November 30th, 2006
Straight Key Night is a 24-hour event during which hams all over North America get on the air using straight keys (i.e., manual telegraph keys). Straight Key Night begins at 0001 on January 1st each year, and goes to 2359Z. Depending on what time zone you are in, Straight Key Night begins in the afternoon or evening of New Year’s Eve for most of us.
Straight Key Night is sponsored by the ARRL. Participants are encouraged to send in logs and comments on their activity, and their nomination for the “best fist” they heard or worked. The ARRL’s announcement for SKN is printed in “QST” or can be read on their web site.
SKN is not a contest as such, and participants are encouraged to slow down, chat a bit, and enjoy the ambiance which is reminiscent of the radio spectrum in the earliest days of radio telegraphy. You are forging a metaphysical bond with generations of manual telegraphers going back to the 1840s.
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April 2nd, 2006
I do not understand the wire conenctions located under the base that face in opposite directions? What is the light green plastic loop for? Also,the slip-on connections are not the most convenient. Where do I get replacement slip-on connections Read the rest of this entry »
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January 23rd, 2006
It is possible to convert a 100A from one band to another, but it is not practical. Read the rest of this entry »
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January 20th, 2006
The quick answer is yes– it’s your radio, and your counter, so you can do whatever you want with them. You won’t even void the warranty, unless there is a problem caused by the “modification.” But in fairness, I have to say it is not a real good idea. Let me explain why we don’t offer a digital display as an option, and invite you to reconsider. Read the rest of this entry »
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January 12th, 2006
That’s a very good question because there are two contradictory schools of thought, and you are likely to encounter both of them before you ever send a dit. Read the rest of this entry »
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January 11th, 2006
American and European (or British) “styles” are techniques for sending Morse code with a telegraph key, but they can also refer to the design of the key. Read the rest of this entry »
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January 11th, 2006
Using the GD/GN507 as an example, the “mechanical” or “GN” version of the paddle has two pairs of metal contacts which are “closed” by moving the levers. They’re like the contacts on a straight key or most any other paddle or bug. The closing of the contacts also stops the motion of the lever, providing a crisp tactile feedback to the operator. Read the rest of this entry »
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January 10th, 2006
Under ordinary circumstances we do not use surface mail, for four reasons: Read the rest of this entry »
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January 10th, 2006
It is, and it isn’t.
The actual postage is usually but not always less, but there is much more “handling” involved. Read the rest of this entry »
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January 9th, 2006
We have a $10 minimum order for credit-card purchases only. If the order is for less than $10 the costs of processing it (including credit card charges) can be greater than our profit on the sale. And it costs us just as much to process a $10 sale as it does a $100 sale.
If the cost of an item plus the shipping charge is less than $10, you can always mail us a check or money order.
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