Greetings from New Hampshire

[G8CPZ]

Hi Fred,

@WX1S

hiked all of New Hampshire’s 4000 footers

My wife and I lived briefly in NH (1981-1982) but with a two-year old and a new baby [both adults now with their own kids] I never got the chance to do any serious hillwalking there.

@WX1S

keying CW from a remote peak with a hand held paddle is quite a challenge. My old fingers don’t work as well as they used to, especially in the cold.

I and others have posted a lot on that topic. If you search “cold fingers” or “cold hands” on this reflector you’ll find plenty of advice on paddling keys in the cold.

For example:

Portable paddles (Part 1)

I have a 1-metre length cable between my Palm Pico and KX2. If not too cold, I use the Velcro leg strap (see photo) which works fine whilst sitting or standing. In cold weather I have the paddles inside my winter jacket side pocket on the metal plate. I rest my ring and little fingers on the plate to stop it from moving about when keying. [Palm%20Pico%20SOTA]

Straight key or paddle for cold conditions?

I use a tiny straight key for activating. But when my hands get too cold in winter my morse starts to suffer to the point I make mistakes. So I was wondering whether those of you who can and have used both paddle and straight key in cold WX, if using a paddle in cold weather is any harder or easier. Better or worse, or the same as a straight key in terms of errors? (I can use a paddle). David

Enjoy your hiking and portable radio.

Andy G8CPZ / M0ALC