Ruminating on the R&O

It's been a couple of days since the FCC posted their "Report and Order" to changes to the rules of Part 97, the rules which govern Amateur Radio. The thing which sticks out in my mind the most is the increase of the phone band size on both 80 and 40 Meters. It was a sizeable increase; and a lot more expected on 80 Meters than was asked for by the ARRL.

Why would the FCC be so generous with the allocation? I'm thinking it might just be related to another matter before the FCC - one in which they haven't acted upon yet. That would be the much awaited decision regarding the fate of the 5 WPM Morse Code requirement to gain access to HF radio operating privileges.

Imagine the FCC declares that it is no longer necessary to know Morse Code in order to operate on the HF bands. Can you imagine all the Novice and Technician licensees who would instantly be eligible to get on the HF bands and operate? Where are you going to put them all? And you can imagine how many "wanna be" Hams would now be able to get on HF now that they would no longer be "burdened" (my sarcasm) by having to learn Morse code and pass a proficiency test?

I fear the FCC is clearing the forest and is making pasture for the inevitable increase of activity that would occur on the phone bands when and if they eliminate the 5 WPM code requirement. Unfortunately, that is going to put the squeeze on us CW ops. Even though CW is allowed on any part of the Ham bands, there are defacto "CW only" havens that will become smaller and smaller.

Of course, this is all speculation; but sometimes it doesn't take a prognosticator to see the future.

73 de Larry W2LJ

New QSL Cards

So I ended up having 100 of the new Flying Pigs QSL cards printed up for myself. The rough draft appears to the side here.

I'm glad I only ordered 100; because after approving the draft, I have already thought up a few changes! Naturally, I thought of these changes AFTER I approved the job!

I'm very happy with the design; but I think that the next batch will include in text the name of the organizations that I belong to, instead of graphics. I think that will give it a less cluttered look. Also, I can include (maybe) a list of the more major operating awards that I have earned up until this point of my Ham career.

I have to hand it it Sue and Hal at CheapQSLs.com, though. These two folks are pros in every sense of the word. Not only do they provide high quality (but inexpensive) QSL cards; but they also do it in a most timely manner with the highest degree of professionalism and the most friendliest manner that you could ever want! Companies that offer fantastic customer service seem to be on the "endangered species" list these days. Luckily, CheapQSLs.com is there to offer fast, friendly and more than competent service.

73 de Larry W2LJ

Report and Order

The FCC issued a Report and Order statement, making significant changes to Part 97 , the rules which govern the Amateur Radio Service.

I won't comment on them for now; as I have not had the time to read and review the entire document (which is 50+ pages long!). If you would like to read it yourself, here is the link:

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-149A1.doc

Significantly, at this time, no changes have been made regarding the requirements for learning and knowing the Morse Code to earn HF operating privileges. It does look like the traditional "CW Subbands" will be getting squeezed a bit, with the expansion of phone operating privileges. In fairness, though, the use of CW is permitted anywhere on the Amateur Radio spectrum, save the 60 Meter band.

More to follow after some reading and rumination.

73 de Larry W2LJ

Polling

By the way, just a quick thought. I've added a polling thingy to my Webstite. It's on the "home page" of http://www.w2lj.qrpradio.com

It's nothing sacrosanct or scientific; it's just meant to be fun. So if you get a chance, drop by and vote! The question will change about once a month.

73 de Larry W2LJ

This may be it for a while.

Today looks like it will be another glorious Fall day, with plenty of sunshine and a high temperature expected to be somewhere in the mid 70s. According to the forecast, this may be as good as it gets for a while.

I will definitely be out there pounding brass during lunchtime. With wet weather expected for the next few days to be followed by below average temperatures; this may be one of my last few lunchtime parking lot QRP sessions for the season.

Look for me at 1700 UTC on or around 14.055 MHz or so. I should be out there for a half hour or so, which is as much time as my lunchbreak permits.

73 de Larry W2LJ

I have to post this!

Jim Cluett W1PID is a good QRP friend. I always enjoy hearing his signal on the air; and I always enjoy working him. His fist is excellent; and he's a good salt-of-the-earth type of guy. On top of all that, he's an experienced outdoorsman who enjoys taking his QRP station out into the fresh air with him.

