Testing a New Mag Mount

On those occasions when I do an activation with my (far) better half’s car, I have been using my Gabil GRA-7350TC antenna on an old magnetic mount. Because of a recent issue with the mag mount I’ve had for 20+ years, I finally had to replace it. Today was the first opportunity I’ve had to use it.

While visiting my daughter and her family over the Christmas holiday, I headed out to activate the Captain John Smith Historic Trail (US-4567). Normally, when using the GRA-7350TC and mag mount on my (far) better half’s car, I can easily get the SWR down less than 1.5:1 on 40M. This time was different; the tuning seemed very finicky. I eventually got it close enough to use with the KH1 and completed my activation. As I was packing up, I noticed some damage to the coax where it enters the mount.

This old mag mount has seen many years of service with a VHF/UHF antenna on my truck before being pressed into service with the Gabil antenna. It’s amazing it lasted as long as it did. I decided that trying to disassemble and repair it was more trouble than it was worth.

I ended up buying a Tram magnetic mount on Amazon. This one is a real beast. It’s five inches in diameter and weighs a whopping 2.6 pounds. It’s probably overkill for my intended use, but I figured the larger diameter would provide better coupling to the vehicle. (Spoiler Alert: It does.)

My new five-inch magnetic mount — Tram magnetic mount

To try it out, I headed out to Marsh Creek State Park (US-1380, KFF-1380) and set it up on my truck. The attached coax is 17 feet long. That’s way more than I need, so after feeding it through the passenger-side window to my Penntek TR-35 (5 watts, CW), I coiled up the excess.

The Gabil GRA-7350TC antenna and magnetic mount on my truck

I started out on 40M and was surprised to see I could tune‌ the Gabil antenna down to 1.3:1 SWR. That’s better than I could ever get using the old mag mount on my truck. It was slow going on 40M this morning with a lot of fading. I could only manage about nine contacts before moving up to 30M.

Up on 30M, things picked up dramatically, but the most productive band was 20M. My contacts on 20M included Germany, France, and two from Finland. After logging 42 contacts, I pulled the plug and headed home for lunch.

So, the new mag mount should work great on my (far) better half’s car. Sadly, my old mount is now destined for the trash. I certainly got my money’s worth out of it, though.

72, Craig WB3GCK

Farewell 2025, Hello 2026

Going out for back-to-back park activations on the first and last days of the year has become something of a tradition for me. Since my (far) better half and I had no special plans, I happily carried on that tradition. Plus, my New Year’s Day activation had a special significance this year.

New Year’s Eve

I wrapped up 2025 with a trip to French Creek State Park (US-1355, KFF-1355). As with my last visit to French Creek, the weather was unpleasantly cold. Here in southeastern Pennsylvania, we’re in the midst of a stretch of days with temperatures below or near the freezing point.

The antenna project I tested last time was ready for another round of measurements. With the temperatures forecasted to remain below freezing all day, however, I didn’t bother to bring it along.

So, I hunkered down in the truck with my Penntek TR-35 (5 watts, CW) with my 12-foot whip and homebrew loading coil on the back of the truck. When I powered up the radio, I was pleased to see I wasn’t the only early-morning station on the air. My log quickly started filling with familiar hunter callsigns. In fact, it took only nine minutes to make my first 10 contacts. I spent most of my time on 40M, but also worked several stations on both 30M and 17M.

My truck and antenna at French Creek State Park near Hopewell Lake — New Year’s Eve at French Creek State Park (US-1355, KFF-1355)

With my supply of hot coffee running out, I made my last contact of the year. That was a park-to-park contact with G0UUU/M. It took about a dozen tries before Phil correctly copied the last two letters of my callsign. Mine isn’t the most CW-friendly callsign, so I appreciate his patience in digging my QRP signal out of the noise. After that, I quickly packed up, cranked up the heater in the truck, and headed home. I ended my activation with 42 contacts, including five that were park-to-park.

Looking back, 2025 was a pretty good year for me. I earned my first-ever Kilo Award early in the year and earned Kilo Awards at four more local parks after that. Plus, a DX park-to-park contact was a pretty good way to wrap up the year.

