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RagChew

Edition 22/2024

Happiness....

e Today
e

8 Amp

e VK6QS
e

Successfully

in History

Fists Down

e WT

Completed

Under
Cury Tail

KiwiSDR

Maritime

Corrosion

e Cable or Wireless or...?
e

Exam

Quiz

Reminder for 4Jun24

CQ QRS

Net

A relatively quiet night last Tuesday - at least operators-wise....
static crashes though.

plenty of

Looks like we had around 34 stations - some

reported good conditions, some

reported poor;

and terrific to have an SWL

report from the UK as well this week.
Hopefully everyone had fun and enjoyed the challenges;

| know | did.

RSS

Last Tuesday’s
Here’s this week’s

Net
list of the 34 stations

heard:

28May24CQ QRS Net
Total

active stations

Total

QSOs

this week

(note that this figure isn't correct because it adds duplicate lines}:

{note that this figure won't be correct - Q$0s may be counted twice er more):

51
177

Black text - QSLed, Green text - heard but not worked, Blue text - incomplete QS0 (not OSLed).

CQQR5 Team

faemiher
C7

Qsoi

Qso2

aso 3

aso4

Qso5

QS0 6

Qs07

Qs0 8

ZL3TK

VK4DRK

VKSALE

VKSAO

VK7TA

VKSFD

VK3KLE

VK2TM

VK6NT

éLIUY

VK3BEK

VKSAQ

VK3DRQ

VK/TA

VK6BEK

ZLiAJY

VK3BWN

VK5A0

VK6IS

VK3DRQO

VK6QI

VK6BEK

VK3KLE
VK3BTV

éLIAIY
VK5A0

2L1HX
VK6IS

2L2GD
VK2IK

VK/TA
VKENT

VK6KHZ
VK2DLF

ZLIAJY

VK2DLF

{insert CQ or Listening if ma 50s)

G4aRWI
MONNK
MONNK

ZL2LN
40m

40m cont

MONNK

som

VK1HF
VKLKVS 4om
VK1PWE
VKLTE/m 4om
VK1ITE/m

40m cont

VKITE/m som
VK1WA 40m

VK1zZD)
VK2AQ0E

Heard

on air.

VK2ASB 40m

VK3DRQ

VK2ASB 40m

VKSAO

VK2ASB som
VK2BHO
VK2CL/m
VK2COS
VK2DLF 40m

éLiAlY

VEK2DLF 40m cont

VK2EBN 40m
VK2EMU 80m
VK2GAS 40m

ZLIAJY
VK3KLE

VK2GAZ com
VK2GAZ som
VK21K 40m

VK6ENT

VEK2IK 80m

VK2KI

VK2IOW 40m
VK2IOW 40m
VK2IOW som
VK2KI 40m
VK2KI 40m cont

VK2ABS
VK6FN

VK4DRK
ZL3TK

VEK2KI 40m cont

ZLIAJY

VKSAO

VK6BEK

VK2KI som

VK6IS

VK6QI

VK2NAP

VKSPH

VK2A0E

2L2TK

VK6NT

VKSAO

VK2KIJ 40m

VK2NAP
VK2NV
VK2NNW 40m
VEK2NNW

40m cont

VK2NNW som
VK2RU
VEK2RU

40m
40m cont

VK2TER
VK2WF
VK2WP 40m
VK3ACU

40m

VK3ACU

gom

VK3ADX 40m
VK3ADX 80m
VK3AE 40m

VK3BAP
VK3BTV 40m

Heard

on air.

VK3BTV gom

VK3BU
VK3BWN

40m

VK3BWN

gom

VK3BYD/2 40m
VK3BYD 80m

VK2IK

VK3BYD som
VK3CLD/p

VK3CTM 4om
VK3CTM som

VK3DBD 40m

VK2GAS

VKSKLE

VK/TA

VK3BTV

VK6FN

ZL3TK

VK2ASB

ZLIAJY

VK3RU

VK6BEK

VK2A0E /orP

VK2DLF

VK6KH

VK7TA

VK6IS

2L3TK

VKSFD 40m

VK3KLE

VK2ASB

2L1H)

ELIAJY

VK3DBD

VK3DRQ

VK4DRK

VEKS5FD 40m cont

VK6KHZ

VK7TA

VKSFD som

VK6QI

VK3KLE

VKSAO

VK3DBD

40m cont

VK3DBD som
VK3DPH
VK3DRQ 40m
VK3FG 40m

VK3KLE 40m

Heard on air.

VK3KLE sam

VK3KO
VEK3RU 40m
VK3RU

Heard on air.

40m cont

VK3TBR 40m
VK3TBR

40m cont

VK3VMM 4om
VK3 WOW
VE4ALE 40m

VK3KLE
VK6QI

VK4DRK 40m
VK4DRK som
VK4EK 40m

VK4JM
VK4MFX
VKSAO

4om

VEKSAW 0m

VKSAYL
VKSCT 80m
VKSCZ 40m
VESCZ

40m cont

VKSCZ 20m

VKSET 40m
VKSET 40m

VKSET 80m

VK5SFA

VKSHAA 80m
VKSIS 40m

VKSKFG 40m
VKSKFG som
VKSLA 40m

VK5PH 4om
VKSPL
VKSQA

Heard

on air.

