I wasn't expecting much, now that we're on the downward slope of the sunspot cycle. This really got reinforced for me on Friday. I had taken the day off from work, to use up some leftover vacation days from last year, and to make the long President's Day weekend even longer. So Friday afternoon, I got on the radio, expecting to hear all kinds of stations warming up for the Big Event.
Nothing - the bands were dead! I had mentioned this on Twitter and K2MTS came back to me that there were some tough solar conditions that were occurring. Of course, on my day off, O'l Sol would choose to throw a hissy fit.
Come Saturday afternoon, I got back on again, not quite knowing what to expect. This time, the Sun and the ionosphere had decided to make nice. Conditions seemed to be remarkably better. I stuck to mainly 20 and 15 Meters and was able to work anyone that I chose to (I was searching and pouncing). The Caribbean nations and Europe were within easy reach. I was even able to work Japan on 20 Meters and a couple of Hawaiian stations on 15 Meters. In all, operating VERY casually, if memory serves me correctly, I made close to 75 contacts and probably worked 30 to 40 different DXCC entities.
I have Log4OM set up to notify me whenever a station from Poland is spotted. I guess it's a heritage thing; and I pay close attention to working Polish stations whenever I can. I worked and handful of them as well.
So it turned out to be a delightful weekend of twiddling the knob and getting back into the swing of being able to bust small pileups, even with only 5 Watts. Even though I know that it's true, it's nice to have that confidence in the back of my mind that QRP works, even when band conditions are less than optimal.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Showing posts with label Diamond DXCC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Diamond DXCC. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 20, 2018
Monday, March 19, 2012
Last day of Winter
Spring officially begins in about 5 hours from right now. But the weather here today had to be record breaking, or darn near close to it. As I left work today, for the drive home at 5:00 PM, it was 77F (25C) - on March 19th!
The extended forecast for the next week is informing us that daytime high temperatures will be in the upper 60's and into the 70s' and that on Thursday, we may even break 80F (27C).
I was telling Bob W3BBO during our weekly Echolink chat the other day, that we will probably pay for this with a Memorial Day holiday weekend in the 50s (13C).
Ah yes, W2LJ is ever the optimist!
On a radio note, I tried getting on the bands a few times over the weekend only to hear not much of anything. The bands seemed to be dead for me. BUT ..... the bands have been real good for my friend Jim W4QO, who announced that he finished working the countries he needed to accomplish Diamond DXCC - all QRP. Way to go, Jim - a hearty hand shake and slap on the back for you!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
The extended forecast for the next week is informing us that daytime high temperatures will be in the upper 60's and into the 70s' and that on Thursday, we may even break 80F (27C).
I was telling Bob W3BBO during our weekly Echolink chat the other day, that we will probably pay for this with a Memorial Day holiday weekend in the 50s (13C).
Ah yes, W2LJ is ever the optimist!
On a radio note, I tried getting on the bands a few times over the weekend only to hear not much of anything. The bands seemed to be dead for me. BUT ..... the bands have been real good for my friend Jim W4QO, who announced that he finished working the countries he needed to accomplish Diamond DXCC - all QRP. Way to go, Jim - a hearty hand shake and slap on the back for you!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Sunday, February 19, 2012
ARRL DX Contest - 2012
Since 0000 UTC Saturday morning (Friday night here) the bands were absolutely humming. Hard to find spectrum that wasn't occupied by someone calling 'CQ TEST" or with two stations engaging in an exchange. It's now 0000 UTC Monday morning here, and the bands are eerily quiet.
The weekend was like all the others around here - super busy. I did not get to spend nearly as much time on the air as I wanted to; but I did get a couple of hours last night and then a couple more this afternoon. I added quite a few new countries to my Diamond DXCC tally. Not as many as I would have liked; but I should be well on my way now.
