Subscribe Past Issues Translate View this email CQ QRS in your browser RagChew Didididah A short test of MailChimp to Generate the Weekly CQ QRS Newsletter. So this is a very abridged version of last week’s RagChew. Please let me know if you received this test. mark.bosma@icloud.com CQ QRS - Reminder for October - Tasmania to WA - Auroral on 10th CQ QRS 1 Watt, Growl, - Reversed Propagation - Stuart gets Bloody daylight saving! early! - HI! Rushed Remote Five to seven display - 0758z; Anomaly and Dunked. an SWL on the VK6SR net., etc. RagChew home from Cowra, got all tuned up, asked if he minded me swapping to 80m for the here in NSW.... then noticed the time on the SDR d’oh, bloody Daylight Saving strikes again... | was an hour Starts at 80m here now.... and I'd also got it wrong in last week's RagChew - no wonder lan VK5CZ was confused about the start time. So looks like we had around 14 stations on this week - not quite like the 19 stations we had couple of weeks until bed-time around back, but still great fun, and | didn’t stop lam. Thanks for the continuing good comments about the RagChew I've been wondering why it takes me so long to write? newsletter. | did a word count (electronically) of last week’s newsletter..... 9476 words - no wonder! going to look into using MailChimp I’m instead of Apple Notes and Google Groups, so you may see a change some time in the future; Google Groups does the distribution to an email list at the moment - but it’s a bit temperamental - doesn’t like some peoples’ email addresses (so | need a supplementary list of addresses that | manually send to), doesn’t like lots of images, etc Anyone had experience with MailChimp? v RSS MY CALL) Calling OG & 501 O50 2 O50 3 O504 | O505 0505 | a507 Q508 | G5095 | G5010 | Q5011 || ert Goer Lintecing 2 rex Grech] VELTE VE2BHO VK2GAZ VEQIK VE2KI VETWW WEKSET | WKGNT VKGPZT VKBME | VK6KD VKIBTV VKIDED VK3KO. VKSCZ2 WKGPZT | WKSET VESET VEBNT VE2KI VESCZ VKSFD VEKSIP VESKFG VK6ATB VKBAAV VKGBEK VEBNT VK6CK VRKEDEV VEGIS | VKGPZT VEGNT | VRGME VKGFN VK6GAL VRKEHRC Listening VK6IR VKIS VEGNT | WKGBEK | WKGRD | VKEDEV VKBJIDM VK6KD VEKBIS VEQEI VEBNT VK6LD VKSMK VEBDEV | VE2KI VEBIS VESET | VKGBEK | VESC2 VEZKI | VKGDEVY | VWKENT VKENC VKENT VEK2KI | VKEGDEV | VKGPZT | VWKGKD VKGNW VKGPZT VKGQI VRP WIW VEVEPC VK6TY VKEMU VEFTWW VE2KI VEFKPC VEO) VEeQ) VKTZA Reports & Comments So here’s this week’s From Nic VK7WW Hi Mark. reports. at Legana: Many thanks for the QSOs tonight; nobody else seemed to be around till you replied to my CQ after 8pm local - a result of daylight saving? Still an enjoyable evening contacting you as VK2KI and then as VK6QI. My set up this time was my home brew 1w Tx, using the IC751A as Rx, antenna the open wire fed double extended Zepp (DEZ). Bit of QRN static crashes started to come in on our contact from VK6.... were you running 1 watt too? RST to you 239 then 339. If | didn’t have static crashes you would have been Q4 perhaps even 5. rare "cont w som Te Rl peeve Other Other things I’ve received & News from our 110-odd readers. From Richard VK6HRC: Hi Mark, here’s a link to a Youtube video about the Long Island CW club that | belong to: https://www.youtube.com/live/wiC]YrrQO-A?si=5 7MkfO6jGpC8biky https://www.youtube.com/live/wiC]YrrQO-A?si=57MkfO6iGpC8blky Plus some other links that might be of interest to you and others? out and about the other day monitoring VK6RLM | Was when you and Richard VK6PZT were chatting on the AllStar South West net and busy doing HF tests on his portable set-up using his squid pole; unfortunately no HF in the ute, but thought some of this info might be of some use - especially since Richard asked if anyone knew of a good paddle for CW - there’s some 3D- printable straight keys and paddles here: https://www.printables.com/@AdamKimmerly/models You said to Richard that you didn’t like the non-resonant helically-wound squid pole as a portable antenna because when away from the very narrow resonant frequencies, the windings act like a choke. antenna The VK7JJ squid pole is one | have tried and had some success with - should probably dust it off and compare it with other versions not wound around the pole. http://perite. vk7jj.com/vk7jj/squidpoles.html Cheers, Richard. One-Way Continuing East-West the discussion So last week | summarised Propagation on what we’ve observed. the thoughts of three amateurs with expertise in propagation, plus my own stab at a possible reason for the Eastern States signals being