20031227.qrp v03_n147.qrl.20031227 Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 19:03:08 EST From: qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Subject: QRP-L digest 3147 QRP-L Digest 3147 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) [163891] Re: adaptors by Ed Tanton 2) [163892] Re: Hotweezers by "Bruce Kizerian" 3) [163893] Re: MQFD and OQRP by WJuergens@t-online.de (Wolf-Ruediger Juergens) 4) [163894] Re: s9+ carrier on 10.104 MHz by "Rod N0RC" 5) [163895] OT: Incredible New Astro Pictures by Ed Tanton 6) [163896] Re: adaptors by Chuck Carpenter 7) [163897] Re: MQFD and OQRP by John Sielke 8) [163898] Re: straight key before paddle by Stephen Wandling 9) [163899] Re: adaptors by =?ISO-8859-1?Q?John_Zaruba=A0Jr?= 10) [163900] Re: Frustrated! by "James R. Duffey" 11) [163901] Re: straight key before paddle by Alex 12) [163902] Re: Single-lever paddles by Steve Smith 13) [163903] Re: straight key before paddle by Dale Botkin 14) [163904] Re: adaptors by Steve Smith 15) [163905] Re: straight key before paddle by "Ron KU7Y" 16) [163906] WTB: KX1 or K1 by "NZ8J" 17) [163907] Frustrated Ham has idea? by "NR5A" 18) [163908] Need Info On Silvertone Model 7224 AM/SW Radio by "W. Keith Hibbert" 19) [163909] RE: straight key before paddle by Adam Farson 20) [163910] Mystery BC signal on 3530 by Richard Clem 21) [163911] Re: straight key before paddle by "Lawrence Makoski" 22) [163912] CW-Sending, Receiving, and QSOing by "James R. Duffey" 23) [163913] Alternatives to iambic mode by "Sverre Holm" 24) [163914] Re: Frustrated Ham has idea? by Ed 25) [163915] Re: OT: Incredible New Astro Pictures by Karl Larsen 26) [163916] Re: straight key before paddle by W2AGN 27) [163917] Re: Need Info On Silvertone Model 7224 AM/SW Radio by Karl Larsen 28) [163918] Re: adaptors by "Brad Hedges" 29) [163919] Re: Frustrated! by John Oppenheimer 30) [163920] QRP Antennas by "Norman Zoltack" 31) [163921] RE: [qrp-l] Re: straight key before paddle by "Nick Kennedy" 32) [163922] 10&15M OPEN: RAC Winter Contest by "Mark S. Adams, P.E." 33) [163923] Re: straight key before paddle by Rick McKee 34) [163924] Re: Basic Keyer by "Thomas Lewis" 35) [163925] 10.104 by "Fred \(VE3FAL\)" 36) [163926] Re: Basic Keyer by Steve Smith 37) [163927] Re: straight key before paddle by Bruce Muscolino 38) [163928] Re: straight key before paddle by Karl Larsen 39) [163929] Re: 10.104 by Karl Larsen 40) [163930] Re: Need Info On Silvertone Model 7224 AM/SW Radio by w5xe@juno.com 41) [163931] 160 Meter contest today by "Bill Kelsey - N8ET - Kanga US" 42) [163932] Re: straight key before paddle by "Bill Collins" 43) [163933] Re: [qrp-l] Re: straight key before paddle by "Ron KU7Y" 44) [163934] Re: CW-Sending, Receiving, and QSOing by Rick McKee 45) [163935] Re: straight key before paddle by Rick McKee 46) [163936] Re: straight key before paddle by Rick McKee 47) [163937] Re: Frustrated! by "John J. McDonough" 48) [163938] Re: Frustrated Ham has idea? by Lloyd Lachow 49) [163939] RE: [NoGaQRP] OSpam.com by "Norman Schklar" 50) [163940] Operating Under Fire! by John Sielke 51) [163941] Re: Frustrated Ham has idea? by Bruce Muscolino 52) [163942] Holiday Milliwatt CW Contest *** QRP Contest *** de AL7FS by Jim Larsen 53) [163943] 10.104 by "Todd Fonstad" 54) [163944] Belay my last! by Lee Mairs 55) [163945] Re: CW-Sending, Receiving, and QSOing by James R Giammanco 56) [163946] Re: straight key before paddle by "John Sielke" 57) [163947] CW proficiancy by Karl Larsen 58) [163948] RE: FS Completed Nor'Easter by "Gene Sailsbury" 59) [163949] FS: J-37 Key by "Jim Sheldon" 60) [163950] Re: straight key before paddle by Garey Barrell 61) [163951] Woohoo! My new PAC-12 works FB. by "Andy Palm" 62) [163952] 160m test... by "sslyon" 63) [163953] Re: Frustrated Ham has idea? by Rick McKee ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 18:19:39 -0500 From: Ed Tanton To: carlseye@tampabay.rr.com, QRP-L Subject: [163891] Re: adaptors Message-ID: <6.0.0.22.2.20031226181546.01f2bc60@pop.earthlink.net> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed You could roll your own Carl. Find a single-ended, short piece of cable with a Male SMA connector on one end, and put a female BNC on the other end. If you do a reasonably good soldering/etc. job of it, it wouldn't be significantly worse, SWR-wise, than a ready-made adapter, but would probably be about $35 or so cheaper. ///snip ...adapter from SMA male to BNC female.?? ///snip 73 Ed Tanton N4XY Ed Tanton N4XY 189 Pioneer Trail Marietta, GA 30068-3466 website: http://www.n4xy.com All emails & checked by Norton AntiVirus with AutoProtect LM: ARRL QCWA AMSAT & INDEXA; SEDXC NCDXA GACW QRP-ARCI OK-QRP QRP-L #758 K2 (FT) #00057 -------------------------------------------------- "He that gives up a little liberty to gain temporary security will lose both and deserve neither". --Benjamin Franklin "Suppose you were an idiot ... and suppose you were a member of Congress... but I repeat myself." --Mark Twain -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 16:33:55 -0700 From: "Bruce Kizerian" To: , "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Subject: [163892] Re: Hotweezers Message-ID: <00ad01c3cc08$bb1005e0$400846a6@98seoem> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Lee Though you can't be sure, every Hotweezer I have repaired was simply a mater of cable repair, usually up by the handle. The $40 is by my guess still a good deal. We use these strippers exclusively for many years at my work place. They are very durable and reliable and the best strippers I have ever used. The will cost you a small fortune new. I seem to recall around $300 for the power supply and tweezers. Since I am on vacation from work I don't have the contact info handy, but they are still available new--if you can afford them. Hope this helps Bruce kk7zz www.elmerdude.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 00:29:57 +0100 From: WJuergens@t-online.de (Wolf-Ruediger Juergens) To: , "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Subject: [163893] Re: MQFD and OQRP Message-ID: <01f601c3cc08$2c842bd0$0100a8c0@homepc> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit John Sielke wrote: > I notice that the "Original QRP Contest" runs this weekend. I perfect > match for the MQFD. Most of the OQRP contesters are Europeans, but if > 10 and 15 cooperate, you should be able to work a few. Check out their > rules at http://www.qrpcc.de/ . Sorry to say this, but the OQRP Contest is only on 20m, 40m and 80m. 72 Wolf, DL2WRJ -- http://www.dl2wrj.de - CW and Hellschreiber - QRP ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 16:46:11 -0700 From: "Rod N0RC" To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" , Subject: [163894] Re: s9+ carrier on 10.104 MHz Message-ID: <00c901c3cc0a$72834290$6501a8c0@bigdog> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit 2345z still s9+ in FtC! Judging from reports it must be central to the continental US. 73, Rod N0RC **Happy Holidays** ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rod N0RC" To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Sent: Friday, December 26, 2003 9:09 AM Subject: s9+ carrier on 10.104 MHz > Folks, > > I'm hearing this strong carrier in Ft Collins, CO @ 1600z 12/26/03 I ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 19:02:24 -0500 From: Ed Tanton To: QRP-L , noga Subject: [163895] OT: Incredible New Astro Pictures Message-ID: <6.0.0.22.2.20031226185909.01ec0ec8@pop.earthlink.net> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed There is a new space telescope in full operation: To quote the NASA/JPL press release: A new window to the universe has opened with today's release of the first dazzling images from NASA's newly named Spitzer Space Telescope, formerly known as the Space Infrared Telescope Facility. The first observations, of a glowing stellar nursery; a swirling, dusty galaxy; a disc of planet-forming debris; and organic material in the distant universe, demonstrate the power of the telescope's infrared detectors to capture cosmic features never before seen. The Spitzer Space Telescope was also officially named today after the late Dr. Lyman Spitzer, Jr. He was one of the 20th century's most influential scientists, and in the mid-1940s, he first proposed placing telescopes in space. "NASA's newest Great Observatory is open for business, and it is beginning to take its place at the forefront of science," said NASA's Associate Administrator for Space Science, Dr. Ed Weiler. "Like Hubble, Compton and Chandra, the new Spitzer Space Telescope will soon be making major discoveries, and, as these first images show, should excite the public with views of the cosmos like we've never had before." UNQUOTE The photos are absolutely magnificent! 73 Ed Tanton N4XY Ed Tanton N4XY 189 Pioneer Trail Marietta, GA 30068-3466 website: http://www.n4xy.com All emails & checked by Norton AntiVirus with AutoProtect LM: ARRL QCWA AMSAT & INDEXA; SEDXC NCDXA GACW QRP-ARCI OK-QRP QRP-L #758 K2 (FT) #00057 -------------------------------------------------- "He that gives up a little liberty to gain temporary security will lose both and deserve neither". --Benjamin Franklin "Suppose you were an idiot ... and suppose you were a member of Congress... but I repeat myself." --Mark Twain -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 18:53:07 -0600 From: Chuck Carpenter To: carlseye@tampabay.rr.com, "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Subject: [163896] Re: adaptors Message-ID: <3.0.2.32.20031226185307.0069928c@mail.9plus.net> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Carl, Jameco has them. It's there part number 159476CF. $2.99 ea. I've used the combo of SMA on the equip with a 1 ft length of RG-174 with SMA males on each end to an SMA female to BNC male adapter too. Little more expensive but using the light-gage cable on small rigs keeps them from flopping around with heavy cable attached. At 03:08 PM 12/26/03 -0500, carl seyersdahl wrote: > Does anyone here know of an adapter from SMA male to BNC female.?? I 've >never seen one but , I'm building up an sw20+ and would prefer to use an sma >female on the panel in the interest of panel space.!!! thanks !!!! > carl / kz5ca > > > Chuck Carpenter, W5USJ, Point, Rains Co., TX - EM22cv, NETXQRP #1 QRP-ARCI #5422, QRP-L #1306, QRPp-I #115, ARS #1280, SOC #57 Zombie #759, COG #11, 6 Club #201, FP #601 http://www.netxqrp.org ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 20:02:59 -0500 From: John Sielke To: WJuergens@t-online.de (Wolf-Ruediger Juergens), "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Subject: [163897] Re: MQFD and OQRP Message-ID: <200312262002.59933.jsielke@pobox.