It seems that the weather always has some kind of impact on our lives. We went down to Florida again this Winter to escape Ohio's snow and cold. Well, we missed out on the snow, thankfully, but the cold came down and stayed. Maybe March will be better or there will be some very chilly bikinis on the beach.
Our sun has a lot to do with the weather as well, surprisingly, as with our radio propagation. I do not pretend to understand the science behind it, but sunspot activity (those massive explosions on the sun) has a great influence on how our radio waves behave. We need a type of umbrella or canopy surrounding the earth to keep our signals from going endlessly out in space. Sunspots provide this but they go in cycles and apparently we are now in a low part of that cycle without much activity.
As a result, most of the ham H.F. bands have been pretty silent for most of the Winter. If you are using low power QRP, like I do in Florida, then your Morse code contacts are few and far between. I have been promised that things will improve and maybe that is true because I just had a CW QSO with the country of Belize across the water South of my location. Don't give up, better radio days are coming.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Sunday, December 6, 2009
SNOWBIRDS HAVE FUN TOO
Well, I have left the cold state of Ohio and migrated to my favorite condo and beach in the panhandle of Florida for the next four months. Another benefit of this great hobby of ham radio is that it is very portable. I have brought with me my little QRP (low power) rig by Elecraft. The KX-1 is very small. It actually takes up less space on my desk than the J-38 straight key and Vibroplex bug which are mounted together on a wooden base.
I have clamped three hamstick antennas to my fifth floor condo balcony railing which also works as a ground. I can work 20,30, and 40 meters at five watts of power. This set-up serves me very well for my Morse code contacts. It is more challenging than my 100 watt rig back home but last Winter I was able to make contacts in 38 states and five countries in South America, plus Mexico. Morse code in itself is a lot of fun. It is also exciting and rewarding,but doing it with a low power rig really adds to the feeling of accomplishment.
Please think seriously about joining me in this wonderful part of our hobby. C.W. (Morse code) is far from dead and the bands are just waiting for you to join in.
I have clamped three hamstick antennas to my fifth floor condo balcony railing which also works as a ground. I can work 20,30, and 40 meters at five watts of power. This set-up serves me very well for my Morse code contacts. It is more challenging than my 100 watt rig back home but last Winter I was able to make contacts in 38 states and five countries in South America, plus Mexico. Morse code in itself is a lot of fun. It is also exciting and rewarding,but doing it with a low power rig really adds to the feeling of accomplishment.
Please think seriously about joining me in this wonderful part of our hobby. C.W. (Morse code) is far from dead and the bands are just waiting for you to join in.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
MORSE CODE LIVES ON
Just in case you felt that you really didn't want to get involved with Morse code because you have heard that it is dying out, I can tell you personally that that thinking is very wrong and I would like to back it up with some numbers.
Remember that we are currently at the bottom of the sun cycle which means that the band conditions are not the best for any type of communications. I must also point out that unfavorable reception conditions are usually where Morse Code shines by demonstrating its ability to be heard and copied above other modes of transmission.
The September, 2009 issue of QST magazine, in the article on contesting on page 77, states that the participation in C,W,(Morse code) contest entries has increased from 1,745 in 1995 to 3,100 in 2009. This is a new high and almost double the contesters in only 14 years.
The Morse code section of the ham bands is very active daily and all week long with contesting saved for certain bands on the weekend. Dits and dahs can be heard all over these frequencies and at many different speeds. There are stations who send slow speed C.W. for the beginner to practice.
Why, you ask, is there still so much activity in the ancient mode of Morse code? One simple reason. C.W. is fun.
Remember that we are currently at the bottom of the sun cycle which means that the band conditions are not the best for any type of communications. I must also point out that unfavorable reception conditions are usually where Morse Code shines by demonstrating its ability to be heard and copied above other modes of transmission.
The September, 2009 issue of QST magazine, in the article on contesting on page 77, states that the participation in C,W,(Morse code) contest entries has increased from 1,745 in 1995 to 3,100 in 2009. This is a new high and almost double the contesters in only 14 years.
The Morse code section of the ham bands is very active daily and all week long with contesting saved for certain bands on the weekend. Dits and dahs can be heard all over these frequencies and at many different speeds. There are stations who send slow speed C.W. for the beginner to practice.
