Hi, the antenna is a dipole with ladder line? Tnx for share..73 LU8HRW
@vk2ter18 сағат бұрын
The antenna is a G5RV (mini). It is a shortened dipole with a 5m length of ladder line that acts as part of the antenna. The antenna works on 40m through to 10m with a tuner, 73
@dennispeake18774 күн бұрын
G'day James, hope when winter is over, spring is around the corner you can go out enjoy your CW and rigs working again. 73 de Dennis in cold Queensland Day. Cheers mate.
@vk2ter4 күн бұрын
Hi Dennis, I have activated a few parks over winter. I have just been operating from my car so haven’t recorded the activations. Hope to start uploading to KZread again in spring, 73
@DL4FO17 күн бұрын
Nice video, James. Just worked you on 20m longpath, both at home. Hope to get you in the log 2 x portable soon. Congrats for your other videos as well. You are the only operator that uses a different transceiver on every new park 🙂. 72 + 44 de Chris, DL4FO
@vk2ter17 күн бұрын
Danke Chris for the CW contact today, it is great to get you in the log. Hope to hear you on the bands again soon. Also thank you for the feedback on the videos, it is much appreciated, 73
@sepehrsahraian3051Ай бұрын
Could you share the parameters for the cw decoder settings on the QMX? I can't seem to fine-tune it enough so it can automatically catch up with speeds and signal strength.
@vk2terАй бұрын
I just use the default CW Decode settings (firmware version 17) except changing Enable Rx and Enable Tx to Yes. The QMX decodes ok with strong signals but is less effective with weak signals, 73
@sepehrsahraian3051Ай бұрын
@@vk2ter Thank you!!!
@KD9ZHFАй бұрын
i'm new... Iambic A or B?
@vk2terАй бұрын
I use Iambic A. Thanks for watching, 73
@KD9ZHFАй бұрын
@@vk2ter thanks for taking time to make the video and to answer my question. I appreciate that.
@vk2terАй бұрын
@jstoltenburg thank you for your feedback, 73
@tonystephen6312Ай бұрын
Where's all the audio distortion coming from on the incoming c.w. signal?
@vk2terАй бұрын
The audio from the internal speaker of my radio distorts with strong CW signals. I have not seen this issue with other IC-705s so it seems to be an issue with my radio. The problem is reduced or eliminated by reducing the volume or using headphones, 73
@tonystephen6312Ай бұрын
@@vk2ter guess it probably makes the cw easier to read when its square wave. Had receiver audio distortion on my ft817 forced me to get rid..dont think i ll go for a 705 now lol.
@vk2terАй бұрын
@@tonystephen6312 I think the audio distortion is an issue with my particular radio rather than with IC-705s in general. Even with this issue it is still one of my favourite radios, 73
@Auxrad39Ай бұрын
intersting that you didn't tx the VKFF number once ??
@vk2terАй бұрын
I post spots during my activations that include the park reference so most hunters know the park reference. I normally only send my park reference if the hunter asks for it or if I am chasing a park-to-park contact. I sent my park reference at 18:40 for the P2P contact. Thanks for watching, 73
@DM7XK2 ай бұрын
Great video - I really like to see both setup and operation. Have the same key, and my QMX arrived just today 😊. I‘m a bit worried about max. voltage. Hans clearly advises not to go beyond 12.0V, but looks like you run it successfully with 12.8V LiFePo4. Originally, that was my plan as well. Will look into this. 72 de Holger DM7XK
@vk2ter2 ай бұрын
Thanks for the feedback Mike. I have read similar articles, so I may be pushing the QMX a little too hard. A better option may be to use 3x 3.7V LiFePO batteries (rather than 4x 3.2V) which is closer to the recommended 12V maximum, 73
@SMB_SpeedTwin2 ай бұрын
Thank you for sharing your set up. I’m interested in your battery power bank. Did you print it yourself? If so could you please point me in the right direction the file maybe obtained? Thank you
@vk2ter2 ай бұрын
I purchased the battery case from my local electronics store. You should be able to source it from EBay or Amazon, search for “4 AA battery holder” or similar. Thanks for the feedback Steven, 73
@SMB_SpeedTwin2 ай бұрын
@@vk2ter thank you for taking the time to reply to my question. I appreciate it.
@mgreenl245502 ай бұрын
Very cool. I don’t know CW, but this motivates me to go get my extra and try out some HF. 73. KQ4OCD
@vk2ter2 ай бұрын
Thank you Matthew, HF is great fun especially when out operating portable. Good luck with going for your extra, 73
@SMB_SpeedTwin2 ай бұрын
Which Garmin device do you use? Is there a file that is preprogrammed with specific POTA locations?
