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Send in your score
John Lonigro
The February SSS is history. Please remember to submit your score (qrpcontest.com) by tomorrow (Tuesday). I will try to tabulate everything and report the results by Wednesday morning.
DST will start prior to the March SSS. This is a reminder that the SSS runs from 7:00-9:00 pm central time all year round, which is CST for a few months in the winter and CDT the rest of the year. 72, John, AA0VE 4SQRP Contest Coordinator
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4SQRP Second Sunday Sprint - Sun, 02/09/2020
#cal-notice
main@4SQRP.groups.io Calendar <noreply@...>
4SQRP Second Sunday Sprint When: Organizer: Description:
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Upcoming Event: 4SQRP Second Sunday Sprint - Sun, 02/09/2020 7:00pm-9:00pm
#cal-reminder
main@4SQRP.groups.io Calendar <main@...>
Reminder: 4SQRP Second Sunday Sprint When: Sunday, 9 February 2020, 7:00pm to 9:00pm, (GMT-06:00) America/Chicago Organizer: John Lonigro Description: 4SQRP Second Sunday Sprint. See http://www.4sqrp.com/4sqrpOnTheAir.php for details.
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Re: Cricket 40 Mod
Karl Schwab
Good deal Dan; I just tried the Cricket 80a today, both straight key and keyer jack work perfectly! I think this mod needs to be included in the kits, i.e., trace(s) added/removed from key PCB, whatever it takes. Owners will want the keyer option at some point. 73, Karl, KO8S
On Sat, Feb 8, 2020 at 1:09 PM Daniel Walter via Groups.Io <nm3a=yahoo.com@groups.io> wrote: Thanks for the picture, Karl. I figured out the mods. Just as simple as my mod! But I didn't think of that.
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Re: Cricket 40 Mod
Daniel Walter
Thanks for the picture, Karl. I figured out the mods. Just as simple as my mod! But I didn't think of that.
-- 72/73, Dan NM3A
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Re: Cricket 40 Mod
Karl Schwab
Dan, I do not have, or there never was, a schematic for this mod, i.e., "adding keyer jack to straight key strip" (or some such words). I took my Cricket 80a apart (see attached photo) so you can see how simple this was to do. Again, this was not my idea, but a post to the 4sqrp groups here a year or more ago. Looks like one pin of the jack was removed, then soldered to the board, two pins jumped, and a short length of wire added from one pin and soldered to pad on PCB. The photo shows this. Sorry, that is all that I have, but I have to say, it works like a charm buy using either the original straight key or attaching a keyer. No shorting plug or anything else needs to be used. I would like to see someone, research this mod and re-post it here. I think I will order a Cricket 40 and build it using what I have done here. 73, Karl, KO8S
On Sat, Feb 8, 2020 at 11:14 AM Daniel Walter via Groups.Io <nm3a=yahoo.com@groups.io> wrote: Karl,
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Re: Cricket 40 Mod
Daniel Walter
Karl,
Do you have the schematic for your mod? Do you need a shorting jack? Dan -- 72/73, Dan NM3A
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Upcoming Event: 4SQRP Second Sunday Sprint - Sun, 02/09/2020 7:00pm-9:00pm
#cal-reminder
main@4SQRP.groups.io Calendar <main@...>
Reminder: 4SQRP Second Sunday Sprint When: Sunday, 9 February 2020, 7:00pm to 9:00pm, (GMT-06:00) America/Chicago Organizer: John Lonigro Description: 4SQRP Second Sunday Sprint. See http://www.4sqrp.com/4sqrpOnTheAir.php for details.
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#OZARKCON Hotel Reservations
#OZARKCON
I just called in my hotel reservations to the StoneCastle in Branson.
They are still on winter hours so you can only visit with them Monday-Friday. But you can get your room reserved - be sure and say your with the 4SQRP OzarkCon group. 73, -Ed, WG5F-
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Re: Cricket 40 Mod
Karl Schwab
The attached photo is of my Cricket 80a that was modified per a post here from a year or so ago, allowing for the use of the straight key or keyer input. It was a simple mod of cutting a PCB trace and adding a single length of wire. Neither of which can be seen in this photo. The short length of wire is directly under the straight key strip. The mod was nice and clean and works perfectly and should be done on all Cricket builds, in my opinion. 73, de Karl, KO8S
On Friday, February 7, 2020, 10:53:24 AM EST, Daniel Walter via Groups.Io <nm3a@...> wrote:
There were 2 previous mods. The one used a transistor to lower the keying current. It seemed slightly more complicated but apparently allowed for simultaneous use of an external keyer and the straight key. The other mod I had thought of but discarded as it requires a shorting plug, which is another thing to get lost, and a way to hold the key down when the external keyer is used. The extra strip was already there and it requires only a wire and two extra nuts and bolts. And, most importantly to me, both the external keyer and the straight key can be used at the same time with no other items.
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Re: Cricket 40 Mod
Daniel Walter
There were 2 previous mods. The one used a transistor to lower the keying current. It seemed slightly more complicated but apparently allowed for simultaneous use of an external keyer and the straight key. The other mod I had thought of but discarded as it requires a shorting plug, which is another thing to get lost, and a way to hold the key down when the external keyer is used. The extra strip was already there and it requires only a wire and two extra nuts and bolts. And, most importantly to me, both the external keyer and the straight key can be used at the same time with no other items.
