Continuous Wave Quick Radio Play PAK (Paul Allen K7VIQ)
A No-Code ham who wants to be a Know-Code ham.
Code, is a mode, that both takes skill, and is a thrill.
Learning code has been a lifelong quest, but I do my best.
Since this picture: I have added: 6' BNC RG8 coax, Mech pencil., Anker mini speaker. Ham 2K Polo Logger on phone. A small parts case and a HF Apache 2800 hard case. A QRP Labs QMX+ CW radio and DIY AT-10 tuner.
LinkTr.ee/K7VIQ Our yard camp picnic table
Parks on the Air POTA ARRL Course Completion ARRL # 10096622
History factoids I like: 73 is an old telegraph code that means "best regards". 88 means "hugs and kisses". 72 is the QRP version of 73. 72 has been in use since the late 1980s as a way some operators identify that they're running QRP or low power (generally 5 watts or less). 91 Spiritual Friends.
QRP-Labs QMX+ Graphics by K7VIQ 9/18/24
There are many nice QRP radios that make the decision complex. But the one we chose is a QRP Labs QMX
HF Apache 2800 case contains:
QRP Labs QMX+ radio, X-Tenna EFHW, Putikeeg Double key Rose Aluminum and magnetic base, 2200mAh 3S Battery 11.1v, Earphone, Mini speaker Anker Soundcore, NANOVNA H4 antenna analyzer, Supulse LiPo charger, Electro Resales 12W QRP Dummy Load Antenna, Personal custom & POTA & SOTA Trifold assorted Leaflets, Plastic key (3-printed), K6ARK Mic printed by
Cables: Power(Rattery to radio), 6' BNC RG-8 Coax (BNC to BNC), 1 stereo phono cord (Key to radio), 1 stereo phono cords(radio to amp)
Arborist bag (weaver), Arborist 12 oz throw weight weaver & Marlow Throw Line, See my Page: Arborist Throw Line Bag Kit
Tuner is an ATU-10
I want to use my mobile radio in the living room and as a porch and mobile kit. So I have a 20 ft. coax going outside to the porch to the my 33ft 20M EFHW antenna I also want to use when I am on the porch.
On air I want to try 12/7-8 w/ QRN. I am practicing at 12 wpm with 9-10 Farnsworth.
My Ham Links: LinkTr.ee/K7VIQ The Ham that I am.
HF Apache 2800 case Inside Height 5-5/16 in., Inside Width 9 in., Height 6 in., Length 13-1/2 in., Width 11-3/8 in., Length (in.) 11-7/8 in., Shipping Weight 4.00 lb.
RADIO
Manual on a phone
Manual paper copy
Hobby car battery 2200mAh 3S Battery 11.1v Turnigy Lipo 40C
KEYS
ANTENNA GEAR
X-tenna Matched EFHW Antenna - Variable Ratio End Fed Half Wave Antenna 49-1 / 56-1 / 64-1 windings PLUS 70 ft Wire
Antenna feedline 6ft RG8 BNC(Antenna to Radio), 1ft RG8 BNC patch cord(Radio to tuner).
Arborist 12 oz Weaver throw weight, bag and cord.
Fiberglass Ultra Light Telescopic Pole - Retracted: 2.13ft/65cm. Extended: 19.7ft/6.0m. Last segments unusable.
DIY Tech ATU-10 QRP by N7DDC Automatic Antenna Tuner - 1W-15W 1.6 version program
AUDIO
Headphone & a bkp earbud. Normally used
Amplified speaker (optional for group settings)
K6ARK Mic printed and assembled by Erik Larson. (optional for SSB, very small so take little space)
Info to share with with those with questions:
K7VIQ Personal POTA & SOTA Bi-Fold Landscape Leaflet - Should fit my Wind camp bag better. Brief intro on Ham Radio both POTA & SOTA
(Trifold does not fit Windcamp without bending)
K7VIQ Personal POTA & SOTA Tri-Fold Leaflet Brief intro on Ham Radio both POTA & SOTA
POTA Tri-Fold Leaflet PDF Supports the use of amateur radio in our state and national parks.
