cq_qrs_newsletter

2025 18 CQ QRS RagChew

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Contents

CQ QRS RagChew

Alittle quieter on our Tuesday CQQRS Slow CW practice QSO net this week – I counted 29 of our team chatting to 45 other stations; 80m in particular was peculiarly quiet. However, from the reports below, everyone had themselves a time!

I’m excited that the 20m DXperiments have been so successful – and once again this week, Kevin VK3KEV at Seymour and our UK / EU operators demonstrated that, although gain antennas and high power help, at this time in the solar cycle, we don’t actually need a fancy set-up to enjoy CW communications around the world.

See below for the reports from Ross MONNK portable at a castle that wasn’t, and Simon MOKBJ celebrating International Morse Code Day in France’s most beautiful village (that’s quite a call…. l reckon they’re all beautifull).

Also Jens VK4PE takes us on a tour of the nearly-complete Townsville Maritime Museum’s radio room, David VK6KD and Pauline share some birthday cake, John VK2RU reviews Zen and the Art of Radiotelegraphy, there’s more of the questions.

That might be puzzling you, Stan ZL3TK looks at the permutations of last week’s cartoon, I reveal a secret about the Reverse Beacon Network that could save embarrassment to us QRS operators, Jordan VK3ACU has a flash-over and Lance VK7TO has us chasing around the band with his new addition to his grey and white collection – a beautiful Kenwood TS-530S (….jealous?

Me?). ‘And once again, thank you to the team of 30 contributors to this week’s newsletter – hopefully, some interesting reading for everyone ahead…

Last Tuesday’s Group

Here’s the 46 stations heard by 29 members of our team on Tuesday:

And our numbers just keep growing! This week I’d like to welcome Mike VK1OMG, Olivier F4CLS, Jared VK2LDJ, James VK3JFR Ararat to the team; we’re approaching 220 members now – isn’t that just outstanding?

Masthead Image

And thanks this week to Jo Harvey, Simon MOKBu’s lady wife for the terrific photo of our happy wandering CW operator in France’s most beautiful village Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, in the South of France.

Simon and Jo were celebrating International Morse Code Day in style in the last few days of their holiday in Italy and France (and in Jo’s case, Brisbane). And there’s more about their visit further down in the newsletter this week.

Reports

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

Please help attract new and old team members to have a go by submitting your repo! each week. Submissions close 1300 (Eastern Australian time) on Thursday.

Website

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

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

Comments:

From Mike DL3YZ at Stuttgart

DL I + DX Condx were fine on my side, all VK stations had a clear signal here in Stuttgart/ Germany. I had to work in my office and so i just had the radio running in the background. Had a quick hello to Ross in between two phone calls.

From Wayne VK6NW at Bridgetown

From Ross MONNK at Exeter, UK

[40m] * Conditions were difficult so no two- way QSOs. My full report and video is in Other News below.

From Ketut VA3BWN at Keilor VIC

• Got a late start to go on the air. I tried calling CQ on 80 m band. I was pretty sure that VK6QI was chatting with VK6KD on 3555 kHz but the band was just full of S3 – S5 noise and nothing else..

* So, I tried 40 m band, there was a local station VASWOW chatting with

VK2GBR but for some reason the local station was coming in very faint. Maybe my antenna is just acting like a wet noodle because we had a much- needed rain today.. * Oh well, we’ll try again next time folks..

From Jordan VK3ACU at Meredith

[40m] * Running 30~40 Watts – just a few contacts. Been looking after a very sick dog who is now on the mend thankfully! Catch you all next week.

From John VK5ET at Hope Valley

NEY MIE EEE EINE CALLE IEE CAVA VENTE EN PRINCE ERIE PEIN signals on his waterfall”. Great to hear another new operator having a go as well. * Good session on the Post Morsum on Wednesday.

Max was talking about his QSO with VK5AO – Maitland is about 10KM up from me. + And well done to everyone who contributes to the newsletter.

