cq_qrs_newsletter

2025 25 CQ QRS RagChew

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Contents

CQ QRS RagChew

Here we are, Simon MOKBJ, Nigel G4RWI, Chris M7BED volunteering at the RSGB National Radio Centre. Take note of the display on the screens behind us.

This week:

Well here we are…. early hours of Sunday morning… and still no newsletter! Anybody’d think I didn’t care! Elizabeth and I were away for 1-1/2 days this week, but I’m just amazed at how much material has.

Accumulated to make this another bumper edition – thank you all! Our difficult propagation conditions on 20m and 40m made last Tuesday’s net frustrating for some of our team – but hey, that’s part of the fun isn’t it?

Luckily again this week, 80m saved the day, and there was allevel of activity there; great to see more of our team working on 80m antennas (and noise cancellers) for our net.

So this week, Mike DL3YZ has provided some beautiful images of his neat portable double-rabbit-ears antenna; don’t show the neighbourhood kids Mike – we know what happened last time!

Phil VK6GX explores the mysteries of prosign designators and also lets us into the secret of how he got his one- wavelength 80m loop up so high in the trees.

We’re also reminded about this weekend’s SKCC Oceania QRS Saunter, the International Flight Contest and the CWops Morse Mania event – especially shaped to attract CQQRS team members.

We learn about the popular 40m US Sunrise Net that we’re likely to be able to join-in on when conditions are in our favour – and Bug Friday will appeal to our team members who are just itching to have a go with their favourite mechanical keyers.

Ross MONNK has a bit of fun with the Google Gemini Al system and John VK2RU has provided another Winnie-the-Pooh chapter for head-copy practice.

John has also reviewed the Ditto CW: Morse Player Android phone application, and we round out as usual with some tall tales allegedly true. I hope you can make some time to enjoy this week’s RagChew.

DXperiment

Mike DL3YZ is really on the ball this week – he’s sent me the details for Tuesday’s DXperiment even before the newsletter was finished! So here we go: Dear CQ QRS team, The european DXperiment chapter is on the air again on Tuesday.

But unfortunately we have some drop outs. * Chris – G7BED is away, and will be back on the key on 15 th July. * Simon – MOKBJ is going to see his dentist on Tuesday… our thoughts are with him at this difficult time.

* Mike – DL3YZ will be on air, continuing his antenna tests. * Ross – VK/MONNK will be operating using his VK2 remote on 40 m, DXperiment Schedule June 24 th 202! |07:00Z – 07:30Z

We are working long-path. As usual, we will have the Runners Point website updated for you, where you can spot the actual frequency on which we are operating on at the very moment on Tuesday. And we will announce all breaking news there as well.

Https://www.sandersinformatik.de/dxperiment Enjoy the net 🙂 73 de Chris, Ross , Simon and Mike ps: The largest European amateur radio fair “HAM Radio” in Friedrichshafen at Lake Constance, will open its gates 27-29 of June. I’m there on Friday.

So If you happen to be around the corner, we can meet and have some cold liquids. 🙂

Email Reminders

| found out this week that one of our long-term team members had been receiving and avidly reading the RagChew newsletters, but hadn’t been receiving the weekly email reminders (with the details of the DXperiment frequencies and other last-minute updates).

So are you receiving this newsletter but not receiving the update reminder email from me that goes out usually on Sunday or Monday? If you’re not getting the email (or not reading this) please let me know; cqqrsnet@gmail.com

Masthead Image

This month, three-quarters of our UK team were on duty volunteering at the RSGB National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park 70KM North West of London on the same day – the Saturday of the UK Fathers’ Day weekend.

As reported in the previous RagChew, the plan to have an early CW sked on 20m long- path had to be cancelled, but we did manage a NRC hook-up to the Western Australian AllStar network, similar to the previous week’s hook-up with Mike DL3YZ at the DLOVDU U-17 submarine at Sinshein.

We had a number of team members connected in here on the top-side to work GB3RS, but unfortunately things were too hectic with the fathers’ day crowd at the station. But thanks to Simon MOKB4 for rounding up the team for the masthead photo.