received more strongly in WA as the so-called grey-line moved across the continent, compared to signals received over East originated in WA. All thoughts were different and provided useful things for us to think about; ChatGPT got confused at first with VHF Sporadic-E propagation, but then settled down to float similar ideas to those that the experts proposed. We're now heading out of Winter toward the equinox, which means the Elayer may start getting stronger and the F-layer may strengthen even more (peaking around the equinox) as depicted in the slide below from a Peel Amateur Radio Group presentation prediction service a few years ago. | gave on using the BOM’s ionospheric Smoothed Sunspot Number fe) Frequency (MHz) lonisation Strength and Height oO t 1988 + | t t 1992 1996 r |+ 2000 * 2004 Time (years) Solar Cycle Seasonal Variation \ F2 Equinox Peaks q Summer Bi UC Winter On our Tuesday net, we had different results to the previous month My early contact with Nic near Launceston as the band opened or two. up to the West (ie as the D-layer dissipated Westwards and the Absorption Layer Frequency for the two-hop path dropped Nic’s 1 below our frequencies), Watt East-to-West signal was down about only one S-point compared to my 100 Watt West-to-East signal, instead of about three S-points. This was even more noticeable on Peter’s signal at 1005z, also from near Launceston; his 5 Watts was strength 4 into WA, yet my 100 Watts was only strength 2; an anomaly of four S-points (around 24dB) if the S-meters are to be believed. However, Beautiful South Bowning half an hour later, Lin VK6NT’s signal into NSW was six S-points stronger than my 80 Watts going the other way. Richard VK6PZT was similarly 3 S-points stronger on the West-to-East path than me East-to-West. Two hours later, Stuart VK6MK and | reported the same RSTs for our contact, but at 1300z, David VK6KD was five S-points stronger than me. So interesting - this week we appeared one-way propagation, (ie if all things were equal) to have but it changed from East-to-West to West-to-East, disappeared, then came back again. So any thoughts, experiences or comments about the phenomenon - have you come across it during other East-West QSOs on 80m or other bands? What about the WA to SA path, or perhaps North-South paths or Australia- to-New Zealand? Please let me know of your ideas or experiences mark.bosma@icloud.com Tuesday’s CQ QRS Reminder. Net So back to the Slow CW QSO always on practice net. Tuesday from around 0900z; from David VK3DBD Our CQ QRS Net will be on as see below for details. Apologies who's away until November and from Keiran VK3BTV who's taken his ZS6BKW that we’ll have some doublet down and moving house. Fingers crossed more Easterners and that they’ll stay up to catch the fun once again. So thank you so much to our excellent team of contributors this week: VK7WW, Peter VK7KRC, VK6HRC, lan VK3KO, Donald VK6JDM, Phillip VK6DEV, Lin VK6NT, David VK6KD, Richard VK6PZT, Nic Richard Stuart VK6MK, Peter VK6IS, Shaun VK6BEK, John VK5ET and Andrew VK2ZRK. Thank you team - once again, outstanding - it’s the thoughts of the team plus the photos that makes RagChew so interesting to the 90-odd (perhaps 90-plus would safer) subscribers; so for everyone, mark.bosma@icloud.com be please let me know by email to who you work or hear this week on Tuesday’s net. As always, | can only attempt poorly to listen-in and log QSOs while having QSOs myself - so | really want your comments RagChew newsletter interesting. each week to make our And again for those who | work on Tuesday night, please accept my apologies in advance for the pauses, repeated dah-di-di-di-dahs etc while | attempt to pick up and log callsigns that | hear in parallel, send WhatsApp notes, do one-way propagation tests, etc. And don’t forget our CQ QRS group on WhatsApp - a terrific way to exchange alerts and comments stations at other times. during the net and also to spot QRS The feed from last week is below; I'd like you to join in on the WhatsApp group if possible. (stujen55@gmail.com) add you to the group. or me know your mobile phone number, and we'll Please let Stuart VK6MK Cheers, mb Mark Bosma VK2KI / VK6QI Beautiful South Bowning NSW mark.bosma@icloud.com non impediti ratione cogitationis “Without antennas, amateur radio just wouldn't be the same” - author: About the CQ Here’s the QRS dah-dah dit! Net details. CQ QRS Net The team will be on again for our usual Tuesday arvo / evening Practice