I like to do that too; but I don't nearly get the opportunity to do it as much as I would like to. So I kind of get to live vicariously through Jim. Lucky for all of us, he posts stories about his adventures on his Website (should you visit it; be sure to bookmark it!). For Jim's latest adventure with some really beautiful photographs, click here.

Jim is good friends with Dick Christopher N1LT. Dick is another New Hampshire QRPer with an excellent signal. I work Dick in a lot of the various QRP Sprints. It hasn't been a good contest unless I've managed to work either Jim or Dick.

Guys, keep up the good work; and keep posting your adventures!

73 de Larry W2LJ

QSL Cards

While e-mailing back and forth with Brian KB9BVN, we got into a discussion about QSL cards with the Flying Pigs logo on it. For one of the few times of my life, the light bulb went on over my head!

The QSL printer that I use, CheapQSLs.com features dedicated club cards for various organizations, such as FISTS, NAQCC and SKCC. I figured that if they print cards out for those clubs, they just might have an interest for doing it for the Piggies.

I contacted Sue with a rough draft. She cleaned it up and polished it off and between the two of us, we came up with the design above. The one you see is a black and white card. They are also offering the same card with colored type and a "pink Piggie" in the logo. Today, I got an e-mail from Sue that the cards are now officially part of the CheapQSLs.com offering.

You can see them at: http://cheapqsls.com/fpqrp.htm

Sue did a wonderful job! And her husband, Phil , is also a member of the Flying Pigs. CheapQSLs is kind of a misnomer; as the only thing cheap about them is the price. The finished product and the customer support are job A#1. Hal and Sue are so helpful; that it is hard to find another company that offers as much assistance as they do. CheapQSLs is an American owned and operated program that offers a quality product at a more than resonable price - that's a combination that's hard to beat!

73 de Larry W2LJ

Bands dead tonight

I got on the air tonight; only to find a dearth of signals. Not much doing at all on 40 or 80 Meters. I got involved in a QSO on 40 Meters only to be sidetracked by a telephone call. By the time I was able to get back to it a few minutes later, the guy who I was working had wandered away.

Oh well, at least I got to see Kenny Rogers pitch a masterpiece against the Yankees.

73 de Larry W2LJ

Too Good to be True

I should have known that the QRP discussion on eHam would "de-evolve" down to name calling, and insults. It always seems to happen there; and that's pretty much why I avoid the eHam thing except to lurk at the posts.

But whenever QRP discussions come up, I get stoked. So I joined the fray - and unfortunately, I also took the bait. I got bent out of shape by the resident QROers who just can't help themselves from taking potshots at; and dismissing the entire QRP concept.

I jumped in and began dismissing the stereotypical arguements which dismiss the acheivements of low power ops. In one particular case it was trying to debunk the myth that QRP signals = weak signals posted by KØCBA. In a reply post I had asked him, if in his entire Ham career he had never, even once received a QRP signal that was 579 or better. I had politely stated that I had. I went on to mention the consistantly fine signal that is the product of the station of Todd Fonstad N9NE. I also mentioned the many times that Todd has almost blown out my eardrums with his powerful 599+ but only 5 Watt signal.

So for my efforts, KØCBA came back with a reply of his own. In it I was labeled a "jerk". He must have gone to the trouble of looking me up in QRZ, becaused he went out of his way to let me know that he was licensed for 18 years at the time I earned my Novice license. He also went out of the way to belittle the fact that I have a Vanity callsign. Heck with describing the post; here it is in full:

"I usually dismiss people like you out of hand and I may be sorry for this but you have actually pushed my button.

I was just making the observation that the receiving station deserves some credit too. But being the true NJ jerk you appear to be, you had to make it a personal attack.

So, you were licensed in '78? well bully for you sonny. I had 18 years under my belt by then. BTW, I had done my 20wpm at the FCC 3 years by then so I guess I'm just not impressed with your credentials....AND I didn't need to BUY a vanity call to try to wow people.

Agree of not, if you can't respect someone elses' opinion maybe you should 'belt up' and take a deep breath of that fine New Jersey air."

