Fred,
I assume the post was addressed to me (Milt).  I certainly believe
what you say about the group.....it just didn't impress me, at the
time, as being real friendly. Perhaps I'm being overly sensitive
about it, and if so, please file my comments accordingly.  Thanks for
the interesting story, below.  Kind of reminds me of the story of the
Japanese soldier on a island in the Pacific, still "fighting" many
years after the formal end of the war.
I look forward to hearing you soon.
ZUT 73, Milt k4oso

--- In cw_bugs@yahoogroups.com, "cloud runner" <KT5X@...> wrote:
>
> Seems to me I have worked you quite a few times, and I don't recall
ever ignoring you, Mike.
>
> The only time you will hear CQ FOC or be ignored when you call a
member is during the FOC club reunion activity known as the
Marathon.  It is "only FOC" in the same sense as the BERU contest is
ONLY British Empire stations, and Hunting Lions contest is ONLY for
members of the Lions' Club, etc.  If you answer a stateside station
calling CQ DX you are likely to be ignored, too.  the rest of the
year you would have no way of knowing that you had just heard/worked
a member, and I am sure you have worked many, many members.
>
> Most members, however, will work you in the Marathon, and not think
twice about it, that is what I do.
>
> the story of the Marathon may amuse you.  the FOC club was a main
mover in getting amateur radio back on the air after WW II.
Governments were very slow to allow the radio ops back on after the
war.
>
> Once permission was granted, the Club then initiated two activities
to get the ops back on the air.  One was the DX contest which after a
few years sponsorship moved over to CQ magazine.  it became what is
now the CQ WW DX contest.
>
> The other was designed to reinitiate activity among Club members,
and that was called the Marathon.  I think the year was 1947.  They
made a fundamental mistake in the on the activity they designed.  The
Marathon at that time was to continue, day after day, week after
week, until such time that one member had managed to contact all the
other members.  Interesting idea?  maybe.
>
> Problem was, once an op had accomplished that task, took about ten
days I think, how do you notify the rest of the members that the
activity is now over?  The Marathon went on for another several weeks
before word got around that someone had completed the task and the
Marathon was over!
>
> anyway, the Bill Windle QSO Party is done to speak to
your "complaint."  this is an FOC club activity intended to be open
to everyone instead of the Marathon which is an on-the-air club
reunion (just like the PVRC Reunion last weekend) open only to
members.  Non-members who might be interested in being members have
opportunity to recognize, meet, and chat with members, and ask
questions about membership if they wish.
>
> David or I can answer your questions about membership if you have
any.  In essence, FOC is an international fraternity of
telegraphers.  It is a social club of people who share a common
interest, nothing less, nothing more.  Members come to know one
another on a deeper level than one usually does in completely random
on the air air encounters.  Membership is limited to 500 active ops
at any given time, so an interested party may have to wait in line
for a membership number.
>
> Enjoy CW, 73,
>
> Fred - kt5x
>

This Tuesday evening, the North American QRP CW Club will be holding its
monthly sprint.

Here are the particulars:

Date and time:
Wednesday, June 13th, 0030-0230 UTC
(Remember that's Tuesday evening here in the USA)  That's  8:30 - 10:30
EDT, 7:30 - 9:30 CDT, 6:30 - 8:30 MDT and 5:30 - 7:30 PDT.

Bands - Frequencies:
80M - 3555-3565 kHz (Be courteous to FISTS operating on 3558 kHz)
40M - 7039-7050 kHz (Avoid W1AW on 7047.5 kHz).
20M - 14059-14065 kHz. General:
A particular station may be worked once on each band. Operate CW only.
All licensed amateurs are invited to participate, but only those
operating QRP (5 watts or less) are eligible for awards.

Call: CQ NA

Exchange:
RST - SPC (State Province or Country) - NAQCC Nr.
(non-Members substitute power level for NAQCC Nr., e.g. 5W, 1W, etc. Be
sure to add the W.)

QSO Points:
QSO with a Member, 2 points.
QSO with a Non-member, 1 point.

Multipliers:
Each USA state
Each VE province
Each country except W/VE
All multipliers count only once in the contest.