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline On Friday 26 December 2003 18:29, Wolf-Ruediger Juergens wrote: > John Sielke wrote: > > I notice that the "Original QRP Contest" runs this weekend. I perfect > > match for the MQFD. Most of the OQRP contesters are Europeans, but if > > 10 and 15 cooperate, you should be able to work a few. Check out their > > rules at http://www.qrpcc.de/ . > > Sorry to say this, but the OQRP Contest is only on 20m, 40m and 80m. > > 72 Wolf, DL2WRJ Sorry to hear that. Kind of excludes USA, unless 20M cooperates. John W2AGN ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 17:07:44 -0800 From: Stephen Wandling To: unlisted-recipients:; (no To-header on input) Cc: Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion Subject: [163898] Re: straight key before paddle Message-ID: <3FECDB60.8010009@SwiftsureConsulting.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit John, I have to believe that these opinions of yourself and Bruce are very minority opinions in the amateur radio community. I sure hope so. To me they run counter to everything that ham radio stands for. No one is going to die if they don't 'shoot' straight with their straight key! This is not war, this is fun, this is communication. Are we all so old and jaded that we have forgotten what it was like when we first went on the air? If we all waited until we could walk perfectly we would still be on our butts. IMHO, error is a part of learning and definitely a part of a healthy life. Please, no more whining about new CW operators! Stephen John Sielke wrote: >> There is only one method of developing a fist you won't be picking out >> of your eye. Practice off the air until you can send 5 minutes of >> perfect CW without making an error. Then, and only then, should you go >> on the air. Would you go off to war without a thorough understanding >> of, and proficiency with, your rifle? I believe this concept has been >> discarded from most learner's guides. > > > Amen! I don't know if I would insist on 5 munutes error free, but at > least 1 out of the five...kinda like the old CW sending tests used to be. > > I know some whiners will by saying that this discourages people > getting on CW. Balony! (or Bologna, if you prefer). Hopefully, someone > wanting to get on CW will want to sound as good as possible. If they > are the sort that is happy with being sloppy in all their life's > pursuits, then they will send sloppy CW, too, no matter what anyone says. > > Learn by doing ?? Great idea. Just like learning to drive a car by > doing. When you can drive 5 miles without an accident, you're ready > for a license....Dare I mention Pilot training? > > John W2AGN ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 20:19:12 -0500 From: =?ISO-8859-1?Q?John_Zaruba=A0Jr?= To: carlseye@tampabay.rr.com Cc: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Subject: [163899] Re: adaptors Message-ID: Mime-Version: 1.0 (Apple Message framework v609) Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Carl, Check with Pasternack Enterprises in California. http://www.pasternack.com/ If they don't have it, it has never been made. 73, John AA2BN On Dec 26, 2003, at 3:08 PM, carl seyersdahl wrote: > Does anyone here know of an adapter from SMA male to BNC female.?? I > 've > never seen one but , I'm building up an sw20+ and would prefer to use > an sma > female on the panel in the interest of panel space.!!! thanks !!!! > carl / kz5ca > > ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 18:21:02 -0700 From: "James R. Duffey" To: QRP-L Cc: Subject: [163900] Re: Frustrated! Message-ID: Mime-version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" Content-transfer-encoding: quoted-printable Jerry - One of the problems with using the long wire as an inverted vee is that lots of high angle radiation is generated beccause there are current maxima closer to the earth. Antennas longer than half a wavelength long are best used horizontally, not erected as inverted vees. When antennas longer than a half wavelength are erected as an inverted vee, there tends to be a lot of high angle radiation, and the nice sharp lobes that long wires show are all mushed up into a more or less omindirectional pattern. If you erect a 15 M inverted vee the current maxima will be at the top of the pole, in your case at 24 ft. You can see this by drawing out the current distribution of your 80 M antenna on 15 M. Start with a voltage maxima, current minima at the end and work up the wire. You can also model it on soemthing like EZNEC. The demo version should work fine. If you want an eye opener, model the 80 M at 15 M as an inverted vee and erected horizontally. You might also try modeling a 15 M dipole erected horizontally and as an inverted vee. I think that you will find that the 15 M inverted vee will outperform the 80=A0M inverted vee at low angles on 15 M. How to correct this? A vertical will help, but you will have problems working close in stations. You could put up two more 24 ft poles at the ends of the house and erect a shorter dipole horizontally. The 80 M dipole probably won't fit, but a shorter one will. I like 44 ft for 40 M - 10 M as it will have a maximum in the same direction on all frequencies. You could put traps in the 80 M dipole to insure that there is only one current maximum on each band, and it is at the highest point. Traps will cause some loss though. The moral of a story is that most of the gain that a long wire shows when erected horizontally goes down the toilet when you put it up as a inverted vee. Where in SD are you located? I was raised in Brookings, and my dad, WA0OML, still lives there. - Dr. Megacycle KK6MC/5 ______________________ James R. Duffey KK6MC/5 Cedar Crest NM 87009 DM65 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 20:55:34 -0500 From: Alex To: Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion Subject: [163901] Re: straight key before paddle Message-ID: <3FECE696.B0280AB8@amsat.org> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit John Sielke wrote: > If they are the > sort that is happy with being sloppy in all their life's pursuits, then > they will send sloppy CW, too, no matter what anyone says. No matter what anyone says, VFO's are awesome! :) 73, --Alex KR1ST http://www.kr1st.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 18:12:20 -0800 From: Steve Smith To: svholm2@broadpark.no Cc: qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU Subject: [163902] Re: Single-lever paddles Message-ID: <20031226.181224.-4014961.0.sigcom@juno.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Sverre, >From the American QRP Club web site, re: The NorCal keyer: "You get a memory keyer, with 3 programmable 40-character memories, iambic A & B mode, straight key and bug mode, 2 beacon modes, and variable speed control by either a 100K pot or the paddles themselves." There are probably others but the NorCal keyer is the only one that comes to mind at the moment. 73.......Steve Smith, WB6TNL/0 Hoxie, KS "Snort Rosin" On Fri, 26 Dec 2003 17:32:33 +0100 "Sverre Holm" writes: > Re the discussion on single-lever paddles. > > It would be fun to try for me as a relative newcomer to hamming, > but > does any of the PIC-based keyers support both imabic (A,B), and bug > modes as well as a straight key? > > -- > 73, > Sverre > > ------------------ > Sverre Holm, LA3ZA > www.qsl.net/la3za > > > > ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 20:57:26 -0600 (CST) From: Dale Botkin To: Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion Subject: [163903] Re: straight key before paddle Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII > Learn by doing ?? Great idea. Just like learning to drive a car by > doing. When you can drive 5 miles without an accident, you're ready > for a license....Dare I mention Pilot training? I've taught four of my children to drive and I'm about to teach the fifth (and last). I was once a passable competitive shooter as well. I got on the air when I could just barely copy 5 WPM. I can tell you there is no better way, and no OTHER way, than a little instruction followed by LOTS of learning by doing. I'd say that applies equally to driving, flying, marksmanship and Morse code. My flight instructor agrees, as did my marksmanship instructor. Guys, this is why we have Novice/Tech+ segments on 80, 40, 15 & 10 meters. 73, Dale - N0XAS -- It's a thankless job, but I've got a lot of Karma to burn off. PicoKeyer Analog with pot speed control now available! Or add memory and more to your Rock-Mite -- http://www.hamgadgets.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 19:10:09 -0800 From: Steve Smith To: carlseye@tampabay.rr.com Cc: qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU Subject: [163904] Re: adaptors Message-ID: <20031226.191010.-4014961.2.sigcom@juno.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit "Google" RSA-3458 . R.F. Industries part number for that particular adaptor. 73.......Steve Smith, WB6TNL/0 Hoxie, KS "Snort Rosin" > ...adapter from SMA male to BNC female.?? ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 20:15:51 -0700 From: "Ron KU7Y" To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Subject: [163905] Re: straight key before paddle Message-ID: <007f01c3cc27$bff681a0$54910b45@ku7y> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Geeeeessssh Folks, I have not seen ANYONE trying to discourage new operators. Quite the opposite. When you help someone learn something you need to be honest. Sometimes this means that you have to say things like "you really do need to work at it off the air before getting into a QSO". If you think that is bad advice you are way out of touch with reality! If you try to learn to send CW on the air you will surly become so frustrated that you will likely give up. After getting enough practice in so that you can send what you feel is "good" CW using whatever method you chose you will almost forget everything the first time you hear your call being sent back to you! Heck, I even just turned the radio off I was so scared! And I could send at close to the required 13 wpm already.... (I was a novice at that time, 1952). Now if you think you can get that nervous while still not being able to send without thinking about it, how the heck are you going to manage to send anything that anyone can understand? There used to be several "golden rules" of CW that were in all the books. One was to learn to send before getting on the air. Another was that when you call CQ you are the station that sets the speed. When you answer someone who is calling CQ the "right" way to call is to match that speed. If you can't find someone calling CQ at the speed you would like to use, call CQ yourself. Everyone seems to understand that if someone is calling CQ at 10 wpm it is not "nice" to call them at 20 wpm. But far too many "operators" now seem to think that the whole world should drop down to the lowest speed heard! If you want to talk to someone who is calling CQ at a speed faster than you want to go, you can ASK them if they would mind slowing down for you. Most will and be happy to do so. But just remember that it's their call and if they feel like going fast and decline to slow down, that doesn't make them "bad" people. It might be the only night in a month that the poor guy had a chance to get on the air and he felt like pushing his limit for a bit. Then there is the subject of being able