@vk2ter2 ай бұрын
I use a Garmin GPSMap 67. You can download the park locations (points rather than boundaries) from the pota.app website. Select the “Park List” menu then select your country and then the download link. The GPX file can then be transferred to the GPS using Garmin Explore (phone app) or Garmin Basecamp (desktop app). The GPX file will provide the park references and names. The standard topographic map on the GPS will show the approximate park boundaries. Hope this helps, 73
@SMB_SpeedTwin2 ай бұрын
@@vk2ter thank you very much for your time. I appreciate that you took the time to reply to my question
@tonystephen63123 ай бұрын
My thumbs up landed on 72.. The qrpers besr regards lol.
@vk2ter3 ай бұрын
Thank you, 72 / 73
@offthecuff63523 ай бұрын
I love using my QMX, it is a great piece of kit!
@vk2ter3 ай бұрын
Totally agree, it is a great QRP radio, 73
@rodneylamay59263 ай бұрын
Tnx james Great pota activation .what speed are you sending sounds great. Thanks for ur youtube channel.73s ki6pxv rod....
@vk2ter3 ай бұрын
Thanks for the feedback Rod. In this video I am sending CW at about 15 WPM. 73
@RC-rv1mo3 ай бұрын
AWESOME!
@vk2ter3 ай бұрын
Thank you, 73
@jbird4h303 ай бұрын
Where did you find the case you carried everything in? If you don't mind me asking.
@vk2ter3 ай бұрын
The case is an “Antler Clifton Mini in Black”. I bought it at a bricks and mortar store but you should be able to buy it directly from the Antler website, 73
@KN7U3 ай бұрын
Running the same combo ... since yesterday, would have loved to see the tuning procedure. Possible to get a solid tone out of the SW-3B without hooking up a straight key?
@vk2ter3 ай бұрын
The SW-3B and ZM-2 ATU is a great combination. I will try and make another video showing the tuning procedure. I briefly show it in one of my other videos called “CW using Icom IC-705 and Emtech ZM-2 ATU - Sugarloaf State Conservation Area (VKFF-1772)”. I believe you can get a solid tone out of the SW-3B with an iambic key by using a stereo to mono adapter. The SW-3B auto detects a straight key if a mono plug is used, so the iambic key will then act as a straight key. Hope this helps, 73
@Betrue8753 ай бұрын
This rig is essentially the same as a WWII covert set used by the resistance, only smaller and using modern technology.
@vk2ter3 ай бұрын
Very interesting. The QMX is certainly a compact and portable radio and a great performer for its size, 73
@johnbspringer3 ай бұрын
RST 419? I thought they were coming in pretty good, perhaps a 3. Great video. What does /p and /m along with call sign?
@vk2ter3 ай бұрын
Thanks for the feedback John. Agreed that the signal strengths may have been slightly higher. The suffix “/p” means operating portable (away from home station) and “/m” means operating mobile (in a vehicle), 73
@marios26203 ай бұрын
👍👋👋👋
@vk2ter3 ай бұрын
Thank you Marios, glad you liked the video, 73
@betterbprepared3 ай бұрын
Great video for a new person learning CW. I really appreciate the decoding on the screen. TU es 73
@vk2ter3 ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed the video, many thanks for the feedback, 73
@JonathanAdami3 ай бұрын
HEy, just wondering about your opinion on the FX4CR compared to the QMX for instance. I was planning on getting a QMX but my main radio is giving up and the FX4CR suddenly became an attractive option. Just wondering, it doesn't have an automatic keyer right? And no decoder either? How would you rate these 2 comparatively? I've read a lot of "FX4CR is a beta product, you have to deal with all the quirks" was that your experience too? Thanks for all the vids, and sorry to bother you with this ;)
@vk2ter3 ай бұрын
Hi Jonathan, the FX-4CR is a nice portable radio. It does have a few quirks but many of these have been fixed or improved with firmware updates. The CW transmission was originally very buggy (missing dits and irregular semi break-in) but it is now much improved and smoother after the update. The pros are that it is all mode, all HF bands, 20W SSB / 10W CW and has waterfall display. The cons are no automatic keyer, no CW decoder and the menu system can be a little glitchy with occasional hang ups. I like both the FX-4CR and QMX, it is difficult comparing the two. If you are only interested in CW then I would recommend the QMX. But if you want all modes, slightly higher power and waterfall display then the FX-4CR is a very capable radio. I hope this helps, 73
@JonathanAdami3 ай бұрын
@@vk2ter it's weirdly helping and at the same time I'm still undecided haha, I put my name on the list for the FX4CR, I'll let the finance decide, I imagine having both is probably the best scenario. When is it raining money down under, I need to be there when it happens! haha Thanks for answering!