Parks on the Air ARRL Article Flyer - What is the the Parks on the Air program. (From Covid)
SOTA Tri-Fold Leaflet PDF Encourages portable operation in mountainous areas
NPOTA for NPS Staff A two-sided tri-fold pamphlet to help explain Amateur Radio and NPOTA to NPS staff. (2016 Event Outdated)
PHONE For emergency, Pdf manual, Ham alert app, Ham2K PoLo: Portable Logger app
Not in the pack. At home:
Supulse LiPo charger, Electro Resales 12W QRP Dummy Load Antenna, POTA & SOTA Trifold assorted Leaflets
Backup equip in a clear storage box kept at home: 3d plastic key, QRP Guys EFHW (LICW build), Earphones(extra), Also have a "diabetes" type hard case for small items. XT-60 battery plug for radio power cord. Inline Volume Control Koss 155954 VC20, Earphone.
PQIQP WindCamp QRP Radio SOTA Bag for small QRP radios - Optional bag
My QRP Guys build Bkp Antenna
2 Plastic key - Bkp, 3-printed - 1 kit was gift from my Wife.
Optional future vertical antenna for when no trees or telescopic pole is able to be set up. (For no wire quick setup locations)+
RG8 BNC - 20ft, Extra 1ft patch cable.
Milwaukee 18 to 12V Buck converter and a family fleet of 18v batteries to draw from.
In order: QRP Go-Kit, G-Case, Rose colored aluminum paddle key, X-Tenna EFHW antenna.
DIY ATU-10
The Putikeeg dual paddle key is a small generic chinese sold as "Gold anodized stainless steel" is more likely a brass colorized aluminum alloy that has a look that I like. $5.40 the plastic keys cost me more.
I have a selection of plastic and metal keys a couple usable for portable use.
Kamonda Fiberglass Telescopic Pole
No matter what radio you take, you will need to Pack an antenna and pole or use a throwline to get an antenna in a tree.
Kamonda Fiberglass Telescopic Pole 20ft usable - Our antenna pole
Made of fiberglass, this fishing pole is high intensity and tough. Strong connection between segment and segment. Size: (23.62ft) 7.2m Extended, Retracted: (2.13ft) 65cm Thanks Carlton Siple KE4BML for putting us on to it.
I need to cut and matching this one to 40 meters for antenna. Resonant on 40m - 20m - 10m with 67' antenna wire (70ft INCLUDED) *Tunable on 17/15m with a tuner
Variable Ratio End Fed Half Wave Antenna 49-1 / 56-1 / 64-1 windings PLUS 70 ft Wire
v3 Improvements; Additional, larger attachment holes, Improved ground/counterpoise connections, Updates to improve manufacturability, Complete End Fed Half Wave HF Portable 'Switch' Antenna Package Incl. Wire. Fully Assembled Variable Ratio End Fed Half Wave HF Portable antenna. No other company is making this design antenna. The ultimate in flexibility for remote operations., Custom made PCB, Female BNC feed point connector, Inductance ratio selectable from 49:1 / 56:1 / 64:1, 140-43 Toroid, 60w SSB, SWR ~1.1 - 1.7. Resonant on 40m - 20m - 10m with 67' antenna wire (70ft INCLUDED) *Tunable on 17/15m, (3) Gold bullet connections for optional counterpoise wires, 70ft of 26ga Antenna wire, Custom wire winder, Attachment carabiner X-Tenna Faqs
Includes; 40m - 20 - 10m fully assembled and tested antenna, (3) 2.0mm gold plated male bullet connectors (for optional counterpoise), (70ft) 26ga copper antenna wire, Custom antenna wire winder, Wire attachment carabiner, This is an efficient, low cost, lightweight antenna for any aspiring or seasoned Amateur Radio Enthusiast to use in a portable setting such as Parks on the Air (POTA), Summits on the Air (SOTA) or out camping/backpacking.
