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RagChew

Edition

34/2024

e 79 Stations On our Net!
e 40m
e

Band

Planning

Reporting

on Other Bands

e CW

Doctrine

e One

and

a Half More

Nic the Sprinter

Ross

Makes

e Germany

Friends

to Oceania

Ping-Pong

Mathew

First Solos on the Net

Success

Challenge

Hearing

in his Sleep

e Traffic Report
e

Post Morsum

Europe to VK - a personal

e CW Training
e

ILLW

strategy

Doctrine

Report

e Chris’ 40m
e CQQRS

Band

Plan

Rises to the Enigma

Brain Teaser

Reminder for 27Aug24

e About the CQQRS

Challenge

CQ QRS

Net

Gold!

Wow!

Another sensational Tuesday on the CQQRS

Slow CW

net - at least 79 stations on air or known to be listening!
medal to you all with our new world record!

Practice QSO

Another gold

And what's more - we had 1-

1/2 first CW solos on the net this time - thanks again to our Chief Fhang

RSS

tastructer First QSO Officer Jordan VK3ACU;
40m

Band

outstanding!

Planning

I’ve been pleased to see some interest in providing information to the
Technical Advisory Committee about the proposed
CW-only portion of the 40m

band.

IARU reduction to the

I’ve also read comments that even if the

digital modes are allowed lower, we will still be able to share the band;
true, but the digital transmissions won't listen to make sure the frequency
is clear of CW

before transmitting - operating CW

in among

FT-8 etc would

be a nightmare - a clear frequency one moment will be full of tones the
next.

So we need more input to the TAC - please send your thoughts (no

matter how brief) to the Technical Advisory Committee:

tac@wia.org.au -

again, it doesn’t matter what your views are about the WIA, and whether or
not you are a member
engagement

(or even what country you happen to live in) - the

between the WIA and the IARU is the only avenue we have to

try to nip this in the bud.
I’ve heard back from Grant VK5GR the Chairman

of the Technical Advisory

Committee - and like last week, I’ve included his comments

in the Other

Topics of Interest section below.
I’m keen to hear whether the NZART is also making a submission;
New Zealand and would

if so,

prefer not to approach the WIA, please approach

the NZART about this important problem.
Doctrine

In last week’s RagChew,

| had a bit of a late-night rant about the bad old

days of cliquy CW groups and the old CW
hand-in-hand.

learning doctrines that went

| realised afterwards (20/20 hindsight) that I’d meant it as

an invitation to others to air their thoughts - | wasn’t trying to be divisive...
what | happen to think about the topic is pretty much

irrelevant to the net

and our 200 readers - but what our team thinks about training and
attracting new CW operators to the art is much
to see that Andrew VK1DA

has penned

more important.

| was glad

some thoughts - see Other Topics of

Interest below;

I’m keen to hear your thoughts as well.

Last Tuesday’s

Net

Here’s this week’s list of the 79 stations heard by our team or listening-in:
CQQRS Team
Member

cQ
Worked 15m
Worked 20m
Worked 15m
Heard 15m
Worked 17m
Worked 40m
Heard 40m
Heard 80m
Tried 80m
Heard on air.
Worked 40m
Heard 40m
Worked 80m
Heard on air.
Worked 40m
Worked 40m
Heard 40m
Worked 40m
Heard 40m

Qso 1

Qso 2

Qso 3

Qso4

Qso5

Qso 6

Qso7

Qso 8

Worked 40m
Heard 40m
Heard 40m
Worked 80m
Heard 80m
Tried 80m
Listening only.
Heard 40m
Worked 80m
Heard on air.
Worked 40m
Worked 40m
Worked 40m
Heard 40m
Worked 40m
Heard 40m
Worked 80m
Heard 80m
Heard on air.
Worked 40m
Heard 40m
Worked 40m
Heard 40m
Heard 20m
Heard 40m

Worked 40m
Heard 40m
Heard 40m
Heard 40m
Worked 40m
Heard 40m
Tried 40m
Worked 80m
Heard on air.
Heard on air.
Worked 40m
Heard on air.
Worked 15m
Worked 40m
Worked 80m
Worked 40m
Heard 40m
Worked 80m
Heard 80m
Worked 40m
Heard 40m
Tried 40m
Worked 80m
Heard 80m
Heard 80m
Heard on air.

Worked 40m
Heard on air.
Worked 40m
Heard 40m
Worked 80m
Heard 40m
Tried 15m
Worked 40m
Worked 80m
Worked 40m
Heard 40m
Heard 80m
Tried 80m
Worked 40m
Worked 40m
Worked 80m
Worked 40m
Heard 40m
Heard 40m
Heard 40m
Heard 80m
Tried 80m
Worked 40m
Heard 40m
Heard 40m

Heard on air.
Worked 40m
40m
40m
40m
Worked 40m
Heard 40m
Heard 40m
Tried 40m
Worked 40m
Heard 40m
Heard 40m
40m
on air.
Worked 40m
Worked 40m
Heard 40m
Worked 80m
Heard 80m
Heard 80m
40m
40m
40m
Worked 80m
Heard 80m
Heard 40m

New

Team

Members

Welcome this week to Clint VK2TIG from Cremorne.

Although licensed for

8 years, Clint hasn't had time to be very active - but he's adopted a CW
only approach - so our net should be just what the doctor ordered!
reported that he listened in this week - and decoded
Stations... welcome

Masthead

Clint

a good number of

mate.

Image

And thanks this week to Manny VK3DRQ

and his son for the terrific tower-

climbing image (the excellently produced video is here
https://youtu.be/qKjMUMS35EJO).

The tower is 8m tall and supports the TET-

Emtron TE-33 antenna, a trap Dipole (20+40+80m),

a LOMHz

1/2 wave

antenna, and an end fed half wave for 80m. Since the back yard Is very
Small, the EFHW on 80m
designed

is designed

in a triangular shape, inverted-L

by none other than OM Stan ZL3TK.

I’d be interested to learn

and share with the group how the two antennas compare on 80m,

both for

transmitting and receiving Manny.

Reports
After next Tuesday’s net, please send me a list of who you worked and / or
who you heard using our new web form here:

bit.ly/COQORSNET

As our team outside of Australasia grows, we've seen lots of interest in
expanding

our activities to other bands to catch our overseas members.

The head of our software department,

Nigel G4RWI

has been working

furiously to produce a simple way of reporting on contacts with our team
outside of 40 and 80m.

But in the mean time, please just use the 80m

area (note which band you’re commenting

report

on and separate out your 80m

report from the other bands of course), and when you enter the list of

callsigns worked,
‘@band’

heard or missed on the other bands, please append

to each callsign without a space

Please don’t use the @band
Depending

for 40m

(eg VK2KI@20 VK6QI@15

etc).

and 80m.

on Nigel’s progress, this procedure might change - keep an eye

on the Tuesday reminder email for updates.
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 as well.

Cheers,
mb
Mark Bosma
VK2KI / VK6QI

Beautiful South Bowning NSW
mark.bosma@icloud.com

non impediti ratione cogitationis

Reports

& Comments

Here’s this week’s

reports.

The spreadsheets above show the known stations on last Tuesday’s net.
Comments

distilled from the reports I’ve received are below:

Comments:

From Kevin VK3KEV

at Seymour Vic.

[40m]

e Most stations | heard | could only
copy the odd word or phrase,
however
there were a couple of slower
transmissions that | managed

copy most of.
e A work in progress.
e This QRS session is really helping
me.
e Thanks.

From Martin VK3FG

at Monash VIC

[40m]
e Good fun.
e Still working on my Rx so good practice.

From George
[40m]

VK2AOE

at Sydney

e My QMX

plus was good but did some strange stuff too.

¢ No sigs on 80m.
¢ then hit transmit and it was all ears but no side tone arghhhh!

But when

behaves it’s awesome

(any

problems | assume are my drunken
constructing

efforts

hi hi).

[80m]
¢ VK4PN.

