Hamshack Sunday. First use of an old War key. Bendix Morse code key

I don't know a great deal about this old key. It was given to me a few years ago and never worked. Turns out all that was wrong were dirty contacts.
I believe the key dates from WW2 and was an American service key. It has a flame proof design to make it safe to use in environments that could have contained fuel vapour etc. The contacts being sealed will not be a source of ignition.

[@rustyunquebecoiserrant.8049]

You are a man of many talents.

[@feartheduck6664]

I just passed foundation. Am learning CW/Morse Code now, it’s an art!

[@MidlifeRenaissanceMan]

How are you doing with the code a year or so into it ??

[@alanb76]

I have an old key like that. My favorite straight key. Glad I never had to take it apart. Nice to see what's inside. Hopefully it keeps on working... :)

[@davebuts1921]

Sandy, you have so many interesting stories and experiences, you never cease to amaze me. Stay safe and take care.

[@darrellfelch6692]

A wonderful Journey into the past. Thank you, AA7MZ Darrell

[@jberk8529]

My navy flameproof is my favorite straight key, by far has the best feel.

[@TheArtofEngineering]

Don't mention the war!!! 🤣🤣🤣 Thanks fer this radio play.....luv this CW stuff and love that key!!! 73 De VK2AOE

[@campfire52]

What better way to spend a Sunday (facing very bad weather) than hunkering down in front of some amazing electronic gadgets with some amazing history behind them? I do really appreciate the way that you totally engulf yourself into any of your hobbies or interests. I have never seen you just skim the surface on these. You always dig way down in order to learn them thoroughly (including the history behind them.) You have a hugely interesting array of interests and people who are around you and people who watch your videos are blessed that you are willing to pass on your knowledge about each of them. Thanks for another fantastic video Sandy. Have fun and stay healthy, I will see you on the next one.

[@WiltshireMan]

Thanks Terry, very kind of you to say. I think my interest in Morse code and radio goes back to when I was a child.

[@aabbushcraft]

Very informative and interesting! You have no end of talent 👍

[@loricastro3772]

I knew your knife channel but not this one! Nice and thanks a lot for sharing!

[@marcuskiritsis2076]

That was a blooming brilliant ham shack sunday. Ww2 history, morse, brew and a few giggles that’s nearly all my boxes ticked. My RAF QMC course (morse) ran for 13 weeks but I managed to do it in 11 as someone dropped out and I was a replacement on the course. Soon caught up within a week and passed out on time and was posted to the tactical communications wing RAF Brize Norton where I stayed for 8 years. Long time ago now. Sending love to all the family stay safe and well ♥️♥️♥️👍👍👍

[@WiltshireMan]

Brize is only a few miles away from here Marcus

[@XXXJAB]

Sandy, I have been waiting for ages for you to post a ham video again. Thanks keep them coming!

[@Richie65afc]

Brilliant! Never thought you could still do this. So interesting and you're a man of many skills!

[@daveinwla6360]

Fascinating! Like a time warp. I had a war surplus J38 when I was a kid. I didn't think of it then as a collector's item!

[@GolfFoxtrot22]

Tea and coffee make the world go round Sandy.

[@WiltshireMan]

This is very true Giles, it's a very British thing:)

[@markanetley7142]

Hi totally off subject - are you still thinking of getting panniers for the mighty Strom- I have a virtually brand new Suzuki set inc fittings for a late 2016 model

[@drchunkybiscuit9973]

You are a very clever man. Very interesting.

[@stevesmith3216]

I know nothing about what i have just watched and it was bloody fascinating. Thank you.

[@jeromeGrzelak]

BLOODY COOL MATE

[@EricFullwood]

Lovely bug and a K2. That and a cup of tea is what it's all about.

