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CQ QRS
What happened
Reminder
e
Lance vs Router (LO, R1)
e
Richard
e Two
more
RagChew
last Tuesday, and a reminder for the next net.
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for 28Nov23
uses
in your browser
CQ QRS
ultra short wave
new team
members
e
Introducing Jordan VK3ACU
e
More questions
about
CW
propagation
of static crashes
Well | sure had a ball on Tuesday evening - although
it was relatively quiet
in the West (although as Peter says below - noisy and quiet), | was kept on
my toes over East.
Looks like we had at least 18 stations on or listening -
terrific again.
Our RagChew
newsletter seems to be going ahead
in leaps and bounds -
we now have just over 110 subscribers would you believe?
Amazing.
Still
takes me far too long to assemble each week, but if that results in more
people on on Tuesday evenings, then that’s a good return on investment.
Here’s this week’s
list of stations
heard:
v
RSS
21Nov23 CQ ORS Net
Total active stations this week:
18
| Total QSOS (mote that this figure eran’ be coerect «50s mary be courted twice or more]
oy
Instructions:
Existing Users:
Go dawn ta the line with your callgign on the left (Cabumin A), Use the slider on the right hand edge of the screen to scroll down.
If pou can't see Lhe lines, expand the spreadsheet downwards by clicking on the bottom of the window and dragging downwards,
Move acreas to O801
(Column
Ch, click on the cell and select the
callsign of the first G30
you
had or heard
Back text - OSLed, Green text - heard but not worked, Bue text - incomplete G50 [not sled).
Repeat the O50 entry against the ether station's row.
Moving to the next cell ta the right in your row for the secand O50 ete
If pou hear someone just calling OO, find them on the list in Column A and then enter CQ in Column B.
If you hear
-
or work someone
We'll then update
net in the left hand
the spreadsheet
column
‘Stuart:
shujenS5
2 girvmil.com
Mark:
mark, bosma@icloud.com
Curi-S to save the spreadsheet
when
If the sareadsheet is too confusing,
of dirag-down
(the spreadsheet has hidden
list, contact Stuart or Mark and advise;need
formulas that
need
to be copy
to be copy,pasted).
pasted).
done.
send the
fist of your contacts and heard
stations te Stuart or Mark
to update the spreadsheet
(to make
it eas
New Users:
Contact Stuart or Mark (click on email address above) and ask for your callign (or name if unlicensed) to be added.
Inchude a list of callsigns heard or worked, and we'll add the O50.
MY CALL
&
Calling CO
oso1
Os02
O50 3
os04
|; O505
VKSET |
VK7ZA | VK3BTV |
os06 |
aso7
gso08 |
VKSCZ
VEKSFD | VK2ZAQ0E |)
Os09 | O5010 | O5011
ft CO or Listeningif na O50)
VEITE
WK2KI | VK3ACU
VK2A0E
VK2KI
VESFD
VE2BHO
VE2BHO:
VK2GAZ
VK2IK
VE2KI
VKLTE/m | VK3ACU |
WKE6QI
VK2NV
VEK2WEO
VK3ACU
WK2KL
| VKITE/m | VK3BTV
VK3ADX
VEK3BTV
VK3BL
VKSCZ | WK3ACU
ca?
VK3CLD/p
VK3DBD
VKITE/m
Listening
VK3KO
VKSC2
VKSET | WK3BTV |
VKSET
VKITE/m|
VKFZA |
VKSFD
VKSCZ | VKSBTV |
WKSFD
VK5FD
VKSCZ
WKSET
|WKITE/m]
WK3ACU |
WK6IS | VK2A0E |
VK2KI
VK6KD
VE2KI
VK2KI
VKSIP
VKSKFG
VKSPH
VKGATB
VKBAAV
VK6BEK
VKBDEV
VK6CK
VK6DEV
VK6IS | WKGBEK
VK6FN
VE6GAL
VK6HRC
VK6IS
VK6KHZ | VK6BEK
VK6IR.
VK6IS
VKGDEV | VWKGKHZ |
VK6KD
VK6JDM
VK6KD
VK6IS
VK6KHZ
VKBIS
VK6KO.
VK6LD
VK6MK
VK6ENC
VKENT
VKGNW
VK6PZT | Listening from the 65th floor in Sydney, via the Yarloop SDR.
VKSET | WK6BEK | VK3ACU |
VK6Ql
VK6TY
VKGDEV |
VK6lS
VKGKHZ |
WK5SCZ | VK6BEK |
VKGKD
| VK3ACU )
WKSET
VKSCZ
VK6TY
WESC? | WKEDEV
VK2KI
car
VKEXU
VETWW
VE7KPC
VK7ZA
VK2KI
Reports
VK3BU
& Comments
So here’s this week’s
From
ASL:
Craig VK3CLD/p
Mount
|VKITE/m | VK3BTV
Selwyn
reports.
- NSW
Snow
Country 4500m
Lots of static crashes, but I’m hearing VK1TE/m
vertical (no 80m wire out tonight).
major storm overhead
RST 529 on the 40m/20m
Could not reply due to key probs and
(and no antenna!).
Hope others faired better.
We're at 3 Mile Dam, which is basically Mt Selwyn. Will move to Cooma
probably Friday, maybe
even a stop at Adaminaby overnight beforehand.
Just need to be at Cooma
for mail is all. As usual, we have no real plan, just
go with the flow as they say.
Did you have any luck last night?
[Thanks Craig - glad you could listen in - interestingly, no static crashes
only 150km further North where | am at Bowning NSW.
| had fun on
Tuesday - see the reports below for how | fared].
blitzortung.org lightning strikes at 0900z the start of the net on November 21st.
From
Lance
VK7ZA
at Margate:
Our conversation on WhatsApp
(outside of the CQ QRS Group):
[9:47 pm, 21/11/2023]
Mark Bosma:
Still around
Lance?
[9:48 pm, 21/11/2023]
Lance VK7ZA Conry: Yep.
[9:49 pm, 21/11/2023]
Lance VK7ZA Conry: Though
can't chat any more.
Key down was causing my Internet to cut out, and family is watching a
movie.
[9:51 pm, 21/11/2023]
Mark Bosma:
Bugger!
Want to try QRP - you had a
thunderous signal when you were calling CQ (I was working Jordan 3ACU at
the time).
[9:53 pm, 21/11/2023]
Lance VK7ZA Conry: It wasn't me calling CQ, but |
was Chatting with VK5ET.
[9:53 pm, 21/11/2023]
Lance VK7ZA Conry: And unfortunately when
doing funny things, QRP makes
NBN
[9:54 pm, 21/11/2023]
Lance VK7ZA Conry: It was nice to get on though.
[9:54 pm, 21/11/2023]
Mark Bosma: Wow!
listening - be good
is
no difference.
Bad luck mate.
OK, enjoy the
if you can send me a list of who you heard for the
RagChew.
[10:14 pm, 21/11/2023]
Lance VK7ZA Conry:
glad | got at least one QSO
Stations heard:
VK2Kl
in.
I'm calling it a night now.
I'm
VK3ACU
VK5ET - had QSO
VK5CZ
VK3BU
VK6TY
VKI1TE
VK3BTV...
[Thanks for the list of stations heard and worked mate.
Stuart VK6MK had
a similar problem with RF killing the Internet - solved by relocating his
router | think.
There are other options too - ferrite filters on the power lead
and cables, shielded ethernet cables, different router etc].