From Nic VK7WW

at Legana TAS

[15m]
¢ Think | was so overjoyed at working
glowing with pride ©.

It happened

Mike DL3YZ on 15m

earlier, I’m still

like this.

e | had set up the rig on 21.051 rather early and couldn’t hear anything so |
sent a ‘?’ to see if the fx was clear.
Darling of

At the same moment

Rupert Light-horse’ arrived home

and a

my XYL ‘The
French station sent

his callsign once.
e Ah ha! The band is open to Europe!

But my darling takes precedence,

|
retired to sit and relax with her and the usual double scotch.
e After enjoying our interlude on the enclosed deck looking across the
Tamar
river, we went inside.
¢ Wondering

| could hear some CW coming from upstairs.

if it was Mike DL3YZ,

| became

an Olympian

sprinter and

arrived
in front of the rig upstairs to hear him calling CQ.
contact

into Stuttgart.

‘P’s in having the
Preparation,

| gave him 579, a great

Which just goes to show the importance of the 7

rig set-up ready for action!

Prevents Piss Poor

(Prior Planning and

Performance!

@).

[40m]
e Later on | was using the KX2 on 40m,

10w and a ‘bug’ key (I hadn’t used

it
for months and months).
bit of

It sounds great when you get it right! But quite a

fumbling and brain-fade, probably from the RD

Contest at the weekend....
e Nice to hear a newbie doing great! VK3AFH

- well done!

...working Jordan

VK3ACU.
e Mark VK2KI thank you, you are doing a great job!
input to the WIA’s Technical Committee

Re 40m

| also appreciate your

Harmonisation of the

IARU.
¢ | hope others will send comments

in!

Interesting to note that the US

military is teaching CW again after many years of not!

This could mean

that
our CW

ranks will continue to swell over time ....

e ps | think the overall speeds on the QRS ‘net’ are getting faster, probably
as a result of practice each week.
¢ So I’m going to make a conscious effort to slow my CW

right down

because|

don’t want any of our growing team
of novice CW

newbies to find it hard

to finda

Station to contact, or

feel intimidated hearing increased
speeds.

[80m]
e Didn’t hear any QRS stations on
80m...b00 hoo!

[Really nice story about your night mate - thank you.

And thank you also

for your comments, support and for running the Wednesday evening CW
training on 80m;

even today | had a request for info about your training.

Yes - a conscious effort to keep the speed down Is a good idea.

| try to do

the Farnsworth sending by setting the break-in / VOX delay time to about
800ms, and transmitting each letter just as or before the relays drop.]

But

yes, when tired, it’s easy for me to slip up in speed (to beyond what I can
copy) by accident.

| either stuff-up the keying, or remind myself that I’m

here for listeners to practice, not just for my own pleasure at sending.

Bad

luck about 80m - there were a good number on when | was there this
week. ]

From lan VK5CZ

at Clare

[80m]
e Really nice to hear so many conversations going on these days on this
CW
net, shows improvements

made

by having this net to build skills and

confidence for the operators.
¢ Well done everyone for stringing it all together.

From Jordan VK3ACU

at Meredith

[40m]
e That was a fun night on 40m.
e My favourite part of QRS night is when

new CW ops have a crack at their

first contact.
e | was lucky enough to be Mathew's (VK3AFH) first CW contact.
e Honestly, | wouldn’t have known as your CW was really good (not just
saying
that).
e You’ve clearly put a lot of time and effort into it mate.
e That was a great first contact!.
e Anyone wanting to give CW a go, shout out.
e I'm happy to go slow enough for you to read each letter from a chart if it
gets you on the air.
¢ Getting on the air and making that first contact is hard, it really gets
the adrenaline going, like Mat said.
e No turning back now, I’m sure you’re hooked.
e Hope to catch you all on the air again soon.
[Great work Jordan!

Here’s how it unfolded on WhatsApp.:]

Jordan VK3ACU chatting to Mathew VK3AFH on 7030kHz.
7:08 PM

You
Jordan VK3ACU

chatting to Mathew VK3AFH

| think we have yet another first solo tonight!

GS)

on 7030kHz.

7:99 py

Jordan VK3ACU Clarke
Awesome Congrats Mat did awesome if this was your first

QSO well done!

7:11PM

Mathew - VK3AFH Van de Loop
Oh my, my heart was racing, and | almost got the callsign
wrong but managed to stay focused enough and keep
going & yes, first one in the books
Right before dinner time, going to have a drink and try to
calm down haha - many thanks, | am very pleased!!
@

7:22PM

ole
Peter VK6IS
&

Well Done

7:32pm

Jordan VK3ACU

Clarke

@Mathew

@®

Scales

Matt

- VK3AFH

Van de Loop | never would

have

known that was your first contact untill mark told me you
did awesome! first QSO really does keep you on your toes
well done hope its the start of many many more I'll send
you a QSL card too (&) (drop my an email I'll send it to that
address as yours isn't on qrz)
Edited 7:36PM

Jordan VK3ACU

Clarke

@Mathew - VK3AFH Van de Loop | never would have known
that was your first contact untill mark told me you did
awesome! first QSO really does keep you on your toes well...

| was amazed by your sending mate - congratulations!
Sorry | sent your certificate in the wrong format - stand by
for a replacement.
7:47PM

From Grant ZL2GD

at Oxford

[40m]
¢ Conditions on 40m

not the best tonight but good to catch up with lan and

Wimal.
[80m]
¢ Great to hear a good

number of stations on 80m tonight.

¢ | even heard you Mark from WA
[Cool bananas Grant - the Remote

!
was playing up - so great that you heard

me.]

From Ross VK/MONNK

at Exeter UK via Perth WA

[15, 17 and 40m]
« It was great to have quick contacts with Mike DL3YZ on 15m and 17m
from the
VK6SR remote access radio in Perth WA.
e It was also nice to work VK7WW.
[80m]
¢ Thanks for your insight into the Remote’s
partially

problem on 80m

explain why | haven't been having much

been hearing other

Mark. It might

luck on 80m.

I've

stations fine but not always being heard

myself.
¢ Next week I'll try your trick of offset tuning and see if that makes any
difference (or

pray for rain in the Bedfordale area!).

¢ Having said that, | really appreciate the availability of this remote access

radio - it

has enabled

been closed to me.

me to enter a world that would otherwise have
I'm working on the UK-VK project but | have no

idea whether that will bear fruit. In
Down

the meantime,

I'm making friends

Under.

¢ | was hoping to work my first New Zealand station (ZL2GD)
finished

his QSO someone

else called his QSO

but when

partner so that was my

chance gone.
* | got to listen to stations from all over Australia though, so that was
good.

BTW

| have 6000 hours on

helicopters (and another 5000 on
aeroplanes) so we must have a chat
along those lines one day.
Ross

[You may also have experienced the one-way propagation we often get on
80m as the grey-line moves

West - signals from the East pour into WA, but

the VK6 signals are considerably weaker the other way.

Three or four

potential hypotheses about the cause have been floated in previous
RagChews.

Glad you're making friends down-under... sounds like the 1961

Tony Hancock episode called “The Radio Ham” - HI!

Perhaps when the

other station called Grant’s partner, a quick ‘2DG UP 5’ might have worked
(although probably not with the weak signal from WA)... easy to say in
hindsight | know!

But it is possible to make the distance to ZL on the

Remote Ross.... as you can read above Grant did hear me on the Remote
later in the evening.

Hopefully we'll be able to twist Rob’s arm to find out

why the once excellent Marconi-Tee (12m high and 60m across the top!)
isn’t working as well as it used to and why the coupler just doesn't like our
band segment!]

From

Ketut

VK3BWN

at Melbourne

[80m]
¢ FB QSO

TNX

ALL.

From Martin VK3MLT

at Berwick

[40m]
* I'm about 3/4 the way through

BC2 with LICW and have only ever sent a

few
short TU UR 5NN for last week’s Remembrance

Day competition or WWFF

activations.
¢ | spotted VK3ACU's

invite on WhatsApp

and thought why not have a go.

