CW #2: LCWO Lesson 2: U

Here we go with lesson #2 at Learn CW Online- LCWO  This time I am pround to announce that I can decode the letter U. Again I was working a 15 words per minut WPM, and had a duration of 5 minutes. During Lesson #2 I was given 115 letters to decode and I decoded all 115 letters but I did not get a 100 for the score. Instead I got a 99.2% That is because when I was typing in the letters I accidently typed a Y instead of a U. I decoded it correct but I made my mistake when I was putting my results in the lesson window. Anyway enough with the suspence here is what I did today:

KUUUU MUUKM UUKKK MMUKU KMUUK UMKKU UKUMU UMMKK KUMMK MUKMU KKUMK UKMUM MKMUM KKMMU KMKKM KUKMU MMKKK UKKUM UMUKK MMMKU MKKKU UUMKM UMKKM

As you can see I included my mistake. I just typed in the wronk letter. Oh well what is done is done. I still got above a 90% so I get to move on to Lesson 3!

So far from doing 2 lessons my average score is---- 98.75% The goal for Lesson 2 is to make that 98.75% a little bit higher. I'm not going to sit here and tell you that I will pass every singe lesson. There will be times where I have to take a lesson several times to squeeze out a 90% needed to move on to the next lesson. 

In the comments section below tell me the character that you had the hardest time to learn?

As always you can reach me at Aaron@K5ATG.com

Stay Radio Active America

'72

Aaron K5ATG

CW #1: LCWO Lesson 1 K, M

 It's been awhile since I operated in CW. Now first things first, I am not able to send CW using a key paddle or anything like that. I use a keyboard. Now before you starting doing a witch hunt and yelling at me "Cheater Cheater Cheater" I want you to dial in and listen to a CW contest. I bet that at least 90% of the people that you hear tapping 599! 599! What I can barly hear you for your signal is weak and conditions are terriable but your report is 599! are using a keyboard or macros. Does it really matter as long as the mode and frequency are getting used? 

Tonight I started getting up to speed with receiving CW. I feel that copying CW in the noggin is really fun. My hearing is shot and my attention span is about as long as a NHRA Top Fuel Drag Race. So I us an app as an backup. 

My preffered place to practice learning CW is Learn CW Online (LCWO). LCWO has so many different lessons and options that its really easy to customise everything for you. I typically go at 15 WPN, that is a good range for most QRPers. 

I'm goiing to go over all of the letters that I received and which ones I got wrong. With LCWO, they want you to advance to the next lesson if you make a 90% or above. So here are my results:

KMKKK KKMMK MKMKM KKKMK MMMMK MKMMM KKKMM MMKKM MMMKM MMKMM KKKKK KMMKM KMKMM KMMKM MMKMM MKKMK MKMKK MKMKM KKKKM KMKMM MKKMK MKMKM

I received 115 characters and I missed 2 (The two letters in red above) so I ended up with a score of 98.3%. Thats high enough to advance to Round 2. I can't wait! All of the lessons on LCWO are randomally generated. So there is no use in copping down my answers above. I like to write or type the characters as I receiver them. So as I decoded I just typed them down in this blog post. My line is thinking, if I have to type or write, I might as well put it in a blog post and entertain somebody. It was kind of fun putting this in a blog post so check back often and critize me ofr my lack of progress. Subscribe to this blog to be updated. Leacve any comments that you wish in the comments scetion below. Email me at Aaron@K5ATG.com

'72

Aaron K5ATG

Equipment Log #1

sBITX

Got my sBITX operating and I could get only 5 watts out. I still have to find out what is going on before I am comfortable with operating.  

KX3

Been unable to find the microphone for the KX3. I found a power cable for it, its homebrew and works just fine. I put Anderson Power Poles on it because I use those for all of my equipment.