From
Richard VK6PZT
Evening
visiting Sydney:
Mark.
| was away from my rig on Tuesday night, on a wee trip to Sydney with the
family.
But following the most confusing
restaurant, | managed
meal ever at a Chinese
to listen in on the CQ QRS net via the Kiwi SDR at
Yarloop.
Logged:
VKSET
VK6BEK
VK3ACU
VK5CZ
VK6DEV
| thought | heard VK3WKS,
but | couldn’t confirm the callsign.
| had a great time in sydney.
| was gonna try a CQ on 2m simplex from the
top of the bridge but they wouldn’t let me take the Baofeng
up there!
Tried
a CW contact with a flash light to a nearby warship, but still no luck!
Perhaps they don’t teach flash telegraphy in the Navy anymore?
[Thanks for taking the time to listen and write the report mate - excellent.
Sorry to hear you had to go to Sydney;
another TV appearance?
Hope you
escape soon].
No TV appearances - just a quick trip with the family to visit the big coat
hanger and the opera house.
Tilly has a new job.
a
PS
re
=r
r
r
r
4
a
"6 ‘ii a
Sydney version of the quokka selfie.
[Which
one fs which?]
Cheeky
From
lan VK5CZ
at Clare:
QSOs with vk5et vk3btv vk5fd tonight.
Bit tired so early night . tnx all
vk5cz gn 73..
From
Keiran VK3BTV
at North
Our conversation on WhatsApp
[9:57 pm, 21/11/2023]
Ringwood:
(outside of the CQ QRS Group):
Mark Bosma:
/s your antenna on the ground mate -
weak signal here tonight!
[2:18 pm, 22/11/2023]
Keiran Blyth: You weren't very strong either Mark -
must have been propagation.
QSB.
Bhud was strong here, albeit with a bit of
I'm suspicious that a possum
antenna
might have been interfering with my
last night. It went way off tune a couple of times, and | could hear
the buggers banging around on the back fence.
[2:27
pm,
22/11/2023]
Mark
Bosma:
Buhd?
Yes, | think
| heard you
SDR in Perth - so it was just a local phenomenon.
on the
Interestingly, | also found
that my antenna / coupler was going out of tune not many kHz away from
where I'd tuned it up - hopefully not possums here though (we get the
occasional one, but don't want to encourage that sort of behaviour)!
From
Shaun
VK6BEK
at Quinns
Rocks:
Hi Mark,
A bit warm
over here and pretty noisy on 80m.
| was on a
managed
to work Phillip VK6DEV through the QRM
bit late and only
with my low end-fed.
called CQ quite a few times but no go. Finished just after 7om WST.
|
| did manage to hear 4W8xX the Timor DXpedition calling CQ on 3.501
around 6:30pm WST.
They could not hear me however and were later
working JAs.
Hopefully back to the inverted Lin about a month.
Regards
Shaun - VK6BEK
[Hi Shaun.
Yes | heard you calling and calling and calling CQ - but | was
already in a QSO from
VkK2 - and as it turned out, | wouldn’t have been able
to fire up the Remote anyway - there had been a power outage that day
and it needed a re-start.
Your signal from the long wire was fine into the
VK6QS SDR - so you were getting out ok - | suspect there wasn’t anyone
around in WA
yet.
From
Oh
when you called and the band probably wasn’t open to SA
well, better luck next time].
George
VK2AOE
at Kogarah:
Dear Mark, Yessss please add me to the list.
| do YOUTUBE
mind
as a hobby with ham
and technology as the theme.
Do you
if | mention the QRS sched there? Anything that gets CW on the bands
I’m all for it!
Speaking of SDRs have you tried KIWI SDR remote VK5ARG?
It is in a quiet
place with great S/N ratio.
| have never worked
net style on CW, so will need to learn the etiquette?
Do you normally take the call signs then call each station in turn?
| was on a HERMES
LITE 2 SDR radio .... It has great sig processing and
noise reduction. | quite often run home-brew gear too.
Got my call in 1983 (novice VK2PSE) then 1986 VK2CGD
stopped
ham
(full call) then
radio in 1990, as | went to sea as a ship’s RO (ROCP,
BOCP).... About 2 Yrs ago | came
ROGCP,
back to the hobby. So happy to hear CW
still happening!
TU FER FB QSO.
73 and | will try and cu agn ... dit dit
Regards
George Comninos
VK2AOE
[Hi George - great to work you on Tuesday night’s net.
Thanks you for
offering to put information about the net on YouTube;
terrific.
I'll send you
some background info, and you'll also see more down near the end of each
week’s RagChew.
Glad to hear your QRP SDR board works well;
| have a (tr)uSDX QRP
transceiver that has lots of problems - disappointing!
Let’s invite our more experienced operators’ thoughts on net-style CW QSO
etiquette - I’ve only done it a few times (and that’s only on the CQ QRS net)
when, like Tuesday I’ve been called by several stations.
e
So on Tuesday:
/ recognised Allen VK5FD’s callsign, but couldn’t decipher yours mixed
in with his.
e
e
So / asked Allen to stand by while | asked you to repeat your callsign.
/ then asked Allen whether he could hear you, and asked you whether
you could hear Allen.
e
That being established, you both exchanged RSTs.
e
/ really wanted to get your email address which wasn’t on QRZ.com, so
! again asked Allen to QRX while we got that sorted out.
e
Good thing we had good propagation, and that Allen and you were
both patient - HI!
So readers’ thoughts on multi-station net etiquette s’il vous plais?
Cheers and welcome George].
From
Allen VK5FD
at Blakeview:
Hi Mark.
Yes George was hard copy due QRN
VK5CZ.
- lots of static. | also worked
| heard you work John 5ET. Others | heard were VK1TE/m
lan
Claude,
VK3ACU Jordan, and VK6IS Peter.
Allen VK5FD.
[Thanks for your patience with the multi-station net QSO Allen - it worked
out well.
From
Thanks for the list of heard stations as well - terrific. ]
Richard VKG6HRC
at Padbury:
Hi Mark,
Listened in from home
last night - five stations in the log but more out
there getting buried in the noise.
Stations heard:
VK6IS
559
VK6KHZ
559
VK6BEK 579
VK2KI
439
VK6KD
559
Thank you, have a great day.
73 Richard VK6HRC...
[Thanks for your report Richard;
From
Ron VK6KHZ
a little quiet in WA this time].
at Yangebup:
Hi Mark - thanks for the email and yes | heard about the CQ QRS net on the
Sunday news and thought | would give it a try last night. My TX is so so but
my RX is non-existent - which is were | need to get some practice (this is
the downfall of using Voand).
a go.
So | will try to remember Tuesdays and have
| was using a IC 706 into a ATU with a Un-UN and long wire.
is about 25m and in a Vee with the centre up about 15m.
The long wire
| have a fan
dipole up for 20 and 40m, which is a lot quieter than the long wire - so
when
doing DX on SSB | do a dance between them - not the best set-up but
| guess we need to go with what we have.
Regards Ron
[Hi Ron.
Great to hear you on the net - welcome
mate.
Yup - the net
attracts both long-term CW operators, new people who want to develop
their skills, and people who’ve learned the Code but who have not used it
for a while (or ever!).
We're all in the same boat - learning to enjoy the
relaxed fun of slow CW.
You'll find more info about the net near the bottom
of the newsletter.
Once you get any local noise sorted (eg | use a phasing noise canceller...
because | haven’t quite got around to fixing the sources of the S9+ switch
mode power supply hash), your long wire should do well - especially with
the 15m centre.
