Zombie Shuffle THIS Friday!

 The Zombie Shuffle always takes place on the Friday before Hallowe'en. Next Friday IS Hallowe'en, so the Shuffle is happening this Friday!

The Zombie Shuffle has become one of the most highly anticipated QRP events of the year. I daresay, right on par with the Flight of the Bumblebees. It's a strictly fun, low pressure, easy going event that is always a ton of fun.

All the details can be found at: https://www.zianet.com/qrp/ZOMBIE/pg.html

There's a new rule in place since I last participated in a Shuffle - it's called the "Rebirth Rule". You can work the same station twice on the same band, but it has to be at least tow hours after your first contact.

My ETS of NJ Meeting falls on Hallowe'en this year, so I am looking forward to joining in on the fun this year. It runs from 3:00 PM to 12:00 Midnight Local Time.

Hope to catch you shuffling on the bands Friday Fright!

72 de Vlad - Zombie # 858

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Weekend of October 26th and 27th

Tonight is the Zombie Shuffle:

http://www.zianet.com/qrp/ZOMBIE/pg.html

I will not be able to join the BOOs tonight as I have a ETS of NJ meeting, and as Secretary .......... (goes without saying, right?) And we all know why it's the Zombie Shuffle, right? Because Zombies can't run! (Sorry for the Dad joke).

But as far as contests for the weekend - there's only one!

CQ Worldwide DX Contest, SSB - https://www.cqww.com/rules.htm

Special Events:

09/29/2024 | Re-enactment of the First Trans-Global Two-Way Radio Communication

Sep 29-Oct 26, 0000Z-2359Z, GB2NZ, Many locations, UNITED KINGDOM. Radio Society of Great Britain and New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters (Otago Branch). All bands and all modes depending on operator availability. QSL. See website, for, information, UNITED KINGDOM. www.gb2nz.com

10/26/2024 | North Carolina State Fair Ham Radio Exhibit

Oct 26, 1000Z-1400Z, N4C, Raleigh, NC. NC Ham Radio Operators. 7.230 14.230. QSL. Travis Russell, 121 Pebble Dr, Clayton, NC 27520.

10/26/2024 | WOC-TV 75th Anniversary

Oct 26-Nov 11, 0000Z-2300Z, W0C, Davenport, IA. Davenport Radio Amateur Club. 14.310. QSL. Davenport Radio Amateur Club, P.O. Box 1523, Davenport, IA 52809. Recognizing the 75th anniversary of pioneer broadcaster WOC-TV (now KWQC). Multiple bands and modes depending on operator availability. Send SASE to: Davenport Radio Amateur Club, P.O. Box 1523, Davenport, IA 52809 drac.club

10/27/2024 | 86th Anniversary of the War of the Worlds Broadcast

Oct 27, 1600Z-2100Z, W0W, Grovers Mill, NJ. Delaware Valley Radio Association. 7.225 14.255 21.300. Certificate & QSL. Delaware Valley Radio Association, P.O. Box 7024, Trenton, NJ 08628. www.w2zq.com

This is a cool one! The DVRA will be operating from a park (non-POTA) in Grover's Mill, NJ - the landing spot for the Martians in Orson Welle's radio broadcast. It's a very nice park and I used to drive past it all the time when my Mom was still alive and was living in West Windsor. There's a nice pavilion there, where they will probably be setting up and the park itself edges a small lake. They should have a sunny dry day on Sunday for this event. They MAY be on CW as well, so look for W0W on the DX Cluster.

10/27/2024 | North Carolina State Fair Ham Radio Exhibit

Oct 27, 1000Z-1400Z, N4C, Raleigh, NC. NC Ham Radio Operators. 7.230 14.230. QSL. Travis Russell, 121 Pebble Dr, Clayton, NC 27520.

My main goal for the weekend is to get the HF9V up and running again. The long range forecast is calling for some rain next weekend. Finally!

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Can't say enough about this stand

 The AX1 stand by TUFTELN, that is.

