Tonight is the ARS Spartan Sprint. I have not participated in one of those in a very long time.
If it's not raining, I'll set up at a picnic table here as it doesn't get appreciably dark until after 9:00 PM.
Let's see how many times I'm tempted to send NJ as my state instead of NY.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Today was a ay for relaxing. I did not intend to do much today and I succeeded in my goal Tomorrow, I'll break out the radio and perhaps even do a little POTAing. I am in Adirondack State Park which is US-2001.
I brought the KX3 and the AX1. Keeping it low profile and hope to just operate picnic table portable this year. I brought a long my tablet for logging and will spot myself on QRPSPOTS as well as the POTA app.
Here's to good week!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Whew! This will be one to remember! Yesterday, we had a serious storm/ weather event hit the area including the North end of South Plainfield. I almost made it all te way home from work, when the clouds burst and rain started falling at a rate exceeding 4" per hour. Winds exceeded 30 MPH, there was pea sized hail and there were trees and branches and limbs down everywhere! Several major roads in town are still blocked, with crews dealing with downed foliage.
As a Skywarn spotter, I made sure to make a report to the National Weather Service office out of Philadelphia / Mount Holly, our regional office.
But it IS Independence Day, so I hope everyone has a safe and happy one.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Q
I'm a day early (for a change) - but Happy Independence Day - the 249th Birthday of the United States of America!
First off, the Annual 13 Colonies Special Event is in full swing if you're into that - http://www.13colonies.us/
No, that pileup you'll be hearing is not rare DX like Spratly Island - it's everybody trying to work Delaware or Rhode Island for a Clean Sweep!
Besides that, there are other Special Event Stations on the air this weekend:
07/03/2025 | SCARA at the Hendersonville Freedom Festival
Jul 3-Jul 4, 1500Z-0300Z, W4LKZ, Gallatin, TN. Sumner County Amateur Radio Association. 14.238 28.285 18.150 7.220. QSL. SUMNER COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO ASSOCIATION, P.O. Box 171, Gallatin, TN 37066. Freedom Festival is hosted on July 3, 2025 at Drakes Creek Park in Hendersonville, TN. This free, family-friendly event brings the community together for an evening packed with live music and entertainment, a Kids Zone, food trucks, vendors, and a breathtaking fireworks finale to close out the night! This year we will have L'80's Nite, an 80's cover band, as the headliner along with a few other special performances. More information coming soon! The Hendersonville Chamber of Commerce staff and the City of Hendersonville are working diligently to host an amazing event for families to celebrate our country and watch one of Sumner counties greatest fireworks show! www.scara.net
07/04/2025 | The White House Communications Agency Amateur Radio Club Independence Day 2025 Celebration Special Event
Jul 4-Jul 7, 0000Z-0000Z, W0H, Jackson, OH. White House Communications Agency Amateur Radio Club. 3.875 7.275 14.250 28.550. Certificate. Lowell Yates, 6809 Four Mile Rd, Jackson, OH 45640. Help the White House Communications Agency Amateur Radio Club celebrate our nations independence https://whitehousecomms-arc.org
07/05/2025 | 80th Birthday for Radio Association of Erie
Jul 5, 1400Z-1800Z, W3G, Erie, PA. Radio Association of Erie. 28.345 14.321. QSL. W3GV, PO BOX 8931, Erie, PA 16505. Come celebrate our 80th Anniversary. We'll be having a party at our clubhouse in Erie,PA. We'll be running a GOTA station at least one of the frequencies. w3gv.org
07/05/2025 | Colonial Williamsburg Special Event Station
Jul 5, 1400Z-2000Z, K4RC, Williamsburg, VA. Williamsburg Area Amateur Radio Club. 7.265 14.265. Certificate & QSL. QSL Manager, WAARC, P.O. Box 1470, Williamsburg, VA 23187. Celebrating the 249th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. For QSL send your QSL and SASE to QSL Manager, WAARC, PO Box 1470, Williamsburg, VA 23187. The Virginia Historic Triangle Certificate is available for working the Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown Special Event Stations. You don’t need to make these contacts in the same calendar year. For a Certificate send QSO info from the three stations to qslmgr@k4rc.net. For event info: https://www.k4rc.net/events/special-event-stations https://www.k4rc.net
07/05/2025 | Scope's "Monkey" Trial - 100th Anniversary
Jul 5-Jul 19, 1400Z-1400Z, W4B, Dayton, TN. Rhea County Amateur Radio Club. 14.265 14.045 7.205 7.045. Certificate. Rob Frailing, 664 Lone Mountain Dr., Dayton, TN 37321. 100th anniversary of the trial of John Scope, in Dayton, TN, for teaching evolution. https://www.facebook.com/RheaCountyAmateurRadioClub
Contests:
Venezuelan Ind. Day Contest - https://radioclubvenezolano.org/independenciadevenezuela.html
FOC Old School Classic 1960s QSO Party - https://www.g4foc.org/foc-old-school-classic-1960s-qso-party/ - Using a computer to send Morse code, 15-30 wpm is not allowed.
