I’ve been playing with my FT-817 and having some fun. It is amazing how many features they pack in such a tiny little box. I’ve slowly been learning some of them. The first (important) feature I discovered was the power setting. When you operate off batteries, the radio defaults to 2.5 watts output. You have to manually switch the radio to 5 watts to get max output. I knew this but failed to do it until I reread the manual. 5 watts compared to 2.5 watts makes a difference. PSK-31 works quite well with the FT-817. No issues there. CW is a little bit of a challenge without any filters… but still very doable. I’ve been playing with the IF Shift feature to get better copy on the other station for a CW QSO. I’ve read a lot about QRP and now it is time to put what I’ve read into action. First – a good antenna makes all the difference. Second – you’ll have more QSOs by answering a CQ than by calling CQ (i.e. listen, listen, listen). So far 40M has been where I’ve had the most luck, but I’d like to try more on 30M as it seems to be a less noisy band. But I’m having fun and improving my CW.
Tag: cw
Morse Telegraph Key, 1844-45
Part of the Smithsonian collection…
The telegraph key Samuel Morse used on his first line in 1844 was very simple–a strip of spring steel that could be pressed against a metal contact. Alfred Vail, Morse’s partner, designed this key, in which the gap was more easily adjustable because of changes in its spring tension. It was used on the expanding telegraph system, perhaps as early as the fall of 1844 and certainly by 1845.
Getting back up on that CW horse
After being away from my CW paddle for quite some time, I’ve been trying to get back into CW. Over the past few days I’ve been having success with a few QSOs. Tonight I went down to 80M and had a QSO with Ed, AB8DF, from Michigan. Ed was operating QRP with an Elecraft K2 – a very cool rig. I’m going to keep working on my CW… eventually I’ll work my speed up to something I can be proud of.
MORSE CODE in MUSIC
by Brian Pasternack, KA3VSP, ka3vsp@voicenet.com
If you know of more Morse appearing in music, you might drop an email to Brian and let him know.
This story uses the background music feature of Internet Explorer 2.0 to play the introduction to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony using your computer’s MIDI compatible sound system. Netscape users can download the MIDI file at http://www.hamradio-online.com/1996/apr/fifthsym.mid.
While listening to your favorite music, don’t be suprised if you hear those strange and annoying sounds of that terrible Morse code!
Case in point, on Joe Walsh’s latest solo album “Songs for a Dying Planet” is a song titled “Vote For Me”. The song is preceded with Morse code which pounds out “REGISTER AND VOTE FOR ME AR”. Brian, KF2HC, states that the same message appears on Joe’s first album “Barnstorm” in a song titled “Mother”. Joe holds an Advanced class Amateur license.
Another album worth noting is Roger Waters’ album “Radio Kaos”. This album is filled with Morse messages. Most of the code is underlying the haunting music and very difficult to copy. The album’s cover is also worth noting…it is littered with Morse code characters. The album’s song titles are all spelled out in Morse Code!
The rock band RUSH has a song title “YYZ” on their album “Moving Pictures”. This songs starts out with a heavy percussion belting out “YYZ” and then followed by bass and guitar blaring out the same. Well, the characters YYZ are the beacon identifier for the Toronto International Airport. The inspiration for the song came from Alex Lifeson, the guitarist for the band, who holds a private pilots license.
Carter Bennett, KI5SR, brings to my attention that there is badly formed Morse code on Kate Bush’s album “Hounds of Love”. Carter informs me that the song “Watching You Without Me” contains the code “SOS”. It was also reported that this track has some RTTY going in and out of tune. KI5SR continues with information regarding the album “Saving the Wildlife” by Mannheim Steamroller. He states that there is a track on the album which sounds too much like “CQ” in Morse.
Charlie, N2JQA, brings to my attention that there is Morse Codeon Ronnie Montrose’s album (Elektra 1982 EI-60034) “GAMMA 3”. The song “Stranger” contains Morse Code which spells “STRANGER”.
Wayne, WA6MPG, states that in 1967, the band “PEARLS BEFORE SWINE” recorded a song with an adult-rated CW message in it. The song was titled “MISS MORSE”. The song is said to have vulgarities in it spelled out with Morse Code. The album was titled “ONE NATION UNDERGROUND”.
