the Eagle. \u0026nbsp;The dual-function buttons you see are what you get. The multi-knob allows adjustments for the various functions.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EWhat it does have that is so common with the Ten-Tec line of radios is absolutely wonderful sounding audio and beautiful full QSK with no strange audio artifacts at full-break-in. \u0026nbsp;It is a pleasure to work weak stations. \u0026nbsp;This particular radio has three 4-pole filters for the IF at 2.4kHz, 600Hz and 300Hz. \u0026nbsp;They are automatically selected as the dedicated bandwidth knob is adjusted, resulting in smooth and clear filtering of CW stations.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI also have a Elecraft KX3 and while it has similar receiver specifications, listening to weak CW with it has a lot of digital artifacts that are not present on the Eagle. \u0026nbsp;I can work a weak station with the Eagle and not be fatigued at the end of the qso.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EIt also has a nice ATU capable of matching up to 10:1 SWR antennas and of course supports SSB. \u0026nbsp;It covers 160m-6m and can do FM if the 15kHz filter is installed.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-P9mhgXWXzWs\/VvbUiyT7O1I\/AAAAAAAAZVo\/EqsyLN_0D70E4dUuFCW3Y2PgHRyHfTGmQ\/s1600\/eagle-has-landed-1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-P9mhgXWXzWs\/VvbUiyT7O1I\/AAAAAAAAZVo\/EqsyLN_0D70E4dUuFCW3Y2PgHRyHfTGmQ\/s640\/eagle-has-landed-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EEagle beside its much older brother, the Ten-Tec Century\/21\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ECW the way it was meant to be heard\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/d5RYnyazdkQ\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d5RYnyazdkQ?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe solar conditions have been extremely poor over the past week that I've used the rig and are likely to be this way for a few years to come. \u0026nbsp;It's nice to have a rig that makes these poor conditions still enjoyable.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EIf you love CW do yourself a favor and try a Ten-Tec. \u0026nbsp;They are pricey compared to other rigs and they do not come close competing on price-per-feature but Ten-Tec receivers make for amateur-radio bliss.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESo lower your\u0026nbsp;power and raise your expectations\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E72\/73\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/5452155516138575380\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/03\/the-eagle-has-landed.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/5452155516138575380"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/5452155516138575380"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/03\/the-eagle-has-landed.html","title":"The Eagle has landed"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-os4tHvm5IqE\/VvbUf59gDmI\/AAAAAAAAZVk\/tLbjWE4_Tf4VAYVRF6l6rvHuwvmP27Ccw\/s72-c\/eagle-has-landed-3.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-2674655902744393814"},"published":{"$t":"2016-03-25T14:30:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:29:15.074-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"BLT+ Balanced line tuner at Excalibur"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAnother portable test of the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/03\/i-will-have-blt-please.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBLT+ tuner\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-mgEP7lfHXF8\/VvV9HnnVsGI\/AAAAAAAAZUI\/nmNJrzlydq4gCAo2vYIXg_rFIl6fniVzg\/s1600\/blt-excalibur-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-mgEP7lfHXF8\/VvV9HnnVsGI\/AAAAAAAAZUI\/nmNJrzlydq4gCAo2vYIXg_rFIl6fniVzg\/s640\/blt-excalibur-2.jpg\" width=\"640\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EKX3 operating on internal battery. \u0026nbsp;What a fantastic portable rig.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI took the BLT+ balanced line tuner out to the Excalibur antenna site to try it out on \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/03\/aim-high.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethe doublet antenna that we put up last Saturday\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;This was the first test of that antenna (40m and 80m using a common feedpoint).\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI didn't have much time today and after the first QSO it started to rain so I packed up and left before getting as much documented as I would have liked. \u0026nbsp;I apologize for not recording the actual tuning process and the subsequent QSO.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-pGl4WpmxCkc\/VvV9FdSewlI\/AAAAAAAAZUA\/eCB2kJb3iMgPmDOEL6hrb15zLAAJN6sLA\/s1600\/blt-excalibur-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-pGl4WpmxCkc\/VvV9FdSewlI\/AAAAAAAAZUA\/eCB2kJb3iMgPmDOEL6hrb15zLAAJN6sLA\/s640\/blt-excalibur-3.jpg\" width=\"640\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EBLT+ connected to open wire line (under the gloves) going to ta 40m Doublet at 65ft\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI had the KX3 operating using its internal batteries and outputting 2w. I was running 2 watts because that is the most efficient PA mode for the KX3.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI used the BLT+ to tune the 40m\/80m doublet. \u0026nbsp;Balanced line antennas perform better with a tuner designed for balanced line and this was a good test for both the tuner and the new antenna.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-u3yxdjErvKA\/VvV9HXBpD7I\/AAAAAAAAZUM\/FUz6hZdqt10UsfPGqolou8Xc4oSN9kEYQ\/s1600\/blt-excalibur-1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-u3yxdjErvKA\/VvV9HXBpD7I\/AAAAAAAAZUM\/FUz6hZdqt10UsfPGqolou8Xc4oSN9kEYQ\/s640\/blt-excalibur-1.jpg\" width=\"640\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EPortable shack, courtesy of three plastic chairs\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI quickly matched the doublet using the BLT+ using the lowest impedance setting which is also the most efficient. \u0026nbsp;I was glad to see that the BLT SWR LED indicator is bright enough to be seen in direct sunlight. \u0026nbsp;I was wondering about that but you can definitely tell when it dims even in direct sunlight.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EPerformance\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAfter quickly tuning up I sent my call two times and was promptly answered. \u0026nbsp;The other station was running a Flex 6500 into a KPA500 and a OCF Windom at 50 feet.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EHe reported me as 559, while he was a 599. \u0026nbsp;He was running a new KPA500 amp at 500w so we were a \u003Cb\u003Ebit mismatched on power\u003C\/b\u003E. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EInterestingly the difference in 2w and 500w exactly matches the 4 S-Unit difference in our reports if you do the math (each increase in an S-unit requires quadruple the power).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAA4OO sitting back and listening to the QSO\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EPaul AA4XX kindly snapped some pictures while I was listening to the other operator. \u0026nbsp;T\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003Ehis is the Excalibur antenna site but the shack is outside the photo.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe Doublet's feed line has not been brought to the shack yet so I was just sitting under the antenna. \u0026nbsp;The open feed line is running along the ground for a bit which certainly didn't help the signal but we haven't installed the posts to carry the feed line over to the shack and I was too lazy to move the chairs far enough away to keep the feed line in the air.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EIn the foreground is some saw-grass common on the NC coast. \u0026nbsp;I'm not sure why it's growing this far inland.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-PmUzij6D9fk\/VvWGZn4kgVI\/AAAAAAAAZUs\/8xW9XCJjqCkhcyn1s05ZPi5psNZ5nKQyw\/s1600\/blt-excalibur-aa4oo-1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-PmUzij6D9fk\/VvWGZn4kgVI\/AAAAAAAAZUs\/8xW9XCJjqCkhcyn1s05ZPi5psNZ5nKQyw\/s640\/blt-excalibur-aa4oo-1.jpg\" width=\"640\"\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EPortable shack at the Excalibur antenna site... The Doublet is 65 feet above my head\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Wb6LkNwBLV4\/VvWGZgusJBI\/AAAAAAAAZUw\/-WB2w4IBLM8dgw3FFz0pLDdn25vKGfcTg\/s1600\/blt-excalibur-aa4oo-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Wb6LkNwBLV4\/VvWGZgusJBI\/AAAAAAAAZUw\/-WB2w4IBLM8dgw3FFz0pLDdn25vKGfcTg\/s640\/blt-excalibur-aa4oo-2.jpg\" width=\"640\"\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EWaiting my turn in the QSO... holding the Palm Single Paddle. \u0026nbsp;BLT+ tuner in the chair to the right\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EVideo\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EHere is a brief video showing how the BLT+ is connected to the Doublet...\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/ZS2DT9ct-L4\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ZS2DT9ct-L4?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESummary\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe little BLT+ performed great with both balanced line antennas I've tried. \u0026nbsp;It is easy to use and allows me to use my KX3 with balanced feed line antennas now. \u0026nbsp;I encourage you to build the kit from \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.qrpkits.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPacific Antenna \/ QRPKits.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESo lower your\u0026nbsp;power and raise your expectations\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E72\/73\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/2674655902744393814\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/03\/blt-balanced-line-tuner-at-excalibur.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/2674655902744393814"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/2674655902744393814"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/03\/blt-balanced-line-tuner-at-excalibur.html","title":"BLT+ Balanced line tuner at Excalibur"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-mgEP7lfHXF8\/VvV9HnnVsGI\/AAAAAAAAZUI\/nmNJrzlydq4gCAo2vYIXg_rFIl6fniVzg\/s72-c\/blt-excalibur-2.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-883615431382569319"},"published":{"$t":"2016-03-25T14:29:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:29:15.247-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Aim High"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAntenna Raising\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ELast Saturday morning was cool and damp. \u0026nbsp;What better outdoor activity for such a time than putting up some antennas.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI had the opportunity to help put up an 80m\/40m Doublet at the Excalibur antenna site. My only previous experience at getting antennas in trees was to use a throwing weight with kite line, but Paul Stroud (AA4XX) showed me the finer points of using a slingshot.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Fzei-CeP46E\/Vu_NU-4V7sI\/AAAAAAAAZGQ\/tVBrmO3httAT1Qihh6FaMBya_T9FypURQ\/s1600\/Shooting-wire-1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Fzei-CeP46E\/Vu_NU-4V7sI\/AAAAAAAAZGQ\/tVBrmO3httAT1Qihh6FaMBya_T9FypURQ\/s1600\/Shooting-wire-1.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EUp, Up and... well that didn't go where I aimed\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EGetting an antenna support through the top of an 70-80 foot tall tree is a multi-step process. \u0026nbsp;Or if you're new at this like me and miss your mark with a slingshot, a \u003Ci\u003Erepetitive, multi-step\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;process. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Col\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAttach a fishing reel with lightweight 6 lb fishing line to a slingshot. \u0026nbsp;Lubricates the line with a very lightweight oil or teflon to let it better slide over branches, especially in the spring when the sap starts to flow. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAttach a 1-2 oz weight to the line with a snap hook. \u0026nbsp;You'll be taking that weight on and off the line frequently.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESight well above the tree and aim for a hefty fork in the branches that you wish to support the antenna wire.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ELet it fly... \u0026nbsp;At which point there are a couple of possibilities:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EIf you are Paul and you've done this many times then you move on to the next step.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EIf you're like me you miss badly a few times, or you tangle the fine fishing line on the launch. \u0026nbsp;When you miss:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EGently tug on the fishing line watching for where the weight is at the other end. Mark that spot in your mind. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EGo detach the weight, come back to the rod, \u0026nbsp;\u003Cb\u003ETHOU SHALT NOT \u003C\/b\u003Etry to reel the line back with the weight attached. \u0026nbsp;If you leave the weight on while trying to reel it back \u003Cb\u003EIT WILL \u003C\/b\u003Ewrap itself around a branch and you'll have to cut the line and likely lose the weight.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EReel the line back in and try again.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EGently tug on the fishing line to find the weight at the other end bobbing above the ground so that you can find it.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EGo to the end of the line that you marked in your mind (you \u003Ci\u003Ewere paying attention weren't you?\u003C\/i\u003E) and detach the weight and attach 100 lb fishing line to the 6 lb line.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EReel back your 6 lb line now bringing with it the 100 lb fishing line.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAttach your antenna rope (or weedeater line in our case) to the 100 lb fishing line, go back to the other side of the tree and pull it through while re-spooling your 100 lb line. \u0026nbsp;Getting the heavy line through the branches requires a bit of tugging.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ENow attach your antenna to the support line and prepare to repeat the steps for the other side of the wire.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ol\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-ET-AKe-DErk\/Vu_NVOBXpKI\/AAAAAAAAZGU\/wL1Gd3mygI0D5kYAbmH2__ehDBIMIUrUg\/s1600\/Shooting-wire-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-ET-AKe-DErk\/Vu_NVOBXpKI\/AAAAAAAAZGU\/wL1Gd3mygI0D5kYAbmH2__ehDBIMIUrUg\/s640\/Shooting-wire-2.jpg\" width=\"480\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ECorrecting one of my many blunders. \u0026nbsp;Homebrew ladder line in the foreground.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EIn our case we had a 40m dipole and 80m dipole attached to the same insulator so we were raising one antenna with 4 ends. \u0026nbsp;Ultimately the center feedline height was about 65 feet with the 80m and 40m antennas about 30 degrees off axis from each other. \u0026nbsp;The 40m antenna was aligned for best propagation to Europe. \u0026nbsp;The relatively low height of the 80m antenna meant that it was omnidirectional.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe feedline was 125 feet of home-made open wire feedline made from cheap insulated 18 gauge wire and electric fence insulators. \u0026nbsp;The plastic electric fence insulators had a hole drilled in each end and small zip ties were used to hold the wire in place. \u0026nbsp;Insulators were spaced approximately 18 inches apart on the feedline. \u0026nbsp;That's a lot of insulators. \u0026nbsp;Paul is a patient man.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EOther work at the site\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EWhile Paul and I were working to get the 80m and 40m doublet raised Dick (N4HAY) was doing an inspection on the antenna \u0026nbsp;mounted on the 75 ft crank up tower. \u0026nbsp; The tower had been lowered for maintenance.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ECranking it back up is a good cardio workout.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Btdad-JTSN8\/VvAofI-dc-I\/AAAAAAAAZGs\/aIrTEdP9sEAZtPbzsP_18tWg8uMdSthmQ\/s1600\/20160319_105550.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Btdad-JTSN8\/VvAofI-dc-I\/AAAAAAAAZGs\/aIrTEdP9sEAZtPbzsP_18tWg8uMdSthmQ\/s640\/20160319_105550.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EN4HAY displaying the proverbial \"\u003Cb\u003EHigh Standing Wave\u003C\/b\u003E\"\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESo I'm learning about raising wire antennas and sharpshooting with slingshots. Fun times.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E72\/73\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/883615431382569319\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/03\/aim-high.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/883615431382569319"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/883615431382569319"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/03\/aim-high.html","title":"Aim High"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Fzei-CeP46E\/Vu_NU-4V7sI\/AAAAAAAAZGQ\/tVBrmO3httAT1Qihh6FaMBya_T9FypURQ\/s72-c\/Shooting-wire-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-5436637555833243808"},"published":{"$t":"2016-03-17T22:52:00.002-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:29:15.156-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"BLT+ Tuner portable Test"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EA shot in the dark\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI wanted to test the BLT+ Tuner portable with a ladder line fed Doublet but my time has been limited. \u0026nbsp;After getting home from work one night I assembled a 40m Doublet fed by 450 Ohm ladder line in my driveway.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI pushed the Doublet up on my Jacktite pole and attached the ladder line to the BLT+ and attached the BLT to the KX3. \u0026nbsp;I had the KX3 sitting\u0026nbsp;on the deck table running on\u0026nbsp;internal batteries.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-ZM2YKwuinqI\/VutgrIAlXbI\/AAAAAAAAY_s\/uyHIbbSqTzsiPvDxh2TMSCgSerMDtbfJw\/s1600\/blt-doublet-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-ZM2YKwuinqI\/VutgrIAlXbI\/AAAAAAAAY_s\/uyHIbbSqTzsiPvDxh2TMSCgSerMDtbfJw\/s640\/blt-doublet-2.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EBLT+ tuning the balanced line antenna\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EBy the time I began my test it was quite dark except for the moon. \u0026nbsp;My headlamp was out of batteries and I was operating by a floodlight up on the eve but I was determined to know how the tuner worked with my portable doublet.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-VuJYcODoc14\/Vuti9ZNlyeI\/AAAAAAAAY_4\/CM7MEhvX5s8j8vTwTEWmTWNk-THDOL17A\/s1600\/blt-doublet-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-VuJYcODoc14\/Vuti9ZNlyeI\/AAAAAAAAY_4\/CM7MEhvX5s8j8vTwTEWmTWNk-THDOL17A\/s640\/blt-doublet-4.jpg\" width=\"478\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EDoublet on Push up pole. \u0026nbsp;Moon in the background.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E40m and 30m tuned up 1.0:1 using the high capacitance setting. \u0026nbsp;Tuning was fast for each band using the SWR indicator LED. \u0026nbsp;After tuning on 7030 and sending my call then again on 10110, I tried 14060. Although tuning 14m was a bit touchy it tuned using the low capacitance setting to around 1.5:1 SWR. \u0026nbsp;After tuning I sent my call on 20m. \u0026nbsp;Immediately I received a call from K7JHM, a QRP station in Utah (about 1700 miles away). \u0026nbsp;We exchanged signal reports and station information although copy was a bit rough. \u0026nbsp;I'd neglected to bring my earbuds out and the speaker on the KX3 is pretty poor.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EHowever, the QRP to contact was a success on a portable antenna, tuned with the BLT+ driven by a rig\u0026nbsp;running on internal double A batteries.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI didn't try higher bands because it was so late in the evening so I packed it all up declaring success.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-8iiRCa6jiqY\/VutmbMsEY-I\/AAAAAAAAZAE\/wisY6CzvAmY-666gCDQ-0Uyp3GIwVn6Dg\/s1600\/blt-doublet-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-8iiRCa6jiqY\/VutmbMsEY-I\/AAAAAAAAZAE\/wisY6CzvAmY-666gCDQ-0Uyp3GIwVn6Dg\/s640\/blt-doublet-3.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EBalanced line tuner doing it's job\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003ETuning 20m was a bit touchy because my total length of one leg of the doublet plus the feedline is too near a 1\/2 wavelength on 20m. \u0026nbsp;I need to add about 7 feet of ladderline to keep it from being near odd 1\/8 wavelengths of the bands I want to tune. Or I could add 7 feet to each leg of the antenna. \u0026nbsp;I will need to do that before the next test.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E72\/73\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ERich AA4OO\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/5436637555833243808\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/03\/blt-tuner-portable-test.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/5436637555833243808"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/5436637555833243808"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/03\/blt-tuner-portable-test.html","title":"BLT+ Tuner portable Test"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-ZM2YKwuinqI\/VutgrIAlXbI\/AAAAAAAAY_s\/uyHIbbSqTzsiPvDxh2TMSCgSerMDtbfJw\/s72-c\/blt-doublet-2.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-4058039350186094801"},"published":{"$t":"2016-03-13T18:04:00.002-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:29:15.109-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"A visit with a QRP contest station"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;\"\u003E160m\u0026nbsp;Spring Stew Perry Contest - \u003Ci\u003EQRP style\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI had the opportunity to visit with Paul Stroud AA4XX as he worked the early hours in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.kkn.net\/stew\/stew.rules.txt\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E160m Spring Stew Perry Contest\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;Paul is an avid CW operator dedicated to QRP and QRPp operations. \u0026nbsp; When he works contests he often participates using the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/knightlites.org\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EKnightlites\u003C\/a\u003E club call WQ4RP (Note the QRP in the call).\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-kIc7JjEleKY\/VuXHs9KJouI\/AAAAAAAAY9I\/7GOudBbC6rcjQ2oxt2KC1TlLEJ6NqjkIw\/s1600\/Paul-160cw-contest-9.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-kIc7JjEleKY\/VuXHs9KJouI\/AAAAAAAAY9I\/7GOudBbC6rcjQ2oxt2KC1TlLEJ6NqjkIw\/s640\/Paul-160cw-contest-9.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAA4XX operating as WQ4RP during the 160m Stew Perry Spring Top Band contest\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E160m Top Band\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E160m (top band) is challenging due to the physical logistics of a suitable antenna. \u0026nbsp;I had the opportunity to assist with a portion of raising the 160m vertical loop antenna at the \"Excalibur antenna site\" and installing the 24 elevated radials that help make this antenna so effective. \u0026nbsp;There's a \u003Ci\u003Elot\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;of wire in the ground system. \u0026nbsp;The antenna site is located in the woods, off grid, and away from electrically noisy homes. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EPower to the remote shack is supplied by a quiet Honda 1kW generator operating a couple dozen feet from the shack. \u0026nbsp;Due to the lower power requirements of QRP Paul can run the generator on eco-mode allowing its small fuel tank to provide 8 hours of operation between fill-ups.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EPaul uses a\u0026nbsp;Ten Tec Argonaut VI, running 5 watts output into the Excalibur 160m vertical loop. \u0026nbsp;He uses N1MM+ logger software and a WinKeyer interfaced to the software. \u0026nbsp;He also employs a SDR (software defined radio) feeding CWSkimmer signals across the band. \u0026nbsp;An antenna splitter simultaneously feeds the SDR and the Argonaut. The SDR receiver is switched out during transmit by a DX Engineering RTR-1A\u0026nbsp;Receive\u0026nbsp;switch. \u0026nbsp;His CW key is a \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.n3znkeys.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EN3ZN ZN-QRP\u003C\/a\u003E model.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe N1MM+ logging software keeps track of which stations have already been worked and the CWSkimmer interface displays calling stations on the band being heard by his antenna.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-xgh4xzQcBaQ\/VuXLayM-KGI\/AAAAAAAAY9U\/Jj9_4hEU3cgt6zcmkYogatZgaSrKxkBeQ\/s1600\/Paul-160cw-contest-6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"416\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-xgh4xzQcBaQ\/VuXLayM-KGI\/AAAAAAAAY9U\/Jj9_4hEU3cgt6zcmkYogatZgaSrKxkBeQ\/s640\/Paul-160cw-contest-6.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EThe remote QRP station setup for contesting\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EIn the Stew Perry contest the only information exchanged was grid squares. \u0026nbsp;I'm still relatively new to CW and watching Paul casually copy grid squares sent at 30wpm was impressive. \u0026nbsp;I would have had to ask the caller to re-send their grid squares 5 times but Paul makes it look easy.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EInstructions for the newbie\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EPaul explained to me the in's and out's of operating in a contest. \u0026nbsp;Speed and timing the openings were important, as was persistence. The integration of the software and receiving tools optimized his operating but experience and skill seems to be the biggest factors to success. \u0026nbsp;I could have sat down there using the same tools but I would have been dumfounded with the logging controls and the speed the other stations were sending information. \u0026nbsp;However, not all stations were sending at mach speed. \u0026nbsp;When Paul worked a station sending at a slower or faster speed he would use the interface to Winkeyer to speed up or slow down the sending simply using the Page-up \/ Page-down keys. \u0026nbsp;He would change frequency to a new station in the skimmer display by clicking on it.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EDue to the limited amount of information exchanged during the contest most of the sending is accomplished via macros programmed into the contesting software. \u0026nbsp;Paul rarely had to touch the CW key during the time I was there and his primary physical interaction with the radio seemed to be changing bandwidth or bandpass settings (he tends to keep bandwidth at 500Hz). \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-1-2g_u8-5cQ\/VuXPTm29RrI\/AAAAAAAAY9g\/12OFXK42Mtop-ORg1GFwwh8c2KeMVFGlA\/s1600\/Paul-160cw-contest-7.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-1-2g_u8-5cQ\/VuXPTm29RrI\/AAAAAAAAY9g\/12OFXK42Mtop-ORg1GFwwh8c2KeMVFGlA\/s640\/Paul-160cw-contest-7.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EPaul demonstrating the contesting software and usage\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EWhy QRP?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThis contest was not a QRP-only contest although there were multipliers for working QRP. \u0026nbsp;There were plenty of big gun stations operating and the Reverse Beacon spots showed some of them with 56dB SNR reports pounding the ionosphere with their big amps. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe strongest signal spot \u0026nbsp;last night for WQ4RP was 35db with the average at around 18dB. \u0026nbsp;Paul has worked QRO in the past but the challenge of QRP operation is now in his blood. \u0026nbsp;During a previous 160m CW contest this winter he and Dick Hayter N4HAY worked 3 stations in Hawaii with Excalibur which thrilled them given the current propagation on 160m. \u0026nbsp;QRP adds a bit more challenge and those multi-thousand mile per watt contacts on the top band make it all the more special\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Pox1kTLYZ08\/VuXa6-3Xd9I\/AAAAAAAAY9w\/slxzA8BlX2cUGqw7S2c2hC1UzLd1CiC0A\/s1600\/Paul-160cw-contest-10.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Pox1kTLYZ08\/VuXa6-3Xd9I\/AAAAAAAAY9w\/slxzA8BlX2cUGqw7S2c2hC1UzLd1CiC0A\/s640\/Paul-160cw-contest-10.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EFinding the next station to work. (N3ZN QRP CW key in the foreground)\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EWhy contest?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EAs a new CW operator I'm still getting my feet wet and enjoying the process of improving my CW copy skills doing more ragchews than adding stations to the log or chasing DX. \u0026nbsp;I casually contest with the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.skccgroup.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESKCC weekend sprints \u003C\/a\u003Eand it can be fun to see how many stations I work but I'm not ready for real contesting.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EDuring the time I observed, I could sense Paul's excitement seeing the propagation progress across the band and when a distant station in Russia was heard he looked forward to the challenge to getting that one in the log using QRP. \u0026nbsp;He let the stations running big amps get their fill before jumping in. \u0026nbsp;Ultimately he wasn't able to work that station but he later worked a GW3 station in Wales which was a first for him on 160m. \u0026nbsp;The rewards of contesting seem to be in the accomplishment of something difficult and achieving something new. \u0026nbsp;I can understand that.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EWhat's next?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EWith summer coming on 160m will turn noisy from atmospheric static and the opportunities for top band contacts fewer. \u0026nbsp;Attention will turn to other bands and challenges for a while. \u0026nbsp;Maybe Paul will decide it's time to get that 40m Moxon back up on the tower as the sunspot cycle decreases this summer.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI enjoyed the opportunity to watch real CW contesting first hand. \u0026nbsp;It is technically challenging and requires skills I do not yet possess and I look forward to progressing in my CW\/QRP journey to the point where I can assist Paul in a contest.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E73\/72\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ERichard, AA400\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/4058039350186094801\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/03\/a-visit-with-qrp-contest-station.html#comment-form","title":"7 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/4058039350186094801"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/4058039350186094801"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/03\/a-visit-with-qrp-contest-station.html","title":"A visit with a QRP contest station"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-kIc7JjEleKY\/VuXHs9KJouI\/AAAAAAAAY9I\/7GOudBbC6rcjQ2oxt2KC1TlLEJ6NqjkIw\/s72-c\/Paul-160cw-contest-9.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"7"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-8612572232839375862"},"published":{"$t":"2016-03-12T15:46:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:29:15.243-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"I will have a BLT please"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe BLT-Plus Balanced line QRP tuner\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EI was looking for a QRP tuner for the 1Watter 40m transceiver I am building that would work with both balanced feedline antennas as well as coax feedline. \u0026nbsp;The traditional Z-Match tuner is quite efficient at tuning balanced line antennas and the built-in SWR bridge gives you an all-in-one tuner and SWR indicator without having to take a separate SWR meter along with its inherent mess of cabling a separate SWR meter. \u0026nbsp;The BLT in the name stands for \"Balanced Line Tuner\".\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThis tuner kit is available from the fine folks at \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.qrpkits.com\/blt_plus.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPacific Antenna\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-7M91LOzgCmA\/VuRuhMkghSI\/AAAAAAAAY3Y\/OgN5tqn7-IwN0HRNgQTrbfOW2LhfMq48A\/s1600\/blt-tuner-1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"458\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-7M91LOzgCmA\/VuRuhMkghSI\/AAAAAAAAY3Y\/OgN5tqn7-IwN0HRNgQTrbfOW2LhfMq48A\/s640\/blt-tuner-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe Kit as it comes out of the bag\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe kit comes with everything you need except for hookup wire and your soldering equipment. Instructions are downloaded from the qrpkits\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.qrpkits.com\/blt_plus.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ewebsite\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EWhy use a z-match \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot;;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003E?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot;;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: rgb(255 , 255 , 255); font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EHere are some advantages that the Z-match design offers:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cul style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EMatches balanced loads without the use of lossy baluns.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EBeing a parallel resonant circuit, the Z-match can provide some band-pass filtering for your receiver and harmonic attenuation for your transmitter.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EA well-designed Z-match tuner has a high Q and is more efficient (less lossy) than other types of tuners.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe fixed inductor simplifies construction (no taps or rollers needed).\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;\"\u003EThe secret sauce\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EMatching balanced line fed antennas is sometimes problematic for a traditional balun and tuner as the antenna can present impedances that are far outside of the balun's design. \u0026nbsp;The Z-Match uses a center tapped coil to keep the complex impedance balanced across the inductor (at least that's how I understand it). \u0026nbsp;I have measured my Elecraft BL2 balun getting appreciably warm at QRP levels when connected to my doublet indicating loss I'd prefer to avoid. \u0026nbsp;The Z-Match design supposedly results in less loss.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;\"\u003EBuilt in SWR indicator\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe BLT plus includes a \u003Ci\u003EDan Tayloe N7VE LED SWR indicator\u003C\/i\u003E which eliminates the need to carry a separate SWR meter. \u0026nbsp;The concept is beautiful. The SWR bridge is switched into \"Tune\" mode and presents a 50 Ohm impedance to your transmitter while you are tuning so that you don't risk damaging\u0026nbsp;sensitive\u0026nbsp;home-brew finals. \u0026nbsp;The LED lights when the SWR is too high and dims and then goes out as the match is made. \u0026nbsp;It is simple and fast to use. \u0026nbsp; The instructions for the bridge are not with the BLT instructions. Download them from \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/qrpkits.com\/files\/LED%20SWR%20v3.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethis link\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-bj-FDB9KIyU\/VuRvAXDercI\/AAAAAAAAY40\/MgHpEisiUAwOzOHgG_05D2pItw9PXEaZQ\/s1600\/blt-tuner-5.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"386\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-bj-FDB9KIyU\/VuRvAXDercI\/AAAAAAAAY40\/MgHpEisiUAwOzOHgG_05D2pItw9PXEaZQ\/s640\/blt-tuner-5.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESWR bridge with LED indicator\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-wbKo59HpC6A\/VuRvA91N7LI\/AAAAAAAAY4A\/S3hHfgmHqSAesbbFgo4UbJ4KnBn5XHrtQ\/s1600\/blt-tuner-6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"442\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-wbKo59HpC6A\/VuRvA91N7LI\/AAAAAAAAY4A\/S3hHfgmHqSAesbbFgo4UbJ4KnBn5XHrtQ\/s640\/blt-tuner-6.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESwitch to Tune to present a low SWR to the transmitter while matching, switch to Operate when finished\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;\"\u003EBuilding\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe kit is relatively easy to build with one tapped toroid to wind for the SWR bridge and one 3 winding toroid for the tuner. \u0026nbsp;I faced a few issues that you might avoid:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe kit is provided with really nice water slide decals that give it a commercial look (if you don't ruin them like I did). \u0026nbsp;The instructions recommend applying a clear coat to the decals after they are applied. \u0026nbsp;I used a Krylon matte finish\u0026nbsp;clear coat\u0026nbsp;which indicated it was fine for metals and plastics but it partially melted the decals and caused them to bubble. \u0026nbsp;I'd suggest testing whatever you are going to clear coat them with first.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EDon't\u0026nbsp;over tighten the plastic tuner shafts or you won't be able to slide the knobs on (yes I did).\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe binding posts have little plastic spacers that separate and it isn't obvious. \u0026nbsp;If you install them and wonder how they don't ground themselves (like I did) you've done it wrong and will have to go back after it's together and try to remove them with all the wiring in place.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe bolts for the binding posts are very soft metal and the nuts can strip them if you apply too much force (yep I\u0026nbsp;did that too).\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe main toroid has three sets of windings and they overlap. \u0026nbsp;Pay attention to the instructions about winding them all in the same manner (clockwise or counter clockwise) or you will have to rewind them (yep, I did that too).\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe 3 windings on the main toroid overlap so you\u0026nbsp;won't be able to go back and verify your turns when doing the 2nd and 3rd winding so count carefully (ask me how I know).\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ETemporarily attach the SWR bridge to the front panel to get the spacing correct to solder the LED leads.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe SWR bridge instructions are separate from the kit instructions and simply googling them will give you instructions for an older version. \u0026nbsp;Use the version \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/qrpkits.com\/files\/LED%20SWR%20v3.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EMy tuner toroid ended up being a bit messier than I'd like because I had to rewind it and my resulting leads aren't as short as they could be. \u0026nbsp;I may go back and trim the leads to make it tidier but my least favorite part of winding toroids is heat stripping the insulated magnet wire so I'll probably leave it as is. \u0026nbsp;Initial tests indicate it's working great.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Qm82zWRU0ug\/VuRvPXlB3zI\/AAAAAAAAY48\/VSR30Shb2Mg7oIp88vSQGlSG6SiMPbMlg\/s1600\/blt-tuner-8.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Qm82zWRU0ug\/VuRvPXlB3zI\/AAAAAAAAY48\/VSR30Shb2Mg7oIp88vSQGlSG6SiMPbMlg\/s640\/blt-tuner-8.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EMy messy toroid winding... but it's working fine\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;\"\u003EOperation\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Col\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EConnect your transmitter and antenna. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EChoose the appropriate switch in the back for coax or balanced line antenna (Up for coax, Down for balanced line).\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EStart with the inductance switch on the back set to low-impedance (Low-Z) because it is the most efficient. \u0026nbsp;It uses the 6 turn secondary rather than the 12.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESwitch the front switch to \"Tune\"\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EKey the transmitter and be sure you are using 5 watts or less\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ETurn the \"Load\" knob first until you see a dimming of the LED then the \"Tune\" knob to make it go out completely\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe knobs interact so you'll need to go back and forth between them to\u0026nbsp;achieve best match\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EIf you can't get a good match switch the inductance switch on the back to \"High Z\" and try again\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EDon't apply power too long at a time during tune because the 50 Ohm resistors are heating up in there\u0026nbsp;during the Tune process\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EWhen the LED goes out or gets very dim you have a very good match. Switch to \"Operate\" and enjoy a well matched antenna\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ol\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;\"\u003EPhotos\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-upEbHv-aNmE\/VuRu0R880JI\/AAAAAAAAY40\/0QXlcZzT1gERdK4YYvfZGJhPtAhlUd4ZQ\/s1600\/blt-tuner-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-upEbHv-aNmE\/VuRu0R880JI\/AAAAAAAAY40\/0QXlcZzT1gERdK4YYvfZGJhPtAhlUd4ZQ\/s640\/blt-tuner-2.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-eGAJdYVF5Yg\/VuRuwf8gZcI\/AAAAAAAAY40\/rFGItgIBkxc9hhXZ9LSbFvIM7pC84Ea4Q\/s1600\/blt-tuner-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"492\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-eGAJdYVF5Yg\/VuRuwf8gZcI\/AAAAAAAAY40\/rFGItgIBkxc9hhXZ9LSbFvIM7pC84Ea4Q\/s640\/blt-tuner-3.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-JNxrp1P1hNM\/VuRuxuNKsnI\/AAAAAAAAY40\/6KU_5xpVnPkEjXxoQ_YU5oQZHMm5B653A\/s1600\/blt-tuner-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-JNxrp1P1hNM\/VuRuxuNKsnI\/AAAAAAAAY40\/6KU_5xpVnPkEjXxoQ_YU5oQZHMm5B653A\/s640\/blt-tuner-4.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EResult of having to rewind the secondaries made it messier than I'd like\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-bj-FDB9KIyU\/VuRvAXDercI\/AAAAAAAAY40\/MgHpEisiUAwOzOHgG_05D2pItw9PXEaZQ\/s1600\/blt-tuner-5.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"386\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-bj-FDB9KIyU\/VuRvAXDercI\/AAAAAAAAY40\/MgHpEisiUAwOzOHgG_05D2pItw9PXEaZQ\/s640\/blt-tuner-5.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-wbKo59HpC6A\/VuRvA91N7LI\/AAAAAAAAY4A\/S3hHfgmHqSAesbbFgo4UbJ4KnBn5XHrtQ\/s1600\/blt-tuner-6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"442\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-wbKo59HpC6A\/VuRvA91N7LI\/AAAAAAAAY4A\/S3hHfgmHqSAesbbFgo4UbJ4KnBn5XHrtQ\/s640\/blt-tuner-6.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-mmi1Gsdr1dE\/VuRvF5rXRvI\/AAAAAAAAY48\/6RdZG3hzftkvE_WOjCmGXHzcIKIzk52iA\/s1600\/blt-tuner-7.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-mmi1Gsdr1dE\/VuRvF5rXRvI\/AAAAAAAAY48\/6RdZG3hzftkvE_WOjCmGXHzcIKIzk52iA\/s640\/blt-tuner-7.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-iJ2DptT1gp8\/VuRvOj2XgSI\/AAAAAAAAY48\/mhU9vIwfPcIFUGeWSDHPCZl51jho-BQLw\/s1600\/blt-tuner-9.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"460\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-iJ2DptT1gp8\/VuRvOj2XgSI\/AAAAAAAAY48\/mhU9vIwfPcIFUGeWSDHPCZl51jho-BQLw\/s640\/blt-tuner-9.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-or7odXSUnPE\/VuRuhAi3KRI\/AAAAAAAAY4I\/0dxR6t2Eg6ACp6Nwy8zaf9fvQvrvRLWqQ\/s1600\/blt-tuner-10.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"442\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-or7odXSUnPE\/VuRuhAi3KRI\/AAAAAAAAY4I\/0dxR6t2Eg6ACp6Nwy8zaf9fvQvrvRLWqQ\/s640\/blt-tuner-10.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-nquMDQK62x8\/VuRuhJnFVVI\/AAAAAAAAY4I\/D3NFm1_hCkwooB6n2OLTcfGyzEdp4pYnw\/s1600\/blt-tuner-12.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"478\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-nquMDQK62x8\/VuRuhJnFVVI\/AAAAAAAAY4I\/D3NFm1_hCkwooB6n2OLTcfGyzEdp4pYnw\/s640\/blt-tuner-12.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-w6bXOjV-C1Y\/VuRuZ1_Ds5I\/AAAAAAAAY4I\/vReAsaUDSvEO9cnXEFIvcIs4QsE2pKSFg\/s1600\/blt-tuner-11.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-w6bXOjV-C1Y\/VuRuZ1_Ds5I\/AAAAAAAAY4I\/vReAsaUDSvEO9cnXEFIvcIs4QsE2pKSFg\/s640\/blt-tuner-11.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;\"\u003EDimensions\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-ZkqQUkIvn44\/WDhAVVGL9yI\/AAAAAAAAcRw\/22KmdividM4JcHU1PhMjWDhCacB6XIjSQCLcB\/s1600\/IMG_20161125_083709884.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-ZkqQUkIvn44\/WDhAVVGL9yI\/AAAAAAAAcRw\/22KmdividM4JcHU1PhMjWDhCacB6XIjSQCLcB\/s320\/IMG_20161125_083709884.jpg\" width=\"299\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-R9Kk48B22UU\/WDhAVsqrfuI\/AAAAAAAAcR0\/GVu05nh4hFwj-m194Tp8QbY7SNpLSwFzQCLcB\/s1600\/IMG_20161125_083749784.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"316\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-R9Kk48B22UU\/WDhAVsqrfuI\/AAAAAAAAcR0\/GVu05nh4hFwj-m194Tp8QbY7SNpLSwFzQCLcB\/s320\/IMG_20161125_083749784.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-AEnFF8d7dN4\/WDhAWNLS2HI\/AAAAAAAAcR4\/xb6ZL5_jTbYakdVdHQeDppaq9AX7bloHACLcB\/s1600\/IMG_20161125_083810133.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"221\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-AEnFF8d7dN4\/WDhAWNLS2HI\/AAAAAAAAcR4\/xb6ZL5_jTbYakdVdHQeDppaq9AX7bloHACLcB\/s320\/IMG_20161125_083810133.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;\"\u003ERemarks\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EQrpkits offers a great little kit that results in a commercial looking product. You end up with a small portable tuner plus SWR indicator that reduces the complexity of your portable operation. \u0026nbsp;Pacific Antenna is very responsive to questions. I sent a\u0026nbsp;question concerning the incorrect instructions I'd downloaded for the antenna bridge and James answered me the same day with a different link (included above).\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESo if you have a QRP radio that needs an antenna tuner I recommend this kit. It's well thought out and works well.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E72\/73\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/8612572232839375862\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/03\/i-will-have-blt-please.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/8612572232839375862"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/8612572232839375862"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/03\/i-will-have-blt-please.html","title":"I will have a BLT please"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-7M91LOzgCmA\/VuRuhMkghSI\/AAAAAAAAY3Y\/OgN5tqn7-IwN0HRNgQTrbfOW2LhfMq48A\/s72-c\/blt-tuner-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-5949606752665834801"},"published":{"$t":"2016-03-11T18:16:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:29:15.182-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The Spotless Callsign"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EInvisible Callsign Mystery\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-ndJZc4VbN_Q\/VuL8iWtKCXI\/AAAAAAAAY18\/UnxMYW1zqjobQZbEznd0GsCz7u4If7IBA\/s1600\/invisible-call.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"239\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-ndJZc4VbN_Q\/VuL8iWtKCXI\/AAAAAAAAY18\/UnxMYW1zqjobQZbEznd0GsCz7u4If7IBA\/s320\/invisible-call.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EI'm a proponent for using the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.reversebeacon.net\/dxsd1\/dxsd1.php?f=0\u0026amp;c=aa4oo\u0026amp;t=dx\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EReverse Beacon Network\u003C\/a\u003E to determine how your QRP signal is getting out and for comparing different power levels and antennas. I look at how I'm propagating to reverse beacon stations and what signal strength was reported to know whether I should raise or lower power and whether one antenna is favoring another in a particular skip. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBut after getting my new call on March 5th this year I didn't see \u003Cb\u003Eany \u003C\/b\u003Espots for my call on any bands. I knew my signal was getting out because I was easily working other stations.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI thought the lack of a spot might be due to my new call not yet being updated in QRZ, but even on the following day after QRZ had the FCC update I still had no spots in RBN. \u0026nbsp;I sent an email to the RBN administrator to ask if there was a filter or database that they used to prevent busted call signs that needed an update for new calls and they said there was not. \u0026nbsp;They told me if the RBN skimmer station saw the call it would be reported. \u0026nbsp;However looking at the aggregator configuration information in RBN there are a number of ways to configure filters but these are set on a station by station basis. \u0026nbsp;For instance a filter for known bad call signs is in there as well as an option filtering against the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.supercheckpartial.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESuper Check Partial Database\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;which is a file containing the call-signs of active contestors. I'm not familiar with how a call-sign get's placed in that database but neither my previous or current callsign are in there. \u0026nbsp;So it appeared that there was no reason that I should be getting filtered from dozens of RBN stations that normally report my call.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EAssistance from CWSkimmer creator VE3NEA\u003C\/h3\u003EI then surmised that possibly there was some oddity about the CW Skimmer algorithm. \u0026nbsp;Being the inquisitive type I sent an email to the creator of CWSkimmer (VE3NEA). \u0026nbsp; He couldn't think of a reason that the skimmer wouldn't copy my call. \u0026nbsp;In fact, he said it should be easier for it to copy the dual letter calls than others. So we scheduled a CQ test where he specifically looked at the frequency I was sending my call on to see if CWSkimmer copied. \u0026nbsp; His station is about 570 miles from me so that's a good one-hop distance for 40m. \u0026nbsp;He reported that the skimmer saw my call and correctly copied it. \u0026nbsp;He sent me screenshots from his skimmer results.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-fM0RLajFrW0\/VuL0npinP2I\/AAAAAAAAY1M\/_GZxbHenxt4AwAha0cVx3rwYOJDc_nBtA\/s1600\/Decode.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"217\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-fM0RLajFrW0\/VuL0npinP2I\/AAAAAAAAY1M\/_GZxbHenxt4AwAha0cVx3rwYOJDc_nBtA\/s640\/Decode.png\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ESee the text copied by the skimmer and the identified callsign in the right hand pane\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-CvfxZt3XGXk\/VuL0pfM-sVI\/AAAAAAAAY1Q\/30kIkGV-jyYWZtZE390Zkp9A-lw8-7IQg\/s1600\/Spot.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-CvfxZt3XGXk\/VuL0pfM-sVI\/AAAAAAAAY1Q\/30kIkGV-jyYWZtZE390Zkp9A-lw8-7IQg\/s1600\/Spot.png\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EAA4OO shows up in the cluster spot list\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHowever, he noted that although the signal was clear and copied by the skimmer, there were no spots reported on RBN. \u0026nbsp;He concurred that it was strange and suggested we setup another test where he could watch what the RBN aggregator did with the call once it was passed on by CWSkimmer.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EHurrah, RBN has stopped throwing my call in the bit-bucket\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003EBefore I could schedule the followup CQ test with him, I was sending CQ on 80m. \u0026nbsp;The Reverse Beacon Network spotted me 11 times. \u0026nbsp;I tried a couple of other frequencies and power levels and sure enough RBN was once more showing spots for my station. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-KnmODBtBUqk\/VuL2xRNuHoI\/AAAAAAAAY1c\/4on6vL0YJBMz6xNqyClSG8Mvwi7n9Sh5g\/s1600\/aa4oo-spot-list.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-KnmODBtBUqk\/VuL2xRNuHoI\/AAAAAAAAY1c\/4on6vL0YJBMz6xNqyClSG8Mvwi7n9Sh5g\/s1600\/aa4oo-spot-list.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EHurrah, RBN has stopped throwing my call in the bit-bucket\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-7NX5Adx4Ft0\/VuL2xhRPgaI\/AAAAAAAAY1g\/0G4mFZ611Z0wsmZuETIEjeUqgOiIQ11uQ\/s1600\/rbn-map.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-7NX5Adx4Ft0\/VuL2xhRPgaI\/AAAAAAAAY1g\/0G4mFZ611Z0wsmZuETIEjeUqgOiIQ11uQ\/s1600\/rbn-map.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E80m propagation reports from RBN this morning\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/--32Rlyft4vE\/VuN9sF6zeYI\/AAAAAAAAY20\/1mlutnQ1cmIFDsx68oc20CQTxrxerXD3A\/s1600\/aa4vv-euro%2B40m%2Bspots.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/--32Rlyft4vE\/VuN9sF6zeYI\/AAAAAAAAY20\/1mlutnQ1cmIFDsx68oc20CQTxrxerXD3A\/s1600\/aa4vv-euro%2B40m%2Bspots.PNG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ESpots from US, Canada and Europe (40m)... so I'm being spotted again\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EStill a mystery\u003C\/h3\u003ESo AA4OO is no longer invisible to the RBN but I'm no closer to understanding why the call didn't show up previously. \u0026nbsp;The lesson here (if there is one) is that \u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003Eif\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E \u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003Eyou \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003Ehave become invisible to the RBN don't assume your feedline has been cut by your XYL whilst trimming the hedge (this happened to me years ago) but rather some technical glitch has occurred or you've been blacklisted for being a LID, or aliens are sucking your CQ out of the ether. \u0026nbsp;In any event, it seems to self-correct so no-worries. \u0026nbsp;Keep calm and carry on.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAnother lesson learned here was that other hams are extremely willing to help. \u0026nbsp;I think we have one of the best hobbies in the world because of the people involved. \u0026nbsp;So give back more than you take and you will make the hobby even better.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThat's all for now\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations (and be patient)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E72\u003Cbr \/\u003ERichard, AA4OO\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/5949606752665834801\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/03\/the-spotless-callsign.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/5949606752665834801"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/5949606752665834801"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/03\/the-spotless-callsign.html","title":"The Spotless Callsign"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-ndJZc4VbN_Q\/VuL8iWtKCXI\/AAAAAAAAY18\/UnxMYW1zqjobQZbEznd0GsCz7u4If7IBA\/s72-c\/invisible-call.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-2004671872098022610"},"published":{"$t":"2016-03-05T09:09:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:29:15.064-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Too Vain for N4PBQ"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EJust call me AA4OO\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-IF8KMnqDiBQ\/Vtot8zcFAPI\/AAAAAAAAYw4\/mnjseUzULYM\/s1600\/n4pbq-meme.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-IF8KMnqDiBQ\/Vtot8zcFAPI\/AAAAAAAAYw4\/mnjseUzULYM\/s1600\/n4pbq-meme.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EN4PBQ is now AA4OO\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAfter getting my \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/02\/feeling-extra-hammy.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eupgrade to Extra\u003C\/a\u003E I wanted to get a new shortened call sign.\u0026nbsp; I wanted one that was more Morse Code friendly.\u0026nbsp; That means a couple of things to me.\u0026nbsp; One is Morse Code \u003Ci\u003Eweight\u003C\/i\u003E. That is a measure of how long the morse code elements take to send.\u0026nbsp; The site \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.radioqth.net\/cwweight\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/www.radioqth.net\/cwweight\u003C\/a\u003E will allow you to enter multiple call-signs to compare weight. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Cth\u003ECall Sign\u003C\/th\u003E\u003Cth\u003EWeight\u003C\/th\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E             \u003Ctd\u003EAA4OO\u003C\/td\u003E             \u003Ctd\u003E58\u003C\/td\u003E           \u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E             \u003Ctd\u003EN4PBQ\u003C\/td\u003E             \u003Ctd\u003E64\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe other factor was how complicated the actual Morse code letters are to send and copy, i.e. the  dit-to-dah transitions.