@vk2ter3 ай бұрын
@JonathanAdami It is a tough decision, they are both great portable radios. It would be difficult for me to choose between the two. Good luck with the decision, 73
@vk2ter3 ай бұрын
Abbreviations used: AGN - again BK - break (station in QSO can reply) CFM - confirm CQ - calling any station DE - from EE - final sign off ES - and FB - fine business FER - for GA - good afternoon GL - good luck GM - good morning K - break (any station can reply) P2P - park-to-park QRL? - is this frequency in use? QSL - confirm receipt QSY - changing frequency QRZ? - who is calling me? / call to any station REF - reference (park number) R - received / roger RR - roger roger RST - readability, strength and tone SK - break (end of transmission) TNX/TKS - thanks TU - thank you UR - your WID - with WWFF - World Wide Flora and Fauna 73 / 44 - regards
@chipsgarage25183 ай бұрын
you are the GOAT! thanks mate, it really helps us, the one that dont know any CW get interested in it! 73 to you and your family!
@vk2ter3 ай бұрын
@chipsgarage2518 thanks chips, glad this is helpful. 73 and all the best
@LawpickingLocksmith3 ай бұрын
Hey! Filming is now prohibited in national parks!
@vk2ter3 ай бұрын
My understanding is that filming for “commercial” purposes in NSW National Parks requires permission or a permit. My KZread channel is not monetised or used for commercial purposes. I will look into this further. Thanks for the feedback, 73
@LawpickingLocksmith3 ай бұрын
@@vk2ter QLD will jail you unless you pay them huge amounts of cash. They do not care about your monetisation, just the possibility that you could earn money is enough to get you arrested. So carry cash and bribe them corrupt idiots, happened to me so stay vigilent!
@eldestillator38603 ай бұрын
Greetings from Austria from 35 CT 249 >> 73 / 55
@vk2ter3 ай бұрын
Guten tag, thank you for watching the video, 73
@miketaylor2533 ай бұрын
What time of day did you make those DX contacts pls James?
@vk2ter3 ай бұрын
I was operating CW between 3pm and 4pm local time which is 0500 to 0600 UTC. I also made some additional DX contacts using voice in the following hour, 73
@h.m.21383 ай бұрын
CW in this aktivations QTH is addicitve. Finland, Ukraine and Italy - Bingo! Super 73
@vk2ter3 ай бұрын
Danke h.m., the location has beautiful views and is a perfect place to activate from, 73
@h.m.21383 ай бұрын
Vielen Dank
@Zach-K7FC3 ай бұрын
How are you concluding that those contacts were long path in this situation?
@vk2ter3 ай бұрын
Hi Zack. I cannot tell the direction with my portable setup. However, it is often found that long-path is favourable between the east coast of Australia and Europe in late afternoons local time (~0400 to 0900 UTC). The reasons include long-path is mostly over salt water and it passes through nighttime with potential chordal skip along the combined F layer. Some hunters will reply “LP” or spot “beaming long-path” when they have directional antennas. Given my position with take-off over saltwater to the east, I am assuming long-path. Hope this helps, 73
@Zach-K7FC3 ай бұрын
@@vk2ter Interesting. Thanks for sharing the details. Have fun working portable, thanks for sharing the video.
@robertochiuderoli8983 ай бұрын
Top James!!! How you understood that they were long paths? 72 73
@vk2ter3 ай бұрын
Thanks Roberto. I cannot tell the direction with my portable setup. However, it is often found that long-path is favourable between the east coast of Australia and Europe in late afternoons local time (~0400 to 0900 UTC). The reasons include long-path is mostly over salt water and it passes through nighttime with potential chordal skip along the combined F layer. Some hunters will reply “LP” or spot “beaming long-path” when they have directional antennas. Given my position with take-off over saltwater to the east, I am assuming long-path. Hope this helps, 73
@robertochiuderoli8983 ай бұрын
@@vk2ter super! I hope one day to qso in cw with you and change our qsl. My best 73 dr James
@vk2ter3 ай бұрын
@robertochiuderoli898 It would be great to have a CW QSO some day. I put up spots on the WWFF DX cluster when I am out operating portable. Good DX, 73
@JonathanAdami3 ай бұрын
ah alright, so you got all the radios! :D good stuff, thanks for the video ;)
@vk2ter3 ай бұрын
Yes I do have a small collection of radios! Glad you enjoyed the video, thanks for watching, 73
@FreddyNietzsche.3 ай бұрын
HI, Do you feel that Bamakey TP-II is a little too heavy/large for doing POTA from a backpack/hiking standpoint? I know that you have a TP-III which I would have thought you would have preferred for such an outing. Cheers 73s
@vk2ter3 ай бұрын
I don’t find the TP-II too heavy for portable activations. The magnetic base can be detached to reduce weight. But the TP-II works best sitting on a flat surface such as a picnic table. The key was a little wobbly sitting on the plastic case but worked ok, 73
@FreddyNietzsche.3 ай бұрын
@@vk2ter Ok thanks James , it's good to get your feedback. I will go for the TP-III, the idea that the TP-II is better when used on a flat surface is giving the smaller key my vote.
