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This is not the wattage you're looking for... move along
Getting hot under the collector/base junctionWhere did my power go?My Elecraft W1 power meter has been absent from the antenna chain for a while due to a jumper cable shortage when I last reconfigured...
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Make the RF jump
Constructing an RF jumper cable for BNC to PL-259HF QRP radios and accessories typically use BNC antenna connectors. But most HF amatuer station equipment like antenna switches and tuners are designed...
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No love for my station from RBN on 10m today?
RBN is a great tool but sometimes it doesn't tell the whole storySince it's the second weekend of the month I got on the air to make SKCC WES contacts. The SKCC Weekend Sprint is great fun because...
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"Gamify" Morse Code
Morse Toad -- the gameI've been looking for ways to interest others in learning Morse Code. I've found good mobile apps for learning the code but they are for serious study and not in the form of a...
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The SKCC is a rewarding group
AA4OO achieved SKCC Tribune x4 statusThe SKCC (Straight Key Century Club) is a fast-growing and well run group dedicated to supporting and promoting mechanical key, CW operators. Mechanical CW keys...
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QSO fun with a C21
It doesn't get much simplerAfter dinner tonight I headed up to the shack to make a couple of QSOs. I felt nostalgic and powered up the old TenTec Century 21 rather than one of my modern radios. My...
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Now where did I put that?
HamRadioQRP now has a TOCThis blog has grown a bit over the past year since I do tend to blah, blah, blah about things. The standard blogger toolbox allowed me to add a search box (located in the...
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Ewww Cooties
Take a swipe at itThe "Cootie" key or "Sideswiper" is basically a double-sided straight key and has a reputation for being very hard to learn, possibly harder even than the Vibroplex Bug. My recent...
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Merry Christmas Eve 2016
A Ham's Night Before ChristmasThe snow inside is frightful'Twas the night before Christmas, And all through two-meters, Not a signal was keying up Any repeaters.The antennas reached up From the...
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Go straight on Jan 1, 2017 with the Navy
ARRL Straight Key Night is January 1 starting 0000 UTCI have a new straight key for the upcoming ARRL Straight Key Night...Navy Flameproof Key in need of some TLCA recent low-bid, on a famous auction...
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Making your old Morse straight key look the part
Vintage WiringIn honor of the upcoming SKN I wanted to spruce up my Kent Hand key by replacing the ratty cable that I'd hastily made back in 2015 by hacking a cheap, old electric guitar cable with...
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Peace on Earth... and in the Shack
Quieting a noisy power supplyWith a bit of time over the Christmas break I'm finally getting around to work on things that have bugged me for a while... like my noisy power supply.My TenTec Century 21...
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In the Navy... You can sail the seven seas...
Navy Flame Proof 26003A keyIn my journey with amateur radio using CW and mostly low powered operations (QRP) I've slowly been accumulating and learning to use different kinds of Morse Code keys.Navy...
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The ground is not beneath your feet
Yet another article about proper grounding (yawn)It seems as though one of the biggest misunderstandings in amateur radio is the issue of "grounding". I have probably read more than a dozen articles...
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What's in your log?
Peeling the ADIF onionI try to keep a log of my contacts, mostly to know if I've previously worked someone and for keeping up with my SKCC awards. I also keep notes from each QSO in my log so I can...
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My TenTec Eagle sounds better than my Elecraft KX3
Your eardrums will thank youComing back to the hobby in 2015 I re-entered as a CW / QRP operator and I searched for a good QRP radio. The Elecraft KX3 certainly qualified and it has been a great radio...
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Get a grip
The Navy Knob exposedOne of the more popular CW straight keys in the venerable Navy Flame Proof. You grip this key using its Navy style knob. The "navy style" is tallish and rounded on top, usually...
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Have KX3 - will travel
Porch PortableDuring a break visiting relatives in Western NC I went outside and threw my end-fed antenna up into a tree and sat on the front porch swing and worked stations in Maine, Kansas and...
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Callsign lookup when portable
Obtaining callsign info when portableWhen I operate portable I travel light and don't take a computer but I do carry my smartphone. As long as I have a signal I can lookup callsign information using...
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Quirky Keyer - The MFJ-493
The MFJ-493 has some cool tricks and some not so cool flawsMFJ-493 "Super" Menu Driven Memory KeyerMemory keyers do the repetitive and boring stuffThe bands have not been kind in this declining sunspot...
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