Yep, there's big changes coming tomorrow night on the 75/80 meter band. The phone portion of 75 will — at 12:01 Friday morning — extend down to 3600 kHz — which is 100 kcs MORE than the ARRL had suggested in its petition to the FCC.
I have some real reservations about the FCC's move, too. It appears it wasn't well thought-out because it actually takes spectrum away from General and Advanced class hams. There are some problems too because it gives little space to digital modes that might need the room. One hundred kilohertz just may not be enough room to accomodate computer digital modes and the CW ops. It's going to be tight, me thinks.
Or heck, maybe not tight at all. I think the FCC should have gone with the League's proposal in this instance. The ARRL this week proposed a couple of changes that would move the low end of the Extra phone band UP to 3635 or so, which would allow a bit more room for digital stations like the much-hullabooed Pactor and Winlink stations. These are not NARROW modes, so yes, they need the spectrum.
I plan to be operating tomorrow night on CW in the old Novice band, kind of a send-off. I have a Christmas party to attend, but I'll be home by 8 p.m. I hope to make a few QSOs before the Novice band goes away forever.
I'll blog about the night later.
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In other news, one of the regulars on 80 CW, N4RAY, was operating last night and he sounded rather erratic — unusual for him because he's a good op. After listening to his transmission a few minutes, I realized he was sending ok, but he was using a bug.
He was having the same problem I had when I first tried using a bug — I couldn't adjust the dits slow enough. In RAY's case, his dits were 20-plus wpm, which made it sound rather awkward to operate at 13-15 wpm as he was.
While copying the mail, Rodney told the other guy he was using a vertical bug, and the only guy making vertical bugs these days is K4VIZ and the VIZBUGS.
I like his keys and frankly, I would love to own both of the bugs he sells. He offers the vertical, which closely resembles the old Vibroplex “line chief” key, and he has a very sharp looking 90-degree bug. The vertical is interesting, but I think I would perfer the 90-degree bug. I just sold a radio on eBay, and I tell you what, I would consider making one a Christmas gift — Merry Xmas to me!
Anyhow, Rodney was having a time with the bug's dits. I haven't e-mailed him but probably will with how I slow my bugs down. It's interesting how much difference one bug main spring can be so different from another — even the same model.
I have a couple of keys that are just too darned fast, even with all my tricks to slow them down. The action is just super, super fast. At some point you reach a level where the extra weight you tack on really ruins the key's action. It may be coincidence, but I've found that chrome plated main springs seem to have a stiffer action, which means the dits will be faster than on an unplated main spring.
Of course, that may also point to age differences among the keys. Main springs have been chrome plated for decades now. Any key w/o plating on the spring is 1940 and earlier.
The key I've been using most lately is my old, worn Cedar Rapids Bug. It just has a very, very nice feel. I've got it adjust nicely too, I can send with it and not get errors. I've found the Cedar Rapids Bugs have a slower action to them, which isn't a bad thing. The key I'm using is a landline key with a circuit closer.
While searching around for a microphone I rediscovered a beauty of a key — a mint Speed-X 501 “tee bar” bug, in De Luxe finish — chrome plated all around and gleaming like new money. Man, what a honey of a key! I oughta have that one on the desk!
Speaking of Speed-X bugs, I am gather parts to get my recent Speed-X 500 bug on the air. It is missing the damper assembly, which on the Speed-X keys was a slotted post 1-1/4-inches tall. A wheel sat in the slot, held in by a set screw. There was some slop so the wheel would “give” when the pendulum came to rest on it.
I have the brass ready to make the post, and the other hardware. I don't expect it to be a problem to make the damper. I do need to make a spring for the key, and I guess I'll need to make an adjustment screw/locknut to replace the missing one.
On the Speed-X keys the left-side travel stop doubled as the mount for the return spring. It eliminated the need for a spring adjustment screw like the Vibroplex keys used. All you needed as the spring and the lock nut. The spring wouldn't always stay where you put it, but with the spring tension it didn't move much. It was simple enough to re-adjust.
I'm pretty pleased with the old key. I think once I get it up and running, I'll probably take the black-based 501 Speed-X off the operating desk and restore it. I've not really touched it since I bought it. I'm still a little hesitant to do a lot to that key, it just operates too darned well to monkey with it.
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If I had my choice of keys right now, while I am attracted to the Viz Bug, I would prefer to get a McElroy Mac Key in good complete condition. There's a deluxe one on eBay now, but it will probably go for way more than I can afford. I missed the boat a month or so back, a Standard Mac Key sold for less than $100. I want to put mine on the air, but I need to fabricate weights for it. My Mac Key needs feet and some other incidentals … I would prefer to buy a key that's ready to use rather than spend a lot to get mine ready. Oh well!
I've got a Kenwood TS-50S and AT-50 auto tuner on eBay now for sale. I'm hoping to buy an Icom IC-7000 early next year. They're selling on the used market for about $1250, and if I sell the stuff and some other stuff I'm going to list, I could get the cash together for such a purchase. Of course, buying a new bug might delay that plan!
I want the IC-7000 in the shack for full-time VHF/UHF duty (mostly on 6 meters). The IC-706 I have in here now will go to my Sidekick for mobile HF. My Durango — with my recently installed IC-706 — is being driven by my wife. Until her car gets in the shop (next month), I'm going to be in the beater. Sigh.
That's all for tonite …. GN es 73 … de KY4Z sk …. dit dit …..