From David VAGKV/P at Albany (Caravan Fark)

[40m] * Not as many stations heard this week. I had an S8 noise floor so this may explain my deafness..

[80m] «80m appeared very quiet as far as CW operators were concerned..

[40m] + My first QSO was with VK2ALR. His signal was booming in, as was mine. Then he dropped down, and reported that I did to, and then I looked at the SWR meter: whoops!

• After a run outside to tighten some connectors, all was well again. + I heard VK6IS and VK6FN finishing off a QSO, with good copy on both of them. I gave each a call, but either they didn’t hear me or else they had already gone.

+ I finished with another nice long chat with Manny, VK3DRQ. I didn’t hear masses stations this week, but there were some big signals out there..

• After a run outside to tighten some connectors, all was well again. + I heard VK6IS and VK6FN finishing off a QSO, with good copy on both of them. I gave each a call, but either they didn’t hear me or else they had already gone.

+ I finished with another nice long chat with Manny, VK3DRQ. I didn’t hear masses of stations this week, but there were some big signals out there..

From Rob VK3ECH/MM at Duck Arm near Paynesville, Gippsland Lakes

[40m] + Due to very heavy rain I was unable to tune my antenna on 40 metres.. * So I could only participate as an SWL..

[20m] * OM Chris G7BED was RSN 442 with some QSB, but OM Ross was almost QNP with very deep QSB. Thanks OM Ross and I’m sorry for not a better report, only RSN 322 with QSB..

[40m] * Hopped on 40 and had a great long chat with Lance, VK7TO, and a bit of a listen around before dinner. * Then it was off to the 80M Boatanchor Net, and called it a night when that finished. Good sigs with some QSB.

[40m] * Fun night, a couple of long QSOs and my CW is slowly improving. Manny tells me out of 82 words, I sent only 6 extra dits mainly a 5 instead of an H. * So I apologies in advance to all I manage to work for those extra dits.

And don’t hesitate to let me know, the aim is to control the extras .. Hi Hi.

From your editor Mark VK2KI at Beautiful South Bowning NSV

[20m] * Great fun on 20m with marginal long-path conditions from the UK, that allowed me to work Chris G7BED, even allowing a bit of an exchange about another of our shared interests – flying. Made me wonder who else in our team has dabbled in aviation?

I believe Ross MONNK has extensive rotary wing experience, Max VK6FN used to have a light twin, I think I noticed recently

Another of our team with a transport pilot license, and I’m pretty sure there are other too. A topic of interest to discuss some time?

+ also tried to hook up with Ross MONNK/P trying out his new portable location, bul RSN 211 was the best I could do – we knew we were both there, but the signals just weren’t performing miracles this week.

[40m] + At 0800 when I slipped down from 20m to 40m, I could hear that the band was just starting to open from WA and of course improved as the sun set on the ionosphere’s D-layer and the Absorption Limit Frequency dropped…

+ By mid-evening, the band was percolating along nicely – lots of folks out there enjoying the practice or having a nice chat. I just wished that I could say g’day to everyonel.

+I did hear what sounded like a new CW operator, Jared VK2LDJ in Queanbeyan (the other side of Canberra) having a QSO with Chris VKICT; I tried calling Jared without success, but had a non-QRS QSO with Chris and asked him to let Jared know about our net if he hooks up with him again.

I’m pleased to report that Chris did let Jared know, and we now have another team member. Welcome mate.

[20m] * Signals from the UK were better into WA this week – I enjoyed listening to our member Ross MONNK with 20 Watts to a loaded vertical (RSN 311) working Kevin VK3KEV at Seymour on his 80m dipole up 10m, demonstrating that with the current solar cycle peak, gain antennas and amplifiers, although nice to have, aren’t necessarily needed; well done both!.

• l also heard Chris G7BED with a nice signal chatting to Skip VK2ALR and Manny VK3DRQ; Ross was RSN 311 into the VK6SEG KiwiSDR near Northam, so I tried cranking up the VK6SR Remote South of Perth

• unfortunately, it wouldn’t let me in, so I tried the VK6CRO Remote at the Space an Technology Museum in Carnarvon – but as usual, it was busy on 6m FT-8.

