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I'm continuing to try and improve my CW skills - primarily my ability to copy. Now I'm working with the MFJ-418 Morse Code / CW Tutor.
There's a lot this little box does. It looks a little like the pager I used to carry in the mid 1990s. I was first introduced to this device by John, KE4UP. He hosted (along with Don, N4DJ) a CW class I participated in back in November/December of 2005. I had recently passed my 5 WPM test but wanted to get better at CW. During one of the sessions John brought in his CW Tutor and said it had really helped him. It is easy to use, easy to change the speed the code is sent. It will even send practice QSOs to copy. My goal is to pass the ARRL Code Proficiency at 25 WPM. I have a ways to go.
There's a lot this little box does. It looks a little like the pager I used to carry in the mid 1990s. I was first introduced to this device by John, KE4UP. He hosted (along with Don, N4DJ) a CW class I participated in back in November/December of 2005. I had recently passed my 5 WPM test but wanted to get better at CW. During one of the sessions John brought in his CW Tutor and said it had really helped him. It is easy to use, easy to change the speed the code is sent. It will even send practice QSOs to copy. My goal is to pass the ARRL Code Proficiency at 25 WPM. I have a ways to go.
Here is a great ham webpage. Explore the links to the left under the Site Map. Dave, G3VGR, is a rabid CW enthusiast: "CW is my favorite mode of operation. I no longer operate any other modes as none give me anywhere near as much enjoyment as sending and receiving Morse. My microphones are stored safely somewhere in the garage and I removed the SSB option board from my K2 a while ago. I am a member of 8 CW clubs and like to participate in their activities." He's got a great collection of CW keys.
He also has a great collection of QRP rigs and homebrews a lot of his own equipment: "I am a Radio Amateur, not an Amateur Radio Operator". Great quote!
I recently read this blog - from it's first entry back in Jan 2004 up to today's. Right off the bat, the blog looks cool. I like the MFJ-564B paddle as the background image. The QSL cards stacked along the right side are very cool. I enjoy the blog's focus. Michael, WA5ICA, also only operates CW. He starts his blog adventure with two MFJ QRP rigs (15M and 20M) and operates from his truck.
It is interesting to see his operations and equipment change over time (participating in contests from the driveway, trying different CW keys, getting a new rig, new antenna). I invite you to start from the first post and work your way forward, I think you'll consider it time well spent.
He also has a great collection of QRP rigs and homebrews a lot of his own equipment: "I am a Radio Amateur, not an Amateur Radio Operator". Great quote!
I recently read this blog - from it's first entry back in Jan 2004 up to today's. Right off the bat, the blog looks cool. I like the MFJ-564B paddle as the background image. The QSL cards stacked along the right side are very cool. I enjoy the blog's focus. Michael, WA5ICA, also only operates CW. He starts his blog adventure with two MFJ QRP rigs (15M and 20M) and operates from his truck.
It is interesting to see his operations and equipment change over time (participating in contests from the driveway, trying different CW keys, getting a new rig, new antenna). I invite you to start from the first post and work your way forward, I think you'll consider it time well spent.
- I'm making a solid effort to improve my working knowledge of basic electronics. I've been working through Understanding Basic Electronics and Chapter 4, Electrical Fundamentals, from the ARRL 2007 Handbook.
Honestly, this stuff does not come easy to me. But I'm committed to slug through it.
- Also working on my CW skills. It is slow going, but it feels great when I can actually get solid copy on a real QSO.
And totally unrelated:
- Been watching the new Battlestar Galatica series. I remember watching the original way back when. I'm enjoying the episodes so far.
Honestly, this stuff does not come easy to me. But I'm committed to slug through it.
- Also working on my CW skills. It is slow going, but it feels great when I can actually get solid copy on a real QSO.
And totally unrelated:
- Been watching the new Battlestar Galatica series. I remember watching the original way back when. I'm enjoying the episodes so far.
ANYWHERE, ANYTIME HF: The Evolution of the Elecraft KX1 Transceiver
By Wayne Burdick, N6KR
Special to the ARS Sojourner
If there is a place, and you can get to it, you must operate from there.
—Ade Weiss, WØRSP, Joy of QRP
Some years ago at the Dayton Hamvention I did a presentation entitled Ergonomics and Amateur Radio. It was not lost on either me or the audience that the title was an oxymoron. I spent an hour suggesting ways to improve the situation.
While discussing field operation, I alluded to something called a "trail friendly radio" (TFR), and speculated on what form it might take. Ergonomically, it's an interesting assignment. Suppose you have no table? No chair? No room to string up a dipole? Suppose like Ade Weiss, you wanted to operate from anywhere?
Though the need for a trail-friendly radio has been evident for years, we can thank Richard Fisher, KI6SN, for giving the genre a name. He and Russ Carpenter, AA7QU, popularized it here on the ARS web site in the form of the TFR Challenge, and many interesting designs have resulted. Cam Hartford, N6GA, and I talked about it at length at the Zuni Loop field day site one year, when Cam showed me his own beautifully-designed TFR.
I've always wanted to explore TFRs myself, with the goal of optimizing them for small size, ease of use and maximum integration. But the idea had to simmer and morph in my mind for about a decade before all pieces of the puzzle came together – in my case, as the KX1.
Early Attempts
The story of the KX1 really begins in the 1970s. Like many hams who grew up in the era when transistors and ICs had just become affordable, I had the great fortune to acquire a copy of Solid State Design for the Radio Amateur by Wes Hayward, W7ZOI, and Doug DeMaw, W1FB (silent key, 1997). Armed with a Radio Shack etch-resist pen and ferric chloride, I home-rolled Wes's Mountaineer, a crystal-controlled, direct-conversion, 40-meter transceiver. From then on I was hooked on both homebrew and QRP.
But it was the small, grainy photo of Wes operating the Mountaineer with gloved hands and wool cap – while while standing – that fired my imagination. Wes listed the many difficult constraints he had to satisfy in this design. The rig had to be small and lightweight to be suitable for backpacking, which dictated the use of QRP and a small battery pack. The antenna system had to be similarly light, so he opted for a simple dipole and RG-174 miniature coax cable. It had to be usable in cold temperatures, which suggested crystal control. Finally, it had to be usable in many different operating situations, including sitting on the ground, lying in a sleeping bag, or standing beside a trail. These constraints would inspire my own explorations in the TFR design space.
In 1989, I designed something I called the Safari-4 (QEX magazine, Oct. / Nov. / Dec. 1990). While not exactly a TFR, this 5 x 7 x 3", 4-band, 1-watt transceiver did push the envelope on integration. It included an internal 0.8 amp-hour gel-cell, manual antenna tuner, SWR bridge, and keyer, and had a stack of four transverter boards covering 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters. Like the KX1, it had keyer paddle mounted on the front. Unfortunately it was actuated by skin resistance, and despite the gold-plated comb pattern on either paddle, it suffered when humidity was low. It also could not be used with gloves on.
Still, a rig like this had been my dream for many years. All you needed to set up a station was a random-length wire and a pair of headphones. I used the Safari-4 at every opportunity, and once managed to work Angola from Arizona on 15 meters with 200 milliwatts and a 16' wire strung horizontally just 8' off the ground. All of the credit goes to the operator in Africa, of course, and to extremely quiet band conditions.
I built my first truly back-packable, hand-held HF transceiver in 1991 while living in Massachusetts. It was 2 x 4 x 1", operated on 15 meters only with a VXO and superhet receiver, and had a push-button CW key on the top. With two internal, paralleled 9-volt alkaline batteries, it eked out just one-half watt. This level was significant. According to Solid State Design, a half watt represented a good tradeoff between communications efficiency and battery weight. Taking this wisdom from my QRP heroes for granted, I took the little rig out on many occasions and made several interesting QSOs. The most memorable happened when I was operating mobile, driving north on I-495 outside of Boston one winter day. Using a three-foot-long whip on the roof – a Radio Shack CB antenna re-resonated at 21 MHz – I had a solid, 10-minute QSO with a station in St. Louis.
A PIC in the Pocket
Several years later, after designing a few PIC microcontroller projects at work, I decided to see what a PIC might do for the cause of further transceiver integration. The result was another hand-held, which I dubbed the Koala. This was a 2 x 4 x 1", half-watt, 40-meter superhet that ran from a single 9-volt battery. The Koala had a keyer, dot and dash buttons on the top cover, frequency counter, battery voltage monitoring, and most significantly, audio-Morse-code frequency readout of all parameters including the VFO. This allowed operation with no display.
I should also briefly mention my club project phase, which led to the NorCal 40, Sierra, and SST transceiver kits. Again, these were not TFRs, but each furthered my goal of optimizing transceivers for portable use. All three were also enhanced by the addition of microcontrollers.
The NorCal 40 was the first NorCal club project. Doug Hendricks, KI6DS, Jim Cates, WA6GER, and others helped me specify the NC40's features, which included small size, very low current drain, "wireless" construction, and the now-ubiquitous BNC antenna jack – I liked the small size, and I couldn't find a PCB-mount SO239 anyway. I can't thank Doug and Jim enough for their efforts, which made this rig and other NorCal projects a success.
The KC-1 keyer / counter option was added when another NorCal member, Bob Dyer, K6KK, started Wilderness Radio to sell the NorCal 40A commercially. The KC-1 used a PIC as a keyer and audio-Morse frequency readout – features now widely found in small transceivers. But I added one other unique firmware feature: the operator could use the keyer paddle to enter a target VFO frequency in kHz, then rotate the VFO knob until they heard an acknowledgement from the KC-1.
To minimize complexity while preserving low current drain, I used plug-in band modules in the Sierra, NorCal's second transceiver project. Having tried a band switch in the Safari-4 and modules in the Sierra, I am now a firm believer in a third solution—latching relays—which I've used in every multi-band rig since, including the KX1. I later designed the KC-2 keyer / counter for the Sierra – yet another PIC-based unit. By running the KC-2's MCU at just 100 kHz, and using a non-multiplexed LCD display, I was able to keep RFI to an absolute minimum. The Sierra construction article, sans KC-2, can be found in any ARRL Handbook from 1996 through 2003.
In the case of the SST, or Simple Superhet Transceiver, I tried to cut the size, parts count – 85 or so – and current drain to absolute minimums while preserving ease of construction and decent performance. The receiver still included AGC, the transmitter put out 2 to 3 watts, and there was room inside the box for a 9-volt battery and a KC-1. The combination of these features has made the SST popular as a Spartan Sprint rig. I suppose it could even qualify as a sorta-TFR if the KC-1 controls and dot / dash buttons were installed on top.
The NC40A, Sierra, and SST are all still available from Wilderness Radio.
Five Field Days
Before I could turn my attention to a serious TFR, a most amazing thing happened: I quit my day job. I did this even though my wife and I were only a few months away from having our first child. What inspired this irrational behavior was my teaming up with Eric Swartz, WA6HHQ, to start Elecraft.
Eric and I had met quite a bit earlier, through NorCal. He was recruited as a technical advisor to the club, and helped me with some last-minute Sierra design issues. He also proved he was serious about QRP by racking up over 100 countries on his NorCal 40.
But it was doing Field Day together for five straight years that laid the foundation for Elecraft and for our transceiver designs. At FD 1995 and 1996 we used a hodge-podge of radios, batteries, antenna tuners and antenna switching schemes, often doing more QRP experimentation than operating. Finally, in 1997, we looked at that year's pile of gear and concluded that there just had to be a better way. By early evening we had abandoned operating and were sketching out the K2 on the backs of FD log sheets.
