Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024
New Year greetings to one and all! Due to the time change last year I haven’t had the chance for grayline DX since then, but that’s OK. I’ve been going to the shack every night or so for a couple of hours, which included checking in on my Georgia state CW traffic net.
I’ve been listing assorted things on eBay with some success. Turning “stuff” into cash is a good thing, of course.
I haven’t sold code keys, but have sold extra antenna tuners and small accessories. I need to list more keys, and will.
There’s nothing in Amateur Radio that I really want to buy right now. I still have a brand new Yaesu FTDX101MP in the box, unopened, along with the speaker/power supply, new Heil headset, etc.
My transceiver of choice right now remains the venerable Icom IC-756PROII. Now I have a like-new Yaesu FTDX-3000, but I just never really liked that rig as much as the ICOM pro series rigs. I probably should sell the FTDX-3000 as I’m not sure I’m that interested in operating it.
A rig I DO want to get on the air again is my Yaesu FT-2000. Don’t ask me why, but I love that rig. I plan to reinstall it with the DMU unit so I can have the bandscope, despite its lack of performance.
One of my favorite rigs right now is Xiegu X-6100. That little radio has more bells and whistles that my PROII. The winter band conditions are good enough these days that I can use it on the net, though contest conditions might may that a dicey choice, lol. The 6100 is a QRP rig, but offers up to 10 watts of output. It has excellent DSP.
I never found any 6 meter openings last month, which was disappointing. Probably my fault for not being on the air at the right time to catch e-skip openings.
HEADING TO EBAY. Today I listed a couple of really top-notch collectible code keys — a 1910 Vibroplex Double Lever in very, ,very good original condition, and a miniature QRP J-36 replica key built by KA6IRL
The builder now may be a Silent Key … he’s 91 years old. He built these keys in the mid-2000s I believe. He also made miniature versions of the J-38 straight key.
I’ve only owned the J-36 for a few years. It showed up on eBay for a very low Buy It Now and I snapped it up. Its been in its original case since I got it. The J-38 version sold recently for well over $300, and I’m hoping the rarity of this key will help it sell for a good price.
The 1910 Double Lever key is a rare one anyway. The nameplate was only used for a single year; otherwise, we wouldn’t have an idea of the key’s date. The Double Lever was offered in 1907 as Virboplex’s second model key. It was offered up until the late 1920s, though its doubtful few were ever sold by then.
The key is a bitch to operate, pure and simple. The user must space the dits and dahs manually, making sure the timing is perfect. I’m sure in time its possible to send good code, but it was a helluva lot of work for me. Too much trouble, way more than just using a traditional semi-automatic bug.
The third key I listed today is a Cedar Rapids by by Electric Specialty Manufacturing Co. The key is a solid example and in good condition. These are not top dollar keys, but solid, reliable keys that were designed to fill the need for an inexpensive alternative to Vibroplex bugs.
