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2025 15 CQ QRS RagChew

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Contents

CQ QRS RagChew

Another pearler on Tuesday! So many people having such a good time, practicing, learning, or just relaxing and having fun! Read on for more. Relax.

Ifyou haven’t worked it out already, relaxing and having fun with slow CW is what we’re all about on the CQQRS Net. Those who are near the start of the learning journey probably think it’s all up hill, hard work and sweaty palms…

But ask my lady Elizabeth how much fun I have on Tuesday nights, and she’ll tell you – once you get the hang of it, ike me, it’s grins from ear to ear.

Elizabeth once learned how to fly helicopters – bloody hard work, but when you learn to hover and go solo – the world feels like a great place.

For me, our slow CW practice QSO net is the same – so many people just having such a good time helping or just connecting with each other and having a ball in the process; I love it!

‘And on Wednesday morning’s Post Morsum callback, I could hear the grin in Wayne VK6NW’s voice – he had an absolute ball on Tueday’s net, with three QSOs, including one half hour rag-chew before leaving for SES training – good stuff!

Last Tuesday’s Group

Here’s this week’s list of the 52 stations heard by 37 of our team members on Tuesday’s net:

New Team Member:

This week I’d like to welcome Jens VK4PE who lives in Townsville; Jens tried to set up a slow CW group in Townsville a few years ago. Jens was on air on Tuesday with 3.5 Watts and was Q 5 in Southern NSW; he’s a QRP and CW fan – so he’ll fit right in!

Also this week welcome to Skip VK2AFR at Chatswood, who was introduced by Mark VK2DI; Skip was on our net this week and last – welcome mate.

Masthead Images

Thanks this week to Nic VK7WW for the photo of his one tube loaf tin transmitter. I hope Nic’s lady wife will understand completely when she finds the loaf tin has sprouted a few new holes!

See On my Workbench below for more about this little bit of fun, and please enjoy Jordan’s cute video about the QSO he had with Nic.

After next Tuesday’s Group, please send me a list of who you worked and / or who you heard using our web form here:

If you’d like to find out a bit about our net, or would like to pass information to others about our Tuesday get-togethers, here’s the link to our website.

Bit.ly/CQQRSWebsite Cheers, mb Mark Bosma VK2KI / VK6QI Beautiful South Bowning NSW mark.bosma@icloud.com non impsditi ratione cogitationis

Reports & Comments

Once again, a huge thank-you to our part-time Aussie Nigel G4RWI for building both the webform that we all use to submit our reports, and the outstanding software tool that I use to convert the collected reports into the Excel spreadsheet above and individual reports that you’ll see below.

So the spreadsheets above show the known stations on last Tuesday’s Group; the comments distilled from the team members’ reports follow:

Comments:

40m] «| was using a remote access radio south of Brisbane but I don’t think my ‘transmissions’ were going out. I tried responding to VK5LA‘s CQs but had

No response. I then listened to VK5LA and VK7TO having a nice QSO and, when they signed off, I tried to jump on VK7TO (who had a strong signal). But no luck that time either.

I’ve been listening for my ‘transmissions’ on several VK and ZL SDRs over the last couple of days but not hearing anything so I suspect there’s some sort of set-up issue with the ICOM-7300 in Brisbane (yes, the local supervisor says that it’s configured for CW, and it looks as if it’s transmitting but clearly it’s not)..

+ If anyone knows of a remote access radio in the east of Australia that I could use, please tell Mark cqqrsnet@gmail.com so he can let me know.. [Bad luck Ross! So near, yet so far… your Tuesday mornings are safe for the moment. Hopefully next week?

The upside is that with your prompting I’ve managec to get one of the three Western Australian Southern Electronics Group Remotes to respond to my key (see Ross’ On my Workbench below for more).]

[40m] + Rockbound 7013, 7025, 7028, 7030 wid my ‘valve 4w ‘chirpy’ h/brew tx e. + Bring back ‘wobbly’ and “chirpy” QRP h/brew txs! Ahh reminds me of what we used to hear in the 50s and 60s.

In those days you could recognise the station depending on ‘chirp characteristics’. My tx detailed elsewhere…but one coil, one resistor, two caps, xtal and a valve (6AQ5)….oh and a CW key that grounds the HT.

[My drifty TS-120S is trying its best to rekindle those memories Nic.]

