Wednesday, April 4, 2012 — A disease first discovered about 10 years ago by one of my ham radio students — and thought to be dormant for years — has resurfaced in our community. The disease is attributed to a unique form of RF-based virus, Prodigo nimium viaticus, first isolated in a ham shack about 7 years ago by Charlie Brown, N4OLG.
Charlie discovered the virus as it ran its course through his credit cards, eating away at his rainy day fund. The disease led to his living room being filled with shipping boxes for new equipment coupled with the lack of time to use the new goodies.
Hamitis has resurfaced, and has been self-diagnosed in yours truly. With a hamfest coming next weekend, it appears likely that at least one boatanchor may find its way home.
Would have made a great April Fool’s entry, eh?
Actually, I can’t blame hamitis for my affinity for ham radio goodies. Given the high number of newspaper people who are also superheroes (Green Lantern, Superman, Spiderman, Green Hornet, etc.), I suspect that one of my childhood innoculations was radiated by high doses of RF … in fact, a treatment widely used years ago called “shortwave diathermy” used HF RF (most commonly frequencies at 11 and 19 meters), and my theory is that my DPT booster shot as an infant was in fact radiated by shortwave RF. This explains my lifelong fascination with electricity and RF fields … as well as my attraction to all things radio.
While I am NOT a superhero, I have scored some super-duper deals on eBay the last couple of weeks.
NORCAL N8FF PADDLE. OK, I know, I have two or three of these keys that were offered in the mid-90s by the Norcarl QRP club. They were designed by Wayne Smith, K8FF. I have one mobile in my SUV, and while I didn’t need this one, the Buy It Now price was attractive, and the key itself was the nicest one I have seen to date.
The base of the Norcall K8FF kit was supplied as bare metal; you had to prep it for paint yourself. On one of mine, the base is black powdercoat; another is just a nice red, the other is black crackle, and this one … this one appears silver, but it in fact is a brushed chrome finish. At first glance, I thought it was one of the Vibroplex Lite Warriors or the Chrome Warrior key, both of which are versions of K8FF’s paddle after Vibroplex bought the rights to the design.
The fit and finish of this key are superb; whoever completed this kit took care assembling it and finishing it. It arrived and is one of the most nicely adjusted iambic keys I’ve had the pleasure of unboxing. Superb! This key is every bit as nice as the commercial Vibroplex keys.
100TH ANNIVERSARY VIBROPLEX SN 100A-664. What’s spring without another 100th Anniversary Vibroplex Original? And I imagine if you have read my blog, you’re thinking the same thing I did: “Does he really need another one???”
No, of course I don’t! But if you asked me to justify any of the ham gear in my shack, I probably couldn’t justify the chair I’m sitting in (other than it keeps me away from the XYL’s chair in the living room, hi!).
This particular 100th Anniversary Original was purchased by its owner a number of years ago. The key went on display in a case, and was never used. It’s as “minty” as the day it was opened. In fact, the seller simply packed it back in the original box, then double boxed the key and sent it to me. My original idea was to actually put the key on the desk and use it (with dozens of other keys in my collection, I could probably work CW 8 hours a day for a month and use a different key each QSO before I would have to use one twice). However, since the key has not been used, and is packed in its original box … well, I may wait to open it.
I’m planning to go to Dayton this year, and you better believe I’ll be visiting the Vibroplex booth … what specials might Scott have there?? Hmm …. I’ll have the XYL in tow, so I’ll have to use my RF-enhanced negotiations skills to my advantage (with my wife, not with Vibroplex!).
My thoughts regarding another 100th Anniversary include the desire for one of these keys that has been upgraded to jeweled pivots. That’s an extra-cost option, but I would like to have that. Actually, if they had one of the 100th Anniversary keys with a flawed paint job on the base, I would snap it up if the price was right so I could finally have one of these beauties at the main operating position (outside the box, of course!).
COMING NEXT. I have two other keys to discuss that are en route to my QTH. Photos and descriptions later! Stay tuned — same bug time, same bug channel!