QSO This Net. CQ QRS will start at 0900z until about 1100-1400z+. translates to 1700 - 2000-2230+ and Eastern 2000 - 2400+ WA time, 1930 - 2330+ Summer time. (I think!). SA Summer time So tune around and call anyone you hear, or find yourself a quiet spot in the 3540kHz to 3570kHz segment and start calling CQ QRS at about 75% of the speed you're comfortable receiving at; hopefully responders will match (or send slower to their comfort level). When you hear someone new, please match their sending speed - or slower. The person you're replying to may not be as deft on the decoding as you - it may be their first ever CW QSO - remember your first? Lather of sweat, key that refuses to send that you tell it, brain that refuses to decode those complex someone “AGN? letters that were right there half an hour ago, etc! And if is sending too fast to comfortably copy - “PSE RPT PSE QRS” or PSE QRS” will make life easier for everyone.... and might just encourage other listeners to have a go themselves. The other thing to remember - most operators are writing down what they hear... so when you put it back to them, expect a delay while they read your words of wisdom, before replying. The aim is to give everyone a go at contacting others - no-one owns their calling frequency on this net... even Monsieur trois cing cing cing :) So unlike working DX, if you hear someone signing of - jump in and call - doesn’t matter who was first on the frequency - we’re all good mates on this net.... and besides, at the speed we’re sending, after a QSO will have forgotten who was first! most of us If you really want to move off frequency (eg because of a spurious switch mode power supply signal that’s just drifted into the conversation), you could try sending an abridged callsign of the person you’re after, followed by “UP 5” or “DN 5” then K; then call that person on the designated frequency and keep your fingers crossed, they may have understood you and followed... or not. As always, for newbies, operating suggestions are available from the operating hints link here: https://sites.google.com/a/parg.org.au/www-parg- org-au/training-and-practice-sessions/cq-qrs---slow-cw-qso-practice-net. There's usually people around until after 1330z - so keep calling until you catch someone. | should be on as usual from home in NSW and via the Remote at Bedfordale WA, and I'll also be watching the proceedings using the VK6QS and Tecsun SDRs in WA and NSW CQ QRS WhatsApp Traffic from the CQ QRS [8:00 pm, 03/10/2023] lan - VK5CZ: respectively. Did vk6 swap Feed WhatsApp to daylight saving. Group. What will be a good time to do cq qrs. vk5cz [8:00 pm, 03/10/2023] Phillip Jubb: No we're still on sun time © [8:01 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: Starts now lan 0900z.... which | don't think moved to BDS! [8:06 pm, 03/10/2023] lan - VK5CZ: OK | will be on 10.30 utc. [8:17 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: VK7WW & VK2KI chatting on 3554.5. VK6DEV calling CQ on 3555. [8:53 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: VK7WW and VK6QI attempting QSO on 3554.5 [8:55 pm, 03/10/2023] Lin Jacob: vk6nt CQing on 3565.. [9:12 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: [9:20 pm, 03/10/2023] Lin Jacob: QRM [9:25 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: VK7KPC and VK6QI chatting on 3554.5 nr 3555 here. VK6NT and VK6BEK on 3563. VK5ET and VK2KI on 3560. [9:40 pm, 03/10/2023] lan - VK5CZ: CQ QRS 3.556 vk5cz. [9:50 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: VK5ET chatting to VKGPZT on 3556. [9:51 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: Talking about the weather - HI! [10:00 pm, 03/10/2023] lan - VK5CZ: CQ QRS 3.553 vk5cz [10:03 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: VK6PZT and VK2KI chatting on 3556. [10:09 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: VK5ET and VK5CZ chatting about Crow-eating on 3553. [10:13 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: Auroral pattern started on VK6QS SDR - above around 3555kHz. Wish I knew how to take a screenshot in Windows! [10:17 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: VK5ET calling CQ on 3550 and VK5CZ chatting to VK2KI on 3553. [10:18 pm, 03/10/2023] Peter Scales: Use the PrntScrn key on LHS of keyboard to copy to memory [10:18 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: TU. [10:18 pm, 03/10/2023] Peter Scales: RHS actually [10:23 pm, 03/10/2023] Richard Ayre: sri mark had to dropp kid