\u0026nbsp; I'm not aware of a calculator for this but my  former call N4PBQ had a lot of dit-to-dah transitions in the PBQ suffix.\u0026nbsp; When other stations would send my call back to me they would really stumble over the PBQ so I wanted something simpler. \u0026nbsp;I've worked a number of stations with 'E' in their suffix and I find that hard to hear so I didn't want something like N4EE because people would miss the DIT or hear an I.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFor the prefix, the letter 'A' is simple to send (just squeeze and release for paddles) and the letter 'O' while being long to send is likely one of the most distinctive and easy to recognize letters in the Morse alphabet.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFor phone contacts it's also an easy one to say: \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace;\"\u003EAlpha Alpha Four Oscar Oscar\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EThus \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace; font-size: x-large;\"\u003EAA4OO\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E was chosen\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003ESay it out loud in Morse and it sounds cool. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"border-style: dashed; border-width: thin; padding: 6px; text-align: center; width: 350px;\"\u003E\u003Ctable\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Ca href=\"javascript:playpause();\" id=\"playbutton\" style=\"background-color: #dddddd; border-style: outset; border-width: 4px; color: black; font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;arial\u0026quot;; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;\"\u003EPlay \/ Pause\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E \u003Ctd\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Caudio autobuffer=\"\" controls=\"\" id=\"lcwoplayer\" style=\"height: 28px; width: 200px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Csource src=\"http:\/\/cgi2.lcwo.net\/cgi-bin\/cw.mp3?s=24\u0026amp;e=20\u0026amp;f=650\u0026amp;t=AA4OO \" type=\"audio\/mp3\"\u003E\u003C\/source\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Csource src=\"http:\/\/cgi2.lcwo.net\/cgi-bin\/cw.ogg?s=24\u0026amp;e=20\u0026amp;f=650\u0026amp;t=AA4OO \" type=\"audio\/ogg\"\u003E\u003C\/source\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHTML5 Audio tag not supported :-( \u003C\/audio\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/lcwo.net\/\" style=\"color: black; font-size: 10px;\"\u003ELearn CW Online - LCWO.net\u003C\/a\u003E - \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/lcwo.net\/text2cw\" style=\"color: black; font-size: 10px;\"\u003EText to Morse Converter\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cscript\u003Efunction playpause() { var p = document.getElementById('lcwoplayer'); if (p.paused) { p.play(); } else { p.pause(); } } \u003C\/script\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EExtra Vanity Call Sign Information\u003C\/h3\u003EThe website \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.ae7q.com\/query\/\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/www.ae7q.com\/query\/\u003C\/a\u003E has excellent information on vanity callsigns and their availability.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI would have liked to have a 1x2 or 2x1 (i.e. A4OO or AA4O) call but as you can see using the website \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.ae7q.com\/query\/\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/www.ae7q.com\/query\/\u003C\/a\u003E the 1x2 and 2x1 extra calls are completely taken for most regions and the competition is fierce when one comes available. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EChanging call signs requires some updates\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIt takes about 19 days after applying for an available vanity call sign for the FCC to grant it based on some rather arcane rules that are described at this \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.ae7q.com\/query\/text\/Vanity.php\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Elink\u003C\/a\u003E. After the FCC assigns your new call don't forget to update your call on your LOTW account as well as any clubs you belong to. \u0026nbsp;The QRZ site will automatically update your call after a few days from its FCC database feed.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard AA4OO (formerly N4PBQ)\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/2004671872098022610\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/03\/too-vain-for-n4pbq.html#comment-form","title":"3 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/2004671872098022610"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/2004671872098022610"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/03\/too-vain-for-n4pbq.html","title":"Too Vain for N4PBQ"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-IF8KMnqDiBQ\/Vtot8zcFAPI\/AAAAAAAAYw4\/mnjseUzULYM\/s72-c\/n4pbq-meme.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"3"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-1148205501511538819"},"published":{"$t":"2016-03-04T17:23:00.003-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:29:15.044-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The N3ZN Iambic CW Paddle"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EBehold... mechanical beauty\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-yjDLfpXLm_Q\/VtoIl6oNCFI\/AAAAAAAAYwo\/M5C5yhoF_e8\/s1600\/n3zn-paddle-top-8.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"476\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-yjDLfpXLm_Q\/VtoIl6oNCFI\/AAAAAAAAYwo\/M5C5yhoF_e8\/s640\/n3zn-paddle-top-8.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EN3ZN ZN-QRP Iambic Paddle (sporting my new call sign)\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI re-entered the amateur radio hobby in the summer of 2015 after a bit of a hiatus.\u0026nbsp; To get my General license in 1996 a Morse code proficiency test was required.\u0026nbsp; At that time I had purchased a cheap MFJ practice key and a used version of the ubiquitous Bencher BY-1 paddle.\u0026nbsp; My Bencher was in reasonable shape but I just never became comfortable with it.\u0026nbsp; It always felt a bit imprecise to me and I wasn't happy with the width and size of its paddles.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhen I came back to the hobby in 2015 as a QRP, CW operator I wanted a key for portable operation so that was my initial focus.\u0026nbsp; At the time, based on some fellow hams recommendations, I chose the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/08\/palm-single-key-review.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPalm Single key\u003C\/a\u003E which is an excellent, lightweight key for portable use that travels very easily because it collapses into its own travel case.\u0026nbsp; However as you can see in the videos in that review it's portable nature tends to make a bit imprecise and wobbly.\u0026nbsp; It works great for portable use but there are far better choices for a desk key.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI wanted a key suitable as the main station key but also easily travel with to operations where I'd have a desk.\u0026nbsp; So I didn't want a 4 pound immovable monster.\u0026nbsp; I wanted something small(ish) but stable and that's a tall order.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI looked at the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.eham.net\/reviews\/products\/16\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eeham.net reviews for keys and paddles\u003C\/a\u003E and there were lots of good choices.\u0026nbsp; I narrowed it down to commercially available keys that allowed some customization.\u0026nbsp; Begali and American Morse both received favorable\u0026nbsp; reviews.\u0026nbsp; American Morse makes nice smaller sized keys and Begali makes works of art.\u0026nbsp; Both offered good choices but at greatly different prices.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThen I looked at \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.n3znkeys.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EN3ZN Keys\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp; Tony makes some very functional and attractive keys with a variety of build options.\u0026nbsp; One such option is the spacing across the outside of paddles (OTO).\u0026nbsp; My Bencher BY-1 paddles have about a 3\/4\" OTO spacing on the paddles and I have to consciously hold my hand open a bit wider than it naturally wants to be to keep from accidentally touching a paddle.\u0026nbsp; Tony offers different OTO spacing down to 1\/2\" which I found to be about perfect.\u0026nbsp; I also had a chance to physically try one of his QRP sized keys at my friend AA4XX's station and the light touch and precision feel immediately won me over.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo I went through Tony's online catalog and corresponded with him.\u0026nbsp; I chose a ZN-QRP style key with a red base.\u0026nbsp; The red paint contains some metallic bits to make it sparkly under bright light, not \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.layitlow.com\/pics\/1012\/SAM_0741.JPG\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ebass-boat sparkly\u003C\/a\u003E but tastefully done.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ETony packs his product for shipment double boxed with more peanuts, bubble wrap, and foam than I have ever seen in any single container before. \u0026nbsp;The packing is truly amazing.\u0026nbsp; My key package could have been air-dropped (or drone dropped) onto my front walk and it would have suffered no ill effects.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EZN series iambic keys Specs\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAll stainless steel screws\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ELarge 10-56 adjustment screws for both magnetic return and contact points \u003Cspan style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"\u003E( the straight key uses 8-32 screws and a spring for return)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBall bearing lever return-3 ball bearings per lever arm\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMagnet lever return individually adjustable\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ELightweight aluminum 6061-T6 levers for QRQ operation\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003Esilver contacts\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EWired with 1\/8\" stereo plug\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESoft non-skid low profile rubber feet mounted with stainless steel screws\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E30  Day money back guarantee. \u0026nbsp;If you are not 100% fully satisfied then  return item in\u0026nbsp;its original condition and receive a full refund. \u0026nbsp;(You  pay return shipping)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003Ecarbon fiber fingerpieces- 3 colors\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003EFrom the first long QSO it was obvious that I finally had a quality key.\u0026nbsp; The paddles just disappeared under my fingers and became an extension of my hand.\u0026nbsp; The lightweight aluminum levers combined with the carbon fiber finger pieces results in such a light touch that I kept wondering if I was actually operating the key.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EPhoto Gallery\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis key is just too pretty not to photograph.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-iIa_sotP_5c\/VtoCrwotAVI\/AAAAAAAAYwc\/5-xSNVYIg1U\/s1600\/n3zn-paddle-9.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"601\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-iIa_sotP_5c\/VtoCrwotAVI\/AAAAAAAAYwc\/5-xSNVYIg1U\/s640\/n3zn-paddle-9.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ECarbon Fiber Finger Pieces\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-biazcBkWY9I\/VtoCp5pcfJI\/AAAAAAAAYwc\/PmWxAq2GltE\/s1600\/n3zn-paddle-8.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-biazcBkWY9I\/VtoCp5pcfJI\/AAAAAAAAYwc\/PmWxAq2GltE\/s640\/n3zn-paddle-8.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EReady for Racing\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-32qaTi50OBs\/VtoCdpeinKI\/AAAAAAAAYwU\/VaTHY-tvO04\/s1600\/n3zn-paddle-12.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"490\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-32qaTi50OBs\/VtoCdpeinKI\/AAAAAAAAYwU\/VaTHY-tvO04\/s640\/n3zn-paddle-12.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EMetallic Paint on top cap and customizable name plate no extra charge\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-h_Bx72yUxlM\/VtoCejMfRYI\/AAAAAAAAYwU\/fCWYQgUl590\/s1600\/n3zn-paddle-11.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-h_Bx72yUxlM\/VtoCejMfRYI\/AAAAAAAAYwU\/fCWYQgUl590\/s640\/n3zn-paddle-11.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EMetallic paint on base, Aluminum levers and fine pitched adjustment screws\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-JoWk1ViFiUo\/VtoCh5xR6KI\/AAAAAAAAYwc\/BJmcfYrjEXY\/s1600\/n3zn-paddle-13.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-JoWk1ViFiUo\/VtoCh5xR6KI\/AAAAAAAAYwc\/BJmcfYrjEXY\/s640\/n3zn-paddle-13.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EPre-wired connections\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-bvPEPf5n2QY\/VtoCk9CjebI\/AAAAAAAAYwc\/DPDVIhpj4QU\/s1600\/n3zn-paddle-14.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"484\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-bvPEPf5n2QY\/VtoCk9CjebI\/AAAAAAAAYwc\/DPDVIhpj4QU\/s640\/n3zn-paddle-14.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\"Houston, We have contact\" Stainless Steel contact that is\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-1DIC-rwmq2U\/VtoCmDtRIzI\/AAAAAAAAYwc\/jXRJ-NEvw98\/s1600\/n3zn-paddle-15.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-1DIC-rwmq2U\/VtoCmDtRIzI\/AAAAAAAAYwc\/jXRJ-NEvw98\/s640\/n3zn-paddle-15.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EWith Silvered contact points\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-AtQ3jBu1tr0\/VtoCsok4tGI\/AAAAAAAAYwc\/Wt-hOVRfIH0\/s1600\/n3zn-paddle-7.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"468\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-AtQ3jBu1tr0\/VtoCsok4tGI\/AAAAAAAAYwc\/Wt-hOVRfIH0\/s640\/n3zn-paddle-7.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EWith the Siblings... QRP indeed!\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThat's all for now...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E72\/73\u003Cbr \/\u003ERichard N4PBQ (soon to be AA4OO)"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/1148205501511538819\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/03\/the-n3zn-iambic-cw-paddle.html#comment-form","title":"4 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/1148205501511538819"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/1148205501511538819"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/03\/the-n3zn-iambic-cw-paddle.html","title":"The N3ZN Iambic CW Paddle"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-yjDLfpXLm_Q\/VtoIl6oNCFI\/AAAAAAAAYwo\/M5C5yhoF_e8\/s72-c\/n3zn-paddle-top-8.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"4"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-7430537892607773994"},"published":{"$t":"2016-02-28T09:57:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-11-20T16:48:24.498-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The Grand Illusion"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EFive by Nine... QRP... How can it be?\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWhat does an S-Unit really mean and how can a QRP station \u003Ci\u003Esound\u003C\/i\u003E like a 500w station?\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Yfpj94ByJts\/VtNHKal89AI\/AAAAAAAAYoo\/UbProYQ3vzM\/s1600\/1watter-power-14.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"592\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Yfpj94ByJts\/VtNHKal89AI\/AAAAAAAAYoo\/UbProYQ3vzM\/s640\/1watter-power-14.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EThe real gain doesn't come from transmitter watts\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI rarely go up to the phone portion of the bands. \u0026nbsp;Since I started doing QRP and CW last summer I think I've only made two SSB contacts just because my focus has been CW. \u0026nbsp;But last night I was working on a bench project and tuned the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/08\/finding-right-qrp-radio.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EElecraft KX3\u003C\/a\u003E up to the phone portion of 40m for some entertainment.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EA station in Rhode Island was testing his amp with a new antenna and was getting reports from various stateside operators. \u0026nbsp;There was a lull where no one was answering his CQ so I thought I'd give him a call. \u0026nbsp;He was peaking at S9 on my KX3's meter and he also sent me a signal report of S9 with some 10 over peaks. \u0026nbsp;I then told him I was a QRP station running 10 watts and heard the usual surprised reaction from a QRO station.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI gave him reports as he switched back and forth from running barefoot ~75w to his amp ~500w. \u0026nbsp;With his amp on he was an S9, running barefoot he was S8. \u0026nbsp;So the amp gave him one additional S unit. \u0026nbsp;In terms of hearing him I would have been hard pressed to tell much difference simply by volume. \u0026nbsp;He was perfectly copyable without noise with the amp off. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWe also did some tests with my station at reduced power (as if...) \u0026nbsp;At 10w-12w output I received a S9 to S9+10. \u0026nbsp;Reducing output to 5 watts netted me a S8 report and when I reduced to 1 watt (one watt) he was still able to comfortably copy me and I received an S5. \u0026nbsp;So with my station at 1 watt and his running 500 watts we could still converse via SSB. \u0026nbsp;Ladies and Gentlemen you don't need as much output wattage as you think you do.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHe was running through a newly constructed homebrewed vertical while I was using my \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/11\/the-amazing-80m-multi-band-windom.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E80m OCF Dipole\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;We didn't discuss what sort of radial system he had installed, but the difference in antennas was likely the deciding difference in our stations. \u0026nbsp;We were about 500 miles apart and his vertical probably had more low-takeoff gain than my dipole, or possibly more ground loss so I probably had better high angle gain on him for the short 500 mile skip. \u0026nbsp;I think the take-away from this exercise is that the antenna is generally the key rather than transmitter power. \u0026nbsp;If I can get 6 dB of gain from my antenna I have in essence quadrupled my effective radiated power. \u0026nbsp;Quadrupled? \u0026nbsp;Yes, Quadrupled effective output power.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EPower and S-Units\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EYou've probably heard it before but it's worth a refresher... \u0026nbsp;Our radio's meter display a measurement in \"S-Unit\". \u0026nbsp;To move the meter up one S-Unit the receiver must hear 6 more dB (decibels). \u0026nbsp;So one S-Unit is 6 dB.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EA decibel is:\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EA Power Ratio: \u0026nbsp;dB = 10 Log P\u003Csub\u003E2\u003C\/sub\u003E\/P\u003Csub\u003E1\u003C\/sub\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EA Voltage Ratio: \u0026nbsp;dB = 20 Log V\u003Csub\u003E2\u003C\/sub\u003E\/V\u003Csub\u003E1\u003C\/sub\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EYou increase 3dB each time you DOUBLE your power\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's worth repeating...\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003EYou increase 3dB each time you DOUBLE your power. \u0026nbsp;So to gain one S-Unit you must quadruple your power.\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo if you are running 100 watts, to gain one S-Unit using the same antenna system you must increase your power to 400 watts. \u0026nbsp;If you are running QRP SSB (10 watts) that is only 1.5 S-Units down from 100 watts. \u0026nbsp;100w \/ 2 (-3dB) \u0026nbsp;= 50w \/ 2 (another -3dB or 1 S-Unit) = 25w... etc.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EAntennas offer the cheapest increase in dB\u003C\/h3\u003ENote the statement above \"using the same antenna system\". \u0026nbsp;That's the key then isn't it? \u0026nbsp;It's easier to get 6 dB of gain from an antenna than from wattage. \u0026nbsp;A 40m doublet can offer significant directional gain especially when operated on higher bands. \u0026nbsp;Now unless it's rotatable you will be at the mercy of the directionality of its lobes but if you have trees or tall structures you can very cheaply string up a few dipoles oriented in different directions and for far less money that a 500 watt amp (6 dB). \u0026nbsp;If you can only have one wire antenna you may miss out on some DX in the antenna's nulls but you will have some stellar gain in the direction of the lobes. \u0026nbsp;Of course rotatable yagis and beams are the best but now we are talking about real money again. \u0026nbsp;I'm talking bang for the penny. \u0026nbsp;You don't have to buy a wire antenna. \u0026nbsp;Some Dacron rope or weed-eater line and some surplus insulated wire is all you need. \u0026nbsp;You can even make your own feedline cheaply from electric fence wire and insulators.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWe have a great hobby, but there are so many aspects of it that sound like common sense when they really are not... like \u003Ci\u003Eincrease your power\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Ci\u003E.\u003C\/i\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIncreasing power \u003Ci\u003Egains\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;you very little compared to a better antenna systems.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThat's all for now.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations (or your antennas)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E72\/73 \u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003E(Note: \u0026nbsp;72 is a common substitute for 73 among QRPers... as in \"not enough power for 73\")\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ERichard, N4PBQ\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/7430537892607773994\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/02\/the-grand-illusion.html#comment-form","title":"5 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/7430537892607773994"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/7430537892607773994"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/02\/the-grand-illusion.html","title":"The Grand Illusion"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Yfpj94ByJts\/VtNHKal89AI\/AAAAAAAAYoo\/UbProYQ3vzM\/s72-c\/1watter-power-14.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"5"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-3589087129264620780"},"published":{"$t":"2016-02-19T14:33:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:29:15.102-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"1 Watt and a Wire... in the Attic"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EYou can't always get what you want, but you try sometimes...\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERecently I've dialed my normal 5 watts down to 1watt (one watt, singular) for all my contacts. \u0026nbsp;To throw some water on the fire I've decided to use my attic antenna which weaves all around my metal ductwork and electrical wiring. \u0026nbsp; Mostly this was to prove a point to myself but it may be enlightening to deed restricted hams that they can use a qrp radio and an attic antenna successfully.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-dk7oJsKIItk\/VsdgeXqbM_I\/AAAAAAAAYkk\/_v2x3qXAkhw\/s1600\/1-watt-7.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"414\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-dk7oJsKIItk\/VsdgeXqbM_I\/AAAAAAAAYkk\/_v2x3qXAkhw\/s640\/1-watt-7.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EKey lineup... Palm Single (paddle), Vibroplex Bug (circa 1970s), Kent Hand key\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EIt only seems pointless until you try\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ECalling CQ with 1w QRPp into a poor attic antenna isn't as pointless as it would seem. \u0026nbsp;I didn't have to wait long when calling CQ before I got an answer most of the time. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ENow am I going to bust a pileup with 1 watt ? \u0026nbsp;Possibly not but I think that my assumptions about both how much power I \u003Ci\u003Eneed\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;and how big an antenna I \u003Ci\u003Eneed\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;are usually out of proportion with reality.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-jynl4Pk4p1A\/VsdiTL9qp9I\/AAAAAAAAYkw\/FhhFLOLm1WQ\/s1600\/1-watt-11.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"445\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-jynl4Pk4p1A\/VsdiTL9qp9I\/AAAAAAAAYkw\/FhhFLOLm1WQ\/s640\/1-watt-11.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E1 mighty watt\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EMy assumptions are often incorrect\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI made QSOs on 30m, 20m, 17m and 10m this morning all at 1 watt. \u0026nbsp;The solar conditions report was not really fantastic, especially for 10m. \u0026nbsp;Yet 1 watt through the attic antenna bagged the only DX I heard on 10m. \u0026nbsp;I had a couple of other multiple exchange contacts on 20m, 17m and one good old fashioned 25 minute long ragchew on 30m where I received a 599 report for my one watt from Bob (NR8M) in Ohio. \u0026nbsp;Admittedly, Bob was booming in and we had good propagation to each other.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-7Uy5_Kl6N00\/Vsdjl4crgJI\/AAAAAAAAYk8\/cDn5WAj30s0\/s1600\/solar-condx-1w-day.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"196\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-7Uy5_Kl6N00\/Vsdjl4crgJI\/AAAAAAAAYk8\/cDn5WAj30s0\/s640\/solar-condx-1w-day.png\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamqsl.com\/solar.html\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/www.hamqsl.com\/solar.html\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EVideo\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe recording below was number 4 or 5 this morning. \u0026nbsp;I wanted to post this one because I was working another QRP station in Arkansas (K5EDM) and we did NOT have great propagation to each other. \u0026nbsp;He was running 5w while I was running 1w so it was QRP to QRPp. \u0026nbsp;In the video you can see that I'm using some of the KX3's tricks to pull the signal up because there was a lot of QSB and noise (note the GEOMAGNETIC FIELD UNSETTLED in the solar report). \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI had the volume maxed and was using the RF gain control mostly. \u0026nbsp;I eventually had to turn on the preamp which really washed me in noise but I dropped the RF gain more and eventually switched in the APF (audio peaking filter) which performed magic on this contact. \u0026nbsp;Often I find that APF doesn't help but this time it made a big difference.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/uDyRSSSYEDU\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/uDyRSSSYEDU?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard N4PBQ\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/3589087129264620780\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/02\/1-watts-and-wire-in-attic.html#comment-form","title":"6 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/3589087129264620780"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/3589087129264620780"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/02\/1-watts-and-wire-in-attic.html","title":"1 Watt and a Wire... in the Attic"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-dk7oJsKIItk\/VsdgeXqbM_I\/AAAAAAAAYkk\/_v2x3qXAkhw\/s72-c\/1-watt-7.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"6"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-6247855646768537187"},"published":{"$t":"2016-02-18T12:27:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:29:15.193-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The need for speed in CW"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003ECW QSO speed statistics...\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAs I continue on my \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/p\/learn-morse-code.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMorse Code Journey\u003C\/a\u003E I have been using a desktop application called\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/sourceforge.net\/projects\/morse-rss-news\/files\/Morse%20Code%20Tools%203.0\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMorse News\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;to work on my code comprehension of natural language sentences for ragchew training. I set the program to send at speeds higher than I can copy to stretch me. \u0026nbsp;Presently I have it set at 26wpm character speed and 23wpm Code speed. \u0026nbsp;I can usually figure out what the news story is talking about but I miss a lot of the specifics.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.posters.ws\/images\/391581\/speed_racer.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/www.posters.ws\/images\/391581\/speed_racer.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EI was a kid in the 1970s when Speed Racer was a popular cartoon\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EThe need for speed\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ECurrently I'm OK working up to 20wpm qsos as long as the other station has good spacing. \u0026nbsp;Sometimes I lose the thread or the specifics in a ragchew at 20wpm and I just ask them PSE AGN?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIn sprints I can copy a callsign sent at 25wpm to 30wpm if I hear it a few times but that's no good for real contests where you need to catch that call sent at 30-40wpm sent the first time. \u0026nbsp;My friend AA4XX has asked me to help him in multi-op contests but I know he is sending around 30wpm and I just can't hang there at this stage in my Morse Code journey.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EStatistics show 25wpm is the magic number\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo it got me to wondering what was the actual \"average\" qso speed. \u0026nbsp;I downloaded days of raw data from Reverse Beacon Network. \u0026nbsp;RBN collects the call sign, the SNR and the \u003Ci\u003ESPEED\u003C\/i\u003E. \u0026nbsp;The raw files contained between 40 to 50 thousand CW CQ calls logged each day after I filtered out other modes.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe average speed from RBN CW logs worked out to exactly 25wpm. \u0026nbsp;The standard deviation was 5.34wpm which would mean most of the time you would expect to work stations between 20wpm and 30wpm. \u0026nbsp;That seems reasonable and matches what I seem to hear on air. \u0026nbsp;These numbers are from the CQ calls themselves and are only measuring character spacing speed so the code spacing is likely a bit lower in most cases and for ragchews is likely averaging 2 to 5 wpm lower than the actual sent character speed. \u0026nbsp;Since I am not much interested in serious contesting at this stage in my hobby going over 30wpm isn't on my radar. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003ESo based on those calculated CW speed statistics from RBN data if I can reach the point where I am comfortable in a 25wpm ragchew I should be content (for a while)\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your speed.... err expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard, N4PBQ\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/6247855646768537187\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/02\/the-need-for-speed-in-cw.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/6247855646768537187"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/6247855646768537187"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/02\/the-need-for-speed-in-cw.html","title":"The need for speed in CW"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-1213328946407738076"},"published":{"$t":"2016-02-15T18:16:00.005-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:29:15.048-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Race to the bottom"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E1 watt or less?\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI've been considering ordering a \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/kitsandparts.com\/1watter40u.php\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E1 watter kit\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;but I was concerned that it wouldn't be useful in the downward sunspot cycle.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-wTdyIN_toeo\/VsiRNEK117I\/AAAAAAAAYl4\/XMETxS0jksg\/s1600\/1-watter-kit-7.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-wTdyIN_toeo\/VsiRNEK117I\/AAAAAAAAYl4\/XMETxS0jksg\/s640\/1-watter-kit-7.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E1Watter board with initial 100nf caps installed and starting inventory of other parts.\u003Cbr \/\u003ENot shown are the myriad toroids (fun, fun), transistors and pots.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo I spent some time this afternoon making 1 watt contacts on 20m and 40m with my Elecraft KX3 just to see what staying limited to that power would be like. \u0026nbsp;I've made casual 1w contacts in the past but staying at 1watt was a good test for me.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIt turned out that I had a plenty of answers to my 1 watt CQ calls and received reports that were only one or two points down from my report to the calling stations. \u0026nbsp;The last station I worked dropped down to 300 milliwatts and I still copied him fine.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo I ordered a 1 watter kit for 40m from \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/kitsandparts.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EKits and Parts\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;today.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe 1 watter kit is significantly more involved to build than the Elecraft kits I've assembled to date. I hope to learn a lot from the build and alignment and I just might finally have a reason to buy an oscilloscope (hopefully my wife \u003Ci\u003Edoesn't\u003C\/i\u003E read this).\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EUpdate 2\/20\/2016:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003EI received the kit yesterday. \u0026nbsp;It includes 21 100nf SMT capacitors that the builder \"highly recommends using\". \u0026nbsp;Optionally he supplies through-hole capacitors. \u0026nbsp;I tried figuring out hold to hold the SMT part in place to solder for about 30 minutes and gave up. \u0026nbsp;I don't have 3 hands. I'd have to have someone show me how to solder an SMT part. \u0026nbsp;Even in the linked video to building the kit the builder used the through hole components so I don't know why the SMTs were supplied or were highly recommended. \u0026nbsp;So I used the through hole capacitors.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-31bLqOnSZh4\/VsiOmr6EM-I\/AAAAAAAAYlY\/sakE48df-x8\/s1600\/1-watter-kit-8.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-31bLqOnSZh4\/VsiOmr6EM-I\/AAAAAAAAYlY\/sakE48df-x8\/s640\/1-watter-kit-8.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EThrough hole versus SMT capacitors\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-i07oxC4LF6w\/VsiOn5rh3UI\/AAAAAAAAYlc\/81-XuIbegp4\/s1600\/1-watter-kit-9.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-i07oxC4LF6w\/VsiOn5rh3UI\/AAAAAAAAYlc\/81-XuIbegp4\/s640\/1-watter-kit-9.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EI couldn't figure out how to solder the tiny SMT capacitors\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/--5byHiKIz18\/VsiP2AaVwvI\/AAAAAAAAYlo\/T45HqFmRcmc\/s1600\/1-watter-kit-6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/--5byHiKIz18\/VsiP2AaVwvI\/AAAAAAAAYlo\/T45HqFmRcmc\/s640\/1-watter-kit-6.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E1watter board with the 21 through hole 100nf caps installed\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: right; text-align: right;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-OyrJTJFuI8o\/VsiO96e5RnI\/AAAAAAAAYlg\/1dU98H3UEdY\/s1600\/1-watter-kit-10.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"261\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-OyrJTJFuI8o\/VsiO96e5RnI\/AAAAAAAAYlg\/1dU98H3UEdY\/s320\/1-watter-kit-10.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EInventory of resistors\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003ENext step was installing resistors. \u0026nbsp;There are six 1\/8w resistors missing in the kit:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"p1\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003ER3,9,21,22 (470)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003ER12 (1.2K)\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003ER14 (4R7)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003EI haven't built enough kits to have spares like this so I sent them a note and will see how long it takes to get the resistors. \u0026nbsp;I haven't inventoried the rest of the parts yet but so far I'm a bit disappointed. \u0026nbsp;I have built 4 kits from Elecraft and one from 4-State QRP and all of those kits had all the parts. \u0026nbsp;Although in the case of 4-State QRP one of the plastic knobs was broken in shipment. \u0026nbsp;They sent me another in 3 days.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"p1\"\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"s1\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"s1\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo Lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E73\/72\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard, \u0026nbsp;N4PBQ\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/1213328946407738076\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/02\/race-to-bottom.html#comment-form","title":"4 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/1213328946407738076"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/1213328946407738076"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/02\/race-to-bottom.html","title":"Race to the bottom"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-wTdyIN_toeo\/VsiRNEK117I\/AAAAAAAAYl4\/XMETxS0jksg\/s72-c\/1-watter-kit-7.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"4"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-511630954415257842"},"published":{"$t":"2016-02-11T12:30:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-02-13T19:24:56.771-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Skippy 80m"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E80m QRP 4600 mile skip?\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI am still relatively new to operating QRP and operating on 80m. I made a few SKCC contacts last night and had a nice long ragchew with Mark (W1AAF). \u0026nbsp;When I was shutting down my station I looked at my browser window displaying the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.reversebeacon.net\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EReverse Beacon Network\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;and was surprised to note that my QRP CQ on 80m had being reported by \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.reversebeacon.net\/dxsd1\/dxsd1.php?f=0\u0026amp;c=n4pbq\u0026amp;t=dx\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ERBN\u003C\/a\u003E stations in Europe. \u0026nbsp;The reporting station in Slovenia was over 4600 miles from me!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI have not seen 80m skip like this from my station so this was new to me. \u0026nbsp;I have made some cross continental contacts on 80m but never seen it go 4600 miles to the Northeast before. I'm used to that from the higher bands but not my NVIS 80m antenna.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-4teSewJhQW8\/VryVDnfBfaI\/AAAAAAAAYis\/6yW0zMayWlY\/s1600\/80m%2Bqrp%2Bserious%2Bskip.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-4teSewJhQW8\/VryVDnfBfaI\/AAAAAAAAYis\/6yW0zMayWlY\/s1600\/80m%2Bqrp%2Bserious%2Bskip.PNG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E80m Skipping up to 4600 miles\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EAntenna patterns\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis got me to thinking about my \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/11\/the-amazing-80m-multi-band-windom.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E80m OCF Dipole\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;which has been a good performer for me especially to the North and West but generally poor to the South. \u0026nbsp;However a couple RBN reports also showed my signal as strong as 22db to Puerto Rico and Curacao last night so some sort of 80m propagation pixie dust was being spread around.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EBelow is a satellite view of my QTH with the layout of my OCF Dipole shown in blue and the direction of propagation to the Wales and Spanish stations super-imposed.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-GCUSR8d2lms\/VryX1aJRcuI\/AAAAAAAAYi4\/2VGgUnPggXM\/s1600\/80m%2BEuro%2BSkip%2Bpattern.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"495\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-GCUSR8d2lms\/VryX1aJRcuI\/AAAAAAAAYi4\/2VGgUnPggXM\/s640\/80m%2BEuro%2BSkip%2Bpattern.png\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EAntenna and propagation\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMy OCF Dipole is not straight across. \u0026nbsp;It is bent about 25 degrees as you can see due to my anchor points. \u0026nbsp;The long end slopes down to about 10 ft above ground while the apex is only at 25 ft tied off to the peak of my roof. The short leg heads off level to a tree in the front yard. \u0026nbsp;So 25 feet sloping down to 10 feet is certainly not an ideal height for 80m so the take-off necessary for the skip to the distant European stations is very surprising to me.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EToo good to be true?\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis antenna has been a good NVIS antenna for me on 80m and a relatively good DX antenna given the recent poor band conditions on 17m and 15m. \u0026nbsp;Even though I normally operate QRP or sometimes up to 10 watts I nearly always get a signal report that is either equal to or only one S-unit lower than the QRO stations I qso with. I have really been puzzling over this antenna lately trying to figure out why its SWR is so low on so many bands. \u0026nbsp;It shouldn't be this \u003Ci\u003Egood. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003EAnd if something seems too good to be true it usually is. \u0026nbsp;Low SWR doesn't always mean antenna efficiency. \u0026nbsp;When I measure the individual sections of coax connected to this antenna they have SWR and reactance issues. \u0026nbsp;I still use an old run of coax that comes back into the house that has problems due to a previous lightning surge that was strong enough to melt the solder connections in my spark arrestor so I know things are amiss. \u0026nbsp;Yet overall SWR, impedance and reactance through all the components connected together is very low on most bands. \u0026nbsp;The key seems to be my station ground that is nearly resonant on 20m and runs around my house and up to the 3rd story operating position. \u0026nbsp;The long electrical ground has certainly become \"part\" of the antenna system, yet I'd expect it to introduce a lot of loss as it ties into 3 ground rods.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EBut it's nights like this that keep me from \"fixing\" it.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EThese sort of mysteries are part of what keeps the hobby interesting for me...\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EEDIT: August 2016\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI did finally replace the coax run back into the house as it turned out that coax braid was damaged. \u0026nbsp;The result was that my Windom was no longer 1:1 SWR and showed more expected SWR readings. \u0026nbsp;It's still 1.7 SWR or lower on all the bands except 10m and 6m where it's SWR is 2:1. \u0026nbsp;So that's likely a more normal response. \u0026nbsp;The antenna is also quieter now with the replaced coax so all is well.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard, N4PBQ\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/511630954415257842\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/02\/skippy-80m.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/511630954415257842"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/511630954415257842"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/02\/skippy-80m.html","title":"Skippy 80m"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-4teSewJhQW8\/VryVDnfBfaI\/AAAAAAAAYis\/6yW0zMayWlY\/s72-c\/80m%2Bqrp%2Bserious%2Bskip.PNG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-5254488503810806073"},"published":{"$t":"2016-02-09T20:27:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:29:15.149-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Feeling Extra Hammy"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EI Passed my Extra Exam\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI finally took the time to study for the Extra ticket. \u0026nbsp;The fine \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.southwakearc.com\/exams\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECentral Carolina VE team\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;administered the exam and did a very professional job for the group of 8 folks taking their tests last Sunday.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-cbN4dz27vU4\/VrqPKIJq8DI\/AAAAAAAAYgw\/uW77_aJWDV8\/s1600\/20160207_163331.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-cbN4dz27vU4\/VrqPKIJq8DI\/AAAAAAAAYgw\/uW77_aJWDV8\/s640\/20160207_163331.jpg\" width=\"360\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EStudy Guides\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI purchased a well done study guide from\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.kb6nu.com\/\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/www.kb6nu.com\u003C\/a\u003E and used \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.qrz.com\/hamtest\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EQRZ resources page\u003C\/a\u003E to take practice exams to prepare for the test. \u0026nbsp;The Extra test has 50 questions compared to the 35 in the Tech and General and draws from a question pool of over 700 questions. \u0026nbsp;If you have a background in electronics you will need less study than if you do not. \u0026nbsp;I am a new student of electronics and the process of studying for the exam was very enlightening.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EWhy go to the effort?\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIf you are already licensed as a General class you may not see the need for it as it only gives you a bit more spectrum use on some of the bands but if you really want to chase DX the extra (pun intended) spectrum will come in handy. \u0026nbsp;But I'd recommend studying for it just for the exposure to concepts you may not have explored and more importantly it will allow you to give back to the hobby some if you pursue becoming a VE. \u0026nbsp;You can be a VE as a General but you are limited in which tests you can administer so most VE teams want Extra class license holders. \u0026nbsp;I plan to pursue my VE certification after my ticket shows up in the FCC database.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard, N4PBQ\/AE\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/5254488503810806073\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/02\/feeling-extra-hammy.html#comment-form","title":"3 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/5254488503810806073"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/5254488503810806073"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/02\/feeling-extra-hammy.html","title":"Feeling Extra Hammy"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-cbN4dz27vU4\/VrqPKIJq8DI\/AAAAAAAAYgw\/uW77_aJWDV8\/s72-c\/20160207_163331.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"3"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-7572020777878199814"},"published":{"$t":"2016-02-06T17:12:00.003-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:29:15.222-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Resistance IS NOT FUTILE"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EThe Beautiful Genius Load\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIn this age of \u003Cb\u003Ehyper-political-correctness\u003C\/b\u003E it seems that I should not call my homebrew contraption an \"\u003Ci\u003EUgly\u0026nbsp;Dummy Load\u003C\/i\u003E\". \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EUgly is so negative. It probably has a great personality and an inner beauty all its own.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAnd calling it a dummy is sooo degrading. \u0026nbsp;Why that's akin to calling it a Dolt, a Dullard, a Dunce, a Fool, a Blockhead, an Ignoramus, a Numbskull or a Simpleton.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003ESo in the spirit of the age where Everyone Gets An Award\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large; font-weight: normal;\"\u003EBehold the \"Beautiful Genius Load\"\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-A-K35u076gU\/VrZhBk7T1dI\/AAAAAAAAYdE\/Xd7SgeWUmyA\/s1600\/ugly-balun-7-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"364\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-A-K35u076gU\/VrZhBk7T1dI\/AAAAAAAAYdE\/Xd7SgeWUmyA\/s640\/ugly-balun-7-2.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EBeautiful Genius Load\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EConstruction\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EUp to now I only had one dummy load and it was built into my MFJ \u003Ci\u003EDeluxe\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003EVersa Tuner II so I thought it was high time to have something a bit more portable. \u0026nbsp;I already had the UHF connector in my junk box and lots of spare 12g solid copper wire. \u0026nbsp;So I ordered some 2w\/1000ohm 1% resistors for 40 cents each and built the contraption above for about $10.\u0026nbsp; The bare copper wire is soldered to the bulkhead connector; one wire to the center conductor and the other to a screw terminal.\u0026nbsp; I simply wrapped the resistors leads around the bare wire and soldered them in place.\u0026nbsp; In the near side of the photo it looks as though they are not soldered but that is because it was flipped over when I soldered that side.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EConcerning 1% resistors... I could have used 5% resistors rather than 1%. \u0026nbsp;The number of resistors would have averaged out the differences but I like the blue color and everyone wants to be a 1%'er.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EExhaustive parts list:\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EUHF bulkhead connector\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E20 x 1000ohm 2watt resistors\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETwo stout gauge copper wires\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ENot an especially good design\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis is not a very good design for a dummy load due to its length. \u0026nbsp;The two parallel wires will generate some capacitance especially at higher frequencies but for ease of building it can't be beat. \u0026nbsp;In the following section I show the results on the analyzer and you'll see that there is some capacitive reactance that causes the SWR to be 1.1 starting at 14 Mhz. \u0026nbsp;This certainly isn't ideal but it is sufficient for most amateur uses. \u0026nbsp;If you think you need totally pure resistance all the way up to 28 Mhz you'll want a different design.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EI may place it in a 2 inch PVC pipe with some holes drilled for ventilation to give it some mechanical stability but the heavy gauge wire seems plenty sturdy for now. \u0026nbsp;Of course, while it's in use you want to keep it clear of metallic objects and not touch it during transmission. \u0026nbsp;Also it will get HOT after extended use so don't go and grab after you've transmitted into it without determining if it will burn you.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EPerformance\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWell it works mostly like you'd expect a Dummy... errr Beautiful Genius load should. \u0026nbsp;The twenty 2watt resistors give me plenty of heat dissipation for QRP levels. \u0026nbsp;I transmitted at 5w into it for a full minute and it was just starting to warm. It should handle QRO loads up to 100w for a few seconds at a time as long as it's given time to cool down between uses.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe SWR is 1.0 on the lower bands and 1.1 - 1.2 on the higher frequencies...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-K_yoHG-7yh4\/VrZl13plKlI\/AAAAAAAAYd0\/9rpnGcRaRBg\/s1600\/ugly-balun-6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-K_yoHG-7yh4\/VrZl13plKlI\/AAAAAAAAYd0\/9rpnGcRaRBg\/s400\/ugly-balun-6.jpg\" width=\"300\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E80m SWR 1.0\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-w4PrIv-b-fY\/VrZl2DP80tI\/AAAAAAAAYdw\/ajkep_Aeptk\/s1600\/ugly-balun-7.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-w4PrIv-b-fY\/VrZl2DP80tI\/AAAAAAAAYdw\/ajkep_Aeptk\/s400\/ugly-balun-7.jpg\" width=\"300\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E40m SWR 1.0\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Q7fhJq_ES44\/VrZl6hWJZkI\/AAAAAAAAYd4\/Ju3Rb4qVi8g\/s1600\/ugly-balun-8.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Q7fhJq_ES44\/VrZl6hWJZkI\/AAAAAAAAYd4\/Ju3Rb4qVi8g\/s400\/ugly-balun-8.jpg\" width=\"300\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E30m SWR 1.0\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-KWxgM7RuaMI\/VrZl7NF7IjI\/AAAAAAAAYd8\/kuqYuRK6B28\/s1600\/ugly-balun-9.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-KWxgM7RuaMI\/VrZl7NF7IjI\/AAAAAAAAYd8\/kuqYuRK6B28\/s400\/ugly-balun-9.jpg\" width=\"300\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E10m SWR 1.2\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-wqt5I9E0Zxs\/VrZltqzfzcI\/AAAAAAAAYdo\/b1XoiGYAiTU\/s1600\/ugly-balun-11.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-wqt5I9E0Zxs\/VrZltqzfzcI\/AAAAAAAAYdo\/b1XoiGYAiTU\/s400\/ugly-balun-11.jpg\" width=\"300\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E15m SWR 1.1\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-xCZuTmU_1RU\/VrZltjukQrI\/AAAAAAAAYdk\/FPkU07nrINw\/s1600\/ugly-balun-12.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-xCZuTmU_1RU\/VrZltjukQrI\/AAAAAAAAYdk\/FPkU07nrINw\/s400\/ugly-balun-12.jpg\" width=\"300\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E17m SWR 1.1\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-tbvTUCDcS3I\/VrZl1oHtFvI\/AAAAAAAAYds\/J2LwqX8Oda8\/s1600\/ugly-balun-13.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-tbvTUCDcS3I\/VrZl1oHtFvI\/AAAAAAAAYds\/J2LwqX8Oda8\/s400\/ugly-balun-13.jpg\" width=\"300\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E20m SWR 1.1\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EMake your own Dummy Load... errr Beautiful Genius Load\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIt's always handy to have a small dummy load handy. You can use more or fewer resistors depending on your needs. \u0026nbsp;Just remember the formula for calculating resistance is:\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-Nrqx6BbOuZk\/VrZkMHfB10I\/AAAAAAAAYdU\/jD6NYZdAgts\/s1600\/resistance.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"156\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-Nrqx6BbOuZk\/VrZkMHfB10I\/AAAAAAAAYdU\/jD6NYZdAgts\/s320\/resistance.png\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ECalculating Parallel Resistance\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003EYou want to end up with 50 ohm as your total. \u0026nbsp;Also be sure to use resistors with decent power handling. \u0026nbsp;Soldering 1\/8 watt resistors in parallel isn't going to give you much power handling capacity.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E72\/73\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard, N4PBQ\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/7572020777878199814\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/02\/resistance-is-not-futile.html#comment-form","title":"3 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/7572020777878199814"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/7572020777878199814"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/02\/resistance-is-not-futile.html","title":"Resistance IS NOT FUTILE"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-A-K35u076gU\/VrZhBk7T1dI\/AAAAAAAAYdE\/Xd7SgeWUmyA\/s72-c\/ugly-balun-7-2.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"3"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-7563374519984956100"},"published":{"$t":"2016-02-05T15:33:00.003-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:35:53.549-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Making use of Elecraft Mini-module Kits"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EConnecting the bits and bobs\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI have enjoyed building Elecraft Mini-Module kits. \u0026nbsp;Now to put them to use...