Marconi Memorial HF Contest - http://www.arifano.it/contest_marconi.html
Original QRP Contest - http://www.qrpcc.de/contestrules/oqrpr.html
Monday Night - July 7th - ARS Spartan Sprint - http://ars-qrp.com/Spartan_Sprint/Spartan_Sprint.html
You dazzle everyone with your skills in kit building and homebrewing. It's high time you put those babies on the air and let their sweet sounds fill the airwaves!
Always the Second Sunday of July
Date/Time:
2000Z to 2300Z on 13 July 2025
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 = x20
Suggested Frequencies:
160m 1810 kHz
80m 3560 kHz
40m 7030 kHz (please listen at 7040 kHz for rock bound participants)
20m 14060 kHz
15m 21060 kHz
10m 28060 kHz
Score:
Final Score = Points (total for all bands) x SPCs (total for all bands) x Power Multiplier + Bonus Points.
BONUS POINTS:
If operating a HB Transmitter add 2000 points
If operating a HB Receiver add 3000 points
If operating a HB Transceiver add 5000 points
(Homebrew is defined as: if YOU (not your friend, not your Uncle, not your nephew - YOU!) built it, it is homebrew (kits too!)
If you are operating PORTABLE using battery power AND a temporary antenna, add 5000 points to your final score. (You can NOT be at your shack operating from battery power using your home station antenna to qualify for this bonus.) This is to help level the playing field for contesters who work from the field against contest stations with 5 element yagis at 70 ft.
Categories:
Entry may be All-Band, Single Band, High Bands (10m-15m-20m) or Low Bands (40m-80m-160m)
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 or CQ TEST as possible, or call CQ QRP or CQ TEST yourself! You can work a station for credit once on each band.
Log Submission:
Submit your entry online at http://www.qrpcontest.com
Deadline:
Entries must be posted on or before 29 July
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
I guess the hot Field Day weekend really got to me and I guess I'm still in recovery mode. I'm sorry that this is a day late, but I would be remiss if I did not wish all the Hams from Canada a very Happy Canada Day!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Pretty soon, Marianne and I will be making our annual Summer sojourn up to Lake George. We've been going up there very year since 2003 - 22 years now - wow!
What to bring with me Ham Radio wise?
I'm thinking the KX3 and just the AX1. The antenna worked so well for me when we went up to Alexandria Bay last October. I'm fully confident that it will do well again for me as I activate Adirondack State Park for POTA again this year.
Why not the QMX? I could, but I know the KX3 like the back of my hand and it's an old familiar friend. I'm such a creature of habit that I'm seriously thinking of divesting myself of the QMX. It's the 80- 20 Meter version, was not used much and is in excellent shape, both cosmetically and electronically.. It's really redundant to my needs, so if you're interested, or know of someone who might be, I'll let it go at a very reasonable price. Just drop me a line at w2ljqrp@gmail.com
It's a fantastic little rig, but I'm not one of these guys that needs a radio for each finger of both hands. You can use only one at a time, right?
One other last Field Day thought. My batteries! Bravo ......superb job, batteries! I used my 12Ah lithium battery and I loaned my 12Ah SLA to Bill W2AOF for his KX3. Both lasted for the entire Field Day effort, allowing the KX3's to deliver a full 5 Watts out for the duration.
They are still in my ammo box in the baxk of the Jeep. I'll have to bring them inside tonight and hook them up to my smart charger.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
I can succinctly sum up Field Day 2025 in this manner - The weather was hot ...the bands were not!