[40m] + First QSO night after the daylight saving time! Thank you Garry VK2GAZ for the QSO. Looks like a lot stations crowding the 40m band from left to right and I had to kick in the CW filter, so that is excellent.

A quick check on 80m shows it is still not busy but |

Could not hang around long. Thanks folks. I look forward to seeing you all again if r next week then sometime before. 73..

[20, 40 and 80m] + Nice to get contacts on 20, 40 and 80m tonight including Mark in Geelong and Jason in Ohio USA (see left) – both on 20m.

[40m] + Magic noise floor at my QTH s1-s0..

[80m] * Noise floor at my QTH was s8. Very challenging..

[40m] * Great conditions on 40m, had some wonderful rag-chews with Richard, lan and Phil. Very enjoyable..

[40m] * Excellent conditions on 40 m until ~ 1200Z then degraded. Nothing heard on 80 m..

[40m] * Glad to be back on the key. As an adult support at a local Scout Balnarring group I am out on Tuesday nights but with school holidays I was able to be in the shack last night. I have been listening to VK2WI, 3699KHZ, most mornings and found a

Good CW practice program for my laptop. There was some QSB but signals were st pretty clear.. [Great to work you again John – now, how to combine scouting with CW like you did at Maryborough in January?

Yes isn’t the VK2WI beacon just so useful, both for practice and for propagation checks.]

[40m] + It seems to me it was a good propagation but it was several times spoilt by some operators that, either don’t care or they don’t know the rules of LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN before you transmit.

On a few spots I couldn’ copy properly stations with good signal level which were QRM by others a

Almost on top of them. I must admit that my CW filter is probably not narrow enough; having said that; WE SHOULD NOT FORGET THE RULES! – And please, let us ALL try and enjoy this wonderful CW..

+ Also, my apologies to OM Phil, VK6GX whom I started copying him 542 QSB and by the time he answered me, his QSB was so deep that I couldn’t copy him any longer.

[40m] * Conditions not bad, glad to see daylight saving end.

[80m] *no. [You’re not Robinson Crusoe there KL 7

[40m] « this week – 40m was very quiet,. * untill much later into the Evening.. * even then – signals were poor.. * by then the usual hash had started..

[80m] + the 80m local signals were good,. * but not so from the other side.. + thus fewer stations were heard or even worked.. +- my SK is getting rusty -. + the 10m band is lively these days, but you do still need some power available..

[40m] + Our post daylight-saving net kicked off with an early chat with Skip VK2ALR at Chatswood. I then heard Claude VK1TE/M (image at left) chatting to lan VK5CZ – it’d been a long time since I’d heard Claude, so I was keen to say g’day (having that day also sent him an email on a different subject); however, apparently Claude didn’t hear my call so I missed out…

+ After dinner I heard our new Queenslander, Jens VK4PE coming through from Townsville chatting to VKATJ. I tried calling Jens after they finished, but without success; I heard

From him later that there was a lot of local QRM in the Townsville Amateur Radio Clubrooms (I guess he didn’t bring his headphones) and didn’t hear me..

+ After returning from 80m, I was pleased to hook up with Richard VK6PZT again, and then another rare one, John VK3BSE down at Somers on the Mornington Peninsular; great to have a chat to John again..

[80m] * On 80m I hooked up with Jordan VK3ACU before his personal battery bank went flat, then David VK6KD portable at somewhere I decoded (in the QSB) as “ecubibrchy”.

If in fact I did get it correct (Perlubie Beach) I probably still wouldn’t have believed it!.

Also from your editor Mark VK6QI at via the VK6QS and VK6SEG KiwiSDRs near Brookton and Northam respectively

[40m] + I listened in to the QSO between Wayne VK6NW at Bridgetown and Richard VK6HRC at Padbury, then a bit later, Wayne and lan VK5CZ at Clare.. « Later in the evening I had another listen and could hear the QSO between John VK3BSE and me (VK2K))..

[80m] + While listening in on the VK6QS and VK6SEG KiwiSDRs. I could see some auroral noises creeping in; interestingly, the noise first appeared below our set of frequencies, and ove time moved up.. + I wonder how that works? I can

Guess heuristically why auroras can cause fluttery warbly signals with rapidly varying and (doppler) shifting refracting areas of ionisation, but why does it cause a buzzing sound and cloud-like blobs of noise in frequency and time on a waterfall display?

