Amateur Radio Station
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Fresno California USA
My CW station
Equipment shown includes an Elecraft K2/100 main transceiver, Kenwood TS-850s standby transceiver. The K2, of course, was built from a kit. I've built most of the K2 accessories; the most recent addition being the Elecraft internal DSP unit, which makes a big difference in my noisy location. Elecraft makes great kits and I've been quite happy with the performance of my K2. But now, I've got something even better...
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Here is my new station, based on the Elecraft K3. I was lucky enough to be a field tester for the new K3, and this is serial number 00007!
I call it 'James', for obvious reasons. I've removed the 100w amplifier
from the K2, and now it is in QRP configuration for operation in the
field. The stand holding the computer over the rig is made by Rolodex, and came from Office Depot. This allows me to look at the screen and the radio without moving my head too much, important in a long contest. The old Johnson Matchbox on the left tunes an 88-foot doublet fed with open line. You can see a relay on top of it; this is to open the feedline when I'm using my beam antenna, to reduce interaction with the doublet. Also, note the MFJ antenna noise canceller to the left of the computer. It is connected to the RX antenna in/out jacks of the K3, so it can be used without its clunky internal t/r switching. |
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Click on the picture or the link to see some of my antennas. The one in the center is a KT34-M2, a 4-element 3-band yagi up 42 feet (12.8 m) above the ground. Next to the tree you can see a homebrew 33 foot (10 m) vertical for 40 meters. Finally, if you look closely, there is a 88 foot (26.8m) inverted V fed with open wire line attached to the tower. This antenna will work on any HF band, but it's intended for 80, 40, and 30 meters. |
Why use CW? Morse code was historically the first method of transmitting information by radio. Throughout the 20th century, even after the development of voice communications, Morse was used when there was a need to get a radio message through at great distances or under difficult conditions, such as to ships, aircraft, etc. CW transmission (Morse sent by simply turning a carrier on and off) is the most economical and efficient way to transmit information. Although anyone can learn Morse code on a basic level, it's possible with practice to develop a high degree of skill in sending and receiving it. Using this ability, contending with the vagaries of short-wave radio propagation, and connecting oneself with the tradition established by several generations of radio operators is a highly satisfying hobby. The Morse requirement for an amateur license has now been eliminated; but many amateurs continue to use it -- indeed, to love it.
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FOC is a club founded by several British amateur radio operators prior to WWII to promote competent and courteous CW operation. It has about 500 members worldwide. I have been a member since 1997. For more information, see the FOC Website. In addition to FOC activities, my operating interests include on-and-off again DXing (320 CW entities worked), non-serious CW contesting, and just chatting on CW. |
My QSL policy: If you work K2VCO, I would be happy to send you a QSL card in return for yours. You may send your card to me at my callbook address (click here to get it from QRZ). Please do not include IRCs, U.S. dollars, or stamps. Just send me a real, old fashioned QSL and I will send you one by return mail. Note that I do not respond to QSLs sent through bureaus, or E-QSL's, etc.
Here are the Morse keys that I use regularly. Click on the small pictures or the links to see a larger picture. A semi-automatic key, or bug, is a wholly mechanical device in which the dots are made by spring action. A paddle is just two switches; the dots and dashes being made electronically by an external device called a keyer.
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This is a very early SpeedX bug. I am its second owner! The first was Ralph,W6JPU (SK), who bought it new in San Francisco for $8.00 in 1936 or 37. It is tiny for a bug; the base is only 2-1/2" (6.35 cm) wide. It has a very light touch, so it stays put on the table while sending despite its small base. |
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Here's a Signal Corps J-36. This one was made by Vibroplex in 1942. It's a solid, well-made, smooth-working bug. Similar to the Vibroplex Lightning Bug, the J-36 was made by several manufacturers, including model train maker Lionel. |
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This is a 1960 model Vibroplex Original Deluxe Bug. In the early '60's, Vibroplex used an especially thin piece of steel for the mainspring. That makes these bugs capable of slower speeds -- and in my opinion, smoother operation -- than the ones with thick sprngs. The little circuit board on the back contains a reed relay with a large capacitor and diode across the coil. This eliminates the slight contact bounce from the mechanical key contacts and provides clean keying for modern transceivers. |
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This is a WBL model V22 paddle for an electronic keyer. This paddle was made by Stan Hails, W9WBL. As far as I know, only about 150 of this model were made. The paddle is very smooth, stable, and adjustable in numerous ways to fit the operator's preferences. |
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This is a Begali Magnetic Professional paddle, serial no. 40. In my opinion, it is the best operating paddle of any that I've ever used. It has an extremely crisp feel which I prefer to the WBL. It is made by I2RTF in Italy. His products can be seen on the Begali Keys Web site. Read my review (and some others) of it on EHam.net. |
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Here is my National NC101X receiver. It was made in 1942. In 1955, just before I became licensed, I bought a receiver almost exactly like this one from David Becker, W2MZX. David and others were engineering students at Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey, and they had aligned and calibrated this receiver as a project. Recently I had an opportunity to buy another one, so I did. I replaced a few capacitors and it works perfectly. |
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This is a classic National SW-3 3-tube regenerative receiver. National made thousands of these, from 1931 through the war years. Mine was built in the early '30s and uses a pair of '36s for the RF and detector stages, and a '37 audio amplifier. It uses plug-in coils, and can theoretically cover 40 KHz to 35 MHz (!) with the appropriate coils. It is remarkably sensitive, and works well on CW and even SSB! |
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Here's my new (for me) National HRO-5TA1. Built around 1945-6, this HRO came with an additional stage of audio amplification and a limiter that worked on CW as well as AM. Unfortunately a previous owner had removed the extra audio stage and used the socket to install a VR tube! I rewired it as it should be. It was in good mechanical shape except for the dial which I refinished. |
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Not all the equipment is inanimate. At least one of the cats shown is on duty in the radio room at all times. If I make an error sending CW, they are probably sitting on my right arm. On the other hand, there's no rodent problem. |
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Historical
Pictures of K2VCO
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Here I am with a Viking Ranger, Heathkit SB-301 and homebrew 300w amplifier in New Jersey circa 1977. K2VUI lent me the Ranger so I could get back on the air after a period of inactivity. Look at the QSL's on the wall! Also note the home made open-wire line using hair curlers for insulators. |
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I also held the call 4X6GP in Israel from 1980-88. Click the link to see a picture of my station at Kibbutz Glil Yam in the early '80's (visitor G4UZN took the picture). The rig was a Kenwood TS930S and SB-200 amplifier. I had a 3-element tribander at 50 feet, about a mile and a half from the Mediterranean. A super QTH! |
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UTC is a tiny program I wrote which displays the UTC time and date on your Windows 98 or XP desktop. It gets the time zone information from Windows, so you don't need to reset your system clock. It has lots of neat features, and it's freeware! Click here to download utcv01.zip. |
Recent Projects: A 160-meter ferrite receiving loop, and an RF sniffer.
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I was first licensed in 1956 as KN2VCO, Hicksville NY. I'm a member of ARRL (click here to read why), FOC (1691), QCWA (Fresno Chapter 213), OOTC, Central California DX Club, Northern California Contest Club, DXCC, and the A1 Operators' Club. Click here to get my mailing address for QSL's and my e-mail address, courtesy of QRZ. |
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Thanks to Al Waller, K3TKJ, of QSL.Net for this free Ham Radio Web Page! This page was last updated in September, 2007. |