[@justharryjohnson7250]

My uncle John would love this. Im sharing it now

[@scaff3450]

Really interesting Sandy your a man of many talents

[@tonypatey5669]

I do not know much about the ham radio but found this video very interesting. Thanks for sharing. Tony

[@petermach8635]

You were wise not to venture too far inside the key, you have to drift 3 pins out, the two you can see outside on the pivot and one inside, holding the contact, there are also two tiny screws that have to come out that are impossible to replace if lost. Your Bendix is actually an MT-11B and it's their version of the US navy key No 26003 which was made during and immediately after WW2. The US Navy didn't use the 26003 for wireless but they were standard issue for Navy aircraft as well as for keying their large shipboard searchlights, they used ordinary open keys in ship's radio rooms. The 26003 was an updated version of a WW1 flameproof key designed by the US Navy Steam Engineering Department, the earliest version was the SE-86, designed by the Navy but made by Marconi of America, but sometime during WW1 that was replaced by the SE-1443 which was very similar to the 26003, the main difference being that the output connectors weren't on the top of the key but were taken from the back of it. The Bendix version is interesting because it was used with a lot of the radios fitted to aeroplanes built by de Havilland of Canada, including the Mosquito .... those keys have an RCAF stores No. 10F/101 printed in white on the connector cover .... although I have one that has both the Canadian number and a US Signal Corps marking on the underside of the base=plate .... who knows what was going on there ..... it's an odd one as the Signal Corps had their own version of flameproof key, the J-5 .... a very different design indeed. Pete G4TFH

[@atf2940]

Nice to see you back in the shack, Sandy! 80 Meters season has started and I hope to see (and hear) more of you.

[@Kevb69]

Really enjoyed watching this video. Not an enthusiast myself it was fascinating watching you and thank you for sharing

[@bushlore21]

Impressive Sandy, very cool!! 😎Thanks for sharing !! Cheers to You and Yours 🍻

[@uslines]

It is a USN Flameproof. I have one and it has action as good, maybe better, than my two Bengali straight keys.

[@silktvPDR1]

Amazing finding someone doing the same thing to talk too, brilliant 👍

[@timsmith428]

Sandy...I have the same Flame-proof key, and love it.. 73 de VE6PG

[@brianferris1233]

🌲thank you for sharing your video

[@MidlifeRenaissanceMan]

Nice fist While I am a coffee bloke, not so much a tea drinker, I enjoy putting the key in whiskey during evening ops.

[@charliepres]

You never fail to amaze me "Old Boy'' what an interesting chap you are... Like It...

[@JamesHindsW5ATJ]

Great video. Thanks

[@craggerrs]

Really fascinating stuff - thanks for sharing

[@therixon]

Love it!!.....soooo much history right there.

[@peterfarmer1592]

Many thanks Sandy. Lovely to hear morse. 73. G1UOD.

[@frankartieta4887]

Hello old boy :) The last time the bottom cover was off that key was when it was at the factory That a fine key I use a old oval base speed X straight key here cheerio

[@billcotton1551]

My neighbor here in the States does this. Fascinating!

[@dumitrucolcova8164]

I think your german friend wanted to keyed the number 6, at the moment 10.10 and in few others, but he pressed the finger a little more, enouht for keyed another dith, so, the result was _..... I enjoy very much your film, sir. I was a Morse code operator, in the Romanian Air Force, like a private(soldier), between 1984-1986.Your straight key is wonderful.My deep respect for your activty and, please excuse my not so well English.

[@WiltshireMan]

Thankyou Sir, very kind and always good to meet another Morse code man:)

[@thedesignlabatrensselaer848]

I love my flameproof! Mine has the original cord and has a US Navy stamp on the bottom. It's the Telephonics CTE-26003A version and is in mint condition. Great feel to it as you said! I use it for my Parks on the Air activity. Have several keys in my collection as well. Bought a bug recently from a local SK, got it nicely set up now thanks to one of your other videos - thank you for that. Hope to see you on the air. 73, WB2SMK

[@davidsanderson1891]

Hi sandy. That was fascinating Old dave

[@slartybardfarst52]

Yay! hamshack Sunday's are back!, it's been a while, the lightning is very nice, I use the Lionel J-36 as my main key, you missed a mention of the Schurr profi

[@keithl6249]

Very interesting, Amazing how you can listen and translate what is being sent. I always thought people had to write it all down and then translate it.

[@WiltshireMan]

I can head read code with ease Keith. I've been doing it for decades, it's as easy as listening or speaking English

[@graeme9184]

The difficulty with learning morse code is not just learning 26 letters & 10 numbers, you also have to learn Q codes, shortened words etc. You wouldn't say very pleased to meet you , my name is Bill & I'm located in Kidderminster. You would say. vy psed to meet om op Bill es qth kidderminster

[@johnhorner769]

You're a genius Sandy 👍

[@WiltshireMan]

Shushhh, don't tell them:)

[@WellBoared]

Started off with your best Bond villain intro there as you swung round in the seat.