So Welcome Ron and | hope to catch up with you again soon on one of the
future Tuesday nights, hopefully when there’s a few more
WA stations on,
or later when the band opens to the East].
From John VKS5ET at Hope
Valley:
G'day Mark.
A good
night from home
base; the ZS6BKW
was up to expectation.
Summary
of the night:
VKITE/M
(r338
) & VK2KI (118 ) were 1st to be heard
( very LOW
down
Mark.
VK7ZA
(S579)
VK5 ET (s 349)
3555
10:20Z
VK5CZ
(Ss 599)
VK5ET
(s599)
3555
10:41 Z
VK3BTV
(r129)
VK5CZ
(r559)
VK2KI
(s 599 ) VK5ET ($s 559)
09:10 Z 3555Mhz
)
3551
3563
10:45Z
11:30Z
Didn’t want to stay too long Mark as i guessed you had your hands full with
all the dah dit dit dit dah U were sending.@
73's till next week.
John, VK5ET,,...
[Hi John.
Thanks for your report - looks like you had fun.
Interesting that Claude
VKITE/m
was stronger than me - he was using his
Little Tarheel 2 mobile whip and travelling, yet | was using a doubleextended Zepp (two 5/8ths in phase - I’m guessing that Claude was getting
good low-angle take-off from his vertical antenna,
only 7m (less than
whereas my doublet is
0.1 lambda) up, so the take-off angle Is likely to be less
than optimal for normal skywave propagation.
And on all the dah-di-di-di-dahs - yes from memory | was trying to send to
you, decipher who was on the SDRs at the time and send a WhatsApp
notification with all that - my brain Is just too small to do them all at once HI!
Sorry about all the hyphens - 1 know I’m not much fun to work on the
net while I’m endeavouring to listen to three conversations at once, and
send WhatsApp and SMS notifications - oh well c’est la vie!
:)
By the way, what was the minor modification you did to your mighty
ZSO6BKW doublet?
From
Peter
Thanks John - catch you next week hopefully./
VK6IS
at Wundowie:
Hi Mark,
It was both noisy & quiet
- contacted,
..
vk6dev,, vk6kd,, vk6khz - nice to see my old call, there.
Peter
[Hi Peter.
Ron
Quiet and noisy - can’t please some people - HI!
VK6KHZ now has the callsign you used to have.
sharing schedule working?
Interesting that
How’s your time-
Hopefully it’ll make things work better for Mr
Reliable on Tuesday evenings].
From Jordan VK3ACU
Hi Mark.
at Meredith:
Thanks for running the net on Tuesday.
the air to improve my skills!
Nothing like getting on
Thanks for the contact too.
Cheers
Jordan
[Mon plaisir Monsieur.
Thank you for being there and getting to work
Claude and Keiran as well,
From
me, VK2KI
Zepp
antenna
See more about Jordan below].
at Bowning
from
home
using
and
my TS-50 and
Double-Extended
also using the VK1CM
SDR
The net started early for me while still eating dinner outside;
in Farrer:
| snuck inside
to turn on the computers, tune the antenna coupler and carefully adjust me
phasing-type noise canceller... all good to go.
calling CQ at 0845.
be at Cooma
Selwyn
| noticed Claude VK1TE/m
| flashed an SMS to Craig VK3CLD/p who | expected to
- in case he was able to come up;
he reported that he was at
(in the Kosciuszko National Park) and was copying Claude, albeit
that he didn’t have his 80m
inverted-L up because of a nearby
thunderstorm.
By 0910z | caught up with Claude - he was mobile on his way through
Williamsdale (the Southern end of the ACT) on his way to his property at
Tinderry NSW.
At 110km, the GRAFEX
ionospheric prediction from the BOM
showed that we were using Near Vertical Incidence Skywave via the F-layer
with a near 90 degree take-off angle.
It was interesting to hear the more
rapid QSB associated with the mobile signals compared to the normal slow
rolling QSB of skywave propagation.
Next up | was pleased to have a nice contact with Jordan VK3ACU
Meredith;
solid RST 599.
See more below about Jordan.
Araluen still off air, | used the VK6CM
With the Tecsun SDR at
SDR at Farrer to watch the band on
the spectrum waterfall display and heard
working
at
Jordan’s 40 Watts and half-wave end-fed long wire up 14m was a
John VK5ET at Hope Valley
Lance VK7ZA at Margate South of Hobart.
Claude who would
| heard Jordan working
have arrived at Tinderry, and a while later listened to
Keiran VK3BTV at North Ringwood
chatting to lan VK5CZ
at Clare.
lan went
on to work Allen VK5FD at Blakeview while Jordan and Keiran had a QSO.
then worked John, who was putting in a terrific RST 599 with his slightly
|
modified
ZS6BKW
doublet.
| gave a CQ call, and was answered
by two stations at once - Allen VK5FD
and a new station for the net, George VK2AOE
had QSB but were up to RST 599.
at Kogarah;
both stations
Of course, working two stations at once
on CW is tricky (at least for me) especially with signals not great between
each other.
However, they exchanged
as | welcomed
RSTs ok and Allen was very patient
George to the net and sorted out his email address on air.
George was a retired maritime Radio Operator who had returned to
amateur radio and was keen to join in on the net in future;
team George - see more about George below.
welcome to our
He was using a Hermes
Lite
2,a 5 Watt SDR transmitter to an end-fed inverted-Vee half-wave long wire
13m
up.
George was also coming through to the VK6QS
SDR in Brookton, so |
suggested that he stand by for a call from me using my VK6 call on the
Southern
Electronics Group Remote;
however,
best-laid plans... there had
been a power failure at Bedfordale and Rob VK6LD didn’t get the Remote
back on air until a bit later (when
propagation test - see below).
Remote
| used it for the weekly one-way
So | tried instead the Group’s VK6CRO
up at the Carnarvon Space Museum...
by three stations already doing 6m
FI-8;
and of course, it was in use
| also have access to the Hills
Amateur Radio Group Remote just North of the VK6SR station, but
unfortunately it’s not yet configured for CW (hint-hint Rob - HI!).
another time for yet another cross-country QRP QRS contact!
how good QRP can be on 80m
Also
from
Remote
me
VK6QI
when conditions are right.
via the VK6QS
at Bedfordale
and
Oh well -
I’m amazed
SDR
the VK6CRO
at Brookton,
Remote
the VK6SR
at Carnarvon:
When
| finished working Claude from home
VK6QS
SDR at Brookton and heard good early signals from Phillip VK6DEV
(see above), | checked the
at Dalyellup calling CQ, and a while later, | heard Peter VK6IS at Wundowie
working
Ron VK6KHZ
at Yangebup.
As it turns out, Peter used to be the
holder of the 6KHZ callsign before Ron!
when
he was testing his home
I’d worked
Ron a year or two ago
brewed 49er 3 Watt transmitter on 40m.
was terrific to hear Ron joining the net;
welcome
Next | heard lan VK5CZ calling CQ and Shaun VK6BEK doing likewise;
that stage | didn’t have the VK6SR
Remote
It
mate.
at
up, so | couldn’t talk to either of
them.
A while later after returning to the SDR from working people from
VK2, | heard David VK6KD
at Ballajura chatting to Peter.
VK6SR
1315z and did my weekly late-night test for one-
Remote at around
way propagation from VK2 to VK6;
Remote,
and the VK6SR
| came
back to the
my 70 Watts was RST 569 into the
100 Watts was RST 579 into NSW - so normal
bi-
directional propagation as we've experienced for the past couple of
months.