Bonus:
If you use only a straight key for the entire sprint, multiply your
score by 2.
If you use only a bug for the entire sprint, multiply your score by 1.5.
If you key with anything other than a straight key or bug, there is no
bonus multiplier.

Categories:
SWA - simple wire antennas - for those using a simple wire antenna per
NAQCC definition.
GAIN - gain antennas - for those using other than a simple wire antenna.

Special Award:
This month the top two NAQCC highest scorers in the Simple Wire Antennas
category will win prizes!  First place wins Dave Ingram's wonderful
book, "The World of Keys" while the second highest placing NAQCC member
will earn a copy of  Dave's book, "Keys II: The Emporium".  Dave K4TWJ
is a 'card carrying" member of the NAQCC and we thank him for his
generous donation of one of the books.  The other book was procured
using funds donated to the NAQCC.

REMEMBER: You HAVE to be a NAQCC member to be eligible to win one of the
books; and there's still plenty of time to join before Tuesday night's
sprint. To join the NAQCC, please visit:
http://www.arm-tek.net/~yoel//joinup.html

Entry Deadline:
All entries must be RECEIVED before 2400Z on June 19, 2007. So submit as
soon as possible, especially regular mail entries.

For further information, please visit:
http://www.arm-tek.net/~yoel//sprintrules.html


73 de Larry W2LJ
NAQCC #35

--
73 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to use the very least!

http://www.w2lj.qrpradio.com
http://w2lj.blogspot.com/

Ah -- Fred, please drop me a line.  I'm using Kubuntu and I don't have all my
email available right now.

	 Thanks,
	 Earl
--
Earl Needham KD5XB
Clovis, New Mexico DM84jk

Hi,

I have posted my first photo to this group at

http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/cw_bugs/photos/view/b973?b=1.

It is a 1961 Original I just got off of www.qth.com. It is from an
estate sales of Gene N7YW of Eugene, OR who died of cancer last fall.
A ham friend of his facilated the sale, but didn't a lot about bugs
although a CW op.

The bug is in decent shape. It does need some cleaning, mostly
oxidation on some on the non-chrome parts, but generally in good
shape. I bought some of bug cleaner strips off of Ebay from AA4F per
K4OSO's suggestion. That is the only cleaning I did.

You will notice one modification, my homebrew tamer. It is inspired
by Don's (NN8B) photo of slow down devices. Mine is made of two
pieces of aluminum hobby style tubing. The larger diameter piece
sides over the entire lever while a smaller diameter piece slides
into the larger piece overlapping 1/2". The two weights are as close
as possible. That is where the larger diameter piece ends. The bug
runs at 16 wpm as shown. The bug runs at 24 wpm without the tamer
with the weights near the damper.

I can easily operate a bug at 20 wpm at my skill level, though I
can't copy that fast. This configuration has given me the best
results so far. I tried more weight near and damper and even hung a 1
oz rectangular weight, from my Champion, off one of the other
weights. I even attached flat arm style Extandadot off of one round
weights. I discovered that lighter extensions with less weight
further out create the best taming action. At 16 wpm with the tamer
shown in the photo, the action is very smooth and acts like it was
designed top operate there, even when compared to speeds well above
20 wpm.

This bug is very different from my Champion. The action is much
smoother. And my Champion seems to be defective in the dash side
pivot. It has some noticeable vertical play there and has a binding
feeling when sending dashes. My Original doesn't have the play and
sends dashes smoothly. Also I don't have the scratchy dots with the
Original, except during one my taming experiments with excessive
weight closer to the pivot point. Also I have yet to lubricate the
Original, while the Champion is throughly lubricated.

I think much of my perception about bugs were based on the Champion.
I don't know if my Champion is a lemon or if I would have the same
experience with another Champion or Lightning for that matter. With
this Original bug, I think I like bugs now and am converted over to
them.

I hope Don NN8B is reading this. I would like to know how you
constructed your slow down device. The brass tubing section you used
is quite short. I don't know you got it too stay put. My aluminum
tubing doesn't fit very snug and I'm looking for a way to secure it.
I tried crimping the end a little more a snugger fit. It also looks
like Don uses a solid rod beyond the brass tube splice. Don let me
know the details. You are my inspiration for this idea.