to copy CW. The old saying used to be that anyone could copy machine sent CW but that it took a good operator to copy poor sending..... and that is just a true today as it ever was. When you hear some of those folks using bugs with a lot of "swing" and you can't copy them just think about this.... the fellow they are talking to can copy that sloppy CW just fine. Now you tell me, just who has the best receiving ability? :-) Oh well..... I just happen to be one of those who think that people should strive to improve the things they do including CW. Heck I've been working on mine for over 50 years and I still have a LONG way to go. CW is really an art form. Much like music. I went to a banjo workshop by one of the best banjo players in the world. Jans Kruger, (sp?). One of the things he said was that NO ONE should ever get up on stage and play a song until they have played it in practice at least 2,000 times! Funny things about banjo players...... not one of them whinnied or accused him of trying to keep them from playing! :-) Ahhhhh, QRPers..... truly a different breed! OK, back in my hole..... 73, Ron, KU7Y ku7y@qsl.net ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 22:15:46 -0500 From: "NZ8J" To: Subject: [163906] WTB: KX1 or K1 Message-ID: <000601c3cc27$bc0dfcd0$6400a8c0@NZ8J> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Looking for a KX1 or possibly a K1 with or without options. If you have one for sale please send details such as options, condition, and price shipped to zip 45324 Thanks Tim NZ8J ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 20:57:53 -0700 From: "NR5A" To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Subject: [163907] Frustrated Ham has idea? Message-ID: <016301c3cc2d$9a66f860$3865dc18@jerry> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Been getting some good ideas on my DX-less 80m inverted vee. Its just not a dx antenna as you guys have pointed out. Got a couple of ideas to see what you think! I'm trying to keep it simple with just my one 24 foot pole. I wonder if I turned it back into a G5RV, 51 foot per leg would this make it any better for catching a lil dx? I know a G5RV has multipole lobes, but not sure if its low angle or not. Since the 80m inverted vee is already fed with twinlead this would be the simplest way. What do ya think? Or, could I run a 15m inverted vee off the 80m inverted vee, remember its fed with twinlead. I know you can do this with coax fed dipoles but how about twinlead? The 80m vee runs pretty much east west, if I hung a 15m vee off of it it would run north to south. Shoot me down please cause this makes me come up with more ideas. hi hi Jerry - NR5A - South Dakota ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 23:04:18 -0500 From: "W. Keith Hibbert" To: qrp-l@lehigh.edu Subject: [163908] Need Info On Silvertone Model 7224 AM/SW Radio Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.0.20031226225727.009e9790@pop3.frontiernet.net> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed OK - I have already Googled this radio, not much there except for radios for sale and broken links to earlier posts. I guess what I need is a Sams Photofact for this 1956/57 radio. It's a battery or AC receiver, a TransOceanic spin-off but marketed by Sears. It covers 190 - 410 Kc, 535 - 1630 Kc, 1.9 - 6.25 Mc and 5.8 - 18.25 Mc. It uses 1 & 3 volt filament tubes, 1L6, 1U4 ( a pair of them), 1U5 and 3V4 I got it from a yard sale this fall and just got around to looking at it. It looks in fair shape but the dial cord is off or broken. Any leads out there? I have a picture in my mind of combining this RX with an outboard BFO and tune 80 - 17 Meters with it. Maybe even a QRP tube TX to go along with the RX? 73, Keith, WB2VUO, Trustee of the NQ2RP/B 10-Meter Beacon 28.2873 MHz on Your Radio Dial - 24/7 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 20:17:35 -0800 From: Adam Farson To: stephen@swiftsureconsulting.com Cc: Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion Subject: [163909] RE: straight key before paddle Message-ID: MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Hi Steve, Well said! The one luxury that none of us radio amateurs can afford is to indulge in behaviour which only serves to drive newcomers away from our ranks. Without this vital infusion of new blood, our numbers will steadily decline to the point where we will no longer be able to justify the retention of our frequency allocations - our very raison d'etre. Best 73, Adam, VA7OJ/AB4OJ North Vancouver, BC, Canada -----Original Message----- From: owner-qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU [mailto:owner-qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU]On Behalf Of Stephen Wandling Sent: Friday, December 26, 2003 17:08 To: Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion Subject: Re: straight key before paddle John, I have to believe that these opinions of yourself and Bruce are very minority opinions in the amateur radio community. I sure hope so. To me they run counter to everything that ham radio stands for. No one is going to die if they don't 'shoot' straight with their straight key! This is not war, this is fun, this is communication. Are we all so old and jaded that we have forgotten what it was like when we first went on the air? If we all waited until we could walk perfectly we would still be on our butts. IMHO, error is a part of learning and definitely a part of a healthy life. Please, no more whining about new CW operators! Stephen ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 22:26:13 -0600 From: Richard Clem To: Subject: [163910] Mystery BC signal on 3530 Message-ID: <238HLAeAN0768S10.1072499173@cmsweb10.cms.usa.net> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Sorry, I didn't keep the original e-mail with who posted the original mes= sage, but I did a bit of Googling about the mystery broadcast signal on 3530. It appears that it's the mixing product of two signals coming from Radio Canada's Sackville site: a relay of Radio Korea on 9650 and Radio Japan = on 6120. 9650-6120=3D3530. Interesting! 73, Rick W0IS http://groups.google.com/groups?q=3D3530+broadcast&hl=3Den&lr=3D&ie=3DUTF= -8&oe=3DUTF-8&selm=3DGkEAb.11407%24dr1.1755994%40news4.srv.hcvlny.cv.net&= rnum=3D2 ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 00:30:27 -0500 From: "Lawrence Makoski" To: , "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Subject: [163911] Re: straight key before paddle Message-ID: <003201c3cc3a$8a0d1af0$78cf4b0c@larrysahyqy001> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I agree with Ron - it isn't discouraging new operators to encourage them to do it correctly. When I got my Novice ticket back in December of 1978, it wasn't until a full month later in January of 1979 that I made my first QSO. I spent that month setting up my station and antenna; but more importantly practising my sending so I could feel "respectable" when I finally took to the air. Certainly I made my share of mistakes and did my learning "hands on" also; but at least the guy I communicated with during that first QSO was able to get the gist of what I was trying to say! I would certainly hope that newcomers would not take it as a "scare tactic" to enjoin upon them to practise beforehand and to be the best they possibly can be. Jitters and newbie mistakes are expected; and most often graciously tolerated by more experienced Hams, at least in my experience. 73 de Larry W2LJ - Vivat Morse! W2LJ@arrl.net http://www.qsl.net/w2lj ARRL Lifemember QRP ARCI #4488 NJQRP #47 FISTS #1469 QRP-L #778 FP #612 QRPp-I #759 ARS #1528 --- K1 #1647 --- AmQRP, CQC #746 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ron KU7Y" To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Sent: Friday, December 26, 2003 10:15 PM Subject: Re: straight key before paddle > Geeeeessssh Folks, > > I have not seen ANYONE trying to discourage new operators. Quite the opposite. > ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 22:48:58 -0700 From: "James R. Duffey" To: QRP-L Subject: [163912] CW-Sending, Receiving, and QSOing Message-ID: Mime-version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit Being good at sending and receiving CW is not the same as being good at having a CW QSO. And you can't practice having a QSO off the air. What good is being good at sending perfect CW if you don't use it to have a QSO? - Dr. Megacycle KK6MC/5 ______________________ James R. Duffey KK6MC/5 Cedar Crest NM 87009 DM65 ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 09:09:31 +0100 From: "Sverre Holm" To: "'Steve Smith'" Cc: Subject: [163913] Alternatives to iambic mode Message-ID: <000101c3cc50$c232e070$8e00a8c0@Master> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Thanks for responses on keyers with alternatives to the iambic mode. The NorCal keyer seems to be among the few that supports bug mode (automatic dots, manual dashes). Then there is the ultimatic mode of the Island keyer II (http://jacksonharbor.home.att.net/ik2.htm). Haven't heard much about that mode, so maybe it is close to extinct? > -----Original Message----- > From the American QRP Club web site, re: The NorCal keyer: > "You get a memory keyer, with 3 programmable 40-character > memories, iambic A & B mode, straight key and bug mode -- 73, Sverre ------------------ Sverre Holm, LA3ZA www.qsl.net/la3za ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 05:42:22 -0500 From: Ed To: nr5a@rap.midco.net Cc: QRP Subject: [163914] Re: Frustrated Ham has idea? Message-ID: <3FED620E.3060908@nexband.