New Team Members

And welcome this week to four new team members. Des VK3PEF who lives at Spring Gully near Tony VK3CTM at Bendigo. Jim N4TMM lives at Atlanta Georgia, and runs the Sunrise net on 40m CW – see Other News below for more from Jim about the net – which will be of interest to some of our night-owls Mark W8EWH lives at Novi Michigan and is one of the now popular and growing group of CW-only operators.

And also this week, Dean VK3DL from Geelong is an avid portable operator – check Dean’s qrz.com page for some nice images of his portable operations. Welcome one and all! Would you believe that we now have over 220 RagChew subscribers!

And welcome this week to four new team members. Des VK3PEF who lives at Spring Gully near Tony VK3CTM at Bendigo. Jim N4TMM lives at Atlanta Georgia, and runs the Sunrise net on 40m CW – see Other News below for more from Jim about the net – which will be of interest to some of our night-owls Mark W8EWH lives at Novi Michigan and is one of the now popular and growing group of CW-only operators.

And also this week, Dean VK3DL from Geelong is an avid portable operator – check Dean’s qrz.com page for some nice images of his portable operations. Welcome one and all! Would you believe that we now have over 220 RagChew subscribers!

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

Reports

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

Website

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

Bit.ly/CQQRSWebsite Dit-dit, mb Mark Bosma VK2KI / VK6QI Beautiful South Bowning NSW mark.bosma@icloud.com non impediti rations cogitationis

It’s been several weeks since I’ve managed a QSO with an Australian so it was terrific to hear Patrick VK2IOW‘s very strong signal this morning. I was operating portable in the long grass on Cannock Chase, surrounded by vast numbers of cobwebs.

We seem to have lots of spiders in central England this summer. They’re all very friendly but cleaning the webs off the house is a bit of a chore. I console myself that we would be overridden with insects if we didn’t

After Patrick, who told me that it’s a cold evening in Millthorpe, I got to work an Italian and a Czech. All as friendly as the spiders.. I could hear Chris G7BED calling on 20m but he couldn’t hear my replies.

We arranged via WhatsApp to QSY to 40m and he was coming in very strong to me but again my 18W was insufficient to reach him.

He has a nice low noise floor and I think the issue on 40m is not so much my power but the fact that I’m using a vertical antenna which doesn’t work very well for NVIS comms..

[40m] Very quiet night apart from noise. No stations heard. Went to 80MTS 09:00Z.

[80m] More stations heard here than 40 mts. Less noise but qsb about

From Ross VK/MONNK at Exeter UK via Lismore NSW

[40m] Plagued by other stations transmitting on my frequencies despite narrow CW filter. Couldn’t copy VK1TE/M Claude’s QTH (“Ulira”, “…ivingto…”, ” ..tinderry”) but it was good to make the QSO.

Will VKSWB seemed surprised by my unusual callsign anc neither of us sounded clear to the other, but we made

| DOANE I Still in VK3 this week and operating with my SOTA kit at 10w from Metung on the Gippsland Lakes. VK3ECH wa: 599 and my last QSO he was /MM in a creek around the corner. I thought beauty – direct wave over 800M.

Pleased to receive 599 in return from Echuca.. Copied VK3MJ in Gelong, was feeling a little pushed on the speed but good learning and copied most on the first go.. VKITA alen niichingn mea than cenmeoehnady rallad CO and

The top of each other and me. I am not skilled enough to unpack what was happening there so listened for a bit, totally befuddled and then decided to QSY.

TN Pet APP IDNR AD A TN htt ep NN tS me te Nt IT etd et bee there would have been three of us at it and would not have helped.. Finally I ducked a little below frequency for this group (another learning lesson about staying in my paddock) and picked up ZL38TK.

Then I had to QRT and attend to an online meeting with my radio club.. Thanks for all the contacts this week across the summits, the casual CQs, and the CQ QRS group tonight.

20m] It was a nice sunny morning up here on the little DX hill nearby my QTH. I wanted to put my 2-element rabbit-ear- yagi antenna design under a test, but the beginning was troublesome. Normally, I’d have a test QSO with Ross MONNK beforehand.