The K2 was our notion of the ultimate Field Day rig, with all-band coverage, wide receiver dynamic range, current drain of about 200 mA, and internal accessories – battery, ATU, antenna switch, power meter, and contest keyer. But it was not really a backpacking transceiver. So in 2000 we introduced the K2's baby brother, the K1. Now we were getting close!
The K1 is just a bit larger than a NorCal 40, draws 55 mA or so on receive, covers up to 4 bands without modules and includes an integral battery and ATU. We wanted the K1 to function like a TFR, so we designed a special tilt stand (KTS1) that would allow the rig to be aimed up, even when it was resting on the ground. The tilt stand is fully collapsible for transport, keeps the connectors up off the ground, and provides a place to mount a keyer paddle such as the Paddlette Backpacker.
But the K1 still doesn't meet all of the design constraints for a TFR. It's too heavy for many backpacking expeditions, and can't be used conveniently in difficult operating situations, such as when sitting in a camp chair, lying in a sleeping bag, or standing up. So for two years the idea continued to simmer. And then, finally, something bubbled over.
Inspiration, Perspiration
One morning in March, 2003, I woke up suddenly with the design for a plug-in, physically-reversible keyer paddle in mind. This was the all-important missing link. The trick was to mount the paddle at a 45-degree angle for ease of use. I could thread a metal-bushing eighth-inch stereo plug into the custom mounting bracket and use a captive thumb screw to hold the paddle firmly to the panel. I quickly sketched out a TFR-style radio around this paddle: controls facing up, paddle facing forward, and batteries accessible via a removable bottom cover.
A few days later Eric and I fleshed out a set of performance and feature requirements. Like usual, Eric pushed performance and features, while I aimed for low current drain and ease of construction. Then, at the expense of other projects that I had been pursuing, I spent the next month doing the design.
This is where, for me, all of the constraints and possibilities of the CW TFR finally converged. I now felt that it was possible to satisfy all of the requirements Wes Hayward had laid out for us in the Mountaineer, while providing much better performance, enhanced usability, multiple bands and more operating features.
The most important design decision was to use a DDS VFO. This would eliminate a number of parts, including the transmit mixer and its crystal oscillator. While it wouldn't provide the high spurious-free dynamic range of an L-C VFO, it would be very stable over a wide temperature range, and also frequency-agile, allowing full coverage of 40, 30, and 20 meters as well as nearby SWL bands. Other designers had used DDS VFOs in QRP rigs with success, notably Dave Benson (NN1G) in his DSW series. But I'd been holding out for a DDS chip with much lower current drain. Luckily, one appeared: the Analog Devices AD9834, which draws just 5 to 8 mA.
Another critical question was whether to use an LCD or LED for the 3-digit display. An LCD would have required a backlight, complicating packaging given the small area available for the display. It would also have required a separate display driver, since the KX1 had to get by with only a 28-pin MCU. So we opted for a rugged, incredibly efficient red / orange LED. The unit we selected can be driven directly by the MCU (multiplexed), and requires less than 100 microamps average per segment in typical room lighting. For outdoor use, the current requirement increases to as high as 0.8 mA per segment, meaning the LED contributes up to about 10 mA average (12 segments lit) at its brightest setting. However, we included two refinements to make this a non-issue: a programmable display-off timer, and a 100 percent audio Morse-code interface, even including menu text.
The Morse-audio feature allows the KX1 to be used without looking at the display, which is great for bicycle mobile operators, too-sleepy-to-keep-your-eyes-open Field Day operation, and operation in extremely bright sunlight. But we've also discovered that blind hams appreciate the KX1's Morse-audio interface, and that alone was worth its inclusion.
Revisiting the Power-to-Weight Issue
In order to allow room for the automatic antenna tuner option (KXAT1), we decided to use just six AA cells for the rig's internal battery pack. We discovered we had to use two 3-cell sockets with a gap in the middle to accommodate the keyer paddle jack and the I.F. and BFO crystals.
Six 1.5-volt lithium cells work very well in this application, providing around 1.5 to 2 watts output. And they last forever, it seems, with a rating of nearly three amp-hours and a very long shelf life. I did six KX1 field-test outings from May through September on a single set of these batteries.
So let's return to the issue of how much power output is required for a backpacking rig. As you recall, Wes Hayward suggested one-half watt to attain a good power / weight tradeoff. But he didn't have access to lithium 1.5-volt AA cells, which were invented in 1992. Alkalines have a similar milliampere-hour rating, yet their voltage rapidly drops as they discharge, and the mA-hr rating is based on an end-of-charge voltage of 0.9 volts. In contrast, lithium cells have a nearly flat discharge curve, remaining at about 1.4 volts for some 90 percent of their charge life. They also weigh just over half as much as alkalines – a six-cell pack weighs just 3 ounces.
So the equation really has changed. Given lighter batteries with better performance, I think the optimal power level for backpacking rigs is around 1.5 to 2 watts. This will produce more QSOs and more reliable emergency communications.
Finishing Touches
There are a number of other subtleties in the KX1 design that contribute to its small size and moderate parts-count. For example, the transmit low-pass filter is a careful compromise, covering three bands yet using just one relay. Only three crystals are used in the varactor-tuned IF filter, rather than four (K1) or seven (K2). T-R switching of the receiver's bandpass filter is handled using a series-tuned circuit and an NPN transistor clamp rather than PIN diodes. The BFO is fixed-frequency, optimized for a 600 Hz sidetone / TX offset. A contacting rather than optical encoder is used, the former being much smaller and still having a long predicted lifespan of more than 100,000 rotations. Four sidetone levels are provided by simply using two outputs on the MCU and two resistors (i.e., a 2-bit DAC). And finally, a simple AGC circuit is used in combination with limiting at the AF amp. The LM386 runs from just 6 volts, so it clamps leading-edge thumps pretty effectively.
Two other features provided the icing on the cake: the log lamp and SWL coverage.
The integrated white LED log lamp elicits a lot of smiles when we demonstrate the KX1. It's really handy for nighttime operation, allowing you to shut off your larger lantern or flashlight, which might disturb someone sleeping nearby. The LED only requires about 6 mA when operated from internal batteries, and since it has its own on-off switch, it doubles as a book lamp, flashlight, or a visible signaling device. During field test someone suggested that we use a red rather than white LED, since white light attracts flying insects. You can easily swap LEDs if this is a concern.
The KX1's SWL coverage allows you to get news, time beacons (including WWV at 5, 10, and 15 MHz), weather information, and a variety of perspectives on world events. This seemed like a useful addition to a backpacking rig, since it may be the only radio you carry, and it has proven popular with early builders. The crystal filter can be widened out to about 2 kHz to listen to AM and SSB stations. For flexibility, we also added 5 kHz tuning steps, three frequency memories per band, and USB / LSB capability.
The KX1 could be made much smaller if we had used surface-mount components and AAA batteries, left out the ATU, and had been willing to pack the controls together more tightly. While this might help someone win in the "skinny" division of the Sprint, it would also make the rig less rugged and a lot harder to build and use. Instead, we designed the rig from the ground up to be a reliable, easy to build, easy to use, fully-integrated station. Our chosen 3"H x 5"W front panel size allows quite a bit of room for controls and display, and the 1.2" height allows for AA batteries and an automatic antenna tuner.
K-zero (Not!)
Initially we didn't know what to call the rig. We tried and rejected K.5, KR5, K-zero, and other names that would complete the dubious mathematical series { K2, K1, … }. We also rejected "Elecraft Elf," although we may use that for something else . . . someday. "KX1" won in the end. "K" would keep the KX1 firmly planted in our line of transceivers. "X" was a reference to "eXtreme" operating conditions or "eXtremely small." And "1" seemed a reasonable choice, since the rig is just too small to be a "2".
When I first envisioned the KX1, what came to mind right away was the Adventure Radio Society. Russ and I had had a meeting about his ARS proposal a few months before the launch, and it was clear that he really did have adventurous and innovative plans for the organization. Given the many serious backpacking trips taken by Russ and other ARS members, the KX1 just seemed to be a good fit. I'm hoping we'll get a lot more feedback on the design as the rigs find their way into the field.
But I also had a more esoteric goal for the KX1: I wanted it to be the ultimate radio for couch potatoes. Imagine lying on the couch, working CW DX with a paperback-novel-sized lap-top transceiver. It's an entirely new way to experience CW – anywhere, anytime!
* * * * * * * * * * *
Wayne Burdick, N6KR, a founder of the Adventure Radio Society with membership No. 2, is one of amateur radio’s leading designer / innovators and co-owner of Elecraft, manufacturer of the KX1 trail-friendly transceiver.
By Wayne Burdick, N6KR
Special to the ARS Sojourner
If there is a place, and you can get to it, you must operate from there.
—Ade Weiss, WØRSP, Joy of QRP
Some years ago at the Dayton Hamvention I did a presentation entitled Ergonomics and Amateur Radio. It was not lost on either me or the audience that the title was an oxymoron. I spent an hour suggesting ways to improve the situation.
While discussing field operation, I alluded to something called a "trail friendly radio" (TFR), and speculated on what form it might take. Ergonomically, it's an interesting assignment. Suppose you have no table? No chair? No room to string up a dipole? Suppose like Ade Weiss, you wanted to operate from anywhere?
Though the need for a trail-friendly radio has been evident for years, we can thank Richard Fisher, KI6SN, for giving the genre a name. He and Russ Carpenter, AA7QU, popularized it here on the ARS web site in the form of the TFR Challenge, and many interesting designs have resulted. Cam Hartford, N6GA, and I talked about it at length at the Zuni Loop field day site one year, when Cam showed me his own beautifully-designed TFR.
I've always wanted to explore TFRs myself, with the goal of optimizing them for small size, ease of use and maximum integration. But the idea had to simmer and morph in my mind for about a decade before all pieces of the puzzle came together – in my case, as the KX1.
Early Attempts
The story of the KX1 really begins in the 1970s. Like many hams who grew up in the era when transistors and ICs had just become affordable, I had the great fortune to acquire a copy of Solid State Design for the Radio Amateur by Wes Hayward, W7ZOI, and Doug DeMaw, W1FB (silent key, 1997). Armed with a Radio Shack etch-resist pen and ferric chloride, I home-rolled Wes's Mountaineer, a crystal-controlled, direct-conversion, 40-meter transceiver. From then on I was hooked on both homebrew and QRP.
But it was the small, grainy photo of Wes operating the Mountaineer with gloved hands and wool cap – while while standing – that fired my imagination. Wes listed the many difficult constraints he had to satisfy in this design. The rig had to be small and lightweight to be suitable for backpacking, which dictated the use of QRP and a small battery pack. The antenna system had to be similarly light, so he opted for a simple dipole and RG-174 miniature coax cable. It had to be usable in cold temperatures, which suggested crystal control. Finally, it had to be usable in many different operating situations, including sitting on the ground, lying in a sleeping bag, or standing beside a trail. These constraints would inspire my own explorations in the TFR design space.
In 1989, I designed something I called the Safari-4 (QEX magazine, Oct. / Nov. / Dec. 1990). While not exactly a TFR, this 5 x 7 x 3", 4-band, 1-watt transceiver did push the envelope on integration. It included an internal 0.8 amp-hour gel-cell, manual antenna tuner, SWR bridge, and keyer, and had a stack of four transverter boards covering 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters. Like the KX1, it had keyer paddle mounted on the front. Unfortunately it was actuated by skin resistance, and despite the gold-plated comb pattern on either paddle, it suffered when humidity was low. It also could not be used with gloves on.