[@TheMendipman]

Thanks Sandy. As you know, I'm not a CW Op., but it's always fascinating to watch you in the shack. Looking forward to the time when I can do it again for real. Noel

[@WiltshireMan]

That would be great Noel, it would be nice to meet up again, perhaps next year...thats only a few weeks away now:)

[@patrickshaw7983]

I don't know too much about ham radio but that was fascinating.

[@M4BoarBiker]

Very impressive, amazing actually

[@ellisc.foleyjr9778]

Great Timing Sandy, I just got off 2m cw with my Friend Pete. (WA2JMG) we have our cw qso's every morning. and just wrapped up our qso with him and funny you mentioned the coffee bit. I told him today my cw was better, because I had a chance to drink my coffee before i sent to him. and that helped. See you were right!. nice set of keys enjoyed that es the qso the DL. followed along nicely neat! tnx agn Sandy looking forward to more Hamshack Sundays. 73 gud dx de Ellis WA1RKS

[@WiltshireMan]

Ah, I thought you would enjoy this one Ellis, I'll try and get a few more shack videos up over the next few weeks. When the weather is poor it's nice to stay in a warm radio shack:)

[@leslieaustin151]

Sandy, Here I am, sitting in my shack watching Allen Millyard with his Viper V12 motorcycle on YT, with 30 mtrs on the KX3 at the other end of the bench, when up pops the notification of this video. So when Allan ‘s had finished i had to watch your video... and what a treat! Thank you, this was superb. Now to see if I can snag a station or two to put in my log. I guess you were running a bit more power than me (QRP only here) but your keying is sublime - I must try harder!! I have two Bencher paddles, a Speedex (US WW2) a WW2 US bug key (which I just can’t use!), and other straight keys, plus a Palm Paddle and Palm Portable Key (PPK!) for outdoors use. Wonderful collection you have there. Will be listening for you!! TU es73, Les g0nmd

[@WiltshireMan]

Thanks Les, Funny thing is that during the edit of this video UI too was watching Allen Millyards viper video. I left a comment :)

[@JohnSmith-yc9qn]

Ha...what are the odds Leslie..was watching the exact vids in the exact order... hadn't practiced MC for years..going out to dig out the key and get busy..cheers, and thx Sandy

[@leslieaustin151]

@@JohnSmith-yc9qn Hope the practice is going well! Are you licensed? Getting on air with CW is ‘the business”! Keep at it. 73/72 Les

[@JohnSmith-yc9qn]

@@leslieaustin151 Yes, I got my Canadian license almost 30 years ago..checked and it's still valid. Had a bunch of kit gear but sold it all..Now that I'm retired my interest has rekindled. Still have my keys and oscillator practice rig. Any suggestions on a new Ham rig? BTW..re-learning code is a pretty steep curve for an "old guy" lol. Best to keep at it almost daily I'm thinking.

[@leslieaustin151]

@@JohnSmith-yc9qn John, It’ll come back if you used it a lot a few years (!) ago. What are your interests in radio? Mine is CW only and QRP only, so my choices reflect that - Elecraft K2, K1 and KX3, plus a Mountain Top Radio 5 bander (LNR built pocket radio). Two of those are CW only (K1 and MTR), I also like to take the radio “out for a walk” so they are all more or less ‘portable’ radios. Sandy has a K1 and K2 as well. But Sandy is so good on the CW he makes me want to run and hide! There are some lovely radios available these days, and some frighteningly expensive ones too. I hope you can satisfy your wish to return without spending a King’s Ransom! Let us know how you go on. 73/72 Les g0nmd (look me up on QRZ.com)

[@happyhermit2022]

That was really interesting thank you 👍

[@dazt103]

Fascinating stuff. You make it look easy but I suspect it takes years of practice to get that good 🙂.

[@simonbragg5888]

We had a teacher at school back in the 70s who said that everyone should learn at least enough Morse to get themselves out of trouble if needed. Hence we all knew . . . - - - . . . 😃

[@craggerrs]

save our sandwiches?

[@johndoogan3712]

As a Boy Scout, I bought an ex WD MK III signalling lamp as other boys in my troop had them, it resembled an oversized bicycle lamp powered by an ever ready 126 4.5 volt bell battery. The removable top contained about 3 feet of wire with the morse button so the lamp could be placed above either a trench or a wall. We played around with these trying to send simple messages. Love the cuckoo clock. Mine plays a music box after striking the hour. I wonder if you're going to use the miners lamp as a tent light on a future camp?