off at freinds [10:24 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: [10:25 pm, 03/10/2023] Lin Jacob: [10:32 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark vk6nt CQing Bosma: [10:34 pm, 03/10/2023] lan - VK5CZ: VK6NT 3562 coming in nicely to NSW calling CQ on 3562. See you next week gqsy 30m try bug key for while. vk5cz [10:39 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: VK6PZT calling CQ on 3555. [10:39 pm, 03/10/2023] Richard Ayre: phil vk6dev calling on 3557 [10:39 pm, 03/10/2023] Richard Ayre: 10 w [10:39 pm, 03/10/2023] Phillip Jubb: And a bit deaf so speak up© [10:40 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: I'll try from NSW Phillip. [10:41 pm, 03/10/2023] Richard Ayre: il moove down a bit 3552 [10:41 pm, 03/10/2023] Lin Jacob: | will flood you [10:41 pm, 03/10/2023] Lin Jacob: Flood you [10:45 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: our Mark for a quickie :-) out © [10:46 pm, 03/10/2023] Lin Jacob: Your turn mate [10:48 pm, 03/10/2023] Phillip Jubb: It’s there | just can’t quite pull it out of the noise. [10:48 pm, 03/10/2023] Phillip Jubb: Thanks Lin [10:50 pm, 03/10/2023] Richard Ayre: you cant hear LIN phil ??? [10:50 pm, 03/10/2023] Richard Ayre: How come?? [10:50 pm, 03/10/2023] Phillip Jubb: No Lin was loud. | think mark is trying [10:51 pm, 03/10/2023] Richard Ayre: Ah that makes more sense [10:51 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: Always trying! peaks. | can hear you RST 259 Phillip - Q4 on QSB Never mind we'll try again another time. [10:53 pm, 03/10/2023] Phillip Jubb: Still promising myself a better antenna, and maybe 5 acres in the country [10:53 pm, 03/10/2023] Richard Ayre: Nice [10:53 pm, 03/10/2023] Richard Ayre: One Powerball right [10:54 pm, 03/10/2023] Phillip Jubb: Half a powerball. [10:55 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: VK6PZT calling CQ 3565. [10:56 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: Don't worry, not long ago Richard couldn't hear anything except his neighbour's TV - now he's working the DX. [10:57 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: Listening to him in VK2 right now. [10:58 pm, 03/10/2023] Phillip Jubb: Spent 4 hrs in the car today listening to CW trainers. Having a much better time of it tonight [10:58 pm, 03/10/2023] Phillip Jubb: Even caught a few words from Lin [11:01 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: [11:01 pm, 03/10/2023] Phillip Jubb: Branko past his STD exam. We’ll all have to do advanced together next year Richard [11:01 pm, 03/10/2023] Phillip Jubb: Need more watts [11:03 pm, 03/10/2023] Lin Jacob: SRI, | shall slow down next time [11:04 pm, 03/10/2023] Phillip Jubb: No it’s a good test. [11:04 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: © [11:04 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: Branko is your son Phillip? [11:04 pm, 03/10/2023] Phillip Jubb: I’m ok with the calls sign and exchange but other axtual words | need a bit slower [11:05 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: Me too! [11:05 pm, 03/10/2023] Phillip Jubb: Branko is a BRC member. getting his VK license. Long time ham in Croatia but just Hasn’t done CW in decades so will prob be part of the group soon [11:08 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: [11:08 pm, 03/10/2023] Lin Jacob: Me 3! [11:13 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: [11:16 pm, 03/10/2023] Phillip Jubb: The big beast is ready and waiting for me to upgrade [11:19 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: Will you then send me the IC-705 'cause you no-longer need it mate? [11:20 pm, 03/10/2023] Phillip Jubb: Nah unfortunately not. Its dads old radio and | actually haven’t used it yet. Can’t get the power down to 10 watts [11:21 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: | meant the Icom on the right! [11:21 pm, 03/10/2023] Phillip Jubb: Yeah. That’s the beast I’m talking about [11:22 pm, 03/10/2023] Phillip Jubb: By upgrade, [11:23 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: | mean my license Doesn't the 705 run 10 Watts already? [11:24 pm, 03/10/2023] Phillip Jubb: It’s does. But I’m waiting til | upgrade to use the 751. [11:25 pm, 03/10/2023] Phillip Jubb: And if| have it to you I’d have to fill the gap with a 7300 @ [11:26 pm, 03/10/2023] Phillip Jubb: Lin and Richard having a grand old time on 3566 [11:26 pm, 03/10/2023] Phillip Jubb: Or 3565 [11:27 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: Yes they have nice signals into NSW tonight. [11:28 pm, 03/10/2023] Phillip Jubb: Richards making the 2km to my place well [11:29 pm, 03/10/2023] Richard Ayre: [11:29 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: 70 W | should be © [11:30 pm, 03/10/2023] Phillip Jubb: So | should upgrade my signal report to +20?? [11:30 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: Power's an illusion! 