73,

Steve N6VL

Hi Steve,
The brass tubing I used for the"union" piece is about 1/8" ID. I found
I had to use a small round rattail file
  on the ID to get it to fit over the Bugs shaft due to cuting it with
a tubing cutter. It is just a snug fit or friction fit. I did have one
but that was a loose fit before filing and I took my tubing cutter and
gently squeezed the OD so it would be a friction fit on the bugs
shaft. Could probably squeeze it with pliers also but the tubing
cutter is much more controllable with the threaded cutter head. I have
never cut the aluminum tubing so I don't know how soft it would be.

The extension piece is actually nickle plated brass tubing. I have
been looking for more of it, but have found out from the hobby stores
that they stopped making nickle plated brass tubing about 20 years
ago. Show you how long I have been hoarding the stuff, hi. I am now
going to search for it online and if I find a source I will post it to
the group.

Your correct, it does not take much weight beyond the damper to do a
good slowdown job. I am finding its kind of like using training
wheels. As I get better I will eventually not need to use it. I've
only been using a bug for a year, and am finding I am getting more and
more accustomed to the feel and it is more natural feeling to me. I am
sure my speed will pick up and I will eventually graduate from using
the extension.

On 6/12/07, n6vl <n6vl@...> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I have posted my first photo to this group at
>
> http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/cw_bugs/photos/view/b973?b=1.
>
>> You will notice one modification, my homebrew tamer. It is inspired
> by Don's (NN8B) photo of slow down devices. Mine is made of two
> pieces of aluminum hobby style tubing. The larger diameter piece
> sides over the entire lever while a smaller diameter piece slides
> into the larger piece overlapping 1/2". The two weights are as close
> as possible. That is where the larger diameter piece ends. The bug
> runs at 16 wpm as shown. The bug runs at 24 wpm without the tamer
> with the weights near the damper.
>
> I can easily operate a bug at 20 wpm at my skill level, though I
> can't copy that fast. This configuration has given me the best
> results so far. I tried more weight near and damper and even hung a 1
> oz rectangular weight, from my Champion, off one of the other
> weights. I even attached flat arm style Extandadot off of one round
> weights. I discovered that lighter extensions with less weight
> further out create the best taming action. At 16 wpm with the tamer
> shown in the photo, the action is very smooth and acts like it was
> designed top operate there, even when compared to speeds well above
> 20 wpm.


> > I hope Don NN8B is reading this. I would like to know how you
> constructed your slow down device. The brass tubing section you used
> is quite short. I don't know you got it too stay put. My aluminum
> tubing doesn't fit very snug and I'm looking for a way to secure it.
> I tried crimping the end a little more a snugger fit. It also looks
> like Don uses a solid rod beyond the brass tube splice. Don let me
> know the details. You are my inspiration for this idea.
>
> 73,
>
> Steve N6VL


--
73,
Don, NN8B
SKCC 36C
Morse Traditionalist;
Proud to Preserve the Code

Hi Don,

I am curious what speed you are sending at with the bug. In my case,
the slow down is because my copy speed is slower. My 1961 Original
bottoms out at about 24 wpm. I will have to make great strides in my
copy speed before removing the tamer, hi hi.

I went to the hardware store again and brought brass home this time.
I got a 3/16" piece of brass tubing and a 5/32" inch piece of solid
brass rod. The rod telescopes into the tubing. I am using a 1" long
piece of tubing and a 2 1/2" piece of solid rod. The rod is little
too long but does bring the speed down to 17 wpm with one 0.4 oz
weight at the closest point. I will try incrementally shorter pieces
until it works the way I want. I have a big burr on the rod where I
cut it. Need to find my grinder attachment for the drill and smooth
it down.

I suspect I am sending a lot slower with my bug than you are. However
I find that your tamer idea produces the smoothest code than the
other devices I've tried. This is only my second bug, but it behaves
very smoothly. The bug does what I tell it to do for a change.

Next I need to find the best compromise brass lengths and make it
more permanent. Then I will upload another photo.

73,

Steve N6VL

Great stuff Grover.