Still, a rig like this had been my dream for many years. All you needed to set up a station was a random-length wire and a pair of headphones. I used the Safari-4 at every opportunity, and once managed to work Angola from Arizona on 15 meters with 200 milliwatts and a 16' wire strung horizontally just 8' off the ground. All of the credit goes to the operator in Africa, of course, and to extremely quiet band conditions.
I built my first truly back-packable, hand-held HF transceiver in 1991 while living in Massachusetts. It was 2 x 4 x 1", operated on 15 meters only with a VXO and superhet receiver, and had a push-button CW key on the top. With two internal, paralleled 9-volt alkaline batteries, it eked out just one-half watt. This level was significant. According to Solid State Design, a half watt represented a good tradeoff between communications efficiency and battery weight. Taking this wisdom from my QRP heroes for granted, I took the little rig out on many occasions and made several interesting QSOs. The most memorable happened when I was operating mobile, driving north on I-495 outside of Boston one winter day. Using a three-foot-long whip on the roof – a Radio Shack CB antenna re-resonated at 21 MHz – I had a solid, 10-minute QSO with a station in St. Louis.
A PIC in the Pocket
Several years later, after designing a few PIC microcontroller projects at work, I decided to see what a PIC might do for the cause of further transceiver integration. The result was another hand-held, which I dubbed the Koala. This was a 2 x 4 x 1", half-watt, 40-meter superhet that ran from a single 9-volt battery. The Koala had a keyer, dot and dash buttons on the top cover, frequency counter, battery voltage monitoring, and most significantly, audio-Morse-code frequency readout of all parameters including the VFO. This allowed operation with no display.
I should also briefly mention my club project phase, which led to the NorCal 40, Sierra, and SST transceiver kits. Again, these were not TFRs, but each furthered my goal of optimizing transceivers for portable use. All three were also enhanced by the addition of microcontrollers.
The NorCal 40 was the first NorCal club project. Doug Hendricks, KI6DS, Jim Cates, WA6GER, and others helped me specify the NC40's features, which included small size, very low current drain, "wireless" construction, and the now-ubiquitous BNC antenna jack – I liked the small size, and I couldn't find a PCB-mount SO239 anyway. I can't thank Doug and Jim enough for their efforts, which made this rig and other NorCal projects a success.
The KC-1 keyer / counter option was added when another NorCal member, Bob Dyer, K6KK, started Wilderness Radio to sell the NorCal 40A commercially. The KC-1 used a PIC as a keyer and audio-Morse frequency readout – features now widely found in small transceivers. But I added one other unique firmware feature: the operator could use the keyer paddle to enter a target VFO frequency in kHz, then rotate the VFO knob until they heard an acknowledgement from the KC-1.
To minimize complexity while preserving low current drain, I used plug-in band modules in the Sierra, NorCal's second transceiver project. Having tried a band switch in the Safari-4 and modules in the Sierra, I am now a firm believer in a third solution—latching relays—which I've used in every multi-band rig since, including the KX1. I later designed the KC-2 keyer / counter for the Sierra – yet another PIC-based unit. By running the KC-2's MCU at just 100 kHz, and using a non-multiplexed LCD display, I was able to keep RFI to an absolute minimum. The Sierra construction article, sans KC-2, can be found in any ARRL Handbook from 1996 through 2003.
In the case of the SST, or Simple Superhet Transceiver, I tried to cut the size, parts count – 85 or so – and current drain to absolute minimums while preserving ease of construction and decent performance. The receiver still included AGC, the transmitter put out 2 to 3 watts, and there was room inside the box for a 9-volt battery and a KC-1. The combination of these features has made the SST popular as a Spartan Sprint rig. I suppose it could even qualify as a sorta-TFR if the KC-1 controls and dot / dash buttons were installed on top.
The NC40A, Sierra, and SST are all still available from Wilderness Radio.
Five Field Days
Before I could turn my attention to a serious TFR, a most amazing thing happened: I quit my day job. I did this even though my wife and I were only a few months away from having our first child. What inspired this irrational behavior was my teaming up with Eric Swartz, WA6HHQ, to start Elecraft.
Eric and I had met quite a bit earlier, through NorCal. He was recruited as a technical advisor to the club, and helped me with some last-minute Sierra design issues. He also proved he was serious about QRP by racking up over 100 countries on his NorCal 40.
But it was doing Field Day together for five straight years that laid the foundation for Elecraft and for our transceiver designs. At FD 1995 and 1996 we used a hodge-podge of radios, batteries, antenna tuners and antenna switching schemes, often doing more QRP experimentation than operating. Finally, in 1997, we looked at that year's pile of gear and concluded that there just had to be a better way. By early evening we had abandoned operating and were sketching out the K2 on the backs of FD log sheets.
The K2 was our notion of the ultimate Field Day rig, with all-band coverage, wide receiver dynamic range, current drain of about 200 mA, and internal accessories – battery, ATU, antenna switch, power meter, and contest keyer. But it was not really a backpacking transceiver. So in 2000 we introduced the K2's baby brother, the K1. Now we were getting close!
The K1 is just a bit larger than a NorCal 40, draws 55 mA or so on receive, covers up to 4 bands without modules and includes an integral battery and ATU. We wanted the K1 to function like a TFR, so we designed a special tilt stand (KTS1) that would allow the rig to be aimed up, even when it was resting on the ground. The tilt stand is fully collapsible for transport, keeps the connectors up off the ground, and provides a place to mount a keyer paddle such as the Paddlette Backpacker.
But the K1 still doesn't meet all of the design constraints for a TFR. It's too heavy for many backpacking expeditions, and can't be used conveniently in difficult operating situations, such as when sitting in a camp chair, lying in a sleeping bag, or standing up. So for two years the idea continued to simmer. And then, finally, something bubbled over.
Inspiration, Perspiration
One morning in March, 2003, I woke up suddenly with the design for a plug-in, physically-reversible keyer paddle in mind. This was the all-important missing link. The trick was to mount the paddle at a 45-degree angle for ease of use. I could thread a metal-bushing eighth-inch stereo plug into the custom mounting bracket and use a captive thumb screw to hold the paddle firmly to the panel. I quickly sketched out a TFR-style radio around this paddle: controls facing up, paddle facing forward, and batteries accessible via a removable bottom cover.
A few days later Eric and I fleshed out a set of performance and feature requirements. Like usual, Eric pushed performance and features, while I aimed for low current drain and ease of construction. Then, at the expense of other projects that I had been pursuing, I spent the next month doing the design.
This is where, for me, all of the constraints and possibilities of the CW TFR finally converged. I now felt that it was possible to satisfy all of the requirements Wes Hayward had laid out for us in the Mountaineer, while providing much better performance, enhanced usability, multiple bands and more operating features.
The most important design decision was to use a DDS VFO. This would eliminate a number of parts, including the transmit mixer and its crystal oscillator. While it wouldn't provide the high spurious-free dynamic range of an L-C VFO, it would be very stable over a wide temperature range, and also frequency-agile, allowing full coverage of 40, 30, and 20 meters as well as nearby SWL bands. Other designers had used DDS VFOs in QRP rigs with success, notably Dave Benson (NN1G) in his DSW series. But I'd been holding out for a DDS chip with much lower current drain. Luckily, one appeared: the Analog Devices AD9834, which draws just 5 to 8 mA.
Another critical question was whether to use an LCD or LED for the 3-digit display. An LCD would have required a backlight, complicating packaging given the small area available for the display. It would also have required a separate display driver, since the KX1 had to get by with only a 28-pin MCU. So we opted for a rugged, incredibly efficient red / orange LED. The unit we selected can be driven directly by the MCU (multiplexed), and requires less than 100 microamps average per segment in typical room lighting. For outdoor use, the current requirement increases to as high as 0.8 mA per segment, meaning the LED contributes up to about 10 mA average (12 segments lit) at its brightest setting. However, we included two refinements to make this a non-issue: a programmable display-off timer, and a 100 percent audio Morse-code interface, even including menu text.
The Morse-audio feature allows the KX1 to be used without looking at the display, which is great for bicycle mobile operators, too-sleepy-to-keep-your-eyes-open Field Day operation, and operation in extremely bright sunlight. But we've also discovered that blind hams appreciate the KX1's Morse-audio interface, and that alone was worth its inclusion.
Revisiting the Power-to-Weight Issue
In order to allow room for the automatic antenna tuner option (KXAT1), we decided to use just six AA cells for the rig's internal battery pack. We discovered we had to use two 3-cell sockets with a gap in the middle to accommodate the keyer paddle jack and the I.F. and BFO crystals.
Six 1.5-volt lithium cells work very well in this application, providing around 1.5 to 2 watts output. And they last forever, it seems, with a rating of nearly three amp-hours and a very long shelf life. I did six KX1 field-test outings from May through September on a single set of these batteries.
So let's return to the issue of how much power output is required for a backpacking rig. As you recall, Wes Hayward suggested one-half watt to attain a good power / weight tradeoff. But he didn't have access to lithium 1.5-volt AA cells, which were invented in 1992. Alkalines have a similar milliampere-hour rating, yet their voltage rapidly drops as they discharge, and the mA-hr rating is based on an end-of-charge voltage of 0.9 volts. In contrast, lithium cells have a nearly flat discharge curve, remaining at about 1.4 volts for some 90 percent of their charge life. They also weigh just over half as much as alkalines – a six-cell pack weighs just 3 ounces.
So the equation really has changed. Given lighter batteries with better performance, I think the optimal power level for backpacking rigs is around 1.5 to 2 watts. This will produce more QSOs and more reliable emergency communications.
Finishing Touches
There are a number of other subtleties in the KX1 design that contribute to its small size and moderate parts-count. For example, the transmit low-pass filter is a careful compromise, covering three bands yet using just one relay. Only three crystals are used in the varactor-tuned IF filter, rather than four (K1) or seven (K2). T-R switching of the receiver's bandpass filter is handled using a series-tuned circuit and an NPN transistor clamp rather than PIN diodes. The BFO is fixed-frequency, optimized for a 600 Hz sidetone / TX offset. A contacting rather than optical encoder is used, the former being much smaller and still having a long predicted lifespan of more than 100,000 rotations. Four sidetone levels are provided by simply using two outputs on the MCU and two resistors (i.e., a 2-bit DAC). And finally, a simple AGC circuit is used in combination with limiting at the AF amp. The LM386 runs from just 6 volts, so it clamps leading-edge thumps pretty effectively.
Two other features provided the icing on the cake: the log lamp and SWL coverage.
The integrated white LED log lamp elicits a lot of smiles when we demonstrate the KX1. It's really handy for nighttime operation, allowing you to shut off your larger lantern or flashlight, which might disturb someone sleeping nearby. The LED only requires about 6 mA when operated from internal batteries, and since it has its own on-off switch, it doubles as a book lamp, flashlight, or a visible signaling device. During field test someone suggested that we use a red rather than white LED, since white light attracts flying insects. You can easily swap LEDs if this is a concern.
The KX1's SWL coverage allows you to get news, time beacons (including WWV at 5, 10, and 15 MHz), weather information, and a variety of perspectives on world events. This seemed like a useful addition to a backpacking rig, since it may be the only radio you carry, and it has proven popular with early builders. The crystal filter can be widened out to about 2 kHz to listen to AM and SSB stations. For flexibility, we also added 5 kHz tuning steps, three frequency memories per band, and USB / LSB capability.
