One of your best vids yet! I enjoyed everything about this one: music, timing, CW subtitles, etc. As an aspiring CW op, I get inspiration from seeing you make contacts from far away with minimal equipment.
I get inspiration from these great comments. I really do enjoy them and try to answer ever comment. The music at the end was given to me by an online friend so I was able to use it here. I get a lot of feedback about providing CW subtitles so I figure it's a must now I have to do it. Thanks again love the comment!
What a surprise... Man, K0DTJ came booming in that quickly! Good contact Tom. I always enjoy watching QRP CW contacts. There is just something about low power and small antennas making contacts for hundreds and even thousands of miles that excite me. Now THAT is an accomplishment! It's great to have you back making HAM radio vids. 73!
So rewarding Tom. Thanks for putting the words and callsigns up. I am learning cw right now and it’s great when I can actually hear the letters now and pick them out. 73 Kevin
Hey, thanks for the comment friend. I realized a while ago the letters in the subtitles help a lot of people, make the videos more interesting, including those that don't even know CW.
I'm glad to see your back to radio, especially CW mode as I'm learning it I'm still slow copying but really enjoy learning how the QSO goes. Very entertaining also. Thank you
Yeah, originally that's what I wanted my channel to be about, but it's taken me over 8 months to move cities and start to get settled so I wanna get back to basics like this and do real operations. Plus the weather has to cooperate which I'm hoping this Fall and Winter do.
Man that is why I do the videos for comments like that. Really feels good. Now that the weather is great (Fall) I will be making videos until it gets too cold in December/January. Also, moving from STL to OKC really messed me up. More to come!
Awesome contact! love the feeling of getting out with QRP. I run 5 watts voice on my FT-897 a lot from East Texas on a 20 mtr wire dipole hanging between 2 trees, and do pretty well. Keep up the good work and the great videos.
Best to use your filters to try and narrow down the passband to move the QRM out of your QSO.Try to ride it out,rather than going QRT,by activating your audio filters.That little antenna,in this instance,proved to be very effective.
Don’t forget “QSY UP 1” to get your contact to QSY up out of the QRM. I’m amazed that everytime I do that, it works, you’d think most of us would miss the QSY.
I enjoyed this video very much! Keep doing what you're doing. I am 14 yrs old and trying to become a radio amateur here in Sweden (where I come from) and your videos are so inspiring and when I'm watching I really want to become a ham. I like when you put CW subtitles when you're making a contact, I can almost CW when it's slow and if I get stuck I will just watch the subtitles. I would like to see more QRP CW content with CW subtitles. From an almost radio amateur
Wow great comment Bak! I really love it that you are becoming a ham. Try to find a club because that's what helped me. Some guys got me started and I was about 29 years old at the time. I didn't have the chance to become a ham as a kid as there was no internet or people that I knew would help me. I will always try to put subtitles in the videos to help anyone that needs it.
Conditions have been getting better this year. I’ve had a number of great contacts from my KX2 or MTR3B in the field, camping (picnic table portable), SOTA, POTA, or even LunchPeditions in the parking lot at work on the KX2. Somehow, 2020 has become my year for a CW QSO A Day. We are camping by the ocean again this weekend, I plan to test out my AX1 again and finally get a contact. Nice location to work from. De W1ND
Ham Radio CQ so I setup the AE-1 on the tripod base and used my camera tripod in its lowest position on the picnic table at our campsite with my KX2. I made a contact in MO from ME rather fast and was optimistic, then went the next hour with nothing. However, it was my first contact with that setup so I was happy. I threw my 28’ Random Wire into a nearby tree (only about 18’ up) and worked Europe and a bunch of US stations the next two days. 17M opened up yesterday, I wish I’d thought about setting the AE1 back up to test out 17M. Thanks for this video, it’s always a lot of fun to work in the field.
