From karl at fistsna.org Mon Jun 1 20:35:19 2015 From: karl at fistsna.org (Karl) Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2015 19:35:19 -0500 Subject: [Fists] Learning Morse code Message-ID: <012801d09ccc$024c2330$06e46990$@org> Below is the info that I am now including with all the K7QO Code Course CD Sets. Even if you are using another method, the key is working it on a regular schedule. Learning Morse code Anyone can learn Morse code. All it takes is three things, your COMMITMENT, some PATIENCE and PERSEVERANCE. Once you have made the COMMITMENT that you will learn Morse code, you have to understand that you will need to be PATIENT, as it will take a little time. Your PERSEVERANCE will be setting a regular daily schedule set aside for studying. Two or three, 5-10 or 10-15 minutes sessions each day is the best way. Once a week or when you think about it is not going to get you there. Start with the "Instant Recognition is the Key" CD. If you get frustrated during a session, just stop. Start again at your next scheduled session. Once you have completed the first CD, you will have a good grasp of recognizing letters, number and punctuation by their sound. Now proceed with the "General Class Question Pool" CD. Keep to your scheduled sessions as you copy words, phrases and sentences. Again if you get frustrated, stop and pick it up at your next scheduled session. Once you have completed the second CD, you are more than ready to get on the air and either call "CQ" or answer another's "CQ" call. Do your best then to have at least one QSO a day. This will help you to increase your copying speed along with your sending speed. There are lots of Morse code study courses and program. FISTS, Americas Chapter, has teamed with Chuck, K7QO to distribute his course. We do that because we know it works with your COMMITMENT, PATIENCE and PERSEVERANCE. Looking forward to working you on CW! 73, Karl, KB1DSB FISTS, Americas Chapter, president karl at fistsna.org From karl at fistsna.org Mon Jun 1 21:11:46 2015 From: karl at fistsna.org (Karl) Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2015 20:11:46 -0500 Subject: [Fists] KeyNote Issue #2, 2015 Message-ID: <014001d09cd1$1a09c450$4e1d4cf0$@org> QRZ FISTS: Our next issue of our KeyNote is at the printers. Mailed editions should be sent out sometime next week. The on-line edition will be available later this week for download. Sadly, 85 of our members whose dues are in arrears greater than 6 months, are now listed as inactive. They will no longer be receiving the KeyNote by print or download. While they may still use their FISTS #, they will have to pay $4.00 USD for a certificate for any awards they apply for. The address label of all mailed KeyNotes has a member's dues expiration date. "Last Issue" means a member falls into the in arrears category and will be placed in "inactive" status should they become six months in arrears. Members can also check: http://fistsna.org/expdate.php where we list the expiration date for all active members. If your search comes back "No current data for this request", you are not current in your dues. Please contact me if you have any questions. 73, Karl, KB1DSB FISTS, Americas Chapter, president karl at fistsna.org From w2lj at verizon.net Sun Jun 7 22:13:38 2015 From: w2lj at verizon.net (Larry Makoski) Date: Sun, 07 Jun 2015 22:13:38 -0400 Subject: [Fists] NAQCC Sprint Wednesday Night Message-ID: The June sprint is this coming Tuesday evening local time (June 9th, EDT - 8:30-10:30PM, CDT - 7:30-9:30PM, MDT - 6:30-8:30PM, PDT - 5:30-7:30PM), which translates as Wednesday, June 10th, 0030 to 0230Z in all cases. For all the "official" information, please go to: http://naqcc.info/sprint201506.html There you will find all the details as to time, frequencies and other important information. Certificates: SWA (simple wire antennas) certificates by call area, VE and DX for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers (New!). A Certificate for top score in the GAIN antenna category. Prizes: Too many to list!! - check out the prizes page on our website. This is a monthly event that caters to the CW veteran, the CW newcomer, straight key and bug fans. All are welcome to participate (this includes QRO); but you must use QRP power levels