If you have an Elecraft AX1 antenna, and you are using the "adjustable bipod stand" that Elecraft supplies, you are going to love this stand.  This stand is way more robust, sturdy and just overall better! Use this once, and you will forget you ever used the Elecraft bipod stand.

The only caveat is you have to make sure you don't overtighten it. Because if you overtighten it, it can be very hard to unscrew the two pieces from each other without damaging it. Take it from me - wink, wink

The beauty of this stand is that it gives you a choice. Since it cradles the AX1 so nicely, you can either connect the AX1 to the radio directly, OR  if you so desire, you can use coax jumpers and connect to your radio with the antenna physically removed - as shown in the photo above (as well as my header photo). If the radio you're using doesn't have a built in autotuner, such as the QMX, this is an absolute necessity. The reason that I don't like the Elecraft bipod is that IMHO, it puts too much stress on the radio's BNC connector. I know that on the KX3, the BNC connector is held in place to the chassis by a nut and not just by solder joints, but even so, I feel that bipod is an awkward arrangement at best.

Again, not an agent for TUFTELN - no kickbacks here! Just a satisfied customer.

AND ..... an announcement from Paul NA5N - mark your calendars !

QRP Zombies,

The 27th annual (1998-2024) ZOMBIE SHUFFLE will be held FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2024.

Pretty much the same silly rules as always.

The QRP Contest that's actually fun. Pick some strange, ghoulish name to use on the air.

Full RULES ARE HERE:

http://www.zianet.com/qrp/ZOMBIE/pg.html

72 and BOO, Paul NA5N

and from me:

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Zombie Shuffle Preliminary Results

Paul NA5N posted these on Wednesday evening:

And to no surprise (even though it might be hard to read) W2LJ is a comfortable 42 out of 105 entries received so far. (I was only able to screenshot down to line 88). I'm sure that if more entries are received, I'll probably drop a few notches down. And I guess for only a couple hours of operating, that "ain't" so bad.

As expected, the "Big Gun" QRP'ers (how's THAT for an oxymoron?) are at the top - all of whom I admire greatly. The QRP Community wouldn't be what it is without their steady hands at their keys.

Again, thanks to Paul NA5N and Jan N0QT for putting on this event. It's definitely near and dear to the hearts of many in the QRP world, as attested to by its longevity and the amount of people who participate. The QRP calendar wouldn't be the same without the Zombies.

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

The zombies have shuffled

I had a good time participating in the Zombie Shuffle on Friday night. I played hooky from my radio club meeting, but it was recorded on Zoom. I will watch the recording and will provide minutes for the next meeting.

In all I worked sixteen station in about 90 minutes of air time, one on 80 Meters, two on 20 Meters and thirteen on 40 Meters. 40 Meters was in great shape, or so I thought. Signals were pretty weak on 20 Meters and I was disappointed to hear only one other zombie on 80 Meters. 80 would have been a good band to work if it was populated.

Saturday morning was a CERT detail, providing traffic and pedestrian control for a paper shredding event the town sponsored. It was the first dry and sunny Saturday in eight weeks. Friday and Saturday we had a touch of Indian Summer with high temperatures in the low 80s (26C). Even though technically we have not had a hard freeze yet, these two days were very unseasonably warm. Of course,  it's raining again today and tomorrow and after, seasonable temps will return with overnight lows approaching or reaching the freezing mark.

Interspersed throughout the weekend I was working POTA stations. I did not go near the phone portions of the bands, even just to listen. I assume it was chaos with the CQ WWDX SSB Contest going on.

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

HomeBoo

 

This appeared on Facebook on the Radio Aficionados page posted by Pedro Sanchez Carcelen. 

Speaking of "Boo!", please remember tomorrow night is the Zombie Shuffle. I will not be able to participate as I have to go to a club meeting (I'm secretary so I kinda HAVE to be there - durn!), which always falls on the last Friday evening of the month. I have not been able to Shuffle for about a decade now, and I wish I could be there with all you ghouls, ghosties and beasties. This is by far one of the most fun events of the QRP year. Let me post the notice that comes from the Head Zombie, Paul NA5N:

Hark, fellow Zombies.