Why, you ask, is there still so much activity in the ancient mode of Morse code? One simple reason. C.W. is fun.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
GET YOUR FEET WET
It is good to be back. I am sorry but I had to take some time off for some rather major surgery. I am all put beck together and actually doing much better now than pre-op.
It is also nice to see that all of my favorite HF bands are still quite active in the Morse code portions. I am having some very nice contacts on 15, 20, 30, 40, 80, and 160 meters. If you get a chance to check these bands you will see that Morse code is alive and well in spite of some rather rough band conditions due to the present solar cycle.
If you do not yet have a radio capable of transmitting and receiving on these ham bands, then I would recommend that you become acquainted with some of the hams in your local club. They will be happy to show you the ropes and even possibly arrange for you to listen to either the club's radio, or their own.
While most of these members will probably not be C.W. (continuous wave, Morse code) operators, I can almost assure you that a few will be brass pounders (the Morse code key has brass contacts). Seek them out and tell them that you are interested in learning and working with Morse code. You will most certainly be invited to join the club and I highly recemmend that you do. This is one of the best hobbies anyone could become involved with, and if you stick to learning and using Morse code, you will enter the rare world of exceptional people enjoying a very special and unique talent.
It is also nice to see that all of my favorite HF bands are still quite active in the Morse code portions. I am having some very nice contacts on 15, 20, 30, 40, 80, and 160 meters. If you get a chance to check these bands you will see that Morse code is alive and well in spite of some rather rough band conditions due to the present solar cycle.
If you do not yet have a radio capable of transmitting and receiving on these ham bands, then I would recommend that you become acquainted with some of the hams in your local club. They will be happy to show you the ropes and even possibly arrange for you to listen to either the club's radio, or their own.
While most of these members will probably not be C.W. (continuous wave, Morse code) operators, I can almost assure you that a few will be brass pounders (the Morse code key has brass contacts). Seek them out and tell them that you are interested in learning and working with Morse code. You will most certainly be invited to join the club and I highly recemmend that you do. This is one of the best hobbies anyone could become involved with, and if you stick to learning and using Morse code, you will enter the rare world of exceptional people enjoying a very special and unique talent.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Learn Morse Code Online
WOW! The whole purpose of this website is to encourage new no-code hams, and others, to try the C.W. mode. No one can know how great it is until they experience it for themselves. There has always been a problem of learning Morse code in the first place. It takes time, patience, study, and a serious commitment to devote oneself to learning. There is no hurry and perhaps some well thought out training aids would be helpful.
It has now come to my attention that there is at least two websites devoted to helping you in the process of learning Morse code. As a side benefit, it gives you some extra practice with typing as both training methods utilize the keyboard for input.
The first website is www.lcwo.net which stands for “learn C.W. Online. It gives you several options and directions for your learning and you pick which type and speed fits your style. I checked this out and think that it could be very helpful/
The second website was developed by Dr. Gary Bold, ZL1AN, from New Zealand. This course is free, as is the other one, and may be downloaded from the New Zealand Amateur Radio Club, NZART website. Go to www.nzart.org.nz/nzart/exam/morse.html .
Check out both of these websites. They will take you a long way towards your goal of getting on the air in Morse code.
It has now come to my attention that there is at least two websites devoted to helping you in the process of learning Morse code. As a side benefit, it gives you some extra practice with typing as both training methods utilize the keyboard for input.
The first website is www.lcwo.net which stands for “learn C.W. Online. It gives you several options and directions for your learning and you pick which type and speed fits your style. I checked this out and think that it could be very helpful/
The second website was developed by Dr. Gary Bold, ZL1AN, from New Zealand. This course is free, as is the other one, and may be downloaded from the New Zealand Amateur Radio Club, NZART website. Go to www.nzart.org.nz/nzart/exam/morse.html .
Check out both of these websites. They will take you a long way towards your goal of getting on the air in Morse code.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
More In That Tin Than Tuna
I keep telling you about the many aspects of this wonderful hobby and now I am about to embark on yet another one. Years ago I built a radio kit from Heathkit which was a marine radio direction finder. It worked and I was a proud teenager. I have built nothing since. I have no claims as an expert homebrew radio maker.
I am awaiting delivery of my new tuna tin kit. This is a very tiny radio transmitter that puts out a very tiny amount of power. It comes in a factory sealed tuna tin, just like the one you buy at the grocery, with all the needed parts inside. You solder the parts to a round printed ciruit board and the whole radio fits inside the tuna tin.