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Re: [ADV] [4SQRP] LD5 transceiver
You might try switching between Iambic mode A and mode B and see if it makes a difference for you. You may be used to another keyer's timing...
-- Jeff N0̷MII
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Re: [ADV] [4SQRP] LD5 transceiver
Scott,
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
I myself don’t use a keyer because I’m trying to learn CW with a mechanical device with timing that I “control” ...... but it’s sketchy !! Anyway, I have tried the built in keyers on several of my rigs, they all seem to have different feels to them and one rig just doesn’t cut it. From what I’ve read this is normal behavior. Is it possible that something happened to the keyer ? Seems from what you say that’s a likely cause. Perhaps a question to the manufacturer would be in order ? When my dits and dahs don’t come out exactly the way I want them I have to get up and walk around the room, take a break and try again..... HI. Good luck, John KK4ITX
On Feb 6, 2020, at 18:01, Scott WZØW <scott@...> wrote:
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Re: [ADV] [4SQRP] LD5 transceiver
Thanks, I have tried this. However, I get the same issue with at least three sets of paddles, and the paddles all work fine on my Yaesu radio.
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
I feel like the keying envelope is too "soft" or the rise time too slow. Instead of a nice solid dah or dit, it feels more like wah and whiff, if that makes sense. Scott WZ0W
On February 6, 2020 11:07:23 AM CST, "Jeff Logullo N0̸MII" <jeff@...> wrote: ...and you traditionally do this by pulling a clean thin strip of white paper between the contacts a few times, as you gently press them closed. --
Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.
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Re: [ADV] [4SQRP] LD5 transceiver
...and you traditionally do this by pulling a clean thin strip of white paper between the contacts a few times, as you gently press them closed.
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
-- Jeff N0̷MII
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Re: [ADV] [4SQRP] LD5 transceiver
Kent Trimble, K9ZTV
As Jack suggests, CLEAN but do not abrade, file, or in any other way damage the silvering on those contacts. 73, Kent K9ZTV
On Feb 6, 2020, at 8:57 AM, "jrdock@..." <jrdock@...> wrote:
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Re: Cricket 40 Mod
Karl Schwab
There is a easier way to modify the Cricket for a external key, and this was presented here some time ago. The key knob was added to external key strip by cutting a trace, and adding a single wire. This is the only strip now on the PCB and works perfectly in both modes on my Cricket 80a. I don't have that mod info in front of me, but it should be able to be found with some research. 73, Karl, KO8S
On Tuesday, January 28, 2020, 12:31:42 PM EST, Daniel Walter via Groups.Io <nm3a@...> wrote:
[Edited Message Follows] Just finished my Cricket 40. Neat kit, thanks for the design. I made a modification that 4SQRP may be interested in.
You have the option of an integral straight key or an external key jack. I wanted both available at anytime. So I used the external key jack adapter and mounted it beside the straight key. I isolated a small pad from the ground plane and soldered a heavy wire over this pad to support the adapter strip and connect to the key pad.
I drilled holes through the ground plane to connect the other end of the adapter. I used washers to elevate the strip and keep the jack pins from shorting to ground. As this jack does not short when empty, this allows me to use the straight key (which I generally will do) and add an external keyer when I want. I used the space between to store my crystals.
You could modify the PCB to integrate the external key jack onto the board in a similar position to where I mounted mine. This would also eliminate need for the extra PCB strip.
I have attached photos showing my work.
72,73, Dan
Sent from ARS: NM3A
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Re: [ADV] [4SQRP] LD5 transceiver
Randy, if you have not already done so, clean the contracts on your paddle. If they are silver alloy they tend to tarnish which will cause the skip.
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
Jack WD0CFH Jack R. Dock ... How about we give GOD a reason to continue blessing America? In defense of America I pledge my life, my fortune and my sacred honor. War does not determine who is right, only who is left. "A veteran is someone who at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to The United States of America for any amount, up to and including their life."
On Feb 5, 2020, at 8:15 PM, Scott WZØW <scott@...> wrote:
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Delta Mike Romeo Net
Robert
Thanks everyone for a great net. Tonight's topic was Antenna Launcher's. Tonight's check in's: NK8O Charles WG5F Ed N0TGR Dick KC0PP Keith KB9JLO Dan KU5M Joe W0MFQ Tom N9PUZ Tim N0MII Jeff Thanks to everyone. 73's Bert N0YJ
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LD5 transceiver
Hi all,
Does anyone else in the group have any experience with the LD5 xcvr from LNR Precision? I've had one for about three years, and I can't quite get the CW keyer to work well. It skips dits and dahs frequently and I have to work my paddles pretty hard to keep that behavior to a minimum. It also works a little better if I run it at full power, but then it reports a power output of about 8 watts, so a bit outside the QRP limits. If anyone had used this rig and has any tips for making it work better on CW, I'd appreciate it. Aside from this issue, it's a handy little 5 band, all mode unit that could be great for portable operation. Scott WZ0W -- Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.
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