Assorted odds and ends
I’m in the process of getting my gear together for Field Day this coming weekend. Good Lord willing and the creek don’t rise, I’ll be spending the weekend camping with the Boschveldt QRP Club.
We’ll be running QRP (of course) on battery power here in Eastern Pennsylvania (EPA), using our club callsign, W3BQC. I’ll be one of the CW operators.
The weather forecast doesn’t look too promising, but we always have a good time.
Give us a holler if you hear us.
72, Craig WB3GCK
I haven’t had much time for ham radio in the past couple of weeks. Life-in-general just seems to get in the way sometimes. This past weekend was not without some form of “radioactivity,” since I took part in two ARES-RACES events.
On Saturday, my local ARES-RACES group conducted a “Townships on the Air (TOTA)” exercise. The aim of the exercise was for members to operate off-grid from locations around the county. While a few members checked in by voice only, the focus was on sending message traffic to the county Emergency Operations Center (EOC) using the Narrowband Emergency Messaging System (NBEMS) over our 70cm repeater system and Winlink over our VARA-FM network.
For my part of the drill, I drove to a community park a mile or two from home. The park has a really nice pavilion, but it has a metal roof. Being unsure of the effect that would have on my VHF and UHF communications, I parked under a shady tree and operated from the truck.
For voice, an HT was sufficient to access our county-wide linked repeater system. On the data side, I used my old, reliable IC-207H with a mag-mount antenna. The 207H is about 23 years old and still going strong. I used my Evolve netbook on a steering wheel tray and a Signalink interface to round out my setup.
I powered the IC–207H with a recently purchased 20Ah LiFePO4 battery. This was my first opportunity to use it for its intended purpose: powering the 207H in the field. Another new piece of gear I used was a rechargeable fan. Although the morning temperatures were still fairly moderate, I hung it from a grab handle on the passenger side to get some air moving.
The drill itself went well. I successfully transmitted three required NBEMS messages and one Winlink message. Our net control operators at the EOC kept things moving efficiently, so the drill wrapped up in about an hour.
On Sunday, our ARES-RACES group provided communications support for the French Creek Iron Tour. This popular bicycle event benefits the French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust, which supports the preservation of natural resources and green spaces in our region.
This event is one of my favorites. This year was the 24th running of this annual event; and I think I have volunteered for most, if not all, of them. With course options ranging from 11 to 100 miles, the participants usually range from serious long-distance riders to families with young kids in bike trailers.
Our ARES-RACES team staffed the Net Control location, five rest stops, and about a half-dozen support vehicles. Using APRS, the net control operators tracked each of the support vehicles so that they could be efficiently dispatched to problem areas.
As in recent years, I was stationed at one of the early rest stops. This year, my rest stop was located at a beautiful private residence in a rural area. Since we were on the tail end of a heatwave, I found a nice shady spot to operate from. I have to say, this was the nicest location I’ve had for this event. Jokingly, I told one of my colleagues that I was sorry I didn’t bring a hammock.
From my location, it was an easy shot into our repeater system, so an HT was all I needed for solid communications. Thankfully, there were no major issues during my five-hour stint. At my location, rider issues were limited to a few minor mechanical problems. Overall, our group did a great job, and I was happy to be a small part of it.
I’m hoping to get out for a POTA/WWFF activation somewhere this week—if life-in-general doesn’t get in the way again.
73, Craig WB3GCK
I happened to be in the vicinity of Ridley Creek State Park (US-1414, KFF-1414) yesterday morning, so I stopped there on my way home. My short activation turned out to be an interesting one.
I pulled into one of the picnic areas and, because of the questionable weather, I operated from my truck. I was using my Penntek TR-35 (5W) and a 17-foot base-loaded whip. As soon as I got started, I was met with some horrendous intermittent interference on 40M through 17M. This area is normally dead quiet, so this was highly unusual. I initially suspected it might be coming from a hybrid car parked in the area. Despite the noise, I still managed to make CW contacts and complete my activation.
As I was making my last QSO of the morning, a fellow walked up to the truck and introduced himself. Herb K3YR had been operating from a nearby picnic pavilion and could hear my CW. He saw my POTA spot and figured I had to be somewhere nearby. As he walked around the loop, he spotted my antenna and came over for an “eyeball QSO.” Since the noise I had been hearing stopped right before Herb showed up, we both assumed it was his SSB transmissions I was hearing.
After chatting for a bit, Herb headed back to the pavilion to continue his activation, and I started packing up to leave. I stopped by the pavilion on my way out to have a look at his setup. After we took some pictures, I got on my way.
I’ve only encountered other activators in the same park a handful of times over the years, but I’ve met some really nice fellow hams that way.
73, Craig WB3GCK
Happy Morse Code Day, a day that honors Samuel F. B. Morse. Born on this day in 1791, Morse is recognized as the inventor of the code which bears his name. So, in honor of Mr. Morse, get on the air today and make some dots and dashes!
73, Craig WB3GCK
It’s been crazy around here in WB3GCK-land lately, so I’ve had very little time for ham radio. However, a mail delivery the other day brought a radio-related item that brightened up my day.
A while back, I was doing an activation in Evansburg State Park (US-1351, KFF-1351), while testing a new antenna I built. I was using my Elecraft KH1 running about five watts. As I was wrapping things up, I tuned around on the 15M band and heard DL4ISX calling CQ. I had worked a few other European stations that day, so I gave him a call. After a few tries, he got my callsign, and we proceeded to have a nice CW chat.