Thanks,

N6NKN





--- In cw_bugs@yahoogroups.com, "Grover Cleveland" <clevelandg@...>
wrote:
>
> Fellow Buggies,
>
> See the following for how one professional op at KPH regulated his bug
> speed:
>
> http://www.radiomarine.org/historic-5.html
>
> --
> Grover Cleveland K7TP
>
> "Morse - everything else is QRM"
>

Hi Grover,
Thanks for the nice reference.  I agree wholeheartedly with your choice
of the word "regulated" rather than "slowed".  LR's clamp looks very
secure, insuring the same speed every time without slippage or screws
coming loose.  I also notice the clamp is placed well "astern", almost
to the dot spring assembly.  Probably wasn't real slow :-).  I'm in the
same camp of opinion as Fred (kt5x) in that the Vari Speed is a
wonderful little device for regulating speed.
ZUT 73,
Milt k4oso

--- In cw_bugs@yahoogroups.com, "Grover Cleveland" <clevelandg@...>
wrote:
>
> Fellow Buggies,
>
> See the following for how one professional op at KPH regulated his bug
> speed:
>
> http://www.radiomarine.org/historic-5.html
>
> --
> Grover Cleveland K7TP
>
> "Morse - everything else is QRM"
>

Grover,
Your "experiment" results, while they should be interesting, I doubt
you can duplicate LR's conditions with any degree of certainty
without doing some scaling to make sure you get a clamp of a similar
size, composition, etc.  One other factor to consider is, how fast
was his bug to start with?  My bugs vary considerably, within model,
from one to another in their slowest/fastest speeds.

Again, I think the clamp was, most likely,  more for reliablity in
speed regulation than for slowing. I understand that some ops even
soldered their weight in place to ensure reliability.

Opinions differ but, I think 20 - 25 wpm is fast enough for traffic
handling.  To me, real slow means in the 13-15 wpm range....the range
some of the guys here and on SKCC are attaining with their bugs....me
too, if the need arises.

To a great degree, conditions dictate speed.  That might be why SOS
distress signals were sent in the teens (WPM)...I think either 14 or
16 wpm, --- to ensure that regardless of conditions or operator
expertise, they could be copied.

This is one of the reasons I love cw....there is so much to talk
about, ... and such a rich history to draw on.
ZUT,
Milt k4oso



--- In cw_bugs@yahoogroups.com, "Grover Cleveland" <clevelandg@...>
wrote:
>
> Milt,
>
> You will notice, however, that the clamp is a large one. I'm going
to pick
> one up today and see exactly what kind of speed was set, as best I
can judge
> from the photo, since I have the same Vibroplex. I do know that the
phrase
> "twenty is fast enough" was common in the trade. I'll bet that even
with the
> weight "far astern" it was still heavy enough to keep that bug
below 25wpm.
>
> Stay tuned for the news at five.
>
> Grover K7TP
>
> ZUT
>
> USCG 1965-69
>
> On 6/14/07, k4oso <k4oso@...> wrote:
> >
> >   Hi Grover,
> > Thanks for the nice reference. I agree wholeheartedly with your
choice
> > of the word "regulated" rather than "slowed". LR's clamp looks
very
> > secure, insuring the same speed every time without slippage or
screws
> > coming loose. I also notice the clamp is placed well "astern",
almost
> > to the dot spring assembly. Probably wasn't real slow :-). I'm in
the
> > same camp of opinion as Fred (kt5x) in that the Vari Speed is a
> > wonderful little device for regulating speed.
> > ZUT 73,
> > Milt k4oso
> >
> > --- In cw_bugs@yahoogroups.com <cw_bugs%
40yahoogroups.com>, "Grover
> > Cleveland" <clevelandg@>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > Fellow Buggies,
> > >
> > > See the following for how one professional op at KPH regulated
his bug
> > > speed:
> > >
> > > http://www.radiomarine.org/historic-5.html
> > >
> > > --
> > > Grover Cleveland K7TP
> > >
> > > "Morse - everything else is QRM"
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Grover Cleveland K7TP
>
> "Morse - everything else is QRM"
>

While I find the vari-speed (much) better for slowing bugs down than the bug tamer approach, here is a third way to do it.
 