I assembled a QRP Guys EFHW antenna transformer on a Zoom LICW build. I might like to try mounting the QRP Guys transformer on the plywood winder I made to go with it.
I am pondering cutting and matching this one to 40 meters for a smaller antenna. You also want the antenna to be at least 1/4 wavelength long for each band you plan to use. To work 40m the antenna is at least 10m or 33' long.
3/16 Ply Wire Winder I found a pattern online and printed and cut out of 3/16 MDF core plywood and painted it blue. I have a spool of wire I bought to use with the transformer above. I will cut to length for when I get a radio to use with it.
I got a Blue Mini DudeTenna antenna winder for 4.39 w/ shipping from Ham Radio Dude on Etsy. - Mini Wire Winder with BNC included - HRD Industries -Mini DudeTenna / End Fed Half Wave, Dipole, Etc.
It is designed for a Fair Rite 5943000601 toroid that cost a $1.11 but shipping a toroid is a whopping $10. So I will use for a small single band antenna. Being so small perhaps for 20 meters. I will decide if I ever develop a single favorite band or find a Fair Rite 5943000601 toroid equivalent locally at Oregon Electronics'.
I picked up an arborist 12 oz weaver weight and throw bag and some arborist Marlow throw line for mobile my Arborist kit and to get my yard antenna in our back trees higher.
I chose these after watching YouTube and reading QPRer posts by Thomas Witherspoon (K4SWL) https://qrper.com/.../the-arborist-throw-line-is-an.../ From what I have seen of him, I decided he has good opinions based on some good experience.
Whether Arborist or a ham: Leave nothing behind, but a good time and Leave no trace, to be a nature Ace.
Leave No Trace - Principles of outdoor ethics .PDF - Plan ahead and prepare, Travel and Camp on durable surfaces, Minimize campfire impacts, Respect wildlife, Be considerate of other visitors.
Bk grnd. Uncle Gerald's tree farm.
The ATU-10 QRP Automatic Antenna Tuner is a compact, lightweight for QRP operators, tuning 1W -15W with a durable aluminum case. Featuring micro-processors, low-power relays and two 850mAh batteries, single-button control, and an OLED display.
DIY Tech ATU-10 QRP by N7DDC Automatic Antenna Tuner - The ATU-10 QRP is a compact automatic antenna tuner for QRP operation, handling 1W to 15W. It measures 100x75x26 mm and weighs 0.3kg, with an aluminum alloy case and CNC-cut panels. The tuner uses a UL-certified immersion gold PCB, US-made PIC16F18877 and PIC16F1454 microprocessors, and 500V NPO capacitors. It includes two CE-certified 14500 lithium batteries (850mAh each), Swiss AXICOM latching relays, German BASF6000 magnetic rings, and pure copper 50-ohm BNC connectors. A 0.91" OLED display shows power, SWR, and modes. https://qrper.com/2022/08/joshuas-atu-10-review-update-after-new-firmware-upgrades/
Key Features:
Power Use: Draws 12mA when operating, 170μA in sleep, and 37μA when off, supporting long field use with low-power rigs.
Firmware v1.6:
Stores last SWR reading (v1.3).
Uses Icom protocol for automatic transceiver tuning (v1.1).
Monitors power at 4mA with no sleep mode (v1.1) for quick response.
Control: Single button for reset, tuning, or firmware display.
Battery & Updates: Two SANYO 14500 batteries (800mAh each) power the tuner. USB-C handles charging and firmware updates via a disk-based system.
Build: Hand-welded relays and US-made chips ensure reliability for outdoor CW operation.
The ATU-10 QRP is designed for QRP operators, offering simple tuning and low power draw for reliable field performance.
What is it? Low power 5W communications.
Parks On The Air Portable Amateur Radio.pdf
Building Positive Park Relations: Elevating Our Role As POTA Activators QRPer Article
Leave No Trace - Principles of outdoor ethics .PDF - Plan ahead and prepare, Travel and Camp on durable surfaces, Minimize campfire impacts, Respect wildlife, Be considerate of other visitors.