There was some fading on the band, but we carried on for over 15 minutes. During our QSO, Werner told me he was running five watts to a Windom antenna. This wasn’t my first two-way QRP QSO with a DX station over the course of 50+ years in ham radio, but I could probably count them all on one hand with some fingers to spare. Regardless, that was a great finish to a fun activation.
Fast forward about a month later… I went out to get the mail and found an envelope from Germany containing what appeared to be a QSL card. I couldn’t remember the last time I received a DX QSL that didn’t come through the QSL bureau.
Inside the envelope, I found a QSL card from DL4ISX confirming our two-way QRP QSO. That sure brought a smile to my face. The next day, my QSL card was sent on its way to Germany.
Many thanks to Werner for a fun QSO.
72, Craig WB3GCK
Several years back, a friend of mine said he found one of my old QSL cards for sale on eBay. It was a card I sent to a DX ham almost 31 years ago. While poking around on eBay recently, I saw it was still for sale.
I sent this card to VP9MZ in Bermuda for our 30M CW QSO back in June 1995. The card shows a fisherman, representing one of my other hobbies. The eBay seller, located in Canada, is asking $6.95 Canadian ($5.08 US).
I went back through my old paper logbooks and found the QSO. I was running my old MFJ-9030 (about 3 watts, CW) into my raingutter antenna. In the remarks column, I made a note that he remembered me. Apparently, we had worked each other previously. My log entry also shows that I received his QSL card via his QSL manager. While I was on that page of the logbook, I saw another QSO with him 5 days later.
One part of me is insulted that my card hasn’t been sold after being up on eBay for years. On the other hand, I’m not really sure why someone would want to buy it.
I have boxes of QSL cards I have received over the past 50+ years. Hmmm…. Maybe I should start selling them on eBay.
72, Craig WB3GCK
My old, arthritic fingers aren’t what they used to be, especially when sending CW in colder weather. I’ve tried a variety of gloves over the years, but they have each had their drawbacks. Recently, my (far) better half stumbled across an inexpensive pair of gloves that seem to be just what I’ve been looking for.
[Note: This post is not sponsored, and there are no affiliate links.]
I mentioned my cold weather CW dilemma to my (far) better half in passing, and she found an interesting pair of gloves on Amazon a few minutes later. They are the Glider Touch Screen gloves for $8.99 (USD). At that price, I took a chance and fired off an order to try them. After measuring my hand and using their sizing guide, I went with the large size. Glider Gloves is a Canadian company, and our friends to the north certainly know a thing or two about cold weather.
Some reviewers on Amazon complained about these gloves having a snug fit, but that’s exactly what I’ve been looking for. I use iambic (squeeze) keying and paddles with a light touch, so bulky gloves can make accurate sending difficult.
I tried my new gloves during a recent POTA/WWFF activation. They definitely have a snug fit, but they conform nicely to the shape of my fingers. There’s no excess material in the fingertips to interfere with keying. Normally, I use the paddles while holding a pencil, so I can quickly alternate between keying and logging. I found I could still do that with no issues. My log’s legibility was no worse than my normal chicken scratch.
They also worked great when I entered my spotting information using my cell phone. To facilitate use with touch screens, they have some copper woven right into the material. My typing on the phone was about the same as my normal “fat-fingering.”
Since they are thin and form-fitting and have some non-slip material on the palms, they are good for other tasks requiring manual dexterity. Normally, I have to take my gloves off at some point when installing the antenna on my truck. This time, however, I had the Glider gloves on and had no problems screwing the parts together.
The temperature in the truck during my brief activation was about 45° F (7° C), and my hands stayed reasonably warm. The manufacturer says they’re good for “moderate temperatures,” so I probably wouldn’t wear them on an Artic expedition. Regardless, they are a whole lot better than no gloves at all—which is how I sometimes operated in the cold. I can also put my regular gloves on over them if I need to take a break from sending.
I had hoped to use them during Winter Field Day this year, but some personal obligations and a snowstorm forced me to sit this one out. According to the weather forecasts, we have a lot more winter weather ahead of us here in Pennsylvania, so I’m sure these gloves will still get plenty of use.
There are lots of similar gloves on the market, so there may be better options out there. Since I tend to avoid operating in extremely low temperatures anyway, I think these should do the job for me.
72, Craig WB3GCK
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
Ten years ago today, I published my first post on this blog. Time flies when you’re having fun—and it certainly has been fun.
I started this blog mostly for selfish reasons. It started off as a personal journal of sorts, a way of documenting my ham radio activities and projects. When I receive a QSL card or Logbook of the World confirmation, I often go back through the posts to see where I was, what equipment I was using, and how I was set up during the contact. I thought others might want to read this stuff, and apparently they do.
Some blog posts have been consistently popular over the years. I could only pull up statistics for the last five years, but the most frequently visited posts over that period were:
I don’t make any money from this blog; there are no sponsors, affiliate links, or the like. It’s just something I have enjoyed doing. So, if you are among the hundreds of visitors each day from around the world, thank you for stopping by.
Here’s to the next ten years!
72, Craig WB3GCK
WB3GCK QRP Amateur Radio 