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit NR5A wrote: > Got a couple of ideas to see what you think! I'm trying to keep it simple > with just my one 24 foot pole. > > I wonder if I turned it back into a G5RV, 51 foot per leg Since the 80m inverted vee is already fed with > twinlead this would be the simplest way. What do ya think? Personally I would would make it 44' per side and try to add a little height. Refer to LB Cebic's web site. Ed W3NR ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 05:48:46 -0700 (MST) From: Karl Larsen To: Ed Tanton Cc: Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion Subject: [163915] Re: OT: Incredible New Astro Pictures Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII On Fri, 26 Dec 2003, Ed Tanton wrote: > There is a new space telescope in full operation: > To > quote the NASA/JPL press release: > Mr. Spitzer died in 1998 but he was the one who pushed multiple wavelength, false color image production for astronomy. He came from industry that for 25 years was developing long wavelength imagers for military purposes. Much of my working life was spent on the Army's use of long wavelength night viewing imagers. I watch the news today from Iraq and I see American soldiers with imagers on their helments. I helped develop that technology. Those guys are looking out at 8-14 microns! The world is very differnet looking at that wavelength. In simple terms, every temperature (and surface albedo) emits energy at this wavelength and the imager collects all this energy and displays it. This is NOT easy. I'm sure happy they are using the same technology in space now. > > A new window to the universe has opened with today's release of the first > dazzling images from NASA's newly named Spitzer Space Telescope, formerly > known as the Space Infrared Telescope Facility. > > The first observations, of a glowing stellar nursery; a swirling, dusty > galaxy; a disc of planet-forming debris; and organic material in the > distant universe, demonstrate the power of the telescope's infrared > detectors to capture cosmic features never before seen. > > The Spitzer Space Telescope was also officially named today after the late > Dr. Lyman Spitzer, Jr. He was one of the 20th century's most influential > scientists, and in the mid-1940s, he first proposed placing telescopes in > space. > > "NASA's newest Great Observatory is open for business, and it is beginning > to take its place at the forefront of science," said NASA's Associate > Administrator for Space Science, Dr. Ed Weiler. "Like Hubble, Compton and > Chandra, the new Spitzer Space Telescope will soon be making major > discoveries, and, as these first images show, should excite the public with > views of the cosmos like we've never had before." > > UNQUOTE > > The photos are absolutely magnificent! > > > 73 Ed Tanton N4XY > > Ed Tanton N4XY > 189 Pioneer Trail > Marietta, GA 30068-3466 > > website: http://www.n4xy.com > > All emails & checked by > Norton AntiVirus with AutoProtect > > LM: ARRL QCWA AMSAT & INDEXA; > SEDXC NCDXA GACW QRP-ARCI > OK-QRP QRP-L #758 K2 (FT) #00057 > > -------------------------------------------------- > "He that gives up a little liberty to gain > temporary security will lose both and > deserve neither". > --Benjamin Franklin > > "Suppose you were an idiot ... > and suppose you were a member of > Congress... but I repeat myself." > --Mark Twain > -------------------------------------------------- > > > -- - Karl Larsen k5di Las Cruces,NM Az ScQRPions - ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 08:09:58 -0500 From: W2AGN To: qrp-l@lehigh.edu Subject: [163916] Re: straight key before paddle Message-ID: <3FED84A6.47E6FD07@pobox.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > I have to believe that these opinions of yourself and Bruce are very > minority opinions in the amateur radio community. I sure hope so. To > me they run counter to everything that ham radio stands for. > I must disagree. Ham Radio does not stand for mediocrity. I would hope that any ham who chooses to get a license has enough personal pride to put out the cleanest and most understandable signal possible. This goes for SSB, PSK OR CW. CW is a skill. I hardly think it "whining about new CW operators" to suggest they put forth some effort to practice BEFORE going on the air. John W2AGN ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 06:29:46 -0700 (MST) From: Karl Larsen To: "W. Keith Hibbert" Cc: Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion Subject: [163917] Re: Need Info On Silvertone Model 7224 AM/SW Radio Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII On Fri, 26 Dec 2003, W. Keith Hibbert wrote: > OK - I have already Googled this radio, not much there except for radios > for sale and broken links to earlier posts. > > I guess what I need is a Sams Photofact for this 1956/57 radio. It's a > battery or AC receiver, a TransOceanic spin-off but marketed by Sears. Hi Keith, give this radio a nice trip to the trash can. I recall a Sears Silvertone radio we had when I was a kid. We lived in the mountains near Mono Basin where Dad was working to supply water to Los Angeles. We lived in a wood cabin with a no electricity so we had a model A motor with a generator keeping a 6 volt battery charged. The Silvertone would operate on 6 volts DC and we listened to the news with it from San Fransisco. I recall hearing the President declare war against Japan and after that Dad got a call at the company office. He told Mom to move back to her mothers place with me and disappeared. He stayed disappeared for 4.5 years. I blamed the radio. > > It covers 190 - 410 Kc, 535 - 1630 Kc, 1.9 - 6.25 Mc and 5.8 - 18.25 > Mc. It uses 1 & 3 volt filament tubes, 1L6, 1U4 ( a pair of them), 1U5 and 3V4 > > I got it from a yard sale this fall and just got around to looking at > it. It looks in fair shape but the dial cord is off or broken. > > Any leads out there? I have a picture in my mind of combining this RX with > an outboard BFO and tune 80 - 17 Meters with it. > > Maybe even a QRP tube TX to go along with the RX? > > 73, Keith, WB2VUO, Trustee of the NQ2RP/B 10-Meter Beacon > 28.2873 MHz on Your Radio Dial - 24/7 > > > -- - Karl Larsen k5di Las Cruces,NM Az ScQRPions - ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 08:38:12 -0500 From: "Brad Hedges" To: , "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Subject: [163918] Re: adaptors Message-ID: <000a01c3cc7e$ac737820$7ec73942@nc.rr.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit It's a common enough adapter - $5 + about that much more for S&H. Try Cable X-Perts: http://www.cablexperts.com/cfdocs/cat.cfm?ItemGroup=15&itmsub=3&bskt=0&USA_s hip=1&c=0 about 2/3 of the way down the page. FWIW Brad > ///snip > ...adapter from SMA male to BNC female.?? > ///snip > > 73 Ed Tanton N4XY > > Ed Tanton N4XY > 189 Pioneer Trail > Marietta, GA 30068-3466 > > website: http://www.n4xy.com > > All emails & checked by > Norton AntiVirus with AutoProtect > > LM: ARRL QCWA AMSAT & INDEXA; > SEDXC NCDXA GACW QRP-ARCI > OK-QRP QRP-L #758 K2 (FT) #00057 > > -------------------------------------------------- > "He that gives up a little liberty to gain > temporary security will lose both and > deserve neither". > --Benjamin Franklin > > "Suppose you were an idiot ... > and suppose you were a member of > Congress... but I repeat myself." > --Mark Twain > -------------------------------------------------- > > ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 07:43:45 -0600 From: John Oppenheimer To: unlisted-recipients:; (no To-header on input) Cc: Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion Subject: [163919] Re: Frustrated! Message-ID: <3FED8C91.A33A67E5@gte.net> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit That is frustrating. Are the other stations in your geographic area? It may be that you just don't have the propagation the other stations do. Your 80M V is really low! I second the comment about low horizontal antennas. If you can't get the antenna up, or make other changes, you may want to switch to a ground plane vertical. You can go to my vertical page at http://kn5l.net/fdantenna/ for some information on building a vertical. There I have all of the purchasing information for the raw materials. John ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 14:04:08 -0000 From: "Norman Zoltack" To: , "KU3X" Subject: [163920] QRP Antennas Message-ID: <001701c3cc82$4cc06d80$91a5c1d8@normanzo> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I noticed that HY Power Antenna Company has added some qrp antennas to their list of products. I have seen some of their antennas and the quality of workmanship and materials is very good. I also have seen and heard nothing but good testimonials about his products. The owner (Barry, KU3X) is also very accommodating - he will try and custom design/make almost anything to fit your needs. Yes he is a friend of mine but I have no pecuniary interest! His URL is www.angelfire.com/electronic/hypower I am a 20 meter Rockmiter myself and I have both of his 20 meter qrp versions which I will start using as soon as the wx gets a little better. Good Dxing de Norm K3NZ ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 10:17:15 -0600 From: "Nick Kennedy" To: "'Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion'" Subject: [163921] RE: [qrp-l] Re: straight key before paddle Message-ID: <001d01c3cc94$e4496ff0$0400000a@wa5bdu> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I want to hear Bruce and John send five minutes of text (from the head, not paper) error free at, say 24 WPM. Since starting to learn the code around mid 1961, I practiced sending for a good while every day. Finally got up my nerve and passed the test in December. License arrived in Mid-January 1962, but didn't have a rig. Still practicing sending. (I didn't know I was practicing, I thought I was having fun.) Got on the air in May. Still made mistakes! Forty something years later. I've got certificates on the wall for allegedly copying 45 & 50 WPM (that's definitely NOT a minute of solid copy though) and a RUFZ peak of almost 60 WPM. But in QSOs I still do make mistakes sending. Good thing the QRP-L accuracy police were not empowered when I started or I would have missed out on over forty years of enjoyable CW operations. 72--Nick, WA56DU, I mean WA5BDU ... dit dit ... ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 09:25:59 -0500 From: "Mark S. Adams, P.E." To: qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU Subject: [163922] 10&15M OPEN: RAC Winter Contest Message-ID: <627302.1072517159@adams> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline Hi Gang, The upper HF bands are open to EU. I have been dabbling in the RAC and the HA's and LZ's are calling me when I CQ with 5W to the HF2V. Also, there are plenty of Canadians on the air. For the Non-VE stations, the exchange is 599+QSO Number. VE's send 599 and their province. ENJOY! 72, Mark K2QO ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 09:03:57 -0500 From: Rick McKee To: qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU Subject: [163923] Re: straight key before paddle Message-ID: <20031227.093417.10046.1.kc8aon@juno.com> The big thing to remember is that "Practice makes perfect" ! If you think you can send good CW, then connect a code practice oscillator to your computer and let it copy what you are sending ! You will be very surprised ! I agree that a person should be able to send readable CW before ever getting on the air, maybe not perfect code, but readable none the less ! There seems to be a trend toward operators that do not know how to put spaces in between words these days, andthatmakesitveryhardtocopyformostpeople ! See what I mean ? If you are not sending readable code, then all you are really doing is wasting time - both your's and the other operator's ! I'm not perfect by a long shot, but I can make a computer read most of what I send - not all, but most mind you ! Of course, I don't think any computer can keep up with a well tuned human ear in reading CW ! I don't use a computer to send or receive CW, basically because I like to keep things simple. If I want to operate via the computer, I'll operate RTTY or PSK31 ! I use a homebrew paddle with my QRP rigs all of which have keyers built into them. I also send with a Bencher BY1 and MFJ-422B - X keyer with my other rigs, and sometimes use my old J-38 straight key, and do a fair job with all - not bragging, but if I couldn't send well, I wouldn't get on the air ! Do yourself a favor, find someone local that is an accomplished CW operator, and tell them to be honest with you. Then either record a message sent by you, or let them listen to you while you send, and then have them critique your sending ! Or, record your sending, then a month or so later, try to copy it yourself ! Listen to W1AW code practice sessions and code bulletins so you will know what true CW is supposed to sound like and then try to make your's sound like that ! There is nothing wrong with doing things right, or at least as right as humanly possible ! The main thing to remember is: If I can't read what you are sending, then I can't work you ! And ! If you do it right the first time, you won't have to do it again ! 