Just a reminder that the 2023 Zombie Shuffle will be this Friday, October 27th, starting at 3pm your local time.

Rules at: http://www.zianet.com/qrp/ZOMBIE/pg.html

The sun seems to be taking a slight siesta, cooling down from a solar flux  160+ a couple weeks ago to 121 today.  Still, 20M remains open until a bit after sundown and I have had some nice 15M QRP QSOs mid-afternoon.  Far better than the solar flux of 60 a couple years ago.

The Zombie Shuffle attracts lots of hams who are rusty, and many who have their first CW QSOs and QRP experience.  So thanks to all who QRS and accommodate these ops.  It brings new ops into the "dark side" every year.

So think up a nice ghoul-ish name to share with your fellow Zombies and have some goofy, silly on-the-air fun.(emphasis by W2LJ)

72, Paul NA5N

Zombie #004

PS - The propane truck filling our tank accidentally backed into one of my guy wires, bringing down my south mast on my 133 ft. long terminated folded dipole (TFD). With no support, the north mast came down the next day, so I have dipole wire all over the back yard.  So I'll be on (and limited) to my  trusty 5BTV vertical with 36 radials.  I got fully Zombie-ized, but wouldn't miss the Shuffle for anything.

And lest you think that we Hams are into fun and games and contests and nothing else, let me share with you a post on Facebook, by our very own Goat whisperer, Steve WG0AT:

Way to go, Steve! Talk about being in the right place at the right time! Can you imagine how many acres of woodland might have been destroyed if it weren't for Steve? How many animals could have been killed or forced out of their territory? You don't always have to wear a reflective vest or sit behind a microphone directing a net to be a public servant.  And if Steve's actions don't exemplify this part of the Amateur Radio Code, I don't know what does.

"PATRIOTIC...His/[Her] station and skills are always ready for service to country and community."

Thanks again, WG0AT! You always show what being a superb Amateur Radio Op is all about!

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Zombie Shuffle time!

 The return of a favorite! Here's the announcement from Paul NA5N:

Zombies,

Halloween is at the end of the month ... must be Zombie Shuffle time.

The ZOMBIE SHUFFLE will be held on Friday, Oct. 29, 2021 from 1600 through midnight, your local time.  Hopefully 15M and 20M will be open for a bit.

2021 RULES and SUMMARY sheet are here:

http://www.zianet.com/qrp/ZOMBIE/pg.htm

Pretty much the same pointless rules and scoring as always.

2020 Summary Sheets and soap box comments indicated the spooky and goofy names used by the bonus stations last year were a real hit and fun to copy on the air.  This year, EVERYONE is invited to choose some bogus, goofy name to send in their exchange for something different and fun.

If you'd like to be a bonus station this year, please email me. Bonus stations will send "2021" as their Zombie number.

The Zombie Shuffle is always a good excuse to get on the air for a couple hours or more, with a goofy exchange for a big score, and have some QRP fun regardless of your skill level.  Very informal with code speeds generally 20 wpm or less.  So if you're new to CW or a bit rusty, or a seasoned Zombie, this informal event is made to get you on the air and have some Zombie fun.

See you Oct. 29.

72, Paul NA5N

Thanks once again, Paul, for putting this together! It's always a lot of fun.

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Zombie Shuffle is tonight!

 

And here are some updates from Paul, NA5N:

The 2020 23rd annual QRP Zombie Shuffle is almost upon us.

Friday, October 30, 2020, 1600-midnight your local time

Rules: http://www.zianet.com/qrp/ZOMBIE/pg.htm

The Zombie Shuffle past 3 years has been met with awful bands, solar flux  only 62-65 and Kp 3-4 noise.  Yuck.

GOOD NEWS

The sun is slowly waking up for our next solar cycle with some improvements seen on the bands.  Today, and tomorrow for the Shuffle, the solar flux will be 88 and the Kp index only 1-2 for hopefully better bands and propagation than the past few years.  So, get on the air.

