IRCs (International Reply Coupons)
- it takes MASSIVE
effort (yes, nearly 45 minutes!) to get the USPS to exchange these as
they are required to by membership of the UPU [this may not be so,
soon!]. Print
this document and take it with you to the USPS Post Office
nearest you!. The USPS no longer sells IRCs online
or in offices.
Another IRC link: G3SWH
So, you're a radio ham? Don't EVER think about moving to an HOA property. Never. Got it? Good.
SSB.
What's that? I haven't operated on SSB since
1992.
Author
of the original computer
Hellschreiber software (for the BBC Micro), as G4BKI, early 1980s. I'm told there was also some code for the
Apple ][ and clones.
Did this help to rekindle the mode? All I
ever
heard then was a very few mechanical Hell machines. Now the mode is BACK (with the help of 21st century
software)!
Info
on QTH Continent: North
America
CQ Zone: 5
ITU Zone: 8
Time Zone: Eastern Time (GMT-4)
Daylight Saving Time - Yes
IARU Region: 2
Lat/Lon: 35.630(N) -82.411(W)
Maidenhead Locator: EM85tp01 Find yours
County: Buncombe (BUN)
ARRL Section: NC
Ground: ~2 millisiemens / metre
Going
on a DXpedition? - USB Flash drives are your friend! Keep your log data
and
programs backed up.
Prices are now around $0.60 per
GB, even for USB v3.0 drives.Pictures Butternut
HF-9VX looks 1000' tall here (it's only 28' tall actually and a
standby antenna)
Radar
and Lightningif
there is red on this map, don't expect me to be on the air!
Samuel Morse special callsigns: M0RSE EM0RSE GM0RSE
To
the
"Media"
- if you are going to put morse in your content (Discovery Channel, CIA
ads, etc.), then please don't include nonsense which is also badly
sent. Please take a couple of minutes and use WinMorse to make
your audio feed. Thank
you.Here's
a good BBC
video.
Why RoHS lead-free
solder may be more of a problem than a solution.Links to
products on this page do not endorse either the product or the
manufacturer.
Software pricing key. Nothing=Free, $=is free to use in limited way,
$$=see pricing in link
Note: the software pricing keys are currently
incomplete.... Got
a
frozen antenna part or anything else mechanical? Liquid
Wrench Penetrating Oil is amazing.
Telegraph abbreviations hang on into the 21st Century wiresignals
Some little known wire signals
1 -
Wait a moment
25 -
Busy on another wire
2 -
Important business
26 -
Put on ground wire
3 -
What time is it?
27 -
Priority, very important
4 -
Where shall I go ahead?
28 -
Do you get my writing?
5 -
Have you business for me?
29 -
Private, deliver in sealed envelope.
6 - I
am ready
30 -
No more-end
7 -
Are you ready?
31 -
Form 31 train order
8 -
Close your key; circuit is busy
32 - I
understand that I am to .........
9 -
Close your key for priority business (wire chief, dspr, etc.)
33 -
Car report (Also, answer is paid for)
10 -
Keep this circuit closed
34 -
Message for all officers
12 -
Do you understand?
35 -
You may use my signal to answer this
13 - I
understand
37 -
Diversion (Also, inform all interested)
14 -
What is the weather?
39 -
Important, with priority on through wire.
(Also, sleep-car report)
15 -
For you and other to copy
44 -
Answer promptly by wire
17 -
Lightning here
73*
- Best regards
18 -
What is the trouble?
88*
- Love and kisses
19 -
Form 19 train order
91 -
Superintendent's signal
21 -
Stop for meal
92 -
Deliver promptly
22 -
Wire test
93 -
Vice President & general manager signals
23 -
All copy
95 -
President's signal
24 -
Repeat this back
134 -
Who is at the key?