¢ To say the least my first longish QSO with Jordan was a bit nerve-racking,

5th letter into his callsign and drew
a blank on the C of all letters!!
| somehow

gathered

and bumbled

my thoughts

on not knowing what

to send.
¢ Big thanks to Jordan for his QRS
sending and his patience decoding
my
sending.

[Congratulations Martin - and Jordan!

Doesn't quite qualify as a first CW

QSO on the net... but it’s pretty close - and hopefully had all the nerves,
sweaty palms, and excitement that goes with that achievement!

And by

the way, | still get tripped up by some letters that | know well.... Stan
ZL3TK sent me a RandomGram

exercise this week... and | had to stop and

think what a dah-dah-di-dit was mid-way through!

Then there’s the fun of

trying to spell while mid-way through a sentence,

the ‘was thata 1 ora/?’,

‘aQoraZ?’,
that Jordan

etc.
was

Lots of fun ahead mate!
where you are now....

And it wasn't all that long ago

and look at him go now!]

From John VKS5ET at Hope Valley
[40m]
¢ Busy band tonight - noisy, qrm & doubling in background.
* Had a good session copying Stan's formal message exchange
by

Manny to Stan’s previous question... good

reply sent

practice.

[80m]
¢ Bit more quiet than 40 mts tonight.
[Yes | imagine it can be interesting living in Adelaide listening to stations in
the West, East and New Zealand, all on the same frequency not hearing
each-other!

Great that you’re getting the practice with Stan’s exercises

too.]

From Stan ZL3TK at Waitarére Beach
[40m]
* Jolly good

night all told.

¢ One TDIH and one RG x 10, both close to 100 % accuracy.
[80m]
* Conditions average but good enough to achieve 100 %

round-trip RG x

10,
then

a fine chat with OM

From Mike

DL3YZ

Sava

in tropical

QLD.

at Stuttgart / Germany

[20m & 15m]
* Wow, the waves were really on our side today.
heard, which |

couldnt work using just my FT-891
and 100 Watts.
¢ Thank you to all the stations
taking part in the DXperiment,
for all the nice contacts.

and

Hey, its so

cool to actually beep around the
globe. Great fun :-).
e It was really challenging to answer
all the stations and keep in time
with the announced

schedule.

didn’t work out every time to be on
the new band on

the spot.

Sorry

for that - next time | try to do
better.
¢« The RST reports were better on
both sides when
band.

Not a single station |

couldn‘t work using just my FT-891 and 100 Watts.

using the 15m

¢ QSOs

in total were almost scoring

equal, 4:3 for 20m - so | think15m

a keeper.
e Now let’s wait for next week, |
heard there may be a big surprise
coming.

No, | won’t spoiler HI.

e Have a great week!
e 73 de Mike DL3YZ ( the
Antipodean
).

[Danke Herr Antipodean.

This is a terrific activity for the team - lots of

interest to try to work a team member from the other side of the world outstanding work.
For the team, I’d emailed Mike about the RTTY stations on 21050.2 and
21051.2kKHz... his insightful reply after the event was as follows:
| received you mail just at the very moment.
its hard to handle all things in parallel.

As all is still quite new to me,

So had no time to set up the laptop

or even go to the toilet during my schedule

:-)

Thanks for your info about the RTTY station, which of course was no RX
here.
| had really many stations today on both bands.
better.

Reports on 15 were rated

Detailed report will follow.

Condx were great and now |'m really mentally exhausted..

Had almost

constantly traffic to handle, and even my /75Ah Car battery is leaked now
HI
Thanks for the nice QSO and for having me on our net.
Thanks Mike.

| know from experience,

that you’re not the first CW operator

to be up to their arms in signals, schedules,

computers, busting to go to

the toilet etc during our net! ]

From Garry VK2GAZ

at Richmond

NSW

[40m]
e Nice to be able to make a few contacts, I've been away for a while.

From Dale VK5DC

at Littlehampton SA

[40m]

¢ Quiet band tonight making for
good copy even over the longer
distance VK6
and ZL.

From Clint VK2TIG

at North Sydney

[40m]
e First time as a listener.
¢ Hopefully next time as a participant... I’m preparing myself to give it a go
next

Tuesday evening.

¢ From now till then | will be practicing (Basic) QSO
wondering

protocols - (still

where to put all the pro signs

exchanges from everyone on

and all, as the

the net was a little different.

¢ Great work.
¢ Clint VK2TIG.
[Thanks Clint and a terrific start from you first week on the net - lots of
stations’ callsigns decoded.

My thoughts on prosign use - don't get too

worried about the prosigns - I'm still learning them!

Did you find the basic

exchange info in the link at the bottom of the news/etter?

That's a start -

perhaps try to learn
e

di-dah-di-dah-dit dah-di-dah

for the end of transmission

(many people just send dah-di-dah) - the

is an old practice that

l've kind of revived - HI.
e Also you'll hear lots of dah-di-di-di-dah

(which is an equals sign

or double hyphen, but we use it as a pause to think or gap between
sentences),
e

You'll hear the occasional (dreaded!) di-di-dah-di-dit question
mark, and also dah-di-di-dah-dit

or forward slash.

| say

dreaded question mark because some people like me that struggle to
head-copy fear them!

If l’ve fallen asleep and someone asks a2

question, more often than not | need to respond with AGN? or PSE
RPT? so! can work out what ! was being asked - HI!
Take care mate and thank you for your first report - well done!]

From David VK6KD/4

at Mareeba

QLD, 40km

E of Cairns.

[15m]
¢ A QSO with YBINWP

(W Java), heard VK5CZ on 21.022KHz.

[80m]
¢ Great night on both 40 and 80m.
e After a long day as a tourist in QLD

| had to shut down

my gear before

falling asleep.
¢ 80m was still coming

in strong from VK6 when | left.

From Manny

at Blackburn

VK3DRQ

[80m]
e Nil.

From Adrian VK2WF

at Tallong NSW

[80m]
e Just finished doing High Voltage repairs on a Kenwood TS-830s for a
friend

VK2QK.
e After setting up the quiescent current and a tune up, | plugged

it into the

80m vertical and had 3 quick QSOs.
e Thanks to VK5LA, ZL2GD

and VK4PN.

e | expect a ppt presentation will be forthcoming for the Goulburn ARC.

Four grid-leak/Cathode current
metering resistors in parallel for the
6146Ws - gone to God.

From Peter VK7KPC

at Sellicks Beach SA

[40m]
¢ Using VK5ARG
¢ VK4PN

SDR.

heard calling CQ.

¢ Too cold and wet to sit outside with Racal Syncal.

From Roy Jones VKO6RR at Geraldton WA
[15 & 20m]
¢ Heard VK3DRQ

& ZL3TK calling DL3YZ on 20m.

¢ Called on 15m

nil heard.

From Allen VK5FD

| also called, nil heard.

at Blakeview SA

[80m]
¢ Otherwise engaged this week but heard a few stations late on 80 m.

From Phil ZL1PB

at Tauranga

[40m]

¢ On 40m

using my new kit built

QRP Labs QCX+

5 Watts into my 40

foot (you can
tell I'm old school) vertical and was
really pleased with the few stations
| heard.

Lots of QSB so it got a bit

scratchy at times but thank you
to the stations that put up with my
weak signal and sending mistakes.

From Mark the Editor VK2KI

at Beautiful South Bowning

e Busy busy busy - another terrific evening's fun!
[20m]
e This time | started by listening-out for Mike DL3YZ on 20m,
arrived

having

home just too late for the first 15m sked at 0645z.
¢ | managed

to work Mike with 50 Watts to my 80m double-extended Zepp

(on 20m
it would

be a five wavelength

pattern - no

doublet with who knows what radiation

doubt lots of peaks and nulls).

¢ | was again amazed

that Mike heard my weak signal through all the

European
QRM;

the band

was

otherwise

quiet here.

