QSO fun with a C21

It doesn't get much simpler

After dinner tonight I headed up to the shack to make a couple of QSOs.  I felt nostalgic and powered up the old TenTec Century 21 rather than one of my modern radios.  

My Vibroplex Bug and Kent Hand key 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.  I adjusted the output until I was producing somewhere around 10 watts to my lovely, no-tune OCF Dipole.  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.

I turned on my camera, sent my call out once and was immediately answered by Dick (WB3AVF) up in Pennsylvania.  Turns out he was using a Standard Vibroplex bug that is very similar to mine.  It was my first contact with WB3AVF and we had a nice chat.

Fired up the 1977 TenTec Century 21 for a couple of old-fashioned QSOs

Switching the keys around

Dick 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.

Vibroplex Bug and Kent Hand Key... both date to long before I became a Ham

The joys of an old radio

If you watch the video you'll note me chasing around the caller with the TenTec's audio offset knob.  I wasn't changing frequency with the VFO, I was trying to keep his signal in the audio bandpass sweet spot on the C21.  Unfortunately, my offset knob has become extremely touchy; as you can see in the video.  When I barely touch it, it will jump by a 100 Hz so it's fiddly to use.  I need to open up the rig again and find the out of spec components.  Maybe a Christmas project but I'm kinda hoping I get a new transceiver kit to build this year.  I keep planning to work on the C21 but other projects get in the way.

You 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.  He probably had to chase me about 300 Hz during out QSO while the components stabilized.

This C21 is from 1977 and uses a direct conversion receiver allowing you to hear the same station on both sides of the zero beat.  That makes for interesting zero beating...  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.  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.  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.  It's more complicated to explain than demonstrate.  I didn't do that during this QSO but, trust me it works well unless the band is really crowded.

The offset knob works on both sides of the signal due to the direct conversion receiver in the C21

Conditions

Band conditions on 80m were nice tonight.  I was outputting around 10w and Reverse Beacon network showed that I had good coverage to the North which my antenna favors.

http://www.reversebeacon.net/dxsd1/dxsd1.php?f=0&c=aa4oo&t=dx

I 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.

You 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.  There were some faint static crashes, which are frequent on 80m especially in the summer but they weren't bad tonight.  

I 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.  I can use my older radio without trying to dodge QRM from close packed stations.

Right after the first QSO was over I was called from different station, also in PA, and that operator was also named Dick.  So it was an evening of QSO coincidences.   

Make some calls and see how many QSO coincidences you enounter.

Ah.. the sounds of a 1977 QSO... 

I hope you make it to the Kent Straight key clacking toward the end

I'm glad I had the camera rolling when WB3AVF answered my call.  I enjoy listening to a two-way Vibroplex bug QSO.  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.  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.

That's all for now...

So lower your power and raise your expectations... (and use old crufty radios)

72/73

Richard, AA4OO

UPDATE:
I've added a video detailing operation of a Century 21...

The SKCC is a rewarding group

AA4OO achieved SKCC Tribune x4 status

The SKCC (Straight Key Century Club) is a fast-growing and well run group dedicated to supporting and promoting mechanical key, CW operators.  Mechanical CW keys are pretty much anything other than a paddle and electronic keyer. 

When making SKCC contacts you can use a straight key, a side-swiper (cootie key) or a bug to count towards your contacts.  If a medical condition prevents you from effectively using a mechanical key special wavers are allowed for using paddles with a keyer.

I joined the SKCC group in August of 2015 shortly after I got on the air with my budding Morse Code skills.  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.

AA4OO's Tribune x4 certificate

The SKCC does not collect any dues but donations are welcome as well as volunteering to serve in different roles.

Tongue in cheek awards

After 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).  The SKCC has a well written logging application that is both a logging program and award application processor.  It can parse ADIF files from other logging programs to help you keep track of your unique SKCC contacts over time.

