Yes!  That caught my eye as well.  The receive current drain (critically important for field opns) is a bit over 100 mA , which is superb in a full function, rig and the physical layout and construction is where 'we' really need to be for rucksack radio, because anything can work on a picnic table - which is fun- but robust & survivable is worth the extra expense.   I do hope that this makes the transition from prototype into a retail product.

de Ray  ..._ ._

Well, not 'death' actually, more like 'DEAF by microprocessor'. 

We all know that radio communication in voice is quite power hungry, so Watt-for-Watt, digital modes are more robust in tough conditions.  Of course, Morse code sent via CW is extremely robust, yielding between 13-18 dB 'system gain' compared to voice modes, depending upon who's math you're using. 

The timing with this 'deafness' is 'educational':  About the time that Hurricane Dorian , a category >5< HURRICANE was pounding Bermuda and forecast to come up the coast and do the same to us, I received a Windows update, after which my laptop would not operate.  I went to SAFE mode, and it worked for a little while, then nothing....  This is the ham shack laptop with all my cool radio gimmicks on it, including weather satellite software to download my own images - directly, WINLINK (for emergency status checks with family and friends) & etc.  Windows is still deader than a bag-of-rocks to this day, until I have time to reload Windows from disc & all the software , then reconfigure it all.  I am in no hurry.

Why am I NOT in a hurry to fix my laptop so that I can communicate? Because my straight key and my 1939 McElroy 'bug' work flawlessly, cannot be virused, dDOS'd , have no 'back-door' vulnerabilities, and never have updates and yet work well below the noise level, require ZERO power, leaving only my transceiver(s) with their many battery back-up systems, which I am well prepared for. I have to ask myself:what would I do, if I had never learned Morse, and had to DEPEND upon a computer to communicate for me? If we loose power for the long term  , and iI decide to send 'health & welfare' messages to key friends, I can easily do that in Morse code, either casually through random hams outside of the area, or as formal message traffic via the various National Traffic System / RRI Morse traffic nets. And I can do it with very little power in CW - very, very little power.

A skill like Morse code will serve you for life. Skills take-up no room in your rucksack, weigh nothing and can be enhanced with a cup of coffee,

and brother, do I love good coffee!

Fortunately, Hurricane Dorian has dropped to a -still dangerous- category 2, and it's track indicates that it will only offer this area a glancing blow as it heads-out to sea. At least, that's the forecast. I'll know more tomorrow when I'm looking at it, or not.




de Ray  ..._ ._

We have a MAJOR Hurricane approaching (It's a CAT 5 right now)  .  If you ever wondered how difficult it is to capture weather satellite images without the internet, it's not difficult, but does require the software and a bit of practice. There are MANY YouTube posts with excellent instruction about this, so I will not repeat what they've done. 

Here is an image received within the hour using an inexpensive SDR and no automatic satellite tracking or LNA: (attached)


de RadioRay

WooHoo!great to have you back.  Btw I am back home on the Southern Bay , so an easy 80m shot for CW.   PERHAPS WE CAN MEET ON THE AIR to discuss whether I am "the other Ray" or you are ??

73 de Other Ray ( provisional )

Hi Brian,

I don't know whether you know about the group, but Straight Key Century Club (SKCC) hangs aboud 7055'ish and they are desicated to using straight keys, 'bugs' and other non-electronics keying, SOOOO they are a  prime place for slower code with an emphasis on having fun while practicing.  I have several conversations around their hang-out frequencies.  I'm not much of a 'joiner' but I joined SKCC early on, because I like their way of doing thing and how they serve as a platform for people to improve their on the air Morse skills.


73 de Ray  ..._ ._

"...sail and play radio..."

That sounds familiar.  No more sailing for me, but I have to say, that on the hook in some little out of the way place on The Bay, I could hear EVERYTHING !  I remember being over on the Eastern Shore listening to two station in Africa while they had a regional conversation on 40 meters - not so local for me.  I didn't transmit, just enjoyed hearing them.

Also, there's something reassuring about knowing that you can cast off lines, and run self contained for a very long time - and distance.

73 de Ray  ..._ ._

Hi Greg,

Yes, Florence was originally set to hit us, before it veered southwest. We were in the mandatory evacuation zone along the southern Chesapeake Bay until that happened. Water storage along with rechargeable battery powered lights and radio (and at least one fan ;-) make a huge difference if there is a significant weather problem.

73 de Ray  ..._ ._

Welcome aboard.  There is a deep cache' of radio information here, and well worth the digging.  Good move on the general class ham license.  There is a lot of utility there, especially in hurricane country, as was proven last year and it's a great way to learn many new skills.

73 de Ray
..._ ._

Yes!

Radio Relay International is awesome.  It's real communication, and reading through the after action report from the Cascadia Rising exercise produced by the U.S. Federal government , it put a smile on my face to see Morse operators juuuuust slightly win over the excellent PACTOR network.  Another factor in this exercise was to simulate the depletion of fuel reserves used for powering ham and municipal generators, which took some of the heavy data centers off the air, as would happen in an actual disaster of this size. The energy efficiency of low/medium powered CW with trained/experienced operators handling traffic really became extremely useful.

Remember: If you can't power your communication equipment, you cannot communicate.


73 de RadioRay  ..._ ._

Congratulations on the Toyota Land Cruiser!  Those are great vehicles. Once your are more settled-in, viedos of exploring your new home region should be quite interesting.

73 de Ray  ..._ ._

1st - IT's been a few years and though that is how I remember it, CHECK YOUR MANUAL. The radio you save will be your own ;-)

2nd - If VWflier reads this, he can answer, because he bought it from me.


73 de Ray ..._ ._

Yes! the external power port is how I powered mine and kept the internal battery as a 'reserve' when away from home. 

de Ray  ..._ ._

http://morsecode.world/m/eJxjYhYRsQGBLYxgDKWAGJUFo2xsljBDGEByCbMNiga4BFQ5GCEUICkCy8BMAvPBHFSbYLqgdiKJQ5WChBHuxmcmzFnoVuPyBFQRwjqIcSBxAHu-WhU=

Both are fine radios. As a dedicated rig for ultralite backpacking, the MTR series win hands down.  However, I found that I preferred the the Hb1b because of its versatility; it's good for signal search, is USB/LSB receive capable and SWLing as well. You made a good choice.  I only wish that they still made them with an 80m band, which is extremely handy for communication within that vitally important 'one-tank-of-gas- range.

73 de RadioRay ..._ ._

C'mon, Andy,

You know that most Americans don't obey faceless distant bureaucrats, unless we personally believe in that particular regulation.   That goes double if it came from Washington D.C. ha ha

Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus
- or something like that ;-)


de RadioRay  ..._ ._