[Elecraft] Success !!

Kevin Rock kevinrock at earthlink.net
Sat Jan 21 00:53:27 EST 2006


Howdy Clint,
    You will do fine.  Just take the K2 - K1 - KX1 (which ever you choose) 
a little bit at a time.  I was told by Ms. Patricia I could not (or was 
that should not :) work on it for more than an hour each evening.  I used 
my K2 as a sanity saving exercise during graduate school.  The course load 
was onerous but the goal was in sight.  They paid me pretty well as a 
GA/RA too so I could afford a few toys.  I played with my robots and got 
some grad credits with them.  I wanted to get better comms for them and 
remembered amateur radio from when I was a kid in the '60s.  I found the 
tests were given every other month a few blocks away.  I passed the tech 
and general paper tests and got on the air with VHF on SSB and FM.
    But the match had been struck.  I found I wanted to learn CW and get 
better at it.  I built the K2 before I had my CW down and before I took my 
code test.  In fact, the K2 was used to practice quite a bit while I was 
learning.  Wayne's rig has a neat feature: the TEST setting on CW.  I used 
my paddles, my code tapes, my computer, and the K2 to pass my code test.  
It was good.
    Then I got on the air the first time for my very first CW QSO.  Sweaty 
palms, scripts written out in front of me.  Fifteen meters was full of 
noise and the op was running way too fast (8 wpm ????) but somehow I got 
his call sign and an RST.  I had been blooded.  My first CW QSO.  I found 
I was not ready for prime time so found a local code practice friend.  We 
worked on our skills together until Ms Pat and I moved back home to 
Oregon.  Then I tried the FISTs code buddy system.  No luck.  Not to 
happen.
    But, the Elecraft Reflector was the place to voice my issues.  I found 
a Mentor!!  He worked with me for quite some time until I was ready (?) to 
try other ops again.  About this time there was an Elecraft SSB net 
forming.  It worked a few times and then went away since the bands were 
fading for voice modes due to the solar cycle decline.  I had a thought, 
"Why not try this on CW?"  So, fool that I am, I tried starting the 
Elecraft CW Net.  Somehow or another my match must have landed on dry 
tinder since the net is still running over two years later!
    If you build one of these rigs you are very welcome to join us each 
Sunday afternoon and evening on either 20 or 40 meters to listen to 
propagation reports from around the country and occasionally from even 
further.  You'll hear about weather, about folks' kids, and a little 
more.  We all enjoy our rigs from Elecraft but enjoy getting on the air 
even more.  At the end of the net, when I run the list of check ins and 
close down, there are a number of folks acknowledging the end of another 
fun net.  No pressure, just folks.
    Please build one of Elecraft's rigs.  Take your time, enjoy the solder 
flowing, the lead clipping, and the sound of 40 meters awakening to your 
first receive tests.  When you complete the rig join us one day even if it 
is just to listen.  I know there are some out there who do more listening 
that transmitting.  That is fine with me.  I was an SWL for many, many 
years.  I still enjoy listening while I am working on other things.  Above 
all else: have fun!
    Take care,
       Kevin.  KD5ONS  (Net Control Op of the ECN)




On Fri, 20 Jan 2006 21:12:32 -0800 (PST), Clint Sprague 
<clintws1v at yahoo.com> wrote:

> I motivated myself this weak to finish my CMOS4 keyer
> kit which I've had sitting here on the desk since
> April.  Put the batteries in today and the little
> keyer gave me the OK.  This is only the 2nd kit
> I've put together the 1st one was an AMECO Code
> practice oscillator
> I built back in 1976 to practice code to get my Novic
> license ..
> I could have used a torch to solder in those
> components, but realized I had to be a little more
> careful with the CMOS4 kit  :)
> I want to thank everyone here who gave me information
> & encouragement, plus obtaining the wealth of
> information from reading the archives, this all help
> with this successful build.  Now do
> I get the courage enough to attempt and Elecraft
> kit.... maybe soon!!
>
> 73,
> Clint
> WS1V


More information about the Elecraft mailing list