The bands seemed to be in good shape and I even heard some activity on 10 Meters and joined in the fun there. My plan of action was to "cherry pick" and work the louder stations I was hearing, thinking that would give my QRP: signal the best chance of being heard. I didn't stick with that strategy, however and ended up working quite a few weak ones, too. It pretty much turned out that I was able to work anyone that I called. I even got a new one that I have never worked before - QRP or QRO. I worked ZD8Z on Ascension Island for the first time ever. Unfortunately, the only station that wasn't able to pick me out of the din was OA4SS down in Peru. I tried for quite a while, but in the end was not successful.
I have tomorrow off for the long President's Day weekend. I am so tired right now that I am going to turn in early and I will get my QSO for the 20th, tomorrow.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
The weekend was like all the others around here - super busy. I did not get to spend nearly as much time on the air as I wanted to; but I did get a couple of hours last night and then a couple more this afternoon. I added quite a few new countries to my Diamond DXCC tally. Not as many as I would have liked; but I should be well on my way now.
The bands seemed to be in good shape and I even heard some activity on 10 Meters and joined in the fun there. My plan of action was to "cherry pick" and work the louder stations I was hearing, thinking that would give my QRP: signal the best chance of being heard. I didn't stick with that strategy, however and ended up working quite a few weak ones, too. It pretty much turned out that I was able to work anyone that I called. I even got a new one that I have never worked before - QRP or QRO. I worked ZD8Z on Ascension Island for the first time ever. Unfortunately, the only station that wasn't able to pick me out of the din was OA4SS down in Peru. I tried for quite a while, but in the end was not successful.
I have tomorrow off for the long President's Day weekend. I am so tired right now that I am going to turn in early and I will get my QSO for the 20th, tomorrow.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Thursday, February 16, 2012
ARRL DX Contest this weekend
This has been a bad week for me as far as the QRP Fox hunts go. On Tuesday night, I was only able to hear both Foxes at ESP levels. I "knew" where they were; but they were much too weak to even bother calling - no way they would have heard me. Tonight is a rare QRN free night on 40 Meters, but alas, same problem as Tuesday night. I can't hear the Foxes for anything.
So instead, I headed down the lower part of the band and was picking off Caribbean stations that are flexing their CW muscles for this weekend's big DX contest. I got Curacao, and Bonaire and Aruba among others. And I even got a "brandy-new" entity for me via QRP. I worked PZ5RO in Suriname on 40 Meters. I heard him call "QRL?" and he gave out his call and I nabbed him on my first shot. Sweet!
If you're new to QRP and you're hesitant about jumping into this contest, don't be. Have no fear, jump in and have fun. But (there's always a "but", isn't there?) you have to be sensible about it. For the first half or so of the contest, don't get frustrated if you don't get the results that you want. Remember at the beginning, you will be competing with a ton of QRO stations. As a beginner, you might want to stay with "hunting and pouncing" and working the loudest stations. If you try and try; but can't get an answer within a reasonable amount of time - move on. Work what you can. As Kenny Rogers sang, "You have to know when to hold 'em, and when to fold 'em". Contests like this will really help you learn the capabilities and strong points of your station.
QRPers stand a better chance during the last half of the contest, if my experience means anything. Towards the end, stations that are still hungry for points seem to hear sharper as they eke out those weaker signals in order to inflate their point totals. On Sunday afternoon, I would try working just about anyone that you can hear. At this point, even the weaker stations without super antenna arrays seem to respond to QRPers.
Don't be surprised when you find out you can work a lot of DX with low power and modest antennas. A few years ago, as a personal experiment, I decided to get on Saturday night and work the loudest DX stations that I was hearing, while the K2 was turned down to 1 Watt. I think I earned the "1000 Mile per Watt" award about thirty times over that evening - and that was when we were in the middle of the sunspot doldrums.
And speaking of the "1000 Mile per Watt" award - you should be able to earn that this weekend without breaking a sweat. And if you're working on your DXCC - just starting, in the middle, or near the finish line, this is always a great event for that. Also keep in mind Diamond DXCC for this year. I am hoping to inflate my country total big time towards that award.