72/73 de: Rick McKee, KC8AON <> Willow Wood, Ohio <> Grid: EM88rl SW-20+, SW-30+, SW-40+, Norcal BLT, Yaesu FT-7, Homebrew 6V6 tube TX QRP-L #2112, FPqrp #33, AR QRP, AmQRP, Ohio Valley Fists, Zombie #718, MQFD #1 For info on MQFD, go to: http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/mqfd I'll give up CW & QRP when I'm dead ! MAYBE ! didididadidah ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 09:53:09 -0500 From: "Thomas Lewis" To: sigcom@juno.com, qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU Subject: [163924] Re: Basic Keyer Message-ID: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed I don't think the NorCal keyer supports straight key practice. If it does, I can't figure it out. I made a nice manhattan style basic keyer with an unused Rock Mite keyer PIC. It is a back-up to my FB NorCal keyer. Could just as well use one of the two Rock Mite PIC replacements available. Tom K4THL >From: Steve Smith >Reply-To: sigcom@juno.com >To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" >Subject: Re: Single-lever paddles >Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 18:12:20 -0800 > >Sverre, > > >From the American QRP Club web site, re: The NorCal keyer: "You get a >memory keyer, with 3 programmable 40-character memories, iambic A & B >mode, straight key and bug mode, 2 beacon modes, and variable speed >control by either a 100K pot or the paddles themselves." > >There are probably others but the NorCal keyer is the only one that comes >to mind at the moment. > >73.......Steve Smith, WB6TNL/0 Hoxie, KS > "Snort Rosin" > >On Fri, 26 Dec 2003 17:32:33 +0100 "Sverre Holm" >writes: > > Re the discussion on single-lever paddles. > > > > It would be fun to try for me as a relative newcomer to hamming, > > but > > does any of the PIC-based keyers support both imabic (A,B), and bug > > modes as well as a straight key? > > > > -- > > 73, > > Sverre > > > > ------------------ > > Sverre Holm, LA3ZA > > www.qsl.net/la3za > > > > > > > > > >________________________________________________________________ >The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! >Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! >Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! _________________________________________________________________ Expand your wine savvy and get some great new recipes at MSN Wine. http://wine.msn.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 10:08:02 -0500 From: "Fred \(VE3FAL\)" To: "'Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion'" Subject: [163925] 10.104 Message-ID: <009601c3cc8b$3938f3a0$2405d3d8@flesnick> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit It is Saturday at 15:05z and the signal is still present and a solid S-7... Fred VE3FAL ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 07:44:42 -0800 From: Steve Smith To: thomas_h_lewis@msn.com Cc: qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU Subject: [163926] Re: Basic Keyer Message-ID: <20031227.074453.-4127857.0.sigcom@juno.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Tom, Straight key mode is the same as bug mode: MEM + DIT, "B". Connect straight key to dash input. 73.......Steve Smith, WB6TNL/0 Hoxie, KS "Snort Rosin" On Sat, 27 Dec 2003 09:53:09 -0500 "Thomas Lewis" writes: > I don't think the NorCal keyer supports straight key practice. If it > does, > I can't figure it out. > Tom > K4THL ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 11:02:12 -0500 From: Bruce Muscolino To: stephen@SwiftsureConsulting.com Cc: Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion Subject: [163927] Re: straight key before paddle Message-ID: <3FEDAD04.43D2C3FF@erols.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Stephen, I cannot let your misguided message go by for two reasons. First you mention my name with somewhat of a slur, and you imply that I can't remember my first days in ham radio. Buddy, you are wrong. I very well remember my first days in ham radio. I even remember my first contact. I suspect that John does as well. I made mistakes, everyone makes mistakes. But back when I got my novice license we had separate band segments where we could make mistakes by ourselves. Yes, higher license classes did use our segments but they did not have to. We were able to make our mistakes in relative privacy. Now almost everybody can use the entire spectrum. Now if you are making mistakes all the time you are causing interference to many more people; impolite at best. Also, if many QRPers are sloppy and never learn send CW without error, they are then making QRP look bad. Can't you just hear the comments. Oh those QRPers, can't send two words in a row without making a mistake. Or, those QRPers, I won't work them, they take too much time because of the errors. QRP gets a bad name because you are too lazy to become good. As I have said, I formerly thought that starting with a straight key was better. I recently said I had made a mistake, I started with a straight key for reasons other than learning the code. I think now that it doesn't matter which you choose to start with. You can use a straight key, a bug, a keyer, or two pieces of bare wire. Just learn it well before you use it in public! I believe that if you don't learn to use your chosen instrument correctly you will not be having much fun communicating, or not providing others much fun. And yes, it is a hobby, not war, but there are two different types of hobbies, one totally solitary and the other public in nature. If you collect coins or stamps, no one cares if you polish the coins or glue the stamps in your album. But if your hobby involves others they do care. No one likes an impolite person, whether he is enjoying himself or not. So I am not whining . I am interested in seeing my hobby grow. I am interested in seeing my hobby have a good reputation both within and without. I want to be able to enjoy CW without extra dots or dashes, because I don't have the patience to listen to endless errors. I am not a whiner. 73 ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 09:29:11 -0700 (MST) From: Karl Larsen To: W2AGN Cc: Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion Subject: [163928] Re: straight key before paddle Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII On Sat, 27 Dec 2003, W2AGN wrote: > > I have to believe that these opinions of yourself and Bruce are very > > minority opinions in the amateur radio community. I sure hope so. To > > me they run counter to everything that ham radio stands for. > > > > > I must disagree. Ham Radio does not stand for mediocrity. I would hope > that any ham who chooses to get a license has enough personal pride to > put out the cleanest and most understandable signal possible. This goes > for SSB, PSK OR CW. > > CW is a skill. I hardly think it "whining about new CW operators" to > suggest they put forth some effort to practice BEFORE going on the air. When the FCC, in their infinite wisdom decide to delete element 1 from the Ham license requirements, perhaps as early as this new year, I hope that many of the new Hams and re-licensed Hams get on the the air with any kind of CW skill. They will get better and might even enjoy CW as I do. To insist that every Ham must send perfect code is just stupid! > > John W2AGN > -- - Karl Larsen k5di Las Cruces,NM Az ScQRPions - ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 09:36:29 -0700 (MST) From: Karl Larsen To: "Fred (VE3FAL)" Cc: Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion Subject: [163929] Re: 10.104 Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII On Sat, 27 Dec 2003, Fred (VE3FAL) wrote: > It is Saturday at 15:05z and the signal is still present and a solid > S-7... Well Fred is way north and here 50 miles from Mexico the signal is 599 at 1630z.... > > Fred > VE3FAL > > > -- - Karl Larsen k5di Las Cruces,NM Az ScQRPions - ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 09:31:09 -0700 From: w5xe@juno.com To: wkhibbert@frontiernet.net, qrp-l@lehigh.edu Subject: [163930] Re: Need Info On Silvertone Model 7224 AM/SW Radio Message-ID: <20031227.093109.-521241.0.w5xe@juno.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hi Keith - you might check the url below and see if any of the vintage radio links will lead you to the Silvertone unit or a similar one: http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/9178/linkrad.htm Better to try and be helpful if possible than to make asanine comments, so hope the info is useful. If I locate another link, I will pass it along. 73 Ray "The more I see of the representatives of the people, the more I admire my dogs." letter from Count d'Orsay Ray Colbert, W5XE, OOTC#3618, SOWP#1064M NARTE-NCT2R FP# 111, GQRP-6115,QRP-ARCI 5784, El Paso,(FAR WEST)TEXAS ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 11:55:18 -5 From: "Bill Kelsey - N8ET - Kanga US" To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Subject: [163931] 160 Meter contest today Message-ID: <3FED7326.24800.E3FAC4D@localhost> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Content-description: Mail message body Today is the Stew Perry Top Band Challenge Contest (1700Z - 1700z tmrw). The exchange is your 4 character Grid Square. QRP QSO's are worth 4 times the points of a regular qso (if the QRP op sends in his log!) I plan on getting on for several hours this evening from the local club running qrp with our vertical and the 150' high inverted vee. If you are looking for 2x qrp contacts on 160, tonight is the night to try..... Hope to work a lot of you! 73 - Bill - N8ET Kanga US kanga@bright.net http://www.kangaus.com 419-423-4604 (Kanga) 419-423-5643 (home) ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 10:52:42 -0600 From: "Bill Collins" To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Subject: [163932] Re: straight key before paddle Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hey, Look at it this way......A lot of you guys get to use your callsign with /qrp......my wife says I should sign with N0RRY/LID ! hihi Bill ! ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 09:58:56 -0700 From: "Ron KU7Y" To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Subject: [163933] Re: [qrp-l] Re: straight key before paddle Message-ID: <003601c3cc9a$c34dedc0$07910b45@ku7y> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hi Nick and All, > I want to hear Bruce and John send five minutes of text (from the head, > not paper) error free at, say 24 WPM. No one is saying that you MUST send error free CW. What is being said is that people should set a goal of sending X good before trying it on the air. We can all come up with different values for X but the principal is still valid. Set a goal. Measure your progress. Attain the goal. Get on the air and watch all those skills go right out the window!!! It's like the first time you give a talk or try to sing a song in front of a few hundred people...... I don't care how much you prepare chances are, at least if you are human, that first time will sure not be the best you ever do! But if you didn't prepare it would have been a true disaster and might well keep you from ever doing it again. Duffy said that the whole idea is to chat with others so get on and do just that. Everyone is saying that.... but they are saying to get to the point that you can be understood first. Error free CW??? Heck, even Windows machines can't send that! You hear them mess up when they go off and do their housekeeping every now and then. QRM, QRN and etc. will also keep the other operator from hearing all that error free CW even if you can send it. But you do have to get to the point where you can make sense before you get on the air. If you really don't think that's right why not just take a piece of paper with the code written on it and get on the air? Heck, if someone is willing to go slow enough you **COULD** learn that way, right? :-) OK, I've got some real things I need to get done today so I'm heading back into my hole! 73, Ron, KU7Y ku7y@qsl.net ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 11:49:34 -0500 From: Rick McKee To: JamesDuffey@comcast.net, qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU Subject: [163934] Re: CW-Sending, Receiving, and QSOing Message-ID: <20031227.121550.3302.1.kc8aon@juno.com> On Fri, 26 Dec 2003 22:48:58 -0700 "James R. Duffey" writes: >Being good at sending and receiving CW is not the same as being good >at >having a CW QSO. And you can't practice having a QSO off the air. What >good >is being good at sending perfect CW if you don't use it to have a QSO? No ones is saying to stay off the air, just be sure you can be understood when you do get on ! That's all ! 72/73 de: Rick McKee, KC8AON <> Willow Wood, Ohio <> Grid: EM88rl SW-20+, SW-30+, SW-40+, Norcal BLT, Yaesu FT-7, Homebrew 6V6 tube TX QRP-L #2112, FPqrp #33, AR QRP, AmQRP, Ohio Valley Fists, Zombie #718, MQFD #1 For info on MQFD, go to: http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/mqfd I'll give up CW & QRP when I'm dead ! MAYBE ! didididadidah ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 11:58:23 -0500 From: Rick McKee To: qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU Subject: [163935] Re: straight key before paddle Message-ID: <20031227.121550.3302.2.kc8aon@juno.com> On Sat, 27 Dec 2003 08:09:58 -0500 W2AGN writes: >I must disagree. Ham Radio does not stand for mediocrity. I would hope >that any ham who chooses to get a license has enough personal pride to >put out the cleanest and most understandable signal possible. This >goes >for SSB, PSK OR CW. > >CW is a skill. I hardly think it "whining about new CW operators" to >suggest they put forth some effort to practice BEFORE going on the >air. I agree with John ! If they can't understand you, they can't work you ! It sounds like some folks are suggesting - "it don't matter if you know how to drive or not, just get out and drive" ! "You'll learn to be a better driver if you get out and have a few accidents first" ! Folks, that's not sound philosophy ! NEW OR OLD - IF YOU'RE GONNA DO IT - DO IT RIGHT ! 72/73 de: Rick McKee, KC8AON <> Willow Wood, Ohio <> Grid: EM88rl SW-20+, SW-30+, SW-40+, Norcal BLT, Yaesu FT-7, Homebrew 6V6 tube TX QRP-L #2112, FPqrp #33, AR QRP, AmQRP, Ohio Valley Fists, Zombie #718, MQFD #1 For info on MQFD, go to: http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/mqfd I'll give up CW & QRP when I'm dead ! MAYBE ! didididadidah ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 12:12:54 -0500 From: Rick McKee To: qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU Subject: [163936] Re: straight key before paddle Message-ID: <20031227.121550.3302.3.kc8aon@juno.com> On Sat, 27 Dec 2003 10:17:15 -0600 "Nick Kennedy" writes: >Since starting to learn the code around mid 1961, I practiced sending >for a good while every day. Finally got up my nerve and passed the >test >in December. License arrived in Mid-January 1962, but didn't have a >rig. Still practicing sending. (I didn't know I was practicing, I >thought I was having fun.) Got on the air in May. Still made >mistakes! No one is saying you won't make mistakes, the fact is, there are some folks out there on the air that you just cannot make heads nor tails out of what they are trying to send ! Sounds like they are pounding on their keys with a claw hammer ! I said it before, but one of my biggest complaints for example, is the guy that knows absolutely nothing about word spacing ! Hesendslikethiswitheverythingrantogetherandnowordspacesanywhereandthismakesitveryconfusingtocopyandmakeanysenseoutofatalldoyouseewhatiamtalkingaboutnow? The main thing to remember, is have enough respect for it to be understood ! That doesn't mean operation without mistakes ! What it means is operation with as few mistakes as possible ! Everyone is going to make mistakes, I don't care who you are, you just need to understand that if all you are doing is making noise, then there is no point in sending in the first place ! If you can send 85% correctly, then chances are you will be understood. But anything under that will be for the most part gibberish....... 72/73 de: Rick McKee, KC8AON <> Willow Wood, Ohio <> Grid: EM88rl SW-20+, SW-30+, SW-40+, Norcal BLT, Yaesu FT-7, Homebrew 6V6 tube TX QRP-L #2112, FPqrp #33, AR QRP, AmQRP, Ohio Valley Fists, Zombie #718, MQFD #1 For info on MQFD, go to: http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/mqfd I'll give up CW & QRP when I'm dead ! MAYBE ! didididadidah ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 12:46:24 -0500 From: "John J. McDonough" To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Cc: Subject: [163937] Re: Frustrated! Message-ID: <002201c3cca1$58ec2da0$090044c0@BrianBoru> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Jerry You don't need fancy! A beam is nice, but unnecessary. I'm not an avid DXer, but I have 80 or 90 countries QRP on a homemade vertical. A vertical isn't the greatest thing in the world, it's noisy and has no gain, but it works pretty well. A number of years ago, after something of a ham radio hiatus for me, the XYL gave me an HT for Christmas. That re-started the engine, and I needed to put something in the sky for my dusty old HW-7. I went to Lowe's, and wandered around for an hour looking for an antenna inspiration. Finally, I decided to make a vertical from thin walled conduit. Of course, it was the dead of winter, so radials were out of the question. That thing has worked so well that I really haven't felt inspired to do much else. I've been more active on 80 lately, and it wasn't that great on 80. However, some radials did help there (they didn't on 10/15/20/30/40). That antenna is now 5 or 6 years old, and it's still my main thing. A long time ago I had a tri-bander at 50 feet. It was never as successful as the vertical, and it was a lot more expensive. A couple years ago I put up a 20 meter dipole, about 1/2 wave up (on 20 that's not very high!). That thing is killer, of course, only one band. But it does seem to be quite directional. I haven't done any real testing, but it really seems to favor northern Europe. It doesn't seem to be much use into the U.S. I suspect there are "right" heights for a dipole. That one isn't really clear of the trees, but it really is great in its favored direction. You should be getting into the antenna season in SD pretty soon. Remember, you really need to have a good foot or so of snow on the ground when you put up an antenna if you want it to work reasonably well! 72/73 de WB8RCR http://www.qsl.net/wb8rcr didileydadidah QRP-L #1446 Code Warriors #35 ----- Original Message ----- From: "NR5A" To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Sent: Friday, December 26, 2003 2:55 PM Subject: Frustrated! > Last 2 mornings I've watched other stations working dx like crazy on 15m > PSK, yet I can't even tell they are there!! My antenna is a 80m inverted > vee with apex up 24ft and runs east to west more or less. Ok picture this, > I'm on a 1/4 acre lot with no trees in my yard, well, I have 2 trees but I'm > taller than they are. In the center of the lot is my mobile home. In the > center of the mobile home and on the side of it is my 24ft pole. I would > give up 80m since I never operate it. The 80m inverted vee works great on > all bands except for dx, I can make all the state side contacts I want > anytime, any band but not dx. hi I don't want the hassles or expense of a > beam. I guess the only option is a vertical huh? Any ideas or sugguestions, > or verticals for sale cheap? I'm so frustrated I really don't know why I > wrote this. hi > > Jerry - NR5A - South Dakota > > ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 09:55:46 -0800 (PST) From: Lloyd Lachow To: Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion Subject: [163938] Re: Frustrated Ham has idea? Message-ID: <20031227175546.20104.qmail@web41008.mail.yahoo.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii --- Ed wrote: > Personally I would would make it 44' per side and > try to add a little > height. Refer to LB Cebic's web site. > I second that emotion. LL ===== 73, 72 es oo, Lloyd, K3ESE - Reisterstown, Maryland KX1#11 - multiPIG+#14 - K1#379 - 20/40M RockMites Loop - EDZ - LW - Begali Magnetic Classic Paddles ARRL - ARS - QRParci - QCWA - FISTS #8774 FPQRP #476 - QRP-L - BORG #2 Fun = Skill / Power ! 8^D __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? New Yahoo! Photos - easier uploading and sharing. http://photos.