VK6AAYV 4om

VK3DRQ

VK6QI

VKENT

VK6IS

VK6HRC

VK6KHZ

VKSKLE

VK6FN

VK6IS

VK6KHZ

VK3ACU

VK/TA

VK6HRC 20m
VK6IR

VK6QI

VK2IK

VK6IS 40m

VK6FN
VK6QI

VK6KHZ

VK6QI

VKSAO

VK6KI

VK6IS

¥K6IQ,

VK5FD

VK6BEK 40m
VK6BEK 80m
VK6CK
VK6DEV 40m
VIK6DEV

40m cont

VK6DV
VIK6FN 4om
VK6FN 80m

VK6GAL 40m
VK6HD 40m

VK6HRC 40m
VK6HRC 40m cont

VK6IS som

VKIKI

VK6JDM 40m
VK6JDM 30m

VK6JK
VK6KD 4om
VK6KD 80m

VK4DRK

VK6IS

VK6KHZ 4am
VK6KHZ som
VK6KQ
VK6LD

VK6IS

VK6MK 40m

VK7TA

VK6FN

VK6Q)

On air.

VK6MK 80m

VK6MU
VK6NC
VK6NT

40m

Heard on air.

VK6NT 80m
VKENW

80m

VK6PZT 40m

VK6P2ZT som
VK6QI 40m

VK2ABS

VK6FN

VK6IS

VK4DRK

VK3KLE

VK6KHZ |

VKGHRC

VK6FN

VK6QI 40m cont

VKSFD

VK6IS.

£L3TK

VK3SBTV

VK5A0

VK6NT

VK2IK

VK2DLF

VK6QI 40m cont

éLiAlY

VK2A0E

VK3DRQ

VK6BEK

VK3BWWN

VK2IK

VK/KPC

VK6IS.

VKSFD

VK4DRK

VK2NAP

VK2KI

VE7KPC 40m

VK6QI

VK6BEK

ZLIAJY

VK2IK

VK3DRQ,

VK2DLF

VEK7KPC 80m

VK6Ql

VK6IS
VK6FN

VK3KLE

VK5SA0

VK3ACU

ZL3TK

VK2GAS

VK6IS

VKSA0O

VK2A5B

VK5FD

VK3DRQ

VK6BEK

VK2DLF

éLiIAIY

VK5A0

VK2ASB

VK2TM

VK6NT

fLIAIY

VK6QI

80m

VK6RR 40m

VK6TY
VK6XU
VK6VZ 40m
VK6WE 40m
VK6WE 20m

VK6YV

VEK7TA 40m

VK6KHZ

VK7TA 40m cont

VK6QI

VEK7WW 40m

VK6IS

VK7WW

40m cont

ZL3TK

VK7WW gom
VK7ZA
ZLIAJY

Heard

on air.

Heard

on air.

ZLIANY
ZL1HJ

ZLIPX
ZL2GD 40m
ZL2GD 80m
ZL3TK 40m

VK2DLF

VK3ACU

VK3BTV

ZL3TK 40m cont

VK3DRQ

VK6FN

VK6KHZ

ZL3TK 40m cont
ZL3TK 80m

ZL4BDG 40m
ZLATE 40m

New

Team

Members

Welcome this week to Derek VK3KX from Vermont South who was able to
be on air on a previous Tuesday.

Derek is Vice President of Fists Down

Under - and | look forward to being able to work together with FDU to
encourage

more CW.

Masthead

Image

And thanks this week to Mark VK2DI for his glorious photo of 17m CW ops
from his yacht on Sydney harbour this week.

Cheers,
mb

Mark Bosma
VK2KI / VK6QI

Beautiful South Bowning NSW
mark.bosma@icloud.com

non impediti ratione cogitationis

Reports

& Comments

This week’s

reports.

After each Tuesday’s net, please send me a list of who you worked and / or
who you heard using our new web form here:
bit.lyV/COORSNET

Getting reports from stations and
listeners is important to me - even if
you listened and didn’t hear anyone
or weren't able to copy anything the fact that you had a go needs to
get recorded so we know that the
net is working and attracting new
and old team

members to have a

go.
Thanks again to Nigel G4RWI for building the Google Form, the Python
software back-end that does the processing, the new link and the QR code.

Comments

This

Week

The spreadsheets above show the known
Comments

stations on last Tuesday’s net.

from the reports received are below:

From Richard VK6PZT

at Dalyellup:

I'll have to send my apologies

for tonights net as I’ve used all my radio privileges up in the past
few weeks studying for the advanced

exam.

o The exams were held by the Bunbury Radio Club.
=» About 4 new foundations,

1 standard and myself sitting the

advanced.
= All passed on the day as per our local examiner Norm.
° And I'll let you into a little secret... one of the CQQRS

members

who may or may not also be the President of the BRC passed his
Standard

license test.

went well and the documentation

has been sent off

to the ACMA for verification.
°

| will catch you next Tuesday

So Richard...

what will

Mister Morse and Charlie Whiskey have already

been taken... but |! wonder about RA... nice and easy (to send... and for you
to remember)!]

From Lin VK6NT
©

Using NCRG

operating from Whiteman

Park:

equipment tonight on 40m, all from east.

Using NCRG
on 40m,

equipment tonight

all from

the East.

I ad eee naa
Ec

Bocw

Vabs)\!|'Helr

28-May-24 10:32 0025

VK2IK

Pei

10:50 0026

VK3RU

As) a

40CW
28-May-24
7036.5

11:16

0027

VK2ASB

ISD

40CW
28-May-24
7036.5

11:25

0028

ZL3EAJ

4TH

PAUL

40CW
28-May-24
7036. i)
40CW
28-May-24
whole)

11:34

0029

VK3BWN

599

5TH

KETUT

12:01

8030

VK5KFG

599

6TH

GREG

7040.5

”

e Great fun, thoroughly enjoyed!
e

VK6

Sait 834

GUD

e From Nigel G4RWI at Cambridge UK
[40m]

e Was listening on and off over
breakfast here in the UK, using
the Arulen Tecsun websdr.
e

| always wake with trepidation
on Thursday mornings (when
Mark runs my Python software
to process the reports)!