Boy, I must have really pushed this guy's button! I really did not mean to; I thought I was just asking a valid question and the next thing I know, I'm getting lambasted. But I've got to tell you, I kind of enjoyed the "sonny" thing. At 49, I start feeling the years catching up with me at times. Muscles and joints ache and get sore like they never used to. Being called "sonny" made me feel young again! However, on the flip side, I really, really, really dislike the derogotory references to New Jersey. You want to insult me? Fine - but don't insult the state I live in. I guess he couldn't think of anything better to offer.

Anyway, this was my response back:

All I asked was if you ever heard a QRP signal that was 579 or better. And I stated that I had. That is a personal attack?

Your response is a personal attack. Using words like "jerk" using the derogatory "sonny" and belittling my callsign is a personal attack.

OK - so you dislike QRP and QRPers - I respect your opinion. Different strokes for different folks ... relax, take a deep breath - it's okay.

Very best regards to you sir - have a wonderful day.
Larry W2LJ

BTW - I didn't "buy" the Vanity call to "wow" people. I got it because "L" and "J" are my first two initials. I apologize if that offends you.

eHam is really a cool resource. I've learned some good stuff over there and will continue to use it; and to even post there from time to time. The product review section is worth it's weight in gold, as far as I'm concerned. It just seems to be a darn shame that when you offer a differing point of view to some folks that they have to, in turn, become base and sink to the level of the lowest common denominator.

Oh well, another lesson learned again .... the hard way.

73 de Larry W2LJ

Blogger's Note: When I made my previous post about this thread on eHam, I did NOT consider KØCBA to be one of the "banal, tomato brained ignoramuses". I had W9OY particularly in mind for that honor. I guess I'll have to reconsider.

Check it out!

On eHam there's actually a civilized discussion going on about operating QRP. Except for a couple of banal, tomato brained ignoramuses, the conversation has been refreshingly pleasant and positive; as well as informing and entertaining.

Click here to check it out.

73 de Larry W2LJ

A night of thunder

The past few days have been warm here in Central NJ, with highs flirting with the 80 degree mark. I guess not true Indian Summer; but close enough. True Indian Summer is when you get a patch of warm weather after the first frost. These past few days have been warm enough; but so far, no first frost ..... yet! . But any time we get a spell of warm weather after the furnace has kicked on for the beginning of the heating season, I consider that to be Indian Summer.

Tomorrow, the temperatures are supposed to fall back into the 60s for a high, with night time temps in the upper 40s. So tonight brought a batch of thunderstorms to accompany the cold front that's moving through.

In between two belts of boomers, I did manage to get on the air. I worked Frank K4WFM who resides in Tampa, FL. Frank and I have QSOed before; and it's always nice to work him. Frank was using his K2 to a 160 Meter loop. He was running 50 Watts and was a good 599. I, on the other hand, was running my K2 at the 5 Watt level into the G5RV. Frank gave me a 559; but indicated that he had a solid copy on me. His K2 is serial number 4191 and mine is number 4090; so we both built them roughly the same time.

Frank had a great signal and a great fist. It was a rather short 20 minute QSO; but we mutually decided to pull the plug as both our signals were beginning to fade (QSB). The band was devoid of signals. I guess everyone in the NorthEast must have shut it down because of local lightning. Frank was easily the loudest station I had heard. As I write this, the second band of boomers and heavy rain is moving through. I can hear the rain pattering against the skylight in the other room. My dog Jesse is curled up at my feet - thunder sends him over the edge. Doggie Paxil, anyone?

Even though the weather has been so warm; I haven't gone out at lunchtime to the car for any radio. In addition to a super heavy workload; the outside of our building is being painted. There are painters, ladders and scaffolds everywhere - I don't think they need me getting in their way. Maybe tomorrow, I'll park on the other side of the building, out of the way. A nice lunchtime QRP session in the cool, brisk Autumn weather might just hit the spot.

73 de Larry W2LJ (have to go over and calm down the dog - he looks like he's going to jump out of his skin).

More on Sunpots

Despite my last attempt at a humorous post title, I do indeed realize that we need sunspots to excite the ionosphere for extraordinary radio propagation conditions.

