SKCC Bug QSOs for the POTA Babe at 16-17 wpm on 9-25-24

[@JimGreenwood-d2z]

Thanks for the FB "bug-to-bug" QSO ! I earned TKA No.65 in 2020. FB on using head copying during our chat. Wishing you the best towards all your goals. First time I actually could see the "effect" of my CW at the other end. Hi Hi 73 , Jim W1WIU SKCC 486S

[@potababe]

Jim, happy to let you see the other end of our QSO. I hope to join you in the TKA ranks in the near future, though I have a way to go for my bug fist.

[@Ei2iP]

Well done on persevering, I see the frustration in your face, but you are doing a fantastic job, keep the videos coming , I've subscribed de Ei2iP, Robbie

[@potababe]

Robbie, thank you for the compliment and encouragement. I have another bug video I hope to post in the near future so you can look forward to that!

[@ParallelVth]

My KZbin was on auto play in the background when I heard my own callsign! Thanks for the FB QSO Teri and good luck on TKA.

[@potababe]

You are most welcome. I appreciate the postive sentiment regarding the TKA which I hope to finish before the end of the year. Hope to see you on the air again!

[@brianfields4479]

Thanks for sharing. Never really liked bugs myself, I use a no parts electronic paddle from 9a5n, best key I've ever found. Dots and dashes should have a musical sound to it, not dots and dashes, but the most important thing is the spacing. Good luck.

[@potababe]

Yes, Brian. Spacing is most important! I think bugs are an acquired taste. It is wonderful in this hobby that we have four different keys from which to choose and can stick with our favorite if we want! Thanks for your comment.

[@fitcher-armchair-sleuth]

GL from eastern Canada and Congrats to you!

[@jacksaudades5387]

Beautiful vídeo 👏👍

[@potababe]

Thank you for the compliment, Jack.

[@jonizornes5286]

Your fist is easy copy, not because you have quite mastered the smooth rhythm of sending on a bug, but most importantly, you "enunciate" each letter very clearly, with good spacing. Smooth, comfortable rhythm only comes with many, many hours of operation on a bug. You certainly have made up for that with your clear, completely understandable, letter sending, which is what makes your fist easy copy. Well done. AA4WA

[@potababe]

Thank you for your comment, Joni. As I am a new bug user, I know I have many hours ahead of me, as you mentioned, before my fist sounds smooth. I appreciate your compliment regarding my characters. I figure this is much like learning to play a piece of music - you learn the notes and rhythm slowly, gradually pick up speed, and then add the nuances of the emotion behind the music. It is important to me to be copyable on the other end which is why I put the spacing I do in my QSOs. By the way, I checked out your QRZ page - impressive indeed. You are correct that most casual QSOs (ragchews) are on the slower side. Accuracy/communication trumps speed any day. Besides, who has a verbal conversation in high speed mode? Maybe I'll have the pleasure of a CW QSO with you on the air one day.

[@jimisan1911]

TKA is a goal of mine too. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@potababe]

You are welcome, JD. When I started in the hobby, I never thought I would try to learn all four keys. In fact, the straight key seemed a handful at first. My eventual goal is to be able to switch amongst them in the same QSO. However, I am a LONG way from being able to do that. Best wishes on your Triple Key pursuit!

[@germanx5616]

Immer wieder interessant deine Videos.

[@potababe]

Danke für das Kompliment, German.

[@smoejith9283]

Nice CW and nice bug! I recently was given an old worn out vibroplex by a long time ham friend and it seems to work great on my Yaesu FT-1000mp. I was surprised to be able to send fairly well with it after not using a bug for ages..

[@potababe]

Thank you for the compliment. I am very happy with the particular bug I have. Glad to hear the Vibroplex given to you worked well.

[@U812-k7j]

Your getting there! Dot dash ratio isn't perfect yet seems the dot length is a little short causing your dash side to be short as well. Bugs are fun to use they just take time to master to send nice sounding CW. Practice practice practice........

[@potababe]

I am not so much interested in perfection as I am interested in being copyable. You are correct that my sending will improve with more off- and on-the-air practice. I look forward to more time with the bug in the months ahead. Thank you for the encourgement, John.

[@williamcarter_CPA_CGMA]

Impressive! I just love the sound of a bug. FYI, I am in a HOA. Wire out back window to a tree. They only look at the front of the house and I am sure a Town House would really be challenging. Nice bug fist. 73 Bill KG4FXG SKCC 5996C.

[@potababe]

Thank you for the compliment, Bill. Well, I've certainly thought of how I could get away with a wire, there are no trees immediately adjacent to my townhouse. HOAs are easier, I think, as I was formely in one and no one saw or minded my antennas there. There I backed up to tidal salt marsh where no one boated or swam.

[@PY4FQ]

Nice video! Congrats! Keep practicing! Practice makes perfect. Soon you will be receiving and transmitting at 25 WPM and even higher. 73 de PT9DX also PY4FQ

[@potababe]

Thank you for the compliment, Mario. I'd like to be comfortable at 20 and 25 wpm and maybe higher one day. I have to get 20 wpm down first. One step at a time, right? I appreciate the encouragement.