When you submit an award application and are approved, you get a fun and silly email like the following:

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Gather 'round and pay heed to the news of this day!Let there be revelry & celebration for yet another Centurion has advanced to the Tribune Tx4 level of SKCC achievement !!!
Rich Carpenter, AA4OO, SKCC# 14276T, has achieved the coveted 2nd generation SKCC member achievement known far and wide as the Tribune Tx4 award.
The Tribune Tx4 award is earned by SKCC Centurions who work 200 other Centurions, Tribunes, or Senators.
Rich's log & 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.
Having 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.
This 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.
Tribune Xn Operators are permitted to use the Xn designator as they see fit whenever discussing their Tribune status.
The Master Tribune List has been duly scribed where all SKCC Members may reflect upon and pay tribute to this momentous achievement.
Congratulations to: Rich Carpenter, AA4OO, SKCC# 14276T, Tribune Tx4
Duly approved, recorded, and published.
I set forth my hand and key on 12-Dec-2016
Phil Barsky, K3EW
SKCC 10605T
SKCC Tribune Administrator

Sign up and contribute 

If you're not already an SKCC member and you enjoy using a mechanical key sign up and get in the mechanical CW fun.

The regular monthly sprints occur on the second weekend of each month and are called the WES (weekend sprint).  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.

The typical exchange during a WES is as follows:

Calling:  CQ WES DE [CALL]  K
Send: DE [CALL]
Exchange:  UR [RST]x2 [STATE]x2 [NAME]x2 [SKCC NR]x2 BK

If 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.  These are not high pressure contests.

Long ragchews are encouraged

Outside of the WES I've had many long ragchews with other SKCC members.  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.  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.  That's about as far from normal contesting as I've found.  

Contesting not required

I am far from a contester and I don't participate in every WES, in fact I'm pretty hit or miss.  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.

Not specific to QRP

The SKCC is not limited to QRP operators but they have special award classifications for QRP SKCC contacts.  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.  A simple homebuilt QRP radio operated with a mechanical key can be a satisfying part of the hobby.

If you're new to CW or you've been sending code for 50 years I think you'll enjoy the group. 

That's all for now...

So lower your power and raise your expectations... using that mechanical key

72/73

Richard, AA4OO

Gamify Morse Code

Morse Toad -- the game

I've been looking for ways to interest others in learning Morse Code.  I've found good mobile apps for learning the code but they are for serious study and not in the form of a game. 

Young people are really into their mobile game apps and they always seem to be on the lookout for new mobile apps to try.

There may be other mobile app games that use morse code but this is the first one I've run across.  Morse Toad app is available for both Android and IOS.  It might, just might, be fun enough to get people to learn the code for the fun of it.

It's a bit of a silly game but there are lots of silly games out there and people still seem to play them.  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.  "Morse Toad"

Before you know it there will be millions of new Morse Code operators just itching to get their Ham ticket (unlikely).

Game Play

The game begins by presenting the player with a couple of letters lit on a keyboard (A and T).  Then it plays a sound and the player has to tap the correct letter.  After each successful level another letter is added to the keyboard.

Obviously 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.

My 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.

Game Availability

Morse Toad is available for download from the Google Play Store or from the Apple App Store.

That's all for now...

So lower your power and raise your expectations

72/73

Richard, AA4OO

No love for my station from RBN on 10m today?

RBN is a great tool but sometimes it doesn't tell the whole story

Since it's the second weekend of the month I got on the air to make SKCC WES contacts.  The SKCC Weekend Sprint is great fun because it's a slow paced, friendly, pseudo contest for SKCC members.  There's even a page that you can schedule a contact with another SKCC member if you're needing their state, grid square, another Senator, whatever.  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.  And no one gets mad at you for using a bug.

I like to use RBN to determine if I'm getting out on a band before I spend too much time sending my call.  I find an open frequency, send my QRL? a couple of times and then send my call.  If no one responds I take a look at the RBN report.

RBN spot search for AA4OO

Band conditions

I was working SKCC members on 20m because I've worked all the nearby states and it was not giving me great results.  Everyone seemed a bit in the noise which isn't unexpected given the current lousy band conditions.  So I opened up RBN to look for spots from AA4VV who is a spotting station within about 50miles of me.  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.