I flashed a message to Rob VK6LD asking for a reset of the Perth Remote, but by the time he did that, our UK friends had either choofed-off to work, or packed up and moved back inside where it was no-doubt, warmer..

* Thanks to Mike DL3YZ for coordinating the DXperiment again, to Ross and Chris for making it happen, and to all the stations down this way who listened out..

[40m] + When the VK6SR Remote South of Perth did come on line, I was able to hear signals rolling in nicely from the East and from New Zealand..

«| also noted some more of what appeared to be one-way propagation as the sun set on the ionosphere (we’ve discussed the phenomenon in previous RagChews); for example, I was hearing my QSO with Skip VK2ALR in Sydney at 0840Z – Skip was RSN 521 but he just couldn’t hear my signal from VK6..

[80m] + When I moved the Remote down to 80m, I was pleased to hook up with David VK6KD/P – this time in Albany. Many readers will know that David and Pauline have been grey nomads for nearly the last year as they’ve travel clockwise around Australia with their caravan.

I think David has managed to be on air nearly every single Tuesday since

Departing – congratulations mate and thank you to Pauline for putting up with his absence on Tuesday nights – or is that just a peaceful time perhaps?

Anyway, I’ve been pleased to have been able to catch up with David nearly every week on either 40m or 80m – we’te pretty lucky to have had the solar cycle in our favour too – and what a pity that circumstances didn’t allow us to meet up when they swung past this neck of the woods.

Oh well, next trip – anti-clockwise this time? + Anyway, David shared a little secret that I promised to only share with the nicest of people… he was celebrating his 60TH Birthday on Tuesday! Wow – whodathunkit? 60!

Glad you both could celebrate the event the day before and day after.. + I rounded out the evening with a last one-way propagation test on 80m; transmitting 80 Watts from VK2 I was RSN 531 into WA; with 100 Watts from VKé, I was only RSN 312 here in NSW.

Of course, one difference in the circuits was my much higher noise level in VK2 – the noise floor on the WA Remote was S0-1; my phasing-type noise canceller does a great job {although the noise floor could only be taken down to $2 this time), but of course it comes at a cost of some attenuation of the signal (because my tiny noise pick-up antenna also picks up some of the intended signal – which of course then cancels the desired signal a little).

Anyway, it’s so nice to have KiwiSDRs around Australia and access to the Southern Electronics Group’s three Remotes and one KiwiSDR to be able to do this sort of live testing.

And by the way, if you’d like to do the same – membership of the Southern Electronics Group costs only $35 per year – pretty cheap for access to so many good toys!

[40m] + It was new rig Tuesday for me, giving my newly-acquired TS-§30S a run. Unlike my TS-5208, this has the CW filters which makes it somewhat simpler. I apologise to my @SO partners from this week if I was off frequency.

Some alignment is needed so be more confident I’m transmitting at least somewhat close to a caller’s frequency… + First cab off the rank was Sava, VKAPN, in Brisbane.

Not having my log available, I didn’t recognise the call, but once he shared his name, I was fairly confident there was only one Sava on CW, and recalled our previous QSO. Signals were mid strength but with QSB so we persevered for a while

The TS-530S (top) and key (bottom) which this week’s QSOs came from. OM Manny, please note the lack of any microphones this time 😉

Before agreeing to try again later if things improved.. * Next lan, VK5LA. I’ve chased lan on many VKFF activations, so it was nice to enjoy a leisurely chat about using rigs of yesteryear.

He mentioned having a Johnson Viking Adventurer in his shack, which I’d be keen to work him on at some stage.. « Then it was off to dinner and family time before returning later to David, VKS3RU.

Another enjoyable chat about general operating and discussing our Morse journeys.. * The evening was rounded off with Jordan, VKSACU, who helped me figure out what my actual transmitting frequency was.

