Happy 250th, USA!

 

 

Today we celebrate the 250th Anniversary of our request for Independence.  May the idea that all men are created equal with the God given rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness thrive for another 250 years.

Both the NJQRP Skeeter Hunt and the Flight of the Bumblebees are doing well with sign ups. Each event has over 100 QRPers signed up. Please keep in mind that these are separate events and you must sign up for each, individually. Signing up for one, does not get you entered for Both.

Having so many Hams signed up is a hopeful indicator as to the health of these two events. QRP Afield and QRP To The Field have gone the way of the Dodo. The QRP ARCI Hootowl Sprint only had 9scores reported this year.

It seems thar between POTA and the K1USN Sprint held each Sunday evening,, QRP Sprints are becoming an endangered species.Going out and operating portableIis not as special as it used to be,

72 de Larry W2LJ 

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

QRPTTF a bust?

 Until Paul NA5N starts posting some claimed scores it will be difficult to definitively  gauge participation in QRPTTF 2026. However, if chatter on the QRP reflectors is any indication ..... not so great.

I've seen e-mails which seemed to imply that there were very few stations calling CQ QRP or CQ TTF.  Most stations worked seemed to be either POTA or Florida QSO Party participanrs 

This is kind of troubling as QRPTTF has always been a cornerstone QRP event. I don't know why participation seems to be dropping off. Possibilities might include that there are fewer CW operators around than there used to be, or perhaps the QRP Community is getting older and less likely to take to the field. There's also the possibility that FT8 has grown so popular as to become the preferred mode of choice now. As a rule, FT8 and other digital modes are prohibited in the QRP Sprints.

Which brings to mind another matter. Jody K3JZD has announced that photos and comments from FOBB 2025 have been posted to https://ars-qrp.com/ for your viewing pleasure.

Jody also announced that signups for FOBB 2026 will begin on June 21st.. As that's the First Day of Summer, it's also the date that signups for the NJQRP Skeeter Hunt commence. Just a friendly reminder that you'll have to sign up for both, individually. Signing up for FOBB does NOT automatically sign you up for the Skeeter Hunt and visa-versa.

72 de Larry W2LJ 

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

QRPTTF Today

 Sorry for the late notice. QRP To The Field is today, Saturday Aptil 25th. All thr rules can be found at zianer.com/qrp/qrp/qrpttf/himzianer.com/qrp/qrp/qrpttf/him.

I will not be heading out to the field for various reasons, some of which I will go into a bit later. The forecast for my QTH is rain all day.

You may have noticed that a while ago, I removed my retirement countdown clock. I had originally planned for my last day to be this coming Friday. I bumped that up to February 1st. I'd had enough and called it quits a tad early. They say that when you retire, you get your chance to travel. For me, it was a trip to the hospital five days later on February  5th.

I woke up that morning with really bad stomach cramps. I thought it was a case of food poisoning, as I've gone through that twice before, when I was much younger. The cramping got so intense that I dialed 911. I was taken to the emergency room and underwent a CAT scan. Turns out that an 18.5 inch section of my lower intestine got knotted up and had to be removed via emergency surgery.

I spent February in the hospital between recovery, physical therapy and some time spent while they had to put my A-fib under control. I am home now, but am depending on using a walker to get around. That means no going down to the basement for now to get to the main shack. I'll be using the KX3 and the AX-1 antenna or the Alex Loop from the main floor for now.

In addition, my 80 - 10 EFRW came down during one of our two snowstorms this past winter. I will need help replacing that once I start getting around better.

While 2026 has been a rough go so far, things could be a lot worse. It's going to take some time to get back to "normal" and I'll deal with each day as it comes.

This is what happens when you don't shave for a month. I've decided to keep it for now .... my badge of honor.

72 de Larry W2LJ 

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Christmas Eve 2025

 I apologize for my absence. I've received several e-mails inquiring as to why there have been no posts in the past month. I don't want to bore anyone with details or to start sounding like those guys on HF who only talk about their health problems. But I have been facing a few issues that have precluded me from getting on the air.  In addition a few weeks ago, we had a bit of a heavy, wet snowfall accompanied by high winds that knocked down one of the masts that support my EFRW. Should be a relative easy fix with the help of my son, but that will depend on having a dry, precipitation free weekend. So for HF, I might be confined to the HF9V or my magloop for now.