10 meters?  In this lousy part of the solar cycle?

So I hopped up to the CW portion using my mighty attic doublet and heard a bunch of stations sending CQ at 27 - 35 wpm.  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.  I checked RBN and it only showed one spot for me up in Wisconsin with a lousy 5db over noise report.  No one was going to hear me that close to noise.  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.  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.  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.

So why didn't I get any love from RBN spotting stations when I was obviously getting out well on 10m?  I don't have an answer. Maybe many of the RBN spotters have stopped monitoring 10m.  10m wasn't flying as far as it normally would as I was making contacts with stations in MI, WI, OK, and AR.  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.  I was using my attic doublet which is about 68 feet long.  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.  

The point?

RBN and other spotting tools don't necessarily always tell the whole story.  Just because you aren't getting spots doesn't mean you aren't getting out.  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.  I'm still missing some SKCC operators on the west coast and up in Alaska.  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.  

The band conditions may be very poor right now but radio is still magic.

That's all for now

So lower your power and raise your expectations

72/73

Richard, AA4OO

Make the RF jump

Constructing an RF jumper cable for BNC to PL-259

HF QRP radios and accessories typically use BNC antenna connectors.  But most HF amatuer station equipment like antenna switches and tuners are designed for PL-259 connectors.  Adapters are available to convert between the two but every additional connection adds some resistance with a bit of loss.  Plus, all those adapters add weight and create torque on fragile QRP BNC connectors.

BNC to PL-259 jumper cable

As 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.  

50 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.  Usually "crimp-on" connectors, which are a bit of a misnomer because soldering is required, can be purchased for less than $1 per connector.  While the braid is "crimped-on" the center conductor should be soldered to the center pin.

RG-58A/U (flexible, stranded center conductor) is inexpensive and suitable for jumpers.  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.  Note that RG-58 coax is solid conductor.  Stranded is more flexible and durable (usually noted as RG-58A/U).

Equipment needed

Besides a soldering iron you'll need the following, and some heat shrink tubing if you wish to make it look neat.

RG-58A/U, Crimper, Coax stripper, PL-259 and BNC connectors

Trying to crimp a connector with pliers will only bring you grief (trust me I know).  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.  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.

Bring out the stripper -- No bachelor party required

Stripped coax

The coax stripper tool has two blades which are adjusted for cutting depth as well as spacing.  You will need to sacrifice a bit of coax for test cuts as you adjust the blade cutting depth.  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.

Once you've adjusted the blades no further adjustment should be required as long as you're using the same coax.  Just be patient as you get the settings correct.

The length of insulator remaining over the center conductor will be longer for the PL-259 versus the BNC.  Watch the video for how to measure.

Connectors

PL-259 and BNC crimp-on connectors

Note 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.  

Note 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 through the BNC connector body.  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.

When 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.

For 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.

Very 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.   I seem to only learn from my mistakes but hopefully you can avoid this annoying mistake.

It'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.

Note the hole through the center pin of the PL-259
Note the crimp collar is ALREADY on the coax (in the shadow behind my thumb)

Center conductor exiting the center pin of the PL-259 so that solder can wick down into the pin
Cut the conductor that's sticking out of the tip off after it's been soldered.

I 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.

Use some heat shrink over the crimped connection because it's sharp

Neaten up the connection with a bit of heat shrink tubing after you crimp the collar, and wallah! 

Demonstration

Here is a little demonstration video.  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.  I have a terrible cold today which distracted me bit and made me sound like a frog.

Summary

Take 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?"

That's all for now

So lower your power and raise your expectations

72/73

Richard, AA4OO

This is not the wattage you're looking for... move along

Getting hot under the collector/base junction

Where did my power go?

My Elecraft W1 power meter has been absent from the antenna chain for a while due to a jumper cable shortage when I last reconfigured my shack.  But now the W1 meter is back in the chain and it revealed something a bit worrisome about the 1Watter transceiver...