See if you can find round brass stock of much greater diameter than the usual weights, and center drill a hole for sliding it onto the pendulum.  One larger diameter weight will slow the bug WAY down, much more effectively than additional weights which must be located in closer proximity to the mainspring.  Not only is the weight being concentrated further from the mainspring, but also as diameter increases, the volume/mass of the weight increases by three times the square.  A single weight of the same width and twice the diamter of the norm is way more than two weights, WAY more.
 
73,
 
Fred - kt5x

While I find the vari-speed (much) better for slowing bugs down than the bug tamer approach, here is a third way to do it.
 
See if you can find round brass stock of much greater diameter than the usual weights, and center drill a hole for sliding it onto the pendulum.  One larger diameter weight will slow the bug WAY down, much more effectively than additional weights which must be located in closer proximity to the mainspring.  Not only is the weight being concentrated further from the mainspring, but also as diameter increases, the volume/mass of the weight increases by three times the square.  A single weight of the same width and twice the diamter of the norm is way more than two weights, WAY more.
 
73,
 
Fred - kt5x

Gentlemen,

Sorry about opening the can of worms again. A bug is out of the
question for me if it isn't slowed down. I simply am not fast enough
on my overall code speed, especially on my copy speed, without one.

So far I have evaluated the Extendadot on my 1961 Original. I am
inclined to prefer the NN8B style solution in the photos section. I
tried some designs. One reduced the speed a bit too much and left a
gap in speed coverage between 18 and 24 wpm. It also made the bug
feel too heavy. I started with two piece of aluminum tubing. Then I
tried one piece of brass and a smaller diameter brass rod. That the
one that made the feel too heavy. I plan to try brass tubing for the
smaller piece in order to reduce the weight.

The NN8B method has provided the best feel for me. I am running at
about 16 wpm dit speed. Yes I could easily send at 20 wpm, but can't
copy that fast.

The axiom I've discovered for my needs is less weight and more
length. On the Extendadot, this is not quite as true. It seems to
help putting more weight on the closer end. I think that is mainly
because the Extendadot uses heavier tubing than my prototypes.

To be fair I will be test driving the Vari-Speed later today. I have
the flat arm version. My friend has the round arm version.

My above axiom only applies to my 1961 Original at the speeds
mentioned above, the mid to high teens wpm.

I tried tying a rectangular 1 oz to one of the round weights with a
long 8-32 machine screw. This kept all of the added weight inside the
damper with no lever extensions. This mimics the larger diameter
weight mentioned eariler. The results were not pretty. The bug was
hard to handle, very heavy to the touch. The speed reduction was
poor. Staying with the standard set of weights and moving them beyond
the damper has produced the best results. I doubt the larger diameter
weights would work on my 1961 Original. Perhaps it will on other bugs.

That said, I am using the Extendadot, simply because my prototypes
are not permanently fastened down. I suspect I will end up using the
NN8B style tamer once the prototypes are made more rugged.


I have to agree with Frank: moving the existing weight further out is
the best IMHO.

73,

Steve N6VL

Steve:

When it comes to keys and bugs, one size definitely does not fit all.

Since "feel" is such a big part of the solution, the right answer is
different for each of us. Luckily we are blessed with many possible options
to finding our perfect setup.

Many of us have enjoyed such remarkable success in achieving our best
answer that we get passionate when we speak about it. We are just so
anxious to share the joy!

Each operator must be willing to pursue the quest for as long as it takes
to find the one's best combination. Many folks new to the quest don't know
about all the options. The tips presented here can be a valuable resource.
Despite our enthusiasm we merely seek to be helpful. Essentially we hope to
shorten the journey for those to whom the path seems lengthy.

Better the worms be loosed than deny those deserving knowledge they might use.

73,

Frank KB4T
Worm Releaser


At 12:26 6/16/2007, you wrote:

>Gentlemen,
>
>Sorry about opening the can of worms again. A bug is out of the
>question for me if it isn't slowed down. I simply am not fast enough
>on my overall code speed, especially on my copy speed, without one.
>
>< The Big Snip >

Frank,

Yes you are right. My poor experience with a particular method doesn't
mean it won't work for everyone. I had lunch with another local bug
user. We brought our bugs to the diner and played with different bugs.
I was suprised that he thought my bug was heavy to the touch, although
I thought it was feather weight. It goes to show that everyone is
unique.