[15m]

¢ When

Mike moved

up to 15m, |

was disappointed to hear two strong
high baud-rate RTTY stations on
21051.2

and 21050.2 via the

Tecsun

KiwiSDr at Araluen

NSW;

could just see/hear Mike on 21051,
and the variable bandwidth SDR
might have helped had | tried.
However,

my rusty old Kenwood

TS-120S decided that it's phaselocked loop wouldn't work on 15m,
so | couldn't have worked

him even

if the RTTY wasn't there.

¢ | did hear Roy VK6RR up at Geraldton calling Mike as well, but sounded
like
Mike couldn't hear Roy that time.
[40m]
« After the fun of the DX, | had a listen on 40m

and heard lots of activity

from ZL, VK1 and VK3.
e After dinner | returned to 40m

and heard the tail-end of yet another of

our
net's first solos - this time it was Mathew VK3AFH
very first CW QSO with Jordan VK3ACU

at Wantirna

having his

across at Meredith.

¢« Congratulations Mathew - your CW sounded

really smooth - | wound't

have
guessed that it was your first go on the key!
another first CW QSO

under your belt!

And well done Jordan - yet

This is exactly what the net is

about - I'm really really pleased!
¢ | listened to other QSOs and then heard JA6BZH

calling CQ with a lovely

slow rhythm;

group but wasn't able to

| posted an Alert on our WhatsApp

get my gear back on 40m
catch

in time to catch him myself.

Did anyone else

him?

* The 40m

segment was full of signals - Bourke Street... a challenge for my

barn-

side-wide TS-120S 3kHz receiver (I’m on the look-out

for a Kenwood YK-88C CW

filter)!

So | slipped down to 80m for a look-

see instead.
[80m]
* | decided to have a listen on 80m early in the evening, well before the Dlayer had
VK1WA

faded across Australia.

about 65km

| was pleased to catch up with Wimal

down the road in the ACT.

e At 1030z, | tried to work Ross VK6/MONNK who was in and out of the
noise Ross could hear me, but not the other way around - he was just too weak
for
me to pick out his report;

one-way propagation as the grey line moved

across the continent again (we've had lots of discussion about three
possible theories about this phenomenon

in past RagChews).

¢ | caught up with Sava VK4PN
VK5CZ

at Mount Ommaney, John VK5ET and lan

Clare - all with nice signals into NSW.
¢ | was really pleased to hear quite a few of our stations chatting on 80m
this time - terrific!

| had a late night

(NZ time) chat with Stan ZL3TK

Waitatere Beach and we exchanged

a RandomGram

exercise - | was

surprised
that he gave me a 10/10 for that one;

| must have made the right

guesses!
¢ | rounded out the night with a really fun QSO with Derek VK4DRK up at
Toowoomba.

Derek usually has a Tuesday night date at a tennis court, but
managed

the VK1TE

Ping-Pong CW

letter word which Derek would

to finish early this time.

We decided to give

head-copy exercise a try.

I'd send a three

head-

copy (ie without writing it

down) and send back to me - along with another three
his choice.

letter word of

I'd then reply with that word (if | copied / remembered

and send another word.
10

it)

That went back and forth really well for perhaps

minutes, and | upped

it to 4 letters without warning.

¢« Derek was on a roll, and | don't think he made any mistakes (if he did
senda
wrong word, I'd repeat the correct one and he’d try again).
simple,

but it is a bit challenging - head-copying,

word, thinking up the

Sounds pretty

remembering

the

next word on the fly etc.

¢ And it certainly is fun!

Thank you

to Claude VKITE / VK2CL for coming
up
with this excellent exercise - and
I'm keen to give other operators a
go
too, and Stan has agreed to add it
to his list of net exercises.

Also from

Mark

and the VK6SR

the

Editor VK6QI

via the VK6QS

KiwiSDR

near Brookton

Remote at Bedfordale

[20m]
¢« Using the VK6QS
working

KiwiSDR near Brookton,

| heard Ross VK6/MONNK

Mike DL3YZ on 20m, then | heard Manny VK3DRQ

to Wayne VK6NW

the frequency,

chatting

but | don't know if they caught up

with Mike.
[40m]
« | heard a number of stations chatting as the 40m

band opened

across

Australia and New Zealand - terrific!.
[80m]
¢ | cranked up the Southern

Electronics Group VK6SR

Remote at

Bedfordale and
like Ross, had all sorts of trouble with the antenna coupler - just in our
segment;

a few kHz outside of 3540-3570,

our band.

| tried tricking it by tuning up just above or below our segment

it tuned up fine, but just not in

then not
re-tuning in the band - which sort of worked
and

with the SWR

but the SWR climbed quickly

protection the output power was down.

« | tried to have a QSO with Stan ZL3TK at Waitatére Beach on the Remote;
Stan was nicely Q5 but he couldn't hear me - perhaps one-way grey-line
propagation,

but it was very late, so | expected the D-layer to be

cooperating - not so apparently, or perhaps there wasn't enough
in the F-layers across the long stretch?

ionisation

Stan went on to work Sava VK4PN

in Brisbane - and both were nice copy in the West, as were Derek VK4DRK
from Toowoomba

and me from Southern

NSW when we chatted and did

the PingPong CW

head-copy exercise.

From Nyoman

YBINWP

at Lippo Cikarang, near Jakarta

[40m]
¢ Hello Mark.
¢ | made several QRS QSO tonight.
¢ No VK stations heard on 40m.
noise floor

Band conditions on 40m were terrible -

was on S9 +10dB - no way could | hear DX, so | moved

15m where the noise

floor was much

better.

[15m]
e | started on 21020, but someone was using the freq.
calling and we

then moved

to 21022

| heard VK6IS

and had a quick QSO.

Thanks

Peter.

¢ Next | got DUYJEA.
strong.

Even though my Yagi was not beaming

North, he was

After quick exchange and introduction, | continued with the

next CQ.
¢ VK5CZ and VK6KD/4

pile up but no problem copying them.

¢ Nice signal from OM

lan VK5CZ

even with only 10W from his KX3.
Then VK6KD/4

become

on this night.

Thanks Dave.

my last QSO

e | will try next week again.
¢ Hopefully 40m

band's conditions

would get better.
e Thanks and 73.
¢ Nyoman YBINWP.

Nyoman

posted a video of David’s signal on
our CQQRS WhatsApp group.

From Mathew

V VK3AFH

at Wantirna

[40m]
¢ This week was when

it all came together and | put my practice to work

doing
the real thing - many thanks to all, especially Jordan and also everyone
else I've been able to listen in on and study lately!
¢ | was definitely a little unprepared for the adrenaline rush that started
once | heard a reply, but | think | managed

to stay focused on sending

properly with only a few mistakes, and copying everything coming

my way.

¢ It felt like it could go on into a ragchew but | was not going to attempt
that on my first time even if it did seem to all be going according to
plan!
¢ | immediately stepped away after the QSO and spent some time trying to
calm
down again, it took quite a while and | didn't get much sleep - kept
hearing Morse code and needed to double-check my radio and everything
else
was actually off - | was definitely just hearing things.
¢ | realised after coming

back from dinner that | had been so intently

focusing on the CW that | had completely forgotten to note what frequency
|
was on and the time, but the CQQRS
on that

this time!

WhatsApp Alerts group had my back

e | have since mostly recovered, except for my cheek muscles which are
now
complaining about the huge grin | have had on my face since last night :-).
e Another goal ticked off my list, many thanks again, and maybe
I'll try for two QSOs

next time

if | can remain calm enough!.

[80m]
¢ | have modified my antenna setup so | can relatively easily (via a Banana
plug) swap between
not made

40m

and 80m,

but | did not try 80m this week - | have

any contacts on 80m yet so a future goal of mine will be to make

my first a CW one!
[Fantastic!

Congratulations Mat - another successful first solo on the

CQQRS practice QSO net.

Who’s next | wonder?

hear CW when I’m trying to sleep

From Derek VK4DRK

And by the way, | still

:-/]

at Wyreema

[80m]
e It was fun to be on 80m
It was a

on a Tuesday

night again, just after 10PM

local.

clear night here, not too cold, and quite visibly, a full moon.

e There was some QSB on the band, but that was negated with a few
repeats.