[@mikesmithg0rfd356]

thank you very much

[@dave1secondago]

great stuff sandy

[@kvlteacher5911]

I also have a Flame Proof and a Junkers in my collection. They are my two favorites! Thanks for the video Sandy! 73 KE3HL

[@RobWhittlestone]

Sandy, 73s from son of G3JMW. Great to see this again. As a non-morser, it seems to me you have very nice rhythm. Very clear style. All the best, Rob in Switzerland.

[@WiltshireMan]

Nice to know your Dad was a ham Rob

[@craggerrs]

Mate, you're a legend

[@WiltshireMan]

Leg End you mean:)

[@marktownsend9333]

Wow you’ve got to keep this going 👍👍🤞🙏

[@stevewarner8880]

Many old military keys are well built solid performers. I collect keys and rotate them as my daily drivers so to speak. The J38 is a fine key as well. My Navy Flameproof is also a great feeling key. One of recent purchases is a Telefunken T2 German Luftwaffe key that saw use in JU88 Junkers bomber. It has a very nice feel. 73 my friend

[@dodge2047]

Sandy most interesting I enjoyed it greatly. Darren

[@WiltshireMan]

Glad you enjoyed the Morse show Darren

[@EJRadio]

You have the same problem with that speaker vibrating that I do. It drives me up the wall sometimes! Nice key, I enjoy videos a lot. 73 de KB3NSK

[@englishandproud100]

USN flameproof key. I understand that if they're carrying the Bendix marque, they were manufactured in Canada.. Unless others know differently..

[@marcomcdowell8861]

We had knee keys in the Marines. Only used them for training but it was pretty fun transmitting back and forth from California and Panama or from ship to Japan.

[@WiltshireMan]

I've used a knee mounted key in the past. It is a good way to combat "glass arm " to a small degree

[@DDan61]

That is impressive Sandy! It must have taken a while to master that! I do like that key that was named after you as the "Bibby" you produced was also inspired by someone you know. This is what I imagine to be "paying it forward"! Stay safe and healthy! Greetings from Germany (NBG area).

[@WiltshireMan]

Hi Dan, I did pick up some Morse as a child thanks to my late uncle who was in the RAF, he was a wireless op so I think early exposure as a young child may have helped me learn code faster than some. To me now it's just as easy as speaking English. Infact if I have a little drink the power of speech is the first thing to go, but I can still send good code and copy it with ease? I have even had dreams based on conversation made during Morse contacts..!

[@DDan61]

@@WiltshireMan Dreaming in Morse - that is classic!!

[@funkyprepper]

I hope we have time so you can pass some skills on sandy. It would be good if I can pass them on to my son

[@johnmunro5983]

Hi Sandy, good to hear you are back on the airwaves. Certainly a man of many talents. I hope all is well at your QTH. 73 de VK3JMC , QTH QF33dp ..

[@WiltshireMan]

Thanks John, Nice to know my sigs are getting down under:)

[@VicTilling]

Impressive

[@mariodonkartworks]

I liked watching this. If you ever hear VK2DQJ then that would be me

[@WiltshireMan]

I'll keep my ears open

[@guillecwdiaz1622]

beauty beauty key's !!!!!

[@adelarsen9776]

Non radio people will never get it. Either you have the radio bug or you don't. I am so happy I have an interest in all things radio.

[@WiltshireMan]

Thats right Ade. Radio is a fascinating topic

[@adelarsen9776]

@@WiltshireMan I think that there's a bunch of hobbies which all go together with the radio hobby such as camping, hunting, shooting, fishing, hiking, travel, boating and flying. All one needs is an inquiring mind and a healthy dose of curiosity.

[@WiltshireMan]

@@adelarsen9776 This is so true Ade

[@hartley383]

Sitting here gobsmacked Sandy. Bleepin hell. How do you get your head around that? Amazing.

[@wichywoo]

you're as eccentric as i am sandy with many varied interests ;o)

[@taojiang921]

Cool

[@Dodgerm1cbo]

Hi Sandy enjoyed the video hope to catch you on air one day de M1CBO 73

[@WiltshireMan]

Make a sked Roger, I can do any speed you like. Most evenings after 7pm are OK

[@dorsettyke]

Very interesting video, although most of it went over my thick head! 😉

[@darrensmith6999]

Nice collection (: Have you ever thought of designing and producing your own key? The Jacklaw Key perhaps (: Stay safe.