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-iFmSHyLcHg0\/VrUOc2rWdiI\/AAAAAAAAYcs\/OAAmbHA7KFo\/s1600\/Downloads2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-iFmSHyLcHg0\/VrUOc2rWdiI\/AAAAAAAAYcs\/OAAmbHA7KFo\/s640\/Downloads2.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EElecraft Mini-Module Kits\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/12\/finer-than-frogs-hair-split-twice.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAF1 Audio Filter\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/01\/elecraft-bl2.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBL2 Switchable Balun\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/01\/get-taste-rf-coming-and-going.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECP1 Directional Coupler\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/01\/ive-got-power.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EW1 Powermeter\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EWhat to do?\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI built the kits as part of my learning adventure and to improve my soldering skills. \u0026nbsp;It's also helped me learn to follow instructions better (my wife says I need to work on learning to follow instructions). \u0026nbsp;But ultimately these modules are intended to be useful, and in my case they work nicely to when operating my old \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/search?q=century%2F21\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ETen-Tec Century\/21\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMy Ten Tec Century\/21 is a 1970s CW-only, low(ish) power rig originally intended for Novice license holders of the time. \u0026nbsp;It has no RF output meter or SWR meter. \u0026nbsp;It has poor filtering\/selectivity compared to modern radios and its analog tuning dial is a bit vague so you generally only know your frequency within 5 kHz.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe mini-module kits prove useful.\u0026nbsp;I employ the W1 Wattmeter to determine my power output and SWR; the CP1 directional coupler is used to send a 20db attenuated signal to a frequency counter to determine operating frequency, and the AF1 Audio Filter makes operating near adjacent CW signals more pleasant by providing a narrow audio-band-pass filter. \u0026nbsp;The result signal can be transmitted through a LDG tuner into the BL2 switchable balun connected to my attic Doublet.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EBring out your cables\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAll these independent modules need to be connected, so tying the bits and bobs together requires a few coax jumpers to route the RF around:\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Col\u003E\u003Cli\u003EUHF to BNC from the radio to the W1 Power meter\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBNC to BNC From the W1 Power meter to the CP1 coupler\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBNC to UHF From the CP1 coupler J1 input to switched T1 output to frequency counter\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBNC to UHF From the CP1 coupler J2 output to the tuner\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ol\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAnd other cables:\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Col\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESerial cable from the W1 Power meter to the computer\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E12v power cables for the W1 and AF1 (unless I want to use 9V batteries)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAudio cable from the TenTec C21 to the AF1\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ol\u003ESo it's definitely not a neat and tidy setup at present. I plan to arrange things more neatly and possibly place the W1, CP1 and frequency counter into a single box. But for now it's fine and I like the flexibility to switch things around or pull a module out to use somewhere else as the mood strikes.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Ij-AjSvEcU4\/VoIXGZ-O9hI\/AAAAAAAAX1M\/sAbiK8_70jU\/s1600\/Elecraft%2BAF-1_-7.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Ij-AjSvEcU4\/VoIXGZ-O9hI\/AAAAAAAAX1M\/sAbiK8_70jU\/s400\/Elecraft%2BAF-1_-7.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EAF1 Audio Filter making crowded band operations pleasurable\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-nRKP28rnaMM\/VrS0V5rxSbI\/AAAAAAAAYcM\/jAKyZjObbzo\/s1600\/20160205_072300.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"312\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-nRKP28rnaMM\/VrS0V5rxSbI\/AAAAAAAAYcM\/jAKyZjObbzo\/s400\/20160205_072300.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.8px;\"\u003ECP1 Directional Coupler sending off 20dB attenuated signal to the frequency counter\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-XdPbmSzssYA\/VrS0VnzfORI\/AAAAAAAAYbw\/W68d8BjE-ak\/s1600\/20160205_065136.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"272\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-XdPbmSzssYA\/VrS0VnzfORI\/AAAAAAAAYbw\/W68d8BjE-ak\/s400\/20160205_065136.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EFrequency Counter fed by the CP1 directional coupler.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-r5RnzA4mbKE\/VrS0Vvbj2MI\/AAAAAAAAYbs\/oUA7bdG_Pg8\/s1600\/20160205_065042.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"312\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-r5RnzA4mbKE\/VrS0Vvbj2MI\/AAAAAAAAYbs\/oUA7bdG_Pg8\/s400\/20160205_065042.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EW1 Power Meter sending its measurement off to the computer\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EW1 Power Meter Output to Computer\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe W1 has a serial output to a PC for use with the Elecraft W1 software. \u0026nbsp;The software can both configure the meter and display more detail than can be determined from the LEDs. \u0026nbsp; Source code is supplied and the command set is documented so it would be easy to write your own software for this.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe W1 power meter LEDs give you relatively discrete output information for the lower two ranges (0.1w to 1.4w) and (1.5w to 14w). \u0026nbsp;But in the high range (over 14w) the LEDs are only displaying 10 watt intervals. \u0026nbsp;For instance in the high range, when the second LED is lit you don't know if your operating just 20 watts or 29 watts. \u0026nbsp;It won't trip the next LED until it crosses the 10 watt boundary in the high range so it can be useful to look at the measurement on the computer if you are operating QRO. \u0026nbsp; I'm not complaining. \u0026nbsp;I understand that the meter is primarily intended as a QRP meter and for QRP power (less than 15 watts) it offers plenty of information.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003EHere I brought the TenTec Century\/21 up to nearly full input drive (55-60 watts) to see what it could output. The rig probably had a few more watts left in there but I didn't want to push it because I haven't gotten around to replacing some of the out of spec components in the internal power supply. \u0026nbsp;I normally use this radio under 10 watts (I look for about 30 watts input on the drive meter) but I was curious to see what the old girl could do since I had the meter hooked up to the computer display.\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-0Vr_oexbl7g\/VrS0WKGFnUI\/AAAAAAAAYb8\/9zdHrVDtR-U\/s1600\/w1-c21-80.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-0Vr_oexbl7g\/VrS0WKGFnUI\/AAAAAAAAYb8\/9zdHrVDtR-U\/s1600\/w1-c21-80.PNG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EMeasuring maximum RF output from the Ten Tec Century\/21\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003EThe computer interface is a nice touch and the ability to modify the source code to suit is a plus.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ENits and Quibbles\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMy antenna's native SWR at 15m (~21.08MHz) is around 2.5 so it requires tuning (impedance matching). \u0026nbsp;After my LDG auto tuner spends a ridiculous amount of time trying to find a match it settles at 1.7 SWR according to the W1 Wattmeter, while the indication on the Autotuner is that it believes the SWR is 1.5 or better, while the radio on the other side of the W1 meter sees a SWR over 2.5. \u0026nbsp;I only see this behavior on 15m so I think there is some strange impedance reaction occurring in the W1 wattmeter that is changing the reactance on the jumper to the radio. \u0026nbsp;I've tried a few different jumpers, swapping jumpers, etc. \u0026nbsp;But it always presents an abnormally high SWR to the radio at 15m. \u0026nbsp;Now when I transmit into a dummy load I don't see this behavior, so it is some combination of SWR \/ reactance present at W1 that causes a impedance mismatch downstream toward the radio. \u0026nbsp;I have more investigating to do but for now I am choosing to not use the W1 Wattmeter in-line when operating on 15m.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe CP1 directional coupler is not entirely transparent and raises the SWR by a bit as signal passes through it. \u0026nbsp;You would expect there to be losses according to the -20 db taps (one forward and one reverse). \u0026nbsp;This should work out to about 0.08% loss but I wouldn't expect it to raise the SWR. It adds about 0.1 to your SWR \u0026nbsp;and occurs even if the forward and reverse couplers are switched \"off\" and shunt their respective loads to the on-board 50 ohm resistors. \u0026nbsp;I'm unsure what accounts for that slight SWR bump but be aware that CP1 contributes some very small losses. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ESummary\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo the Elecraft Mini-modules are fun to build; and with enough jumper cables, can be combined for experiments and general augmentation of other equipment in your shack. \u0026nbsp;So go out there, build some kits and experiment. \u0026nbsp;It's a rewarding experience.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI'm trying to decide what I'm going to build next.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now...\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E73\/72\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard, N4PBQ\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/7563374519984956100\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/02\/making-use-of-elecraft-mini-module-kits.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/7563374519984956100"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/7563374519984956100"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/02\/making-use-of-elecraft-mini-module-kits.html","title":"Making use of Elecraft Mini-module Kits"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-iFmSHyLcHg0\/VrUOc2rWdiI\/AAAAAAAAYcs\/OAAmbHA7KFo\/s72-c\/Downloads2.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-41579268934547709"},"published":{"$t":"2016-01-22T22:50:00.004-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:35:53.545-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"I've Got the Power"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EElecraft W1 Power Meter\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe Elecraft W1 is another fine \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.elecraft.com\/mini_module_kits\/mini_modules.htm\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Emini-module kit from Elecraft\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;It is an auto-ranging power meter measuring as little as 150mw up to 140w. \u0026nbsp;The 150 milliwatt to 1.4 watt range is an especially nice feature for QRP'ers.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-XuoK9VGRg_U\/VqLl43vbXqI\/AAAAAAAAYTg\/L4Wv5o-AUDw\/s1600\/elecraft-w1-power-meter-11.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"508\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-XuoK9VGRg_U\/VqLl43vbXqI\/AAAAAAAAYTg\/L4Wv5o-AUDw\/s640\/elecraft-w1-power-meter-11.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EElecraft W1 Power Meter\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EBuilding\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI am new to building kits. \u0026nbsp;My first kit was from 4-State QRP (Regen Receiver). \u0026nbsp;This is my 4th Elecraft kit. \u0026nbsp;The instructions are very detailed and easy to follow and I especially like that they give you the resistor color and capacitor identification right there in the instructions without having to refer to a data sheet somewhere else in the documentation.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAll the parts come in a single bag so there is a bit of sorting that you need to do when you receive it. \u0026nbsp;I use a big egg carton to sort and inventory the parts so that I can find them more easily.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis kit was a bit more involved than the other kits I've built from Elecraft. \u0026nbsp;It has a binocular toroid which is fiddly to wind, 3 ICs and a couple of resistor packs. \u0026nbsp;Lots of soldering. \u0026nbsp;The most tedious parts to solder are the tiny transistors. Those solder pads are really close together for someone new to soldering like me, but I took my time and everything turned out ok. \u0026nbsp;I worked on this kit a little at a time over 3 nights. \u0026nbsp;If you can follow instructions and have a steady hand you should be fine. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe kit has some ESD sensitive parts so you'll want to be able to properly ground yourself and your equipment. \u0026nbsp;Make sure your soldering iron is ESD safe and that you are grounded.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ELastly, final calibration is performed using just a multi-meter.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EBuild options\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe meter can be built in a number of different configurations depending on how you plan to use it. \u0026nbsp;The battery holder and BNC connectors can be installed on the top or bottom of the board and the BNC connectors can even be oriented vertically on the back side of the board. \u0026nbsp;If you plan to use it in an enclosure give some thought to the location of the battery holder and BNC connectors before you get to that part of the build.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI plan to use some stand-offs to mount it to the front of an acrylic photo frame that I already had.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-KJpvEbt6RPY\/VqLl9DAreuI\/AAAAAAAAYTs\/oC5JYJeaXjY\/s1600\/elecraft-w1-power-meter-8.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-KJpvEbt6RPY\/VqLl9DAreuI\/AAAAAAAAYTs\/oC5JYJeaXjY\/s640\/elecraft-w1-power-meter-8.jpg\" width=\"552\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EAn acrylic-angled photo frame can make a homebrew stand\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EOperation\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe meter can operate from a 9V battery or from an external power supply via the barrel connector on the side. There is a small power switch at the bottom left of the board.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe top row of LEDs indicate power for a given range. The 3 LEDs mid way down the board to the left indicate the current power range. \u0026nbsp;The range can be automatic or set via a command through the serial interface.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe ranges are:\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E150 milliwatts to 1.4 watts -- Green LED\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E1.5 watts to 14 watts -- Yellow LED\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E15 watts to 140 watts -- Red LED\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EComputer interface\u003C\/h3\u003EThere is a 1\/8\" stereo jack below the power connector that provides a serial interface to a computer. \u0026nbsp;There is a command set for interacting with the meter as well as a sample application available on Elecraft's site that allows a number of settings to be modified such as peak hold and saved to the meter.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EElecraft sells a $15 serial interface cable kit. \u0026nbsp;What they don't tell you is that it has a DB-9 connector rather than a USB connector. \u0026nbsp;I don't even have a computer with a DB-9 serial port so buyer beware. You may want to skip their kit and build your own. \u0026nbsp;I happened to already have a DB-9 to USB converter but I'd preferred their kit to provide a USB connector.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EDemonstration\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/NZ9SFiwomg0\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/NZ9SFiwomg0?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EPhotos\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-lEqnzHVmkCk\/VqLl_DBvgoI\/AAAAAAAAYT8\/c_MImLWXV98\/s1600\/elecraft-w1-power-meter-7.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-lEqnzHVmkCk\/VqLl_DBvgoI\/AAAAAAAAYT8\/c_MImLWXV98\/s640\/elecraft-w1-power-meter-7.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E3 ICs to solder and toroid winding... lots of fun\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-JCpIdDWZJiI\/VqLl_ORCZvI\/AAAAAAAAYT4\/CTKWx6_lpjY\/s1600\/elecraft-w1-power-meter-9.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-JCpIdDWZJiI\/VqLl_ORCZvI\/AAAAAAAAYT4\/CTKWx6_lpjY\/s640\/elecraft-w1-power-meter-9.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ELEDs indicate power in each range and SWR\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-YTXkFtIwZUE\/VqLl2_62gWI\/AAAAAAAAYTU\/asfu-PE6gM4\/s1600\/elecraft-w1-power-meter-10.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"394\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-YTXkFtIwZUE\/VqLl2_62gWI\/AAAAAAAAYTU\/asfu-PE6gM4\/s640\/elecraft-w1-power-meter-10.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ELEDs indicate the power range being displayed\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-nUTbDdI8_9k\/VqLl4Gcpp2I\/AAAAAAAAYTc\/WcdnjgcnCl0\/s1600\/elecraft-w1-power-meter-6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"496\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-nUTbDdI8_9k\/VqLl4Gcpp2I\/AAAAAAAAYTc\/WcdnjgcnCl0\/s640\/elecraft-w1-power-meter-6.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EElecraft W1 Power Meter\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E73\/72\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard, N4PBQ\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/41579268934547709\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/01\/ive-got-power.html#comment-form","title":"3 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/41579268934547709"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/41579268934547709"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/01\/ive-got-power.html","title":"I've Got the Power"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-XuoK9VGRg_U\/VqLl43vbXqI\/AAAAAAAAYTg\/L4Wv5o-AUDw\/s72-c\/elecraft-w1-power-meter-11.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"3"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-3200120160873978899"},"published":{"$t":"2016-01-17T21:20:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:35:53.542-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Get a taste of the RF coming and going"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2 style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EElecraft CP1 - A tasty RF treat\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI had some time this afternoon to assemble another Elecraft mini-module kit. \u0026nbsp;This time it was the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.elecraft.com\/mini_module_kits\/mini_modules.htm\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EElecraft CP1 directional coupler\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-Ji-jsh0DMwY\/VpxBd3Ujj0I\/AAAAAAAAYRE\/3BPlEyLuBuI\/s1600\/DSCF2817.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"476\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-Ji-jsh0DMwY\/VpxBd3Ujj0I\/AAAAAAAAYRE\/3BPlEyLuBuI\/s640\/DSCF2817.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EElecraft CP1 Kit\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ECouple what?\u003C\/h3\u003EAh, so if your new to this like me you might be asking what does a coupler do? \u0026nbsp;Well it sorta listens in on the signal going out (forward) and reflected (back) and is able to send an attenuated sample of the signal to other devices. \u0026nbsp;It attenuates the sample by either 20db or 30db depending on how you build the kit.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe 20db version is good for signals 25 watts and less so that's the way I built it. \u0026nbsp;It was easy to build but my glue under the second toroid wasn't strong enough and you can see it popped up a bit. \u0026nbsp;Also the Elecraft instructions had one confusing instruction concerning mounting the toroids. \u0026nbsp;The instructions say \"... When wound and mounted correctly, the \u003Ci\u003Eenamel wire will emerge from the top of each core\u003C\/i\u003E and connect to the top hole at each inductor location\". \u0026nbsp;Well when you wind a toroid only one of the wires can \"emerge from the top of the core\" while the other comes from underneath. \u0026nbsp;This confused me for a minute until I finally just went on with the install. \u0026nbsp;Anyway, if you're a stickler for following instructions that one may cause a moment of pause...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe switches for the two outputs forward, reflected (J3, J4) are in the up position when they are not in use. \u0026nbsp;When the switch(es) are in the up position the 50 ohm 3 watt resistor(s) take the place of the switched off output. \u0026nbsp;Don't disconnect an output and leave the switch in the bottom position. \u0026nbsp;I'm not sure what will happen... maybe nothing, probably a bit of a mismatch on the SWR, or maybe it could be like \"Crossing the streams\" in Ghostbusters. \u0026nbsp;Your mileage may vary.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EMy uses for a coupler\u003C\/h3\u003EMy old Ten-Tec Century 21 has an analog VFO dial that gives me a good guess at where I'm at but I use an external frequency counter to give me more information. \u0026nbsp;I had it sorta rigged my frequency counter to sample the signal from RF leaked on the shield but I didn't really know how much power I was sending to the counter so this coupler allows it, as well as other devices, to be safely connected to the transmitted signal.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI also plan to use the coupler for IMD tests using a oscilloscope and other projects. \u0026nbsp;It's \u0026nbsp;handy device to have in your collection.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EMy confusion\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI will admit I am still such an idiot when it comes to understanding how this stuff works. \u0026nbsp;After I built it I was testing continuity and saw that input\/output (J1, J2) both showed a short from ground to center pin on both BNC connectors. \u0026nbsp;I thought I'd mis-soldered something and spent the next two hours unsoldering components and trying to trace the fault...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThere was no fault. \u0026nbsp;The way this thing works is a bit of mystery to me but as best I can tell it simply reverses the phase of the signal coming in one side (J1) and leaving the other (J2) and as far as continuity tests go, EVERYTHING has almost zero impedance. \u0026nbsp;I'm still bewildered but it's AC not DC so my continuity tests don't mean much.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EBut in the end - It works\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI finally just resoldered it, scratched my head and thought I'd give it a try. \u0026nbsp;I connected the coupler between my radio and a dummy load and transmitted a watt and noted that the SWR on the radio was fine. \u0026nbsp;Then I hooked up my frequency counter and it worked like a charm sending an attenuated signal to J3 for the frequency counter.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMy MFJ watt meter doesn't seem to be all that accurate but I did a power test with it both in-line and absent. \u0026nbsp;My MFJ watt meter measures 300w \/ 30w so it isn't very accurate at QRP levels. \u0026nbsp;But I noted a slight difference in power reported when the coupler was in-line. \u0026nbsp;If I had to guess by \"Mark-One-Eyeball\" I'd say the coupler was stealing about 1\/2 watt. \u0026nbsp;Maybe a bit more so that's something to consider. \u0026nbsp;I'll know better once I build my Elecraft watt meter since it's accurate down to a tenth of a watt.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard, N4PBQ\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/3200120160873978899\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/01\/get-taste-rf-coming-and-going.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/3200120160873978899"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/3200120160873978899"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/01\/get-taste-rf-coming-and-going.html","title":"Get a taste of the RF coming and going"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-Ji-jsh0DMwY\/VpxBd3Ujj0I\/AAAAAAAAYRE\/3BPlEyLuBuI\/s72-c\/DSCF2817.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-6623979464561193912"},"published":{"$t":"2016-01-15T22:04:00.002-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:35:09.168-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Elecraft BL2"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003ETwo Baluns in One\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.elecraft.com\/mini_module_kits\/mini_modules.htm\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EElecraft mini-module kits\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;offer interesting and useful, little devices and I am learning a bit more about Ham Radio and electronics as I build them. \u0026nbsp;I previously built the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/12\/finer-than-frogs-hair-split-twice.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EElecraft AF1 audio filter\u003C\/a\u003E and tonight I assembled the BL2 switchable balun.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-ujT84GlZ_3E\/VpmqvGsWw_I\/AAAAAAAAYQk\/1BS07LATTQk\/s1600\/elecraft-bl2-balun-7.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-ujT84GlZ_3E\/VpmqvGsWw_I\/AAAAAAAAYQk\/1BS07LATTQk\/s640\/elecraft-bl2-balun-7.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EElecraft BL2 kit\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI wanted a small, low loss, balun for use with ladder line \u003Cstrike\u003Eand end-fed antennas\u003C\/strike\u003E that I could switch between 1:1 and 4:1. \u0026nbsp;MFJ makes a commercial pre-assembled switchable balun but I suspect that the quality of its cores do not match Elecraft's.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe kit is obviously an easy build. \u0026nbsp;The most time consuming aspect is getting the four stripped wire ends from the core all equally inserted in their tiny holes.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI tried it out with my attic doublet and the ability to switch between 1:1 and 4:1 made a difference on difficult to tune bands.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAccording to an email correspondence with Gary (AB7MY) at Elecraft...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe ground lug is there to be used to bleed off static voltage on an    antenna that is not DC or earth grounded.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EWe don't recommend using the balun with an end fed wire. It will    have too much loss. \u0026nbsp;The balun is for use with a balanced antenna and a low impedance of    200-300 ohms or less.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EToo Fragile?\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe only drawback is the lack of an enclosure resulting in a relatively fragile mechanical connection to the antenna and coax. \u0026nbsp;I had hoped the board would be thicker than average epoxy board with some mechanical reinforcement of the connectors but it's standard thickness and the connections are only held on by their solder points. \u0026nbsp;450 ohm ladder line is pretty stiff stuff and I saw the connectors flex on the board as I attached the antenna.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI will need to get it in an enclosure before much field use.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ESummary\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI enjoyed the simple build and winding the cores and tracing out the continuity. \u0026nbsp;I've been studying for my Extra ticket and learning more about inductance. \u0026nbsp;Building even something as simple as a balun is interesting to me.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-BwdOVdA_TRY\/VpmqusUknMI\/AAAAAAAAYQc\/B6-7lmwypJA\/s1600\/elecraft-bl2-balun-8.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"372\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-BwdOVdA_TRY\/VpmqusUknMI\/AAAAAAAAYQc\/B6-7lmwypJA\/s640\/elecraft-bl2-balun-8.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-9zcOVqEE_6k\/VpmqvGJvyLI\/AAAAAAAAYQg\/JZiHT8shRpc\/s1600\/elecraft-bl2-balun-6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"508\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-9zcOVqEE_6k\/VpmqvGJvyLI\/AAAAAAAAYQg\/JZiHT8shRpc\/s640\/elecraft-bl2-balun-6.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EUpdate 2-8-2016\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EN4HAY recently performed a thorough test on the BL2 to measure its loss and current balance capabilities in blog (\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/zs6rsh.blogspot.com\/\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/zs6rsh.blogspot.com\/\u003C\/a\u003E) in\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/zs6rsh.blogspot.com\/2016\/02\/elecraft-bl2-balun-measurements.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethis blog post\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EThats all for now\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard, N4PBQ\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/6623979464561193912\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/01\/elecraft-bl2.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/6623979464561193912"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/6623979464561193912"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/01\/elecraft-bl2.html","title":"Elecraft BL2"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-ujT84GlZ_3E\/VpmqvGsWw_I\/AAAAAAAAYQk\/1BS07LATTQk\/s72-c\/elecraft-bl2-balun-7.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-4206463170760278463"},"published":{"$t":"2016-01-08T23:15:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:35:09.132-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Just stand up"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EThe \"Nifty Accessories\" KX3 stand\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-T5UXxtHYTio\/VpCDXT_ANGI\/AAAAAAAAYIA\/CGSWT5olsls\/s1600\/kx3_stand-9.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-T5UXxtHYTio\/VpCDXT_ANGI\/AAAAAAAAYIA\/CGSWT5olsls\/s640\/kx3_stand-9.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ENifty Accessories KX3 stand\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EThe Elecraft KX3 is naturally at home in the wild\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMy Elecraft KX3 is an incredible radio in many ways. \u0026nbsp;It's small size makes it a marvel for portable operations.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-GEheQ5Gt4r0\/Vk9cEjl2TQI\/AAAAAAAAXRc\/VkSV4dj4-mQ\/s1600\/Lake%2BWheeler%2BQRP%2B11-20-2015-9.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"355\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-GEheQ5Gt4r0\/Vk9cEjl2TQI\/AAAAAAAAXRc\/VkSV4dj4-mQ\/s640\/Lake%2BWheeler%2BQRP%2B11-20-2015-9.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EThe upward facing display of the KX3's short legs is ideal for remote, portable operations\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EBut on the desktop it's short stuff\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EBut for desktop operation the short rear legs make for a laid back angle that makes the display difficult to see and the buttons awkward to operate. \u0026nbsp;I home brewed a stand that I've used for the past few months. \u0026nbsp;It angled the radio more vertically but it was still low to the desk.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-12GIJYANCTY\/VixE84mizXI\/AAAAAAAAWWg\/7aM6uokUBuM\/s1600\/DSCF2669.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"476\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-12GIJYANCTY\/VixE84mizXI\/AAAAAAAAWWg\/7aM6uokUBuM\/s640\/DSCF2669.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EThe KX3 on my homebrew stand\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EThe KX3 \"Iron Throne\"\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI finally felt it was time to give the KX3 some love and give it a proper throne chair for its little princely demeanor. \u0026nbsp;The KX3 now has some height and sits more vertically. \u0026nbsp;Access to the face of the radio is much improved.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-MW0ieCuEH8Q\/VpCDV0JcuNI\/AAAAAAAAYH4\/rHXmrOqyU-g\/s1600\/kx3_stand-6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-MW0ieCuEH8Q\/VpCDV0JcuNI\/AAAAAAAAYH4\/rHXmrOqyU-g\/s640\/kx3_stand-6.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EHere's a closer view...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-YRj7fX0bAu0\/VpCDVwVMUtI\/AAAAAAAAYH8\/F6MdXSEf4Ss\/s1600\/kx3_stand-7.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-YRj7fX0bAu0\/VpCDVwVMUtI\/AAAAAAAAYH8\/F6MdXSEf4Ss\/s640\/kx3_stand-7.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIf you have a KX3 and use it on a desk in the shack the Nifty Accessories stand is a solid addition to improve the ergonomics of your little jewel. \u0026nbsp;It can be ordered with enough space to clear an attached paddle or lower to the desk if you prefer but I wanted the additional height to get it above some of my taller keys.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-Eyy9-9pzL3s\/VpCDSJpimEI\/AAAAAAAAYHs\/ScrNRCSeULE\/s1600\/kx3_stand-8.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-Eyy9-9pzL3s\/VpCDSJpimEI\/AAAAAAAAYHs\/ScrNRCSeULE\/s640\/kx3_stand-8.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EOne Suggestion... replace the paper clips\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe stand comes with big paper clips to hold the KX3 to the stand. \u0026nbsp;They are a a bit difficult to properly attach with all the cables exiting the KX3 on the left hand side and they look ugly.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-5rJTIsipCsw\/VpKu24DDRSI\/AAAAAAAAYJg\/AGNUo62uaUw\/s1600\/kx3_stand-7-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"420\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-5rJTIsipCsw\/VpKu24DDRSI\/AAAAAAAAYJg\/AGNUo62uaUw\/s640\/kx3_stand-7-2.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI replaced the two paper clips with a small bungee cord which I attach as a loop across the top of the stand. \u0026nbsp;The bungee cord connects to itself underneath the stand...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-WDobrnJRsb0\/VpKu4_nbf1I\/AAAAAAAAYJs\/dr7lc8aJvl0\/s1600\/kx3_stand-6-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-WDobrnJRsb0\/VpKu4_nbf1I\/AAAAAAAAYJs\/dr7lc8aJvl0\/s640\/kx3_stand-6-2.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-PmW1aPo6N4o\/VpKu570Y69I\/AAAAAAAAYJ0\/-AErLZxCdUU\/s1600\/kx3_stand-8-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"353\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-PmW1aPo6N4o\/VpKu570Y69I\/AAAAAAAAYJ0\/-AErLZxCdUU\/s640\/kx3_stand-8-2.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe feet of the KX3 then slip under the bungee cord. \u0026nbsp;It seems to hold it sufficiently and is easier to attach and remove the radio. \u0026nbsp;It looks nicer as well...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-rVu58VimLkA\/VpKu6lMoL9I\/AAAAAAAAYKA\/tVNEU9qVB0M\/s1600\/kx3_stand-9-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"360\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-rVu58VimLkA\/VpKu6lMoL9I\/AAAAAAAAYKA\/tVNEU9qVB0M\/s640\/kx3_stand-9-2.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-4kP54tYku_k\/VpKu34M-rEI\/AAAAAAAAYJo\/qdTt-1E5m5Y\/s1600\/kx3_stand-10.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"560\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-4kP54tYku_k\/VpKu34M-rEI\/AAAAAAAAYJo\/qdTt-1E5m5Y\/s640\/kx3_stand-10.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard, N4PBQ\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/4206463170760278463\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/01\/just-stand-up.html#comment-form","title":"4 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/4206463170760278463"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/4206463170760278463"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/01\/just-stand-up.html","title":"Just stand up"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-T5UXxtHYTio\/VpCDXT_ANGI\/AAAAAAAAYIA\/CGSWT5olsls\/s72-c\/kx3_stand-9.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"4"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-7885971998498230983"},"published":{"$t":"2016-01-07T18:31:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:35:09.179-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Oh what a relief it is..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EFixing the Ten-Tec Century\/21 Sidetone\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-align: start;\"\u003EI get some strange enjoyment out of using my\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/10\/ten-tec-century-21-cw-only-rig-ahead-of.html\" style=\"text-align: start;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E1977 Ten-Tec Century\/21 CW-only novice rig\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-align: start;\"\u003E. \u0026nbsp;It is a primitive radio for QRP(ish) CW operations but it has a charm that keeps drawing me back. \u0026nbsp;Maybe I just like to take the road less traveled.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-align: start;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-I2mGt2p2S2g\/Vo6rR0-7EaI\/AAAAAAAAYGc\/mY-7OmPdOQg\/s1600\/DSCF2789.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-I2mGt2p2S2g\/Vo6rR0-7EaI\/AAAAAAAAYGc\/mY-7OmPdOQg\/s640\/DSCF2789.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EForeground: Audio pre-amp board in the bottom half of the Ten-Tec Century\/21\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EIt has a charm but something had to change\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIf you've previously read my blog you'll recognize one of my nits about the Ten-Tec Century\/21 concerned its sidetone. \u0026nbsp;The same quad op-amp LM3900 chip is used for both the audio filter and produce the buzzy, square-wave sidetone. \u0026nbsp;The side tone pitch is fixed at 475 Hz while the audio selectivity filtering is centered around 750 Hz . \u0026nbsp;The sidetone \u003Ci\u003Evolume \u003C\/i\u003Eon the C21 is adjustable but the \u003Ci\u003Epitch \u003C\/i\u003Eis not. \u0026nbsp;The later model Ten-Tec Century\/22 offered adjustable pitch for the sidetone.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI had learned to live with the obnoxious sidetone and somehow even appreciated its novelty until I built an \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/12\/finer-than-frogs-hair-split-twice.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EElecraft AF1\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp; kit to tighten the audio-bandpass filtering for this radio. \u0026nbsp;The Elecraft AF1 does its job very well; so well in fact that when zero beating a CW signal it results in the audio peak pitched at 750 Hz (the natural center for the C21 audio filter), the external Elecraft audio filter in its tight filter mode then filters out the sidetone which is pitched a few hundred Hz below the CW audio signal. \u0026nbsp;That means that while my AF1 filtered the incoming CW wonderfully and provided much better selectivity than that provided by the C21's built-in filter, I couldn't hear my sidetone when sending. \u0026nbsp;I could hear the clacking of my straight key but when using a bug I was literally deaf to what I was sending.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI got around this problem temporarily by using my \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/11\/can-straight-key-really-coexist-with.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EHAM Keyer\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;as my key interface to the radio and listening to the sidetone from its external speaker (keeping one side of my headphones ajar). \u0026nbsp;Well that quickly became bothersome; both to me for having to wear my headphones askew, and to family members within earshot of the external keyer's audio. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EThe pitch of the sidetone needed to match the pitch of the received CW\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003ESo I decided I needed to change the pitch of the sidetone to match the 750 Hz audio center of the CW filtering built into the radio. \u0026nbsp;Doing so would allow my external bandpass audio filter to pass the sidetone at the same pitch I'm listening to received CW.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EA kind ham (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.qrz.com\/lookup\/WA4FOB\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EWA4FOB\u003C\/a\u003E)\u0026nbsp;sent an email suggesting that I modify the op-amp circuit generating the sidetone. \u0026nbsp;He told me that I needed to change the resistance of R1 in the 80356 audio preamp \u0026nbsp;schematic. \u0026nbsp;But apparently Ten-Tec made some running changes to the pre-amp audio board because quite a number of resistor values on my board didn't match the values listed in the schematic. For example, the schematic showed R1 as a 68K resistor but no such resistor with that value was on the board. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EA bit of detective work was required..\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h4\u003EThe 80356 preamp audio board is directly connected to the AF and Selectivity knobs on the face of the radio and removing the board turned out to be more difficult than it should be (longer story not recounted here). \u0026nbsp;So without the ability to trace the circuits from the bottom of the board I had to determine the correct resistor to modify by tracing it backward to the correct pin on LM3900 by measuring resistance between components.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Sd6EnxH-4ls\/Vo6vfFP8m4I\/AAAAAAAAYGo\/lTjQkTsshQE\/s1600\/sidetone-op-amp-circuit.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"246\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Sd6EnxH-4ls\/Vo6vfFP8m4I\/AAAAAAAAYGo\/lTjQkTsshQE\/s640\/sidetone-op-amp-circuit.PNG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOp-amp schematic for the TT-C21 sidetone\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EThe result\u003C\/h3\u003EIn the end it took me a little over an hour to find the correct resistor and then, with some trial and error, determine the correct resistance to add in parallel to bring the pitch up to 750 Hz.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003ER1 \u003C\/b\u003Eon my radio turned out to be a 47K ohm resistor rather than the 68K value indicated in the schematic. \u0026nbsp;I knew that I needed to lower it's resistance to cause the tone generation to raise pitch so I tested a few resistor values before settling on a 33K ohm resistor to be used in parallel with R1. \u0026nbsp;That gave me a resulting resistance value of:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E1 \/ (1\/47000\u0026nbsp;+ 1\/33000) = 19387 ohm\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EA resistance of 19387 ohm results in the sidetone pitch generated by one of the LM3900 op-amps very near my goal of 750 Hz. \u0026nbsp;The sidetone pitch now lies within the bandbass of my external filter and matches the received CW natural volume peak at 750 Hz. Another benefit\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;of raising the pitch \u0026nbsp;has been to smooth out the\u0026nbsp;brassy square wave. \u0026nbsp;It is now quite pleasant to listen to. \u0026nbsp;I may miss that old buzz-saw sidetone... \u0026nbsp;Nah, I won't.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAll-in-all this was a fun little bit of detective work for an electronics novice such as myself. \u0026nbsp;I am quite satisfied with the result of this simple modification.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-jXfEySOUS48\/Vo6yvgYlS3I\/AAAAAAAAYHA\/G7FUNMLhUDc\/s1600\/sidetone-mod-close.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"522\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-jXfEySOUS48\/Vo6yvgYlS3I\/AAAAAAAAYHA\/G7FUNMLhUDc\/s640\/sidetone-mod-close.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E33K ohm resistor soldered in parallel with R1 to raise the sidetone pitch to 750 Hz\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EScared of electronics?\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI must admit that even though HAM radio has historically had a strong focus on electronics my background is completely devoid of working with electronics. \u0026nbsp;I was simply an \"appliance user\" of radios. But purchasing this old, inexpensive radio has been a boon for learning about a subject I should have studied long ago. \u0026nbsp;When I bought this radio it had a number of quirks. \u0026nbsp;The radio arrived with previous owner(s) modifications for driving an external amplifier and other \"features\". Some of those modifications negatively impacted both the QSK and the drive adjustment. \u0026nbsp;I spent hours studying the schematic and probing around the radio before I determined what to remove to get it back to a more factory-standard state. \u0026nbsp;It has been a great learning opportunity. \u0026nbsp;Since the radio was relatively inexpensive I am not too concerned about breaking it and the circuitry doesn't get much simpler in a transceiver than this.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EPick up an old clunker to mess around with\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EMy little investigations\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;under the covers of this rig have encouraged me to consider building\u0026nbsp;something more complicated than the regen-radio and audio filter kits that I've built to-date. \u0026nbsp;Without the Ten-Tec C21 I don't think I would have the confidence to move forward in my\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003Enascent\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;journey into the world of electronics.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EIf you are an amateur radio operator who, like me, is a total novice at electronics consider picking up an older solid-state radio such as this one just to learn about electronics and experiment on. \u0026nbsp;I think it will encourage you to learn more and become a better ham. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EBut as with all things that run on and generate voltages that can maim or kill, go slow in your learning process and take precautions to keep yourself and bystanders from injury.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThat's all for now.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ci\u003ELower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003ERichard, N4PBQ"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/7885971998498230983\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/01\/oh-what-relief-it-is.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/7885971998498230983"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/7885971998498230983"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/01\/oh-what-relief-it-is.html","title":"Oh what a relief it is..."}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-I2mGt2p2S2g\/Vo6rR0-7EaI\/AAAAAAAAYGc\/mY-7OmPdOQg\/s72-c\/DSCF2789.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-1688458256996110057"},"published":{"$t":"2015-12-29T01:07:00.002-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:35:09.104-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Finer than a frog's hair split twice"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EElecraft AF-1 Audio Filter Kit\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI've been working a lot of \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/12\/skcc-centurion-achievement.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESKCC\u003C\/a\u003E CW stations during the holidays and adjacent stations really interfere with my ability to use the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/10\/ten-tec-century-21-cw-only-rig-ahead-of.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Evintage Ten-Tec Century\/21\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;Its built-in audio filter is relatively effective if the band isn't too crowded but if I'm working a station and others pop up within a 1kHz on either side I have a real hard time keeping track of which QSO to listen to. \u0026nbsp;I wanted some relief from the relatively porous audio filtering provided by the old girl.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EA kit from Elecraft seemed to be the ticket to better signal isolation for my old radio.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-Ij-AjSvEcU4\/VoIXGZ-O9hI\/AAAAAAAAX1E\/-evex9fTIFE\/s1600\/Elecraft%2BAF-1_-7.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-Ij-AjSvEcU4\/VoIXGZ-O9hI\/AAAAAAAAX1E\/-evex9fTIFE\/s640\/Elecraft%2BAF-1_-7.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EElecraft AF-1 Audio Filter Kit\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EBuilding the kit\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis kit is about $60 and is pretty easy to build \u0026nbsp;There are a couple of ICs to solder so it will be easier if you have a temperature controlled, fine tipped soldering iron. Santa brought me a nice soldering iron for Christmas so this was my first chance to make some use of it. Everything about the kit is very straightforward and Elecraft has wonderful build instructions along with a well laid out board. Their instructions list components in the order that you will be installing them on the board, left to right and even include the color coding or numbering for resistors and capacitors right there in the instructions so you don't have to keep going back to look up the coding. \u0026nbsp;I've only built one other kit previously and the Elecraft instructions are better.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMy only gripe is that this kit has been out for quite some time, but for some reason they shipped me a Version \"A\" board that required a trace to be cut and a couple of jumpers installed to correct a board error. \u0026nbsp;I would hope that they would ship new versions of the board but apparently you can get an old version. \u0026nbsp;Next time I order a kit from them I may specify that I want the latest revision of the kit.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EPerformance\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe board powered up and worked right as the last of the solder smoke was wafting away. \u0026nbsp;I connected it to the Ten-Tec and tried to find some adjacent station operations to test against but the bands were not terribly busy tonight. I did manage to get a decent audio test on a calling station and created a video to demonstrate the board's capabilities.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/le3zKNHXT_8\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/le3zKNHXT_8?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch4\u003ESummary\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis is the first kit I've built from Elecraft. \u0026nbsp;It was a simple one. \u0026nbsp;The instructions were excellent, the silkscreen layout on the board was straightforward and all the parts were in the bag. \u0026nbsp;The kit does not come with an enclosure so it looks a bit unfinished and the knobs are a bit wobbly on their tall, plastic shafts. \u0026nbsp;That is my only negative concern regarding the finished kit. \u0026nbsp;Putting it in an enclosure would also require the battery holder to be moved to the bottom of the board to clear the shafts exiting the top of an enclosure. \u0026nbsp;Certainly not a big deal but I would be willing to pay an extra $10 for a ready made enclosure because when I've tried to make them they look like junk.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EBut the bottom line is that if you have an older radio that lacks good filtering or you've built a homebrew radio that you want to be more usable on the air, the Elecraft AF-1 is an excellent addition. \u0026nbsp;I think it is going to serve me well with my vintage radio. \u0026nbsp;Now to find a project box to fit it.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-FqhyK5QLnU0\/VoIXGAHREdI\/AAAAAAAAX1Q\/4shqDJQpeyQ\/s1600\/Elecraft%2BAF-1_-6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"300\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-FqhyK5QLnU0\/VoIXGAHREdI\/AAAAAAAAX1Q\/4shqDJQpeyQ\/s400\/Elecraft%2BAF-1_-6.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-_Eg4Mpui2Zo\/VoIXGslASSI\/AAAAAAAAX1U\/XaH-NKU7zWo\/s1600\/Elecraft%2BAF-1_-8.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"300\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-_Eg4Mpui2Zo\/VoIXGslASSI\/AAAAAAAAX1U\/XaH-NKU7zWo\/s400\/Elecraft%2BAF-1_-8.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-1pDCPYeshLA\/VoIW8XwxZ0I\/AAAAAAAAX00\/2ngVpaY3L1w\/s1600\/Elecraft%2BAF-1_-11.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"261\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-1pDCPYeshLA\/VoIW8XwxZ0I\/AAAAAAAAX00\/2ngVpaY3L1w\/s400\/Elecraft%2BAF-1_-11.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E73\/72\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard, N4PBQ\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/1688458256996110057\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/12\/finer-than-frogs-hair-split-twice.html#comment-form","title":"4 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/1688458256996110057"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/1688458256996110057"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/12\/finer-than-frogs-hair-split-twice.html","title":"Finer than a frog's hair split twice"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-Ij-AjSvEcU4\/VoIXGZ-O9hI\/AAAAAAAAX1E\/-evex9fTIFE\/s72-c\/Elecraft%2BAF-1_-7.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"4"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-2178802740546923268"},"published":{"$t":"2015-12-20T06:31:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:35:09.111-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Which antenna is better?"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EReal world antenna comparisons\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI don't have many choices for my antenna at my residential QTH. \u0026nbsp;I have an \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/11\/the-amazing-80m-multi-band-windom.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E80m OCF Dipole\u003C\/a\u003E (aka Windom) hung from the peak of my roof at about 25ft and a \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/08\/the-attic-antenna-revisited.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eladder line fed 40m Doublet\u003C\/a\u003E folded around in my attic at about the same height.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EGenerally I've been using my 80m Windom for most contacts because it is resonant on 7 bands and I don't have to tune it. \u0026nbsp;I've had a number of on-air ragchews where I switch antennas and ask for signal reports but it is often a hassle and I don't like to interrupt a ragchew to ask for that sort of comparison.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo how do I know which antenna is better for certain bands and directions?\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EThe RBN\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.reversebeacon.net\/dxsd1\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EReverse Beacon Network\u003C\/a\u003E offers an objective and patient antenna tester. \u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/12\/can-anybody-hear-me.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EI just recently learned about this resource\u003C\/a\u003E and it's a fabulous tool. \u0026nbsp;When my CQ isn't being answered I'll often bring up the RBN and check my signal reports and then switch antennas to see how they compare.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIt has been very interesting to learn that the Doublet in the attic often outperforms my Windom usually by 12db and sometimes by as much as 20db especially on the higher bands. \u0026nbsp;I'm guessing that part of it is the greater efficiency in the ladder line but that doesn't tell the whole story because the Windom offers a low SWR on most bands and shouldn't be eating up much power in the coax through SWR losses. \u0026nbsp;Antennas are magic.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-2sNPf2fDgvA\/VnXS9SoyuqI\/AAAAAAAAXyI\/Qq1PEi2zuJ0\/s1600\/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-12-19%2Bat%2B4.42.32%2BPM.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"406\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-2sNPf2fDgvA\/VnXS9SoyuqI\/AAAAAAAAXyI\/Qq1PEi2zuJ0\/s640\/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-12-19%2Bat%2B4.42.32%2BPM.png\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ETwo highlighted records show the difference when I switched antennas and moved the transmit frequency slightly to cause a new report to be sent\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EProcess\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EOk so here's what I do... The RBN stations will report only when they see a new frequency or it's been 15 minutes since the last report for a given station, so when I switch antennas I will move frequency slightly to trigger the new report. \u0026nbsp;Now admittedly QSB or other conditions may change between the reports so you'll need to do this a bunch of times over the course of days and compile some records to get a clear idea of how each antenna is performing in certain directions. \u0026nbsp;This isn't hard science but it's more real-world than a smith chart or the occasional signal report from a station or two.