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 13:32:51 -0500 From: "Norman Schklar" To: "'Joe Roof'" Cc: , Subject: [163939] RE: [NoGaQRP] OSpam.com Message-ID: <200312271832.hBRIWZ0V023970@rain.CC.Lehigh.EDU> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I received one of these yesterday, and signed up for the service. At over 500 spam emails a day, I need some help. It seems like a fairly small task to click on the link and get approved. I am trying to come up with a method that will allow lists to send mail without the confirmation message (one approval for the list). As important as the messages are on this and other lists, I can't get to them for all the spam. This type of mail filter is not new. Mindspring/Earthlink offers the same type of tool. I have had to approve messages for several of my radio club friends. I think of it as a service to them and attempting to help with their spam problem. There probably is some catch to the 0spam product. Alternately, if you don't confirm, the receiver has the ability to manually approve you using one of the 0span online tools. Of course, that means approving thousands of list members (really, only the ones that post). If someone comes up with a way to configure a tool like ospam.com and the lists, please pass it on. Norm WA4ZXV -----Original Message----- From: Joe Roof [mailto:jroof@mindspring.com] Sent: Saturday, December 27, 2003 12:39 PM To: NoGa QRP Subject: [NoGaQRP] OSpam.com Recently I've received a few emails from OSpam.com saying that they are blocking my messages until I confirm that I'm not a spam sender? Or something like that. My initial reaction was to say heck with them, but maybe I'm too critical. I would appreciate comments. Thanks Joe, w4jhr Oh, in both cases these were messages to the NoGa list _______________________________________________ NoGaQRP mailing list NoGaQRP@mailman.qth.net http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/nogaqrp ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 13:45:11 -0500 From: John Sielke To: qrp-l@lehigh.edu, arlhs@mailman.qth.net Subject: [163940] Operating Under Fire! Message-ID: <3FEDD337.3030603@pobox.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Went out to East Point Light for a few CW QSOS for both MQFD and the Lighthouse Christmas Lights event. Very exciting! First, if you are thinking about getting one of those MFJ 10' telescoping whips to put on your mobile antenna to use portable, forget it! The thing is so flimsy it falls apart where the whip is crimped onto the ferrule. Din't even get the thing extended! Fortunately, had a backup wire to attach, and a nearby beach house (deserted) on stilts, with a railing about 15' above the ground... Driving in, I saw these pickup trucks parked along the road. Mostly PA license plates.I found out why. It must be Duck season because every idiot that got a shotgun for Christmas was out shooting up the place. East Point light is right in a big marshy area, and these guys were all there, blasting away.I didn't see a single duck, but it sounded like Baghdad on a bad day. (Or South Philly on Saturday night...). I decided I might look too much like a duck, with my cigar and all, and got out of there. So only about a dozen QSOs on 40 and 20, but no #4 shot in any part of the anatomy, so it was a good day. John W2AGN (K2C) ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 13:47:09 -0500 From: Bruce Muscolino To: nr5a@rap.midco.net Cc: Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion Subject: [163941] Re: Frustrated Ham has idea? Message-ID: <3FEDD3AD.E60E8891@erols.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Jerry, You are missing one important concept; A WIRE ANTENNA IS JUST A WIRE ANTENNA. This concept applies to any single wire antenna. A G5RV, a Dipole fed with coax or open wire, a Windom, an Inverted V, an End fed wire, are all the same. They have exactly the same pattern at any frequency. The differences in them were all made to get a better feed or feed point impedance. Now, another heresy. All antennas have unity gain; ALL ANTENNAS, including that 17 element beam. The only way to get gain from an antenna is to add elements that modify the pattern. If you have only a single wire you have not added any other elements. Lots of guys have worked lots of DX using single wire antennas. The question is why don't or can't you. The Inverted V configuration of the dipole was developed because it's pattern is essentially omnidirectional. A true horizontal wire has a figure 8 shaped pattern at its resonant frequency. How are you feeding your antenna? Hopefully you are using some good quality twin or open wire line. You say you can work stateside stations anytime and anywhere but you can't work any DX stations. It seems to me that the distance from South Dakota to say southern Texas or south Florida is not that much different than the distance between South Dakota to northern Europe (over the poke). Why doesn't your antenna work both ways, i.e. north and south. Ask yourself if there are any hidden loss sources you have not found. Ask yourself if the other stations you hear working DX are the same as your station; i.e. QRP. Have you tried working DX in a contest? We are coming to the start of a new contest season. You should have success in the ARRL DX Test this year. I use a single wire antenna, an End Fed wire, and I have worked DX on all bands from 80 to 10. I can see no reason why I can and you can't. I have worked DX with everything from homebrew QRP rigs to commercial radios. Take a closer look at your problem and maybe you'll see the problem. Oh, and BTW, a Vertical is no better than your wire. It has unity gain and is omnidiectional. Bruce ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 10:14:06 -0900 From: Jim Larsen To: "qrp-l@lehigh.edu" , QRP Canada Subject: [163942] Holiday Milliwatt CW Contest *** QRP Contest *** de AL7FS Message-ID: <3FEDD9FE.6010308@alaska.net> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Holiday Milliwatt CW Contest *** QRP Contest *** Dec 28, 1800 to 0200 z Dec 29, 1800 to 0200 z Dec 30, 1800 to 0200 z Rules: http://www.knightlites.org/ I must be a crazy or something but I am going to operate this contest. I hope to catch a few of you on the air and please....pray to the propagation gods for me. :-) This contest has always been fun. 73, Jim -- Jim Larsen, AL7FS Anchorage, Alaska http://www.qsl.net/al7fs ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 13:38:22 -0600 From: "Todd Fonstad" To: Subject: [163943] 10.104 Message-ID: <000501c3ccb0$fda58760$1b7ccfa9@toddfons> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit At 1600z 27 December I copied the mystery signal on my K2 a bit above the noise level here in Oshkosh in eastern Wisconsin (EN54). Using my rotatable 40 meter dipole as well as my tribander, I obtained a broad peak at approximately 300 degrees (WNW), and a somewhat narrower null at about 30 degrees (NNE). Is anyone else able to do a similar measurement in order to better estimate the geographic source of the signal? A measurement from a West Coast station would be especially valuable. I'll share any information gathered with the group. 72 Todd N9NE ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 14:41:33 -0500 From: Lee Mairs To: w5jh@swlink.net, qrpl Subject: [163944] Belay my last! Message-ID: <00d101c3ccb1$7236d660$3b6d020a@J4> MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Jerry - Belay my last! I finally found the little bugger, It was nestled up tight with an old wire tie. I used the "down on your tummy with a bright flashlight" trick as described earlier during the Great Hunt for the tiny spring. I'd only had one beer too... 73 de Lee km4yy/8 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lee Mairs" To: Sent: Saturday, December 27, 2003 2:25 PM Subject: Re: AZ ScQRPions Paddle - Batch 2 > Jerry - > I started work on #137 this morning and an hour ago finished the last > strokes with 600 grit sandpaper on the last contact post. As my bloody and > blistered fingers finally stopped sanding, and I grapped a paper towel to > examine this last piece of beauty, it slipped out of my hand and hit the > rubber mat in my shop. You guessed it. The #$%#!! thing is nowhere to be > found. I have run my hands over every square inch of floor, checked my > cuffs (none) and even removed my shoes. I mind boggling thing is that I saw > when and where it hit on the floor mat!! I can't believe the timing! > > Can you stick another contact post in the mail to me? Let me know how much > for 1st class postage and the part. I will Paypal you the money > immediately. > > In the mean time, the search continues... > > 73 de Lee > KM4YY/8 > ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 12:38:08 PST From: James R Giammanco To: JamesDuffey@comcast.net, qrp-l@Lehigh.edu Subject: [163945] Re: CW-Sending, Receiving, and QSOing Message-ID: <20031227.152704.4647.2.n5ib@juno.com> On Fri, 26 Dec 2003 22:48:58 -0700 "James R. Duffey" writes: >Being good at sending and receiving CW is not the same as being good >at having a CW QSO. Jim's got a good point there. Fortunately QSOing skill is something that can, and ought to be, passed along from Elmer to Elmeree. I'm not sure we (the ham community in general) are doing a very good job here. There *is* an influx of new ops trying cw. They *will* get more skillfull (i.e. speed and rhythm) as time passes. But..... I answered a slow CQ last night - with the straight key :^)) - and a nice QSO ensued at about 10-12 wpm. His fist was pretty good, spacing OK, very few errors, but the other op sounded like he was doing a SSB or 2 meter repeater chat, just translated into code.... examples: "do I have have your call correctly..." "your RST report here is.." "my location is near ...." "I will be clear after your final ..." no prosigns, not much of callsigns, few abbreviations or Q sigs, just a very drawn out daaaahhh diiiit daaaahhhh when it was my turn. In a case like this I've always felt it not appropriate to try to correct, or teach the proper procedures, but rather to conduct my end of the QSO as procedurally correct as possible, sending as good code as I am capable of, while staying very cordial and conversational, in hopes the *example* of good operating will rub off. That old article from yesteryear "Your Novice Accent" is still a good resource. But what stuck in my mind was that this op sent, and enquired if I had, a FISTS number. Now, to me this means he is quite interested in CW, wants to do more of it, and is acquainted with on-air and/or off-air friends who also are CW buffs. And he's receiving printed and/or electronic literature from at least the FISTS club, if not other organizations. All these are great opportunities to pass along good habits. Now maybe this OM just wears a teflon vest and nothing sticks, but I'll bet that's not the case. I'll bet he's never received any actual *instruction* in good, efficient cw operating. If so, that's not his fault - as Walt Kelly penned "We have met the enemy and he is us" Does your club have a newsletter? - then write a piece about good cw How about your or your club's website? - any good cw tips there? Our beloved QRP journals? - spend a little more ink on operating habits Have you invited a fledgling cw op to your shack lately, or helped someone chase The Fox? How about an "open house" at your shack on some cw contest day? Go to it, Elmers, keep the music playing. 