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RagChew
Edition 14/2026
f|
Thanks this week to Ketut VK3BWN
operating
from
his back
porch
Link to our
e
Dah-di-dah-di-dah
e
New
e
Log and
CQQRS
News
mate.
Weekly
Reporting
Winter
night!
C
RS
Net
for Ketut’s terrific report - thanks
Form
Net Schedule
CQQRS
Net
up a Tripod
Practice
e
Spring
e
Back Porch
e
Kangaroo
e The
See Other
for sharing your experience
Reports from Tuesday’s
e Whipping
e CW
- we could just about hear the grin on his face when he was
on Tuesday
Has Sprung
On The Air
Island
Mobile CW
REALLY
Long
Path
e
Having Too
Much
Fun
e
Solar Eclipses:
e Amateur
What the Bands
Revealed
License Training Video
Progress
e
Morse Training
Net
e
French
e
Redfest 26
e
Spanish Amateur Visiting
Perhaps?
e CW Academy
Melbourne
Classes
e What’s
in a name?
e
Prosign
of the Month
e
Di-dah-di-dah-dit - including this week’s
e About the CQ QRS
The QRS
“Net”
smile-maker
Group
Dah-di-dah-di-dah
Sounds to me like most people had lots of fun on Tuesday’s CQQRS
Slow CW
v
RSS
Practice QSO
Net this week;
| Know | did.
air or listening in - terrific, once again!
week’s reports from our team
We
had at lest 50 of our team on
| trust that you'll enjoy reading this
below - | most certainly did.
And similarly, I’m sure you’ll enjoy reading the other articles that’ve been
submitted again this week - huge thank you to everyone who took the time
to put words and images together for your reading pleasure.
In Australia and New Zealand, the annual
coming to an end this weekend,
members
(being six months
Daylight Savings nuisance is
and | think the Europeans and UK team
behind us) have already started theirs.
This
means three things:
e
I'll be able to stop whinging about Daylight Saving for a while
e The Kiwis and Eastern Australians will enjoy the 80m openings to WA an
hour earlier
e And this is yet another opportunity for me to get the timetable wrong
again.
So putting the last dot-point to the test - here’s what | hope will be the new
schedule for the CQQRS
April 7th.
Slow CW Practice QSO
Net, starting from Tuesday
Coordinated
(Note - 20m
Universal Time
O700z to 1300z
DXperiments will be at different times to suit propagation)
Australia
Western Australia Time
UTC + 8 Hours
1500 to 2100
Central Australian Time
UTC + 9.5 Hours
1630 to 2230
Eastern Australian Time
UTC + 10 Hours
1700 to 2300
Queensland Time
UTC + 10 Hours
1700 to 2300
M2 Time
UTC + 12 Hours
1900 to 0100
New Zealand
DXperiment times and
frequencies will be allocated
by Mike DL3YZ prior to the
zom
Tae
40m
a JE Or
160m
1855kHz
ae
net.
a
oer.
7000
7020
40 mis
ORO
Cl @
3500
80
CO ORS Net
See
3535
os
.
m
7040
ete
1800
ORO
l
160 m
|
3560
&
l
|
i
COORSNet
|
~
1855
!
|
&;
|
1875
Thanks to Lance VATTO tor the COORS trequency image.
e
Wednesday (VK/ZL time)
22002 - 2300z
On the WA FM AllStar Network
(Tuesday UTC)
(connect direct to AllStar Node 42482 or use Echolink to
connect
to VK2KI-L
or VASMT-L
from
anywhere)
| hope you can make the time to scan through and enjoy our newsletter with thanks again to all of our contributors.
Website
If you'd like to find out a bit about our net, or would like to pass information to
others about our Tuesday get-togethers, here’s the link to our website.
bit.ly/COQORSWebsite
So here we go - on behalf of the CQQRS
our RagChew
Editorial team, | present to you....
newsletter.
dit-dit
Mark Bosma
VK2KI / VK6QI
Beautiful South
Bowning NSW
cagrsnet@qmail.com
Patrick
John
Milthorpe NSW
on a track
VK2IOW
VK2RU
somewhere
non impediti ratione cogitationis
Nigel
G4RWI
our other grey
Lance
VK7TO
Margate TAS
Richard
VK6HRC
Padbury WA
nomad
Reports
& Comments
Here’s this week’s
Last Tuesday’s
reports.
Group
With thanks to Nigel G4RWI’s clever software, and John VK2RU’s clever
spreadsheet work, here’s the 72 stations heard by 50 members
of our team
on Tuesday:
CQQORS Team
Member
ca
Qso1
Qso
2
Qso0 3
DL3YZ
Worked 20m
ZL3TK
VK6NC
DL3YZ
Heard 20m
MONNK
IUAFLS
DO2ZEMR
Heard on air
G7BED
Worked 20m
VK3KEV
VK3DBD | VK3DRQ|
MONNK
Worked 20m
VK3DBD
MONNK
Tried 20m
ZL3TK
VK1AO
Heard on air
VKIWA
Heard on air
VK2ASB
Heard on air
VK2DLF
Heard on air
Qso4
Qasos5
aQso6
Qso7
UR3QX |
YO2VB
R2BLE
R1BP
VK7TA
ZL1PB
VK2WP |
VK5A0 |
Qso8s
VK2KI
VK2KI
VK2EBN
Heard on air
VK2GAS
Worked 40m
VK2TM
VK2GAS
Heard 40m
VK2XU
VK27GR
Heard on air
VK2KI
Worked 20m
VK2KI
Heard 20m
ZL3TK
VK2KI
Worked 40m
VK2NNW |
VK4OLB |
VK2KI
Heard 40m
VK3BWN/P|
VK3AVA | VK2DLF | VK6KHZ | VK3DRQ]}
VK2KI
Heard 40m
VK3ECH
VK2KI
Worked 80m
VK6IS
VK2KI
Heard 80m
VK3FB
VK3XE
VK2Z2NAP
Heard on air
VK2NNW
Worked 40m
VK210/P
VK4ACEG | VK2DLF | VK3DRQ}
VK5A0
VK2KI
VK2NNW
Heard 40m
VK3BWN/P|
VK/TO
VKVJZ
ZL2GD |
VK3HK |
VK6NC
VK2NNW
Tried 40m
VKENC
VK2RU
Heard 40m
VK2DLF
VK2GAS | VK3DRQ|
VK2TM |
VK5A0
VKIWP
Heard on air
VKICT
VKSAV |
VK2GR
| MONNK/P
VK3XU
VKONC
VK/TO
VK3XU
VK3ACU
Heard on air
VK3BWN
Worked 40m
VK5AV/M |
VK3BTR |
VKG6FN
VK3BWN
Heard 40m
VK3DLF
VK5A0
VK7TA
VK3DBD
Heard on air
VK3DRQ.
Worked 20m
G7BED
VK3DRQ
Heard 20m
VK3DBD
MONNK |
DL3YZ
VK3DRQ
Worked 40m
VK2NNW
VK6NC |
VKS5A0O
VK3DRQ
Heard 40m
VK6KHZ
VK2DLF | VK2EBN |
VK3ECH
Worked 40m
VK7TO
VKSET
VK3ECH
Heard 40m
VK3DRQ.
