John's Vademecum

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====== Sat 31/05/25 : Back On CW ======

I had intended 2025 to be the //**year of SSB**// 

I even bought a new radio to start the ball rolling [[..:..:radio:radio_database:ft_891|an FT-891]] but despite always being fascinated by receiving SSB on HF (not necessarily amateur radio SSB, especially nowadays) I couldn't really get into having many SSB QSOs.

Today I got the keys and bugs back out of storage and tidied up my desk. I removed the IC-7200 (it'll find a new use sometime later), and set up the FT-891 for CW operation. It felt better to be a CW operator again & having my bugs and my old straight keys sitting there just asking for me to start calling CQ.

So I called CQ at around 7:30 AM (BST) on 60m (5260.0kHz) and was answered by Rupert G4XRV - another bug enthusiast - and despite the poor conditions with deep QSB we managed a 1/2 hour chat. I switched to a straight key, to allow me to slow down more due to the conditions.

Now I want to get back to having more CW contacts, and get my bug fist working again.

{{tag>cw radio}}