[@ditditdog]

FB FB and a Frattini, bellissimo. Viva CW.

[@SteveWarner-e8z]

Great video Terri. I work SKCC everyday and really enjoy my bugs. I’ll check my logs to see if we have worked 73 de WA9SWW 19846S

[@danielcialdella]

Thanks for the data. Great video

[@potababe]

Thank you for the compliment, Daniel.

[@danielcialdella]

@@potababe thanks you for the video.

[@QRPCW]

El sonido del Bug es muy bonito y muy “personal” 👏🏻 73/72

[@potababe]

Gracias por el cumplido!

[@smiffykuk]

Once you have the control of the radios working perhaps you could research the Hotline units. Two of these set to the same code will transmit your fist over the net with local sidetone. They can also be used on Vband.. very reasonably priced with good support. Some folk sound terrible but your sending is very nice. I normally use an Eddystone S689 at around 18-20 wpm.. 88

[@potababe]

Thanks for your comment, Martin. Though I appreciate you mentioning the hotline units, I won't be using them. I only use the internet for connecting to my rig. I don't use vband, the Morserino, or hotline because they aren't actually on the air. Those methods do not give me experience with QRN, QRM, and QSB nor do they help me learn about propagation at my home QTH. If I am going to use my key and have a QSO with someone, I will be on the air either physically at my shack or at my townhouse via the RRC to my rig. As for your Eddystone S689, I didn't know such a bug existed so thank you for teaching me something new. Apparently they are rare - only 350 were made. I hope you enjoy using yours. I appreciate your compliment re: my sending which I hope will continue to improve. There is always something to learn with ham radio!

[@smiffykuk]

@@potababe HI Teri, the hotline units are only to connect to your rig at each end, as well as your normal Internet rig control, so you are still using the radio, just keying it it with local sidetone at the remote end. At the home end the hotline unit keys the rig..not easy to explain… So basically you remote your units as usual and just use two hotline talking to each other to key each radio.. I agree on Vband… i do use the units directly one to another when a friend is on holiday..but agree that my preference is radio. Yes the eddystone is quite rare, mine now fully restored..hope to work that good fost of yours sometime.. nice to see someone striving to improve all the time..☺️

[@SeanWalberg]

I hope you do a video about your eventual remoting solution. I upgraded to a K3 a few months ago and am absolutely loving it. It's been in the back of my mind to set up remoting either for when I travel or to get the rig off my desk. 73 de N3RTW

[@potababe]

Sean, I am not sure if I'll do a video re: the remote station or not. I am grateful for the Yaesu 891 I used for several years as it served me well. However, as you said, I am also loving using the K3 now at Glenn's and my station. Elecraft equipment is elegant, indeed, and wonderful to use. (I think I am getting spoiled.) As for remoting, that endeavor is not for the faint of heart if you are using CW, especially if you want your fist instead of computer code to be transmitted. It is much easier to leave the rig on your desk if you can.

[@WD0OMHamRadio]

I agree with you and your partner -- I'm just getting started CW, but I already understand the importance of the fist, and how it can be identifiable, especially when using mechanical keys. I wouldn't want a computer messing with my diction while I was talking[*], so why would I want it messing with my fist? Worth a bit of rigamarole, I think. [[ [*] Note that I do not say that nobody would, only that I wouldn't. A computer that could reliably help someone with speech disabilities speak more clearly would clearly be of value. ]]

[@potababe]

Yes, Mikey, everyone has their individual fist and what a shame to lose that individuality. I've enjoyed the journey of learning to use all three mechanical keys and the paddle. I hope in the next year or two to be able to move amongst them seamlessly - won't that be a feat?! Kudos to you for getting started with CW. It is a journey that takes dedication, training, and practice but is well worth it!

[@timg5tm941]

Good going! Hope all is safe there post hurricane

[@potababe]

All is safe here post hurricane. In fact, I just received a text this morning that the electricity has been restored to my home! We fared well compared to those in North Carolina and Florida. Thank you for the compliment and well wishes, Tim.

[@timg5tm941]

@@potababe Great to hear! 73

[@Tom-W7TMD]

Adapt over come and concur! Well done FB shack and QSO's Looks like its all working great the K3 is awesome! Thanks for sharing and keep up the good work! skcc #6461 "73" ..

[@potababe]

Yes, I really enjoy using the K3. Just like with the KX2, the filters are awesome and make a difference in challenging conditions. I appreciate the compliment re: the QSOs. I've recorded more with bug but at 20 wpm. My fist is gradually improving with a long way yet to go. But this POTA Babe is not going to give up! Thanks for your comment, Tom.

[@mikesmith-po8nd]

I'm curious why you are not using full break-in? There's nothing to lose and it will make it easier for someone to interrupt, if need be. Also, you might try moving the key a few inches further away and then resting your forearm on the table rather than the ball of your hand. That will take the pressure off of your hand and will allow easier motion (and keying).

[@potababe]

Mike, I haven't had a problem with hearing someone breaking in if they need to. But I will consider what you've said. I'll also consider what you said about arm placement. My partner is working on a remote option so I hope to be able to operate from my home using my desk in the future where I'll have more room and flexibility. Right now, I am just making do with the situation I have. Thanks for your comments!

