Morning Morse Code - 11/27/2024

[@hunt555fish]

Thanks for the reply Aaron.Great job on your videos.

[@thequarantinecatholic]

You and Thomas and Forrest are so much fun to watch. I love that key really want one! I was at his website yesterday checking out his keys!

[@w4arb]

It’s my favorite portable key now. Thanks for watching & 73!

[@Paul_KE9BHN]

Great video Aaron, CW POTA is awesome. 73 Paul KE9BHN

[@w4arb]

Thanks Paul. Yes it is! 73 my friend

[@dovetomarc]

Thanks again Aaron. When you find another backpack for the Alex Loop please let us know. tnx es 72

[@w4arb]

Sure will! I have one from 5.11 Tactical on the way right now that should fit it, if the measurements on their website is accurate. I’ll certainly share if it works out.

[@dovetomarc]

@ Thanks. Much appreciated. 73

[@G0ogs]

A morse key a pencil and a piece of paper, thats all you need.

[@w4arb]

Agreed!

[@randallbargar348]

Looks like we have the same style coffee cup! Always enjoy the videos de N2VQd. 73s!

[@w4arb]

It’s a great cup, been using it for a decade now! Thanks for watching & 73

[@miketaylor6700]

The S meter on my Yaesu is very stingy. It shows a 5 or 6 when it’s a 9. And it shows a 2 or 3 when it’s a 5 or 6.. so I always have to add a couple. :). My SDRuno is spot on.

[@w4arb]

I think (you’d have to check me on this) that Yaesu’s S-meters are only accurate when the preamp is on (AKA “IPO” is turned off). Which sucks because a lot of times, the preamp needs to be off or the noise floor is too high. But either way, agreed S-meters and how readable someone is are often quite different. 73

[@dovetomarc]

Aaron, Tnx fer another great video. I can’t believe how fast you tune up that loop. What’s your secret? 😊

[@w4arb]

Hah! The Alex Loop has really nice reduction gearing. I give all credit to Alex’s design 😅

[@hoselrocket5429]

Subscribed. I bought an ic-705 as my first (and only) transceiver with the thought the idea that i would go portable (POTA). Im coming up on my one year ham-versary. I never ended up going portable and stayed at home keeping busy with SKCC stuff. Just got a buddihex a minth ago and took it down due to the harsh buffalo ny winters. Currently i have a zs6bkw up 50' and a 10m dipole because the zs6 not so good on upper bands. I considered a magnetic loop (the chameleon one) to get me through the winter. What do you use at home? How does the alex loop compare? Thanks, i enjoyed watching your video relaxing with my pipe and manhattan, wood stove in garage.

[@w4arb]

Pipe and manhattan with a wood stove in a garage sounds like a great relaxing time. Very nice on the 705, if I had to choose just one radio to own, it would definitely be the 705. Mag loops my favorite portable antenna. At home I use a Hustler 4BTV for 40-20-15-10 and a 60 something foot random wire for the WARC bands. The alex loop when set up outside, I’d say the bigger antenna will beat it on 40 by a lot, a little on 30. On 20-10, a 3’ diameter magloop really isn’t much of a compromise. It’s pretty darn efficient. Also the noise floor on them is nearly non existent so weak signals just pop out of no where. It’ll work indoors too, and you’ll make contacts, but certainly better set up outside. The tradeoff with a mag loop is you do have to retune them when moving even a few khz. But once you get used to it, it’s a piece of cake. If you look up VK5KLT’s write ups on mag loops, they’re very enlightening. Long answer but hope that helps. 73.

[@hoselrocket5429]

@w4arb awesome info thanks much.

[@K4FR_Radio]

2nd in the line up! Thanks, Aaron. 73 de K4FR

[@w4arb]

Heck yeah! Always good to get you in the log

[@johnscarfone]

First one on 20m 🙂, thanks Aaron.

[@w4arb]

Thank you for the contact!

[@dongelinas5990]

Hello Aaron. Could you tell us in another video, the format that you use in your transmissions for POTA?

[@w4arb]

I like this idea! I’ll try to do that. Thanks!

[@hunt555fish]

Does the tripod come with the Alex Loop?

[@w4arb]

It doesn’t, but it’s cheap. It’s a Vivitar VPT-1250. It’s discontinued but still easy to find for +/- $15 online. The camera mount comes off, and the alex loop slides over the post perfectly.

[@brianve7jyd943]

Thanks aaron fer sharin - 73 dit dit ps G106?? lol

[@w4arb]

Tnx for watching my friend! 73

[@leericelli_w8rnb202]

Aaron: You may want to mention to CW operators who are hoping to activate POTA parks to pay attention to the pattern that is used in every contact exchange. I think if they recognize that, it will make it less intimidating for them to venture out the first few times. Lee

[@w4arb]

That is a great idea, thank you!