985 Workbench: 2025-11-03

 Posted on 2025-11-03

My Week in Radio

  • Other clubs
    • Learned about geochron:
      • old mechanical map with terminator lines
      • new digital one with all sorts of visualizations, including ham radio
    • Presentation on Antennas and feed line at a Ham Lunch in Harrisburg.
  • US-1418, POTA:
    • FT8, 10M, mostly 1-2W, but 4W some times.
    • also 1 CW contact
  • Built conveniences into software I use for my radio weblog
    • easily link park identifies to the POTA site and callsigns to QRZ profiles.

Others

  • KD3BPI, Simon:
    • Listening while mobile
  • WA3VEE, Ron:
    • setup and plan for WFD
  • KC3SCY, Luke:
    • PM/AM net
    • working on CW
    • Bruce Kelley Memorial event coming up in a couple weeks:
      • will operate 1929 TNT and 1929 Hartley
  • KC3OOK, Bill:
    • Hosted Welfare Net
    • At Joe’s to plan hardline from tower to building
    • worked on cable trays for his shack
  • KC3KFT, John:
    • 10M has been open lately
    • Retired Net on 28435kHz or 28333kHz
  • K3FF, Rene:
    • operated lots on CQ WW SSB. Lots on 10M.
    • working on Yaesu 991A that wouldn’t power on initially. (lightning?)
    • insure your good equipment
  • KD3AIS, Tim:
    • 1st General Class
  • KD3BWL, Frank:
    • Learned about EchoLink
      • contacted a repeater in VA
    • other repeaters
  • KC3MAI, Joe:
    • purchased a CW keyer to start learning
  • W3QP, Tim:
    • Headed to Illinois for work:
      • aiming to activate Summits in Illinois and neighboring states
  • K3DBD, Bob:
    • First time checking in to this net in a long time, even though being a long-time user.
    • 68 years into ham radio
    • chairman of technical committee in Pottstown Club.
    • preparing for ARRL Frequency Measuring Event on 8 November
    • fixing a broken PC board for an old wurlitzer juke box
  • KC3YSM, Steve:
    • DXing: Chile, Italy, Canada
    • Mobile listening
    • Excited to hear Ron’s plans for WFD

Questions

  • KC3MAI, Joe:
    • Has a keyer and paddles, how should he learn CW?
      • is it bad to start with paddles?
    • WA3KFT, John:
      • taught CW
      • with a staight key, you can practice spacing within a character as well as the timing of dit and dah (3*dit)
      • straight key is easier to control speed and start slower
    • WA3VEE, Ron:
      • Has gotten Rusty in CW
      • Used to be able to do 18WPM
      • Look at Koch Method and Farnsworth spacing
        • slow down by extending spacing between characters, not by slowing everything.
      • 10-15 minutes a day really helps.
    • W3GMS, Joe:
      • Call Joe and discuss at great length
      • CW instructor in the Military
      • Do not try any sending until you can copy 10 WPM
      • focus on recognizing the sound
      • don’t count dits and dahs
    • AF3Z, Jim:
      • use CW software to train
      • ensure you practice at higher speed to avoid counting
      • G4FON software
    • NA3CW, Chuck:
      • don’t ever look at a chart or page of dots and dashes
      • it’s about sound
      • learn to receive well first
    • KB3ZIM, Bob:
985  workbench  net  w3gms 

See also