VK3ACU | VK3SKEV | VK5A0
VK3SKEV
Worked 15m
7ZLAYY
VKSKEV
Worked 20m
G/BED
VKSKEV
Worked 40m
VK3ACU
VK3TBR
Heard on air
VK3XE
Heard on air
731K
VK2KI
VK2GR |
#L2GD
OT4A
VK4AW
Heard 40m
VK3BWN
VK4CEG
Worked 40m
VK2NNW
| VK2NNW]
VK2DLF | VK6KHZ | VK3DRQ|
VK4CEG
Heard 40m
VK7TA
VK4CEG
Heard 40m
VK2DLF
VK2ASB | VK6KHZ | ZLIANY | VK5A0
ZL1PB
VK2KI
VKSIP
VK4IM
Heard 40m
VK3ACK
VK3DRQ | VK3DRQ]|
VK5AO |
VK6NC |
VK/TO
VK3ECH | VK2ASB}
VK4IM
Heard 40m
VK2NNW |
VK4IM
Tried 40m
VKENC
VK2EBN | VK4OLB |
VK5ET
VK2KI
VK2NNW |
VK6KHZ | VK3DRQ|
7L2GD |
VK5ET
VK5A0
VK40LB
Heard on air
VKSAO
Worked 40m
VK5AV/M
Heard on air
VKSET
Worked 40m
VK3ECH
VKSET
Heard 40m
VK3NNW | VK3BWN |
VK3TXR | VK2DLF | VK6KHZ | VK2GRX | VK3DRO|
VKSET
Heard 40m
VK210/P
7L2GD
VK7TA |
VKS5FD
Heard 40m
VK3DRQ,
VK5A0O |
VK6NC
VKSKFG
Worked 40m
VK210/P
VK7TO
VKSKFG
Heard 40m
VK2NNW |
VK3ECH | VK2ASB |
VK6FN
Heard on air
VK5IP
VK5ET
VK2KI
VK6IS
Heard on air
VK6JDM
Worked 40m
VK6FN
VK6JDM
Heard 40m
VK3DRQ_ | VK3DBD | VK1WA |
VK6KD |
VK6GNC |
VK6JDM
Heard 40m
VK3BWN
VK7TA |
VKSAF
VK2KI
VK5AO |
VKGRR |
VKGFN |
VK/TA
VK3ECH | VK4OLB |
VK3XU |
VK/7TO
VK2KI
VK3XU |
VKSAV |
VK7TO
VK2KI
VK6JDM
Tried 40m
VK6KHZ
VK6KD
Worked 40m
VK6MTF
VK6KD
Heard 40m
VK6JDM
VK3XU
VKSAV
VK/TO
VK5A0O |
VK5AV |
VK1IAO
VK6EN
ZL3TK
ZL1PB
VK6FN
VK6KHZ
Worked 40m
VK6NC
VK2GR |
VK6MTF
Worked 40m
VK2GBR
VK6KD
VK6MTF
Heard 40m
VK2KI
VK6EMTF
Heard 80m
VK2KI
VK6ENT
Heard on air
VK6QI
Heard 40m
VK2NNW |
VK6QI
Heard 80m
VK3FB
VK6RR
Heard on air
VK6IS
VK2KI
VK2KI
VK1CT
VKT7IJZ
Heard on air
VK7TA
Worked 40m
VK6KHZ
VK7TA
Heard 40m
VK3BWN/P|
VK7TA
Heard 40m
VK2NNW_ | VK2NAP | VK3DRQ
VK3ECH
VK2DLF | VK3TBR |
VK7TO
Worked 40m
ZLLIANY
Heard on air
VKSKFG |
VK7JZ
ZLiPB
Worked 40m
7L2GD
VK2KI
7L1PB
Heard 40m
VKAWTZ
VK2XU
VK7JZ
ZL2GD
Worked 40m
VK2DLF
VK5A0
7L1PB
ZL2GD
Heard 40m
VK2NNW |
VK2SLF |
VK3XU
ZL2GD
Heard 40m
VK6KHZ
VK3DRQ | VK6KHZ |
ZL3ABX
Heard 40m
VK6KD
VK6FN
7L3ABX
Heard 80m
VK3XE
VK3RK
ZL3TK
Tried 15m
DO2EMR
7L3TK
Worked 20m
DL3YZ
ZL3TK
Tried 20m
MONNK
7L3TK
Worked 40m
VK2NAP
VKACT
ZL3TK
Heard 40m
VK3DBD
VK2DLF |
ZL3TK
Heard 40m
VK3ECH
VK2ASB | VK5KFG
VK7JZ
VK7TO |
VKGNT |
VKGNC |
VK2KI
VK5AO |
VK5AO |
VK5AO |
VKGFN
VK5IP
|} VK/7TO |
VK7TA |
VKSET |
VK5AO |
VK2KI
G/BED
VK2GR
Comments:
John’s spreadsheet above shows the known stations heard or worked on last
Tuesday’s CQQRS
comments
Net (reported via our webform
in the team
members’
reports follow.
bit.ly/COORSNET ); the
The comments
compiled for us by the clever software built by Nigel G4RWI
were
and the layout
was perfected by Patrick VK2IOW.
Thanks again to Nigel, Patrick and John for the work, and to every team
member who submitted a report -
HU
ree
AL!
AVIS
—t
bln
1lL
os
COM
VAs
UIiBbEew
dl
INOIMM|adAMplon,
CNQIdana
[20m]
Conditions seemed
good tonight, with my signals
landing nicely into the Ironstone SDR.
| couldn't get
Mike's spotting page to work (URL not found) so
couldn't announce QRYV, but called anyway.
CQ CQ
CQ OC
OC managed
My usual
to rustle up the obligatory
none OC stations :-) ... which
| worked
briefly anyway.
.
Funnily, hot on the back of my
Ukraine QSO,
many Russians called ... that always happens.
Kev VK3KEV
in the log though but only via the WebSDR.
frequency, just as | heard David VK3DBD
| did manage to get
A Russian then pinched my
calling me, so | put in a quick ‘up 2' and
called him back, finally getting him. We
had a nice chat comparing different keys. |
managed to also get Manny VK3DRQ
before going QRT. So, all in all, a very
successful session. As always, many thanks for trying chaps, and hope to get more
of you in the log soon. Best 73 de Chris G7BED
From Grant ZL2GD
at Oxford,
North Canterbury
[40m]
It is great to be back on the QRS Net....it has been
a wee while since | have been on air on a Tuesday
night. Conditions are improving between VK and
ZL and with daylight savings ending here on 5 April
things should improve even more. All stations
heard tonight were S5 or better.
From Graham Vayro VK4CEG
at Logan Village, Queensland
[40m]
There were several very fast QSOs | think JA stations.
| called
CQ a few times unsuccessfully.
QSOs
other days from QRS
mee.
Pe.
BAARIBRIEF
| did make several CW
Net members.
Wate
LIne
Be
ee
Pw.
TS
on
73
Grant
FIOM!
MOSS
WIVUNNA
POrladapie
Neal
CxXCLEI
UN
[20m]
Propagation
is a funny thing - but then I don't need to
tell you that! VK3DBD
turn the Volume
David was so strong | had to
right down.
| gave him RST 559 and
he gave me 569. But Mark VK2KI was barely
readable.
421
ZL3TK,
| gave him RST 519 and he gave me RSN
(using the Snowline web SDR for rx). As for Stan
| called and called but he couldn't hear me even though
me. But that's radio for you. A good DX session though. And
| heard him calling
my first "out in the open
air" Portable field trip of the year, which felt great now that Spring is here.
From Adam
VK4IM
at North Lakes
[40m]
Was
a surprise to hear VKGNC
coming
into Brisbane
tonight. There was quite a bit of QSB on his signal. Sadly
he did not hear me when | tried calling him.
Also heard VK2NNW
quite low down
on his 50 watts
chatting to VK2KI, a nice challenge to pull out of the noise.
However,
ne
next time Mark is in my kitchen I'll have to get him to make
en
)
a,
LA y
me a cuppa..
From Mike DL3YZ at Stuttgart
I'm really sorry, | have overslept due the DST time change
over here in Germany.
But Stan kept believing in my
appearance, and we managed
some QSB,
to have a chat. Here was
but he was about S5 here in Stuttgart. After
that, | met Lin in the new chat window on our DXPeriment
website, and so we shared some
beeps as well. We also
have a new member of our EU DXPeriment team. Fausto - IU4FLS from
Bologna/Italy made
his first CQ VK today. A proper introduction will follow.
for all the contacts. Have a great week, M.
moun.
ADH
—
ri...
AILS
OR EP
Kt
AIL.
LATA
Thanks
ks
rrom morgan riower vnoMmir al Albany, vA
[40m]
| was late to the party this week with a poor excuse of an
antenna at washing
line height, strung up around the back
yard of my temporary QTH.
Geoff VK2GBR
| had a
difficult contact with
and was resigned to the fact that my
operating conditions were less than ideal before hearing
David VK6KD
pop up further down the band.