72 - Unofficial, used by QRP operators
74 - Unofficial, used by QRO operators
*The
well-known ones. Note!!! It is seven three; not
seventy-three, not seventy-threes or seven threes. It is already plural. There are now some weird
usages in e-mails, including '73
and 73'. Huh?
If you have to bond something PERMANENTLY
use 3M 5200 (see other options
here). It will NEVER come off
above or under water. It can be persuaded to release with applied heat,
but chances of success are limited. Use with caution!
Rats, rats, rats! This
product has been discontinued. WHY???!!! If you need to waterproof a
connector or anything else use Elmers Caulk
CLEAR in this tube
E948.
Some other tubes have terrible applicators, only buy the one with the
nozzle. It goes on WHITE so you can see that it went everywhere you
wanted. After 30 mins or so it dries CLEAR. Stands up well outside, yet
can be peeled off if you need to change something later.
I am now trying ACE
hardware Part No. 12589.
This does the same (goes on white, dries clear). The website does NOT
confirm that, only the tube says it on the back. It takes a LOT longer
to cure and go clear. It also appears to have about 5-10% shrinkage
when I tested it by applying to a flat stone surface with a dip in it.
There is also a GE product and DAP product which I am going to test. Data mode? It is FT8, NOT FT-8! Likewise FT4. Why do hams say 'green stamps'? Why not just say 'dollars' or $??? [better yet US$ or USD] Worst! Connectors! Ever! ALL of these things are
unspeakably bad. A craze that's expensive, uses unnecessary tools and is unreliable. localclubs
A new breed of LF
antennas (under
construction) In a very few years, new receive
antennas for LF (160/80/40m) have emerged.
These are knocking the stuffing out of the previously preferred
Beverage antennas and can sit on a smaller footprint of land. Some can be 'home brewed'
(others have embedded proprietary code).
Amendment to
ARRL DXCC Rules Will Expand DXCC List - 2018-01-23
The ARRL
Board of
Directors approved a motion to amend the DXCC Rules, when it met
January 19-20 (2018). Section II, Subsection 1 of the DXCC Rules now
will
include a new Subsection
(d): The
entity has a separate IARU
member societyand is
included in the US State Department's list of Independent
States in the World.
“The
discussion
during the Board meeting and the rule change did not address any
specific entity,” ARRL Radiosport Manager Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, said. “The
amendment could allow some additions to the current DXCC List
of entities. It’s a good thing not only for DXCC but for all active
hams.” [really?]
In fact, the
Republic of Kosovo (Z6) has been added to the DXCC List of current
entities, increasing the total number of current DXCC entities to 340.
The addition of Kosovo raises to 331 the required number of current
entities confirmed to qualify for DXCC Honor Roll; Top of Honor Roll is
340. DXCC award accounts are being tabulated to reflect the change.
This change
qualifies as an “event,” effective on January 21, 2018, at 0000 UTC.
Nothing is retroactive.
Change of country name from Swaziland to "Kingdom of Eswatini" -
2018-04-25 Change to the name of "Macedonia"? - 2018-06-12Ratified by Greek government [2019-01-25] The
entity of
"(Republic of) Macedonia" [Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
(FYROM)] becomes the "Republic
of North Macedonia"
in country files,
etc. [ADIF country code 502]. ADIF v3.1.2 has not corrected for this. St. Kitts and Nevis joins
IARU - 2018-05-28
The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) has welcomed the St.
Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla(!) Amateur Radio Society (SKNAARS) as its
newest
member. On
2018-05-28, IARU
members completed voting on the
proposed admission of SKNAARS to the IARU to represent St. Kitts &
Nevis. SKNAARS does not claim to represent
Anguilla, which is already
represented in the IARU by the Anguilla Amateur Radio Society [no web
site]. This is
for historical reasons; Anguilla
went independent and then went back to
being a British Colony then a British Overseas Territory. Cook
Islands to change name? Change may be coming - 2019-03-05.
Change name: Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan? - 2021-08-15.
Notes: Reciprocal
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