ARRL Centennial Paddle

I received my ARRL Centennial Paddle recently. It is a Vibroplex paddle with my call and serial # on it. Very nice paddle.

ARRL Centennial Paddle Serial # 030

I hooked it up and it has a very nice feel to it and it's a great momento of 100 years of the ARRL.

Tidbits From the QRP History Book

I've been reading, in small doses, "The History of QRP in the U.S., 1924 - 1960" by Adrian Weiss, W0RSP. So after reading about some of the beginnings of the QRP movement it is interesting to note in 1924, QST Technical Editor, Robert S. Kruse, 1XAM, went on the offensive in  promoting low power operation. His methods however were a little different than might be tried  today.

It seems that Kruse felt that American operators had become too enamored with high power operation and that the QRM and inefficiencies of high power operation were precluding the "grassroots" operator from even hearing DX stations. Weiss writes,

 "QST continually derided the abuse of power among American amateurs by coining a long list of derogatory epithets for the high power types. Such names as "watt-hog", "ether buster", "tribe of ampere hounds", "ampere chaser", "thunder factory', "watt burner" and "most miles per gallon" flowed across the pages of QST, leaving little doubt as to the attitude of the QST staff, and presumably the ARRL, to combat the developing dependence upon brute power by American amateurs in place of the ideals embodied in the QRP Operator...."

In, December 1923, the very first QRP contest, The Station Efficiency Contest, was announced with this subtitle, "Miles Per Watt: An Argument For The Small Set and For Intelligence In Place of Brute Force" Weiss comments, "In other words, the use of low power was inextricably linked with intelligence and diametrically opposite to high power"

Further Kruse argued, "...what if his brute power does let him cover 4,000 miles, isn't he still inferior to the other man who handled his power correctly and went twice as far per watt?"

So there you have it, QRP operation = Intelligence.

Need we say more;-)

The book goes into much more detail about the attack on high power operation and rising credibility of the QRP operator in those early days. Interesting reading and entertaining as well.

World War II German Radio Collection

Click on the link below to check out this very impressive collection of World War II German military radios. I just wanted to pass the info on to you. Check out the SE 108/10 Agent/Spy Radio.

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2QHV5Z

For a Morse Enthuisiast: Something for the Shack

As previously discussed here, there are certain temptations that are irresistible  when it comes to getting your shack just like you want it. For those who have everything, below is a link to bid on an original picture of Samuel Morse signed by him not once, but twice.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Samuel-Morse-Historic-Photograph-Signed-Twice-w-Morse-Code-Holograph-Message-/190826936067?

At the bottom of the photograph he has spelled out in Morse the famous message, "What hath God wrought". Noticed the slight differences in the "o" and the "r" morse characters.

Happy bidding.

Classic Straight Key CW

For your enjoyment, follow the link below. I saw this on the 4 States QRP club reflector, it's a U.S. Navy training film from 1944 on the proper way to send morse code with a straight key. It only lasts 10 mins, there are a couple of minutes of a black screen at the end, so when the films says The End, it's over. Also you can skip the commercial after about 10 seconds on the bottom right of the screen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVkLr0GyJPI

Test Questions;

What is a glass arm?

How long should you be able to send using proper form?

How far apart should the contacts be?

What are the working parts of the body when sending CW?