RE: [Elecraft] Panasonic Oxyride battery in KX1 report
Last night I was in Lowe's for one of my interminable shopping trips to keep my house upright, and they had the L91's $9.89 for a 4-pack, regular price. It's getting where an external 10-pack of L91s is getting affordable. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Leigh L Klotz, Jr. Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2005 1:53 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Panasonic Oxyride battery in KX1 report I bought 8 Panasonic Oxyride AA's at Walgreenls for $10 and when my Energizer Lithiums gave out I switched them in. These new batteries are 1.7v and are marketed as lasting longer than traditional Alkaline. The results were not good. They measured 1.7v with my cheap backpack DVM, and the pack was about 10.3v, and I get 9.9v on my KX1 volt meter from 6 of them in the internal holder. Unfortunately, when I transmit on 20m, it goes down to 8.5v, with 2W out shown (ATU match 1.2:1). I will try cleaning the contacts, but for now it looks like they have a higher internal resistance than one might want. Also, I found that, under no load, only one of my expired Lithium batteries had a low voltage; the others did not. I know Li primary cells have a steady voltage throughout the discharge curve, but it may be that I can get some more life out of the rest somehow. Leigh / WA5ZNU ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] KXPD1
Mine has the same problem. I discovered the headphones were clogged by a large dense hairy object between the two earphones. Unfortunately, it can't be fixed. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Leigh L Klotz, Jr. Sent: Friday, September 09, 2005 9:01 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KXPD1 My KX1 has trouble receiving CW reliably at more than 20WPM, and by 25WPM it only gets isolated words .. .. Leigh / WA5ZNU On Fri, 9 Sep 2005 8:36 am, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > ...it works well (took a test run at 20 wpm, 25 wpm,30 wpm and 35 wpm > with no sending errors... ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Competition coming for Elecraft?
The secret to surviving in the ham radio market is to find a niche and serve it well. 'Course you have to find a niche where there are more than a few customers. The number of hams with $6000 who want to connect pre-made cables to pre-assembled boards chock full of SMDs is likely a tad on the small side. And both of those guys already bought an IC-7800. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2005 3:25 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Competition coming for Elecraft? An ad for this was in the latest CQ. Not yet available. _http://www.getboost.com/dz/sienna.htm_ (http://www.getboost.com/dz/sienna.htm) Geoff, K6TFZ ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Competition coming for Elecraft?
-Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, November 02, 2005 4:18 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Competition coming for Elecraft? In a message dated 11/1/05 11:37:54 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > The number of hams with $6000 who want to connect pre-made cables > to pre-assembled boards chock full of SMDs is likely a tad on the small > side. And both of those guys already bought an IC-7800. > Maybe, but consider this: Back in 1999, when the K2 hit the ham market, I recall a bit of negativity from hams I knew. Typical comment went like this: 'The number of hams with $600 who want to stuff circuit boards, wind toroids and do all the other assembly and alignment work, just to get a QRP CW-only rig, is likely a tad on the small side.' KE6US: Actually, in 1999 Elecraft would have been riding the crest of a Golden Age for QRP, CW and a resurgence in homebrewing. It all came together including two guys with the right combination of engineering, marketing and management talent. Of course, it wouldn't appeal to everyone. That's the point of niche marketing. If you broaden the niche, you run head-on into Kenwood, Icom and Yaesu. If you narrow the niche, you can't sell the critical mass needed to survive. I'm suggesting that Sienna's niche is too small. Or this: 'Why put a high-performance receiver on a QRP rig? You'll just hear a whole lot of stations you can't work' KE6US: This would have been coming from those who were not already QRPers. As I said, Elecraft hit the market at a time when interest in QRP was growing. Or this: 'The QRP market is too small to support such a complex and expensive rig. And in a year or so Ikensu will come out with a competitor for less money' Etc. Gloom and doom, yada yada yada. 5000+ K2's later, however, none of the gloom and doom has happened. -- Is the Sienna "competition"? Not for Elecraft! Its competitors are rigs like the Orion, IC-7800, etc. KE6US: I agree. So that puts a small company in Colorado in direct competition with the industry leaders. It's not smart marketing. Instead of carving out a profitable niche that is of no interest to the market leaders, they assault them directly and join the fight for market share. That isn't niche marketing...it is often just suicide. To me the best features of the Sienna are: - It offers the builder at least some level of repairability. KE6US: Limited to the areas the builder potentially screwed up...cabling errors and solder joints. The customer service for these people is going to be unimaginable. Not only will they be taking on all the construction errors, they will be taking on every computer burp! Customer service will deal with every XP problem, computer application problem, etc. And having it all in one case is going to appeal more to those who know the least about computers. Again, Elecraft got it right. The design anticipates customer service issues from inexperienced builders. DV's biggest vulnerability is in customer service. - It can be configured the way you want it, rather than paying for features you don't want. KE6US: Not exactly an issue for someone who wants a $10K IC-7800 or FT-9000, is it? And these are Sienna's potential customers. Plus features can be added or removed in the future. KE6US: That seems to be the direction everything is headed and that's a good thing. Gee, where have I seen those things before... 73 de Jim, N2EY KE6US: It will be interesting to see if it plays out the same. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Off topic
-Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Robert McGwier Sent: Saturday, November 05, 2005 7:22 AM To: Elecraft Mail Subject: [Elecraft] Off topic Frnak has been a generous contributor to the SoftRock 40 group on Yahoo. It still amazes me when someone so accomplished can be so giving to fellow hams. >To listen to some of Frank's compositions, one need only use Google. I suggest you search for "Brickle Merlin". You >will find an mp3 of one of his compositions that will stream. Hmmm, well, it's too slow to dance to and there is no beat. I give it a 7, Mr. Clark. Not something you catch yourself whistling... Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] WA3WSJ: K2 Spectrogram Filter Alignment
CW Tuning Indicator. See N0SS. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mike Morrow Sent: Monday, November 07, 2005 4:32 PM To: Edward R. Breneiser; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] WA3WSJ: K2 Spectrogram Filter Alignment > Does anyone have any suggestions on where to buy a cw lock indicator > for my K1? What is a "cw lock indicator?" Mike / KK5F ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] WA3WSJ: K2 and a DVR?
Thom's idea of freeing up MCU space with a thumb drive or similar technology is looking better and better. How about a memory plug in that will give you CW memory space, SSB digital voice recorder space, etc.? SSB ops aren't stuck with CW memory they will never use. CW ops aren't stuck with whatever SSB ops need. And we all gain from whatever Eric/Wayne stuff into the freed-up MCU space. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Edward R. Breneiser Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 2005 7:02 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] WA3WSJ: K2 and a DVR? Hello all! Does anyone know if Elecraft is planning a digital voice recorder for the K2? It sure would be nice to push a button and send cq on ssb! I also operate portable at covered bridges, lighthouses and lightships. I now use my TS-570D only because it has a DVR in it. Boy, a K2 with a DVR - now that's the ticket! What say you Elecraft? 72, Ed, WA3WSJ ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] OT: C.A.T. or Cat (meow)?
Heh heh heh. Thanks for allowing Shadow to remind us this is an Elecraft COMMUNITY, not an Elecraft Technical Reflector. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Steven Pituch Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 2005 8:03 AM To: 'elecraft' Subject: [Elecraft] OT: C.A.T. or Cat (meow)? Hi all, Well it started out all right. I got three QSOs during the ARS sprint. But then my K2 encountered trouble with its C.A.T. system. Or should I say cat (meow) system. See: http://users.ev1.net/~spituch/Steve's%20Page/Radio/cat/Cat.htm Or just drill down from: http://users.ev1.net/~spituch/ I think Elecraft now has a mascot. Regards, Steve, W2MY/5 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.362 / Virus Database: 267.12.8/162 - Release Date: 11/5/2005 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Re: Competition for Elecraft???
Boy, you really fell behind, didn't you, Jerry? Three weeks go by and they slipped half a dozen transceivers out on you. Anyway, the Sienna appears to be a high end kit ($3,000 for the stripped model, double that for the whole deal) where you get a bunch of pre-assembled boards and cable them together. It also has a built in PC. I assume you get to cable that together, too. I know...be still my heart! http://www.getboost.com/dz/default.htm I might have been interested, but Dave Benson just released the HiMite so I ordered that instead. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of nr5a Sent: Sunday, November 13, 2005 5:38 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Re: Competition for Elecraft??? What is a Sienna??? I did a Google search and all I could find is its a Toyota??? Puzzled!! Jerry - NR5A - Original Message - From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: Sent: Sunday, November 13, 2005 2:13 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Re: Competition for Elecraft??? > In a message dated 11/13/05 11:30:41 AM Eastern Standard Time, > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > writes: > > >> It just seems, in the performance for dollar arena, if I have $3000 >> to spend, why would I buy the Sienna over the Ten-Tec Orion? > > Because: > > - you can work on a Sienna > - Sienna has some features Orion doesn't > - some folks with enough $$ will have *both* rigs... > > Or even >> >> two K2/100s w/ KAT100s, if I want the whole build-it experience? >> > > Because they're not the same. And it may not be about > performance-per-dollar > as much as about performance-no-matter-what-the-cost > > >> It's hard to perceive what niche the Sienna is targeting. > > Agreed. It's definitely not the same niche as the K2, seeing as how a > fully-loaded K2-100 is about half the price of a barebones Sienna. > > Another thought: If a ham homebrews a rig, the entire cost is on him/her. > But > if a ham homebrews a rig and offers copies of it as a kit, which is the > product of a small business, a lot of the cost can be transferred to the > business > as an expense. Someone who is enterprising enough to design a rig like the > Sienna (or the K2) could have the enterprise to make it a business. > > And we all win. > > 73 de Jim, N2EY > > ___ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com > > ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] K2 Microphones
My pre-built K2 (SN567) came with one of those MC-43 handheld mics that come with every Kenwood ever sold, I think. I thought they were just used to cover up the unsightly mic jack on the front of the rig, but turns out it is a pretty good mic. I hope I'm right about this, but I think Don W3FPR even recommends their use with the K2. I've only made one SSB contact with my K2. It was a few months ago on 15 meters. There were 4 VKs on the air and NOBODY else. One called CQ and I returned the call. I was running 5 watts 'cuz I forgot to run it up higher after being on CW. The mic must have been up to the job. I got a 559 and a clean audio report. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Wayne Reed Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2005 12:09 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] K2 Microphones Gang, Just put the SSB board in my K2 [S/N 4858]. I have tried my Shure 444 with the K2 and seem to have no drive. I think I will try a portable telephone headset. I will need to get some bias for the mike from the K2 then I'll find out if I have a problem with the SSB board or my old trusty 444. Would like to hear from those who have used cheap/nonstandard microphones with the K2. Wayne K9NE ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] #3120 if FINALLY Alive and Well
That's what I remember about the Heath TV, too, Larry. I built one just before Christmas 1968, and stuffed every single board myself. When I saw Ron's note, I thought I must be getting older than I thought! I'm sure I bought the enclosure from Heath, though. Maybe they started pre-assembly later in the game. It was an intimidating project, but the manuals, of course, were quite good. There's a lot of talk about current kit builders following in the Heath tradition. I think Elecraft has followed the best of the Heath tradition, but they have an advantage over Heath in having the tools to provide outstanding customer service that was not really available then. No Internet, no e-mail, no reflectors, no free anytime minutes on the phone. Everything was done through the USPS. Even picking up the phone and calling was a big thing then because of long distance rates. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Larry - WA2DGD Sent: Friday, November 18, 2005 1:27 PM Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] #3120 if FINALLY Alive and Well Ron, Sounds like you built a fairly recent Heath/Zenith TV. I built a Heath 19" color in 1970 and you stuffed each board (about 5 or 6 if I remember correctly) and then wired them all together, no plug and play wiring harnesses. The entire TV was built within a metal enclosure, which then slipped into the wooden enclosure of your choice. I was able to operate my Galaxy V mk III, full output, with no TVI. When a neighbor would complain about TVI, I would bring them into my house, show them my TVI free TV, and explain to them it was their TV picking up unwanted signals, by poor design. That Heathkit made it so easy to explain. 72 Larry WA2DGD Ron D'Eau Claire wrote: > Ha! Talk about 'savoring the anticipation'... > > Actually, the Heath TV was one of the simplest of kits. I built one. > It was really a great disappointment. All the boards were pre-stuffed. > Indeed, "service", if it was needed, was to pull a board and swap it > with a new one at the Heath center. I never needed to do that. > > Gave the working TV set to Goodwill about 15 years later. > > Heathkit and Elecraft could both use the old Timex slogan, "Takes a likin' > and keeps on tickin'" > > Ron AC7AC > > -Original Message- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Vic K2VCO > Sent: Friday, November 18, 2005 8:35 AM > To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] #3120 if FINALLY Alive and Well > > > Michael Bower N4NMR wrote: > > >>LAPSED TIME: >> >>Years - 2.88 >>Days - 1052 >>Hours - 25248 > > > My friend, whose call will not be mentioned, has *two* unbuilt K2s. > One of them has a serial number less than 500. He thought it might be > hard to make it current on all modifications, so he bought a newer one > -- that one is, I think, in the early 3000's. He hasn't built either > of them yet, but every time I mention how much I like mine, he thinks about it. > > It's interesting, because he has built numerous complicated and > difficult kits in his life, including the Heathkit TV set, which I > believe to be one of the most elaborate kits they made. > -- 73 Larry WA2DGD ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Re: EQP Proposed Rules Revision
I would say keep the rules simple since I'd bet most of us are at best casual contesters. The exchange itself should be straightforward and uncomplicated, but that doesn't necessarily mean minimalist. I want to know where the guy is, what he is running and the Elecraft serial number. Otherwise it's just another of a long line of (to me) pointless contests. I think opening up for suggestions was nice as a gesture or democracy, but I think it would have been better to just post the rules and set the date. You had a pro design it. Let his take on the rules stand. Besides, most of us will be there because it is part of the Elecraft camaraderie, not for the glory of a contest. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of wayne burdick Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2005 10:48 PM To: Benny Aumala Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: [Elecraft] Re: EQP Proposed Rules Revision Benny, Thanks for your input. I appreciate minimal exchanges, too; they produce more QSOs and make a contest easy to operate in. But we'd like EQP to be different. I think of it as a series of condensed QSOs rather than quick-hit contest exchanges. Many participants have common interests, including Elecraft gear, kit building in general, and a passion for portable operation. EQP plays like a reunion of old friends. I can make this clearer by addressing your individual points. > K1, K2 or KX1 already defines Elecraft user. How about another > transceiver and Elecraft T1? In EQP, the focus is on the transceiver. Thanks to the shared building experience, it's intriguing for some ops to know what kind of rig they're talking to. (Myself included, usually serial number 1 or 2 :) > Serial number is not essential, but interesting, and may be given > during "rag chew" part of contact. Serial numbers are important to many of the participants, in part because we offer certificates for collecting them. It's part of the condensed QSO. One could look up numbers in a database later, but that wouldn't be in the spirit of things. > US State / VE Province / DXCC Country is not necessary in message. You > have other means to find out that multiplier: Callbook CD, Prefix in > call-sign or ask the station during contact. Perhaps, but I like this addition. Many stations will be using low power, with which it can be exciting to work someone even in the next state! The mystery of where a station is located -- revealed during a contact -- has always been at the core of the radio experience for me, especially when using QRP. > The power of other station is not essential. It is your power that > counts. Good point. An exchange of power levels is, again, rooted in low-power contests. It's interesting, but I would say that this is the most expendable part of the exchange. > By the way: is 100W max recommendation necessary. Elecraft is going to > sell shortly kilowatt-amplifiers. Elecraft gear has, from the beginning, been about doing more with less, and often doing it while operating in the field. KW operation has its place, but I personally prefer a leaner approach in EQP. Besides, to level the playing field, we'd have to give KW operators fractional QRP points, which seems a bit harsh. > So the message might be like: > Elecrafter599 K2 > Other 599 Any contest can be minimalist. EQP has meat on its bones! Just my 2.05 cents -- 73, Wayne N6KR --- http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] K1 Future Improvements to VFO D3, R17, R18 any one tried??