BONUS STATIONS

Quite a few stations volunteered to be Bonus Stations, and a few were invited.  Thanks to all.  I tried to distribute the Bonus Stations in different areas across the country, including "out west," for better variety and to help improve your SPC count.  A bonus station will send "2020" for their Zombie number, which in itself is like bonus points, plus their bonus station multiplier.  Most Bonus stations will also send some goofy or scary name of their choice for an extra measure of Zombie fun.   Some of the names chosen are quite interesting and unique, so copy the OP name carefully.

Below is a list of the Bonus stations and the SPC to help you find them:

AR      WA5BDU

CA      KE1B

GA      K4BAI

IA      WØPWE

ID      KU7Y

ID      K7TQ

IN      AB9CA

MA      KE1L

MD      W3KC

NE      N5SEZ

NM      NA5N

NM      K8TE   (Note 1)

ONT     VE3MGY (Note 2)

PA      K3SWZ

PA      W3BQC  (Note 3)

TN      AC6ZM

TX      WB6BKL

WA      WU7H

WA      NB5M

Note 1: K8TE is the New Mexico ARRL Section Manager, who requested a Zombie number to participate.  He will be QRP.

Note 2: Last year's top scorer and official "MGY" (Titanic) station

Note 3: Club station, WA3WSJ OP, Boschveldt, PA QRP Club

If you've been QRT during the solar minimum, or a bit rusty or new to CW, the QRP Zombie Shuffle is for you.  Code speeds are modest around 18wpm, but Zombies will slow to your speed (QRS) if needed.  Very informal to make some QSOs regardless of your operating skills and to have some on-the-air fun.  Notice the scoring, the sum of all the Zombie numbers you work, is based more on serendipity than skill.

Hope to work many of you. Don't forget to snap a photo or selfie to submit.

72, Paul NA5N

Socorro, NM

Zombie name: "Kilroy" as in "Kilroy was here"

              https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilroy_was_here

Rig: Ten Tec Argo at 5W

Ant: 5BTV vertical, 36 radials, or 130 ft. long terminated folded dipole

Key: 1938 McElroy bug, weighted to 16 wpm.

Thanks for organizing this for yet another year, Paul! I hope to hear a lot of you on the air tonight as well. I am down to just the HF9V for the evening. Ol' Mapley is still not down, it's been quite the wet week here in Central New Jersey.

72 de Larry W2LJ - Zombie # 858

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Propagation is a fickle thing.

Yesterday, and again this morning, I have been trying to work my friend Bob W3BBO in the Pennsylvania QSO Party. You would think that between Erie, PA and Central NJ, either 40 Meters or 80 Meters would be a sure thing, right?

Nope.

I keep Bob's call listed in HamAlert so I know that when he's on. He was spotted multiple times on 40 Meters yesterday and 80 Meters AND 40 Meters this morning. Every time I run downstairs when I get notice of a spot, I tune on or close to the frequency that he's been spotted on - nothing. Can't hear a peep. I'll betcha a dollar to a donut that were he to switch to 20 Meters, somehow I'd be able to hear him - which goes against all logic as far as I'm concerned.

While listening for Bob, I was hearing a lot of SKCC stations on the air. I am guessing that this week is the SKCC Weekend Sprint. I'll have to dust off the ol' bug and practice with it, off the air, and maybe join in and work a few next month. I would try today, but straight key sending is holy terror on my wrist and my bug sending would send folks running for the hills swearing to "Never work that W2LJ guy again!"

Speaking of upcoming events, this made it to QRP-L this past week. Notice of the 2020 Zombie Shuffle:

Zombies and Zombettes:

That time of the year again.  The 23rd Annual Zombie Shuffle QRP whatever-it-is will be held Friday, October 30, 2020 from 1600 to midnight YOUR LOCAL TIME.  This should allow for a little 20M at the beginning before forced to 40 or 80M.

Rules are here: http://www.zianet.com/qrp/ZOMBIE/pg.htm

Pretty much the same ole malarky QRP fun that is senseless and pointless with ridiculous scoring for getting on the air and working a few fellow QRP Zombies.

