Observations from NORWAY            LA2QAA                                                   

4th January 2009

How much power is enough?   Oh No.... not again! 

My profound apologies to Igor UA9SB and Zlatko 9A2SB for the *MUCH* !!! to be desired CW on AO-7 this morning.

I was using a computer microswitch in the palm of my hand as the keyer ...
see ... www.observations.biz/Observations_from_Norway/observations_14_06_2008.htm  ... with just 2 watts of RF to the arrow antenna ... INDOORS !!! - (snowstorm outside).

Naturally, as an ex: professional Royal Signals telegraph instructor I was thoroughly ASHAMED !!! of the standard of the CW this morning - but now
that I know I 'can' get out with this minimalistic equipment I'll set up a proper
keyer and get 'back in the game' ... (due to the aerial restrictions, I havn't
had a QSO for 6 months).

At least from the old days, Igor knows I 'am' capable of transmitting the odd few dit's and dah's strung together without error - assuming a genuine key but hey !!!, the microswitch did work - albeit a bit like a drunken sqaddie but it did
provide QSO's on AO-7 with the absolute minimum of equipment in a worse-case situation.

I really do feel for that American chappie last year who claimed one needed
a BRICK amplifier of 80 watts and a 'reasonable' beam aerial ... pillock !!!.

So ... Malc & Terry ... er' ba' gum lads, the bitch is back.

73 John.  QRPp