Good number copy practice sending frequencies back and forth. I was also pleased to learn that he found an old army rig which I’m sure will be on the air for us all to work at 2ARAA RAMS

Post Mortem Report

Hello Mark

FMT WET OTL UI OV VK6KD/P David VK5ET John VK6KRC Bob VK6QI Mark VK6NW Wayne VK6FN Max VK6HRC

VK6MRB Mulligan swl and others. David the first to check in from a caravan park in Albany, not used to being back in this time zone just yet. He also celebrated his sixtieth birthday but still got on and worked two on 40MX and two on 80MX…

Going easy on the celebratory drinks ! John worked one on 40MX heard eight, one on 80MX, it was quiet locally but listened out on a remote SDR helping to keep track of activity further afield.

Bob, not one to whimp-out, checked in sounding very congested due to having an early Winter bug and saw the net out. Mark got involved in the DX from VK2 on 20 Mx heard Chris G7BED and Ross M@NNK making contacts.

Mike DLSYZ was there as well but no contacts to VK.

Mark also gave us a quick description of the set up he uses on Tuesdays: two different inputs to his headset from a mixer – enabling him to listen to his rig on one ear and an SDR in the other…

Plus keeping the alerts going on WhatsApp (multitasking at its finest!). Whilst doing all this Mark observed some one-way propagation between East and West which seems a fairly regular occurrence lately.

Wayne was enjoying the new Bencher & FT-897 combo and the good conditions – worked two on 40MX heard two from VK2, also heard Manny VK3DRQ working the DX on 20MX.

Max had a good night working five on 40MX with the newly tuned doublet, more improvements planned. Max also caught up with Maity VK5AO for the first time and really enjoyed the rag-chew.

Peter VK6IS got his Vibroplex bug out to show how it is done but Max is staying with the trusty straight key ! I was AWOL on Tuesday night but planning on being around next week.

Thanks to all 73 Richard VK6HRC [Thank you Richard – gold star and an elephant stamp for you.]

On My Workbench

At 19 I was on a fishing trawler as a radio operator. Well on a fishing trawler you don’t see the world. Germany had a big fishing fleet but itis all history now. Also the reality on a deep sea fishing trawler is very hard work.

A good friend documented the time when Morse code was on board ship and it is a very good work but it is written in German. You can read it with Google translate. So many information. My friend is a SK.

Https://www.seefunknetz.de/ Later I was on a battle ship as radar technician and assistant radio operator. Finally, my dream came true. All ship radio operators retired in 2000 and a new automatic satellite emergency system replaced the ship radio operators.

Later I studied electrical engineering and now I am nearly retired with 60+ years. Time is running fast. Ship Radio Room Townsville Maritime Museum Jens has helped create a ship radio room in the Townsville Maritime Museum.

The setup is nearly ready and open to the public – Jens has offered to take us on a sneal

QRZ? Who’s on the other end? There’s no doubt that our net is a get-together that people enjoy returning to each week. It’s a bit like a nice local country pub – it’s just so nice to go an have a yarn with your mates, or to say g’day to someone new who wanders in the side door.

But when you’re on the key, it’s really hard to find out a bit more about the person you’re chatting to. So I’m really keen to share the backgrounds of some of our team members – 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, how about sharing some thoughts about yourself? 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: cagrsnet@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.

Other News

Richard VK6HRC somehow managed to convince an Al tool to generate a decent image of a Morse Key… and it even sends! Click on the image to the right then download and run the mp4 file —>

I’ve tried to train ChatGPT to draw a Morse key (gave it a number of examples and tried to shape the results with feedback – “The Force is strong with this one”… too many keyboard images shaping ChatGPT’s thinking I’m afraid)! Great work Richard…

Great photos Jo – thank you! No flag Simon?