I have mine set up for 80 khz and have absolutely no problems with temperature stability. In July for the FOBB, the top of my K1 got so hot I literally could not comfortably touch it. I was engrossed in the contest and didn't notice the sunlight through the trees focusing on the rig. In all that time, both heating up to sub-nuclear temperatures and cooling down to a comfortable 105 degrees in the shade, the K1 sat where ever I parked her. If anyone has temperature stability problems, I'd look for a defect, not a design change. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mike Morrow Sent: Sunday, December 18, 2005 9:13 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K1 Future Improvements to VFO D3, R17,R18 any one tried?? Paul wrote: >Just reading page 59 of the K1 manual and it talks about provisions for >improvements to the VFO temperature compensation > >And the use of D3, R17 and R18. > >Anyone tried this out and done any before and after tests. I've heard no reports of such experiments in the five years that I've had a K1 (#175) and been on this list. Reed, K7FLY, in early 2001 reported some things he did to improve temperature stability not involving any actual circuit changes (except replacing an abnormally temperature sensitive VFO votage regulator), at: http://www.qsl.net/ve3mcf/elecraft_reflect/K1_Temperature_Freq_Drift_Mgmt.tx t My old K1 with 170 kHz VFO span (and no stability mods) is surprisingly temperature stable, and I've not been tempted in the least to improve what is already very very good. It was recently reported that at least one K1 owner found VFO stability to be better with the capacitor supplied for the 170 kHz span than with the capacitor for the 80 kHz span. I've never used the 80 kHz option, so I can't report on a similar comparison. 73, Mike / KK5F ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] BUG NIGHT
I'll be there with my Speed-X key, Drake 2-NT and 2-B. I'll be rock-bound since I haven't been able to find a VFO that costs less than the transmitter itself, but I did it 48 years ago, I can stand it for one night. Hmmm, I wonder if I could throttle back the K1 and use it as a 40m VFO. In the 60's, I used to work QRP with my Meissner Signal Shifter (an appropriate name if I ever heard one) loaded directly into an antenna. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Darwin, Keith Sent: Monday, December 19, 2005 12:05 PM To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: RE: [Elecraft] BUG NIGHT SKN - I thought it stood for "Straight Key Night". I suppose there's room for bugs & such but to me that is getting away from the "make CW with no crutches" thought. It DOES work into the nostalgia of the evening though so if you're there with your old bug, I'll do my best to work you :-) I can't wait! I've recently re-discovered how much fun a straight key is. I've been using it almost as much as my paddles. SKN - I can't wait!!! - Keith - -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Indy Sent: Monday, December 19, 2005 2:41 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; elecraft@mailman.qth.net; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Elecraft] BUG NIGHT New Year's Eve is traditionally is a time to review the year past, and wax nostalgic. For some years amateur radio ops have dusted off their straight key and put it on the air. But what about other, perhaps more challenging antique keys of historic and nostalgic value? Semi-automatic keys, bugs, have also been coming out of hiding on this night. Each year more and more have participated in SKN (Silent Key Night) with these keys. Last year such rare pieces were heard as: a Dow Universal Rotary bug, a 1936 McElroy bug, a Vibroplex Upright, a Speed-X 501, a Vibroplex Midget, a Vibroplex Double Lever, a blue Blue Racer from 1917, a right-angle bug known as a Codetrol, a Melehan Variant. There are no "rules," no limitations, no points, no exchanges. Just have fun sharing stories about the history of and how you came by your nostalgic key. No need to worry about your fist, we are all just doing what we can honoring something from our past. Hope to hear you, and best wishes for your new year! Fred - KT5X ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] K1 Future Improvements to VFO D3, R17, R18 any onetried??
I completely agree with you, Mike. A DDS in the K1 would be a step backwards in performance. I'm willing to put up with the annoying step-wise DDS tuning in my KX1 for those times when I want a grab-and-go rig on a bicycle trip or hike. But most of the time, I much prefer the silky smooth tuning of my K1. As you say, it tunes more naturally and, to me, more melodiously consistent with that same characteristic of CW. Tuning a DDS through several signals near one another produces such a confusion of discrete tones that it is often easy to lose sight of the guy you were trying to tune in. The K1 is a keeper. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mike Morrow Sent: Monday, December 19, 2005 2:32 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K1 Future Improvements to VFO D3, R17,R18 any onetried?? Don wrote: >I would not regard 100 Hz of drift in the K1 as a design problem at all >- The K1 spec is for drift less that 200 Hz after a 5 minute warmup. > >The fact that the K1 does not use a DDS vfo is not a 'design problem' >as was stated... I wholeheartedly agree. I had been using (and still use) three of SWL's wonderful DSW-series mono-band DDS rigs before I got my K1 in late 2000. I was fully prepared to be disappointed by the stability of the LC VFO design of the K1. Instead, I quickly found that I was very pleased with the stability of the K1's VFO. > but surely was a design decision based on price/performance with >components available at the time it was designed. At the time the K1 >was designed, DDS units were not as available as today and were still >quite pricy - by the time the KX1 was designed, the cost of DDS had >dropped significantly. I would express a different view. I would hate to see the performance of the K1 *degraded* by the use of a DDS VFO. After experiencing how well the K1's LC VFO performs, I would now NOT buy a K1 if it used a DDS frequency generation scheme such as that found in the KX1 or DSW. A simple DDS VFO design such as is found in KX1 or DSW units puts a fair amount of spurious output directly into the higher level transmitter stages, and into the receiver mixer. This junk degrades transmitter spurious output quality and receiver performance. The K1's LC VFO and hetrodyne crystal oscillator output is far cleaner than any current DDS-only VFO. Those who wish for every little enhancement possible in the RF performance of a radio will NOT choose a simple DDS VFO design. More sophisticated rigs that use DDS use it in conjunction with a PLL to generate a much cleaner signal rather than using the direct raw output of a DDS chip. Perhaps soon a combo DDS-PLL chip that is low-cost and low-power will arrive for use in our QRP rigs and reduce the concern about spurious output. An additional issue arises from the requirement in the KX1 for the DDS to produce output frequencies over a very wide range as it changes band-to-band, mode-to-mode, and receive-to-transmit. The KX1 DDS generates all of the required frequencies directly, rather than through hetrodyning with crystal oscillators. The clocking rate for current low-cost low-power DDS chips like the KX1's AD9834 is limited to 50 MHz, and the maximum output frequency at that clock is about one-third of that (16.6 MHz). This means that coverage of any ham band above 20m is fundamentally out of the question. However, a simple DDS VFO has a few advantages over the LC VFO: Excellent stability, resetability, wide frequency span, and adaptibility to digital control. Only the first two are usually apparent to the operator. OTOH, the step-wise incremental tuning and the manipulations required to change the tuning step make DDS VFO tuning far less natural than that of the continuous output of an LC VFO that tunes where and just as fast or slow as I turn the dial. So the options are clear. Choose the simple DDS rig if crystal-like temperature stability and resetability are most important to you. Choose a LC VFO rig if overall RF performance and naturalness of tuning are most important to you. > I fail to understand how anyone could refer to this a 'design > problem'. Agreed. The *superior* performance of the LC VFO over the simple DDS VFO make it the choice of those for whom the RF signal performance of their radio is important. It's a very *positive* design feature of the K1 over the KX1 that may go unrecognized by those unfamiliar with the technical issues at hand. But returning back to the original question, I'd say that if anyone finds something simple that improves the already excellent stability of the K1 VFO, I'd certainly be interested in hearing about it. Happy experimenting! 73, Mike / KK5F ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/m
RE: [Elecraft] BUG NIGHT
I had a less charitable play on the word "Shifter" when I was using it. Thanks to Don, W3FPR, my 50 dollar Drake 2-NT now has a $600 VFO! At his suggestion, I connected my K2 to the DL1 with a BNC T-fitting. I connected the 3rd leg through an 0,01 uf cap to the Crystal socket on the front of the 2-NT. I set the power to 0.1 watts which gave me about 2v rms and generated a nice clean full power signal from the Drake. I still haven't solved how to key the K2 on from the 2-NT, though. There's a VFO Key jack on the back of the 2-NT for just such a purpose, but I don't think the K2 is going to like having 100 volts on the key input. Just for fun, here is a picture of my Drake 2-line with K2 all lashed up with a bizillion little jumpers to get it working: http://www.ke6us.com/boatanchors.htm Scroll down to the Drake 2-NT section. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: Douglas Westover [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, December 19, 2005 3:30 PM To: EricJ; 'Darwin, Keith'; Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] BUG NIGHT I always called it a Meissner Signal Drifter ;-). Doug W6JD - Original Message - From: "EricJ" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "'Darwin, Keith'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; Sent: Monday, December 19, 2005 12:31 PM Subject: RE: [Elecraft] BUG NIGHT > I'll be there with my Speed-X key, Drake 2-NT and 2-B. I'll be > rock-bound since I haven't been able to find a VFO that costs less > than the transmitter > itself, but I did it 48 years ago, I can stand it for one night. > > Hmmm, I wonder if I could throttle back the K1 and use it as a 40m > VFO. In the 60's, I used to work QRP with my Meissner Signal Shifter > (an appropriate > name if I ever heard one) loaded directly into an antenna. > > Eric > KE6US > www.ke6us.com > > -Original Message- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Darwin, Keith > Sent: Monday, December 19, 2005 12:05 PM > To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > Subject: RE: [Elecraft] BUG NIGHT > > SKN - I thought it stood for "Straight Key Night". > > I suppose there's room for bugs & such but to me that is getting away > from the "make CW with no crutches" thought. It DOES work into the > nostalgia of > the evening though so if you're there with your old bug, I'll do my > best to > work you :-) > > I can't wait! I've recently re-discovered how much fun a straight key is. > I've been using it almost as much as my paddles. > > SKN - I can't wait!!! > > - Keith - > > -Original Message- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Indy > Sent: Monday, December 19, 2005 2:41 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; elecraft@mailman.qth.net; > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: [Elecraft] BUG NIGHT > > New Year's Eve is traditionally is a time to review the year past, and > wax nostalgic. For some years amateur radio ops have dusted off their straight > key and put it on the air. But what about other, perhaps more > challenging antique keys of historic and nostalgic value? > > Semi-automatic keys, bugs, have also been coming out of hiding on this > night. Each year more and more have participated in SKN (Silent Key > Night) with these keys. Last year such rare pieces were heard as: a > Dow Universal Rotary bug, a 1936 McElroy bug, a Vibroplex Upright, a > Speed-X 501, a Vibroplex Midget, a Vibroplex Double Lever, a blue Blue > Racer from 1917, a right-angle bug known as a Codetrol, a Melehan Variant. > > There are no "rules," no limitations, no points, no exchanges. Just > have fun sharing stories about the history of and how you came by your nostalgic > key. No need to worry about your fist, we are all just doing what we > can honoring something from our past. > > Hope to hear you, and best wishes for your new year! > > Fred - KT5X > ___ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com > ___ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com > __
RE: [Elecraft] SKN
I got a peek at the SKN 2007 rules. Electronic keyers are OK, but no keyboards. In 2008, all SKN exchanges will have to be handled via Winlink and confirmed via LOTW. SKN is for straight keys. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of W2AGN Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2005 6:12 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] SKN [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Yes, another SKN will be upon us soon. While they've taken to allowing > bugs as "straight keys", that makes me rather sad. Here's why: > > I agree 100%. Straight Key Night shoukld be for straight keys. I once told Ed Hare W1RFI that I thought that, and received a vituperative reply that basically told me I was trying to "spoil" the fun of SKN by insisting it was for Straight Keys. -- _ _ _ _ _ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ John L. Sielke ( W ) ( 2 ) ( A ) ( G ) ( N ) http://w2agn.net \_/ \_/ \_/ \_/ \_/ "CRUSTY OLD CURMUDGEON - AND PROUD OF IT!" ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] CW Keys
Only one thing. Someone willing to buy it. That would not be me. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of tom.w3qs Sent: Wednesday, December 21, 2005 4:13 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] CW Keys Hello Folks, This is probably a stupid question, and I guess I already know the answer, but is this for real? See GD907WS at http://www.mtech.whsites.net/ghd/ What could possibly make a key worth 1250 bucks? Tom, W3QS ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] SKN rigs
On STRAIGHT KEY Night, I'll be using the Drake 2-B, 2-C and 2-NT, not surprisingly with a Speed-X STRAIGHT KEY. The VFO for my 50 dollar Drake transmitter is an Elecraft K2 into a DL-1 for about 2 vrms into the FT-243 crystal socket. My apologies to boatanchor enthusiasts everywhere. I'm still looking for a real VFO. Pictures at: http://www.ke6us.com/boatanchors.htm Included is a picture of a STRAIGHT KEY for those who seem confused about the concept of STRAIGHT KEY Night. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] SKN
Thanks, Larry. Kathy opens up entirely new possibilities for ARRL events. I was always intimidated by all that fast-paced, short number exchange stuff in ARRL contests. I thought it was mandated by the rules on the ARRL site. But instead we're only bound by philosophy. I'm going to enjoy contests more now that I know the participants are going to enjoy ragchewing with me at 10 wpm. DX contesters will enjoy my efforts to reach across the oceans in friendship and learn their culture. Afterall, isn't this what ham radio and the ARRL are all about? But I think I'll stick with a straight key on Straight Key Night. To "celebrate the good old days." Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com where a Drake 2-NT gets an Elecraft K2 VFO for Christmas! -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Larry Walker (KW4A) Sent: Friday, December 23, 2005 8:22 AM To: Elecraft List Subject: [Elecraft] SKN Just got off the phone with Kathy who was speaking for Dan Henderson, N1ND (Head of ARRL contest division) who is on vacation. I asked her what was the thinking of the organizers of SKN pertaining to what kind of keys are acceptable for use during SKN? Her answer was very definite in as much as "Any mechanical means of producing a CW signal is acceptable". The bug is every much a part of radio history as the "straight key" and is perfectly acceptable for use during SKN. You can quote the statement shown on the ARRL site as much as you wish but this is not a "Set of Rules" but more a philosophy of what the night is all about. The celebration of the "Good old days". Vintage equipment is being used more and more on that evening along with the mechanical keys used to generate cw signals from that era. All is encouraged and acceptable. The ONLY thing that is not acceptable is the electronic generation of the cw signal. eg: electronic keyers of any type, keyboards, etc. I have tried to represent the thinking of the officials organizing this event in as simple and straightforward method as possible. I am sure someone will read something into this that isn't there to promote their thinking that because the name of the event is Straight Key Night that it is the only device acceptable. NOT TRUE!!! Gee, I hope this settles this thread. Larry KW4A K2 ser# 811 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Christmas Wishes
Merry Christmas, Tom, and thanks for another great year of support for Elecrafters. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com K2 #0567 K1 #1976 KX1 #0539 -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Tom Hammond Sent: Friday, December 23, 2005 6:14 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Christmas Wishes Greetings to all Elecraft Reflector members: I just wanted to take a very brief moment to wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas, and our most sincere wishes for a Healthy and Happy New Year. 73, Tom & Jeri Hammond K2 #8 K1 #7 N0SS K0RPH ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] SKN rigs