And why would it start low and move up the band?. + I’d have to guess that not only are the excited molecules emitting light when the electrons fall back to their lower-energy happy places, somehow lower frequency electromagnetic energy is also being produced.

Or alternatively, could it be sun noise that’s coming in at a very low angle somewhere and being warbled by the auroral disturbance?. + Anyone know?.

[40m] + With very little time I only managed a single QSO with Andy (5LA). It was still pretty early in the evening so there was some QSB effecting Andy’s QRP signal. Regardless, it was still enjoyable..

[40m] * Quiet to start with but got really busy once East-West propagation opened up..

[80m] * Two nice contacts but noise came ur so headed back to 40MX. Thank you to all the stations out there last night..

[40m] + Early in evening the qsb was fast and stations were just on edge of noise floor. However 45 mins later most stations became quiet loud with strong recovered audio ..

[40m] + Another good QRS Tuesday. Great t work a few home brew stations also!.

[80m] * Having recently responded to an Amazon algorithm, and received the suggested mini paddle, I tried it on air last night.

Despite showing promise during practice, under performance pressure it seemed to have a mind of its own, starting by sending a call sign which bore no resemblance to mine. After reverting to a straight key and

Post Morsum Report – notes from the shed at my portable location at Gidgegannup. from Richard VK6HRC Hi Mark, All went well on the South West AllStar / Echolink network this morning.

I was up in the portable Gidgegannup location accessing the network via VK6REC and all went well with a great turnout.

On the net : VK6KD/5_ David VK6QI Mark VK6NW Wayne VK3ECH Rob VK6KRC Bob VK6FN Max VK6HRC VK6MRB Mulligan SWL and others.

David called in from Perlubie beach 20KM NE of Streaky bay in SA. Five contacts on 40MX and few more on 80 with some difficulty once more leading to some discussion about the length of the leads between the radio and the detachable head in David’s vehicle.

Mark was giving a demonstration of multitasking once more on the net, sending great code, keeping an eye on multiple Kiwi SDR receivers spotting/directing traffic on WhatsApp… not to forget having a great time!

Three contacts for him on 40MX two on 80MX, plus hearing Claude VK1TE/M back on air and new member Jens VKAPE from Townsville braving the busy net. Wayne had three contacts on 40MX, and a long rag-chew with Phil VK6GX as a bonus.

A busy lad in his retirement, he is off to Kalgoorlie for a stint away even having time to catch up with the local SES crew for a training night while there. Back in May for more QRS fun.

Rob called in from Echuca on his own AllStar node which was working very well. Rob reported that he enjoyed the QRS net and was off to Lakes Entrance/ Gippstand for some Maritime Mobile fun from his trailer-sailer for the next few weeks.

Bob called in to let us know that he listened-in on the QRS net last night and at the same time experimented with some settings on his rig not used for a while !

Max was in SWL mode last night and enjoyed following the contact between Wayne and Phil – commenting on the good code from both of them and then back to tuning up and down the band for more action.

Ihad a nice contact with Wayne before the band opened up to the East and went into listening mode when it got really busy! Rob commented that if you were not quick off the mark to get your calll in after a QSO you would miss out !

I tried to call Manny VK2DRQ after someone signed with him but not fast enough © .. next time. Good to catch up with Peter VK6IS and Richard VK6PZT on 80MX before the noise came in and made life difficult.

Thanks to all last night and this morning; stay safe Cheers Richard VK6HRC

On My Workbench

This week as promised, Nic VK7WW tells us about this bit of fun – his one-tube 40m transmitter built on a loaf tin stolen from the kitchen.

One Tube and a Loaf Tin

MIC IMME GIN a hve Et from Nic VK7WW The Circuit is almost identical to the KSDH design, but no neon, and a 120K resistor instead of 110K…

But, then there is the most important bake tin – do remember to grind the non-stick surfaces off (Dremel ?) to make sure things are grounded/earthed to the tin properly.

(Probably a good idea to get your own bake tin! I commandeered mine on the understanding that I wouldn’t face a court martial, provided I followed the lend lease agreement, with further paybacks …including interest 2) ($6 at the supermarket would have been much simpleré3) Anyway, here’s the design.

The slug-tuned coil has to be tuned to get the xtal to osc. (If you don’t have a slug tuned coil…then a variable capacitor across L1 also works to resonate it.) I use FT243 xtals, but I did try small HC/18 xtals and they worked ok.