First UK-VK DX of the year (well, sort of)

First UR-VA DA OT tne year (well, SOrt OT)

From Ross MONNK The end of April and we are having a spell of fine weather to finish off the arrival of spring. Finally the temperature has improved sufficiently (16 C) to make sitting around in a camp chair an enjoyable experience.

This morning the sun beat down out of a cloudless sky so it would’ve been madness to stay at home. At 0700 UTC (8 am local) the tide was fully in

So I wasn’t able to take advantage of the ‘saltwater amplifier’ at my preferred location on the Exe estuary. Today’s location was new to me, having been discovered on a recent dog walk.

It’s a few kilometers south-west of Exeter, a few hundred meters from an Iron Age hill fort, Woodbury Castle (which has never actually been a castle), and near the top of a hill, facing south.

The Long Path to Australia is towards the south-west, so it’s not ideal as there’s a slight rise in the ground in that direction.

If you want to see more of the location and my set up, I’ve made a short video: https://youtu.be/irEdIHKTyvg I chose the quarter wave vertical and two elevated radials because the ground here has very low conductivity, being sand and gravel under a very thin layer of turf.

The DXperiment traditionally starts with a quick CQ call for the RBN.

In the next hour I had three VK contacts. I hesitate to calll them QSOs because either I couldn’t hear them or they couldn’t hear me so it was all rather one-sided.

But it still amazes me that 20 Watts into a simple wire antenna can reach all the way around the globe. So very many thanks to Kev VK3KEV (if I copied the callsign incorrectly, I apologise to whoever it was); Manny VK3DRQ who was putting out a good signal but couldn’t hear me well; and Mark VK2KI whose callsign was just about all I was able to copy.

QRS is definitely the way to go when DX conditions are challenging. Thanks also to Mike DLYZ for listening out for me on the Ironstone Range web SDR in South Australia and reassuring me that my beeps were indeed getting there S3.

I had my radio volume turned alll the way up, listening for weak VK stations, so when he called me from Stuttgart he nearly blew out my eardrums with his S7!

Mike has a great fist and it’s always a pleasure to work him, especially as that was my only “proper” QSO of the morning. All in all, it was a super way to kick off the new DX season.

I’m away next week but, weather permitting, I shall be back for more when I return. Will I work you, I wonder… [Excellent report Ross – and so nice to hear that your first for the season was under blue skies!

Your videos are just the ducks guts – they add so much colour to the. activity – thank you! Your comment about the soil is interesting – for many of us on the tops side of the globe, “sand and gravel under a very thin layer of turf” is pretty normal.)

Swap

Interested? Contact Don VK6DON by email: vkS5donham@gmail.com (note Don’s email address is different to his callsign).

The Reverse Beacon Network

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.

First use of Flex 6400 Remote on HF

First USe OT FI€X O4UU hi Update from lan VK1HF

Not sure what the thing on the end of the curly cord is lan.

From Mike DL3YZ Iadded your “spot any” link to my RunnersPoint web page. Thats no bad idea, as I don’t have to edit the links to match the participing stations for the specific Tuesday. The RBN decoders are not very great in copy.

So best practice is to send the CQ to be spotted with a paddle and above 18 WPM. No Farnsworth spacing, and repeat the callsign at least 5 times before AR K. lam hardly to be spotted QRS with a straight key – timing is too unprecise.

So on Tuesdays, to be spotted on the RBN network, we always need to send a ‘burst CQ’ on the start of our shift; that may frighten off some QRS stations in the past, and increases the risk of being called by non VK/ZL and non-QRS stations!

[Editor’s note: the simple solution is instead of sending ‘CQ DE ’ , send ‘TEST DE ’ this will reduce the risk, but will stil be picked up by the RBN skimmers.] When you click on the “show spotters” checkbox, you can see the other main reason why you may not be spotted reliably when transmitting from Australasia…

There aren’t many receiving stations over there – on the EU and US side there are quite ‘enme mnre red dnote –)

Guidance on the Reverse Beacon Network

So maybe we should encourage more OMs to set up a spotting station. [Great idea Mike – I understand all that’s needed is a receiver that can be controlled from a computer, and a skimmer application.