[This 1s the result we’ve been
Fy

Process the selected file. This

hoping for when / run Nigel's
software - success!

will create
a CSV file

Cc
rs.csv) for pasting into
(cq_q
P
g
the newsletter, and a

Last week he

comments

had fun trying to work out why it
ran for him but not me... time zone

naming problem!

fl n the

Completed Successfully
co

Thanks Nigel -

Process

("Gate Updai
—

eee

ENS

Almond croissants on their way for
Ms Jo.]

From Jordan VK3ACU

at Meredith

[40m]
e Just a few contacts tonight
¢ Great QSO with George and his QCX

Mini running 5 Watts

e A quick QSO with Stan in ZL but it was a tricky copy with static
crashes on
my side
e Still great to work you Stan
e Also had a contact with Paul.

From Nic VK7WW

at Near Legana,

Northern Tasmania.

[40m]
e Very high QRN tonight!
[80m]
e Gave several QRO Calls on 3450 to try and beat the Gods of the
ether...but
they won
e Didn't hear anyone on 80m
[2100hrs local - ha!

| reckon

From Ketut VK3BWN

at 2100hrs local...always next week

everyone's still having too much

at Melbourne

[40m]
¢ Some

QSB from VK3 to VK2

e Lost VK2IK after 1 minute of 599+

fun on 40m!]

e
e

Some

QSB

from VK3

to VK2

Lost VK2IK after 1 minute

599+

From Stan ZL3TK at Waitarere Beach
[40m]
e The poorest conditions ever
e Shut up shop early at 1130Z
¢ When

Paul ZLLAJY

in Auckland

VK3DRQ

cannot hear me,

is RSN 311 with QSB and Manny

we know the band Is in bad shape

¢ Nonetheless, three 'Today in History' sentences were passed and
joy of
joys,

Ketran VK3BTV

replied with one of his own

- a first for the CQ

QRS
Group
e all done without the aid of an SDR!
[80m]
¢ If you thought 40 m was poorly,

80 m was on a

refrigerated gurney

awaiting
the Pathologist

From Paul VK2IK at Moss Vale , NSW
[40m]
¢ Great sigs from VK6 and ZL followed by QSB fadeout 80/40m
approx 1120z

From David VKG6KD at Ballajura WA
[80m]
e Just receiving this week using the AusTravel SDR at Yarloop as my
HF ant
has been dismantled at my home QTH

ready for some

mobile HF

work
¢ Bad weather hit Perth which included thunder storms

Many crashes were heard
which always appeared to
occur when concentrating on
call signs

Hope to be calling in next week
from a portable setup
Somewhere

in the Kalbarri!

region
e

73s VK6KD

David

[Starting your round-Aus trip David - or just enjoying Kalbarri’s
undoubtedly perfect weather?]

From

lan VK7TA

at Latrobe

[40m]
e | finished the evening with a nice chat with VK5AO
e Mait and | both agreed that we had had more QSOs with VK6 on
this net than over many previous years

From

Stuart

VK6MK

at Katherine

[40m]

No luck at all on Tuesday from
Katherine NT - | didn’t hear any
stations

From Arthur VK2ASB

at Wentworth

Blame my antenna

Falls NSW

[40m]
¢ Tried 80m

but to no avail

e Very noisy
¢ Called several times but got no answer
[80m]
¢ Once again | think the noise was intimidating so no real attempt
was made
to set up a QSO

From

Richard VK6HRC

at Padbury

[40m]
¢ Was hearing the Eastern states at the start of the net but struggling
with
QRN.

Worked

Max VK6FN

then

went into listening mode to build

receiving
Skills
¢ Thanks to all on the net
[80m]
e Heard VK2IK Paul calling, was struggling with the static crashes and
Mark
VK6QI came

up and gave him a

call so | went up the band and put

out a few
calls to avail

From

Max

VK6FN

at Manjimup

[40m]

e Conditions were fairly poor last
night
e QRN

& QSB were running quite

wild here
e VK3KLE

started at 599 then

lost contact altogether
e Storm conditions existed 160
kms north of me - lightning etc

From Manny VK3DRQ

at Blackburn

[40m]
¢ The OM George, VK2AOE/QRP
also QSB, but we managed

in Kogarah was only RSN 336 and

to finalise this, our second QSO

¢ On the other side of the map, VK6KH

was only RSN 226 which made

me
impossible to copy or have a QSO
[80m]
¢ Did not tune into 80m
¢ Too NOISY in my QTH
[1 hope you got the PowerPoint presentation about the phasing-type noise
cancellers Manny,

I'll try to consolidate my previous RagChews’ articles

into one short summary - one of these days, now that I’ve finished doing
last year’s tax!]