New Year’s Day

On this day back in 2016, ARRL kicked off its wildly successful National Parks on the Air (NPOTA) program. This one-year program led to the massive popularity the Parks on the Air (POTA) program enjoys today.

So, 10 years ago, I headed out early on New Year’s Day for my first-ever formal park activation from Valley Forge National Historical Park (US-0761, KFF-0761). That was far from my first time operating from a park (and Valley Forge in particular), but it was my first time activating in a formal parks program. To recognize the ten-year anniversary of my first park activation, I headed back to Valley Forge. This time, though, I was about a mile away from where I parked back then.

I still have the old Yaesu FT-817 I used 10 years ago, but I went with a more modern rig: my Penntek TR-35. This rig lets me keep both paddles and a straight key connected at the same time. January is Straight Key Month for the Straight Key Century Club (SKCC), so I would be ready if I heard any K3Y special event stations.

Mother Nature welcomed in the new year with freezing temperatures and a coating of snow from an overnight snow squall. Traveling on the back roads was a little tricky, but I arrived without incident. The trailhead parking lot I was in was fairly busy with hikers and dog walkers.

New Year's Day at Valley Forge National Historical Park (US-0761, KFF-0761) — New Year’s Day at Valley Forge National Historical Park (US-0761, KFF-0761)

Using the same equipment as the day before, I quickly set up and got on the air. Boy, the bands sure were busy. I split my time between the 40M, 20M, and 17M bands, and there were lots of early-risers out there hunting.

I was feeling a little under the weather, so I packed it in after about an hour. I ended up with 42 contacts, with a couple of park-to-park contacts. Some highlights included:

W6LEN in California on 40M. (Forty seemed long this morning)
F1BLL on 20M
IK2XDF, IK1GPG, and DL1AX on 17M

So, 2026 is off to a good start for me, and I hope it’s a good one for you, too. Here’s wishing you a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year.

73, Craig WB3GCK

Happy Holidays!

Before I head off to spend some time with family, I just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Thanks to all of you who dropped by the blog this year and those I’ve had the pleasure of working on the air.

AI-generated of Santa in his sleigh operating a mobile radio with an antenna on the back of the sleigh.

Here’s wishing you and yours all the best for the holidays. May your holidays be filled with good company, warm memories—and maybe that new radio gear you’ve been eyeing up.

73, Craig WB3GCK

The Weather Was Cold – 40M Was Hot

I drove out to French Creek State Park (US-1355, KFF-1355) for an early morning activation. While I was there, I wanted to do some initial testing on an antenna I’ve been working on. With the near-freezing temperature, I picked the wrong day for antenna testing. Fortunately, the activity on the bands made the trip worthwhile.

I designed the new antenna to be attached to a picnic table, so I parked by a picnic area near a boat launch. My original plan was to set up the antenna and take some antenna analyzer readings after my activation. My impatience got the better of me, so I decided to brave the freezing temperatures and test the antenna right away. That wasn’t a smart move. By the time I got the antenna set up and took some SWR scans, my fingers were numb. I should have waited for it to warm up a little.

Taking some measurements on a new antenna I'm working on — Doing some antenna testing prior to my activation

I was hoping to hook up my Elecraft KH1 and see how it worked with the antenna, but that wasn’t happening. After tearing everything down and packing up, I sat in the truck with my gloves on and the heater running until my fingers thawed out. Then it was time to get on with my activation.

I quickly set up a 17-foot whip and my homebrew loading coil on the back of the truck. Up in the cab, I set up my trusty Penntek TR-35 (5W, CW). I went with a 17-foot whip because my band conditions app showed an unsettled geomagnetic field and poor daytime conditions on 40M. I figured the extra length couldn’t hurt.

My truck with 17-foot whip at French Creek State Park

When I fired up the TR-35 on 40M, I heard lots of activity and some very loud signals. In fact, I had to search around for a clear frequency. Once I started calling CQ, the hunters immediately pounced. I had constant pileups for the first 20 minutes. I had my first 10 contacts in about eight minutes.

About 30 minutes in, I had worked 29 stations on 40M. The 20M band wasn’t quite as productive, but it still produced 22 more contacts. Among those was one with IZ2UUG in Italy. When I pulled the plug after an hour on the air, I had 52 contacts (before removing a dupe). The moral of the story is: Don’t always go by the band condition predictions.

