Becky’s new CW Paddle and EFHW: Will they POTA? QRP? N4BKY & N4FFF
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- čas přidán 29. 08. 2024
- Becky had just built the K6ARK EFHW antenna, we tuned it and decided to see how it worked. What a better way than to do a POTA! It didn’t disappoint and even made it as far as Argentina. Becky also put together her new K6ARK key and used a paddle for the first time as an activator.
Don’t forget to check out our general RV travel channel too (link below)!
📍 WHERE ARE WE:
Wheeler National WIldlife Refuge
www.fws.gov/re...
POTA Information : US-0161
pota.app/#/par...
⚙️ OUR GEAR (featured in this video):
RIG : QCX mini: qrp-labs.com/q...
Power : 5 Watts
Becky’s Key: K6ARK 3D printed paddle: www.printables...
Silicon Cable Cord Ties:
a.co/d/0dEZ2Rri
NatureHike Ultralight Camping Table
www.amazon.com...
Alvantor Screen House Room Camping Tent
a.co/d/0ekNvi7k
We had our paddles 3D printed locally.
✔️OTHER CZcams CHANNELS / HAM FRIENDS MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO
N4CCB’s QRP School
/ @qrpschool
N4CCB’s QRP School video that introduced me to the golf ball and fishing line (we use string)
• New England QSO Party ...
K6ARK’s K6ARK Portable Radio
/ @k6ark
KQ3Q Lidi’s Channel
/ @kq3q
W4EMB Ed es AA4SB Shantel
/ @w4emb
✔️SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHANNELS:
Ham Radio Duo
/ @hamradioduo
Home is Where Your Honey Is - RV Camping adventures
/ @homeiswhereyourhoneyis
🍿WATCH NEXT:
N4BKY - Becky's first SOTA activation! Straight key CW fun!
• N4BKY - Becky's first ...
SHE DID IT!!! : Becky’s first POTA CW ham radio activation : Nerves and Fun for us both!
• N4BKY - Becky's first ...
Ham Radio SOTA Activation on Wade Mountain :Our first CW SOTA Activation : Amateur Radio Fun!
• CW SOTA Activation on ...
Low Power Ham Radio at the Park: QCK-Mini and new vertical whip antenna at our local park!
• Low Power Ham Radio at...
Ham radio by the pond: bike to play cw morse code by the pond (from Dec 2020)
• ham radio by the pond:...
❓WHO ARE WE?
We're Michael & Becky, also known as N4FFF and N4BKY. We're an adventure couple who also loves CW (morse code) and radio stuff. We are both trying to get better at CW so having two of us there trying to copy really helps us figure most of it out! We love adventures and this is another way for us to get out there and have fun together.
If you catch one of us on the air most likely we are both at the ready. We like to hunt POTA's and each make contact so don't be surprised if you hear from us both.
Please email us or leave a comment if you watch along and make contact with us someday. We'd love to hear from you!
73,
Michael and Becky
N4FFF / N4BKY
📌DISCLAIMER:
Affiliate Disclaimer: Some of these links in this description are affiliate links. We'll earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you, if you make a purchase using the link.
#hamradio #sota #pota #morsecode #cw #qrz #rv #rvlife #adventure
Do you use paddles or straight key? Different for pota?
I use a Paddle. Great video!! Great team!! Well done Becky!
Keep up the good work!
@@IanNA4Ayou send really fast. You can't really do that on a straight key hihi 😂. 73 Mike N4FFF es Becky N4BKY
Almost exclusively a paddle unless I'm doing SKCC. One of my radios does not like a paddle, but is fine with a single lever paddle so that's what I use with that. I've used a straight key for POTA a few times just for the challenge.
I prefer paddles or software for sending. Thanks for sharing your adventures!
@@IanNA4A Thank you Ian! Getting used to the paddle is a challenge, but sending is definitely faster, minus the mistakes 🤣
We will keep trying to hunt you even though we are so close !!!
73 de Becky and Michael (N4BKY / N4FFF)
Amazing job, both of you! This is low key one of my new favorite channels. I absolutely love watching these. I love that you two share this hobby.
Thanks so much for the compliment and coming with us on our CW journey 🙂 We are having a great time working together and learning from each other and feel super fortunate we can have fun doing this together!! 73 de Becky and Michael (N4BKY / N4FFF)
Hi!!! It was such a delight to make contact with you Becky. You did great with the paddles. You should print the leg base so you can strap it around the leg. Thanks for the shoutout! It is a lot of work setting up the tent but as a duo is easy! I hope summer is over soon so I can enjoy cooler weather for my POTA activations. Keep it up and I hope to work you again soon! :) #KQ3Q
Lidi!!! Was so excited to recognize your call (I'm sure you could tell from the video) 🤣We noticed the leg strap also! We'll eventually get it printed and check it out. Regarding our bug tent, its easier to set up than you'd think and can definitely be setup by one person. 73, de Becky and Michael (N4BKY / N4FFF)
Looking forward to future activation videos! Next time you build something, that would make a great video as well. You are doing super with the new paddles! Glad you were able to work Lidi & Stuart! 73, Patrick KF4LMZ
We ordered extra 3D printed paddle parts and were thinking of making a video of us putting one together.