This week, unlike the previous few, my test Vs didn’t stir up any
QSOs, so by about 1am
| crawled off to bed, after a beaut fun night of QRS.
Here’s the Southern Electronics Group’s VK6SR Remote station at Bedfordale South of Perth
The serial-to-USB adapter and one-transistor buffer on top is the CW interface.
Other
Other things
I’ve received
From Jordan VK3ACU
at Meredith:
News
from
our 100-odd
Thanks for the welcome to the CQ QRS Group Mark.
bit about myself, so the team
members
readers.
As requested,
here’s a
know a bit about the person they’re
working.
My antenna
is a 40M wire it’s almost impossible to see especially trying to
take a photo of a wire in the sky © This would just be a photo of a tree |
guess!
| use a drone to deploy my antennas over our large pine trees, every few
years | need to replace the rope that goes over the tree as it eventually
gets sun damaged
Some
and snaps.
information on my antenna setup currently. | am running a end-fed
wire, it is made with cheap Bunnings galvanised ‘tie wire’, the unun
home-made
49-1 wound
on a FT240-43 core.
is a
The copper wire for the unun
was salvaged from an old microwave oven transformer so it has been quite
a low cost antenna to get on the air, This gets me on 80 40 2017
15 12
10m.
My main interests are QRP but | am able to run 100watts at home
if
necessary, you will find me often out and about portable in a quiet spot
somewhere.
My shack is completely off grid powered with 2x 1/0watt solar panels and
an AGM
battery, this keeps me going for hours and hours I’m certainly
exhausted
before the battery Is.
I’ve just finished repairing a DC-7X | got as a non-working
project, It is a
40M only rig.
Re.
ne
’
ett)
a
ieee.
Lh |
=)
— 2
Miztirico
| have also build the little century cent gem that Nic VK7WW
build a VFO for it and one day also a receiver.
built, | plan to
I've attached a few photos. More than happy to be added to the CQ QRS
WhatsApp
group.
Kind regards
Jordan
VK3ACU
[Thanks for taking the time to tell us a bit about you Jordan and welcome to
the team;
it’s great to have another VK3 on the net - and I’m sure you'll
have lots of fun and good practice... and lots more answers to your CQ calls
on Tuesday evenings.
I'll keep an eye out for you operating portable as
well - / get an SMS from Allen’s parksnpeaks.org system when people are
Spotted using CW.
Terrific that you’ve joined our CQ QRS WhatsApp group
as well - you'll see traffic on Tuesday nights
there any time you'd like a CW QSO.
drone
to get your antenna
From John VK5ET
of course, but you can post
Interested to talk to you about using a
ropes up over the trees some
at Home
time].
Valley:
Our newsletter makes great reading;
thanks to your contributors. Photos
are also great. Hear you all next week from my home QTH with a slightly
modified ZS6BKW
ant.
73's John ,VK5ET...
[Thanks John - appreciate the comments;
good to work you on Tuesday
-
terrific signals].
From
Keiran VK3BTV
Received the RagChew
at North
Ringwood:
as usual Bozzie.
back Sat week ago (tuning the 40m
| completely buggered
part of the fan dipole, 9m
end) so | didn't stay up late last Tuesday. Coming
good
my lower
long end-to-
now, hope to be
back Tues night.
Keiran (Bad Tempered
and sore Victorian)
[Bad luck about your back mate;
| hope things get better quickly.
hear you back on air on Tuesday].
And
more from Jordan VK3ACU
at Meredith:
Good to
G'day Mark,
| don't read a great deal but | read that entire RagChew
news letter,
fantastic!
Thanks again for sending
it.
Just wanted to let you know towards the end there Is a link and this text.
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.
The link did not work for me just thought I'd let you know
Cheers
and
thanks for the effort with the newsletter.
Jordan
[Hi Jordan - well l’m honoured to learn that the RagChew got the ‘read endato-end’ treatment - wow!
| know that most people get far too many emails,
and only a percentage have time to actually read them.
who do read and hopefully enjoy them - thank you.
For those like you
I’m always open to
suggestions about improving the readability and interest if anyone has any
ideas?
Thanks for the info about that link - the information was on the Peel
Amateur Radio Group’s old website (that| used to helo manage) - and |
suspect that Google has turned it off (we’d tried unsuccessfully to move the
information from the old Google Sites to the new Google Sites format) - but
‘ll see if | can resurrect the information and move it to the new website in
the next couple of days/.
From
Louis VK6OI
at Kalgoorlie:
Hi Mark.
Was looking at Morse code last night on u tube ..This is a system that
Shows the code in letters
Lewle
.. VK6Ol
- “interesting”!
[G’day Lewie.
Heh heh!
Now that’s weird!
I’m a visual thinker, but it
wouldn't work for me!
What's also weird is that you.... ex-VK6ZGQ,
man
renowned and sworn anti-CW
would be looking at YouTube things about Morse Code!
Stranger
things have happened | guess - like mois - who also swore to never again
touch a Morse key after finally passing the 10wpm AOCP test on the third or
forth or fifth attempt.
Have you had an opportunity to listen in on a
Tuesday arvo / evening?
Amazing how many we’re getting - up to 19
stations a couple of times - whodathunkit?
Hope you an Suzie are going
well].
Louis’ reply:
| get it...
Thanks for the read as well .. loved the lightning story last week.
got a high power licence ... hmmm
Has God
.. | might surprise myself and you one
night.
Suz and | are ok...74 next year and Suz is ..72..
Cheers
Lewie
mate
..
..60i
[Lewie was /m in Kalgoorlie and we ended up having a chat on the AllStar
network while the RagChew was being put together.
Glad you enjoyed the
lightning story mate - more below].
From
Bernie VK4KX
at Nambour
- posted
in VK Classifieds:
| had on display at the Sunshine Coast Amateur Radio Club a WW2
Suitcase
radio complete with display cards explaining it's history & operation etc.
This was a genuine WW2
behind Enemy
me and | thought members
Someone
lines Spy Radio that was given to
would appreciate the history behind it.
obviously did not appreciate the history and either threw it out or
sold it at the SUNFEST ham
radio fest a couple of years ago.
If you bought it or Know what happened to it please contact me.
Regards
VK4KX,
Bernie vk4kx@bigpond.com
From
David
VK3DBD
at Yakandandah:
Thanks for your comments
Mark. To all intents and purposes the COVID
is
history now. Hope it stays that way.
| did fully intend to be QRV in Tuesday and in fact did so quite late - but
heard no one at all.
Memory seemed to go walkabout as well.
my rig on, | was not sure if it was normally 40m
Obviously checked 40 too but abandoned
find QRS
so much
When
| put
or 80 - | decided 80.
it all after a few mins as | really
like hard work - | think i might just abandon that to.
There are different ways of measuring
"Speed" - AKA
Farnsworth / Koch
(not sure what difference is?) but | am quite sure that a LETTER should,
from square one, be sent at say 18 - 20 wom
spaces maketh the code... short between
simplicity itself.
or very near - and let the
letters, longer between words;
And | know none of us are perfect;
familiarity breeds
contempt of course and | always TRY to send my call (for instance) clearly.
| copy what is sent and it is so common
to hear things like "My NAG
IS..."
and similar errors which do not create a problem usually, but it is a habit
forming thing-you will have come across many times | am sure.
| recently had a QRS QSO with my old mate ZL3TK Stan;
| have had QSOs
with him on several occasions over a few years and | derived and
appreciated that he had strong views about CW.
needed
a QRS QSO,
So although
it was a QRS net so | tried to match
Stan sent me a report of ur 591;
neither if us
his speed...
yes 591 - which baffled me.