@vk2ter3 ай бұрын
My current favourite setup is the TP-III with the leg strap (also from BaMaTech, called knee strap on the website). I show this combination is a few of my recent videos. I am sure you will enjoy the key, 73
@alexsmit18293 ай бұрын
Thank you so much for the Morse code translation! It is very helpful for newcomers. Best wishes from Russia!
@vk2ter3 ай бұрын
Thank you Alex. I am glad the CW captions are helpful. Good luck with your CW practice, 73
@chipsgarage25183 ай бұрын
@@vk2ter just for reference, there are some of us that doesnt know what everything means. So a bit of explanation on each thing would be good, even when there is direct translation. Anyways, way to go mate, i love your videos! 73
@vk2ter3 ай бұрын
@chipsgarage2518 Thank you for the feedback, I will include more detail in future videos. I can show the meaning of the abbreviations below the captions or include them in the video description, 73
@dennispeake18773 ай бұрын
James that was great all those contacts 20. Really enjoyed your video 73 de Dennis vk4oc.
@vk2ter3 ай бұрын
Thanks Dennis. I enjoyed the activation, nice weather, great view and good band conditions, 73
@JonathanAdami4 ай бұрын
Thanks for the video! What's wid if you don't mind me asking?
@vk2ter4 ай бұрын
“wid” is an abbreviation of “with”. While it is only one letter less, it is quicker to send “d” (dah and two dits) than “th” (dah, space and four dits). Similarly, “fer” is an abbreviation of “for”. Thanks Jonathan for watching the video, 73
@lancen4ldb7434 ай бұрын
Best POTA KZread’s to watch, by far. And your morse code is fantastic and so easy for a new guy to copy! Thanks!!!
@vk2ter4 ай бұрын
Thank you Lance for the feedback, glad you enjoyed the videos, 73
4 ай бұрын
Nice spot, 73 de CT1GZB
@vk2ter4 ай бұрын
Obrigado José, it is one of my favourite places to operate portable, 73
@M0KVI4 ай бұрын
Im interested in your thigh strap. Is it a made item or did you buy it somewhere? I've made something not quite as slick. Ill probably make another thats magnetic perhaps.
@vk2ter4 ай бұрын
I purchased the leg strap from BaMaTech. It’s called a “knee-strap / TP-III” under key accessories on the website. It is designed for the BaMaKey TP-III key but should work with other similar sized keys with a magnetic base, 73
@docpearson4 ай бұрын
Wow that was great!!
@vk2ter4 ай бұрын
Thank you, glad you enjoyed the video, 73
@robertochiuderoli8984 ай бұрын
Super videos! Qrp CW is my love....with Ramon EA5IW and EC7ZT you are the best in this branch. 72 de IW2HTZ
@vk2ter4 ай бұрын
Grazie Roberto, I appreciate the feedback. I enjoy QRP CW and operating portable, very best DX, 72 / 73
@mattsartori26244 ай бұрын
Wow 🤩 gorgeous view James and nice activation!
@vk2ter4 ай бұрын
Thanks Matt, it is a great location, one of my favourite places to activate portable 73
@h.m.21384 ай бұрын
a fantastic activations QTH. A short Video clip but very good. QRP to the point. Wonderful! 73
@vk2ter4 ай бұрын
Danke h.m.2138, this location is one of my favourite places to activate from. The table is new and it provides a great vantage point to enjoy the view, 73
@h.m.21384 ай бұрын
Danke für Zeit und Mühe! 73
@QRPCW4 ай бұрын
Gran vídeo!!! 👏🏻 Un juguete el Elecraft 🙌 73
@vk2ter4 ай бұрын
Gracias Ramon, este es mi primer equipo Elecraft, es una radio muy bonita, 73
@zerocoolkim4 ай бұрын
Great Rig. Is the 40meter output 2 or 5 watts? For me, 20 meters is 5 watts, and the rest is 2 or 3 watts.
@vk2ter4 ай бұрын
The KH1 is a great radio. I get 4.5W to 5W on 40m and other bands according to the inbuilt power meter. The power is lower if the ATU doesn’t provide a good match, 73
@jollyjumper4964 ай бұрын
Another great Vid James, keep em coming, i love your enthusiasm. Regards Peter
@vk2ter4 ай бұрын
Thanks Peter. The band conditions were terrible but I was enjoying the scenery and the warm weather while it lasts, 73
@joyahamradio4 ай бұрын
What kind of cameras do you use? Besides the action camera, which is already visible in the frame.
