CW Versus Texting

Click on the link below to view the video..   Thanks for the link Brent..

CW Versus Texting Video

cw vs texting

http://www.myspace.com/video/vid/2025791097

Okanogan County Woodrat Convergence

Woodrats 8, 13 & 12 pose for the camera.

Left to right: KE7TUR, KF7LGC & KF7JGA

N5DRB ... At it Again!

This is Dennis' first homebrew straight key.

Click here to see more of this project

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.. 

How To Work A Cootie

Click Here To View The Video

What if Jules Verne used CW ?

Here's a cool looking key. Anybody know what it is?

Here's a little history on this style of key.

What's a Cootie?

I was intrigued by W7WELs "COOTIE" project. I remember playing the game of COOTIE as a young spud.

I was in town and online when I ran across this video demo of a Mini COOTIE Key made by Whiterook. So it appears I have another project of my own. Thanks, Bill!

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.)

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.)

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.)