The contest is also a good way to increase your code speed a bit. Don't get frustrated with the guys who seem to be sending at 50 WPM,that sound like a buzz saw. Pay them no attention - move on. But don't fall into the trap of only working slower speed guys either. Work the ones who are a bit faster than you're comfortable with. It may take you eight or nine times to get their call correct; but what they hey - it's not like you're in this to take the whole shebang, right?
Bottom line is to have fun - be a "Giver of Points", relax and have a good time.
On quite a different; but sad note ....... I heard on the radio, on the way home from work today, that Gary Carter passed away, losing his battle with cancerous brain tumors. Gary "Kid" Carter, along with Johnny Bench may arguably have been two of the greatest catchers the National League has ever seen. His coming to the NY Mets in 1985 was a catalyst that started a series of winning seasons that lasted until the early 90s. I had the great fortune to meet him at a baseball card show after he had retired from the game. Not only was he a great baseball player, totally worthy of his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame, he was also a total gentleman. The world of baseball (and NY Met fans) is poorer today for Gary's passing. But I'm sure he's being more than welcomed on Heaven's All Star Team.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
So instead, I headed down the lower part of the band and was picking off Caribbean stations that are flexing their CW muscles for this weekend's big DX contest. I got Curacao, and Bonaire and Aruba among others. And I even got a "brandy-new" entity for me via QRP. I worked PZ5RO in Suriname on 40 Meters. I heard him call "QRL?" and he gave out his call and I nabbed him on my first shot. Sweet!
If you're new to QRP and you're hesitant about jumping into this contest, don't be. Have no fear, jump in and have fun. But (there's always a "but", isn't there?) you have to be sensible about it. For the first half or so of the contest, don't get frustrated if you don't get the results that you want. Remember at the beginning, you will be competing with a ton of QRO stations. As a beginner, you might want to stay with "hunting and pouncing" and working the loudest stations. If you try and try; but can't get an answer within a reasonable amount of time - move on. Work what you can. As Kenny Rogers sang, "You have to know when to hold 'em, and when to fold 'em". Contests like this will really help you learn the capabilities and strong points of your station.
QRPers stand a better chance during the last half of the contest, if my experience means anything. Towards the end, stations that are still hungry for points seem to hear sharper as they eke out those weaker signals in order to inflate their point totals. On Sunday afternoon, I would try working just about anyone that you can hear. At this point, even the weaker stations without super antenna arrays seem to respond to QRPers.
Don't be surprised when you find out you can work a lot of DX with low power and modest antennas. A few years ago, as a personal experiment, I decided to get on Saturday night and work the loudest DX stations that I was hearing, while the K2 was turned down to 1 Watt. I think I earned the "1000 Mile per Watt" award about thirty times over that evening - and that was when we were in the middle of the sunspot doldrums.
And speaking of the "1000 Mile per Watt" award - you should be able to earn that this weekend without breaking a sweat. And if you're working on your DXCC - just starting, in the middle, or near the finish line, this is always a great event for that. Also keep in mind Diamond DXCC for this year. I am hoping to inflate my country total big time towards that award.
The contest is also a good way to increase your code speed a bit. Don't get frustrated with the guys who seem to be sending at 50 WPM,that sound like a buzz saw. Pay them no attention - move on. But don't fall into the trap of only working slower speed guys either. Work the ones who are a bit faster than you're comfortable with. It may take you eight or nine times to get their call correct; but what they hey - it's not like you're in this to take the whole shebang, right?
Bottom line is to have fun - be a "Giver of Points", relax and have a good time.
On quite a different; but sad note ....... I heard on the radio, on the way home from work today, that Gary Carter passed away, losing his battle with cancerous brain tumors. Gary "Kid" Carter, along with Johnny Bench may arguably have been two of the greatest catchers the National League has ever seen. His coming to the NY Mets in 1985 was a catalyst that started a series of winning seasons that lasted until the early 90s. I had the great fortune to meet him at a baseball card show after he had retired from the game. Not only was he a great baseball player, totally worthy of his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame, he was also a total gentleman. The world of baseball (and NY Met fans) is poorer today for Gary's passing. But I'm sure he's being more than welcomed on Heaven's All Star Team.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Friday, February 03, 2012
Must be date night
Since it's Friday, it must be date night. 20, 30 and 40 Meters are spectacular! Not a bit of local neighborhood QRN - the local Plasma TV watchers must be out to dinner or a movie.