But today is Christmas Eve. Thanks to those of you who reached out, privately. It does a body good to know that people enjoy this little blog of mine and that they care.

So from my house to yours, I wish you a very Merry and Blessed Christmas.! I hope you awaken tomorrow morning to find that Good Ol' Saint Nick was generous with Ham Gear under your tree.

And more importantly, may the peace and love that the Christ child brought with Him to Earth remain with you all the days of your lives.

You guys are the best. Really!

72 de Larry W2LJ 

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Good news and bad news

 The results for Field Day 2025 are out in the December issue if QST. 

The South Plainfield Amateur Radio Club got some good news and some bad news. The good news? We placed 3rd in our category, 3A Battery.

The bad news? There were only three entries in that category this year, There's usually 5, 6 or even 7 - but this year only three. And to boot, we came in a distant third.

Not our best effort and Marv K2VHW and I have been thinking about ways to improve our QSO count. For the past few years, we've had a CW station, a SSB station and a Digital station. The CW station operated primarily on 40 Meters, while the SSB'ers operated primarily on 20 Meters. In 2026 we want to mix that up some - perhaps scheduled 2 hour time block where we switch bands.

Marv's goal is to get us up to 500 CW QSOs in the log. That's a lofty goal as he and I are the two primary CW Ops and we're no longer spring chickens. When you're not a contester as a favorite part of the hobby, keeping your seat in a chair that long for an undertaking like that is a tall task.

Now, if we could get both of us working 20 and 40 Meters at the same time, it might be easier - but that would go over like a lead balloon with the SSB guys.

Anyway, it's things to think about for next June.

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Tally Ho!

 The 2025 - 2026 QRP Fox Hunt Season has begun! If you've never tried this before, I highly recommend it, It's a lot of fun and after one ro to hunts, you're bound to become hooked.

The particulars, rules, regulations, results and all that kind of stuff can be found here - https://www.qrpfoxhunt.org

Personally, i will not be participating this year, as either a Fox or Hound.  The main reason being that the Hunts start here at 9:00 PM EST and run for an hour and a half. That being said, when I do participate as either a Fox or Hound, there's an adrenaline rush. I get all wired up from the thrill of the hunt and generally cannot fall asleep until somewhere close to Midnight.  When you have to wake up at 5:00 AM for the next workday, it spells "being fuzzy all day".  If I was still in my 20s or 30s, that wouldn't be a big deal. As I get closer and closer to 70, it is a big deal.

As a Fox, it seems everyone wants to see their results super fast. To that end there's a "live QSO map" where the Foxes can enter the calls of the Hounds they work as they work them and a little green dot will pop up on a ,ap of North America. This is actually a great tool for preventing duplicate contacts - but it involves keyboard entry in real time.

I'm a fossil. I log with paper and pen and transfer to my computer afterward. I'm also not the most proficient Fox in the herd, either. Great Hams like John K4BAI or Rick NK9G can easily work somewhere around 70 or so Hounds per Hunt. I'm usually lucky to get near 50. If I were to try and type and operate at the same time, that would most likely go down to 30 or 40 per Hunt. I'm not that talented.

But my issues aside, the QRP Fox Hunts are a grand old time. You should try it at least once - but I'll warn you that they're like Lays potato chips. You most likely won't be able to stop at one.

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

All Hallows Eve

Happy Hallowe'en!

Hallowe'en originally was not a spooky thing- but started a three day period in the Catholic Church to remember those who have gone on before us. It is known as Hallow Tide.

Hallowee'en was the vigil before All Saints Day, where we honor and remember those who we believe have made it to heaven. The next day, November 2nd, is All Souls Day, where we remember in particular, family and friends who have passed on,

In Poland, this is what a typical cemetery look like for Hallow Tide. Candles are placed on the graves of loved ones.

This year, my mind wanders to memories about good Ham Radio friends who have passed, but have left their mark on me.. Not a complete list ny any means - but it seems like there's way too many.

Mark Rosenwald N2EBA

Charlie LaTerra N2LHD

Bill Koeth W2WK

Drew Moore W2OU

Julius Kardos W2VO

George Miller K2FD

Rich Alderiso AA2KS

Chuck Phillips WB2MSV

Norm Bendell KS2SBB

Bob Conroy KB2VMG

John Anesh AA2AV

Ken Louks WA8REI

They were all good friends and they are definitely missed - but memories about them live on - and that's a good thing. They are not forgotten.

