CW using Icom IC-705 - DX contacts with Finland, Italy, Ukraine and USA

CW at 20 WPM using Icom IC-705 at 10W, 12.8V 7AH LiFePO4 battery and BaMaKey TP-II iambic key. Antenna is an end-fed random wire (K6ARK QRP antenna matching unit kit) with 12.5m radiator and 5.2m counterpoise) supported by a 9m telescopic mast.
World Wide Flora and Fauna (WWFF) activation of Brisbane Water National Park (VKFF-0056) located on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. Activation on Saturday 13 April 2024 between 0500 and 0600 UTC.
Operating on 20m (14.042 MHz), 17m (18.086 MHz) and 40m (7.035 MHz). Local contacts to New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. DX contacts with Finland, Italy, Ukraine and USA.
Chapters:
0:00 - Introduction
0:17 - Set up of portable station
2:22 - CW on 20m
14:22 - CW on 17m
17:33 - P2P on 20m
19:39 - CW on 40m
23:12 - Summary of contacts
Music:
Evolution (bensound.com)
Music I use: Bensound
License code: PNBIYHTDGMXNQUDR

[@vk2ter]

Abbreviations used: AGN - again BK - break (station in QSO can reply) CFM - confirm CQ - calling any station DE - from EE - final sign off ES - and FB - fine business FER - for GA - good afternoon GL - good luck GM - good morning K - break (any station can reply) P2P - park-to-park QRL? - is this frequency in use? QSL - confirm receipt QSY - changing frequency QRZ? - who is calling me? / call to any station REF - reference (park number) R - received / roger RR - roger roger RST - readability, strength and tone SK - break (end of transmission) TNX/TKS - thanks TU - thank you UR - your WID - with WWFF - World Wide Flora and Fauna 73 / 44 - regards

[@chipsgarage2518]

you are the GOAT! thanks mate, it really helps us, the one that dont know any CW get interested in it! 73 to you and your family!

[@vk2ter]

@chipsgarage2518 thanks chips, glad this is helpful. 73 and all the best

[@alexsmit1829]

Thank you so much for the Morse code translation! It is very helpful for newcomers. Best wishes from Russia!

[@vk2ter]

Thank you Alex. I am glad the CW captions are helpful. Good luck with your CW practice, 73

[@chipsgarage2518]

@@vk2ter just for reference, there are some of us that doesnt know what everything means. So a bit of explanation on each thing would be good, even when there is direct translation. Anyways, way to go mate, i love your videos! 73

[@vk2ter]

@chipsgarage2518 Thank you for the feedback, I will include more detail in future videos. I can show the meaning of the abbreviations below the captions or include them in the video description, 73

[@DL4FO]

Nice video, James. Just worked you on 20m longpath, both at home. Hope to get you in the log 2 x portable soon. Congrats for your other videos as well. You are the only operator that uses a different transceiver on every new park 🙂. 72 + 44 de Chris, DL4FO

[@vk2ter]

Danke Chris for the CW contact today, it is great to get you in the log. Hope to hear you on the bands again soon. Also thank you for the feedback on the videos, it is much appreciated, 73

[@tonystephen6312]

My thumbs up landed on 72.. The qrpers besr regards lol.

[@vk2ter]

Thank you, 72 / 73

[@JonathanAdami]

ah alright, so you got all the radios! :D good stuff, thanks for the video ;)

[@vk2ter]

Yes I do have a small collection of radios! Glad you enjoyed the video, thanks for watching, 73

[@dennispeake1877]

James that was great all those contacts 20. Really enjoyed your video 73 de Dennis vk4oc.

[@vk2ter]

Thanks Dennis. I enjoyed the activation, nice weather, great view and good band conditions, 73

[@FreddyNietzsche.]

HI, Do you feel that Bamakey TP-II is a little too heavy/large for doing POTA from a backpack/hiking standpoint? I know that you have a TP-III which I would have thought you would have preferred for such an outing. Cheers 73s

[@vk2ter]

I don’t find the TP-II too heavy for portable activations. The magnetic base can be detached to reduce weight. But the TP-II works best sitting on a flat surface such as a picnic table. The key was a little wobbly sitting on the plastic case but worked ok, 73

[@FreddyNietzsche.]