David and | had a good QSO
for about 15 minutes with
him giving me an RST of 419 and doing the heavy lifting
compared
to his comfortable 579 at my end.
From David VK6KD
at Ballajura WA
[40m]
| could hear Max VK6FN (Manjimup) in a QSO with Donald
VK6JDM
(Esperance) however Donald’s signal was
experiencing QSB.
Donald’s CW tone appeared consistently
changing/bending which made
me think perhaps the
transmitter was wavering off frequency when transmitting.
may have been caused
by the QSB.
Yes, another topic for discussion.
QSO
It
with Max was achieved, thanks Max.
Great QSO
with Morgan VK6MTF
(Albany) with
Morgan only running 10W and QSB on his receiver. Look forward to tracking your
soon-to-begin
sailing trip from Albany to Tasmania and establishing a few HF
contacts while you're mobile at sea.
Pretty good conditions on 40m tonight.
[80m]
| called CQ for a while on 3.555 without hearing any response.
received signal from a
KIWI SDR
| checked
my
in Yarloop (WA), Augusta (WA), Iron Stone (SA)
with a test on 10W making it through clearly to VK5 land. Nothing heard on the VK4
SDR.
Well at least | was getting out to some locations, hihi.
open up again.
73 David VK6KD
meee
Pe
IL
LIL eA
IPRA
ON
Le
2...
et
2
OR!
eee
| think 80m is starting to
rrom wonaliad Voy
ZU KIN West O1 CSperance
[40m]
Mainly listened to the very crowded
CW segment on 40
metres. The Bosma effect had the 40 metre band
packed solid. With a 2.5 KHz wide filter there were an
average of 4 stations per 2.5 kHz.
Had a QSO
with Max VK6FN.
His 360 degree null
antenna was down and had in effect become
an absolute null antenna. He was using
a lower-slung 40 metre sloper which threw a 5/9 signal at my QTH
away.
about 600 km
In turn he heard my 5 watt paraset signal 5/7.
[80m]
80 metres was very quiet. Put out CQs
but no response. VK6FN
could hear my
signal via a remote receive but not at his QTH because of his downed antenna for
80. Thus a signal was getting out but no one was there.
On another note, | am having a perverse pleasure driving our EV past the queue at
the local petrol station when we go to town. | know, sick mind - already been told.
From Stephen Coote ZL3ABX at Nelson New Zealand
[80m]
Te
Once again
| wasn't home
until well after NZ midnight.
|
didn't listen in for long... and hopefully | copied my ‘heard’
stations’ callsigns correctly.
From Allen VK5FD
Thanks everyone.
at Blakeview
[40m]
Only a Short listen on 40 m, but pleased
good strength.
meen.
PL
FI
AAP
1
TH...
ee
to hear a VK6 at
From rn ZLIB
al |auranga
[40m]
After working
Grant ZL2GD
Mark, VK2KI.
At that stage Mark was very weak with
| heard VK2XU
me and in and out of the QSB.
had completed
his QSO
back to me which
| thought after VK2XU
with Mark
try, | was using my QMX+
a couple of calls Mark came
working
| would give hima
3 watts into a vertical, after
really surprised me, at that stage Mark
was getting a bit better, | gave him 339. | had not long installed the new firmware into
the QMX+,
| was very pleased with the result and good to work Mark again. | can't
always transmit but listen when
| can.
[80m]
Conditions on 40 were not too bad, | most of the VK's were good copy. Our clocks go
back next weekend
so conditions in the early evening may improve.
From your editor Mark VK2KI at Beautiful South Bowning NSW
[15m]
Nothing heard from Edi DO2EMR
this week.
[20m]
Great to hear Ross on this week.
Going to UK
Summer Daylight Saving time must have meant he
had to get up before he went to bed;
hope he brought
a thermos of coffee with him.
Ross was only RSN 211 with me - and | could only
make out characters on QSB
peaks - so instead | reverted to listening on the
Snowline KiwiSDR, where he was RSN 431.
[40m]
An early start to the net this week - and
VK3XU out at Wonga Park.
who
After that | had a nice QSO with lan VK7TA at Latrobe
| hadn't worked for a while, followed by a call from Phil ZL1PB
Tauranga, and possibly QRP.
exchange reports.
Af.
| started with a nice 35 minute chat with Drew
tL.
ALP
INMNAWH
FAW.
A.
et
possibly at
We both struggled, but managed to get through and
ee
He
I
On
PR
tb
LDH
Ln...
tb
2
I
ALLEL
WNe
lo/;ZUlll
VAPEeMMent
dna
QIINer
| FewumMed
lO
NG
- but mostly what sounded like a DXpedition or similar;
room
left for QRS... and
Ne
Dana
DUSY
WILT
SIQMadls
luckily there was plenty of
| heard lots of our family happily chatting.
| settled back and
enjoyed listening to a really nice QRS rag chew between Lance VK7TO at Margate
and Rob VK3ECH at Echuca.
It was nice to hook up with Adam
year.
Ditto with Otto VK4OLB
VK2NNW
at Deepwater again after more than a
North of Brisbane.
[80m]
Peter VK6IS and | struggled to get through and exchange the bare necessities - but
we got there in the end.
After that | noticed signals down the band and heard Alan
VK3XE
however, needing an early night for an early start, | didn't try
working VK3FB;
to catch Alan this time.
Also from your editor Mark VK6QI at Beautiful South Bowning NSW listening via the
Southern
Electronics Groups KiwiSDR near Northam
WA.
[15m]
Nothing heard from Edi DO2EMR
Sa
in WA this week.
[20m]
BY ban
:
Northam
| got so excited that | forgot to write down what | heard in
WA on 20m.
[80m]
The band was opening nicely across Australia as the evening got darker in the West;
we just need more folks calling CQQRS.
From Stan ZL3TK at Waitarere
[20]
Unable to hear any EU stations except for a surprising
report of RSN
552 from DL3YZ.
Despite extremely weak
signal Mike's careful sending saved the day.
detect MONNK
but QNP;
hearing me RST 539.
rANH1
Could just
he kindly reported by email
[atu]
Trans-Tasman condx not great however could hear plenty of VKs and unfortunately
two of the mostly-unreadable no-space merchants,
course.
except for their call signs of
Nothing heard from VK6.
[80m]
Sent CQ at random times on 80 m but saw and heard no one, the band was
deserted.
From Adam
VK2NNW
at Deepwater
[40m]
It was a busy night on Tuesday.
There was a lot of
QRM
about which made some QSO's difficult.
was
running SOW
into my doublet. I'll have to try
|
QRP
sometime.
Thanks to everyone who worked
me.
From John VK5ET
at Hope Valley
[40 & 80m]
Spent most of night listening, good practice noting
down call signs amongst the noise. Managed
good QSO
with Rob, VK3ECH,
to have
followed by Maitland,
VKS5AO.
Forty metres went quiet around
10:50 Z. Tried 80
metres but nothing heard. Went back to 40 metres,
heard WWFF VK2IO/P calling CQ, may have been a
contest ???. He got a few contacts before | pulled the
plug at 11:15 Z.
Condx were reasonable tonight apart from QSB,
stations very weak to be heard.
From
Lance VK7TO
73, John VKSET
some
..
at Hobart
[40m]
aio
An ominous start to the evening when my QSO with Jim,
a>
7JZ, went from 559 to 009 after our first couple of overs.
| walked away, went for a run and had some dinner
before trying again a couple of hours later, and what a
difference. Two great long conversations followed, with
Rob, 3ECH, where we discussed our keys amongst other things, and Greg, 5KFG,
comparing our experiences with the amazing QMX radios.
Pant
Af auaissee
4St
Awmauil
AANA
FUSlL
WIUrSUuIT!E
|
APTI!
CULO
From Richard VK6HRC.
Five on the VK6RLM
VK6KD
David
VK6QI_—
Mark
rptr and AllStar/Echolink hub this morning.
=
=
ae
4
VK6FN Max
VK6HRC
VK6MRB
Mulligan swil.
