As I am getting into operating in cw mode, your videos help me so much. I know you have other things going on, but I always check to see when you post another video. Thanks for what you do!
Yes Duncan, it can get a bit busy. In fact I must apologize for not sending a reply sooner. I am behind in responding to video comments. I appreciate you leaving a friendly note and I'm pleased the videos are of some help. Good luck on your CW journey. Catch you out there sometime I hope.
Hard to beat a dipole. When on Isle Royal using a KX1 frustrated with trying to get a vertical to work I went to a up right V no feed line no ground lose. What a difference.
Good video Charlie. Looked like there was no decent path to the summit on this one. I have tried many different antennas portable and performance wise I have yet to find anything that beats the linked dipole. Nice to see the Yaesu FT817 in use too, my favourite transceiver. All the best to you and Sandy and keep up the good work. 73 Chris M0RSF
Thank you Chris - yes, the path was just straight up any way you can. It was not a long hike though. Thank you for your comments about the dipole and FT817. We are likeminded there. Have a Merry Christmas my friend.
Hi Brad - you know, I should have explained that more, you are correct. For SOTA, we spot ourselves so people know what our radio frequency and summit is. For Morse code generally, our signals are automatically identified on a radio listening network called a Reverse Beacon Network. Basically it recognizes your call sign and frequency and posts it to a website if it hears your Morse code signal. If we add our summit information to the SOTA website then it uses the Reverse Beacon Network to automatically spot us. This doesn't work for SSB and unless you have an internet signal or some other way to send a spot to the internet (there are other ways) you can't spot yourself. So in this situation where there was no cell service so I had no way to get my SSB spot out to the internet. But I had things set up to automatically spot me when I call CQ using Morse code. Yet another advantage of knowing Morse code.
Big Fan of your channel Charlie. Busy practising my CW, your decode is very helpfull to get to understand how a qso is made in CW. Got a question about the antenna ... did you or are you using a kind of choke-balun up at the feedpoint of your antenna ? 73 ON1JV
Hi Jan - apologies for the lateness in my reply. I got a little behind. I'm happy to hear that the decode is useful, thanks. I actually do not have a choke-balun on any of my homebrew QRP antennas. The purpose is to prevent too much RF getting back to the radio, but at 5 watts this is never an issue. I know some are adamant that a choke should be used but I have not encountered a need in the ten years I've used these QRP antennas. Now if this was an antenna used for higher power then I would agree that one is needed.
So here is the build video th-cam.com/video/OEKNmrtXb5Y/w-d-xo.html - the only difference to this antenna and the latest one I built on TikTok is I was really unhappy with the "knife edge" connectors and switched over to these banana plugs amzn.to/3vZ4OeF. Let me know how it goes.
Redundancy. It's a lot of effort to get to the top of a summit to not get those points due to a failure in the equipment. Also, I like talking to my friends on my hike up. HT is a better choice for coms on the move.
Charlie, good morning and happy 2023. I do not use TicTok,, but am wondering if you have a URL with your antenna and key designs? I just bought my first QRP radio, and am anxious to get it on the air. TNX for your consideration. 73 de David AE4LH
Regarding the antenna, here is the build th-cam.com/video/OEKNmrtXb5Y/w-d-xo.html - the only difference to this and the latest one I built on TikTok is I was really unhappy with the "knife edge" connectors and switched over to these banana plugs amzn.to/3vZ4OeF. For the CW Key I can email you some information if you initiate with by sending me a quick email to nj7v@arrl.net. I am glad you brought this up. I am going to try and find those live stream videos and see if I can do some post editing and put them up on TH-cam. Thank you David!
The format of scrolling cw conversations is awesome for learning to copy. Probably the best method I've found so far. Thanks and keep the vids coming!
Hi Adam - very nice compliment. Thank you!
Thanks for putting the text on the screen. Really useful for beginners like me.
You're welcome! Many people say the same thing. It's more work but appreciated by so many. Thanks for visiting.
As I am getting into operating in cw mode, your videos help me so much. I know you have other things going on, but I always check to see when you post another video. Thanks for what you do!
Yes Duncan, it can get a bit busy. In fact I must apologize for not sending a reply sooner. I am behind in responding to video comments. I appreciate you leaving a friendly note and I'm pleased the videos are of some help. Good luck on your CW journey. Catch you out there sometime I hope.
Thanks for sharing. New to CW and it was helpful to have the decode.
Very cool Ro - thank you for joining and best of luck to you on your CW skills. Hope that is going well.
Happy Thanksgiving, Charlie. 🎉
Same to you! And Merry Christmas since I am so late in my reply.
Nice! Thank you for sharing the adventure.
