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During our 2009 Fielddays, I’ve built a hartley ECO CW transmitter, using an EL84 tube. I then got inspired by the Glowbug from SM5GNN, The re-introduction of the “Mighty Midget” and the article “one hour transmitters from G3VA TT september 1988. I decided to build a new “One Tube, Two stage, Three band CW transmitter. Project name AM “Amazing Midget” it’s a 5W Crystal-controlled transmitter based on a single triode-pentode valve (eg ECL82 ECL84, ECL85 or ECL86) With a ECL86 it should be able to provide some 6W output. (Tnx Jacob, PD0JHM fer ur support) To be honest, I started…

DATE: Annually on the 3rd Wednesday in February TIME: 1900-2030 UTC PARTICIPANTS: All licensed amateurs using a semi automatic key (bug). No hand keys or elbugs. FREQUENCIES: 3,510 – 3,560 kHz CALL: CQ BUG EXCHANGE.: RST + QSO-No./the year the OP used a bug successfully for the first time. Example: 579001/61 SCORING: Every complete QSO counts one point. Each station may be worked once. Every participant having at least 10 QSOs can give a bonus of 5 points to another OP for excellent usage of his bug. SWL logs must contain both callsigns and at least one report. PRIZES: There…

20 feb 2013: Enjoyed tonight’s contest called Semi automatic Bug Evening or “Schlackertasten Abend” As I am AGCW member, CW lover and Vibroplex owner, I just had to join again. Invitation is normally as follows: (by mail :-)) CQ DE DK9KR = DR OM = 2013.02.20 1900 TO 2029 UTC 3510 TO 3560 KHZ = SCHLACKERTASTENABEND (SEMI AUTOMATIC KEY EVENING) 2013 = HW UR BUG? CALL CQ BUG = HPE CUAGN = PSE UR LOG TO SEMIAUTOMATIC@AGCW.DE = 73 ULF DK9KR So I joined  and enjoyed. My Bug is Vibroplex built in 2004 snr 110008 Left handed Original Gold. Enjoyed…

October 10th, 2012, PACC 2012 QSL-card is ready  This years’ PACC contest resulted in 840 QSO’s and 5th position in single-op, all, low, CW. All worked stations will receive the special QSL card soon. Picture is showing the Hanzeboog, near Hattem, a railwaybridge which arches across ijseldelta, connecting the provinces Gelderland and Overijssel. It rests on 18 concrete pillars, has a length of one kilometer, and was opened mid 2011. … Read the rest

40M is my favourite band the last few years as it is like a HF band that works at night time but allows you to work any distance, if properly equipped. The widely differing propagation conditions on 7MHz during a 24hrs period, and the differences between summer and winter conditions, make this a very useful band for both local and DX-working. As CW is my favourite mode I’m QRV almost every day in the CW part from 7.000 up to 7.032MHz. The 40-meter or 7-MHz band is considered one of the most reliable all-season DX-bands, most useful for inter-continental communication…

Just above the mediumwave broadcast band, 160 meters is the lowest radio frequency band allocation available to radio amateurs operators in most countries. Seasoned operators often refer to 160 meters as Top Band, it is also sometimes referred to as the “Gentleman’s Band” in comparison to the often-freewheeling 20 and 80 meter band allocations. The 160 meter band is the oldest amateur band and was the staple of reliable communication in the earliest days of amateur radio, when almost all communications were over relatively short distances. As the high frequency bands were developed in mid 1920s, along with their smaller,…

Saturday October 8, 2011: This week I,ve re-installed my FT817, as this is a true QRP-rig that I really love, since  I bought it in 2003.  I,ve used it last year in the O-QRP contest, and before that on a few “holiday-activities”. A few 5W qso’s proved that one can work the world with QRP. Found back my Panasonic lead-Acid battery (12V 7,2 Ah) and recharced it last night. This rainy weekend with several CW contest activities maybe a good  moment for some Qrp-cw-fun and a good preparation for a qrp/p activity. Two weeks ago I,ve received a encouragements-award from…