qrper.com/2024/07/the-write-stuff-my-pencil-paper-weatherproof-logging-combo/?swcfpc=1 Click the link above to read full details about this video, including all equipment links, at QRPer.com.
I print the paper logs from the POTA website and then transfer them to the website manually when I get back home. It may take a little extra time, but it's kind of fun to look back and see where and who you logged. Thanks for the video. Glad I'm more the only one still using paper....lol
I like the Rite in the Rain pads because, in addition to being weather resistant, they do not deteriorate the way cheaper pads do. I have found they work best with pencils.
I had a bad moment a while back when neither a ball point pen nor a gel ink pen would work on a Rite in the Rain pad (both were full of ink). I don't know what the problem was, but after that I switched to 100% mechanical pencil for logging.
i did pickup one of those zebra pencils. it feels better than the other metal ones i had. in cooler days, metal is a pain on the fingers too; winter is coming. i typically use a 8x5 like legal pad with zipper cover to hold the pencil in. i'm not a serious op, just like to go out and see what's on the bands and take notes what i hear and make the casual contact.
I have started using 1.3mm lead pencils after working in Aviation. Had a lot of pilots suggest a larger diameter mechanical pencil and I haven't looked back. I'm also one of the weirdos that like how you write : )
I love those uni Kuru Toga pencils. I first discovered then when taking calculus in college and my numbers would get less legible as the equations got longer. The rotating lead really makes a difference! They also have versions with gel grips which are much more comfortable to use.
The Pentel Graphgears are brilliant Thomas, I've got 3 I use 0.7, 0.9 in HB for the shack use and a 0,7 in 2b in the greenhouse for writing on plant labels - wouldn't be with out them.
Big fan of Rite in the Rain. You don't even have to be in the rain. I've had paper get soggy and hard to write on due to humidity. I like the write in the rain binder and I buy loose leaf paper. I can add or remove pages as needed, but keep pages I want. I bought a laser printer so I can print on the paper to make my own field guide. It works really well. It more durable as well. Regular pens work just fine, but I do like the rite in the rain pens. No gel pens as those are water based and the ink will just wipe right off. The same goes with ink jet printers, it just won't work with that paper.
Now this is something to write home about 😅 (sorry) these shorter videos are great! Love to get s little more of a closer and dedicated look on some of the details that goes on! Thank you! Oh, me and a friend are taking the first plunge into POTA the first dry enough weekend we get, thanks to your videos 😁 73! (We'll start with a little more power, before going qrp and being able to give you 72)
I just did a couple activations in 99 degree heat and I sweat a lot. I mean, a lot. I was dripping from my face onto the pad, and smearing sweat all over the pad as I logged. I use Rite in the Rain pads and .9mm pencils or space pens so my sweat doesn't interfere with my logging. You can get yellow 3x5 Rite in the Rain pads at Home Depot in a pinch, which has saved my bacon a couple times. I can't say enough good things about the Graph Gear 1000 series. The retractable tip and excellent ergonomics coupled with the metal construction and reasonable price make it one of the best values in drafting pencils or field pencils. I've tried a lot of .9mm pencils for POTA and SOTA, and for the money, I think the Graph Gear 1000 is hard to beat. Some of my other top choices for field writing are 2mm lead holders like the Staedtler Mars technico with integral sharpener, or the other Graph Gear models like the 800 and 500. They're cheaper but don't feature a retractable tip. I also prefer getting 2B lead so it's a little darker and softer, both of which work better on Rite in the Rain paper. For pens, any Fisher or Rite in the Rain pen will do obviously, but it's also easy to take a standard Fisher Space Pen refill and put it into a Zebra F-301 Compact just by boring out the tip hole slightly. That gives me a stainless steel, compact, write-anywhere pen with deep carry pocket clip. It's just personal preference but I prefer that over the Fisher bullet pen.
Many of my activations take place in WMA's without picnic tablets so I'm forced to use my folding chair. The chair has a fold-up arm table the radio sits on and my "desk" is a clipboard in my lap. My notebook is a 3.5 x 5.5 Field Book. Stapled, no wire, and orange for visibility. It's held open using the clipboard clip and and I start every activation on the left page and the right page is used for carry over and location notes. Write with a .7 Mr Pen mechanical pencil. Confession, the Field Book has dots instead of lines so my columns stay straight! 😁 The notebook and pencil is kept in a Maxpetition modular bag (you recommend years ago) along with the AX1 and random wire antennas. Sorry so long!
I love graphgear drafting pencils and have a set from 0.3 to 0.9 mm. I’d never seen the retractable ones. Thanks for the tip! If you want to keep weight down, golf pencils are a good option. The best sharpener I’ve ever found is the Alvin 9866 brass bullet. The knurling on it is like the graphgear drafting pencils and it feels effortless.
