The CW Mouse "Cover Two"
If any of you follow "LIVE" broadcast of American Football you may have heard the announcers refer to a defense scheme called "Cover Two". It is a defensive setup that uses two deep safeties to protect the two deep halves of the field. This is what I use to describe the "CW MOUSE COVER" for the QRP LABS QCX Mini and QMX QRP Transceivers. Why do I call it the "COVER TWO"? Because it protects the two knobs and two buttons on top of these two QRP radios,
The developer of the CW Mouse Paddle and now this cover asked me to test ride his CW Mouse Cover. There are a few of these covers out within our community but this is the only one I've had an opportunity to use. I am not able to compare it with any of the others so the opinions I give are strictly based on my use and how it works for me.
The first thing I observed with my test model was it is made from 3D PLA printed material. (PETG material is available upon request). My cover is light, very rugged, sturdy and durable. It is a perfect fit for my unit with the magnets on the back side of the cover that make for a solid tight connection with the metal case of my QCX Mini
The cover converts into a stand for the QCX mini, whether you are operating from home or portable. It set up perfectly for my early morning POTA activations from a picnic table and the lip of the cover gives plenty of clearance for cables on each side of the rig.
Some of you may know that I do bicycle tours around the midwestern United States and take along my Ham Radio equipment to operate from time time at campsites and now POTA sites along my route. On those tours the amount of weight I carry is of the utmost importance. This tiny CW Mouse Cover is so light it will be perfect for those bike tours. Even though I carry my QCX Mini minimal setup in a cushioned small school pencil/pen case with foam padding, the additional cover will give added protection to my QCX mini while carrying in my panniers.
For more information about the CW Mouse Cover for the QRP Labs series QCX Mini and QMX click on the link below
I love this idea, and will be purchasing one soon; I am on the wait-list for my QMX. Where did you source the pencil case, and what else do you fit into the case with the radio?
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John McGrath
KF6EFG
John, I purchased the pencil case in August 2024 just before school started. It was only a couple of bucks. I should have bought two as I have seen any like ir since. I've not got it to where it nicely holds. QCX Mini. SP4 Paddle, TalentCell Battery, Earbuds, Sony Audio recorder, Two / 9 Volt 200 mW batteries, Tufteln 40/20 Linked EFHW and 2 AAA backup batteries for recorder. I carry along 150' of Arborist line with weight in my backpack and that's is the Minimal QRP setup
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