¢ Overall, the conditions seemed

From Keiran VK3BTV

good, and the CW was worthwhile.

at Lilydale

[40m]

e Just trying to get my CW stamina
back after a number of weeks off
air.
[New location mate!
room

From Ben ZL4BDG

Will there be

for that ZS6BKW

doublet?].

at Upper Hutt

[40m]
¢ A bit more listening for me this time, there were not as many CQs being
called, but lots of long rag chews!
after 99m

| started hearing more VK stations

NZ time.

¢ No luck with my CQs.

From David VK3RU

at Burwood Vic

[40m]
e | called Jordan several times but 5W from my QCX was not enough to
beat the
big boys.
[80m]
e | was using a QCX set only for 40, so 80 is out of the question.
¢ QMX

is on the way.

[/ordan’s fussy like that!]

From Peter VK6IS

at Wundowie

[40m]
« There seemed
[15m & 20m]

to be more activity, this week.

« Couldn't

hear DL3YZ

this week.

Traffic Report for 20 August

From Stan ZL3TK
Here is OM

Manny's very-thorough answer to the previous week's QTC.

is accurate in every respect.
ballad;

Yep, he's quoting from an iconic Aussie

didn't our Spanish immigrant do well?

Which

raises the question:

Considering there were no other takers to NR 110, how many Aussies
know the answer?

VK CQ QRS Group

,
QTC

| Teoedog
09402

WIRELESS TELEGRAM

ray MR
Ose

PRES

| 25

STATION

ORIGIN

VE3DRO

CHECK.

34/32

PLACE

7.0277 Mie

ORGS

TIME

BLACKBURN

11872

}

CATT

17AUGZ4

ZL3TK

MESSAGE:

YOUR NR 118 ANSWER STOP THE DROVERS DREAM
COMMA AND THE EMU STANDING NEAR WITH HIS
CLAW UP TO HIS EAR SAID THATS THE FUNNIEST
THING IVE HEARD IN QUIET A WHILE

VE3DRO

FROM:
RECEIVED AT

| FROM

[TiMt

| ZL3TK | VK3DRQ | @943Z

pat

20AUG24

[SENT FROM

Lami

[DATE

This week's QTC moves to the big, nationally-divided island across Torres
Strait.
It is shown

below exactly as sent so that anyone

formal reply using the message
numbers

may configure their own

protocol used on traffic nets.

Serial

reset to NR 1 for the first QTC sent from your station in any

calendar year.
QTC

VK3DRQ

NR113

ZL3TK

25/23

WAITARERE

0210Z

20AUG

FAGGOT AND

LEAKING

GIVE OFFICIAL MODEL

NAMES

FOR THE FANLESS

LOUISE STOP
WHERE

AND

HOW

WERE THEY DEPLOYED TOGETHER

ZL3TK

QRU

And how it appears printed on a Telegram form:

IN JUNE

1945 QUERY

VK CQ QRS Group

;
a

09402

WIRELESS TELEGRAM

PRES

STATION

CFR

WGN

CHECK

LACT

7.0277 MH |

ORIN

TIME

WAITARERE

@2182

}

DATL

Ose

QTC

|113 |

ZL3IK

25/23

20AUG24

VK3DRO

MESSAGE:

GIVE OFFICIAL MODEL TYPES FOR THE
FANLESS FAGGOT AND LEAKING LOUISE
WHERE AND HOW WERE THEY DEPLOYED
TOGETHER IN JUNE 1945 QUERY

FROM:

STOP

ZL3TK

| RECEIVEDAT

| PROM

TIME

| DATE

| SET

FROM

lito

| TIME

| ZL3TK | VK3DRO

Tua TE

| @948Z

2GAUG24

Everyone is invited to dip their toes into traffic by answering the question
in NR 113,

even if the reply sent is only message text, devoid of preamble.

Seek help if you need clarification on any point while advancing your
skills.

zl3tk@qsl.net

One rather complex 'Today in History' message was sent to the alwayskeen OM Jordan VK3ACU,

who returned it near-enough

SPANISH

CONQUISTADORS

EMPEROR

CUAUHTEMOC

UNDER

TODAY

HERNAN

CORTES

perfectly:

CAPTURED

1521

ENDING THE AZTEC

Despite a couple of missing 'E's,

e.g.,

AZTC,

understood due to the context;

'E's are easily masked

AZTEC

EMPIRE.

the message was still easily
by QRN, their loss is

no reflection on the operator's ability.
Repeat requests were not needed for OM
returned all ten groups 100 %.
accuracy of anything

Mark's RandomGram

Well done that man!

exercise, he

If in doubt about the

received, don't be shy, simply request a repeat

according to the previously-provided

protocol in 'RagChew'.

Though

heard, efficiency dictates that there is no need for time-wasting
such as PSE and ,

often

niceties

it's obvious to both parties what is intended.

This

sort of exercise is magnificent for on-yer-feet training, grab every
opportunity.
Wishing all a splendid week,

Stan.

[Thanks again Stan for the extra training opportunities offered to our net.]

Post

Morsum

from

Richard

VK6HRC

Seven on the net in spite of the occasional

network drop outs for Max and

Wayne!
On the net via the AllStar/ Echolink and the South West repeater network :
e VK6KHZ

Ron

ZL3TK

Stan

VK6QI

Mark

VK6FN

Max

M@NNK_

Ross

VK6HRC

Rich

e VK6NW
e

and

Wayne

our shortwave

listeners.

Ron was happy with his new record of eleven contacts for the evening.
Stan had a successful evening on multiple frequencies and treated us with
a formal exchange of traffic with Manny VK3DRQ,

more details about this

training opportunity in the RagChew.
Mark was busy as usual, frequency hopping and keeping the WhatsApp
crew informed of potential contacts
Max got on and some fun before he was called away
Ross

stayed up late to join the Post Morsum

net with some discussion of

the VK/ prefix possibly deterring people from having a go at a contact.
Wayne

managed

to check-in and let us know about the home

built key he

was using before we lost him when the link dropped out.
| could not spend
around when

much time in the shack on Tuesday but managed

Stan and Manny were on, thank you gentlemen.

mention of the VK7TAZ

CW training net run by Nick VK7WW

at 19.00 EST Wednesdays.

to be

| made
on 3580 KHz

Unfortunately | got distracted that evening and

missed the CW segment but stayed around for the Tech session that
followed;

however,

| Know that Max listened in on the VK5PH

Ironstone

Ridge KiwiSDR.
Thanks to all on the net, looking forward to more comprehensive

reports in

the RagChew.
73
Richard VK6HRC
[Thanks for running the net and writing the report Richard - terrific. ]

Other

Other things

received

Europe to VK: a personal

from

News

our 200-odd

readers.

strategy

By Ross MONNK
I’m coming at the QRP Europe-to-VK project from four directions: Transmit;
Receive;

Location; and Propagation

Prediction.

Receive
I’m currently evaluating antennas for my RTL-SDR dongle.
antennas are supposed to be very good.
deploy.

Loop-on-Ground

They’re stealthy and easy to

But my first trial showed that there was no difference between

20m circumference LoG and a 6m vertical wire. I’ve just built a simple
transformer for it to see if that makes any difference.

To my very great surprise, it makes a significant difference - this antenna
IS now noticeably better than the vertical wire.
My G90 has a very good receiver and so using a separate SDR and antenna
system

may be more trouble than it’s worth, especially as I’m portable.

Only further experiments tn the field will tell.
Transmit
| think I’m close to optimising my transmit antenna
it would

be nice to have some directional gain.

and | are currently discussing parasitic reflectors.
portable, it will have to be simple to set up.
working on 20m,

but, with only 20 watts,

To that end, Mike DL3YZ
To be practical when

But as 1’m only going to be

it doesn’t need to be anything too complicated.

Location
I’m intending to do some reconnaissance of a nearby estuary that
promises quiet sheltered salt water, rather than the crashing waves of my
local beach.

| know of a location on the east side that would be good for

the Long Path.

