Ped mobile contact with ZL1RS

[VK3YE]

Everyone's amateur career has a few memorable contacts.

While nowhere near being a record breaker, yesterday's CW contact with Bob ZL1RS was one for me.

Many thanks to Bob for persisting with my many calls (about 10 minutes worth) - we got there in the end.

5 watts to a 40cm diameter magnetic loop in the front yard was used to make the contact.

A recording of it appears in this video near the end (after contacts on 10m).



A couple of lessons:

* Slow sending
* Persistence
* Send little but repeat
* Always have a key handy

The ergonomics were terrible due to having to hold the key. Next project will be a key designed for pedestrian mobile so CW can be sent while walking along.

Constructional info for the loop appears at: http://home.alphalink.com.au/~parkerp/p ... rojsum.htm

73, Peter VK3YE

[ZL1RS]

Yer mad, ya bugga

(added later) ... actually, that was a good challenge and a lot of fun for me too. Your signal was just at the noise level with QSB. I could hear you were not going to give up, so persisted from this end. The /M had me "flumixed" ... both in not expecting a "/ anything" callsign and the QSB taking out parts of the / character (turning it into a B or a C according to my internal CW deep search algorithm ... a.k.a - ears playing tricks on the brain).

09-Dec-12 08:39 VK3YE >> ZL1RS on 50.0960 CW 549 > QF21NW @ 2574.7km 92°
Pedestrian mobile

Nice u-tube presentation Peter and look forward to working you again ... especially as VK3YE/M

[VK5PO]

Good one Peter...
You are synonymous with all things portable etc etc ... Keep up the good work.

73, John, VK5PO

[VK2DDS]

Nice work! Your YouTube videos were most of the inspiration to start recording/uploading my own experiments, they define the spirit of ham radio.

[VK2GOM]

An interesting video - as always - Peter. Your ability to operate a straight key one handed had to be seen to be believed! What about a nice mini key on a leg strap? There are a few available from the USA. I'm sure you could have a word with Santa

http://www.americanmorse.com/

73 - Rob VK2GOM / GW0MOH

[VK3YE]

An interesting video - as always - Peter. Your ability to operate a straight key one handed had to be seen to be believed! What about a nice mini key on a leg strap? There are a few available from the USA. I'm sure you could have a word with Santa

Thanks Rob.

The only reason I could operate that key one handed was it was a lightweight type I made. Wouldn't have managed it with a conventional type; too heavy and need too much pressure.

Those American ones look good. However I can be both stingy and impatient, so I knocked up one tonight.

It's basically a push button switch from a VCR front panel (the board mounted type that sits behind plastic buttons) on a rectangle of circuit board material (copper sawn down middle). Then a 15cm lead to a 3.5mm plug. Should be good for up to about 15wpm.

73, Peter VK3YE

[VK3YE]

For those who want a closer look at the loop, it will be brought along to tonight's EMDRC meeting at Nunawading (8pm).

Details at http://www.emdrc.com/

[VK4DU]

Well done, Peter.

73
Glenn

[VK3YE]

Thanks Glenn.

Just to follow up, Jack VK3WWW produced a video of the talk.

This and many other videos is available at: http://www.youtube.com/user/vermontcree ... ture=watch