From Allen VK5FD

at Blakeview

[80m]
¢ My 80m

contact suffered from static crashes, fast QSB

into noise,

and
occasional QRM

from adjacent CW stations

From Derek VK4DRK

at Wyreema

[40m]
¢ | had one short QSO with Paul, VK4KLE
¢ | would

have much

rather stayed warm

in the shack, but at about

6:30PM, |
had to go play tennis
¢ So it was just one QSO on 40m
[80m]
e There was some QRN

and QSB to VK6QI, which made copying a bit

tricky
¢ | believe it was an FT991, remotely operated

by Mark near or in

Perth
e Just the one QSO on 80m tonight, at about 11:30PM
e Thanks everyone!

e Just the one QSO on 80m
tonight, at about 11:30PM.
There was some QRN

and QSB

to VK6QI, which made copying
a bit tricky. | believe it was an
FT991,

remotely operated

Mark near or in Perth
e Thanks everyone!

[Yup - well copied Derek.]

From David VK3DBD

at Yackandandah

[40m]
* only a quite short listening period Tues eve
[Six stations for a short listen - not bad David.]

From Peter VK6IS

at wundowie

[40m]
¢ the conditions do get very noisy after 10:00z in the West,
* although the CW stations are still workable
[80m]
* there is still only a few folks that make

it back to 80m

it would

seem,
¢ plus, can often be available at other times, to try any other band

From me VK2KI

at Beautiful South Bowning:

° [40m]
°

From the get-go, | heard Arthur VK2ASB
via the Tecsun

KiwiSDR;

up at Wentworth

Falls

Arthur joined a week or two ago and

has already written an article for the next edition of RagChew.
o

Next up | listened to Derek VK4DRK
Paul VK3KLE

near Toowoomba

chatting to

at Stawell, then our team of Paul ZLIAJY at

Birkenhead and Grant ZL2GD

at Oxford chatting away happily.

had also heard Grant chatting to Bow ZL1HX who hasn't joined
the fun yet.
o As the band opened

up from WA, | heard lan VK7TA at Latrobe

working Ron VK6KHZ
Max VK6FN

at Yangebup,

at Manjimup.

before Ron went on to chat to

| also heard Stan ZL3TK chatting to

Keiran VK3BTV at North Ringwood then Maity VK5AO

at Banksia

Park chatting to Peter VK6IS at Wundowie.
°

By around

1030z,

| eavesdropped

on Lin VK6NT operating from

the Northern Corridor Radio Group station at Whiteman

Park

working Paul VK2IK up the road from me at Moss Vale.

It was

interesting that Paul was very weak with me - no NVIS happening
on 40m.

| also listened to Georg VK2DLF

at St Marys chatting to

Paul ZLIAJY while Stan and Maity hooked

up.

eo | then tried hooking up with Shaun VK6BEK at Quinns Rocks - |
could hear

Shaun,

but he was struggling with his neighbourhood

QRM.
° [80m]
°o | was proud of myself being able to tear myself from 40m

1120z to head down to 80m for a look-see.
°

| hooked up with Peter VK6IS at Wundowie

and later in the

evening caught up with Chris VK2NAP at Marrickville.

By this

time my brain was struggling and my motor-skills were even less
cooperative.... great fun when

my wrist won’t send letters

properly... but | decided to give it away and head to bed before
doing any more damage to my already poor on-air skills
reputation.

e Also from me VK6QI

using the VK6QS

KiwiSDR at Brookton and the

VK6SR Remote at Bedfordale:

e At 0700z | could just hear

sail Boost =

a aire

el
‘oe
weioae Eel
is

Arthur VK2ASB coming through

from Wentworth Falls as the
absorption layer Frequency
started to drop. However as
the band opened, the static

ee,

crashes started to rise; pretty
soon the waterfall display on

the KiwiSDR was full of
EUS clk)

horizontal green bands.

cae

Max VK6FN

at Manjimup and

Peter VK6IS at Wundowie

sydney

were

thundering through, and soon |
was able to listen to the QSO
between

Derek VK4DRK at

Wyreema

and Paul VK3KLE

Stawell.

| also heard Ron

VK6KHZ

at Yangebup

Richard VK6HRC

and

at Padbury as

well as Paul VK3KLE at Stawell
AA

@ map.blitzortung.org

and Allen VK5FD

at Blakeview.

| gave Ron VK6KHZ
Remote

a call via the Southern

but Peter jumped

Electronics Group

in instead, and Ron went on to chat to

Max.By around 0830z, the ZLs were coming

in to WA nicely and |

listened to Keiran VK3BTV chatting to Stan ZL3TK.
© A while later I listened to Maity VK5AO

at Banksia

Park working

Peter, and Paul VK2IK at Moss Vale chatting to Lin VK6NT out at
the Whiteman

Park NCRG

Marys working

Paul ZLIAJY at Birkenhead.

Manny VK3DRQ

chatting to the other George VK2AOE

Kogarah;

Club station, and Georg VK2DLF

George is a known

at St

| also tuned in to
at

operator of things in tin boxes, so |

was looking forward to his report and Manny’s, to see what
delights he was using this time.
o

Next up | heard Shaun VK6BEK up at Quinns Rocks;

I’d worked

Shaun earlier in the year from VK2, but it’d been about a year
since we'd hooked

up via the VK6 Remote.

So it was nice to

have a chat again.... just before his antenna failed in the 100kph
wind!
°

See below.

| also heard VK2IK Paul chatting to Ketut VK3BWN
before | moved

at Keilor East

down to 80m.

o [80m]
o At around

1120z | heard Paul VK2IK at Moss Vale, but

unfortunately Paul couldn’t hear me in the rising static crashes
over East.

| also heard Peter VK6KPC

no doubt running QRP - but

again, he couldn’t hear my calls.
©

Luckily all wasn’t lost;

Peter VK6IS hearing me much

ground wave / Near Vertical Incidence Skywave

between

Bedfordale and Wundowie.