I probably should use a LPF, but then my balanced antenna matching unit does a good job already to the 80m double extended zepp antenna.

My PSU gives 256V de which drops to 247V on tx, giving a most “lovely” ‘chirp’! The unit draws about 32MA and gives 3.9w out depending on how active the xtal is.

The interesting thing is the comments that I’ve had from old-timers, “Oh, hearing your signal it took me back to the 1950S and 60s. I was reminiscing how often home-brew gear would chirp like that. Click on the image for a listen —>

Watching Jordan’s video seems to make people smile..@3) https://youtu.be/ZJooy7CPq3A

NOTE: No liability is taken for any of the information presented here! The contacts on the CW key are switching HT… so do be careful! Have fun! 73, Nov VK7WW.

And now, Ross MONNK explains how he fixed the problem both he and I were having with getting our keys to activate RemoteHams Remote stations on CW.

Fixing the RemoteHams CW Key Interface Driver

PIA Ge MOmIVleriallio Wit INCY HMCMavVe Liver

From Ross MoNNK After an enormous amount of hassle with drivers (I’m now using an old one which Windows 10 likes, rather than the latest one which it doesn’t) I’ve been able to use Mike’s remote FT-991A via the RCForb Client software, so I know that things are all good at my end.

This is the error message I was getting when I selected the Brisbane radio.

Like you, I bought another serial-to-USB adapter cable but the message was the same. I tried changing ports, but it was the same on COMS3. Windows Device Manager was recognising these as serial-to-USB adapters

To cut a long story short (it got worse before it got better), the solution was to install an older CH340 driver (in my case, dated 2022).

Windows 10 did try to install another newer driver in its place but I used the “Roll Back Driver” option to return to my old one.

There is now no error message and I can transmit on Mike’s RCForb FT-991A and can key the VK2SRC Remote, but there’s other problems that I’m talking to the Club about.

The good news though is that the Eastern airwaves were hopping with QRS net traffic so, if only I can get it working, I’m sure it’ll be great fun.

Ross [Thanks for inspiring me to fix my serial-to-USB interface by reinstalling an older port driver Ross; now I can once again access the Southern Electronics Group’s three Remote stations in WA.

I even used it and aired my VK6 call on CW for the first time for ages on Wednesday to work Mark VK2DI/P on 15m.]

Remote Control of a Fiex Radio via St from lan VK1HF Normally heard operating QRP portable lan VK1HF has started exploring the world of Remote HF stations with his new Flex 8400.

In this video, lan explains the development work he’s been doing to allow remote control of the Flex transceiver with a Maestro model C via Starlink – because it ain’t as easy as you might first think! Click on the link to view —>

Richard VK6PZT’s recent Arduino GPS clock project up and running.

ORZ?

Roy VK6RR from Geraldton

This week I’m pleased to learn a bit more about Roy, VK6RR. In an earlier edition of the RagChew, we found out about Roy’s involvement as a volunteer radio operator with the Marine Rescue service in Geraldton. So now more from Roy.

Greetings to all , below is a thumbnail version of my interest in radio. My previous call signs have been; G3MTC, ZL1ARV, & VK6RA.

My SKCC# 26150 & Fists # 14193 I have always been interested in radio and as I wanted to see the world, after leaving school I went to South Shields Marine and Technical College in the UK and trained as a Marine Radio Officer.

After qualifying in 1951 I was employed by Marconi and served on various merchant vessels, thereby getting my wish of seeing quite a bit of the world.

The Marconi gear in the radio room of a Hong Kong registered coal-burner ship I was on in the 1950S called “Landspride” – call sign VPBB. I emigrated as a 2-pound pom from the UK to new Zealand in 1963.

After going ashore and working in the radio and tv servicing field I ended up as a civilian radio tech in the New Zealand Navy. From there I still had the need to be back at sea and returned to being a R/O at sea once more.

Another change came in the early 80s when I obtained a radio operators position on a semi submersible oil rig and this started a long period of employment on various types of vessels in this industry until retirement in 2006.

Me on the drill ship “Dan Duchess” call sign C6BK3 – mixture of gear late 80s. [The image seems to be missing a vital component Roy!]

[The image seems to be missing a vital component Roy!]

We then moved from ZL to VK6 land; we left ZL1ARV in August 2013 and finally got established in Geraldton Western Australia shortly after. Our QTH is only 2 meters ABSL which is different to ZL were we were 20 odd mtrs ABSL.