David was first up this morning, he was still busy getting the new caravan sorted
but manged to spare some time to get on and have fun. On 40m he listened in on
Max VK6FN and Donald VK6JDM and went on to work Max after Donald signed
off. He commented on the distinct sound of Donalds home brew rig so Max gave
him quick run down of the Para set and 6v6 tubes.
The ever busy Mark was mobile in the ACT called in and reported that nothing
was heard of Edi DO2EMR ON 15M but managed a contact with Ross MONNK/P
on 20m. Then on to 40m worked five and heard ten and on 80m worked Peter
VK6IS.
Max heard Ketut VASBWN on 40m gave a call but conditions were against them
so unfortunately not able to complete the contact, had better luck with the locals
though. A highlight was working Donald VK6JDM whom was on his homebrew
rig.
| only had limited time in the shack, heard Lin VK6NT out at the NCRG club using
the VK6NC call sign working Wayne VK6NW on 40M. Making use of the Mount
Barker Kiwi sdr listened in on the action between Max and Ketut.
Thanks to all,
enjoy the long week end.
73
Richard.
Reporting
After next Tuesday’s Group, please remember to send me a
worked
list of who you
and / or who you heard using our web form here:
bit. ly/COORSNET
Even if you didn’t hear anyone, we’d still like to know that you had a go.
And to make your report more interesting, please consider sending a photo:
cgarsnet@gmail.com
So, please help attract new and old team
members to have a go by
submitting your report each week.
Submissions close 1300 (Eastern
Australian Summer time) on Thursdays.
On
My Workbench
Whipping up a Tripod
(| do enjoy making up silly titles for these articles!)
From Ross MONNK
My winter antenna (soon, hopefully, to be stored away for the northern summer) is
optimised for sitting in the shelter of my car in a car park. | live on a crowded island
(compared to Australia), so it has to have a small footprint and not require ground
stakes. That eliminates long wire antennas and strongly suggests a vertical of some
sort.
| could use a drive-on pole mount (as favoured by those flag-flyers at caravan meets)
and put a quarter-wave wire up a carbon fibre mast. Maybe one day I'll do that.
Having a cheap car, the metal on the roof is too thin and weak to support a tall-ish
mag-mounted whip. | could bolt an antenna to a roof rack bar but I’m vain of the
appearance of my cute little motor and don’t want to spoil her looks like that.
Instead, I’ve chosen to mount a military-style 2.85 metre folding whip antenna and a
British “Slidewinder” loading coil... onto a camera tripod which stands close beside
the car, with the 5 m of coax
going in through a back window.
- This multi-band (20-30-40m)
_ antenna is compact,
unobtrusive, and quick to rig and
_ de-rig. It has surprisingly good
performance too - | get from
England to Australia regularly
using only 20 watts.
With a vertical antenna, the
ground plane becomes an issue
/ because any sort of ground or
elevated radials are going to be
a hazard in a car park (ask me how | know). To get round that, | use a capacitivelycoupled “Diamond MAT-50” magnetic counterpoise pad slapped on the roof of the car
- the car body then becomes the ground plane. There ought not to be any problems
with this but, just to be on the safe side, the ignition is off wnenever there’s power on
the radio.
Mw
fan
oe
eee el
Thodk
lowed
Ie ee
ge
owe ee ei
A
eee
be
ee
ek
Be
2 ee
ee
te
LL
00
lal, SO
good.
Natl JUST
leaves
Ine
QUESTION
OF NOW
lO allacn
tine antenna
to ne
tripod (preferably without wrecking the tripod for future use with a camera).
Fortunately, this antenna came with a
ground spike attachment. | looked around
the garden shed for inspiration (as one
does whenever a radio problem crops up)
and found 1 metre of stiff green garden
hose lying around. | cut this in half and
folded it round a short strip of wood for
extra rigidity. Next to hand was a packet of
black nylon zip-ties (what would we do
without them?). Obviously, all tripods are
different so a bit of imagination is required,
but this one has a sturdy carrying handle
so that was the obvious place to strap it to.
Simply drop in the ground spike to
complete. Here’s the finished article:
I’m sure there'll be more elegant ways to
do this (and probably more expensive
ones too) but | never figured out how it
might be done until | got the old brain-box
working.
_
By the way, not being able to use guy lines in car parks, |
have an old iron weight hanging from the base of the
_ tripod. This considerably increases the stability with the
whip antenna on top, in the breezy conditions prevalent in
the UK winters. A bag of stones or sand would do the job
_ just as well though.
_ Have you ever cobbled together anything that you feel
_ particularly smug about? You’re an amateur radio
operator so, of course you have! Send the Editor a photo
_ so we Can all admire your handiwork (and postulate how
we would have done it better HI Hl).
What’s going on on your workbench?
If you have an article or two that you
think might be of interest to our readers, please let Mark VK2KI know;
to
For guidance on writing for RagChew,
CW
email
cqgrsnet@gmail.com
see Articles below.
Practice
This year we’re using Aesop’s Fables. These are short moral stories, often
using talking animals, that illustrate simple truths about human behaviour
and character.
Aesop’s Fables originated in ancient Greece, traditionally attributed to the
storyteller Aesop who is thought to have lived around the 6th century BCE.
The fables are generally smaller files of two to three hundred words that
have been recorded at 15 wom
and run for about 15 minutes. If 15 wpm
is a
bit quick for you, load it onto your phone and set the playback speed at 0.75
X or even 0.5 X - whatever works for you. 0.75 X will play the MP3 at a bit
under 12 wpm.
It is suggested that you read the text file before listening to the audio file.
That will make
it easier to follow the audio file and prepare you for any
unusual words.
Any punctuation that is not usually used with CW
This week’s fable is ‘The Ant and the Dove’,
attached
has been removed.
and the MP3
and TXT files are
here -
If you prefer a different speed or tone you can create your own
converting the text file with the Eoook2CW
MP3 files by
app -
https://fkurz.net/ham/ebook2cw.html.
You can either play the MP3 files in any media
into the Ditto CW:
player, or load the text file
Morse Player app - https://dittocw.andro.io/.
Both options work well, however Ditto CW gives you complete control over
all Morse settings, while a normal
media
player only allows changes to
playback speed, and does that in steps (e.g. 1.25x,
1.5x, 1.75x).
John
VK2RU
Other
News
Other things we’ve received from our 250-plus
readers.
Ot
ee Le
Pe
ee ee ~
oping Mas oprung
From Ross MONNK
Tuesday's CQQRS DXperiment was an opportunity got my first out in the open air
portable session of the year.
Quarter wave vertical and two elevated
radials for the 20 m band, joined to the coax
by a 1:1 UnUn.
The creepy hand re-appears!
Back Porch On The Air.
From
Ketut VKSBWN
On Tuesday evening net, | operate a backyard portable operation. My station is the
usual ICOM IC-735, but this time, the power is provided by a 70 Ah car battery, and
the antenna is a 40m Diamond HF40CL whip antenna.
To make the story short, | have had this antenna for a long time, but was never very
successful in making any contact until tonight. So, after a journey of checking the
antenna in a semi-anechoic chamber, the antenna finally comes resting on the
backyard clothes hanger with 2 pieces of wires and the clothes hanger as the
counterpoise. The VSWR looks stable, and | can operate about 40W without any
issues.
| am pretty happy to have reached as far as Max VK6FN
in Manjimup, which is as
good as DX for me. Who knows, maybe the whip gives me a pretty good take-off
angle. | had 3 more contacts, one of which is Tim, VKSAV/M who is mobile. That is
pretty cool. Along with VK1CT and VK3BTR, this is quite a lot of contacts with this
antenna. | am very happy and thankful we have this Tuesday evening get-together,
which makes experimentation and self-learning so much easier.
| call portable operation this evening "back porch on the air", with the key learnings
of:
1. My whip antenna still has future; | may still need the right counterpoise to make it
work somewhere else
2. Keyer, as always, is important and needed
3. The paddle works great; a keyboard may not be necessary
4. Atuner is still needed
5. Anice table is definitely needed
6. The battery is holding strong with still 12.4V open circuit voltage at the end of the
evening, barely budging.
What a magnificent evening with balmy temperatures and beautiful blue sky. This
leaves me wanting more /P operation. See you next time on the air!
