Finally checked into the VA MARS net. The net started late and I had almost given up on it. I’m going to try and check in again tomorrow morning. I need to get around to raising the height of my inverted vee – I think it will better help my signal get out.
I was able to catch W1AA (Henry and Whitey) and their activation of the Highland Lighthouse (USA 110) out on Cape Cod. Whitey, K1VV, is usually out ever weekend doing a lighthouse activation – always has a nice signal.
Had a very nice Radio Merit Badge class for a young Scout out at Fort Monroe in the afternoon. I setup my 10′ x 10′ shelter and the ARSIB. Initially I planned on setting the G5RV (like during the W4M Memorial Day Special Event) but the wind was quite heavy, so I opted to put up the homebrew vertical dipole. To get some height on the antenna, I attached it to the top of the painter’s pole. Before I had a chance to tie down the pole, a gust of wind knocked the antenna down. The fall caused the feedline connection to break off. Not good. However, with a little bit of wire and some electrical tape, I was able to reattached the feedline connection. Now the antenna was low to the ground and I was a little concerned about it’s performance. The Scout arrived and we started reviewing the Radio Merit Badge requirements. I was able to easily tune WWV on 15 MHz and was also able to find a CW QSO in progress on 40M. Also demoed a bit of CW using my MFJ paddle that has a speaker built in. After we’d reviewed all the requirements, it was time for the HF QSO. The Scout called CQ and after a few tries, received a reply from Charlie, N1MUQ, in Stamford, CT. Charlie had a booming, solid signal and the Scout was able to successfully complete the QSO. We then moved to my mobile VHF rig and the Scout had a nice QSO with Randy, WB7URZ located up in Gloucester. Even with the antenna setup issues, the Radio Merit Badge session was a success and I think both the Scout and I had a good time.
On a fall day about six years ago, my Father-in-law presented me a very unique gift for my birthday. I had recently become a ham just a few months earlier, and my activities were restricted to VHF, but I had made plans to purchase a new HF rig, and become active, using my General class license privileges, and discovering the fun of HF. As I opened the box, which was quite heavy, I discovered a strange looking apparatus, and I’d never seen anything like it before. I asked what it was, and my father in law replied, It’s something to use for sending Morse code. I found it at an auction. A strange gift indeed, certainly an old, second hand thing, but nonetheless, I thanked him for it, and put this strange looking heavy thing on my shelf. I had known about straight keys, and paddles, as my relatives are hams, and had those. But THIS thing, well, it took some investigation. It had a big word on it.Vibroplexhmmm. Upon asking my Dad, he told me it was a semi-automatic key, or a bug and that back in the old days, lots of folks used them; some did nowadays, but mostly hams collected them. Knowing my Father-in-law, a collector of unique things, that made perfect sense.