W7YV Ham Radio

On this 4th of July, I've spent time studying Laird's Applejack and how important this spirit was to the American Revolution. Some troops, especially, in New Jersey, were paid in the currency of Applejack. Applejack is a blend of 50% apple brandy and 50% neutral whiskey. The reason this post is made here is my discovery of the cocktail called the "Marconi Wireless." Here is the recipe: 2 oz Applejack (or calvados) 1 oz Sweet vermouth 2 ds Orange bitters  Stir, Straight Up Enjoy! REFERENCES: http://leftcoastbonvivant.blogspot.com/2010/07/patriotic-libations-applejack-and.html http://www.mybrilliantmistakes.com/tag/applejack/ http://tastylibations.com/2009/01/applejack/ http://imbibemagazine.com/Elements-Applejack

Why notable? This is the first real "rag chew" QSO. It was challenging, interesting, and rewarding all at the same time. Details:  06/13/13 0400Z 7046 KHz CW (using Kent Twin Paddl e) Charles was calling CW and I bit. Nice QSO. He was using a Chinese Army K5 key with a modified soft spring from a local hardware store. For a straight key, his fist was very stable and easily copied. We discussed magnetic keys and I had to admit ignorance on my part but said that I felt magnetic keys might be very efficient. IDEA: Go try one! In any event, Charles and I chewed the rag for forty minutes. That is quite long for me and I appreciate the chance to do that -- to let my hair down as it were! In any case, TNX to Charles - a FB QSO.

Tonight, I attended a local ham radio meeting. At one point, I commented that I used Linux rather than Windows in my daily operations. A comment was made that went something like "Yes, it is free, for the stuff you get free." .... or something like that. I interpreted the comment as implying that, to really get anything of value, you needed to pay $. In my usual curmudgeon way, I said, "Not true, my crusty OM!" I run Ubuntu Linux and have made a vow to shy away from commercial operating systems that I have to pay $ to use. In the last few months, I've discovered ( http://www.libreoffice.org/ ), an open source free application that rivals Microsoft Office. I knew it had the equivalent of Microsoft Word but, later, discovered that it has Microsoft Excel. But, what really blew me away was that it, also, has the equivalent of Microsoft PowerPoint!!!!!!!! Being the paranoid prepper anti-government anarchist that I am, I like to be "off-the-grid" as much as...

This video made me chuckle but, if you can get past that, this series has some really good advice.

REFERENCES: http://archive.org/details/gov.dod.dimoc.23735  

In the world of Amateur Radio, there are many hobbyists that combine their love for radio with a love for fine machinery. Here is one example of that combination. Richard Meiss, WB9LPU, has been designing and making home brew keys since 1998. The RotoTwin key, shown in the video below, is one of the most unique. But, his skill does not stop there. Check out the links below the video.   REFERENCES: WB9LPU YouTube Videos (it will make you weep!) WB9LPU's Key Corner W1TP Museum of Telegraphy (Richard Meiss Keys)

For those CW operators on a tight budget:

Having just acquired a mint-condition 63 year old Vibroplex Presentation Bug for my 63rd birthday, I thought it might be appropriate to show how a professional uses one. Thanks to Dick Leining (W7DML) for putting me onto this fascinating bit of history. This video is the last night at KPH - the Night of Nights. The last message was sent at 19:59 hours EST on July 12, 1999 by Denise (Denice) Stoops. KPH was a public coast radio station on the West Coast of the United States. For most of the 20th century, it provided ship to shore communications including telegrams (using Morse code ) and marine telex service (using radioteletype ).

I got very lucky the other day and happened upon a Vibroplex Bug on eBay that dates back to 1950 - the year I was born. Even more exciting is that it was placed online as a Buy It Now and I found it, probably, within a hour of the posting The price was right and I pulled the trigger. Today, the key arrived and my goal is to be able to make QSOs with it before my birthday in February. On that day, the key and I will share a fine Jack Daniels Single Barrel Whiskey to celebrate 63 years of life.