But
He
said afterwards he was only copying about 5% of what | sent as | left no
Spaces.
Wow!
| nearly slept between them
| thought.
Discussing that report with a friend recently, | was told that he thought this
was a new way of expressing the problems of NOISE (QRM)!
and learn | guess, but
| am unlikely to be converted.
| enjoy helping others in any of my/their endeavours
problem
| see happening so much
radio.
if| can.
now is the "importance"
attach to their Morse Key - some will soend
moderate
Well we live
nearly as much
But one big
many newer ops
on a key as a
As | said last time - a straight key is to my mind the way
they should go, for starters, always.
You usually learn to ride on a bicycle
before you buy a 500cc motorcycle..... nuff said.
Timing
is the essence of Morse Code as it is now used.
Speeds
have
increased since
Vail and Morse used their rather clumsy Correspondent as
they called the
simple switch - and! would
went out at a speed so low we would
laugh;
guess the very first message
such is progress.
| won't go
on, you already know it, but | would certainly welcome anyone who
seriously wanted to learn to send and rx the code - unless the learning is
interactive without sufficient talk-back, some
- or at least a long wait.
vk3dbd@gmail.com
73
learners are doomed
to failure
Anyone from the net is welcome to contact me at
for support or discussion on learning CW.
David
[Hi David.
I’m pleased to hear you’re post/ past COVID - hooray!
Strange
that you didn’t hear anything on the net - there was a reasonable number
of people on on Tuesday from 7:45pm
lam
when | gave it away.
Victoria time through until around
In fact, | reckon 1 was pretty much flat out the
whole time... not even a toilet stop if memory serves me - HI!
Sorry to hear that you find the QRS hard work - it’s supposed to be fun and
relaxing - at least it is for me - HI.
Is there anything | can do to make it
more worthwhile & fun for you?
| really hope we can keep you inspired to
stay with our little team on Tuesdays - we need experienced ops like you to
help the newbies (like me!).
Perhaps consider joining the WhatsApp CQ
QRS group - and use it to tee-up non-QRS rag-chews at non-net times?
People are doing that from time to time - someone feels like a chat and
posts on WhatsApp (last week it was lan 5CZ and Jordan 3ACU at Meredith hooked up on 15m during the day - and there are others like Max 6FN,
Stuart 6MK and David 6KD who are looking for non-QRS rag-chews as well.
Interesting about the spacing thing;
| have also worked Stan a number of
times when operating portable in National Parks or SOTA.
of the Tin RST being used for anything but Tone;
| haven’t heard
sounds like someone’s
bright idea that hopefully will die a natural death!
Terrific to offer to helo people learn and to provide feedback;
your email address above for direct contact.
I’ve added
Cheers mate, and / hope to
hear you on Tuesday].
This Week’s
Discussion
How
Don’t Appear to be Propagated?
come
Static Crashes
Topic
So continuing our thinking topic this week - how come the 80m
band can
be open across Australia, yet on one coast the static crashes could be
driving everyone under the blankets, yet on the other side of the country,
nothing is heard of the QRN?
How come the electromagnetic pulses aren't
propagated over that path via the same
E and F-layer skywave as our more
desired signals?
You may recall from the last RagChew,
on our net on October 14th later in
the evening the Sandgropers were being driven crazy by the static crashes;
correlating the crashes | heard on the VK6QS
SDR with the slightly delayed
display on the blitzortung.org lightning tracker demonstrated that the
offending crashes were around the WA/SA
border.
3G
al Telstra
4°
Gs
70
10:53 pm
@ blitzortung.org
Destination Gold Coast
Sunshine and Good |,
® Times
255
@
Blitzortung.org
=
20
IN
a
FOCUS
Li
contributors
Hinutes
A worldwide, real-time, community collaborative lightninc
location network. © 2003-2023 Blitzortung.org
Contributors
From last week, we know that the blitzortung.org system uses VLF
propagation.
With a vector from Owen VK2OMD
at Bowral (thanks Owen)
to Rec. ITU-R P.372-16, the International Telecommunications
recommendations
expected
on radio noise;
levels of both man-made
Union
the paper defines the sources and
and natural noise.
However, the eye sees one thing, and the mind thinks it sees another;
thought Owen
|
was referring to the National Bureau of Standards
publication /onospheric Radio Propagation by Kenneth
Central Radio Propagation Authority.
Davies of the NBS
That reference states that “(VLF)
waves, reflected from the lower boundary of the D layer, are not affected
by tonospheric disturbances to the same degree as the IIF waves, and are
characterized by relatively slow fading rates”.
He also says
“The majority
of the energy in the VLF band comes from radiation due to lightning
discharges,
which are called atmospherics. A typical discharge radiates
about 5X10~4/Joules . A large part of this energy Is radiated in the VLF
band,
with peaks near 10kc/s.
The transmitted waves are mostly vertically
polarized and the field strengths produced by these discharges can be as
great as several volts/meter at short distances.
The energy level, at the
receiver, is generally greatest between sunset and midnight and tapers off
to a broad minimum after sunrise”.
Jordan & Balmain (Electromagnetic
Waves and Radiating Systems) says “ 7he mechanism of reflection and
refraction of radio waves by the ionosphere is very much a function of
frequency.
At low frequencies, say below 100kHz,
the change in electron
and ion density within the distance of a wavelength is so great that the
layer presents virtually an abrupt discontinuity in the medium.
Under these
circumstances the reflection may be treated in the same manner as the
reflection of waves at the surface of a dielectric that may or may not have
loss”
The implication is that the propagation of the VLF component of
lightning’s electromagnetic pulse works like a waveguide which is more
immune to changes
in ionisation strength (ie the layering that we are
familiar with) through the ionosphere.
Is there a Sonographer in the house who can discuss ultrasonics - HI?
Yeah,
| know Richard.... electromagnetic waves at 10kKHz are different to sound
waves in air/ body tissue!
But still...
| was wondering whether what we hear on 80m was the result of
propagation of the VLF components to the area where we’re listening, and
that the strong pulses were overloading the front-ends of our receivers (ie
driving the front end into non-linearity, generating
the spectrum)?
night?
harmonics up through
If that’s the case, why are static crashes on 80m worse at
If the VLF propagation
happens at the lower end of the D-layer
(Davies), the D-layer rises / dissipates at night... doesn’t that mean that
there will be less waveguide-like ducting?
Or does it make no difference
because of the very long wavelengths - the boundary conditions happen
the lowest layer - be it D, E, Fl or F2.
Or perhaps there are more
thunderstorms
Any thoughts folks?
in the region at night?
Ok, back to the question of why static crashes that are so strong on 80m
in
at
one end of the country aren’t audible at the other end, despite the band
being open?
Let’s explore this using the thinking that what we're hearing is
the result of front-end overload
by the electromagnetic pulse down at the
VLF frequencies.
So on the previous Tuesday’s net | was watching the blitzortung.org display
while listening on the VK6QS
Brookton SDR.
Could the front-end
overloading signals be coming to WA on 80m via the E & F layers?