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIf you make use of the RBN I encourage you to donate on their site.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard N4PBQ\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/2178802740546923268\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/12\/which-antenna-is-better.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/2178802740546923268"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/2178802740546923268"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/12\/which-antenna-is-better.html","title":"Which antenna is better?"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-2sNPf2fDgvA\/VnXS9SoyuqI\/AAAAAAAAXyI\/Qq1PEi2zuJ0\/s72-c\/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-12-19%2Bat%2B4.42.32%2BPM.png","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-3401224630809518696"},"published":{"$t":"2015-12-19T08:26:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:35:09.126-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Vertical Space"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003ETaking my station to new heights\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMy burgeoning QRP station was getting messy, having stuff strewn all over the desk, so I made a shelf from some junk laying around to give me some vertical space.  It is much more organized now.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-FakFVhNp8Gc\/VnVUsA9FStI\/AAAAAAAAXwM\/IIKR6IGM2zU\/s1600\/DSCF2769.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-FakFVhNp8Gc\/VnVUsA9FStI\/AAAAAAAAXwM\/IIKR6IGM2zU\/s640\/DSCF2769.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EA shelf helps\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cb\u003ELeft to right top shelf:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOzark Patrol Regen Receiver Kit, MFJ Versa Tuner providing both tuning and antenna switching duties, Two Position Rig switch on top (blue box), Ham Keyer (circa '78) electronic keyer\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ELeft to right under shelf:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EYaesu HT connected to home-brew J-Pole in attic, two switching power supplies, VHF\/UHF meter, Elecraft KX3, Ten-Tec Century\/21 (circa '77), Homebrew frequency counter on top of TT)\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EThree keys:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBencher paddles, Vibroplex Bug, Kent Hand Key\u003Cbr \/\u003EThat's all for now.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E73\/72\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard N4PBQ\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/3401224630809518696\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/12\/vertical-space.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/3401224630809518696"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/3401224630809518696"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/12\/vertical-space.html","title":"Vertical Space"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-FakFVhNp8Gc\/VnVUsA9FStI\/AAAAAAAAXwM\/IIKR6IGM2zU\/s72-c\/DSCF2769.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-8643741022202727424"},"published":{"$t":"2015-12-13T08:07:00.002-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:35:09.197-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"QRP fun and games in the December SKCC WES"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003ESprinting with a Straight Key - QRP Style\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo far in my CW\/QRP trek I had not entered a contest nor tried to work so-called \"sprints\" other than making a few casual contacts. \u0026nbsp;My copy skills and knowledge of what was going on just was not up to the task. \u0026nbsp;But after getting my SKCC Centurion certificate last week I was motivated to accelerate my timeline for making the SKCC Tribune level and for that I needed 50 new Centurion contacts. \u0026nbsp;This weekend was the December \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.skccgroup.com\/operating_activities\/weekend_sprintathon\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESKCC WES (weekend sprintathon)\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;and I determined to make an effort to see how this sprint stuff worked.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI operated 5 watts QRP and used my \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/11\/dont-bug-out-when-hearing-vibroplex.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EVibroplex Bug\u003C\/a\u003E for most contacts but switched to my \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/09\/review-of-kent-hand-key.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EKent Straight key\u003C\/a\u003E for stations that were sending slower than 13 wpm.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESKCC operators only use manual keys; straight keys, bugs and cooties during SKCC contacts. \u0026nbsp;So, in general, the operating speed is quite sedate compared to other sprints or contests. \u0026nbsp;I'd guess most exchanges were below 20 wpm. \u0026nbsp;That is a good thing for a new CW operator. \u0026nbsp;The flip side to that is that the operators are all using manual keys and thus the precision of the Morse Code that would be lent by an electronic keyer is let's say, missing. \u0026nbsp;While most stations I worked had great sounding FISTs I was challenged on a few occasions to copy some very non-standard sounding code so, as they say; YMMV.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EFor the most part I called CQ rather than tuning around for contacts. There were a few times where multiple stations answered at once and I admit that I couldn't make heads or tales of what I heard and just sent AGN? until I could hear part of one call separated from the others. \u0026nbsp;I have a greater respect now for contest operators who can pick a call out of the cacophony of multiple stations calling on the same frequency.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EMy \"Weekend\" Sprintathon was actually only 3 hours\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI only had the opportunity to operate for about 45 minutes Saturday morning when there were a lot of stations looking for contacts, then I had to break until around noon and the bands were not as lively. \u0026nbsp;I then had another break until late afternoon before I had a Christmas party to attend, so in total I only had about 3 hours. \u0026nbsp; The WES is actually still running but you can only operate for 24 hours of the 36 hour sprint so my 24 hour window is over.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIn my 3 hours had a rather poor showing of 41 contacts but I recognize that if I could have operated longer during the morning and some Saturday evening I certainly could have logged more contacts. \u0026nbsp;Nonetheless, it was a good experience. \u0026nbsp;I realize I need to work on copying call signs. \u0026nbsp;I'm used to listening to them at least a couple of times to copy them but often in a sprint or contest they are only sent once so you need to be listening carefully. \u0026nbsp; After maybe a \u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003Edozen more\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;such sprints I might think about entering an actual contest.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch4\u003ELog Snippet\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-SVQaeLJkwy8\/VmzV4cfQg3I\/AAAAAAAAXoU\/cMKQ2hUqDc4\/s1600\/skcc-logger.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"304\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-SVQaeLJkwy8\/VmzV4cfQg3I\/AAAAAAAAXoU\/cMKQ2hUqDc4\/s640\/skcc-logger.PNG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ESKCC Logger\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Ch4\u003ESummary\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMy goal was to get 50 new Centurion contacts but as you can see from my log summary above there were only 3 \"Cs\" logged. \u0026nbsp;Centurions appear to be the rarest of the breed so getting to Tribune is going to take longer than I thought. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECorrection\u003C\/b\u003E: I was contacted by a couple of SKCC members to tell me that any new contacts since my Centurion award with Cs, Ts or Ss count toward the Tribune. \u0026nbsp;Also they told me the 24 hours is operating time rather than a window... so I should have hung in there but I already submitted my log so I'll know better next month.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo if you are a new(ish) CW operator and want a low stress, slow speed introduction to a contest \"type\" event, \u0026nbsp;I can highly recommend the SKCC WES. \u0026nbsp;I think it's also ideal for QRP operators because these don't seem to be zillowatt station operators or big-gun contester types working these events and your modest power should be sufficient. \u0026nbsp;One suggestion is that if you're calling CQ rather than chasing stations you will only be getting called by stations who can hear you well enough to copy and likely their signal to you will be better than yours to them so that makes it even easier.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E73\/72\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard N4PBQ\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/8643741022202727424\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/12\/qrp-fun-and-games-in-december-skcc-wes.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/8643741022202727424"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/8643741022202727424"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/12\/qrp-fun-and-games-in-december-skcc-wes.html","title":"QRP fun and games in the December SKCC WES"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-SVQaeLJkwy8\/VmzV4cfQg3I\/AAAAAAAAXoU\/cMKQ2hUqDc4\/s72-c\/skcc-logger.PNG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-3209558179654046693"},"published":{"$t":"2015-12-08T19:42:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:35:09.117-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"SKCC Centurion Achievement "},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EI set forth my hand on key...\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-lUbQ0TU2yyM\/VljvloK2XEI\/AAAAAAAAXck\/WfpT1sCelqY\/s1600\/DSCF2729.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"312\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-lUbQ0TU2yyM\/VljvloK2XEI\/AAAAAAAAXck\/WfpT1sCelqY\/s400\/DSCF2729.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EOnly manual keys like straight keys and bugs count on SKCC contacts\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EI joined the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.skccgroup.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESKCC\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;when I started operating CW in late August this year. \u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESKCC \u003C\/b\u003Eis an abbreviation for \"\u003Cb\u003EStraight Key Century Club\" \u003C\/b\u003E(not to be confused with \u003Cb\u003E\"\u003Cu\u003ESilent Key\u003C\/u\u003E Century Club\"\u003C\/b\u003E). \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/blockquote\u003ESKCC is an organization similar to FISTS, dedicated to promoting Morse Code \/ CW operations, but in particular, fostering the continued use of manual keys (straight keys, bugs and side-swipers) because of the historical significance of manual keys in Morse Code. \u0026nbsp;The SKCC group has some nice tools on their website for looking up member information as well as a special link to the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.obriensweb.com\/sked\/index.php?board=skcc\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EK3UK Sked site\u003C\/a\u003E so that you can arrange a QSO whenever you like.\u0026nbsp; You don't have to call CQ till you're blue in the knuckles, just post your frequency to the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.obriensweb.com\/sked\/index.php?board=skcc\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESked page\u003C\/a\u003E and within a couple of minutes you'll likely be in a QSO... the only caveat is \u0026nbsp;you should be using a manual key (no electronic keyer).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EAwards and activities\u003C\/h3\u003ESKCC members are an active and chatty group of operators who exchange their member numbers even when not in a contest. \u0026nbsp; They offer a number of achievement awards; some awards are for logging contacts with active SKCC members over time. \u0026nbsp;The first achievement level is the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.skccgroup.com\/operating_awards\/centurion\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECenturion Achievement\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E which is given for 100 unique SKCC member contacts. \u0026nbsp;I hadn't been keeping close track of my count of unique SKCC contacts but I figured I likely had over a 100 unique. I finally went through my log and found that I had over 150 unique SKCC contacts since I became a SKCC member. \u0026nbsp;So I submitted my log to the SKCC and within a couple of hours it was verified and I received this amusing notification via email of my achievement:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-JQpzMbkWqmo\/VmdwU-klK1I\/AAAAAAAAXm4\/uTIKqPHsBiY\/s1600\/Centurion.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"200\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-JQpzMbkWqmo\/VmdwU-klK1I\/AAAAAAAAXm4\/uTIKqPHsBiY\/s200\/Centurion.jpg\" width=\"88\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 12.0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHear Ye! Hear Ye! Gather 'round and pay heed to the news of this day !\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ELet there be celebration to recognize a fellow SKCC member who has advanced to the Centurion level of SKCC achievement !!!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHaving submitted a log and sworn statement, documenting the completion of QSOs with 100 other SKCC members, Richard Carpenter, N4PBQ, SKCC #14276, is duly proclaimed to be SKCC Centurion Number 1261 effective at 0000Z on \u003Cspan class=\"aBn\" data-term=\"goog_1530547735\" tabindex=\"0\"\u003E9 Dec 2015\u003C\/span\u003E. SKCC Centurions are encouraged to proclaim their accomplishment by appending a C to their SKCC Number.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe Master Centurion List has been duly scribed where all SKCC Members may reflect upon and pay tribute to this momentous achievement. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EDuly approved, recorded, and published.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI set forth my hand and key. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"aBn\" data-term=\"goog_1530547736\" tabindex=\"0\"\u003E8 Dec 2015\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ERon Bower, AC2C\u003Cbr \/\u003ESKCC 2748S\u003Cbr \/\u003ESKCC Centurion Administrator\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003EAs a new CW operator little things like this are nice incentives to keep moving forward with my on-air activities. \u0026nbsp;This isn't contesting but I feel like I am achieving something as I reach little milestones.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EUpdate 12-19-2015\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003EWell going from Centurion to Tribune is pretty easy when you spend some time in the weekend sprint. \u0026nbsp;My Tribune level was confirmed today, but going from Tribune to Senator is quite a long road so I expect it to take more than 11 days haha.\u003C\/blockquote\u003EThat's all for now\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E72\/73\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ERichard N4PBQ\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/3209558179654046693\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/12\/skcc-centurion-achievement.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/3209558179654046693"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/3209558179654046693"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/12\/skcc-centurion-achievement.html","title":"SKCC Centurion Achievement "}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-lUbQ0TU2yyM\/VljvloK2XEI\/AAAAAAAAXck\/WfpT1sCelqY\/s72-c\/DSCF2729.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-9147059216508898659"},"published":{"$t":"2015-12-05T14:56:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:35:09.202-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Junkbox eardrum saver"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EVolume control for my volume control\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo my lovely 1977 Ten-Tec Century\/21 transceiver has not-so-lovely CW sidetone. \u0026nbsp;The sidetone has a pronounced thump or pop on the first key-down of each letter. When listening through the external speaker it's not too noticeable but when wearing headphones it becomes really obnoxious and even painful during a long ragchew.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThere is a variable resistor on the C21's audio board for the side-tone but it doesn't eliminate the pop, in fact it makes it more pronounced as the sidetone volume is reduced and it is least pronounced when the volume is increased but then the sidetone is really, really loud, especially when using headphones.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EBesides that, the headphone AF output is quite\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Ehot\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;anyway even at the lowest AF level with my comfy Sennheiser headphones so I figured I could benefit from an in-line volume control. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI looked at ordering one but I've used in-line volume controls built-into headphones before and they always seem to go bad within a year so I scrounged around in my junkbox and found some variable resistors and volume pots. \u0026nbsp;I tested them and found one that goes from 10 ohm - 475 ohm so it seemed to fit the bill. \u0026nbsp;I fished around some more and found a 1970s era Switchcraft 1\/4\" phono plug and some more old lamp cord and I was in business.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI used the end cap from an old USB thumb drive to lend some mechanical strength to the attachment of the variable resistor to the cord. \u0026nbsp;Wallah, in-line volume control with a hip see-through enclosure.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-U0O3CAI8fn4\/VldigiEtseI\/AAAAAAAAXac\/gUCDVeSdoAk\/s1600\/20151126_100844.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"360\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-U0O3CAI8fn4\/VldigiEtseI\/AAAAAAAAXac\/gUCDVeSdoAk\/s640\/20151126_100844.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EJunkbox, in-line headphone volume control\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIt works great. \u0026nbsp;Now I can tone down the killer sidetone audio at the headphone jack from my old beauty and as a bonus, the old Switchcraft plug is a historical match for the C21. The variable resistor let's me tailor it to my ear fatigue. \u0026nbsp;I know this is a simple little 5 minute project but sometimes those are the ones that you appreciate the most.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-tUrxREZhnCc\/VldiggAez7I\/AAAAAAAAXag\/GyoBKOs5CWk\/s1600\/20151126_094641.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-tUrxREZhnCc\/VldiggAez7I\/AAAAAAAAXag\/GyoBKOs5CWk\/s640\/20151126_094641.jpg\" width=\"360\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EFree in-line volume control\u003Cbr \/\u003Emight buy me a couple of months of hearing in the future\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your volume and raise your hearing longevity\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E73\/72\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard - N4PBQ\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/9147059216508898659\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/12\/junkbox-eardrum-saver.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/9147059216508898659"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/9147059216508898659"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/12\/junkbox-eardrum-saver.html","title":"Junkbox eardrum saver"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-U0O3CAI8fn4\/VldigiEtseI\/AAAAAAAAXac\/gUCDVeSdoAk\/s72-c\/20151126_100844.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-6778114044821364360"},"published":{"$t":"2015-12-02T19:20:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:35:09.171-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Can anybody hear me"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;\"\u003ECalling QRP CQ - Inconceivable\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-g-AFD-mqoa4\/Vl-KdcKjOEI\/AAAAAAAAXg4\/CfgUYnM6pjY\/s1600\/inconceivable.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-g-AFD-mqoa4\/Vl-KdcKjOEI\/AAAAAAAAXg4\/CfgUYnM6pjY\/s1600\/inconceivable.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMy \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/11\/the-amazing-80m-multi-band-windom.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E80m OCF Dipole\u003C\/a\u003E has been a surprisingly good antenna and I've made contacts with it on all bands except 6m and 160m. \u0026nbsp;Based on my past experience trying to tune up short antennas on 160m I really hadn't considered trying to use this Windom for 160m. \u0026nbsp;But through some email exchanges with another ham in Illinois who had recently put up a 160m antenna we decided to try a scheduled QSO on the top band. \u0026nbsp;So it was time to give the Windom a shot on 160m.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAmazingly my \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/11\/the-amazing-80m-multi-band-windom.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E80m Windom \/ OCF Dipole\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;has \u0026nbsp;4.5:1 SWR native around 1.8 mHz and it matches easily with a tuner across the entire 160m band. \u0026nbsp;That was a surprise.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003EI tossed my mighty 5 watts call out at 1810 kHz not expecting much...\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWithin a minute of calling CQ I had a faint QRP station from Maine tried to work me. \u0026nbsp;After about 4 tries I finally copied his call correctly but then lost him. \u0026nbsp;Immediately another station called me and we exchanged the niceties of signal reports, location, rigs and weather. \u0026nbsp;I received a nice 579 report for my 5w and I gave him a 599+ report for his thundering kilowatt station. \u0026nbsp;He needed to work my County so I was glad to be able to provide him with the contact. \u0026nbsp;Following that call the former QRP station from Maine was back in there and finally we worked each other. \u0026nbsp;We had a nice QRP to QRP QSO on the top band. \u0026nbsp;He gave me a 549 report but he was using a 400 ft beverage receive antenna. \u0026nbsp;I was struggling a bit more to copy him through local QRM on my side and a less qualified receive antenna and reported his signal as 339.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThose were my first two contacts on 160m using CW. \u0026nbsp;Who'd have thought my cloud burner antenna and QRP power would get me such quick results on the top band. \u0026nbsp;I just figured no one would hear me. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003ESo how \u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003Edo\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E you know if and where your signal is getting out ?\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EThe Reverse Beacon Network\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI had to quit right after those two QSOs but when I later checked my email the original station with whom I'd planned the scheduled QSO reported that although he had not heard me he said I was getting \u003Ci\u003Eout\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;and sent me a link to something called the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.reversebeacon.net\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ereverse beacon net\u003C\/a\u003E showing a couple of stations that were hearing me on 1810 kHz.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-QNngt21ga70\/Vl8wojY1P3I\/AAAAAAAAXf0\/mupBIAwKsBU\/s1600\/Capture.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"168\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-QNngt21ga70\/Vl8wojY1P3I\/AAAAAAAAXf0\/mupBIAwKsBU\/s640\/Capture.PNG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EYou mean I can find out in near realtime if and where my signal is being heard by an automated system? No way! \u0026nbsp;That is cooler than a Ronco Pocket Fisherman. \u0026nbsp;Recall that I'm relatively new at this stuff and this may be old hat for a lot of you. \u0026nbsp;But the ability to toss out your call and in real-time check where your signal is getting to just warms the push-pull final transistor in my heart.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe Reverse Beacon Network can give you the last 100 reports of your station. So I took a look and saw some of my weekend activity where I was shooting some fish in a barrel (I mean working contest stations) and there were beacon reports of my call from such places as far South as the Antilles and as far West as Utah.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-R1Kt-oYaHwo\/Vl9IeDYntkI\/AAAAAAAAXgk\/iuGfKgOZ0zY\/s1600\/beacon%2Bmap.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"348\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-R1Kt-oYaHwo\/Vl9IeDYntkI\/AAAAAAAAXgk\/iuGfKgOZ0zY\/s640\/beacon%2Bmap.PNG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EMap of the last 100 reports from Reverse Beacon stations of my call sign\u003Cbr \/\u003EColor coded by band\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo the reverse beacon network report tells you what station heard you, the frequency, the signal to noise ratio (higher is better) and your word per minute (wpm) speed. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EIt even includes a speedometer\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EBeing a new CW dude my word per minute speed is of interest to me. \u0026nbsp;Most of my QSOs in the past week have been at 15-16 wpm. \u0026nbsp;I'm using a Vibroplex Bug I received last weekend and have slowed it down with a home-made weight attached to a drywall anchor pressed on the end of the pendulum. \u0026nbsp;I found it interesting that some beacon stations reported me at 19-23 wpm. \u0026nbsp;I looked at the time and the frequency and realized that the higher speed was from my first on-air QSO using the Vibroplex Bug with N4HAY before I slowed it down with my junk box bug tamer. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-6RHRWxj7xbg\/Vl82s5q0N9I\/AAAAAAAAXgM\/gwJuM3wYi3I\/s1600\/speedy-bug.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"137\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-6RHRWxj7xbg\/Vl82s5q0N9I\/AAAAAAAAXgM\/gwJuM3wYi3I\/s640\/speedy-bug.PNG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EMy brief speed key session with N4HAY\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo if you are using a manual key and don't know what speed you are sending just check out a beacon to see what speed they are reporting.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ESummary\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis reverse beacon stuff has been around a while. So unless you're a newbie like me you probably already knew about it. \u0026nbsp;But if you haven't used before it's very cool, especially with regard to knowing how your QRP station is being heard. Are you making it 1000 mile per watt? \u0026nbsp;Is your antenna propagating East, West, North or South. \u0026nbsp;How and where is the skip? \u0026nbsp;This answers many questions that I had been wondering about as I'm operating. \u0026nbsp;A shiny new toy, just in time for Christmas\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo that's all for now.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E73\/72\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard N4PBQ\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/6778114044821364360\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/12\/can-anybody-hear-me.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/6778114044821364360"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/6778114044821364360"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/12\/can-anybody-hear-me.html","title":"Can anybody hear me"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-g-AFD-mqoa4\/Vl-KdcKjOEI\/AAAAAAAAXg4\/CfgUYnM6pjY\/s72-c\/inconceivable.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-748220725627366794"},"published":{"$t":"2015-11-27T19:30:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:35:09.176-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Don't Bug OUT when hearing a Vibroplex semi-automatic key"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EVibroplex Bug Morse Keys\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESince starting to work CW on-air a few months back I became familiar with the sound of other operators using Vibroplex Bug telegraph keys. \u0026nbsp;I have been curious to try one of these semi-automatic keys even though I know that they are not recommended for new operators.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-AV2Y_4LqnAE\/Vljs91rDgQI\/AAAAAAAAXb4\/-2YzO8wRQH0\/s1600\/DSCF2725.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-AV2Y_4LqnAE\/Vljs91rDgQI\/AAAAAAAAXb4\/-2YzO8wRQH0\/s640\/DSCF2725.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EVibroplex Original Semi-automatic Bug\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe Bug uses a sprung pendulum to automatically send DITS. \u0026nbsp;The action of moving the lever to the right starts the pendulum in motion and it creates evenly timed DITS automatically. \u0026nbsp;DAHS are created by manual timing moving the key to the left. \u0026nbsp;Using the key requires quite a bit more practice that using a straight key or paddles.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003EThe Vibroplex semi-automatic Bug is considered a manual key by the SKCC (Straight Key Century Club) so it counts in SKCC contacts.\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EUsed Bugs in decent working condition can often be had for under $70. \u0026nbsp;This one was advertised as being \"un-used new in box\". \u0026nbsp;Indeed, when I received it, it still had the shipping bumpers on the main spring and still had shipping grease. \u0026nbsp;The glue on the nameplate had deteriorated and come loose and there was significant oxidation on the parts. \u0026nbsp;This bug is a few decades old but that doesn't matter because Vibroplex bugs haven't changed much in design since 1907. \u0026nbsp;The history of their creator,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.telegraph-history.org\/horace-g-martin\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EHorace Martin\u003C\/a\u003E is interesting. \u0026nbsp;He created the bug to help deal with his own degraded sending ability due to long hours operating a straight key as a renowned telegrapher.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-tRYg1gUJFAU\/VljvlBxIPMI\/AAAAAAAAXcU\/CjDkhPK7aq8\/s1600\/Login_F5_MartinVibroplex.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-tRYg1gUJFAU\/VljvlBxIPMI\/AAAAAAAAXcU\/CjDkhPK7aq8\/s640\/Login_F5_MartinVibroplex.jpg\" width=\"397\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EHorace was a professional telegrapher so he designed the bug for professionals who sent at speeds well above what is normally used in amateur radio. \u0026nbsp;The slowest speed this bug can send DITS without modification is about 25wpm and goes well above 40wpm.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAs a beginning CW operator you will generally be well below that speed in your copy skills and likely your sending speed as well. \u0026nbsp;But when experienced hams work you with a bug they will slow their DAHS down to your speed, however without special added weights there's not much they can do to slow down their DITS to your speed. \u0026nbsp;This gives their FIST a unique sound. \u0026nbsp;The DAHS are sent slowly but the DITS are zinging by. \u0026nbsp;When you first hear this style your brain will not know how to interpret what you hear but give it some time and you will learn to copy them.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EYou can slow the Bug down by adding weight to the end of the pendulum. \u0026nbsp;An inexpensive method is to wrap the weight with some solder. \u0026nbsp;I've wrapped mine to bring it down to about 22wpm.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-gVvzBqj_jiU\/VljvfBx4FTI\/AAAAAAAAXcI\/-id7Bafg9Kc\/s1600\/DSCF2724.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"300\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-gVvzBqj_jiU\/VljvfBx4FTI\/AAAAAAAAXcI\/-id7Bafg9Kc\/s400\/DSCF2724.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EWrap the pendulum weight with solder to slow it a bit\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EHere is a little video letting you hear a bit of the cadence of the bug. \u0026nbsp;Now I just received this thing today and I practiced with it for about 30 minutes before making this video so I'm no bug operator for sure but it will give you some idea of the bug \"swing\"...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/2LeRJa3ZhfM\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2LeRJa3ZhfM?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EHere is a video running through the keys to see if learning a Vibroplex messes up my ability to use a paddle with an electronic keyer\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/jWSmBKmNObA\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/jWSmBKmNObA?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe Vibroplex Bug next to a Kent Hand Key.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-lUbQ0TU2yyM\/VljvloK2XEI\/AAAAAAAAXck\/WfpT1sCelqY\/s1600\/DSCF2729.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"500\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-lUbQ0TU2yyM\/VljvloK2XEI\/AAAAAAAAXck\/WfpT1sCelqY\/s640\/DSCF2729.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EManual Morse Code Keys\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo don't \"bug out\" when you hear one of these on the air.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E73\/72\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard - N4PBQ\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/748220725627366794\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/11\/dont-bug-out-when-hearing-vibroplex.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/748220725627366794"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/748220725627366794"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/11\/dont-bug-out-when-hearing-vibroplex.html","title":"Don't Bug OUT when hearing a Vibroplex semi-automatic key"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-AV2Y_4LqnAE\/Vljs91rDgQI\/AAAAAAAAXb4\/-2YzO8wRQH0\/s72-c\/DSCF2725.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-146159433205458941"},"published":{"$t":"2015-11-24T20:08:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:55:56.108-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Learn Morse Code - All the Cool kids are doing it"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;arial\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;tahoma\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;helvetica\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;freesans\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;\"\u003EAmaze your friends \/ Confound your enemies\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;arial\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;tahoma\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;helvetica\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;freesans\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EOk so maybe all the cool kids aren't doing it... who wants to be a cool kid anyway? \u0026nbsp;They have issues.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;arial\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;tahoma\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;helvetica\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;freesans\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-xH5oFRyojeU\/VlPIq_u-TgI\/AAAAAAAAXXI\/NY-WGfvCBTo\/s1600\/DSCF2715.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"325\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-xH5oFRyojeU\/VlPIq_u-TgI\/AAAAAAAAXXI\/NY-WGfvCBTo\/s400\/DSCF2715.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Chr \/\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003ESo whats up with all this beeping?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EMorse code is fundamentally a method of encoding every letter in the alphabet plus numbers and punctuation as two pieces of data. Two sounds actually, one 3 times longer than the other. \u0026nbsp;If you were to speak the two sounds out loud one would sound like\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDIT\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003Eand the other\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDAH\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E. \u0026nbsp;That's it. \u0026nbsp;That's all you have to know. \u0026nbsp;Two sounds, one 3 times longer than the other. There, and you thought this would be hard? \u0026nbsp;Pah!\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-hS4LnLPFtF4\/VcERF-XqJJI\/AAAAAAAAU2I\/kVpMnlvyO84\/s1600\/DSC_5017.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-hS4LnLPFtF4\/VcERF-XqJJI\/AAAAAAAAU2I\/kVpMnlvyO84\/s640\/DSC_5017.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EBeep Beeeeeep -- There you have it... Morse Code. \u0026nbsp;Any questions?\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EWhy is it called Morse Code?\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESamuel Morse was a painter. Yep, a portrait painter. Ah, you're thinking he must have painted numerology into his portraits thus developing a \"code\". \u0026nbsp;Nope, nothing so cloak and dagger. The motivation for his invention was due to a sad event in his life.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWhile he was painting a portrait of the Marquis de Lafayette in Washing DC he received a message delivered by a messenger on horseback telling him that his wife at home in New Haven Connecticut was sick.  He received another message the following day informing him that she had died.  He immediately returned home but she was already buried. Morse was heartbroken that his wife had been ill for days before he could receive a message.  He decided to explore a means of long distance communication. Along with his assistant Alfred Vail they developed the primary language used in telegraphy across the world and collaborated with other men to design the mechanism to deliver messages in Morse Code over long distances.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe rest is, as they say, \"\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Samuel_Morse\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehistory\u003C\/a\u003E\"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EWhy learn Morse code?\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMorse code has been in use for over 160 years, the longest of any electrical coding system. Morse code is still transmitted by some automated aviation beacons and the US Navy still (?) employs the code when using signal lamps for radio silence operations. \u0026nbsp;Submarines have signal lamps in their periscopes. \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.goodfellow.af.mil\/News\/ArticleDisplay\/tabid\/322\/Article\/590391\/morse-code-training-moving-to-goodfellow.aspx\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMorse code is still taught by the Air Force at Goodfellow base in Texas\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo that's cool but the main reason to learn and use Morse code is for use in amateur radio. \u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Continuous_wave\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECW \u003C\/a\u003E(continuous wave) communication is the most energy efficient mode of electronic wireless communication that doesn't require computerized encoding\/decoding. \u0026nbsp;In the case of Morse Code the human is the modem. \u0026nbsp;CW mode allows amateur radio operators to communicate world wide at \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/10\/the-perception-of-power.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EQRP\u003C\/a\u003E (low power) and QRPp (very low power) levels. CW's power density and simple transmitter\/receiver requirements provides for simplified station operations and ideal emergency operations. \u0026nbsp;You can carry a small, battery powered radio and some wire in your backpack and talk around the world. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ECW is small but powerful\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003ECW uses between 100Hz and 150Hz of bandwidth compared to 2400Hz - 3000Hz used by phone modes. \u0026nbsp;That makes it about 20 times more efficient, or put another way, your signal to noise is improved by a factor of 20 over phone. \u0026nbsp;It's also easier to copy (interpret) a CW signal down in the noise than a spoken voice.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EA 5 watt CW station can run off of AA batteries or a small solar panel and communicate locally, say across the county coordinating emergency services via ground wave, or to other continents for message exchange. \u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/08\/cw-net-ops-practice-for-zombie.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EQRP radios operating CW are the ultimate fallback mode for emergency communication\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EBut the real reason to learn Morse code is that it's fun and unique. \u0026nbsp;Learning it can be the mental equivalent of climbing a mountain and, most importantly, \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/files.qrz.com\/y\/sp9ery\/SP9ZHQ3.JPG\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eall the cool kids are doing it\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Chr \/\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003ESo you want to learn \"the code\"\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EUsually your first exposure to Morse code will be some chart that shows you what combination of DITs and DAHs (or dots and dashes) make up each character. \u0026nbsp;This might encourage you to listen for the individual DITs and DAHs to learn the code. \u0026nbsp;But \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.myextralife.com\/comic\/its-a\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eit's a trap\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;There is a part of your brain that counts and another part that handles language. \u0026nbsp;The part that counts will quickly hit a limit as to how fast it can count and interpret what you are hearing. \u0026nbsp;The part that handles language is designed to interpret and transmit communication at incredible speed but the language part of you brain works with sound.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThus you have to approach learning Morse Code as a language by the way it sounds. \u0026nbsp;An \"A\" sounds like DIT DAH. \u0026nbsp;Say it out loud a couple of times, go ahead, don't be embarrassed, the people around will simply think you've finally lost it and pull out that power of attorney they've been keeping in the drawer. \u0026nbsp;Ok are you saying DIT DAH? If so you are hearing the letter A. \u0026nbsp;Congratulations, you just learned the first letter of the alphabet in Morse Code. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EA \"C\" in Morse Code sounds like DAH DIT DAH DIT. \u0026nbsp;It has a beautiful rhythm when you listen to it out loud. \u0026nbsp;Go ahead and shout it out, you've got nothing to lose at this point. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo, if you have toyed around with learning Morse Code and have some visual chart with dots and dashes. Shred that chart right now. \u0026nbsp;Go ahead and do it. \u0026nbsp;I'll wait... Did you shred it? \u0026nbsp;Ok let's proceed.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-GpgHjOZR1q0\/VlOPdozrk0I\/AAAAAAAAXWw\/MQlk97o0IUs\/s1600\/keep%2Bcalm.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"170\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-GpgHjOZR1q0\/VlOPdozrk0I\/AAAAAAAAXWw\/MQlk97o0IUs\/s200\/keep%2Bcalm.PNG\" width=\"200\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E Methodology\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EThere are probably as many ways to learn Morse Code as there are days of the year but I'll address the two ways I learned it. \u0026nbsp;First, a wrong way, then a right way.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EOne wrong way\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EMorse Code was a requirement for my General amateur radio license in 2006, but I only had to prove copy skills at 5 words per minute. \u0026nbsp;Someone recommended a set of tapes that employed mnemonic phrases to memorize each letter. \u0026nbsp;Basically each letter \"sounds\" like some phrase. \u003Cb\u003EI'm going to tell you one of the\u0026nbsp;mnemonic phrases as an example but please immediately erase it from your memory because it takes a long time to un-learn this method\u003C\/b\u003E. The letter \"Y\" sounds like the following phrase said out loud \"\u003Ci\u003EWhy did I die?\u003C\/i\u003E\" \u0026nbsp;OK, now just imagine you've memorized some phrase like that for every letter of the alphabet and punctuation mark. \u0026nbsp;Now every time you hear a letter in Morse Code one of these phrases runs through your head and you have to let it run its course before the letter pops out on the other side of your consciousness. You can understand how crippling this becomes when the speed goes above 5 words per minute. \u0026nbsp;Trying to counts DITs and DAHs hits the same wall.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EOne right way\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI'm not going out on a limb to say there is only one right way to learn Morse Code so I will say that what follows is \"One right way\" to learn the code and it is working for me.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ELearn the code by its \u003Ci\u003Esound\u003C\/i\u003E. Learn the code by its \u003Ci\u003Esound\u003C\/i\u003E. Learn the code by its \u003Ci\u003Esound\u003C\/i\u003E. Let's review: Learn the code by its \u003Ci\u003Esound\u003C\/i\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThere are lots of different software applications out there that will teach you the code by the way it sounds. \u0026nbsp;Many employ two well established methodologies; the Farnsworth Method and the Koch Method.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EFarnsworth Method\u003C\/h3\u003ELearn the \u003Cb\u003Esound \u003C\/b\u003Eof the \u003Cb\u003Eletters \u003C\/b\u003Eat the \u003Cb\u003Efull target speed \u003C\/b\u003Eyou wish to be able to copy.\u003Cbr \/\u003EKeep the \u003Cb\u003Espeed\u003C\/b\u003E of the \u003Cb\u003Eletter spacing\u003C\/b\u003E (silence between the letters) to be at your current learning speed to give you thinking time. \u0026nbsp;I.e. you're \u003Cb\u003Eletter spacing \u003C\/b\u003Emay be set at 8-10wpm to start out with while you're actually learning the characters at a target speed of 20wpm.\u003C\/blockquote\u003EThis method is recommended by the ARRL and is implemented by many applications used for Morse Code training. \u0026nbsp;This allows you to learn the \u003Ci\u003Esound\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;of the letters at the full target speed you want to operate at. \u0026nbsp;If you learn the sound of the letters at 13wpm then you will find yourself stuck there\u0026nbsp;until you relearn them at a higher speed because you're learning to recognize sounds, not DITs and DAHs. Our brain has an easier time of slowing a sound down than speeding it up so if you start at the target speed the slower speeds will work themselves out. \u0026nbsp;I started with a target speed of 18wpm and I am kind of stuck there right now, while learning the sound of the characters at a higher speed to progress. \u0026nbsp;I wish I had originally chosen 20wpm as my target speed because in my experience that is a common speed in many QSOs.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EYour training should also incorporate the Koch Method which directs the order in which you learn the letters, numbers and punctuation and determining when to progress to the next element.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EKoch Method\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; line-height: 17.92px;\"\u003EBegins with just two characters (K, M). Once strings containing those two characters can be copied with 90% accuracy, an additional character is added, and so on until the full character set is mastered.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-ujUbz4RkinA\/VlN1m_fsW8I\/AAAAAAAAXWg\/qfX0Y_jS1sE\/s1600\/koch%2Bletters.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"115\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-ujUbz4RkinA\/VlN1m_fsW8I\/AAAAAAAAXWg\/qfX0Y_jS1sE\/s400\/koch%2Bletters.PNG\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ECode Trainer\u003C\/h3\u003EI looked at a number of different code trainers. \u0026nbsp;I tried PC applications, mobile device apps and internet based applications. \u0026nbsp;I live in a very internet connected place and I nearly always have access to the internet. \u0026nbsp;I don't always have my PC with me but I do usually have access to a guest PC or a mobile internet capable device so I chose a website that has a training application \u0026nbsp;that incorporates both the Farnsworth and Koch methods and would keep track of my progress. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/lcwo.net\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELearn CW Online\u003C\/a\u003E \u0026nbsp;http:\/\/lcwo.net\/\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ELearn CW Online is a really nice Morse Code tutor. You create a login for it to keep track of your progress and settings for character speed and effective speed. \u0026nbsp;It has multiple ways to train so try the different ones out to find out what works best for you. \u0026nbsp;I used the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/lcwo.net\/courselesson\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EKoch Method CW Course\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;which is accessible after you log in. \u0026nbsp;It starts out with two letters and keeps track of your accuracy, making suggestions as to when you should add an additional letter. There are 40 lessons in that course which include the alphabet, numbers and punctuation. \u0026nbsp;I've read that other people really like the MorseMachine application on that site.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAfter you've gone through all 40 Koch lessons you may still have trouble with a particular set of characters. \u0026nbsp;Use the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/lcwo.net\/groups\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECode Groups\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;application to work through your stumbling blocks. \u0026nbsp;Lastly natural language training is provided in the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/lcwo.net\/plaintext\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eplain text training\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;application which sends real sentences at your speed settings. \u0026nbsp;You can also paste text into the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/lcwo.net\/text2cw\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Econvert text to cw\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;application and download the resulting MP3 to practice off-line.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"border-width: thin; padding: 6px; text-align: center; width: 350px;\"\u003E\u003Ctable\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Ca href=\"javascript:playpause();\" id=\"playbutton\" style=\"border-style: outset; border-width: 4px; font-family: Verdana,Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;\"\u003EPlay \/ Pause\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E \u003Ctd\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Caudio autobuffer=\"\" controls=\"\" id=\"lcwoplayer\" style=\"height: 28px; width: 200px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Csource src=\"http:\/\/cgi2.lcwo.net\/cgi-bin\/cw.mp3?s=20\u0026amp;e=10\u0026amp;f=650\u0026amp;t=Learn CW Online is a really nice Morse Code tutor.  \" type=\"audio\/mp3\"\u003E\u003C\/source\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Csource src=\"http:\/\/cgi2.lcwo.net\/cgi-bin\/cw.ogg?s=20\u0026amp;e=10\u0026amp;f=650\u0026amp;t=Learn CW Online is a really nice Morse Code tutor.  \" type=\"audio\/ogg\"\u003E\u003C\/source\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHTML5 Audio tag not supported :-( \u003C\/audio\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ca 10px=\"\" font-size:=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/lcwo.net\/\"\u003ELearn CW Online - LCWO.net\u003C\/a\u003E - \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/lcwo.net\/text2cw\" style=\"font-size: 10px;\"\u003EText to Morse Converter\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cscript\u003Efunction playpause() { var p = document.getElementById('lcwoplayer'); if (p.paused) { p.play(); } else { p.pause(); } } \u003C\/script\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EListen to real QSOs\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMachine learning is patient tutor and the best way to get started but after you have learned your letters and numbers and a comma you should incorporate copy of real on-air QSOs into your learning regimen. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ECopying real QSOs will teach you a couple of things. \u0026nbsp;First, you'll realize that people by and large do not send perfect, machine generated code. \u0026nbsp;Much of the slower code you will hear on HF is being sent with straight keys, bugs and cooties. \u0026nbsp;Some of these manual key operators will send with timing that is, let's say, creative. \u0026nbsp;At first you may be dismayed that you can't copy a single complete word from some of these operators but give it time and your brain will adjust to the unique cadence used by many manual key operators. \u0026nbsp;Some manual key operators pride themselves in their distinctive \u003Ci\u003Estyle \u003C\/i\u003Eof sending and there are a few operators that I recognize before they ever send their call just by the unique style of their FIST. \u0026nbsp;I'm not encouraging you to emulate that style because it is in essence communicating with a thick accent but you should begin to become familiar with hearing the code sent by these folks because you will eventually have QSOs with them. \u0026nbsp;Even operators using paddles and electronic keyers won't sound like the machine generated code because their letter and word spacing will vary, or in some cases, be nearly non-existent. \u0026nbsp;I describe some operators FIST as sending one extended prosign (no space between the letters) for an entire transmission.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESecondly you'll begin to start copying the myriad of \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Morse_code_abbreviations\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eabbreviations\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Prosigns_for_Morse_code\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eprosigns \u003C\/a\u003Eand jargon used during QSOs that exists nowhere outside of amateur radio CW conversations. \u0026nbsp;As you come across new \"words\" that you copy. \u0026nbsp;Circle them until you begin to recognize what they mean. \u0026nbsp;Some of the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Morse_code_abbreviations\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eabbreviations \u003C\/a\u003Eare standardized but many others are just shorthand and sometimes unique to a particular operator or region. \u0026nbsp;You'll also start to become familiar with the way operators communicate their goodbyes which vary greatly in content, abbreviations and length. \u0026nbsp;Some goodbyes in morse code seem to take as long as the entire previous part of the QSO. \u0026nbsp;In other cases the conversation ended and you didn't even hear the door slam behind you.\u003Cbr \/\u003EUpdate 2016-05-06: \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/05\/you-have-two-ears-but-only-one-mouth.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThis article\u003C\/a\u003E concerns a couple eays to practice your CW copy skills.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EA word about Morse Code translators\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThere are a number of Morse Code translation programs available for mobile devices and computers. \u0026nbsp;My recommendation is to NOT use them when you're learning to copy. \u0026nbsp;They will become a crutch and in real QSOs they tend to not be accurate (excepting for CW-Skimmer) and will get you distracted from trying to actually copy the code yourself. \u0026nbsp;Where they ARE USEFUL is in translating your own sending (see below).