Hopefully we’ll learn about that when one of our readers has a go at answering the There’s No Such Thing… question last week about the Reverse Beacon Network.] Thats why I tend to use FT8 and pskreporter for antenna compare.

Almost every active station does also report to the psk network by default.

[So that’s why so many people use FT-8? I often wondered what the attraction was!] Have fun in the net Mike.

Too good an opportunity to ignore.

From Stan ZL3TK Further to the cartoon in Edition 17/2025 ——>

There is a myriad of further possibilities if one cares to include the umlaut, circumflex, acute and grave accent marks, but life is too short for this English-as- first-language speaker.

Perhaps erudite OM ‘Gruyere’ VK2GAS, OM Manny VK3DRQ, OM Mike DL3YZ or others might contribute some exotic combinations from their store of cosmopolitan languages? 73 de Stan ZL3TK

Readable Five

What have you been reading lately? Compiled on the track somewhere by John

What have you been reading lately? iled on the track somewhere by John VK2RU

Zen and the Art of Radiotelegraphy

Zen and the Art of Radiotelegraphy is a charming and reflective read that blends the old-school world of Morse code with a Zen-like appreciation for simplicity and focus.

Written by Carlo Consoli, the book isn’t just about learning radiotelegraphy—it’s about slowing down and reconnecting with a quieter, more mindful way of communicating.

Consoli explores Morse code not just as a technical skill, but as a kind of meditation, where rhythm, patience, and attention take centre stage.

The tone is calm and personal, almost like you’re having a thoughtful conversation with a friend who’s deeply passionate about radio.

Whether you’re a seasoned ham operator or just someone curious about this fading art form, there’s something here for you.

It’s less of a how-to manual and more of a love letter to a dying craft—and a reminder that in our fast-paced digital world, there’s beauty in the slow, deliberate click of the key.

Free book download here – https://www.qsl.net/ikOygj/enu/ZART_r20100

If you’ve read something 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

There’s No Such Thing…

This week’s questions. I think the first lesson in Teachering 101 is to always tell students “There’s no such thing as…” (‘m sure you know the rest) and “…the only dumb questions are the ones not asked”.

John VK2RU reckons that there’s lots of questions out there among both our new and our experienced operators – about CW, amateur radio operating and about theory.

So John didn’t step backwards quickly enough when asked to volunteer to compile readers’ questions; thanks mate. This week’s question… Question: What’s this RSN that I hear on the net?

On the CQQRS net, you’ll hear both RST (readability, strength, tone) reports, and RSN (readability, strength, noise) reports. Stan ZL3TK introduced the group to the new, much more useful system a while back.

+ These days, it’s pretty rare to hear anything by perfect CW tones – 99+% of reports are T9. There are exceptions of course – and in particular on the CQQRS net where lots of the team enjoy using home brewed or older commercial gear, any of which may drift, chirp, click, have hum mixed in etc.

+ However, the RSN report replaces the now largely redundant tone report with a noise strength report. + Soan RSN 542 report indicates that the signal strength is two S-points (le 12DB) above the background noise level; an RSN 355 report indicates that the signal is strong, but so is the noise – hence the readability 3.

Similarly, an RSN 361 report indicates that something else Is wrong – QRM, QSB, or even trouble decoding because of poor receiving skill or even poor keying.

+ lusually send the letters RSN before sending that report to alert any listener that what follows is an RSN report, not RST.

Question: Where and when will I hear the International Beacon Network be What about other HF beacons?

Question: |’m toying with the idea of remote-controlling a transceiver in my shed from my house. However, I don’t know which software defined (or other remoteable) transceivers can be operated remotely using a straight key.

Some seem to have a straight key socket only on the main transceiver box – apparently making keying remotely not possible. Others seem to allow only paddles, rather than straight keys.