And there’s a possible location on the west side for Short

Path.

Propagation

Prediction

Even though we are coming to the peak of a sunspot cycle, conditions in
the last week have been pretty awful.

For instance, today’s forecast says

this
“WWV Alert: Soace weather for the next 24 hours is predicted to be
moderate.

Radio blackouts reaching the R2 level are expected.”

30-

Reliability (%)

Aug 2024 Ry2:138 20.00W
50.64°N 3.42°W Rx: 32.41°S 115.98°E

Tx:

The graph above shows that the best probability of a contact on 20m today
is only 20%

if | go out portable at midnight local.

Oh dear.

The trick to successful contacts around the globe is going to be working
the best path when

propagation is good so | need to improve my

knowledge of propagation forecasts and how to interpret them.
But, hey, if it was easy, there’d be no satisfaction in success.
[Terrific article and approach Ross.
interesting,

The Loop-on-Ground receive antenna Is

bit like a beverage antenna - low noise.

| can’t imagine that it

would work better than a vertical for the low-angle propagation required
for the around-the-world attempts - but we'll see - | look forward to
learning more.

Your experiments with parasitic antennas will be

interesting - the challenge of course Is to get a low angle of radiation from
an antenna close to the ground - phased or parasitic verticals with good RF
and DC grounding perhaps - Mosquito Estuary might be the go as you
suggested?

I’m glad you picked up on the propagation prediction;

to help with that if you want.

happy

Attached are the VOCAP-Ham short path and

long path predictions for UK to VK6 (7m vertical at your end, dipole at 7m
in VK, 25 Watts output).

You can see why | suggested 15m to Mike for the

DL-to-VK test (although,

with 100W and gain antennas at both ends, the

prediction would be quite different reliability-wise.
easy, there’d be no satisfaction in success...”:
wing pilot!

VOACAP

Select RX QTH:

“...if it was

Thanks Ross - what fun - well done!]

Online for Ham Radio — 0:59:20 UTC (10:59)

Select TX QTH:

And re:

spoken like a true rotary

or set Grid:

[_VK6 Perth

Vv] or set Grid:

—

100%

—

VOACAP
or Latitu

or Latitu
180

Online for Ham Radio — 0:52:05 UTC (10:52)

Select TX QTH:

SelectRXQTH:[VKéPerh
—

—S—~—~—SCSCSN
~

Short Path

Long Path

—

or set Grid:

rset Grid:
—

or Latitu

or Latitu
180

40m

Band

Harmonisation

- TAC

Consultation

2024-2

As discussed at the start of the newsletter, Grant VK5GR the Chair of the
WIA Technical Advisory Committee

has written to me again about my

submission of the last few months’ CQQRS
40m

band harmonisation

project;

log spreadsheets for the IARU

Grant’s first response was in the last

RagChew.
Mark,

Thank you for the additional information. | will add it to the pool of data we
have received for review once the consultation period closes.
While | am not willing to enter an argumentative discussion during the
consultation gathering phase (to avoid diversifying the discussion points
such that not everyone is aware of all of them, which would

remove the

fairness and equality the intended process was designed to maintain),
there are a couple of points | feel | need to make to address some of the
negative, combative and at times quite disrespectful feedback | have
received from various people in the community,

(including unfortunately

from a number of CW operators). It might be helpful for you to pass these
on to your readers.
1.

In answer to your question about the ACMA,

unfortunately during this

process | am finding that some respondents don’t yet understand the
concept of what a band plan is, how they work and why they should
be respected. They are not authoritarian documents,
that try to show all amateurs

rather guidelines

how to select frequencies on the bands

to minimise mutual disruption to each others’ on air activities. They
are ultimately coordinated globally by the IARU, although domestically
we do have some freedom where there are no international impacts.
One respondent today has, however,

stated that they have already

sought to challenge the process through the ACMA. The ACMA
however has no jurisdiction over voluntary agreements

made within

the amateur service and are not involved in this process. The
respondent’s approach

is therefore frustrating and uncalled for, as no

one has said anything about forcibly restricting anything. That is not
what a band plan is for in the amateur service. It would

be good to

make clear more widely that band plans are simply guidelines that, by
voluntary observance throughout the amateur community,

help to

promote orderly interference-free use of the amateur radio spectrum.
2.

People need to also understand that this is only a preliminary paper
from the WIA and is part of a rather long process. It will undergo
reviews and further feedback to members
gathering stage is complete.

once this information

Further proposals may be drawn up as a

wider base of information is gathered to help us make

informed

recommendations. That means, whether CW stays as 7000-7040,
changes to 7000-7025

or even something else is not yet determined.

Any presumption that this is the only option on the table is false
(although | will concede that due to the structure of the paper, if a
reader didn’t follow the arguments along in detail it is now clear that
they may have mis-construed our intent). Once we have collected the
feedback from WIA members

and non-members

alike, and indeed

other IARU Region 3 societies, then a way forward will likely be sent to
the IARU Region 3 board and member

societies for consideration at a

regional level, hopefully at the November conference. Subject to what
is agreed

in that international forum, the proposals will then go forth

to the IARU Region

1 and 2 boards and member societies for further

discussion during 2025, before eventually (possibly in 1-2 years’ time)
helping to reach a consensus agreement across the IARU globally. Its
final form will be built on a global consensus of what is best for the
amateur service.
3.

Finally, |am seeing misinformation also circulate where multiple
people (many from the CW community?)
that we have ignored the 7200-7300

have made

repeated claims

kHz band segment. The truth is

we haven't ignored it, but rather it is simply out of scope in the
context of IARU region 3. Within our region, only Australia and New
Zealand

have access to that segment.

It is not even footnoted

in the

ITU band plan (attached below) for Australia. Given the work
ultimately is destined for a global audience,

it is only appropriate that

it is not coloured by the exceptional circumstances we find ourselves
with here in VK/ZL.
RRS5-24

CHAPTER II — Frequencies

7 000-7 450 kHz
ae
—

‘

\ Region 1

Allocation to services

7 000-7 100

(

Region 3

AMATEUR

AMATEUR-SATELLITE
5.140

7 100-7 200

Region 2

ral

7 200-7 300

5.141A

i
—_

AMATEUR

Rgoaversrse

7 200-7 300

BROADCASTING

5.141

AMATEUR
5.141A 5.141B

7 200-7 300

7300-00

5.142
BROADCASTING 5.134

7 400-7 450

BROADCASTING

FIXED

BROADCASTING

5.143

5.1434

5.143B

5.143C

MOBILE except aeronautical

5.143B 5.143C

)

mobile (R)

5.143D

5.1434 5.143C

Please consider reminding your readers that band plans are all about
balance. The process now underway is about finding a new equilibrium that
delivers better voluntary interference management

outcomes for all

amateurs around the world.
Regards,
Grant Willis VK5GR
WIA TAC Chairman
Thank you Grant - nicely done;
TAC members

your voluntary role and that of the other

is very much appreciated.

So again for our readers - please send your thoughts to the Technical
Advisory Committee tac@wia.org.au
New Zealand
IARU 40m

members,

And for our

| haven’t been able to find anything about the

band harmonisation on the NZART website.

the NZART’s

While chasing up

response to the IARU proposal, please send a submission to

the WIA TAC to be considered

Morse Training

Doctrine

From Andrew VK1DA
Hi Mark,

before September 6th.

part of a coordinated

Region 3 input.

Just a few thoughts in response to your editorial in the RagChew

newsletter

33/2024.
1. | think there is no use in bemoaning the old fashioned
greybeards in the early 70s.

prejudices of

These attitudes plagued amateur radio all

over the world and were not unique to the vk6 situation.
unique to ssb/cw, the same
later to SSB.

kind of grumpy

Neither were they

buggers objected to AM, and

Then digital modes, what next?

The greybeards of the 70s are mostly no-longer with us now so they cannot
either apologise or update their old attitudes.