Bonus stations this year will be sending "2020" as their Zombie Number for an even bigger score and additional multipliers.  We'd like to see Bonus Stations in the East, Midwest, West and VE.  So, if you're planning on operating for an hour or two and want to be one of the coveted Bonus Stations, please let me know (na5n@zianet.com).

If you've never participated in the Zombie Shuffle, give it a try.  Just some silly Halloween fun to work some fellow QRP stations.  Not a high speed QRQ contest; stations will match your speed if you're a bit rusty or new to CW.

We'll never have a more Zombie year than 2020!!! :-(

72, Paul NA5N

Grand Zombie #004/2020

AIN'T THAT THE TRUTH !!!!

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least

So ..... what's next?

 Now that the Skeeter Hunt Soapbox is done - what's next?

Fortunately, lots of things!

Two more outdoor QRP events are on the horizon, Tim W3ATB's Leaf Peeper Sprint and NoGa QRP's Peanut Power sprint. Those two events will round out the 2020 "organized" QRP outdoor operating event season. Of course, if the weather is nice, there's nothing to stop just about anyone from organizing their own "Parkpedition" (terminology originated by K3WWP).

For W2LJ, the Skeeter Hunt certificates remain a chore to be dealt with. I think those will have to wait until the last lawn mow is done for the season. With "Darkness, my old friend" (sorry, Simon and Garfunkle) arriving earlier and earlier each day, I have to do the yardwork on weekend days now. That means the certificate printing, envelope stuffing and mailing will probably be done towards late October.

Also my QCX+ 20 Meter rig is sitting in the box waiting to be opened, inventoried and built. I am DETERMINED not to screw this one up! My confidence was shaken a bit with my failure on the QCX 40; but a little self pep talk seems to have taken care of that. Advancing age may be beginning to take its toll; but I do have 40+ years of experience as a Ham and 20+ years of experience of doing component level circuit board repairs under my belt. I can't let one SNAFU deter me.

Speaking of late October, the annual Zombie Shuffle is probably only a month or so away. That's always a popular event; and now that I'm no longer secretary of the ETS of NJ club, I will participate this year. Even though our meetings are now being held on the repeater due to social distancing requirements, they always seem to occur on the same Friday as the Shuffle.

I missed participating in QRP Afield this year and that was a personal bummer. I went for my annual physical on Saturday and at the same time received my annual flu shot. For some reason, the flu shot really kicked my butt this year - for the very first time, I might add. The arm in which I received the shot was sore all day, and it was almost like I was given a sedative. I ended up napping most of the afternoon away. That was really a shame as the weather was absolutely splendid and operating "portable" from the back yard would have been a real treat.

I also found out on Saturday that it was the day of the NJ QSO Party. Our ARRL Section Manager sent out an e-mail reminding us all, that day. IMHO, that needs to change. Better publicity and reminders, sent multiple times before the event will encourage and increase participation. The life of the average Ham is a busy one, with chores and family and other obligations to be considered. I have found that, not only for myself but also from others, that planning to be available for events like these needs to be taken care of well in advance of the event day.

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Zombie Shuffle let down

The Zombie Shuffle was somewhat of a let down this past Friday night. Granted, I got a very late start. The event begins at 4:00 PM local time and runs till Midnight, local time. Due to a series of events, I was not able to get started until 8:00 PM local time.

I was not prepared for the lack of activity. 20 Meters was absolutely void of Zombies, which was actually not all that surprising considering the hour. I was mystified by the lack of activity on 40 Meters. It was dead - pun NOT intended. I called "CQ BOO" for quite a while and received nary a reply. I checked RBN and I was getting out, so it seems like there were no Zombies on the band to engage in a QSO.

I got all three (Yay - 3!) QSOs on 80 Meters. One was in reply to a CQ and the other two were answers to my CQ. I ended up with a paltry score of 10, 659 points - which is inconsequential. I wasn't in it to win it, I was in it to hopefully score a bunch of QSOs to fatten up the log book. I remember past Shuffles when it was common to work 20 - 30 stations in just a couple of hours. This was tough business just pulling 3 out of the aether. I finally gave up when I actually did start nodding off at the key.