[@forextraderradioman]

Finally an amateur radio related video again :) thank you Sandy! ... have you ever thought of combining hiking and some /p activities in the field/woods? vy73 from Hamburg/Germany, Dietmar, DL4HAO

[@WiltshireMan]

Thanks Dietmar, yes I do /p sometimes. I have the Elecraft K1 and K2 tcvrs for that purpose

[@stuartv-e8161]

Well I'm having a nice cup of tea watching your video 😋. Bye Stuart 🙂

[@WiltshireMan]

No motorbiking vids for a whil now Stuart so have to do a few other things instead

[@stuartv-e8161]

@@WiltshireMan Hi Sandy that's fine as I enjoy your camping and videos of you bicycling...I hope you and your family are.keeping well. Bye for now Stuart 🙂

[@marksadventures3889]

Ha ha ha is the cuckoo on speed? That was a tad fast there. I can hear the rain there Sandy - that's loud! It's been pretty full on up here too. Yes I thought the gap a bit big. Good fun room there Sandy. Didn't they used to use a vertical key on some of the old bombers?

[@codfishknives8526]

I have no idea about anything to do with ham radio. You are a very diverse man. Still I love to watch your vids.

[@WiltshireMan]

Thanks, it's good to have a few hobbies

[@codfishknives8526]

@@WiltshireMan I do as well. But not ham radio and Morse code. It seems quite difficult to me.

[@andyins1]

Hi Sandy, great videos, we love them. Can i ask what type of camera do you use to film your movies, thanks andy

[@stuarttaylor4204]

Hi Sandy Another great video.I hope you don't mind if I ask a question.I have noticed you are using a Next Wed 2 helmet.Have you fitted an intercom system and if so how did you get the cheek pads in and out because I am struggling with them.I have looked on youtube without finding any help. Thanks, Stuart.

[@WiltshireMan]

Hi Stuart, I'm not sure what type of helmet I have here is!? But no I haven't fitted any intercom to it either so I'm not able to offer any advice

[@markanderson8066]

Mine has a USN stamp on the bottom :)

[@GolfFoxtrot22]

Sandy, I'm sure it has been asked before but why do you get two different levels of morse tone, yours is high and the receiving tone is lower? Is that deliberate to differentiate the 2?

[@WiltshireMan]

Good question Giles, The different tones were due to the fact I had not netted onto Bernd's transmit frequency and was about 50hz off. I heard him off frequency and hurriedly tuned roughly to where he was before calling him. It's not a big deal provided my signal is within the passband of his receiving filters. Morse stations tend keep a separation of 500hz to 1Khz so my error of 50hz or so is acceptable (just) but during the video I did move my receiver using (RIT receiver incremental tune) to take out the error. I could have moved my TX frequency but if I did that then Bernd would have had to retune to net with my signal again.

[@NWMinnesota]

@@WiltshireMan It helps me to have stations at slightly different tones and speeds. Its easier to tell when they have switched over. Nice collection of keys you have, and at one time I had the exact same Kenwood rig and Palstar tuner. Still have the tuner and just used it on our local Sunday morning top band conflab here in the Fargo ND area.

[@dieselbushcraft1299]

Grand change for Ham Shack Sunday returning. You’re still a little fast for me Sandy, I’m afraid that I let morse slip after getting my class A. I noticed you have a key similar to mine, the Bencher with the clear perspex handles. How do you find operating with that key? I struggled with mine but I got it from a friend that passed away when the club held a silent key sale. I really should get an antenna put up outside so that I can get back on the air or at least listening again. Thanks again Sandy an interesting video.

[@WiltshireMan]

The Bencher is a fine key, I can send good code with it quite well. It's a well thought out key I reckon. Hope you can get back on the air again

[@dieselbushcraft1299]

@@WiltshireMan you never know Sandy, one day our paths may cross on the bands 😃

[@graeme9184]

Sandy do you have any advice for copying long words in the head ? My copy speed is around the 30 WPM in the head but at times on longer words the mental buffer gets overloaded. Once I have heard a long word a few times I can sometimes recognised it but the whole problem of preempting words rears its ugly head. Any advice ?