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EPace yourself and have fun\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe most important thing is to have fun. \u0026nbsp;No one makes their living as a telegraph operator any longer and the code is no longer required for a license. So don't stress out about learning the code or push yourself too fast. \u0026nbsp;This is just a hobby and hobbies should be fun.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIf you can, practice a little every day. When you start, if you're like me, you will find that you mentally tire out after about 15-20 minutes so don't push it. \u0026nbsp;You are exercising a part of your brain that hasn't had to work much since you learned to talk, and that may have been a few years back.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EDifferent people will learn at a different pace but I haven't met anyone that doesn't make progress if they keep plugging away at it a little every day and if you miss a day no big deal, just try not to let it lapse. \u0026nbsp;You are building a new muscle in your brain. \u0026nbsp;You may also hit a couple walls along the way where you don't seem to progress but it's coming. \u0026nbsp;Just be patient. \u0026nbsp;Morse Code is not fast food. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EMorse Code is a mode for folks that don't have a lot to say but want to take a long time to say it; so why rush?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ESending Morse Code\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ELearning to send code is a different skill than learning to copy. \u0026nbsp;Your ability to send good code is primarily formed by your ability to hear good code. \u0026nbsp;You have to be able to hear the code as properly timed sound bites in your head before you can expect to send properly. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EPersonally, I'd recommend that you hold off practicing sending code until you have worked through all the lessons and can properly copy. \u0026nbsp;Your brain needs time to memorize the \u003Ci\u003Eproper sound \u003C\/i\u003Efor each letter. \u0026nbsp;If you start practicing too soon you could develop poor timing habits that will take time to correct.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWhen you are ready to practice; try sending something like a news article. \u0026nbsp;Or write a few sentences about your weekend and practice sending them. \u0026nbsp; At some point you should begin practicing simulated QSOs. The \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.skccgroup.com\/member_services\/beginners_corner\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESKCC beginners corner has a good sample QSOs to practice\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;When I started real over the air conversations I had my QSOs written out with blanks for the other station's call-sign. \u0026nbsp;I didn't try to stray far from the text in the beginning since trying to think of what to say while spelling it in my head and remembering the sound for it was just too much for my puny brain. \u0026nbsp;But after a couple dozen real QSOs the nervousness starts to wear off and you can think and send.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI have had a little over 300 CW QSOs (as of Fall 2015) and while that is still a relatively small number easily a 3rd of them have been lengthy ragchews lasting over 20-30 minutes so I've spent a lot of time \"off-script\" from the standard exchange. \u0026nbsp;At this point I don't have to concentrate much on what I'm sending, it just comes out. \u0026nbsp;I only have to think about spelling long words.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWhen you practice I recommend that you record yourself and then go back maybe a day later and see if you can copy what you sent. \u0026nbsp;You will think you're doing great until you listen to yourself. \u0026nbsp; Then you will practice sending more carefully!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003ERemember the golden rule. It's better to send good code than receive.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAnother useful practice tool for sending is a \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/morsecode.scphillips.com\/translator.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMorse Code Translator\u003C\/a\u003E but as stated previously only use a translator to work on your own code sending. \u0026nbsp;Don't use one to copy in real QSOs or you will become dependent on it.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EWhat kind of key\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOf course there are different opinions on whether to learn to send code with a straight key or a paddle with an electronic keyer. \u0026nbsp;They each have their merits and detractors. \u0026nbsp;I wouldn't recommend starting with a cootie (sideswiper) or bug, they introduce too many variables for a beginner, but they are lots of \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/search?q=vibroplex\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Efun \u003C\/a\u003Eto use after you're solid with a straight key and paddle..\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-xH5oFRyojeU\/VlPIq_u-TgI\/AAAAAAAAXXE\/XHY3JxJVHC8\/s1600\/DSCF2715.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"520\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-xH5oFRyojeU\/VlPIq_u-TgI\/AAAAAAAAXXE\/XHY3JxJVHC8\/s640\/DSCF2715.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EStraight Key and Paddle... which to start with?\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe video below discusses some difference in learning to send on a straight key versus a paddle...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/uEy4Wvy6uUg\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/uEy4Wvy6uUg?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EStraight key\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Ru9atofPEdM\/Vc1EfXRT_lI\/AAAAAAAAVDc\/R9Ktsfvf5tc\/s1600\/20150813_205908_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Ru9atofPEdM\/Vc1EfXRT_lI\/AAAAAAAAVDc\/R9Ktsfvf5tc\/s320\/20150813_205908_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EStraight Key (manual key)\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003EStraight keys are simple, inexpensive and can work with many inexpensive practice oscillators such that you don't need a radio to practice sending. \u0026nbsp;The disadvantage of straight keys is that your reflexes are entirely responsible for properly spaced DITs and DAHs in addition to intra-character and word spacing. \u0026nbsp;The advantage is that after some practice they become an extension of your arm and simply repeat what you're hearing in your head. \u0026nbsp;I personally started with a straight key and still like to use one regularly for QSOs under 17wpm. \u0026nbsp;My reflexes are not good enough yet to use my straight at higher speeds so I use a paddle when I talk with an operator at speeds above 18wpm.\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EPaddle with electronic keyer\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-ZjkZys1fKKs\/VcEkn51TPGI\/AAAAAAAAU3A\/92_awSC1S68\/s1600\/IMG_0854.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"215\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-ZjkZys1fKKs\/VcEkn51TPGI\/AAAAAAAAU3A\/92_awSC1S68\/s320\/IMG_0854.JPG\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EPaddle -- requires electronic keyer\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003EA paddle works with an electronic keyer. The disadvantage of a paddle is it requires additional equipment and that you will be learning a different reflex from the actual code that is in your head. I.e. when you send an \u003Ci\u003EI\u003C\/i\u003E or an \u003Ci\u003ES \u003C\/i\u003Eor an \u003Ci\u003EH\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;you are not reflexively sending the DITs that make up the letter but are instead training yourself how long to depress the paddle for the string of DITs. \u0026nbsp;This is a new skill and doesn't directly correspond to what you hear in your head. \u0026nbsp;The advantage to using a paddle with an electronic keyer is that the keyer will send perfect length and ratio DITs and DAHs every time so your reflexes don't have to be as quick or precise. \u0026nbsp;Also it requires far fewer movements of your hand to send code with a paddle and you won't tire as quickly as you would with a straight key. \u0026nbsp;I won't go into the concept of squeeze keying here. \u0026nbsp;For now don't worry about it.\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EAs to the specifics of using a paddle with a keyer:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003EThe electronic keyer may be external or built-in to the radio.  If it's external then it will normally have a speaker or mic jack to provide a sidetone allowing you to practice without connecting to a radio.  If you don't have an external keyer and want to practice with a paddle you will need a radio with a built-in electronic keyer and be aware how to set it to not transmit for practice.  Usually this is accomplished, strangely enough, by turning off VOX (which stands for voice activation) in the radio's menu.  Keyers have a speed setting and weighting. Speed seems pretty obvious.  Weighting is the ratio of the length of the DIT to the DAH in length. In general the weighting should be set to a higher value when you are sending at a slow speed and set to a lower value as your speed goes up.\u003C\/blockquote\u003EUpdate (5\/3\/2016): Here is a video I made a few months later regarding equipment for practicing sending CW. \u0026nbsp;Among other key types, this video shows me using a Vibroplex Bug. \u0026nbsp;I do not recommend a Bug for a beginner, and at the end of the video you can see why...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/MyYvcJa7Y-s\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/MyYvcJa7Y-s?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EYour first on-air QSO\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo now you've practiced your copy skills and you can confidently copy on-air stations at the speed you wish to operate. \u0026nbsp;You have also been practicing sending and when you listen to a recording of yourself it actually makes sense.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EYou are ready to venture into your first, heart pounding, fight or flight response on-air QSO\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EIf you can find a local ham who already knows the code to practice with that certainly makes for a less intimidating first foray. \u0026nbsp;If you don't know anyone ask your local 2m repeater club if they have any CW Elmers who are within ground-wave distance of your station to work with you. \u0026nbsp;Barring that ask someone in a forum and see if you can schedule a QSO but scheduling QSOs is often hit or miss based on propagation.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIf none of those options present themselves then just go for it on-air. \u0026nbsp;Find an ongoing QSO that you feel you can copy or is moving just slightly faster than you can copy. \u0026nbsp;Copy the call-sign of the station you can best copy and wait for them to sign with each other (they will each send their 73s \/ 72s and send a DIT DIT at the very end). \u0026nbsp;Then call that station.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace;\"\u003EAA4XX AA4XX DE N4PBQ N4PBQ N4PBQ PSE QRS \u003Cu\u003EKN\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003EIf you've been listening to regular QSOs you'll recognize the form above. \u0026nbsp;The repetition of the other station's call is to get their attention. \u0026nbsp;You repeat yours for their benefit. \u0026nbsp;The PSE QRS is asking them to slow down and the prosign \u003Cu\u003EKN\u003C\/u\u003E\u0026nbsp;means you're asking only them to respond. \u0026nbsp;Have a prepared QSO text ready in terms of what to send. \u0026nbsp;The\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.skccgroup.com\/member_services\/beginners_corner\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESKCC beginners corner has a good sample QSOs\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHere is a sample QSO from when I was just venturing onto the air.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/FEIjPVvMrFw\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/FEIjPVvMrFw?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EWhat is going on in the radio\u003C\/h3\u003EAs far using Morse Code in radio communication \u0026nbsp;is concerned; a transmitter modulates a 100Hz to 150Hz wide signal called a Continuous Wave or \u003Cb\u003ECW \u003C\/b\u003Eat a particular frequency. \u0026nbsp;The time the signal is transmitted corresponds to the length of time the trasnmitter key is depressed. \u0026nbsp; When listening on a receiver you hear a tone whose pitch is determined by your offset from the frequency of the transmission. If you are listening exactly on the same frequency you will hear nothing because there will be zero Hz offset. \u0026nbsp;So most modern receivers offset the receiver frequency above or below the signal and offset their own transmit frequency by the chosen offset. \u0026nbsp;So if the offset is 750Hz you will hear a 750Hz tone if you are exactly on frequency with the other station. \u0026nbsp;Confusing? \u0026nbsp;Good, you're well on you way.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ESummary\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo you know as much as I know now... well admittedly I don't know a lot, I'm just learning this stuff myself but I can almost promise you that it will be fun if you have some patience with it and you will meet some of the nicest people in ham radio... well meet them virtually, well meet them as monotone beeps, well meet them as decoded signals sent from one human computer to another human computer, but trust me; after you've had a 15 minute conversation with them and only exchanged your names, where you live and what the weather is you'll feel as though you've known them your entire life.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E73 \/ 72\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard - AA4OO (formerly N4PBQ)\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EUpdate 11-05-2016:\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI wrote this article after about 6 months of operating in the Fall of 2015. \u0026nbsp;A year later now I have over 1,100 CW QSOs not counting contest operations for Field Day using our club call WQ4RP. \u0026nbsp;I'm presently operating up to 23 wpm during ragchews and still working through the challenges of improving my operating skills. \u0026nbsp;I still think this old post is valid for new operators and I re-visit it occasionally to make sure I still agree with myself... Usually I argue with myself all the time but by and large I think this is still a decent primer. \u0026nbsp;I appreciate corrections and constructive pointers.\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/146159433205458941\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/11\/learn-morse-code-all-cool-kids-are.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/146159433205458941"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/146159433205458941"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/11\/learn-morse-code-all-cool-kids-are.html","title":"Learn Morse Code - All the Cool kids are doing it"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-xH5oFRyojeU\/VlPIq_u-TgI\/AAAAAAAAXXI\/NY-WGfvCBTo\/s72-c\/DSCF2715.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-588952110727565844"},"published":{"$t":"2015-11-22T16:09:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:35:09.154-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"DX seems to operate in the fast lane"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EDX for new CW operators\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EHow to copy those high speed ops?\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-8som6m1kRDQ\/VlIooGwaFZI\/AAAAAAAAXVM\/qIFY3lX-DXA\/s1600\/ffff.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"476\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-8som6m1kRDQ\/VlIooGwaFZI\/AAAAAAAAXVM\/qIFY3lX-DXA\/s640\/ffff.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EEA8TL's Hexbeam in the Canary Islands\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003EAs a relatively new CW operator my copy skills are still relatively weak, especially at higher speeds. \u0026nbsp;DX stations seem to send their calls at 25wpm or faster so I often can't copy them without listening to them over and over and usually there are so many other stations working them that it gets confusing.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWell this morning I wasn't having much success getting an answer to my calls on 40m, and 20m seemed dead. \u0026nbsp;So I popped up to 17m and there was a good signal coming in that no one else was answering. \u0026nbsp;I listened over and over and finally copied \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/ea8tl.blogspot.es\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EEA8T\u003C\/a\u003E (op name Jorge) located in the Canary islands off the coast of Africa. \u0026nbsp;I replied to him and worked him at my relatively slow 18wpm sending speed. \u0026nbsp;I wasn't very graceful in my response and he got my call wrong on the first go 'round but resent it correctly after that. \u0026nbsp;The entire time no-one else answered him even though there was plenty of activity elsewhere on 17m. \u0026nbsp;Are the Canary Islands considered blasé as far as DX?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAnyway I was happy to get the response. \u0026nbsp;I know (or surmise) that my \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/n4pbq.blogspot.com\/2015\/11\/the-amazing-80m-multi-band-windom.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E80m Windom\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;has some fairly pronounced gain nodes in different directions on the higher bands but I didn't know which directions they pointed. \u0026nbsp;I guess one of the nodes points toward Africa (yaaay!)\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-8dTaat9-B_g\/VlIqq1K4E5I\/AAAAAAAAXVc\/M277QR79Q4o\/s1600\/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-11-22%2Bat%2B3.50.22%2BPM.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"637\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-8dTaat9-B_g\/VlIqq1K4E5I\/AAAAAAAAXVc\/M277QR79Q4o\/s640\/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-11-22%2Bat%2B3.50.22%2BPM.png\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EPath from N4PBQ to EA8TL in the Canary Islands\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003EMy copy speed is slowly increasing as I've been operating CW for about 3 months now, but I wonder if there are DX stations on some segments of the band plan for slower speed operations. \u0026nbsp;I spent about 20 minutes sending my call at 18wpm down to 12wpm on the QRP segment of 17m (18.096 MHz) but no one answered. \u0026nbsp;I know I was getting out given the previous contact. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003EDo DX operators just not want to bother with newbies such as myself? \u0026nbsp;I wonder. \u0026nbsp;I'd appreciate suggestions in the comments section.\u003C\/blockquote\u003EThat's all for now\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Ci\u003E73\/72\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ERichard N4PBQ\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/588952110727565844\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/11\/dx-seems-to-operate-in-fast-lane.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/588952110727565844"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/588952110727565844"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/11\/dx-seems-to-operate-in-fast-lane.html","title":"DX seems to operate in the fast lane"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-8som6m1kRDQ\/VlIooGwaFZI\/AAAAAAAAXVM\/qIFY3lX-DXA\/s72-c\/ffff.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-3240560942539788443"},"published":{"$t":"2015-11-20T13:39:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:35:09.120-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Rock 'N Radio -- QRP Style"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EOperating QRP\u003Cbr \/\u003ECan mean operating from a \"Q\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: normal;\"\u003Euiet\u003C\/span\u003E R\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: normal;\"\u003Eestful\u003C\/span\u003E P\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: normal;\"\u003Elace\u003C\/span\u003E\"\u003C\/h2\u003EI had the day off today and it was a beautiful morning. \u0026nbsp;I decided to spend part of it at Lake Wheeler Park in Raleigh, NC operating QRP from a stone bench under a tall oak tree.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-AYnhdrpHqhs\/Vk9b116GK8I\/AAAAAAAAXQw\/UJmxi09MiBs\/s1600\/Lake%2BWheeler%2BQRP%2B11-20-2015-12.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-AYnhdrpHqhs\/Vk9b116GK8I\/AAAAAAAAXQw\/UJmxi09MiBs\/s640\/Lake%2BWheeler%2BQRP%2B11-20-2015-12.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003Erock 'n radio\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003EI was operating the Elecraft KX3 from its internal AA batteries for the two hours I was there running 5 watts and it worked well. \u0026nbsp;I had brought an external battery but didn't need to connect it.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI threw a line over a tree using a throwing weight. \u0026nbsp;I hit my mark the first time, untied the weight, tied on the end of the antenna, and hoisted the 31 foot end-fed up exactly where I wanted it with the feed point a couple of feet off the ground.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/--F8fjtK7ko4\/Vk9b11R6oeI\/AAAAAAAAXQ8\/Ch2c5RUI7zU\/s1600\/Lake%2BWheeler%2BQRP%2B11-20-2015-11.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/--F8fjtK7ko4\/Vk9b11R6oeI\/AAAAAAAAXQ8\/Ch2c5RUI7zU\/s640\/Lake%2BWheeler%2BQRP%2B11-20-2015-11.jpg\" width=\"480\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E31 feet of wire end-fed by a 9:1 balun.\u003Cbr \/\u003EA kite string winder holds the throwing line\u003Cbr \/\u003EA metal stake with a bit of rope anchors the balun and the other end of the rope\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-IOWvUOXupnI\/Vk9b4IniSBI\/AAAAAAAAXRA\/_iR0dTsixQg\/s1600\/Lake%2BWheeler%2BQRP%2B11-20-2015-10.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-IOWvUOXupnI\/Vk9b4IniSBI\/AAAAAAAAXRA\/_iR0dTsixQg\/s640\/Lake%2BWheeler%2BQRP%2B11-20-2015-10.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EAnother view of the end-fed with 9:1 balun, stake and coax\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003EThe 20 feet of coax serves as the counterpoise so hookups couldn't be simpler. \u0026nbsp;The KX3 simply has the coax attached to one side and the morse key and headphones in the other.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-GEheQ5Gt4r0\/Vk9cEjl2TQI\/AAAAAAAAXRc\/VkSV4dj4-mQ\/s1600\/Lake%2BWheeler%2BQRP%2B11-20-2015-9.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"356\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-GEheQ5Gt4r0\/Vk9cEjl2TQI\/AAAAAAAAXRc\/VkSV4dj4-mQ\/s640\/Lake%2BWheeler%2BQRP%2B11-20-2015-9.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EQRP operating position\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003EThe morning was very pleasant, if a bit windy, clear with a temperature of 55 F. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe KX3 will match the end-fed wire on about any band other than 160m but on 80m you could likely throw the radio farther than the signal travels. \u0026nbsp;The KX3 auto tuner is pretty amazing and I believe it could tune a piano if you hooked it up correctly.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI worked stations on 20m, 40m and 30m.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI called CQ on the 20m QRP calling frequency (14.060) and had a brief QSO with a lot of QSB (fading). \u0026nbsp;I didn't hear much activity that early in the morning on 20m so I dropped down to 40m and worked the QRP calling frequency\u0026nbsp;(7.030)\u0026nbsp;and had my call answered right away. \u0026nbsp;After that QSO another station jumped in there calling for a specific station so I moved on. \u0026nbsp;40m was busy. \u0026nbsp;Every time I thought I'd found an open frequency someone would jump back in or if I called QRL? I'd get an R R.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo I went up to 30m, and had a very nice long ragchew that lasted nearly an hour. \u0026nbsp;The internal AA batteries on the KX3 were getting a workout operating at 5w for that entire time but I never saw the transmit wattage drop below 5w and when I finished up the internal batteries still showed 9.8 V \u0026nbsp;The cutoff is 8.5 V so there was plenty of juice left. \u0026nbsp;I may just stop carrying the external battery on these brief jaunts.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMy long ragchew was with a station in GA about 400 miles away and he gave me a report of 599 so I was thrilled with 30m this morning. Coincidentally, this end-fed antenna, balun, coax-counterpoise combo is nearly resonant on 30m and I've had some of my best reports when operating this portable antenna on 30m.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EKey wise, I was using the Palm Single Paddle. \u0026nbsp;It is a great little key when you don't have a table to operate from and you don't want to strap something to your leg. \u0026nbsp;I get strange enough looks from passer-by's without them wondering why I have some mechanism strapped to my thigh and the Palm Single is very inconspicuous.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe Palm key has a clip-on, magnetic base which I use to temporarily attach it to my clipboard when I'm not sending. \u0026nbsp;When I'm ready to send I simply pull it off the clipboard and hold it in my left hand. As I noted in an \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/n4pbq.blogspot.com\/2015\/08\/palm-single-key-review.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eearlier review of the Palm Single Paddle\u003C\/a\u003E it can be used as a straight key if you turn it on its side. \u0026nbsp;The long ragchew I had on 30m was with a gentlemen who sent me his SKCC number in the first exchange so I quickly turned off the electronic keyer in the KX3's and turned the Palm Single on its side. \u0026nbsp;That station sent me a nice compliment on my straight key FIST; so the little Palm Single key can serve duty as a paddle into a keyer or (in a pinch) as a straight key. \u0026nbsp;I far prefer to use my \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/n4pbq.blogspot.com\/2015\/09\/review-of-kent-hand-key.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EKent Hand Key\u003C\/a\u003E if I'm operating manual key but it's too big to bring along for portable operations and I can't quite picture myself trying to hold onto the giant Kent Hand Key with one hand whilst operating it with the other like I can the Palm Single.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-DTEpxhXELT4\/Vk9cAxFihKI\/AAAAAAAAXRg\/lcleIz5flF4\/s1600\/Lake%2BWheeler%2BQRP%2B11-20-2015-7.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-DTEpxhXELT4\/Vk9cAxFihKI\/AAAAAAAAXRg\/lcleIz5flF4\/s640\/Lake%2BWheeler%2BQRP%2B11-20-2015-7.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EThe Palm Single Paddle works great in portable operating positions\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI made a silly little video of my trip to the park...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/1D3ivqjX0_A\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1D3ivqjX0_A?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo enjoy some nice fall weather if you still have it and have a Rock 'N Radio adventure.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-eZBw072X6mg\/Vk9cExRSw1I\/AAAAAAAAXRY\/uh3qTz3oV4Q\/s1600\/Lake%2BWheeler%2BQRP%2B11-20-2015-8.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-eZBw072X6mg\/Vk9cExRSw1I\/AAAAAAAAXRY\/uh3qTz3oV4Q\/s640\/Lake%2BWheeler%2BQRP%2B11-20-2015-8.jpg\" width=\"480\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EWhat could be finer than to be in Carolina in the Mooo-oor-ning\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-YZbGD8ZSEok\/Vk9b84FnM0I\/AAAAAAAAXRI\/0PLBc4yBu4o\/s1600\/Lake%2BWheeler%2BQRP%2B11-20-2015-6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"420\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-YZbGD8ZSEok\/Vk9b84FnM0I\/AAAAAAAAXRI\/0PLBc4yBu4o\/s640\/Lake%2BWheeler%2BQRP%2B11-20-2015-6.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EEnjoying the last nice days of our Fall... birds singing and morse code beeping\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo Lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E73\/72\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard N4PBQ\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/3240560942539788443\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/11\/rock-n-radio-qrp-style.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/3240560942539788443"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/3240560942539788443"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/11\/rock-n-radio-qrp-style.html","title":"Rock 'N Radio -- QRP Style"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-AYnhdrpHqhs\/Vk9b116GK8I\/AAAAAAAAXQw\/UJmxi09MiBs\/s72-c\/Lake%2BWheeler%2BQRP%2B11-20-2015-12.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-7928377628601380654"},"published":{"$t":"2015-11-07T18:45:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:35:09.185-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Can a Straight Key really Coexist with a Paddle ?"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe Harmony of the Keys\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;helvetica neue\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;helvetica\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;arial\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 16px;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\" style=\"margin-left: -20px;\"\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;arial\u0026quot; , , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;\"\u003Eco·ex·ist\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"lr_dct_ph\"\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\/\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;arial\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: medium;\"\u003Ekōəɡˈzist\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;arial\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: medium;\"\u003E\/\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;--\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Everb\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\" style=\"margin-left: -20px;\"\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003Eexist at the same time or in the same place.\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ECan a Straight Key coexist with a Paddle?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-wVwf7qWBLCw\/Vj55nzwf8RI\/AAAAAAAAXAA\/5afpFIMHHig\/s1600\/20151107_165212.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"358\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-wVwf7qWBLCw\/Vj55nzwf8RI\/AAAAAAAAXAA\/5afpFIMHHig\/s640\/20151107_165212.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EKey \u0026nbsp;\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;helvetica neue\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;helvetica\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;arial\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;\"\u003E☾☮ E ✡ ☼ †\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EOk, so I have my nifty 1977 Ten-Tec Century\/21 and it has one CW key input and of course at its age it has no built-in electronic keyer, so \u003Ci\u003Eno paddle for you buddy\u003C\/i\u003E. \u0026nbsp;I like to switch back and forth between a paddle and a straight key during a QSO so I went looking for an electronic keyer that would allow me to have both types of keys attached at the same time without touching any switches or controls. \u0026nbsp;Some people simply plug both keys into a Y-Cable and then switch the keyer on in the radio when they want to use the paddle but I switch frequently enough to where I don't want to have to change any settings and I especially don't want to go into a menu (I'm a confessed menu hater).\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EA \u003Ci\u003Emodern\u003C\/i\u003E marvel... The HK5A HAM KEYER\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-Cu2BoVQO7_0\/Vj52SBTnB1I\/AAAAAAAAW_s\/JsqiEEGnoc0\/s1600\/20151107_164640.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"\" border=\"0\" height=\"336\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-Cu2BoVQO7_0\/Vj52SBTnB1I\/AAAAAAAAW_s\/JsqiEEGnoc0\/s640\/20151107_164640.jpg\" title=\"HAM KEYER -- allows two keys in one\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EAren't those gold tone knobs lovely... this must have been the Deluxe Model\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis electronic keyer dates somewhere between 1975 and 1985. The St. Louis Ham Radio Center primarily made and sold keys, both paddles and straight keys that were knock offs of the old Brown Bros. keys. \u0026nbsp;One of their models was a \"dual-key\" with both a paddle and a straight key on one base so I assume that with this in mind they created the HK5A with dual-inputs allowing both a straight key and a paddle to be attached simultaneously. \u0026nbsp;The HAM KEYER uses the clever\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/users.ox.ac.uk\/~malcolm\/radio\/8044print.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECurtis 8044\u003C\/b\u003E keyer chip\u003C\/a\u003E which is long out of production.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis keyer has no provision for memories but I don't expect to do contests with the old Ten-Tec and my memory is still fine so no worries... mmm, \u0026nbsp;now what was I saying? \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe HK5A has a sidetone speaker with a volume and pitch (tone) knob. \u0026nbsp;It's not terribly unpleasant sounding, certainly no worse than the square-wave sidetone of the Century\/21. \u0026nbsp;Maybe I'll set it five semitones lower than my Century\/21 for some sidetone harmony. \u0026nbsp;The keyer weight knob has an enormous range and can turn your DITS into longer DASHES than the DASHES themselves so just a dab will do ya on that one, some component is probably out of spec inside the old boy. \u0026nbsp;The far right knob turns it on\/off and lets you turn side tone on (with Tone) and the last position is key-down for tuning without touching the key.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo it's a fairly normal keyer with the added bonus that it has outputs for both direct keying and grid keying for older rigs with high plate current, that is assuming you don't want deadly voltage on your key.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EThe business end\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EOn the back of the keyer you can see the outputs for grid and direct keying as well as the inputs for the straight key, paddles and a funky 2.5mm T\/R 6v power supply plug. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-0jgsn574ye8\/Vj56DNv4WKI\/AAAAAAAAXAc\/tmNhOYTb2h8\/s1600\/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-11-07%2Bat%2B5.19.28%2BPM.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"\" border=\"0\" height=\"284\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-0jgsn574ye8\/Vj56DNv4WKI\/AAAAAAAAXAc\/tmNhOYTb2h8\/s640\/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-11-07%2Bat%2B5.19.28%2BPM.png\" title=\"Inputs \/ Outputs\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EPaddle and Straight inputs, outputs for both Direct and Grid rig keying\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIt can also be powered by 4 internal C-Cell batteries which I've read last for ages so I went with that option rather than deal with RFI in one of my 6v wall-warts. \u0026nbsp;If it turns out to be power hungry I'll put a different plug on one of my old 6v wall-warts and try to choke it sufficiently to keep it RF free. \u0026nbsp;Best of all these old keyers come up frequently on auction sites and usually sell for very little. \u0026nbsp;I got mine for $16\u0026nbsp;+ postage.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo the HK5A HAM KEYER is the ticket to key coexistence.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ESchematic\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/--W1U3NIZNqk\/Vj6Ky66gbiI\/AAAAAAAAXA8\/FPL0IPo_eV8\/s1600\/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-11-07%2Bat%2B6.34.55%2BPM.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"schematic\" border=\"0\" height=\"476\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/--W1U3NIZNqk\/Vj6Ky66gbiI\/AAAAAAAAXA8\/FPL0IPo_eV8\/s640\/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-11-07%2Bat%2B6.34.55%2BPM.png\" title=\"\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EDemo\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/2uHXMWhzteU\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2uHXMWhzteU?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EOther options?\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThere is another option for wiring manual keys together with an external keyer that only has a single key \u003Cb\u003Einput\u003C\/b\u003E. \u0026nbsp;You can wire in the manual key(s) in parallel with the \u003Cb\u003Eoutput \u003C\/b\u003Eof the keyer. \u0026nbsp;So you could use a Y-Cable at the output of the keyer and then the transceiver would be triggered by the keyer when a paddle is used and also be triggered when a manual key when it is used. \u0026nbsp;The only \u003Ci\u003Ereal\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;disadvantage is that you cannot use the keyer for sidetone of any keys that are wired in \u003Ci\u003Eparallel\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;with its output. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIf you are using a rig with an internal keyer and only one key input there really isn't an option for two keys at once without changing a setting in the rig, that was the genesis of this article and the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/n4pbq.blogspot.com\/2015\/09\/two-keys-at-once-on-elecraft-kx3.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Esister article for the KX3 two-keys-at-once\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EOr the way my posts have gone lately I should say \"So purchase your grandfather's era equipment and lower your expectations, hi hi\"\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E72\/73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EN4PBQ\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/7928377628601380654\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/11\/can-straight-key-really-coexist-with.html#comment-form","title":"4 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/7928377628601380654"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/7928377628601380654"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/11\/can-straight-key-really-coexist-with.html","title":"Can a Straight Key really Coexist with a Paddle ?"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-wVwf7qWBLCw\/Vj55nzwf8RI\/AAAAAAAAXAA\/5afpFIMHHig\/s72-c\/20151107_165212.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"4"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-8604738380254703306"},"published":{"$t":"2015-11-06T17:27:00.002-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:35:09.193-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The Amazing 80m Multi-band Windom"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E Happier than a slinky on an escalator\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EOCF Dipole resonant on 7 bands\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe Windom (or OCF Dipole if you prefer), offers a true multi-band, experience without much use of a tuner. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;verdana\u0026quot; , sans-serif;\"\u003EThe tuner in the images below is in BYPASS mode. \u0026nbsp;I'm using it to demonstrate the resonance of the Windom on different bands. \u0026nbsp;If you're not familiar with reading a cross-needle meter, the needle pointing to the left is the forward power (transmitted) and the needle pointing to the right is reflected power. \u0026nbsp;You read the intersection of the two needles to determine the SWR. \u0026nbsp;The red, curvy lines in the middle are the SWR based on the intersection of the two needles. \u0026nbsp;It sounds complicated but it's so easy to view at a glance it's much nicer in my opinion than a digital SWR display.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003EThe meter below is set to the 30w range rather than \u0026nbsp;300w so you are seeing 5w there rather than 50w\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis antenna is resonant with a \u003Cb\u003ESWR \u0026nbsp;of 1.1 or below\u003C\/b\u003E on \u003Cb\u003E80m, 40m, 20m\u003C\/b\u003E and \u003Cb\u003E10m\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold;\"\u003E80m SWR 1.1\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-ESbvnvEK3t0\/Vj0aJnOM_FI\/AAAAAAAAW7E\/LpCcFwSrivc\/s1600\/80m%2Bswr.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-ESbvnvEK3t0\/Vj0aJnOM_FI\/AAAAAAAAW7E\/LpCcFwSrivc\/s640\/80m%2Bswr.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ESWR 1.1 on 80m at 3.530 MHz\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E40m SWR 1.0\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/--haCecv3iyk\/Vj0aFgx-MvI\/AAAAAAAAW7Q\/pcn7xtS91M4\/s1600\/40m%2Bswr.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/--haCecv3iyk\/Vj0aFgx-MvI\/AAAAAAAAW7Q\/pcn7xtS91M4\/s640\/40m%2Bswr.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ESWR on 40m at 7.030 MHz (forgive me I was transmitting 10w on the Ten-Tec)\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E20m SWR 1.1\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-QRMHWCUFfpY\/Vj0cuXqFd1I\/AAAAAAAAW7Y\/MsZYvqA38Nw\/s1600\/20m%2Bswr.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-QRMHWCUFfpY\/Vj0cuXqFd1I\/AAAAAAAAW7Y\/MsZYvqA38Nw\/s640\/20m%2Bswr.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ESWR under 1.1 on 20m at 14.060 MHz\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ESWR on 10m 1.0\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-6KRAxDc1OlU\/Vj0dA-wIVaI\/AAAAAAAAW7g\/RvR67FDs6Oo\/s1600\/15m%2Bswr.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-6KRAxDc1OlU\/Vj0dA-wIVaI\/AAAAAAAAW7g\/RvR67FDs6Oo\/s640\/15m%2Bswr.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ESWR 1.0 on 10m at 28.030 MHz\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E15m is the worst with a SWR of 2.5 so it requires tuning\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-WJ68EFsOSlc\/Vj0dcLNm-9I\/AAAAAAAAW7o\/QXpQVNO768o\/s1600\/15m%2Bswr%2B%25282%2529.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-WJ68EFsOSlc\/Vj0dcLNm-9I\/AAAAAAAAW7o\/QXpQVNO768o\/s640\/15m%2Bswr%2B%25282%2529.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ESWR on 15m 2.5 at 21.030 MHz\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EWho Cares?\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo in the days of auto-tuners maybe this isn't that big a deal except that SWR \u003Ci\u003Edoes\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;eat some power in the coax and if your running low power then your 5w may become 2w without you realizing it.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EFor older rigs that don't have an auto-tuner like my Ten-Tec Century\/21 I don't have to worry about tuning at all except on 15m. \u0026nbsp;It's also nice to just have the simplicity of transmitting into a wire without a inductance \/ capacitance circuit in-between.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-ZCFXFDOSAaY\/Vj0eov1nijI\/AAAAAAAAW78\/ZoV3038yzx0\/s1600\/20151106_160222.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-ZCFXFDOSAaY\/Vj0eov1nijI\/AAAAAAAAW78\/ZoV3038yzx0\/s320\/20151106_160222.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EBand change without re-tuning (except 15m)\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ESo show me the antenna...\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EImages of wire antennas are not terribly interesting but here you go:\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe apex of the antenna is hung from the peak of my roof. \u0026nbsp;The coax attaches to a 4:1 current balun with the positive side of the balun feeding the longer wire. The shorter wire is 44 feet long and is supported at the apex height of 25 feet by a birch tree in the front yard. \u0026nbsp;The long end of the antenna is 89 feet long and runs into the back yard. It is supported 12 feet off the ground by a fiberglass pole until I get a piece of wood permanently in place.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ETo tension the wire I have a support rope in the front tree attached to a 5lb weight. \u0026nbsp;This will eventually wear through the rope and when it does I'll probably do it right and get a pulley up there. The support rope for the long end of the wire at the fiberglass pole goes through a pulley to a spring for tension.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-QbePJAJmogs\/Vj0f_YuXNsI\/AAAAAAAAW8I\/zLVaGUJD_Qs\/s1600\/20151031_165900.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-QbePJAJmogs\/Vj0f_YuXNsI\/AAAAAAAAW8I\/zLVaGUJD_Qs\/s640\/20151031_165900.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E80m Windom (OCF Dipole) hung from the peak of the roof\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe line heading to the window is just rope that goes into the window so that I can pull it back to work on it, detach it, etc.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-_-1S1jpysFw\/Vj0hERsXomI\/AAAAAAAAW8U\/TJnTPBUeOtk\/s1600\/20151031_165750.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-_-1S1jpysFw\/Vj0hERsXomI\/AAAAAAAAW8U\/TJnTPBUeOtk\/s640\/20151031_165750.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ELong end of the wire (89 feet) is supported by a fiberglass pole about 12 feet agl\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EBack story\u003C\/h2\u003EMy 40m Windom had lain under the bushes for a number of years before being resurrected this past summer. \u0026nbsp;It was bare wire and the balun was likely wet, corroded and filled with critters. \u0026nbsp;Nonetheless I made hundreds of contacts using it QRP so I'm not knocking it too badly. \u0026nbsp;The issue I had was that it had gone out of resonance for a good match on the bands it was supposed to support and I had to use the ATU in KX3 to touch it up. \u0026nbsp;On some bands the SWR was as much as 5:1 so I was losing some power in the 100ft run of coax to my meager QRP radio.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhen I recently picked up an old Ten-Tec Century\/21 it had no auto-tuner and I'm not a big fan of manually tuning my MFJ Deluxe Versa Tuner II no matter how \u003Ci\u003EDeluxe\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;it is. \u0026nbsp;It's just time consuming and if I answer a QSO after tuning around and see that I need to re-tune, well that's just a bummer with a manual tuner. \u0026nbsp;I'm trying to keep my costs down and using an auto-tuner with the old Ten-Tec just didn't seem right anyway so I wanted a resonant multi-band antenna.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI had an extra 4:1 current balun from years past and a fellow ham had recently given me a good supply of insulated wire. \u0026nbsp;I also wanted to get an 80m so that all played together to putting up an 80m Windom in place of the 40m Windom. \u0026nbsp; Only this time using some fresh parts. \u0026nbsp;That was a little over a week ago and I've had some time to play with this new antenna.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI've received good reports and finally am able to operate on 80m without the tricky tuning of my 40m Doublet in the Attic.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo that's all for now\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EUpdate (11-20-2015)\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003EI originally only tested the antenna with my Ten-Tec C21 which had no WARC bands. \u0026nbsp;I was running the KX3 at the house yesterday and found that it also presents an SWR below 1.2:1 on 17m, 12m and 6m. \u0026nbsp;\u003Cb\u003EThat makes it resonant without tuning and with a super low SWR on 7 bands (80, 40, 20, 17, 12, 10, 6). \u0026nbsp;That is truly an amazing antenna for those who don't like to use a tuner.\u003C\/b\u003E \u0026nbsp;It requires tuning on 30m and 15m as it is natively 4.5:1 on 30m and 2.5:1 on 15m which is well within the capability of any built-in auto-tuner and easily matched by a manual tuner.\u003C\/blockquote\u003EUpdate (2-11-2016)\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003EI have been puzzling over the good performance from this antenna and updated information in this post:\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2016\/02\/skippy-80m.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EFeeling Skippy on 80m\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E \u003Ci\u003ELower you power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E \u003Ci\u003E72\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ERichard\u003Cbr \/\u003EN4PBQ"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/8604738380254703306\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/11\/the-amazing-80m-multi-band-windom.html#comment-form","title":"4 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/8604738380254703306"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/8604738380254703306"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/11\/the-amazing-80m-multi-band-windom.html","title":"The Amazing 80m Multi-band Windom"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-ESbvnvEK3t0\/Vj0aJnOM_FI\/AAAAAAAAW7E\/LpCcFwSrivc\/s72-c\/80m%2Bswr.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"4"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-6804751472040207000"},"published":{"$t":"2015-10-23T12:09:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-12-04T07:00:40.765-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"TEN-TEC Century 21 --- Vintage Novice CW Rig"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003ETEN-TEC Century 21\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EA second HF rig has somehow found its way into my home.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/--huLD_at1bM\/VixEyc7SELI\/AAAAAAAAWWY\/GMNGLH0M_Ek\/s1600\/DSCF2667.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"460\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/--huLD_at1bM\/VixEyc7SELI\/AAAAAAAAWWY\/GMNGLH0M_Ek\/s640\/DSCF2667.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ETen-Tec Century \/ 21 CW Only Transceiver\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-93tzOwL6Mto\/VixEutg0IyI\/AAAAAAAAWWQ\/c_5-AvEgtPE\/s1600\/DSCF2666.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-93tzOwL6Mto\/VixEutg0IyI\/AAAAAAAAWWQ\/c_5-AvEgtPE\/s640\/DSCF2666.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-mNElL2c7gos\/VixEr4I8XZI\/AAAAAAAAWWE\/BlDvKJlZ_Ds\/s1600\/DSCF2662.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-mNElL2c7gos\/VixEr4I8XZI\/AAAAAAAAWWE\/BlDvKJlZ_Ds\/s640\/DSCF2662.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESince getting back into HAM radio with my focus now on \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/n4pbq.blogspot.com\/2015\/08\/learning-cw.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECW\u003C\/a\u003E and QRP I find that many of my contacts use old and\/or homebrew equipment. \u0026nbsp;Maybe it's because I often call CQ with my \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/n4pbq.blogspot.com\/2015\/09\/review-of-kent-hand-key.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Estraight key\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;rather than paddles that results in most answers to my CQ being operators using a straight key or a bug. \u0026nbsp; It seems these operators tend to not use the latest piece of shiny gear, which made me an anomaly; sending with a straight key while using my SDR-in-a-box like the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/n4pbq.blogspot.com\/2015\/09\/two-keys-at-once-on-elecraft-kx3.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EElecraft KX3\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;Maybe for this reason I've found myself being drawn to less sophisticated types of equipment. \u0026nbsp;I'm not talking about wanting to go back to spark gap and gravity batteries, but sometimes the KX3 is just too easy to use.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIn the same way that I'd prefer to send CW using a Straight Key to a keyboard since it's a greater challenge, I think that the older, less sophisticated equipment can bring more satisfaction to the hobby.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EVintage... like bell bottom jeans and corduroys\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ENow don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting that the only \"real\" radios are those with discreet components or tubes, nor am I saying no key but a straight key. \u0026nbsp;I'm just moving through some stages of the hobby that I missed because I didn't grow up with this older equipment and I think the challenges can be fun to learn and operate. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI didn't get into Ham radio until 2006 and the commonly available used equipment of the time was microprocessor controlled rigs with digital displays, optical encoders, DSP filters and seemingly endless menus for configuration. \u0026nbsp;I went through a few HF radios over a couple of years: a Yaesu FT-857, ICOM 730 and lastly, a ICOM 746 Pro, before I sold the radios and dropped out of the hobby. At the time none of those rigs held any \"magic\" for me, they were just tools with increasing levels of functionality and ease of use. \u0026nbsp; However the ICOM 730 did hold copious amounts of stale cigarette smoke and nicotine from the previous operator that it would release into my room as it warmed up. \u0026nbsp;Not really magic, more of a non-corporeal element let's say.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIf you've read my \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/n4pbq.blogspot.com\/2015\/08\/finding-right-qrp-radio.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eearlier posts you may recall that although I like my Elecraft KX3 immensely\u003C\/a\u003E I have some strange fondness for TEN-TEC equipment. \u0026nbsp;Ten-Tec has made some quirky radios with legendary full break-in QSK and supposedly smooth, quiet receivers for CW operators for a few decades now. \u0026nbsp;So when a Craigslist posting leaped into my browser window (I don't know how that happened) advertising a seemingly pristine late-70s rig that had supposedly been reworked to a perfection, all for $140, I just couldn't pass it up... well at least the price in the ad was accurate.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe Ten-Tec Century 21 is an interesting transceiver. \u0026nbsp;In the simplest sense it was an ideal radio for the Novice Licensed HAM operator of the 1970s. \u0026nbsp;It is a CW only transmitter. \u0026nbsp;It doesn't require fiddling with a resonant tank circuit of the typical tube radios of the era to work out resonance. \u0026nbsp;It has a built-in power supply that runs off 115-120v mains. \u0026nbsp;It doesn't use a superheterodyne receiver but a direct conversion receiver (Ten-Tec called it a double direct conversion receiver). \u0026nbsp;This resulted in a simplified design and good selectivity but without the IF there is no AGC so be ready to work those RF\/AF gain knobs. \u0026nbsp;It also has easy band changing and nice filtering. \u0026nbsp;From web searches and reviews its most common problem is a PTO that has to be rebuilt every few years. \u0026nbsp;The Ham I purchased mine from said it had been rebuilt. \u0026nbsp;It doesn't slip (yet) but it's kinda stiff so I expect a PTO rebuild to be in my future. \u0026nbsp;I spoke with a ham I work with who has rebuilt one and he said it's not difficult, simply time consuming (but he repairs electronics all day so YMMV).\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EOperation is relatively simple: \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Col\u003E\u003Cli\u003EStart with the radio off.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETurn the \u003Cb\u003EDrive\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;knob down (counter clockwise), select your band\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETurn the radio on by pushing in the \u003Cb\u003ERF Gain\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;knob (it is the on-off switch).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EFind and open frequency (wait, listen, wait again, listen) and while holding the \u003Cb\u003ESet Drive\u003C\/b\u003E button apply just enough power using the \u003Cb\u003EDrive \u003C\/b\u003Eknob\u0026nbsp;to give you some RF out for matching your antenna. \u0026nbsp;Better yet use a frequency analyzer to tune QRM free.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAfter you're matched up you can bring the power up to where you want to operate. \u0026nbsp;Unfortunately this can't necessarily be done into a dummy load unless you're match is near 1:1. \u0026nbsp;The SWR will affect how much output drive you can use. \u0026nbsp;If you're going to run QRP then no worries because you won't be running the power input up to a point that could trip the final, Maximum input power is marked by the thick line on the \u003Cb\u003EInput Power\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;meter (about 70w). \u0026nbsp;This results in differing output wattage dependent on antenna resistance and frequency. \u0026nbsp;I found that into a 50ohm dummy load I could generate up to 40w output for 80m, 35w output for 40m, 30w output for 20m and so on, down to about 15w output on 10m. \u0026nbsp;As I plan to use the rig for QRP this is mostly academic. \u0026nbsp;It certainly can provide more than QRP output levels if conditions warrant.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ol\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ETo Tune a Station prior to the QSO\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis seems more complicated than it should be but I'm guessing after I've done it a few dozen times it will become automatic. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EThe Offset Knob\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe CW tone you hear is the difference between the current PTO tuning and the position of the \u003Cb\u003EOffset\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;knob. \u0026nbsp;The \u003Cb\u003EOffset\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;knob can be an offset to either side of the current frequency (think of this as CWR depending on your band). \u0026nbsp;In other words the \u003Ci\u003Ezero\u003C\/i\u003E position of the \u003Cb\u003EOffset\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;knob applies zero audio offset to the currently tuned frequency so you wouldn't hear a tone from a signal with zero offset. \u0026nbsp;You should have the \u003Cb\u003EOffset\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;knob slightly to the left on 80m and 40m (LSB offset) and slightly to the right of zero for the USB bands.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EThe Zero Beat Knob\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo with the information above in mind... Pressing the \u003Cb\u003EZero Beat \u003C\/b\u003Ebutton defeats whatever the \u003Cb\u003EOffset \u003C\/b\u003Eknob is set to (effectively zeroing the offset). \u0026nbsp;When you are exactly on frequency with a signal the audio from the signal nulls (goes silent). \u0026nbsp;This null \/ silence is your indication that your transmitter frequency matches the other station. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EHowever I've found that the Null or Zero Beat is quite broad, such that you could be up to 250Hz off frequency based on where you leave the PTO in the Null.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EFor my radio, on LSB bands, I press the \u003Cb\u003EZero Beat\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;button, find the null and then go past it (turning the knob to the left) and then just tweak it back into the null. \u0026nbsp;At least for my radio that works. \u0026nbsp;Maybe other Century 21s have a finer Q on the Null. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAfter you have zero beat the signal you can use the \u003Cb\u003EOffset\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;knob like a RIT.\u0026nbsp;The range on that knob is really broad. \u0026nbsp;I think the manual said 5kHz so just a touch goes a long way unless you like to listen to CW with a ear piercing 2kHz, high pitched tone.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHere's a video demonstrating operating the rig...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/dlv9WrcjgJI\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/dlv9WrcjgJI?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-s1YkSiD5KuI\/VioptZkzQGI\/AAAAAAAAWTo\/HkDKrYmrDu8\/s1600\/20151023_064059.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"183\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-s1YkSiD5KuI\/VioptZkzQGI\/AAAAAAAAWTo\/HkDKrYmrDu8\/s400\/20151023_064059.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ETEN-TEC Century 21 -- Front Panel Controls\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EQSK\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe Century 21 has full break-in QSK on at all times. \u0026nbsp;It is extremely clean with no discernable pops or artifacts. \u0026nbsp;One complaint I have is that the pitch and tone of the sidetone itself is fixed. \u0026nbsp;You can vary the volume through a little hole in the bottom cover to turn a thumb wheel, from very loud to just loud but you cannot change the pitch and it's a bit harsh sounding.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe headphone jack on my particular radio is broken. \u0026nbsp;I need to open it up to resolve that before the wife uses a large heavy object on my beautiful new transceiver.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ESelectivity\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis video demonstrates the receiver selectivity of this old radio.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/g8srnmsCfJA\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/g8srnmsCfJA?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EWhere is the S-Meter?\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis is a bare bones transceiver with just the basics necessary for CW communication. \u0026nbsp;As far as information for the operator: Well there's an analog dial that gives you a rough indication (within 5kHz) of where you are transmitting, and an input wattage gauge for the drive and that's all. \u0026nbsp;Notably missing is a Signal Strength meter so the signal reports you send will be based on your ear, or how generous you're feeling at the time.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIt's a little funny to me that I'm enjoying using this radio given it's lack of... well just about everything compared to my Elecraft KX3 whose tiny display indicates Signal Strength, Signal Relative to Zero Beat, SWR, RIT Offset, VFO A\/B (down to a 10Hz range) Time, PA Temp, etc. \u0026nbsp;It just goes to show you how much modern rigs have that, when it comes down to it, isn't actually necessary for communication.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ESpecifications\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EA bit of history about TenTec QRP radios and the C21 from a 1977 magazing article...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/archive.org\/stream\/73-magazine-1977-12\/12_December_1977#page\/n29\/mode\/2up\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehttps:\/\/archive.org\/stream\/73-magazine-1977-12\/12_December_1977#page\/n29\/mode\/2up\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3 class=\"sectionedit8\" style=\"background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: none; clear: left; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16.764px; line-height: 19.05px; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; padding: 0.5em 0px 0.17em;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/null\" id=\"general\" name=\"general\" style=\"background: none no-repeat;\"\u003EGeneral\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"level3\" style=\"background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.7px; line-height: 19.05px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cul style=\"line-height: 1.5em; list-style: square outside url(https:\/\/www.tentecwiki.org\/lib\/tpl\/monobook\/static\/3rd\/monobook\/bullet.gif); margin: 0.3em 0px 1em 1.5em; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cli class=\"level1\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 0.1em; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"li\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFrequency Coverage:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;3.5 to 4.0; 7.0 to 7.5; 14.0 to 14.5; 21.0 to 21.5; 28.0 to 28.5; 28.5 to 29.0\u0026nbsp;\u003Cacronym style=\"background: none; border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; cursor: help;\" title=\"Megahertz\"\u003EMHz\u003C\/acronym\u003E. (Crystal not supplied for 28.5 to 29.0\u0026nbsp;\u003Cacronym style=\"background: none; border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; cursor: help;\" title=\"Megahertz\"\u003EMHz\u003C\/acronym\u003E, but available as accessory, Model\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca class=\"wikilink1\" href=\"http:\/\/www.tentecwiki.org\/doku.php?id=273\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: inherit; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; color: rgb(0, 43, 184) !important; text-decoration: none;\" title=\"273\"\u003E273\u003C\/a\u003E.) Note - Early models only included crystals for 3.5, 7, and 14\u0026nbsp;\u003Cacronym style=\"background: none; border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; cursor: help;\" title=\"Megahertz\"\u003EMHz\u003C\/acronym\u003E\u0026nbsp;bands. Crystals for 21 Mhz and 28 Mhz bands were available as optional Models numbers\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca class=\"wikilink1\" href=\"http:\/\/www.tentecwiki.org\/doku.php?id=271\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: inherit; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; color: rgb(0, 43, 184) !important; text-decoration: none;\" title=\"271\"\u003E271\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca class=\"wikilink1\" href=\"http:\/\/www.tentecwiki.org\/doku.php?id=272\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: inherit; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; color: rgb(0, 43, 184) !important; text-decoration: none;\" title=\"272\"\u003E272\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\"level1\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 0.1em; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"li\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVFO Frequency Stability:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;less than 20 Hz change per degree Fahrenheit, averaged over a 40\u003Csup style=\"font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1;\"\u003Eo\u003C\/sup\u003E\u0026nbsp;change from 70\u003Csup style=\"font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1;\"\u003Eo\u003C\/sup\u003E\u0026nbsp;to 110\u003Csup style=\"font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1;\"\u003Eo\u003C\/sup\u003E, after 30 minute warmup. Less than 20 Hz change from 105 to 125 VAC line voltage.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\"level1\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 0.1em; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"li\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDirect Frequency Readout:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;Marked in 5 kHz increments from 0 - 500 kHz,\u0026nbsp;\u003Cacronym style=\"background: none; border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; cursor: help;\" title=\"Megahertz\"\u003EMHz\u003C\/acronym\u003E\u0026nbsp;markings for each band displayed.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\"level1\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 0.1em; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"li\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETuning Rate:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;Approximately 17 kHz per revolution of main tuning knob.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\"level1\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 0.1em; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"li\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPower Requirements:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;105 - 125 VAC, 50-60 Hz. 10 watts receive, 100 watts transmit.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\"level1\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 0.1em; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"li\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESemiconductors:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;25 transistors, 26 diodes, 5 integrated circuits.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\"level1\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 0.1em; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"li\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPC Boards:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;4 plug-in types, 6 integral.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\"level1\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 0.1em; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"li\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EConstruction:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;Rigid aluminum chassis and sub-panels. Aluminum case. Grey front panel, black textured vinyl cover.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\"level1\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 0.1em; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"li\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDimensions:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;HWD 6.125\" x 12.5\" x 12\"\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\"level1\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 0.1em; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"li\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWeight:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;15.5 lbs\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3 class=\"sectionedit9\" style=\"background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: none; clear: left; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16.764px; line-height: 19.05px; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; padding: 0.5em 0px 0.17em;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/null\" id=\"receiver\" name=\"receiver\" style=\"background: none no-repeat;\"\u003EReceiver\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"level3\" style=\"background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.7px; line-height: 19.05px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cul style=\"line-height: 1.5em; list-style: square outside url(https:\/\/www.tentecwiki.org\/lib\/tpl\/monobook\/static\/3rd\/monobook\/bullet.gif); margin: 0.3em 0px 1em 1.5em; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cli class=\"level1\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 0.1em; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"li\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESensitivity:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;1 uV or less for 10 dB S+N\/N.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\"level1\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 0.1em; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"li\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESelectivity:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;Three position; 0.5, 1.0, and 2.5 kHz.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\"level1\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 0.1em; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"li\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVFO Frequency:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;5.0 to 5.5\u0026nbsp;\u003Cacronym style=\"background: none; border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; cursor: help;\" title=\"Megahertz\"\u003EMHz\u003C\/acronym\u003E. Double Direct Conversion.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\"level1\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 0.1em; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"li\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAntenna Input:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;50 ohms, unbalanced.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\"level1\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 0.1em; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"li\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAudio Output:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;1 watt @ 8 ohms, less than 2% harmonic distortion. Built-in speaker; PHONES jack.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\"level1\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 0.1em; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"li\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOffset Tuning:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;Approximately +\/- 5 kHz, defeatable with ZERO BEAT switch.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3 class=\"sectionedit10\" style=\"background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: none; clear: left; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16.764px; line-height: 19.05px; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; padding: 0.5em 0px 0.17em;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/null\" id=\"transmitter\" name=\"transmitter\" style=\"background: none no-repeat;\"\u003ETransmitter\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"level3\" style=\"background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.7px; line-height: 19.05px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cul style=\"line-height: 1.5em; list-style: square outside url(https:\/\/www.tentecwiki.org\/lib\/tpl\/monobook\/static\/3rd\/monobook\/bullet.gif); margin: 0.3em 0px 1em 1.5em; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cli class=\"level1\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 0.1em; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"li\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDC Input Power:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;70 watts\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\"level1\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 0.1em; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"li\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERF Output Power:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;25-30 watts, typical.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\"level1\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 0.1em; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"li\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOutput Impedance:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;50 - 75 ohms, unbalanced.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\"level1\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 0.1em; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"li\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong style=\"font-size: 12.7px;\"\u003ET\/R Switching:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.7px;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;Full break-in cw with\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cacronym style=\"background-image: none; border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; cursor: help; font-size: 12.7px;\" title=\"Personal Identification Number\"\u003EPIN\u003C\/acronym\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.7px;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;diode switch.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EQSO\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-size: 12.7px;\"\u003ESample QSO... Listen to the lovely receiver but the horrible sidetone.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-size: 12.7px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; font-size: 12.7px; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/A0IBRkq-ThE\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/A0IBRkq-ThE?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cul style=\"line-height: 1.5em; list-style: square outside url(https:\/\/www.tentecwiki.org\/lib\/tpl\/monobook\/static\/3rd\/monobook\/bullet.gif); margin: 0.3em 0px 1em 1.5em; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EUpdate: Here's another QSO I made a few months later into learning the Code.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/xlIPkIEQpLw\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xlIPkIEQpLw?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAnd here's yet another from Straight Key Night 2017.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/Wj5UP5jtR74\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Wj5UP5jtR74?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EOriginal Advertisement\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.tentecwiki.org\/lib\/exe\/fetch.php?cache=\u0026amp;media=570_01_78.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tentecwiki.org\/lib\/exe\/fetch.php?cache\u0026amp;media=570_01_78.jpg\" height=\"640\" width=\"478\"\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EOriginal Advertisement\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESome of this old beauty's insides...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-WZq9nWksNQI\/VjvQSzufbjI\/AAAAAAAAW4M\/5cLEeoTor1M\/s1600\/20151025_134437.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"\" border=\"0\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-WZq9nWksNQI\/VjvQSzufbjI\/AAAAAAAAW4M\/5cLEeoTor1M\/s640\/20151025_134437.jpg\" title=\"Audio processing board\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-OB3ifLTsHXU\/VjvQSyJITUI\/AAAAAAAAW4I\/YqM5-pZUmwI\/s1600\/20151025_134544.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"\" border=\"0\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-OB3ifLTsHXU\/VjvQSyJITUI\/AAAAAAAAW4I\/YqM5-pZUmwI\/s640\/20151025_134544.jpg\" title=\"Mixer and tuning bandpass\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAs I use the rig more I'll try to make some recordings and post them in subsequent blogs but that's all for now.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E73 \/ 72\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAA4OO (formerly N4PBQ)\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/6804751472040207000\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/10\/ten-tec-century-21-cw-only-rig-ahead-of.html#comment-form","title":"19 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/6804751472040207000"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/6804751472040207000"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/10\/ten-tec-century-21-cw-only-rig-ahead-of.html","title":"TEN-TEC Century 21 --- Vintage Novice CW Rig"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/--huLD_at1bM\/VixEyc7SELI\/AAAAAAAAWWY\/GMNGLH0M_Ek\/s72-c\/DSCF2667.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"19"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-1300978302792613855"},"published":{"$t":"2015-10-03T18:03:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:35:09.097-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The Perception of Power"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EPower... or lack thereof\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-jcVtXLVA40E\/VhBMT_nktYI\/AAAAAAAAWFs\/P5dH1Wt01Ec\/s1600\/20151003_173148.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"276\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-jcVtXLVA40E\/VhBMT_nktYI\/AAAAAAAAWFs\/P5dH1Wt01Ec\/s640\/20151003_173148.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI had a good afternoon playing radio on 40m, 30m, 20m and 17m\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI like 30m because that band seems to be more laid back and I seem to have some of the longest ragchews there. \u0026nbsp;One of the QSOs began with a fellow in CT using a K2 at 80w while I was running 5w. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAs the QSO progressed he was surprised by how well he could hear a QRP station. \u0026nbsp;This seems to be repeated often enough to me that I asked him to lower his power and see how it goes. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EHe lowered his power from 80w to 50w and I gave him a signal report that didn't differ from his original. \u0026nbsp;Then he came down to 20w and I dropped him a point. Eventually he lowered his power down to 5w while I went to about 1w. \u0026nbsp;We continued to have our QSO although QSB started to make copy difficult but the main thing was that he was very surprised that he could come down to 5w and have me hear him and that he could still copy me at 1w. \u0026nbsp;We were both using wire antennas and he was about 500 miles north of me. \u0026nbsp;Solar Flux was only 107 today so it wasn't particularly stellar (pun intended) and it wasn't grey line by any means.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI think QRP operators should encourage QRO operators to try lowering their power just as an experiment. \u0026nbsp;After all we are supposed to use just enough power for communication, rather than all that we can generate. \u0026nbsp;I generally start at 5w and if a station is having difficulty or gives me a 339 I'll turn it up to my scorching 12w.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESave power, save the planet. \u0026nbsp;Maybe we can design a CW key that generates enough power to run our milliwatt rigs.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E73 es 72\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EN4PBQ\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/1300978302792613855\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/10\/the-perception-of-power.html#comment-form","title":"3 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/1300978302792613855"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/1300978302792613855"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/10\/the-perception-of-power.html","title":"The Perception of Power"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-jcVtXLVA40E\/VhBMT_nktYI\/AAAAAAAAWFs\/P5dH1Wt01Ec\/s72-c\/20151003_173148.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"3"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-6148174190847534053"},"published":{"$t":"2015-09-26T14:14:00.002-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:35:09.159-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Telegraphers of the Civil War -- Book"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EBrass Pounders\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003EI just read \"Brass Pounders -- Young Telegraphers of the Civil War\" by Alvin F. Harlow.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-sgfTp8IqFSg\/VgbaXAN0F1I\/AAAAAAAAV2s\/yL_3ucGhfo0\/s1600\/91HE-5J7yEL.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-sgfTp8IqFSg\/VgbaXAN0F1I\/AAAAAAAAV2s\/yL_3ucGhfo0\/s640\/91HE-5J7yEL.jpg\" width=\"450\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EAvailable on Amazon \u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Brass-Pounders-Young-Telegraphers-The-Civil-ebook\/dp\/B00X69F6GU\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBrass-Pounders-Young-Telegraphers-The-Civil-War\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EIt is a collection of stories I assume to be mostly true of the young men and their adventures in their service as telegraphers during the Civil War. \u0026nbsp;There's really not much in there about telegraphy in particular, more just about the gumption of those young men (boys really). \u0026nbsp; Also this was long before radio-telegraphy so it has nothing to do with amateur-radio or CW but some may find it an interesting read.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EIt certainly was a different time and different sensibilities regarding the independence of boys and what they can accomplish. \u0026nbsp;It's certainly no great literary work but it is an interesting read. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EIt does show the growing recognition of the importance of the telegraph in war-time communications. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003ESome of the telegrapher's became well known such as \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/jhbunnell.com\/bunnellcohistory.shtml\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EJesse Bunnell\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;who later designed an improved sideswiper key to deal with telegrapher \"glass arm\"\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/jhbunnell.com\/pix-Brunnellswiper.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/jhbunnell.com\/pix-Brunnellswiper.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.old-picture.com\/civil-war\/pictures\/Telegraph-Military-002.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/www.old-picture.com\/civil-war\/pictures\/Telegraph-Military-002.jpg\" height=\"257\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.wiclarkcountyhistory.org\/veterans\/CivilWar_files\/UnitHistories\/images\/Telewiring1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/www.wiclarkcountyhistory.org\/veterans\/CivilWar_files\/UnitHistories\/images\/Telewiring1.jpg\" height=\"320\" width=\"295\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.americaslegacylinks.com\/images\/civil-war-photograph-of-civil-war-soldiers-stringing-lines.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/www.americaslegacylinks.com\/images\/civil-war-photograph-of-civil-war-soldiers-stringing-lines.jpg\" height=\"232\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThat's all for now.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E73\u003Cbr \/\u003ERichard\u003Cbr \/\u003EN4PBQ\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/6148174190847534053\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/09\/telegraphers-of-civil-war-book.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/6148174190847534053"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/6148174190847534053"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/09\/telegraphers-of-civil-war-book.html","title":"Telegraphers of the Civil War -- Book"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-sgfTp8IqFSg\/VgbaXAN0F1I\/AAAAAAAAV2s\/yL_3ucGhfo0\/s72-c\/91HE-5J7yEL.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-6613074289101008931"},"published":{"$t":"2015-09-22T12:18:00.003-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-03-30T09:10:31.359-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Morse Code... is Only Mostly Dead"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2 style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EMorse Code is getting Old--er\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-p5WslnsRW3g\/VgFgJQPA8pI\/AAAAAAAAV1g\/JXLdf2tVE6U\/s1600\/mostly-dead.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"352\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-p5WslnsRW3g\/VgFgJQPA8pI\/AAAAAAAAV1g\/JXLdf2tVE6U\/s640\/mostly-dead.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003EAs a new CW operator I find questions concerning CW-Morse Code operators and learning Morse Code interesting. In particular the AGE of CW-Morse Code operators interested me. When I completed my 100th CW QSO as a new operator I decided to gather some statistics on age of \u0026nbsp;Morse Code operator with whom I had QSOs.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003EI\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;took my log and wrote a program to query \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.qrz.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EQRZ \u003C\/a\u003Edatabase. \u0026nbsp;I used the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/n1ywb\/python-hamtools\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Epython-hamtools \u003C\/a\u003Elibrary as the basis of parsing my ADIF log and performing the QRZ database lookups. \u0026nbsp;In order to query QRZ you need a \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.qrz.com\/page\/xml_data.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Esubscription\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003EQRZ doesn't have the birth year for all operators but it had it for 58 of the original 100 CW mode contacts.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3 style=\"clear: both; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003EHere is the birth year summary for CW operators in my log:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-L6asP8uPtA4\/VgFx40dtJhI\/AAAAAAAAV1s\/T2i3wqDU4es\/s1600\/cw-op-age-graph.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"374\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-L6asP8uPtA4\/VgFx40dtJhI\/AAAAAAAAV1s\/T2i3wqDU4es\/s640\/cw-op-age-graph.PNG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003EAverage Age: 68\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003EMin Age: 35\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003EMax Age: 99 (yes, 99 he's a ham in TX)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-icDCmrsIr5A\/VgF0ej1o5CI\/AAAAAAAAV14\/TUjDEdHRE_U\/s1600\/ages-bar-graph.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"372\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-icDCmrsIr5A\/VgF0ej1o5CI\/AAAAAAAAV14\/TUjDEdHRE_U\/s400\/ages-bar-graph.PNG\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003EI am in my 50s and just learned the code. I find the average age of 68 pretty indicative that there don't seem to be a lot of young CW operators. \u0026nbsp;As CW operators die off who will replace them?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003EI recognize that these statistics aren't too meaningful without knowing the average age of all licensed hams in the QRZ database. If I knew that then I could make more meaningful comparisons.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;\"\u003EWhere will new \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace; font-size: x-large;\"\u003EMorse Code Operators\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E come from?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003ESo based on the statistical age from my CW QSO logs; Morse Code doesn't seem to be considered relevant by most folks under half a century old.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003EA Google Search of\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cb style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px; margin-top: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\"Morse Code Alive\"\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;returns\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cb style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003E286,000 hits\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003E. Conversely, a Google Search of\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cb style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\"Morse Code Dead\"\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;returns\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cb style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003E733,000 hits\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003ESo statistically, Morse Code is considered\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ci style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Emostly\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003Edead... Yes I like this movie...\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xbE8E1ez97M?wmode=opaque\" style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px; max-width: 100%;\" width=\"500\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003EMy kids consider me nuts for taking the time to learn and use Morse Code. I haven't been able to convince them of its relevance or even the relevance of ham radio. They point out to me that they can communicate with all their friends just fine via Google Chat or Texting. Even my lovely wife, who is a licensed Ham, doesn't see the point in learning Morse Code.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003ESo... my question is; can we bring relevance back to Morse Code to a younger generation? \u0026nbsp;Yes it's fun, yes it's a challenge, yes it uses the least amount of radio spectrum for communication, yes it allows the furthest communication on the least amount of power...\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #666666; font-size: large;\"\u003EWill Morse Code die with the generation(s) that use it today?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003EAnd on that somber question, I'll await some comments (hopefully constructive).\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003E73\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003ERichard\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003EN4PBQ\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003EUPDATE March 2017:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003EI found this graph from my Youtube viewer demographics interesting...\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-L3RpEE1PSX0\/WN0DvJr5FwI\/AAAAAAAAdro\/WrbzI2f0dFwyvyGqKnLNyiqrLN6bdGLYQCLcB\/s1600\/viewer-age.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-L3RpEE1PSX0\/WN0DvJr5FwI\/AAAAAAAAdro\/WrbzI2f0dFwyvyGqKnLNyiqrLN6bdGLYQCLcB\/s640\/viewer-age.PNG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #fcfcff; color: #141414; font-family: \u0026quot;georgia\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.5333px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/6613074289101008931\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/09\/morse-code-is-only-mostly-dead.html#comment-form","title":"12 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/6613074289101008931"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/6613074289101008931"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/09\/morse-code-is-only-mostly-dead.html","title":"Morse Code... is Only Mostly Dead"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-p5WslnsRW3g\/VgFgJQPA8pI\/AAAAAAAAV1g\/JXLdf2tVE6U\/s72-c\/mostly-dead.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"12"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-936679686316368426"},"published":{"$t":"2015-09-17T09:57:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:35:09.206-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"100+ Morse Code QSOs as a new CW operator"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EPassing my 100+ CW mode QSO goal\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ELast weekend my 100th CW contact was with Terry \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EK8EHE\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003EIt took me about six weeks from my first on-air QSO to reach this goal. \u0026nbsp;I created a map of my world wide QSOs. \u0026nbsp;Some stations are represented more than once on the map because I had contacts with them on subsequent days.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFor some reason stations with a slash in the call failed to generate locations on the map due to a bug in the program I'm using to generate the KML. So some of the stations (at least a few of the DX stations) aren't displayed.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-QpH_UWBzQ-g\/VfrB4fdlucI\/AAAAAAAAV0A\/yzluUEXom2g\/s1600\/qso-contacts-world.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"541\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-QpH_UWBzQ-g\/VfrB4fdlucI\/AAAAAAAAV0A\/yzluUEXom2g\/s640\/qso-contacts-world.PNG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EWorld Wide QSO map (excluding stations with slash in their call)\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis map shows the US contacts so far...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-CZBm8nmMfUA\/VfrCN1QajtI\/AAAAAAAAV0I\/Fjsfq0DcvPQ\/s1600\/QSO-map-US.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"412\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-CZBm8nmMfUA\/VfrCN1QajtI\/AAAAAAAAV0I\/Fjsfq0DcvPQ\/s640\/QSO-map-US.PNG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EOperators in the Midwest must not answer my CQ\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EEncourage new CW operators\u003C\/h4\u003ELast night I had the opportunity to be the first CW contact for Larren\u0026nbsp;\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-weight: bold;\"\u003EKE0CGB\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003Eso it's good to hear other new CW operators coming on the air. \u0026nbsp;I made sure to QRS to a speed he could comfortably copy.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo Lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E73\u003Cbr \/\u003ERichard\u003Cbr \/\u003EN4PBQ"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/936679686316368426\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/09\/100-morse-code-qsos-as-new-cw-operator.html#comment-form","title":"3 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/936679686316368426"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/936679686316368426"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/09\/100-morse-code-qsos-as-new-cw-operator.html","title":"100+ Morse Code QSOs as a new CW operator"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-QpH_UWBzQ-g\/VfrB4fdlucI\/AAAAAAAAV0A\/yzluUEXom2g\/s72-c\/qso-contacts-world.PNG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"3"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-4905563263147844272"},"published":{"$t":"2015-09-13T20:46:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:35:09.145-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Suburb Antenna"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EThe \"New Carolina Windom\" in North Carolina\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMy location is in a typical new-construction, American suburb and doesn't allow for ideal antenna solutions. \u0026nbsp;My subdivision was built on a field previously growing tobacco, beans and cotton, depending on the crop rotation. \u0026nbsp;So when the house was built (2002) the tallest point on the property was the peak of the roof.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-R-v4Oi4-zIg\/VfYDUb4IOeI\/AAAAAAAAVy8\/caIOwOzrSfs\/s1600\/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-09-13%2Bat%2B7.07.30%2BPM.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"418\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-R-v4Oi4-zIg\/VfYDUb4IOeI\/AAAAAAAAVy8\/caIOwOzrSfs\/s640\/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-09-13%2Bat%2B7.07.30%2BPM.png\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EArial view of QTH as built\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThere were a couple of sticks in the front yard about 8ft tall that the builder called trees. \u0026nbsp;I wasn't licensed as a Ham yet so I wasn't in the mindset where I'd hang an antenna.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EBy the time I was licensed as a Ham some things had grown up around us but they were mostly other houses. \u0026nbsp;The trees just hadn't grown much in 5 years.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-gzyNrJeAzB4\/VfYEmhAF9pI\/AAAAAAAAVzI\/NJKSsGXtSC8\/s1600\/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-09-13%2Bat%2B7.07.59%2BPM.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"400\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-gzyNrJeAzB4\/VfYEmhAF9pI\/AAAAAAAAVzI\/NJKSsGXtSC8\/s640\/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-09-13%2Bat%2B7.07.59%2BPM.png\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EQTH at the time I was licensed\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI started off with a couple of attic antennas. \u0026nbsp;I first had a 20m Carolina Windom and a Tarheel Screwdriver in the attic. \u0026nbsp;The Little Tarheel would tune 40 but my counterpoise system was poor so it didn't perform well. \u0026nbsp;The Little Tarheel screwdriver antenna actually performed better on my vehicle working European stations on phone band while mobile than in the attic. \u0026nbsp;The 20m Carolina Windom in the attic made contacts but electrical noise from the proximity of wiring was pretty bad. \u0026nbsp;I tried a number of other antennas in the attic and in general none worked very well. \u0026nbsp;I needed to get an antenna outside.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI don't have strict covenants but towers and push up poles are prohibited so I need to attach a wire to the house in some way. The tallest point on my house that was semi-accessible was the peak of the roof on the Southern facing side. \u0026nbsp;I had a window in the third story attic just under that peak. \u0026nbsp;At the time I didn't have an antenna tuner so I read about multi-band wire antennas that supposedly didn't require tuning for multiple bands. \u0026nbsp;A fan dipole could have been a good choice but I had to have the antenna in an inverted V and there was nothing of height in the rear to keep the lower elements of the fan far enough above ground.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI settled on the \"New Carolina Windom\"\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamuniverse.com\/k4iwlnewwindom.GIF\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/www.hamuniverse.com\/k4iwlnewwindom.GIF\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ESchematic for New Carolina Windom\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis antenna had a number of advantages for me. \u0026nbsp;It is multi-band and theoretically doesn't require tuning for 40m, 30m, 20m and 15m. \u0026nbsp;I ordered a 4:1 balun and a line isolator, wire, rope and coax and got to work. \u0026nbsp;Since I my antenna had to be inverted originally it turned out to not tune as well as I'd like. \u0026nbsp;The antenna tuned under 3:1 on all the bands and under 2:1 on 40m in the phone segment. \u0026nbsp;I used the antenna for a couple of years back when I was doing QRO phone and digital modes until a mishap brought it down and it laid under the bushes up next to the house for 6 years.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ENow where did I leave that antenna?\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWhen I became interested in QRP and CW again a few weeks ago I had a portable end-fed long wire but nothing for the home QTH. \u0026nbsp;I remembered the Windom buried under the bushes. \u0026nbsp;In the six intervening years my trees had gained a bit more height so it was not quite as inverted as it used to be. \u0026nbsp;Strangely now that the long segment (41ft) is more or less flat-top and the short segment is inverted it tunes 20m under 2:1 and 40m is now 3:1. \u0026nbsp;30m SWR is now about 6:1 but I have a tuner to handle that and it's been quite effective on 30m QRP. \u0026nbsp;Actually there is one more change. The original vertical coax segment of 10ft was unusable after all those years under the bushes and I used the only other ready made, short coax segment that I still had amongst my cache of antenna supplies. That vertical radiator segment is now 12ft rather than 10ft so that may be the reason for the tuning difference. \u0026nbsp;This is certainly not a well designed experiment. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI'm confident that if I took the time to trim the wires to proper length and get the vertical radiator segment the correct length it would tune under 2:1 in all the bands it's designed to operate on but for now I prefer spending my time making contacts. \u0026nbsp;When it cools down here in NC I'll do some more antenna work.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMy point is that this antenna (even with the misconfiguration) seems to work fairly well on 40m, 30m and 20m \u0026nbsp;I've never made any contacts on 15m with it but I don't hear much on that band. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIt outperforms my 40m doublet at the same height (~25ft) by 2S-Points from some limited tests and is definitely quieter on receive. \u0026nbsp;I've worked Chile, Spain and Eastern Europe with QRP CW. \u0026nbsp;The wires are not in-line as there is about a 15deg angle toward the South. \u0026nbsp;I have worked Utah in the US from NC but that's as far West as I've gotten on CW. \u0026nbsp;I tend to not stay up late enough to work the gray line propagation heading in that direction. \u0026nbsp;The ends of the antenna head West and East so that null to the West may be an issue.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #666666; font-size: large;\"\u003EI understand that anecdotal reports aren't terribly useful as some may be able to report that they've worked Madagascar using a spoon with one watt but this antenna works for me.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EHere is a view of the antenna as it lives today. \u0026nbsp;The 4:1 balun hangs from a dacron rope attached to the peak of my roof far enough down so that I can retrieve it back in the 3rd story window for maintenance and detach it (that is the extra rope you see heading to the window). \u0026nbsp;From there the vertical radiator goes to a choke. \u0026nbsp;I didn't want there to be stress on the coax of that vertical radiator due to the weight of the choke so I have another dacron rope running down that coax and attaching the choke to the upper balun as stress relief for the coax. \u0026nbsp;The long segment of the New Carolina Windom heads off to the \u003Ci\u003Enow\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E25 ft tall tree in the from yard and the rear element slopes down to a bean pole in the garden behind the house. \u0026nbsp;From the front of the house the antenna is not visible and my next door neighbor who can see it doesn't seem to mind.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-5x8_xKt7pTs\/VfYNM7Cph5I\/AAAAAAAAVzU\/v2jSmcVoOrc\/s1600\/20150913_173538.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-5x8_xKt7pTs\/VfYNM7Cph5I\/AAAAAAAAVzU\/v2jSmcVoOrc\/s640\/20150913_173538.jpg\" width=\"480\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-omlKwgO8imQ\/VfYNfiyVLnI\/AAAAAAAAVzc\/yBYESX4LhRk\/s1600\/20150913_173331.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-omlKwgO8imQ\/VfYNfiyVLnI\/AAAAAAAAVzc\/yBYESX4LhRk\/s640\/20150913_173331.jpg\" width=\"480\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EView of the balun and choke at the end of the vertical segment\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003ESo if you're looking for a reasonable performing multi band antenna and you need one segment shorter than the other based on your QTH restrictions I can recommend the New Carolina Windom.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E--- UPDATE Nov 1, 2015 ---\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESince this review I replaced the 40m New Carolina Windom with a standard 80m Windom (OCF Dipole) at the same position. \u0026nbsp;It is resonant (requires no tuning) on 80m, 40m, 20m and 10m.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-jTPOUP6O8tQ\/Vjdv57Ki-GI\/AAAAAAAAWxc\/CD_vioSIlN0\/s1600\/20151031_165900.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"360\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-jTPOUP6O8tQ\/Vjdv57Ki-GI\/AAAAAAAAWxc\/CD_vioSIlN0\/s640\/20151031_165900.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E80m Windom 4:1 Current Balun\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-w8c0zPve7Ik\/VjdwY6YBUrI\/AAAAAAAAWxk\/DKMWA0OxZ8Q\/s1600\/20151031_165750.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"360\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-w8c0zPve7Ik\/VjdwY6YBUrI\/AAAAAAAAWxk\/DKMWA0OxZ8Q\/s640\/20151031_165750.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ELong side of Windom (89') attached to fiberglass pole\u0026nbsp;@12' agl\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo the 40m Windom is no-more.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EThat's all for now\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003ERichard\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EN4PBQ\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/4905563263147844272\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/09\/suburb-antenna.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/4905563263147844272"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/4905563263147844272"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/09\/suburb-antenna.html","title":"Suburb Antenna"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-R-v4Oi4-zIg\/VfYDUb4IOeI\/AAAAAAAAVy8\/caIOwOzrSfs\/s72-c\/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-09-13%2Bat%2B7.07.30%2BPM.png","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-4654072956825644560"},"published":{"$t":"2015-09-12T15:57:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:35:09.139-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"QRP Antennas"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003ELower your Power and Crank-Up your Tower\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #666666; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;\"\u003EQRP means low power but not limited antennas\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003EThis antenna site is used by a group of local QRP operators (part of the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.knightlites.org\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EKnightLites group\u003C\/a\u003E) to work DX (for example working Hawaii on 160m with less than a watt). \u0026nbsp;In addition to a beam, the 72ft crank up tower normally supports a number of wire antennas that go to the surrounding ring of trees including a half wave delta loop for 160m. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-oDrp-qYLO3k\/VfR6U_QongI\/AAAAAAAAVss\/I0NLZ_Lgxnw\/s1600\/20150912_122940.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-oDrp-qYLO3k\/VfR6U_QongI\/AAAAAAAAVss\/I0NLZ_Lgxnw\/s640\/20150912_122940.jpg\" width=\"480\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EExcalibur \u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003EThe site is out in the woods, located away from urban RF interference and is battery powered via a solar array. \u0026nbsp;It is an ideal location for pulling low powered QRP signals out of the noise.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EA lightning strike a few years back badly damaged the shack and it was decided to tear it down and restore the site. \u0026nbsp;The shack was de-constructed last year but the debris was still on site. \u0026nbsp;We spent the morning carting away 3 pickup truck loads from the de-constructed shack and cleaning up the site, making it ready for use again. \u0026nbsp;The tower appears to be sound but Paul plans to have it checked out professionally before taking it back up to full height.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-zq6dwmEGpFI\/VfR7BCZGb7I\/AAAAAAAAVs0\/pd1DAniZITU\/s1600\/20150912_105227.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"300\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-zq6dwmEGpFI\/VfR7BCZGb7I\/AAAAAAAAVs0\/pd1DAniZITU\/s400\/20150912_105227.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EDick assuming the DOT worker pose \u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-JJvlFx8tohg\/VfXMRnGGIvI\/AAAAAAAAVwc\/OU822ot1-G0\/s1600\/IMG_1688.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"237\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-JJvlFx8tohg\/VfXMRnGGIvI\/AAAAAAAAVwc\/OU822ot1-G0\/s400\/IMG_1688.JPG\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EOur cleanup disturbed the homes of some wildlife \u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"300\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-p_261oTkcpg\/VfXMR2SzlII\/AAAAAAAAVww\/X73D8YjyOc4\/s400\/image1.JPG\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ETaking debris to the recycling center \u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-FW9zpX7gOyc\/VfSAZy1e4gI\/AAAAAAAAVtU\/qRNApBcAQvo\/s1600\/IMG_0841-2.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"400\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-FW9zpX7gOyc\/VfSAZy1e4gI\/AAAAAAAAVtU\/qRNApBcAQvo\/s400\/IMG_0841-2.JPG\" width=\"337\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ERichard and Paul at the base of Excalibur\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-XrpGe6xdr9I\/VfXUYGgsyKI\/AAAAAAAAVxE\/ltSnrA3d6eg\/s1600\/image1-3.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"300\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-XrpGe6xdr9I\/VfXUYGgsyKI\/AAAAAAAAVxE\/ltSnrA3d6eg\/s400\/image1-3.JPG\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ERecovered antenna elements ready for reassembly\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI'm looking forward to the opportunity to connect my QRP radio to some serious antennas at the Fall QSO party.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThat's all for now.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E Richard\u003Cbr \/\u003EN4PBQ\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/4654072956825644560\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/09\/qrp-antennas.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/4654072956825644560"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/4654072956825644560"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/09\/qrp-antennas.html","title":"QRP Antennas"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-oDrp-qYLO3k\/VfR6U_QongI\/AAAAAAAAVss\/I0NLZ_Lgxnw\/s72-c\/20150912_122940.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-416013056275963916"},"published":{"$t":"2015-09-08T12:43:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:35:09.129-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Two keys at once on the Elecraft KX3"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EThe Two Keys to Success\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIn my past 5 weeks of getting back into Morse Code I've found that I like to use my paddles with the radio's internal keyer and switch to my straight key or vice versa. \u0026nbsp;But the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.elecraft.com\/KX3\/kx3.htm\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EElecraft KX3\u003C\/a\u003E standard key input (KEY1) on the side of the radio can only be configured for one Key type at a time. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-vKCD0TzTEHI\/Ve78e4cIKnI\/AAAAAAAAVoc\/EhOJCUxjzkM\/s1600\/20150904_210545-1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"592\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-vKCD0TzTEHI\/Ve78e4cIKnI\/AAAAAAAAVoc\/EhOJCUxjzkM\/s640\/20150904_210545-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EAll Keyed Up\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe KEY1 input also requires a stereo plug. \u0026nbsp;So even if you use a straight key it needs to be wired to a stereo plug with the tip and ring of the plug shorted. \u0026nbsp;Without a menu change this presents as squeezed paddles to the keyer. \u0026nbsp;So I can't just plug the straight key after unplugging the paddles because the KX3 sends the input to the keyer and I get the iambic dit-dah-dit-dah...\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI have to go into the menu and change the setting for KEY1 back and forth between it's iambic KEYER mode and HAND mode. \u0026nbsp;This requires pushing the menu button, rotating the selector to the proper menu item, then rotating a different knob to choose KEYER or HAND mode. \u0026nbsp;That's just too much effort during a QSO.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI've seen key switching solutions where a rotary switch is used to select from a collection of keys but that still doesn't help switch between a straight key and a paddle unless I purchase an external keyer for the paddles. \u0026nbsp;But the KX3's internal keyer is quite nice having a dedicated knob to quickly change keyer speed as well as front panel operated memories with repeat, so I really don't need or want to buy an external keyer. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EThere's an easier and cheaper solution...