Category Archives: CW and QRP

Articles related to CW and QRP (low-power) operating and equipment. Articles related to learning and using Morse Code are also included here.

Activities, CW and QRP, Education and Training, Featured, General, Newsletter

CW Class Starting February 17th

Morse Code
Morse Code

Do you understand the morse code above?    Are you planning to build our February Tech Night Project and want to learn to use it?   Do you want to make more DX contacts?  Even though Morse Code proficiency is no longer required for your Ham Radio license, there is still more CW on the air than Phone and Digital modes combined. You don’t want to miss out on these contacts!

Keys 2
CW Keys

CW Class Starting February 17th

Thanks to our Morse Code Instructors, Mike, K1WVO, and Dennis, K1LGQ, we will be holding another CW Class.  The classes will start on February 17th from 9:00 am to 11:00 am and will run for at least 6 weeks.  It will be held at Dartmouth-Hitchcock in Nashua.    You will be able to practice copying CW as well as sending CW during the class.  Toward the end of the class, if you practice regularly, you will get on the air via a CW slow net or scheduled QSOs among the students.

Our CW Class Instructors
Our CW Class Instructors

The class will be geared to the needs of those attending, whether you are just learning or if you attended a previous class and hope to build up your speed.

Hope to see you at the class.  Plan to bring a notebook and pen or pencil to copy CW.

CW and QRP, Featured, General, Homebrewing, Newsletter, Station Equipment

Project Night 2018

Every January Meeting we hold Project Night, where members bring in and share recent homebrew projects that they have built. This year’s Project Night was full of interesting projects built by our members.

Member Projects
Scott NE1RD Kits
Scott NE1RD Kits

Our Programs Chairperson, Scott, NE1RD led it off by showing us some kits he had built, including the K1EL PaddleStick Keyer that we will be building for the February Tech Night.

Bob KB1TEK - QRP Kits
Bob KB1TEK – QRP Kits

Bob, KB1TEK brought some QRP kits that he had built.

Dave K1DHP - VLF Detector
Dave K1DHP – VLF Detector

Dave, K1DHP showed us the VLF Detector that he built.

Hamilton, K1HMS – Antenna Switches

Hamilton, K1HMS brought Antenna Switches that he had built.

Dave K1DLM - Heakthkit
Dave K1DLM – Heakthkit

Dave, K1DLM showed us a Heathkit that he plans to build.

"<yoastmark

Dennis, K1LGQ had another explosive presentation when he showed us a KX2 stand that he built.

Dennis shows plans for his KX2 Stand
Dennis hows plans for his KX2 Stand

 

Fred AB1OC - Low-Band Match
Fred AB1OC – Low-Band Match

Fred, AB1OC brought an 80m band matching system that he will install in order to make our 80m delta loop be resonant across the band.  He has programmed our MicroHam system to automatically have the box switch the matching system as we tune through the 80m band.  I’m looking forward to using this to get the last 20 80m contacts for my 5 Band DXCC!

Anita AB1QB - CW Pi
Anita AB1QB – CW Pi

I (AB1QB) demonstrated a Raspberry Pi project that I built over the holidays.  It is called a Morse Code Virtual Radio.  When you hook up a monitor and a straight key to the Raspberry Pi, it will decode what you key in.  This was a big hit with the kids who visited us for ARRL Kids Day.

Mike, AB1YK - Panadapter
Mike, AB1YK – Panadapter

Finally, Mike, AB1YK brought in a number of projects that he has done including a Panadapter and a CW Generator.

Overall it was great to see all of the projects that our members have been working on. The gallery above contains more pictures from Project Night.

Anita, AB1QB

CW and QRP, Featured, General, Homebrewing, Newsletter, Station Equipment

PaddleStick CW Keyer with Base Kit Build

January 9, 2018, Tech Night meeting will feature Steve Elliott, K1EL, the owner of www.hamcrafters.com and the designers of the many amazing kits Hamcrafters offers. Steve will discuss aspects of kit design and building, including the PaddleStick CW Keyer that will be built during our February 13 Tech Night.

You can order your kit online, or buy one directly from Mr. Elliott after his presentation. (Mr. Elliott will bring a limited number of kits for purchase.) The PS2B kit is $59 (cash). We will be looking for a rough count of those interested in purchasing this kit during the regular members meeting on January 2.

Don’t miss out on the fun. This is a great little kit, and you’ll have a great tool to practice CW or to get on the air. Shoo away those wintertime blues by heating up a little solder with friends. See you there!

Radio Amateurs Developing Skills Worldwide