@vk2ter4 ай бұрын
For this video I mainly used a GoPro 10 and used an iPhone 14 for setup and scenery shots. In other videos I also use a Sony A6600 and DJI Action 2. The action cameras are very versatile but are no good for close ups of the radio. The Sony is useful for zoom and close ups but heavy to carry around, 73
@jaxon44a4 ай бұрын
Enjoyed the straight key video. Great learning tool.
@vk2ter4 ай бұрын
Thank you for the feedback. Glad you enjoyed the video. Hope it helps with CW practice, 73
@JonathanAdami4 ай бұрын
New to CW here, actually not entirely done learning the whole thing. But I must admit I'm a little confused as to the usage of K, SK, BK, are these all the same?
@vk2ter4 ай бұрын
The break “K” is used when any station can reply, so it is usually sent at the end of a CQ call / call to any station. The break “BK” is used when you are in a QSO and only the other station in the QSO should reply. The break “SK” means “end of transmission” and it is used in the last over when signing off. Some operators may use the breaks differently or not at all. Hope this helps, 73
@JonathanAdami4 ай бұрын
@@vk2ter this does help a great deal, I'll keep that in mind! Cheers
@o2bnov03074 ай бұрын
James, it is so good to see one of your videos. It's been a while. While I still enjoy using the TR-25, I have tried to branch out into FT8...with my FT-891. It doesn't look like a good choice. Only one local ham who will mentor me. Digirig is not meshing easily. However, no troubles ever with CW. I continue to be happily surprised at the power of 5 watts of CW for making contacts. vy 73 de David AE4LH
@vk2ter4 ай бұрын
Thank you David. I haven’t been able to get out and operate portable regularly due to other commitments. Also the weather here has been either too hot or raining on the weekends. Hoping for milder weather during winter. I recently set up my QMX for FT8 but have only made a couple of contacts, I think I may need more than 5W. Good luck with setting up FT8 on the FT-891, 73
@thejoker-ie1mm4 ай бұрын
WoW... very good sound! Thanks for video, 72/73 de IK2RGV regards from Italy 👋👋
Пікірлер
Great video. Tnx share.
Thank you for watching and for your feedback, 73
Hi, the antenna is a dipole with ladder line? Tnx for share..73 LU8HRW
The antenna is a G5RV (mini). It is a shortened dipole with a 5m length of ladder line that acts as part of the antenna. The antenna works on 40m through to 10m with a tuner, 73
G'day James, hope when winter is over, spring is around the corner you can go out enjoy your CW and rigs working again. 73 de Dennis in cold Queensland Day. Cheers mate.
Hi Dennis, I have activated a few parks over winter. I have just been operating from my car so haven’t recorded the activations. Hope to start uploading to KZread again in spring, 73
Nice video, James. Just worked you on 20m longpath, both at home. Hope to get you in the log 2 x portable soon. Congrats for your other videos as well. You are the only operator that uses a different transceiver on every new park 🙂. 72 + 44 de Chris, DL4FO
Danke Chris for the CW contact today, it is great to get you in the log. Hope to hear you on the bands again soon. Also thank you for the feedback on the videos, it is much appreciated, 73
Could you share the parameters for the cw decoder settings on the QMX? I can't seem to fine-tune it enough so it can automatically catch up with speeds and signal strength.
I just use the default CW Decode settings (firmware version 17) except changing Enable Rx and Enable Tx to Yes. The QMX decodes ok with strong signals but is less effective with weak signals, 73
@@vk2ter Thank you!!!
i'm new... Iambic A or B?
I use Iambic A. Thanks for watching, 73
@@vk2ter thanks for taking time to make the video and to answer my question. I appreciate that.
@jstoltenburg thank you for your feedback, 73
Where's all the audio distortion coming from on the incoming c.w. signal?
The audio from the internal speaker of my radio distorts with strong CW signals. I have not seen this issue with other IC-705s so it seems to be an issue with my radio. The problem is reduced or eliminated by reducing the volume or using headphones, 73
@@vk2ter guess it probably makes the cw easier to read when its square wave. Had receiver audio distortion on my ft817 forced me to get rid..dont think i ll go for a 705 now lol.
@@tonystephen6312 I think the audio distortion is an issue with my particular radio rather than with IC-705s in general. Even with this issue it is still one of my favourite radios, 73
intersting that you didn't tx the VKFF number once ??
