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Nice find! You've built a QMX, the TR-35 will be a walk in the park, but feel free to reach out (or watch my build series). Take care and 73 de KO4TFE!

Yeah, started slow but overall it came out pretty good. I'm a big squeeze keyer, so it was tough for me to use a single lever! Thanks for watching! 73!

I'll see what I can do. I don't have one on hand, so I'll have to find dimensioned drawings somewhere.

Yeah thankfully just some sort of glitch that worked itself out!

Thanks for listening Paul and congrats on the license!! 🎉

I was really glad that it survived! Yes, the filters rock! I know some people are mad he hasn't released SSB yet but I'll take the improvements that he's done so far over SSB any day.

I would recommend joining LICW , you will learn the right way and go at your own pace.

Yeah, I was blown away, BC on 2.5 watts! I'm a huge fan of the Long Island CW Club. There you can get real world practice with other people of your skill level. And the classes and comradery are a blast! But they have a saying "Get on the air to get good, don't get good to get on the air" and I believe that whole heartedly. Being on the air is the single best way to improve. Listening to perfectly generated computer code isn't realistic as everyone has a unique fist. It really helps to listen to all the different styles and key types in real world scenarios because you have to be uncomfortable to improve!

💯

I am learning by listening to guys doing POTA and SOTA activations live on the air. And jumping in with my own callsign too! Fun fun and scary the first 100 times! Haha Mike - KK7MMN

Always excited to hear you coming back to me Forrest!

It would be possible yes, but would add cost and complexity. They make 12V to USB adapters with flying leads that you could put powerpoles on and plug into one of the outlets on the box.

Thanks man! I need to improve my ragchew skills and have been jumping into the LICW intermediate courses as I have time. It's weird, I only ever have that happen with that SP-4 key. I do need to get into the habit of choking the feedline though. I carry my choke with me but just never use it 🤷‍♂️

Thanks man! I've gotten several VA stations on 20m lately, so there is hope!

We’re going to need to recruit him to the ridge

@@JayN4GO agreed :)

Thanks! I'm excited the bands are waking up again after the Summer Doldrums!

I'm familiar with Pololu, the do make great stuff. I usually use my Talentcell 3Ah LiPo battery which outputs just below 12V when fully charged and it works great but this was an exception as I was out of town and unprepared...I knew I was probably playing with fire, but I knew I had a stock of BS170's at home!

Yeah, that's what I suspected. I usually use a 12V Talentcell, but I couldn't find the charger. The LiFePO4 was not fully charged and was running around 13V so I knew I was pushing it. I guess that's what happens when you play with fire. I have 100 of the output FETs from a QCX Mini failure a while back. You're right, it isn't very robust, but at least it's cheap and easy to fix.

LOL whoops it right!

But I still had fun, and that's what counts!

@@KYFriedHam Dam right!!! All about having fun 🤩!

Thanks! Yep, I was running 027 at the time.

Nope. Unfortunately it does not. The 891 is a great radio, but pretty sparse features wise.

@@KYFriedHam I see. Best for the 100w then. I have the G90 which has the decoder. Are cw decoders typically any good?

@@Andrew-dg7qm The 891 is a great receiver with great filtering and noise reduction, and 100W. Some CW decoders are better than others. I've never had much luck with them though because they are typically based on your keyer speed, so faster or slower stations than you are sending won't be decoded properly. Also, they tend to think noise is CW characters.

I've been very encouraged with the number of new young hams coming into the hobby...especially in the CW world.

I really enjoy the TR-35. I've seen several pop up on the used market lately for decent prices. The jury is still out on the little Onn. It sounds great and it's very light, but I'm thinking maybe that RF noise that I was hearing in this activation may be from that speaker. More investigation is necessary.

@@KYFriedHam Keep me posted on the speaker. I wonder if a TR-35 kit will ever show up on the market. I know a lot of people order kits then sit on em.

Thanks for watching! I thought that's how it was supposed to work but it seems spotty for me when it actually works

Thanks man!

😂😂

Yeah, I've tried on multiple bands and modes but no luck.

Thanks!

Hey Rob, here is the one that I bought: www.amazon.com/dp/B0CBLN13YY The screen is very useful. It's very bright and the resolution is very good!

@@KYFriedHam Thanks, Jason! I'm gearing up to take on my TR-35 kit!

I saw some other people who doubled it over and ran it back through the hole, so I figured I was wrong. Must just be a Jason thing. I love his winders. The way the wire almost falls off when you want it to makes them so easy to deploy. Also FYI, I've gotten quite a few VA stations on my recent activations on 20M, so there is hope! 73s de Jason Part Deux

I've been wanting to get a single lever but was never good at using them, so I thought this would be a cheap and fun way to practice! Thanks for watching buddy!

I agree, the feel is very squishy. The dual paddle are even squishier. I kind of like it although it definitely won't be my #1 paddle. I have the Portapaddle II and KK1B from American Morse. Very fun keys to use. They both have a very unique "snappiness" to them that none of my other keys have.

@@KYFriedHam I only have the ultra portable paddle from AME, it’s Okay, but I have to use a 3d printed shroud to cover the screws until I can find the right sized set screws. He doesn’t use metric on his keys, and all I have is metric screws.

Well this is a good one...it's very cheap!

I always use a little "ham"

Yeah, thankfully it was a simple fix and she's back on the air! I've been playing with IQ mode and using it as the fronted for an SDR...super cool! Hope you get some cooler weather soon!

I'm glad you were able to copy me! Yes BK is a quick way of saying "over" or "back to you". The normal exchange would end with something like <their call> DE <your call> K to hand the conversation back to them. But since POTA is such a quick exchange people end their "sentence" with BK. Then it's customary for the other station to begin with BK, for "back to me" instead of the long form again. You will hear it in other contexts as well and it's appropriate to use in any QSO, but many ragchews, SKCC QSOs and the like, people are a bit more formal and use the full hand off.

LOl, that's awesome! I love the OG Star Trek...really all of them up to TNG The metal clanking sound is me taking a drink of water from my metal water bottle. Thanks for watching the whole thing, that's dedication! haha, I do the same thing with the CW TH-camr's that I watch. I think I can send some of their CQ's better than mine!!

LOL, you're probably right. Now I feel bad. I'll have to take it out to get some ice cream.

I intended on 3d printing one, but just haven't had the time to model one up and I was too impatient and wanted to use the radio!

Thanks OM! Yeah, a cold solder joint on the control board connector cracked. I reflowed all the connections and works great again!

First of all, I'd say if you know all your characters, get on the air! The best way to improve is to be on the air and groups like the SKCC have ops who focus on working people down to 5 WPM. Second, yes it is ideal to match the calling stations speed which I always try to do. However on some radios it isn't fast or easy to change the keyer speed, so you can just add more spacing between characters. If I didn't do that it's likely because I'm a relatively new CW op myself and it takes all my brain power to make a contact lol. Also if you don't understand what was sent and the operator doesn't slow down, you can always send QRS which means send slower. Hope to catch you on the air someday soon!

Well, I didn't do a super job with the polishing but it does look better for sure!

LOL, well I wasn't going to say anything 😂

1) It is a fun little key! 2) Thanks!

@@KYFriedHam 😂

I activated with it yesterday, very fun to send on!

@@KYFriedHam yep I saw the ham alert and looked for you on 20. Couldn’t hear you. For some reason KY/TN area I really struggle to hear from my base station

Glad you got no major damage!

Well, I have the Signature 9 which is intended to run un-guyed. The pole sections are thicker than a standard DXC, so depending on which one you have, you may actually need the guys.

@@KYFriedHam ah, okay. Doing a fine job! Mine is the classic