4X6GP/K2VCO

Amateur Radio Stations

ARRL Israel Amateur Radio Club

No. 5

K2VCO, Fresno California USA My (former) CW station

K2VCO shack

Equipment shown includes an Elecraft K3/100 transceiver and P3 Panadptor. There's also a DX Engineering NCC-1 Receive Antenna Variable Phasing Controller next to the old E. F. Johnson Matchbox antenna tuner. The NCC-1 was connected to two DXE active vertical receiving antennas, about 100' (30.5m) apart. Out of sight to the left are two amplifiers: a Kenwood TL-922 and my homebrew pair of 813's (see below). This photo was taken in 2011; since then, there have been numerous changes.

This station is now history! I have moved back to Israel, where I have my old call 4X6GP. Here's my new station:

The monitor on the right is dedicated to the panadaptor display generated by the Elecraft P3, which sits to the left of the K3. The one on the left shows the DXLab Suite of programs for rig control, logging, etc. I highly recommend them, and they are freeware!

My present antenna is a rotary dipole 10m long fed with open wire line. It works on all bands from 40 to 10 meters. It's tuned by an older Palstar AT-Auto automatic tuner (not shown). The tuner connects to the antenna through a DX Engineering 1:1 balun and some relay-switched components to cancel reactance on 30 and 40 meters. Getting the system to work on seven bands was not simple! Here is a description of the system.

The station is located in a room which is on the roof of a 10-story building with antenna on top.This puts the antenna about 35m above ground. It works quite well for transmitting. But I miss having a beam for receiving. I think this makes me an alligator (big mouth and small ears). Here is a view of the antenna on the roof with a 2-meter beam below it. Since it only needs to turn 180 degrees, the open wire line does not present a problem for rotation:

I also have a DX Engineering RF-PRO-1B receiving antenna (formerly called a Pixel Loop) which is used for diversity reception with the K3 sub-receiver. It is vertically polarized so it complements the dipole well for diversity.

Here I am back in Fresno with my homebrew 2 x 813 amplifier. You can read about what prompted me to build it in "813 fever," which appeared in "Solid Copy," the CWops newsletter. The amplifier operates class C, so it is usable on CW only. But I've incorporated circuitry to keep it from sharpening the keying envelope, in order to not introduce key clicks. The amplifier is capable of full QSK, of course, and will put out 800 watts from 160-15 meters and 700 on 10.

More amplifier pictures! Here are some pictures of the innards of the 813 amplifier, plus some of the components and assemblies that went into it. And here are some pictures of my latest project, a 4CX1000A amplifier with a separate power supply. This amplifier is intended to be a brick-on-the key 1500 watt output unit. My amplifier projects have been helped -- I might even say made possible -- by the friendly (usually) folks on contesting.com's Amplifiers Reflector.

My 4CX1000A amplifier. Click title or image for more photos.

"Oh no, you don't. If you're so good, try working him QRP!" Kasha helps me work DX.

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.

My main interest is working DX. Since 2014, I have worked and confirmed 304 entities, all on CW of course. Please use LOTW -- it's easy and it's free! And please read and follow the DX Code of Conduct to make DXing fun for everyone.

How not to be a DX Dick

We all make mistakes. Even CW DXers. But some operators do very unhelpful things on purpose. They are DX Dicks.

Suppose you hear a rare station. What a pileup! You need him for an ATNO! What do you do?

You do not tune up your amplifier without QSYing! If you do, you are being a dick.

You do not put your keyer in a loop to call continuously. If you do, you are making it harder for the DX operator to copy the station he wants to work and harder for the other callers to figure out where he is listening. You are being a dick.

When the DX calls another station or gives a partial call that is not part of your call, keep quiet. Otherwise, you are a dick. This is probably the most popular way to be a dick, especially in Europe. Don't do it!

If you are lucky enough to hear the guy the DX is working, you do not try to overpower him so the DX station doesn’t get his acknowledgement. Doing this makes you an especially rotten dick.

If someone accidentally calls on top of the DX who is working split, you do not send UP UP UP UP UP UP or IDIOT or GM or HI or LSN or anything at all on the DX frequency. He will figure it out. I know you may think you are helping, but you aren’t. In fact, if you do this you are certainly being a dick.

If a whole collection of dicks are insulting each other on the DX frequency, do not join them and become a dick yourself.

In fact, read and follow the DX Code of Conduct and you will never be a DX dick!

My QSL policy: I prefer QSLs via LOTW. Join it! All QSOs are uploaded to Club Log in real time, and to LOTW at least once a day. Every few months I upload to eQSL. I'm sorry that it is no longer possible to send paper QSLs. Note that I do not respond to QSLs sent through bureaus.

No, I don't like FT8! Click here to find out my reasons.

The goal of CWops is to bring together Amateur Radio operators who enjoy communicating by Morse Code (CW). CWops encourages the use of CW in Amateur communications, and it supports CW activity through planned events and by its CW Academy. CWops promotes goodwill among Amateurs throughout the world, and it fosters the education of young people and others in matters related to Amateur Radio.
CWops is international in scope, membership and management. Its focus is the use of CW, whether for contesting, DXing or ragchewing. Moreover, it supports every form of sending -- if it's CW, CWops supports it!

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.

	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.
	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.
	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 springs. 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.
	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. I no longer own it, and I'm sorry!
	This is a Begali Magnetic Professional paddle, serial no. 40. In my opinion, Begali's paddles are among the best of any that I've ever used. They have an extremely crisp feel. Check out the Begali Keys Web site. Read my review (and some others) of it on EHam.net.
	This is a 90-degree VizBug, made by Tom Desaulniers, K4VIZ. It is smaller than the usual Vibroplex, weighs almost 3 pounds, and -- because of the geometry -- does not move on the desk. It has a smooth, tight, feel. It can key my K3 cleanly without any debouncing devices. It's my favorite bug.
	This is an N3ZN model ZN-5A. It's smooth and positive, and also features extremely low mass moving parts and a heavy base. This is serial no. 39. The key was made by Tony Baleno, N3ZN.
	The Begali Pearl. It has a great feel and is a work of art. Currently my favorite paddle.

Historical Pictures of K2VCO

	Here I am with a Viking Ranger, Heathkit SB-301 and homebrew 300w amplifier in New Jersey circa 1977. K2VUI (SK) 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.
	I also used 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! I'm back in Israel now, at a different QTH in Rehovot.

In 2000, I went back to Long Island and visited with some old friends: two great DXers, Joe K2VUI and Elliott W2MUM. Now both are sadly SK, but not forgotten.

UTC is a tiny program I wrote which displays the UTC time and date on your Windows desktop (it works on Windows 98 through Windows 10). 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 UTCv12.zip.

Recent Projects: an RF sniffer and 4CX1000A amplifier.

I was first licensed in 1956 as KN2VCO, Hicksville NY. I'm a member of ARRL (click here to read why), Israel Amateur Radio Club, CWops, DXCC, and the A1 Operators' Club.

If you want to get in touch with me, use the information at the QRZ.com listing for 4X6GP.

Thanks to QSL.Net for this free Ham Radio Web Page!

This page was last updated in June, 2020.