For me if I get going on CW and low power rig , my goal will be to use it more like Porch On The Air (Can't be POTA as Acronym is taken then PoOTA) ??? - or - Patio On The Air(PaOTA)??? Yards On The Air is taken too by Youth On The Air. HOMA - There is Home On The Air , but there is nothing there to indicate a low power home radio is being used. All kidding aside it would be good just using QRP On The Porch.
Band 160 meters
Frequency (MHz) 1.805, 1.810, 1.815, 1.820, 1.825, 1.830, 1.835, 1.840, 1.845, 1.850
Special Frequencies (MHz) 1.813 (slow speed practice), 1.828 (ARRL code proficiency exams)
Band 80 meters
Frequency (MHz) 1.805, 1.810, 1.815, 1.820, 1.825, 1.830, 1.835, 1.840, 1.845, 1.850
Special Frequencies (MHz) 1.813 (slow speed practice), 1.828 (ARRL code proficiency exams)
Band 60 meters
Frequency (MHz) 5.357, 5.367, 5.377, 5.387, 5.397
Special Frequencies (MHz) ---
Band 40 meters
Frequency (MHz) 7.020, 7.030, 7.040, 7.050, 7.060, 7.070, 7.080, 7.090, 7.100
Special Frequencies (MHz) 7.023 (slow speed practice), 7.050 (ARRL code proficiency exams)
Band 30 meters
Frequency (MHz) 10.115, 10.125, 10.135, 10.145
Special Frequencies (MHz) ---
Band 20 meters
Frequency (MHz) 14.040, 14.050, 14.060, 14.070, 14.080, 14.090, 14.100
Special Frequencies (MHz) 14.068 (QRP calling frequency)
Band 17 meters
Frequency (MHz) 18.070, 18.080, 18.090, 18.100
Special Frequencies (MHz) ---
Band 15 meters
Frequency (MHz) 21.060, 21.070, 21.080, 21.090, 21.100
Special Frequencies (MHz) ---
Band 12 meters
Frequency (MHz) 24.920, 24.930, 24.940, 24.950
Special Frequencies (MHz) ---
Band 10 meters
Frequency (MHz) 28.070, 28.080, 28.090, 28.100 MHz
Special Frequencies (MHz) --- 28.450(Slow Code Net) Valley Radio Club
Summary of where to find slower and faster code. - Google CW Doc
Slow CW Training and Skeds - Pacific Groups
LICW QSO Protocol Generator LICW
Contest QSO Generator General
Will be a fun reward toy after all the years of work it took to learn Morse code since childhood and memorizing the chart in the family encyclopedia. Oops.
I have been able to receive characters with Farnsworth spacing at 25 wpm. When it come to QSO's I have received at 18/6. I could send at 16/6 so this is what I am practicing at as of Sept. 25, 2023. In 2024 I started practicing at 12/7-8 to decrease Farnsworth spacing to re-join LICW classes. It took 7 months to get to 12/7 because of the decrease of Farns Spacing, but now I am practicing at 12/8(July 2024). By November 2024, I can push to 12/9 for short stints when my brain is bright. My main weakness is getting the Farnsworth reduced.
I hope to practice some code on the IC-7300 - Sept 10, 2023. Perhaps on the Thurs 10 M VRC slow code - I have not yet- July 2024
My main weakness is getting the Farnsworth reduced.
CW Freqs are less crowded, CW uses less power and get out further per watt.
Skill: CW takes knowing Morse code
Complexity: CW uses very simple equipment but trades this for the skill of the operator.
Digital is an option when can't learn Morse code and relying on a computer and modem to connect to your radio for you. If you have the skill to get the equipment hooked up and talking to each other then the communication is dead simple and automated. Does not sound like as much fun for mobile human communications use but a back up option for many. Digital is good for emergency use for back end automated data transfer.
Bkgrnd. Uncle Gerald's tree farm.