QSO some auroral buzz cropped

During that

up - and | was able to watch the

wide-band furry noise on both the VK6QS and Tecsun
| ended

path

After that, | was able to

have a nice chat with Allen VK5FD at Blakeview.

better over

the 35km

KiwiSDRs.

up the evening with a nice QSO with Derek VK4DRK at

Toowoomba

- that’s quite a haul on 80m - 3500km

via single or

two-hop F-layer according to the ionospheric prediction.
worked Chris VK2NAP at Marrickville from my home

When

in VK2, | was

also listening in from WA;

interesting that Chris’ signal was the

same strength form both ends of the country.

Conclusion.

e So for me at both ends of the country, band conditions were pretty
good on Tuesday,
WA.

despite the band of thunderstorms

Numbers were down

a bit on 40m

rolling through

and 80m from recent times,

but everyone | heard seemed to be having a good time - and
hopefully getting some good receiving and sending practice - that’s
why we’re here every week.

Other
Other things
Post

I’ve received

News
from

our 180-odd

readers.

Morsum

Richard VK6HRC

Another interesting / entertaining Post Morsum

net this stormy morning on

the WA AllStar network..
On today :
e ZL3TK

Stan

e VK6FN

Max

VK6QI

Mark

e VK6KHZ

Ron

e VK6KRC

Bob listening

e and our SWLs
The main topics of the net were the poor conditions last night and the low
numbers of participants on 80 mx.
In spite of that everyone enjoyed the net, Stan ZL3TK

reported that he

passed on a number of “This day in history” messages - good
the next Chinese Whispers and similar events!

practice for

Stan also mentioned that

he has set up a spreadsheet to keep track of call signs and names;
have to lift my game somewhat

| will

as my pencil and paper is a bit too old

school!
Ron VK6KHZ
some

mentioned that Ross MONNK

has managed

to get out and do

portable work so if we are lucky we might get a report for a future

RagChew.
It appears that our not so trusty internet is still not well as it dropped out
and we lost Mark a few times before he could link back up to AllStar.
Many thanks to all who came up on Wednesday.
Cheers have a great day
Richard
[Thanks for running the net every week Richard, and for compiling the
report for us - great work mate.]

From Brendan

VK3BAP

at Truganina

Hi Mark and fellow CW operators.
For various reasons, | haven't been able to make

it to QRS on Tuesday

nights. Mostly just because I'm busy with family stuff at that time of night
(kids, meals, homework,

dishes) and my brain is fried after working all

day.
I've been listening-in every now and then and was actually planning to
make a quick QSO this week but just never got the opportunity.
| also had a few weeks where severe QRM
80M.

completely wiped out 40M

and

| built a small prototype directional loop and as soon as | completed

it, the QRM

abruptly stopped and | never did find the source.

| plan to

make a larger version to hopefully locate some less broadband

QRM

that's

still persisting on 80M and if it works out, I'll share the details.
| still enjoy reading the Ragchew and it's great to see the QRS Net continue
to grow, great work!
Cheers,
Brendan

VK3BAP

[Thanks for the update Brendan;

| look forward to you getting time to be

on air, or if not, keeping the brain sharp having a Iisten.]

Reporting
From

Form

Ketut VK3BWN

at East Keilor

Hi Mark, what do you think of putting the link to the reporting form on the
CQQRS

WhatsApp group profile? Make it easy to find the link. Thanks -

Ketut
[Great idea Ketut.

We had it for a short while, but at that time the URL

changed each week;

now that we're using a bit.ly URL it'll remain static. I'll

ask Stuart VK6MK has started working on it again.

Today

Cheers, mb]

in History

by Stan ZL3TK
‘Today in History’ sentences for 28 May were:
1.

THE

VOLKSWAGEN

WOLFSBURG
CAR.
2.

BY NAZI

GROUP

WAS

FOUNDED

REICHSTAG

MASS

TODAY1937

PRODUCE

A CHEAP

PEOPLES

Sent to VK2DLF
A STAUNCH

CHAMBERLAIN

CHAMPION
WAS

ELECTED

OF APPEASEMENT
TODAY

1937

TOWARDS

HITLER

NEVILLE

ENGLANDS

PRIME

MINISTER.

DAVINCI WAS

FINALLY

Sent to VK5A0O

PAINTING OF THE LAST SUPPER

UNVEILED TODAY

BY LEONARDO

1999 IN MILAN AFTER 20 YEARS OF RESTORATION.

Sent

to VK3BTV
The highlight of Tuesday evening was having a spanking-new ‘Today in

History’ sentence sent in reply, exactly as the project intends.
the CQ QRS Group, OM
that man.

Keiran VK3BTV did the honours;

In a first for

very well executed

The acronym for Keiran’s call sign can now be translated into a

more positive tone because he ‘Bounces Traffic Victoriously’.
So come on chaps, preparation takes only a few minutes,
your own ‘Today InHistory’ sentences rounded

get some of

up for next Tuesday, they'll

go towards making CW-life rather more existential.
[Here’s a hint - even if you don’t have a response ready to go - send QRX
and guickly look up “today in history”,

“on this day” or similar on your

phone - and knock the socks off our mate by sending him one in return!]

