Waifs and Strays

You come across some strange descriptions in the ham radio section of eBay. Some must be strays. But I guess some descriptions enable us to quickly sort out whether it’s a non ham selling something.

• “RF power reducer” – Yes sir, that would be… an attenuator?
  
• “PL259 9mm-10 PIECES - HIGH QUALITY - BROWN INSULATOR” - Obviously superior to the cheaper PTFE versions?
  
• “Ham Radio” -Well that narrows it down.
  
• “MARCONI RC690 Ex Police Radio - No longer in service” - The radio or the police?
  
• “Ex Police Radio removed from Police Volvo T5.” - Aren’t they still looking for it?
  
• “HAM INTERNATIONAL CONCORDE II PLUS EXTRAS EWO RADIO 10M” - are you sure? Oh look 80 channels!
  
• “CO-AX CONNECTOR (FEMALE) X 5. SOLDERLESS!” -Yes , we all use Belling Lee to achieve  our quality coax connections
  
• “QRP / Radio CRYSTALS” - no good I only run QRO.
  
• “Morse Code MouseMat”  - Just in case you need reminding?
  
• “Bird Wattmeter Element, 1 Watt, 200 to 300 Mhz” – covering so many ham bands in Europe.
  
• “ANTIQUE MORSE KEY - MADE IN BLACK PLASTIC TYPE MATERIAL, INSCRIBED HI-MOUND, MADE IN TOKYO”- I believe that "black plastic type material" is in fact black plastic. I think we can date that for you.
  

By the way if you want to learn or brush up on your CW have a look at this site –

 http://lcwo.net/?p=main

Learn CW online. Does exactly what it says on the tin. Ideal for those wet lunch breaks at work!