[@WiltshireMan]

I think it all comes down to practice and more practice and eventually it become ingrained. There is no mental effort on my part to decode the Morse, I just listen and it goes in, but then I have been a Morse op for decades and had early exposure to Morse as a child as my Uncle was a R/O in the RAF during WW2. I think that must have helped. On a good day I can read code and get a good grasp of what is being sent at upto 60wpm and get solid copy at 40wpm with my eye's closed. It helps even more if the band conditions are stable

[@graeme9184]

@@WiltshireMan Thanks for the reply Sandy. 2 years of practice should see an improvement & help towards the ultimate goal as I keep up the speed learning on a fairly regular basis . 25 is a lovely speed 30 is about 80% & 40WPM for short periods but much above that sounds like data to me. Hope to work you in the future.

[@WiltshireMan]

@@graeme9184 If you listen around 3.538 at 19:30 Monday evenings (tonight) you will hear me on with Rich G4fad.

[@graeme9184]

@@WiltshireMan listened to via WebSDR at the University of Twente, Enschede, NL as I don't have anything up for 80m. Nice 569 sigs but just a bit outside my comfort zone on the speed. You were sending just a bit faster than Rich. Both perfectly readable via web sdr. What was the speed 35 + ? Hope to work you when I get my license back.

[@Nicktgrief]

I can't match you for Keys Sandy I've only got 7 ... must use them one day :D

[@Nicktgrief]

was it 569 by any chance? ... I got the swindon so my CW is getting better :D

[@neanderthaloutdoors9202]

All very interesting Sandy although I know no morse, nice job on the old key mate. How does morse work if other countries have a different alphabet than our's though 🤔🤔🤔

[@thedesignlabatrensselaer848]

We only use this alphabet on morse, by international convention. It's full name is the international morse code. English is I think the most commonly used on ham radio, tho other languages have been heard. WB2SMK

[@boxingday11]

Thanks Sandy, let us know your thoughts on learning Morse , I got to 20 wpm but then lost it , but would love to get this wonderful skill to return. Best regards,Carl, G0lka 73.

[@WiltshireMan]

Don't write anything down and try and head read is all I can say. I used to write everything down and it was hard to go faster as speed was limited by my writing, then one day my pen ran out of ink and I had to listen. I realised I could head read the code and as a result my RX speed increased dramatically. On a good day I can head read QRQ at 60WPM and send fairly clean code at 40WPM using a paddle. With a straight key I'm fairly consistent sending at 25wpm without too much bother. To be a good Morse op you also have to love code

[@graeme9184]

Download G4FON Koch software for your pc & cw trainer for your phone & practice practice practice.

[@nealeburgess6756]

Some nice engineering in those keys Sandy. I was unaware of side swiping keys. What are the pros and cons? Oh, by the way Sandy, sorry I can't break this gently. Wearing a hat, stylish though it may be, does not make you look like you are 20 again!

[@edwardhughes352]

Its facinating that you can understand morse in real time. Is there an advantage to morse over voice ham radio?

[@WiltshireMan]

Morse will often get through where voice will fail and also the Morse transmitter is simpler

[@graeme9184]

5w cw will get through when 100w ssb struggles. Think about someone talking in another room & a dripping tap in the same room. You know someone is talking but you can't understand what they are saying because if too low a volume but if you can hear the drip you can decode it, even if it's very quiet.

[@fatdude8716]

Sandy, thanks for the Sunday CW video. I too have a second hand Twanger that I use /portable. Tom had just retired from making his cootie to gardening when I asked him to make me a sideswiper, so I missed out getting a personalized Twanger. Is the older bug, the one that you previously made a video? I checked and the dust covers for them cost 35 dollars, US, and it costs 70 dollars to mail to England. Hope to catch you on SKCC sometime in the future. Oh, what ant were you using? 73.

[@WiltshireMan]

Yes the older bug did feature in a video a few months back, as for antenna it was just a G5RV. I am a member of SKCC so will have to try and join in one of these days

[@johndahl6651]

Hi sandy...and radio amateur you are allso...i am to oz5jd but only fone i am to stuped to make cw..hope to here you on day on air..mabye 80 meter.73 from john

[@DesmondsDonders]

Catching up after a weekend away without Internet. Orr Radio my mast is broke on the van again. Working on a fix.