Fists Down

Under

Morse Code Preservation Society
Hi Mark,

| am the Vice President of the FDU CW group, and we have been watching
the growth of QRS and encouraging our members to join. We don't see any
conflict between the two groups and wish you all success.
have commitments

Personally,

on a Tuesday night otherwise you would hear me on

also.
The FDU weekly event is on Friday nights and all are welcome. You can find
the details here:

httos://www.fdu.org.au/

Although application for a FISTS membership

number is through the UK

website, our Facebook and Discord channels are free to all without
memberships too.
Hope to catch you on afr,
73 Derek

Dawkins

Fists Down

VK3KX

Under VP

[Thanks Derek,

terrific to have you on board and / hope you can find your

way on airon Tuesdays when you can.
support FISTS Down

8 Amp

Cury Tail

Thanks to Kees VK1KVS for the
information about his Curly Tail Mod
for the WT 8 Amp

key in the last

RagChew.
Mine’s now looking pretty sharp!
ROSS
MONNK

[Mine could do with some
attention Ross. ]

We'll continue to promote and

Under activities via our newsletter. /

love and

VK6QS

KiwiSDR

This week the Brookton

KiwiSDR

that many of us use was back on
air.
The owner Matt VK6QS

reported

that the fault was a high resistance
in the lug on the fuse from the solar
charger to the battery.

The

problem did not blow the fuse but
made

it hot, and caused a

Significant voltage drop.
The fuse holder was replaced.
The battery

was depleted so will

take time for voltage to recover and
Matt expects that the battery will
need to be replaced

[Thanks Matt - your KiwiSDR sure makes life easier for West Australians
during our net, and for me using the VK6SR Remote./

Stirring

Up Activity

lan VK7TA at Latrobe writes:

| just finished chatting to Maity VK5AO

and

we both agreed that we had had more QSOs with VK6 than in previous
decades! This Tuesday net really is fun.
lam

hoping to be able to join you on 80m

build an EFHW for 80m,

before long.

| have materials to

| just need to find the time to erect it.

73 de lan

[Great stuff lan... and it was good to hear you really getting among the
action on Tuesday. ]

Corrosion

in a Maritime

Environment

Good to work you last night.

Unfortunately the end fed wire broke in the

Storm last night, so an update photo will have to wait until repairs are
effected... real Soon now.
The antenna was 2.8mm
end near the 80m
insulation.

hookup wire but | had a tied solder joint at one

coil and there was some corrosion hidden under some

It was at least 3 years old and there were over 100km/hour

winds last night.
| will order some

Kevflex from TET Emtron once | have measured

up the

end fed and allowed for some slack.
Kevflex is an excellent product provided you treat it sensibly, don’t bash it

against branches for months, and that you seal off the ends properly
against the weather.
to standard

Above:The
2.8mm

Kevflex is very strong and does not stretch compared

insulated wire.

point of failure on the standard

plastic covered wire.

The exposed

wire snapped just before a soldered join due

é ao

to wind pressure bending the Squidpole
mast.

| clearly need to add a tension pulley

to the end fed.
Above

Right:What happens if you let the

wire bash against branches for several

months in high winds.

Water gets into these

eee

Pek

ceeeeaes

holes and wicks Into the mesh.
Right:Kevflex end showing why you need to
seal it properly against moisture (like coax).

| have used Kevflex before and found it to be super strong, flexible and
light.

| didn’t seal the ends well enough and it corroded

environment here.

| stopped

using it because

in the maritime

it was hitting branches and

trees - hardly any trees now so no problem there.
Regards
Shaun - VK6BEK

Morse Training
Nic VK7WW

Net

runs a Slow Morse training net every Wednesday

at 7pm

EDST

on 3580 for 30 mins. He uses the callsign of the Northern Tasmania
Amateur Radio Club VK7TAZ on that net.
Many of our team

learned Morse code with the support of Nic, and the

weekly training session comes

highly recommended

for anyone who wants

to learn the Code, or simply brush up.

Everyone’s welcome - 3580KHz at

7pm

The NTARC also feeds the CW

Eastern time every Wednesday.

live

via the Discord phone / computer audio stream, and previous weeks’
recordings are available.
Contact Nic VK7WW

for more info nicholaschantler@hotmail.com - or just

join in on Wednesdays.

This Week’s

Topic

Cable

or Wireless

of Interest
or...?

By Ross Waddams
MONNK at Budleigh Salterton, UK

Recently, before returning home
from my camping trip to West
Cornwall, | visited the Porthcurno
Global Communications

Museum.

https://okporthcurno.com/collection

s/our-history/
"PK" being this telegraph station's
callsign.

It was a great museum

housed

in the original building and in the adjacent

World War 2 cavern built into the hillside to avoid German

bombs.

It was

beautifully laid out with a terrific amount of original equipment in working
condition. And it had a great story to tell that's also of interest to radio
hams.

The first undersea telegraph cable
from India came ashore at
Porthcurno in 1870. By 1872 the
cable had been extended to
Australia, coming ashore at that end
just North of Fremantle at Cottesloe.
By the 1920s Porthcurno was the
busiest telegraph station in the
world, with 20 undersea cables
entering the building.

The last telegram was sent from
Porthcurno in 1970. Undersea
cables still come ashore at
Porthcurno but these days they're
fibre optic and are connected to the
mainland

network at a site a mile or

So inland.
So, "What has all this got to do with
us radio hams?",

| hear you ask.

Well...

