Cliff
-- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. . / .. ... / .- / --- .-.. -.. / .- -. -.. / -.. -.-- .. -. --. / .-.. .. -. --. --- --..-- / -... ..- - / .. - / -. . . -.. / -. --- - / -... . .-.-.- / .. - / .. ... / .-. .- - .... . .-. / ..-. ..- -. / - --- / .-.. . .- .-. -. .-.-.- / .. - / -- .- -.-- / ... .- ...- . / -.-- --- ..- .-. / .-.. .. ..-. . / ... --- -- . -.. .- -.-- .-.-.-

Take care, Stargazer
ASAP= Always Suspicious Always Prepared

miniMe,
What does that fancy altoids tin do? It looks dangerous. <img src="images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> (or atleast really fun <img src="images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />)

HF Transiever in the 40 meter wavelength capable of ccw transmissions. Headphone jack and little tapper switch on the side for sending little less than 1/2 watt output. Everything you need for international comms less power, headphones, antenna, experience and lisence. Antenna can be a length (rather long) of tripwire wound round the case for storage and strung in the trees for use. Headphone can be simple in-ear earphone. Power can be an altoids tin full of AA batteries. Fully equipped this station could fit in two altiods tins with some wire wound round the outside of both. Not too much of a burden for comms equipment capable of reaching the world.

I am studying for my Technician license now, haven't started studying Code quite yet. The small low power radios such as the rockmite, pixie 2, tuna tin 2, etc look like a bunch of fun to play with. I might go ahead and build one, a good friend has his General ticket, and he could test it for me. Heck, I might build two and give him one! <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

people,

-... ..- - / -.. --- -. .----. - / .-- --- .-. .-. -.-- / .. ..-. / -.-- --- ..- / .- .-. . / ... .... .. - / .- - / .. - --..-- / .-.. .. -.- . / -- . --..-- / .--- ..- ... - / .-.. --- --. / --- -. - --- / .- / -- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. . / - .-. .- -. ... .-.. .- - --- .-. / ... .. - .

bushtuckerman

Magnet and Compass.

The idea of the using the magnet to magnatize the needles to make makeshift compass is worthy but.... The magnet may cause the real compass to be incorrect after storage.

You are better off magnetizing the needles before hand and storing them on the other end of the container away from the compass.

>> The magnet may cause the real compass to be incorrect after storage <<

It should have no practical effect, as far as I know. While the magnet is in proximity, it will cause the compass to read incorrectly, but that is all.

Think about it a moment.

1. The compass needle is either magnetized or not - there is no "degree" to it wrt orienting itself to the magnetic flux - if the North end is polarized "South", it will seek magnetic North.

2. At the conditions in a PSK and the field strength of any portable fixed magnet, there is no "transference" of magnetism from the magnet to the needle - you would have to have repeated and consistent physical contact and movement between the needle and the magnet in order for that to happen. Example: Leave a steel needle near a magnet for several days and then test it - nope, not magnetized. Stroke the needle point-to-eye with one end of the magnet several times - yep, it's magnetized now.

Make sense?

Tom

The new Elecraft KX-1 looks pretty good!
http://www.elecraft.com/KX1/KX1.htm
It is a bit larger, and costs more, but you get three bands transmit, and can even serve as a shortwave receiver in a pinch. All for something smaller than a paperback book. Not as small or as cheap as a rockmite, but not bad.

As soon an I upgrade to General, I will get one!

-KG4ZUD

hehe my morse code legend (there we go) decoded that just fine. my suburb is about 20 miles straight west--Natick, MA. it borders on Framingham, a slightly more well-known town.
p.s. good one <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

you guys have too much time