Thats always a great fun chatting with him and doing antenna shootouts. This way I can learn how long the setup of SP Ee ene E ay ease ky RS eye Je:

DL alt th Catenion I pit ela my new setups may take, and where the hidden traps are. So on VK QRS tuesdays, all is tested and I can call CQ on the spot. Not so today. Ross and I didnt find a suitable time and WX was not so great lately as well…

Now I decided to just dare it.. What can happen, the standard single rabbit ear is up in 6 minutes. Oh boy… but now with this setup, all posts have got to be perfectly vertical and there is an exact distance to keep between the masts.

The elements must be kept in parallel, both elements have to be tuned to some exact frequencies, and the whole thing should also be aligned pointing the long path to Australia.

After fiddling around with compasses, spirit levels, tape measures and duct tape, it turned out to be 20 minutes over time to call CQ on my first shift. I’m really sorry for that. No luck of course, but I think nobody really expected me to show up any more..

Now I had some time to check my signal level on the wonderful VK5PH Ironstone Range KiwiSDR, I was a solid S4. And I even removed the reflector, to see my level dropping to S$2-S3. Great, it seems the parasitic element is actually doing something..

I am aware that I should do some proper field tuning to get the most out of this setup… but hey, it does get me one S level more, even if I was just setting it just like the books tell. So I was happy the antenna worked within expectations..

As I wanted to turn the sidetone louder, I realized I had still turned the HF Power down to 30 Watts from my last operation with a smaller battery. Aww… Now QRO, with reflector in place again, I was a solid S5 in ironstone. Now we are talking…

And after some seconds, I heard Manny – VK3DRQ calling me. Thanks for that, Manny –). pees: ee

TOT Ula, Wha Il .=). His signal was loud, $5-S6 and his great fist is easy to copy. We made it nice and slow. On this long range DX QSOs, sometimes there are multipath signals widening out the dits. Can elawar ie raalhs sha

So slower is really the way to go on DX.. I was really happy to catch Manny again. He was one of my first ever VK DX contacts, and Its always a great pleasure to work him around the globe..

This was ( maybe ) the last one of my series of tests with M10 whip antenna setups for economical DX. Soon an article is following… but the submarine article is first.. Have a great week,. Mike – DL3ZY. [An absolutely superb article Mike – thank you!

I notice that you didn’t mention the modification where you had to tape your trouser legs to your boots to keep the ticks out – HI]

[80m] I changed the temporary antenna for 80m to an inv heard no CW stations and none heard me (excent

EA 9 OES, BUR CRE We Ne Re SO Ne IG Mar Oe Ene Ne 9,8

[20m] Both QSOs @20m were very hard to copy Yet, OM Chris gave me 449 and Mike 559. III.

[40m] On none of the bands I found it easy to Q

[20m] Respectfully suggest that QSOs with our DX friends could be kept shorter so everyone who is trying to have a QSO gets a turn at calling _

From Peter Dann VK3WOW at Blackburn, Victoria

[80m] Must say Pat VK2IOW turns out to be the Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde of this net. In the course of one (admittedly long) QSO I got to meet “straight key” Pat, “paddle” Pat, “hacksaw blade swiper” Pat, “weighted Vibroplex” Pat and “normal Vibroplex” Pat — all allegedly the same person (though just between you and me, based on differences of CW styles, I have my doubts!) Nah, seriously Pat, that was a fun QSO..

[40m] Intra-ZL signals still weak and scratchy, however trans-Tasman signals, while not fantastic, were uf on the previous week..

[40m] Managed a QSO with our illustrious leader (thanks for the catch-up and if you ever come and visit I’ll make you my famous Green Chicken Curry) before I was called to the kitchen and enslaved.

Got to have a bit of a listen as well, heard quite a few QSOs and calls. Didn’t get a chance to check out 80m after the SSB Boat Anchor net. Next week!

[40m] Interesting condx tonight for 40m. I thought mostly I can hear DX stations (yes VK6 is DX for me hihi) with short but deep QSB.

