Jim Johns

Male

Tioga, TX

United States

Profile Information:

Your Call Sign

KA0IQT

How many years have you been performing QRQ CW

27 Years (Licensed since 1968)

What speed do you like to run QRQ CW

Right now I max out at around 45 WPM but I'm working on increasing my speed by creating MP3 files and listening to them on my phone. Found this group when I searched for QRQ practice.

Your favorite key, paddle or bug

HCD Chevron paddle made by M0AGA. I also have a number of other high performance paddles including a Begali Sculpture, a March (K4QU) R3 paddle and an original N2DAN Mercury paddle.

Your favorite cw keyboard

I'm currently using a W5UXH Fubarino keyer that was constructed by W5UXH. (This is a great keyer with lots of bells and whistles.) Since I don't touch type, I can send with a paddle about as fast as with the keyboard.

Your favorite cw sending software

I'm not using any CW sending software on the air but have found ebook2cw which I'm using to convert ebooks to QRQ CW for practice.

Your Rig, Antenna and RF Power

Ten Tec Orion II HF Transceiver into a vertical antenna (Cushcraft R8.) Ten Tec Centurion Amp (1 KW) when I'm trying to break into a pile up.

Your QSK preferences

Full Break-in.

Your favorite headphones or speakers for listening to cw

Bose QC-15 noise cancelling headphone. I haven't had any RFI issues even at 1KW.

What has been your most effective way of training practice, to copy and send qrq cw

Playing ebooks on my phone when I'm away from the shack. (Usually I'll listen to one of the Radio Boys books converted to CW @ 40+ WPM using ebook2cw.) Otherwise I try to push beyond my comfort zone speed on the air either chasing DX or ragchewing.

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