Thanks for joining us on our adventures. 😁 We appreciate the comment and knowing what you’d be interested in seeing from us.
73, de Mike N4FFF es Becky N4BKY
Good job Becky. I’ll be on the listen for N4BKY and N4FFF
Thank you. If you hear one of us, most likely you'll hear the other pretty soon after :-) 73, Becky N4BKY es Mike N4FFF
Really enjoy your videos. Thanks for sharing. This one cracks me up - my wife, Betsy (N4AJJ), has a bug tent and fan exactly like this for POTA :) I also talk to Betsy while she's operating but shoosh her when I'm up. Hahaha. Trying to break that habit :) Great job with the 49:1 build and new key! Hope to get you both in my log soon. You guys are an awesome duo! 73 de N4AAJ
Scott, thanks for the response! We crack each other up all the time. @PhilG0BVD said Michael is my local QRM during sending 🤣 The build was fun and hope to do some more soon! 73, de Becky and Michael (N4BKY / N4FFF)
Ok I just found your channel and I'm liking it. I can relate a bit as I only live 20 minutes from Wheeler I'm trying to get into ham radio id like to see you guys do this in person someday any helpful hints I could take away I get confused by the whole thing great video guys!!!
Awesome! Good luck on your ham radio journey. We found that we like morse code the best. We used the morse mania app to learn the letters at a relatively fast speed. Now we use morse code ninja youtube videos for regular copy practice. Just like you watching this video, we watch other activations for POTA specific practice. 73 Mike N4FFF es Becky N4BKY
@HamRadioDuo I know absolutely nothing about it or how it works I just figured because I live so close by Cullman I'd get to see yall but it's fine I'll try to study or something lol thanks 😊
Great job Becky, you are doing a lot better then me. I would love to see the video of putting together Adam's antenna. I would also love to see you put together the paddle. I bought the tiny paddles but, I would like to see Adam's being put together. I looked on his sit but don't see the paddle. I don't have a 3D printer so that might be an issue for me. Thank you for sharing Becky you did a great job. Michael was a big help I see in confirming your log. Good for you. Maybe one day we will touch base on the CW side.
Thank you Janice, each time on the air helps us build confidence and improve our skills.
Also, we appreciated your suggestions on videos. We ordered extra 3D paddles and plan to make a video soon! Maybe on a next antenna build as well. Our first paddle was printed at the local library after we put in a request with the file so maybe you can try that. Here is the link to the downloadable file : www.printables.com/model/332611-morse-code-paddle-cw-key . You can also get to it by going to k6ark.com and looking for the 3D Prints section. It also lists the parts you have to order which come in packs of 10 or more. We ended up then asking a local guy to print them for us, and he was able to use the PETG material that Adam says to use in his build instructions. Those paddles feel much better.
Hope to catch you on the air as well! 73, de Becky and Michael (N4BKY / N4FFF)
@@HamRadioDuo Thank you Becky & Michael.
Great job Becky. You’re doing great on the paddles and CW in general. It did look like you were slapping some characters like the letter C while doing squeeze keying on the letter K and W as an example. Try squeeze keying on all characters that are appropriate for squeeze keying and I think you’ll love it once you get the hang of it. I do use Iambic mode B. Love seeing the QCX-mini in action (I have a QCX-mini for 40, 30, and 20 meters). 73, Don wd8dsb
Thank you Don!
I’m working on the squeezing and hope with more practice I can get more comfortable with it. So far my comfort is with a straight key and I like the simplicity of it, but I see the advantages of a paddle for sure.
We love our QCX mini and have a QMX on order to be able to use more bands when doing our portable POTA’s.
de Becky N4BKY es Mike N4FFF
Great job looks like y'all had a ton of fun. I started POTA in January and made hundreds of contacts with a 3d printed K6ARK paddle before upgrading to one of the no name Chinese paddles. Now I have a few nicer portable keys. As you start to increase our speed higher quality keys make a big difference. I've done a few straight key activations but its a lot more work! Once you get used to paddle you can knock out more QSOs in less time. --K5OHY
Thanks! We are having a great time and I'm sure some of our preferences will change as our skills improve 🙂 Just wish the copy skills improved faster than the sending skills. HIHI 🤣
73, de Becky and Michael (N4BKY / N4FFF)
Argentina?! With a homebrew antenna! Whoa. 🎉
Can I get some more info on that golf ball thingy?
73 from KM3STU
QRP is amazing .. you just never know how far you might get!!
We use a golf ball and a really thin high visibility rope. We toss the golf ball over a tree branch so that we can pull the antenna back up to whatever height we want in the tree. The golf ball has a small screw islet screwed into it. The thin rope has a fishing swivel on it so we can switch from the golf ball to the antenna after the toss. Cliff taught us how to do this on his CZcams channel, QRP School. Later today will grab the specific video and post it here.
