1945 Vibroplex Lightning Restoration

Posted on October 18, 2016 by Steve Roberts

Got this key on eBay from a Pawn Broker. He didn’t have any real clue about what it was so I got it cheap. The key is in incredible shape and so is the storage case that came with it. I cleaned it up and then made a “dit tamer” which screws in to a small hole I tapped in the existing pendulum weight. That got me down to about 18 WPM. With the weight off the dit speed is about 22 WPM and with the arm removed all together, the dit speed is about 30 wpm. That’s why they called it the Lightning!

Close up of the homebrew dit tamer.

1945 Vibroplex Lightning Bug Restoration

Overhead view of 1945 Vibroplex Lightning restoration

Great “non-ham” overview of ham radio

Posted on September 15, 2016 by Steve Roberts

1st International Field Day May 28th

Posted on May 18, 2016 by Steve Roberts

I’ll be on the air from my cabin here in Vermont. Hope to CU there!!!

http://www.fieldradio.org/international-field-radio-event

The Field Radio group will be holding its inaugural International Field Radio Event in late May, 2016. Please note this is an activity and not a contest! Here is your opportunity to interact with fellow group members on air, so please support us in this fun activity.

Kids talk to Hams in Space ARISS celebrates 1000th contact.

Posted on May 11, 2016 by Steve Roberts

Kids all over the world are having the rare experience of communicating with astronauts/hams. Here’s a video.

Happy Birthday to Samuel B Morse!

Posted on April 27, 2016 by Steve Roberts

Where would we be now without his brilliant invention?

http://www.american-inventor.com/samuel-morse.aspx

The NEW Station Base for the TBP Portable Key is Here!

Posted on March 16, 2016 by Steve Roberts

Many have requested a base for the TBP/Torsion Bar Portable key and now it’s here. The key base has been re-designed to accommodate screw-in rubber feet and to match up with mounting holes on the stainless base. The total weight of the key with the SS base is 13oz. Still pretty light, but because of the low center of gravity and the lightness of the key itself, it will NOT move during use. You can see the video here:

Early CW..All the Ships At Sea Video

Video

Great newsreel about CW from the late 30’s

Morse Learning Tree…turn left at the first Dit

Posted on January 3, 2016 by Steve Roberts

This is quite cool. It’s a learning tree for figuring out morse for folks that know absolutely nothing about CW. If you hear a dit, go left, if you hear a dah, go right. Pretty neat.