Sideswiper inventory is rising ...

AC4RD on Penguin Island

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Jun 11, 2012, 8:24:45 AM6/11/12

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For someone who doesn't particularly LIKE sideswipers, I sure seem to
be acquiring them in substantial quantities. I bought this '63
Vibroplex from a friend, by mail--I thought from the emails that it
was the iambic paddles, not another single-lever key. It was coated
with dust when I got it (inset photo); I started trying to clean it up
and realized I needed to disassemble it to clean it. Then I figured I
might as well repaint the base while I was cleaning. The blue seemed
like a good idea at the time, but I wish I had used black paint
instead, now:

http://www.duke.edu/~kuzen001/63Vibroplexswiper01.JPG

Now that it's back together and adjusted, it actually works pretty
well. I'll try using it on the air sometime soon.

AC4RD on Penguin Island

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Jun 14, 2012, 4:59:42 PM6/14/12

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> well. I'll try using it on the air sometime soon.

Neddie: "Shut up, Eccles!"

Eccles: "Shut up, Eccles!"

AC4RD on Penguin Island

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Jun 18, 2012, 12:28:13 PM6/18/12

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... I put the first sideswiper in my car yesterday. Think I'm going
to try mobile CW. :-)

Mudge

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Jun 18, 2012, 3:58:42 PM6/18/12

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On 2012-06-18 10:28:13 -0600, AC4RD on Penguin Island said:

> ... I put the first sideswiper in my car yesterday. Think I'm going
> to try mobile CW. :-)

Isn't there a law about driving while sending morse ???

If not, there otta be !

--
The Canadian Curmudgeon (in Calgary)
Fix the biosphere - eliminate people

AC4RD on Penguin Island

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Jun 18, 2012, 5:43:03 PM6/18/12

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> > to try mobile CW. :-)
>
> Isn't there a law about driving while sending morse ???

I think the law says no faster than 26wpm. :-)

I worked an OK on 15m CW on my way home from work today. :-)

And I didn't call him until I was stopped at a stoplight. I'm going
to get another memory keyer--for DXing, that'll handle 90% of my
exchanges without making me use that sideswiper on bumpy roads in
traffic. :-)

--Bluebottle AC4RD, with a cardboard keyer :-)

AC4RD on Penguin Island

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Jun 20, 2012, 7:20:22 AM6/20/12

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> I worked an OK on 15m CW on my way home from work today. :-)

... and this morning, driving to work, I worked a PY on 20m CW. :-)
This is kinda fun!

Neddie: "Would you like to buy a raffle ticket? It's for a boa
constrictor!"

Grytpype: "No, thank you. My boa constrictor already HAS a raffle
ticket."

Mudge

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Jun 20, 2012, 3:04:28 PM6/20/12

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Now, how do I manage to contact your Police Department - sheeesh !

AC4RD on Penguin Island

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Jun 21, 2012, 12:44:14 PM6/21/12

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On Jun 20, 3:04 pm, Mudge <Nos...@never.ever> wrote:

> >> I worked an OK on 15m CW on my way home from work today. :-)
>

> Now, how do I manage to contact your Police Department - sheeesh !

Tell your local RCMP ("Mountie") and he can arrange a relay of the
complaint to the appropriate authorities. :-)

I don't think they'll be interested, though. It's no exaggeration to
say that nearly half of all the drivers on the road with me on my
commuting are on their cellphones. There are times when it's nearly
EVERYBODY else on the road, jabbering into a cellphone. No joke,
Mudge, nearly every single day I see people texting on their
cellphones, reading paperwork, typing on laptop computers, putting on
makeup ... all while driving at 70mph (in metric, that's about 130
kilopascals per hectare, I think.)

This morning I worked C31CT on 20m CW on my way to work, working
split. :-) It really is fun.

Mudge

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Jun 21, 2012, 2:46:37 PM6/21/12

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On 2012-06-21 10:44:14 -0600, AC4RD on Penguin Island said:

> I don't think they'll be interested, though. It's no exaggeration to
> say that nearly half of all the drivers on the road with me on my
> commuting are on their cellphones. There are times when it's nearly
> EVERYBODY else on the road, jabbering into a cellphone. No joke,
> Mudge, nearly every single day I see people texting on their
> cellphones, reading paperwork, typing on laptop computers, putting on
> makeup ... all while driving at 70mph (in metric, that's about 130
> kilopascals per hectare, I think.)

That's why we have a law against "distracted driving" and there's a
fairly big fine if you get caught at it. Does a bit of good although
folk still do it !

> This morning I worked C31CT on 20m CW on my way to work, working
> split. :-) It really is fun.

Have you tried it from your lawnmower ?

AC4RD on Penguin Island

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Jun 22, 2012, 12:24:25 PM6/22/12

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> That's why we have a law against "distracted driving" and there's a
> fairly big fine if you get caught at it. Does a bit of good although
> folk still do it !

We've got laws against distracted driving, and specifically
prohibiting texting while driving. I've never heard of anybody ever
getting a ticket for it, though, and I do see it very literally EVERY
weekday.

> Have you tried it from your lawnmower ?

I've got powerpoles on my mower battery, a solar charger, and a
cobbled-together 20m vertical, all ready for /LAWNMOWER-PORTABLE ops
this summer, but I've been too busy to actually do it so far. :-(

AC4RD on Penguin Island

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Jun 29, 2012, 12:15:57 PM6/29/12

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I'm not able to work MUCH DX on CW from the car--I need fairly light
traffic, good signals, low QRN. But I worked a JA on the way to work
this morning on 20m CW. :-) FUN!

Mudge

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Jun 29, 2012, 12:37:02 PM6/29/12

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Glad I'm not driving on any roads near you - sheesh !!!

--
The Canadian Curmudgeon (in Calgary)

Remove noxious CO2 - plant many trees