[ADXA] I made it, I made it!!
Don Banta
k5db at outlook.com
Fri Aug 29 20:59:59 EDT 2025
You’ve got that right, EJ.
I have to pull off the road to honk…………….
Don – K5DB
From: adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net <adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On Behalf Of EJ Jones
Sent: Friday, August 29, 2025 7:57 PM
To: Pat Patterson <patw5vy at gmail.com>; Dennis Schaefer <dennisw5rz at gmail.com>; w5znjoel at gmail.com
Cc: ADXA Reflector <adxa at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [ADXA] I made it, I made it!!
Wow! Driving a stick shift and sending morse with a bug. Now that’s multitasking!
EJ
Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef>
________________________________
From: adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net<mailto:adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net> <adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net<mailto:adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net>> on behalf of Pat Patterson <patw5vy at gmail.com<mailto:patw5vy at gmail.com>>
Sent: Friday, August 29, 2025 7:49:19 PM
To: Dennis Schaefer <dennisw5rz at gmail.com<mailto:dennisw5rz at gmail.com>>; w5znjoel at gmail.com<mailto:w5znjoel at gmail.com> <w5znjoel at gmail.com<mailto:w5znjoel at gmail.com>>
Cc: ADXA Reflector <adxa at mailman.qth.net<mailto:adxa at mailman.qth.net>>
Subject: Re: [ADXA] I made it, I made it!!
Dennis, I'm going to be thinking about you driving your 5-speed truck while cranking out ditties with your bug! Wish you had a video!
My parents gave me a Vibroplex Original for my 16th B-Day. I'm positive I had a great bug fist!
One of my favorite bug memories is Ralph, W5NND, on OZK. As NCS I would call Ralph with "NND". He would respond with a long string of dots ending with a long dash "R". Even when we all knew it was coming it still made you smile when he did it.
Jim, WA5BRB, did a group buy of some early Fairchild RTL (Resistor Transistor Logic) ICs in 66-67. The ICs had two NAND gates. With several ICs and additional parts you could create a Keyer with dot memory. I think it was an adaptation of the Halicrafter TO keyer. Several W5YM ops built the keyer on vector board. I converted my bug to a single lever keyer paddle to use with it. I still have the keyer and it still works.
Fun times.
73,
Pat, W5VY
________________________________
From: adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net<mailto:adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net> <adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net<mailto:adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net>> on behalf of Dennis Schaefer <dennisw5rz at gmail.com<mailto:dennisw5rz at gmail.com>>
Sent: Friday, August 29, 2025 5:55:12 PM
To: w5znjoel at gmail.com<mailto:w5znjoel at gmail.com> <w5znjoel at gmail.com<mailto:w5znjoel at gmail.com>>
Cc: ADXA Reflector <adxa at mailman.qth.net<mailto:adxa at mailman.qth.net>>
Subject: Re: [ADXA] I made it, I made it!!
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<mailto: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<mailto:jayw5jay at outlook.com>>
Sent: Friday, August 29, 2025 4:50 PM
To: w5znjoel at gmail.com<mailto:w5znjoel at gmail.com>; 'Stan Ross' <k5vr.stan at gmail.com<mailto:k5vr.stan at gmail.com>>; k5ur at aol.com<mailto:k5ur at aol.com>; 'ADXA Reflector' <adxa at mailman.qth.net<mailto: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<mailto:adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net> <adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net<mailto:adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net>> on behalf of w5znjoel at gmail.com<mailto:w5znjoel at gmail.com> <w5znjoel at gmail.com<mailto:w5znjoel at gmail.com>>
Sent: Friday, August 29, 2025 9:59 AM
To: 'Stan Ross' <k5vr.stan at gmail.com<mailto:k5vr.stan at gmail.com>>; k5ur at aol.com<mailto:k5ur at aol.com> <k5ur at aol.com<mailto:k5ur at aol.com>>; 'ADXA Reflector' <adxa at mailman.qth.net<mailto: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<mailto:adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net> <adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net<mailto:adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net>> On Behalf Of Stan Ross
Sent: Friday, August 29, 2025 8:31 AM
To: k5ur at aol.com<mailto:k5ur at aol.com>
Cc: adxa <adxa at mailman.qth.net<mailto:adxa at mailman.qth.net>>; adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net<mailto: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<mailto: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<mailto: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<mailto:adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net> <adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net<mailto:adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net>> on behalf of Bill Priakos via ADXA <adxa at mailman.qth.net<mailto:adxa at mailman.qth.net>>
Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2025 10:45 AM
To: w5znjoel at gmail.com<mailto:w5znjoel at gmail.com> <w5znjoel at gmail.com<mailto:w5znjoel at gmail.com>>; 'Jon W. Reynolds' <KI5UCZ at jonwreynolds.com<mailto:KI5UCZ at jonwreynolds.com>>
Cc: 'ADXA Reflector' <adxa at mailman.qth.net<mailto: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<mailto:adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net> <adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net<mailto:adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net>> On Behalf Of w5znjoel at gmail.com<mailto:w5znjoel at gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2025 7:37 PM
To: 'Jon W. Reynolds' <KI5UCZ at jonwreynolds.com<mailto:KI5UCZ at jonwreynolds.com>>
Cc: 'ADXA Reflector' <adxa at mailman.qth.net<mailto: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<mailto:adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net> <adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net<mailto: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<mailto: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<mailto: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<mailto: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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