Made 3 (relatively DX) contacts tonight on 40m so overall this is great but then again, every Tuesday night net is always great. I am not sure why I did not hear any local VK3S. Maybe just a special condx tonight.

[40m] Super quiet this week. Was tuning around and there was my old mate Manny wailing CQ into the wind, naturally I replied.

[20m] On 20m Chris G7BED was RSN 211 in and out of I noise, but I also heard Patrick VK2IOW and Roy VK6RR this week. Absolutely nothing from Simon MOKBu again this ti – perhaps it was those friendly UK spiders?

(40m] On 40 I worked Andy VK5LA at Berri and heard Patrick VK2IOW at Millthorpe. tried to catch Richard VK6HRC at Padbury – but he wouldn’t talk to me…

[80m] (On 80m I worked Kevin VKSKEV at Seymore, Jordan VKSACU at Meredith and Ross VK/MONNK via the Remote near Lismore NSW. I also heard Rob VK3ECH at Echuca, and two from Blackbur, Peter V3WOW and Manny VK8DRQ.

When rag-chewing with Kevin, we both heard Greg VK5KFG right down in the noise calling on the same frequency; I tried to call him in for a three-way QSO, but apparently he wasn’t copying me.

Nice to hear a few more on 80m at this time of the year, before the nightly drop in the Absorption Limit Frequency moves later and later into the evening (as the sun sets on the ionosphere later in the evening).

Also from your editor Mark VK6QI at Beautiful South Bowning via the VK6SEG and VKSPH KiwiSDRs near Northam and Ironstone Range respectively, and also via the Southern Electronics Group’s VK6CRO Remote station at Camarvon. 20m].

I heard Chris G7BED RSN 531 in QSO with Patrick VK2IOW, but tried MOKBJ from the VK6CRO Remote without luck.. (40m)

From WA I heard 2 on 40 as the band started opening across Australia… (80m) I was pleased to hear four stations on 80m in WA this week.. Auroral buzz heard on 80m – especially strong on the VK5PH Ironstone Range KiwiSDRs.

From Richard VK6HRC Seven on the SW AllStar / Echolink network’ CQQRS Post Morsum on Wednesday morning. VKSET John VK6NW Wayne VK6EN Max VK6KD David VK6HRC VK6MRB Mulligan SWL and others. VKEQI Mark early check in because a trip to Canberra was planned.

John set his alarm and checked in on time to let us know had a fairly quiet night due to lack of signals at his QTH. Wayne was happy with contacts on 40 mx and one on 80 mx with David VK6KD.

He also reminded us of the W1AW morse transmissions for decode practise. Max had a good run on 40 Mx working six before going QRT to enjoy his evening meal. David worked two on 40 Mx and one on 80 Mx with Wayne VK6NW with his fancy new rig!

More work planned on his noise cancelling set up though. Mark sent in an early report due to being on the road to Canberra first thing in the morning. On 20m Mark heard Chris G7BED in QSO with Patrick VK2IOW, but tried MOKBJ from the VK6CRO Remote without luck.

He heard two on 40 and four on 80m. On 20m Chris G7BED was RSN 211 in and out of the noise, but Mark also heard Patrick 2IOW and Roy VK6RR; on 40 Mark worked Andy VKBLA and heard one more, and tried one VK6HRC – but apparently he wouldn’t talk to him.

On 80m Mark worked three and heard another three. Auroral buzz was heard on 80m – especially strong on the VK5PH Ironstone Ridge KiwiSDRs. Excellent that the DXperimenters continue to get on early in the morning, and great to see more people on 80m again.

Post Morsum Report

Worked six on 40 Mx heard five, listened to Wayne and David on 80MX. It Nas great to catch up with young Donald VK6JDM after he went missing in action for a while.

Also good to work Pat VK2IOW for the first time infortunately band conditions were deteriorating hoping for better -onditions next time. A great evening in all, thank you to all on Tuesday night and Wednesday nornina.

Tiwvliait VINUPiPivy

This Week’s Topics of Interest

Prosign Designations Who’s Right? by Phil VK6GX

This week I asked one of our retired commercial operators Phil VK6GX about a standard two- or three- etter designation for particular Morse code prosign – here’s his reply.