Tuner Comparisons My Sheet
The optimal choice between an ATU-10 and a generic Z-match tuner for your QMX+ depends on several factors, including your specific needs, budget, and the antennas you plan to use.
Available from name quality brand ATU-10 QRP by N7DDC Automatic Antenna Tuner 1W-15W with 1.6 version program for $228
to many Chinese models from $70 to $100
Designed for QRP: Specifically designed for low-power applications, making it a good choice for QRP setups.
Compact and Portable: Ideal for portable operations.
Often Easier to Use: Simpler user interface and automatic tuning features.
Generic Z-Match Tuner:
Less expensive and open source circuitry $25 - 40 Dollars
Requires manual tuning, which can be more complex for beginners.
More Versatile: Can be used with a wider range of antennas and power levels.
Potentially More Powerful: May handle higher power levels. Although ATU-100 is also available.
Key Considerations:
Antenna Impedance: Consider the impedance of your antenna and the matching capabilities of the tuner.
Power Output: Ensure the tuner can handle the power output of your QMX+.
Ease of Use: If you prefer a simpler solution, an ATU-10 might be a better choice.
Budget: ATU-10's can be more expensive than generic Z-match tuners but easier to use.
Winner Fiberglass Ultra Light Telescopic Outdoor Pole 20ft usable
Thanks Carlton Siple KE4BML for putting onto it. Made of fiberglass,this fishing pole is high intensity and tough. Strong connection between segment and segment. Specification: Material: Fiberglass, Size: 7.2m(23.62ft) Stretched, Compact Length: 65cm(2.13ft)
Explorer POTA20 Portable Handheld 20 ft Telescopic Carbon Fiber POTA Mast $98.95
Explorer POTA33 Portable Handheld 33ft Telescopic Carbon Fiber POTA Mast $179.95
I will decide what case to use when I get the QMX+ and see what, with all it needs to use will fit inside.
~ Smallest MEIJIA Hard Case Inside - - 2.5 Height" x 7.25 Length" x 4.75 Width". Radio will fit, but will accessories
~ Medium Soft WindCamp bag Inside - - 3 Height" x 8.5 Length" x 6.5 Width". Field day bag with less padding and protection.
~ Medium Ant Mag Hard Case Inside - - 3.6+1.1 Height" x 10.3 Length" x 7.9 Width". Looks like QMX+ will and some accessories will fit nicely.
~ Larger Harbor Freight APACHE 1800 Case - 4+*1" Height" x 12 Length" x 9.125 Width". If I need the extra space for parts. *1" Lid.
QRP Labs QMX+ 2.17 Height" x 5.75 Length"* x 4.17" Wide". * without protrusions (knobs and connectors)
In my Main WindCamp bag OR a Hard Case are: QRP Labs QMX+ radio 2.17'' Height x 5.75'' Length x 4.17'' Width without protrusions (knobs and connectors) (In line to have built) with power cord and 2200mAh 3S Battery 11.1v Turnigy Lipo 40C battery inside. Putikeeg Double key metal brass colored, 1/8 Phono key cord, X-Tenna and 6' BNC RG-8 Coax, Logbook 4"x 3", Mechanical Pentel Pencil(leads,eraser), Optional Mini Mono speaker Anker Soundcore, Optional K7VIQ Personal POTA & SOTA Bi-Fold Landscape Leaflet - Should fit my Wind camp bag better. Brief intro on Ham Radio both POTA & SOTA
Small hardshell case from Amazon Basics Passport Essential 4.72" x 3.66" x 0.63", Small delicate or easy to lose items like earphones, battery, adaptors.
Arborist bag weaver, Arborist 12 oz throw weight weaver & Marlow Throw Line, See my Page: Arborist Throw Line Bag Kit
Harbor Freight APACHE 1800 Weatherproof Protective Case 4-3/8 in H., 9-1/4 in L., 7-1/2 in.W. , Ship Weight 1.90 lb., Inside Length (in.) 8-1/8 in.
