Solid State.  Yes I do appreciate the glowing of the tubes in my old rigs.  I have many times considered replicating my first transmitter.  2 tubes, crystal control, 40W dummy load to tune it up.  I still might do it some day.

But I spend enough time each day waiting for my computer to boot up or to finish something I set it doing.  I often talk to the coop hires, while waiting for one piece of equipment or another to finish something, about waiting for the tubes to warm up.  All of the advanced technology and we still wait on the machines.  At least the tube rigs kept you warm.

But still, I can go home tonight and crank on my new solid state rig and be on the air instantly.

Unless I use my Orion whihc seems to need time to boot up

Its all fun.  73, JP, K8AG

Tried it.  No reply.  Thanks.

Kevin and I had a weekly sked a few years ago but he seems to have disappeared.  Just curious.  Don't like to lose a friend.

73

JP

I vote the Elecraft K3 kit with a 400Hz and 200Hz filters.

73, JP, K8AG

I'm sorry you feel that way.  I have only been a 20 wpm extra since 76.  But my observation is that the CW segments had lost their busy nature long before the CW requirements were lifted.  I think that the CW segments are much busier now than then.  Yes there are more QRS ops.  But bringing them along is part of the hobby.

I was against elimination of the CW requirements when it happened.  I was wrong.

My 2 cents.

73, JP, K8AG

FWIW I have an old Bencher paddle and the feet were hard and dried.  I emailed Bencher through their website and they sent me a new set of feet.

Pretty good service after the sale.  Way after.

73, JP, K8AG

Hi Michael,

Many years ago I taught myself the skill of soldering by disassembling a throw-away tv.  It was an old defunct black & white set.  Rather than simply slashing and burning, cutting out parts, I desoldered each and every part.  The parts had longer leads as a result.  But more importantly I learned to solder (and desolder) better than I ever could before.  I went on to a career for nearly 2 decades where soldering and desoldering were daily activities.

I probably have some of thr parts even today.

My 2 cents.

73, JP, K8AG

Although I am not physically challenged on a permanent basis, a couple of years ago I had an operation where I awoke with a respirator tube down my throat.  Of course I couldn't talk and every time I tried to move the attendants seemed to respond as if I was uncomfortable. I started tapping CW on the rail of the bed and my XYL eventually picked up on it.

Ya never know when ham radio will become useful.  I was glad to be able to communicate with my wife (and the medical attendants through her), even for that short few hours.

My 2 cents.

73, JP, K8AG

My XYL has been studying for her ticket for some time.  Turns out her favorite part of studying is CW (though it is no longer "needed").  We have been sharing CW abbreviations in out day to day text messages.  Its a gud way for her to lern.

73 (and 88 to the XYL)

JP, K8AG
 

I have used a ZS6BKW for years as my primary antenna.  It is a bit shorter than the G5RV with a bit more window line in the transformer section.  I have about  dozen turns of coax around 8" in diameter just at the end of the transformer ladder line and have no RF problems inside the house.  I run 100W max so I can't speak for 1KW+ power levels.

The BKW matches more bands better than the G5RV.  And I get DX.  I normally have no problem making contacts at QRP power levels, including DX.  I have been stretching (compressing?) the limits of late and my current record is Pamplona Spain with 100mw (that's 0.1 watt).  Works out to about 49,000 miles per watt.  Not bad for a wire in the trees.

My 2 cents.

73, JP, K8AG

See if you can borrow someone's XG3.  These are just made for this kind of thing.

I run primarily QRP and it is sometimes embarrassing when I call QRL? a couple of times with no response then start to send CQ only to have another station suddenly appear right there.  It is important to realize that we cannot always hear one end of a QSO and I have frequently been QRMed into ending a QSO early because an operator could not hear my little squeaker.

It's all part of the fun of ham radio.  Wouldn't change it.

73, JP, K8AG

I actually wrote an article in QRP Quarterly about converting an old ball style computer mouse into a paddle set (maddles?).  I must admit it is not good for QRQ.  But it is rugged and has taken a lot of abuse and still works reliably well.

My 2 cents.

73, JP, K8AG

Hi,

A couple of weeks ago I used my recently resurrected K2 and 100mw to snag a station in Spain.  That works out to something like 49000 miles per watt.  So far that is my record.  My antenna is a simple ZS6BKW up in the trees about 35 feet.

Withthe bands opening up I'm sure that even my 0.1W Spain contact will be surpassed.

GL, 73, JP, K8AG

If it is actually blowing a breaker and not just tripping a GFI, you might have a bad ground in the neutral lead in your breaker box.  Do some of the lights in your house get brighter when you key up?  Seems that houses built in the 50s and 60s had aluminum bus bars for center neutrals.  My buddy's lights would get bright every time the refrigerator would kick on.

If you can't check it yourself get an electrician to check it out.  Might save you equipment problems in the future.

73, JP, K8AG