A partially frozen Hopewell Lake in French Creek State Park — Hopewell Lake in French Creek State Park

Now that I’m back home, I have some tweaks to make to my experimental antenna. Once I’m convinced it works and will be useful, I’ll do a separate post on it. That might take a while, though. I plan to wait for some warmer weather for the next round of tests.

72, Craig WB3GCK

CW – A Workout for Your Brain

For those of us who use it, the advantages of the CW mode are well known. It’s efficient and cuts through noise better than voice. CW is also well-suited for low-power (QRP) communications, enabling the use of modest equipment and power sources. Another important advantage is that learning and using Morse code is good for your brain.

It should come as no surprise that ham radio demographics skew heavily towards older adults. Folks over the age of 55 make up roughly 60% to 70% of the ham radio community.¹ It’s also widely known that cognitive decline often comes with age. I’ve always believed that Morse code is good exercise for your brain. In doing some research, I found that scientists have studied this, and there’s solid scientific evidence supporting my beliefs.

AI-generated cartoon image showing a human brain lifting weights in a gym.

Five Ways Your Brain Benefits From Morse Code

Mental Exercise There are several studies out there that show the benefits of learning and using a new skill, such as a new language or playing a musical instrument. With Morse code, you are essentially learning and using a new language, since you are translating sound patterns into letters and words. This type of activity strengthens memory and attention.²

Promotes Neuroplasticity. There are studies that show measurable changes in CW operators’ brains related to listening and motor control. Activities like this have been shown to promote neuroplasticity, or the ability to adapt and create new pathways in the brain.³ ⁴ I’m no neuro-scientist, but I’m told this is a good thing for your brain.

Improved Auditory Processing. Copying Morse code by ear is all about recognizing patterns, rhythms, and differences in pitch. This can sharpen auditory discrimination and focus. It seems to me that recognizing patterns, rhythms, and pitches is pretty similar to playing a musical instrument.

Focus and Mindfulness. Copying CW requires our complete attention and sustained concentration. This exercises your brain, not unlike playing a challenging game or solving a puzzle.

Social Interaction. When you use Morse code to communicate with others, it keeps you socially engaged, which is increasingly important as we age. Social engagement is not limited to just Morse code; hams communicate with each other using a variety of modes. Belonging to a radio club or participating in nets also provides social interaction. During my 50-plus years in ham radio, I have had the pleasure of developing countless friendships, both on the air and in person.

It’s Never Too Late to Start

When I was an 18-year-old sailor training to become a U.S. Navy radio operator, I soaked up Morse code like a sponge. Studies show there’s a good reason for that. Younger brains work faster, while processing speed and working memory can decline with age. That doesn’t mean we older folks should throw in the towel on learning new skills. Au contraire! Remember that neuroplasticity I mentioned earlier? Well, science shows that the ability to form new pathways and connections in the brain continues well into our twilight years.⁵ Contrary to the old adage, it seems you can teach an old dog new tricks.

While younger brains have their speed advantage, older adults approach learning armed with a lifetime of experiences. Because of these accumulated experiences, older folks are often better at problem solving and pattern recognition. Also, our retention and conceptual understanding are often better. We just might need more repetition and smaller chunks of information while learning something new.

Take Your Brain to the Gym

If you don’t already use CW, consider giving it a shot. It can be challenging, but it’s certainly worth the effort. Just be patient and stick with it. I think you’ll find it’s a fun way to communicate.

If you’re already a CW aficionado, grab that key and join me on the air for a workout!