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Fun, but not enough

I got on the air for the Zombie Shuffle late, not until around 8:00 PM local time. I started on 20 Meters, but signals were weak and there was horrid QSB.  I struggled and worked a pair before switching to 40 Meters, where I made most of my contacts, and spent most of my time.

I went to 80 Meters for a bit where signals were loud, but not many Zombies. I only heard and worked one, K1RF. Two non-QRP stations answered my "CQ BOO" and I had to explain about the Zombie Shuffle. When one heard my explanation, he responded, "UR 5 WATTS? UR BLOWING MY EARS OFF!"

THAT is always fun!

I went back to 40 Meters but wasn't hearing any new Zombies and my CQs were going unanswered, so I packed it in around 9:15 PM local time. I worked 10 Zombies and 2 QRO stations in just over an hour. Lots of fun, but not enough. Next year, if God is willing and I am finally retired, perhaps I can get on for the 3:00 PM local time kick off.

72 de Larry (Vlad) W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

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!

W2LJ was a No Show

Unfortunately, the QRP ARCI Contest Manager found no time to participate in the QRP ARCI Fall QSO Party on Saturday!

I got a late start on Saturday morning, and was almost late for my own VE Session More on that in a bit. I ran out of the house without taking my morning heart meds and as a result, felt kind of crappy for the rest of the day, until I took them a few hours later than I usually do.  After grocery shopping, I was kind of too "pooped to pop", so I didn't get on the air. Lesson learned - take those @#^%$ pills before leaving the house in the morning!

Getting back to the VE Session - we had one candidate.  This has been a pitiful year for our VE Sessions. Candidates are becoming scarcer than hens teeth. We had one in May, only two at the Hamfest in June, and none in July, August or September! The only thing I can attribute this to is the genesis and popularity of online exams. Candidates don't have to travel and can take the exam from the comfort of their own home.

I told the Team that I was going to schedule monthly exams for 2026 for the first half of the year only. If the number of candidates does not pick up, we will cease monthly sessions and go to a quarterly schedule. One of our Team members suggested that we offer online exams and I told him that if the Team wanted that, then one of them would have to take over as Liaison. I have absolutely no interest whatsoever in taking on that responsibility. In my mind, there's way too many opportunities for irregularities and I'm not putting my license on the line for that.

Maybe that was a bit harsh, but it is what it is.

Being a VE Liaison is a lot more work than just showing up to a session, grading exams and signing paperwork. The pre-session coordinating of candidates, making sure enough VEs show up, and preparing examination materials, in addition to post session paperwork eats up a lot of personal time. From what I understand, the on line sessions require even more work for the Liaison. 

Quite frankly, I've done this for a lot of years and it's getting to be that I'd rather spend the time sitting behind my own radio and getting on the air.

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

The weekend of October 11th and 12th

I did not post the weekend events for last week. Marianne and I went down the Jersey shore to celebrate our 27th Wedding Anniversary.  Yet again, I had the chance to sit for a bit and train my gaze upon the Atlantic Ocean and marvel about how our RF energy travels that great distance.

It was a beautiful day, not only was it our Annicversary, but also the weather was prefect at Asbury Park.

Unfortunately, it's looking like the weather is not going to hold true for this weekend. Tomorrow is supposed to be nice, but Sunday into Tuesday we're staring down the gullet of a major Nor'Easter. Who knows? Rain totals anywhere between 2 and 5 inches, but more importantly we may see some pretty high wind gusts. The antennas have been through it before, I think they'll be okay again, but that worry is always on the mind of a Ham Radio Operator

Anyway, here's what to expect to be heard on the CW HF bands this weekend:

Contests:

QRP ARCI Fall QSO Party - http://qrparci.org/contest/fall-qso-party

Arizona QSO Party - https://www.azqp.org/

Nevada QSO Party - http://nvqso.com/contest-rules/

Oceania DX Contest, CW - https://www.oceaniadxcontest.com/

Pennsylvania QSO Party - http://paqso.org/pa-qso-party-rules.html

SKCC Weekend Sprintathon - https://www.skccgroup.com/operating_activities/weekend_sprintathon/

