[Boatanchors] several shack set up questions...

[Eugene Hertz]

Hello all,

I am sloooowly working on getting my very first shack set up in a spare bedroom.  I had a few questions for you seasoned hams...

1. Multiple receivers and antenna switchover relays.  I have only one transmitter (at least for now!) a CE 100V. But I have multiple receivers (sp600, harris rf-590, and recently a vhf/uhf submarine thingy "R-1524(P)/WRR" ). I would imagine that it is not uncommon to have more than one receiver on at a given time. How does one make sure that you dont blow up your receivers when you key? If I only had one receiver, the switchover relay (TR relay-yes I know thats an inaccurate term) would prevent the receiver from blowing up. My TR relay has an extra set of contacts to mute the receiver.  But with multiple receivers, what do you gents do? Do you have your Tx attached to several TR relays? In that way if you key the Tx you would disconnect the antenna to all receivers? 

I would imagine this problem gets more complex if I had more than one transmitter and/or more than one antenna. How do you fellows handle all this?

2. Connectors in the shack. I find my equipment all has different connectors, some have bnc, UHF (PL-259?) and also "N". I was wondering if people a) standardize - for example using adapters all to "N" connectors (bnc to n adapter, uhf to n adapter, etc). In that way, all cables are N to N cables? Or b) do people make up custom cables such as "N" to "BNC". or c) something else?

3. Maps in a shack? I often see world maps in photos of shacks.  I was wondering how people use them? I had always imagined that one could put a pushpin to represent each QSQ. I have 100 Watts to use and will hopefully put up a dipole. Would I be better served with a map of the USA only? Interested in your input on maps.

4. Ok. This is sure to stir controversy.  I have begun to learn the code (so I can actually use the equipment I have!) I've been using Gordon West's CDs. He starts at 5 WPM and I have about 10 letters under my belt.  I just recently read on an australian ham club website - cant find the url right now - that says one should never learn the code anything slower than (I forget the exact number but lets just say) 12WPM.  They were talking about the farnsworth method.  They noted that one should not learn dits and dahs, but rather the cadence of each letter as one little pattern.  My concern is that by learning at 5wpm that I will have a tough time getting much faster. This site notes that this is common when learning the code by dits and dahs because the brain cannot process individual dits and dahs much beyond a certain speed. Any way, I am sure there are lots of opinion on this but I was interested in hearing them.  I am fascinated by morse and those OMs who can send like they were born sending.

Thanks for the time and bandwidth, but appreciated 

Thanks!
73 DE KC2NWG (working on the code!)
Eugene