Randall, KE0YG, provided the following info about Morse Code in the computer game called “RED STORM RISING” by Microprose. Randall says that in the opening credits there is music which contains Morse Code which spells out “THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING” at about 18 WPM. Randall says that he can confirm this on the C-64 version and he believes that the IBM version plays the CW message in the theme song.
Craig, VK3CRA, informed me of a TV show called “INSPECTOR MORSE”. Craig has never seen the show but, from info gathered, states that the inspector’s name is never given in the show. It is alleged, however, to be contained in Morse Code which is played as part of the show’s introductory music.
Howie, N2WX and Mark, KM6XU, informed me that “Radioactivity” by Kraftwerk has lots of good Morse code in it. Mark also states that the band Missing Persons has a song with some code in it but Mark didn’t supply any info on the song.
A message from John, NI6D, brought to my attention of pseudo Morse code in the song “Radio Silence” on Thomas Dolby’s album titled “The Golden Age of Wireless”.
Dave, N0DET, adds that there is code in the song “Planet Claire” by the B-52’s. In the intro to “Planet Claire”, a kind of Spy vs. Spy mood is created by the music, and plainly audible CW. The Morse code says, “NAKS DE CFH I I ZKR F13395 5156 AS 662 ….,”, then fades to music. Dave believes that ‘NAKS’ and ‘CFH’ are commercial station callsigns. More information pertaining to the code comes in from Ron, VE3RYN. Ron says that “NAKS” should be “NAWS” which stands for ‘North Atlantic Weather Station’ and “CFH” is a CDN military ship/shore station located near Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Michael, W9OJ, claims that the words “love you” are spelled out in morse code at the end of the “Iron Butterfly Theme” by Iron Butterfly. This song is on their first album “Heavy” and is also on the double album titled “Rare Flight”.
Ian, VK2IAQ, writes in with information stating that the UK rock band ‘Barclay James Harvest’ has two songs which contain morse code. Ian states that the song “Nova Lepidoptera”, a sci-fi song from the 1977 album “XII”, starts off with “UFO” repeated in slow morse code. Also, the title track of the album “Ring of Changes” starts with the title sent twice in morse code. John Lees, the lead guitarist, is a licensed amateur operator in the UK.
Bill, WA6ITF, reports some really good Morse code on the CD “SEEK YOU” by Andrew, G3WZZ, and Lissa Huddleson.
Well, that’s about it for now. Thanks to all who have provided me with information on this subject and thanks to all who have inquired about the subject.
Until next time, KEEP POUNDING BRASS!
73 de Brian Pasternak, KA3VSP!
Editor’s note: And let’s not forget Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony with its famous “dit-dit-dit-dahhhh”. Okay, so the Morse code had not been invented yet…
Post Christmas Wrap Up
Christmas was good to me. I received a NorCal 40A kit along with David B. Rutledge’s The Electronics of Radio. Together these items make up a basic analog electronics’s course and my hope is to build the kit and learn more about electronics and radio.
Notes from the budding brewmaster: The final bottles of my first batch of beer were actually quite good. It worked out to the following: 2 weeks in the keg, 2 weeks in the bottle, 3 days in the fridge. Very tasty. Also – I’m sticking to regular white sugar for the carbonation.
I’ve also been spending way to much time playing Age of Empires III on my laptop.
I need to get in the radio room, tidy up, catch up on logging in a stack of QSL cards, and prepare for Straight Key Night.
Already the 19th of November!
I’ve been falling behind on my updates…
(1) W4V – Veterans’ Day Special Event Station. I got a late start on Saturday… took a while to pack the truck. Setup at Fort Story took longer than expected – my biggest challenge was tying down the center mast after I’d gotten it vertical. It’s really a two person job and hard to do alone. But once I got the antenna up, the rest was easy. A beautiful day as well, low 70s and clear skies. The QSOs rolled in, as long as I was calling “CQ” I was getting QSOs. Sunday was a different story. The forecast called for rain, but I thought I could weather it out. I arrived at Fort Story but the winds became too extreme – no chance of getting the center pole up. I threw in the towel for a portable operation and headed home to operate. Not the same satisfaction running a special event from home, but I still enjoyed the QSOs. Even got Wyoming… which completes my Worked All States Award!
(2) Kenwood TS-930S…. my “new to me rig”. I picked this up from a local ham at a bargain. What a radio!
