LearnHamRadio

*CC Available* This video is the coming-out party for my ZA-1 end-fed half-wave antenna made entirely from a discarded VGA cable. I activate park K-1001, James Pate Philip State Park using my Xiegu X6100 @ 5W and my home-brew car cootie. Stations contacted: K1NEO, KG4IMI, K5LG, VE3YT, KI5GTR, KJ7DT, W4WTS, N2EI, W4NNF, WW6W, KB5EDR, AE1T, W9FMI, W2NR, AC3IE, KI5EGH, KD2E, WM4X, KJ4ASE, WT4U, KA6J, K0HAA, K3THS, N5GPI, N3RTW, NA7C, KA1CPR, KI7XC, KD5KKI, KB1RAJ, KG2MM, W7JKC, AND AB4WL

C&C plus ZA 1 Antenna Build

Here's a mounting suggestion for a great drive-by antenna for POTA activations in inclement weather. I used a PAC-12 antenna with an RB-46 mount and an M10 Antenna mount with SO239 and a short M10.1.5 bolt & nut.

CC Available for Morse code training. This was the maiden voyage for my new (to me) 4-band Elecraft KX1 and KXPD1 paddles in cootie mode. It was also by first use of a home-brew EFHW transformer using an FT82-43 toroid wound 49:1 (21x3) in a prescription bottle. I also used a SotaBeams Laserbeam DSP filter with an LM386 audio amplifier. I had a spotting problem that made for slow going until I discovered and resolved it. Stations Worked: KB3EYY (P2P), WJ1B, KB3TVR, KQ4YC (P2P), KU8T, NE4TN, KN4OK, W8JWL, NK8O, KG4BIG, KA9VLC, WD8JVV, K9DRP, K3RTA, KI8AF, K1RDD, VE7ZWA, W7CNL, W6ING, W7JRD, KT5V (20M), W7HJL, W1RCP (P2P), W0KKR, W8JDE, KT5V (40M), KL7NL, N9JFZ, K8RJW, WI0S, N8KOM, W2SKY, WI8J, KD2E, W8SUN, KD2GUT, and W8GSR.

CC Available. This is my third of three activations on November 10, 2022 in Northern IL. I used my DX Pretender 9:1 vertical, Elecraft KX2, and the KXPD3 paddles as a cootie, logging on the iPad with RumLog2Go. Stations worked: KR8P, WA2NYY, VA3NU, NZ7Q, K4DS, KF4GNV, KJ4R, WD5GRW, KN4RRQ, WR2E, K4KYN, KG4BIG, K2JB, N9TTK, KO4NLL, WZ9B, and K9BRS.

CC Available. This is another POTA activation, the second of three on an abnormally warm November day (11/10/2022) at Castle Rock State Park, K-0984 near Oregon, IL. I started out with the QCX Mini, but my battery-powered speaker died, forcing a switch to the KX2 with the KXPD3 paddle as a cootie. I used the "DX Pretender" (9:1 30' vertical) with a Jackite telescoping pole. The logging software is Rumlog2Go. Stations worked: N2JJ, VE1AHX, WM4Q, KB8W, AC6NT, N2EM, KB4VU, W7JKC, WA2QLK, N5JST, WT4U, KB3EYY, KD2E, WP4F, KF4GNV, K2PQ, AK3X, AC5JS, WS3V, WM4P, AC3RA, KK4WDP, K1LT, NZ7Q, N3JFD, W0JAZ, KJ4R, and WA5KBH.

Here's a brief video showing the effects of cheap LED holiday decorations spewing RFI. In this case, it's on 14.0601.

Enable CC for decoded CW. Blessed with the last 70+ day of 2022, I decided to activate some parks. This is K-1031, the first of three parks that day. I used my QCX Mini in 20 meters (sorry, it barely made the camera frame) and my QCX Plus on 40 meters. I used the ATU-10 tuner to match the rigs to my "DX Pretender" 9:1 30' vertical. The key is a CW Morse paddle as a cootie. Stations worked: WA4RCW, W4NA, K4DJG, WD8RIF, WB8ZRQ, N3XLS, KB9RPG, W8EWH, AE2T, KN4YTA, WA7WS, N1RBD, N4NN, AE5II, VE3EAV, VE3QDA, W3PD, K7ZYV, AB6QM, N2AF, KC2EE, N4OW, K0IE, WA4RXO, K5FNQ, N6MRS. I log with RUMlogNG on my iPad (DL2RUM). Featured accessories: Jackite 31' mast, Nite-Ize S-Biner Carabiners and CamJam tighteners, CW Morse dual paddle, QCX Mini, QCX Plus, ATU-10 tuner, Rite in the Rain notepad with a Flexion erasable ink pen.

CC Available. I have seen some questionable advice on becoming a cootie op. In this episode of cootie 'n coffee, I share some practical thoughts on the sideswiper that you might find helpful as you try to learn this enjoyable and efficient way of sending Morse Code.

Click CC for subtitles. This is a partial video of a quick after-work activation. I intended to use a picnic shelter, but there were wasps everywhere, so I went back to the car. The rig is my KX2, Key is a home-made Cootie, and the antenna was my lamp-cord 88' doublet using a 31' Jackite pole. It was pretty windy so I hoped it would hold up. Hunters in this video: N4DPM, WZ9B, W1BLU, N8KOM, KB9BVN, AB1II, and a SKCC contact with VE3KZ to wrap it up. And, about that wind...