I post spots during my activations that include the park reference so most hunters know the park reference. I normally only send my park reference if the hunter asks for it or if I am chasing a park-to-park contact. I sent my park reference at 18:40 for the P2P contact. Thanks for watching, 73
Great video - I really like to see both setup and operation. Have the same key, and my QMX arrived just today 😊. I‘m a bit worried about max. voltage. Hans clearly advises not to go beyond 12.0V, but looks like you run it successfully with 12.8V LiFePo4. Originally, that was my plan as well. Will look into this. 72 de Holger DM7XK
Thanks for the feedback Mike. I have read similar articles, so I may be pushing the QMX a little too hard. A better option may be to use 3x 3.7V LiFePO batteries (rather than 4x 3.2V) which is closer to the recommended 12V maximum, 73
Thank you for sharing your set up. I’m interested in your battery power bank. Did you print it yourself? If so could you please point me in the right direction the file maybe obtained? Thank you
I purchased the battery case from my local electronics store. You should be able to source it from EBay or Amazon, search for “4 AA battery holder” or similar. Thanks for the feedback Steven, 73
@@vk2ter thank you for taking the time to reply to my question. I appreciate it.
Very cool. I don’t know CW, but this motivates me to go get my extra and try out some HF. 73. KQ4OCD
Thank you Matthew, HF is great fun especially when out operating portable. Good luck with going for your extra, 73
Which Garmin device do you use? Is there a file that is preprogrammed with specific POTA locations?
I use a Garmin GPSMap 67. You can download the park locations (points rather than boundaries) from the pota.app website. Select the “Park List” menu then select your country and then the download link. The GPX file can then be transferred to the GPS using Garmin Explore (phone app) or Garmin Basecamp (desktop app). The GPX file will provide the park references and names. The standard topographic map on the GPS will show the approximate park boundaries. Hope this helps, 73
@@vk2ter thank you very much for your time. I appreciate that you took the time to reply to my question
My thumbs up landed on 72.. The qrpers besr regards lol.
Thank you, 72 / 73
I love using my QMX, it is a great piece of kit!
Totally agree, it is a great QRP radio, 73
Tnx james Great pota activation .what speed are you sending sounds great. Thanks for ur youtube channel.73s ki6pxv rod....
Thanks for the feedback Rod. In this video I am sending CW at about 15 WPM. 73
AWESOME!
Thank you, 73
Where did you find the case you carried everything in? If you don't mind me asking.
The case is an “Antler Clifton Mini in Black”. I bought it at a bricks and mortar store but you should be able to buy it directly from the Antler website, 73
Running the same combo ... since yesterday, would have loved to see the tuning procedure. Possible to get a solid tone out of the SW-3B without hooking up a straight key?
The SW-3B and ZM-2 ATU is a great combination. I will try and make another video showing the tuning procedure. I briefly show it in one of my other videos called “CW using Icom IC-705 and Emtech ZM-2 ATU - Sugarloaf State Conservation Area (VKFF-1772)”. I believe you can get a solid tone out of the SW-3B with an iambic key by using a stereo to mono adapter. The SW-3B auto detects a straight key if a mono plug is used, so the iambic key will then act as a straight key. Hope this helps, 73
This rig is essentially the same as a WWII covert set used by the resistance, only smaller and using modern technology.
Very interesting. The QMX is certainly a compact and portable radio and a great performer for its size, 73
RST 419? I thought they were coming in pretty good, perhaps a 3. Great video. What does /p and /m along with call sign?
Thanks for the feedback John. Agreed that the signal strengths may have been slightly higher. The suffix “/p” means operating portable (away from home station) and “/m” means operating mobile (in a vehicle), 73
👍👋👋👋
Thank you Marios, glad you liked the video, 73
Great video for a new person learning CW. I really appreciate the decoding on the screen. TU es 73
Glad you enjoyed the video, many thanks for the feedback, 73
HEy, just wondering about your opinion on the FX4CR compared to the QMX for instance. I was planning on getting a QMX but my main radio is giving up and the FX4CR suddenly became an attractive option. Just wondering, it doesn't have an automatic keyer right? And no decoder either? How would you rate these 2 comparatively? I've read a lot of "FX4CR is a beta product, you have to deal with all the quirks" was that your experience too? Thanks for all the vids, and sorry to bother you with this ;)
Hi Jonathan, the FX-4CR is a nice portable radio. It does have a few quirks but many of these have been fixed or improved with firmware updates. The CW transmission was originally very buggy (missing dits and irregular semi break-in) but it is now much improved and smoother after the update. The pros are that it is all mode, all HF bands, 20W SSB / 10W CW and has waterfall display. The cons are no automatic keyer, no CW decoder and the menu system can be a little glitchy with occasional hang ups. I like both the FX-4CR and QMX, it is difficult comparing the two. If you are only interested in CW then I would recommend the QMX. But if you want all modes, slightly higher power and waterfall display then the FX-4CR is a very capable radio. I hope this helps, 73
@@vk2ter it's weirdly helping and at the same time I'm still undecided haha, I put my name on the list for the FX4CR, I'll let the finance decide, I imagine having both is probably the best scenario. When is it raining money down under, I need to be there when it happens! haha Thanks for answering!