I suspect that it’s something to do with latency – more than a few tens of milliseconds delay between key contact and sidetone (caused by latency over the network) makes keying impossible – especially when there’s a little delay as the transceiver switches from receive to transmit on break-in.

So advice from either those with such gear, or who otherwise know the answer would be very much appreciated. Thank you de Mark VK2KI.

[Do you have a question or two that are worth sharing? How about a discussion- starter? Please let me know cqgrsnet@gmail.com and I’ll pass them to John VK2RU for compilation each week.]

I Hear Tell…

Returning to CW

Returning to UW From one of our earlier team members – Don VK6DON I’m sure a number of our readers will know Don Peterkin, and will be pleased to hear that he’s back on air. Hi, Mark. Long time no speak!

I realise you must be busier than a ‘Mongoose at a Cobra rally’, but I just want to touch base and update you on where I’m at. I now live in an over-55 village in Carlisle; I very rarely get down to Mandurah any more.

Ui SUN CLUE) WOE eS WU ihe We more. Ihave built a shack onto one wall in my bedroom – very convenient! I still have some radios, and I have a 9-band vertical from 40M- 6M outside.

I also have 6M capability, as I have a 4-element Yagi at the top of a 6M (coincidentally) length of thick wall aluminum pipe, with the rotator at the bottom and the controller in my shack.

As I am surrounded by Tv-watching oldies, TVI is a potential problem, so I have sold my linear and run about 25W using FT8 on the yagi. No complaints yet. Ireally want to get back into Morse – it’s been 18 months since I touched a Morse key.

But rather than continue to use a straight key, I would like to use the electronic keyer in my radio – an Icom IC – 7610.

Silly me, I thought I needed a full-blown paddle, and recently ‘blew’ $245 on a beautiful Vibroplex paddle which has different- sized weights to vary the sending speed.

I found out after that all I need is a single lever paddle, but I haven’t been able to find one yet. I wonder if you would mind mentioning in your weekly letter you have someone looking for one, please?

I would be prepared to do a clean swap with the rather more complicated Vibroplex I have. Ihave been told you need years to become proficient with one of these, and that is something I probably don’t have, as I will be 84 later this year…

I congratulate you, Mark, on how you have built up the CW net with persistence and a lot of time invested, no doubt. I read your newsletter each week so know what is happening.

I was shocked to read of Max Faulkner’s fire; I am a friend of his going back many years. So, keep up the good work, Mark, and if you ever manage 5 minutes to spare, I would love to hear from you! Vy 73. Don Perterkin. VK6DON

[Thanks Don – terrific to hear from you again, and I’m really happy to hear that you and Marjory are settled happily in Carlisle. I’m sure it’ll be only a matter of time before you catch up with Max again on the net.]

Ok thats much worse leme go back to how it was ,.,, : ok that made a massive difference ..45 .,,, Ican key it as the zep butnotasat 4.45 5,, Not sure if my mic works ..,, wire » *

Click on the image to download Jordan’s short movie. —— >

[If you have some intel about other team members… or even yourself… that’s worth sharing, please let me know cqqrsnet@gmail.com J

Di-dah-di-dah-dit

So 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.

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 Mortem

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: DL3YZ, G7BED, MOKBJ, MONNK, VK1HF, VK2ALR, VK2RU, VK2WP, VK3ACU, VK3BWN, VK3DRQ, VK3ECH/, VK3KEV, VK3KLE, VK3RU, VK3WOW, VK4PE, VK5AO, VKSET, VKSLA, VK6DON, VK6EN, VK6HRC, VK6IS, VK6KD/P, VK6NW, VK7KPC, VK7TA, VK7TO and ZL3TK.

And a special thank you to our editorial team, Nigel G4RWI (head of software development), John VK2RU (WhatsApp spy and researcher) and Richard VK6HRC. (Post Morsition and spy). Great work alll UY CW on Tuesday, mb.

Mark Bosra VK2KI/ VK6QI Beautiful South Bowning NSW mark,bosma@icloud.com non impediti ratione cogitationis

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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