That really is pretty impressive with that little antenna. 5 watts is hard enough, but then couple it to a tiny antenna...impressive to say the least ! Thanks for sharing. I have the MFJ 1899T vertical and have not gotten much time to use it. With warmer weather around the corner I'll have to put it in service with my KX2 and see how well or poorly it works. Barry, KU3X/QRP
One of the potential hazards of contacts between QRP stations in a low noise environment is other stations with a high noise floor not even knowing that the existing QSO is taking place.
Very awesome QSO. Half Moon Bay is not far from me. A two way QRP into California is great. The steps are erosional platforms from when the lake is receding. I. The spring I wonder if the lake has more water.
Coo video! I'd say that building is monitoring the water. Probably quality, water level, weather, etc. It's a log periodic antenna, and since it's like an X pattern it might be a half-wave antenna. 73s DE K4NFP
Great Tom that was really cool, I'm amazed there are idiots even on CW.... Haven't done it for years myself, this makes me want to get back into it! Well done!
I think those steps are to slow the erosion. Do they make a box that reads and writes cw? I’ve seen something like that by MFJ but not sure if that is what it does. Looking for something to practice on before I transmit for real.
Hello Tom,I just watch your set up on TH-cam ,I got something off Amazon last week,the Lom Tap 6.5 ft Light stand portable made out of aluminum & plastic ,weight is 1.165 kg ,adiustable height 68cm folded up to 200cm .I added the mirror mount MfJ -342 onto the tripod cost of Lom Tap 6.5 tripod was 20.00 ,shipping extra ,Iam going to use this on my Big Stick Vertical portable sets up differents areas in Va,Nc and up in Blue Ridge mountains places.73,Roy WD4EIB
Much appreciated comment! I hope to do a lot more of this kind of stuff now that Fall is here and it's not crazy hot. Hopefully living in OKC area I can continue to go out into the field until December!
Satellite Antenna appears to be a Circular Polarized Yagi for either sending Data to or gathering Data from a Satellite regarding the Dam or water conditions of the Lake. Great Video by the way, always enjoy following you. N9SOX
That was a great demonstration. The other day I commented about using a Pixie type transceiver; If you look my call up on QRZ you can see one I built for 75 meters...3.960 to be exact. Yes, I talk to some of my buddies in CW and copy them voice. I etched the board so I could fit it in the tin with the battery. Notice all the caps that I used to get the offset for side tone. I got lazy and never added them up to replace them with a single capacitor. Just for fun! Greg KA8ZAF Oh, I built a mag loop for 20-40; I may hook up my Rockmites some day before the weather changes on 20 or 40. Keep having fun and don't let the knotheads bother you; they've been around all 34 years I've been a ham.
Hey Charles, great comment. I like that Pixie you mentioned. Like I said I still can't believe that works. I"ll have to dig out mine and fire it up. Knotheads! Yeah they are everywere.
How fun! Two questions - do you usually have the preamp on? I don’t hear much on my KX3 unless it is on! Also, what keyer are you using and is it still available on the market? 73, WA6HQQ
Hey Richard. I do not have the preamp on. I try to limit everything. I use the "pico paddle" in this case. It's kind of expensive but I like it. I don't know, it's been a while, but do a search on google for pico paddle.
Hi Tom, great to see your making AR media again. You were playing with a compromise antenna at home and not having much luck. I sold all those types of antennas as they are compromise antennas as you know. I thought I would show you what we are doing here in VK to work DX. Alex vk2prc has a system which gives a perfect match for 40m and 20m. check out this video th-cam.com/video/fIyYUtmVHrM/w-d-xo.html He is now making the matcher for other. 73 Colin vk2jcc
One of your best vids yet! I enjoyed everything about this one: music, timing, CW subtitles, etc. As an aspiring CW op, I get inspiration from seeing you make contacts from far away with minimal equipment.
I get inspiration from these great comments. I really do enjoy them and try to answer ever comment. The music at the end was given to me by an online friend so I was able to use it here. I get a lot of feedback about providing CW subtitles so I figure it's a must now I have to do it. Thanks again love the comment!
Me too, Tom makes very interesting real videos, quite humorous too
What a surprise... Man, K0DTJ came booming in that quickly! Good contact Tom. I always enjoy watching QRP CW contacts. There is just something about low power and small antennas making contacts for hundreds and even thousands of miles that excite me. Now THAT is an accomplishment! It's great to have you back making HAM radio vids. 73!