@JonathanAdami It is a tough decision, they are both great portable radios. It would be difficult for me to choose between the two. Good luck with the decision, 73
Abbreviations used: AGN - again BK - break (station in QSO can reply) CFM - confirm CQ - calling any station DE - from EE - final sign off ES - and FB - fine business FER - for GA - good afternoon GL - good luck GM - good morning K - break (any station can reply) P2P - park-to-park QRL? - is this frequency in use? QSL - confirm receipt QSY - changing frequency QRZ? - who is calling me? / call to any station REF - reference (park number) R - received / roger RR - roger roger RST - readability, strength and tone SK - break (end of transmission) TNX/TKS - thanks TU - thank you UR - your WID - with WWFF - World Wide Flora and Fauna 73 / 44 - regards
you are the GOAT! thanks mate, it really helps us, the one that dont know any CW get interested in it! 73 to you and your family!
@chipsgarage2518 thanks chips, glad this is helpful. 73 and all the best
Hey! Filming is now prohibited in national parks!
My understanding is that filming for “commercial” purposes in NSW National Parks requires permission or a permit. My KZread channel is not monetised or used for commercial purposes. I will look into this further. Thanks for the feedback, 73
@@vk2ter QLD will jail you unless you pay them huge amounts of cash. They do not care about your monetisation, just the possibility that you could earn money is enough to get you arrested. So carry cash and bribe them corrupt idiots, happened to me so stay vigilent!
Greetings from Austria from 35 CT 249 >> 73 / 55
Guten tag, thank you for watching the video, 73
What time of day did you make those DX contacts pls James?
I was operating CW between 3pm and 4pm local time which is 0500 to 0600 UTC. I also made some additional DX contacts using voice in the following hour, 73
CW in this aktivations QTH is addicitve. Finland, Ukraine and Italy - Bingo! Super 73
Danke h.m., the location has beautiful views and is a perfect place to activate from, 73
Vielen Dank
How are you concluding that those contacts were long path in this situation?
Hi Zack. I cannot tell the direction with my portable setup. However, it is often found that long-path is favourable between the east coast of Australia and Europe in late afternoons local time (~0400 to 0900 UTC). The reasons include long-path is mostly over salt water and it passes through nighttime with potential chordal skip along the combined F layer. Some hunters will reply “LP” or spot “beaming long-path” when they have directional antennas. Given my position with take-off over saltwater to the east, I am assuming long-path. Hope this helps, 73
@@vk2ter Interesting. Thanks for sharing the details. Have fun working portable, thanks for sharing the video.
Top James!!! How you understood that they were long paths? 72 73
Thanks Roberto. I cannot tell the direction with my portable setup. However, it is often found that long-path is favourable between the east coast of Australia and Europe in late afternoons local time (~0400 to 0900 UTC). The reasons include long-path is mostly over salt water and it passes through nighttime with potential chordal skip along the combined F layer. Some hunters will reply “LP” or spot “beaming long-path” when they have directional antennas. Given my position with take-off over saltwater to the east, I am assuming long-path. Hope this helps, 73
@@vk2ter super! I hope one day to qso in cw with you and change our qsl. My best 73 dr James
@robertochiuderoli898 It would be great to have a CW QSO some day. I put up spots on the WWFF DX cluster when I am out operating portable. Good DX, 73
ah alright, so you got all the radios! :D good stuff, thanks for the video ;)
Yes I do have a small collection of radios! Glad you enjoyed the video, thanks for watching, 73
HI, Do you feel that Bamakey TP-II is a little too heavy/large for doing POTA from a backpack/hiking standpoint? I know that you have a TP-III which I would have thought you would have preferred for such an outing. Cheers 73s
I don’t find the TP-II too heavy for portable activations. The magnetic base can be detached to reduce weight. But the TP-II works best sitting on a flat surface such as a picnic table. The key was a little wobbly sitting on the plastic case but worked ok, 73
@@vk2ter Ok thanks James , it's good to get your feedback. I will go for the TP-III, the idea that the TP-II is better when used on a flat surface is giving the smaller key my vote.
My current favourite setup is the TP-III with the leg strap (also from BaMaTech, called knee strap on the website). I show this combination is a few of my recent videos. I am sure you will enjoy the key, 73
Thank you so much for the Morse code translation! It is very helpful for newcomers. Best wishes from Russia!
