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Field Day and clean radios

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AB1DD

Field Day and clean radios

Hi All,

Question on cleaning a K3, specifically during Field Day. We need to
clean the K3 before a change of operators. What is safe, IE not take off
the button labels? Alcohol? We will take the rubber ring off the tuning nob.

What's good?

--

73,
Carl
AB1DD

Resistance is futile.
(don't know about reactance, though)

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W2xj

Re: Field Day and clean radios

handheld UV sanitizer.

Sent from my iPad

> On Jun 16, 2020, at 7:03 PM, AB1DD <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Hi All,
>
> Question on cleaning a K3, specifically during Field Day. We need to clean the K3 before a change of operators. What is safe, IE not take off the button labels? Alcohol? We will take the rubber ring off the tuning nob.
>
> What's good?
>
> --
>
> 73,
> Carl
> AB1DD
>
> Resistance is futile.
> (don't know about reactance, though)
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
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Wes Stewart-2

Re: Field Day and clean radios

In reply to this post by AB1DD

If you're going to worry about it, nitrile gloves.

Wes N7WS

On 6/16/2020 4:02 PM, AB1DD wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> Question on cleaning a K3, specifically during Field Day. We need to clean the
> K3 before a change of operators. What is safe, IE not take off the button
> labels? Alcohol? We will take the rubber ring off the tuning nob.
>
> What's good?
>

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Michael Van Norman-2

Re: Field Day and clean radios

This sounds like the right answer. Have operators use gloves and then
clean once at the end.

/Mike
K6VN

On 6/16/20 16:31, Wes wrote:

George Thornton

Re: Field Day and clean radios

Assuming this is not just keying you are also going to have to disinfect the microphone. You also have issues with computer keyboards for logging.

For working with computers I would think the commercial equipment wipes would be OK.

I typically wet paper towels with alcohol so it is damp but not dripping. I have used that method to clean screens and keyboards on laptops with no problems.

I do think the virus is pretty vulnerable outside the human body. 70 percent or higher concentration of alcohol wiped across a surface should kill any virus that got there.

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> On Behalf Of Michael Van Norman
Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2020 4:36 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Field Day and clean radios

This sounds like the right answer. Have operators use gloves and then clean once at the end.

/Mike
K6VN

On 6/16/20 16:31, Wes wrote:

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Hank Garretson

Re: Field Day and clean radios

In reply to this post by W2xj

It is endless. Sanitize the radio, the keyboard, the pencil, the paper, the
desk, the chair, the mouse, the ...

Better bet. Keep your blooming hands away from your face! Don't ever touch
your face!

Contest, Cope Exuberantly,

Hank, W6SX
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k6dgw

Re: Field Day and clean radios

In reply to this post by George Thornton

I volunteered at the local blood center for 15 years or so. They had
wipes [can't remember the name] for hands, and Caviwipes for surfaces.

https://www.metrex.com/en-us/products/surface-disinfectants/caviwipes

One can should last all FD and then some, there's a big roll inside
soaked in the disinfectant. They seemed safe for any surface, we used
them to wipe down the apheresis machines which were covered with printed
legends and the like.

However, I'd recommend nitrile gloves for all the operators. They go
inside-out when removed, easy disposal, personal hand wipes for after
removal. Clean the radios, mics, paddles, keyboards, and
monitors/laptops after FD. This also shifts much of the responsibility
for appropriate behavior to the operators.

73,
Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
Sparks NV DM09dn
Washoe County
On 6/16/2020 4:47 PM, George Thornton wrote:

> Assuming this is not just keying you are also going to have to disinfect the microphone. You also have issues with computer keyboards for logging.
>
> For working with computers I would think the commercial equipment wipes would be OK.
>
> I typically wet paper towels with alcohol so it is damp but not dripping. I have used that method to clean screens and keyboards on laptops with no problems.
>
> I do think the virus is pretty vulnerable outside the human body. 70 percent or higher concentration of alcohol wiped across a surface should kill any virus that got there.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> On Behalf Of Michael Van Norman
> Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2020 4:36 PM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Field Day and clean radios
>
> This sounds like the right answer. Have operators use gloves and then clean once at the end.
>
> /Mike
> K6VN
>
> On 6/16/20 16:31, Wes wrote:
>> If you're going to worry about it, nitrile gloves.
>>
>> Wes N7WS
>>
>> On 6/16/2020 4:02 PM, AB1DD wrote:
>>> Hi All,
>>>
>>> Question on cleaning a K3, specifically during Field Day. We need to
>>> clean the K3 before a change of operators. What is safe, IE not take
>>> off the button labels? Alcohol? We will take the rubber ring off the
>>> tuning nob.
>>>
>>> What's good?
>>>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email]
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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>
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W2xj

Re: Field Day and clean radios

In reply to this post by AB1DD

If that were the case, the radio should never be used outdoors.

Sent from my iPad

> On Jun 16, 2020, at 7:41 PM, Walter Underwood <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> UV could be rough on the plastic.
>
> I strongly agree with the suggestion to use nitrile gloves. That also puts the responsibility onto the guest operator instead of onto the person who tried to sanitize the radio.
>
> wunder
> K6WRU
> Walter Underwood
> CM87wj
> http://observer.wunderwood.org/ (my blog)
>
>> On Jun 16, 2020, at 4:27 PM, W2xj <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> handheld UV sanitizer.
>>
>> Sent from my iPad
>>
>>>> On Jun 16, 2020, at 7:03 PM, AB1DD <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi All,
>>>
>>> Question on cleaning a K3, specifically during Field Day. We need to clean the K3 before a change of operators. What is safe, IE not take off the button labels? Alcohol? We will take the rubber ring off the tuning nob.
>>>
>>> What's good?
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> 73,
>>> Carl
>>> AB1DD
>>>
>>> Resistance is futile.
>>> (don't know about reactance, though)
>>>
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> Elecraft mailing list
>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>>
>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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RICHARD Martin

Re: Field Day and clean radios

UV Wands
I checked several LED Chinese uV wands for c band output. They were
frauds. Buyer beware.