\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe Elecraft KX3 has another key input (KEY2) which has a separate configuration from KEY1, This allows one input configured for a straight key and the other for a keyer. \u0026nbsp;The tricky bit is that the input for KEY2 uses a 2x2 pin configuration recessed into the front side of the radio. \u0026nbsp;This is intended to be used by the proprietary paddle attachment for the KX3 which mounts on the front of the radio. \u0026nbsp;When I searched the web I couldn't find anyone who makes a ready-made adapter for this port to a stereo jack. \u0026nbsp;So I decided to make one.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe nice folks at \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.elecraft.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EElecraft \u003C\/a\u003Esent me the schematic for the KEY2 input and I ordered the 2x2 header from them used in their proprietary paddle kit.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-TTPlixsq4oo\/Ve79031_0YI\/AAAAAAAAVoo\/4w-Bd4X5m4c\/s1600\/unnamed.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-TTPlixsq4oo\/Ve79031_0YI\/AAAAAAAAVoo\/4w-Bd4X5m4c\/s1600\/unnamed.png\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EKX3 KEY2 pinout\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003ESo when you wire your 2x2 header here's the key (pun intended).\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #666666;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #666666;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003ELooking at the side where the four pin header is located:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #666666; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;\"\u003EUpper right is ground\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #666666; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;\"\u003ELower right is \"dit\"\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;\"\u003ELower left is \"dah\"\u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #666666;\"\u003EUpper left is \"halt-catch fire\"\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;By the way. \u0026nbsp;While I'm mentioning \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.elecraft.com\/index.htm\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EElecraft \u003C\/a\u003Elet me just say I think they have one of the finest customer service groups of any company I've dealt with. \u0026nbsp;They respond to emails in record time and provide you with any information you may need concerning their products.\u003C\/blockquote\u003EThe recessed port for KEY2 is too tight to fit a header covered in shrink tubing so what I have done is connect the cable to a header and then plug that header into the Elecraft proprietary header that has a right angle set of pins coming out. The Elecraft header seems slightly deeper than a standard header and has the right angle pins.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo sacrificing a male to female stereo cable we have the following:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-wzCo2rHn8cY\/Ve7-SYx1zmI\/AAAAAAAAVow\/DY_22cX-1cQ\/s1600\/20150904_142934.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"506\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-wzCo2rHn8cY\/Ve7-SYx1zmI\/AAAAAAAAVow\/DY_22cX-1cQ\/s640\/20150904_142934.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EProprietary header KEY2 connector connected to a stereo cable\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003EI plan on using some hot glue to cover the exposed pins and give some mechanical strength to the connection but this works fine on the desk for now.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo now I am free to use either key as the mood strikes.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThat's all for now...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E73\u003Cbr \/\u003ERichard\u003Cbr \/\u003EN4PBQ"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/416013056275963916\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/09\/two-keys-at-once-on-elecraft-kx3.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/416013056275963916"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/416013056275963916"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/09\/two-keys-at-once-on-elecraft-kx3.html","title":"Two keys at once on the Elecraft KX3"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-vKCD0TzTEHI\/Ve78e4cIKnI\/AAAAAAAAVoc\/EhOJCUxjzkM\/s72-c\/20150904_210545-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-2034545734751094159"},"published":{"$t":"2015-09-06T17:23:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-09T07:33:28.833-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Review of the Kent Hand Key"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EThe Kent Hand Key (aka Straight Key)\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-LjwWK6uXTiw\/WHODB18mCzI\/AAAAAAAAc8E\/6jr7ISS4QHMXHjKMGwZRGKDO5pxPz4SCgCLcB\/s1600\/hny-1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"502\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-LjwWK6uXTiw\/WHODB18mCzI\/AAAAAAAAc8E\/6jr7ISS4QHMXHjKMGwZRGKDO5pxPz4SCgCLcB\/s640\/hny-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI've had a week to appreciate the Kent Hand Key. \u0026nbsp;I am in no way an expert on straight keys since the only \"straight key\" I've used before was my junky, pressed steel, MFJ practice key.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EHere is the Kent sitting in front of a MFJ practice key... \u0026nbsp;Maybe I'm compensating for something...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-mUpbAaXye6E\/Vet6KWOqSvI\/AAAAAAAAVmI\/9seXh4guRjg\/s1600\/20150901_063938.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-mUpbAaXye6E\/Vet6KWOqSvI\/AAAAAAAAVmI\/9seXh4guRjg\/s640\/20150901_063938.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EViva La Difference\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003EI had used my MFJ practice key on maybe 10 actual on-air conversations. \u0026nbsp; It wasn't confidence inspiring due to its mushy, wobbly nature. \u0026nbsp;However I can draw some comparisons. \u0026nbsp;The MFJ key is closer to an \"American\" style key where the knob is low down and flat where the operator rests their forearm on the desk and operates via the action of their wrist. \u0026nbsp;I spoke with proprietor of \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.morseexpress.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMorse Express\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;at length when I was ordering my Palm Single Key regarding what type of Straight Key \/ Hand Key he recommended and his preference was for the European style of key such as the Kent. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.mtechnologies.com\/wordpress\/?p=16\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Earticle\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;(\u003Cspan style=\"color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: justify;\"\u003EWhat are American and European “styles?”)\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003Efrom the Morse Express website goes into great detail concerning the differences between the European and American sending styles as well as the difference in keys used. \u0026nbsp;To summarize, having the key low and operating from the wrist was found long ago to cause wrist injury after extended use. \u0026nbsp;In response to this; side operated keys such as the Vibroplex Bug and \"Cootie\" side-swiper were introduced. \u0026nbsp;The Europeans took a different approach by raising the key and operating it from the edge of the desk such that the operator's arm is in free space and the action of the wrist is greatly lessened as it transfers to the arm and shoulder. \u0026nbsp;The difference in styles requires different motions of the hand and arm. \u0026nbsp;Some people prefer one over the other and some just like to switch between them as the mood strikes. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI looked at a lot of different straight keys on the web but didn't have the opportunity to try any in person. \u0026nbsp;I chose the Kent mainly because I wanted the European style and I just liked the way it looked.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI emailed Robert Kent at \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.kent-engineers.com\/index.htm\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EKent Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;and asked him questions about the Kent Hand Key. I wanted to know the age of my key and the type of wood used in the base.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe base is wood, obviously, but I couldn't determine the type. \u0026nbsp;Even after all these years it's quite fragrant, especially when the bottom cover is removed. \u0026nbsp;Robert Kent told me they used all manner of woods over the years, basically whatever was available so who knows. \u0026nbsp;It smells like Walnut to me but I didn't think Walnut was plentiful in England so it's probably something else. \u0026nbsp;The wood base is weighted internally with two steel bars in a hollowed out section covered by the base plate. \u0026nbsp;It weighs about 2.2lbs (1kg).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-HusBnPM34pQ\/Vet6JY1ft8I\/AAAAAAAAVl8\/bXHmD9hLpsI\/s1600\/DSCF2626.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"496\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-HusBnPM34pQ\/Vet6JY1ft8I\/AAAAAAAAVl8\/bXHmD9hLpsI\/s640\/DSCF2626.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EKent Keys were manufactured in England \u0026nbsp;from 1983 until around 2006, after which they contracted out the work to a firm in Germany. \u0026nbsp;As best as I can determine from Robert, keys such as mine with the continuity strap on top were manufactured in England. \u0026nbsp;Those with the strap on the bottom were kitted or made in Germany as is the current model. \u0026nbsp;These keys look very similar to the type used to send the SOS on the ill fated Titanic.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-s3RhO_7GbMk\/Vet6J_QFjTI\/AAAAAAAAVmE\/YJfwjAqfs_s\/s1600\/DSCF2627.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"418\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-s3RhO_7GbMk\/Vet6J_QFjTI\/AAAAAAAAVmE\/YJfwjAqfs_s\/s640\/DSCF2627.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EContinuity Strap assures a good electrical connection from arm to base\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EThe terminals are wired internally under the base plate to the posts at the rear. \u0026nbsp;The post have knurled knobs for securing either eyelets or bare wires into holes in the rear of the post.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-t4Pwl6L8sMg\/VeuBMqZg16I\/AAAAAAAAVnU\/Ijh_Mf1R0l4\/s1600\/DSCF2633.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-t4Pwl6L8sMg\/VeuBMqZg16I\/AAAAAAAAVnU\/Ijh_Mf1R0l4\/s640\/DSCF2633.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EName Plate: KENT Preston England PR46BY\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-B0FTUt0Aplk\/VeuB929ET_I\/AAAAAAAAVnc\/37uP1mjWdqQ\/s1600\/DSCF2632.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"451\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-B0FTUt0Aplk\/VeuB929ET_I\/AAAAAAAAVnc\/37uP1mjWdqQ\/s640\/DSCF2632.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EMy hookup wire is an old lamp cord\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EThe anvil and striker are heavy duty and produce a \"clack\" in operation duly amplified by the wooden base. \u0026nbsp;Some reviews on eHam find this a real detractor and if I operated within earshot of my family they would likely not appreciate its music as much as I do.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-PStGeE46MIE\/Vet6KhRxpbI\/AAAAAAAAVmM\/uPzEyeXhpb8\/s1600\/DSCF2628.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"489\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-PStGeE46MIE\/Vet6KhRxpbI\/AAAAAAAAVmM\/uPzEyeXhpb8\/s640\/DSCF2628.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EThe Kent CLACKER !!\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003EThe business end of the key is solid brass with a brushed finish. \u0026nbsp;This key is at least a decade old and the finish has held up well. \u0026nbsp;The arm is SOLID stuff, no bending is going to occur no matter how HAM fisted you are (pun intended).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-iZ7gQQS1lB8\/Vet6LJrMNYI\/AAAAAAAAVmc\/Oc3i6kbqUEg\/s1600\/DSCF2629.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"456\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-iZ7gQQS1lB8\/Vet6LJrMNYI\/AAAAAAAAVmc\/Oc3i6kbqUEg\/s640\/DSCF2629.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EYep that's a thick piece 'o brass\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003EThe sealed bearings are sturdily secured to the frame. \u0026nbsp;There is absolutely no side-to-side motion as the key is being used. \u0026nbsp;Tension is maintained by a spring in the base that pulls down on the rear of the bar. \u0026nbsp;This keeps the bearings tensioned more evenly than a pusher spring in the front would (from what I read). \u0026nbsp;All the adjustments use finely pitched screws with knurled knobs. \u0026nbsp;It can be adjusted to an extremely small gap and tension can be adjusted from a butterfly's wing to longbow pull given the leverage of the spring. \u0026nbsp;The larger the gap of course the more cacophony the key makes in operation. \u0026nbsp;As my form keeps changing I find that I keep adjusting it to fit.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-K0Sdkx_nlCQ\/Vet6MlQhGPI\/AAAAAAAAVmk\/XBF-S_Zcs_o\/s1600\/DSCF2630.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"314\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-K0Sdkx_nlCQ\/Vet6MlQhGPI\/AAAAAAAAVmk\/XBF-S_Zcs_o\/s640\/DSCF2630.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026nbsp;The \"Navy Style\" knob is a two piece hard rubber monster of a thing. \u0026nbsp;When my key first arrived, the knob had oxidized with some white discoloration but oils from my hand have turned it dark again. It is very slightly dished on top with a good height for a proper grip. Some people seem to like to replace the bottom section with a poker chip but I don't think I'd want that to be rough edged.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-1kCw8zWTXGU\/Vet6NVFJw1I\/AAAAAAAAVm0\/BtzCE4n9emg\/s1600\/DSCF2634.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"470\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-1kCw8zWTXGU\/Vet6NVFJw1I\/AAAAAAAAVm0\/BtzCE4n9emg\/s640\/DSCF2634.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe base plate is sturdy metal, covered with green felt\/blaze. \u0026nbsp;The screws secure the rubber feet and plate to the base. \u0026nbsp;Removing the plate gains access to the wiring and screws securing the components and bar holding the spring.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Lbw1qMYwwK0\/Vet6Oc_9UYI\/AAAAAAAAVnE\/xpTMrZHngHA\/s1600\/DSCF2635.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Lbw1qMYwwK0\/Vet6Oc_9UYI\/AAAAAAAAVnE\/xpTMrZHngHA\/s640\/DSCF2635.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAlright, I'm admittedly no expert in these things but I have to say that I'm very pleased with this key. \u0026nbsp;All my contacts this week have been made using this key and it's beginning to feel like an extension of my arm. \u0026nbsp;I'm very pleased. \u0026nbsp;The only negatives I can find with it is the racket it makes in operation but with headphones on or the sidetone turned up it's of no concern to me and for some reason I'm growing to like the noise. \u0026nbsp;If you operate in a room adjacent to family members it may cause some consternation. \u0026nbsp;Also of concern is it's size and the operating style requires you to have it near the edge of your desk, so if you're not willing to dedicate that space it wouldn't be right for you. \u0026nbsp;It is also larger than my KX3 radio so I certainly wouldn't classify this as a \"portable\" key however I'd have no concerns over its durability for transport. \u0026nbsp;You could probably throw it in your trunk and take a long trip without any wear for the worse on the Kent.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI do plan to eventually try some other keys. \u0026nbsp;Junker's seem to be popular choices as well as Nye's. \u0026nbsp;I briefly tried a friend's Vibroplex Bug and don't feel that it's a good choice for a new CW operator (at least for me). \u0026nbsp;I've also tried using my Palm Single as a side-swiper and that's not natural to me either.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ELastly here's a video I already posted of a QSO I made using the Kent Hand Key. \u0026nbsp;It will allow you to hear its \"clacking\" albeit at a slow speed.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/FEIjPVvMrFw\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/FEIjPVvMrFw?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThat's all for now.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo Lower your Power and Raise your Expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EN4PBQ\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/2034545734751094159\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/09\/review-of-kent-hand-key.html#comment-form","title":"3 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/2034545734751094159"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/2034545734751094159"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/09\/review-of-kent-hand-key.html","title":"Review of the Kent Hand Key"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-LjwWK6uXTiw\/WHODB18mCzI\/AAAAAAAAc8E\/6jr7ISS4QHMXHjKMGwZRGKDO5pxPz4SCgCLcB\/s72-c\/hny-1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"3"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-2610775351686172910"},"published":{"$t":"2015-09-05T13:05:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:35:09.114-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Listening to your own FIST is humbling"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EThe only thing to fear is... well... \u003Cspan style=\"color: #666666; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;\"\u003EFEAR\u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-p3zLOTMdm0E\/VesjoxPW6WI\/AAAAAAAAViE\/Y_PEHPHkeuo\/s1600\/DSCF2626.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"270\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-p3zLOTMdm0E\/VesjoxPW6WI\/AAAAAAAAViE\/Y_PEHPHkeuo\/s320\/DSCF2626.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI have been tossing my CW signals onto the airwaves for a bit over a month now after re-learning the code and getting a QRP radio. \u0026nbsp;My first on-air CW QSO was 2015-07-29 with my elmer Paul Stroud \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;\"\u003EAA4XX\u003C\/span\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI thought it was time to record some actual QSOs as I'm learning to use my Kent Hand Key. \u0026nbsp;So I threw out my call this morning on 7.055MHz and this is what happened...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/FEIjPVvMrFw\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/FEIjPVvMrFw?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis QSO was a-typical in that the calling station cut me off mid-sentance because he wanted to work another station that had just jumped in on our frequency. \u0026nbsp;I thought he was warning the other one off but instead he sent me QRX in the middle of my transmission telling me he'd talk to me later. \u0026nbsp;I haven't had a station do that before. \u0026nbsp;Normally operators are quite polite but this fellow has been a Ham longer than I've been alive so what do I know...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EListen to a recording of your live transmissions\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #666666; font-size: large;\"\u003EIt's humbling to listen to a recording of oneself sending CW and try to figure out what you said\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003ETo be fair, listening to my FIST on this video is a bit worse than it should be because the clicking of the key is so prominent in the audio. \u0026nbsp;The camera was just a couple inches away from the key and the clicking overwhelms the side-tone from the speaker that is farther away. \u0026nbsp;But I believe recording your actual QSOs is a good habit so that you can review your FIST objectively. \u0026nbsp;Everything sounds good in your head when your sending but the recording is honest.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFull Disclosure:\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;Those of you who can copy CW will hear me report my power as 12W. \u0026nbsp;I admit that is NOT QRP power. \u0026nbsp;It's certainly nothing compared to the 300w the calling station was using but it's not QRP 5w or less. \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003EI wanted the video to have a good strong station coming \u003Cb\u003Eback\u003C\/b\u003E to me to make it easier to hear their audio. Often when I run QRP power I only get low power stations to return to me and you would have been hearing a bunch of noise. \u0026nbsp;Some operators don't want to dig the QRP signal out, so I'll sometimes run more than 5w when I talk in this SKCC region to make it easier on the station copying. \u0026nbsp;12 watts is the maximum power this radio can generate without an external amp.\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo Lower your Power and Raise your Expectations (unless you're recording a video)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E73\u003Cbr \/\u003EN4PBQ\u003Cbr \/\u003ERichard"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/2610775351686172910\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/09\/listening-to-your-own-fist-is-humbling.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/2610775351686172910"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/2610775351686172910"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/09\/listening-to-your-own-fist-is-humbling.html","title":"Listening to your own FIST is humbling"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-p3zLOTMdm0E\/VesjoxPW6WI\/AAAAAAAAViE\/Y_PEHPHkeuo\/s72-c\/DSCF2626.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-4895379625324403271"},"published":{"$t":"2015-09-01T20:00:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-20T14:55:20.959-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The Art and Skill of Radio Telegraphy"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2 style=\"clear: both; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-align: start;\"\u003EWorking on my FIST and learning about Telegraphy\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI received a Kent Hand Key from an auction. \u0026nbsp;It is a European or English style of key which means it's knob is taller than I'm accustomed and requires that you set it at the end of your desk and use your entire arm suspended from the shoulder to work it rather than rest your elbow\/forearm on the desk and work it with your wrist alone. \u0026nbsp;This style is quite new to me. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/68tc-4Y5UjQ\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/68tc-4Y5UjQ?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EI'm incorrect in the video... new Kent Hand Keys DO\u0026nbsp;have a continuity strap, \u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003Ebut it's on the bottom of the lever.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERight after hooking it up I practiced for a minute or two and then made 3 contacts up in the SKCC region (7.055MHz) \u003Cb\u003Eand I recognized that I was sending poorly\u003C\/b\u003E... or more poorly than is my custom. \u0026nbsp;To a large degree I just didn't know how to operate this style of key. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI'll review the Kent Key after I've had some time to work with it. \u0026nbsp; In the meantime I did some web searches for how to properly operate an English style key and one recommendation pointed to the following website\/book...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.tasrt.ca\/\" style=\"text-align: start;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EHome of The Amateur Society for Radio-Telegraphy\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Vyaz5MbzKP0\/VeYX02k59II\/AAAAAAAAVbA\/pZCQLKBC5AE\/s1600\/Capture.PNG\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" \/\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: small; text-align: justify;\"\u003EWritten by\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-size: small; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EN0HFF\u003C\/b\u003E William G. Pierpont\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: small; text-align: justify;\"\u003Eis available as a PDF download.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Vyaz5MbzKP0\/VeYX02k59II\/AAAAAAAAVbA\/pZCQLKBC5AE\/s1600\/Capture.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHere is a quote that is emblematic of the content...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #666666; font-size: large;\"\u003E\"The telegraph code is simply a means of communication, and communication is transferring ideas from one person to another in the form of words and sentences.\"\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003EIf you are learning Morse Code or wishing to improve your \"intelligibility\" in both copying and sending I'd recommend this thoughtfully written resource:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EHere is a link to the PDF:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.tasrt.ca\/TASRTVersions\/TASRT.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe Art and Skill of Radio Telegraphy\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E73\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EN4PBQ\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/4895379625324403271\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/09\/the-art-and-skill-of-radio-telegraphy.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/4895379625324403271"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/4895379625324403271"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/09\/the-art-and-skill-of-radio-telegraphy.html","title":"The Art and Skill of Radio Telegraphy"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/68tc-4Y5UjQ\/default.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-7920189591291444678"},"published":{"$t":"2015-08-27T21:00:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:35:09.182-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Palm Single Key - Review"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2 style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EThe Palm Single Key\u003C\/h2\u003EI've had my Palm Single Key for a few weeks now would like to offer a review.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-m-NaxHtDoFY\/VeBZ-CTm4fI\/AAAAAAAAVV4\/06DBqpBqYkI\/s1600\/20150828_082937_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-m-NaxHtDoFY\/VeBZ-CTm4fI\/AAAAAAAAVV4\/06DBqpBqYkI\/s640\/20150828_082937_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EPalm Paddle Single Hand-held mode\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003EI sought advice from a few experienced QRP HAMs regarding an appropriate paddle for portable use and the Palm Paddle was a favorite. \u0026nbsp;There are lots of alternatives for small keys out there. \u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.americanmorse.com\/portapaddle.htm\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAmerican Morse\u003C\/a\u003E makes a couple of popular models but I settled on the Palm Single Key. \u0026nbsp;I ordered mine from the fine folks at \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.morseexpress.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMorse Express\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;he had them in stock in the US without me needing to order from Germany..\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-JKes_VaQxjE\/VeBeqE5gxDI\/AAAAAAAAVWo\/MsYBGk9sRIk\/s1600\/palm-radio-paddles.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"207\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-JKes_VaQxjE\/VeBeqE5gxDI\/AAAAAAAAVWo\/MsYBGk9sRIk\/s320\/palm-radio-paddles.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EPalm Radio Keys\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.palm-radio.de\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPalm Radio\u003C\/a\u003E has been around for years making small, lightweight portable paddles and straight keys. \u0026nbsp;One of their most popular models is the Palm Paddle which is a dual paddle model. \u0026nbsp;The most obvious difference between the Palm Single and the Palm Paddle is that it only has a single paddle versus two paddles. \u0026nbsp;Since it only has one lever sending iambic mode is not possible because you can't \"squeeze\" for iambic sending, but I not really into squeezing my paddles.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe single lever is also larger than the individual levers on the Paddle model and that offers some interesting options as we'll see later.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-ZFPBA7VNtXc\/VcaWQLuTKaI\/AAAAAAAAU-0\/tA2WcG9FVLw\/s1600\/20150808_115920_Lee%2BPearson%2BRd.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"148\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-ZFPBA7VNtXc\/VcaWQLuTKaI\/AAAAAAAAU-0\/tA2WcG9FVLw\/s200\/20150808_115920_Lee%2BPearson%2BRd.jpg\" width=\"200\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003EOne of the reasons the Palm keys are so popular for portable use is because they can be hand held while sending rather than having to set them on a surface or strap them to your leg. \u0026nbsp;This works well when you don't have a convenient surface and sometimes now I find myself holding it to send even when I have a surface because it's relaxing to sit back in the chair while sending.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EUnique features of the Palm Key\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: right; text-align: right;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-wMdzp3oWDKk\/VeBZ8l2APkI\/AAAAAAAAVVY\/0s4UrhJR65I\/s1600\/20150828_082617_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"171\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-wMdzp3oWDKk\/VeBZ8l2APkI\/AAAAAAAAVVY\/0s4UrhJR65I\/s200\/20150828_082617_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg\" width=\"200\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EKey in travel mode\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003EThey key can be pushed into the carrier for protection during travel. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/--idyJr0UJF4\/VeBZ9L00ZWI\/AAAAAAAAVVg\/CFbUEDnFklA\/s1600\/20150828_082639_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"109\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/--idyJr0UJF4\/VeBZ9L00ZWI\/AAAAAAAAVVg\/CFbUEDnFklA\/s200\/20150828_082639_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg\" width=\"200\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EButton that holds it in travel or operating mode\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003EThe key uses a spring loaded button on the bottom to hold it in the carrier in either travel or operating mode. Push the button in while pushing the key out the back to remove it from the carrier to make adjustments.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-1w7dknei-ZI\/VeBZ9VhAiVI\/AAAAAAAAVVo\/oQDaiA-7MSE\/s1600\/20150828_082714_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"123\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-1w7dknei-ZI\/VeBZ9VhAiVI\/AAAAAAAAVVo\/oQDaiA-7MSE\/s200\/20150828_082714_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg\" width=\"200\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe cable uses a proprietary connector rather than a stereo jack. \u0026nbsp;That is a bit of a downside as you can't easily replace the cable. \u0026nbsp;Palm sells a \"Palminator\" to allow the use of a stereo cable but that would stick out the back of the key and potentially cause side loads that could break the connector. \u0026nbsp;So far the connector has worked well but I'd like to be able to easily replace the cable if it breaks in the field.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EAdjustments\u003C\/h3\u003E\u0026nbsp;The key mechanism is easily removed from it's enclosure for adjustments. \u0026nbsp;The contacts are two PCBs on either side of what appears to be a gold plated post. \u0026nbsp;There are set screws to adjust the left and right spacing as well as screws for firmness in either direction. \u0026nbsp;I did find that I had to set the firmness rather tight to prevent bounce-back from accidentally sending. \u0026nbsp;If you use a very, very light touch then this would not be necessary but I guess I'm used to slapping my Bencher paddle around.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-4i3RVi0R6TA\/VeBidqSMUAI\/AAAAAAAAVW8\/6eSmlwtB4lM\/s1600\/20150828_082404_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"268\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-4i3RVi0R6TA\/VeBidqSMUAI\/AAAAAAAAVW8\/6eSmlwtB4lM\/s320\/20150828_082404_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EKey removed from enclosure\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Q-j27ocvzSU\/VeBidkfu5OI\/AAAAAAAAVW4\/PykpqjqFJ0Q\/s1600\/20150828_082454_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"195\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Q-j27ocvzSU\/VeBidkfu5OI\/AAAAAAAAVW4\/PykpqjqFJ0Q\/s320\/20150828_082454_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EAdjustment screws for left throw\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-rQAOAD0seCw\/VeBidjo7GGI\/AAAAAAAAVW0\/MywKE6Qz_KY\/s1600\/20150828_082523_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"320\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-rQAOAD0seCw\/VeBidjo7GGI\/AAAAAAAAVW0\/MywKE6Qz_KY\/s320\/20150828_082523_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg\" width=\"240\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EPC board with gold plating touches gold plated post\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003EThe mechanism is very lightweight and true to the nature of a portable key. \u0026nbsp;It has a base with magnets that it snaps into from either side or the bottom so that it can be oriented in multiple ways from a magnetic surface. \u0026nbsp;Here I have it firmly attached to a block of steel. \u0026nbsp;It doesn't move around when attached in this way.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-f_yDa60vx-o\/VeBZ-8iHc4I\/AAAAAAAAVWE\/lUHHrFIyVvk\/s1600\/20150828_083049_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"183\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-f_yDa60vx-o\/VeBZ-8iHc4I\/AAAAAAAAVWE\/lUHHrFIyVvk\/s320\/20150828_083049_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ESnap on base has magnets to attache to any appropriate surface\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u0026nbsp;One added benefit of being able to snap into it's base from each side is the ability to use the key \"on its side\" as a straight key. \u0026nbsp;The key has a screw setting to turn itself into a straight key or sideswiper but I simply change my keyer to \"HAND\" key rather than TIP=DIT. \u0026nbsp;This gives you a portable paddle and straight key depending on your mood.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-1vkCzp4b6uI\/VeBoZnyApmI\/AAAAAAAAVXU\/BSaz51zLoGU\/s1600\/20150828_082247_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"320\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-1vkCzp4b6uI\/VeBoZnyApmI\/AAAAAAAAVXU\/BSaz51zLoGU\/s320\/20150828_082247_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EMounted sideways it can be used as a straight key\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EVideos\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EHere are some videos of the Palm Single in operation.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis video gives you a sense of the key's size and touch. I was using my phone for the video so I couldn't hold the phone and demonstrate operating the key while holding it in my hand but let me assure you it's very comfortable to hold and my sending was no worse being hand held than on a table, at least at the meager speeds I send at.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/BZu7No7Vn2Q\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/BZu7No7Vn2Q?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EOne thing of note that I didn't see in other reviews was how \"loose\" the key feels. \u0026nbsp;If you are looking for a \"precision\" feel this isn't going to give it to you but then you shouldn't expect that from a 40 gram key.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/sU9TevPY6eU\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/sU9TevPY6eU?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EWobbly but usable\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003ELastly here's a video using the Palm Single as a straight key.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/hXp4xtuGHxU\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/hXp4xtuGHxU?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EPalm Single as a Straight key\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EHopefully this will be helpful to those considering the Palm Single.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch4 style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003ELower you power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E72s\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003ERichard\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EN4PBQ\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/7920189591291444678\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/08\/palm-single-key-review.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/7920189591291444678"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/7920189591291444678"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/08\/palm-single-key-review.html","title":"Palm Single Key - Review"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-m-NaxHtDoFY\/VeBZ-CTm4fI\/AAAAAAAAVV4\/06DBqpBqYkI\/s72-c\/20150828_082937_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-9007192128476413807"},"published":{"$t":"2015-08-25T06:11:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:35:09.200-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"CW Net Ops - Practice for the Zombie Apocalypse "},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003ECW Net Ops\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"color: #666666; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;\"\u003E- strap on your radio and save the world... or just have some fun\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-6SUZu8nudhQ\/VduD-0CMDaI\/AAAAAAAAVM8\/m1cvj01Xkfc\/s1600\/zombie-apocalyps-comic-book-style-illustration-off-attack-man-asking-help-radio-fat-man-protecting-him-machine-37499409.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"176\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-6SUZu8nudhQ\/VduD-0CMDaI\/AAAAAAAAVM8\/m1cvj01Xkfc\/s320\/zombie-apocalyps-comic-book-style-illustration-off-attack-man-asking-help-radio-fat-man-protecting-him-machine-37499409.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EI had my first opportunity to participate in a \u003Cb\u003ECW Directed Net \u003C\/b\u003Ethis past weekend as part of the \u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.knightlites.org\/round_table.htm\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EKnightlites Roundtable\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;(\u003C\/span\u003E3574 KHz CW, Sunday evenings at 21:00 EST)\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;. \u0026nbsp;I have previously participated in numerous VHF club nets, and in a way this is similar, but as a new CW operator it required far more concentration to follow along than a voice net. \u0026nbsp;The net operator kept the speeds below \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E10 \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;\"\u003Ewpm\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E for me and I appreciated that. \u0026nbsp;It's a fantastic way to work on your copy skills since you're exposed to a broad range of operator sending styles, tones, signal strengths and inside jokes that you're trying to decipher.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EThere can be a bit of Q-code magic involved\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWhile the Knightlites net wasn't heavy on Q-codes I've listened in to some others that were and I was bewildered at the time. \u0026nbsp;It helps to have a reference sheet from the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.arrl.org\/files\/file\/Public%2520Service\/fsd218.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EARRL QN Signals for CW Net Use\u003C\/a\u003E handy.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-Xv00sbmoAGQ\/Vdt01rO3tZI\/AAAAAAAAVME\/0iv9J8dljyA\/s1600\/qn_codes1.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-Xv00sbmoAGQ\/Vdt01rO3tZI\/AAAAAAAAVME\/0iv9J8dljyA\/s1600\/qn_codes1.PNG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E* For use by Net Control\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003ECW Directed Nets follow a similar structure to VHF\/UHF\/HF phone nets. \u0026nbsp;The following is excerpted from the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.naqcc.info\/cw_nets.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ENAQCC CW Nets page\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;It is slightly different on the Knightlites net but most CW nets should follow a similar pattern:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #444444;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EStep 1:\u003C\/b\u003E Net Control (NCS) calls \"QRL? QRL?\" to see if the frequency is in use. \u003Cb\u003EThis is a good opportunity to zero beat NCS' signal.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EStep 2: \u003C\/b\u003ENet Control calls \"CQ CQ NAQCC NQN DE N4PLK N4PLK NCS QNI K\". That means it's time for stations to send their callsigns for Net Control to copy.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EStep 3:\u003C\/b\u003E LISTEN for other stations first. When you don't hear anyone else trying to check in, then send \"DE \u003Cspace\u003E YOURCALLSIGN\". The space is very important. It's a way to listen again to be sure that someone else is not trying to check in at the same time. If NCS hears several callsigns trying to check in simultaneously, (commonly called a \"double\"), he usually can't hear either station and has to ask \"AGN PSE\". This is especially troublesome with weak stations and bad conditions.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EStep 4:\u003C\/b\u003E When NCS hears your callsign, he will acknowledge it by repeating it. If he receives multiple callsigns, he will repeat all that he has heard. Example: \"R R N6TLU ES N9RLO ES W4HH AS\". \"AS\" means standby. The reason I say standby is that I will return to you LATER for comments. When I acknowledge your check-in the first time, that is NOT the time for you to make comments. If you do, you may be doubling with other stations trying to check in.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EStep 5:\u003C\/b\u003E Wait for NCS to call you again. Example: \"N6TLU DE N4PLK KN\". KN means NCS is calling you and only you. That doesn't mean it's time for more check-ins. Make some comments, say \"73\" if you wish, and end with \"N4PLK DE \u003Cyourcallsign\u003E KN\".\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EStep 6:\u003C\/b\u003E NCS will call \"QNI K\" a few times in between comments and listen for more check-ins. If you have not yet been acknowledged by Net Control, keep trying to call until NCS hears you. Remember: DE \u003Cspace\u003E YOURCALLSIGN\"\u003Cbr \/\u003ENCS will call the entire list of stations individually until everyone has had a chance to make comments, giving more opportunities to QNI in between. Please be patient. If NCS can't pull your entire callsign out of the noise, he will try to get it again. Example: \"PLK ?\" or \"AGN?\" or \"6 STN?\" If anyone in the net happens to hear a station that NCS can't, please relay the station's callsign to NCS. We want to make sure even the weakest station can check in.\u003C\/space\u003E\u003C\/yourcallsign\u003E\u003C\/space\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003EOne thing noted above was \"zero beating\" the NCS signal. \u0026nbsp;It's always a good habit when communicating with a station but I think it's even more important in a net because when multiple stations are off frequency then you're really messing around with your RIT to keep them in your passband as it switches between operators. \u0026nbsp;You don't want to be one of the stations people are having to chase around. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EWhen communication moves beyond \"fun\" to \"necessary\"\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-y3OkSoVm4hU\/Vdt3kDIpR7I\/AAAAAAAAVMY\/GM5K1nIN7PY\/s1600\/ARRL%2BARES%2Blogo.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"306\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-y3OkSoVm4hU\/Vdt3kDIpR7I\/AAAAAAAAVMY\/GM5K1nIN7PY\/s320\/ARRL%2BARES%2Blogo.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EDirected Nets in Amateur Radio are practical exercises for emergency communication. \u0026nbsp;One of the goals of Amateur Radio is to provide emergency communications when needed. \u0026nbsp;If traditional communication infrastructure is compromised due to natural catastrophe or human activity then Amateur Radio operators can be vital in providing electronic communications for organization of relief efforts.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EWhile VHF\/UHF communications are ideal for point to point local signals they can be blocked by by structures, terrain or dense vegetation. \u0026nbsp;In those occurrences the lower HF bands can be effectively used to communicate both over long distance and to other operators in the local county, with low power and a modest antenna. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;\"\u003ENear Vertical Incidence Skywave\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;(NVIS) antenna -- for local ops\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-twa44dy1B3M\/Vdt4Ut7GdyI\/AAAAAAAAVMg\/kGhWDHm_Mxg\/s1600\/skywave.gif\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"165\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-twa44dy1B3M\/Vdt4Ut7GdyI\/AAAAAAAAVMg\/kGhWDHm_Mxg\/s320\/skywave.gif\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ENVIS Propagation\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"line-height: 24px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"line-height: 24px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EOne effective mechanism for communication across a wide area with low power is basically throwing your signal straight up and letting the\u0026nbsp;ionosphere reflect it back down \u003Cb\u003Elike a a light from above \u003C\/b\u003E(\u003Ci\u003Eand the angels sang\u003C\/i\u003E). \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"line-height: 24px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EDue to the nature of this type of propagation the signal overcomes ground obstacles and with the signal to power density of CW it makes a very effective mode of communication for a wide area. \u0026nbsp;The Knightlites QRP net was comprised of operators from all over Wake County NC and I believe even a couple of neighboring counties. \u0026nbsp;I could copy nearly everyone clearly on my attic antenna and I'm located in the Southern tip of the county.\u0026nbsp; Such communication with VHF would likely require elevated beams and more than 5 watts for intelligibility. \u0026nbsp;All forms of radio have their place but CW's power density makes it ideal to get through in an emergency.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"line-height: 24px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"line-height: 24px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003ESo keep that in mind when the inevitable occurs...\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"line-height: 24px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-6YnigtMVGCU\/Vdt8falh2-I\/AAAAAAAAVMs\/aBFoJHn0UCE\/s1600\/zombie.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-6YnigtMVGCU\/Vdt8falh2-I\/AAAAAAAAVMs\/aBFoJHn0UCE\/s1600\/zombie.png\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EPrepare for the Zombie Apocalypse\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E72\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003ERichard - N4PBQ\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"line-height: 24px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/9007192128476413807\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/08\/cw-net-ops-practice-for-zombie.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/9007192128476413807"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/9007192128476413807"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/08\/cw-net-ops-practice-for-zombie.html","title":"CW Net Ops - Practice for the Zombie Apocalypse "}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-6SUZu8nudhQ\/VduD-0CMDaI\/AAAAAAAAVM8\/m1cvj01Xkfc\/s72-c\/zombie-apocalyps-comic-book-style-illustration-off-attack-man-asking-help-radio-fat-man-protecting-him-machine-37499409.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-6114559297321966756"},"published":{"$t":"2015-08-23T08:32:00.002-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:35:09.157-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The Attic antenna revisited"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003EI have RF in my Attic \u003Cspan style=\"color: #666666; font-family: \u0026quot;courier new\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;courier\u0026quot; , monospace;\"\u003E(I used to have bats)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-C7XJPQOdstI\/Vdm01HtyVmI\/AAAAAAAAVKQ\/rPKf2AJldNY\/s1600\/20150822_165608_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"262\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-C7XJPQOdstI\/Vdm01HtyVmI\/AAAAAAAAVKQ\/rPKf2AJldNY\/s400\/20150822_165608_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ELadder line fed Dipole in attic\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003ESome local QRP folks known as the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.knightlites.org\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EKnightlites\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;meet regularly on 3.574MHz\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; They meet on 80m so that nearby folks can participate via skywave effect of 80m.\u0026nbsp; Well my 40m Windom loads up\u0026nbsp;very poorly on 80m and I'm likely burning a good bit of my meager power heating the coax.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I'm limited at my present QTH to really only having an option for one outdoor antenna at a time run from the peak of my roof and presently that's my 40m Windom.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003EUpdate 30-03-2016: \u0026nbsp;Since I wrote this article I updated my outside Windom to an \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/11\/the-amazing-80m-multi-band-windom.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E80m OCF Dipole\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;So I'm no longer using this attic antenna for 80m but it's working great for 40m and above.\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI thought if I could install a 40m doublet in my attic I might be able to load it more efficiently (due to less loss into a balanced line) for 80m.\u0026nbsp; I pieced together wire, laid out on my driveway, from a number of other projects to get me 68ft.\u0026nbsp; I still had some ladder line from years ago.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #444444; font-size: large;\"\u003EThere's no better time to work on a project in the attic of your house than a hot summer day in August.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003EAfter crawling under and around duct work in my very, hot and dusty attic I had to go back into the breach to adjust wire lengths a couple of times until it tuned properly. That involved a sort of overweight gymnast routine on the balance beam... um I mean rafters... above one of the bedrooms. \u0026nbsp;At the time I was thinking through the excuses I might have if I fell through the ceiling (it wouldn't be the first time I've fallen through a ceiling but that's another story).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI have another qualified success. \u0026nbsp;It's rather more of an inverted \"U\" than a I'd like but poking fishing poles out the sides of the house with wire attached wouldn't have gone over well with the wife.\u003Cbr \/\u003EHere I've used my finely honed artistic skills to superimpose a drawing of the attic antenna on my house:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-h70Ncbc9Z1M\/Vdm3_YAtDpI\/AAAAAAAAVKo\/eDXpGeqjLCM\/s1600\/Attic%2BDipole.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"456\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-h70Ncbc9Z1M\/Vdm3_YAtDpI\/AAAAAAAAVKo\/eDXpGeqjLCM\/s640\/Attic%2BDipole.PNG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EBlue is wire. Red is ladder line. Green is Operator\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003ETo get the ladder line into my operating position I had to come through a wall.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-UldOmJKcGVU\/Vdm01JGoSNI\/AAAAAAAAVKg\/IfsHlhnWRTU\/s1600\/20150822_165630_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-UldOmJKcGVU\/Vdm01JGoSNI\/AAAAAAAAVKg\/IfsHlhnWRTU\/s320\/20150822_165630_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ELadder line winding its way to the operating position\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003EI stripped some wire bare off the ladder line and snipped the end off of plaster screw anchors to pass it through without making too much of a mess and so that I could hang two very tiny pictures there in the future if I take the ladder line down. \u0026nbsp;It was too hot on the other side to take the time to solder the passthru piece so I simply used electrical twist type connectors.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-kTiRpuUTcn4\/Vdm6bFty4eI\/AAAAAAAAVK0\/g0JTWBonf8A\/s1600\/20150822_165523_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"262\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-kTiRpuUTcn4\/Vdm6bFty4eI\/AAAAAAAAVK0\/g0JTWBonf8A\/s320\/20150822_165523_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ELadder line passing through the wall\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003EHere it is at the operating position. \u0026nbsp;The ladder line is going into the back of my trusty MFJ Versa Tuner II Super Deluxe (I added the super deluxe bit but you must admit all the knobs look quite spiffy).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-2F4FSRQafyk\/Vdm00Y5rxGI\/AAAAAAAAVKY\/LQ45v5LExeg\/s1600\/20150822_165441_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-2F4FSRQafyk\/Vdm00Y5rxGI\/AAAAAAAAVKY\/LQ45v5LExeg\/s400\/20150822_165441_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg\" width=\"300\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ELadder line adding it's beauty to the station\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003EIt loads up alright on 80m and with all the bends and height of only 20ft AGL I'm sure it will make the perfect skywave for local communication (update: I received 589 and 599 reports when using it on the local QRP net) . \u0026nbsp;It will also be a backup to the outdoor Windom but I wouldn't expect it to perform as well.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EAddendum (9-18-2015): The Attic 40m Doublet actually outperforms my 40m Carolina Windom to the West (both receive and transmit) \u0026nbsp;It's about 12db down on receive compared to the Windom to the North and South even though it equals it in transmit performance (according to a few reports where I've asked for A\/B comparisons). \u0026nbsp;With the next outdoor antenna I put up I will do my utmost to get ladder line all the way back to the radio. \u0026nbsp;I'm becoming a believer in ladder line efficiency, which is especially important for lower power operations.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIt also introduces just enough RFI in the house at 5 watts to let my teenage son know when I'm having a QSO via his gaming headphones. He's super excited about that as you may guess.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESo lower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E73\u003Cbr \/\u003ERichard\u003Cbr \/\u003EN4PBQ (now AA4OO)\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EUpdate 11-27-2016\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo I've had the Doublet in the Attic for over a year now and it continues to amaze me. \u0026nbsp;I've also learned a couple of things about Doublet antennas since then... \u0026nbsp; I noted in my blog that I'd measured the doublet to be a total length of 68 feet. \u0026nbsp;I've learned since that the length of a doublet is more dependent on total length including the ladder line than simply the horizontal bits and absolute length isn't that important because you don't want it resonant on any band. \u0026nbsp;I ended up adding a few feet on both ends to improve the tuning across all bands from 40-10."},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/6114559297321966756\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/08\/the-attic-antenna-revisited.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/6114559297321966756"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/6114559297321966756"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/08\/the-attic-antenna-revisited.html","title":"The Attic antenna revisited"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-C7XJPQOdstI\/Vdm01HtyVmI\/AAAAAAAAVKQ\/rPKf2AJldNY\/s72-c\/20150822_165608_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-5020267545042346921"},"published":{"$t":"2015-08-19T13:24:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:35:09.151-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Copying weak CW signals -- The counter-intuitive solution"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2 style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EHow do you copy? \u003Cspan style=\"color: #999999; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;\"\u003E(HW?)