73, Craig WB3GCK

DIT DIT

References:

Mann (N0SSC), S. (2021, April 23). There Is Youth in Ham Radio. On All Bands. https://www.onallbands.com/there-is-youth-in-ham-radio/ ↩︎
Wu, R., & Jessica, C.-L. (2023, June 23). To Stay Sharp as You Age, Learn New Skills. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/to-stay-sharp-as-you-age-learn-new-skills/ ↩︎
Schlaffke L, Leemans A, Schweizer LM, Ocklenburg S, Schmidt-Wilcke T. Learning Morse Code Alters Microstructural Properties in the Inferior Longitudinal Fasciculus: A DTI Study. Front Hum Neurosci. 2017 Jul 26; 11:383. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2017.00383. PMID: 28798672; PMCID: PMC5526915. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28798672/ ↩︎
Schmidt-Wilcke T, Rosengarth K, Luerding R, Bogdahn U, Greenlee MW. Distinct patterns of functional and structural neuroplasticity associated with learning Morse code. Neuroimage. 2010 Jul 1;51(3):1234-41. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2010.03.042. Epub 2010 Mar 24. PMID: 20346399. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20346399/ ↩︎
Greenwood & Parasuraman (2010). Neuronal and cognitive plasticity: A neurocognitive framework for cognitive training in older adults. Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/aging-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2010.00150/full ↩︎

A Kilo at Norristown Farm State Park

I haven’t had much time for ham radio this week, but I squeezed in a quick activation this morning. Not only did I get in some much-needed radio time, but I finally achieved a POTA Kilo award at one of my favorite local parks.

The park in question is Norristown Farm State Park (US-4363, KFF-4363). According to the POTA website, I needed 36 more QSOs for a Kilo award at this park, so I was hoping the bands would be in good enough shape to get there. I set up my Elecraft KH1 and 12-foot base-loaded whip and got busy.

My antenna at Norristown Farm State Park (US-4363, KFF-4363)

On the air, there was some fading, but overall the bands weren’t too bad. The 40M band was the most productive for me, with 20M a close second. I made some contacts on 17M and 15M, but they were few and far between. I was amazed at the number of hunters out there early on a Friday morning. After an hour and 15 minutes, I had made 40 contacts—enough for the Kilo award with a few to spare.

As I mentioned, I didn’t make too many contacts on 17M and 15M, but I did work some DX. On 17M, I worked Germany, France, and Denmark. Stations in Mexico and France hunted me on 15M. While not DX, a special shout-out goes to N4NR in Florida who worked me on 20M, 17M, and 15M this morning.

While making a thousand contacts at a park isn’t a big deal for most activators, I was happy to finally get there after 32 activations at this park. I’m close to a Kilo award at another of my local parks, so I’m hoping to finish that one off in the next week or so.

72, Craig WB3GCK

TUMD Stainless Steel Paddles

I mentioned in a previous posting that I have a fascination (obsession) with unusual CW paddles. These paddles are the last in a series of recent purchases (but I doubt it).

These rather industrial-looking paddles are not new; they have been around for a while. They are often sold under various brand names or no name at all. The eBay listing I purchased mine from didn’t specify a particular brand, but they came branded as “TUMD.” The paddles I ordered were shipped from China and took about a month to arrive.

I’m not providing a specific link, since these things are available all over the place. Just search on “stainless steel paddles” and you’re sure to find them.

The Tumd paddles attached to my clipboard. The three magnets are super strong.

Here’s what was included in the box:

The paddles, of course
A stereo cable with 3.5mm connectors
A two-piece plastic case large enough to hold the paddles and cable
Two Allen wrenches
A small adhesive metal disc for applying to the surface of your choice

The accessories I received with my Tumd stainless steel paddles.

The first thing that struck me was that these paddles are built like a tank. The base has three powerful magnets, which I like. At the rear of the paddles next to the 3.5mm jack, is a small slide switch for reversing the “dit” and “dah” paddles. They look great, but my purchase was not without a couple of minor issues right off the bat.

Based on the picture in the eBay listing, I ordered a version of the paddles with smaller, square paddles. What I received, however, was a version with larger paddles reminiscent of the fins on a 1959 Cadillac. Instead of going through the hassle of returning them to China, I opted to keep them.

The next issue was adjusting the paddle spacing. As received, the paddles had different spacing. The paddles each have a hex bolt within a larger locknut of some sort. There were no instructions provided, and neither of the included Allen wrenches fit. Fortunately, Charlie NJ7V over at the Red Summit RF YouTube channel provided all the answers I needed. He has a video detailing how to adjust them and what size wrenches you need. I had the tools I needed in my toolbox, so I had the paddles adjusted to my liking in short order.

