Just to follow up my original post: That Swiss company is now ready to take orders:

http://blog.polarmond.ch/outdoor-revolution-en
http://polarmond.ch/?lang=en
http://blog.polarmond.ch/de-preorder-uebersicht-usd

Two-and-a-half thousand dollars and up ... I'd rather go for a pre-assembled Elecraft KX3 with all possible add-ons and accesories.

Quote from: gil on March 10, 2016, 03:30:24 AM
I can think of two radios I want to get right off the bat, an Elecraft K1, which I will need to build, and a Weber MTR, which I will need to buy from LNR Precision this time.  The Weber I want for its portability, full band coverage and 5W output in such a tiny package. Of course they are both Morse code radios only, but I consider Morse code to be the best mode ever for prepping, ya'll know me well

I am a Morse code and QRP only kind of person. More than 40 years ago I worked several years as a shipboard Radio Officer. I also had a ham license, but I have been QRT for these 40 years. Recently I found I still had a right to my license and my old C/S, so I am trying to get back in. The only pieces of equipment I have from the good old days are a Vibroplex semi-automatic bug (the Original Deluxe) and a Morse training oscillator.

I lust for a pre-built Elecraft KX3 (I am not into miniature soldering any more), but I don't know if I can ever afford it. The Weber MTR seems like a good starting point for me, but I cannot find any LNR Precision Internet site (nor elsewhere) where it is actually being sold, ready-made. Can you tell me more? (And if I acquire one, I will need advice about keying it in the field and what else I need, like a mobile antenna, of course.)

Quote from: gil on January 21, 2016, 04:16:22 PM
What better way than listening to the news in Morse code?!

I frequently listen to this on my MacBook, and it works very well on my iPhone, too:

Quote from: http://cw.dimebank.com:8080
• Stream Title: CNN Breaking News in Morse (30/25/21 wpm)
• Stream Description: CNN's "breaking news" Twitter feed converted to Morse Code
• Content Type: audio/mpeg
[...]
Click to Listen: http://cw.dimebank.com:8080/CNNmed.m3u

In my quote I included the link to:
• CNN Breaking News in Morse (30/25/21 wpm)

There are other links to other speeds, too:
• CNN Breaking News in Morse (25/21/18/13 wpm)
• CNN Breaking News in Morse (50/47/44/41/38 wpm)
• CNN Breaking News in Morse (15/13/10/7 wpm)
• CNN Breaking News in Morse (40/36/33/30 wpm)

There are also links to these two training sites:

• Mount Point : (/NN9U) Stream Title: NN9U's CW practice tables
• Stream Description: Tables of digraphs, trigraphs and common English words taken from NN9U's article in the January 2009 QST
• Stream URL: http://www.arrl.org/qst/?month=1&year=2009 [This link does not work, it seems.]

• Mount Point : (/W1AW) Stream Title: W1AW CW practice
• Stream Description: W1AW practice text, from high speed (40) to low (13)
• Stream URL: http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/morse.html

http://www.radiotelegraphy.net  — There is so much in here, days of reading:


• Maritime Radio History
• Landline Telegraph
• On Topic Books

• Learning to Use Morse Code
• CW Internet Resources

• Q & Z-Signals and Prosigns
• CW Skill Events (high speed)
• Collections of Keys
• Popular CW Operating Groups
• Available Production Keys
• Key Maintenance
• Key Building
• Building Parts Sources
• Electronic Keyers
• Radio Room Clocks
• QRP Information
• General Ham Radio Links

This is a Facebook page where interesting links are being added about every week:

Quote from: https://www.facebook.com/morsedummies/info/PAGE INFO
... Description


CW MORSE CODE for Dummies.
Learners, experts, tricks, materials, contacts ... radiotelegraphy
(Some of this information is collected in internet)

Example of recent link: http://www.kent-engineers.com/abbreviations.htm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Kg5FDhO6uU&list=PLdwkbjBNJkwLazdN5TqJ1y9uGnoVpsfQw&index=1

This playlist was put on YouTube last week, perhaps of use to some of those who are learning Morse Code?

QuoteHi everybody. Justin here from the Morse Code channel.