I am sincerely hoping that this is just the result of bad propagation and not due to a lack of interest. The Zombie Shuffle, sponsored by Paul NA5N and Jan N0QT is one of the most fun and light-hearted QRP Sprints on the calendar. It would be a shame to see its popularity fade.

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Zombie Shuffle ...... with a twist!

Paul Harden NA5N announced the Zombie Shuffle rules for 2019 - this year, there a tiny twist, just a little something different.

QRP Zombies,

The 22nd annual 2019 ZOMBIE SHUFFLE will be held Friday evening, NOVEMBER 1 from 1600-Midnight your local time (EDT, CDT, MDT, PDT). The mid-afternoon start time is to get a little 20M propagation before sundown, and the midnight cutoff for those die-hard night owl Zombies. You do not need to operate all 8-hours, just what you can to join the fun.

Rules are here:
http://www.zianet.com/qrp/ZOMBIE/2019/pg.htm and a link from the QRP home page: http://www.zianet.com/qrp/

Rules and scoring are unchanged. The Summary Sheet on the rules page calculates your score for you.

BONUS STATIONS:  Instead of "Elvis" stations this year, bonus stations will be sending their name as "MGY" -- the call letters of the RMS TITANIC.  It was the sinking of the Titanic that put wireless communications on the world stage and demonstrated the need for regulation and a body of licensed operators - including the creation in 1912 of a licensed non-commercial "amateur wireless service" - the hobby we enjoy today.  Thus, ham radio has its roots to the Titanic.  And for nostalgia, this year QRP Zombies will be given the opportunity to work the RMS Titanic.  Each MGY station worked will be 666 bonus points (just like Elvis stations in the past).  This also gives us an opportunity to put some morse code into the air to honor those pioneer radio ops and the sacrifices they made (for example, Titanic wireless op Jack Phillips perished on the Titanic).  Much of the morse code procedures, protocols, and Q-signals you hear on the air today are from those early maritime Marconi operators.

Our "main" MGY station will be Brian, VE7MGY.  Working him is worth even more points (see rules).

If you'd like to be an MGY Titanic operator for the Zombie Shuffle, please let me know.

So regardless of your code speed and band conditions, get on the air, have some pointless fun working fellow Zombies, and some unique nostalgia from 107 years ago.

72, Paul NA5N/MGY
Zombie #004

The Zombie Shufflle is always a fun event and I love it when Paul puts in these "twists" from year to year. It keeps it fresh and exciting. I'm also pleased with the date. If the Shuffle was a week earlier, I'd miss out as the K2ETS monthly meeting is always on the last Friday of the month. This year, I get to play!

72 de Larry W2LJ - Zombie # 858
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Reminder

Just a reminder:

The 2018 Zombie Shuffle is THIS Friday evening - October 19th, 2018.

Here's the link to the rules and details: http://www.zianet.com/qrp/ZOMBIE/2018/pg.htm

This is one of those "Fun" QRP events - I know, they're all fun - but this one has earned a rightful place in the QRP Event lexicon. To testify to that is the fact that this is the 21st annual Shuffle, the first one was held on October 30, 1998.  For an event to be entering its third decade of existence, especially in the QRP world attests to its popularity.

So come out and join the Zombies who will be shuffling this Friday night - remember ...... Zombies shuffle, because they can't run!

Any Morse Code "newbies" out there should especially take heart (I sense some kind of pun there). Since this is a "shuffle", medium to slower to really slow code speeds are highly encouraged. So, if you've never entered a QRP event before because you're not confident of your Morse ability - have no fear! This is the event for you! Just come and shuffle along with the rest of us - you will be welcome and you'll see how much fun an event like this can be. And you'll be hooked - guaranteed!

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Zombie Shuffle Announcement

An early date this year! October 19th. Here is the announcement, as posted by Paul NA5N to QRP-L:

Fellow Zombies, This year's Zombie Shuffle will be held on Friday, Oct. 19, 2018. A bit earlier than usual due to Halloween being mid-week and to avoid the CQ WW SSB contest (which trashes evening 40M) and the ARRL CW Sweepstakes. With the poor solar minimum propagation, we don't need any more QRN/QRM to hinder making QSOs.

