Classic QRP Rig

"The transmitter was running at 10 watts input and a copy of a 1928 QST design. Hence part of the exchange was "28mopa" meaning a transmitter from 1928 and a Master Oscillator Power Amplyfer, it uses vacume tubes and has about 5 watts output".

That was the response I received from an e-mail I sent to Scott (WA3FFC) in Brookville Pennsylvania a few days ago. (I worked him in error on the SKCC weekend event)

His signal was SO unique, I assumed it was a home brew QRP rig. And I was right (hence the e-mail to confirm my guess). I don't work a lot of stations on 80 meters and was surprised that he heard me.

It had a slow, almost musical, chirp when I answered his CQ. Scott said he worked a little over 60 stations in the 48 hour time period. That's a LOT more than I've ever worked at once!

I've worked a few "parasets" and even an old CIA radio but:

This is by far, the most unique radio I've ever worked!

Scott (WA3FFC) is a member of the " The Antique Wireless Association"

And I must say, a real artist.

This transmitter is a beautiful piece of work!

Dog House

View this entry as a "Word to the Wise" this Christmas Season....

I love this hobby but there's a "line in the sand" for everyone.

It's very tempting to offer your wife or girl friend a special "gift of appreciation" this year.

My personal thoughts are another QRP radio.

But Just Remember

She would NOT be very happy with a new linear amplifier, another massive beam on the roof, or a multi-band HT capable of working satellites.

Only radio guys would understand this....

Once you find yourself in the "Dog House".....It's very hard to find a way out!

"Give the Gift of Laughter"

Simsbury Conneticut QSO

There was a LOT of noise on the band this morning. Useless to attempt the Navy Radio Club net on 7245 Mhz under these conditions. I threw out my call on the FISTS frequency (7058) with no luck. Checked the 7040 freq for QRP stations and was about to give up and tried the SKCC freq (7055).

I heard a very weak station and tried the contact. (not expecting a return)

Jack, (K1ARO) near Hartford Conneticut (Simsbury CT) was also using a "straight key" and we exchanged the basics of "rig and antenna". We wished each a "Happy Holiday" and called it quits.

Jack is a member (#1580) of the FISTS CW Club.

Hartford is known as one of the largest Insurance Company Capitols in America and home (from 1835-1910) of the famous author Samuel Clemens. (known as Mark Twain)

I've always enjoyed "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" and have chuckled at Mark Twains Quotes for years. One of my favorites is:


"Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first" - Mark Twain

Jacksonville, Florida QSO

I've been off the air for a few weeks visiting relatives and friends in New York. I took the rig with me but just didn't get the free time for radio. (sometimes that's just the way it is).

I've missed CW and decided to set up and throw out the call again (7058 Mhz) this afternoon. (2030z)

On about the third CQ I heard a (?) but nothing more. On about the fifth CQ, I heard WA8OFU in Jacksonville, Florida. It was a very brief exchange at a quick pace.

I copied about 80% of it with QSB but we exchanged the basics.

Jack gave me a 559 report with his Ten Tec Omni and a Vertical antenna.

He is also a retired Navy Chief and FISTS member # 12112.

He was born in Weirton, WV. (the northern panhandle).

Jacksonville is about 550 miles from me....This means the rig is working.

International Morse Code Book

We had a nice trip to New York City last week. (I took the rig but was so busy I didn't get any "radio time"). But, on the positive side, I found this little neat little item while looking through some "very old" books!

It's dated 1918, and I assume, a written guide for some old 78 LP records used to train "Morse Code" operators. It was produced by the "Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of America".

Something that puzzles me is the Morse Code abbreviations at the end of the booklet.

I was a signalman in the Navy and we had our own "special" characters. We used "INT" for a question mark and a whole series of different "Q" and "Z" signals for military ships.

I once challenged a very large unidentified ship, on a dark, rainy and foggy morning to "halt, identify yourself, or be fired upon"

(And we would have too.....if the wrong call sign was returned with an incorrect "password").

