[ADXA] I made it, I made it!!

Fri Aug 29 18:55:12 EDT 2025

I got a Vibroplex bug when I got my General ticket.  I still have it.   I
also have W5HTY’s bug, which I think is a Zephyr.

My  bug story has to do with mobile operation.  I drove a 1992 Ford Ranger
truck to work and for work-related trips during the day.  I had a Kenwood
TS-120 in it, which doesn’t have a built-in keyer.  I used a bug while
driving, and  observed that dits speeded up or slowed down, depending on
which way I was turning.  Also, the truck had a 5-speed stick, so shifting
was “interesting”.

People talk about cell phones being distracting.  I could show them what
distracting really is!

73,
Dennis/RZ

On Fri, Aug 29, 2025 at 5:25 PM <w5znjoel at gmail.com> wrote:

> I only weight it down for Novice Rig Roundup. No one sends fast during
> that event and I mostly use the straight key, but on occasion I can’t
> resist using the bug. Beyond that, I take that big weight off and the other
> weights on the near end to “speed it up” but I only use that with a code
> oscillator to impress myself with my “bug fist !!  No one else would be!!!
> 😊
>
>
>
> I had been checking into OZK with my straight key. When I got the bug I
> couldn’t resist firing it up. It probably sounded like the Lake Erie Swing
> with an extra “dit” or two (maybe 3 ??) when I sent a “5” 😊
>
>
>
> 73 Joel W5ZN
>
>
>
> *From:* Jay Bromley <jayw5jay at outlook.com>
> *Sent:* Friday, August 29, 2025 4:50 PM
> *To:* w5znjoel at gmail.com; 'Stan Ross' <k5vr.stan at gmail.com>; k5ur at aol.com;
> 'ADXA Reflector' <adxa at mailman.qth.net>
> *Subject:* Re: [ADXA] I made it, I made it!!
>
>
>
> Wow Joel that is a lot of weight on your bug!  I've seen some of the guys
> in Fort Smith use a Silver Dollar for extra weight.  That gives it a little
> bit of extra class and caused one school group of kids to ask a bunch of
> questions about why it was there.  Neat!
>
>
>
> My only bug was one I got from Chuck Adams (K7QO at the time)  and he
> asked for it back a few years ago.  I got him fixed up.  I could help to
> chuckle at this request, because Chuck use to say "All Bugs Should Be
> Stomped On!"  Grin.
>
>
>
> I never was good enough to learned Bug Talk or Bug Speak!  🙂  73 de
> w5jay/jay..
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> *From:* adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net <adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net> on
> behalf of w5znjoel at gmail.com <w5znjoel at gmail.com>
> *Sent:* Friday, August 29, 2025 9:59 AM
> *To:* 'Stan Ross' <k5vr.stan at gmail.com>; k5ur at aol.com <k5ur at aol.com>;
> 'ADXA Reflector' <adxa at mailman.qth.net>
> *Subject:* Re: [ADXA] I made it, I made it!!
>
>
>
> Stan,
>
>
>
> Interesting you should mention Tracy. You recall he had several bugs (and
> three stations 1 in the attic, 1 in the basement, and his main one in the
> “house”) and one of his favorites was the “Blue Racer”. I was salivating
> over it one day during a visit and he gave it to me. It is still
> prominently displayed on the “vintage” desk. You probably saw it when you
> were here. See photo.
>
>
>
> 73 Joel W5ZN
>
>
>
> p.s. you’ll also notice I have it “weighted” down for slower speed. Last
> time I used it was in the Novice Rig Roundup this year and we take it
> “slow” for those contacts!
>
>
>
> *From:* adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net <adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net> *On
> Behalf Of *Stan Ross
> *Sent:* Friday, August 29, 2025 8:31 AM
> *To:* k5ur at aol.com
> *Cc:* adxa <adxa at mailman.qth.net>; adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> *Subject:* Re: [ADXA] I made it, I made it!!
>
>
>
> Hey Rick,
>
>
>
> Do you remember Kermit Tracy, W5AY from Little Rock? I remember his bug
> sending on the Army MARS CW nets back in the early 70s. Exactly as you
> described.
>
>
>
>  My parents took me by his house on one of my trips to the old Little Rock
> post office where the FCC exams were being given, probably in 73 or so. He
> would always check in on the MARS CW nets with his bug when I was net
> control, made for interesting copy!
>
>
>
> 73,
>
>
>
> Stan K5VR.
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>
>
> On Aug 28, 2025, at 10:27 PM, k5ur--- via ADXA <*adxa at mailman.qth.net
> <adxa at mailman.qth.net>*> wrote:
>
> 
>
>
>
> *"Lake Erie Swing"*
>
>
>
> Yep, sending very fast dits compared to the dahs.
>
>
>
> CO2BB use to have a fist similar to that.
>
>
>
> 73,
>
> K5UR
>
>
>
>
>
> On Thursday, August 28, 2025 at 10:13:41 PM CDT, EJ Jones <*k5ej at outlook.com
> <k5ej at outlook.com>*> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> "some who thought they were “proficient” at using a Bug !"
>
>
>
> Anyone remember the "Lake Erie Swing"? No it's not a song but keying style
> popular with the bug crowd