[@WiltshireMan]

Get it fixed Dave and then we will try a sked:) Just give me a QRG and a time

[@TheAncientBiker]

Interesting Sandy but perhaps one day you could explain what a 'semi automatic' key is, you rather skittered over that.

[@graeme9184]

A semiautomatic key is what a lot of people refer to as a bug key. The bug is a beetle that is also the trademark of the vibroplex key company. On these keys the dots are made by a vibrating pendulum bar with an adjustable timings weight but a dash must be formed manually... Hence semiautomatic.

[@JosephAnthonyJosefius]

I have one of these, I have made a about 20 to 30 QSOs with it, I use a Vibroplex Vibrokey now. I love small gaps, I can't sand a lot of slop in my keys. de KI5JCO

[@andrewoffer7369]

On you tube "tomorrows world 1969" about half way through there's a scientist who was controlling his computor using voice commands in morse code. Just thought you might be interested ( it's not often you see Raymond Baxter and James Burke talking in morse to each other)

[@graeme9184]

It's good to have you back in the shack Sandy. I have been licensed since 1992 & like you don't really use a microphone. In 2002 after an operation i hung up the mic & went exclusively cw but i am mainly a swl. I retired in February & have regenerated my interest in transmitting . Unfortunately I will have to be off air for 2 years because I want my old B class call back. OFCOM red tape...😤

[@sarto7bellys]

Graeme I got my B class in 1984 and never did much with it, lockdown has got me back into ham radio, doing some digging I found out that if you contact Ofcom and can provide details of your old call sign and proof you passed the exam they will issue you with a full license. I sent, (emailed), the application form together with a copy of an old licence dated 1991 and my CGLI pass cert, it took about 10 days, I believe that they may issue you with a current call sign but I wanted to keep my original one. My application was free although I think the cost is £20 for life 73's

[@graeme9184]

If you hold a class A license & want your old class B back (Now class A) OFCOM insists you take a 2 year break & apply as a returner before they will re-issue it, They insist you can't change an amateur callsign unless you upgrade your license class & both my calls are A class. My old call is very nice to send on the key & much much faster aswell. The old call has not been used for 27 years but OFCOM say my station must not have any callsign associated with it for a period of 2 years before they will allow me to have my old G7 back, This is because you are allegedly not allowed to hold more than 1 A class call. (FOI request says 731 do) It's an OFCOM policy & nothing to do with any International telecommunications union regulations. It's the way OFCOM interpreted regulations that cause this problem. Their is no way a callsign identifies me for interference purposes as my location is unknown, I can use my call on anybody's station that causes problems & not legally have to give my location. How can my station in Kidderminster cause tvi in Cornwall ? The way the policy works means OFCOMS interpretation says I can. Who is the station me or the amateur radio ? Answer me Who is the station me or the radio on my boat ? Answer my boat. If my boat sinks and i buy another, Do I have to wait 2 years before i can sail it, After all the call was associated with the boat. Answer no.... Not very consistent. RSGB license division were no help as they are fed up of fighting stupidity.

[@sarto7bellys]

@@graeme9184 Didn't know that, probably just as well I never took the A class exam then

[@graeme9184]

It only applies if you currently hold an active A class license. If i had let my A class license lapse or surrendered it, Then left a gap of 2 years I could have chosen which call I wanted to renew, My original VHF & up or my HF & up. Because I hold a full license I have to surrender it & leave a gap of 2 years so my G0*** call is no longer associated with my station. After 2 years I can apply for my original G7*** to be reissued to me. Being as you were returning to the hobby you could have had either your original call back or a brandnew shiny modern call by using your pass slip. Waiting for the radio club to reopen so I can go & do some legal operation. Would you believe I'm not allowed to sit a foundation exam so I can work QRP for the next 2 years, OFCOM informed me that even though I don't actually hold a valid license, I am technically a license holder until G0*** becomes obsolete in 2022 so they would not knowingly allow me to hold a lower class license. I did think of getting my old G7*** issued to my perents address & changing the details once I had it, But because I had asked about it the call is flagged not to be issued until 2022. I feel now that I should have just applied from the different address, I would probably have got it without all the hassle.

[@Ste197]

Do they all use English ?

[@graeme9184]

Not all morse code is in English but a simple contact is made with sentences written out by non English speaking stations. Morse code has no accent so unlike voice it doesn't sound like allo allo's officer Crabtree.

[@pitotopuk]

I D I O T A

[@WiltshireMan]

So kind of you to say :)