You bet! Thanks for your support. Seeing you catching all of my videos of late.
@@RedSummitRF , I watch them all!
@@Bill-HRT Awesome! Thank you. Have I asked your name before?
@@RedSummitRF , It's @Bill-HRT, your SOTA student, K0WHW ;-)
@@Bill-HRT I knew I knew you but couldn't place it. Thx buddy!
Hard to beat a dipole. When on Isle Royal using a KX1 frustrated with trying to get a vertical to work I went to a up right V no feed line no ground lose. What a difference.
Absolutely. Nothing like getting in the field and seeing how stuff works! Good for you to be flexible.
Nice work Charlie! 73!
Hi Jeff - I'm seeing you catching a lot of the videos. Thank you for your support.
Love the video Red and like how you have the decode going across the screen. I was practicing copy and looking up to check. 73 de Martin W3MLK
Hi Martin - thank you so much for joining and I am very pleased that the videos are helpful. That decode seams popular. Many say they like it. 73!
Good video Charlie. Looked like there was no decent path to the summit on this one. I have tried many different antennas portable and performance wise I have yet to find anything that beats the linked dipole. Nice to see the Yaesu FT817 in use too, my favourite transceiver. All the best to you and Sandy and keep up the good work. 73 Chris M0RSF
Thank you Chris - yes, the path was just straight up any way you can. It was not a long hike though. Thank you for your comments about the dipole and FT817. We are likeminded there. Have a Merry Christmas my friend.
Great video!
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks
ThanksCharlie - 73
Thanks!
No internet so no SSB, equipment issue? Q from a non ham. Spotting perhaps?
Love your videos, SOTA, POTA look like great fun and a challange.
Hi Brad - you know, I should have explained that more, you are correct.
For SOTA, we spot ourselves so people know what our radio frequency and summit is.
For Morse code generally, our signals are automatically identified on a radio listening network called a Reverse Beacon Network. Basically it recognizes your call sign and frequency and posts it to a website if it hears your Morse code signal.
If we add our summit information to the SOTA website then it uses the Reverse Beacon Network to automatically spot us.
This doesn't work for SSB and unless you have an internet signal or some other way to send a spot to the internet (there are other ways) you can't spot yourself.
So in this situation where there was no cell service so I had no way to get my SSB spot out to the internet. But I had things set up to automatically spot me when I call CQ using Morse code.
Yet another advantage of knowing Morse code.
Reverse beacon, thank you, I didn't know that.
Cool tech as well!!!!
Big Fan of your channel Charlie. Busy practising my CW, your decode is very helpfull to get to understand how a qso is made in CW.
Got a question about the antenna ... did you or are you using a kind of choke-balun up at the feedpoint of your antenna ?
73 ON1JV
Hi Jan - apologies for the lateness in my reply. I got a little behind. I'm happy to hear that the decode is useful, thanks. I actually do not have a choke-balun on any of my homebrew QRP antennas. The purpose is to prevent too much RF getting back to the radio, but at 5 watts this is never an issue. I know some are adamant that a choke should be used but I have not encountered a need in the ten years I've used these QRP antennas. Now if this was an antenna used for higher power then I would agree that one is needed.
Was that a rough patch? I travel that in the Mojave in a Prius . Oooooops😅
what are the measurements for the dipole antenna can you direct me to THAT video.. Ed W6AOA Pensacola, FL
So here is the build video th-cam.com/video/OEKNmrtXb5Y/w-d-xo.html - the only difference to this antenna and the latest one I built on TikTok is I was really unhappy with the "knife edge" connectors and switched over to these banana plugs amzn.to/3vZ4OeF.
Let me know how it goes.
Just curious why you use a HT when you brought the FT 817?
Redundancy. It's a lot of effort to get to the top of a summit to not get those points due to a failure in the equipment.
Also, I like talking to my friends on my hike up. HT is a better choice for coms on the move.
Nice.. what are you using for logging?? WA7WS
It's an app called HAMRS
Charlie, good morning and happy 2023. I do not use TicTok,, but am wondering if you have a URL with your antenna and key designs? I just bought my first QRP radio, and am anxious to get it on the air. TNX for your consideration. 73 de David AE4LH
Regarding the antenna, here is the build th-cam.com/video/OEKNmrtXb5Y/w-d-xo.html - the only difference to this and the latest one I built on TikTok is I was really unhappy with the "knife edge" connectors and switched over to these banana plugs amzn.to/3vZ4OeF.
For the CW Key I can email you some information if you initiate with by sending me a quick email to nj7v@arrl.net.
I am glad you brought this up. I am going to try and find those live stream videos and see if I can do some post editing and put them up on TH-cam. Thank you David!