>
>
>
> EJ
> ------------------------------
>
> *From:* *adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net <adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net>* <*adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> <adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net>*> on behalf of Bill Priakos via ADXA <*adxa at mailman.qth.net
> <adxa at mailman.qth.net>*>
> *Sent:* Thursday, August 28, 2025 10:45 AM
> *To:* *w5znjoel at gmail.com <w5znjoel at gmail.com>* <*w5znjoel at gmail.com
> <w5znjoel at gmail.com>*>; 'Jon W. Reynolds' <*KI5UCZ at jonwreynolds.com
> <KI5UCZ at jonwreynolds.com>*>
> *Cc:* 'ADXA Reflector' <*adxa at mailman.qth.net <adxa at mailman.qth.net>*>
> *Subject:* Re: [ADXA] I made it, I made it!!
>
>
>
> Well said, Joel….excellent assessment of our CW skills in the VERY old
> days 😊
>
>
>
> *Bill Priakos - W5SJ*
>
> *10 Free Ferry Heights
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/10+Free+Ferry+Heights+Fort+Smith,+AR+72903?entry=gmail&source=g>*
>
> *Fort Smith, AR 72903
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/10+Free+Ferry+Heights+Fort+Smith,+AR+72903?entry=gmail&source=g>*
>
> *479.461.8368*
>
>
>
> <image001.jpg>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* *adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net <adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net>* <*adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> <adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net>*> *On Behalf Of **w5znjoel at gmail.com
> <w5znjoel at gmail.com>*
> *Sent:* Wednesday, August 27, 2025 7:37 PM
> *To:* 'Jon W. Reynolds' <*KI5UCZ at jonwreynolds.com
> <KI5UCZ at jonwreynolds.com>*>
> *Cc:* 'ADXA Reflector' <*adxa at mailman.qth.net <adxa at mailman.qth.net>*>
> *Subject:* Re: [ADXA] I made it, I made it!!
>
>
>
> Jon,
>
>
>
> Way back when 😊 a lot of us old dogs got our licenses back in the 60’s
> up until about 1973 (and some in the 50’s when the Novice license became
> available in 1951) we were proud to have mastered 5 WPM to pass the CW exam
> and get our Novice license. Back then you had to pass the Morse exam or you
> never got a shot at the written exam, and if you passed the Morse exam but
> failed the written you had to take the Morse exam all over the next time
> you tried the written!
>
>
>
> I doubt any of us old dogs, if we’re truthful and will admit it, had
> achieved “perfect” send and receive when we got on the air. Listening on
> the air during that time proved it because there were some really bad
> fists, especially some who thought they were “proficient” at using a Bug !
>
>
>
> My point is, regardless of our CW prowess today we NEVER had “perfect”
> send and receive when we got our Novice licenses and got on the air. It was
> that on-the-air experience (us Novice dudes could only use CW back then)
> that allowed us to master the skill of copying Morse at elevated speeds.
>
>
>
> You’re on the right track. Keep it up OM!
>
>
>
> 73 Joel W5ZN
>
>
>
> *From:* *adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net <adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net>* <*adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> <adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net>*> *On Behalf Of *Jon W. Reynolds via ADXA
> *Sent:* Tuesday, August 26, 2025 4:37 PM
> *Cc:* ADXA Reflector <*adxa at mailman.qth.net <adxa at mailman.qth.net>*>
> *Subject:* Re: [ADXA] I made it, I made it!!
>
>
>
> Thanks everyone for the encouragement! It's been a process, and it's not
> where I'd like to be on my recognition,  but from what I'm understanding
> and thinking, if I waited until my send and receive is perfect, I'll would
> never have gotten on the air.
>
>
>
> I'm currently 4/50 on WAS and 2/100 to dxcc on LOTW. Cue our fearless
> leader's favorite saying!!!
>
>
>
> 73s
>
> Jon
>
> KI5UCZ
>
>
>
>
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> On Tuesday, 08/26/25 at 15:56 Dennis Schaefer <*dennisw5rz at gmail.com
> <dennisw5rz at gmail.com>*> wrote:
>
> Congratulations, Jon!  Even those of us who have been doing CW for a long
> time remember the excitement and trepidation of those first contacts!  It’s
> kind of a big deal.
>
>
>
> 73,
>
> Dennis/RZ
>
>
>
> On Mon, Aug 25, 2025 at 7:44 AM Jon W. Reynolds via ADXA <*adxa at mailman.qth.net
> <adxa at mailman.qth.net>*> wrote:
>
> Just thought I'd let everyone know, after about 7 months give or take of
> study,  last night I made my first and second cw contact. I was so excited
> I emailed the station for qsl confirmation because things were happening
> fast for me with the keyer and speaker. Got a return email confirmation
> KH6LC is in the log book,  8/25/25 02:47utc 14.028, 20wpm 50W out to my
> home made vertical antenna!
>
>
>
> 73s
>
> KI5UCZ
>
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