@@vk2ter Ok thanks James , it's good to get your feedback. I will go for the TP-III, the idea that the TP-II is better when used on a flat surface is giving the smaller key my vote.

[@vk2ter]

My current favourite setup is the TP-III with the leg strap (also from BaMaTech, called knee strap on the website). I show this combination is a few of my recent videos. I am sure you will enjoy the key, 73

[@Auxrad39]

intersting that you didn't tx the VKFF number once ??

[@vk2ter]

I post spots during my activations that include the park reference so most hunters know the park reference. I normally only send my park reference if the hunter asks for it or if I am chasing a park-to-park contact. I sent my park reference at 18:40 for the P2P contact. Thanks for watching, 73

[@miketaylor253]

What time of day did you make those DX contacts pls James?

[@vk2ter]

I was operating CW between 3pm and 4pm local time which is 0500 to 0600 UTC. I also made some additional DX contacts using voice in the following hour, 73

[@h.m.2138]

CW in this aktivations QTH is addicitve. Finland, Ukraine and Italy - Bingo! Super 73

[@vk2ter]

Danke h.m., the location has beautiful views and is a perfect place to activate from, 73

[@h.m.2138]

Vielen Dank

[@Zach-K7FC]

How are you concluding that those contacts were long path in this situation?

[@vk2ter]

Hi Zack. I cannot tell the direction with my portable setup. However, it is often found that long-path is favourable between the east coast of Australia and Europe in late afternoons local time (~0400 to 0900 UTC). The reasons include long-path is mostly over salt water and it passes through nighttime with potential chordal skip along the combined F layer. Some hunters will reply “LP” or spot “beaming long-path” when they have directional antennas. Given my position with take-off over saltwater to the east, I am assuming long-path. Hope this helps, 73

[@Zach-K7FC]

@@vk2ter Interesting. Thanks for sharing the details. Have fun working portable, thanks for sharing the video.

[@robertochiuderoli898]

Top James!!! How you understood that they were long paths? 72 73

[@vk2ter]

Thanks Roberto. I cannot tell the direction with my portable setup. However, it is often found that long-path is favourable between the east coast of Australia and Europe in late afternoons local time (~0400 to 0900 UTC). The reasons include long-path is mostly over salt water and it passes through nighttime with potential chordal skip along the combined F layer. Some hunters will reply “LP” or spot “beaming long-path” when they have directional antennas. Given my position with take-off over saltwater to the east, I am assuming long-path. Hope this helps, 73

[@robertochiuderoli898]

@@vk2ter super! I hope one day to qso in cw with you and change our qsl. My best 73 dr James

[@vk2ter]

@robertochiuderoli898 It would be great to have a CW QSO some day. I put up spots on the WWFF DX cluster when I am out operating portable. Good DX, 73

[@LawpickingLocksmith]

Hey! Filming is now prohibited in national parks!

[@vk2ter]

My understanding is that filming for “commercial” purposes in NSW National Parks requires permission or a permit. My KZbin channel is not monetised or used for commercial purposes. I will look into this further. Thanks for the feedback, 73

[@LawpickingLocksmith]

@@vk2ter QLD will jail you unless you pay them huge amounts of cash. They do not care about your monetisation, just the possibility that you could earn money is enough to get you arrested. So carry cash and bribe them corrupt idiots, happened to me so stay vigilent!

[@eldestillator3860]

Greetings from Austria from 35 CT 249 >> 73 / 55

[@vk2ter]

Guten tag, thank you for watching the video, 73

[@mgreenl24550]

Very cool. I don’t know CW, but this motivates me to go get my extra and try out some HF. 73. KQ4OCD

[@vk2ter]

Thank you Matthew, HF is great fun especially when out operating portable. Good luck with going for your extra, 73