Novice licensing, reduction

of Morse test speed, abolition of Morse testing all would
conniptions.

have given them

Maybe that played a part in sending them off.

But either

way, they are now, 50 years later, all dead. Their grumpy responses to
progress just don’t matter now.
2. When

| did the Morse test in 1965 it was 14 wom.

| didn’t think the

1Owpm

change happened

it did.

only 5 years later, maybe

3. Be sure to distinguish accurately between WWFF

and POTA schemes.

They are not merely “parks” contacts as the two schemes
codes for the parks.

WWFFE

use different

is the older scheme and POTA is the copy,

renumbering the parks and recently assigning different country codes.
4. The best thing for operators who have trouble recognising

non-VK

callsigns, or sorting out Q codes and pro signs as they flow in during
contacts is to do a

lot of listening to others.

When

you see “73 es CUAGN

SN” and don’t know what it means you can work it out with references on
the internet and there is no stress if it isn’t a live contact with you!
Plunging in without any knowledge of the codes is like going to another
country and expecting to understand the language on the first day - ie do
your homework and find out first hand what codes are used and when to
use them yourself.

You can always print out a typical contact and have it

available for reference purposes.
than using an computer.
send out of your head.

Use a pencil and paper if that’s easier

Often it’s much
When

easier to send from a script than

listening to QSOs that are at a higher speed

than you are used to, just try to copy the first letter of each word.
will come with practice. But it will never come

The rest

by giving up the first time

you try it.
Re the cw-only segment of 40m, there has been a lot of discussion on
ozsota and on vkzlqrp lists, both on groups.io.
existing membership
request to join.

Join the groups using your

and login details, or if not, find the groups and

Then you can read the history going back as far as you

like, by using the website rather than emails. That would save you going
over old ground.
Peter VK3YE

is the group owner for vkziqrp and is the owner of the

facebook group.
The ZLs have been running QSO

parties over the last few months.

have been publicised on ozsota.

Hopefully members

those promotions.

A few years ago we had a CW

aimed to make 4 contacts per day.

promotion where we

A lot of SOTA people participated.

| use the groups.io service in various modes.
send me every post immediately.

They

have been seeing

Some groups | have set to

Others i set to send a daily summary.

Others i have set to “no email” but | can always go to

the groups.io website and scan the list of posts in the last week to see if
anyone

has posted something

website.

of interest and | can read it from the

This avoids clogging your email inbox with discussions you aren’t

interested in.

Also lets you catch up on discussions.

So a few thoughts, one or two might merit inclusion in a future newsletter,
or none might.

No problem.

Cheers

Andrew VK1DA
[Thanks Andrew.

As / said at the start of this newsletter,

I’d intended the

editorial comment to bait discussion about the relevance of traditional CW
training methods - but | neglected to specifically say that!
to get the RagChew on the wires.
mate.

Late night rush

So I’m glad you picked up on my vibes

| feel that although the promoters of the older ways are no-longer

with us, the doctrine Is still there;

the failure of some other CW groups

(excluding SOTA, PARKS and related QRP groups) to attract significant
numbers of new operators tells me that something needs to change if
we’re going to continue to attract new people to the art.

International

Lighthouse

Thanks mate.]

& Lightship Weekend

From Roy VK6RR

Afraid my contacts from Point Moore
Lighthouse on Sunday didn't include
any lighthouse - but | did have CW
QSOs with VK5GG, VK2ARZ
HA7TM.

and

The weather was windy

and the occasional

shower.

There

was approx 120 people visiting the
site and a lot were interested in the
portable station and keen to learn
about Morse code - and the amount
of people taking part in the QRS
net.
All good for promoting our hobby!
Glad | wasn't portable from this
lighthouse in Iceland!!
73 & 77 (CW for ever)

[Thanks Roy.

Unfortunately| was tied-up rewiring the studio at our local

Community Radio station all weekend, so | missed the ILLW opportunities
this year.

Good work on the publicity!]

40m

Plan - According

Band

to Chris

Whilst | was otherwise committed

on Tuesday, save a bit of SDR in the car

on the way to the gig, | did read the review of the WIA's request for
comment

in the Fists Down

Under

newsletter that came

this week

Whilst there is a lot of two and fro, and the potential effect on our unique

past time is serious, | thought it appropriate to share with the group a
visual analysis of the ‘current usage patterns’ that | have noted between
7000KHz and 7300KHz for one's own entertainment, as, | keep reminding
myself, this is a hobby.
Anyway,

if you find it usable, please feel free to share

Thanks for all you do. Always appreciated
Cheers
Chris
73

DE VK2NAP

The 40m Amateur Band
Current Usage Map

Eternal Salvation or
Eternal Damnation
Consult your program schedule

~ Russian Apocalypse ~
Nea
Service

North Korean
QRM Service

———
Phone charge

,
,
Indonesian Pirates

TTY

TYTYTTT
>

oud connected

7000KHz
7023KHz
a

7090KHz
Radio Sherpas

lene

7039.6KHz
Shhhhh!

Ge Touching
rass

7038KHz
European
Chicken Peckers

Banished Hams
NTT

vu
7300KHz

Halls

7122KHz

reason that extra
terrestrials will never visit

7285KHz

Good luck
after dark

Unofficial 40m Amateur Band Usage

Less is Less

Bad Hams - The real

7185KHz
Mountain Goats

Reckers

Less is More

7032KHz

ee Ea

7055KHz
Chicken

7OSOKHE

erte

Chinese Propaganda
—_
Anti Chinese Propaganda

oan

Horses, Mites

7200KHz

Out of tune
violins and
wailing cats

7025KHz
7028KHz
Polite Hams

g and sola

Hams with Microphones

TTT
7100KHz

Pixies,Frogs,

D lig

Frustrated CBers

Real Hams _ | Squiggly Noises
PUTT

‘
:
Conspiracy Theories

eighbo

ITY
PT

v0.82 rev. 21 August 2024

‘chick

;

Traditional Chicken Peckers

Chris Wilson VK2NAP
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places
and incidents either are products of the author's
deranged imagination due to oxygen starvation and
are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual
events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely
coincidental but not as improbable as one may think

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
Interest

Members

of CQ QRS

Group

Claim a

First.

By Stan ZL3TK
It is feared that without the CQ QRS Group, the epoch-making
documented

here would

not have been possible.

event

The QRS Group is young

compared to the nine years which have passed since the Oceania

Enigma

project was imagined, and the six years which passed

before the inaugural

intra-ZL amateur Enigma exchange was accomplished

in September 2021.

nae:

It would

be naive to think that 2021 saw the first Enigma transmission from

South Pacific waters.

The German

raider HKS Orion, which laid a total of

228 mines in the approaches to the Hauraki Gulf in June 1940, would
wirelessly telegraphed
Admiral

reports using Enigma

Erich Raeder at OKM.

have

encryption back to the boss,

The use of Enigma to stay in secure contact

with Kriegsmarine headquarters was widespread
a fourth rotor in 1943 after Admiral

and led to the addition of

Karl Doenitz became

M3 machine’s security. No messages

between

OKM

suspicious of the

and Orion seem to

have been recorded.
Now, almost three years since the first successful
exchange
Tasman

in which OM
exchange

intra-ZL Enigma

Stephen ZLIANY took part, the first-ever trans-

has been achieved.

within the Group, four members

When

Enigma was first mentioned

indicated an interest. Each was followed

up by email, but only one replied and grasped the nettle. That one OM who
saw the potential was prepared to put in considerable effort to become a
competent

Enigma

user through self-training.

What makes this

achievement even more significant is that this VK protagonist was new to
CW,

had never handled traffic before and was unfamiliar with the plethora

of challenging Q-codes.

His courage beggars belief

- real Croix de

Guerre material.
Where

is the evidence? you ask.

Firstly, quoting from an email penned

by the intrepid VK operator:

After successfully decrypting the KPH Challenge last January, after the
event, and “catching the bug”, | was contacted and asked if I'd like to
participate in the SAS Net.
| was a bit circumspect about getting involved, but | sought council from
some learned friends who agreed “as long as the key to the decryption of
the transmission Is clearly included in that transmission, all is well”.