The FOC is all over lower 40 Meters with their contest, so I switch over to 30 Meters and while quickly scanning, I hear a pileup. I have no idea who it is, but by listening carefully, I can tell that they are listening up 2 kHz. Abiding by the rule, "Work first, worry later", I nabbed them on my third try.
They eventually gave their call and it turns out to be the HU2DX DXpedition down in El Salvador. The fact that they were able to dig me out of the pileup is no wonder. Here's what they're using:
For SSB and CW, two K3s and a K2. Digimodes will be done through a Yaesu FT-840. The antenna on 30 Meters is a Spiderbeam.
Not only did I snag a DXpedition, but I score another country for DDXCC!
Sweet!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
The FOC is all over lower 40 Meters with their contest, so I switch over to 30 Meters and while quickly scanning, I hear a pileup. I have no idea who it is, but by listening carefully, I can tell that they are listening up 2 kHz. Abiding by the rule, "Work first, worry later", I nabbed them on my third try.
They eventually gave their call and it turns out to be the HU2DX DXpedition down in El Salvador. The fact that they were able to dig me out of the pileup is no wonder. Here's what they're using:
For SSB and CW, two K3s and a K2. Digimodes will be done through a Yaesu FT-840. The antenna on 30 Meters is a Spiderbeam.
Not only did I snag a DXpedition, but I score another country for DDXCC!
Sweet!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Deuce !!!!
Great success in the 80 Meter Fox hunt tonight, due to the great ears of Dave N1IX and Tom KV2X. The fact that Dave lives in New Hampshire and Tom in New York was to my benefit as these are pretty easy hops for me on 80 Meters.
I went to the ARRL's Web page today and downloaded the Diamond DXCC (DDXCC) Scorecard, which is an Excel file that you can use to keep track of the entities that you have worked towards the award. So far in January, I worked 15 entities that count. So I am 15% of the way there. Not a terrible start and we have the major DX contests still to come - the ARRL DX Contest coming up in February as a matter of fact. I don't know if I will be able to achieve the certificate; but it is a worthwhile and fun goal for the year.
15 Meters did not seem as active this morning as yesterday morning. I did manage to get Cuba in the log, working CO6WD before heading off to work. Down the band, there was a huge pileup, spanning many kHz; but for the life of me, I don't know who everyone was trying to work. I couldn't hear the quarry (and I didn't have the DX Cluster up on screen); but I would assume it was most likely either HK0NA, TN2T or perhaps VP6T. These seem to be the three "biggies" right now.
The more that I am on the air this year, the more I am coming to realize that "Happiness is listening to a good fist". I hope that I fall into that category; but I can sure tell you that there are a lot of folks out there who don't seem to. And that's a shame.
The problem seems to be spacing and "hurrying up". And I think I make that mistake myself from time to time, especially if I'm a bit tired and not paying attention to what I am doing. A long time ago, my Mom gave me a little angel that hung from the rear view mirror in my car that said, "Never drive faster than your Guardian Angel can fly". I think we Morse Code enthusiasts should have something along the same lines. "Never send faster than your fist can send" (or something like that!). If you get sloppy, or take for granted what you are doing and don't pay attention to the task at hand, you're going to sound pretty awful. And that's not fun for anybody.
Sending good Morse is an art. It is a deliberate act that takes concentration and diligence and practice. Spacing is just as important if not more important than anything else. It's a good thing to remind ourselves, from time to time.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
I went to the ARRL's Web page today and downloaded the Diamond DXCC (DDXCC) Scorecard, which is an Excel file that you can use to keep track of the entities that you have worked towards the award. So far in January, I worked 15 entities that count. So I am 15% of the way there. Not a terrible start and we have the major DX contests still to come - the ARRL DX Contest coming up in February as a matter of fact. I don't know if I will be able to achieve the certificate; but it is a worthwhile and fun goal for the year.