In 1901, Marconi sent the first Trans-Atlantic wireless message from his
site on the Lizard peninsular, only 20 miles away from Porthcurno as the
crow flies and visible from the cliffs above the station on a good day.
Marconi, who was in Newfoundland

for that transmission, actually used the

Trans-Atlantic telegraph cable to communicate with his staff on The Lizard.
At first there was great rivalry between the two forms of communication,
with the Eastern Telegraph Company
of eavesdropping

(using it's own

resorting to skullduggery in the form

radio station at Porthcurno) and jamming,

to prove the lack of privacy of radio communications and it's unreliability.
But soon afterwards the cable company was using radio for
communications with its cable laying ships and many of its relay stations
along the cable routes.
In 1928, all the communications
merged

methods of the British Empire were

into one operating company,

International Communications

initially Known as the "Imperial &

Company"

but known from

1934 as "Cable &

Wireless Ltd". This company was nationalised in 1947 and integrated into
the General

Post Office. The company was privatised in 1981. As with all

large companies, the company's
fashion with many

history then proceeded

in a complex

mergers and acquisitions. Cable & Wireless was fully

integrated into Vodaphone

in 2013.

Although the international telegraph system used Morse Code,
implemented

it was

in a very different way from radio (so called "Cable Code").

Instead of sending

bursts of Carrier Wave CW, the cable was held at zero

volts until a "dit" was sent when the voltage went negative for the duration
of the dit. "Dah's" were the same

length as a dit but this time the voltage

went positive.

A two-lever key was used - the left
lever for negative volts, the right
lever for positive volts.

At the receiving end, a needle
indicator swung

left and right

accordingly.
The advantage of using only "dits"
is that messages could be sent in
less time (dahs are three times the
length

of a dit).

This is, | believe, different from the Australian domestic telegraph network
which used "dits-and-dahs"

Morse Code using radio-style keys. So, more

similar to radio in that respect, although using somewhat different
procedures. Aussies will know more about that than me, though.
The electric telegram system was easily automated
very early stage of its development.

and this was done ata

So telegram operators as senders and

copiers didn't last long. Messages were manually typed by an operator at
the keyboard of a machine which converted them to strips of punched
tape.

These tapes were glued together in
priority order and run through
another machine which sent the
signal. At the other end, the
receiving apparatus drove a

punched tape machine which was
'

connected to a paper strip printer.

CABLE AND

WIRELESS LIMITED

ROE

The operator only had to cut up the
individual messages and glue them

to the telegram form, which is why

;
telegrams have those paper strips
of type across them.

1529
A589

URGENT MOONLIGHT SINGAPORE
=

RAVILAL

HOCKHOE

PLEASE

ARRIVING

SEND

CAR

615

AERODROWE

TODAY

Enquiey.fsspecting this telegram should be accompanied by this form and may be made at any of the Campany’s aifices

Thus international telegraph staff were mainly engineers who maintained
the electrical and mechanical

equipment that the system operated on.

| hope you found that interesting. | certainly did. And it made a nice
counterpoint to my visit to Marconi's hut on The Lizard last year.
Going on holiday is no excuse not to do some sort of radio activity!
Best wishes,

Ross
MONNK
[Thanks for your second very interesting article Ross - much appreciated
by our readers.

| reckon Mister Morse Code Richard VK6PZT will raise his

eyebrows at the two-key system.
the

South

/I’m looking forward to our next chat on

West AllStar net].

If you have something that you think might be of interest to our readers,
please let me Know so we can share more thoughts and ideas;

to cqgrsnet@gmail.com

Brain

Teaser

Jules Perrin JP VK3JFP has created a terrific resource to help guide learning
for all levels of amateur radio licenses:
httos://jwww.julesworkshop.net/Amateur%20Radio.html!

With thanks to Baz VK6MU

for he idea, and Jules for the good learning

website,

here’s this week’s quiz questions from Jules’ Workshop example

test questions:

Wavelength

is calculated by dividing 300 by the frequency in MHz.

? = 300/ frequency in MHz. What is the wavelength

of a 28MHz signal?

This carbon filament resistor may be described as:

220K ohms
PED

22K ohms

GOLD

220K ohms

TELLOW

56 ohms

When

comparing

5%
5%
10%

series and switching voltage regulators, the major

disadvantage of the series regulator is its:
higher power dissipation
difficulty in adjustment
e

lower power dissipation
instability

Severe static is harming

reception. The appropriate "Q" code to use would

be?

(a) QRM
(b) QRN
(c) QSB
(d) QRO
An unqualified person may transmit from an amateur radio station
provided that:
(a) The person owns the equipment
(bo) Only Morse code is used
(c) A qualified operator supervises and identifies by announcing

callsigns

(d) The unqualified user is over 18 years of age

How did you go?

Answers

next week.

Answers

from

last week’s

Describe the wavelength
Answer:

Wavelength

Quiz:

of a signal.

is the distance one cycle would travel in one cycle.

The main reason for earthing mains powered
e

reduce RF interference

reduce eddy currents

e
e

reduce shock hazards
reduce stray coupling

Answer:

equipment

is to

reduce shock hazards

A pi-coupling network used at the output of the final power amplifier stage
in a transmitter
e doubles the output frequency and improves neutralisation
e suppresses parasitic oscillations and enhances spurious sidebands
e matches the PA output impedance to the antenna load and
suppresses harmonics
e enables a half-wave dipole antenna to be voltage fed
Answer:

matches the PA output impedance to the antenna

load and

suppresses harmonics
Which of these is NOT allowed to be sent as an amateur television image?
(a) An image of your house
(bo) An image of equipment you have for sale with prices
(c) An image of a group of unlicensed

persons around your barbecue

(d) An image of your antenna system
Answer:

(b) An image of equipment you have for sale with prices

How did you go?