I’ve used these paddles on quite a few outings and have grown to like them a lot. Here are some pros and cons from my viewpoint—your mileage may vary:

Pros:

The three magnets on the bottom are seriously strong. They hold tight to the steel strips on my clipboard. I love that!
Once adjusted, they have a great feel and key reliably. They do, however, require a slightly heavier touch. That’s a matter of personal preference, so others may disagree.

Cons:

Weighing in at 3.8 ounces (106 grams), they are heavier than other paddles I use in the field. This is a minor issue or no issue at all, depending on how you operate.
You need two tools to adjust the paddle spacing. From what I’ve seen online, some sellers include both wrenches; mine did not. Again, this is also a minor issue, since the paddle adjustments hold very well and shouldn’t need further adjusting in the field.

Lately, these paddles have been my first choice for portable operation. For $50 (US) or less, they are a pretty decent value.

73, Craig WB3GCK

Black Friday Activation

Instead of heading out to the stores looking for bargains, I headed up to French Creek State Park (US-1355, KFF-1355) looking for POTA and WWFF hunters. It turned out to be a productive morning—and I didn’t have to spend any money.

I rolled into a parking lot near Hopewell Lake and started setting up. Old Man Winter is starting to rear his head here in southeastern Pennsylvania, with an air temperature about 32°F (0°C) with a wind chill around 25°F (-3.9°C). I forgot to bring my gloves, so my fingers were becoming numb by the time I got my 12-foot base-loaded whip set up on the truck. I used my Elecraft KH1 up in the truck’s cab.

Hopewell Lake in French Creek State Park

My handy band conditions app showed an active geomagnetic field with “FAIR” conditions for 40M through 15M, my bands of interest. Even under these conditions, however, there are usually contacts to be made.

Lousy band conditions — Despite the predicted band conditions, the band weren’t all that bad.

There was plenty of activity on 40M. It only took about nine minutes to log my first 10 contacts. After logging 18 contacts, I moved up to check 20M, 17M, and 15M. These higher bands weren’t too shabby either, producing 35 contacts across these three bands. I had DX contacts on each of those bands, too. The KH1’s display showed it was putting out about 3.5 watts on 15M, but that was enough to be heard in Europe.

My KH1 showing 3.5 watts on 15M — My KH1 showing about 3.5 watts on 15M

Altogether, I had 53 contacts, including the following DX contacts:

20M: F6EOC
17M: DF2PI
15M: DL1SWB, F6DHD, IK3HMB, IK1LBL, DK1RS, EA7ZC

I also had a nice 2xQRP QSO with N8NK on 20M. He was running 1 watt from Michigan and sounded great here in Pennsylvania.

I had to pull the plug after about two hours. I would have stayed longer, but I had an errand I needed to take care of. The windchill temperature was still below freezing, so I hastily took the antenna down and headed on to my next stop.

Note to self: Keep a pair of gloves in the truck!

72, Craig WB3GCK

Playing with Paddles in the Park

I headed down to Ridley Creek State Park (US-1414, KFF-1414) this morning for a pre-Thanksgiving POTA/WWFF activation. While I was there, I wanted to field test a couple of paddles, one new ‌and one I slightly modified.

I mentioned in a previous post (or two) that I somehow damaged the paddles that came with my Elecraft KH1. In searching for an alternative, I came across the KH1 Pressure Paddles from K6ARK. The kits were selling for a mere $22 on Amazon, so I fired off an order.

I’m not as good at building kits with small parts as I used to be. My close-up vision hasn’t gotten any better with age. However, with the aid of my lighted magnifying glass, I assembled the kit in less than 30 minutes with no major issues. The only issue I ran into was the 3-D printed cover didn’t fit against the KH1 too well and needed a little sanding. Once I took care of that, the paddles worked great. Using pressure-sensitive paddles feels a little different at first, but I quickly adapted.

The other thing I did was glue two more magnets onto the bottom of my CWMouse paddles. The four I glued on initially weren’t quite enough to keep the paddles from moving when attached to my clipboard. Two additional magnets seemed to do the trick.

More magnets on my CWMouse paddles — The magnets on my CWMouse paddles. I recently added the two towards the middle.