GRAFEX
The
ionospheric prediction for Eucla to Perth shows that at 1200z for
the 1200km
path, single-hop E-layer propagation was not predicted (the E-
layer Maximum
Usable Frequency was around 2MHz)
but single-hop F-layer
was possible, with a take-off angle of 19 to 30 degrees. Second mode (twohop) F-layer propagation was also predicted, with a 38 to 51 degree takeoff angle.
Perhaps the high take-off angles are significant because of the
height of the cumulonimbus
clouds?
GRAFEX
INPUT
Date:
DATA
14 11 2023
T index:
Tx name:
Rx name:
95
Eucla
Perth
Tx
Rx
latitude:
latitude:
SWS GRAFEX HF FREQUENCY
Circuit:
(
Eucla
__—Bearings:265 92
First
Mode
IF
19-38
1E
5
UT
08
UWF ENUF
ALF
18.3 13.9
7.3
-31.68
-31.95
Tx
Ax
128.87
115.87
PREDICTIONS
Perth
Date:
|————-F
1
Longitude:
longitude:
5
requency
18
Jasedasece |
SSXXMB
14
Distance:
15
28
conc dacaa|
PPE
November,
1228
km
2023
T-index:
———
(MHz)-------—- “,
25
38
acon ]eens |]
35
40
Second
2F
220s] esss | =e
7.8
95
Mode
38-51
27E
15
Eee—A-T
8.2
4.2 08
9111.1
14.9
7.8
ASSAMB
BPEE..
764°
8.9
4.5
61
@2
03
11.6
11.9
15.6
16.0
8.1
8.2
ASSXXM
ASSSXM
BPPEE.
BPPEEE
7.9
8.3
9.3
9.6
4.6
4.7
82
@3
0411.9
16.1
8.3
ASSSXM
BPPPEE
8.6
9.7
4.7
84
05
06
11.8
11.4
15.9
15.4
8.2
8.8
ASSSXM
ASSXXM
BPPPE.
BPPPE.
8.7
8.4
9.5
9.2
4.7
4.6
65
06
67
11.86
14.6
7.6
SSSAMM
PPPP..
8.1
8.7
4.4
87
QB
09
18.6
11.8
13.4
11.7
7.1
6.4
SSSMMM
ASSMMMM
PPP
Pais
8.8
7.9
7.9
6.8
4.1
3.7
08
89
1818.9
7.8
4.6
3.1
18
:
7
8.8
5.8
SMMMMMM
Aes. |
4-33-4042 1
-#+-
MMMMMMPF
Sette...
—13—8,5—2;1
14
(7.9
2.1
15
7.9
2.1
6.8 XMMMMMMMS%
6.0 XMMMMMMS%%
8.8 XMMMMMMSA
...
..
..
6.1
6.8
1.3
1.3
08.8
8.8
14
15
16
7.7
2.1
6.8
XMMMMMMSS.
..
5.9
1.3
68.80
16
17)
18
«7.4
6.7
2.1
2.1
6.8
@.8
XMMMMMMS%,
XMMMMMAS..
.
5.6
5.3
1.3
1.3
6.8
08.0
17
18
19
6.3
2.1
8.0
XMMMMMS4..
5.6
1.3
68.8
19
26
21
6.2
$7.2
2.1
2.1
6.8
9.8
XMMMMMS...
MMMMMMFSs,
.
4.8
5.3
1.3
8.8
6.86
2.8
26
21
22
6.6
9.9
5.5
SSMMBP%
%..
6.1
5.5
3.3
#2
2399.2
UT
WF
12.3
EMUF
6.6
ALF
ASSXMBP
[ese ewaa|
PE..
seca [ecaa |
6.6
OWF
7.2
EMUF
3.9
ALF
23
UT
|.
|B
USABLE LESS THAN 58% OF DAYS
BOTH E and F MODES 98% OF DAYS
|F
FIRST
|S
(c}
SECOND MODES ONLY
18-Nov-2823 BoM Space
F
MODE
ONLY
{E
E-LAYER
cane fanaa]
)%
|
aeeca feces |
USABLE 5@% TO 90% OF DAYS
MIXED FIRST AND SECOND F MODES
PROPAGATION
JA
HIGH ABSORPTION
Weather Services, Sydney
|P
9@%
E
and
50-90%
|
F
|X
COMPLEX MODES
Australia +61-2-9213-8000
And what about the other direction - Eucla to over East?
|
|
Why wasn’t |
hearing the Eucla-area lightning over here - the prediction was pretty much
the same, albeit with slightly lower take-off angles (because of the longer
distance - 1900km).
Perhaps using the ionospheric predictions is a Furphy?
Most of the lightning is inter- or intra-cloud - more often than not lightning
never reaches the ground, and for those strikes that do, where is the EM
pulse generated - at the source or destination, or along the ionising track?
The predictions are for stations located at ground
level and with
considerable less effective radiated power than lightning.
Hmmm.
GRAFEX INPUT DATA
Date: 14 11 2823
T index: 157
Tx name: Eucla
Tx
Rx name: Canberra
latitude: -31.68
Tx
Rx Latitude: -—35.25
Longitude: 128.87
Ax Longitude: 149.17
Circuit: Eucla
Bearings: 187 276
First Mode
Canberra
Date:
14 November, 2823
Distance: 1928 km
|-—_-———- Frequency
(Mtz)}———_— |
T-index:
157
Second
Mode
61 17.3
O2 17.7
O3 17.7
O4 17.5
@5 17.8
66 16.1
Of 15.8
O68 15.8
0915.5
1815.7
1115.1
12 14.2
1313.5
1412.9
1512.7
1611.7
17 °18.2
18
46.7
19
«6.8
2818.3
2112.4
22 14.3
23 15.5
UT
OWE
S55
SSS
SSS
SSS
SSS
ASSS
S555
ASSSM
ASSMMM
XMMMMMMMMM
XMMMMMMMMM
XMMMMMMMMM
XMMMMMMMMM
XMMMMMMMMM
XMMMMMMMMM
XMMMMMMMMM
XMMMMMMMMP
XMMMMMMMA
XMMMMMMMA%:
MMMMMP
SSSMM
SSSX
ASSS
[owsfesse |
13.7
14.1
14.1
13.9
13.3
12.5
11.3
9.5
5.9
2.8
2.8
2.8
2.8
2.8
2.8
2.8
2.8
2.8
2.8
6.8
8.1
18.5
12.8
EMUP
1F 11-21 1E 1
1
5
18
15
#20
25
38
35
48
2F 26-42 2E 8
WT OWE EMF ALF icc fewac| eesfeeas| saan deess)aedecce]
(WE EMI ALE CUT
@@ 16.6 18.8 11.8
ASSS XMBBBBPP.. ...
18. 513.8 7.8 88
|.
|B
|F
|S
(c)
19.6
28.8
28.1
19.9
19.2
18.2
16.7
14.5
18.7
2.9
2.9
2.9
2.9
2.9
2.9
2.9
2.9
2.9
2.9
6.1
13.8
15.8
17.6
EAUF
12.2
12.4
12.5
12.4
127.8
11.5
18.7
4.5
7.4
@.8
@.@
8.8
@.@
8.8
@.8
@.8
@.8
@.8
@.8
4.6
8.7
18.2
11.1
ALF
XMMBBGBPE. ..
XMMABGBPEE ..
XMMABBBPPE ...
XMMBBBBPP. ...
XMMBBBPPE. ..
AXBBEBPP.. ..
XMBBPP%4.. .
MMBBS a...
MMFFPSA.
MMFFP Se...