In that spirit, I would like that thank everyone on this list for their
different viewpoints. It was not right for me to start taking sides on
the issue. I am a relatively new CW operator, although a seasoned ham,
and still have a lot to learn about CW. I look foward to helping keep
CW alive on the HF bands.

73,

Steve N6VL

Frank,

Yes you are right. My poor experience with a particular method doesn't
mean it won't work for everyone. I had lunch with another local bug
user. We brought our bugs to the diner and played with different bugs.
I was suprised that he thought my bug was heavy to the touch, although
I thought it was feather weight. It goes to show that everyone is
unique.

In that spirit, I would like that thank everyone on this list for their
different viewpoints. It was not right for me to start taking sides on
the issue. I am a relatively new CW operator, although a seasoned ham,
and still have a lot to learn about CW. I look foward to helping keep
CW alive on the HF bands.

73,

Steve N6VL

Are your darling wife and dear kids having trouble deciding what to give
you for Father's Day?  Tell them that you'd like a 2 hour block of
"quiet time" on Sunday night so that you can enjoy the June edition of
"Run For The Bacon"!

This Sunday evening the Flying Pigs Amateur Radio Club International
will be holding its monthly Run For The Bacon.  This is a friendly, two
hour QRP CW Sprint, which is open to ALL radio amateurs, will last from
9:00 - 11:00PM EDT (0100-0300 UTC Monday).

You may work stations once per band on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 or 10
Meters.  Suggested starting frequencies are 1.812, 3.562, 7.044, 14.062,
21.062, and 28.062 MHz.

The exchange is RST, S/P/C (State, Province, Country) and Flying Pigs
membership number.  If you're not a member of the Flying Pigs, and would
like to be; then please click on the "membership" hyperlink on
.http://www.gentzow.com/fpqrp/  Otherwise, non-members can just use
their output power figure.

You can report your score via the Autolog page which can be found at :
http://gentzow.com/fpqrp/autolog.asp
or you can mail your logs to the address given on the Autolog page.  The
deadline for logs is June 24th at 2400 UTC.

Hope to catch you on the air Sunday evening!

72 es "oo"
Larry W2LJ   FP#612

--
73 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

http://www.w2lj.qrpradio.com
http://w2lj.blogspot.com/

Hi Grover,
Have you conducted any speed tests with your clamp yet?  If so, what
kind of results did you yield?  Also, will there a picture(s)?
Milt k4oso

--- In cw_bugs@yahoogroups.com, "Grover Cleveland" <clevelandg@...>
wrote:
>
> Buggies All,
>
> I bought a large cable clamp of a size I believe is close to the
one used on
> the bug at KPH (http://www.radiomarine.org/Pictures/HIST-RS-OP-
4.jpg). The
> weight of the cable clamp is 1.0 oz. while the weight of the
standard
> Vibroplex weight is 0.4 oz.  That's a significant difference.
>
> Grover K7TP
>
> On 6/17/07, David Ring <n1ea@...> wrote:
> >
> >   Yes, that was exactly what came to mind, Fred.  The large
diameter
> > McElroy weights which allow the weight to be nearer the balance
point.
> >
> > I don't have one to measure but they were significantly larger in
diameter
> > and thinner in thickness than the Vibroplex weights.
> >
> > The big diameter centers the weight at a certain spot.  I was
speaking in
> > a different perspective than you were - I was concentrating on
the weight at
> > the close to the pivot perspective, but what you're saying is
also correct.
> >
>
>
> --
> Grover Cleveland K7TP
>
> "Morse - everything else is QRM"
>

Here is a rare one - an Xograph from the 1920's. It is a sweet little
thing, about the size of a Zephyr but more delicate. It has a nice
firm action.

Made by Rolph Brown of the Canadian National Telegraph company in
Toronto. This one is number 55.

If anyone has more information on these I would love to know about them.

Grover K7TP