The KX1 could be made much smaller if we had used surface-mount components and AAA batteries, left out the ATU, and had been willing to pack the controls together more tightly. While this might help someone win in the "skinny" division of the Sprint, it would also make the rig less rugged and a lot harder to build and use. Instead, we designed the rig from the ground up to be a reliable, easy to build, easy to use, fully-integrated station. Our chosen 3"H x 5"W front panel size allows quite a bit of room for controls and display, and the 1.2" height allows for AA batteries and an automatic antenna tuner.
K-zero (Not!)
Initially we didn't know what to call the rig. We tried and rejected K.5, KR5, K-zero, and other names that would complete the dubious mathematical series { K2, K1, … }. We also rejected "Elecraft Elf," although we may use that for something else . . . someday. "KX1" won in the end. "K" would keep the KX1 firmly planted in our line of transceivers. "X" was a reference to "eXtreme" operating conditions or "eXtremely small." And "1" seemed a reasonable choice, since the rig is just too small to be a "2".
When I first envisioned the KX1, what came to mind right away was the Adventure Radio Society. Russ and I had had a meeting about his ARS proposal a few months before the launch, and it was clear that he really did have adventurous and innovative plans for the organization. Given the many serious backpacking trips taken by Russ and other ARS members, the KX1 just seemed to be a good fit. I'm hoping we'll get a lot more feedback on the design as the rigs find their way into the field.
But I also had a more esoteric goal for the KX1: I wanted it to be the ultimate radio for couch potatoes. Imagine lying on the couch, working CW DX with a paperback-novel-sized lap-top transceiver. It's an entirely new way to experience CW – anywhere, anytime!
* * * * * * * * * * *
Wayne Burdick, N6KR, a founder of the Adventure Radio Society with membership No. 2, is one of amateur radio’s leading designer / innovators and co-owner of Elecraft, manufacturer of the KX1 trail-friendly transceiver.
I've really been enjoying Bill Continelli's, W2XOY, web posting on the history of amateur radio entitled the Wayback Machine. Well written and very engaging.
I received a package from home containing the last two issues of CQ and the last issue of QST so I spent a good portion of last night reading through those. Also got a copy of the latest issue of DX Magazine - I always enjoy reading the articles about hams on exotic DXpeditions.
Listened to the Voice of Russia for a little while but couldn't find any solid shortwave stations to listen to last night.
FISTS, the organization of the International Morse Preservation Society, has a great beginners guide to a CW QSO on their website.
I received a package from home containing the last two issues of CQ and the last issue of QST so I spent a good portion of last night reading through those. Also got a copy of the latest issue of DX Magazine - I always enjoy reading the articles about hams on exotic DXpeditions.
Listened to the Voice of Russia for a little while but couldn't find any solid shortwave stations to listen to last night.
FISTS, the organization of the International Morse Preservation Society, has a great beginners guide to a CW QSO on their website.
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk
One of the British seamen held hostage in Iran has told how they used Morse code to stay in touch with one another while imprisoned.
Able Seaman Simon Massey revealed they developed a system of 'knocking in and knocking out' during their first week of solitary confinement.
He said: "It was like keeping a mental register - checking off the voices of comrades whenever one of them asked for a toilet break or a cigarette.
"Leading Seaman Chris Coe was next door to my cell. We would just sit there tapping out code. We'd check up on each other, say goodnight, and if we went out of the cell, we would give a little knock when we got back to let each other know we were OK.
"Just knocking with knuckles. Little things like that got us through."
The use of Morse code by prisoners was made famous in the 1962 classic film Birdman Of Alcatraz. It was also used by American PoWs in Vietnam.
The 14 men and one woman sailor were seized by Iranian warships on March 23. It took 13 days to secure their release.
For the first week none of them saw Leading Seaman Faye Turney, 26, who was kept segregated at their Tehran prison from the second day.
It was only after eight days, as AB Massey was summoned to make his TV 'confession', that he found himself seated alongside her and Chris Coe, 31. He added: "Seeing those two members of the team - that was a big relief for me. But the day after, in my cell, I just broke down. It was such a hard time - all kinds of emotions were flying through.
"All us lads could hear one another but Faye was the only one none of us had heard from. We had no idea what they'd done to her and whether they were beating her."
For the first week the hostages spent all but half an hour of every day in solitary.
Then there were the sudden and intense interrogations. AB Massey was questioned, alone, for 45 minutes. "I was made to wear sunglasses with cotton wool on the inside of the lenses, while an interrogator questioned me under a bright light."
The most frightening incident came when they arrived at the prison and were lined up to face a wall. AB Massey said: "We believe this was done purely as a mental scare. But I thought I was going to die and that I wouldn't see my family again."
One of the British seamen held hostage in Iran has told how they used Morse code to stay in touch with one another while imprisoned.
Able Seaman Simon Massey revealed they developed a system of 'knocking in and knocking out' during their first week of solitary confinement.
He said: "It was like keeping a mental register - checking off the voices of comrades whenever one of them asked for a toilet break or a cigarette.
"Leading Seaman Chris Coe was next door to my cell. We would just sit there tapping out code. We'd check up on each other, say goodnight, and if we went out of the cell, we would give a little knock when we got back to let each other know we were OK.
"Just knocking with knuckles. Little things like that got us through."
The use of Morse code by prisoners was made famous in the 1962 classic film Birdman Of Alcatraz. It was also used by American PoWs in Vietnam.
The 14 men and one woman sailor were seized by Iranian warships on March 23. It took 13 days to secure their release.
For the first week none of them saw Leading Seaman Faye Turney, 26, who was kept segregated at their Tehran prison from the second day.
It was only after eight days, as AB Massey was summoned to make his TV 'confession', that he found himself seated alongside her and Chris Coe, 31. He added: "Seeing those two members of the team - that was a big relief for me. But the day after, in my cell, I just broke down. It was such a hard time - all kinds of emotions were flying through.
"All us lads could hear one another but Faye was the only one none of us had heard from. We had no idea what they'd done to her and whether they were beating her."
For the first week the hostages spent all but half an hour of every day in solitary.
Then there were the sudden and intense interrogations. AB Massey was questioned, alone, for 45 minutes. "I was made to wear sunglasses with cotton wool on the inside of the lenses, while an interrogator questioned me under a bright light."
The most frightening incident came when they arrived at the prison and were lined up to face a wall. AB Massey said: "We believe this was done purely as a mental scare. But I thought I was going to die and that I wouldn't see my family again."
I've been playing with my FT-817 and having some fun. It is amazing how many features they pack in such a tiny little box. I've slowly been learning some of them. The first (important) feature I discovered was the power setting. When you operate off batteries, the radio defaults to 2.5 watts output. You have to manually switch the radio to 5 watts to get max output. I knew this but failed to do it until I reread the manual. 5 watts compared to 2.5 watts makes a difference. PSK-31 works quite well with the FT-817. No issues there. CW is a little bit of a challenge without any filters... but still very doable. I've been playing with the IF Shift feature to get better copy on the other station for a CW QSO. I've read a lot about QRP and now it is time to put what I've read into action. First - a good antenna makes all the difference. Second - you'll have more QSOs by answering a CQ than by calling CQ (i.e. listen, listen, listen). So far 40M has been where I've had the most luck, but I'd like to try more on 30M as it seems to be a less noisy band. But I'm having fun and improving my CW.
Poll #955948 Favorite CW Band
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All
What is your favorite band for CW?
0 (0.0%)Part of the Smithsonian collection...
The telegraph key Samuel Morse used on his first line in 1844 was very simple--a strip of spring steel that could be pressed against a metal contact. Alfred Vail, Morse's partner, designed this key, in which the gap was more easily adjustable because of changes in its spring tension. It was used on the expanding telegraph system, perhaps as early as the fall of 1844 and certainly by 1845.
The telegraph key Samuel Morse used on his first line in 1844 was very simple--a strip of spring steel that could be pressed against a metal contact. Alfred Vail, Morse's partner, designed this key, in which the gap was more easily adjustable because of changes in its spring tension. It was used on the expanding telegraph system, perhaps as early as the fall of 1844 and certainly by 1845.
I made the trip over to Ft. Story this morning to activate the Old & New Cape Henry Lighthouses (USA 122 and USA 121). I wanted to accomplish a couple things:
(1) activate the lighthouses. I've activated them in the past with limited success and wanted to give ARLHS members a chance to earn the USAARS Lighthouse award.
(2) test out my mobile setup using my different antennas.
(3) attempt to use a logging program on my Palm Pilot.
I ended up having five contacts - all on 40M even though the noise level was pretty high. I called CQ on 20M for quite some time but didn't get any takers. I think I had two or three ARLHS folks qualify for the USAARS award. For the antennas, I started off with a trio of Hustler coils. The antenna went up quick on the 54" mast and I had already tuned them to be a good match for the ARLHS calling freqs. I then switched to the Hamstick-like Workman antennas, first for 40M then 20M. No real difference in results. I'm going to stick with the Workman Hamsticks when I'm actually mobile and use the Hustler coils when operating from a fixed site. Using the Palm Pilot for logging is not easy. Adding headphones with a boom mike might help. Using the Palm Pilot takes two hands so it requires setting down the handmike, inconvenient for fast paced operation.
Back at the home QTH I rolled up on 20M CW and got an answer to a CQ from DL4SEW, Stefan in Stuttgart. There was a lot of fading but I was able to get most of what he sent. This was my first QSO with Germany and my second with Europe.
Back in the mobile and heading to Fort Monroe, I answered a CQ on 20M from YU1XA in Serbia. He gave me a 59 plus and was surprised I was mobile. It is just pretty cool talking to Serbia while driving down the road.
(1) activate the lighthouses. I've activated them in the past with limited success and wanted to give ARLHS members a chance to earn the USAARS Lighthouse award.
(2) test out my mobile setup using my different antennas.
(3) attempt to use a logging program on my Palm Pilot.
I ended up having five contacts - all on 40M even though the noise level was pretty high. I called CQ on 20M for quite some time but didn't get any takers. I think I had two or three ARLHS folks qualify for the USAARS award. For the antennas, I started off with a trio of Hustler coils. The antenna went up quick on the 54" mast and I had already tuned them to be a good match for the ARLHS calling freqs. I then switched to the Hamstick-like Workman antennas, first for 40M then 20M. No real difference in results. I'm going to stick with the Workman Hamsticks when I'm actually mobile and use the Hustler coils when operating from a fixed site. Using the Palm Pilot for logging is not easy. Adding headphones with a boom mike might help. Using the Palm Pilot takes two hands so it requires setting down the handmike, inconvenient for fast paced operation.
Back at the home QTH I rolled up on 20M CW and got an answer to a CQ from DL4SEW, Stefan in Stuttgart. There was a lot of fading but I was able to get most of what he sent. This was my first QSO with Germany and my second with Europe.
Back in the mobile and heading to Fort Monroe, I answered a CQ on 20M from YU1XA in Serbia. He gave me a 59 plus and was surprised I was mobile. It is just pretty cool talking to Serbia while driving down the road.
After being away from my CW paddle for quite some time, I've been trying to get back into CW. Over the past few days I've been having success with a few QSOs. Tonight I went down to 80M and had a QSO with Ed, AB8DF, from Michigan. Ed was operating QRP with an Elecraft K2 - a very cool rig. I'm going to keep working on my CW... eventually I'll work my speed up to something I can be proud of.
by Brian Pasternack, KA3VSP, ka3vsp@voicenet.com
If you know of more Morse appearing in music, you might drop an email to Brian and let him know.