Sure it won't break the lead, it's .9mm for pete's sake :) I did have to give up my usual 0.3mm leads for POTA work but 0.5mm in 4B works for me. Love your content, keep them coming!
I do like the pencils. I wouldn't say I like the texture of the Rite in the Rain paper, but I'll keep the ones I have and use them til they're gone. Thanks as always for your informative and educational videos!
I use Pentel Twist-Erase pencils. For the error prone (like me) the very good, replaceable eraser is a very nice touch. And, they are quite affordable.
(Seems like my original comment got deleted somehow) I personally use Rite in the Rain knock offs from Amazon, they are exactly the same as the Rite in the Rain (Quality and weather resistant), but about 1/2 - 1/3 the price - 10 for $20 CAD($2 CAD/each) vs. over $10 CAD per Rite in the Rain notebooks. As for pencils, I go all out and use a 0.7 Rotring mechanical pencil that I've had for years.
Thanks for the tip! Yeah, sometimes TH-cam randomly moderates messages for no good reason. You're not the first to tell me it took two tries to get a comment to post. Thanks for being persistent!
I splurged and bought a Rite in the Rain pen some time ago and it works very well. That said, I feel like any pen would do. I prefer those with in that properly soaks into the paper.
I started logging on rite in the rain paper largely because of you. I coincidentally ended up with the same pencil by accident (GraphGear). How it collapses the fine point is GREAT for field work. I’ve made the switch to Ham2K Polo and I’ll never look back. Primarily because I’ve gained hours back (per week) in log entry. However, I do admit as the viewer, watching you copy live and write the call sign is a much better experience! 73 de KI7QCF
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qrper.com/2024/07/the-write-stuff-my-pencil-paper-weatherproof-logging-combo/?swcfpc=1
Click the link above to read full details about this video, including all equipment links, at QRPer.com.
I print the paper logs from the POTA website and then transfer them to the website manually when I get back home. It may take a little extra time, but it's kind of fun to look back and see where and who you logged. Thanks for the video. Glad I'm more the only one still using paper....lol
In the area we live in rain is always a possibility. It’s already rained here three times and cleared up today.
I like the Rite in the Rain pads because, in addition to being weather resistant, they do not deteriorate the way cheaper pads do. I have found they work best with pencils.
I had a bad moment a while back when neither a ball point pen nor a gel ink pen would work on a Rite in the Rain pad (both were full of ink). I don't know what the problem was, but after that I switched to 100% mechanical pencil for logging.
i did pickup one of those zebra pencils. it feels better than the other metal ones i had. in cooler days, metal is a pain on the fingers too; winter is coming.
i typically use a 8x5 like legal pad with zipper cover to hold the pencil in. i'm not a serious op, just like to go out and see what's on the bands and take notes what i hear and make the casual contact.
I have started using 1.3mm lead pencils after working in Aviation. Had a lot of pilots suggest a larger diameter mechanical pencil and I haven't looked back.
I'm also one of the weirdos that like how you write : )
I just order the pencil with your link… the 1000 and some lead… all on sale… such a deal !
I copied these from you a few months ago and use them to log all my SSB contacts for SOTA and POTA. Thanks Bob KU3C
I love those uni Kuru Toga pencils. I first discovered then when taking calculus in college and my numbers would get less legible as the equations got longer. The rotating lead really makes a difference! They also have versions with gel grips which are much more comfortable to use.
Thank you, Tom. I was all the time wondering what notepads you are using.
The Pentel Graphgears are brilliant Thomas, I've got 3 I use 0.7, 0.9 in HB for the shack use and a 0,7 in 2b in the greenhouse for writing on plant labels - wouldn't be with out them.
Big fan of Rite in the Rain. You don't even have to be in the rain. I've had paper get soggy and hard to write on due to humidity. I like the write in the rain binder and I buy loose leaf paper. I can add or remove pages as needed, but keep pages I want. I bought a laser printer so I can print on the paper to make my own field guide. It works really well. It more durable as well. Regular pens work just fine, but I do like the rite in the rain pens. No gel pens as those are water based and the ink will just wipe right off. The same goes with ink jet printers, it just won't work with that paper.
Now this is something to write home about 😅 (sorry) these shorter videos are great! Love to get s little more of a closer and dedicated look on some of the details that goes on! Thank you! Oh, me and a friend are taking the first plunge into POTA the first dry enough weekend we get, thanks to your videos 😁 73! (We'll start with a little more power, before going qrp and being able to give you 72)
I love the pun! :) Thank you so much for the kind comments.
