Going to try SMT

I probably should have my head examined but I was thinking I might procrastinate again and miss out on a ATS rig. I missed the tail end of the ATS then the ATSII, III IIIA now the IIIB. I have one on order. I picked up a cup warmer at the Wal-Mart and have a hot air blower at work that I will try. I can't seem to find a embossing gun locally. I also have a 4SQRP dummy load kit ordered to learn the hot air method of SMT soldering. The kit has 40 SMT resistors to solder. I can always use a small dummy load in the field so this will be ok. Today I ordered the solder paste and am excited to see things arrive and get started. I will post more as the kits and paste arrive.

SKC keyer in a cute box!

I have more keyers than I know what to do with but I finished packaging my Simple keyer in, what else? a cool Altoids tin with the snow monster on it. I suspect my grandson will like this keyer best. Thanksgiving is coming, gotta go buy some more food

Change of tins

I super glued the switches too good and they are stuck. SO..... 3 new switches are ordered and I have another tin punched and ready. I have been saving this ZOMBOIDS tin for some time so the AA0ZZ keyer will live in it. Instead of punching the lid I will put the switches on the other end from the jacks. Then I will try to cram the batteries in there. More to come later after the switches get here.

ZOW EEEEE!

I have been saving a Liquorice Altoids tin for a project so tonight I built my newly arrived AA0ZZ keyer kit from 4SQRP group. Cool little keyer. I will post again when I get the 3 memory buttons and labeling on.

Vacation Days at Big Hill Lake

The weather was windy and wet but I did manage to do some fishing and radioing. I could not get my SW 80 to load, so I loaded my Norcal doublet on a crappie pole and worked several guys on 30 meters. The fishing was pretty slow and the lake was stirred up from the wind and rain but I did catch a few nice "gills" at the spillway.