7OW compared to 10 W - about one S- point. [11:31 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: What's your noise level like Phillip? [11:31 pm, 03/10/2023] Richard Ayre: Would love an 80m verticle tho. [11:31 pm, 03/10/2023] Phillip Jubb: About s5 when [11:31 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: That would help. Do they | set the gain to 100% Marconi-Tee - works nearly as well Richard... just need a decent BEK-quality earth. [11:32 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: And do you use a narrow filter setting Phillip? [11:32 pm, 03/10/2023] Richard Ayre: Iv got S2 with wide filter $1 600 hz and sO with 200hz filter [11:33 pm, 03/10/2023] Phillip Jubb: On the widest CW filter today. Don’t feel the narrower ones help [11:33 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: My FT-817 has a narrow filter that has a similar result - knocks the noise for dead. My TS-50's filter doesn't work so well. [11:33 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: Phillip - do you use headphones? [11:34 pm, 03/10/2023] Phillip Jubb: Yep [11:35 pm, 03/10/2023] Phillip Jubb: Sorry no big brass mug to show off O©@ [11:35 pm, 03/10/2023] Stuart Cumming: [11:35 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: 9N7AA 599 Interesting - you were 259 with me (after using a phasing type noise canceller to knock the $9+5 noise to $5. one-way on 21.027 So interesting that you couldn't hear me - reverse propagation? [11:35 pm, 03/10/2023] Stuart Cumming: CQ 3.558 [11:36 pm, 03/10/2023] Richard Ayre: Filters help when other CW sigs close by. Confuses the brain to hear two at one time [11:38 pm, 03/10/2023] Richard Ayre: Il look into it got another ground rod at the weekend. That makes about 8 now [11:39 pm, 03/10/2023] Richard Ayre: Will have to bond them all together. [11:40 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: Vertically polarised - so may increase noise, and low angle radiation - so not as good on NVIS - but good for DX. [11:40 pm, 03/10/2023] Lin Jacob: Real good SIG from vk2 tonight to my QTH, listen to the QSO btw VK2KI and VK6PZT: [11:40 pm, 03/10/2023] Phillip Jubb: Can’t fake it to you make it when you jump on Stuart’s hook [11:43 pm, 03/10/2023] Phillip Jubb: Evening all. Cu next week [11:43 pm, 03/10/2023] Mark Bosma: [11:56 pm, 03/10/2023] Lin Jacob: Late bird. [11:57 pm, 03/10/2023] Stuart Cumming: Thank Mark you get my EEIE EE.? [12:00 am, 04/10/2023] Lin Jacob: | had a bit excursion too: [12:04 am, 04/10/2023] Stuart Cumming: [12:11 04/10/2023] Mark [1:11 am, am, Tx50W 04/10/2023] from home Bosma: David QTH CQ VK6KD 3.552 and VK6NT chatting Potts: A bit quiet tonight although Ballajura with L8 Rx QRM. on 3558.4 | stopped for a break for dinner. . My Tue night report: 3560kHz 3558.5 1714hrs vk6is QSO. 2047hrs. Listening to QSO vk2ki de vk6mk 3558.5 ?? hrs. VK2KI QSO. Receiving on the Waroona 3558.5 2000hrs. remote Rx. vk6nt QSO. 3555 2030hrs Listening to call from VK6QI Thanks again and 73 to all. [1:12 am, 04/10/2023] Regards, VK6KD Stuart Cumming: David 73 heard [11:52 pm, 06/10/2023] Stuart Cumming: you 599 in Australind very clear tonight CQ 3.537 VK6MK portable Margaret River [12:04 am, 07/10/2023] Phillip Jubb: Still there? [12:06 am, 07/10/2023] Stuart Cumming: Yes [12:14 am, 07/10/2023] Stuart Cumming: Thanks phil Your in the log . Right on the noise floor so a challenge . Cheers [12:14 am, 07/10/2023] Stuart Cumming: You’re [12:14 am, 07/10/2023] Phillip Jubb: Yeah you were 579 for a few seconds and then faded for 30-40 seconds. [12:15 am, 07/10/2023] Stuart Cumming: Yes you 459 then [12:15 am, 07/10/2023] Stuart Cumming: Antenna is long wire up pretty high gone in a tree [12:16 am, 07/10/2023] Phillip Jubb: New toroids for the OCFD arrive wed next week. May get out better and be less deaf then. [12:16 am, 07/10/2023] Stuart Cumming: Excellent Click here to let me know that you've received this new RagChew. Copyright (C) 2023 CQ QRS. All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences g® INTUIT Es mailchimp or unsubscribe