While we're in a lull right now, take a look at that sunspot on the left side of the sun in the picture. Looks like a good one, eh?

It's not what you think - but it is definitely way cool!

Click here, for what Paul Harvey would say is, "The rest of the story!".

73 de Larry W2LJ

We don't need no steenking sunspots!

OK, so it wasn't a QSO to Gambia using 100 mW and a wet string for an antenna. But for the supposed sunspot low, the QSO I had at lunchtime today wasn't so bad, either. 5 Watts to the Hamstick on top of the car yielded a solid QSO between W2LJ in Edison, NJ and K6TLL in Tule Lake, California.

Jim was very strong - 589 into NJ. He was using 100 Watts on his end. My 5 Watts garnered me a 569. Certainly respectable enough. And considering that we're approaching the low spot of the sunspot cycle, I consider it to be pretty darn good. I can only imagine how good things will get once the sun develops a few freckles on its face.

As colder weather approaches, my lunchtime QRP sessions will be coming to a close in another month or two, probably. As I've stated elsewhere, I hate the cold. Once standing behind my Ford Explorer becomes uncomfortable, that will mark the end of another lunchtime QRP season until it warms up again next year. Going through my log on my Palm m130 today, I see I did pretty well for Summer 2006. Since June, I have netted about 70 lunchtime QSOs.

It was a fun season - now all I have to do is send everyone I communicated with one of my commemorative Edison QSL cards.

73 de Larry W2LJ

Whew!

Last night was the Fall Homebrewer's Sprint, sponsored by the New Jersey QRP Club. I try my best to make an appearance in this Sprint when it occurs each Spring and Fall because I'm a proud member of NJQRP.

I got a late start. The Sprint began at 8:00 PM EDT; but yesterday we had a birthday party for our two children. Needless to say, they were pretty excited and torqued up; so we didn't get them to bed until a little later than normal.

When I finally got to the QRP fishing holes at 9:00 PM EDT; it seemed like they were all fished out! 20 Meters was dead, dead, dead , dead, DEAD! 40 Meters wasn't much better and it seemed like almost all the signals were just whispers - even from guys who I can normally expect some pretty good signals from. I made 5 contacts in about a half an hour before I crashed and burned. My tank was on fumes from the busy weekend; and I was actually nodding off while the K2's memory keyer was calling CQ !!! It was a bit embarassing hanging it up after only 5 QSOs; but I couldn't go on. It also seemed like the few signals I was hearing were fading away into the aether.

This morning, I was a bit relieved to see a couple posts on the NJQRP e-mail reflector echo my toughts about band conditions. In general, it seemed everyone was experiencing lousy propagation. In fact, Joe Everhart N2CX, one of the founders of NJQRP metioned how he only heard two stations all evening long; and only worked one. I guess I should feel pretty good about my five QSOs, then.

One good thing - it definitely won't take long to come up with a summary log for Ken Newman N2CQ!

73 de Larry W2LJ

It's still not radio!

Echolink that it is. But, I hate to give the impression that I dislike it or disapprove of it. On the contrary, it is what it is. It's another method of communication; and to a certain extent I make use of it myself.

I have found it to be an excellent way of keeping in touch with my friend Bob W3BBO. Bob lives in Erie, PA; and for a short time, he lived here in Central NJ back in the 90's when his job had transferred him out here.

When Bob retired and moved back to Erie, it was a serious blow. Fortunately, beside keeping in touch via HF we try to hook up with each other each weekend via Echolink. It's like talking on the telephone, more than anything else. But it's free; and it is good to hear Bob's voice on a regular basis. We chew the fat and keep tabs on progress of each other's radio projects.

I think the HF bands are more conducive and are far more practical for a "CQ" and then hooking up with someone you don't know. You put out a call; and if someone is interested, they take the bait and you begin what will hopefully be a good conversation. To me, it seems a bit presumptuous to just pick a stranger's callsign off a list, and then connect with them and just start rambling on, hoping that they'll be interested in talking to you.

However, for keeping in touch with (how's this for an oxymoron?) distant, close friends then Echolink is the "cat's pajamas" or "da bomb" as the young folks say today.