So rewarding Tom. Thanks for putting the words and callsigns up. I am learning cw right now and it’s great when I can actually hear the letters now and pick them out. 73 Kevin
Hey, thanks for the comment friend. I realized a while ago the letters in the subtitles help a lot of people, make the videos more interesting, including those that don't even know CW.
I'm glad to see your back to radio, especially CW mode as I'm learning it I'm still slow copying but really enjoy learning how the QSO goes. Very entertaining also. Thank you
Glad to hear it! I love this comment!
Brilliant, I much prefer these ham radio videos and your channel than endless how to's and endless numbers of outdoor gear reviews done indoors.
Yeah, originally that's what I wanted my channel to be about, but it's taken me over 8 months to move cities and start to get settled so I wanna get back to basics like this and do real operations. Plus the weather has to cooperate which I'm hoping this Fall and Winter do.
Tom, thank goodness you are back making the Best CW videos. I want you to know how much I learn watching your videos. Thank you very much. 73 GG5OBD
Man that is why I do the videos for comments like that. Really feels good. Now that the weather is great (Fall) I will be making videos until it gets too cold in December/January. Also, moving from STL to OKC really messed me up. More to come!
Glad you got the antenna to work. Nice quiet spot to set up. The CW added to the music was cool. 73
I like the look of it and the isolation (no hassles) I had a friend send me that music at the end.
Awesome contact! love the feeling of getting out with QRP. I run 5 watts voice on my FT-897 a lot from East Texas on a 20 mtr wire dipole hanging between 2 trees, and do pretty well. Keep up the good work and the great videos.
I used to own an 897, that thing was a heavy beast. My first ham radio. I want one now! Love the setup and love the comment.
Since you've had the time to do these CW vids....really motivates me to start working on my CW copying again!
Yeah I like the CW community / protocol. Seems like there's always someone to talk to and nice out there and easier then SSB.
Hey Ron, yes you must become active again. I miss your HAM radio videos. 73!
"Thanks for watching 73 N9YO". Great ending, thanks for producing these super motivational videos.
Glad you like them! Man I love that comment. You get it!
Best to use your filters to try and narrow down the passband to move the QRM out of your QSO.Try to ride it out,rather than going QRT,by activating your audio filters.That little antenna,in this instance,proved to be very effective.
I doubt any filters would have stopped that deliberate QRM.
Ham Radio CQ ...You are probably right,but always worth a try.
Don’t forget “QSY UP 1” to get your contact to QSY up out of the QRM. I’m amazed that everytime I do that, it works, you’d think most of us would miss the QSY.
Its a water reservoir Tom to collect what little rain the area receives. I've seen it during drought. Much lower water levels.
Yeah, It doesn't seem like a regular dam. And it certainly does seem dry low levels
Wow, that was awesome that you were able to make contact with that guy clear out in Ca !!
Thanks!
I enjoyed this video very much! Keep doing what you're doing. I am 14 yrs old and trying to become a radio amateur here in Sweden (where I come from) and your videos are so inspiring and when I'm watching I really want to become a ham. I like when you put CW subtitles when you're making a contact, I can almost CW when it's slow and if I get stuck I will just watch the subtitles. I would like to see more QRP CW content with CW subtitles. From an almost radio amateur
Wow great comment Bak! I really love it that you are becoming a ham. Try to find a club because that's what helped me. Some guys got me started and I was about 29 years old at the time. I didn't have the chance to become a ham as a kid as there was no internet or people that I knew would help me. I will always try to put subtitles in the videos to help anyone that needs it.