CC Available. Consider toggling it on or off for your CW training needs. This is a Parks on the Air activation of park K-1001 in Bartlett, IL. Join me for a fast-paced QRP outing using my KX2 and KXPD3 paddles as a cootie. I fought through adjustment issues, since resolved. Stations worked: WK4DS, NN4H, WB0MKA, W4ARB, KB4N, KJ7DT, WJ1B, K4CFA, K4NYX, W5SNG, WD5GRW, NZ7Q, K1WAT, N4DPM, W4XJ, WA2FBN, K6PB, VO1OK, KG5CIK, WD0ACB, N1GKE, K7EVM, KD4O, KS4S, W8XJ, KJ4R, WR2E, WA4RCW, WB3DDJ, KF4UCC, K5UV, KE9IX, WD9F, K5PE, WB0CFF, WB4HMA, KR8P, VE1AHX, K9DP, KE8VC, and WB2USA.

CC Available. This video discusses the problem of loose and slippery keys. Hat tip to Steve Ellington, N4LQ who made me aware of this very useful tip. Confident cootie (sideswiper) keying depends on a key that doesn't move. This tip locks your key to the surface without doing any damage.

CC available. I had a little time on my hands and I wasn't going to let some rain stop me, so I zipped over to nearby park K-1024, Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area in Plano, IL. I used the Xiegu X6100 @ 5 watts into 20M and 40M hamsticks. As usual, the key is a cootie (sideswiper). It was a good activation with 35 contacts in a little over an hour, including two P2P's. Be sure to use the closed captioning to help with your Morse code training. I actually talk in this video :-) Stations worked: K0GUZ, KJ4R, W6DTX, KJ7DT, WD5GRW, N0VRP, KN1R, N5SMO, N5ARS, KI5IO, AC3IE, WB5CTS, K4DS, K6PBF, K4SP, AE5OK, N3JG, W2MSA, WI0V, W5DLP, AE4GS, N5PJ, WJ0L, W4PJW, WW9L, WB0CFF, WB8BIL, KI0B, KR8P, WZ9B, WB8DTT, NU4N, WA9LT, WO0S, KB3EYY

CC Available. This is a short video about my Drake Novice Twin station and the KN4YB DL165IN inline dual-lever bug. I wanted to show that I am not a one-trick pony when it comes to keys!

CC available - This was a very pleasant straight-key CW QSO with WO5S on 12 meters, 10/15/2022. I heard him finish with another station and gave him a call. I started the QSO in sideswiper mode, but I often use it as a horizontal straight key for slower QSOs. The phone call was my XYL. She understands ;-). This video uses closed captioning. Try leaving it off and practicing head copy. Then listen again and see how you did! I hope every ham gets to have a QSO like this. Sure, I love 20+ WPM. But there's something very relaxing about QRS contacts.

CC Available. This video discusses the problem of loose and slippery keys. Hat tip to Steve Ellington, N4LQ who made me aware of this very useful tip. Confident cootie (sideswiper) keying depends on a key that doesn't move. This tip locks your key to the surface without doing any damage.

Click CC for subtitles. This is a partial video of a quick after-work activation. I intended to use a picnic shelter, but there were wasps everywhere, so I went back to the car. The rig is my KX2, and the antenna was my lamp-cord 88' doublet using a 31' Jackite pole. It was pretty windy so I hoped it would hold up. Hunters in this video: N4DPM, WZ9B, W1BLU, N8KOM, KB9BVN, AB1II, and a SKCC contact with VE3KZ to wrap it up. And, about that wind...

CC available. In this video, I give Scott a call, but double with another op. Scott takes the other guy first, N3VQH. Mike is new to CW and Scott adds some spacing to make the contact easier for Mike. Be like Scott! I get to make the contact myself when he wraps up with Mike. We were both running QRP.

Hit CC to see the subtitles with translation of the Morse code. This is my Flying Pigs contact with Daryl, K9QEW. For two-way QRP, it was easy copy. The key is a cootie. Consider joining the fun by becoming a Flying Pigs member at http://fpqrp.org/join.php Spoiler - OO means Oink Oink.

Hit CC to see the decoded text. Here's a look at a couple of QRP CW Flying Pigs contacts, one between KA2KGP and W4NLT, then between myself and KA9KGP. The Flying Pigs club is a merry band of ne'er do wells that enjoy frequent QRP CW events. The barnyard jokes are worse than dad jokes, but it's a great group of ops that have a lot of fun with very little power. Consider joining and adding your own flavor of weirdness :-) http://fpqrp.org/

CC available - In this video, Scott Lithgow (KN3A) answers a slow sender by adding spacing. What a good op! The QSB is a little rough, but he clearly respects N3VQH (Mike from PA) and slows his roll. I get to work Scott myself afterward. Be like Scott! His YouTube channel is here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBMAvQSgI4yqOTf0Xz4b4jA

CC available. Just a quick video of my 20 WPM cootie contact with Bill, K4NYM. It's my 87th one with Bill thus far. He might get a free toaster after #100, hi.

Sorry about the orientation and subtitle position. Lessons learned! There are some gaps in this video but it was successful, with 29 contacts in about an hour - five on 15M and the rest on 20M. This was QRP (5W) using a Hustler on 15 and a Hamstick on 20.

CC available - This was a very pleasant straight-key CW QSO with WO5S on 12 meters, 10/15/2022. I heard him finish with another station and gave him a call. I started the QSO in sideswiper mode, but I often use it as a horizontal straight key for slower QSOs. The phone call was my XYL. She understands ;-). This video uses closed captioning. Try leaving it off and practicing head copy. Then listen again and see how you did! I hope every ham gets to have a QSO like this. Sure, I love 20+ WPM. But there's something very relaxing about QRS contacts.

Just a short POTA QSO with Bill, K4NYM from my KX3 @ 5W to a 134' doublet up 35'. The cootie key is a KN4YB SW-75, my daily driver. #k4nym, @k4nym