[@Steven-u5w]

Wow! Nice one and nice to see a female using a bug key I've never used a bug before have you? Was the street key and pedals at the moment to have a palm paddle to hand? No antennas up at my qth Which I rent I'm in the bungalow. Very small garden thanks very much for the video. Hopefully I'll check for more in the future 73s all DE G0HDA

[@potababe]

Steve, I have used a bug prior to my Frattini but I didn't use it much because it was a Vibroplex Lightning from 1930. I also had other things on my "to do" list that took priority. When I used the Lightning (nicknamed "the dragon"), I ran it quite slow - 12 wpm I think. So using the Frattini bug at 16-17 wpm and now at 20 wpm is a new endeavor for me. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@bobkopf227]

Good evening, I also live in a townhouse and in an HOA who have told me that I can’t have an antenna but the rebel in me is telling me otherwise 😊

[@GamingKing545]

a efhw is nearly invisible if you use black wire

[@zoran9a3hpdiy]

Nice to see when somone use bug. OK sometime confuse me to long pause between dots , dots and dash, and dash. But any way its ok. 73 de 9a3hp SKCC6092

[@potababe]

Thanks for your comment Zoran.

[@billcosgrave6232]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@EI6DP]

Nice FIST for a newbi on a bug key. 73

[@potababe]

Thank you for the compliment, Gerald.

[@N2AKJ]

Hope all is well terry and that you and your family are safe great video and I just liked and subscribed I just started a channel and got alot of work to do to get my subs numbers up any be safe and 73's De n2akj ..

[@potababe]

Hey Drew! Thanks for subscribing and the compliment. We are safe despite the bad weather from Hurricane Helene. I hope you are well!

[@GAParksandPropagation]

I hope you made it through ok ae4xo

[@potababe]

@@GAParksandPropagation I did. Much of Savannah is without electricity including myself. Thursday evening my son and I slept in the closet under the stairs due to the tornado warnings. However, what we experienced is nothing compared to Florida and North Carolina. Thank you for the comment and well wishes.

[@Paul_KE9BHN]

Very enjoyable, glad you all are safe. 73 KE9BHN

[@potababe]

@@Paul_KE9BHN Thank you, Paul!

[@sleeve8651]

I typically hate listening to someone on a Bug ! As most think they sound good, but they sound horrible ! I doubt I have to convince any op's of that ! Sorry but I couldn't stay through the whole thing ! Maybe you increased your speed, but it sounded much slower than 16 or 17 wpm . Perhaps I'll hear you on the air sometime ? Good Luck and good DX ! 👍😉

[@potababe]

No one enjoys the sound of a bad/unproportional bug fist which is why I am working to not have one. No problem with not watching the entire video. That is why I put chapter notations so one can watch what they find interesting. I used Word List Trainer, an online trainer, to determine the speed and the dits with a weight at the end of my pendulum appear to be 16-17 wpm. But I'll check again just to make sure. I hope to be on the air via my shack more often over the next months so if you are an SKCC member, look for me on their sked page for my bug QSOs. When I am calling CQ, I usually post there. And, of course, when I POTA, I will post an activation notifcation the evening prior.

[@potababe]

One more note - my speed may sound slower than 16-17 wpm because of the Farnsworth I use. The character speed is definitely 16-17 wpm. However, I often use Farnsworth because it is easier for the other op to copy. What is important to me is to send good, clean code to facilitate communication.

[@sleeve8651]

@@potababe You do you ! Mine was simply an opinion, and you know what that is like ! Not meant as a personal affront ! I applaud you, for using the Code ! So many people I think are slackers, and just plain lazy ! Have all kinds of excuses, most having no validity ! Believe me, I've heard them all ! My rebuttal has always been, " If I can do it, anyone can " ! Not taking anything away from those that believe people that are musically inclined, my have an edge ? As to Morse codes rhythmic musical structure. So relax, and more importantly have fun ! Don't be too hard on yourself ! And I don't know if you have ever heard this, but sometimes it is very helpful to get away from the Code for a short time, and the next time you pick up where you left off, you will be surprised at what you have learned, and likely what's in your subconscious ! As I like a challenge, you have me thinking about getting a Bug......! 👍😉

[@willian.direction6740]

Hello Teri nice to meet you on YT. I am into SKCC sometimes, have a couple Vibroplex bugs and Spot on the sked page sometimes. Regards from 18281 Ian vk5cz ..

[@potababe]

Nice to meet another SKCC op. Maybe we'll meet on the sked page sometime and have a QSO. I don't hear VK stations very often though with my wire antenna. But one can hope, right? Keep having fun with CW, Ian!

[@trimthicket]

Marry me?

[@potababe]

Sorry, but this POTA Babe is taken.

[@chuckrann6282]

Love CW so will look for your CQ. Best - N4SHO ps … Crab Shack seafood at Tybee. Tubby’s at Thunderbolt too. Yum.

[@potababe]

Thanks for the well wishes, Chuck. Hope to see you on the air.