This story uses the background music feature of Internet Explorer 2.0 to play the introduction to Beethoven's Fifth Symphony using your computer's MIDI compatible sound system. Netscape users can download the MIDI file at http://www.hamradio-online.com/1996/a
While listening to your favorite music, don't be suprised if you hear those strange and annoying sounds of that terrible Morse code!
Case in point, on Joe Walsh's latest solo album "Songs for a Dying Planet" is a song titled "Vote For Me". The song is preceded with Morse code which pounds out "REGISTER AND VOTE FOR ME AR". Brian, KF2HC, states that the same message appears on Joe's first album "Barnstorm" in a song titled "Mother". Joe holds an Advanced class Amateur license.
Another album worth noting is Roger Waters' album "Radio Kaos". This album is filled with Morse messages. Most of the code is underlying the haunting music and very difficult to copy. The album's cover is also worth noting...it is littered with Morse code characters. The album's song titles are all spelled out in Morse Code!
The rock band RUSH has a song title "YYZ" on their album "Moving Pictures". This songs starts out with a heavy percussion belting out "YYZ" and then followed by bass and guitar blaring out the same. Well, the characters YYZ are the beacon identifier for the Toronto International Airport. The inspiration for the song came from Alex Lifeson, the guitarist for the band, who holds a private pilots license.
Carter Bennett, KI5SR, brings to my attention that there is badly formed Morse code on Kate Bush's album "Hounds of Love". Carter informs me that the song "Watching You Without Me" contains the code "SOS". It was also reported that this track has some RTTY going in and out of tune. KI5SR continues with information regarding the album "Saving the Wildlife" by Mannheim Steamroller. He states that there is a track on the album which sounds too much like "CQ" in Morse.
Charlie, N2JQA, brings to my attention that there is Morse Codeon Ronnie Montrose's album (Elektra 1982 EI-60034) "GAMMA 3". The song "Stranger" contains Morse Code which spells "STRANGER".
Wayne, WA6MPG, states that in 1967, the band "PEARLS BEFORE SWINE" recorded a song with an adult-rated CW message in it. The song was titled "MISS MORSE". The song is said to have vulgarities in it spelled out with Morse Code. The album was titled "ONE NATION UNDERGROUND".
Randall, KE0YG, provided the following info about Morse Code in the computer game called "RED STORM RISING" by Microprose. Randall says that in the opening credits there is music which contains Morse Code which spells out "THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING" at about 18 WPM. Randall says that he can confirm this on the C-64 version and he believes that the IBM version plays the CW message in the theme song.
Craig, VK3CRA, informed me of a TV show called "INSPECTOR MORSE". Craig has never seen the show but, from info gathered, states that the inspector's name is never given in the show. It is alleged, however, to be contained in Morse Code which is played as part of the show's introductory music.
Howie, N2WX and Mark, KM6XU, informed me that "Radioactivity" by Kraftwerk has lots of good Morse code in it. Mark also states that the band Missing Persons has a song with some code in it but Mark didn't supply any info on the song.
A message from John, NI6D, brought to my attention of pseudo Morse code in the song "Radio Silence" on Thomas Dolby's album titled "The Golden Age of Wireless".
Dave, N0DET, adds that there is code in the song "Planet Claire" by the B-52's. In the intro to "Planet Claire", a kind of Spy vs. Spy mood is created by the music, and plainly audible CW. The Morse code says, "NAKS DE CFH I I ZKR F13395 5156 AS 662 ....,", then fades to music. Dave believes that 'NAKS' and 'CFH' are commercial station callsigns. More information pertaining to the code comes in from Ron, VE3RYN. Ron says that "NAKS" should be "NAWS" which stands for 'North Atlantic Weather Station' and "CFH" is a CDN military ship/shore station located near Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Michael, W9OJ, claims that the words "love you" are spelled out in morse code at the end of the "Iron Butterfly Theme" by Iron Butterfly. This song is on their first album "Heavy" and is also on the double album titled "Rare Flight".
Ian, VK2IAQ, writes in with information stating that the UK rock band 'Barclay James Harvest' has two songs which contain morse code. Ian states that the song "Nova Lepidoptera", a sci-fi song from the 1977 album "XII", starts off with "UFO" repeated in slow morse code. Also, the title track of the album "Ring of Changes" starts with the title sent twice in morse code. John Lees, the lead guitarist, is a licensed amateur operator in the UK.
Bill, WA6ITF, reports some really good Morse code on the CD "SEEK YOU" by Andrew, G3WZZ, and Lissa Huddleson.
Well, that's about it for now. Thanks to all who have provided me with information on this subject and thanks to all who have inquired about the subject.
Until next time, KEEP POUNDING BRASS!
73 de Brian Pasternak, KA3VSP!
Editor's note: And let's not forget Beethoven's Fifth Symphony with its famous "dit-dit-dit-dahhhh". Okay, so the Morse code had not been invented yet...
If you know of more Morse appearing in music, you might drop an email to Brian and let him know.
This story uses the background music feature of Internet Explorer 2.0 to play the introduction to Beethoven's Fifth Symphony using your computer's MIDI compatible sound system. Netscape users can download the MIDI file at http://www.hamradio-online.com/1996/a
While listening to your favorite music, don't be suprised if you hear those strange and annoying sounds of that terrible Morse code!
Case in point, on Joe Walsh's latest solo album "Songs for a Dying Planet" is a song titled "Vote For Me". The song is preceded with Morse code which pounds out "REGISTER AND VOTE FOR ME AR". Brian, KF2HC, states that the same message appears on Joe's first album "Barnstorm" in a song titled "Mother". Joe holds an Advanced class Amateur license.
Another album worth noting is Roger Waters' album "Radio Kaos". This album is filled with Morse messages. Most of the code is underlying the haunting music and very difficult to copy. The album's cover is also worth noting...it is littered with Morse code characters. The album's song titles are all spelled out in Morse Code!
The rock band RUSH has a song title "YYZ" on their album "Moving Pictures". This songs starts out with a heavy percussion belting out "YYZ" and then followed by bass and guitar blaring out the same. Well, the characters YYZ are the beacon identifier for the Toronto International Airport. The inspiration for the song came from Alex Lifeson, the guitarist for the band, who holds a private pilots license.
Carter Bennett, KI5SR, brings to my attention that there is badly formed Morse code on Kate Bush's album "Hounds of Love". Carter informs me that the song "Watching You Without Me" contains the code "SOS". It was also reported that this track has some RTTY going in and out of tune. KI5SR continues with information regarding the album "Saving the Wildlife" by Mannheim Steamroller. He states that there is a track on the album which sounds too much like "CQ" in Morse.
Charlie, N2JQA, brings to my attention that there is Morse Codeon Ronnie Montrose's album (Elektra 1982 EI-60034) "GAMMA 3". The song "Stranger" contains Morse Code which spells "STRANGER".
Wayne, WA6MPG, states that in 1967, the band "PEARLS BEFORE SWINE" recorded a song with an adult-rated CW message in it. The song was titled "MISS MORSE". The song is said to have vulgarities in it spelled out with Morse Code. The album was titled "ONE NATION UNDERGROUND".
Randall, KE0YG, provided the following info about Morse Code in the computer game called "RED STORM RISING" by Microprose. Randall says that in the opening credits there is music which contains Morse Code which spells out "THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING" at about 18 WPM. Randall says that he can confirm this on the C-64 version and he believes that the IBM version plays the CW message in the theme song.
Craig, VK3CRA, informed me of a TV show called "INSPECTOR MORSE". Craig has never seen the show but, from info gathered, states that the inspector's name is never given in the show. It is alleged, however, to be contained in Morse Code which is played as part of the show's introductory music.
Howie, N2WX and Mark, KM6XU, informed me that "Radioactivity" by Kraftwerk has lots of good Morse code in it. Mark also states that the band Missing Persons has a song with some code in it but Mark didn't supply any info on the song.
A message from John, NI6D, brought to my attention of pseudo Morse code in the song "Radio Silence" on Thomas Dolby's album titled "The Golden Age of Wireless".
Dave, N0DET, adds that there is code in the song "Planet Claire" by the B-52's. In the intro to "Planet Claire", a kind of Spy vs. Spy mood is created by the music, and plainly audible CW. The Morse code says, "NAKS DE CFH I I ZKR F13395 5156 AS 662 ....,", then fades to music. Dave believes that 'NAKS' and 'CFH' are commercial station callsigns. More information pertaining to the code comes in from Ron, VE3RYN. Ron says that "NAKS" should be "NAWS" which stands for 'North Atlantic Weather Station' and "CFH" is a CDN military ship/shore station located near Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Michael, W9OJ, claims that the words "love you" are spelled out in morse code at the end of the "Iron Butterfly Theme" by Iron Butterfly. This song is on their first album "Heavy" and is also on the double album titled "Rare Flight".
Ian, VK2IAQ, writes in with information stating that the UK rock band 'Barclay James Harvest' has two songs which contain morse code. Ian states that the song "Nova Lepidoptera", a sci-fi song from the 1977 album "XII", starts off with "UFO" repeated in slow morse code. Also, the title track of the album "Ring of Changes" starts with the title sent twice in morse code. John Lees, the lead guitarist, is a licensed amateur operator in the UK.
Bill, WA6ITF, reports some really good Morse code on the CD "SEEK YOU" by Andrew, G3WZZ, and Lissa Huddleson.
Well, that's about it for now. Thanks to all who have provided me with information on this subject and thanks to all who have inquired about the subject.
Until next time, KEEP POUNDING BRASS!
73 de Brian Pasternak, KA3VSP!
Editor's note: And let's not forget Beethoven's Fifth Symphony with its famous "dit-dit-dit-dahhhh". Okay, so the Morse code had not been invented yet...
Christmas was good to me. I received a NorCal 40A kit along with David B. Rutledge's The Electronics of Radio. Together these items make up a basic analog electronics's course and my hope is to build the kit and learn more about electronics and radio.
Notes from the budding brewmaster: The final bottles of my first batch of beer were actually quite good. It worked out to the following: 2 weeks in the keg, 2 weeks in the bottle, 3 days in the fridge. Very tasty. Also - I'm sticking to regular white sugar for the carbonation.
I've also been spending way to much time playing Age of Empires III on my laptop.
I need to get in the radio room, tidy up, catch up on logging in a stack of QSL cards, and prepare for Straight Key Night.
I've been falling behind on my updates...
(1) W4V - Veterans' Day Special Event Station. I got a late start on Saturday... took a while to pack the truck. Setup at Fort Story took longer than expected - my biggest challenge was tying down the center mast after I'd gotten it vertical. It's really a two person job and hard to do alone. But once I got the antenna up, the rest was easy. A beautiful day as well, low 70s and clear skies. The QSOs rolled in, as long as I was calling "CQ" I was getting QSOs. Sunday was a different story. The forecast called for rain, but I thought I could weather it out. I arrived at Fort Story but the winds became too extreme - no chance of getting the center pole up. I threw in the towel for a portable operation and headed home to operate. Not the same satisfaction running a special event from home, but I still enjoyed the QSOs. Even got Wyoming... which completes my Worked All States Award!
(2) Kenwood TS-930S.... my "new to me rig". I picked this up from a local ham at a bargain. What a radio!
This piece of electronics perfection is over 20 years old, but it performs like a dream. The receiver is amazing. Also getting great reception reports on both SSB and CW. This rig is now the centerpiece of my shack.
(3) I didn't work the Sweepstakes this weekend, but did have a QSO with a special event station celebrating Oklahoma statehood. However, I did work a sweepstakes station on 15M who was operating from the Santa Clara Valley.