Yep, I agree, Bill. I would say use your whole forearm, but no real muscle effort should be required, of course. Keep your elbow and your wrist LOOSE. Even rubbery. Your forearm basically just gently bounces enough to flex your wrist. Your fingers do nothing but perch on the knob. If you don't tense any muscles, the keying is very fluid and it is easy to get into a rhythm which, it appears, you already know. I really miss all the interesting fists you could hear on the ham bands in the years before electronic keyers. I remember an episode of MASH where a concert pianist lost his right arm. Winchester tried to get him interested in playing, by getting him some music written for the left-hand, but the young soldier was adamant that any career in music was over. I remember Winchester telling him, "I can play the notes...but I can't play the MUSIC." That's how I remember the old fists. They were individual and as recognizable as a musical style. The electronic keyers allow one to play the notes, but it isn't really music any longer. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Bill Coleman Sent: Friday, December 23, 2005 12:20 PM To: Joseph Trombino Jr Cc: Elecraft Subject: Re: [Elecraft] SKN rigs On Dec 23, 2005, at 12:48 PM, Joseph Trombino Jr wrote: > > I'll be using a U.S. Navy flameproof hand key...for a couple of QSO's > before my wrist breaks down (grin)hope the CW is intelligible. Now, if you have that key adjusted correctly, and are using it correctly, you should be able to send CW all day on a straight key without any problems or pain. About 30 years ago, 73 magazine had an excellent article about "glass arm" -- how telegraph operators would get it and it would put them out of a job. It also spoke of how to avoid it -- to use a rather wide spacing, loose trunnions, pivot on your elbow and have your whole arm move when you key. If you key just with the muscles of your wrist, you'll tire out in no time. Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASELMail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!" -- Wilbur Wright, 1901 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] proper use of straight keys
The weight of your forearm actuates the key. You are not bearing down with arm muscles with this technique. I keep my spacing fairly close with light tension and free bearings. It's not as smooth now at 63 as it was when my joints were very limber at 15. But it still takes very little effort. I'm no expert on this, but I believe this technique is called the American style. The knob tends to be higher on keys for this style. I believe there is another style called the British style or maybe the European style which I'm pretty sure is closer to what you describe doing and the key knob is much lower to allow you to rest your forearm. Maybe Ron AC7AC remembers something about this. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Jessie Oberreuter Sent: Friday, December 23, 2005 3:41 PM To: Bill Coleman Cc: Elecraft Subject: [Elecraft] proper use of straight keys On Fri, 23 Dec 2005, Bill Coleman wrote: > About 30 years ago, 73 magazine had an excellent article about "glass > arm" -- how telegraph operators would get it and it would put them out > of a job. It also spoke of how to avoid it -- to use a rather wide > spacing, loose trunnions, pivot on your elbow and have your whole arm > move when you key. If you key just with the muscles of your wrist, you'll tire out in no time. I've never understood either of these approaches. I set the spacing just wide enough to get good acoustic and kinesthetic feedback on contact, and set the weight just enough to provide clean keying at about 18wpm. Then I rest my middle and index fingers on the key and do everything through the finger muscles (which may be seen operating under the skin). My arm and wrist are static and rest flat on the table, and the only confession I have to make is that I have a bad habit of putting tension in the shoulder. I'm a software engineer by trade and liken this to the way I type -- wrists in contact with desk or laptop. No trouble after nearly 20 years of typing for 8 hours a day, but I'm also a light touch, and VERY picky when it comes to keyboards. The above, however, may also solve a mystery for me. I've cut down or replaced the springs on every single key I've ever owned (a dozen plus) b/c I found the stock tention too high. I've never understood why the stock tension on all of these keys was so high and figured that either every serious operator was doing something similar, or that I was in the minority on strength, dexterity, or preference. It may, however, simply be a matter of technique, and just as I can't understand why anyone would wantonly type with their wrists in the air, I can't understand why anyone would want to use their wrist or arm muscles to operate a key. I can, however, appreciate the fact that if you are keying with your whole arm, you're going to need the kind of tension most keys ship with. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] SKN rigs
I spent my first 20 years as a ham building tube gear. All that sawing and filing and drilling no longer holds my interest. I'm toying with building one based on a DDS card and controller. In fact, I mocked up a Drake-style front panel for it which I posted on my website, but there is just something...unnatural...about the idea. hi. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com _ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, December 23, 2005 3:31 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] SKN rigs In a message dated 12/23/05 1:20:02 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I'm still looking for a real VFO. Build one! 73 de Jim, N2EY ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Emergency in 3 Land
I have them all too, and they each have their place. The KX1 is the most narrowly specialized. The K2 is the most capable. The K1 is my favorite. Its all-round capabilities and very sweet CW sound have never been a let down. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of John [K7SVV] Sent: Saturday, December 24, 2005 9:47 AM To: Mike Morrow Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Emergency in 3 Land I have a K1, K2, and KX1 and I enjoy them all. I can't agree that the K1 is a let down. It is a great little rig. On 12/23/05, Mike Morrow <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > It was written: > > >... the K1 just seems like a let down after the K2 and KX1. > > There it is, K1 owners! If you've been feeling depressed, low, and > irregular ever since you got your K1, the best all-round compact QRP rig > ever made, now you know why. I only wish I'd been smart enough to see it > earlier. > > Mike / KK5F > ___ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com > -- John [K7SVV] ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas, Don. No one has given more unselfishly of his time and expertise on this reflector. All of you have added immeasurably to the pleasure and confidence of owning Elecraft radios. I hope Wayne and Eric put a little something extra in your Christmas stocking this year. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Don Wilhelm Sent: Saturday, December 24, 2005 9:52 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Qth. Net; Elecraft reflector Subject: [Elecraft] Merry Christmas To all my ham friends on the reflector, I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous Ney Year. For those who do not celebrate Christmas, I wish you all joy and the best for this Holiday Season. 73, Don W3FPR ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Connecting Kent Straight Key and Paddle
You probably are! You have the right connectors. For the paddle, determine which paddle is going to be for dots. For most right-handers, the thumb is the dot, but there's no standard. Use a three conductor cable (2 conductors and a shield, e.g.) and connect the three wires to the paddle, one for dot, dash and ground. I don't know how the Kents are set up. Obviously if they come with a cable, you use that one. If not solder the wires to the wire lugs provided or whatever attachment scheme Kent uses. The stereo plug is made with three sections each insulated from the other. The tip is appropriatedly called the TIP, the RING is the next section down, and the large metal barrel is called the SLEEVE. Slide the plastic housing for the plug onto the cable first. Solder the dot wire from the paddle to the TIP connection inside the plug. Look at the terminals inside carefully and you will see that it is clearly the center one. Measure from the tip to the terminals with an ohmmeter if there is any doubt which is the proper one. Solder the dash wire from the paddle to the Ring. You will see that that one is stacked below the tip connection. Again, to be sure you can measure continuity from the ring to the terminals to see which one is right. Solder the ground wire from the paddle to the sleeve. That is the large tab that sticks out with some pieces on it to crimp the wire for strain relief. There usually isn't any doubt about this one. You will usually see a little hole about a 1/4" or so up that tab to solder to. Screw the plug housing on and it is done. Plug it into the K2, make sure you have selected INP/PDLn from the Menu and give it a try. If it works and you get dots on the proper paddle, you're done. If it's backwards, just change to PDLr. Do the straight key the same way except you are going to be connecting only to the TIP and the SLEEVE of the stereo connector. The Ring is not used. On the K2 Menu select INP/HAND or you will get a string of dots every time you close the straight key. Hope this is what you were looking for. If not post again. I'll be in and out all evening as we don't do anything on Christmas Eve. Merry Christmas, Jeff. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of jrb Sent: Saturday, December 24, 2005 1:43 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Connecting Kent Straight Key and Paddle Merry Xmas! I wonder if I'm the only one in the country thinking about this stuff on Xmas Eve. Anyway, I'd like very specific instructions about connecting it to my K2. For instance what kind of plug (for each wire) and how soldered to the plug. Just to take my best guess I've already bought RS Part 274-284 <1/8" stereo phone plug>, and wonder if these will work. If so how to solder? Sorry to be such a dope- TIa, Jeff KG6ZVT ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] K2 minimum power our
I'm using my K2 right now at 100 mW (across a DL-1 dummy load measured with a DMM) as a VFO for a Drake 2-NT. I key the K2 with the 2-NT and still have decent QSK. Works great! It should do the job for you as well. You can see the lash-up at: http://www.ke6us.com/boatanchors.htm Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Bill Coleman N2BC Sent: Saturday, December 24, 2005 7:22 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] K2 minimum power our I'm considering a K2. The power out spec says <.5W... how much less? I'm not much of a QRP op, my amplifier only needs 100 to 150mW. If the K2 will reliably go to 100mW or less I can skip inserting an attenuator and simplify T/R switching. Happy holidays to all de Bill N2BC ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] SKN Results
SKN at KE6US: QSOs: Worked 8 total, 7 on the Novice portion of 40m New Years Eve and one the next afternoon on 20m. Rig: Drake 2-NT and 2-B. First QSO with modified Siltronix CB VFO. I got a 595C signal report! I had to look it up! I thought it was the model of the rig the guy was using. Retired the VFO and hooked the K2 back up as my VFO for the 2-NT. Clean reports. See it at: http://www.ke6us.com/boatanchors.htm showing the K2 lash-up http://www.ke6us.com showing the Siltronix VFO which is back on the bench for now. Antenna: G5RV on 40, TH7DX @ 60' on 20 Key: Speed-X No. of Elecraft rigs worked: None, but 7 of those contacts are scratching their heads over "DRAKE 2NT WID K2 VFO". It was great to hear CW on the Novice portion. Usually it is completely dead up there. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, January 02, 2006 4:18 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] SKN Results SKN at N2EY: QSOs: 6 (5 on 80 meters, 1 on 40 meters) Rig: 100 W homebrew CW-only transceiver http://hometown.aol.com/n2ey/myhomepage/ Antenna: 80/40 inverted V Key: J-37 # Elecraft rigs worked: 1 (K2) -- Boy it was great to hear 80 meters full of beautiful CW signals. Let's do all we can to keep it that way all year. 73 de Jim, N2EY ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] the fine line between "stupid" and "curious"
If you had experimented with earphones, all of us here would all be using Japanese transceivers today. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of wayne burdick Sent: Tuesday, January 03, 2006 11:31 AM To: Elecraft Reflector Subject: [Elecraft] the fine line between "stupid" and "curious" This thread is vaguely disturbing, but I'll add my 2 cents. At about age 9, I came into possession of a 5" square, midrange TV speaker. It had heavy-duty leads, stripped, tinned, and ready to go. I wondered what 60 Hz sounded like, and there was no shortage of AC outlets in my room. Fortunately for my young ears, the speaker coil vaporized within a few seconds. 73, Wayne N6KR --- http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Stupid, stupid, stupid - OT
At K2USA we had a BC-610 in the main studio (1964). It stood a little over desk high and was truly the Mother of all Boatanchors. To tune it, you had to lift a small hatch in the top surface and rotate a link coupling. But, of course, you had to switch off the B+ first. If you forgot to do that, there was an interlock on the small hatch to cut the B+. We had two military operators (not hams) who handled the MARS traffic for us so we could ham. Somebody had discovered that the interlock was not working earlier in the day. I taped down the hatch, taped a note over that so the ops would have to remove the note to open the hatch, told the two ops to be absolutely sure they shut off the B+ before tuning the TX and left for home. An hour later, I get a call that one of the ops had been electrocuted and taken to sick call. Well he hadn't been electrocuted exactly. He opened the hatch, rested his elbow on the top, reached in with a screwdriver to tweak the link and hit the high voltage with the TX keyed. It blew a 1/4 inch hole out his elbow where it contacted the top surface. They patched him up, gave him a tetanus shot and gave him the night off. I asked the doc why he got a tetanus shot and he said RF burns seem to cook below the surface somewhat and the tetanus shot helps internal damage heal faster for some reason. I was stupid to allow them to use the TX, and I was stupid not to realize how stupid the op was. We get really careless with all the solid-state gear. Often even dropping a screw in an operating circuit, or carelessly dragging a test lead through a hot ciruit fails to do anything. Many of these circuits just bounce right back once the short is removed (not always). The second day I had my Drake 2-NT, I moved a wire out of the way with my finger and got a little 350v DC wake-up for my carelessness. It's something that is done routinely in my Elecraft gear. Maybe this interesting series will remind us that there are dangers inherent in this hobby. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ron D'Eau Claire Sent: Tuesday, January 03, 2006 8:40 PM To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Stupid, stupid, stupid - OT Jim W4BQP wrote: Anyone remember drawing an arc off the plate cap of a transmitter tube with a wooden lead pencil? - Many times! Only 1,000 vdc or so on there and enough RF to create a burn that hurt like @[EMAIL PROTECTED] for a month if it found bare skin! ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] Side Tone (Choosing the right "music")
With so many musicians on here, including the K1/K2 designer, maybe someone would comment on why sidetones are the frequency they are. Actually, I have been thinking more about how people choose the OFFSET they prefer more than the sidetone, but it's the same idea. It's interesting that you should say the sidetone was offensive because it was not a pure sine wave. It is my understanding (not being a musician myself), that humans prefer tones with harmonic content. Pure sine waves sound simple and harsh to the ear. Maybe we would find that even with a sidetone, there is some preferred harmonic content that makes it richer and more pleasing to listen to. The same goes for the offset frequency. I, and others, have commented on how much better the K1 sounds to us compared to even the K2. I don't know what quality the K1 has that makes us think that way, but there is something going on there that makes me choose the K1 for ragchewing. Something makes it less fatiguing or otherwise more pleasant for me, and it is independent of the speaker as I have traded external speakers back and forth bewteen the K1 and the K2. While thinking about it, and again, not being a musician, I began wondering why piano keys are tuned to the very specific, but seemingly odd frequencies they are. The lowest note on a piano is 28.5 Hz. Who decided something like that? Esp. way back 200+ years ago. All of the white keys are harmonically related to that bizarre 28 and 1/2 hz, now I know the reason for that, but why did they choose that particular frequency? I don't know the answer to that, but maybe it evolved over decades or even centuries of humans responding well to certain notes and not to others. (I should have done some basic research first, I guess). I doubt they were chosen at random and probably really do seem to be frequencies humans prefer. If that is so, why don't we pick offsets that correspond to musical notes? Why do most of us pick some arbitrary offset rounded to the nearest 50 or 100. When we talk about offsets here, we are nearly always talking about 500 or 600 or 700 or the screeching 1000 hz or higher offset that comes fixed in a lot of earlier rigs. Maybe the offset on the K1/K2 menus should be calibrated in musical notes instead of arbitrary decade increments. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Charles Sent: Wednesday, January 04, 2006 2:16 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Side Tone I built K2 Nr 413 and made lots of CW contacts, the built in Mojo was great. I stopped using it because the crystal oscillator in the side tone was not a pure sine wave and it became offensive to my ear. I only use CW. I have been informed by a K2 op that the more recent versions have a better side tone. If this is so then I may consider building the K2/100. Could some one please help me with this decision? Charles ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Side Tone (Choosing the right "music") Mostly OT