MPFP PS. .
MPPP Sse. .
MPP ae.
FPSrt%..
FPS...
Fave..
Sst.
Sete,
Se,
Sse
BBP...
MBBBPS.... .
ZMBBBPP... ..
wees Qecee | coer [ecee |
18.4
18.6
18.9
18.7
18.4
18.4
18.4
18.6
11.8
18.8
18.5
9.6
9.4
9.0
9.8
7.9
6.9
6.4
6.3
7.1
8.5
9.8
18.4
ceee [anes | OWF
7.2
7.4
7.4
7.43
7.1
6.9
6.4
5.8
4.48
6.8
@.8
8.8
6.8
8.8
6.8
6.8
6.8
68.8
8.8
4.1
5.4
6.2
6.7
ALF
81
@2
83
84
85
86
8?
88
89
18
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
28
21
22
23
UT
USABLE LESS THAN 58% OF DAYS
}%
USABLE 5@% TO 9@% OF DAYS
BOTH E and F MODES 98% OF DAYS
|M
MIXED FIRST AND SECOND F MODES
FIRST F MODE ONLY
JE
E-LAYER PROPAGATION
JP
98% E and 58-98% F
SECOND MODES ONLY
JA
HIGH ABSORPTION
|X
COMPLEX MODES
18-Nov-2823 BoM Space Weather Services, Sydney Australia +61-2?-9213-B800
So where does that leave us?
Could the distance differences (1900km vs
1200km)
If the EM pulses were propagated via the
Same
be a clue?
Maybe!
modes as our 80m
signals, then I'd expect from the propagation
prediction that the signals from the Eucla area would be heard in both the
West and the East.
But they weren’t - all quiet on the Eastern front.
Perhaps that indicates that what we’re hearing isn’t the 80m
the EM pulse spectrum,
propagated to our receivers.
component of
If this is a valid
observation, that points in fact back to the front-end overload option.
What
if the EM pulse arrives via propagation of the VLF energy, largely viaa
different mechanism than our 80m
signals.
What if the predominantly VLF
energy is ducted (wave-guide style) between the ground and the remnants
of the dissipating D-layer over West for the 1200km
- while toward the East,
the D-layer is too weak to sustain the ducting over the longer 1900km
distance?
If that’s the case, the mainly VLF pulse of EM energy is arriving in the
Sandgropers’
e
backyards and either:
overloading the receivers’ front-ends (ie driving them
into non-
linearity) which generates spurious things which then make their way
through the IF;
e
or
causing other things in the environment (eg the connections in our
antennas, dissimilar metal-to-metal joints in the area, etc) to radiate at
the higher frequency via secondary emission.
Hmmm.
Perhaps?
So what’s your thoughts?
The aim of these ramblings is
to generate thinking, discussion and sharing of ideas.
So I’m keen to hear
of any experiences, thoughts and ideas to add to the mix.
VK2OMD
said to me... “Noise is such interesting stuff!
your findings”.
Owen
As Owen
| will be interested in
has done a number of experiments
in the past which
involve testing of antennas over long distances under normal QSB
conditions, using QRSS (a very very slow CW
mode
using frequency shift
keying and very narrow (a few Hertz) receiver bandwidths) and statistical
analysis ( httos://owenduffy.net/grabber/cs.htm );
his bottom
line is that
it’s very difficult to draw valid conclusions under such conditions - similar to
the thoughts of Andrew VK3OE
during our previous discussion topic of 80m
one-way propagation.
So please let me know your thoughts so we can share more options and
ideas;
email to mark.bosma@icloud.com
Tuesday’s
CQ QRS
Net
Reminder.
So back to the Slow CW QSO
always on
practice net.
Tuesday from around 0900z;
Our CQ QRS Net will be on as
see below for details.
Fingers
crossed that we’ll keep attracting more Easterners and that they'll stay up
late to catch the fun as the band opens from the East to the West once
again.
So thank you so much to our outstanding team of 17 contributors (wow!)
this week:
VK3CLD, VK7ZA, VK6PZT, VK5CZ, VK3BTV, VK6BEK, VK2AOE,
VK5FD, VK6HRC,
and VK2OMD.
VK6KHZ, VK5ET, VK6IS, VK3ACU,
Thank you team - once again, a superb effort - it’s the
thoughts of the team
the 110-odd
everyone,
VK6OI, VK4KX, VK3DBD
plus the photos that makes
(perhaps 110-plus would
RagChew
so interesting to
be safer) subscribers;
please let me know by email to
so for
mark.bosma@icloud.com
who
you work or hear this coming 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
each week to make our RagChew
newsletter
interesting.
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
during the net and also to spot QRS
stations at other times.
The feed from last week is below;
join in on the WhatsApp
group if possible.
I'd like you to
(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:
dah-dah dit!
About
the CQ
Here’s
the
QRS
Net
details.
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
2000
-
2400+
Eastern
WA time, 1930 - 2330+
Summer
time.
SA Summer time
(I think!).
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
slower.
new, please match their sending speed - or
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:
new location when
(link temporarily removed
it’s moved
- I'll replace it with the
over to a new website).
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
respectively.
CQ QRS
WhatsApp
Traffic from the CQ QRS
Feed
WhatsApp
Here’s what went on on the CQ QRS WhatsApp
Group.
message group this week:
[4:37 pm, 19/11/2023] lan - VK5CZ: CQ 21.045 bug key.
[4:40 pm, 19/11/2023] Jordan VK3ACU:
[7:47
pm,
21/11/2023]
Mark
Bosma:
I'll have a listen shortly
VK1TE/m
calling CQ
QRS
on 3555.
[8:26 pm, 21/11/2023] Mark Bosma: VK6DEV calling CW on 3560 and VK1TE/m
and VK2KI chatting
on 3555.
[8:34 pm, 21/11/2023] Mark Bosma: VK1TE/m
heading to Tinderry NSW calling CQ on 3555.
[8:41
pm,
21/11/2023]
Mark
Bosma:
VK6IS
calling CQ
on 3560.
[8:43
pm,
21/11/2023]
Mark
Bosma:
VK2KI
calling CQ
QRS
on 3558.
[8:45 pm, 21/11/2023] Peter Scales: Can't hear you
[8:46 pm, 21/11/2023] Mark Bosma: QSL - band's not open to WA from here yet.
luck?
Are you having any
Phillip was on before.
[8:47 pm, 21/11/2023] Peter Scales: Did work Phil
[8:49
pm,
21/11/2023]
Mark
Bosma:
VK6KHZ
calling CQ
on 3560.
[8:50 pm, 21/11/2023] Mark Bosma: VK6KHZ and VKGIS chatting on 3560.
[8:57 pm, 21/11/2023] Mark Bosma:
respond
to VK6KHZ
on 3560
Looks like Ron isn't hearing Peter.
Anyone else available to
if Peter can't crack the contact?
[9:05 pm, 21/11/2023] Peter Scales: Ron is using my old call ! !
[9:08 pm, 21/11/2023] Mark Bosma: VK3ACU
and VK2KI chatting on 3560.
[9:10 pm, 21/11/2023] Peter Scales: Too weak
[9:11 pm, 21/11/2023] lan - VK5CZ: CQ QRS 3.553 vk5cz.
[9:18 pm, 21/11/2023] Mark Bosma: VK6BEK calling CQ on 3562. VK6CZ calling CQ on 3553. VK2KI
and VK3ACU
[9:22
pm,
chatting on 3560.