This piece of electronics perfection is over 20 years old, but it performs like a dream. The receiver is amazing. Also getting great reception reports on both SSB and CW. This rig is now the centerpiece of my shack.
(3) I didn’t work the Sweepstakes this weekend, but did have a QSO with a special event station celebrating Oklahoma statehood. However, I did work a sweepstakes station on 15M who was operating from the Santa Clara Valley.
(4) Also a few CW QSOs – I’ve hooked up my Logikey CMOS4 Keyer. Amazing little device, lots of features – but does a great job as a basic keyer.
KPH to mark International Radiotelegraph Conference centenary
The Maritime Radio Historical Society (MRHS) will join others around the world in marking the 100th anniversary of the International Radiotelegraph Conference. Delegates to the 1906 gathering in Berlin designated 500 kHz (600 meters) as the international distress and calling frequency and SOS as the distress signal, and they signed the International Radiotelegraph Convention, which eventually became the International Telecommunication Union Radio Regulations. MRHS’s KPH, which began operation in 1905, will activate at 0001 UTC on Saturday, November 4, on 500 kHz and on its working frequency, 426 kHz. “KPH will send special messages and marine information using 500 kc as frequently as possible, keeping in mind that other stations share this frequency,” says the KPH Chief Operator Richard “R.D.” Dillman, W6AWO. “Longer bulletins will be sent on 426 kc after an announcement on 500 kc.” Dillman says KPH will monitor 500 kHz at all times for calls from ships and will observe the silent period. KPH ops also will listen between 505 and 510 kHz for stations operating as part of the ARRL WD2XSH experimental group, although Dillman adds that contacts between those stations and KPH will not be possible. MRHS Amateur Radio station K6KPH will monitor 3550, 7050 and 14,050 kHz for calls from radio amateurs wishing to submit signal reports. To obtain a printed confirmation of KPH reception, send reports to D.A. Stoops, PO Box 381, Bolinas CA 94924-0381 USA.
Lunchtime CW QSO
Had a lunchtime CW QSO with John, KA9DVX in the 40M Novice sub-band. John was operating from Port Richey, FL with a fair about of QSB. When I’m operating CW, I turn off my computer monitors so I’m not distracted – so it wasn’t until I put John in the log that I remembered that I had had an earlier QSO with him that was cut short. John was operating a Ten Tec Omni. Ten Tec has a very distinct CW sound.
Update
Attempted a lunch 40M CW QSO with Larry, N8LGG, but had a very hard time hearing him. Was able to get his name and QTH (Oakpark, IL) and that was about it.
Followed up with a QSO with the HG1956R special event station from Hungary. He a great signal and gave me a nice 59 report. I remember reading about this special event station somewhere. I’m looking forward to the QSL card.
… From The Shack
2006 CQ WW DX Contest: It has been a learning experience so far. Much more intense than Field Day. It seems as if the bands are jam packed – nothing but “CQ Contest” from 80M to 10M. I started last night a had contacts mostly on 80M, but also a few on 40M – mainly South America and the Caribbean. Today contacts are about even between 15M and 20M… more Caribbean island stations, Africa, and Europe. Not much heard from the Pacific. I did hear a KH6 station on 15M buried in noise.
When I wasn’t on the radio I was finishing the QSL cards from the W4M special event station. I now consider my QSLing activities for W4M complete.
I’ve also been cleaning up my log. As of right now, I’ve logged 1069 QSOs since I upgraded to General in Nov 2005. Of those, 102 are CW QSOs (the first was back in DEC 2005). I need to go back and look up FISTS information and see if I’m close to their basic award. I’ve contacted a total of 86 DXCC entities – maybe I’ll be able to get 14 more during the remainder of the contest. The total towards the Worked All States award is 47. I’m missing Hawaii, Alaska, and Wyoming. I’m also probably close to the basic award for Worked All US Counties. The basic award is for 500 counties, I think.
Best news this weekend – I got the ICOM CT-17 working!. It’s quite slick, I can now click on a DX cluster spot in my logging program and my IC-706MKIIG automatically flips to that frequency. Or, if I’m hunting and pouncing, the log will automatically grab the freq and mode from the radio and place it in the log. I wish I had done this earlier.
I also had a short 30M QSO with Bill, WD8RTW over in WV. The QSO was going well, but then he disappeared. He came back briefly but we ended the QSO.