Sincerely
Ketut VK3BWN
Nalygareu
isianu
wove
Uv
From Tim VK5AV
While over on Kangaroo Island for a couple of days for work, | took the opportunity to
operate portable / mobile on Tuesday night's QRS Net.
Equipment used were my FT891 running about 30W into a 40m mobile whip
connected to a magnetic mount on the roof of the car, and my paddle.
| was located at the Muston Lookout above
Americal River.
| managed 3 contacts: Tim VK3TBR in Horsham,
fe
Ketut VK3BWN portable in the back yard near
Os cone
Melbourne, and David VK3DBD at Yackandandah.
7
enti
All were very good signals, with some QSB on the band. | may need to do some
maintenance on the paddle as at times | had trouble with my dits not sending. Maybe
it was just the operator cramped up in the car in an awkward position.
Darkness arrived fairly early so | packed up and headed back to my accomodation.
Hope to do more portable work on Tuesday nights some time soon.
Regards,
Tim VK5AV
The
REALLY
From
Ross
Long
Path
MONNK
lt was interesting to read in Ragchew's
Chris G4BED
Net reports that
heard me calling him on 20m
last week.
We were both in the UK, but | was using a radio in
Germany via an internet connection, and he was using
a web SDR in Australia. So my beeps were going from
my key in the UK --> Germany --> Australia --> UK and
Into his headphones.
Now that really is The Long Path!
Having
Fun
From
Too
Much
Graham
VK4CEG
Mark,
| must apologise for not getting my log in on time last
week, sorry.
| was out doing POTA.
| had a very good
contacted
night Tuesday, the best so far, and
7 stations, using slow CW, plus | heard
that | logged.
| sooke to Gus VK2SB
13
and he said he was
on QRP rig, but surprised me by another contact
Wednesday
when we had a much
evening
more lengthy QSO where | learned about his TenTek
Argonaut.
Attached
is a pic of my rig, 5 watts monoband
on 40.
| will get the log in
faster next week.
73s Graham
VK4CEG
Solar Eclipses:
What
the Bands
Revealed...
Reprinted from The ARRL Letter, March 26, 2026
What effect does a solar eclipse have on HF propagation?
That was the basic question posed by researchers enlisting ham radio
operators’
help during three Solar Eclipse QSO
Parties in the last 10
years.
The results of that research were
presented
at the 2026
HamSCl
Workshop, held earlier this month in Connecticut and hosted by ARRL.
Data was collected based on spots on the Reverse Beacon Network
(RBN), WSPRNet,
and
PSKReporter during total solar eclipses in 2017
and 2024, as well as an annular (partial) eclipse in 2023.
In the 2024 eclipse, there was a drop in the number of contacts on 21
MHz
as the eclipse neared totality, while there was an increase
number of QSOs
earlier than
recorded
on 14 MHz. The 30-meter band
usual; and 40 meters opened
earlier than
transatlantic contacts, faded out, and then opened
Researcher Kuldeep
in the
opened
usual for
up again.
Pandey of the New Jersey Institute of Technology
concluded that effects of the eclipse crossed over with the sunset
terminator,
accounting
160 meters were
for the second
opening
on 40. Effects on 80 and
unclear, as only a few stations were active on those
bands during the eclipse. It was also noted that there were differences
In results between
2017
Solar Cycle 25 (2017 was
peak).
and 2024,
attributed to different phases of
relatively early in the cycle; 2024 was at its
7MHz Transatlantic
Links
9oRee
cma
@
17:23 LT
©
(Image courtesy: https ://www.timeanddate.com)
Fig: eclipse
eclip track with | ocal time
Fig: eclipse shadow at 19:30 UT + day-night conditio|
ns
e Extended shadow like conditions around 19:30 UT
¢ Combined effect of eclipse & sunset terminator
— earlier opening: eclipse related
— lesser contacts in between: end phase of eclipse + sunset terminator
Q
— opening up again: regular evening/nighttime propagation
“amSClI Workshc9
March 14-15, 2026
Kuldeep.PancevAniit.edu
Slide illustrating the combined effects of the 2024 solar eclipse and sunset on transatlantic contacts
on 40 meters. [Photo by Rich Moseson, W2VU;
AV 1.
Amateur
slide by Kuldeep Pandey, NJIT]
Blac] ae
‘
License Training Video
4
yO)
f
ao
From Jules VK3JFP
| was asked last year if | planned to make training videos for the amateur
licences.
Thanks to the aid of Al, this project is started.
Practical Exam videos are completed;
Foundation theory and the
Standard and Advanced
are in
progress.
Foundation
licence videos complete.
See
https://www.julesworkshop.net/Amateur%20Radio%20Group/3%20Foundatio
n%*20licence%20page.htm|
Practical Exam video complete
See
https://www.julesworkshop.net/Amateur%20Radio%20Group/4%20Practical
%20page.html
Standard
licence starting
See
=
https://www.julesworkshop.net/Amateur%20Radio%20Group/2%20Standard
%20licence%20page.htm|
Advanced
licence video ongoing
See
https://www.julesworkshop.net/Amateur%20Radio%20Group/1%20Advanced
%20licence%20page.html
Regulations
Not yet started.
| hope this free material is helpful to any of your candidates preparing for
exams.
Jules Perrin JP
0457585974
VK3JFP
www.julesworkshop.net
Support our veterans.
Morse Training
Net
Our team
Nic VK7WW
member
Wednesday
at 7pm
runs an on-air Slow Morse training net every
EDST on 3580 for 30 mins. He uses the callsign of the
Northern Tasmania Amateur Radio Club VK7TAZ
Many of our team
on that net.
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
time every Wednesday;
Eastern
eae
you'll hear lots of the
pe
anal —
CQQRS team on that net. Jordan VK3ACU has
ralso ecorded the complete set of lessons which
you can now find here:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?
list=PLHSOmZz6fBXO/7swAfbTmutrbbEL1
7fUQL
Contact Nic VK7WW
for more info nicholaschantler@hotmail.com
how to join the NTARC
DISCORD
including
group to follow the action, or just come
along and join in on Wednesdays.
French
From
Perhaps?
Martin VK3FG
The Choice of Morse
Code Cheerio
Excellent
news
update
as
Usual
Mark,
thank
YOU.
by Lance VK7TO
| thought Lance’s article interesting and have a minor
The Choice of a Morse Code Cheerio:
By Lance, VK7TO
or <30>
theory that at the time, French played a large part in
international comms.
For example:
After some digging, i
e AR - perhaps short for ‘arrette” - stop
e VA - ‘va’ as in go - as in leave.
e The “V” before Tx might also be ’ST’ a more English/US abbreviation for
start.
In any case, it doesn’t matter how one remembers the sequence, especially
for punctuation - if used hihi.
Regards,
73
Martin
VK3FG
Redfest 26
Exciting Amateur Radio Event
11" April 2026 9:00am-1:00pm
Jeception
Bay
North
sat
KOad
State
Veception
10
[=]
[=
School
To
Bay
Squits
For more details & on-line
ticket sales:
www.redfest.org
Spanish
Amateur Visiting
Activations
From
Martin VK3FG
Melbourne
- SOTA
and
POTA
Hi Mark,
| will circulate the email below to EMDRC
members
but thought why not a
little wider if you think appropriate.
Hopefully we can assist Manuel.
73
Regards,
Martin VK3FG
President,
EMDRC
Begin forwarded
message:
-------- Original Message -------EMDRC
Subject:
"EA2DT on Melbourne
Date:
30/03/2026 22:07
From:
EMDRC
TO:
vk3er@emdrc.com.au
Reply-
ea2dt@ure.es
To:
From:
Manuel Villasuso EA2DT
Subject: EA2DT on Melbourne
Message
Good
next weeks
Body:
night, | am
EA2DT Manuel
Melbourne area.
me
next
weeks"
| am
| am on a work trip in Australia | will be at
looking fora POTA/SOTA
guy Who could share with
a POTA activation with the goal in Europe/Spain contact.
| would be ready for a POTA/SOTA adventure the following dates: 4th 5th 6th
April 11th 12th April.
| have previous experience on POTA/SOTA and
interesting reas of ham
for me is one of the most
radio. The VK experience is unique for me | |
My email is ea2dt@ure.es
also for whatsaap
+ 34618766173
Many thanks 73!!