So maybe Chinese or Indian export models should include more sidetone options. Hi. My offset is also around 600 hz. In a blind test, it sort of settled there, but I remember being undecided because the steps were too far apart. Like some other tone close by would actually have been better for me. Anyway, it is something that I have been kicking around with no background to make sense of it. Your note helps give me some direction for further research. A friend of mine has a PhD in Dance specializing in Balinese dance and she has mentioned the expanded scale of Eastern music as well. There is always a way to make a BFD out of the simplest thing...even a sidetone. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Jason Artz Sent: Wednesday, January 04, 2006 10:29 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Side Tone (Choosing the right "music") Mostly OT Hi Eric, Interesting thoughts. I am a professional musician and owner of a K1. I could write pages (and have, back in school) on how and why pianos are tuned the way they are -- they are giant mess, pitch-wise, for many many reasons, but through lots of compramises you end up with something that sounds good. I will say that when I originally built and set up my K1, I chose a sidetone/offset frequency of 440Hz because that is the tuning note (A) at standard US "concert pitch." The K1 wasn't dead on, though, and adjustments are by 10 whole Hz, so it bothered me a bit and I chose 600Hz because it sounded good on my headphones and seemed a popular choice. :) I can't comment on the difference in received CW tone on a K1 versus K2 because I've never heard a K2. I find the sidetone on the K1 to be pretty rich, harmonically, but not bad. I'd prefer it a little less so, though, or with a different distribution of harmonics present at different levels (sounds like a good new add-on - essentially a synthesizer/eq for your K1's sidetone - how about it, guys?! ;) ). What makes one instrument sound different from another is partially the harmonic content and the amplitudes of each harmonic relative to the others. Another aspect is the start and stop of the tone (waveform shaping?). I am sure someone could design a sidetone that would sound like an instrument or some other more "pleasing" tone. Then they could patent it like Harley Davidson did with their sound. As far as why we have the frequencies we have on the piano (or any other western instrument), it's generally based on the A above middle C being 440Hz. The rest of the notes are based on that, mathematically. It isn't always 440Hz, though - it's a bit higher in most of Europe (442-444Hz) and has historically been all over the place - as low as maybe 380 and as high as 490. There are lots of theories as to how 440Hz became popular - could go on about that but I won't. :) Suffice it to say that instruments made of certain materials, at certain sizes, will resonate (and "sound") better at certain frequencies. I think that, over time, the evolution of instruments and pitches settled in a range that works best with the material and acoustic limitations that we face. (It's still not static, though) Why the particular tones within the octave? It's a western thing - they've got way more notes in traditional Indian music and fewer in China. 73, Jason ak7v --- EricJ <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > With so many musicians on here, including the K1/K2 designer, maybe > someone would comment on why sidetones are the frequency they are. > Actually, I have been thinking more about how people choose the OFFSET > they prefer more than the sidetone, but it's the same idea. > > It's interesting that you should say the sidetone was offensive > because it was not a pure sine wave. It is my understanding (not being > a musician myself), that humans prefer tones with harmonic content. > Pure sine waves sound simple and harsh to the ear. Maybe we would find > that even with a sidetone, there is some preferred harmonic content > that makes it richer and more pleasing to listen to. The same goes for > the offset frequency. I, and others, have commented on how much better > the K1 sounds to us compared to even the K2. I don't know what quality > the K1 has that makes us think that way, but there is something going > on there that makes me choose the K1 for ragchewing. Something makes > it less fatiguing or otherwise more pleasant for me, and it is > independent of the speaker as I have traded external speakers back and > forth bewteen the K1 and the K2. > > While thinking about it, and again, not being a musician, I began > wondering why piano keys are tuned to the very specific, but seemingly > odd frequencies they are. The lowest note
RE: [Elecraft] Relay Removal ?
I mounted an entire row in my K1 ATU backwards after checking it at least once. It was easier and safer to just crush them with sidecutters, remove the pins with desoldering braid and replace the relays with knew ones. I found them locally, but you can get them from Elecraft, Mouser or Digikey as well. They aren't very special and they are inexpensive. Unless you have one of those fancy desolderers they talk about here (I don't), it is risky and very tedious trying to do it with desoldering braid. I figured if I couldn't handle soldering them in correctly in the first place, what would make me think I could desolder them correctly after the fact. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Steve Kavanagh Sent: Wednesday, January 04, 2006 11:17 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Relay Removal ? OK, while everyone seems to be on the subject of stupidity...I just found I installed two of Elecraft's ubiquitous latching relays incorrectly (after several checks to make sure it was done right !). Has anyone ever successfully unsoldered one without serious damage to either the relay or the board ? If so what technique did you use ? 73, Steve VE3SMA __ Find your next car at http://autos.yahoo.ca ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Side Tone (Choosing the right "music")
Well, sidetone and the tone generated from offset is not transmitted...except into your head via the ear canal which has excess audio bandwidth when listening to CW. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: Nick Waterman [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, January 04, 2006 3:10 PM To: Vic K2VCO Cc: EricJ; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Side Tone (Choosing the right "music") Vic K2VCO wrote: > Not harsh, but boring. But anyway, the reason a pure sine wave is > desirable is that it makes matching pitch with a received signal easier. Well, and bandwidth. A pure sine wave uses, errr, almost zero bandwidth*, whereas one with harmonics needs somewhere to put those. A 500Hz sine wave at 7100kHz is really a sine at 7100.5, whereas a 500Hz sine wave with harmonics at 1000 and 1500 kHz is now using 7100.5, 7101, 7101.5... .. or am I preaching to the choir here? * Yeah, yeah, ok, not quite true as soon as you start modulating it with keying envelopes. -- "Nosey" Nick Waterman, G7RZQ, k2 #5209. #include [EMAIL PROTECTED] It is ten o'clock; do you know where your processes are? ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] OT: Need advice
There's a really good Kenwood reflector on qth.net: > Kenwood mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/kenwood > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.html > Post: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Some very helpful guys over there and some of the same ones are here too! My TS-950SD unfolded like some kind of electronic lotus flower. I think the packaging engineer also made kid's transformer robots. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of V Cortina Sent: Wednesday, January 04, 2006 5:43 PM To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] OT: Need advice Can anyone give me some clue as to whether there is some sort of forum somewhere where I can get information on the disassembly of an old Kenwood dual band rig? I know what the problem is electronically, but I can't get the bleepy blank circuit board out of the unit. Much obliged. Vin Cortina KR2F K1 s/n: 1977 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Nickel Plateing
I've owned and written about motorcycles built all over the world. The best plating I have every seen was always on British motorcycles. Japanese motorcycle plating looks like it's done on plastic. American motorcycle plating LOOKS like plastic. German plating is technically very good but unremarkable. British plating is indescribable. It has subtle depth and tone like no other finish. Somewhere, somehow there is a little shop in England that has survived the demise of the British motorcycle industry and can do a proper job on that Vibroplex. Unfortunately, it won't be like the original which, sad to say was typical of American plating. But after a year what's a little more time to get it right. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com Wishing he still had his Red, White & Blue 1975 Norton Commando 850 Interstate -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Andy GM0NWI Sent: Wednesday, January 04, 2006 10:12 PM To: Elecraft Reflector; QRP-L Reflector Subject: [Elecraft] Nickel Plateing Guy's.. Just wanted to ask,... Does anyone on the list, know of a company in the the US, where I could enquire about having an item here in the shack (UK), re-nickel plated..? The item is, a "1924 Vibroplex Code Martin Junior" morse key, bought by myself on that site that can't be mentioned.. I've spent the best part of a year of my life, "restoring" this key, back to just about fully working order, although not a patch on the restorations (I dont think so anyway) of our very own Chuck Adams K7QO, I'm very pleased with my results for a first time tryin' my hand at a resoration project. There are some who would say, "leave it as is", and others who say "yep, that'll be nice when shineing again"believe me, I have been tossing with both ideas for about a year now...after all you guys saying such things..! I "wondered" in the beginning if the key COULD indeed be "restored", but with a little bit of patience, and a LOT of time, it is once again nearly "fully functional" as it was intended for back in 1924, all parts that were "stuck fast" are now free, and working as they should be, ...the only thing is "cosmetics" really,.. I feel that parts of the key could do, with some "restoration" on the nickel-plating side, as it wont be going anywhere in a hurry, and will stay in my possession, so I think its worth spending the money to have it done. I have looked over the net, but don't have any idea from the names seen, as to who might be interested in the job, mainly as the job will probably be seen as "small lot".. SO..! if there is anyone out there on the list who knows of such a company that might be interested in a "small lot job", or indeed someone who has in the past gotten this done to one of their own keys, say a "ham" out there willing to help me (i.e an address to send the key and some payment to where upon the subsequent "ham" could get the job done, and then send the key back to me in the post (paid by myself of course) , or indeed a "ham" who can help themselves with the key through experience, please can you let me know. Answers On A Postcard To The E-Mail Address Below.. 72's Andy GM0NWI [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] am for the k2
I've been using my K2 as a VFO for my Drake 2-NT for the last several weeks, including SKN this year. Got quite a few "HUH??" reactions. Hi. You can see what's involved at: http://www.ke6us.com/boatanchors.htm I'm retiring it tomorrow, though. I just finished putting a KD1JV DDS controller, DDS-60 and Keyall in a little sloping case that sits by my straight key. Heresy for try boatanchor fans, but it works. Not sure why anyone would want to put a K2 on AM. There are so many great old boatanchors available for AM. Not only do you get a rig MADE for AM, you get a rig that reminds you of the K2's place in history. Spend a week or so with some 60's gear, even very good receivers like my 2-B, and you will be reminded how very far engineers like Wayne Burdick and his contemporaries have brought the state of receiver art. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of David Toepfer Sent: Monday, January 09, 2006 6:17 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Sean Duncan; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: RE: [Elecraft] am for the k2 I know of at least one AM'er I saw online that ised his K2 as a (n expensive) VFO for this tube transmitter. You won't find AM'ers always "on frequency", as most old vfo's are only accurate to 5kHz (1kHz with Collins). I have thought of playing with AM (tx and rx) with a K1 or K2 when I get one. But I would doubt Elecraft themselves would bother with such endeavors, especially on a rig that is designed to be such a fine CW rig. The issues I think I would encounter are: rx: 1) detection: cut the BFO and perhaps insert a diode detector 2) bandwidth: would have to open up to at least 4kHz tx: 1) modulation: you could just drop a book on the key in CW mode and then you need to modulate with voice, one way might be via series PDM modulation David, K3TUE ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] lambic paddle
Be careful what you wish for... Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Kalkwarf Robert Sent: Monday, January 09, 2006 7:06 PM To: Elecraft K2 Subject: [Elecraft] lambic paddle Hi, Looking for Hexkey, Kent, Kent-Two, Schurr (basically a good paddle). Please reply offline to [EMAIL PROTECTED] tnx, Bob K7RLK (K2-5036) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] re: Bug Tamer
I just picked up a 1923 Vibroplex Original. I haven't used a bug in 40 years so I have about 25 years of electronic keyer to unlearn. Maybe only 12.5 years because I only have to unlearn the dah side. I was looking all over the house for a clothespin. No luck. But I did find some brass tuning that slips over the end of the arm. I cut a 2 inch piece and crimped it very slightly so it would not fly off in a heated QSO. I drilled a fishing weight I found in a drawer so I could slide it over the brass tubing, then ran a self tapping screw through the side to hold it in place. Without the extender, I can't get the dits below about 22-25 wpm. With the extender, I can get reliable dits down to about 14-15 wpm. And slide it up to get what I want...I'm doing OK at around 18 now, but too many flubs to go on the air with it yet. There seems to be quite a resurgence in CW activity with the birth of the SKCC group. It's amazing to hear so many straight keys and bugs just about any time of day or night now. Straight key night every night! It really is fun using old keys with a modern rig like the K2. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com SKCC 86 -Original Message- It's not very pretty, but a great way to slow down your bug is to clip an old-fashioned spring-type clothespin to the thumbscrews of the weights. You can wrap solder around the ears of the clothespin to add more weight and slow those dits down to match your dahs! 73, Chuck NI0C ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] PAR antenna on 80 meters
I sometimes do that to use my TH7DX on 30m. The K1 and K2 have no problem loading it on 40m and 80m too, but it doesn't hear or radiate very well. Still it's usable in a pinch. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Grif Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2006 7:41 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Elecraft] PAR antenna on 80 meters Greetings, all- Here is a small tidbit of possibly useful information in this period of low sunspot activity, which probably everybody but me knew anyway. The PAR EndFedZ is a popular backpacking or portable semi-QRP (25 watts maximum) multi-band antenna covering 40, 20, and 10 meters. (It will also cover 30, 20, and 10 if the wire "stinger" is shortened.) Being a half-wave antenna, no radials are needed. I found that if both sides of the coax coming out of the PAR matchbox are tied together and treated like a random wire, the internal tuner in my Icom IC-703 would match it on 80 meters, with a resulting SWR of 1.2. I used about a 34 ft. counterpoise with this setup. I'm looking forward to seeing if the internal tuner in my KX-1 with the forthcoming 80 meter board will also match it. The IC-703 was unable to get a match on the WARC bands or on 15 meters. Sorry. I think a more robust tuner could probably match those bands as well. An experiment for another day. 73, Grif, KF4JG Sorry, the previous attempt to send this had unacceptable formatting embedded in the text. I don't know how much went through, but some of it got bounced. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Anyone hear of an available K2?
You'll be operating the best ham transceiver you probably ever owned. Why would you feel bad about that? Besides ham radio, I love motorcycles. I've owned at least two dozen of them. I've been able to fix them, modify them and enjoy riding them, and believe it or not, I didn't build a single one of them. Enjoy the K2. It's a great rig. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com (Swedish Pump Key added) SKCC 86 -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Stephen W. Kercel Sent: Tuesday, February 07, 2006 3:08 PM To: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Anyone hear of an available K2? Elecrafters: After weighing all the suggestions from many list members, I've decided to have Alan, w1hyv, build a new rig for me. I feel really bad about not building my own. 73, Steve AA4AK ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Graphite K1?