(4) Also a few CW QSOs - I've hooked up my Logikey CMOS4 Keyer. Amazing little device, lots of features - but does a great job as a basic keyer.
(1) W4V - Veterans' Day Special Event Station. I got a late start on Saturday... took a while to pack the truck. Setup at Fort Story took longer than expected - my biggest challenge was tying down the center mast after I'd gotten it vertical. It's really a two person job and hard to do alone. But once I got the antenna up, the rest was easy. A beautiful day as well, low 70s and clear skies. The QSOs rolled in, as long as I was calling "CQ" I was getting QSOs. Sunday was a different story. The forecast called for rain, but I thought I could weather it out. I arrived at Fort Story but the winds became too extreme - no chance of getting the center pole up. I threw in the towel for a portable operation and headed home to operate. Not the same satisfaction running a special event from home, but I still enjoyed the QSOs. Even got Wyoming... which completes my Worked All States Award!
(2) Kenwood TS-930S.... my "new to me rig". I picked this up from a local ham at a bargain. What a radio!
This piece of electronics perfection is over 20 years old, but it performs like a dream. The receiver is amazing. Also getting great reception reports on both SSB and CW. This rig is now the centerpiece of my shack.
(3) I didn't work the Sweepstakes this weekend, but did have a QSO with a special event station celebrating Oklahoma statehood. However, I did work a sweepstakes station on 15M who was operating from the Santa Clara Valley.
(4) Also a few CW QSOs - I've hooked up my Logikey CMOS4 Keyer. Amazing little device, lots of features - but does a great job as a basic keyer.
http://www.eham.net/articles/6857
Some of you have expressed an interest in CW and Contesting, and upcoming is a great weekend (for 2003 it's Nov1 - Nov2 local) for US and Canadian hams to practice it. The annual ARRL CW Sweepstakes runs 1PM Saturday to 7PM Sunday PST (or 4PM Sat to 10PM Sun EST) on 80 through 10 meters (not on 30, 17, or 12-meters). While you might recoil in horror at the high code speeds, tune wayyyyyyy up in the bands and there will be some folks going nice and slow. The Novice bands on 80, 40, 15, and 10 meters often have a number of slow-speed stations hanging out up there. Don't be afraid to jump in there and give 'em a call. I *guarantee* your code speed will double with just a few hours at the key.
Here's how it works...
1) You hear somebody calling "CQ SS CQ SS de N0AX"
2) Send your call ONCE - "W7VMI" - don't send their call and don't send yours twice or three times. If they don't copy your call on the first try, they'll send "AGN" or "?" or just CQ again. So call 'em again. If they're going too fast, send "QRS W7VMI" and they'll slow down.
3) If they hear you, they'll send something like this - "W7VMI 107 A N0AX 53 CO" What the heck does that mean?
- W7VMI is your call to let you know they're talking to you
- 107 is the number of the contact in the contest for them (their next contact will be 108, etc.)
- A is their entry class (low power) - there are A, B, M, Q, S, and U classes
- Then they send their call
- 53 is the last two digits of the first year they were licensed - it's called a "check"
- CO means Colorado, their ARRL/RAC Section (there are 80 - some are states, others aren't, all are two or three letters)
4) If you don't get it all, it's perfectly OK to send "QRS PSE, AGN" - which means "Slow down, send it again, please"
5) If you do get it - way to go! Here's what you send...
- Their call
- The number this contact is in the contest for you - if it's your first send "1" and pat yourself on the back
- Your class (QRP is Q, <150W is A, >150W is B, M is multioperator, S is a school club, and U is unlimited...don't ask)
- Your call
- The last two digits of the first year you were licensed - if you got your license in 2001, it's "01", for example
- Your section, "WWA" for Western Washington, maybe, or "IL" for Illinois, or "PQ" for Province Quebec - ah, but oui!
6) If they don't get it, they may say...with a question mark, maybe...
- "AGN" - send everything all over again
- "NR" - repeat just the number a couple of times
- "PREC" or just "PR" - repeat your class (power) letter, it's called "precedence" for a number of reasons you don't care about
- "CALL" - repeat your call (this is rare)
- "CK" - repeat the two digits of the year, your check
- "SEC" or "QTH" - repeat your section
7) They may ask YOU to QRS, you speed demon, so do it with a smile!
8) If they copy everything, they'll say a short "TU" (for thanks) or "R" (for Roger) or "QSL" (for received OK) and then just send their CQ or maybe just their call and away you both may go.
9) Sometimes, it just doesn't work out - QRM (interference) or QRN (static) or QSB (fading) or the cat could cough up a hairball on the rug requiring immediate action. Don't take it personally; just go find somebody else to call. It's a no-fault deal.
10) If you get tired of "Searching and Pouncing", then tighten your belt, mop your brow, cock your hat at a jaunty angle and call CQ! It's easy - don't have a cow, man, just call "CQ SS CQ SS de W7VMI W7VMI" and listen, repeat if necessary. Soon you'll get an answer. Just play back the above steps with you as the call-ee.
What's the object? Make as many contacts as you can. Try to contact as many different sections (there's usually some kind of trophy for making a "Clean Sweep"!) as you can. Try to spell your name from the last letters of the calls you work. Work your home state. Work your brother's state. Nobody can stop at just one QSO...
It's a lot of fun - the hours will fly by. Keep a simple paper log the first time out to make it easy - you can worry about entering it on a computer later. There are complete rules and instructions for operating and scoring and sending in the log on the ARRL Web site http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2
and wonder-of-wonders, there your call will be with the mighty titans in the very same font size just a few lines away. Woo-hoo!!
Go for it!
Phone SweepstakesAdded by N2MG
There are a few obvious and not-so-obvious differences between the CW Sweepstakes and the Phone Sweepstakes.
First, quite obviously, is the Phone SS uses voice (say what?) and second, it is held on a different weekend...historically two weeks after the CW weekend. Like the CW weekend, it runs 1PM Saturday to 7PM Sunday PST (or 4PM Sat to 10PM Sun EST).
Many of us might say, "Gee, Phone SS must be easier to operate than CW." Well, yes and no. Certainly it's more natural to use one's voice than the paddle, and the rules are the same, so Phone should be a snap, right, all other things being equal... but they are not. Phone operation has a distinct set of characteristics.
The phone bands are considerably more crowded than CW - first there's the bandwidth issue - a phone QSO takes up more band than a CW QSO does. Also, there tends to be more casual (non-contest) phone operating (nets, rag chews, etc.) of which you need to be aware and coexist. Please be courteous to other band occupants - whether contesters or not.
Unlike CW, some folks seem to be enamoured with using "the last two" to call. Please use your entire callsign. Nine times out of ten, the other station will copy it right the first time. And use phonetics - NORMAL phonetics. (Willie Billie Five Willie Billie Willie might seem funny to your friends, but not here!)
Signal quality is much more of an issue on phone. Before the contest, have a friend check your signal at full power - is the audio clear and splatter-free? If not, take steps to make it so - you will make more contacts and have fewer problems on adjacent frequencies.
And a tip - having a noise blanker or preamp turned on will likely lead to severe intermodulation and overload problems in your receiver. Turn them off whenever possible - doing so may also work for a non-contester. In fact, cranking in some attenuation or turning down the RF Gain control will improve receiver performance dramatically under the strong-signal tractor-pull known as Phone Sweepstakes.
All that said, Phone SS can be a blast. Let's rumble!
Some of you have expressed an interest in CW and Contesting, and upcoming is a great weekend (for 2003 it's Nov1 - Nov2 local) for US and Canadian hams to practice it. The annual ARRL CW Sweepstakes runs 1PM Saturday to 7PM Sunday PST (or 4PM Sat to 10PM Sun EST) on 80 through 10 meters (not on 30, 17, or 12-meters). While you might recoil in horror at the high code speeds, tune wayyyyyyy up in the bands and there will be some folks going nice and slow. The Novice bands on 80, 40, 15, and 10 meters often have a number of slow-speed stations hanging out up there. Don't be afraid to jump in there and give 'em a call. I *guarantee* your code speed will double with just a few hours at the key.
Here's how it works...
1) You hear somebody calling "CQ SS CQ SS de N0AX"
2) Send your call ONCE - "W7VMI" - don't send their call and don't send yours twice or three times. If they don't copy your call on the first try, they'll send "AGN" or "?" or just CQ again. So call 'em again. If they're going too fast, send "QRS W7VMI" and they'll slow down.
3) If they hear you, they'll send something like this - "W7VMI 107 A N0AX 53 CO" What the heck does that mean?
- W7VMI is your call to let you know they're talking to you
- 107 is the number of the contact in the contest for them (their next contact will be 108, etc.)
- A is their entry class (low power) - there are A, B, M, Q, S, and U classes
- Then they send their call
- 53 is the last two digits of the first year they were licensed - it's called a "check"
- CO means Colorado, their ARRL/RAC Section (there are 80 - some are states, others aren't, all are two or three letters)
4) If you don't get it all, it's perfectly OK to send "QRS PSE, AGN" - which means "Slow down, send it again, please"
5) If you do get it - way to go! Here's what you send...
- Their call
- The number this contact is in the contest for you - if it's your first send "1" and pat yourself on the back
- Your class (QRP is Q, <150W is A, >150W is B, M is multioperator, S is a school club, and U is unlimited...don't ask)
- Your call
- The last two digits of the first year you were licensed - if you got your license in 2001, it's "01", for example
- Your section, "WWA" for Western Washington, maybe, or "IL" for Illinois, or "PQ" for Province Quebec - ah, but oui!
6) If they don't get it, they may say...with a question mark, maybe...
- "AGN" - send everything all over again
- "NR" - repeat just the number a couple of times
- "PREC" or just "PR" - repeat your class (power) letter, it's called "precedence" for a number of reasons you don't care about
- "CALL" - repeat your call (this is rare)
- "CK" - repeat the two digits of the year, your check
- "SEC" or "QTH" - repeat your section
7) They may ask YOU to QRS, you speed demon, so do it with a smile!
8) If they copy everything, they'll say a short "TU" (for thanks) or "R" (for Roger) or "QSL" (for received OK) and then just send their CQ or maybe just their call and away you both may go.
9) Sometimes, it just doesn't work out - QRM (interference) or QRN (static) or QSB (fading) or the cat could cough up a hairball on the rug requiring immediate action. Don't take it personally; just go find somebody else to call. It's a no-fault deal.
10) If you get tired of "Searching and Pouncing", then tighten your belt, mop your brow, cock your hat at a jaunty angle and call CQ! It's easy - don't have a cow, man, just call "CQ SS CQ SS de W7VMI W7VMI" and listen, repeat if necessary. Soon you'll get an answer. Just play back the above steps with you as the call-ee.
What's the object? Make as many contacts as you can. Try to contact as many different sections (there's usually some kind of trophy for making a "Clean Sweep"!) as you can. Try to spell your name from the last letters of the calls you work. Work your home state. Work your brother's state. Nobody can stop at just one QSO...
It's a lot of fun - the hours will fly by. Keep a simple paper log the first time out to make it easy - you can worry about entering it on a computer later. There are complete rules and instructions for operating and scoring and sending in the log on the ARRL Web site http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2
and wonder-of-wonders, there your call will be with the mighty titans in the very same font size just a few lines away. Woo-hoo!!
Go for it!
Phone SweepstakesAdded by N2MG
There are a few obvious and not-so-obvious differences between the CW Sweepstakes and the Phone Sweepstakes.