In essence, I used just a few choice "characters" to communicate the entire exchange. Fortunately, they replied, and with the correct password, (I'm condensing here) "This is the USS New Jersey....fire at will! )

(I'm probably the only West Virginian to have ever done this and lived to tell about it!)

Those small "variations" between military and civilian ship procedures can be a BIG difference in different situations.....

While looking towards the end of this booklet by the "Victor Talking Machine Co." I couldn't help but notice these (to me) unusual characters used to highlight CW conversations.

See anything unusual about them?

599 into New York

I had a VERY nice, long 40 meter (7058 Mhz) QSO this morning, while waiting for the cholesterol medicine to "kick in" before breakfast. We must have been exactly the right distance, for the first bounce, to get signals (both ways) like this. I threw the call sign out this morning about 9:30 (est) and WB2FXK came back to me with a signal that rattled the room.

Although I get signal reports (quite often at the 579 level), there's not many that reach the 599 range....so, Jack in Horseheads, NY was a surprise. At first, I had to think about telling him I was QRP but sooner or later, in every QSO, the power level becomes a question.

I usually send the rig, power, and antenna, on the second exchange, and he was amazed that I was using 5 watts and an indoor antenna. (Of course, Jack had a really good antenna-- which has a lot to do with a good report--and he was using about 75 watts from near Elmira, NY.

If I'm not mistaken, Elmira (used to be and maybe still is) the home of the Schweizer Sailplane Company. I've flown in the SGS 2-33, a few times. It's a close to being a bird as you can ever be....

The world "sailplane distance record" used to be held by a pilot that flew the Allegheny Mountains from near Pittsburgh PA, and a place in Tennessee, and back....... in the same day! I've watched a few fly over from a lookout tower near Peters Mountain in WV. Think about that for a minute....that's a LONG was to fly in a plane without an engine!

If you've never been in the sky in one of these, try this place. Harris Hill Soaring Center, Elmira, NY

Jack's antenna was a trap dipole, on a tri band Yagi, up about 50 feet. We talked about the Dayton Hamfest a few minutes and "snow showers" here and there. I mentioned to him that next week, I was going to New York City for several days, ....he jokingly sez "I thot u wr a hillbilly" Hihi. His XYL had the coffee ready and we both 73'ed for bacon and eggs!

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12-10-2008----This afternoon the mailman brought this fine card to me.

I don't usually display my QSL cards, on this site, but this one from Jack (WB2FXK) is particularly nice!

I'm proud of this one.....I sent a return card immediately!

NAQCC Sprint last night

The NAQCC Sprint is one of my favorite events because it gives me the opportunity to work more QRP stations. Last night between 0130z and 0330z was the monthly event for these QRP club operators. I was fearful that I wouldn't catch any operators, as the event began, because I didn't hear anyone on either the 20 meter or 40 meter bands. That meant my only opportunity for success would be on my worst 80 meter band! (not an encouraging bit of news)

I took me a long time to realize my chances for contacts would be the "sit and wait" method.
The "search and pounce" method just didn't work because of all the competition from those with "great antenna's" and "great ears".

I wasn't successful until near the end of the contest. (a lot of stations give up by then)
The key was to throw out my call and let them come to me. It worked.... when I used "half steps" (using .5 intervals) and I also put my radio into "reverse CW mode".

The "reverse CW mode" changes the audio of interfering stations, much the same as shifting from USB and LSB on a SSB radio. I don't understand (technically) how it's accomplished, but....hey, it seems to work for me when I'm listening to VERY weak signals!

Towards the end of the contest (the last half hour) I was able to work K4BAI (Georgia), W1TF (Georgia) and last but not least, N1LU in New Hampshire. The New Hampshire station was especially rewarding to me because I've never worked that state on 80 meters!

That's not many contacts but for an indoor antenna and 5 watts, I'm very happy to have worked these three guys. And the really great thing..... it's QRP to QRP !!

I had a little advantage by using a "straight key" (I get double points for using this key) and it will be intersting to see the results posted on their web site:

NAQCC

I imagine it will take a few days to calculate, and post on the North American QRP CW Club site.