Congrats on winning ARS Skinny Division, Gil. They'll all be copying you next month. Hi. Maybe a letter to Dragonplate will get you some freebies...at least some race stickers to put on your next creation. Graphite side plates for a K1/K2? Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Gil Stacy Sent: Thursday, February 09, 2006 7:24 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: RE: [Elecraft] K2 in Kauai--Jackite Pole Experience? Any suggestions as to how to collapse one that has been up for over 6 mos. and seems to be stuck open? It's pretty thin-walled in comparison to my Spiderbeam pole and I don't want to crush it. 73, Gil NN4CW ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Checking out noise blanker
Some guys just know how to party... Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Thom R LaCosta Sent: Sunday, February 19, 2006 12:32 AM To: Harvey Howell Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Checking out noise blanker On Fri, 17 Feb 2006, Harvey Howell wrote: > take off the sweater Lo these many years ago, if I had a noise blanker and could enlist the aid of some buxom young thing to help with QRN reduction! Thom ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Re: K2 Power Calibration
Yes, Don converted me a long time ago. I've tried most of the wattmeters for QRP work and nothing has given me more confidence in what I am measuring than the DL-1 and an accurate DMM. Less is more. I put my DL-1 in an Altoids tin and printed a nice convenient chart to go in the lid. You can see it here and download the Excel spreadsheet used to generate the chart: http://www.ke6us.com/accessories.htm BTW, my K2 gets a lot of use in off-beat projects. It served me well as a VFO for my Drake boatanchor station. It will soon be keyed with a 1923 Vibroplex Original and receive to a 1920's Western Union Sounder for use on a couple of American Morse nets. It's good to see all the old stuff playing so well with a state-of-the-art rig like the K2. http://www.ke6us.com/telegraph.htm Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Craig D. Smith Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2006 5:52 PM To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Re: K2 Power Calibration I second what Don said about using the Elecraft DL-1 for power measurement. Recently finished my K2 and found the DL-1 to be invaluable - Everyone should have one. I must have used it 10 times already, including today when I installed the 160 m option. I put the power vs. voltage formula that comes with the DL-1 into an Excel spreadsheet and just enter the DC voltage and get an accurate power reading in seconds. Have a matrix of power out on each band so I can see if it changes over time. 73 ... Craig AC0DS ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Drift-K1
It is sensitive to electromagnetic fields (speaker, rotor control, and PS) if they are closer than about a foot or so. So is the K2. But mine isn't sensitive to orientation. Maybe orientation puts it closer to an em field on your operating desk. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Darwin, Keith Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2006 1:04 PM To: Elecraft Discussion List Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Drift-K1 My K1 is very sensitive to placement. If I pick it up or turn it upside down, I can hear it shift up or down in frequency. If I move a speaker near the rig (or a PS) it moves a lot. If I just leave it alone it stays right on frequency. Does this sound like normal behavior? - Keith KD1E - ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] KXPD1 cold WX operation?
I can't help directly since a cold day outside here would be anything below room temperature. But try Paul, W0RW, the pedestrian mobile expert. He's out in the CO cold at night in winter. If it is a chronic problem, I bet he has seen it and solved it. [EMAIL PROTECTED] Post the solution if you find one. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of n0tu/Steve Sent: Sunday, March 12, 2006 6:24 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] KXPD1 cold WX operation? Has anyone come up with a solution for their KXPD1 for cold wx operation? Or a modification not using the rubber pads? ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] RE: ridge vent as antenna?
I have a commercial balloon rating (gas and hot air) so it was inevitable that I would try a balloon antenna. As someone on here mentioned, it is not a practical solution if there is any appreciable wind or there are any hazards such as power lines. However, I have used them to raise a thin 160 meter vertical in the evening when propagation came up and the winds died down. I didn't have much of a radial system and nothing to compare it to, but it worked fine all night long. Helium lifts about 1 ounce (28 grams) per cubic foot so you need to keep the weight of the antenna down. And you don't just want to lift the wire. You want enough additional lift to put a little tension on it. Don't forget the weight of the balloon as well. Obviously you have to lift that as well. I would think if a guy lived in Amarillo and knew Jack B. Kelly he could put up a rotating balloon beam on 160. The alternative would be hydrogen, but it's very tricky to handle and only has about 5% more lifting power. In Europe they race gas balloons with hydrogen, but have to coat the inside with graphite so they don't let the smoke out. In the U.S. we always used helium. You could always tell a European team here in the U.S. because they were covered in sooty-looking graphite. I wouldn't mess with it unless your liability and life insurance are sufficient. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, March 27, 2006 3:30 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] RE: ridge vent as antenna? In a message dated 3/27/06 5:31:57 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > The problem with balloon lofted antennas is you cannot often have the > balloons only go straight up. A special type of aerodynamic balloon, called a kitoon, was developed to deal with the problem. Bacically it was a blimp with inflated wings. In still air it was a balloon, but when the wind blew it would turn itself into the windd (reducing drag) and the wings would provide some lift, helping to reduce the lean-over effect. WW2 military thing, IIRC. They used hydrogen instead of helium, Made the hydrogen in a chemical process involving water and a dry chemical. I still prefer a tree and slingshot, or a mast. 73 de Jim, N2EY ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Ballons and Gas (WAS: ridge vent as antenna?)
No question, hydrogen can be handled safely. I didn't make it clear, but I was recommending against a ham generating their own hydrogen for a 160m balloon. Given the cost of helium and the flinty skin of most hams, some would try it. The Europeans race gas balloons all the time without any drama, but they know what they are doing. It used to cost us about $1600 to fill a 30,000 cu. ft balloon with helium and it's good for only one flight. Someone else mentioned one of the problems with a gas balloon as an antenna. As it cools, the gas contracts, and with less volume, it descends, so you need enough excess helium to assure it will still have enough lift when it contracts. In the manned balloons, we left the appendix at the bottom wide open. Of course the helium wants to stay in the balloons since it rises so there is no problem with it being open. During the day, the gas heats up and instead of expanding the balloon and risking a rupture, it vents out the bottom appendix, but in the evening when it cools and contracts, it sucks air in and contaminates the helium. You compensate by ballasting. That's what limits the flight...eventually the helium is too contaminated to produce enough lift and you are looking for things to throw overboard. That won't happen with a latex balloon that would be sealed at the bottom. Anyway, the expense is a problem, but for the possibility of an outstanding 160m signal in a contest, it might be worth looking into. Keep in mind that it could be a useful way to EXTEND an existing vertical. Since you are only lifting the extension, the size of the balloon and therefore the expense will be less. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ron D'Eau Claire Sent: Monday, March 27, 2006 6:35 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Ballons and Gas (WAS: ridge vent as antenna?) Very interesting Eric! Of course, along that line of hydrogen safety, the Hindenburg was a HELIUM dirigible. Although the Germans had an excellent safety record with hydrogen, they understood the danger vs. small extra lift from using that gas and the Zeppelin company designed the Hindenburg to use the safer helium gas. Unfortunately, the Nazi party had taken control of the German government by the time the helium was needed and the USA - who had the only supply available - decided not to allow the export of the helium gas to Nazi Germany. So the Hindenburg flew with hydrogen in her lift cells. After all, the Graf Zeppelin had flown over a million miles safely with hydrogen. The Hindenburg herself hundreds of thousand miles with hydrogen in her lift cells before, on her second long voyage of 1937, regrettably flew into history. Makes one wonder what aviation history had been like if she were carrying helium as originally planned... Ron AC7AC ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Balloons and Gas (WAS: ridge vent as antenna?)
I have 20 minutes of right seat time in my logbook in the Goodyear blimp! I traded a flight in the blimp for some training time in my balloon for the captain. I can tell you the Goodyear blimps are not a smooth ride. They "hobby horse" through the air and there is no more apt description than that. Hi. I have no idea what the big airships were like, and can't confirm or refute the stories. However, because of the relatively slow speeds, they become more a part of a given air mass and move with them where a much faster airplane is more likely to fly into them in a more confrontational manner. Hi. I never operated ham radio from my balloon. As a pilot, you are pretty busy, esp. if you have excited passengers, but I would think it would intrude too much on a wonderful experience to chit chat with someone on the ground. I'm sure it has been done, though. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ron D'Eau Claire Sent: Tuesday, March 28, 2006 12:08 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Balloons and Gas (WAS: ridge vent as antenna?) Jim, N2EY wrote: Dirigibles/zeppelins couldn't go high enough to get above bad weather, nor fast enough to outrun/outflank it. Nor could they be made rugged enough to go through bad weather without being so heavy they'd not have much payload... - Ah, but the Zeppelin gave us a bit of technology that serves so well even today: the ever faithful and effective "Zepp" antenna and all its many derivatives! Who can run open wire line to an end-fed dipole without imagining they hear the rumble of the Zeppelin's engines somewhere in the far distance? Airships never went away, of course. They simply became things most folks were afraid to board, thanks to that classic bit of news footage of the Hindenburg's end. Smaller non-rigid airships served in huge numbers in WWII and they've been around ever since doing survey work, hauling heavy equipment and, of course, as moving billboards. Now a few companies are developing modern dirigibles for use in passenger and freight service once again. One such company is here in the Northwest USA. The fact that heavier-than-aircraft provide a rough ride in bad weather has given rise to the mistaken idea that the big lighter-than-airships did too. There was a fellow who made a number of crossings on both the Graf Zeppelin and the Hindenburg who became somewhat famous among Zeppelin travelers. Soon after departure he'd place a fountain pen, balanced on end, on a table in the passenger lounge and take bets on how long it'd stay upright. Frequently the pen was still upright when they tied up at the mooring mast at their destination a day or two later. In really rough weather the big airships were reported to sway gently, but that was all. I suspect that airships, like Morse code, "shortwave" radio and a lot of other technology some folks assume are obsolete will be with us for a long, long time yet. Maybe we'll even get to work an aircraft mobile aboard a real dirigible again one day! Using CW of course... Ron AC7AC ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] High Altitude Solder
I was impressed with the added performance from using HA solder on my K1 SN 1976 at altitude, but I thought the advantages were quickly lost from having to store the K1 in an altitude chamber when I got home. I'm not seeing the full 22% increase that some are seeing since the mountains around here are limited to around 11,000+'. I built my chamber from an old Pelican case and a C&H dry vane vacuum pump. I stick a pocket altimeter inside to monitor "vacuum" and maintain it at the 18,000' specified for HA solder in long-term storage. I have a quick disconnect fitting so I can unplug the Pelican case from the pump and it maintains "altitude" long enough for me to get back to the mountains. Details on my web site. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Lynn Burlingame Sent: Saturday, April 01, 2006 9:58 AM To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] High Altitude Solder I plan to do a lot of mountaintopping in the next few years and will be assembling a K1 for this specific use. I need to locate a good source for MILSPEC high altitude solder that meets Elecraft's specifications and will not void the warranty. The reported 22% increase in equipment efficiency will make the extra expense worthwhile. Does anybody know of a vendor that still sells it? Are there any special precautions or procedures for using this solder? Lynn N7CFO ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] KAF2 or KDSP2 for K2 #5287
Same here, Dave. I operate for fun. When signals are so bad I have to crank in $300 filters, it's time to find someone stronger or QRT. I can't imagine a QSO so important that I have to strain to hear it. I had a KAF2 and had a chance to sell it to save for a KDSP2. I found I could still do what I do with the built-in crystal filters. Others have other requirements, of course. Eric KE6US -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Dave Lowenstein Sent: Thursday, April 06, 2006 9:49 AM To: Elecraft Group Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KAF2 or KDSP2 for K2 #5287 I find the crystal filter more than adequate for my type of CW operation and have felt no need to add any audio filtering. 73, Dave N7AF - Original Message - From: "Darwin, Keith" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Elecraft Group" Sent: Thursday, April 06, 2006 9:14 AM Subject: RE: [Elecraft] KAF2 or KDSP2 for K2 #5287 Great reply Vic, Let's widen the question to make it KAF2 or KDSP2 or NOTHING? Does the basic K2's crystal filtering work well enough that you (any of you) would be happy with no AF filtering or does the AF/DSP filtering add enough that you wouldn't want to be without it? - Keith KD1E - ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] WA3WSJ's EPA Skunk Works Site - Check it out!
And Kelly Johnson's other masterpiece, the SR-71 Blackbird. A wire resonant vertical antenna doesn't exactly fit the image of the cutting edge technology associated with the Skunk Works. Not to mention that Lockheed Martin owns both the name and the skunk logo that EPA Skunk Works has appropriated. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Fred Jensen Sent: Friday, April 07, 2006 10:26 AM To: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] WA3WSJ's EPA Skunk Works Site - Check it out! Hmmm ... be careful. Lockheed (now Lockheed Martin and not related to the inventor of the Retro-Encabulator) may have a trademark registered on "Skunk Works." It became fairly famous for secret airplanes such as the U2 and F-117A. Fred K6DGW Edward R. Breneiser wrote: > Hello all! > > I liked the EPA Skunk Works name so much that I created a Skunk Works > area on my website. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] WA3WSJ's EPA Skunk Works Site - Check it out!
