Dust of your straigt key: Straight key night is only 27 days away.

Dusty:not much use

Dusted:not polished

http://www.arrl.org/straight-key-night

My code is quite rusty at the moment.  I usually get on the air more than I did in 2011 and spend the Thanksgiving break working on my code since most of the time I am a bit lazy and use my paddles.

The bands are opening so hopefully this Straight Key Night will be more active than last year.

This is what happens to an FAA amp when the RF feed opens

Besides taking out the tube.  This is what happens to the Kapton insulators in the plate circuit that make up the capacitors in the cavity.  There are 2 of these; one on the side for the output coupling and the other is the tuning cavity where the plate D.C. is applied to the tube.

These are very difficult to find as replacement parts, but since I have a sheet of Kapton of the same thickness I made a new one, installed it and tested the amp.  Seems to work fine.  Sure beats buying a new cavity if they are even available.

I also convert these amplifiers to run on a 4CX250B instead of the 8930.  The 8930 is the same as a 4CX250R which is a 4CX250B with more rugged structures and a much larger anode assembly.  This combination allows the tube to withstand more vibration than the 4CX250B and it will dissipate heat better.

Goodnight Irene, portable operation after the storm passed

This is the front view of my HF jump kit.  I had all but the box when I decided to put it all together.  It is an Icom IC-735, Icom AT-150 auto antenna tuner and Icom IC-PS20 DC supply with external speaker.  I use the stock HM-12 microphone and if I work CW a J-38 key.  The normal antenna is a portable 20 meter inverted-V or a home brew short vertical using Hustler traps and stinger for different bands.  This can be power from a.c. mains, a generator or large batteries if it is not powered from my vehicle.

I should have taken some photos earlier today while operating portable.  Now everything is stored.

As with other years before the hurricane or storm hits I got out my gear and charged all the batteries.   I also ensured I had sufficient spares of all and plenty of extra food and water.  However, Emily was far enough off-shore so all that hit my QTH was rain and some wind.  Cannot say the same for 2004.  The year that encouraged me to finally get my ticket to the world of amateur radio.

One of the first things I determined to do when I got my Technician License was to make every effort to be operational under any conditions even if I only had VHF-UHF.

The years have been somewhat uneventful since 2004, and that does not disappoint me the least.

When I got my General I determined I would be able to use VHF-UHF and the HF bands under any conditions and always have all I need with me and available to use.  This stems from my first emcomm ops in 1972 when a very well meaning ham showed up to help us out during tropical storm Agnes without an antenna, and a few other things.  He had a trailer full of gear, but forgot one of the two most important items.  A local ham managed to dismantle and reinstall a usable antenna several hours later.  I was one of the 3 people running the local eoc (before they were called that).

So much for war stories.  I have been somewhat out of commission due to an injury last week.  I decided today is a good day for some time on the air.  When my main rig wouldn't work I decided to use my HF jump kit that was not on the air but once since it was built last summer.  I already had plenty of battery power fully charged so I decided on some portable operation to check into the area net and see who else I could work until it got too hot to be outside or the battery died.  I have several, but they are heavier than I wanted to transport one-handed.  The one battery I had with the rig would be the only one.  I have a solar panel charger I made for use with the kit.  I did not run the solar charger today.

My outdoors portable operations have included a wire in a tree, short vertical and a 20 meter inverted V.  Today I decided to work all bands if possible and used my AP8A.  Sometimes my portable operation does not take me farther than my yard.  Today was one of those.  Technically, I may not be portable by some standards.  By not being on the power mains, not running a generator, not being in my house and using my kit for all practical purposes; portable.  I just happened upon an installed multi-band vertical.

I was able to work 80, 40, and 20 meters with a few contacts on each band until I quit.  There were a few on the air in the coastal regions of SC, NC, and inland VA and one fellow on Long Island.  None were reporting disastrous weather conditions, but I did not note their exact locations.

So as one rig failed to operate the when all else fails motto holds even after a storm or any time.  I thought about QRP, but for now I am one handed and CW is a bit too challenging at the moment.  Besides, I wanted to better emulate if I had to use the jump kit.

Why the long post without much technical or even traffic handling or emergency information?  Just hoping to stir some thoughts on having a station in reserve even for those who may think they can always get or be on the air when wanted and their one and only rig fails.  Now I'm off to install a new 12BY7A.

73 and hoping the storm passes by without damage to your QTH.

Like I said; easier to see what is typed rather than on a monitor

Looks like I can't spell.

The previous post.....Let's see.....

73

Well Let's see what has taken me away from this blog.........

My intention was to do a few more Mores Code entries and move onto some projects.

Well work and a new view camera took precidence.

Then a renewed interest in improving my writing and fountain pens replaced my radio time.

Last week I had a bit of a mishap that now has me typing (yep, typing---I'm from the days of those things (and why the computer industry has never doe away with the STUPID qwerty KB is beyond common reason and any kind of sense.)) with one hand, mostly one finger, so I am slow and unlike a typewriter it is more difficult to see typing in real time.  Much easier to see the paper directly at the KB.