Dick KN6AA

On Tue, Jun 16, 2020, 18:02 W2xj <[hidden email]> wrote:

> If that were the case, the radio should never be used outdoors.
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> > On Jun 16, 2020, at 7:41 PM, Walter Underwood <[hidden email]>
> wrote:
> >
> > UV could be rough on the plastic.
> >
> > I strongly agree with the suggestion to use nitrile gloves. That also
> puts the responsibility onto the guest operator instead of onto the person
> who tried to sanitize the radio.
> >
> > wunder
> > K6WRU
> > Walter Underwood
> > CM87wj
> > http://observer.wunderwood.org/ (my blog)
> >
> >> On Jun 16, 2020, at 4:27 PM, W2xj <[hidden email]> wrote:
> >>
> >> handheld UV sanitizer.
> >>
> >> Sent from my iPad
> >>
> >>>> On Jun 16, 2020, at 7:03 PM, AB1DD <[hidden email]> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> Hi All,
> >>>
> >>> Question on cleaning a K3, specifically during Field Day. We need to
> clean the K3 before a change of operators. What is safe, IE not take off
> the button labels? Alcohol? We will take the rubber ring off the tuning nob.
> >>>
> >>> What's good?
> >>>
> >>> --
> >>>
> >>> 73,
> >>> Carl
> >>> AB1DD
> >>>
> >>> Resistance is futile.
> >>> (don't know about reactance, though)
> >>>
> >>> ______________________________________________________________
> >>> Elecraft mailing list
> >>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> >>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> >>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
> >>>
> >>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> >>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> >>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
> >>
> >> ______________________________________________________________
> >> Elecraft mailing list
> >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> >> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
> >>
> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> >> Message delivered to [hidden email]
> >
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > Elecraft mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > Post: mailto:[hidden email]
> >
> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> > Message delivered to [hidden email]
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
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>
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Wes Stewart-2

Re: Field Day and clean radios

In reply to this post by Wes Stewart-2

I'm glad to see such agreement. Since I used to do a little woodworking I had a
half box of 3M N95 masks in my shop when this thing hit. I also bought nitrile
gloves by the box and had about a hundred each of large and small (for my SO) on
hand. Since then, I've purchased a couple of boxes more of each size although
the gouging doubled the price on the last batch. Despite now having hundreds of
them, we keep just a couple of pair in the car when we go out and use sanitizer
on them when we get back in the car.

It doesn't damage the gloves and saves our hands. I would suggest doing that
for the FD operation.

Wes N7WS

On 6/16/2020 4:31 PM, Wes wrote:

> If you're going to worry about it, nitrile gloves.
>
> Wes N7WS
>
> On 6/16/2020 4:02 PM, AB1DD wrote:
>> Hi All,
>>
>> Question on cleaning a K3, specifically during Field Day. We need to clean
>> the K3 before a change of operators. What is safe, IE not take off the button
>> labels? Alcohol? We will take the rubber ring off the tuning nob.
>>
>> What's good?
>>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
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Adrian-3

Re: Field Day and clean radios

Is it possible that all participants can use their personal laptop for
remote control, requiring only the clean of the usb cable, and perhaps
microphone during user change?

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Gwen Patton

Re: Field Day and clean radios

In reply to this post by Wes Stewart-2

I use a Verilux UV-C wand. It's the real deal, not a black light sold as a
sanitizer. I also have a water purifier that makes a combination of
hydrogen peroxide and hypochlorous acid. Put a dose in a liter of water,
let it sit for 30 minutes, and it's purified of all but cryptosporidium...
But leave it 4 hours and that's dead, too.

But put a few doses in a liter of water and don't let it sit, and it's a
very good surface disinfectant that won't hurt anything that water won't
hurt. It's not bleach, it's the same chlorine compound your white blood
cells generate to kill pathogens, and is used in municipal water treatment
systems. Cheap disinfectant, made to order.

You can get a spray bottle that supposedly does the same just for making
disinfectant solution, but the cheap ones are from China and will take a
while to arrive.

73,
Gwen, NG3P

On Tue, Jun 16, 2020, 9:14 PM Wes <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I'm glad to see such agreement. Since I used to do a little woodworking I
> had a
> half box of 3M N95 masks in my shop when this thing hit. I also bought
> nitrile
> gloves by the box and had about a hundred each of large and small (for my
> SO) on
> hand. Since then, I've purchased a couple of boxes more of each size
> although
> the gouging doubled the price on the last batch. Despite now having
> hundreds of
> them, we keep just a couple of pair in the car when we go out and use
> sanitizer
> on them when we get back in the car.
>
> It doesn't damage the gloves and saves our hands. I would suggest doing
> that
> for the FD operation.
>
> Wes N7WS
>
> On 6/16/2020 4:31 PM, Wes wrote:
> > If you're going to worry about it, nitrile gloves.
> >
> > Wes N7WS
> >
> > On 6/16/2020 4:02 PM, AB1DD wrote:
> >> Hi All,
> >>
> >> Question on cleaning a K3, specifically during Field Day. We need to
> clean
> >> the K3 before a change of operators. What is safe, IE not take off the
> button
> >> labels? Alcohol? We will take the rubber ring off the tuning nob.
> >>
> >> What's good?
> >>
> >
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > Elecraft mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > Post: mailto:[hidden email]
> >
> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> > Message delivered to [hidden email]
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]