I placed an order yesterday for one of these:
I have a weakness for paddles, perhaps even an addiction, maybe. The price on this was very reasonable, and I have NEVER acquired anything from the 4 States Group that I later regretted getting. Their kits and products are top notch. Their manual tuner, for instance, is the bomb! It's so good, in fact, that I bought a second for the HW-8 in the shack, as I now keep the original in my portable ops bag. Anyway, this paddle will sit comfortably next to my American Morse paddle in that same portable ops bag, and if it's as good as their other stuff, will be my Field Day paddle for 2025. As a plus, the sale will help fund in a tiny way, their next Ozarkcon in 2026.
This morning is our monthly ETS of NJ VE session. If everyone shows up, we will have six candidates taking tests. 3 Technician, 1 General, and 2 Extra. I hope everyone walks away happy.
I read on Jeff KE9V's site that the RAC has sadly pulled out from attending Dayton/Xenia over the recent tensions between the US and our neighbors to the North. That is such a shame! While I can understand their feelings, I always held on to the cherished belief that we Hams were above that sort of thing; and that we could get along and even provide an example to our respective governments on how to get along, even if they could not. After all, even during the Cold War, we didn't shy away from from making contacts with our brother and sister Hams in the (at that time) USSR. I guess I'm just too naive and "Polly Ann-ish". I'll tell you one thing - I'd never let anything that the Canadian or US Governments might pull to let it stop me contacting Canadian Hams. That's just plain stupid, in my mind, and some of the friendships run too deep to be affected by political silliness.
This is way too precious to let anything happen to change it!
Last night was the start of the QRP-ARCI Spring QSO Party, which I did my best to advertise the heck out of. I only put in a couple of the six hours as I had to get up early (for a Saturday) for our VE Session this morning.
I started out on 20 Meters which was terrible! Band conditions were such that signals were way down in the mud. It wasn't long before I switched to 40 Meters, which was much, much better. Later on, I even made two contacts on 80 Meters before pulling the plug. I ended up with about 18 QRP- ARCI members in the log, and about 4 or 5 non-members, and two QRO stations as well. I also had a a nasty experience with logging, which I'll go into tomorrow.
So far the autologger is displaying about 25 logs, which isn't bad. It's an upturn compared to last year, but I think there was more activity than that. The deadline for log submissions is some time tomorrow, so we'll see.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Hi Larry,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your post, as a CW op and as a QRPARCI member, having attended their last FDIM in 2024. I'm also a Canadian, and happen to be Vice-President of RAC.
I am writing for myself here, not the organization, but I want to reassure you that the decision of the Board was very difficult, the discussion lengthy, unanimous, and taken with great regret. I don't have a Board vote at that level, but was present for the meeting and can attest to the painful reality of having to make such a decision. I agreed with it.
From many trips to Dayton and NEAR-Fest in New Hampshire over more than 40 years, I have come to value my American visits tremendously. I have a NEXUS card, which was issued to me by the United States to facilitate hassle-free passage across the border.
But in the present climate I do not have confidence that I can now cross the border as a favored and trusted person or friend. For that reason, among others, several months ago and before the RAC Board resolution, I elected to not travel to Hamvention or NEAR-Fest in 2025.
For me, it is not just the tariffs. In the main, it is the horrifying approach taken by the American administration to question the very existence of my country. And, despite being given many opportunities to climb down from that illegal position, the American administration has persisted.
Canadians are not taking this as a joke, and our individual and collective choices are not trivial. This a very serious stuff, and RAC's decision to not attend what amounts to a trade show in no way changes our excellent relationship with the ARRL or other organizations. We look forward to welcoming the ARRL President to our AGM in September, as usual. And we have been assured by the ARRL that we are welcome at their table as well.
Individually, I still deeply treasure all of my friendships with American amateurs, and I reman fully attached to my family members who have lived there since the 1950s. None of what has gone on so far will diminish, in any way, my eagerness to contact and collaborate with my American friends on the air or elsewhere.
I would never boo the Star Spangled Banner, or disrespect the American flag. But right now, I will neither cross the border into the United States, because in my mind doing so would be akin to saying "it's OK" when in fact it is very NOT OK.
This will pass, hopefully soon, and I look forward to future Hamventions, FDIMs, NEAR-Fests, and other happy gatherings.
73
Brent Taylor, VY2HF, W1PJ, M7JHF
Hi Larry,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your article - I love a good paddle also!
I'm a dual citizen and can travel as I see fit and am fortunate in that regard.
I won't let a totalitarian thug dictate whether I go to an event for a hobby that I drive so much enjoyment from.
RAC normally is content to interface with ISED (Canada's analogue to the FCC) got protecting the hobby in things related to the spectrum.
In reading their press release, they went beyond stating that they would not attend (which is they are free to do), and stuck their toe into politics, referencing "sovereignty".
Canada has a department of state that can handle these issues just fine.
I do not pay my RAC fees to hear their view of world politics.
I tend to not involve politics in ham related discussions, as is the custom.
RAC lacks this humility.
I agree with VY2HF. And like Anonymous, I too am a dual citizen (born in Ohio, still a US citizen, became a Canadian in 2005, lived in the Vancouver, BC area since 1966). I haven't been in the US since December 2024 and am not planning to go there until things change. People (German, French, and Canadian) are being held in horrible private prisons on the Mexican/US border, people who are completely innocent. This has been all over Canadian news outlets and has even made the NY Times. That I am a US citizen is no protection against this. I too choose to remain anonymous. I was licensed in the US back in 1949 and now at age 89 I do not want to risk spending time in some jail for no reason whatsoever. Maybe that has something to do with the RAC's decision.
ReplyDeleteI'm the second Anonymous, keeping my name and call to myself for reasons clear from my comment. I forgot -- this incarceration without trial or any good reason happened to a British citizen, too. And maybe more people that I haven't heard about. And of course there are all the people rotting down in El Salvador, at least one of whom had a court order prohibiting him from being sent there but that court order was ignored! The Canadian I referred to above, who is from the Vancouver, BC area, had money, had friends in both the US and Canada who worked hard to get her out, and was of European ancestry, so she was lucky enough to get out after a couple of weeks of sleeping on the cement with aluminum foil to keep her warm at night. If you're not as privileged as she is, maybe your luck would be worse. Let us hope and pray that things will change.
ReplyDeleteGood afternoon, Larry. I have to agree with you that the 4 State products are always great. I own a few of their kits (sold now), and I have never been disappointed. At this point in time, I only have one key, and that is very unusual for me. I have been toying with the idea of getting another, but I'm not really sure which one to get.
ReplyDeleteNow onto the RAC pulling out of Xenia I have read the comments thus far and I am in agreement with Brent VY2HF. It's baffling the administration south of our border wants from the world respect, fair treatment and the ability to increase their wealth. This is normal for any country what is not normal is threatening annexation of Canada and it's from all levels of this administration, calling our former PM "governor", bullying I can go on regarding lies told and so on. This is not how you gain world respect! This administration has changed how its largest trading partner will deal with them. I am many Canadians are upset and pissed off at this.... a clown show south of the border. As a ham, I will still take part in CWT's MST and ARRL contests. At the beginning of all this garbage I thought well in time things will be back to the way they were. Honestly, I feel that ship has sailed it takes a very long time to gain trust, respect, friendship, and understanding but a very short time to lose it. This administration and all its levels have successfully flushed that down the toilet.
A very proud Canadian
Elbows up
Mike
VE9KK