I'm doing this video to introduce this new playlist which is learning 'Morse Code as a Language'. Morse code really is its own language, with its own words, grammar, structure, conventions, slang, and so on.

I'm going to present short dialogs between two hypothetical people. I'll be sending Morse code using different tones for the different people. After the dialog, I'll break it down, what they were saying, including things to look out for, and things specific to Morse code.

The playlist is going to be geared at newbies and intermediates. I assume the listener knows at least some or all of the letters and numbers. It would be great if the listener has a Morse code key they can use as well to practice, or an app, or computer program, but one of the practical things about Morse code is that you can even just tap with your finger, say dit and dah with your voice, etc. to participate.

I would encourage people to NOT use computers or apps to decode the Morse code you hear, but rather keep it a skill, a human activity, as much as possible. I think you'll learn more Morse code this way.

And we'll go from there!

My background is I've been interested in ham radio and Morse code since about 2013, and have been doing Morse code practice on and off the air since then. I upgraded to my Extra license a few weeks ago. I love languages in general, I can speak some Espanol (Spanish) and Putonghua (Mandarin Chinese).

Thanks for having an interest in languages, Morse code specifically, and checking out this channel, and this new playlist 'Morse Code as a Language'.

I will see you next video, bye bye.

Quote from: RadioRay on September 10, 2012, 01:27:04 PM
There are specific methods for handling message traffic which takes it from casual -doing a Buddy a favor- to professional quality, correcting errors ('getting fills') and etc. which the average ham has never used and probably never even heard of.

A maritime Morse operator would be an expert in such things.  These traffic handling methods can be learned.

Nothing like having a good Sparkie ashore or aboard whether it's digital or Morse.

QSL. Thanks for this nice welcome message!

I found a lot more information and photos here:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/janulus/trinity-portable-wind-turbine-power-station

(I tried to post pictures, but it didn't work out ...)

It looks kind of fragile, though. I can't find product specifications, like what material is in the blades. Where I'd use one, there might be heavy winds coming up without warning, so I need something that will survive harsh weather. What about winter?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=1&v=SX-I5WksnrM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBYB0AfwJiM

Finally, no more depending on batteries or solar power or fossil fuel generators?

https://www.minds.com/blog/view/493165287319805952/portable-wind-turbine-has-sparked-a-craze-and-lets-you-harvest-renewable-energy-almost-anywhere

Quote
Portable wind turbine has sparked a craze and lets you harvest renewable energy almost anywhere

Janulus, a company based in Minnesota seems to have nailed a need that society has been craving.  They have built a portable wind turbine/battery combo that can charge your smart phone or your electric car.

The turbines come in one of four sizes and strengths.  The smallest, weighing in at 1.4 pounds, will give you 50 watts of power.  They scale up in size from 50 to 400 to 1,000 and finally to 2,500 watts, the largest of which can still fit in the trunk of your car.  The Kickstarter for these new models exploded on day 1 and has almost reached their goal of $50,000 as of this article being written.

http://www.designboom.com/technology/janulus-trinity-portable-wind-turbines-09-22-2015/
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/janulus/trinity-portable-wind-turbine-power-station
http://inhabitat.com/portable-wind-turbine-kickstarter-raises-almost-entire-goal-in-one-day/
http://www.janulus.com

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/09/150925085538.htm

QuoteAn "all-in-one" shelter system has been developed for mountaineers. Inside the shelter conditions remain comfortable whatever the weather outdoors, thanks to a sophisticated dehumidifying system and a fine-tuned temperature control mechanism.

I have been waiting for something like this to replace tents and sleeping bags. Must be fine for QRP / SOTA expeditions into the mountains? Maybe also for certain other contingencies?

Quote from: cockpitbob on July 08, 2015, 09:54:25 PM
With a great avatar like yours, yes, you're IN.

BTW, welcome to the board!

Thank you very much — on both points! That avatar is actually alive and  ... spark(l)ing:



Source: http://www.radioofficers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/marconiSeaGoing1.gif

Can you count me in?


I live in Norway, but my Midwest relatives are coming over this fall, and I guess they wouldn't mind bringing me a T-shirt, if I am the lucky winner?