I've had a bunch of QSOs using the 1Watter both in the shack and in the great outdoors.  The 1Watter is my first home built transceiver (albeit from a kit) and has been a great learning experience. It is called a 1Watter (or 1H2O as Diz calls it) because it nominally produces an output of 1 watt.

The Elecraft W1 power meter is a nice, inexpensive QRPp to QRO meter because it measures from 150 watts all the way down to 150mw.

The 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.  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 mighty attic antenna.  

Then by the second exchange in the QSO I noticed my output power dropping down to 700mw.  By the end of our ragchew my 1Watter output had dropped to 500mw.  

Power meter in background showing 500mw by the end of the first QSO

As I ended that first QSO I was called by another station (AF4YF) who was running a 2 watt homebrew xcvr.  And by the end of that QSO the 1Watter was producing less than 300mw.  I felt that some investigation was in order.

Heat is the enemy

The 1Watter uses a 2N5109 NPN RF transistor for a final. Transistors really are not fans of heat.  

The 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.

My 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.  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.

I allowed the 1Watter to rest for 30 minutes following the QSOs, still powered but not transmitting.  That only resulted in the output power getting back into the 700mw range.  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.  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.

I'd appreciate any constructive suggestions.  I'm still a noob at this electronics stuff.

But the real moral of the story is...

Band conditions on the evening of this QSO

So as I sat here wondering why my 1 watt radio was only producing a 1/2 watt now,  I reminded myself that I was having extended QSOs using a (now) 500mw radio with other QRP operators (5w and 2w).  I was also using my attic antenna, not some multi-element beam on a tower. Band conditions on 40m were also a limiting factor tonight (see snapshot at right).

These were not simply swap 599 TU QSOs, we were exchanging information on multiple go-rounds with solid copy.

So if you're reading this blog you likely have some interest in QRP.  Hopefully this is just yet another reminder that we often don't need as much power as we think we do for communications.  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".  

But it's times like this with my 1Watter that keeps reminding me to lower my power and raise my expectations.

So lower your power and raise your expectations...

72 / 73

Richard, AA4OO

http://hamradioqrp.com

Get used to the common stuff

Common QSO words...

Rick -- 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.

Work your way through these and develop an ear for the most common words used in a CW QSO.

I've created 22 wpm audio files that you should be able to simply click and listen to, assuming your browser supports embedded audio controls.

Note that I accidentally have some <BT> prosigns thrown in there that are not listed in the text.  <BT> 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.  If I get a chance I'll regenerated these audio files without the hidden <BT> prosigns.

If 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.

Common 2 letter words and punctuation

to   of   it   in   do   so   is   we   on   or   oh   uh   at   my   if   be   as   go   Im   he   me   up   tu   cq   dx   es   fb   go   ge   hi   hr   hw   nr   om   wx   73   KN   BK   AS   =   +   *   .   ?   /   

Common 3 letter words including Q-codes

and   the   you   but   was   not   for   all   one   are   not   can   out   got   now   lot   had   how   get   see   too   did   and   Ive   our   any   rtu   tnx   rst   agn   ant   pse   pwr   QRL   QRM   QRN   QRQ   QRS   QRZ   QTH   QSB   QSY   hw?   

Common 4 letter words -- No, not the ones your thinking

There is an abbreviation in this set "efhw" that I've never personally heard on-air.  I believe it stands for "end fed half wave antenna".  I'm including it because it was in Rick's word group but YMMV on how often you hear that word/abbr.

that   know   yeah   they   like   have   just   well   what   them   mean   dont   with   when   from   some   were   your   name   beam  efhw   g5rv   test   icom   knwd   temp   warm   cold   cool   rain   snow   hail   jt65   hour   

Common 5 letter words

think   about   thats   right   other   where   yaesu   sunny   clear   sleet   windy   psk31   