15 Meters did not seem as active this morning as yesterday morning. I did manage to get Cuba in the log, working CO6WD before heading off to work. Down the band, there was a huge pileup, spanning many kHz; but for the life of me, I don't know who everyone was trying to work. I couldn't hear the quarry (and I didn't have the DX Cluster up on screen); but I would assume it was most likely either HK0NA, TN2T or perhaps VP6T. These seem to be the three "biggies" right now.
The more that I am on the air this year, the more I am coming to realize that "Happiness is listening to a good fist". I hope that I fall into that category; but I can sure tell you that there are a lot of folks out there who don't seem to. And that's a shame.
The problem seems to be spacing and "hurrying up". And I think I make that mistake myself from time to time, especially if I'm a bit tired and not paying attention to what I am doing. A long time ago, my Mom gave me a little angel that hung from the rear view mirror in my car that said, "Never drive faster than your Guardian Angel can fly". I think we Morse Code enthusiasts should have something along the same lines. "Never send faster than your fist can send" (or something like that!). If you get sloppy, or take for granted what you are doing and don't pay attention to the task at hand, you're going to sound pretty awful. And that's not fun for anybody.
Sending good Morse is an art. It is a deliberate act that takes concentration and diligence and practice. Spacing is just as important if not more important than anything else. It's a good thing to remind ourselves, from time to time.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Monday, January 30, 2012
Decisions, decisions .....
A little back story is in order to set the scene.
In my department at work, it's just me and one other guy (in our building). Our office has to have coverage each day from 8:00 AM until 6:00 PM. So we have two "shifts, if you will. The "early guy" works from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM, while the "late guy" works from 9:00 AM until 6:00 PM. We rotate from week to week, so that neither of us gets stuck staying until 6:00 PM all the time.
This week, I'm the late guy - so after dropping the kids off at school for 7:30 AM, I have some time to kill each morning this week until I have to leave for work. Today, when I came home, I decided to see what 15 Meters was like.
There, at about 21.020 MHz was 4Z5AD calling "CQ NA". He was not terribly loud; but there was not much of a pileup, so I decided to throw out my call. Nothing. I changed from HF9V to EDZ - same result - nil. As time is going by, he is getting louder - coming closer and closer to 589/599.
I switch back to the vertical (I'm hearing him louder on it) and throw out my call again. This time I get an "LJ?" But I am thwarted when I hear him come back to someone with a JLK suffix. Determined, I keep sending out my call. This time, I get a "W2L?". I send my call a few more times more. But he's not hearing me and goes back to calling "CQ NA".
I look at the clock - it's 8:10 AM, I have to get headed for work VERY soon. What do I do? I have worked Israel before; but never QRP. But at the same time, I am trying to accomplish Diamond DXCC this year; and I think this could count for Palestine.
So I made an "executive decision" and I turned up the power knob. This time when I sent my call, I was greeted by an exchange of "W2LJ 449 TU". Israel is once again in the log - not QRP, but at least I can use the contact towards Diamond DXCC. If I had left the knob where it was, I may or may not have eventually worked him - but I'll never know as I had to leave for work. I don't think my boss would have appreciated, "Sorry I'm late, but Israel was on 15 Meters, and ........."
By the way, when I checked the power output after the QSO, the K2 was at 8 Watts.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least! (Most times!)
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Keeping the streak going,
I got two quick QSOs in the books tonight as January 29th turned to January 30th UTC time. Both were on 30 Meters. The local QRN was non-existant and since today is the layoff weekend between AFC and NFC Championship football and the Super Bowl, I am not all that surprised. This is why I'm leaning towards the culprit being a Plasma TV.
Anyway, the QSOs were with PJ2/AA9A and KI9E. I used the Butternut HF9V in both cases. In any event, I wanted to get this out of the way quickly tonight, not because I don't like being on the radio (you all know THAT's not true!). My son Joey asked me to watch a movie with him that starts in a half hour.
I can't deny a request like that!