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-vfZEAkjA5Qc\/VdHdNoXZLMI\/AAAAAAAAVEI\/tJbxcozziZs\/s1600\/kx3%2BRF%2Bcrop.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"\" border=\"0\" height=\"294\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-vfZEAkjA5Qc\/VdHdNoXZLMI\/AAAAAAAAVEI\/tJbxcozziZs\/s320\/kx3%2BRF%2Bcrop.jpg\" title=\"RF and AF gain controls\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EAF\/RF Gain control\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWhen working QRP stations the signal often fails to register on my S-meter. \u0026nbsp;My display would often look like the one on the right... \u0026nbsp;Nothing registering on the S-Meter, even with the preamp enabled, yet the station is there... down in the noise sending my call.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo as I've been spending more time learning to operate CW QRP I keep getting worked by stations that are able to copy me when I cannot copy them. \u0026nbsp;More often than not QSB would take their side of the QSO into the noise for a time and I wouldn't be able to copy them. \u0026nbsp;When the inevitable \"HW?\" (for how do you copy) would come back I'd often have to say \"PSE AGN?\" (please send again). \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis occurrence happened frequently enough to where I thought I should ask Paul (AA4XX) what was going on. His response seemed counter-intuitive but as I've come to see it's just the ticket.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #666666;\"\u003ETurn \u003Ci\u003EDOWN\u003C\/i\u003E RF Gain and turn \u003Ci\u003EUP\u003C\/i\u003E AF Gain\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe radio's \u003Cb\u003ERF gain\u003C\/b\u003E is normally left at 0dB. \u0026nbsp;It can't be turned \"up\" past 0dB although most radios have a \"preamp\" that takes the input from the RF and amplifies whatever is there. \u0026nbsp;Whereas\u0026nbsp;\u003Cb\u003EAF gain\u003C\/b\u003E controls the audio volume. \u0026nbsp;When you turn the RF gain down (negative values, i.e. -12dB) the signal is being reduced before it is passed to the AF (audio gain) stage. \u0026nbsp;As counter-intuitive as it seems, by turning down the RF gain and increasing the AF gain (turning down the input and turning up the output) you can sometimes discern a signal that was previously in the noise.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe human ear is a great discriminator and if the receive signal level is reduced such that the background noise is lessened then the audio level (AF) can be increased to the point where you can hear the signal better. \u0026nbsp;From what I understand it's a matter of separating the signal from the noise.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-zHEKYm7b1R4\/VdHxeFE8t6I\/AAAAAAAAVEg\/3m1fQP0CTks\/s1600\/rf-af-path.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"\" border=\"0\" height=\"236\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-zHEKYm7b1R4\/VdHxeFE8t6I\/AAAAAAAAVEg\/3m1fQP0CTks\/s640\/rf-af-path.PNG\" title=\"Signal path in a KX3\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EKX3 Signal path\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI started using this technique this past weekend and it's made a big difference in my ability to copy weak stations. \u0026nbsp;It has also lessened my listening fatigue because I'm not simply turning up noise, trying to hear the station, I'm separating the signal from the noise. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003ETechnically I have no idea why this works\u003C\/span\u003E. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIt would seem that lowering the receiver gain simply to increase the audio gain would just swap one noise for another but it does work with my radio. \u0026nbsp;It requires me to ride the knobs to keep the station in a comfortable listening range and since my KX3 only has one knob for both AF and RF gain (switched by a quick push) it can be a little tedious. \u0026nbsp;So I began to make use of the volume control on my earbuds. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EHere's my procedure for copying weak stations:\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Col\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETurn the volume down on my earbuds\/headset (independent from the radio volume knob)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETurn the AF on the radio to maximum. \u0026nbsp;My headset \/ earbuds volume control is now acting as my audio volume.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EClick AF\/RF knob to select RF. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETurn the RF down until I hear no \"noise\" and just hear the signal\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ol\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI have to ride the RF knob during the QSO to control my signal and my independent headphone volume control keeps me from having to keep clicking the knob back and forth on the radio to switch from AF to RF control.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003EThe bands have been relatively quiet for the past few weeks since getting back in the hobby and now that we are on the downward curve of the Solar cycle it's bound to get even worse for the next few years so I may as well learn to copy weak signals, be they QRP or QRO. \u003Cimg src=\"http:\/\/www.ips.gov.au\/Images\/Solar\/Solar%20Conditions\/Solar%20Activity%20Plot\/solplot.gif\"\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI was able to work a few difficult to copy stations (for me) this weekend including N8XMS President of the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.naqcc.info\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ENAQCC \u003C\/a\u003Eclub. \u0026nbsp;Without the weak signal trick AA4XX suggested to me I don't think I would have been able to work those stations with my present antenna at my QTH.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI hope this helps new CW operators or those struggling to copy weak signals.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003EGlossary\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAF, RF, and IF\u003C\/b\u003E: \u003Cb\u003EAF \u003C\/b\u003Estands for audio frequencies—usually, sounds that you can hear. \u003Cb\u003ERF\u003C\/b\u003E, or radio frequencies, are the actual frequencies of the radio signals (or TV, or cell phone, etc.). \u003Cb\u003EIF\u003C\/b\u003E, or intermediate frequencies, are generally somewhere between \u003Cb\u003ERF \u003C\/b\u003Eand \u003Cb\u003EAF\u003C\/b\u003E. In a receiver, it is usually advantageous to convert \u003Cb\u003ERF \u003C\/b\u003Esignals to a lower \u003Cb\u003EIF \u003C\/b\u003Eat which is it more practical to obtain gain or selectivity. These \u003Cb\u003EIF \u003C\/b\u003Esignals are then further converted to \u003Cb\u003EAF \u003C\/b\u003Eand amplified further so they can be used to drive headphones or speakers.\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EdB (decibel)\u003C\/b\u003E: A measure of signal increase or decrease, or of one signal relative to another signal. In human terms, one dB represents a “just noticeable difference” between two signals (or a just-noticeable increase or decrease). Mathematically, dB is derived from the ratio of two signals. Receivers must handle signals over a huge range—in excess of 100 dB. dBm is a more specific term that means “dB relative to 1 milliwatt.” 1 milliwatt is considered to be a “0 dBm” signal in this case.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003EReduce your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E73s and 72s\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERichard\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EN4PBQ\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/5020267545042346921\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/08\/copying-weak-cw-signals-counter.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/5020267545042346921"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/5020267545042346921"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/08\/copying-weak-cw-signals-counter.html","title":"Copying weak CW signals -- The counter-intuitive solution"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-vfZEAkjA5Qc\/VdHdNoXZLMI\/AAAAAAAAVEI\/tJbxcozziZs\/s72-c\/kx3%2BRF%2Bcrop.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-4988138692034062493"},"published":{"$t":"2015-08-13T23:16:00.002-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:35:09.148-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Straight Key on the cheap"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003ECheap Beep\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Ru9atofPEdM\/Vc1EfXRT_lI\/AAAAAAAAVDY\/EqIyU5dOofw\/s1600\/20150813_205908_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Ru9atofPEdM\/Vc1EfXRT_lI\/AAAAAAAAVDY\/EqIyU5dOofw\/s640\/20150813_205908_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EI was listening up around 7.053Mhz and heard some folks obviously using straight keys and calling for SKCC (straight key century club) numbers.\u0026nbsp; I played around with using my Palm Single paddle as a sideswiper and it just requires too much coordination for me.\u0026nbsp; I have a super cheap ($12) MFJ straight key but it's mounted on a thin flat metal plate and it's so close to the desk I can't use it comfortably.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI went to Lowes and picked up a 3\/4\" x 4\" x 5\" Hardwood floor sample for 25cents and mounted my key to it after sticking some rubber feet on the bottom of the wooden base.\u0026nbsp; \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWalla... I have a $12.25 straight key.\u0026nbsp; I practiced for a couple minutes and then made a few contacts with other straight key operators on 40m. \u0026nbsp;For some reason using a straight key seems more natural than using paddles although I seem to make an equal number of mistakes with each. \u0026nbsp;Straight keys certainly seem more \"traditional\" to CW but I'm sure I'm harder for the receiving OP to copy than when I let the radio do the dit-dah spacing for me with its keyer controlled by paddles. \u0026nbsp;But I digress... \u0026nbsp;I'd like to try a good straight key to see if there's much of difference other than hopefully reduced clacking (that MFJ plastic base is a little resonator for the contact closure).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo... if you're looking for a \u003Cb\u003Echeap \u003C\/b\u003E(and I mean cheap) \u003Cb\u003Estraight key option\u003C\/b\u003E, you can usually find these keys in trash cans, add a 25cent hardwood floor base, some rubber feet and there you go.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBTW I use 3 feet on the base of a key. \u0026nbsp;I saw the 3 foot layout on my Bencher paddle.\u0026nbsp; It seemed odd\u0026nbsp;at the time\u0026nbsp;(3--odd, get it? no?) but now I understand.\u0026nbsp; One rubber foot goes in each of the front corners and one foot goes at the rear of the base at the middle.\u0026nbsp; That way if the surface isn't entirely level the key won't rock back and forth. \u0026nbsp;Brilliant, eh?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThat's all for now....\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ELower your power and raise your expectations\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ERichard -- N4PBQ\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/4988138692034062493\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/08\/straight-key-on-cheap.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/4988138692034062493"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/4988138692034062493"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/08\/straight-key-on-cheap.html","title":"Straight Key on the cheap"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Ru9atofPEdM\/Vc1EfXRT_lI\/AAAAAAAAVDY\/EqIyU5dOofw\/s72-c\/20150813_205908_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-3252917789174912955"},"published":{"$t":"2015-08-12T20:28:00.003-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:35:09.123-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"CW Contests for new CW operators ..--.."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: red; font-family: Georgia;\"\u003EWARNING:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: red;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp; \u003C\/span\u003ECW Contests Require \u003Cstrike\u003EArcane\u003C\/strike\u003E Knowledge\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-W2UlNS6Vo8s\/VcutP_I46TI\/AAAAAAAAVB0\/d94_P72eU_4\/s1600\/morse-key.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"133\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-W2UlNS6Vo8s\/VcutP_I46TI\/AAAAAAAAVB0\/d94_P72eU_4\/s200\/morse-key.jpg\" width=\"200\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EBefore participating in last night's \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/naqcc.info\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ENAQCC \u003C\/a\u003ESprint I had previously stumbled into responding to a CQ that was for a contest last week.\u0026nbsp; The calling station was patient with me and was looking for specific information which he tried to repeatedly coach out of me.\u0026nbsp; It was frustrating not knowing how I was supposed to reply.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ECW contests occur frequently on the HF bands so as a new CW operator you're very likely to accidentally respond to a caller in a contest. \u0026nbsp;A CW contestor uses an extra couple of letters thrown into the CQ to identify the call as being for a contest.\u0026nbsp; Sometimes stations may send \"CQ TEST\" which I would think means they are testing something but apparently that is shorthand for a contest.\u0026nbsp; I've done web searches on CW contests but it's not clear to me if they are organized or described in any one place for the HF bands or have information for total newbies. \u0026nbsp;I also haven't found if there's a standard formula for interacting with a contest or if they are each unique.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI became a member of the North American QRP Club a couple of weeks ago, at AA4XX's suggestion, to get on the mailing list to learn about QRP CW operations. \u0026nbsp;I received an email saying there'd be a \"Sprint\" contest that evening so I thought I'd give it a try.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI went to the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/\"\u003E\u003Cspan id=\"goog_1129724212\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003Ewebsite \u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;where it described the contest protocol as follows:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003ESend \"CQ NA your_call\"; then respond with \"RST state abbreviation and NAQCC#\".\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/blockquote\u003EThat seemed simple enough even for me.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EThe Sprint Begins\u003C\/h3\u003EA thunderstorm with big scary lightning delayed my getting on the air, but once the storm cleared I turned on the KX3, re-connected the antenna and began listening.\u0026nbsp; Keep in mind that the contest is for QRP\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;(low power) stations so the signals are weak, fade in and out and are generally hard for my less skilled CW ear to copy.\u0026nbsp; I turned up the volume and listened through the static crashes of lightning from the recently departed storm.\u0026nbsp; Stations seemed to be sending different information than what the website indicated but it turned out it was just in a shorthand format that I was unaccustomed to hearing.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-Gbuo2dSf008\/VcunjksspCI\/AAAAAAAAVBk\/ACsaYySUS78\/s1600\/20150812_072301_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-Gbuo2dSf008\/VcunjksspCI\/AAAAAAAAVBk\/ACsaYySUS78\/s640\/20150812_072301_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003Escribbled listener log\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003EAs I kept listening I could make out a general pattern used by the contestants.\u0026nbsp; Maybe the following will help some other new CW operator who's trying to figure out what's going on:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe \u003Cb\u003Ecalling \u003C\/b\u003Estation sends:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003ECQ NA N4PBQ N4PBQ K\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003EThe \u003Cb\u003Eresponding \u003C\/b\u003Estation doesn't go through the niceties of\u0026nbsp;calling station\u0026nbsp;\"DE\" their station they simply send their call a couple of times:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EN9KK\u0026nbsp;N9KK\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003EThe \u003Cb\u003Ecalling \u003C\/b\u003Estation then responds with a shorthand report and info required for\u0026nbsp;the contest.\u0026nbsp; No To\/From nonsense or even the RST abbreviation.\u0026nbsp; \u003Cstrike\u003EJust an \"X\" (I assume is shorthand for here's your \u003Cb\u003Ex\u003C\/b\u003Emitted RST) the state repeated and the number\u003C\/strike\u003E. \u0026nbsp;I thought stations were sending an\"X\" but after listening to other contests I think I was mis-copying a \"TU\" as an \"X\". \u0026nbsp;So I believe it should be a \"TU\" which I think means \"Thank You\". \u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003EI didn't hear anyone repeat their club number which seems strange because that was the hardest thing for me to copy and it's required in the submitted log for the contest.\u0026nbsp; The response is ended with BK (back to you):\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrike\u003EX\u003C\/strike\u003E TU 5NN 5NN\u0026nbsp;NC NC 7935 BK\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003EThe \u003Cb\u003Eresponding \u003C\/b\u003Estation returns something in kind.\u0026nbsp; Sometimes they'll spare a nicety such as \"GE\" (for good evening).\u0026nbsp; One of the calling stations\u0026nbsp;also\u0026nbsp;included the operators name\u0026nbsp;of the responding station although I'll\u0026nbsp;assume that was an automated macro that would look up the station OP name because there was\u0026nbsp;no way he had time to look it up given the speed of the response.\u0026nbsp;The\u0026nbsp;QSO is ended using the QRP response:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003ETNX 72 K\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003EAnd that's it.\u0026nbsp; None of the typical\u0026nbsp;exchanges in\u0026nbsp;the CW QSOs I've listened to, not even\u0026nbsp;the station's call at the end of the transmission which I thought was an FCC requirement.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EConclusion\u003C\/h3\u003ESo for\u0026nbsp;any other new CW operators out there tying to figure out what they are supposed to respond with in a contest hopefully this helps.\u0026nbsp; Submitting logs for the contest is also a bit arcane but at least the\u0026nbsp;NAQCC web page gives very clear instructions on how to do that. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI'm not really a competitive type person so I don't foresee getting the bug to be a competitive contestor but I do see the value in participating to increase your copy and sending skills so I'll keep giving these sprints a try. \u0026nbsp;I appreciate NAQCC sponsoring them.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ELower your power, and raise your expectations.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E73s and 72s (not enuf pwr for 73)\u003Cbr \/\u003ERichard\u003Cbr \/\u003EN4PBQ\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/3252917789174912955\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/08\/cw-contests-for-new-cw-operators.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/3252917789174912955"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/3252917789174912955"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/08\/cw-contests-for-new-cw-operators.html","title":"CW Contests for new CW operators ..--.."}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-W2UlNS6Vo8s\/VcutP_I46TI\/AAAAAAAAVB0\/d94_P72eU_4\/s72-c\/morse-key.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-8263253968837210023"},"published":{"$t":"2015-08-08T21:01:00.003-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:35:09.188-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"First Portable QRP OP"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003ENot exactly roughing it in the wild...\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-g3EAtjdGypg\/VcaWSf14QrI\/AAAAAAAAU_Q\/RH_PR22jM4U\/s1600\/20150808_125843_Welcome%2BLn.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"360\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-g3EAtjdGypg\/VcaWSf14QrI\/AAAAAAAAU_Q\/RH_PR22jM4U\/s640\/20150808_125843_Welcome%2BLn.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EN4PBQ remote station.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003ESo a trip to family in the Western part of the state provided my first opportunity for a portable operation with the Elecraft KX3. \u0026nbsp;Calling this a \"portable operation\" is a bit contrived but I was outdoors, battery powered and sitting comfy under an oak tree for a few hours.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-XnJ2pyq9YkU\/VcaWR7a3jRI\/AAAAAAAAU_I\/4xo8rGpvHs8\/s1600\/20150808_124940_Welcome%2BLn.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"204\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-XnJ2pyq9YkU\/VcaWR7a3jRI\/AAAAAAAAU_I\/4xo8rGpvHs8\/s320\/20150808_124940_Welcome%2BLn.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;A rope with an lead weight allowed me to get the rope up into an old oak tree. \u0026nbsp;The weight goes up over a branch and back down. \u0026nbsp;I untie the weight and attach the antenna and then pull it up to the apex.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EThe bottom of the\u0026nbsp;end-fed random wire antenna is connected an 9:1 UnUn to lower the impedance to something the radio's ATU can match.\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-JmVo5KRav8g\/VcaWR0-6P6I\/AAAAAAAAU_E\/cQpmpf2aHdI\/s1600\/20150808_124843_Welcome%2BLn.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"358\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-JmVo5KRav8g\/VcaWR0-6P6I\/AAAAAAAAU_E\/cQpmpf2aHdI\/s640\/20150808_124843_Welcome%2BLn.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"\" style=\"clear: both;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EOperations\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: right; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-b04_abpfCs0\/Vcadu8uNJlI\/AAAAAAAAU_w\/0z3SSOH03LM\/s1600\/grc9-key-total1-395.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"180\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-b04_abpfCs0\/Vcadu8uNJlI\/AAAAAAAAU_w\/0z3SSOH03LM\/s200\/grc9-key-total1-395.jpg\" width=\"200\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ENo it's not a torture device\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003EMore mosquitoes and ticks were biting than contacts but I had a very nice long rag chew with N8NSN. \u0026nbsp;Turns out he has an incredible station of classic equipment that he's painstakingly restored. \u0026nbsp;We had a great conversation about options for portable straight keys, \u0026nbsp;He suggested looking at an Army Leg Mount... \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI'm digging it. It has kind of a steam punk vibe.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-ZFPBA7VNtXc\/VcaWQLuTKaI\/AAAAAAAAU-0\/tA2WcG9FVLw\/s1600\/20150808_115920_Lee%2BPearson%2BRd.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"237\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-ZFPBA7VNtXc\/VcaWQLuTKaI\/AAAAAAAAU-0\/tA2WcG9FVLw\/s320\/20150808_115920_Lee%2BPearson%2BRd.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EThe radio was powered by a 3ah 12v old battery for a good part of the day. \u0026nbsp;About an hour of that time was transmitting at 5watts power. \u0026nbsp;The receive drain of the KX3 is very low with the display turned off (right from a button, no menu required) so a relatively small battery lasts a long time.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIt's difficult to see but I'm holding a Palm Radio Single Key Paddle in my left hand while sending with my right. \u0026nbsp;I simply laid the key down between transmissions. \u0026nbsp;I'm very happy so far with the Palm Radio Single Key paddle.\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-LwCRcbEsHa0\/VcaWQ1fAruI\/AAAAAAAAU-4\/c6hzw9tWD9U\/s1600\/20150808_115925_Lee%2BPearson%2BRd-1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"484\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-LwCRcbEsHa0\/VcaWQ1fAruI\/AAAAAAAAU-4\/c6hzw9tWD9U\/s640\/20150808_115925_Lee%2BPearson%2BRd-1.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\"\u003EArm chair copy ?\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003EHere's the KX3 in all it's portable glory...\u003Cbr \/\u003EPlugged into the left is power from a small external 12v 3ah battery. \u0026nbsp;It has more capacity and higher voltage than the internal AA nmih rechargeable batteries. \u0026nbsp;If I run the external down I can fall back to the internals. \u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003EConnected to the middle plug is the CW key from Palm Radio which is wonderfully portable (AA4XX recommended the key) although I'm getting used to holding it during operation rather than having it attached to a base. \u003Cbr \/\u003EThe noise canceling ear-buds are plugged into the bottom jack on the left.\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe coax to the antenna is plugged into the BNC on the right of the radio. \u0026nbsp;The radio has built-in feet to prop it up during operation. \u0026nbsp;I'm not sure how I'd feel about sitting it directly on the ground. \u0026nbsp;It has plenty of gaps for insects and debris to get inside. \u0026nbsp;I think if I operate sitting on the ground I'd set it on my backpack.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-48IgrOlypGc\/VcaWSsq-fFI\/AAAAAAAAU_c\/wa-zFkS2rO8\/s1600\/20150808_125904_Welcome%2BLn.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"360\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-48IgrOlypGc\/VcaWSsq-fFI\/AAAAAAAAU_c\/wa-zFkS2rO8\/s640\/20150808_125904_Welcome%2BLn.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EElecraft KX3 portable with Palm Radio Single CW Paddle\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003ESo all-in-all the my first portable HF OP was a qualified success. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EI didn't get the antenna stuck in the tree\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EI didn't accidentally brain myself with the lead weight on the throwing rope\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EI didn't get attacked by killer bees or caught in a sharknado while operating outdoors\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe battery performed beyond my expectations\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMy CW key worked very well hand-held\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EI made contacts\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo lower your power, and raise your expectations.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E73 and 72s\u003Cbr \/\u003ERichard\u003Cbr \/\u003EN4PBQ\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/8263253968837210023\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/08\/first-portable-qrp-op.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/8263253968837210023"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/8263253968837210023"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/08\/first-portable-qrp-op.html","title":"First Portable QRP OP"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-g3EAtjdGypg\/VcaWSf14QrI\/AAAAAAAAU_Q\/RH_PR22jM4U\/s72-c\/20150808_125843_Welcome%2BLn.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-8367515074483838138"},"published":{"$t":"2015-08-08T08:25:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:35:09.190-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Finding the right QRP radio"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2 style=\"clear: both;\"\u003ESo many radios... so little time\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Ot9zlSmKZwo\/VcUY6VF4iKI\/AAAAAAAAU5k\/yeajpTB51Yg\/s1600\/ten-tec-r4020-2-band-qrp-transceiver.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"448\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Ot9zlSmKZwo\/VcUY6VF4iKI\/AAAAAAAAU5k\/yeajpTB51Yg\/s640\/ten-tec-r4020-2-band-qrp-transceiver.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EYouKits QRP rebranded as TenTec\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"\" style=\"clear: both;\"\u003EWhen I was learning CW I had borrowed a friend's inexpensive Ten-Tec QRP radio. \u0026nbsp;I'm glad I had the opportunity to borrow it while I was trying to decide what type of radio to purchase. There are many, many options for QRP radios. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"\" style=\"clear: both;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-P0RyfvFJJfw\/VcUY718zxkI\/AAAAAAAAU5s\/KqpnLw4EIlY\/s1600\/%2524_35.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"320\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-P0RyfvFJJfw\/VcUY718zxkI\/AAAAAAAAU5s\/KqpnLw4EIlY\/s320\/%2524_35.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EI began by looking at the very inexpensive, simple radios kits like the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/qrpme.com\/?p=product\u0026amp;id=RM4\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ERockmite\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/qrpme.com\/?p=product\u0026amp;id=EZB\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ETunaCans\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;but decided my acumen with a soldering iron was likely insufficient for even something as simple as those kits. \u0026nbsp;I will probably look into building one of those eventually for fun. \u0026nbsp;Then I started looking at the more expensive pre-built QRP radios like the Ten-Tec 4030\/4020 and Patriot but the more I listened the the little Ten-Tec the more I realized the limitations of these lower priced radios. \u0026nbsp;Just a couple of items to mention... the AGC (automatic gain control) was harsh. \u0026nbsp;Strong stations would pop into your ear like a needle before the AGC brought them under control. \u0026nbsp;If you turned on the attenuator that led to the problem of there being no independent adjustment for the sidetone. \u0026nbsp;So if you had to turn up the volume to copy a quiet station (with the attenuator on) the sidetone would then blister your ears. \u0026nbsp;It would do the job but it wasn't pleasant.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"\" style=\"clear: both;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-nuxkbKbVdU0\/VcUd_QD-K5I\/AAAAAAAAU6c\/1cx9CtKOzEc\/s1600\/354732.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"364\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-nuxkbKbVdU0\/VcUd_QD-K5I\/AAAAAAAAU6c\/1cx9CtKOzEc\/s640\/354732.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ESome kits are more capable than others. \u0026nbsp;This Elecraft KX1 is a very capable radio built from a kit\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-j4Rk7bOzS4o\/VcUaIRo6UqI\/AAAAAAAAU6Q\/TdWGikduiIQ\/s1600\/Rebel506Front.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"135\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-j4Rk7bOzS4o\/VcUaIRo6UqI\/AAAAAAAAU6Q\/TdWGikduiIQ\/s200\/Rebel506Front.jpg\" width=\"200\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ETen-Tec Patriot\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003EI think it could be fun to use these inexpensive QRP radios as an added challenge\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003Ebut I didn't want an impediment to my entry to QRP and CW so I decided to spend more money and go with a better quality radio.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\" style=\"clear: both;\"\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-f7pkQUx9OPs\/VcUY_zP-yZI\/AAAAAAAAU58\/5pNIpyoxOVs\/s1600\/Ten-TecModel539FrontFace.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"133\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-f7pkQUx9OPs\/VcUY_zP-yZI\/AAAAAAAAU58\/5pNIpyoxOVs\/s200\/Ten-TecModel539FrontFace.jpg\" width=\"200\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ETen-Tec Argonaut V\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-QlISped3O4A\/VcUY9RUmdaI\/AAAAAAAAU50\/7HQMU8rcvkA\/s1600\/334422.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"150\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-QlISped3O4A\/VcUY9RUmdaI\/AAAAAAAAU50\/7HQMU8rcvkA\/s200\/334422.jpg\" width=\"200\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EElecraft K1\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EShow me the Good Stuff\u003C\/h2\u003EI kept seeing a couple of recurring themes in radio reviews to look for in a radio that is to be used primarily for CW: a smooth\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.eham.net\/articles\/21156\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EQSK\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;and a quiet receiver. \u0026nbsp;In the past when I had my Yaesu and ICOM radios they used a mechanical relay to switch to transmit. \u0026nbsp;So when I would send CW the relay would audibly snap shut and when I'd pause it would snap open. \u0026nbsp;When you're sending CW it's polite to be listening between your words to see if a station wants to break in or answer. \u0026nbsp;This clatter of the relay in the radio during QSK becomes annoying (to me anyway) such that I ended up setting the delay longer and longer so that it didn't trigger. \u0026nbsp;At that point I was basically key-down until I finished transmitting which isn't terribly friendly in CW land. \u0026nbsp;So I wanted a radio capable of full-break-in QSK without relays. \u0026nbsp;That type of QSK seems to be standard on TenTec and Elecraft radios but isn't offered on \"big brand\" radios until you've worked into the very expensive models. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both;\"\u003EAnother other aspect of a good radio for CW is a quiet receiver. \u0026nbsp; That's a very subjective topic but I kept reading rave reviews of the \"quiet\" receivers in TenTec and Elecraft radios. \u0026nbsp;I am in no-way an expert on receiver design but TenTec and Elecraft seem to design their receivers differently from the \"big brand\" radios, and in most cases include front-end filters narrow enough to filter out the noise around a thin CW signal. \u0026nbsp;There are other niceties like having physical knobs to control keying speed or message sending, etc. without having to enter a menu. \u0026nbsp;That is standard on most TenTec and Elecraft radios but is normally a menu controlled item on \"big brand radios\" which makes it hard to change during a QSO. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both;\"\u003EYou can see where I'm heading here. \u0026nbsp;My choices were narrowing to \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.rkrdesignsllc.com\/products\/transceivers-receivers\/ten-tec-model-539-argonaut-vi-qrp-1-10-watt-transceiver\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ETenTec\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.elecraft.com\/elecraft_products_page.htm\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EElecraft\u003C\/a\u003E brands (coincidentally, both are American radio companies). \u0026nbsp; Both companies make QRP radios although Elecraft has more QRP offerings. \u0026nbsp;Of the current TenTec radios I believe only the Argonaut and Patriots are QRP. \u0026nbsp;The Argonaut receives very positive reviews but there were not many available used and I didn't want to pay for a new radio so that sent me toward Elecraft.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-YudS4c4c5Dw\/VcT_E50sEII\/AAAAAAAAU5Q\/KCUiLXTYteo\/s1600\/20150725_150232_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"400\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-YudS4c4c5Dw\/VcT_E50sEII\/AAAAAAAAU5Q\/KCUiLXTYteo\/s400\/20150725_150232_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg\" width=\"293\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EElecraft KX3\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-align: start;\"\u003EMost of the Elecraft models are offered as kits. \u0026nbsp;I'm not competent enough to correctly solder hundreds of components and wind toroids for a radio so I was looking for used pre-built rigs for sale on a major auction site and\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.eham.net\/classifieds\/\" style=\"text-align: start;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eeham.net classifieds\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-align: start;\"\u003E. \u0026nbsp;Most of the good deals on eham.net classifieds seemed to be quickly snapped up. \u0026nbsp;I bid on a number of radios on the major auction site but the bids consistently went higher than I was willing to pay. \u0026nbsp;At first I was bidding on only\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.elecraft.com\/KX1\/KX1.htm\" style=\"text-align: start;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EElecraft KX1\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-align: start;\"\u003Es, then\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.elecraft.com\/k1_page.htm\" style=\"text-align: start;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EElecraft K1\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-align: start;\"\u003Es, then I moved up in price to\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.elecraft.com\/k2_page.htm\" style=\"text-align: start;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EElecraft K2\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-align: start;\"\u003Es then to\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.elecraft.com\/KX3\/kx3.htm\" style=\"text-align: start;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EElecraft KX3\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-align: start;\"\u003Es. \u0026nbsp;I lost all those auctions. \u0026nbsp;I revisited eham.net classifieds and saw an ad that had just been posted for a KX3 with the options I wanted that was much less than the going price on the auction site. \u0026nbsp;I sent an email and a week later my KX3 arrived.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-align: start;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EThe KX3 has been a joy to use. \u0026nbsp;All the controls I need access to are very accessible without menu diving. \u0026nbsp;I've made more CW contacts at 5w this past week than I made in all my time with my QRO radios and I made one SSB 10w contact (just to speak with an old acquaintance on the Corn Cob net). \u0026nbsp; It's internal auto tuner has been able to match my 40m Carolina Windom at 1.0-1 on every band except 160m and 30m. \u0026nbsp;On 30m it can match at 1.7-1 and 160m it just clicks. \u0026nbsp;It matches better than my manual MFJ Versa Tuner.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EIt matches my end-fed dipole 1.1-1 on every band from 40m-6m. \u0026nbsp;I don't recall trying 80m on that end-fed antenna yet.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EThe KX3 has internal batteries that I operated at 3watts transmit for a few hours on outside (only a couple of QSOs). \u0026nbsp;I was operating from my front porch with a 31ft wire thrown up into a tree. \u0026nbsp;So it's an eminently \"Porch Portable\" or picnic bench radio.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EI have a little 3ah 12v battery left over from a UPS. \u0026nbsp;I operated with it for a couple of hours and it only dropped from 12.5v to 12.2v when I was done so that's a nice option to have for longer portable operations. \u0026nbsp;My 50ah UPS battery, while not terribly portable, should allow me to operate off the mains for a week or more!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EThe radio, antenna, paddles, and external battery all easily fit in my backpack. \u0026nbsp;I can't say I could do that with my ICOM 746-pro.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EMy only limitation on portability presently are my Bencher paddles which weigh twice as much as the radio !!! \u0026nbsp;But I have a Palm-radio paddle on-order so that should be taken care of shortly.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-ZjkZys1fKKs\/VcEkn51TPGI\/AAAAAAAAU28\/oEXKSRfXF5c\/s1600\/IMG_0854.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"134\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-ZjkZys1fKKs\/VcEkn51TPGI\/AAAAAAAAU28\/oEXKSRfXF5c\/s200\/IMG_0854.JPG\" width=\"200\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EBencher Paddles 3lbs 2x the weight of the KX3 radio itself\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both;\"\u003EElecraft makes a fine radio. \u0026nbsp;I'd like to operate a TenTec Argonaut some day as well but that will need to wait.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both;\"\u003E73s and 72s\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both;\"\u003EN4PBQ\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/8367515074483838138\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/08\/finding-right-qrp-radio.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/8367515074483838138"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/8367515074483838138"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/08\/finding-right-qrp-radio.html","title":"Finding the right QRP radio"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Ot9zlSmKZwo\/VcUY6VF4iKI\/AAAAAAAAU5k\/yeajpTB51Yg\/s72-c\/ten-tec-r4020-2-band-qrp-transceiver.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-424098687313766857"},"published":{"$t":"2015-08-05T08:42:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:35:09.135-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Learning CW"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch2\u003ELearning CW (morse code)... again\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-hS4LnLPFtF4\/VcERF-XqJJI\/AAAAAAAAU2E\/mcuBW7k-iFs\/s1600\/DSC_5017.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"423\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-hS4LnLPFtF4\/VcERF-XqJJI\/AAAAAAAAU2E\/mcuBW7k-iFs\/s640\/DSC_5017.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EMFJ-Practice key\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003EMy interest in amateur radio was re-kindled due to a dinner conversation with \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/zs6rsh.blogspot.com\/\"\u003EN4HAY\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWe\u0026nbsp;were both at a dinner for the Wake County Master Gardeners of which both his wife and mine are active members and we began talking of hobbies. \u0026nbsp;He mentioned his deep interest in\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/QRP_operation\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EQRP\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;operations, building small radios and operating CW (morse code). \u0026nbsp;I told him that I was a licensed operator but had not been involved in the hobby for years. \u0026nbsp;We talked a bit more, exchanged call signs and that was it... except it wasn't. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EBack story:\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: right; text-align: right;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-YudS4c4c5Dw\/VcT_E50sEII\/AAAAAAAAU5M\/yYA57q0cThM\/s1600\/20150725_150232_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Radio and Paddles\" border=\"0\" height=\"200\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-YudS4c4c5Dw\/VcT_E50sEII\/AAAAAAAAU5M\/yYA57q0cThM\/s200\/20150725_150232_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg\" title=\"The CW key weighs twice as much as the radio\" width=\"147\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #666666;\"\u003ETo get my upgrade to a General amateur radio license back in 2006 I was required to learn morse code at 5 wpm. \u0026nbsp;The requirement in the past was to learn it at a higher speed. \u0026nbsp;The problem with learning Morse at 5wpm is that it's so slow it allows you to learn morse code with \"tricks\" such as syllabic mnemonics that mess you up as you try to improve your speed. \u0026nbsp;Well I took the easy path with tricks and then I couldn't proceed. \u0026nbsp;I also didn't find someone to practice my code with at the time. \u0026nbsp;I just launched out and tried to make contacts after getting my General \"ticket\". \u0026nbsp;I failed horribly. \u0026nbsp;Some hams will slow down to 5wpm but most (in my experience) will not or cannot send that slowly. \u0026nbsp;My CW contacts were few and far between and eventually I just stopped trying.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI decided that my pain with CW was worth moving beyond. \u0026nbsp;The idea of operating with low power and communicating solely via CW became intriguing to me. \u0026nbsp; I went digging through my closet and found that I still had my cheap, practice MFJ straight key. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EI also still have my Bencher Paddles but I didn't have a keyer so I could only practice with the straight key. \u0026nbsp;I also made extensive use of a nice website \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.lcwo.net\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELearn CW Online\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;to learn to copy as well as listening to \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.arrl.org\/code-practice-files\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EARRL practice code files\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp; I got a Morse code app for my phone to see how sloppy my sending was. \u0026nbsp;I'd set it next to my practice keyer and see what I was sending. \u0026nbsp;I was amazed at how poor my timing was and was glad to have the app to show me my errors.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EAfter nearly 600 practice groups on the \u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.lcwo.net\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELearn CW Online\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;website (I'm a slow learner), I borrowed a friend's QRP radio so that I could start practice copying real transmissions.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-DEHZDOjiovc\/VcEVQB3MclI\/AAAAAAAAU2Q\/f6QJkSw6mis\/s1600\/ten-tec.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"320\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-DEHZDOjiovc\/VcEVQB3MclI\/AAAAAAAAU2Q\/f6QJkSw6mis\/s320\/ten-tec.jpg\" width=\"240\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ETenTec 4030 QRP\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EListening to real QSOs makes all the difference. \u0026nbsp;I have written gibberish on page after page whilst trying to copy actual stations with fading signals, abbreviations I don't recognize and code sent with less precision than the computer generated stuff I was learning from. \u0026nbsp;But with practice copying and an on-the-air scheduled QSO with couple of nice local hams I gained enough confidence to start sending my call out there and start communicating.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EI have a lot to learn and my copy skills are still lousy but I'm working on it and I encourage every licensed amateur operator to at least consider brushing off their CW skills and seeing who they can talk to with 5watts or less and a piece of wire.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3 style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EA CW message from N4PBQ @13wpm \u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"border-style: dashed; border-width: thin; padding: 6px; text-align: center; width: 350px;\"\u003E\u003Ctable\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Ca href=\"javascript:playpause();\" id=\"playbutton\" style=\"background-color: #dddddd; border-style: outset; border-width: 4px; color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;\"\u003EPlay \/ Pause\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E \u003Ctd\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Caudio autobuffer=\"\" controls=\"\" id=\"lcwoplayer\" style=\"height: 28px; width: 200px;\"\u003E\u003Csource src=\"http:\/\/cgi2.lcwo.net\/cgi-bin\/cw.mp3?s=20\u0026amp;e=13\u0026amp;f=540\u0026amp;t=VVVV DE N4PBQ = Welcome to my Ham radio journal = I hope this journal will encourage you to pursue learning and employing CW in low power amateur radio applications. All the best, 73 es 72 tu u and urs = DE n4pbq \" type=\"audio\/mp3\"\u003E\u003C\/source\u003E\u003Csource src=\"http:\/\/cgi2.lcwo.net\/cgi-bin\/cw.ogg?s=20\u0026amp;e=13\u0026amp;f=540\u0026amp;t=VVVV DE N4PBQ = Welcome to my Ham radio journal = I hope this journal will encourage you to pursue learning and employing CW in low power amateur radio applications. All the best, 73 es 72 tu u and urs = DE n4pbq \" type=\"audio\/ogg\"\u003E\u003C\/source\u003EHTML5 Audio tag not supported :-( \u003C\/audio\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/lcwo.net\/\" style=\"color: black; font-size: 10px;\"\u003ELearn CW Online - LCWO.net\u003C\/a\u003E -  \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/lcwo.net\/text2cw\" style=\"color: black; font-size: 10px;\"\u003EText to Morse Converter\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E73s (and 72s for you QRPers)\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/424098687313766857\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/08\/learning-cw.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/424098687313766857"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/424098687313766857"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/08\/learning-cw.html","title":"Learning CW"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-hS4LnLPFtF4\/VcERF-XqJJI\/AAAAAAAAU2E\/mcuBW7k-iFs\/s72-c\/DSC_5017.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1146246558798303856.post-6269371616646212304"},"published":{"$t":"2015-08-04T14:35:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-12-18T09:35:09.162-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aa4oo"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Nearing the close of my first decade with HAM radio...  "},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch3 style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003ENearing the close of my first decade with HAM radio\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: small;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;\"\u003EThe title would imply that I've had a lot to say about a decade in Ham radio but in actuality I haven't really talked about it at all because I was only active for the first few years before all this free blogging stuff came about...\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: small;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003ELet's backtrack\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003EI love to learn new technical stuff and play with electronic toys. HAM radio seems to fit the bill but it hasn't been all roses and kittens for me...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI was encouraged by a co-worker W4BPJ to go get my Technician ticket back in the mid 2000s.  Easy peasy...  I got a 2m mobile and an HT and participated in a couple of nets and paid repeater club fees.  I volunteered for Helping Hams at a few events.  Attended Skywarn training and sent in some spotter reports.  I got my FEMA certifications and had a \"go-kit\".  I was doing all the \"ham radio stuff\" that you can do with a Tech ticket. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI really wanted to get into HF.  I had a difficult time learning \"the code\" even at the measly 5wpm that was required at the time for a General ticket.  Morse just didn't come naturally to me at the time (learning from tapes) and I just squeaked by my code test.  Due to my poor CW skills I didn't have many successful contacts after I got my General ticket and I became frustrated with CW so I went the route of SSB ragchewing and digital modes. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EI went through a few radios. Here's a few rigs...\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-7Wux0u8aI4U\/Vd3JMVVW3sI\/AAAAAAAAVQM\/bgs5SI4uAJQ\/s1600\/n4pbq_qro-2006_station.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-7Wux0u8aI4U\/Vd3JMVVW3sI\/AAAAAAAAVQM\/bgs5SI4uAJQ\/s400\/n4pbq_qro-2006_station.jpg\" width=\"395\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003EQRO station ICOM 735\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-wk5ipdFQdjM\/VcD-wPADwcI\/AAAAAAAAU1I\/tnUkeC_QPhQ\/s1600\/ICOM%2B746-pro.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"\" border=\"0\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-wk5ipdFQdjM\/VcD-wPADwcI\/AAAAAAAAU1I\/tnUkeC_QPhQ\/s400\/ICOM%2B746-pro.JPG\" title=\"ICOM 746-Pro\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003EICOM 746-Pro (fancy, fancy)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-zMbt_1GHx2Q\/VcD-2qD9diI\/AAAAAAAAU1Q\/NS1Lceb8dyI\/s1600\/Yaesu%2B857.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-zMbt_1GHx2Q\/VcD-2qD9diI\/AAAAAAAAU1Q\/NS1Lceb8dyI\/s400\/Yaesu%2B857.JPG\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003EYaesu FT-857 had it in the truck as a mobile and later in the shack\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: small; font-weight: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: small; font-weight: normal;\"\u003EI didn't have the sort of rig or antennas or QTH that lent itself to contesting so HF became a bit mundane after some early thrills. After a mishap with my only outside antenna (my wife \"accidentally\" cut through it HI HI) my interest waned and I eventually sold my last HF radio. I stayed active for a while in emergency prep-ops on VHF\/UHF but with no activations that interest waned as well.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: small; font-weight: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: small; font-weight: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: small; font-weight: normal;\"\u003EThe tinkering side of the hobby didn't work so well for me. I'm all thumbs with a soldering iron and generally have to re-do a project at least 3 times before it has some semblance of working.  I even accidentally sliced my index finger to the bone building a \"simple\" J-Pole a few years back.  No one told me amateur radio could result in so much blood loss...   \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: small; font-weight: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: small; font-weight: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: small; font-weight: normal;\"\u003EI took a 5 year hiatus from radio other than turning on the HT once every couple of months to see what folks were talking about on the 2m nets. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Hxjzr2lIxJY\/VcEFWC523FI\/AAAAAAAAU1g\/t2WyqSiROeU\/s1600\/20150719_195023_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg\" style=\"clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Hxjzr2lIxJY\/VcEFWC523FI\/AAAAAAAAU1g\/t2WyqSiROeU\/s320\/20150719_195023_Autumn%2BTrace%2BDr.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;\"\u003ETen-Tec 4030 QRP radio with Bencher paddle\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large; font-weight: normal;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large; font-weight: normal;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;\"\u003E2015 Interest is re-kindled...\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: small; font-weight: normal;\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: small; font-weight: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: small; font-weight: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: small;\"\u003EI've recently been drawn back to the hobby in the past couple of months with a renewed interest in CW and QRP. \u0026nbsp; I resurrected my Carolina 40m Windom (I nearly fell out of a tree in the process) and borrowed a friend's QRP radio.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EThen I began listening, listening, listening.  I used the wonderful LCWO \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/lcwo.net\/\" style=\"font-weight: normal;\"\u003Ewebsite \u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003Eto re-learn CW and now I'm doing practice CW QSOs with a local elmer AA4XX.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: small; font-weight: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: small; font-weight: normal;\"\u003EI hope to be back on the air in the guise of a CW\/QRP OP very soon.   \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: small; font-weight: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: small; font-weight: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: small; font-weight: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: small; font-weight: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;\"\u003EListen for me to mess up my call on a band near you\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: small; font-weight: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: small; font-weight: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: small; font-weight: normal;\"\u003ESKCC Number: 14276 \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: small; font-weight: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: small; font-weight: normal;\"\u003E72s  Richard\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/feeds\/6269371616646212304\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/08\/nearing-close-of-my-first-decade-with.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/6269371616646212304"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1146246558798303856\/posts\/default\/6269371616646212304"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.hamradioqrp.com\/2015\/08\/nearing-close-of-my-first-decade-with.html","title":"Nearing the close of my first decade with HAM radio...  "}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"AA4OO"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08437750216586991500"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-7Wux0u8aI4U\/Vd3JMVVW3sI\/AAAAAAAAVQM\/bgs5SI4uAJQ\/s72-c\/n4pbq_qro-2006_station.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}}]}});