First, quite obviously, is the Phone SS uses voice (say what?) and second, it is held on a different weekend...historically two weeks after the CW weekend. Like the CW weekend, it runs 1PM Saturday to 7PM Sunday PST (or 4PM Sat to 10PM Sun EST).
Many of us might say, "Gee, Phone SS must be easier to operate than CW." Well, yes and no. Certainly it's more natural to use one's voice than the paddle, and the rules are the same, so Phone should be a snap, right, all other things being equal... but they are not. Phone operation has a distinct set of characteristics.
The phone bands are considerably more crowded than CW - first there's the bandwidth issue - a phone QSO takes up more band than a CW QSO does. Also, there tends to be more casual (non-contest) phone operating (nets, rag chews, etc.) of which you need to be aware and coexist. Please be courteous to other band occupants - whether contesters or not.
Unlike CW, some folks seem to be enamoured with using "the last two" to call. Please use your entire callsign. Nine times out of ten, the other station will copy it right the first time. And use phonetics - NORMAL phonetics. (Willie Billie Five Willie Billie Willie might seem funny to your friends, but not here!)
Signal quality is much more of an issue on phone. Before the contest, have a friend check your signal at full power - is the audio clear and splatter-free? If not, take steps to make it so - you will make more contacts and have fewer problems on adjacent frequencies.
And a tip - having a noise blanker or preamp turned on will likely lead to severe intermodulation and overload problems in your receiver. Turn them off whenever possible - doing so may also work for a non-contester. In fact, cranking in some attenuation or turning down the RF Gain control will improve receiver performance dramatically under the strong-signal tractor-pull known as Phone Sweepstakes.
All that said, Phone SS can be a blast. Let's rumble!
Had a lunchtime CW QSO with John, KA9DVX in the 40M Novice sub-band. John was operating from Port Richey, FL with a fair about of QSB. When I'm operating CW, I turn off my computer monitors so I'm not distracted - so it wasn't until I put John in the log that I remembered that I had had an earlier QSO with him that was cut short. John was operating a Ten Tec Omni. Ten Tec has a very distinct CW sound.
1. Object: For stations in the United States and Canada (including territories and possessions) to exchange QSO information with as many other US and Canadian stations as possible on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meter bands.
2. Date and Contest Period:
2.1. CW: First full weekend in November (November 4-6, 2006).
2.2. Phone: Third full weekend in November (November 18-20, 2006).
2.3. Contest Period: Begins 2100 UTC Saturday, ends 0300 UTC Monday.
2.4. Operate no more than 24 of the 30 hours.
2.4.1. Off periods may not be less than 30 minutes in length.
2.4.2. Times off and on must be clearly noted in paper logs. Do not indicate off times in electronic log files. The log checking software calculates it.
2.4.3. Listening time counts as operating time.
3. Entry Categories:
3.1. Single Operator:
3.1.1. QRP.
3.1.2. Low Power.
3.1.3. High Power.
3.1.4. Unlimited—Packet assisted (no differentiated power levels)
3.2. Multioperator
3.2.1. Multi-Single only
3.2.1.1. Only 1 transmitted signal is permitted at any time.
3.2.1.2. No limitation on the number of band changes.
3.2.1.3. Spotting assistance is permissible.
3.3. School Club
3.3.1. There are three divisions to this category.
3.3.1.1. College and University
3.3.1.2. Technical School
3.3.1.3. Secondary and other School
3.3.2. School clubs compete as their own category.
3.3.3. Only currently enrolled regular students and faculty/staff of the institution are eligible to operate a school club entry. Alumni may “Elmer” but may not operate the station during the competition.
3.3.4. There is no distinction between Single and Multi operator stations or power levels in this category.
3.3.5. School clubs must operate from established stations located on the campus. No portable operation from a near-by contest station is allowed. A club may operate from a member’s station only if no on-campus station exists.
3.3.6. Certificates will be awarded to the top scoring entry in each division of this category in each ARRL/RAC section and division.
4. Exchange: The required exchange consists of:
4.1. A consecutive serial number;
4.2. Precedence;
4.2.1. “Q” for Single Op QRP (5 Watts output or less);
4.2.2. “A” for Single Op Low Power (up to 150 W output);
4.2.3. “B” for Single Op High Power (greater than 150 W output);
4.2.4. “U” for Single Op Unlimited;
4.2.5. “M” for Multi-Op;
4.2.6. “S” for School Club;
4.3. Your Callsign;
4.4. Check (the last two digits of the year you were first licensed);
4.5. ARRL/RAC Section
(Example: NU1AW would respond to W1AW’s call by sending: W1AW 123 B NU1AW 71 CT, which indicates QSO number 123, B for Single Op High Power, NU1AW, first licensed in 1971, and in the Connecticut section.)
5. Scoring:
5.1. QSO points: Count two points for each complete two-way QSO.
5.2. Multiplier: Each ARRL Section and RAC Section plus the Canadian NT (Northern Territories - encompassing VE8 / VY1 / VY0) with a maximum number of 80.
5.2.1. KP3 and KP4 are in the Puerto Rico Section.
5.2.2. KV4/KP2 and KG4 stations are in the Virgin Islands Section.
5.2.3. KH6 and other US possessions in the Pacific count as the Pacific Section.
5.3. Final score: Multiply QSO points (two per QSO) by the number of ARRL/RAC sections (plus NT VE8/VY1/VY0).
6. Miscellaneous:
6.1. Work each station only once, regardless of the frequency band.
6.2. Only one transmitted signal at any time is permitted.
7. Awards:
7.1. Certificates will be awarded to the top operator CW and Phone scores in each category (“A”, “B”, “Q”, “U”, “S” and “M”) in each ARRL/RAC section and division.
7.2. All Overall and Divisional winners will be awarded a plaque recognizing their efforts. Plaques are either sponsored by groups of clubs or by the principal awards sponsor, Icom.
8. Submission:
8.1. Deadline for submission of CW entries is Wednesday December 6, 2006 Deadline for submission of Phone entries is Wednesday December 20, 2006. Entries emailed or postmarked after the deadline may be designated checklogs.
8.1.1. The CW and Phone mode are considered separate contests and must be submitted in separate envelopes or emails sent to the appropriate address.
8.1.2. Entries must be made on current ARRL entry forms or on a reasonable facsimile. Current forms may be downloaded in .pdf or ASCII format from www.arrl.org/contests/forms
8.2. Email entries for CW must be sent to SSCW@arrl.org and Phone to SSPhone@arrl.org
8.3. Cabrillo formatted logs can be submitted by logging onto the web application at www.b4h.net/cabforms and completing the required information.
8.4. Any entry that has been created using a computer for logging must be submitted in the Cabrillo log file format.
8.4.1. Files from word processing, spreadsheet programs or “bin” type logging program files are not valid or usable.
8.4.2. Any electronic file that is not submitted in required format will not be eligible for competition and awards.
8.4.3. A paper printout for a log that has been generated by a computer in lieu of the actual data file in the required format is not an acceptable substitute.
8.4.4. Paper logs that are entered into a logging program or computer after the contest are considered electronic logs and must include the required electronic file in the submission.
8.5. Hand written paper logs are acceptable entries. Any hand written paper log of 500 or more QSOs must include the required dupe sheet.
8.6. Logs sent via the regular mail service should be addressed to: November SS CW or November SS Phone, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111.
9. Other information.
9.1. See “General Rules for All ARRL Contests” and “General Rules for ARRL Contests on Bands Below 30 MHz (HF)” available at www.arrl.org/contests or from the ARRL Contest Branch.
9.2. All contest queries should be directed to contests@arrl.org or by telephone to 860-594-0232. All contest rules and entry forms may be downloaded from the Contest Branch Web Page at: www.arrl.org/contests.
Participation Pins
The ARRL is again pleased to continue its PINS (Participation In November Sweepstakes) program for 2006. Anyone who completes 100 contacts on CW or Phone during Sweepstakes is eligible to purchase one of these attractive Participation Pins. Pins are based on claimed scores. Each pin includes the year and mode and have become a popular tradition in the November Sweepstakes event. Pins cost $6, including postage and handling and will be shipped after all entries have been processed and logs verified.
To order your pins, attach a note to the front of your summary sheet indicating the number of pins ordered along with your check. If you enter electronically, send a copy of your summary sheet with a note and your check attached to Sweepstakes PINS, ARRL Contest Branch, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111.
Clean Sweep Mugs
Commemorate working your “clean sweep” by purchasing your 2006 November Sweepstakes mug. To earn your mug, work all 80 ARRL/RAC sections during the CW or Phone November Sweepstakes. Mug awards are based on claimed scores. The price for the keepsake mug is $12 each, (including postage and handling.) If you submit electronically, send a paper copy of the first page of your Cabrillo file and indicate how many mugs you are ordering along with your check. If you log by paper, attach a note to the top of your summary sheet indicating how many mugs you are ordering and your check. All orders should be sent to Clean Sweep Mugs, ARRL Contest Branch, 225 Main Street. Newington, CT 06111. Your mug will be shipped after all entries and mug orders have been processed and verified. Supplies are limited. We only guarantee filling orders received by the Phone Submission deadline of December 20, 2006.
My goal is to make 100 CW contacts and earn the Particpation Pin. Maybe I'll go for the mug during the Phone event later this month.
2. Date and Contest Period:
2.1. CW: First full weekend in November (November 4-6, 2006).
2.2. Phone: Third full weekend in November (November 18-20, 2006).
2.3. Contest Period: Begins 2100 UTC Saturday, ends 0300 UTC Monday.
2.4. Operate no more than 24 of the 30 hours.
2.4.1. Off periods may not be less than 30 minutes in length.
2.4.2. Times off and on must be clearly noted in paper logs. Do not indicate off times in electronic log files. The log checking software calculates it.
2.4.3. Listening time counts as operating time.
3. Entry Categories:
3.1. Single Operator:
3.1.1. QRP.
3.1.2. Low Power.
3.1.3. High Power.
3.1.4. Unlimited—Packet assisted (no differentiated power levels)
3.2. Multioperator
3.2.1. Multi-Single only
3.2.1.1. Only 1 transmitted signal is permitted at any time.
3.2.1.2. No limitation on the number of band changes.
3.2.1.3. Spotting assistance is permissible.
3.3. School Club
3.3.1. There are three divisions to this category.
3.3.1.1. College and University
3.3.1.2. Technical School
3.3.1.3. Secondary and other School
3.3.2. School clubs compete as their own category.
3.3.3. Only currently enrolled regular students and faculty/staff of the institution are eligible to operate a school club entry. Alumni may “Elmer” but may not operate the station during the competition.
3.3.4. There is no distinction between Single and Multi operator stations or power levels in this category.
3.3.5. School clubs must operate from established stations located on the campus. No portable operation from a near-by contest station is allowed. A club may operate from a member’s station only if no on-campus station exists.
3.3.6. Certificates will be awarded to the top scoring entry in each division of this category in each ARRL/RAC section and division.
4. Exchange: The required exchange consists of:
4.1. A consecutive serial number;
4.2. Precedence;
4.2.1. “Q” for Single Op QRP (5 Watts output or less);
4.2.2. “A” for Single Op Low Power (up to 150 W output);
4.2.3. “B” for Single Op High Power (greater than 150 W output);
4.2.4. “U” for Single Op Unlimited;
4.2.5. “M” for Multi-Op;
4.2.6. “S” for School Club;
4.3. Your Callsign;
4.4. Check (the last two digits of the year you were first licensed);
4.5. ARRL/RAC Section
(Example: NU1AW would respond to W1AW’s call by sending: W1AW 123 B NU1AW 71 CT, which indicates QSO number 123, B for Single Op High Power, NU1AW, first licensed in 1971, and in the Connecticut section.)