Contact Jan N0QT ... n0qt@zianet.com if you need a Zombie number assigned or you forgot yours (they're good forever).

If you're new to QRP, the Zombie Shuffle is an annual event just to get on the air, make some QSOs, and have a good, silly and absolutely meaningless good time while making a big score for only a handful of contacts.

This year's Zombie Shuffle is dedicated to our friend, Ron Polityka, WB3AAL (SK), our longest serving Elvis station and a contact in our logs sure to be missed.

If you would like to serve as an Elvis or Elivira station, just let me know.

Link to the Rules: http://www.zianet.com/qrp/ZOMBIE/2018/pg.htm

72, Paul NA5N Zombie #004

This is welcome news to yours truly! The following Friday is a regular club meeting night; so I would have missed most of the Shuffle were it to be held on the 26th.

Once again, thanks to Paul and Jan for hosting this fun event. A lot of people look forward to these "meaningless good times", and it's good to see that they are not going by the wayside.

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Zombie Shuffle post-mortem

I was glad to have been able to participate in the Zombie Shuffle this past Friday evening. Oh, the reason it was last Friday and not this coming Friday (which is actually closer to Halloween) is that this coming weekend is the CQ WW DX Contest.

The bands were not friendly.  In fact 20 Meters was so dead that it didn't even support any "undead" Zombies.  That left 40 and 80 Meters.  I've seen on QRP-L that for many, 80 Meters was fruitful, but for me it was not.  Right around the QRP watering hole of 3.560 MHz, I had S7 to S9 noise.  Not sure what is causing it, but the lower parts of 80 Meters were as they always are. Even so, I did manage one QSO on 80 Meters with my not so far away neighbor, W2SH.

The rest of my QSOs were made on 40 Meters, all five of them.  A grand total of six QSOs in the span of about two hours.  Pretty dismal, huh?  Yeah, pretty dismal.

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Zombie Shuffle Tonight!

4:00 to Midnight, local time.

Rules are here: http://www.zianet.com/qrp/zombie/2017/pg.htm

See you on the air tonight!

72 de Larry W2LJ - Zombie # 858
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Zombie Shuffle in a week!

I may have mentioned this before, but a week from tomorrow, one of the most fun events of the QRP year will be occurring - the 2017 Zombie Shuffle.  And I am going to be able to participate this year, as it is occurring a week early!

This is more an operating event than a hard core contest. The idea is to get on the air and have fun, regardless of your CW speed/skills. All the details, the whole magilla, can be found here: http://www.zianet.com/qrp/zombie/2017/pg.htm

I'll have to decorate the shack in a Halloween motif and submit them with my score to NA5N.

Remember ....... "Zombies shuffle because they can't run!"

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Zomboids afoot!

Paul Harden NA5N has officially announced that the Zombie Shuffle for 2017 will be on Friday, October 20th - which means I get to participate this year!  For the past few years, the Shuffle has fallen on the same Friday as the meeting for the ETS of NJ Club, of which I am Secretary.  It would be bad from to shirk my duties for participating in a QRP Sprint, so I have had to abstain.

I don't know why I luck out this year, and I don't care! I'm just glad that I will be able to participate.  The Zombie Shuffle is more of an operating event than a "contest" in the pure sense of the word, and it's always a good time.

Check out http://www.zianet.com/qrp/zombie/2017/pg.htm for the rules. If you've never joined in on the event, then please consider doing so this year.

And to answer that age old question, "Why is a QRP Sprint called the Zombie Shuffle?"

"Because Zombies can't run!" Bah-dum-bah.

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

The Night of the Living Dead

Otherwise known as the Zombie Shuffle is on for 2016. Woot!

As announced on QRP-L by Paul NA5N:

The 19th annual 2016 Zombie Shuffle will be held on: FRIDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 21, 2016 (to avoid Oct. 27-28 CQ World Wide contest)

Rules and the usual useless information here: http://www.zianet.com/qrp/ZOMBIE/zombie.htm

RULE CHANGE: The Zombie Shuffle will begin at 1600 local time instead of the former 1800 sundown by request from several Zombies. This is to give participants more time on 20M to make contacts before we're forced to the rats nest on 40M.

