Elecraft KH1 + Speaker Wire = Pileup Insanity on Bakers Mountain

[@PY4FQ]

Congrats! FB operation! Those who start practicing CW gradually forget about the other modes, because CW is addictive. And it is also an excellent medicine for neurons. CW forever!

[@QuigleysBees]

I have been listening to your SOTA activations to learn what a typical exchange involves. My CW skills have improved but I'm still pretty clumsy. Your videos are helpful for me to understand the process you use. Watching you sort out a pile-up looks a little like magic to me but, with time I know that will become easier. New operators like me can learn so much once we get over the fear of making a mistake and just dive in there and get on the air.

[@rabbit6914]

Listening to the sequence, I think what Thomas is doing in a pileup is picking out a few letters from a call. Then he sends that part back followed by a question mark. The partially identified station comes back with the whole call, and most other stations do not respond (cw ops tend to be polite and disciplined :). Listen and see if that's what you hear.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Yes, most of the time I try not to concentrate on what I'm hearing. I just relax and allow my brain to find a pattern in the pileup, then I call back with a partial call. :) You'd be surprised how quickly you'll adapt to pileups!

[@skepticalmechanic]

Thank you!

[@ink3n]

Woah look at those colorful leaves, amazing nature!

[@olab.8570]

Think his call is N7CGD. Great activation.

[@HansVanIngelgom]

Just discovered your channel. I like that you don't edit your videos, it gives a relaxed vibe. Also, I am just learning CW and can't follow your QSOs. Then I remembered that KZbin allows you to change video playback speed. By setting it to 0.75x, it becomes much easier. Funny.

[@rabbit6914]

I didn't know that you could slow things down with KZbin. Thank you !

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Yes indeed! Some actually speed up the videos as well. I usually operate between 18-20WPM mainly because that's the average POTA/SOTa speed out there. GReat work on your CW journey! You've got this!

[@kendebusk2540]

I normally watch all (except music) at double speed but got thrown for a loop with CW videos. If someone sends at 20 wpm, I was hearing it at 40 and telling myself I should just stick to SSB. When I figured that out, it became MUCH simpler! de KA8VLW, Ken, Michigan

[@rabbit6914]

@@kendebusk2540 (smile)

[@EvanK2EJT]

Larry actually just made a small run of those keys recently. He emailed me and let me know there was one with my name on it if I wanted it. Needless to say I jumped on it and I'm glad I did. It's probably my favorite field CW key ever!

[@JayN4GO]

The audio is great on that little rig. Congratulations on the new toy!

[@ThomasK4SWL]

I've got to remember that new call of yours!

[@JayN4GO]

@@ThomasK4SWL yeah my cousin w4go wasn’t far behind. Somehow we are always next to each other in the pileup. Hehe

[@BobDarlington]

Thanks for the videos on the new Elecraft rig. It's not for me but it's fun to watch others play with it.

[@soundmpb]

Hi Thomas! Glad to finally catch you and get in your log. Bucket list accomplishment! 73 de Mark KM3P

[@robertallbright]

Thanks Thomas really enjoy your activations👍 73 Rob G3RCE

[@prtclmn001]

Wow, it's amazing how dfferent it sounds on your end. On my end, when I sent "N2ADV" it sounded fine but it sounded like hot garbage on the receive end with the dits and dahs being hard to distinguish using my straight key. Guess it's back to the drawing board on that one! Thanks for picking me up

[@ThomasK4SWL]

No worries. That could have just been a fluke. You might listen to your own signal via the WebSDR network to confirm.

[@grantmcduling9760]

Watching you with the fb little rig is becoming addictive, Thomas. Well done.

[@lovethevdub]

...meanwhile I'm in Washington state (W7W) doing a SOTA activation with my KH1 in heavy rain and wind =)

[@ThomasK4SWL]

WOO HOO! Hard-core PNW SOTA! :)

[@philippehaake6123]

Can you tell me about your knee table...73 qro HB9GUR

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Yes. It's this one: tufteln.com/products/knee-board-field-desk

[@GordLamb]

Loving these videos. I'm about a year into CW and this is all still too fast for me, but at least it's no longer just noise. I can reliably copy at around 8-10WPM actual (prefer 30WPM key speed), but struggle with a few characters that tend to trip me up. I'm getting there, though, and maybe one day I'll be a QSO on one of your vids. :)

[@ThomasK4SWL]

It would be an honor to work you! Don't worry--the more you CW, the better you'll become. Just relax and let your brain "do its thing"--you've got this!