Overall, the weather was dry, but it was incredibly hot and humid. Set up on Saturday morning felt like we were setting up in a sauna. It was a bit drier on Sunday for teardown, but there was not a cloud in the sky and the sun provided a relentless reminder that it was indeed, Summer
Ahhhhhhh, but it would have been nice had the bands been as hot!
Last year, Marv and I racked up over 200 CW QSOs. That accounted for a couple hours off the air for thunderstorm and an educational activity that we performed. This year, with no lightning to worry about and no educational activity to interrupt our operating, we still only managed to log 169 CW QSOs. And Marv and I were behind the key at all times. He and I both noticed that there were many times that a station as loud as heck, calling "CQ FD" would just not answer us, as much as we would try. A reminder, I guess, that propagation is not always symmetrical.
Digital and SSB QSO totals suffered as well. We had a lack of operators this year, as a few that usually come weren't up to it this year. So, in a pinch, when Marty WB2BEW, our resident SSB Op went to his car for an AC break during the overnight, I picked up the mic and was making SSB QSOs while Marv was behind the key. Talk about feeling like a fish out of water!
Propagation held us to mainly the eastern and midwestern parts of the US and Canada, although we did manage to work the California coastal sections, as well as Alaska and Puerto Rico. The Alaska QSO was made by Dave KD2FSI on FT8 and I worked Puerto Rico twice on CW.
And what can I say more about Dave KD2FSI? He's a mainstay to and a MAJOR part SPARC's Field Day efforts. If he wasn't with us, we'd never have the success that we enjoy. He brings equipment and antennas in addition to what I bring and what Bill W2AOF brings. Without Dave, we'd be hurting puppies, indeed!
Under the miscellaneous file:
The Jackite stand worked perfectly. It held the pole upright to allow for easily installation of the tent pegs and CamJam tie down ropes without everything flopping over. In fact, it held everything so securely that I had a bit of a time getting it uninstalled!
From the "Stupid Me" Department:
The Vibrokeyer looked so mint out of the box, I did not check the condition of the contacts. They are tarnished and gave us fits all weekend. The key would work intermittently. I need to go over the contacts with a Q-Tip and some NOXON tarnish remover. For a major portion of the weekend, we used the QRP Guys paddles that I keep permanently attached to the KX3.
From the "Hog Heaven" Department:
The plan was for me to go out and purchase about five pizzas for dinner for Saturday evening. During setup on Saturday morning, the Vadney brothers, Dave W2OIL and Dan KC2YRC came by and told us they were bringing BBQ ribs and baked beans that evening. Wow! The ribs were tender, juicy and fall-off-the-bone perfect! The beans were the epic compliment to the ribs and made for a perfect Summer feast! Thank you, Dave and Danny!
We had a lot of visitors and walk-up pedestrian traffic. We were visited by the ARRL, the American Red Cross and by members of our Borough Council. We were able to give our Mayor a copy of the plaque indicating that our Field Day was dedicated to the memory of his father, John AB2VE.
Here are some photos:
I am mostly organized. I just have to do a few things.
I went to Home Depot last night and bought two lengths of 1" PVC and a can of fluorescent orange paint. I am going to make new end supports for the MFJ-1980 LP. I was using driveway markers, like two of these:
A brief history of the NJQRP Skeeter Hunt - I've told this before, but it bears repeating.
The NJQRP Skeeter Hunt came about in 2012, when it seriously looked to me like the Flight of the Bumblebees might be in peril. For several years prior, Rich Fisher KI6SN had volunteer Hams, myself included, in charge of handing out Bee Numbers. I had done it for two years, 2010 and 2011.
Come the late Spring of 2012 and there were no announcements being made about an upcoming FOBB. I had sent numerous emails to Rich asking if he wanted me to continue with the number issuing chore, but got no response. At that point, I guess I panicked a bit thinking FOBB was going by the wayside. It was and still remains my favorite QRP event of the year, and the thought of losing it was unbearable.
What the heck to do? As I said, FOBB, or something like it, not occurring during the Summer months was unthinkable to me. That's when I decided to contact George N2APB and Joe N2CX, the brain trust of NJQRP if they would put the club's name behind an idea that I had. I told them the why, when, what and how and they were agreeable. The NJQRP Skeeter Hunt became a thing in 2012.