Like most computer things that we are fed a bunch of crap on, it is not faster with a computer, but annoyingly SLOWER.

73

Getting lost in the world of work and other things

Still around and working on some projects.  It seems work, yard work, and other priorities are even keeping me from this blog.

Planned to do a follow-up on the Morse Code and still will.  Time goes by way too fast at times and if there is anyone who knows how to get 48 hours out of a day I am interested in doing that also.

About the most ham radio activity has been a few hours on the air and the addition of 2 new old items to the shack.  Looking over my notebook seems July is the month of station additions.  2 out of 3 of my HF radios were added in July, my main antenna was purchased in July and a few small things were added this July.

After owning a Kenwood TS-700A for about 5 years a near mint condition SP-70 external speaker has been added.  The SP-70 makes listening much more pleasing than the internal speaker.

A Kenwood SP-230 was added to my TS-830S station bringing that station one more step closer to becoming a complete station.  This speaker is not as mint as the SP-70 above.  A bit of dis-colored coating on the rear panel and a small nick on the faceplate.  The SP-230 is nice in that it has built-in switchable audio filters and the ability to switch to two different radios.  If I wanted I would not need the SP-70, I could use only the SP-230 and connect both radios to it and switch back and forth.  Nice feature, but I doubt I'll use it.

Maybe I should have entitled this post as external speakers since that is becoming the subject. 

One thing I have not understood since getting my license is why all the ham gear costs so much.  Take an external speaker.  Most are nothing more than a cheap low wattage paper cone speaker, limited frequency response, mounted in a metal or plastic cabinet, some with a closed back, some fully open backs, and having metal or plastic grills.  Everything that is opposite of a good design for a good sounding speaker and enclosure.

Sure the purpose is only for voice communication so fancy full-range audio is not needed.  So with the cheap quality construction why the high cost?  This does not seem to matter whether new or used.  Some or most of the used sell for many times more than when they were new.  I guess this is the collectable aspect of liking older things like I do. 

The fact is many of us like things matching our radios.  Many of us like collecting and using the older equipment.  The limited manufacturing runs of many of the things for amateur radio.  The demand for certain items.  All these add to the cost of what we are willing to pay for things.  I'll continue buying things to complete my older stations.  I'll be using the older things, and I'll continue to state the same thing about the cost.   Overall I'll still be enjoying a great hobby.

So just a bit of rambling about additions to the shack, external speakers and self-answering comments on the costs of things.  Hopefully not too boring.

73

Morse Code 2

Just a bit to expand on the first post.  As stated I decided to give the code another try when I found an MFJ-411 Pocket Morse Tutor in a local thrift shop one night on my way home from work.

When I got home I did as I do with most electronics; put it on the work bench and opened the cover.  Everything looked like new.  I put a battery in it and it told me it was ON.  Cool.  I remembered 2 letters.  I cycled it through the selections and figured out how to use it.

I did a search for the manual.  No manual.  Very few worthwhile or informative posts on the 411.  No site with the manual.  Some information on line about the 417, and I found several sites with the manual. MFJ had a description of the 417 Code Tutor and the manual.  I downloaded it and still do not know the difference in the 2 since the manual is nearly identical to what I eventually located a few years later for the 411.

I set the MFJ-411 per the instructions for the MFJ-413/417 and listened to the code.  It was the same.  I used this for a while, but did not know how to check what was sent against what I copied for accuracy.  The first code group is easy, but as each groups complexity increased, copy and proof of accuracy began to become too difficult and time consuming.

Next I downloaded & installed the Koch Method Morse Trainer software from G4FON.  Now the code is easier to proof for accuracy.  It became even more fun to learn.  I could watch the screen as a character was sent, I could copy and check the copy, and I could be sure what I copied and checked was accurate.

I also started using Chuck Adams, K7QO Morse Code Course on CD.  I was given an MP3 player and this worked fine since I could load Chuck's files onto an SD card and play it back any time any place to practice.

Finally I was able to copy code and it was fun learning.  I know I only had to learn at Novice speed to get my General and Extra and there are those out there who had to learn 13 w.p.m. and 20 w.p.m.  I know I have a long way to go to get to be really proficient at both copying and sending.  I do hope someone wanting to try CW reads this and is encouraged no matter what their age or license class (or even if they do not have a license) to take a few minutes each day and learn the code and get on the air.

I finally found a manual (way after I got my Extra) some place and downloaded it.  Since it was difficult to find I added a link to the manual at the end.  Now that I have the manual I am back to practice using the code tutor.  I also keep using the K7QO files on my MP3 player.  I like the tutor because I can set the speed faster than 12 w.p.m.

 The MFJ-411 Pocket Morse Tutor

The inside of the 411.  The original battery connector failed and I added a better one that required removal of the original bracket clip that held the battery on its side.  The battery now lays flat.  The fit is snug enough a clip is not needed to hold the battery in place.

MFJ-411Manual

I also use CWCP.  It is a Linux based trainer much like the G4FON trainer.

Just a few of many fun ways to learn the Morse Code.  I have yet to memorize what a trainer sends like I was able to do with recordings played over and over and over....


de Bill
73