Come Join The Fun!

The Woodrat Show is usually on 3.840 MHz from about 8 AM til Noon, and then again around 3.985 MHz from about 7 PM on.

Enjoy CW, check 7.043 as Woodrats can often be found there...

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Okanogan County Woodrat Convergence

Woodrats 8, 13 & 12 pose for the camera.


Left to right: KE7TUR, KF7LGC & KF7JGA

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Cootie Number Two

Gathering parts.. note the cabinet latch.  That will make a good holder for the PC strip.  Standoffs will be drilled and tapped to 4-40 for brass machine screws for the adjustable contacts. 

Mostly assembled but in the fitting stage.  Still needs terminals at the base of the stand-offs for conections.   Note the guitar pics.  Makes nice fingerpieces.


Here you can see the finished wiring.   It has just a bit more spacing between elements due to the longer pendulum.   Easy sending.. 

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Today's Snowfall

Sorry, I can't take credit for this photo.  (BUT... it WAS snapped by a local ham friend!)  One of our "Bud's" tuesday night coffee drinking ham buddies!

Yesterday we didn't have any snow on the ground and about noon today here's how it looked.  (click on picture to enlarge.)

Monday, February 14, 2011

My "Cootie" Or Sideswiper



Check this out for a whole bunch of SideSwiper Info

My new passion... operating CW mode with a homemade Sideswiper.  Years ago (1972 '73) I was operating in a shack away from the house.  I built a 6'X8' operating shack, kinda looked like an outdoor toilet.  It had an window opening, no window though, and a slab of plywood across the shed for a desktop.  There was just barely room enough to swing the door open and enter.  (Yes, I did actually have a door. I also added some clear plastic to cover the window hole later.)  I always wanted to get away from the straight key and ended up putting together a sideswiper made from a hacksaw blade and wooden blocks.   This aparation was screwed down on the "desktop."  And I learned to send with it.  It was replaced after about a year with a tube keyer that was given to me.

I recently worked a fellow on 40 meters who was using a sideswiper.  (I recognized its unique sound immediately and he confirmed that it was indeed a SS.)  That was early last week.  I was so intrigued by that old nostalgic sound that I built another one and began practising.  Now, after working a few "Victims" on the air, I think it will be fun to continue the quest. 


Here's a picture of what I cobbled together. (Click the picture to enlarge.)

Friday, February 11, 2011

Key - Refurbished by N5DRB

Hello Woodrats... thought it was time to get the blog moving.  Since I don't have a project in progress, here's one from my nephew, who should be a Woodrat.  It is an old straight key he got in a trade for one of his custom paddles.   It looks like a pretty nice key, especially since he has applied a whole bunch of "Spit and Polish."


Does anyone recognize this key?  (Click on photo to enlarge.)