Hey, if you get a chance, hop on over to John AE5X's blog. He has a link up to pictures from the HK0NA DXpedition. Wow! This is definitely not a "lap of luxury" DXpedtion!
'Nite all, I'm headed upstairs for a little Phineas and Ferb!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Anyway, the QSOs were with PJ2/AA9A and KI9E. I used the Butternut HF9V in both cases. In any event, I wanted to get this out of the way quickly tonight, not because I don't like being on the radio (you all know THAT's not true!). My son Joey asked me to watch a movie with him that starts in a half hour.
I can't deny a request like that!
Hey, if you get a chance, hop on over to John AE5X's blog. He has a link up to pictures from the HK0NA DXpedition. Wow! This is definitely not a "lap of luxury" DXpedtion!
'Nite all, I'm headed upstairs for a little Phineas and Ferb!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Saturday, January 28, 2012
A good day on the radio
'Twas a fine day on the radio. Lots of activity and lots of stations to be worked. I added a few new ones, new ones as far as working for Diamond DXCC goes, that is.
C6AKQ - Bob N4BP in the Bahamas
UT7UJ - Dmitry in the Ukraine
OE5PGL - Peter in Austria
CT8/HB9CQL - Rudolf in the Azores
and .........
HK0NA on 17 Meters this afternoon.
Yay! Finally managed to break through the pile up. The team has been there a few weeks now and the pileups don't seem to be diminishing at all, they're still in great demand. Today was the loudest I have ever heard them to date and was lucky enough to get them in my log.
I also spent a few minutes this afternoon working on the antenna setup that I hope to use next Saturday for FYBO. I hooked up the Buddistick to the magmount and stuck it on top of the Jeep. Using an antenna analyzer, I found the settings that I need to be at for SWRs of 1.2:1 on both 20 and 40 Meters. I didn't make any QSOs but did do some listening. I heard Ken WA8REI in QSO and his signal was so loud, I thought my ear drums were going to burst. One of the few times that I actually had to turn the volume control on the PFR3A almost all the way down.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
C6AKQ - Bob N4BP in the Bahamas
UT7UJ - Dmitry in the Ukraine
OE5PGL - Peter in Austria
CT8/HB9CQL - Rudolf in the Azores
and .........
HK0NA on 17 Meters this afternoon.
Yay! Finally managed to break through the pile up. The team has been there a few weeks now and the pileups don't seem to be diminishing at all, they're still in great demand. Today was the loudest I have ever heard them to date and was lucky enough to get them in my log.
I also spent a few minutes this afternoon working on the antenna setup that I hope to use next Saturday for FYBO. I hooked up the Buddistick to the magmount and stuck it on top of the Jeep. Using an antenna analyzer, I found the settings that I need to be at for SWRs of 1.2:1 on both 20 and 40 Meters. I didn't make any QSOs but did do some listening. I heard Ken WA8REI in QSO and his signal was so loud, I thought my ear drums were going to burst. One of the few times that I actually had to turn the volume control on the PFR3A almost all the way down.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Friday, January 20, 2012
A new challenge
After reading Ron AE5NO's post "CQ Panama" on AmateurRadio.com, and the Stan Horzepa WA1LOU's latest post, "Doing Something New" on the ARRL Website, I decided to give a closer look see into this ARRL Diamond DXCC Challenge. This challenge is to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the DXCC program.
Psssssst...... so here's the low down. The Diamond DXCC Challenge is very much like the Millennium DXCC Challenge that was held back in the year 2000. The difference here is that you have all of 2012 to work 100 DXCC entities that existed back in 1937, the inaugural year of the DXCC program. For the entities that no longer exist, you get to work their present day equivalents - for instance, since Abyssinia no longer exists today (but did in 1937), working present day Ethiopia counts for the same thing, and so on and so on and so on. There's a complete list of entities and equivalents available at the ARRL Website.
Sounds cool, right? It will definitely be a challenge to see if I can do this QRP. There are several caveats. There are no endorsements, per se, only for the amount of countries worked. So I can't get an endorsement for doing this using QRP and all CW; but I'd be able to get stickers for working 125, 150, 175 countries and so on (like THAT's going to happen!). Also, this is totally on the "Honor System" - no QSLs required.