73 de Larry W2LJ

Miscellaneous stuff

This Sunday night is the Fall QRP Homebrewer Sprint, which is sponsored by the New Jersey QRP Club; of which I am a proud member! For details, please go to:

http://www.njqrp.org/data/qrphomebrewersprint.html

Also, my friend Hank Kohl, K8DD is going on a QRP DXpedition with some members of QRP-ARCI to the Isle of Man, between Ireland and England. You can check out the details here:

http://www.qrparci.org/content/view/147/9/lang,en/

Lastly, the NAQCC is sponsoring a Worked All States Bear Hunt. Every week, a NAQCC member volunteers to be the 'Bear". If you need states to complete your Worked All States award; this may be just what you need! Dale WC7S is putting Wyoming on the air this week. Bill K1EV will be putting Connecticut on the air next week. Here's the place to go for details:

http://www.arm-tek.net/~yoel/wasproject.html

Have fun operating!

73 de Larry W2LJ

Crud!

I just noticed that the CQ Worlwide RTTY DX Contest is this weekend! The regular non-WARC bands will be shot to heck for any kind of CW work this weekend. Darn!

73 de Larry W2LJ

Excuse me, Mr. Chavez .......

but please take the UN, take your CITGO gasoline; and take them both back to Venezuela with you. And please leave ..... NOW! You are an invited guest in our country. Guests don't trash the head of the house they're visiting without being asked to leave.

73 de Larry W2LJ

80 is coming back !!!!

I love the spring and summer. I disdain the fall and winter. I love the longer days and the warm temperatures. I dislike the dark and I only grudgingly endure the cold. I especially dislike snow. When I was a kid, snow was fun - as an adult it only means more work!

Saturday is the first day of Autumn and usually about this time of year, I get a little maudlin. The one bright side (besides looking forward to playoff baseball!) is that 80 Meters is making its annual revival.

Last evening, during the NAQCC monthly sprint, 80 meters just beat out 40 meters as my "workhorse" band for the night. Signals were good and QRN was stil so-so; but nowhere near as bad as it is during the summer. 80 meters is on the comeback trail and that makes me a happy camper! The bulk of QSOs that I will have at night over the next 5 or 6 months will primarily be on 80 Meters.

The G5RV works exceptionally well for me on 80 Meters and the KAT2 gives me a 1.1 to 1 match. Can't ask for more than that! I am looking forward to another season of foxhunts on 80 Meters. This is a band where I rarely, if ever, fail to find a QSO. If there's nothing going on near the QRP or FISTS frequencies, then there's always folks hanging out near the SKCC frequencies. I'm rubbing my hands together in happy anticipation.

73 de Larry W2LJ

Fixing problems

I went down to the shack the other night to spend some quality time with the K2; only to find that my newly installed KAT2 would no longer tune up my G5RV in all instances. I got good matches on 80 and 40 Meters; but on any other band, the best match I could get was about 3.5 to 1.

I just installed the tuner last week; and it was working fine. This was definitely a disappointing development. Since it previously had worked, it seemed reasonable that I hadn't built anything altogether wrong. I decided that the beat course of action would be an SWR recalibration. Maybe that would point me in the right direction.

I followed the manual and got all the correct voltage readings. I got to the point of actually redoing the SWR calibration. I got great readings on 40 meters and 80 meters; but then I noticed someting very odd. When I would go to the other bands, I would get a good SWR reading; but then the display would go from reading SWR to power out. It's not supposed to do that!!!!!!

I figured that maybe I had a bad solder joint; or maybe I hadn't installed the microprocessor well enough. I was going to un-install the KAT2 when I found it! One of the two connections on the plug for the RF connection on the K2's main circuit board had come out of its plastic housing.

I undid the connection from the main board and this time, pressed the connection point into its housing really, really well. I plugged the 2 pin RF connector back into the K2 and fired it up again to find that this had indeed been the problem.

A quick run through all the bands revealed the KAT2 was matching the G5RV on all bands with an SWR of no worse than 1.4 to 1 in any case.

It's nice to be able to troubleshoot and repair your gear yourself.

73 de Larry W2LJ