New Cootie/Paddle for under $150!

Posted on November 19, 2016 by Steve Roberts

Sneak preview….Will go up on the site for sale next week (After Thanksgiving Holiday). Check it out!

Shack/Convertible Key #54 out the door

Posted on November 2, 2016 by Steve Roberts

I can’t believe I’ve made 54 of the “portable” keys with brass bases already. Seems like just yesterday I was noodling around with the design on a napkin at my friends house over the Thanksgiving holiday. Thanks to all for taking a flyer on something new and reports continue to come in praising the Torsion Bar action and the tactile feel of the hand formed wood finger pieces. Onward and upward!

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.