South Dakota QSO Party - http://www.sdqsoparty.com/

4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint - http://www.4sqrp.com/SSS/sss_rules.pdf

And for those who like to hunt Special Event Stations:

10/10/2025 | PCARS 60th Annual Ham fest

Oct 10-Oct 11, 0915Z-0914Z, W4MLB/60, Melbourne, FL. Platinum Coast Amateur Radio Society. 14.245 14.265 14.325. QSL. W4MLB, P.O Box 1004, Melbourne, FL 32902-1004. This is the 60th annual PCARS Ham fest special Event station. Too late for October QST https://pcars.org/wp/#

10/11/2025 | 234th Anniversary of Columbus Day

Oct 11-Oct 13, 0000Z-2359Z, NJ2KC, Bridgeton, NJ. New Jersey Knights of Columbus Amateur Radio Club. 7.234 14.234 21.234 29.234. Certificate & QSL. NJ2KC C/O Thomas M. Perrotti, 785 Vineland Ave, Bridgeton, NJ 08302-4822. NJ2KC.org

10/11/2025 | 4th Annual Scratching Post QSL Party in the Lucedale City Park

Oct 11, 0300Z-1300Z, K5K, Lucedale, MS. George County ARES-Lucedale, Mississippi. 7.074 7.265 14.325 28.390. QSL. Brent Albrecht, 2088 Will Pet Rd., Lucedale, MS 39452. see website for instructions gcmsares.org

10/11/2025 | Collins Radio 92nd Anniversary

Oct 11, 1400Z-1700Z, W0CXX, Cedar Rapids, IA. Collins Amateur Radio Club. 14.263 MHz. QSL. Brice AntonJensen, 1110 Lyndhurst Dr, Hiawatha, IA 52233. www.qrz.com/db/W0CXX

10/11/2025 | Ike Eisenhower's Birthday

Oct 11, 1330Z-2100Z, K3S, Port of Baltimore, MD. Nuclear Ship Savannah Amateur Radio Club. 7,14,18,21,28. QSL. Ulis Fleming, 980 Patuxent Rd, Odenton, MD 21113. Check spotting networks for frequency. See QRZ.com info for Savannah Award

10/11/2025 | US Navy Birthday

Oct 11, 1600Z-2300Z, NI6IW, San Diego, CA. USS Midway Museum Ship. 14.320 7.250 14.070 PSK31 DSTAR on Papa System Repeaters. QSL. USS Midway Museum Ship COMEDTRA, 910 N Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101. www.qrz.com/db/ni6iw

Have a great weekend!

72 de Larry W2LJL

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

QRP ARCI Fall QSO Party this weekend.

The Skeeters have been hunted, and the Bumblebees have buzzed TWICE! The Zombies won't Shuffle for another couple of Fridays. So what do you do to keep your QRP muscles in shape? You participate in the QRP ARCI Fall QSO Party, of course - this coming Saturday (don't forget - Saturday UTC is Friday evening!) In fact, it's ALWAYS held on the second Saturday of October.  

Image courtesy of Gemini

Here's "the particulars".

Date/Time: 0000Z to 2359Z on 11 October

Mode:  HF CW only.

Exchange: 

Members send:  RST, State/Province/Country, ARCI member number

Non-Members send:  RST, State/Province/Country, Power Out

QSO Points:

Member = 5 points

Non-Member, Different Continent = 4 points

Non-Member, Same Continent = 2 points

Multiplier:

SPC (State/Province/Country) total for all bands.  The same station may be worked on multiple bands for QSO points and SPC credit.

Power Multiplier:

>5 Watts = x1

>1 - 5 Watts = x7

>250 mW - 1 Watt = x10

>55 mW - 250 mW = x15

55 mW or less = x20

Suggested Frequencies:

160m1810 kHz

80m3560 kHz

40m7030 kHz (please listen at 7040 kHz for rock bound participants)

20m14060 kHz

15m 21060 kHz

10m28060 kHz

Score:

Final Score = Points (total for all bands) x SPCs (total for all bands) x Power Multiplier.

BONUS POINTS: None available for this contest.

Categories:

Entry may be All-Band, Single Band, High Bands (10m-15m-20m) or Low Bands (40m-80m)

How to Participate:

Get on any of the HF bands except the WARC bands and hang out near the QRP frequencies.  Work as many stations calling CQ QRP. You can work a station for credit once on each band.