72 Jim N5IB ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 15:45:10 -0500 From: "John Sielke" To: qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU Subject: [163946] Re: straight key before paddle Message-ID: <3FEDA906.15493.138164@localhost> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Content-description: Mail message body > When the FCC, in their infinite wisdom decide to delete element > 1 from the Ham license requirements, perhaps as early as this new year, > I hope that many of the new Hams and re-licensed Hams get on the the air with > any kind of CW skill. They will get better and might even enjoy CW as I do. To > insist that every Ham must send perfect code is just stupid! Let's see, Bruce and I have been called "whiners" and now "stupid" for merely suggesting that folks practice CW a bit before getting on the air. Nobody said they expected perfect code. It is a goal to strive for, but I have not reached it yet, nor do I imagine Bruce has. It is, to me, a sad commentary, not just on Ham Radio, but life in general, when the suggestion that one should attempt to do well, that is, the best one can do in any endeavor, is met with derision and name-calling. John W2AGN ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 14:00:35 -0700 (MST) From: Karl Larsen To: qrp-l@lehigh.edu Subject: [163947] CW proficiancy Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII I am tired of people on this list telling other people to stay off the air until they are really good at CW. This is really stupid! For example, in 1950 when I first got on the air, all I had was a CW transmitter. I heard a guy and after a few tries I got his call sign and then called him. He came back slower, like I was sending, and we had a QSO with me making loads of errors and he not complaining a bit. I made many other QSO's and noticed that these guys were a bit terse and it was Hi, your 589 in NY,NY and name is Pete. 73. So I did practise with another guy who was also learning. We got on 80 meters and talked for hours. After that I was far more accurate and faster. I had hundreds of pleasant long QSO's. So let's drop this silly subject. Most of our efforts should be to talk friends into a CW QSO. I do it all the time. I teach CW to new Hams here. They know I am NOT crititcal of their 5 wpm and frequent errors. -- - Karl Larsen k5di Las Cruces,NM Az ScQRPions - ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 15:30:44 -0600 From: "Gene Sailsbury" To: "Low Power" Subject: [163948] RE: FS Completed Nor'Easter Message-ID: <06a001c3ccc0$b043db10$49c03fd8@n0mq> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I have a SWL Nor'Easter for sale. It is built and I returned it to Steve Weber because I messed up. He fixed it and it works great now. Not in a enclosure. Only tested. Price: $54.00 shipped to USA only. More then that invested since I had to return it to Steve. 72 Gene N0MQ ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 15:40:32 -0600 From: "Jim Sheldon" To: "QRP-L Mailing List" , "Flying Pigs Mailing List" Subject: [163949] FS: J-37 Key Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Got one genuine US military J-37 key (recent production, unknown manufacturer) for sale. Unmounted has 3 brass 6-32 threaded mounts molded into the frame for mounting on pretty much any type of base you wish. The reason this is unmounted, it came on one of the leg clamps the US military used to use and I bought it ($50) to obtain the leg clamp on which I have mounted my homebrew miniature brass paddles for mobile CW operation. The J-37 is almost unused - will sell for $30.00 postage paid anywhere in the US. Prefer PayPal and first email indicating desire, gets it. If no interest, it goes to E-Bay. Jim Sheldon, W0EB w0eb@cox.net PayPal ID Aubrey Sheldon w0eb@cox.net ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 15:44:16 -0600 From: Garey Barrell To: kc8aon@juno.com Cc: Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion Subject: [163950] Re: straight key before paddle Message-ID: <3FEDFD30.50901@mindspring.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit It's the _new_ American Way. No one should be better at anything than anyone else!. We don't want to damage their fragile psyche! You need a minimum level of competency to be able to communicate. It used to be a matter of pride to be able to do something well, just like it used to be ok to be able to spell. Straight key or keyer, get to where you can send decent code, even at a very slow speed. With _regular_ practice, your speed will increase exponentially. 73, Garey - K4OAH Atlanta Rick McKee wrote: > On Sat, 27 Dec 2003 08:09:58 -0500 W2AGN writes: > > >>I must disagree. Ham Radio does not stand for mediocrity. I would hope >>that any ham who chooses to get a license has enough personal pride to >>put out the cleanest and most understandable signal possible. This >>goes >>for SSB, PSK OR CW. >> >>CW is a skill. I hardly think it "whining about new CW operators" to >>suggest they put forth some effort to practice BEFORE going on the >>air. > > > > I agree with John ! If they can't understand you, they can't work you ! > It sounds like some folks are suggesting - "it don't matter if you know > how to drive or not, just get out and drive" ! "You'll learn to be a > better driver if you get out and have a few accidents first" ! > Folks, that's not sound philosophy ! > > NEW OR OLD - IF YOU'RE GONNA DO IT - DO IT RIGHT ! > > 72/73 de: Rick McKee, KC8AON <> Willow Wood, Ohio <> Grid: EM88rl > SW-20+, SW-30+, SW-40+, Norcal BLT, Yaesu FT-7, Homebrew 6V6 tube TX > QRP-L #2112, FPqrp #33, AR QRP, AmQRP, Ohio Valley Fists, Zombie #718, > MQFD #1 > For info on MQFD, go to: http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/mqfd > I'll give up CW & QRP when I'm dead ! MAYBE ! didididadidah > ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 15:57:32 -0600 From: "Andy Palm" To: Subject: [163951] Woohoo! My new PAC-12 works FB. Message-ID: <000c01c3ccc4$6e86f320$f698ee42@andy> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Holiday greetings, all. Over the last couple of weeks I put together a PAC-12 kit with four coils for 15, 20, 30, and 40 to match my K1's bands. Besides the basic kit I built two homebrew H-bases for it, one out of a thick wooden yardstick and the other out of 0.25 x 1" aluminum bar. The three H-sections are about 11" long and are held together with 1/4-20 carriage bolts and wingnuts (nylon for the wooden version, stainless for the aluminum one). The center support for the antenna in each case is a 4" stainless carriage bolt with wingnuts. I set up a ground radial package of 16 wires of unzipped 24 gauge speaker wire (my favorite type of wire for radials due to its flexibility), each wire 8.5 feet long. They are in four groups of four, each group terminated with a 1/4" stud wire terminal. Due to the large number of radials (for this size antenna), I prefer to attach them at the bottom of the 4" bolt at the H-stand. (When I use the stock ground spike mount, I'll attach them at the standard mount by the BNC connector, if they all fit.) I'll also be experimenting with a small camera tripod I just got, which is quicker to set up. Thanks to Rich Meiss who suggested using a Sears underseat tool box, as it holds everything very nicely, including a 20 foot feedline of RG-174/U (with one end wrapped around a toroid a few times to make a feedpoint choke). This morning I took the PAC-12, Autek RF Analyst, and K1 #1615 to a local park to find the resonance points and try things out. As someone mentioned previously on this list, if one follows the PAC-12 instructions for the number of turns on the coils, then the full length of the whip isn't used, at least over a somewhat frozen, clay-based midwest soil. This is what I found for resonance at the QRP calling frequencies: 15m - 8 turns - Whip top section 1" longer than full retraction 20m - 18 turns - Top section fully retracted, next section retracted 0.5" 30m - 30 turns - Top section 3" longer than full retraction 40m - 58 turns - Top section fully retracted, next section retracted 2" I might be tempted to remove some turns so I can use more of the whip, but only after I've tried the antenna over several types of ground. On the other hand, I managed to make two contacts from my NE Wisconsin location: Larry KJ7N in Castle Rock, WA on 15m and Michael N0XY in Lincoln, NE (who was mobile, no less!) on 40m. The first contact was with 5 watts, but my battery went down, so the second was with 2.5 watts. This little antenna definately works, and will now get carried along with my Norcal doublet and W3EDP 85' wire on my pitiful excuses for portable QRP expeditions. One other note. I went out because the temperature went above freezing here, but I hadn't accounted for a steady 30 mph wind from the east. Yikes! It's a good thing I took a straight key along, 'cuz there was no way I could have managed a paddle (single or iambic) with my hands nearly immobile. Next time I'll take along my fishing gloves with the ends of the fingers cut off. Cheers, Andy N1KSN Menasha, WI ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 18:17:24 -0500 From: "sslyon" To: "qrp list" Subject: [163952] 160m test... Message-ID: <000701c3cccf$96341c80$13c8e742@megalink.net> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit just got on 160m ( QRP ) for a peek and worked MD, OH, NS easily with poor antenna. Band seems in vy good condx. 73 seab aa1my Seabury & Sharon Lyon 99 Sparrowhawk Mtn Rd Bethel ME, 04217 U.S.A. 207-836-2576 Virus Protection by Norton and ZoneAlarm ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 17:48:08 -0500 From: Rick McKee To: qrp-l@Lehigh.EDU Subject: [163953] Re: Frustrated Ham has idea? Message-ID: <20031227.182740.9558.0.kc8aon@juno.com> On Sat, 27 Dec 2003 13:47:09 -0500 Bruce Muscolino writes: >You are missing one important concept; A WIRE ANTENNA IS JUST A WIRE >ANTENNA. This concept applies to any single wire antenna. A G5RV, a >Dipole fed with coax or open wire, a Windom, an Inverted V, an End fed >wire, are all the same. They have exactly the same pattern at any >frequency. Since when did they change the laws of physics ? Wire antennas do not all have the same pattern at any frequency ! If you have a G5RV for instance, and using it on 80 meters at a height of 60', it will have pretty much a bi - directional pattern that is broadside to the antenna. Now use the same antenna at the other end of the spectrum on 10 meters, and it will have many lobes and nulls in it's pattern, many of which will run almost parallel to the wire. And this is known as gain ! Gain is simply concentrating a signal in one or more directions whether it be a beam or a wire antenna that is longer than a resonant design. The G5RV's gain goes up as the frequency goes up, as does any antenna ! The lobes may not be pointing where you want them to, but they are still concentrated signals none the less ! That's why a Double Extended Zepp which is 5/8 wave per leg shows about 3 db of gain on its design frequency. Use the same antenna on a frequency that is higher than it's design frequency, and the gain goes up. 72/73 de: Rick McKee, KC8AON <> Willow Wood, Ohio <> Grid: EM88rl SW-20+, SW-30+, SW-40+, Norcal BLT, Yaesu FT-7, Homebrew 6V6 tube TX QRP-L #2112, FPqrp #33, AR QRP, AmQRP, Ohio Valley Fists, Zombie #718, MQFD #1 For info on MQFD, go to: http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/mqfd I'll give up CW & QRP when I'm dead ! MAYBE ! didididadidah ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! ------------------------------ End of QRP-L Digest 3147 ************************ --------------------------------