to compete for awards. If you've been hesitant to join in our sprints because you hear other sprints running at breakneck speeds, have no fear. Our sprints are geared to the newcomer to CW and/or contesting. Virtually everyone including the many veteran contesters who regularly enter our sprints will slow down to YOUR speed to help you make your contacts. If you are not already a member of NAQCC... membership is FREE! Now is your chance to join the largest QRP CW Club in the world!! We currently have 7100+ members in: All 50 States - 9 VE Provinces - 100 Countries. Sign up on the NAQCC website today (http://naqcc.info/) and receive a handsome certificate, with your membership number on it, which is good for life. Come join us and have a real good time! 72/73 de Larry W2LJ NAQCC #35 for NAQCC http://naqcc.info/ --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus From w2lj at verizon.net Sun Jun 7 22:16:41 2015 From: w2lj at verizon.net (Larry Makoski) Date: Sun, 07 Jun 2015 22:16:41 -0400 Subject: [Fists] NAQCC Sprint TUESDAY Night Message-ID: <9221f901cab8f54bb67b8e5f97f48f06@192.168.1.4> The June sprint is this coming Tuesday (NOT Wednesday!) evening local time (June 9th, EDT - 8:30-10:30PM, CDT - 7:30-9:30PM, MDT - 6:30-8:30PM, PDT - 5:30-7:30PM), which translates as Wednesday, June 10th, 0030 to 0230Z in all cases. For all the "official" information, please go to: http://naqcc.info/sprint201506.html There you will find all the details as to time, frequencies and other important information. Certificates: SWA (simple wire antennas) certificates by call area, VE and DX for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers (New!). A Certificate for top score in the GAIN antenna category. Prizes: Too many to list!! - check out the prizes page on our website. This is a monthly event that caters to the CW veteran, the CW newcomer, straight key and bug fans. All are welcome to participate (this includes QRO); but you must use QRP power levels to compete for awards. If you've been hesitant to join in our sprints because you hear other sprints running at breakneck speeds, have no fear. Our sprints are geared to the newcomer to CW and/or contesting. Virtually everyone including the many veteran contesters who regularly enter our sprints will slow down to YOUR speed to help you make your contacts. If you are not already a member of NAQCC... membership is FREE! Now is your chance to join the largest QRP CW Club in the world!! We currently have 7100+ members in: All 50 States - 9 VE Provinces - 100 Countries. Sign up on the NAQCC website today (http://naqcc.info/) and receive a handsome certificate, with your membership number on it, which is good for life. Come join us and have a real good time! 72/73 de Larry W2LJ NAQCC #35 for NAQCC http://naqcc.info/ --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus From pgoemans at sbcglobal.net Tue Jun 9 09:11:02 2015 From: pgoemans at sbcglobal.net (Paul Goemans) Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2015 08:11:02 -0500 Subject: [Fists] greetings Message-ID: <6A869628F21645E5A167194499AC7807@PaulHP> Just testing... What?s new? Paul Goemans WA9PWP Stoughton, WI From cwgeek at kb6nu.com Tue Jun 9 09:27:07 2015 From: cwgeek at kb6nu.com (Dan Romanchik KB6NU) Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2015 09:27:07 -0400 Subject: [Fists] greetings In-Reply-To: <6A869628F21645E5A167194499AC7807@PaulHP> References: <6A869628F21645E5A167194499AC7807@PaulHP> Message-ID: <297E9C7A-71F7-462B-8DBF-D2C44B4DD6CF@kb6nu.com> I built a new keyer--the NanoKeyer--that is powered an Arduino Nano. It's pretty cool, actually. for more information, see my blog post: http://www.kb6nu.com/a-cw-geeks-keyer/. 73! Dan KB6NU ---------------------------------------------------------- CW Geek, Ham Radio Instructor Author, The CW Geek's Guide to Having FUN with Morse Code Read my ham radio blog at http://www.kb6nu.com On Jun 9, 2015, at Jun 9,9:11 AM, "Paul Goemans" wrote: > Just testing... What?s new? > > Paul Goemans WA9PWP > Stoughton, WI From karl at fistsna.org Mon Jun 15 18:11:21 2015 From: karl at fistsna.org (Karl) Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2015 17:11:21 -0500 Subject: [Fists] KeyNote Issue #2, 2015 Message-ID: <00ce01d0a7b8$37a585c0$a6f09140$@org> The Keynote is in the hands of the US Postal Service for all active Americas Chapter members who receive the print edition of the KeyNote. The on-line .pdf edition is available for those who have chosen that method. 