Common 6 letter words

really   dipole   windom   sloper   tentec   alinco   cloudy   

Common 2 and 3 letter words together

to   of   it   in   do   so   is   we   on   or   oh   uh   at   my   if   be   as   go   Im   he   me   up   tu   cq   dx   es   fb   go   ge   hi   hr   hw   nr   om   wx   73   KN   BK   AS   =   +   *   me   up   tu   cq   dx   es   fb   go   ge   hi   and   the   you   but   was   not   for   all   one   are   not   can   out   got   now   lot   had   how   get   see   too   did   and   Ive   our   any   rtu   tnx   rst   agn   ant   pse   pwr   QRL   QRM   QRN   QRQ   QRS   QRZ   QTH   QSB   QSY   

Common 2, 3 and 4 letter words together

to   of   it   in   do   so   is   we   on   or   oh   uh   at   my   if   be   as   go   Im   he   me   up   tu   cq   dx   es   fb   go   ge   hi   hr   hw   nr   om   wx   73   KN   BK   AS   =   +   *   me   up   tu   cq   dx   es   fb   go   ge   hi   and   the   you   but   was   not   for   all   one   are   not   can   out   got   now   lot   had   how   get   see   too   did   and   Ive   our   any   rtu   tnx   rst   agn   ant   pse   pwr   QRL   QRM   QRN   QRQ   QRS   QRZ   QTH   QSB   QSY   that   know   yeah   they   like   have   just   well   what   them   mean   dont   with   when   from   some   were   your   name   beam   efhw   g5rv   test   icom   knwd   temp   warm   cold   cool   rain   snow   hail   jt65   hour   

Common 2, 3, 4 and 5 letter words together

to   of   it   in   do   so   is   we   on   or   oh   uh   at   my   if   be   as   go   Im   he   me   up   tu   cq   dx   es   fb   go   ge   hi   hr   hw   nr   om   wx   73   KN   BK   AS   =   +   *   me   up   tu   cq   dx   es   fb   go   ge   hi   and   the   you   but   was   not   for   all   one   are   not   can   out   got   now   lot   had   how   get   see   too   did   and   Ive   our   any   rtu   tnx   rst   agn   ant   pse   pwr   QRL   QRM   QRN   QRQ   QRS   QRZ   QTH   QSB   QSY   that   know   yeah   they   like   have   just   well   what   them   mean   dont   with   when   from   some   were   your   name   beam   efhw   g5rv   test   icom   knwd   temp   warm   cold   cool   rain   snow   hail   jt65   hour   think   about   thats   right   other   where   yaesu   sunny   clear   sleet   windy   psk31   

Most common abbreviations during a QSO

r tu rtu tnx name   rst cq    agn   ant   dx   es fb ga ge   hi    hr hw nr om pse pwr wx 73

Most common Q signs during a QSO

QRG   QRL   QRM   QRN   QSB   QRO   QRP   QRQ   QRS   QRT   QRU   QRV   QRZ   QSL   QSX   QSY   QTH   QTR   

100 Most common words during a QSO

and   the   you   that   a   to   know   of   it   yeah   in   they   do   so   but   is   like   have   was   we   its   just   on   or   not   think   for   well   what   about   all   thats   oh   really   one   are   right   uh   them   at   there   my   mean   dont   no   with   if   when   can   as   his   from   had   by   some   were   out   other   where   your   up   QRL   QRM   QRN   QRQ   QRS   QRZ   QTH   QSB   qrp   QSY   r   tu   rtu   tnx   name   rst   cq   agn   ant   inv v   dipole   beam   efhw   g5rv   windom   ocf   sloper   vertical   dx   es   fb   gm   ga   ge   hi   hr   hw   nr   om   pse   pwr   wx   73   =   +   *   bk   kn   rig   QRP   age   yrs   test   icom   knwd   yaesu   tentec   elecraft   heathkit   alinco   collins   psk   swr   wx   temp   warm   hot   cold   sunny   cool   cloudy   clear   rain   snow   sleet   hail   windy   fog   jt65   hour   .   ?   /   599   589   579   479   359   489   559   hw?   cw   am   ssb   usb   lsb   psk31   psk   digital   

That's all for now.

So lower your power and raise your expectations...

72 / 73
Richard AA4OO