73, Mike N4FFF es Becky N4BKY
@@HamRadioDuo Very clever. Thanks!
At first it didn't look like you were squeezing, but later it looks like you do at least for some letters. I see you do for K, Y, and Q but not C ;)
When I first learned to send I really made it a point to learn squeezing/iambic. It definitely takes some practice but I think it makes me smoother and less likely to slap the paddles. I don't know that it's any more efficient or any more correcter, just something I wanted to do while I was learning anyway.
Anyway, nice job on the antenna and paddle. I tried building one of Adam's antennas and buggered something up. It looks perfect for that sort of setup.
As for spacing, some of the things sound better as a whole word like BK, 73, POTA. You're very easy to copy, but don't be afraid to tighten up the spacing some (which will come as you get used to the paddle). Or not. Whatever's comfortable for you. :)
Keep up the great work.
Todd, appreciate the thoughts around using a paddle. Michael said he already gave up on the "C" squeeze but now is encouraged to try again!
73, de Becky and Michael (N4BKY / N4FFF)
Straight key or paddles? I have only used a straight key (LICW member) up until about 2 weeks ago. I purchased a Bamatech TP-iii, and I love it. I have not gone out into the field with it yet for an activation since I am "new" to CW. My decoding/ICR is not that good yet. It is good enough for hunting (700+ contacts), but pulling out call signs and activating "scares" me. Loving your videos. New Subscriber!
Pulling out call signs scares us too. HIHI! Watching @w4emb and other activation videos helped with our copy practice and encouraged us to just go do it. As long as you can send a question mark, eventually you’ll get it. HIHI 🤣 Definitely more comfortable on the straight key for those first activations for sure!!
Thanks for joining our adventures!!
de Becky N4BKY es Mike N4FFF
Becky, Mike is your local QRM when sending lol 🙂true words Mike you are encouraging people to get on air you are both are so chilled with no nerves. 73 Phil G0BVD
Phil, that is hilarious and true ... local QRM in the seat next to us which definitely ads to the fun!! Thank you for recognizing why we are sharing. It's fun to do and we hope to encourage others to do the same! "No nerves"?? Maybe we just hide them well!! HIHI 🤣 de Becky and Michael (N4BKY / N4FFF)
@@HamRadioDuo Hi Both, I have come back to CW after a 32 year lapse with older brain matter hi hi. I practice everyday for an hour and now I have Vband interface to help with sending. Watching you both having fun and getting on air is helping me with my on air nerves. Like my wife tells me it is not an exam and who cares if you make a mistake. Just get on air and enjoy the hobby. 73 Phil G0BVD
@@PhilG0BVD That's a great way to think about it. We always cringe when we make a mistake but never when someone else does 🙂 It's almost a relief so we can reset and get another chance to copy correctly. HIHI! de Becky and Michael (N4BKY / N4FFF)
Howdy Folks - just found ur channel -- really enjoyed it as im on my CW journey as a POTA hunter - jus short of 3000 activations hunted since last septenber --not much to activate up north here in BC Canada so i hunt - im another ole straight keyer that converted - still not sure about a paddle lol - i contact Brent KJ7RPL often - catch you on the air sum day hopefully - VE7JYD 73 dit dit
Thank you for joining our CW journey!! That's an amazing amount of POTA hunts.
It's definitely scary to move off of the comfort of the straight key and we will probably go back and forth for awhile. Hope to catch you soon as well!
73, de Becky and Michael (N4BKY / N4FFF)
Careful of alligators they're right there i was raised fishing in Blackwell swamp and there was laying on the river bank right there where the creek runs in the river right where yall are setting !!! Yall doing a great job ... be careful
Wow! We did some googling and sure thing, gators and that seems to be the most likely spot for them. There are even a few videos on youtube. We love seeing gators when we visit FL. Now that we know, we won't be bringing our dog with us for future activations (we did once). I've read up on gators from time to time and it seems that statistically, they aren't like crocadiles and don't like to bite anything they can't swallow whole -- so mustly act like turtles but are a risk to dogs and small kids.
@HamRadioDuo Yup exactly and I got 2 little yorkies And when I was there A couple of weeks ago, that gator was laying there on the bank. I wouldn't let my dogs out 'cause I know they will snatch up your dog up and be gone. ... But.
Yall did a great job.I'm getting into Morse code Also i'm just learning ! I took my extra test. And got my ticket July, 13th. 2024 I'm tickled now. It's time to move on to antennas and Morse code. Thanks for answering me back 73 KQ4QDG.
Do you use paddles or straight key? Different for pota?
For POTA & SOTA you can use any type of key you want.
Fantastic! Hope to work both of you sometime, hopefully P2P! 73, Rudi de ZS2M/ZS6DX/ZS1BT/V51VE.
We definitely have fun getting a P2P whenever we can. Hope to catch you on the air sometime! de Becky and Michael (N4BKY / N4FFF)