I know to a lot of you out there, that cheapens or invalidates the award, There was a big discussion about this on QRP-L a couple of days ago with regards to QRP DXCC, which doesn't require QSL proof either. But I have "regular" DXCC and QRP DXCC and DXCC Millennium; and I'm just as proud of the last two as I am the first. I know I worked 'em all, QSLs or no - I wouldn't have applied otherwise. Geez, if you can't be honest with yourself about something like this - then I don't know what to say. How desperate can you be for a piece of wallpaper?
So this should definitely be fun, and should definitely fit right in with the program of getting on the air more this year. Not only making more QSOs on a regular basis; but applying myself much more diligently during the major DX contests seems to be in order this year. It's always nice to have a goal to work towards.
In a different vein, tonight I had the most delightful rag chew with Jim K4AXF down in Grottoes, VA. Jim and I are both participants in the QRP Foxhunts. It was good to finally be able to sit and chew the fat in a relaxed manner as opposed to just sending "599 NJ LARRY 5W". Like that conveys a lot of information. But for our QSO on 80 Meters tonight, the band was in superb Winter time condition and Jim was 599 Plus all the way.
Speaking of Winter time conditions - snow tonight into tomorrow. Ugh! The weather prognosticators are saying anywhere between three to eight inches before turning over to that ever lovin' "wintry mix" of snow, sleet, and freezing rain. I hope they're wrong and that they have to send reporters all over creation just to find one flake.
But if they are right, then maybe I can hunker down and stay inside all day and play radio. Gotta look for that silver lining!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Psssssst...... so here's the low down. The Diamond DXCC Challenge is very much like the Millennium DXCC Challenge that was held back in the year 2000. The difference here is that you have all of 2012 to work 100 DXCC entities that existed back in 1937, the inaugural year of the DXCC program. For the entities that no longer exist, you get to work their present day equivalents - for instance, since Abyssinia no longer exists today (but did in 1937), working present day Ethiopia counts for the same thing, and so on and so on and so on. There's a complete list of entities and equivalents available at the ARRL Website.
Sounds cool, right? It will definitely be a challenge to see if I can do this QRP. There are several caveats. There are no endorsements, per se, only for the amount of countries worked. So I can't get an endorsement for doing this using QRP and all CW; but I'd be able to get stickers for working 125, 150, 175 countries and so on (like THAT's going to happen!). Also, this is totally on the "Honor System" - no QSLs required.
I know to a lot of you out there, that cheapens or invalidates the award, There was a big discussion about this on QRP-L a couple of days ago with regards to QRP DXCC, which doesn't require QSL proof either. But I have "regular" DXCC and QRP DXCC and DXCC Millennium; and I'm just as proud of the last two as I am the first. I know I worked 'em all, QSLs or no - I wouldn't have applied otherwise. Geez, if you can't be honest with yourself about something like this - then I don't know what to say. How desperate can you be for a piece of wallpaper?
So this should definitely be fun, and should definitely fit right in with the program of getting on the air more this year. Not only making more QSOs on a regular basis; but applying myself much more diligently during the major DX contests seems to be in order this year. It's always nice to have a goal to work towards.
In a different vein, tonight I had the most delightful rag chew with Jim K4AXF down in Grottoes, VA. Jim and I are both participants in the QRP Foxhunts. It was good to finally be able to sit and chew the fat in a relaxed manner as opposed to just sending "599 NJ LARRY 5W". Like that conveys a lot of information. But for our QSO on 80 Meters tonight, the band was in superb Winter time condition and Jim was 599 Plus all the way.
Speaking of Winter time conditions - snow tonight into tomorrow. Ugh! The weather prognosticators are saying anywhere between three to eight inches before turning over to that ever lovin' "wintry mix" of snow, sleet, and freezing rain. I hope they're wrong and that they have to send reporters all over creation just to find one flake.
But if they are right, then maybe I can hunker down and stay inside all day and play radio. Gotta look for that silver lining!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)