Actually, quite a bit of the original Skunk Works stayed at Burbank at least into the late 70's and early 80's. A good friend of mine was an engineer there and often had to make late night runs into work to supervise lifting some exotic flight surface out of a jig. That's the extent of my knowledge of his work. Any further questions were deflected with a statement about band conditions or some such. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ron D'Eau Claire Sent: Friday, April 07, 2006 11:02 AM To: 'Elecraft Reflector' Subject: RE: [Elecraft] WA3WSJ's EPA Skunk Works Site - Check it out! A-yep. Skunk Works(r) is a registered trademark of Lockheed-Martin Corporation. It began during WWII in Burbank, California but later moved to more "secure" quarters. Anyone heard of "Groom Lake" or "Area 51"? That's them! (Or part of them). Still, many companies and organizations have called the location where their 'secret' new product development is going on the "company skunk works". As in all of those still trying to figure out exactly where the Elecraft "skunk works" are located...Hi! Ron AC7AC -Original Message- Hmmm ... be careful. Lockheed (now Lockheed Martin and not related to the inventor of the Retro-Encabulator) may have a trademark registered on "Skunk Works." It became fairly famous for secret airplanes such as the U2 and F-117A. Fred K6DGW Edward R. Breneiser wrote: > Hello all! > > I liked the EPA Skunk Works name so much that I created a Skunk Works > area on my website. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] LED light
I thought they were all white. Mine is. I slip a piece of red acetate between the LED and case sometimes, but the LED itself is white. Eric KE6US Ww.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Alexandra Carter Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2006 1:35 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] LED light The LED light in the KX1 is red, and will not allow you to read color codes. That is not its purpose. 73 de Alex NS6Y ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] K2 Calibration using WWV
And the K1 is all the better for it too with the silkiest tuning of the bunch. I'm also mystified by the compulsion to measure operating frequency on a ham BAND to a few Hz. Assuming I'm inside the band, the only frequency of interest to me is the person I'm in QSO with. I want to be close to that frequency, but I really don't care what that frequency actually is. A super accurate display doesn't tell me if I am on the other guys frequency...there easier ways to determine that. Maybe operating for a day with something like my Drake 2-B/2-NT would be a good replacement for the code requirement. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, April 25, 2006 5:30 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 Calibration using WWV btw, although the K1 has a processor, it's closer to the SX-28 in basic design (!). -- One thing that I find somewhat amusing is the enoromous attention given to getting exact QRG down to a few Hz. For specialized uses, that sort of accuracy might be needed, but I'm much more interested in things like dynamic range, selectivity quality, etc. - differences you can hear! 73 de Jim, N2EY ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Adventurous QRPers needed
Gee, very long hours over 2 days, difficult working conditions, no pay or recognition, and $3.50 gas to support a tiny handful of people who intentionally put themselves at risk...I'm surprised hams aren't lined up around the block for this one, Ron. Eric KE6US Lazy Ham www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ron Sent: Friday, May 12, 2006 6:02 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Adventurous QRPers needed This is for all of you who love to go out and get away portable, QRP. I am a person who has become involved in ultra marathon running. For those of you who aren't familiar. Ultra marathons are anything over 26.2 miles (marathon distance). They are usually 100 mile races, with 50 mile distance included, and also 50 kilometers (31 miles). It has come to my attention that Ultra Marathons have difficulty getting support from ham radio. Most of this reason is laziness. Most hams just want to go out and play with their radios for a few hours. They aren't willing to go out and provide support all night long. They aren't willing to go to difficult places. The kind of places you can only hike into. Or perhaps ride a horse into. Also these Ultra's last for 31 hours or more. Bear in mind! I really don't think the Ultra people are looking for the kind of support that just makes things more convenient. They are looking for communications when it is most needed. Perhaps starting half way through the race. To provide communications when things get dangerous for the runners. Things can get very ugly for the runners. If one of them drops, they might not get up. This is what the Ultra community worries about in "support". ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] KX1 Mojo /PM
You better have something to feed them. Conga lines make bears very hungry. Eric KE6US -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Stephen Brandt Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2006 9:49 PM To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX1 Mojo /PM Hi Gang, When going into "Bear Country", besides the pepper spray, take two sticks. Bang them together at frequent intervals and shout "hi bear". Let them know that you are coming. You are much better off. 73, Steve Brandt N7VS Portland, Oregon > > Last night I finally got around to it. Hustler whip in back pocket. KX1 > > That seriously does sound like fun. > > > signals on 20. Dog Josey standing by just in case I saw a bear. > > John N0EVH (Every volt helps) > > Since you bring up bears. I'd like to pass on a letter for all you > QRPers who like to go out in the wilderness. > > The U.S. Department of Agriculture in cooperation with Canadian authorities > have issued an official bear warning. This is due to the recent > increase in > bear attacks. Since most of these attacks are directly attributed to > surprising the bears. You are advised, when in bear territory, to wear > a little bell and to carry pepper spray. You are also advised, since > Black bears are far more doscile than Brown bears, to try to determine > what kind of bear is in your area. This is easily done by examining their waste. Black > bear waste contains little bits of berries, insects, and such. Brown > bear waste contains little bells and smells like pepper. > > > Ron Pyle > Hot Springs, SD > When being chased by a bear. You don't have to outrun the bear. You > just have to outrun the other guy. > Beware of kisses from Pit Bulls...They might have the flu... > > ___ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Wha'ts Wrong With Our Radios (WAS:NewProducts, Building Demo, T-Shirts, Amp and More.)
Geez, Ron...that's actually brilliant! Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ron D'Eau Claire Sent: Wednesday, May 24, 2006 10:49 AM To: 'Elecraft Reflector' Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Wha'ts Wrong With Our Radios (WAS:NewProducts,Building Demo, T-Shirts, Amp and More.) What I don't understand is why we keep putting small gear in little rectangular boxes. Picture a 100 watt KX1 tilted up at a 45 degree angle with a base and having the same thickness but a panel size of, say, 14x18 inches (35X45 cm) with suitable knobs and meters... Ron AC7AC ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] re: Nixie tube display for the K2
You could replace the crystal with a DDS vfo similar to the KX1, or you could USE the KX1. I used my K2 as a VFO for my Drake 2-NT crystal controlled "Novice" rig. Worked very well, but tied up my K2. Now I use an AmQRP DDS-60 with a KD1JV controller and Jackson Harbor Keyall as a dedicated VFO for the little Drake. http://www.ke6us.com/boatanchors_drake.htm Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com SKCC 86 -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, June 08, 2006 6:34 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Elecraft] re: Nixie tube display for the K2 Way cool - Now I don't feel so bad. Along side my K1 build, I am working on an building a "Novice Special" 12 watt transmitter - think 70s qst - uses a 6c4 and a 5763 tube. After I get the base transmitter working, I want to replace the Crystal with a DDS vfo similar to the one in the KX1. All this came about when I was scrapping out an old Heathkit condenser checker with a green eye tube. the empty chassis screamed for such a project. Well - time to inventory my pocket protector now ;) -73s Pete Pete Axson WD4LST 17901 NE 18th Ave Citra, FL 32113 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] KB3NNP Interview
With your help, she must be getting real close to 15 minutes on the Fame-o-Meter by now. Remind me. She invented Morse Code or she accidentally discovered she is somehow related to the inventor? Eric KE6US -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ron Polityka Sent: Monday, July 31, 2006 12:39 PM To: .Elecraft Subject: [Elecraft] KB3NNP Interview Hello, Diana Morse, KB3NNP, was interviewed by Dave Bushong of 99 Hobbies web site. It is now on the web site. http://99hobbies.blogspot.com/2006/07/conversation-with-morse.html 72 and Thanks, Ron Polityka WB3AAL www.wb3aal.com www.n3epa.org ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] KB3NNP Interview
Nothing. I just thought from Ron's level of promotion on all QRP lists, she had done something special. Consider the post my way of ensuring I get on Ron's SPAM list. Eric KE6US _ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, July 31, 2006 6:26 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KB3NNP Interview In a message dated 7/31/06 5:44:35 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Remind me. She invented Morse Code or she accidentally discovered she is somehow related to the inventor? She's a relatively new ham who has lots of enthusiasm and energy, loves Morse Code, uses the mode, and has generated some positive publicity for both Amateur Radio and Morse Code. With all due respect: What's the problem with that? 73 de Jim, N2EY ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Should You Built It? Not necessarily
I'm sorry, but the idea of "bonding" with inanimate objects is beyond my understanding. I built my K1. It is a fine little radio. Better than anything I could buy manufactured in its class. That's why I bought it. I would part with it in a heartbeat if something that better suited my needs became available, but there isn't anything right now. That seems to be the thinking of everyone on ebay.com, the QRP-L list and even this list who have put their K1 or K2 up for sale. They aren't selling it because they failed to bond with it. They are selling it because it no longer suits their needs (technical, financial, tastes, whatever). And used K1/K2's command a high price...higher than similar rigs. That's because they work so well. The second owner isn't interested in bonding with a radio. They are interested in using it. And it better perform. These radios DO. I built my K1 as a test of my interest in building a K2. The last kit I built was a DX-35 that I got for my 15th birthday. No disrespect to those who enjoy building kits, but, to me, it was kind of boring. I enjoy homebrewing, and I have even started breadboarding circuits in the K1 to learn more about it. I didn't learn much at all from building it. I already knew how to take inventory, solder and use a screwdriver. And I haven't needed to get involved with the construction of my car, my motorcycle, my house or my other ham gear to enjoy them to the fullest. My point isn't to demean those who ENJOY building kits. I can understand where it would be enjoyable for many. My point is to address those who are intimidated by building a kit of the complexity of the K1 or K2. Some don't have the skills and are not interested in developing them. Some don't have the time what with bonding with family and friends. But it would be a shame for them to have to pass on this extraordinary line of radios. I decided kit building was not for me, but the K2 is. I bought one on ebay, had the professional Elecraft builders upgrade it and make it right and I am VERY pleased with the result. I didn't assemble it myself, but that doesn't diminish my enjoyment of this incredible radio one bit. And if I hadn't bought one on ebay, I would have bought a new one and had one of the pro's put it together while I continued to enjoy my K1. If you want to build one, fine. But if you don't, get someone else to do it. Either way, you end up with one of the best radios in its class to enjoy ham radio. And that's the point. Eric KE6US -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2005 6:13 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Should You Built It? Steve, Ron: To echo comments by Kevin and others, you really need to be involved in the construction of your rig. In addition to the other benefits that have been pointed out, I can assure you that you will experience an intangible "bonding" to the radio that will last forever. It's kind of like raising a puppy. Other radios will come and go, but you'll find yourself unable to part with one you built. No amount of money (well, it would take a lot!) can substitute for this feeling, which is the REAL pride of ownership. 73, Jim K5HO ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] K2 L33 (BFO) - aesthetics & adhesives
I'd find out what that stuff is Elecraft uses to mask holes in the enclosure. That stuff could be used to prefab houses. Eric KE6US -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Stuart Rohre Sent: Friday, April 01, 2005 2:21 PM To: Mike Markowski; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 L33 (BFO) - aesthetics & adhesives You can get quality 3M electrical tape at Home Depot/ Lowe's in various colors to have something that does not look like "electrical tape". White is available, orange, and many other colors. You can use a wide tape, such as the clear vinyl tapes sold at home centers. While Scotch type tapes will work, their adhesive might have problems over time, as they are designed for paper, not metal. -Stuart K5KVH ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Elecraft CW Net Report for April 3rd and 4th, 2005
I guess I was in the "one or two" that were missed. I should have looked up your call to see where you were. Had the beam towards 5-land and could barely hear you. I called and you picked up a letter or two, I think. I finally figured out you are in OR off the side of the beam. I got the beam turned around, and could hear you 579, but then I couldn't hear anyone else off the OTHER side of the beam. I didn't see much fun in that so I went back to the County Hunters up the band 6 or 7 kc. Maybe when Tom, N0SS, is helping out and I can keep the beam on the East Coast. Otherwise I think I'm going to save the wear-and-tear on my rotor. Hi. Eric KE6US -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Kevin Rock Sent: Sunday, April 03, 2005 8:28 PM To: Elecraft Subject: [Elecraft] Elecraft CW Net Report for April 3rd and 4th, 2005 We had a pleasant net this evening. I met some new folks and got reacquainted with some of the others. Weak signals on 20 meters so I may have missed one or two. Sorry about that. But on 40 meters it was much better. There were certain parts of the continent which were much easier to work this evening. NJ, VA, ON, MN, ND, IN and PA were pretty easy. WA and CT were so strong I had to turn down my gain. But W7UR from MT had the hottest signal. Helena, Montana to Buxton, Oregon must be attached somehow. Very strong signal Ci! ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] next up: advice about what girl to marry!
Steve, I started with a straight key. In 1957, I think MOST hams used straight keys. Most emerging novices couldn't afford more than a surplus J-38 and there were only a few bugs available. Electronic keyers didn't clean up CW. The percentage of bad fists on the air then with straight keys was about the same as it is today with electronic keyers. They just offer different opportunities to mangle the code. I agree with Don that a straight key trains you to learn and appreciate proper spacing if you have someone who can give you feedback. But I don't necessarily agree that you should start there. Try them all. Find out what suits you. They are all fun. But get someone to help you with the timing. My main advice to anyone is to SLOW DOWN. Most of the bad fists with keyers are because the dots are cranked up to 35 wpm and they are still struggling to copy 15. There is a nameless ham on one of the several cw nets I am on who has NEVER sent my call properly. His only consistency is a self standing dah followed by a string of 7 dits for the 6 in my call. The rest of it is so mangled I only know its for me is that I was the last one to send something. As for iambic vs non-iambic, I never saw the point of iambic. Any efficiency from saving 2 microcalories in a 24 hour period somehow escapes me. But let's not start that one again. So I only have three pieces of advice. Use whatever key appeals to you. Don't send faster than you can receive. The second marriage is the best one, so get the first one out of the way. Eric KE6US ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Re: 'Threat' to 30m
Yes, I agree. I think the proposed proposal (?) with its implicit QRO, high bandwidth unattended transmissions is clearly against the QRP, narrow bandwidth (cw, psk31, etc.) trend on the crowded HF frequencies. Unattended pactor stations on 20 are like big yellow Hummers in a crowded parking lot. They need more restriction, not less. Eric KE6US -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Dave Sergeant Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2005 3:11 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Re: 'Threat' to 30m On 5 Apr 2005 at 4:01, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > While nothing has been formally proposed yet and the details being > discussed have changed a bit over the past year or so, the current > thinking of the ARRL board is that the 3 kHz bandwidth would be > permitted not over the whole 30 meter band but only between > 10.135-10.150 kHz (see > http://www.arrl.org/announce/ec_minutes_475.html) where I doubt there > is much, if any, CW activity (data modes are currently permitted on > the whole band, but tend to exist at the upper end--the proposed > changes would LIMIT wider bandwidth to this region). There is nothing new in this, it is clearly outlined in the April QST. It certainly has no bearing whatsoever on CW usage of 30m, in Europe at least, where practically all CW is below 10125 or so. But it may give the SSB chaps more clout in getting access to the band, that IS a threat... 73 Dave G3YMC http://www.davesergeant.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] next up: advice about what girl to marry!