Conditions have been getting better this year. I’ve had a number of great contacts from my KX2 or MTR3B in the field, camping (picnic table portable), SOTA, POTA, or even LunchPeditions in the parking lot at work on the KX2. Somehow, 2020 has become my year for a CW QSO A Day. We are camping by the ocean again this weekend, I plan to test out my AX1 again and finally get a contact. Nice location to work from. De W1ND
Greath job I like the ideo of QSO a day
Ham Radio CQ so I setup the AE-1 on the tripod base and used my camera tripod in its lowest position on the picnic table at our campsite with my KX2. I made a contact in MO from ME rather fast and was optimistic, then went the next hour with nothing. However, it was my first contact with that setup so I was happy. I threw my 28’ Random Wire into a nearby tree (only about 18’ up) and worked Europe and a bunch of US stations the next two days.
17M opened up yesterday, I wish I’d thought about setting the AE1 back up to test out 17M.
Thanks for this video, it’s always a lot of fun to work in the field.
That really is pretty impressive with that little antenna. 5 watts is hard enough, but then couple it to a tiny antenna...impressive to say the least ! Thanks for sharing.
I have the MFJ 1899T vertical and have not gotten much time to use it. With warmer weather around the corner I'll have to put it in service with my KX2 and see how well or poorly it works.
Barry, KU3X/QRP
That comment has inspired me to go out and try this again. It's been a cold winter so I haven't been out, but now it should be better soon.
Great contact very satisfying. Love that location.
I like the look of it and the isolation (no hassles) I'll be back!
Cool videos bro. No need to be obsessed with the swr being 1:01 its 1/5 1/7 will work fine. Lots of people have to live with 2 to 1
Really enjoy these portable QRP videos you make. Well done
Thank you very much! I appreciate that comment a lot.
Enjoyed this one. Beautiful area and great contact. Sounds like a win win to me!
Thanks man. I love that area I will be back. Hopefully it won't become repetitive.
Tom, be so nice to visit one day and do CW with u in the parks. You have such open safe spacers.
Maybe one day! What parts are you in?
@@hamradiocq Tom I'm in South Africa, Johannesburg grid location KG33XV, google grid mapper
Tom, try organize Ron your buddy to do a camping CW stint together. Just an idea if Ron is not too far from you, would also boost his channel.
One of the potential hazards of contacts between QRP stations in a low noise environment is other stations with a high noise floor not even knowing that the existing QSO is taking place.
Interesting.
The band are like a box of chocolates you never know what you will get ; )
That's what makes it so fun
Yeah and sometimes that chocolate tastes so bad you have to spit it out LOL. I like the soft caramel ones. : )
Very awesome QSO. Half Moon Bay is not far from me. A two way QRP into California is great. The steps are erosional platforms from when the lake is receding. I. The spring I wonder if the lake has more water.
Thanks Douglas, those steps seemed so perfect I thought they were man made!
Coo video! I'd say that building is monitoring the water. Probably quality, water level, weather, etc. It's a log periodic antenna, and since it's like an X pattern it might be a half-wave antenna.
73s DE K4NFP
Yeah, def the weather. I wonder how it connects and gathers information on the satellite?
@@hamradiocq Who knows! That's an interesting box though!
Great Tom that was really cool, I'm amazed there are idiots even on CW.... Haven't done it for years myself, this makes me want to get back into it! Well done!
Thanks Kiwi, I enjoyed making that video. Great scenery. Yeah there's a jerk out there.
I think those steps are to slow the erosion.
Do they make a box that reads and writes cw?
I’ve seen something like that by MFJ but not sure if that is what it does. Looking for something to practice on before I transmit for real.
Hey there 2Feather. I hear ya. Please look into my vidoe on the "Winkeyer". th-cam.com/video/FCPT2jqBLE0/w-d-xo.html
Cool video at a great spot, the little antenna works!
Yes it does! However, I'm going to rely on a long wire more often!
Nice contact I must admit even I got a little excited.
You and me both!
Very cool area and a nice contact to boot. And next time maybe catch lunch.
Yeah, what I like most about it is I didn't feel like someone was going to walk up on me and be suspicious.
Great video. Great location. Looks like you are on a dam but the lake level is really low.
Hey, Pat, I looked on the map and it seems so.... Usually dams have something to regulate the water flow though.