This email
was
sent from
a contact form
on
EMDRC
website
(https://www.emdrc.com.au)
AAA!
A
ww
el
ees
Pilon
nn
em
foes
AAs!
Be
ee
PETS.
Lw
ACAGeMny
Viasses
IOr
Wwiay/vune
‘Cw
From Chris VK3QB
\
“A cz”
Celebrating the unique
art form
of Morse
Code
Would you like to finally learn Morse code? Or have you mastered the letters and
numbers but are struggling to make it to the next step.
If so, I'll be running Beginners and Fundamental classes in May and June. Classes
for Intermediate and Advanced will be available but will be hosted from North
America or Europe.
Semester Overview
*
Duration: Eight-weeks long and held three times per year (Jan-Feb, May-Jun,
and Sep-Oct).
*
*
Schedule: Twice weekly sessions held on Mondays and Thursdays, starting at
7.30 PM or 8.30 PM.
Format: Virtual training via Zoom or Skype (audio/video). Students and
advisors can see, hear, and send Morse to each other in real-time.
*
Grouping: Advisors and students are generally grouped by time zone.
*
Language: Most classes are conducted in English.
*
Workload: Students are given daily assignments prior to each meeting.
We use the Farnsworth Method; you'll be learning at a character speed of 18-20
wpm, but we increase the spacing to slow down the effective speed. This method is
proven as being the most effective and provides a pathway to improvement and true
CW competence!
1. Beginner
Prerequisite: Limited or no prior experience with Morse Code.
Class Objectives:
9
*
Learn Morse Code characters (letters, numbers, and some punctuation).
*
Learn to head copy and send Morse Code.
*
Learn on-air protocols of a basic QSO.
*
Goal: Learn Morse Code to 6 wom+.
EFeandanmaantal
2.
CUMUEINICILEI
Prerequisite: Familiarity with Morse Code characters. Operating at 6 wom+ and
desire to increase proficiency.
Class Objectives:
*
Increase head copy and send skills using Instant Character Recognition.
*
Increase skills for on-air conversational QSOs.
*
Introduction to contesting skills.
*
Goal: Learn Morse Code to 10 wpm+.
If you'd like to register, please head to the CW Academy website. https://
cwa.cwops.org/
If you have any questions or would like to discuss, please send me an email.
73, Chris VK3QB_
vk3qb(at)hotmail.com
What our graduates say:
“I can wholeheartedly recommend the CWA courses and their excellent
methodology, | doubt | would have every got on the air without it.”
-
Darrin VK3VDP
“Now I’m copying callsigns and QSOs at around 22/12, and sending at about 22/15.
My sending is definitely stronger than my copying at this stage, but both have
improved massively.”
-
Paul VK10Z
“For any ham thinking about learning morse for the first time, or anyone having
previously learnt morse and wanting to relearn the code using a proven system, |
highly recommend the course!”
-
Chris VK5FR
f
@&
X Eastern & Mountain District Radio Club Inc.
W
Home
ClubInformation
ea!
oonWl
et
een)
Courses The Radio Bulletin
YouTube
Groups
Links
Member Login
Q
fe
practice, experimentation and enjoyment of amateur radio!
Monthly Meeting - Smart Telescopes - Marc
TRE BADIOJBUCLELIN
VK30HM
& John VK3WMF
6th March - Friday 8:00pm - Club Rooms Burwood & Zoom
@
With the emergence
#
of "Smart
Telescopes” it is now possible to
do photos of deep sky objects for
well under $1000, These devices
are tiny, fully featured, and require
no specialist knowledge to use
USB Rig
programming
cables
and Windows 11
21/04/2024 - 7:57 PM
¥
This presentation is for beginners,
and documents
Updating Articles
14/10/2025 - 3:01 PM
¥
my progression
Subaru Coax Install
15/04/2024 - 8:04 PM
Portable Power
10/11/2023
over 60 years from a basic ‘toy’
- 10:56
AM
telescope, through a serious
astrophotography setup,
to my
current smart telescope.
EMDRC - IMPORTANT
DATES
This is a typical image of the Horse Head Nebula. Two types of smart telescope will
be on display, and a case will be made
that there is now a cheap way
to get into
astrophotography that requires little skill, and little outlay.
MEMBERSHIP
World First Amateur Networking Project - VK
Yaesu IMRS Network
The Club repeater VK3REC is'a dual mode system supporting analogue FM and
C4FM that Is linked via the internet to the world through WiresX protocols to many
other Nodes around the world. If you would like some back ground, try this link at
https://www.emdrc.com.au/wires-x-the-bible/
radios,
sks
For those with the Yaesu
ot NOW.
4
EES
RORM*
TERNET
C4FM
you will hear the repeater in that made on occasions.
:
Lately an alternative to Wiresx is becoming popular - YSF (Yaesu System Fusion)
which has been developed to provide inter connectivity to WiresX and other digital
modes. The Club will be exploring this branch in due course.
+H
+
7zKernWi-Fi
@\Wireless Solutions
KernWi-Fi - Refer a friend
$50 Credit Code:
What’s
From
in a name?
The
QRS
Chris VK3QB
From Peter Dann VK3WOW
| saw the recent email in the Newsletter
at Blackburn
[40m]
One odd incident on Tuesday
had adopted
“Net”.
night left me wondering
a "cop on the beat" role for the QRS
and it's possible | may have misunderstood
the situation
Around
(twice) on 7028 kHz,
0955Z | heard a station call "QRL?"
and then proceed to call CQ
from Peter VK3WOW
if someone
net. | hope not,
(without, at this point, the "DX" suffix | heard this station
VK6KD
use when calling later in the evening). | did not know it at the time, but have since
verified (via RBN) that this station was calling at 17 wpm.
calling station as a Tuesday night "regular".
| did not recognise the
| immediately responded,
own call sign twice at a speed similar to the calling station's.
CQ got a chance to respond, a third station jumped
that this was the "QRS
sending my
net”. The calling station apologised with "sri", and ceased
Share with regards to Band
station attempted to contact the station that had been calling
CQ with a series of rapid dots and dashes that appeared
pretty severe keying problem of some sort.
to be symptomatic of a
It made
me
Plans, Nets,
CW speed, and protocol.
| continued to listen for some time as this
fourth station struggled to send the callsign of the station that originally called CQ
then "de (own callsign)". Whatever
regarding CW speed.
wonder about some of the perceptions we
Before the station calling
in informing the calling station
calling CQ.
At this point a FOURTH
in relation to band
police and also the question from David
{
the keying problem may have been, it took a long
time to resolve, but the station that originally called CQ was a model of patience,
making
several attempts to decode what at this stage was quite a messy call back.
The QRS Net has been on Tuesdays for
| hope | misunderstood whatever the third operator thought he was doing in alerting
the calling station that a QRS
net was taking place — an intervention that prompted
an apologetic response from that operator which the third operator did not attempt to
explain was actually unnecessary.
not have some
who happened
this fact would have been very clear for
who aren’t on “the in”, it may not be clear
to hear several VK stations participating in a decidedly quick-
fire pile-up just above 7024
by countless
new and old hands alike. But to those
kind of "exclusive entitlement” to any particular portion of the 40 metre
band on Tuesday nights. As it happens,
anyone
five+ years and is enjoyed
| imagine it must be clear to most of us that we do
kHz not long after the incident | have described occurred
exactly what It’s all about. Indeed, | had
never heard of the QRS Net until
somebody
replied to my CQ about 7-8 months ago; during the QSO, which
was around 20-22 wpm, the other op asked me if | was in the QRS Net...
which confused
me as | had been calling CQ and he had responded to my
call. “How could | be in a net, and did he consider my sending to be slow?” |
asked myself. | explained
| was not and we completed our pleasant QSO
without further ado.
It was only then that I did some
research and came across the QRS Net and
the Tuesday night activity, along with the weekly newsletter.