I just did a couple activations in 99 degree heat and I sweat a lot. I mean, a lot. I was dripping from my face onto the pad, and smearing sweat all over the pad as I logged. I use Rite in the Rain pads and .9mm pencils or space pens so my sweat doesn't interfere with my logging. You can get yellow 3x5 Rite in the Rain pads at Home Depot in a pinch, which has saved my bacon a couple times.
I can't say enough good things about the Graph Gear 1000 series. The retractable tip and excellent ergonomics coupled with the metal construction and reasonable price make it one of the best values in drafting pencils or field pencils. I've tried a lot of .9mm pencils for POTA and SOTA, and for the money, I think the Graph Gear 1000 is hard to beat.
Some of my other top choices for field writing are 2mm lead holders like the Staedtler Mars technico with integral sharpener, or the other Graph Gear models like the 800 and 500. They're cheaper but don't feature a retractable tip.
I also prefer getting 2B lead so it's a little darker and softer, both of which work better on Rite in the Rain paper.
For pens, any Fisher or Rite in the Rain pen will do obviously, but it's also easy to take a standard Fisher Space Pen refill and put it into a Zebra F-301 Compact just by boring out the tip hole slightly. That gives me a stainless steel, compact, write-anywhere pen with deep carry pocket clip. It's just personal preference but I prefer that over the Fisher bullet pen.
I've definitely sweated on my Rite in the Rain pads before and, you're right: it can handle it no problem!
Many of my activations take place in WMA's without picnic tablets so I'm forced to use my folding chair. The chair has a fold-up arm table the radio sits on and my "desk" is a clipboard in my lap. My notebook is a 3.5 x 5.5 Field Book. Stapled, no wire, and orange for visibility. It's held open using the clipboard clip and and I start every activation on the left page and the right page is used for carry over and location notes. Write with a .7 Mr Pen mechanical pencil. Confession, the Field Book has dots instead of lines so my columns stay straight! 😁 The notebook and pencil is kept in a Maxpetition modular bag (you recommend years ago) along with the AX1 and random wire antennas. Sorry so long!
That sounds like a solid field setup!
Thanks for reminding me of how important the small things are. I appreciate the video, and a belated but very Happy Birthday!
Thank you. :)
I love graphgear drafting pencils and have a set from 0.3 to 0.9 mm. I’d never seen the retractable ones. Thanks for the tip!
If you want to keep weight down, golf pencils are a good option. The best sharpener I’ve ever found is the Alvin 9866 brass bullet. The knurling on it is like the graphgear drafting pencils and it feels effortless.
That's a great tip!
really cool
Sure it won't break the lead, it's .9mm for pete's sake :) I did have to give up my usual 0.3mm leads for POTA work but 0.5mm in 4B works for me. Love your content, keep them coming!
I do like the pencils. I wouldn't say I like the texture of the Rite in the Rain paper, but I'll keep the ones I have and use them til they're gone. Thanks as always for your informative and educational videos!
Thank you for watching!
@@ThomasK4SWL you're welcome, sir. you don't have to respond to my messages. I know you're busy, Mr.
I use Pentel Twist-Erase pencils. For the error prone (like me) the very good, replaceable eraser is a very nice touch. And, they are quite affordable.
@5:56 Birthday gift? Happy belated birthday!
Thank you! :)
(Seems like my original comment got deleted somehow)
I personally use Rite in the Rain knock offs from Amazon, they are exactly the same as the Rite in the Rain (Quality and weather resistant), but about 1/2 - 1/3 the price - 10 for $20 CAD($2 CAD/each) vs. over $10 CAD per Rite in the Rain notebooks.
As for pencils, I go all out and use a 0.7 Rotring mechanical pencil that I've had for years.
Thanks for the tip! Yeah, sometimes TH-cam randomly moderates messages for no good reason. You're not the first to tell me it took two tries to get a comment to post. Thanks for being persistent!
Anyone have recommendations for a pen to pair with these Rite in the Rain notebooks? Or does it really not matter?
I splurged and bought a Rite in the Rain pen some time ago and it works very well. That said, I feel like any pen would do. I prefer those with in that properly soaks into the paper.
For me it's a steno pad and ink pen on my clipboard with my pressure paddles. I too like the spiral on the top.
K5DEZ
WOOHOO... FIRST COMMENT...
I started logging on rite in the rain paper largely because of you. I coincidentally ended up with the same pencil by accident (GraphGear). How it collapses the fine point is GREAT for field work.
I’ve made the switch to Ham2K Polo and I’ll never look back. Primarily because I’ve gained hours back (per week) in log entry. However, I do admit as the viewer, watching you copy live and write the call sign is a much better experience!
73 de KI7QCF
That pencil is the bee's knees! I love it. And thank you for watching the channel, OM.