5. Scoring:
5.1. QSO points: Count two points for each complete two-way QSO.
5.2. Multiplier: Each ARRL Section and RAC Section plus the Canadian NT (Northern Territories - encompassing VE8 / VY1 / VY0) with a maximum number of 80.
5.2.1. KP3 and KP4 are in the Puerto Rico Section.
5.2.2. KV4/KP2 and KG4 stations are in the Virgin Islands Section.
5.2.3. KH6 and other US possessions in the Pacific count as the Pacific Section.
5.3. Final score: Multiply QSO points (two per QSO) by the number of ARRL/RAC sections (plus NT VE8/VY1/VY0).
6. Miscellaneous:
6.1. Work each station only once, regardless of the frequency band.
6.2. Only one transmitted signal at any time is permitted.
7. Awards:
7.1. Certificates will be awarded to the top operator CW and Phone scores in each category (“A”, “B”, “Q”, “U”, “S” and “M”) in each ARRL/RAC section and division.
7.2. All Overall and Divisional winners will be awarded a plaque recognizing their efforts. Plaques are either sponsored by groups of clubs or by the principal awards sponsor, Icom.
8. Submission:
8.1. Deadline for submission of CW entries is Wednesday December 6, 2006 Deadline for submission of Phone entries is Wednesday December 20, 2006. Entries emailed or postmarked after the deadline may be designated checklogs.
8.1.1. The CW and Phone mode are considered separate contests and must be submitted in separate envelopes or emails sent to the appropriate address.
8.1.2. Entries must be made on current ARRL entry forms or on a reasonable facsimile. Current forms may be downloaded in .pdf or ASCII format from www.arrl.org/contests/forms
8.2. Email entries for CW must be sent to SSCW@arrl.org and Phone to SSPhone@arrl.org
8.3. Cabrillo formatted logs can be submitted by logging onto the web application at www.b4h.net/cabforms and completing the required information.
8.4. Any entry that has been created using a computer for logging must be submitted in the Cabrillo log file format.
8.4.1. Files from word processing, spreadsheet programs or “bin” type logging program files are not valid or usable.
8.4.2. Any electronic file that is not submitted in required format will not be eligible for competition and awards.
8.4.3. A paper printout for a log that has been generated by a computer in lieu of the actual data file in the required format is not an acceptable substitute.
8.4.4. Paper logs that are entered into a logging program or computer after the contest are considered electronic logs and must include the required electronic file in the submission.
8.5. Hand written paper logs are acceptable entries. Any hand written paper log of 500 or more QSOs must include the required dupe sheet.
8.6. Logs sent via the regular mail service should be addressed to: November SS CW or November SS Phone, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111.
9. Other information.
9.1. See “General Rules for All ARRL Contests” and “General Rules for ARRL Contests on Bands Below 30 MHz (HF)” available at www.arrl.org/contests or from the ARRL Contest Branch.
9.2. All contest queries should be directed to contests@arrl.org or by telephone to 860-594-0232. All contest rules and entry forms may be downloaded from the Contest Branch Web Page at: www.arrl.org/contests.
Participation Pins
The ARRL is again pleased to continue its PINS (Participation In November Sweepstakes) program for 2006. Anyone who completes 100 contacts on CW or Phone during Sweepstakes is eligible to purchase one of these attractive Participation Pins. Pins are based on claimed scores. Each pin includes the year and mode and have become a popular tradition in the November Sweepstakes event. Pins cost $6, including postage and handling and will be shipped after all entries have been processed and logs verified.
To order your pins, attach a note to the front of your summary sheet indicating the number of pins ordered along with your check. If you enter electronically, send a copy of your summary sheet with a note and your check attached to Sweepstakes PINS, ARRL Contest Branch, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111.
Clean Sweep Mugs
Commemorate working your “clean sweep” by purchasing your 2006 November Sweepstakes mug. To earn your mug, work all 80 ARRL/RAC sections during the CW or Phone November Sweepstakes. Mug awards are based on claimed scores. The price for the keepsake mug is $12 each, (including postage and handling.) If you submit electronically, send a paper copy of the first page of your Cabrillo file and indicate how many mugs you are ordering along with your check. If you log by paper, attach a note to the top of your summary sheet indicating how many mugs you are ordering and your check. All orders should be sent to Clean Sweep Mugs, ARRL Contest Branch, 225 Main Street. Newington, CT 06111. Your mug will be shipped after all entries and mug orders have been processed and verified. Supplies are limited. We only guarantee filling orders received by the Phone Submission deadline of December 20, 2006.
My goal is to make 100 CW contacts and earn the Particpation Pin. Maybe I'll go for the mug during the Phone event later this month.
Copyright © 2006 Robert Alexander Wallace W1MQV / W1HH
Oh, I'm winning the war with a telegraph key,
Thought I as I finished a “stack”.
I hope this is not all the action I see
Just wearing my pants out in back.
I idly shuffle the blanks in my hand
And glance at the five letter groups.
I think of my brother in far foreign land
Fighting up front with the troops.
I check with my watch - where the heck's my R.J.?
I'm getting as hungry as sin.
An eight hour trick is enough for the day,
And I'm practically deaf from the din.
The “trick chief” gets up from the teletype chair
And says that he has one for me.
“Get your key oiled up, get that rig on the air,
Here's a honey - a long one O.P.”
My relief gets a curse on his unknowing head
For his tardiness costs me my chow.
And this is a hell of a time for a sked,
The net's QJZ about now.
But I slip on the cans and I rattle the key
And the rig is again on the air.
I give with the dits and the dahs just to see
If the station I'm calling is there.
A couple of calls and he sends “QRU?”
So I tell him I have an “O.P.”
He sends me a “K” and I start a tattoo -
Pounding brass on my telegraph key!
I pass the first fifty, then wait for an sec,
While he starts the next block on the sheet.
I've found if you don't make an op break his neck
You get fewer requests to repeat.
A hundred, and fifty, and then fifty more.
She's long, I've a thousand to go.
My head's getting tired, my wrist's getting sore.
Can't use “bug” for this guy is too slow.
I'm passing a thousand, my fist is near beat,
Do I want an R.J. from T.C.?
Not a chance, Chief, you know once my sign's on the sheet
No one's sending that message but me.
We finally clear and I send him “AR”
And get one from him with his “ack”.
The look that I give my relief leaves a scar
As I grab for my hat on the rack.
Later:
I read how a shipment of arms saved a corps
Because it arrived there in time.
The corps that it saved was my brother's. What's more,
The message that sent it was mine!
Oh, I'm fighting the war with a telegraph key
But as long as they want me I'll stay.
It may not be combat but now I can see
How a message can help save the day.
________________________________________
The above was written just after the “Battle of the Bulge” in 1944.
Glossary: Ack = acknowledgement
AR = End of transmission
Bug = semiautomatic telegraph key
O.P. = Operational Priority
K = Invitation to transmit
R.J. = relief operator
QJZ = on stand by
QRU = Have you traffic for me?
T.C. = trick chief
[From eHam: http://www.eham.net/articles/15064
Oh, I'm winning the war with a telegraph key,
Thought I as I finished a “stack”.
I hope this is not all the action I see
Just wearing my pants out in back.
I idly shuffle the blanks in my hand
And glance at the five letter groups.
I think of my brother in far foreign land
Fighting up front with the troops.
I check with my watch - where the heck's my R.J.?
I'm getting as hungry as sin.
An eight hour trick is enough for the day,
And I'm practically deaf from the din.
The “trick chief” gets up from the teletype chair
And says that he has one for me.
“Get your key oiled up, get that rig on the air,
Here's a honey - a long one O.P.”
My relief gets a curse on his unknowing head
For his tardiness costs me my chow.
And this is a hell of a time for a sked,
The net's QJZ about now.
But I slip on the cans and I rattle the key
And the rig is again on the air.
I give with the dits and the dahs just to see
If the station I'm calling is there.
A couple of calls and he sends “QRU?”
So I tell him I have an “O.P.”
He sends me a “K” and I start a tattoo -
Pounding brass on my telegraph key!
I pass the first fifty, then wait for an sec,
While he starts the next block on the sheet.
I've found if you don't make an op break his neck
You get fewer requests to repeat.
A hundred, and fifty, and then fifty more.
She's long, I've a thousand to go.
My head's getting tired, my wrist's getting sore.
Can't use “bug” for this guy is too slow.
I'm passing a thousand, my fist is near beat,
Do I want an R.J. from T.C.?
Not a chance, Chief, you know once my sign's on the sheet
No one's sending that message but me.
We finally clear and I send him “AR”
And get one from him with his “ack”.
The look that I give my relief leaves a scar
As I grab for my hat on the rack.
Later:
I read how a shipment of arms saved a corps
Because it arrived there in time.
The corps that it saved was my brother's. What's more,
The message that sent it was mine!
Oh, I'm fighting the war with a telegraph key
But as long as they want me I'll stay.
It may not be combat but now I can see
How a message can help save the day.
________________________________________
The above was written just after the “Battle of the Bulge” in 1944.
Glossary: Ack = acknowledgement
AR = End of transmission
Bug = semiautomatic telegraph key
O.P. = Operational Priority
K = Invitation to transmit
R.J. = relief operator
QJZ = on stand by
QRU = Have you traffic for me?
T.C. = trick chief
[From eHam: http://www.eham.net/articles/15064
WX Station: Yesterday after work I was able to reroute the cable for the wind direction/speed sensor from the radio room over to the garage. This included a quick trip up to the roof. I now need to figure out where I'm going to place the rain guage. The location is tricky because I don't want it under trees and it should also be accessible for maintenance/cleaning. Today I need to try and move the webcam from the window ledge outside the radio room to the garage window.
CW contacts: I had two on 80M last night, the first was from MI and the second was from AL. Band conditions were pretty bad. Yesterday at lunch I had a short CW QSO with a Polish station on 20M. I guess that's my first CW QSO to Europe. The station was sending fast, so I only picked up about half of what was sent.
W4M Memorial Day Special Event Station: in a continued attempt to close out all the loose ends from the W4M special event station, I am now sending out QSL cards to all the remaining contacts that I have not yet sent anything to. These remaining folks never sent me anything, but I'd rather send them the W4M QSL card than hang on to a bunch of extra cards. I'm also including a return SASE for those in the US. I completed 30 last night and would like to do 40 tonight. I just want to get a QSL card out to every contact and then officially close the book on the W4M special event.
CW contacts: I had two on 80M last night, the first was from MI and the second was from AL. Band conditions were pretty bad. Yesterday at lunch I had a short CW QSO with a Polish station on 20M. I guess that's my first CW QSO to Europe. The station was sending fast, so I only picked up about half of what was sent.
W4M Memorial Day Special Event Station: in a continued attempt to close out all the loose ends from the W4M special event station, I am now sending out QSL cards to all the remaining contacts that I have not yet sent anything to. These remaining folks never sent me anything, but I'd rather send them the W4M QSL card than hang on to a bunch of extra cards. I'm also including a return SASE for those in the US. I completed 30 last night and would like to do 40 tonight. I just want to get a QSL card out to every contact and then officially close the book on the W4M special event.
I snuck in a quick CW QSO before work with Kerry, K5KS, on 80M. 80M was pretty rough. I was able to understand that he was in TX and after a repeat I got his name. But we wrapped up the QSO after that.