THAT would be SCARY! Eric KE6US -Original Message- From: Mark Bayern [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2005 10:09 AM To: EricJ Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] next up: advice about what girl to marry! On Apr 5, 2005 11:56 AM, EricJ <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > There is a nameless ham on one of the several cw nets I am on who > has NEVER sent my call properly. His only consistency is a self > standing dah followed by a string of 7 dits for the 6 in my call. Maybe he's sending six dits for the 6? :) Wonder what he'd do to my call? Mark AD5SS ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] K2 xtal filters: pitch changes from one to next
I wouldn't mind a few more words explaining that as it applies to the K2. Eric KE6US -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of John D'Ausilio Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2005 12:27 PM To: Andrew Moore Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 xtal filters: pitch changes from one to next In a word ... D/A resolution de John/W1RT On Apr 5, 2005 3:19 PM, Andrew Moore <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > When I use the K2's XFIL button to change the filter bandwidth, the > pitch of the received signal changes slightly (+/- 10 kHz) from one to > the next. What's the explanation? > > Thanks, > --Andrew > > ___ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com > ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Continuing Availability of the SMD LED CW TuningIndicator
Since I never use XIT on the K1, I programmed that button to bring up StP. I think they describe that in the K1 manual. Now it performs exactly like the SPOT button on the K2. It turns on the sidetone and now all you have to do it match the received cw to the sidetone. Basically, when you can't hear the cw anymore, it is matching the sidetone and you are zero beat. Eric KE6US -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2005 1:15 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Continuing Availability of the SMD LED CW TuningIndicator In a message dated 4/5/05 17:57:03 GMT Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I've received a BUNCH of inquiries from folks who (for one reason or the other) missed out on the LED CW (Zero Beat) Tuning Indicator feeding frenzy which took place back in Nov-Dec '04 and Jan '05.. This brings up an interesting question: how do most folks zero beat the KX1 and the K1 without the reference beat available on the K2? Is there a better way than just sort of guessing (my technique so far)? Ci Jones WU7R ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] Tuning Knob for K2
I'm still looking myself. The two I see recommended are for the FT-100 and FT900. You can get info on the FT-900 knob atit at http://www.qsl.net/w3fpr/index.htm. I like the size, but I want something with a recessed finger dimple. I went to HRO and measured a bunch of likely candidates. The TS-570 knob looked good, but it is 30 bucks! The FT-900 knob is reputedly about 10 bucks. I also looked at the Icom R75 which is the same diameter (1-3/4") and the FT-847 which is an 1/8" smaller. Both have the recessed finger dimple. I haven't had a chance to price any of them other than Kenwood (they have prices on the Internet), but I'll post what I find. I'm also looking for something better for the K1. I want something a little bigger and rubber covered because the knob is so sharp. I bought the add-on finger dimple from Elecraft and, while it is great for rapid QSY, it has a sharp edge and it sticks out too far so it is always in my way when I am fine tuning. I want a recessed dimple. I looked at the TS-480SAT knob. It's only 1-1/2" in diameter, but it is also 30 bucks. I'm still looking. Some of the guys have resorted to buying turnips at the local supermarket to get the rubber bands for their K2 knobs. I'm not there yet. Eric KE6US -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Brent Sutphin WB4X Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2005 7:19 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Tuning Knob for K2 I would like to replace the tuning knob on my K2. I have seem several post here about replacements. Could someone let me know which knob to get and where I might find one. Thanks Brent WB4X ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Resistor Color Code Guide
Well, we went through ways the military taught code practice. Here's how the military taught me to remember the color code including tolerance: Bad Boys Rape OurYoung Girls But Violet Gives Willingly for Gold Silver or Nothing Black Brown Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Violet Gray White 5% 10% 20% I've remembered it for 43 years. And that's the clean one. Eric KE6US -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of W3FPR - Don Wilhelm Sent: Saturday, April 09, 2005 5:11 PM To: Richard Thorne; elecraft Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Resistor Color Code Guide Rich, My 8 year old grandson grasped the resistor/capacitor color code in about 15 minutes of sorting resistors. Buy one of those resistor 'grab-bags' and sort them - when you are finished, you should have a good recall of the color code. 73, Don W3FPR > -Original Message- > > I'm slowly but surely gathering the tools and such so I'll have every > thing necessary to build a K2. > > I remember in my earlier ham days that I had a little chart from > RadioShack. You dialed up the colors in the correct order and it gave > you the value of the resistor. It may come in handy during the build. > > I don't think RadioShack carries these any longer, per a quick phone > call I just made. Are there any other sources for something like this? > > ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Antenna Analyzers
I also have the Autek VA-1. For the average ham who enjoys building his own antennas or adjusts and maintains his commercially available antennas, the VA-1 is accurate and has enough features to get the job done. The signed reactance really saves a lot of time. DO NOT LISTEN to the VA-1 signal on a receiver. It will scare you away. It is very raspy and it drifts...but it isn't intended to be a preceision signal source. It does the job it was intended for, and does it very well. Like Steve, I write only to set the record straight with one more example. I can't speak for the MFJ, nor have I read the QST article. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Charles Greene Sent: Friday, April 15, 2005 5:09 AM To: Stephen W. Kercel; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Antenna Analyzers Steve, I take issue with your statement that both the MFJ-269 and the Autek VA1 are "apparently junk." I have the Autek and the MFJ-259B, the model without UHF, and both are quality although inexpensive instruments. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Now that we know
Jeeez, Doug, you're just a kid! I was a field engineer installing huge vacuum tube analog computers (EAI 231R among others) all over the East Coast and southern Canada. Customers included NASA, Pratt & Whitney, Perkin-Elmer and just every Ivy League and Bush League university in that region. Digital stuff was sort of interesting in a primitive way. We interfaced them to analog computers to do the mundane number-crunching and flow control chores while a couple of analog computers accomplished the heavy lifting. I notice there is renewed interest in analog computing. Even with all the gigawhiz CPU's out there, it is hard to beat them for differential equations. They are also more intuitive to program for an engineer. BTW, dug up a 650 simulator you might try. I haven't played with it yet, but it might be interesting. http://infinitefish.com/650/ Eric KE6US -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Douglas Westover Sent: Monday, April 18, 2005 11:34 AM To: Robert McGwier; Elecraft Mail; Kevin Rock Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Now that we know Jeeez, all you guys are just kids! I cut my teeth on an IBM 650 as a Stanford undergrad. OS??? Listen, we entered the boot program through the front panel "switch register". The 650 occupied three large cabinets in a heavily a/c'd room (it was GREAT in the summer!). 2000 10 digit "words", plus sign, of drum memory with an incredible 96 ms add time! Languages? Well there was SOAP, IT and the state-of-the-art FORTRANSIT, which, of course was built on top of ITa very crude early attempt at FORTRAN! SOAP was an assembler that placed instructions on the drum in an optimum fashion to overcome the drum latency. >From the 650 Stanford "upgraded" to a Buroughs 220 which had 10k decimal words of CORE memory! Also tape drives! BALGOL (Burough's dialect of ALGOL) was the language of choice though assembler was still heavily used for those of us who needed real efficiency. Dick Hamming was at Stanford at this time and chatting with him while waiting for output taught me more math and numerical techniques than I had ever learned in the classroom. We also had a (one of 3 built) IBM 797 which was essentially a 650 with core memory and was plug board programmed with a 402 printer plug board! Of course we went through the 7090, B5000 and 360 series. At that point I decided that my interest in computing/radio/electronics got me into real-time computing with HP-2100 series mini computers. I worked for the Stanford Radio Science Lab (and later SRI Remote Measurements Lab) developing control , data acq and processing/display systems for SRI's experimental/test bed OTH radar using single board computers from Ziatech. Man was that ever off topic! I'll mention something "on topic". I saw a new Elecraft thing at the DX Convention in Visalia. Wow!! You QRO guys, start saving your pennies! 73, Doug W6JD - Original Message - From: "Kevin Rock" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Robert McGwier" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "Elecraft Mail" Sent: Sunday, April 17, 2005 2:04 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Now that we know > I never was a Vaxen. I've worked with dozens of operating systems > over the years but not that one. I live in a cloistered world mostly > writing my own software to go with the wire wrapped CPU and memory > card kluge works I have as boxes :) One day I may try VMS and see > what I've been missing. A break from the big three OSes is in order. > I find Lin/Mac/Win constricting. There were other much better OSes in > the early days of mini and micro computers. > > Kevin. KD5ONS > > > On Sun, 17 Apr 2005 20:49:52 +, Robert McGwier > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > wrote: > > > Now that we know I am an ancient computer person, I found a few links: > > > > http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=email+exploder&btnG=Google+Sear > > ch > > > > Bob > > N4HY > > > > > -- > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.9.15 - Release Date: 4/16/2005 > > ___ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/ele
RE: [Elecraft] Now that we know
Of course, you were referring to the fact that us types worked on "old time computers", not that we are "old time" ourselves. -Original Message- From: Douglas Westover [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Amazing the number of old time computer types on the reflector! 73, Doug W6JD ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] SMD-based kits
I think that might hasten Wayne and Eric's retirement!! Eric KE6US -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] We should all buy a spare K2 and put it in our attics. It may enable us to hasten our retirements a few years! ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Antenna Measurements
Very interesting new player in the antenna analyzer wars. And a great job on the operator's manual as well. It will be interesting to see what price develops on ebay.com. Eric KE6US -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Bob - W5BIG Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2005 5:38 AM To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Antenna Measurements During the past two years I've been developing a vector impedance meter for evaluating antennas and it's also useful for discreet components or turned circuits, like traps. I'm offering these now on e_bay. The item number is: 5768437380. I'll be glad to address any questions, and suggestions for new features are always welcome. 73/ Bob - W5BIG ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] SMD-based kits
Toaster oven? My 19 year old son and I live alone. As a result there are a lot of strange melted substances draped over the heating coils in our toaster oven, but solder isn't one of them. Yet...are you serious or is "toaster oven" a slang word for some expensive SMD assembly equipment? Eric KE6US -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Larry Phipps I have no problem with SOIC parts, but the more popular SSOP and TSSOP parts are almost impossible to deal with unless you use some trick like a toaster oven to install the parts prior to other assembly. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] K2 Filters
For a QRPer, adding a DSP would be like a small religious experience. Adding a K100 would be like converting to Satanism. DSP replaces AF. Eric KE6US -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of wx9j Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2005 9:41 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] K2 Filters I would like to know if adding a DSP unit to the K2 will make the KAF2 audio filter obsolete, or if they are used together ? Also I am curious what others think about the following, starting out with a K2, which do you think you would add next , the DSP unit or the 100 W option ? Just got my hands on a new K2 so building should start some time in the next few weeks. Thanks, Jim ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] SMD-based kits
Wow! This changes everything! SMDs look less and less scary almost every day. It's just a matter of a few new skills and the different tools. I knew I shouldn't have thrown that old toaster oven in my garage away! I just KNEW it! Thanks for the link. Eric KE6US -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Larry Phipps Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2005 10:25 AM Cc: 'Elecraft Reflector' Subject: Re: [Elecraft] SMD-based kits Here's one link explaining it, there are others... do a Google search for more. http://www.beloev.net/gbvio.html Larry N8LP EricJ wrote: > Toaster oven? My 19 year old son and I live alone. As a result there >are a lot of strange melted substances draped over the heating coils in >our toaster oven, but solder isn't one of them. Yet...are you serious >or is "toaster oven" a slang word for some expensive SMD assembly equipment? > >Eric >KE6US > >-Original Message- >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Larry Phipps > >I have no problem with SOIC parts, but the more popular SSOP and TSSOP >parts are almost impossible to deal with unless you use some trick like >a toaster oven to install the parts prior to other assembly. > >. > > > ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] FT100 knob
1-714-827-7600 or 1-800-283-7839 They have lots of them. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of William E. Twaddell Sent: Friday, April 22, 2005 2:05 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] FT100 knob Looking for a Yaesu knob for my K2! Any around? Bill N2DH [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] re: NEW ELECRAFT AMPS ...
Just a rough guess...something about like a K2 delivers. Eric KE6US -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Weymouth Walker Sent: Friday, April 22, 2005 6:44 PM To: Elecraft Reflector Subject: [Elecraft] re: NEW ELECRAFT AMPS ... Importance: High Anyone know what the drive requirements are for these new amplifiers? 72/3, Weymouth Walker K8EAB ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] WTB Dow key relay
They shouldn't be hard to find. I saw some on a few of the boat anchor sites for 2 bucks. A lot of signal generators and other similar test equipment of the time used them also so you often see them at swap meets in the milk cartons full of odd cables. And if you need one absolutely right NOW, I remember we used to cut the center pin off a PL-259 connector and screw it on. It was the same threads. It can be a little touchy to get just the right center pin length, but it worked FB on my DX-35 during the brief period that traumatized me on phone and left me a confirmed CW man for 45 years. Eric KE6US -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Larry - WA2DGD Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2005 11:13 AM To: NJQRP-List; Elecraft Reflector Subject: [Elecraft] WTB Dow key relay Hello all, I'm looking to buy a 110 vac Dow Key antenna relay with SO239 connectors. I also am looking for the MIC plug to fit the connector on the Heathkit DX60, can't find them at Mouser, Digikey, etc. Thanks -- 73 Larry WA2DGD ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] When and where can we see pictures of new amp?
The QRO Gods are about to give you guys an early Xmas present, and you keep ripping up the corners of the package to see what's inside. Sit back, enjoy the anticipation and wait for Dayton. Eric KE6US -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Toby Deinhardt Sent: Monday, April 25, 2005 9:16 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] When and where can we see pictures of new amp? > or a kit for the $2800 expected price? $2800 for which configuration (i.e. 800W or 1500W) would also be of interest .. hi hi vy 73 de toby ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] (OT) Baking PC boards in the toaster oven...
Here's the links I was given: This one is seat-of-the-pants style http://www.beloev.net/gbvio.html This one is more sophisticated and more expensive, but still reasonable http://www.circuitcellar.com/library/print/0704/Lacoste_168/ I'm going to try the first one, but if it works, I'm going to build the second one. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ron McDowell - W5RCM / ZS1MCD Sent: Monday, April 25, 2005 9:13 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] (OT) Baking PC boards in the toaster oven... Somebody on here (I think) posted about using a toaster oven to melt solder on a SMD PC board... How long and how hot? I imagine it must be 450+ (farenheit) Thanks! -- 72, Ron McDowell - W5RCM / ZS1MCD w5rcm at volente dot us Austin TX / Hermanus ZA ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] KW Amp
...and comes higher resale value for us. Pictures in QST of the latest high buck Dxpedition running Elecraft K2's and KAMPS on the beaches of Kantgettherefromhea Island will sell a lot of Elecraft gear and make my K1 and K2 more valuable. It's all about generating a buzz...Marketing 101. Eric KE6US -Original Message- And with respect, comes sales, comes profit. Steve, W2MY -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.10.3 - Release Date: 4/25/2005 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] (OT) Baking PC boards in the toaster oven...
-Original Message- Unless you want to buy good equipment, you will be inspecting every joint, doing a lot of touch up and replacing fried components. You'll have a lot of field failures from intermittent joints. Toaster ovens don't make sense. Single cavity ovens could be made to work well if there's a lot of moving air and if the walls of the oven and the air can be kept very close to the temperature profile, including the cool-down phase. [Hams aren't switching to SMTs to avoid having to inspect every board. We will still have to do that with SMTs no matter how we install them.] For experimenters, it makes much more sense to stick with the larger smt sizes and solder them in by hand with a soldering iron and hand-held solder. [Technical hobbies don't advance by doing what "makes more sense." They often advance when some wacky guy commandeers the family toaster oven to solder parts and doesn't burn the house down...or poison them all with lead exposure.] Henry AC5LA [Thanks for the background info, Henry. I never even realized such equipment was used until one of the Elecrafters mentioned the toaster oven idea. There was another article in Circuit Cellar magazine that said commercial ovens also use infrared as well as air convection ovens. All in all, it is pretty amazing technology. It's something I want to try just because it's...well, just because. Eric KE6US ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] K1 3-digital display specs
Hooray! It is very annoying to sit in a campsite with plenty of battery power available and have to keep flicking on my red flashlight to see the display. However, I'm not clear what you are saying. Are you saying you are working on a mod to backlight the NEW K1 LCD that allows backlighting or is the mode to backlight the older LCD display? And that brings up the question: Can the new K1 LCD be retrofitted to earlier K1's? Eric KE6US -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Tom Hammond Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2005 11:27 AM To: Andrew Moore; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K1 3-digital display specs Hi Andrew: I'm working on a backlighting mod for the K1 and I just happen to have that info... The K1 manual specifies it as a V.L. Electronics VI-321-DP-RC-S-12 display. however that nomenclature is no longer totally accurate. The VL web site can be found at: http://www.varitronix.com/ Apparently, Varitronix is the parent company for V.L. Electronics and this is where the LCDs can be found. The LCD currently sold by Elecraft for the K1 includes a 'transflective' polarizer which both reflects ambient light AND will allow for a rear-mounted backlight. In fact, I'm presently working on documenting a mod to add backlighting to the K1 LCD display. Watch for it. 73, Tom N0SS At 12:43 PM 4/28/05, you wrote: >I'm trying to find specifications on the 3 digital LCD used on the >Elecraft K1, since I'm working on a custom application that involves >changing it over to a 3 digital LED. > >Can someone provide the manufacturer and model information on this >display so I can locate the specs? > >Thanks, >--Andrew, NV1B > > >___ >Elecraft mailing list >Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net >You must be a subscriber to post to the list. >Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > >Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm >Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] k3 hum?