Crikey prosigns, you’ve opened up a can of worms there! I’ll have to do a lot of research to familiarise myself with many of them.

There are a huge number of letter combinations for prosigns, many of which date back to the overland telegraphy and may be peculiar to a particular organisation and many are no longer used. Who’s to say which particular ones are correct? Certainly not me!

Few punctuation marks, apart from the most common, are ever used these days; as are Q-codes, only few have been retained by the Amateur service.

Prosigns are frequently sent incorrectly eg: + , not often heard correctly as -…-.- but two distinct characters + Same with , -.–. at the end of an over, inviting only the station currently in contact to respond. + Then there’s ..

Hardly ever sent correctly. I guess prosigns are partially responsible for that, as many ignore or don’t understand the meaning of the overline. Then there’s the opposite condition where operators run characters together.

+ How often do you hear “6e” for ‘the’ ? * Also “pd” for ‘and’? Many years ago I was teaching Morse (with a straight key of course) in the mid 80s at the NCRG in the Carine TAFE days.

I put together a bunch of five groups of letters, where, if the students character spacing was too short, the first two and last two characters, when combined, were the same as the middle character. e.g.

ANPWE MAQGT STVEU DTXNA KTYNM GEZTD NIBTS KECTR ERFIN SEHII WTJAM EDLAI EGPAN TKQMA IAVST TUXNA TWYKT TDZMI. I inserted these amongst normal, less devious coded groups. Sneaky eh?

It caught a lot of people out who were otherwise pretty good at sending, but it helped put them straight. So my answer to your questions about the correct prosign abbreviations… don’t know!

Because of the myriad of different systems in use… Wikipedia is probably as good a general reference as any! 73, Phil VK6GX. [See also our new Prosign of the Week below.]

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 cqgrsnet@gmail.com

My secret weapon? A drone witha release-hook like Jordan’s? A laser- guided slingshot? A cross-bow? A pneumatic antenna launcher perhaps?

Nope! Nothing that sophisticated

Put a large loop in the end of the line, approx 10CM long, to poke through the hole in the lead, then loop it over the end to secure the lead. It’s easier to remove the lead than tying knots. Some people use spark plugs.

Pick a calm day, unless you absolutely have to get that antenna back up for a contest on the weekend or the CQ QRS Net on Tuesday arvo. Once the line is over the desired branch, in precisely the right place, I pull brickies line over, then a light gauge rope.

That’s followed by heavy, UV tolerant rope (it lengthens the interval before you have to do it all again). I never use knots to avoid snags, keep the transition between rope gauges slim. Learning how to splice is worthwhile.

I always use halyards and counterweights, to keep antennas taught and to allow for tree movement. Marine grade pulleys, expensive, but they are less likely to seize up, the right size rope for the pulley, stainless steel shackles and swivels.

If using hardware stores galvanised hardware, liberal dollops of grease never go astray. I’ma hopeless fisherman, dwindling fish stocks are nothing to do with me, but I’m pretty good at casting!

Learning to cast high accurately, rather than for distance, can be an interesting process. Before each cast, always ensure the line is not snagged around the end of the rod, or be prepared to say goodbye to your sinker.

Practice with old spark plugs, you don’t get too upset if you never see them again! Most important of all, warn the neighbours to stay inside!

Here’s the beach rod with a bonus view of the feeder of the 80m Flat Top Delta Loop – and yes, that is a brick hanging from the feed point anda back stay to keep it stable. That’s our 1995 2.8ltr Diesel Toyota Hilux Ute, the most

Useful and versatile vehicle I have ever owned. 1/2 a million km and still going strong! 73, Phil VK6GX. (failed fisherman)

Update on the Vertical I didn’t think it was that high by lan VK7TA

Last week in RagChew edition 24/2025 lan VK7TA showed us around his backyard and the Council view of his 40m quarter-wavelength vertical. This week lan shows us what he’s done to meet the 80m demands of the CQQRS net.

On My Workbench

• r wear nies nme peer smccesanm ron een tne cemlees Tene reer Sate nea Se eg Ya NEY Hy mitment twsrcergmacmannsanio seeseetr ere cent

I’ve now added loading coil for 80m.

