Morse Code for Prepping.

[gil]

(Loud intro...)

Gil.

[NWARadio]

Totally unrelated to radio: What's that painting behind you?

[cockpitbob]

Drop cloth from when he was painting a kids room multiple colors? ::)

[gil]

The painting came with the house! No idea.
Gil

[NWARadio]

Back on topic: I'm loving the YouTube channel and I'm glad you started it.  It also gives me more things to share on Facebook, even though I rarely post these days. Your videos are inspiring me to look into some low power cw rigs.

[Jim Boswell]

Gil,
     Excellent video, great explanation of the bandwidth difference between CW and SSB. Your video makes me think of breaking out the old CW cd's and headphones working again to get proficient. Considering peoples dependance on fancy phones and computers, preppers do need a back-up system. I enjoy my TenTec Argosy and Icom 703 but the Youkits 4 bander will get the message out if I could get my CW skills up.
      In all honestly I would rather improve my Cw skills than upgrade my license. Why, because I think this nation is under threat. Thank You

      Any news about your boat? Take Care, 73'S  KA5SIW

[gil]

Thanks Jim. No boat sightings unfortunately. Not holding my breath anymore..

That is exactly the point of CW, it goes through. I use all kinds of antennas, some not very efficient, but they work with CW, as they would with PSK31 or weak signal digital modes, but there is no need for a computer. SSB to me can be very frustrating on low power.

My Morse decoding abilities vary from 15 to 20wpm on a good day. Not the fastest but enough for good contacts and rag chewing. I'd like 25wpm solid head copy..

My favorite radio remains the Weber MTR. I really enjoy the small single band rigs too and plan on getting a 1-Watter on 80m next.

A small CW rig, half wave wire and tuner beats anything else in my book, especially when it can be powered for a week by eight AA cells.

Now, I really like my RT-320 and KX2 on SSB, but that's for decent conditions. My next video will be on the Clansman BTW. The lack of propagation this year however made me very happy I know Morse code!

Gil

[RadioRay]

I totally agree on the elegance of Morse code for radio communication.  I enjoy the simplicity of being able to set-up just about anywhere, in minutes, with my wire antenna and QRP rig; which includes the HOA I live in.   The power budget for excellent communication in Morse makes it very easy to keep a rig running when operating out of a rucksack.

Am I impressed with how well digital modes work?  Yes! They do amazing things, but the power budget, portability and more, goes right out the window, even with my tiny tablet.  To be perfectly frank: the ONLY reason I find myself using digital modes, with friends who do not speak Morse.  There is no advantage for me to use digital, because Morse is simpler and much more enjoyable for a conversation. MY 1939 McElroy bug or tiny field key never fails to boot...

Like I used to tell people, SKILLS that you own, are your best use of Size, Weight and Power and they are always with you.

Morse code is a survival skill.



73 de RadioRay  ..._  ._

[gil]

Very good point on budget Ray. A 1-Watter kit costs $50. A complete HF station can be bought for $100 and fits in a very small box. You can't beat that!

Gil

[Rescue9]

There is no advantage for me to use digital, because Morse is simpler and much more enjoyable for a conversation.

I can agree with this statement, if that's your fancy. Had the words "for me" been missing then that would have been a different story. While I completely agree that morse is useful in all aspects, for covert operations digital can outperform morse. Sending and/or receiving multiple SPOT reports from field ops over digital is much quicker and easier than morse.

[cockpitbob]

... Sending and/or receiving multiple SPOT reports from field ops over digital is much quicker and easier than morse.

And more accurate.  I can be copying along just fine, then all of a sudden I loose focus, I loose characters and ...Oh look!  A squirrel! :o

[RadioRay]

My days of 'bursty' comms are long over and unneeded. For my needs, the PRC-74B, GRA-71 , batteries and accessories can go to the memory bin. The ham equivalent overhead for software, interface, cables and power --- and distributing the load ( 2x for redundancy ) among a bunch of guys - naaaah!

These days,  I'll take my QRP rig , Danish pipe tobacco and aged Ilay Scotch: mission accomplished !

Rr

[cockpitbob]

Ray, I like your style.

On the last outdoor QRP Skeeter Hunt, I brought a folding chair and iced white wine stealthily concealed in a Gatoraid bottle (not allowed in the state park I set up in). 

[gil]

I always knew a wobbly or chirpy CW tone was caused by excessive drinking!

Gil

[Jim Boswell]

Gee, all this time I thought a chirpy CW signal was caused by tube radios, not the jugs of wine, See I learn something new every time I check this forum. Kind'a confusing, how does Gator aid get radioactive?