Mobile CW Setup

I don't know why I keep forgetting to do this, but I finally got around to taking a picture of my mobile CW setup. I installed a jack under the dash board for connecting my key to. This makes it very easy to take the key in and out - especially when I am using the FT-857D in a portable set up. Before I had the key hard wired in to the truck.



The key jack is labeled just to the left of the CB under the dash - where the green plug hooks up to it. As you see there is another hole to the left of the jack. I originally had my trailer brake controller screwed in there but it was in the way of the CB. So I pulled it out and the holes were left behind.

My key is a Vibroplex Code Warrior Jr. I really like this key. The magnetic action is pretty nice. I have it on a light setting right now, for some reason I find it easier to send that way in the truck. You would think a stiffer action would be wanted to avoid keying when hitting bumps in the road but to me the lighter action is easier. I don't knock the key around as much.

I tested out the voice recorder today in the truck also. It picks up a lot of road noise but I think it will still do the trick. I will have to do some mobile CW the next time I get a chance and see how well it does then. I tuned in to some CW on 40m while I was out and about today but I didn't work anyone.

Surflon Stainless Steel Leader Wire - Random Wire Antenna

I got my Surflon wire today. It looks like it will do the trick. Here is a picture comparing the Surflon (black) with the magnet wire I was using before:



You can see the Surflon wire is thicker than the magnet wire, but I think the black coating will make up for the size in terms of visibility. The red stuff shined like a laser when the light hit it right.

The pack of sleeves are crimps for attaching the wire. You make a loop at the end and slide a crimp over the loop to hold it in place (after crimping, of course). I will probably just use one out at the end.

First QSO With New Recorder - HA8QZ 40m CW

This is my first QSO recording with my new digital voice reorder (a Sony ICD-PX720). I figured I would try it out in the shack to see how it works. I got it so I can log while I am on the road - instead of scratching down notes on the back of my log. The microphone is a bit sensitive, but I can adjust that to a low setting. I didn't think the low provided enough audio drive and the high seems too sensitive. Anyway, here is a QSO I had with HA8QZ in Hungary:

HA8QZ 40m.mp3

This is also a good demonstration of how the receiver in the TS-2000 is pretty well swamped here. I set the filter at 50hz and it really rings down that low, but HA8QZ was in there. It was a tough go but it was a "contact". The noise floor here is S4 right now with a filter width of 50hz.

My antenna at the moment is a loop in the attic fed with ladder line and shorted out at the tuner (both sides of the ladder line are connected to the wire port). The ground is the ductwork in the house. My random wire antenna isn't back up yet. I am waiting for my leader wire to come in the mail so I can put up the good stuff and not worry about it breaking.