My big rig in my shack transmits 100 to 150 watts of power, and I can easily reach around the world with it. I have previously talked about my Elecraft KX-1 QRP(low power) radio which puts out about 5 watts of power and is also capable of communicating around the world. This tuna tin transmitter, when put together, is QRPP(very low power), and will put out only 333 milliwatts, or one third of a watt. It too has the ability to reach around the world but the operator has to use a bit more skill and have much patience.
I am excited about this project, which will eventually include a receiver and a power supply, all built inside a tuna tin. I will keep posting my progress and hope to interest someone else to join me in this venture. Everything is available online and very inexpensive. Search for tuna tin 2, or QRPme.com.
I am awaiting delivery of my new tuna tin kit. This is a very tiny radio transmitter that puts out a very tiny amount of power. It comes in a factory sealed tuna tin, just like the one you buy at the grocery, with all the needed parts inside. You solder the parts to a round printed ciruit board and the whole radio fits inside the tuna tin.
My big rig in my shack transmits 100 to 150 watts of power, and I can easily reach around the world with it. I have previously talked about my Elecraft KX-1 QRP(low power) radio which puts out about 5 watts of power and is also capable of communicating around the world. This tuna tin transmitter, when put together, is QRPP(very low power), and will put out only 333 milliwatts, or one third of a watt. It too has the ability to reach around the world but the operator has to use a bit more skill and have much patience.
I am excited about this project, which will eventually include a receiver and a power supply, all built inside a tuna tin. I will keep posting my progress and hope to interest someone else to join me in this venture. Everything is available online and very inexpensive. Search for tuna tin 2, or QRPme.com.
Monday, August 4, 2008
It Is Out There
Let me tell you what I mean by that. On this beautiful Monday afternoon of August fourth, I sat down in my radio shack around 2:00 and turned on my rig and tuned to the 40 meter band, 7031.0 MHz, and sent out a CQ. I was immediately answered by WD4LZC in Louisville, Kentucky. We had a very nice chat for about 20 minutes. I was entering that info into my log when W2YBN from Raleigh, North Carolina called me. He had been listening to part of my QSO with WD4LZC, so we had a chat for another twenty minutes. I was about to leave my desk when I heard a CQ from N3YWQ from Greensboro, Pennsylvania. I still had not touched the radio dial. We talked for about fifteen minutes and right after we signed off I heard a very weak signal from VA3HN, a Canadian station from Ontario. This conversation was shorter because he was sending low power, (QRP) and there was a lot of static on the band.
My point is that in a little over one hour I made four wonderful contacts, all in Morse code, in two countries, and in the middle of the afternoon of a work day.
Morse code is very much alive and it is exciting. I really can't tell you the feeling it gives, words are not adequate. Please experience it for yourself. Once you do, you will know what I mean and why I am strongly urging you to join us with Morse code.
My point is that in a little over one hour I made four wonderful contacts, all in Morse code, in two countries, and in the middle of the afternoon of a work day.
Morse code is very much alive and it is exciting. I really can't tell you the feeling it gives, words are not adequate. Please experience it for yourself. Once you do, you will know what I mean and why I am strongly urging you to join us with Morse code.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
About Me
- Jack Stahl
- One of the wonderful aspects of using Morse code as a communications mode is that it is very indifferent as to the operator’s age. A good fist (one who sends well) can be ten years old or one hundred. I say this is wonderful because I am happily enjoying my sixty ninth year. I am new to the hobby of amateur radio, however, since I passed my technician test in September of 2006 and was awarded the license and call sign of KD8EJY by the FCC. I then passed my General exam in November and was granted my vanity call sign request of K8ASA by the FCC Although I am new to the amateur radio hobby, I am not new to Morse code. The ASA in my call sign refers to the Army Security Agency who sent me to a special school in 1956 to become efficient in Morse code. I was sent to Ethiopia for two years to give the army the benefit of my new skill. While back in those days my knowledge of Morse code was beneficial to our national security, 51 years later it now brings me pure pleasure. There has been a hiatus of fifty years between my army discharge and my becoming a ham and I do truly regret the fact that I missed out on all those years of enjoyment with the amateur radio hobby.