21/11/2023]
Mark
Bosma:
VK5ET
calling CQ
on 3563.
[9:31 pm, 21/11/2023] Jordan VK3ACU: Awesome thanks Mark! Appreciate the contact again :)
[9:31 pm, 21/11/2023] Richard Ayre: Im in sydney at the mo_
[9:32
pm,
21/11/2023]
Mark
Bosma:
My
[9:32
pm,
21/11/2023]
Mark
Bosma:
VK7ZA
pleasure Jordan
and VK5ET
[9:33
pm,
21/11/2023]
Mark
Bosma:
Sydney
Richard.
but listening in on SDR
- hope you
chatting
Come
work some
more
tonight.
on 3555.
and
visit... we're just three
hours down
the road mate!
[9:34 pm, 21/11/2023] Mark Bosma: VK3ACU
calling CQ on 3560 - band starting to open towards the
West.
[9:36 pm, 21/11/2023] Mark Bosma: VK6BEK calling CQ on 3561.
[9:38 pm, 21/11/2023] Richard Ayre: sure
il jump in my helecopter and pop round for brekky
[9:39 pm, 21/11/2023] Richard Ayre: mind you i may hit your local 2 m repeater
from my hotel room
im on the 65th floor
[9:40 pm, 21/11/2023] Jordan VK3ACU: Vk1 station calling me VK3ACU just in my noise sorry ©
[9:41
pm,
21/11/2023]
Mark
Bosma:
VK1TE/m
[9:41
pm,
21/11/2023]
Mark
Bosma:
VK5ET
and VK3ACU
and VK5CZ
chatting
chatting
on 3560.
on 3555.
[9:43 pm, 21/11/2023] Mark Bosma: VK6DEV calling CQ on 3557.
[9:44 pm, 21/11/2023] Mark Bosma:
Richard - I'd need to take down the antennas - they're covering
the landing strip at the moment - so helicopter ops are restricted to daylight only - HI!
[9:46
pm,
21/11/2023]
Mark
Bosma:
[9:46
pm,
21/11/2023]
Richard
Ayre:
VK6DEV
and VK6BEK
chatting
on 3557.
bugger
[9:48 pm, 21/11/2023] Mark Bosma: Which SDR are you using Richard?
[9:48 pm, 21/11/2023] Richard Ayre: i did try some cw from the top of sydney harbour bridge
but as
they wud not let me take a radio i had to use a flashlight
[9:48 pm, 21/11/2023] Richard Ayre: yarloop
[9:48 pm, 21/11/2023] Richard Ayre: is there a food one in NSw
[9:48 pm, 21/11/2023] Richard Ayre: good one?
[9:49
pm,
21/11/2023]
Mark
Bosma:
Did you
work anyone
from
the harbour
bridge
[9:49 pm, 21/11/2023] Mark Bosma: The Tecsun SDR is off air at the moment.
Richard?
Try the VK1CM
one in
Canberra.
[9:50 pm, 21/11/2023] Richard Ayre: no luck
no
answer
tried a warship parked at garden island with a cq but
[9:50
pm,
21/11/2023]
Richard
Ayre:
r vk1
will do
[9:52 pm, 21/11/2023] lan - VK5CZ: CQ QRS 3.552 vk5cz
[9:56 pm, 21/11/2023] Phillip Jubb: Sorry Shaun just not enough above the noise. You we’re readable
att some points but dropped
into the noise and | missed most of your msg
[9:57
Bosma:
pm,
21/11/2023]
Mark
VK5CZ
and VK3BTV
chatting
on 3552.
[9:59 pm, 21/11/2023] Jordan VK3ACU: Wow very tough copy with vk1te/m just got there in the end
very tricky but thank you if you are on the chat
[9:59 pm, 21/11/2023] Mark Bosma:
[10:00
pm,
I'll pass it to Claude via SMS Jordan.
21/11/2023] Jordan VK3ACU:
Thank
you.
Rst was
at best 2 2 9
[10:04 pm, 21/11/2023] Mark Bosma: VK6BEK calling CQ on 3562.
[10:23
pm,
21/11/2023]
Mark
Bosma:
VK5FD
[10:30
pm,
21/11/2023]
Mark
Bosma:
VK3BTV
chatting
chatting
and VK3ACU
on 3552.
chatting
on 3560.
VK5CZ
and VK5FD
on 3552.
[10:32 pm, 21/11/2023] Jordan VK3ACU:
[10:32
and VK5CZ
pm,
21/11/2023]
Mark
Bosma:
Is the band quite noisy for others is it just me?
VK5ET
and VK2KI
chatting
on 3563.7
[10:33 pm, 21/11/2023] Peter Scales: It's Q5 here
[10:35
pm,
21/11/2023]
lan - VK5CZ:
QSO
with vk5et vk3btv
vk5fd.
Bit tired so early night . tnx all vk5cz gn 73..
[10:36 pm, 21/11/2023] Keiran Blyth: S5 here Jordan , but you were smashing
go check if that possum
[10:36
pm,
it wid ur 25w. | better
is cooked@
21/11/2023] Jordan VK3ACU:
Dinner
is ready
[10:37 pm, 21/11/2023] Mark Bosma: VK3ACYU
Keiran
calling CQ on 3560 VK5ET and VK2KI chatting on
3563.7
[10:41
pm,
21/11/2023] Jordan VK3ACU:
Sorry no copy to the station
answering
me
at all. Just
impossible @
[10:42
pm,
21/11/2023]
[10:42
pm,
21/11/2023] Jordan VK3ACU:
Peter Scales: Yeah
Its very weak
Did you
happen
to hear the call sign
Peter?
[10:43 pm, 21/11/2023] Peter Scales: Yeah
[10:43 pm, 21/11/2023] Jordan VK3ACU: What was it? Also silly question but when I| have a station
come back and they are unreliable but obviously they can hear me what's the correct way to
respond?
[10:44 pm, 21/11/2023] Peter Scales: Keep repeating your call
[10:45
pm,
21/11/2023]
Peter Scales: And
[10:47 pm, 21/11/2023] Jordan VK3ACU:
rst if you
think they can
hear you
Sorry Peter I'm not sure if | wrote that question correctly.
What | mean to say is if I'm calling cq they answer but they are unreliable to me.
[10:48 pm, 21/11/2023] Peter Scales: Scratch it & move on
[10:48 pm, 21/11/2023] Jordan VK3ACU:
Got it. Thank you very much.
[10:48 pm, 21/11/2023] Peter Scales: You can't do much else
[10:53 pm, 21/11/2023] Mark Bosma: You could also say:
[10:54
pm,
21/11/2023]
Mark
Bosma:
VK6IS
and VK6KD
SRI NO CPY 73 dit-dit.
chatting
on 3560.
[10:56 pm, 21/11/2023] Mark Bosma: VK2KI calling CQ on 3558.
[11:00 pm, 21/11/2023] Phillip Jubb: Only the odd squeak at my place tonight Mark
[12:02 am, 22/11/2023] Mark Bosma: VK2KI last CQs on 3555.
[12:17
am,
22/11/2023]
Mark
Bosma:
VK6QI
[7:36 pm, 23/11/2023] Jordan VK3ACU:
The
opinions expressed
The
opinions
Send
on 3555.
I'm calling cq on 3.550
in the
do not necessarily
comments
calling CQ
RagChew
newsletter are those
of the individual contributors.
reflect that of the editor or of the CQ
about the RagChew
QRS
Group
members.
Newsletter.
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