If you've never participated in the Zombie Shuffle, by all means do so. There is no purpose to the ZS except to get on the air and wrack up a ridiculously high score, based more on serendipity than code speed or operating skill. So dust off your key and be a QRP Zombie.

If you are new to the ZS and need a Zombie number assigned (they are good for life), email the Grand Witchess at n0qt@zianet.com

With the sun very quiet lately, hopefully we won't be having any geomagnetic storms this year for a bit quieter 40M.

72, Paul NA5N Zombie #004

This is great news for me, as I thought the Shuffle was going to be held the following Friday, the 28th (which would put it closer to Halloween).  I have a Radio Club meeting that night and would not be able to participate until the bulk of activity is over.  As Recording Secretary, I really should be at the meeting.  With that conflict out of the way, I can shuffle along with the other Zombies!

Is there a better way to end a hectic week than by playing QRP with your friends on a Friday night?

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Zombie # 858

Happy Hallowe'en!

Happy Hallowe'en!

Notice the apostrophe in there?  That's because Hallowe'en is kind of an abbreviated form for the formal title of the day - All Hallow's Eve (or evening).  Hallowe'en used to be observed as the vigil for All Saints Day, a vigil (in Catholic terminology) being the night before a Holy Day or some other holiday. Hallowe'en was actually considered a quasi-Holy Day itself, the beginning of the part of the year where the Catholic Church remembers and honors those who have departed from this life and have gone onto their reward.

Then things happened and because the day was associated with the dead, it got twisted into goblins, ghouls, witches and demons.

Let's Go Mets!

Last night was the Zombie Shuffle, and as I stated before, last night was also the K2ETS monthly meeting. I was able to get on for about only 1/2 hour before having to leave. In that short period of time, just as the event was getting under way, I made eight contacts on 40 Meters. The best one of those was with Ed WA3WSJ who was Zombie Shuffling from the Appalachian Trail.

I tried CQ BOOing on 20 Meters for a bit, but since the Shuffle starts at 6:00 PM local time, 20 Meters is actually not usable until 6:00 PM kicks in for the other time zones.  At the same time, 80 Meters becomes better when it gets "dark" dark - after twilight. So for that first hour to 90 minutes, 40 Meters makes the best sense for the beginning of the Zombie Shuffle for the Eastern time zone.

After I returned home from the meeting, I went back on the air and made three more QSOs on 80 Meters and that was it. That was a bit after 10:00 PM and there was no longer any CQ BOO activity on 20 or 40 Meters that I was able to hear. I called CQ BOO and did some dial twiddling on 80 Meters, and after it looked like the well had gone dry, I went upstairs to watch the final innings of World Series Game 3. You know, sometimes it difficult enough using the KX3 in "Dual Watch Mode" attempting to simultaneously listen to two different Amateur Radio frequencies, one in each ear bud. I found that it's even tougher trying to simultaneously listen to the Zombie Shuffle in one ear and the ballgame in the other. Talk about scrambled brains!

The Zombie Shuffle is a lot of fun, though. If you've never tried QRP contesting, you might want to try it next year (if you can wait that long). I heard all kinds of CW speeds last night, from probably about 12 WPM to 25 WPM. The Shuffle is unique in that it's loosely organized and is actually more of an operating event than a contest. And the participation! Wow, it's talked up on the QRP email reflectors for weeks ahead of time and the participation is always superb!  Thanks to Paul NA5N and his wife Jan N0QT (who also sponsor QRP To The Field each year). It's amazing how popular the Zombie Shuffle has become, when you think about it - but then really it's no surprise, it's just a lot of fun.

One last thing - for those of you who observe Daylight Saving Time - tonight's the night we "Fall back" and set the clocks one hour behind. Tonight you'll get that extra hour of sleep in order to recover from all the Milky Ways and Snickers bars that you have "Trick or Treated" yourself  to!

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!