A pair of 6146's in the final and I'm writing a check! Oh wait, I had one of those. It was a TS-830S. I think I'm going to stick with the K1/K2 for now. Eric KE6US -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of tom Sent: Friday, April 29, 2005 5:51 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] k3 hum? I invision one day the possiblity of a K3. A larger radio, complete with a notch filter on the front panel and huge old fashioned analog meters?? Any thoughts guys?? I, the builder and owner of a K1 1848, K2 4750, thinking about the purchase on the kx1. take care Tom km4cu ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] K2 battleplan?
I agree. And the KNB2 is the FIRST NB I ever had in a radio that actually worked most of the time. The one in my TS-950S just trades a noise problem for lots of other problems. The KNB2 isn't always successful with various noises in my neighborhood, but it is most of the time. Eric KE6US -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Hisashi T Fujinaka Sent: Friday, April 29, 2005 10:07 PM To: Ken Bessler Cc: Elecraft Main Group Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 battleplan? On Fri, 29 Apr 2005, Ken Bessler wrote: > I'll be sending out my 1st order for a K2 station next week. Many > thanks to Jim Sheldon, W0EB for his demo of a K2 that flat out blew my > mind. > > I still would like help from the users selecting both the construction > order and exactly what to buy. Below is a list of what (& what order) > I'm thinking of buying: > > 1) K2, KSB2 (May) > 2) KPA100 (August) > 3) K160RX, KNB2, KIO2 (September) > 4) K60XV, KDSP2 (November) > 5) XV50 (January '06) > 6) XV144 (March '06) > > Have I missed anything? Is that order of construction a good one? > > Thanks for all the help! In my location, the K2 was unusable without the KNB2, so I'd get it in step 1. But as they say, YMMV. -- Hisashi T Fujinaka - [EMAIL PROTECTED] BSEE(6/86) + BSChem(3/95) + BAEnglish(8/95) + MSCS(8/03) + $2.50 = latte ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] RE: Can Elecraft take over the global HF hamradiobusiness ?
I seem to be a hybrid ham. I like to tinker, build and experiment, but I don't like building kits. I recently built a K1 (SN1976) to see if I'd like to build a K2. I discovered I didn't like kit building. But I love the K1 and decided to buy a K2 already built that I am VERY happy with. But MOST of my hamming free time is used designing and building. I'm working my way through "Experimental Methods in RF Design" and breadboarding K1 circuits to play with) and learning PIC programming. To me, kit building is kind of boring (sorry, all). Your last paragraph is right on the mark. I think Elecraft success came from beginning with kits. It generated the "buzz" you spoke of. If it had been just another off-the-shelf radio, it would have found itself competing toe-to-toe with much better funded and better known products. As a kit, it could play on the "resurrection of Heathkit" theme, and the novelty of a kit that ended up outperforming $3,000 radios. The kit niche only goes so far...the radios have to perform. And they do. Either you said it in a paragraph I snipped or a previous posted said, at some point they are going to have to start offering factory assembled radios. And it remains to be seen whether a K2 in its present form can successfully compete as a factory assembled radio. Ten Tec has struggled along for many years; I wonder if they would have survived without their non-amateur income. If anyone on here is a sailor, you know what a character boat is. Ten Tec and Elecraft are character boats in a sea of MacGregors, Columbias and Catalinas. Character boats are beloved by the masses, but the masses don't buy them. They buy MacGregors, and Columbias and Catalinas. The character boat builders depend on developing a profitable, but smaller niche among knowledgeable sailors. And some of them are highly successful if you measure success in terms of a high quality product, enthusiastic customers and respectable profit for its owners. Personally, I think Elecraft management knows all this and is on the right course. Eric KE6US -Original Message- YOU may be one who likes to tinker with everything you build or buy, but that's far from a majority opinion. If I might project MY opinions onto a majority of hams (most of whom aren't on this list, by the way) then I would say the universal definition of a ham is closer to "one who wants more radio than he or she can afford". Everything I've "tinkered" with is because I was too cheap/poor to buy something that was good out of the box or that wasn't used and in need of repair. If I've learned anything in business it's that the best products don't always win. The best *marketed* products win. This means things like "brand", "price", "good looks", "consumer buzz" and "advertising budget" are perhaps more important than "receiver sensitivity", "filter bandwidth" and other measures of quality. Craig NZ0R K1 #1966 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Noise blanker [was: K2 battleplan?]
I have a K2 with NB and the NB is very effective in the urban/suburban area I live it with lots of noise. But I did not get the NB for my K1 which is only used in the field where it is so quiet I sometimes think my radio has died. I'd say, get it without the NB and add it later if the noise in your operating environment is intolerable. Eric KE6US -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mike Markowski Sent: Saturday, April 30, 2005 8:11 AM To: Elecraft Main Group Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Noise blanker [was: K2 battleplan?] Hisashi T Fujinaka wrote: > In my location, the K2 was unusable without the KNB2, so I'd get it in > step 1. But as they say, YMMV. I've noticed the majority of K2s seem to be built with the NB. I don't have it, and since I don't seem to be having any man-made noise problems I've been wondering when & where the NB is useful. Is it mainly for presumably noisier urban and suburban areas? Without it would something like Spectrogram show continual spikes at certain frequencies? And finally, would the DSP board have any substantial effect on the sort of man-made noise the NB addresses? Thanks! Curiously yours, Mike AB3AP ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] K1
1. More convenient to operate than a KX1. 2. Better CW audio than a K2. 3. Cute as hell. 4. You want to build it. You know you do. How many more reasons do you need? Eric KE6US -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Tom Hall Sent: Monday, May 02, 2005 1:10 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] K1 I've already built a K2 and KX1 and I am quite happy with them. Can someone give me a perfectly good excuse to build a K1? (...Please:-)) Tom, AK2B ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] EL foil for K1 backlighting
You probably recall mounting a big black neoprene spacer between the display and the board (pg 21, Figure 5-7). That's got to come out first so that means removing the LCD. Hint: this is a project I'd put off for a little while. Eric KE6US -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Jason Artz Sent: Tuesday, May 03, 2005 2:52 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] EL foil for K1 backlighting Hello, Has anyone tried EL foil behind the LCD display on the K1? The display I have does allow some light through, so perhaps using a piece of this foil will work. Could the power inverter generate RF interference? If you've tried it, let me know how it went. Here's a source for the foil and driver: http://www.cooltronix.com/shop/ Thanks, Jason AC6XA __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Swing Arm Magnifiers -OT
One problem with Optivisors is being able to TRY one first. They come with a range of magnifications, and what SEEMS to be the best, may not be for YOU. I would not order one on the Internet until I had tried it first. Plus, the interchangeable lenses are EXPENSIVE. The Optivisor with one lens (any magnification) is in the $40+ range. A different lens pack is almost another $30 so you really want to be right the first time. Also, not everyone finds them comfortable. I don't. I hate to wear hats, too, so I might just be more sensitive to this issue. After a short time, I feel like my head is in a vice. Again, you gotta try it first. Also when you need to look up at something else, you have to flip them out of the way or take them off. With a lighted magnifier, I can just look away and I'm on my regular glasses. I use a magifier with circular flourescent bulb. I don't object to flourescent bulbs, but some do. You gotta try it for yourself. Mine sayss "LTS" on it. I've had it for 15 or 20 years. It's pretty heavy duty compared to the ones I saw at Harbor Freight. It stays put, but can be moved easily which you will do often. I like it 'cuz I can still wear my regular reading glasses, where I usually have to take my reading glasses off to use my optical visor. Heh heh. Optical visor. Oh yeah. I have one. I bought a "Made Somewhere in China" ripoff of the Optivisor at Harbor Freight for something like 5 bucks. I wouldn't recommend it at all. If you find you like an optical visor, get the real thing. However, when I am inspecting SMD solder joints, I use this thing with the little flip-down loup. Then I take it off before I get a splitting headache. I'm not touting one way over the other. I'm saying, try it. Don't buy on the Internet unless you know what you are getting and it is suitable for you. Eric KE6US -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of John D'Ausilio Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2005 2:01 PM To: Tom Skinner Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Swing Arm Magnifiers -OT You might want to consider Optivisors (no connection) .. very comfortable, interchangable lenses, relatively inexpensive. I hate fluorescent light, a halogen plus Optivisors is cheaper and you can use light and optics seperately .. de John/W1RT On 5/4/05, Tom Skinner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hello Group, > > Please excuse this slightly OT post. > > Since my LASIK, my close up vision has tanked, and before I tackle the > K2 I need a really good swing arm magnifier - looking at the type that > has a ring fluorescent lamp around it - but that's not an absolute requirement. > > I've had poor ones in the past and they are a pain to keep stationary. > I can't find anything in local stores and while I have no problem > ordering one over the internet, it's difficult to winnow the wheat from the chaff. > > Anyone got any leads on good ones? > > Thanks es 73 > > Tom, W3QS > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > ___ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com > ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Changing the power of an OptiVisor
Good luck finding them for a "buck a pair". More like $12-20/pair. Even at that, they are relatively inexpensive. I use them all the time. Eric KE6US -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Thom R Lacosta Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 3:37 AM To: Ron D'Eau Claire Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Changing the power of an OptiVisor On Wed, 4 May 2005, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote: > > If you don't need glasses, reading glasses are available in drug > stores, book stores, etc. that will do the trick. At a buck a pairbuy a selection of strengths. > lenses. Ignore the looks from the clerks as you try them on under the > OptiVisor in the store! But be very careful that you do not make Darth Vader-like noises while wearing the Optivisor. 73,Thom-k3hrn www.zerobeat.net Home of QRP Web Ring, Drakelist home page, Free Classified Ads for amateur radio, QRP IRC channel Elecraft Owners Database www.tlchost.net/ Web Hosting as low as 3.49/month ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] start with straight key or paddles?
I would be VERY surprised if the code reader could outperform a decent CW man. And to be a decent CW man, you have to spend the time copying CW without an electronic assist such as a code reader. I would say pass on the CW Reader. The only REAL use I see for it is hooking it up for demos to non-hams so they know what is going on. Otherwise, I just don't see it. I'm voting with the First Mate on this one. I really don't see it for code practice either. Listen as much as you can to good code and try to emulate it. Code is AURAL, not visual. Not sure why you want to see what you're sending. You already KNOW what you're sending. Just listen to it and learn the music and rhythm of CW. Because I started on a straight key 48 years ago, I would say learn on a straight key. I think it helps develop essential timing, but I'm not so sure any more that it matters all that much how you learn it. A good keyer takes care of the timing for you as long as you resist screwing with the weighting to "customize" your fist. And your ear will pick up good timing from constantly comparing yourself to good (and bad) CW. But there is nothing more satisfying than a straight key to me. I always use a straight key with my Rock-Mites. It just doesn't seem right to use a paddle/keyer with simple rigs. Most of the time I use a straight key with my K1, particularly when backpacking or daypacking because it is more rugged and holds adjustment better in adverse conditions than a paddle. I can sit in a canvas chair with the key in one hand and tap out Morse code with the other. Life does get better than that, but not often. At home I always use the internal keyer in the K2. Not sure why. The skills are slightly different. Once you have one (straight key or paddle/keyer) it really isn't all that difficult to go to the other. And you'll automatically adjust going back and forth with time. I wouldn't agonize over the decision too much. Whatever strikes your fancy now will serve you in the end. It's great to see a new ham already looking forward to CW. Somewhere I saw a slogan, "Without CW, it's just CB." Welcome aboard. Eric KE6US -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, May 08, 2005 12:56 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] start with straight key or paddles? Comrades, I'm working on my code to get my licenses soon. I will want to do CW with the k2 I will buy and build on board our trawler. 1st mate and CFO watches expenses like a hawk and will catch me if I (gasp) buy two things which appear to do same thing. You can't hide much from her on the 36 boat we live on. I intend to get the $80 MFJ code reader because some of you have convinced me that it is a good detector of unreadable output. I'm hoping to get my speed and accuracy up by sending to the MFJ. If I ultimately intend to use paddles as most of you appear to be doing, why is it a bad idea simply to start with a set? I can understand that what I'm really wanting to do is to train my "fist" and ears, but it looks like paddles involve somewhat different monkey motions and maybe it would make more sense just to buy a set and get on with it. comments? regards, John Ferguson - M/V Arcadian (now in Norfolk,VA waiting for wave amplitude reduction in Chesapeake Bay before continuing northward) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] QTH net Hiccoughs!!!
Yep. Just got a string of 7 or 8 from last week. I'll probably see this one next weekend. Eric KE6US -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ron D'Eau Claire Sent: Sunday, May 08, 2005 2:36 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] QTH net Hiccoughs!!! Just in case others are seeing this behavior... I'm getting long lists of replies from QTH.NET that says that my message to the reflector was rejected, but in fact the message was delivered and appeared, in some cases more than a week ago! Aaargh! So if anyone else notices this behavior, you're not alone! Ron AC7AC ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] start with straight key or paddles?
I did the same thing, only I'm left handed, but the same idea. Because of the finer dexterity needed for a straight key, I am forced to use my left hand for that. I can send better with my right foot than my right hand. But with a paddle I'm nearly ambidexterous. I switched to my right hand with a paddle so that I could have my left hand free for writing notes, logging, etc. But I found I can now use a paddle with either my left or right hand with equal ease. All I have to do is reverse the paddle functions in the keyer (dits always on the thumb). Eric KE6US -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Tom Arntzen Sent: Monday, May 09, 2005 1:58 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] start with straight key or paddles? I started with straight key and sended with my writing fist then went to a paddle , that went good. But there is a but , I converted to send with my left fist so I could have my writing fist ready with the pen. This gave me more smooth operation , so today I paddle with my left fist and straight keying with my right fist. My left fist would never give good code with straight key because it tired out and sounded like jamming after short while. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] start with straight key or paddles?
16 wpm or greater. It wasn't necessary to send at that precise speed. They just cut some slack with code groups by reducing the requirement from 20 wpm. I never had an FCC examiner actually listen for the whole time. They would stick one earphone up to their ear, listen for 15 or 20 seconds and set the earphone back down. Always scared hell out of me. I thought they just gave up because I was so bad. Also, the FCC always allowed you to take in your own key. It wasn't necessary to use their aptly described "ratty old FCC office straight key." Eric KE6US -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Jeff Rosenberger Sent: Tuesday, May 10, 2005 8:23 AM To: Mike Morrow Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] start with straight key or paddles? Mike wrote: > When I took my Extra exam 25 years ago, they had already eliminated > the Morse sending test. Too bad, I thought. When I took my > commercial telegraph exam the same year, Morse sending tests were > still required (one minute without error at 20 wpm plain language, > and16 wpm code groups). I still remember having qualms about using a > ratty old FCC office straight key for the 20 wpm test. That's always > been about my limit for straight key operation. How was the speed determined for a sending test? I know I couldn't sit down at a straight key and send at a specific numeric speed. I can send at a comfortable speed for me to receive, or roughly match speeds with the other operator, but send at exactly 16wpm, no way. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com