In the second photo you can see the ‘tuning hut to accommodate more grandiose plans. I am hoping to string up another piece of wire for 80m before next Tuesday. Cheers, lan VK7TA

Other News

This Weekend’s SKCC Oceania QRS Saunter

Life Choice

Morse Mania – the CWops Winter Oceania QSO Party

From Chris VK3QB Following on from the Summer QSO Party Event I’ve arranged a Winter Event. Aside from the usual objectives of getting more activity on the bands, I’ve aimed to address some of the shortcomings of Summer Event.

Morse Mania will run over 8 weeks, commencing 16″ June and will take place for one hour three da week – Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

You enter your best score for the week – meaning those whc choose to operate all three sessions wont get an advantage over those who can only make it once f week.

Read more and review the rules here https://morsecodesessions.wordpress.com/morse-mania-winter-2025/ If you have any questions please send me an email. I look forward to hearing as many of your as possible over the next either weeks.

Morse Mania – the CWops Winter Oceania QSO Party

[Chris tells me that he deliberately made one night a Tuesday night to encourage CQQRS Net people t have a go and that he’s added a bonus point for QRS QSOs that go for more than 12 minutes to furthe encourage our participation.]

International Flight Contest

Birth Notice

QRS and IFC proudly announce the delivery by E-section of their first daughter, wee CW Sound File. She arrived at 0821Z, a mere 8 hours and 21 minutes after conception on 18 June 2025, 16 words lor and weighing 77 characters with all her little fingers and codes correctly in place.

A sister to many more? Thanks to Dr Audacity and ISPs. For more information on the International Flight Contest, click on the image or see RagChew edition 22/2025.

The Sunrise Net

From Jim N4TMM: Mark, I read about you and your fascinating exploits and contributions in this month’s Solid Copy. Congratulations; please sign me up for your newsletter!

I am interested because over here we run a QRS Net at 8 am Eastern time every morning called The SunRise Net. It’s on 7.123.

On Fridays, I am Net Control Station and run what we call Bug Friday – where everyone checks in with their bugs and reports the bug they are playing. After the net, I send out an email confirming the check in’s and the bugs we heard.

Lots of fun, and a amazing array of bugs to be heard every Friday Morning. We also have a number of other Bug Nets over here, some of them run by Benny, KSKV in Star TX. Bug activity is really picking up in the US.

Happy to tell you more if you ever have interest. SRN BUG FRIDAY 7123 KHZ 7:00 AMCENTRAL FRIDAY https://qsl.net/stn/ Thank you. Jim Ewing N4TMM Atlanta [Thanks Jim – I hope you see an increase in VKs and ZLs on the Sunrise Net.

And please remind me Poeapperet On rey PTE Hi porn parent Par pref arta penta tea f]

Mark, I read about you and your fascinating exploits and contributions in this month’s Solid Copy. Congratulations; please sign me up for your newsletter!

I am interested because over here we run a QRS Net at 8 am Eastern time every morning called The SunRise Net. It’s on 7.123.

On Fridays, I am Net Control Station and run what we call Bug Friday – where everyone checks in with their bugs and reports the bug they are playing. After the net, I send out an email confirming the check in’s and the bugs we heard.

Lots of fun, and an amazing array of bugs to be heard every Friday Morning. We also have a number of other Bug Nets over here, some of them run by Benny, K5KV in Star TX. Bug activity is really picking up in the US.

Happy to tell you more if you ever have interest. SRN BUG FRIDAY 7123 KHZ 7:00 AMCENTRAL FRIDAY

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 tha’

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 has recorded the complete set of lessons which you can now find here:

Https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHsQmZz6fBXO7swAfbTmutrbbEL17fUQL 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.

CWops Monthly Oceania Get-Together via Zoom

From Chris VK3QB Hello fellow Morse enthusiasts, Don’t forget – 0830Z on the third Monday of the month we’ll talk about the Winter Event – Morse Mania, general hints n tips, and a round-table about how to get more contacts.

