Ham On A Bike

  In my previous post I touched on my Lifelong Morse Code Journey. This time I'll touch on some of the keys that have helped me on my journey to the WORLD! As I mentioned in my earlier posts the key below was my first REAL telegraph key I used in my journey. . This key is over 60 years old and has been mounted on presswood, plywood, tables, plastic and currently this piece of granite.  I cannot recall the number of QSOs I've hammered with this key but it has seen me through Novice, General, Advanced and Extra code exams.  As I look back on my journey, not only is this my first piece of ham radio equipment but this instrument is my most PRIZED piece of ham radio equipment.  When I decided to reacquaint myself with Morse Code, this was the key I used to re-start my journey. In 1983 when I decided to get relicensed as a Novice I purchased a Morse Code Practice Oscillator Kit from Heathkit.  I brought this out of mothballs to continue my Morse Code journey after a 30 year absence. 

  For the last few months Vince / VE6LK has been running a YouTube channel series "One CW Question". Its a GREAT series where he interviews Morse Code operators of ALL LEVLES about the one TIP these operators would offer to new Morse Code operators and enthusiast. When you get a chance check out this series. Link Below https://www.youtube.com/playlistlist=PLZq42zkkA9oOPUACaoOgGOMpDxnDSfxwQ Vince's series got me thinking about my introduction into Amateur Radio.  As an only child during the early 50's television was in its infancy and commercial broadcast radio was my highway to the world. The RCA Victor Cabinet Radio to the right in this photo was the centerpiece of our Living Room.  It had AM and Shortwave Bands. FM?  It was around but there were very few FM broadcast stations in the U.S. at that time . circa 1954 It was during the Christmas holiday of 1956 when I was introduced to Amateur Radio and was totally amazed that a REGUALR person could talk to someone on th

  What a day!  A once in a lifetime experience. Although the Beargrass Creek State Nature Preserve POTA site in Louisville, KY. USA is about 40 miles south of a totally region, I was able to experience 99.3 % of totality.  Health concerns prevented me from traveling those 40 miles to an area of complete totality but what I did experience was equally awe striking. For months I had planned to operate at a Parks on the Air site during the eclipse. My plan was to operate QRP with my Yaesu FT-817 C, SSB and FT8 using my Signalink and Panasonic FZ-G1 Toughpad and my Buddipole Deluxe Antenna System.  I wanted to see if the eclipse would have any effect operating QRP.  The FT-817 gave me several band options and the Buddipole Antenna in dipole configuration would be easily tunable on all bands 40 - 10 meters. I've compiled enough data and spent enough time with my Buddipole Antenna System all I need is a tape measure to tune it on all bands. With a tape measure I can usually get it resonan

  "No Mars. It's The Antenna!"  For the past few weeks I've been using my Buddipole Deluxe Antenna system in several different configurations for my Parks on the Air activations.  Nothing special but the antenna has been sitting in the corner for too many months collecting dust. I've had a lot of success using using my Buddipole antenna during recent QRP use. It brought to mind something I was told and has been ingrained in my ham radio DNA for over 60 years. For ham radio operating your money is better spent on an effective antenna system than your radio. Whether you make it, bake it, print it, or buy it; spend the money first on that antenna system. My ham radio antenna redux journey started something like this. In March 1983 when I took my Novice test to get re-licensed, I had moved back in with my aging parents to care for them.  I had already purchased my rig (Ten-Tec Century 21) and antenna (Butternut HF6V). As I look back, purchasing that antenna at THAT ti