Di-dah-di-dah-dit
Here

So back to the Slow CW QSO
Next Tuesday’s

go.

practice net.

Net

Our CQ QRS Net will be on as always on Tuesday from around 0700z until
about 1300z;

see below for details.

Doesn't matter whether you’re brand new and want to try just exchanging
callsigns and RST reports, or you’re ready for a good old rag chew.

We'll

have fun.
Reports
Please let me know via our Reports form bit.ly/CQORSNET who you work or
hear on Tuesday’s net.
Post

Morsum

Richard VK6HRC

will run our Post Morsum

on the South West AllStar net

(via repeaters and hotspots all over WA) from 0600 WA time.

If you’re in

WA, all you need is an FM 2m or 70cm transceiver and an AllStar node
nearby.

If you’re elsewhere in the world, you may be able to connect your

local AllStar-enabled

repeater to the net, or you can connect via Echolink.

Let me know (cggrsnet@gmail.com)

if | can help with that.

Teamwork
Thank you so much to our team of 32 contributors this week:
photo thanks Mark), VK6PZT, VK6NT, VK2EBN,
VK3BWN,

VK2DI

(great

G4RWI, VK3ACU, VK7WW,

ZL3TK, VK2IK, VK6KD, VK7TA, VK6MK, VK2ASB, VK6HRC,

VK7KPC, VK6FN, VK3DRQ,

VK6KHZ,

VK5AO, VK2GAS,

VK6IS, VK3BAP, VK3KX,

VK3DBD,

VK5FD, VK4DRK,

great article Ross), VK6QS and VK3JFP.

VK2DLF, VK6BEK,
MONNK

(thanks for the

Thank you team.

€U CW on Tuesday,

Mark Bosma
VK2KI / VK6QI

Beautiful South Bowning NSW
mark.bosma@icloud.com
non impediti ratione cogitationis

An Ode to CW - thanks to David VK3RU:
In days of old, when ops were bold,
And sideband was not invented,
=|

: Li

: _

Words were passed by pounding brass,

nail

And all were quite contented.

SSS ae

- Unknown

About

the CQ
Here’s

the

author

QRS

Net

details.

The team will be on again for our usual Tuesday arvo / evening Practice
QSO

Net.

Frequencies

and Times

CQ QRS NET - WINTER TIMETABLE

Australia

New Zealand

orooz ~ 11002

10002

CentralST

UTC +9.5

1630

2230

Eastern ST

UTC +10

1700

2300

1900

0100

NZST

UTC +12

40m

7.025 MHz

~ 7.040 MHz

40m

7.025 MHz

80m

3.540 MHz

~ 3.570 MHz

80m

3.540 MHz ~ 3.570 MHz

7.040 MHz

11002

11002 ~ 13002

So tune around and call anyone you hear, or find yourself a quiet spot in
the designated segment,

send “QRL?” and if the frequency is quiet, 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). If
we’re on 40m

and you can hear that the band is open outside Australasia,

perhaps consider calling 500Hz above each

1kHz slot - to minimise the

chance of having to copy our team through QRQ

QRM that’s often dead-on

the kHz markers.
Speed
If you’re proficient at CW and can race along at 20 or 30wpm - terrific, but
please remember, the net’s aim is to encourage,
can hammer the key.

not show how fast you

Please send slowly where you can and concentrate

on rhythm - listen to your side-tone, get that wrist action going and make a
special effort to make it sound

like perfect CW;

the longer we go with our

net, the more | understand just how many non-transmitting listeners we
have - and they will most likely appreciate your QRS!

So, if you’re an

experienced operator, please try to send nicely balanced slow CW to give
them a chance to practice and gain confidence.... they’ll reward you one
day by coming

up on air to say g’day and thanks - how good

is that?

And if

you’re new or like me, just rusty.... ignore the above... just have a go - the
lather of sweat will be worth it and there’s plenty of time to get the details
sorted out as you practice.
Matching
And also for the oldies like me, when you hear someone
their sending speed - or slower.

new, please match

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

letters that were right

there half an hour ago, etc!
PSE

QRS

And if someone

is sending too fast to comfortably copy - “PSE RPT PSE

QRS” or “AGN?

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.

Whose

frequency

is this anyway?

The aim is to give everyone a go at
contacting others - no-one owns
their calling frequency on this net.
So unlike working
someone

DX, if you hear

signing off - jump in and

call - doesn’t matter who was first
on the frequency - we really are all
good

mates on this net.... and

besides, at the speed we’re
sending, after a QSO

most of us will

have forgotten who was first!

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.
Landing

Zone

If the band goes really quiet, call and listen on 7032kHz or 3555kHz.
catch someone, there’s no need to QSY - enjoy the frequency.

If you

But don’t

forget to tune around if it’s quiet - we have lots of operators with crystal
locked transmitters - and they could be anywhere within the segments.
For those who are locked, or can only transmit outside the segments, send
a message on our WhatsApp

CQ QRS - Alerts group advising of your

current frequency.
CW Tips
As always, for newbies, operating suggestions are available from the
operating hints link here:
https://www.parg.org.au/
files/ugd/ebe236 3ca5ca08bb38429db4eee524b
da2f97a.pdf.
There's usually people around until after 1300z - 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.

VK2KI / VK6QI

The

opinions expressed

The

opinions

Send

in the

RagChew

do not necessarily

comments

newsletter are those

of the individual contributors.

reflect that of the editor or of the CQ

about the RagChew

QRS

Group

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