VK Logger Ham Radio Forum Archive

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

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

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

73, John, VK5PO

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

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

VK2GOM wrote: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

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/

Well done, Peter.

73
Glenn

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