Hello Tom,I just watch your set up on TH-cam ,I got something off Amazon last week,the Lom Tap 6.5 ft Light stand portable made out of aluminum & plastic ,weight is 1.165 kg ,adiustable height 68cm folded up to 200cm .I added the mirror mount MfJ -342 onto the tripod cost of Lom Tap 6.5 tripod was 20.00 ,shipping extra ,Iam going to use this on my Big Stick Vertical portable sets up differents areas in Va,Nc and up in Blue Ridge mountains places.73,Roy WD4EIB
Sound great Roy, make a video for us!
Great content and really great editing, thanks
Much appreciated comment! I hope to do a lot more of this kind of stuff now that Fall is here and it's not crazy hot. Hopefully living in OKC area I can continue to go out into the field until December!
Satellite Antenna appears to be a Circular Polarized Yagi for either sending Data to or gathering Data from a Satellite regarding the Dam or water conditions of the Lake. Great Video by the way, always enjoy following you. N9SOX
Hey, Alan. I love that comment. I was wondering what that was. Now I know more.
That was a great demonstration. The other day I commented about using a Pixie type transceiver; If you look my call up on QRZ you can see one I built for 75 meters...3.960 to be exact. Yes, I talk to some of my buddies in CW and copy them voice. I etched the board so I could fit it in the tin with the battery. Notice all the caps that I used to get the offset for side tone. I got lazy and never added them up to replace them with a single capacitor. Just for fun! Greg KA8ZAF Oh, I built a mag loop for 20-40; I may hook up my Rockmites some day before the weather changes on 20 or 40. Keep having fun and don't let the knotheads bother you; they've been around all 34 years I've been a ham.
Hey Charles, great comment. I like that Pixie you mentioned. Like I said I still can't believe that works. I"ll have to dig out mine and fire it up. Knotheads! Yeah they are everywere.
Casting a line into a tree IS fishing. For QSOs.
ok
Great contact!
I think so too!
You still had a fun trip. Glad things went well for you. Tommy. N4KBM
Yeah, I was pleasantly surprised. Makes for a dud video if there's no contact.
cool intro!
Hey is this the Dan I know and love?
@@hamradiocq Yep
What portable key is that? It looks slick.
That is the "pico paddle" google it for more info.
Aw darn. That’s what I was afraid of. Discontinued, and the cheap 3D printed copies on eBay look gross.
Hey Man, all of the cw abbreviations/subtitles. Where can i find them? Using common sense you can make out a few but some Im lost.
Find what?
@@hamradiocq when are receiving, other than the “Q” codes I have no idea what they mean. I prob need to pay closer attention.
Tnx fer vid! So was California accross the lake or the other way around?
CA was across the lake, that is West of OK
Do you think this antenna setup is superior to using a dipole in a tree? I'm using a j pole with a ht, low power in a valley
Absolutely not. Wires, dipoles are far superior. I use this to demonstrate it's easy setup and there's no trees to use for dipoles.
How fun! Two questions - do you usually have the preamp on? I don’t hear much on my KX3 unless it is on! Also, what keyer are you using and is it still available on the market? 73, WA6HQQ
Hey Richard. I do not have the preamp on. I try to limit everything. I use the "pico paddle" in this case. It's kind of expensive but I like it. I don't know, it's been a while, but do a search on google for pico paddle.
terraced wall is a dam :-D
Where is the part where they control the water flow in most dams? Also, where can I get some dam bait?
@@hamradiocq It could be under the surface. The tower may be a sensing/control centre, hence the satellite comms?
Nice QSO!!! I really like it!!
De W5EGM
Thanks! That was fun to make!
Hi Tom, great to see your making AR media again. You were playing with a compromise antenna at home and not having much luck. I sold all those types of antennas as they are compromise antennas as you know. I thought I would show you what we are doing here in VK to work DX. Alex vk2prc has a system which gives a perfect match for 40m and 20m. check out this video th-cam.com/video/fIyYUtmVHrM/w-d-xo.html
He is now making the matcher for other.
73
Colin vk2jcc
It's not unusual......lol
:) Tom Jones?