As always feel free to leave any comments

You cna contact me at Aaron@K5ATG.com

Be safe and stay radio active

Astronomy Reboot

 There are going to be some changes to this blog. I am going to make it an Amateur Radio and Amateur Astronomy Blog. I love both amateur radio and astronomy and there is a pretty big crossover between the two. I thought about making separate blogs but I realized that it can become hectic. Since I own the K5ATG.com domain, then it was decided that this blog will be of the two. So I will be making some pretty big changes here as far as organizing everything, so if I really screw up then please let me know at Aaron@K5ATG.com

Astronomy Reboot

 There are going to be some changes to this blog. I am going to make it an Amateur Radio and Amateur Astronomy Blog. I love both amateur radio and astronomy and there is a pretty big crossover between the two. I thought about making separate blogs but I realized that it can become hectic. Since I own the K5ATG.com domain, then it was decided that this blog will be of the two. So I will be making some pretty big changes here as far as organizing everything, so if I really screw up then please let me know at Aaron@K5ATG.com

K3NG Arduino CW Keyer K5BCQ Board Build Part V

 Well folks in the words of Russell Casse: "I'm Back!" Had to steal from Independence Day there for a sec. Anyway, It is time to continue with this project. This step was pretty much straightforward. Just a bunch of capacitors. The only hang-up was C4. The K5BCQ Manual, it calls for Digi-Key Part Number 493-6095-1-ND. I could not find that part at Digi-Key so instead, I went with HHSC630ELL101MJC5S It is the same size and value so it should work. Anyway here is the updated pic of my progress so far. 

As you can see the PCB is really starting to get populated. Next up are the transistors. I know that I have some 2N3904's but I am not so sure about the 2N7000 transistors. Other than that I'm pretty sure that I have the rest of the parts. If I can get the time this weekend then I should be able to finish it out. If I do not have the 2N7000 transistors then I will just skip them up I order some. Only need four of them. I will continue making a new post on each component type. I do not plan on using the keypad. 

If you have any questions you can always reach me at my email: Aaron@K5ATG.com or you can ask in the comments sections below. 

K3NG Arduino CW Keyer K5BCQ Board Build Part V

 Well folks in the words of Russell Casse: "I'm Back!" Had to steal from Independence Day there for a sec. Anyway, It is time to continue with this project. This step was pretty much straightforward. Just a bunch of capacitors. The only hang-up was C4. The K5BCQ Manual, it calls for Digi-Key Part Number 493-6095-1-ND. I could not find that part at Digi-Key so instead, I went with HHSC630ELL101MJC5S It is the same size and value so it should work. Anyway here is the updated pic of my progress so far. 

As you can see the PCB is really starting to get populated. Next up are the transistors. I know that I have some 2N3904's but I am not so sure about the 2N7000 transistors. Other than that I'm pretty sure that I have the rest of the parts. If I can get the time this weekend then I should be able to finish it out. If I do not have the 2N7000 transistors then I will just skip them up I order some. Only need four of them. I will continue making a new post on each component type. I do not plan on using the keypad. 

If you have any questions you can always reach me at my email: Aaron@K5ATG.com or you can ask in the comments sections below. 

Mom

 I have not been around here in a bit. On 29 December 2021, my mother passed away. It has hit me a lot harder than expected. Because of my own health issues, I really don't have much to occupy my mind so I just focus on it, and of course that makes it worse. 

My mom Bobbie in 1988

She had been in ill health for the better part of a decade. She had been in the hospital because she had just had surgery done on her elbow. She started doing physical therapy and her heart simply stopped beating they revived her and she spent two weeks in ICU then she regained consciousness. For a week I talked to her on the phone, unfortunately, I could not go see her because I had pneumonia and did not want to give it to her. She called me on the evening of the 28th and we talked for a bit. She was in pain and I did my best to calm her. The next morning I got a call from my aunt and she said that her heart quit again, once again they revived her. My aunt then informed the hospital of the DNR that my mom had so they agreed that it would be the last time that they revive her. A few minutes later she went to Heaven. I got to talk to her and about 8 hours later I was asked to write her obituary and was elected to make her urn. Here is her obituary:

Bobbie Ruth Dewitt-Riley was born on 17 December 1952 in Seminole Oklahoma. She is survived by her children Rick Scott, Kim Riley-Klever, April Dewitt, Betty Scott, Ralph Riley and Aaron Scott, Desiree Stidd-Scott, her sisters Lou Dewitt-Smith, Judy Dewitt- Robison, Iona Scott- Bell, her grandchildren Robby Dewitt, Holly Scott, Paul Scott, Haley Scott, Derick Wright Chris Scott, Troy Scott, Dakota Scott, Faith Scott, Brittany Klever-Enyeart, Jessica Riley, Cody Riley, Emma Riley, Hannah Riley, and great-grandchildren Autumn Mullinex, Bradon Davis, Luke Linsey, Jacob, Layla Wright, Drake Wright, Zoey Riley, Mackenzie Riley, Cami Riley, Kayden Scott, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She is proceeded in death by mother Birtha Butler- Scott, father Theodore Dewitt, sister Lavada Dewitt-Rose, brother James Scott, Granddaughter Lula Pearl Scott, Husband J.D. Riley and son Jay Riley.