When I rolled into my usual spot in the park, the place was deserted. I wasn’t too surprised, since it was a weekday and drizzling to boot. My original plan was to operate the KH1 handheld to give the K6ARK paddles a good workout. Given the lousy weather, I abandoned that plan and set up in the truck. I used my trusty 12-foot loaded vertical on the back of the truck.

KH1with the K6ARK Pressure Paddles attached

I started off trying to use the K6ARK paddles with the KH1 on the center console. After two contacts, I decided that wasn’t the most comfortable way to operate. The pressure paddles worked fine, though. I switched over to the CWMouse paddles attached to my clipboard, and the magnets held nicely. It helps that the CWMouse paddles have a light touch, so I’m not slamming them side to side.

On the air, the bands were as mediocre as the weather this morning. According to my band conditions app, we were experiencing an unsettled geomagnetic field. Starting out on 40M, it took longer than usual to make my first ten contacts. After I had 15 in the log, I switched to 20M and picked up a few more. I spent the rest of my time on 17M and 15M. As predicted, the band conditions up there were fair at best. I worked two domestic stations on 17M, and stations in Germany and Texas on 15M.

My loaded whip at Ridley Creek State Park (US-1414, KFF-1414)

I was getting ready to call it quits, but I wanted to adjust the KH1’s real-time clock before shutting down. It had gained a minute or two over the past couple of months, so it just needed a tweak. As I navigated through the menus to set the clock, I heard a very loud IK1LBL calling me. I quickly exited out of the menu and completed the contact. After that, I set the KH1’s clock and packed everything up.

As activations go, this one was nothing special. However, my new KH1 paddles and my modified CWMouse paddles were a rousing success.

And finally, I’ll leave you to ponder this curious AI-generated image of a turkey operating a radio. It appears the turkey might be keying with his left foot (QLF?).

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

72, Craig WB3GCK

Fun Morning at US-1351/KFF-1351

It’s been a busy week here, with a major ARES-RACES exercise, medical appointments, and some unexpected repairs on my truck. With all that behind me, I was more than ready for a QRP-portable outing.

When I drove up to Evansburg State Park (US-1351, KFF-1351) early this morning, the weather was dreary, and everything was wet from the rain we had overnight. I did a quick check of the band conditions app on my phone, which showed only fair conditions on the higher bands. Conditions can sometimes change minute to minute, so I don’t let those band predictions deter me from getting on the air.

I installed my trusty 12-foot loaded whip on the back of the truck and set up my Elecraft KH1 on the center console in the cab. I also used my CWMouse paddles, which are among my favorite paddles these days.

My Elecraft KH1 and CWMouse paddles in use at Evansburg State Park (US-1351, KFF-1351)

As I was setting up my antenna, a woman with a group of hikers yelled over to me, “What are you going to do with that big antenna?”. I gave her my 30 second explanation of ham radio and Parks on the Air. She told me to have fun and continued on her way. Normally, I just get curious stares, but now and then someone will ask about what I’m doing.

The 40M band was really hot this morning. I made my first 10 contacts in about eight minutes. I logged 24 contacts before the activity thinned out.

Like my last activation, I wanted to focus my attention on 20M through 15M. The 20M band was a little disappointing for me today, producing only two contacts. I spent the rest of my time on 17M and 15M. Even with the “fair” band conditions, these two bands did not disappoint. My 4.5 watts was getting some strong European hits on the Reverse Beacon Network.

Today’s DX contacts included:

17M: Italy (2), Slovak Republic, Finland, Germany (2)
15M: Spain, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy (2), Switzerland, France, Denmark, Poland (2)

The action wasn’t exactly fast and furious on 17M and 15M, but I definitely had fun working the DX stations. Many of them were hunters in the World-Wide Flora & Fauna (WWFF) parks program, who sent the traditional WWFF greeting, “44.”

I shut down after an hour and 50 minutes, which is a little longer than my usual activations. In the end, I had 56 contacts in my log, including two park-to-park contacts.

After more than 50 years in ham radio, I still find it amazing that a little radio running less than 5 watts can be heard thousands of miles away. I think that’s what has kept me interested in QRP all these years.

72, Craig WB3GCK