And here comes the matter of perception and shared understanding across
the broad church we call Amateur Radio.
It may (or may not) surprise some
that to most amateurs, a Net is an organised gathering of operators who
meet on a specific frequency to co-ordinate communication for some agreed
purpose. Operators check-in to the net which Is controlled by a Net Control
Station.
Nets exist for a variety of reasons, but they all share some common
characteristics:
They occur at a scheduled time, on an agreed frequency, and operate under
the control
of a Net Control
Station
determines
who
next,
transmits
and
(NCS)
who
maintains
a roster,
handles the traffic.
There is a level of formality to Nets. A good
local example
is the NZ Net:
https://zl1.nz/about-amateur-radio/new-zealand-nets/nz-net/
ANZA
DX
Net:
Another is the
https://anzadx.net/
By contrast, our QRS
Net is more of an informal activity, between
times and generally within defined segments of the spectrum.
agreed
It doesn’t
have a Net Control Station, and it doesn’t have a specific frequency. To
those unfamiliar with the QRS Net, they would
probably think of it more as
an activity or event. If we were in North America,
Party. On Wednesday
evenings FISTS Down
it might be called a QSO
Under runs a similar event
called the Wednesday Wrap; which Is really just an activity or event, but
certainly not a net.
https://www.fdu.org.au/events/
Of course, many of these erstwhile traditions aren’t as rigid as they once
were, and certainly to those “in the know”, the QRS Net is very well
understood
for what
it is.
So, for the “others”, all they hear is a bunch of QSOs taking place on (say)
40 metres typically at soeeds between
about 10 - 20 wom.
Hence, “others”
see a busy band, so they find a spare frequency and call CQ. Some simply
won't know they are dropping
in on the friendly QRS “net” /activity.
40 metres is a great workhorse
band and DX is commonplace
as soon as the
sun sets, aS are QSOs across VK. It’s a go-to band for a lot of people. Some
clubs have spot frequencies that members frequent if they’re not in use.
So, the next time you hear a signal during the allotted QRS “Net”, consider
that the operator may have no idea that he or she finds themselves amongst
“us”. Yet they are as entitled as the next person to call CQ and have a QSO
if the frequency Is clear.
From “their” perspective, there is no Net Control Station; ergo, there is no
Net. Peter’s comments
are quite right; “we” do not have any entitlement to
a band segment or frequency during the QRS “Net”.
| also saw David's (VK6KD) question and
the answer,
and
| hope
Mark doesn’t
resternan Question fom owvawsee
mind
many ataione nour net segment hat wer ang
very fast. What is the CQQRS Net’s definition of
if | offer another perspective in
QRS?
Below 10wpm?
Below 12, 15, 18, 20 wpm?
| know the idea is that we try to answer at less than or about the same speed as the
C
O
Nn
S
| d
e
rl
Nn
g
C h
e
to
Dp
| C
S
C h
a
C
D
a
V
| d
ra
| S e
d
.
other operator.
This is gentlemanly (gentlepersonly?) always, and makes perfect
sense on our QRS net.
But what if the caller is rattling away above the speed limit?
Should | ask them to PSE QRS PSE QRS just because they happen to be on our net
frequencies?
1
S
ef
a
g
a
Answer:
| Nn Sst
C h
e
b
a
C
kd
ro
Dp
of
C h
e
Which piece of string would you like us to measure David?
seems to be the right approach.
'
'
d
| S C
aa
C h
U
S S
'
| O
Nn
a
b
O
U
C
N
ets
a
Nn
d
g
| Ve
Nn
mM
a
Nn
y
some head-copy material for some of our listeners... or you may be frightening
others away - hard to know!
O
ae
e
rs
C
O
C h
U
| d
e
re
W
O
U
i
S
| mM
Yes, horses for courses
| think you’re right - reply at about the same speed
or less - as long as you both can comfortably copy each-other, you may be providing
|
p
b
y
For me personally it’s simple:
+ On the net, | aim to provide an opportunity for new operators to listen to real
e
QSOs at practical learning speeds.
looking for a clear frequency, the concept
==
+ | actually struggle much above 12-15wpm - (Ross MONNK’s Guessing Game
“&—«
i
t
of the
ti
e
i+
th are
ie ial:
tent
VN
of a segment (or Net frequencies)
for the QRS Net are not helpful. And, as David rightly asks, what is the speed
limit, and how are “others” supposed to know about said limit?
Everyone would
hear someone
probably agree that normal CW protocol comes
into play. If |
calling CQ at a given speed, | will generally respond to them
at about the same speed. | could go back slower, and in some cases the
operator may match
things down a
my speed; or at least use Farnsworth spacing to slow
bit.
Most experienced operators will adjust their sending speed and style
accordingly if they sense they are having a QSO with a new guy...
and this
is a great quality of the Tuesday night activity.
Now to the fraught topic of speed.
| recall when
| got my full licence in 1986 and | came
home with a Certificate
of Proficiency, proudly demonstrating to anyone who would
qualified at 10 wom. This was the fastest speed
Commonwealth
requirement set by the
Government for amateur radio operators. Slow code
(Novice) was 5 wpm.
wpm,
listen that | was
| fondly remember
listening to the operators at 15 - 18
being in awe of their skills and hoping that one day | might be able to
send and receive at such a high speed!
QRS was a Q-code requesting the other operator send slower, and QRQ was
for faster. There were no speed
Now, 5 wpm
limits, per se. It was all relative.
ts truly hard work. And | don’t mean that as a criticism or
reflection on new operators. It’s simply a reflection that my skills have
developed
and the rhythm and cadence that comes with faster code is far
more enjoyable to send and receive. | know that students in the recent CW
Academy
classes will attest to the benefits of learning the code at the
character speed of 18-20 wom
and using the Farnsworth
methods to slow
things down a bit.
In fact, it’s probably fair to say that most operators on Tuesday nights are
sending and receiving fasterthan was required (10 wom) when
Morse code
was a regulatory requirement.
Calling CQ at any speed at which an operator is competent is not showing
off. When
18 wpm
| was competent at 10 wom,
| did not regard those calling at 15 -
as showing off. In fact, they inspired me. I’d sit and listen and see
how much
of what they sent | could copy. I'd move
zone and gradually my own speed of competence
into my uncomfortable
increased.
So, David, as an alternative response to your question, I’d encourage you to
listen to some of the faster code; relax and copy what you can, this is how
you'll develop your skills. You might not respond to their CQ just yet, but
you're not ignoring them, and | certainly wouldn’t suggest that they aren’t
interesting.
None of this needs to change the way Tuesday night runs for us. But
perhaps this perspective might bridge the gap between
eco-system and the broader CW community.
our Tuesday night
For those new to CW and our
QRS Net, there is still a very large number of amateurs out there - both in
VK as well as DX - who have no/little idea about the Tuesday night QRS Net.
| hope this provides a different perspective and clears up any confusion for
those who are new to the vagaries of amateur radio and CW
there is an updated Australian Band
protocols.
And
Plan which is worth reviewing (this is
nice one-pager for the shack wall):
https://www.wia.org.au/members/bandplans/data/documents/WIA%20AUSTR
ALIA%2 0LF-HF%20BAND%20PLANS%202026%20-%20POSTER.pdf
Finally, to clarify the role of the “Band
from Callum at DX Commander.
isn’t much
Police”, refer this great YouTube video
And if you’re wondering, the CW
Band Cop
different
https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=oQ0ltPessHWU&t=17s
POSITIONS VACANT
z
Morse Code QSO Mates Wanted!
se
i
-_
73, Chris VK3QB
Seeking friendly CW operators for casual Morse code practice.
All sending speeds welcome, but faster operators may
have to slow down.
|
'}
Happy to chat about the weather, daily doings,
or what's for dinner.
No politics, no drama, just dits and dahs!
If you can tap, let's yap!
Reply to: cqqrsnet@gmail.com
If you've read something that you think might be of interest to our readers,
please email to Mark VK2KI:
There’s
cqqrsnet@gmail.com
No
Such
Thing...
This week’s
| think the first lesson in Teachering
questions.