Bobbie enjoyed spending time with her family and she also loved to go camping and fishing. She lived her life in her hometown of Clayton Ok, and then in Midwest City, OK

She passed away on 29 December 2021 in Oklahoma City, OK

How do you put into a few words the life of someone that meant so much to so many people? 

I will soon get back to my life and this blog but for now I need to take a break to reflect. 

Mom

 I have not been around here in a bit. On 29 December 2021, my mother passed away. It has hit me a lot harder than expected. Because of my own health issues, I really don't have much to occupy my mind so I just focus on it, and of course that makes it worse. 

My mom Bobbie in 1988

She had been in ill health for the better part of a decade. She had been in the hospital because she had just had surgery done on her elbow. She started doing physical therapy and her heart simply stopped beating they revived her and she spent two weeks in ICU then she regained consciousness. For a week I talked to her on the phone, unfortunately, I could not go see her because I had pneumonia and did not want to give it to her. She called me on the evening of the 28th and we talked for a bit. She was in pain and I did my best to calm her. The next morning I got a call from my aunt and she said that her heart quit again, once again they revived her. My aunt then informed the hospital of the DNR that my mom had so they agreed that it would be the last time that they revive her. A few minutes later she went to Heaven. I got to talk to her and about 8 hours later I was asked to write her obituary and was elected to make her urn. Here is her obituary:

Bobbie Ruth Dewitt-Riley was born on 17 December 1952 in Seminole Oklahoma. She is survived by her children Rick Scott, Kim Riley-Klever, April Dewitt, Betty Scott, Ralph Riley and Aaron Scott, Desiree Stidd-Scott, her sisters Lou Dewitt-Smith, Judy Dewitt- Robison, Iona Scott- Bell, her grandchildren Robby Dewitt, Holly Scott, Paul Scott, Haley Scott, Derick Wright Chris Scott, Troy Scott, Dakota Scott, Faith Scott, Brittany Klever-Enyeart, Jessica Riley, Cody Riley, Emma Riley, Hannah Riley, and great-grandchildren Autumn Mullinex, Bradon Davis, Luke Linsey, Jacob, Layla Wright, Drake Wright, Zoey Riley, Mackenzie Riley, Cami Riley, Kayden Scott, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She is proceeded in death by mother Birtha Butler- Scott, father Theodore Dewitt, sister Lavada Dewitt-Rose, brother James Scott, Granddaughter Lula Pearl Scott, Husband J.D. Riley and son Jay Riley.

Bobbie enjoyed spending time with her family and she also loved to go camping and fishing. She lived her life in her hometown of Clayton Ok, and then in Midwest City, OK

She passed away on 29 December 2021 in Oklahoma City, OK

How do you put into a few words the life of someone that meant so much to so many people? 

I will soon get back to my life and this blog but for now I need to take a break to reflect. 

K3NG Arduino CW Keyer K5BCQ Board Build Part IV

     Due to health issues, the holidays, and waiting on ordered components to arrive this project is going slower than the speed in which most people would do. I don't have an endless supply of parts just laying around the shack. So we will continue as we can. 

    I redid the picture showing what components that have been soldered to the board. I decided to simply color-code each type of component. I have found that this is easier to find parts that I have missed. Again I am not an EE (Electronics Engineer) I'm just an amateur radio operator and the word amateur is the keyword, trying to learn this stuff. This morning I finished all of the resistors. You need to pay attention because some of the resistors are rated for 1/8 watt and some are rated for 1/4 watt. 

Here is a drawing showing my progress so far.

Here is a photo showing the same progress as the drawing above.

Next up I will be doing the ceramic disk capacitors. Once you sit down and take a good look at it, there really aren't that many parts to this. The board itself is only 99mm x 87mm. I know for sure that I will be needing the single-row headers and the transistors. When you do order components, you really should order more than you need. The parts themselves are pretty cheap, sometimes the shipping and handling is more than the actual order of the parts. So order more than you need, like resistors. Even if I need only one resistor that is 1/4 watt 100 ohms is only two cents each. Order at least 100 of them and you will use them in later projects. You should just use your best judgement on the number of parts that you order. 

Stay Radioactive until next time

'72

Aaron K5ATG

Email: Aaron@K5ATG.com