I obtained a used Hills TV tower which will extend to 20 mtrs. This was finally erected

In June 2014 in our back garden and now supports a MFJ Cob Web anda 20m dipole antenna. There is also a 40m trap dipole. So as of June 2014 I became active again mainly on CW, and looking forward to having many contacts in the future.

I use a Yaesu FT897D, Icom IC-RTS500 tuner and an Icom IC-2KL linear. There is also an Icom IC-730 and a Ten Tec Tuner. 1 go mobile in our Fiat Sunliner mobile home, using the FT-897D, Ten Tec tuner and my ATAS 120 aerial, or a long wire up a tree!

[Good job Roy – thank you! I’m really keen to share the backgrounds of our team members just like this – it’s really nice to know who’s on the other end of the QSO.

How did they come to amateur radio and when, and what on earth was the motivator that got them interested in CW? How’s the journey been so far, and what’s planned? Perhaps, what they get out of the net and the newsletter, and how it can be made better?

So, I’m hoping other readers will share thoughts about themselves as well. Doesn’t matter if you think you’ve always been a crap writer… I’m very happy to quietly help you shape some thoughts – I reckon you’ll be pleased with the results.

So please let me know: eqarsnet@gmail.com . Alternatively, lan VK1HF is keen to record and produce some short audio segments for RagChew about some of our team members.

If you’d like to have a chat with lan rather than writing something, send me an email and I’ll pass your details to him. So… QRZ?

Other News

International Morse Code Day

International Morse Vode Va from your editor, Mark VK2KI

In years gone by Richard VK6PZT and I have run the International Morse Code Day fun quiz via Zoom; the event has been a scream and has attracted a number of new members to the CQQRS team. <—- Ms Elizabeth - apparently preparing for International Morse Code Day

But this year, Richard has been tied up with opening his new practice, and we also didn’t receive any responses when I asked a month or so back if there was interest in holding the event again this year. So we’re going to let it slide for a year. But….

I wonder if there’s any interest in having a short fun contest event between our 200 or so team members on International Morse Code Day – Sunday April 27TH? But there’s a catch… I need to recruit one or two team members to organise the event.

It shouldn’t be too arduous a task, and you’ll get the satisfaction that goes with doing something nice for our community.

I expect the organising might involve: * Deciding on the format – how long, what sort of event (report and name exchanges or something more?), just within the group or the wider CW community, logs or just reporting of outcomes, etc?

* Deciding on what times and band / bands would give best propagation and participant coverage on April 27TH. + Advertising via the RagChew and a direct email reminder. * Deciding on logs vs reported outcomes.

* Publishing some sort of post Contest report in the RagChew. The last Contest I organised for the Peel Amateur Radio Group, the Bunbury Radio Club and our team was a few years ago – and involved participants using the call letters of the stations they worked to tick off as many letters in a specified phrase (“International Morse Code Day Quiz’); it wasn’t very popular – our team was much smaller then and most people didn’t bother trying to fathom the guidelines – the lesson was to keep it simple!

Of course, I’m very happy to help whoever puts up their hand – as much or as little as you’d like. I’ve organised a number of contests in the past so I can help with templates etc if you wish.

‘So what do you think – would you be interested in having a go at organising this simple contest on April 27TH for the team? If so, please let me know: cagrsnet@gmail.com

The Kenwood TS-520S

VFO knob, allowing fast single finger spinning. Whilst I love the mechanical nature of the spinner, I find the modern detent more practical. Click on the photo and video link to the right.

Overall it’s just such a lovely radio to operate, and looks great to boot. I understand why you still have yours on your desk.

As for the microphones, I feel like I need to make a good excuse as to why my radios have mics plugged in. To be honest, and as silly as this may sound, it’s a good way of not losing the mics amongst the plethora of stuff.

As a way of redeeming myself, I think the only voice QSO I’ve made on the Kenwood was when I was getting it back on air, and tested the SSB functions after some work. The Yaesu is still a work in progress. Of course this is all in jest.

My QSO count is probably close to 80/20 in favour of CW, but I do enjoy the odd SSB contact. Till next time Lance VK7TO

Morse Training Net

Our team member Nic VK7WW runs an on-air Slow Morse training net every Wednesday at 7pm EDST on 3580 for 30 mins. He uses the callsign of the Northern Tasmania Amateur Radio Club VK7TAZ on that net.