[@marcinmichigan2772]

Is the sidetone freq adjustable on the KH-1 ? Or is it always set to sound like a mosquito ?

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Yes, you can adjust the frequency of the sidetone. Also, Elecraft is doing firmware work to improve the sidetone so I'm told.

[@KD2YDN]

Oh! Right before the impressive speaker wire pile up! Always nice to hear the other end. Thanks Thomas. 72! De KD2YDN

[@davidgoldblatt5899]

Where did you find that great knee board?

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Right here: tufteln.com/products/knee-board-field-desk

[@n1bsbri]

Why does this rig have a square wave sidetone? Sounds like a cheap code practice oscillator. --n1bs

[@ThomasK4SWL]

I’m under the impression Elecraft is working on the sidetone and can update it in firmware. Funny, but I really pay very little attention to sidetone characteristics as long as I can hear the sidetone. If I hear it, I’m good. The filter between my ears just accommodates it. This is why I rarely ever even change sidetone frequency on my radios and why they’re all different.

[@joeym6730]

I was wondering why it said Barley Mountain

[@pcfreak1992]

Well that's *Barely* a *Mountain* ;-) (16:50)

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Ha ha!

[@alainzen7262]

Je reconnais les qualités du KH1 et de l' opérateur mais ayant eu un KX1 et un KX2 ( que j' ai vite revendus : (surtout le KX2) depuis j' utilise un USDR+ (modèle coins rouges) très simple d' utilisation et ayant 8 gammes et aussi SSB pour 150 Dollars alors quoi penser de dépenser 1.400 Dollars pour avoir un très bon Tuner intégré.?? J' ai un ATU 15 qui fait l' affaire pour 110 Dollars Moi si je souhaiterai en avoir un mais ?? Je sais vous allez me dire c' est du Chinois donc Junk : eh bien non , j' en suis à mon 3ème Junk et ai fait de la bonne CW ...

[@ThomasK4SWL]

En fait, je ne considère aucune radio indésirable tant que je ne l'ai pas utilisée et comparée avec d'autres modèles. Je crois fermement au « chacun son goût ». Personnellement, j'adore les KX2 et KX1. Ce sont deux de mes radios préférées. Mais nous sommes tous différents et c’est très bien ! 72, Thomas

[@JonathanKayne]

I tried working you Pedestrain mobile (with my KX2) but unfortunately you were just above the noise and there was no way I was gonna be able to work you in those conditions. I actually have a Tufteln 28.5' speaker wire antenna built for when I get my KH1 in. I'll throw that in the bag along with a KM4CFT EFHW antenna.

[@davidg5308]

Is the tone/speaker of the KH1 electronic? The side tone really seems to mess with my hearing - maybe save me from a grand spent on a radio not needed...? Guess you could get used to it, but is it like going from analog to digital? Interesting...and quite the pileup.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

I think Elecraft is altering the sidetone.

[@owlcricker-k7ulm]

Wow, tough pileups. FB SOTA!

[@boots_n_coots]

I rather like the KH-1’s sidetone. It’s pleasant and has some real character!

[@ellisc.foleyjr9778]

Well it seems lately I just can't seem to catch you just right. when I do I can't hear you well enough to work you. yesterday I could hear you just barely well enough to work you but the QRM'rs were horrendous when they weren't there I cud hear you , but the minute I called they all came back and covered you up so I never knew when you would acknowledge me so gave up trying. the qrm was just too heavy. so lets hope the next time will be better. Today you were on also but I could not hear you at all on 15m. but we'll keep hunting. 72 Tom de Ellis WA1RKS

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Hey! I know we're going to log each other soon, OM!

[@Zach-K7FC]

Rather than changing the settings to reverse the key, couldn’t you have just held that one upside down? It looks like it would be the same in your hand upside down.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

When upside down, it's truly between the two knobs on the bottom of the radio, so not easy to operate. That is the "travel" position of the KH1 CW paddle.

[@Zach-K7FC]

I meant the external paddle. You said when you plug in the external paddle you have to go into the settings to reverse the polarity for dits and dahs, but that paddle looked like it would be the same if rotated 180° so the bottom faces up to the sky and the paddle would be reversed. It was just an idea while watching. @@ThomasK4SWL

[@ThomasK4SWL]

@@Zach-K7FC Oh! Yes, I see. Of course you could do that. :) I was thinking of the attachable paddles.

[@ToumalRakesh]

I just can't get over the price of this device. Over 500 bucks... and I'm also not a big fan of the transmit tone.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Keep in mind that this rig is designed and manufactured in the USA. That comes with a price as US wages are paid and benefits as well.