Thank you Alex. I am glad the CW captions are helpful. Good luck with your CW practice, 73
@@vk2ter just for reference, there are some of us that doesnt know what everything means. So a bit of explanation on each thing would be good, even when there is direct translation. Anyways, way to go mate, i love your videos! 73
@chipsgarage2518 Thank you for the feedback, I will include more detail in future videos. I can show the meaning of the abbreviations below the captions or include them in the video description, 73
James that was great all those contacts 20. Really enjoyed your video 73 de Dennis vk4oc.
Thanks Dennis. I enjoyed the activation, nice weather, great view and good band conditions, 73
Thanks for the video! What's wid if you don't mind me asking?
“wid” is an abbreviation of “with”. While it is only one letter less, it is quicker to send “d” (dah and two dits) than “th” (dah, space and four dits). Similarly, “fer” is an abbreviation of “for”. Thanks Jonathan for watching the video, 73
Best POTA KZread’s to watch, by far. And your morse code is fantastic and so easy for a new guy to copy! Thanks!!!
Thank you Lance for the feedback, glad you enjoyed the videos, 73
Nice spot, 73 de CT1GZB
Obrigado José, it is one of my favourite places to operate portable, 73
Im interested in your thigh strap. Is it a made item or did you buy it somewhere? I've made something not quite as slick. Ill probably make another thats magnetic perhaps.
I purchased the leg strap from BaMaTech. It’s called a “knee-strap / TP-III” under key accessories on the website. It is designed for the BaMaKey TP-III key but should work with other similar sized keys with a magnetic base, 73
Wow that was great!!
Thank you, glad you enjoyed the video, 73
Super videos! Qrp CW is my love....with Ramon EA5IW and EC7ZT you are the best in this branch. 72 de IW2HTZ
Grazie Roberto, I appreciate the feedback. I enjoy QRP CW and operating portable, very best DX, 72 / 73
Wow 🤩 gorgeous view James and nice activation!
Thanks Matt, it is a great location, one of my favourite places to activate portable 73
a fantastic activations QTH. A short Video clip but very good. QRP to the point. Wonderful! 73
Danke h.m.2138, this location is one of my favourite places to activate from. The table is new and it provides a great vantage point to enjoy the view, 73
Danke für Zeit und Mühe! 73
Gran vídeo!!! 👏🏻 Un juguete el Elecraft 🙌 73
Gracias Ramon, este es mi primer equipo Elecraft, es una radio muy bonita, 73
Great Rig. Is the 40meter output 2 or 5 watts? For me, 20 meters is 5 watts, and the rest is 2 or 3 watts.
The KH1 is a great radio. I get 4.5W to 5W on 40m and other bands according to the inbuilt power meter. The power is lower if the ATU doesn’t provide a good match, 73
Another great Vid James, keep em coming, i love your enthusiasm. Regards Peter
Thanks Peter. The band conditions were terrible but I was enjoying the scenery and the warm weather while it lasts, 73
What kind of cameras do you use? Besides the action camera, which is already visible in the frame.
For this video I mainly used a GoPro 10 and used an iPhone 14 for setup and scenery shots. In other videos I also use a Sony A6600 and DJI Action 2. The action cameras are very versatile but are no good for close ups of the radio. The Sony is useful for zoom and close ups but heavy to carry around, 73
Enjoyed the straight key video. Great learning tool.
Thank you for the feedback. Glad you enjoyed the video. Hope it helps with CW practice, 73
New to CW here, actually not entirely done learning the whole thing. But I must admit I'm a little confused as to the usage of K, SK, BK, are these all the same?
The break “K” is used when any station can reply, so it is usually sent at the end of a CQ call / call to any station. The break “BK” is used when you are in a QSO and only the other station in the QSO should reply. The break “SK” means “end of transmission” and it is used in the last over when signing off. Some operators may use the breaks differently or not at all. Hope this helps, 73
@@vk2ter this does help a great deal, I'll keep that in mind! Cheers
James, it is so good to see one of your videos. It's been a while. While I still enjoy using the TR-25, I have tried to branch out into FT8...with my FT-891. It doesn't look like a good choice. Only one local ham who will mentor me. Digirig is not meshing easily. However, no troubles ever with CW. I continue to be happily surprised at the power of 5 watts of CW for making contacts. vy 73 de David AE4LH
Thank you David. I haven’t been able to get out and operate portable regularly due to other commitments. Also the weather here has been either too hot or raining on the weekends. Hoping for milder weather during winter. I recently set up my QMX for FT8 but have only made a couple of contacts, I think I may need more than 5W. Good luck with setting up FT8 on the FT-891, 73
WoW... very good sound! Thanks for video, 72/73 de IK2RGV regards from Italy 👋👋
Grazie Stefano, glad you enjoyed the video, 73