It’s been a learning exercise - numbers exchanges are pretty simple to
decrypt using a spreadsheet.

Enigma messages (using the Enigma

simulator program) are a bit trickier.

But the hardest part has been

getting my CW skills up to another level, and understanding the common
CW abbreviations used.
Propagation from VK3 to ZL has been problematic,

especially because of

my tiny dipole antennas.
But there’s no denying the smile on my face when a message

was finally

decrypted.
Stan ZL3TK has been very heloful and encouraging throughout. And he
does QRS.

Keiran

VK3BTV

Secondly,

there are the two Enigmagrams from the SAS Net archives sent

during the inaugural VK-ZL Enigma
week apart.

It’s by coincidence,

exchange.

Notice they are dated a

not design, that both have the same word

count.

, SAS NET

[SERIAL [PREC] HN [STATION GF ORIGIN] WORDCOUNT [KEY LINE DATE
R
ZL31IK
|__23
6JUNE2815

[SERIAL]
EN 64|

MESSAGE TENT

®430Z
HSYSV
DFPNM
GBUCB
HOTKN

€niqmaaram
R

VK3BTV

TJUNE2815

ie
ZL3TK

MESSAGE TEXT
@702Z
KBWVQ
ESCTM
GAETO
LNSMHR

1TLE 1TLE 85 YLN OAA
XDSTV XFUVZ NHOEZ LJBYJ
HKAMI MUKIN UCAQI ACKXOV
HCWRD SZKGJ CYNUU YDBEA
PRDKO

sion ,___ ZEST
(RECEIVED AT

, SAS NET

Entgmagram

OPNOTE BIT.LY/DECREN

FROM

mer _

DATE

]

[SEXSTFROM

| [2L3TK

crow

[VK3BTV

Thr

|@6122%

DATE

6JUN24|

}

RECEIVED AT

ZL3TK

1TLE 1TLE 85 YAW ULO
QHLNW AYTVM PXUCI FINNX
RWUFY RBODJ GNZOM WJXEH
RBETF YHFPN OZUZP ECYFL
BIJLH

VRSBTV
FROM

VK3BTV

OPNOTE BIT.LY/DECREN
TAME

[18262

DATE

T3JuNay

SENT FROM

Perfect punctuation within the respondent’s Enigma encryption

THE

DATE

made the

decrypted

reply a joy to read.

It’s taken all

these years to accomplish

because

no one had the courage to try;

many excuses. Hoping all members
can now see how the CQ QRS Group
played such a decisive role in this
achievement,

and the potential of

the Group offers for members to
achieve CW excellence.

In light of

this proof and despite the dubious
grammar,
wisdom

it’s easy to recognize the

in a quote from ‘The

Imitation Game’:

“Sometimes

it is

the people no one can imagine
anything of,

who do the things no

one can imagine.”
Stan

— meee

— Alan Turing

ZL3TK

Thanks Stan - nice article once again.
If any of our readers would

like to write something for the RagChew

about

something you think might be of interest to our 200-plus readers, please
let me know so we can share more thoughts and ideas;
to cqgrsnet@gqmail.com

Brain
How

Teaser
did you go?

Jules Perrin JP VK3JFP has created a terrific resource to help guide learning
for all levels of amateur radio licenses:
https://www.julesworkshop.net/Amateur%20Radio.html
With thanks to Baz VK6MU
website,

for he idea, and Jules for the good learning

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

test questions:

Exam

Questions:

Why should antennas be fitted with lightening protectors?
Crystal oscillators are often used for frequency control in receivers because
they
e

have more output than other oscillators

e are more stable than L-C oscillators
e

radiate fewer harmonics than other oscillators

e generate more harmonics than other oscillators
A capacity hat or capacitive top loading is used on a
e to increase the bandwidth of the antenna
e

make the antenna

more stable in high winds

e to decrease the electrical length of the antenna
e to increase the electrical length of the antenna
Answers

next week.

vertical antenna to

Answers

from

last week’s

Quiz:

What instrument would you use to test the continuity of a cable?
Answer:

Ohm

meter

The best method of eliminating TV set front-end overload caused

proximity to an 80, 15 and 10 metre amateur transmitter is to
e

use a

use a low pass filter on the transmitter

install a wave trap in the TV set's feedline

install a power line filter

Answer:

high pass filter on the tv receiver

use a high pass filter on the tv receiver

Two

tone tests are done to test the

linearity of an FM transmitter

power output of a CW transmitter

linearity of an SSB transmitter

e symmetry of an FSK transmitter
Answer:

linearity of an SSB transmitter

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.

For stations on other bands (ie not 40m

please just use the 80m

report area (Separate out your 80m

or 80m,

report from

the other bands), and when you enter the list of callsigns worked,
missed,

please append

VK2KI@20

VK6QI@15

heard or

an ‘@band’ to each callsign without a space (eg
etc);

please don’t do the @band

for 40m

and 80m

stations though.
Post

Morsum

Richard VK6HRC

will run our phone Post Morsum

on the South West AllStar

net (via repeaters and hotspots all over WA) from 0600 WA time, then from
0700 WA time on 80m

(3605 LSB).

For the 0600 (2200z) net, if you’re in

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

nearby - if not... try 80m

LSB.

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@qmail.com) if | can help with
that.

and if you can’t connect that way, give 3605kHz SSB a try from 0700

(23002).
Teamwork

Thank you so much to our team of 45 contributors:

DL3YZ, VK/MONNK,

VK1DA, VK2AOE, VK2DLF, VK2GAS, VK2GAZ,

VK2NAP VK2TIG, VK2TIG,

VK2WF,

VK3DRQ,

VK3ACU,

VK3AFH, VK3BTV, VK3BWN,

VK3FG, VK3JFP,

VK3KEV, VK3MLT, VK3RU, VK4DRK, VK5AO, VK5CZ, VK5DC, VK5ET, VK5FD,
VK5GR, VK6BEK, VK6FN, VK6HRC, VK6IS, VK6KD/4, VK6KHZ, VK6NW,
VK6RR, VKO6WE, VK7KPC, VK7TA, VK7WW,
ZL4BDG.

How good

YBINWP,

ZL1PB, ZL2GD,

ZL3TK,

is that - 45 contributions - outstanding!

€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,
Words were passed by pounding brass,
And all were quite contented.
- Unknown

About

the CQ
Here’s

the

author

ORS

Net

details.

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

Net.

Frequencies

and Times

CQQRS NET - DEEP DEEP WINTER TIMETABLE
Coordinated Universal Time

Australia

0700z to 13002

Western Australia Time

UTC+8

1500 to 2100

4Central Australia
Time UTC+9.5 | 1630t02230
EasternTime ~=—suTC+10 | 1700to2300
New Zealand

NZ Time

UTC +12

1900 to 0100

Time

Band

Frequency

07002 to 0900z

40m

7020kHz - 7040kHz

se 4om | 7020kHz-7040kH2

O900Z2 to 11002

frrvrrrenseseesereerereseeapeseesenecscantesescesnesenerateseseassassnananescestaneaney
80m
3540kHz - 3570kHz

| 3 090021013002 ~=siéd|:S 80m =| «5 40KH2-3570KH2
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
we’re on 40m

(or send slower to their comfort level).

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 7032KkHz (7028kHz
secondary) or 3555kHz.
enjoy the frequency.

If you catch someone, there’s no need to QSY -

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.
And of course, put the frequencies in a memory so outside of the net, if
you’re not tuning around, leave your receiver on one of the primary
frequencies - you never know who you'll hear (7032

is used in VK and ZL

for SOTA/ PARKS during the day so you'll often hear activity there).
CW Tips
As always, for newbies, operating suggestions are available from the
operating hints link here:
httos://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

in the

do not necessarily

RagChew

newsletter are those

of the individual contributors.

reflect that of the editor or of the CQ

QRS

Group

members.

Send

comments

about the RagChew

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