• Contact Me

K5HH

work, ham, sleep, repeat

  • Home
  • Blog Page
    • Ham Radio
    • Equipment
    • Events
    • Education
    • Prepper
    • Off Topic
  • Reviews
  • Who I am
  • Calendar
    • Calendar
    • Events
    • Tags
    • Categories
    • Locations
  • Calculator
  • My Shack
  • Dashboard

Ongoing efforts to learn CW

May 11, 2021 by jdviz Leave a Comment

So, in my continuing quest to learn cw, and a failed attempt at getting local hams interested in our own CW learners group, I’ve joined the Long Island CW Club. They have over 1500 members across the world, and host 75 online CW classes per week! Classes range from absolute beginner to teaching how to head copy. If you’re interested in learning CW, this is probably the best group around to do that. Just because they’re based in Long Island, all their classes are on Zoom, so you can participate wherever you have internet. Come join us!

I also joined NAQCC (North American QRP CW Club). Member # 10773. As their name suggests, they focus on low power CW communications. With daily, weekly, and monthly activities, there’s always something fun to particpate with with NAQCC, so check them out too!

Filed Under: CW, Education

To Learn CW or Not to Learn CW

May 3, 2016 by jdviz Leave a Comment

electronic-telegraph-key-1543748So…in order to become licensed Ham Radio Operators, the FCC does not require us to know Morse Code (CW) anymore. I must admit, once I found out that they USED to require it, I felt a bit cheap by comparison to the old (I use that term loosely) guys & gals.

However, did that bother me enough to go through the trouble of learning CW? Well, not really…

Aaaaannnnnd, THIS is where irony smacks me in the head. I then fall down a YouTube rabbit hole watching hams have great fun at LONG distances, on very low power levels, only using CW. Making connections off Aurora Borealis, the Moon, asteroids, and the occasional low flying birds. Now, I’m interested, which brings up the ole question, am I interested enough to go through the above said trouble?

Well, apparently so.

Now, I’m learning CW with a computer app, just bought an Elecraft KX3 and have signed up for a course on CW Academy. Back down the rabbit hole… This one of my own making.

I’ll keep this site posted as to my progress, and any helpful tips I find along the way.

Filed Under: Education, Featured, Ham Radio, Uncategorized Tagged With: CW, Education, Morse Code

From Civilian to Extra Class Ham Operator in One Fell Swoop using Hamtestonline.com

May 3, 2016 by jdviz Leave a Comment

hrto

HamRadioLicenceExam.com

I was searching for the best way to study for the exams. I’m usually a hands-on kinda guy so I prefer classroom environments to learn in, but didn’t see any local that were scheduled when I wanted to study. I did buy the ARRL books, but they looked like a LOT to slog though. In my online searching, HamTestOnline kept coming up so I checked them out. The reviews on eham.net were extremely favorable, so I tried out the first module for the technicians exam. Within a week I had bought the other two modules as I knew this was what I was looking for.

Following is my review.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Featured, Ham Radio, Reviews, Uncategorized Tagged With: Education, Exams, JD, License, n00b, Review

Review Criteria

May 3, 2016 by jdviz Leave a Comment

So, for the sake of consistency, I’m trying to come up with a standard set of review criteria for all my reviews. I’m thinking of a scale from 0-10 in the following. I’m sure this will change over time.

Equipment

  • Design
  • Workmanship
  • Sturdiness
  • Features
  • Ease of Use/Installation
  • Performance
  • Maintenance
  • Cost/Value
  • Overall Rating
  • Followup (after at least 6 months)

Books/Articles/Website/Training

  • Easy to read/understand
  • Interest Factor
  • Information
  • Relevance
  • Author Credibility

Service

  • Knowlege/Skill
  • Friendly
  • Thorough/Forthcoming
  • Aftermath/Follow-through
  • Cost/Value

Filed Under: Education, Equipment, Ham Radio, Uncategorized Tagged With: Review

The Fine Print

All Reviews and content on this site are my own opinions. I do not speak for any company, I am not affiliated with any company related to Amateur Radio, and I am not paid by anyone for my opinions, reviews, or content on this site. Everything I write here is true to the best of my knowledge, … which is limited at the moment. If you find an error, please bring it to my attention along with some proof, and I will correct it as soon as I receive it.

Flag Counter

Spam Blocked

207 spam blocked by Akismet

Tags

Antenna Beginner Carpentry Chameleon CW Desktop Dipole Dog Education Equipment Exams Field Day Grill HT JD KX3 License Mobile Morse Code n00b Nella Patio Portable QRP Radio Review Smoker Transceiver Unboxing VX-6R

Copyright © 2023 · Metro Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in