101 Is to always tell students “There’s
no such...” (I’m sure you know the rest) and “...the only dumb
the ones not asked”. John VK2RU
there among
questions are
reckons that there’s lots of questions out
both our new and our experienced
operators - about CW,
amateur radio operating and about theory.
So here we go...
Question:
On My Workbench
In the last week’s RagChew, Jack Child
An In-Circuit Component Tester
from SWL Jack Child - Mark VK2KI’s Neighbour
discussed how he drew the nice circuit
diagram
in his article about in-circuit
A few years ago | was repairing various electronics in a shop in Canberra and was
wondering what the ‘component’ function on the CRO might be used for. The owner,
Claude Hastir (VK1TE), explained how it worked so | began using it to trouble-shoot
solid state amplifiers.
component testing in the previous week’s
| was always curious as to how it worked. and recently did a little researching. Turns
out to be a very simple concept, so l’ve provided the details in the attached
schematic.
newsletter. had a nice article about incircuit component testing.
Another Answer:
Jack mentioned
Claude Hastir VK1LTE who
is a keen CW operator and member of our
QRS
What’s most useful is the (limited) ability to test components while still in circuit. The
patterns observed on my ‘scope are as follows:
QElectroTech screens
family.
§ 8 BABRARBB
il
__
= =
8
Well, he may have seen
the article because he popped
up
this week and suggested
QElectroTech.
httos://gelectrotech.org/
QElectroTech or QET, ts free public
domain
|
area
,
ht |
5
software to create
industrial complex electric
diagrams.
But you can also even do
plumbing,
geothermal, air-conditioning, layout, hydraulics, pneumatics, domotic,
photovoltaic, swimming
pool plumbing, etc...!
PID,
The collection contains over
8000 symbols.
73
kK
[Do you have a question or two or a discussion starter worth sharing?
cqqrsnet@gmail.com
/f so./
Prosign/Character/Sig
nal of the Month
See if you can use this one on Tuesday?
Prosign:
Meaning:
gg =
End of Contact
=
==
=
==
[Put it on a sticky note near your key as a reminder for Tuesday....
and tell us how you went!]
Di-dah-di-dah-dit
Here we
So back to the CQQRS
Next Tuesday’s
Slow CW QSO
go.
practice net.
Net
Our CQQRS
Group will be on as always on Tuesday from around 0600z until
about 1200z;
see https://bit.ly/COORSWebsite and navigate to the Net
Details page for details.
»
Wiir
VInter
| in netabdile
Coordinated Universal Time
(Note - 20m
0700z to 1300z
DXperiments will be at different times to suit propagation)
Australia
Western Australia Time
UTC + 8 Hours
1500 to 2100
Central Australian Time
UTC + 9.5 Hours
1630 to 2230
Eastern Australian Time
UTC + 10 Hours
1700 to 2300
Queensland Time
UTG + 10 Hours
1700 to 2300
N2@ Time
UTC + 12 Hours
1900 to 0100
New Zealand
DxXperiment times and
frequencies will be allocated
by Mike DL3YZ prior to the
20m
14039-14051kHz
aria
7020kHz e 7040kHz
_—
3535kHz - 3560kHz |
160m
1855kHz
net.
0700z to 13002
7000
40 m/=
ppg
yp
80 m=
fy
7020
yy
ORO
ol @
ORO
1800
i
160 m
|
i
7040
Lp
CO ORS Net
&
CQOORSNet
1855
|
Ge
l
|
&
i
1875
Thanks to Lance VKTTO for the GOOQRS frequency image.
&
Wednesday (VK/ZL time)
22002 - 23002
On the WA FM AllStar Network
(Tuesday UTC)
(connect direct to AllStar Node 42482 or use Echolink to
connect to VK2KI-L or VK8MT-L from anywhere)
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.
have fun.
We'll
There's usually people around until after 1200z - so keep calling in the
segment of the band designated
Reports
in the table below until you catch someone.
& Photos
Please let us know via our Reports form bit.ly/COORSNET who you work or
hear on Tuesday’s Group.
time) on Thursday.
The report form closes at 1pm
(Eastern Australian
And how about helping to make the reports even more
interesting by sending a photo?
include, please email it to:
If you have a photo that you'd be happy to
cgqgrsnet@gmail.com
And of course, we’re always on the lookout for more photos for the
newsletter, so if you have something that might be of interest aside from the
reports, please send it through as well.
Email to cqgrsnet@gmail.com
please.
Oh and by the way, | recommend
website open
that you don’t keep the Reports Form
between submission of reports from one week to the next.
you’re unlucky, there’s an undocumented
If
feature in the software that could
cause your current week’s report to be combined
with your previous report -
it's happened to your editor several times - much to the chagrin of our
Reports editor
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).
See https://bit.ly/COORSWebsite and
navigate to the Net Details page for details of how you can connect via
Echolink from anywhere
in the world.
Articles
Could you write a short article or articles for RagChew?
your strong point?
You bet!
Don’t worry, I’m very happy to help as much
Writing not
or as little
as needed.
Oh, and one more thing (actually two) - copyright material:
e
please use your own images - don’t use images copied from the
internet unless you have the producer’s permission, or they’re marked
‘Creative Commons’
e
or similar;
if you include other peoples’ written material, unless you have
permission, you may only include small snippets (unless it’s marked
‘Creative Commons’
or similar), and you'll need to site the source and
author.
For more guidance on writing for the RagChew
newsletter (including how
you might even try using one of the new Artificial Intelligence tools), head to
our website bit.ly/COORSWebsite then click the menu
on the top right and
then click RagChew News/etter.
Material
A reminder;
if you send me any information by email, our report form or
WhatsApp - unless you specifically state that material is not to be published,
I'll assume that you're happy to see your thoughts in the RagChew
newsletter.
Teamwork
Thank you so much to our team of 35 contributors:
VKITE, VK2GAS, VK2IOW, VK2NNW,
DL3YZ, G7BED,
VK2RU, VK3BWN,
MONNK,
VK3DRQ, VK3ECH,
VK3FG, VK3JFP, VK3KEV, VK3QB, VK4AW, VK4CEG, VK4IM, VK5A0O, VK5SAV,
VK5ET, VK5ET, VK5FD, VK5KFG, VK6HRC, VK6JDM, VK6KD, VK6KHZ, VK6MTF,
VK7TA, VK7TO, ZLIPB, ZL2GD,
ZL3ABX and ZL3TK.
to our editorial team, Nigel G4RWI
And a special thank you
(head of software development),
Patrick
VK2IOW
(reports coordinator), John VK2RU
(spreadsheet pilot), Richard
VK6HRC
(Post Morsition) and Lance VK7TO
(archiving bit wrangler).
work all!
€Y CW on Tuesday,
Great
mb
Mark Bosma
VK2KI / VK6QI
Beautiful South Bowning
cqarsnet@gmail.com
NSW
non impediti ratione cogitationis
|
VENUS and MARS in the HAM SHACK
T can't find anything—there's too much junk.
T'm going to have a bape clean-out.
AV.
ees
fl
=—fer
5
oA
=
Poa
2
Fal) f= ic
ss
——
Sal)
sx,
m ]
|
la
|
|
About
the CQ
Here’s where
QRS
Net
you'll find the details.
For the current schedule and more information about the CQQRS
net, please
go the the Net Details page on our website:
https://bit.ly/CQQRSWebsite
The opinions expressed in the RagChew newsletter are those of the individual contributors.
The opinions do not necessarily reflect that of the editors or of the CQQRS Group members.
Any material and images received from members by the editor or published on the CQQRS WhatsApp
groups may be published in this newsletter unless specifically requested otherwise.
The RagChew
newsletter is considered to be exempt from the Australian Government’s ban on social
media for under 16 year olds because it is a service that has the primary purpose of enabling users to
share information about products or services, engage in professional networking or professional
development services or of supporting the education of users per the Australian Government eSafety
Commissioner FAQ webpage
“Which platforms have been excluded from the age restrictions” dated
10Dec25.
The values, doctrine and guidelines for the Group and for the newsletter are published on the
Principles page of the group’s website https://bit.ly/COQRSWebsite
wT
VY
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VY
CQ QRS. All rights reserved.
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