Many of our team learned Morse code with the support of Nic, and the weekly training session comes highly recommended for anyone who wants to learn the Code, or simply brush up.

Everyone’s welcome – 3580KHZ at 7pm Eastern time every Wednesday; you’ll hear lots of the CQQRS team on that net. Jordan VK3ACU is recording this round of training lessons – you’ll find the link to the YouTube recordings on our website here:

Bit.ly/CQQRSWebsite then navigate to: useful-resources-and-links Contact Nic VK7WW for more info nicholaschantler@hotmail.com including how to join the NTARC DISCORD group to follow the action, or just come along and join in on Wednesdays.

Operation Manna

The WA VHF Group is looking for Australian CW operators to work the special event call sign VK8OMAN. The dates are from the 25TH April to 10TH May.

This international event will commemorate the 80TH anniversary of Operation Manna, a humanitarian food drop by the allies into the Netherlands in April 1945; many Australian bomber Squadrons took part.

On the 25TH April we will have a station at Kings Park WA dawn service operated by the Peel Amateur Radio Group from Mandurah.

They will have there emergency trailer there and we will be operating under the WA VHF Group allocation of the VK80MAN callsign from around midnight until mid-day on ANZAC Day.

It would be good for WA amateurs to come along and support them – especially if you bring your key along! On Sunday the 27TH April we will be operating from the Bull Creek Air Museum. This is being run by WA Repeater Group using DMR.

Again come and support them as like PARG they are doing it for the VHF Group and Amateur Radio. You maybe new to the hobby and you feel you do not have enough experience to be on air, that dose not matter it is coming along and supporting others not to mention what you could learn.

We will also have at least two stations over East. On the 24TH April a station in Adelaide (Paul VKSPAS I believe) for the whole of the 24TH and a station in Melbourne on the 30TH of April, again the whole day.

If you would like to use the call sign then get in touch. This is a good opportunity to not only to support the clubs and amateur radio.

Click the link to the left, or look up VK80MAN, PH80MAN, OPERATION MANNA on the World Wide Web for more – including a live update of which stations are on air. Need more info?

Click to email to Rob VK6WHO or Denis VK6AKR Rob VK6WHO Vice President of the WA VHF Group

Daylight Saving Time Changes

Vaylignt saving lime Unanges From your editor Mark VK2KI / VK6QI Well finally, we’re off daylight saving time in the South Eastern States (hooray!), so you may or may not be itching to find out what time our net’s going to happen… wel here you go:

For the start of Winter down-under, we’ll stick to the UTC times that we used during Summer Daylight Saving times – which means for us in the South Eastern provinces, the net will kick off from 1700 local time.

The new schedule is also now up on our website when you need it: bit.ly/CQQRSWebsite then click on the down arrow in the top right hand corner (top left if you’re using a phone) and select Net Details followed by Schedule – and voila!

News from Ross MONNK

Inow have remote access to an ICOM-7300 near Brisbane. I’ve been having some trouble using CW with the Remote which I’m working with the owners on. But I hope to take part in our Tuesday nets soon, using the callsign VK/MONNK.

Past experience has demonstrated that this callsign can cause confusion because Australian operators are naturally listening out for a number after the “VK” and are thrown off by the unusual “slash” which they may not have heard much before.

Then comes the UK callsign element which is also unfamiliar to them. So this is just to let operators on the net know that I may be calling or responding to them and to prepare them for my rather odd callsign.

Looking on the positive side, this could be a great opportunity to get an unusual callsign in your log. Ross [Thanks Ross; wonderful news mate!

Yes Nigel G4RWI had a heap of trouble with his callsign when he first joined our net in January last year for he and Jo’s sojourn around our island, until people got used to it; it took me a bunch of repeats to get it right!

Despite many operators being post- the rule change, I think the occasional use of G4RWI/VK was easier to get across! Anyway, I look forward to hearing your dulcet tones on Tuesdays again…. there goes your Tuesday mornings :)]

Update from John VK2RU

All good here. Currently at Linville QLD for a few days on the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail. We come here a few times every year. Nice place if you ignore the resident bat population in the trees a few hundred metres down the hill.