Log Submission:

Submit your entry online at https://www.qrpcontest.com

Deadline for posting logs will be Nov 1 

As that old venerable and  time tested saying goes - "A day making QRP Contacts is better than a sharp stick in the eye OR raking leaves!" So if you 're into contesting, please join us - and even if you're not, fatten up your log book and hand out some points - who knows, you might just have more fun than you thought possible!

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP -When you care to send the very least

I probably screwed up

 I spent some time yesterday sending in my results from the NJ QSO Party.

I'm pretty sure I probably messed up ........royally. 

"What's to ,mess up?" you might ask? Let me put it this way .......it's a good thing that contest reporting is not part of the Amateur Radio exam process!0 I'd probably still be a Novice.

The extent of my contesting is various QRP Sprints. Those usually involve filling out a log summary form on 3830.com, or e-mailing in a log summary like we use for the Skeeter Hunt. I am not used to the world of Cabrillo files. Heck, I'm not even sure how you pronounce that!

CA- BRILL-O or maybe CA-BREE-YO? 

You can tell I'm not into the contesting gig. I do not use N1MM and that has, in fact, kind of led to my ceasing participation in the QRP Fox Hunts. Using N1MM is an important part of the Real Time QSO Map feature that they employ.

I'm lucky that I can walk and chew gum at the same time, let alone use a computer for logging QSOs. No, I am an old fossil who paper logs and then transfers to digital storage. While that's easier for me, it also has a drawback. Sometimes, when I get a flurry of activity, I write so fast that I sometimes have a hard tie deciphering my own chicken scratch!

So I probably messed up my NJ QSO Party entry, and if there were any mistakes, they were definitely not intentional. Not that it matters, anyway, as I'm just a small fish in a large pond. But it would still be interesting to see how I did compared to other stations - that is if they don't reject my entry altogether. 

I wouldn't be surprised of that happened and I got an e-mail back saying, "You've got to be kidding!"

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Zombie Shuffle 2025

 Just announced:

QRP Zombies,

The 28th annual ZOMBIE SHUFFLE will be held this year on Friday afternoon and evening, October 24 from 1500-midnight YOUR LOCAL TIME.  It is always held on the Friday closest to Halloween, but not on Halloween, to not interfere with family activities PLUS the ARRL Sweepstakes begins that evening.

RULES AT:

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

No major changes from last year's rules, except ...

The Grand Witchess and my wife, Jan N0QT, became a silent key early 2025.   

Our new Grand Inquisitor is Bill W2EB.  Request Zombie Numbers from Bill at owner@lazure.net.  Bill will provide Zombie Certificates for newly issued numbers.  Links also on the above Zombie rules website.

So think up a nice ghoulish name to use on the air and join the silly 

Zombie fun on October 24.

72, Paul NA5N and Bill W2EB

And the got have it!

72 de Larry W2LJ 

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

It's still magical to me!

 A different take on Billy Joel's "It's Still Rock and Roll To Me."

I keep thinking about that QSO with Alex RG5A that I had on Saturday night, during the NJ QSO Party.. At first glance, just another QSO with Russia - certainly no exotic DX, and millions of QSOs have occurred  between American and Russian Hams over the years.

But lest I grow jaded ...............

According to QRZ, the distance between South Plainfield and Alex's QTH is 5,340 miles. That means my signal covered that distance at a rate of 1,086 Miles per Watt. A record? Nowhere near, but still darn amazing when you pause to ponder it. Think of the flight time if you were to board a plane and travel there - HOURS! At the speed of light, my 5 Watts covered that distance instantaneously!

My transmitter to a hunk of wire, emitted RF energy into the dark night, traveling along the ionosphere to end up at Alex's antenna and his receiver. We take the process for granted, and we've come to expect this kind of thing as "normal", and we complain when it's not!. But to me it's still as magical as when I was studying for my Novice license back in 1978.

The world is huge, but we've made it small. Video and television from all spots around the world is commonplace since Telstar in the 1960s. The internet had made the world even smaller. But in my mind, it's still huge. I stand at the Jersey shore, looking at the waves break and the vastness of the open sea and I still can't quite grasp the miracle of radio, my 5 Watts traveling all that distance. 

It truly is incredible this gift of Amateur Radio that we have been given. I hope the fascination never fades.

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!