73, Karl, KB1DSB FISTS, Americas Chapter, president karl at fistsna.org From karl at fistsna.org Mon Jun 15 18:25:15 2015 From: karl at fistsna.org (Karl) Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2015 17:25:15 -0500 Subject: [Fists] Looking for Artist/Creative Member Message-ID: <00d301d0a7ba$28e84250$7ab8c6f0$@org> 2017 will be the 30th Anniversary of FISTS CW Club, and the 20th Anniversary of our Americas Chapter. We are looking for members who might be willing to put their artistic/creative skills to work to help create special designs to commemorate each of this great events. The final design for each will appear on tee shirts, possibly a golf shirt and/or coffee cup. Plus, the design may well be on a special certificate for awards created to commemorate the anniversaries. Please contact me, off list, if you might be interested. 73, Karl, KB1DSB FISTS, Americas Chapter, president karl at fistsna.org From w2lj at verizon.net Tue Jun 16 21:12:41 2015 From: w2lj at verizon.net (Larry Makoski) Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2015 21:12:41 -0400 Subject: [Fists] NAQCC Milliwatt Sprint Wednesday night Message-ID: <4d7a18c569d5884ab8ca091bf62e07f0@192.168.1.3> Tomorrow night, June 17th is the NAQCC June milliwatt sprint. It will be held from 8:30-10:30PM EDT, 7:30-9:30PM CDT , 6:30-8:30PM MDT, 5:30-7:30PM PDT, which translates as Thursday, June 18th, 0030 to 0230Z in all cases. For all the "official" information, please go to: http://naqcc.info/sprint201506mw.html There you will find all the details as to time, frequencies and other important information. The details differ a bit from our regular monthly sprints, so check them out beforehand. See you on the bands with QRPp! 73 de Larry W2LJ on behalf of the NAQCC From w2lj at verizon.net Wed Jun 17 22:35:43 2015 From: w2lj at verizon.net (Larry Makoski) Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2015 22:35:43 -0400 Subject: [Fists] Skeeter numbers issued starting Sunday Message-ID: <5a7da8ca212e48418b65505bcc0b2640@192.168.1.3> To all QRPers! The 4th Annual NJQRP Skeeter Hunt will be held on Sunday, August 9th. In keeping with tradition, Skeeter numbers will begin to be issued on the First Day of Summer, which is this coming Sunday, June 21st. You don't have to wait until Sunday to send in your request! Just send an e-mail to w2lj at arrl.net, to request a number, along with your name, call and the state you will be operating from. Whenever you make your request, from now until August 8th, you'll receive a confirming e-mail, along with your Skeeter number. All the details for this soon-to-be Summer classic, can be found at www.qsl.net/w2lj There are a few minor rule changes this year and they are detailed at the Website. And remember, the NJQRP Skeeter Hunt is an SSB friendly event - there is a SSB category and even a mixed category for those who would like to give their microphones a workout. Hope to see your e-mail in my inbox! 72 de Larry W2LJ - NJQRP Skeeter Hunt Manager From karl at fistsna.org Thu Jun 25 19:00:24 2015 From: karl at fistsna.org (Karl) Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2015 18:00:24 -0500 Subject: [Fists] FISTS QSL Bureau Message-ID: <00b401d0af9a$ba3ae270$2eb0a750$@org> Our FISTS QSL Bureau has undertaken a major shift in operations. The Bureau will now handle all Americas Chapter FISTS to FISTS QSL'ing. No longer will you need to use a look up to determine whether or not a member has envelopes at the Bureau. While having SASE's at the Bureau is encouraged, it is not necessary. And, on or about January 1st and July 1st, the Bureau will do mass mailings for all cards on hand. This way cards will not languish at the Bureau. Please go to: http://fistsna.org/qslburo/qslbureau.php for more information. We plan on having the QSL Bureau info in the Issue 3, 2015 KeyNote. Utilizing our FISTS QSL Bureau is a cheap way to send out your QSL cards for contacts with other FISTS. The volunteers are there to serve you. 73, Karl, KB1DSB FISTS, Americas Chapter, president karl at fistsna.org