If you’d like specific assistance, please come along and don’t be afraid to ask. See you at 08302Z, third Monday of the month. https://morsecodesessions.wordpress.com/zoom-details/

CWops Monthly Oceania Get-Together via Zoom

Pointless Fun with Google Gemini AI

From Ross MONNK Me: I would like to have a short role-playing conversation with you. Can you help me with that?

Head Copy Practice – Winnie the Pooh – Chapter 3

In RagChew editions 23 and 24/2025, John VK6RU provided CW audio files of the out-of-copyright Winnie the Pooh Chapters 1 & 2 for head-copy practice. John has now provided Chapter 3.

The idea is for those who would like to start doing some head-copy practice, use your phone to play the audio file at reduced speed to start the process of learning to recognise and assemble first letters, then entire words, then phrases in your head without writing.

Click on the images to download the audio file and the text for cross- checking.

The text file can be used to read in conjunction with using the mp3 on a media player, but it can also be imported into Ditto CW app for practicing head copy. I’ve done a review on Ditto CW in Readable Five below.

Readable Five

What have you been reading lately? How about some head-copy practice instead? Compiled on the track somewhere by John VK2RU

Key Features:

• CW/Speech/CW Method: Each practice line is played in Morse code, followed by the spoken text, and then the Morse code again, reinforcing learning through repetition.

+ Customizable Speed and Spacing: Users can adjust the speed and Famsworth spacing to match their proficiency level. + Extensive Practice Files: Access over 100 public domain practice files from Morse Code Ninja, or import your own text files for tailored practice sessions.

+ Media Player Integration: The app functions as a media player, allowing control via the notification bar and displaying current text over Bluetooth-connected displays.

+ Recent Session Memory: Remembers recently used practice sets and the last phrase played in each set, facilitating quick resumption of practice.

This app is excellent for learning morse code, but it also has a ‘Wordsworth’ setting that can be used when listening to text for head copy practice.

When listening to text, this app offers several advantages over a traditional media player: + Custom speed — Set any WPM that suits your level. + Wordsworth setting – Adds extra spacing between words for easier copying.

* Adjustable tone – Change the tone to your preference.

My preferred settings when listening to text are: ¢ WPM: 15 ¢ Wordsworth: On ¢ Space between words: 2 ¢ Tone: 650 Hz ¢ All other settings: Off If you want to start learning to head copy, try using simplified materials, such as the modified Winnie the Pooh files.

I use these files because: ¢ Simple, easy to follow language is used e Any punctuation not commonly used in Morse has been removed ¢ Spacing has been added around all remaining punctuation

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 cqgrsnet@gmail.com

Prosign of the Week

[Suggestion – put it on a sticky note near your key as a reminder for Tuesday. And… tell us how you went!]

I Hear Tell…

| hear tell that Mike DL3YZ had to tape the bottom of his trouser legs to his boots when he was operating portable from his favourite DX hill near his home on Tuesday. Some sort of offering to the propagation gods |’m guessing!

Who’s this? Barely recognisable not a CW key in sight!

| hear that Peter VK7KPC has been investigating antenna options for his new back yard at Encounter Bay SA. Currently playing with an SGC-239 antenna matcher and a telescopic mast. With luck, Peter might be able to get 20m of wire into air.

[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 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 35 contributors: DL3YZ, MOKBJ, MONNK, N7TMM, VK2GAS, VK2GAZ, VK2KKI, VK2RU, VK3ACU, VK3BWN, VK3BYD, VK3DRQ, VK3ECH, VK3KEV, VK3QB, VK3RU, VK3WOW, VK5AO, VK5CZ, VK5ET, VK5LA, VK6GX, VK6HRC, VK6JDM, VK6KD, VK6KHZ, VK6NW, VK6QI, VK6RR, VK6WE, VK7JZ, VK7KPC, VK7TA, VK7WW and ZL3TK.

And a special thank you to our editorial team, Nigel G4RWI (head of software development), John VK2RU (WhatsApp spy, reader, head- copy producer and researcher) and Richard VK6HRC (Post Morsition and spy). Great work all!

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

About the CQ QRS Net

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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