And This Week’s Quickie YouTube videos from Jordan VK3ACL

If you have an article or two that you think might be of interest to our readers, please let me know so we can share more thoughts and ideas; email to cqqrsnet@gmail.com

I Hear Tell…

| hear tell that Wayne VK6NW is off to Kalgoorlie for three weeks, and won’t be on ai I wonder if he might catch up with our Esperance member Donald VK6JDM who moonlights as a Doctor in the goldfields from time to time…

Or perhaps he might catch up with Old Mate Lewis VK6OI who has plugged his key in…. but…. Some more arm-twisting needed there I think Wayne!

And I hear tell that Rob VK3ECH who normally hails from Echuca will be operating maritime mobile next week from Gippsland.

Now if we could just tee-up Mark VK2DI to be on Sydney Harbour at the same time, we could all enjoy the fun of these two sending dah-di-di-dah-dit dah-dah dah-dah each time.

Which team member suspected that perhaps he was becoming addicted to CW, when he noticed he’d signed a work email with DE?

| hear tell that one of the long-term members of the Resistance, his majesty Bob VK6KRC as he’s known in Western circles, admitted recently to having finally worked out how to switch his transceiver from SSB to CW…

And even enjoyed listening-in on Tuesday’s net! Is there no end to the wonders of our corner of the hobby?

Another of our notoriously funny characters was heard recently explaining that it was his cat’s fault that he hadn’t answered a call from another station. Ah ha.

There’s no truth in the rumour that your editor Mark VK2KI was just jealous about the lovely chirp on Nic VK7WW’s loaf tin transmitter’s signal, and convinced the VFO in his Trio TS- 1208S to start drifting to add a bit of fun to the net!

[You’ll no-doubt have noticed a bias toward reporting on the mischiefs of our Western colleagues; now we all know that the Sandgropers are a strange lot (I grew up there by the way!), but surely there’s other mischief going on elsewhere in our community? However, I can’t be everywhere – listening and snooping around behind cupboards, picking up gossip! But you can! If you have some intel about other team members… or even yourself… that’s might be fun or otherwise worth sharing, please let me know by email to cqqrsnet@gmail.com]

Di-dah-di-dah-ait

50 back to the CQQRS Slow CW QSO practice net.

Next Tuesday’s Net

Our CQQRS Group will be on as always on Tuesday from around 0700Z until about 1300Z; see https://bit.ly/CQQRSWebsite and navigate to the Net Details page for details.

Doesn’t matter whether you’re brand new and want to try just exchanging callsigns and RST reports, or you’re ready for a good old rag chew. We’ll have fun.

There’s usually people around until after 1300Z – so keep calling in the segment of the band designated in the table below until you catch someone.

I should be on as usual from home in NSW or via the Remote at Bedfordale WA, and I’ll also be watching the proceedings using the VK6QS and Tecsun SDRs in WA and NSW respectively. Hope to hear you there.

Reports

Please let me know via our Reports form bit.ly/CQQRSNET who you work or hear on Tuesday’s Group. The report form closes at lunchtime (Eastern Australian time) on Thursday.

Post Morsum

Richard VK6HRC will run our phone Post Morsum on the South West AllStar net (via repeaters and hotspots all over WA) from 0600 WA time, then from 0700 WA time on 80m (8605 LSB).

See https://bit.ly/CQQRSWebsite and navigate to the Net Details page for details of how you can connect via Echolink or even possibly via your local FM repeater.

Teamwork

Thank you so much to our team of 30 contributors: MONNK, VK1HF, VK2DI, VK2GAS, VK2GAZ, VK2RU, VK3ACU, VK3BSE, VK3BWN, VK3DRQ, VK3ECH, VK3KLE, VK83WOW, VK5AO, VK5CZ, VK5FD, VKS5KFG, VK6HRC, VK6IS, VK6KD/5, VK6NW, VK6PZT, VK6RR, VK6WHO, VK7TA, VK7TO, VK7WW, VK7WW, ZL1PB, ZL3TK.

Thank you team. GU CW on Tuesday, mb Mark Bosma VK2KI / VK6QI Beautiful South Bowning NSW mark.bosma@icloud.com non impediti ratione cogitationis

Heard something on air that would go well here? Let me know cqqrsnet@gmail.com

About the CQ QRS Net

For the current schedule and more information about the CQQRS net, please go the the Net Details page on our website:

The opinions expressed in the RagChew newsletter are those of the individual contributors. The opinions do not necessarily reflect that of the editor or of the CQ QRS Group members.

Any material and images received by the editor or published on the CQQRS WhatsApp groups may be published in this newsletter unless specifically requested otherwise.

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