My new Begali Pearl CW key arrives

 Today my new Begali Pearl arrived! What a work of art. I even had my callsign engraved on it for a couple of extra bucks. 

Overall I decided it was finally time to bite the bullet and learn the paddle. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my straight key, but one of the problems with QRP and listening around on the air is that most CW ops are 20wpm +. Doing this with a straight key can be problematic and typically if one is using a straight key, you're typically ignored. 

So to overcome this, I decided to by the Begali for my home QRP base station. Now its time to learn how to use it and more importantly... pick up my speed.

Looking forward to using it 

QSL card from Zenji, Honshu Island - 5 watts

 It was great this morning to receive a eQSL card from Zenji (JR1JWR) this morning.  This month the noise levels are pretty high at times up here in Far North Queensland (Aust), so working DX can be a struggle some days. 

After calling out CQ a few times on 15m, eventually Zenji came back. Even though he was putting out 100 watts, on my end he was just above the noise floor (not sure where the noise floor was on his end). Anyway, after a few repeats we finally managed to do it. Typically I prefer to work 3 watts or less to Japan, but I had to go up to 5 watts just to break thru the noise  floor. Antenna used was a 30ft EFHW tuned for 20m thru an ATU. 

All in all, it was great.
Hope we catch again Zenji, only next time on 3 watts or less