KA0IQT's Web Site

What's new?

January 22, 2008

Happy New Year!

I'll be updating the web site over the next few weeks as time permits. Check back in later. - 73 de KA0IQT

June 15, 2007

1,200 Pounds of Horse and HF Vertical Guy Lines Don't Mix

Below is the result of one of the horses getting loose and running into one of the guy lines of the Cushcraft R8 antenna. While the horse is OK, the antenna is a mess.

March 26, 2007

The Chevron Morse Key

I received my new Chevron key this month and it was definitely worth the wait. I was amazed that I can use this paddle with contact spacing much closer than any other paddle I've ever tried or owned (including the original Mercury.) I've placed some pictures of the key during assembly below although no photograph adequately shows the craftsmanship and attention to detail that went into making this key. Details are available at the Chevron web site at: http://www.chevronmorsekeys.co.uk/

November 15, 2006

After many years using my Kenwood TS-940S-AT transceiver, I decided that it was time for a new HF transceiver. Based on many reviews and comments on the web, I decided to buy a Ten-Tec Orion II transceiver. It arrived yesterday along with the external speaker, power supply and cooling fan, and I hope to have it on the air by this weekend.

I've already ordered a cover for the rig, speaker and power supply from Radio Covers dot Com.

Details and my first impressions to follow.

New QSL Card from Cheap QSLs.com < http://www.cheapqsls.com/ > (19 August 2006)

Great service & quick delivery. See the new card, and some of my old QSL cards, on the QSL Cards page.

A new key arrived! (15 August 2006)

The Amplidan model 50713 telegraph key from Morse Express arrived. < http://www.mtechnologies.com/ >

It is an incredibly nice key and looks great on the operating desk. The picture below is provided courtesy of Marshall Emm (N1FN) of Morse Express.

According to Marshall's web site, Morse Express obtained all of the remaining keys from Amplidan and is offering them for sale. I've heard great things about this key from David Ring (N1EA) and Frank Haas (KB4T).

http://www.mtechnologies.com/amplidan/

Microchip MASTERs 2006 (July 2006)

I just returned from the Microchip MASTERs conference in Arizona. It was a great conference (as usual) and Microchip had a number of new products and development tools on display. Since the presentations are copyright by Microchip, I won't post the material. Visit the Microchip Web site <http://www.microchip.com> and the presentations are usually posted a few weeks after MASTERs.

Say No to Scorpions

One of the drawbacks to the new QTH (see below) is that apparently scorpions are native to Texas near lakes. I lived in Arizona for 3 years and never saw a scorpion. At the new QTH, there seems to be an unlimited supply. The picture below is one particularly big one that tried to enter the house. We have discovered that the best defense is to use a black light and hunt the critters at night. Insecticides don't seem to have any effect on these guys. (I wonder if the Arizona Scorpions QRP club needs a model for their next project?)

The new QTH, Tioga, TX.

Lots of room for an antenna farm!

My hosting provider is: 1&1 Internet

Note: Both http://www.ka0iqt.org & http://www.ka0iqt.net wind up at the same web page (for now) so use either one you wish. ka0iqt.org is provided free by my hosting provider 1&1 Internet (see above and remember that if you sign up, I get a referral bonus :-)

I've finally started collecting my notes on electronic keyer timing. Check out the Keys and Keyers page for more information.

I've added photographs from the QRP get together at Dayton Hamvention 1991, 1992 and 1993. The images are scanned from photographs so the quality varies widely. If you can help identify the rigs or individuals in the pictures, send me an email and I'll add your comments.

PROUD MEMBER OF

It's Great to QSO in Morse Again used with permission of Andrew Huddleston OZ5E

Site Last Updated 28 January 2008