In the meantime, Rich DID make announcements about continuing FOBB. This made me very happy , but it also gave me a bit of anxiety. Would Hams think of the Skeeter Hunt as competition? Was the Skeeter Hunt trying to dethrone FOBB as THE "Classic QRP Summer Event"? Of course the answer was and always will be an emphatic "NO!"
In all the years that the Skeeter Hunt has occurred, I still heavily promoted FOBB here on this blog and in my e-mails to Skeeters. I have and still do remind them to sign up for FOBB while they are signing up for the Skeeter Hunt. The two events are similar, but not equal in structure. But both are definitely fun and that's what this is supposed to be all about., and ......... the more the merrier!
Last year, or the year before (my memory fails me) Rich stepped away from managing FOBB due to health concerns Jody K3JZD stepped up to the plate to take over the reins and has been doing a simply outstanding job! FOBB is thriving under his watch. And in addition, we have been promoting each other. He promotes the Skeeter Hunt in his announcements and I continue and will always continue to promote FOBB in any way that I can. It's all about the fun - nothing more, nothing less.
In my minds (which is a scary place to be) the QRP year revolves around:
1: FYBO - Freeze Your Buns Off
2) QRPTTF - QRP To The Field
3) FOBB - The Flight of the Bumblebees
4) The NJQRP Skeeter Hunt
5) QRP Afield
6) The Peanut Power Sprint
Sprinkled in between by the QRP-ARCI operating events, the Sasquatch Stomp and the Zombie Shuffle.
May each one thrive and be successful for many years to come!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
I think you can flip New Jersey over - this side is done.
We are entering a three day period (Monday thru Wednesday) of excessive heat with temperatures above 100 F (38C) and heat indices of 105-100 F (40 -43C). Yesterday only reached into the 90s, but the humidity was out of sight, causing it to feel much, much warmer.
 |
| Of course, W2LJ lives in the "purple". |
After the storm went through the heat began to build up again. By the time dinner time came around, it was almost unbearable to go outside to cook on the grill. Sleeping was not so great last night. We have central AC, but it's older so it's not zoned. The downstairs stays decently cool, but the upstairs can get stuffy.
When I was a kid, the heat didn't bother me as much. I grew up in a house without air conditioning. In fact, I much preferred Summer to the Winter. I still do, but the heat gets to me much more quickly now. I guess that's just a consequence of growing old. My ideal would be anywhere from 65 F to 80 F year around. Like that's gonna happen!
That being said, Field Day preps have begin for me. I made sure all my batteries are charged up for next weekend. I actually have enough "juice" for a week's worth of operating at 5 Watts between a lithium and two SLA batteries. I also have my two little "blue bricks" that I use for portable ops like FOBB and the Skeeter Hunt. I should be in good stead.
Speaking of the Skeeter Hunt, we've had 113 people sign up for Skeeter Hunt numbers over the weekend. That warmed the cockles of my heart. I'm hoping that by the day before the Hunt, we will have some 200+ people signed up. The more, the merrier!
The VE Session at the W2QW Hamfest on Saturday went well. I was expecting four candidates. One cancelled late Friday night and there was one "no show". Two were successful - one brand new Tech and one upgrade to General. The weather was nice with no breeze. The breeze was probably wished for by the flea market attendees, but I welcomed the calmness as it made for no blowing away of paperwork. Such are the hazards of an outdoor VE Session.
After the exams were over, I left. I had been there since 5:00 AM helping to direct vendors to their spots. I still had the grocery shopping to do and there's nothing that I really need, Ham Radio-wise, so I bid my good-byes and got on with my day.
UPDATE:
At 4:30 PM, we broke 100 F, with a THI of 124.3F.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
This weekend is the weekend of the W2QW Raritan Valley Radio Club Hamfest in Piscataway, NJ. Stop by if you're in the area!
The Hamfest is always a good time and I think the weather will be OK. I think any rain is supposed to hold off to the afternoon. I also have to get myself over to Home Depot and Dick's Sporting Goods at some point this weekend to pick up some last minute needed items for Field Day NEXT weekend.
I'll be up at 4:00 AM on Saturday to get to the site by 5:00 AM. In addition to running the VE Session, I also help out Tim AB2ZK by positioning vendors to their selling spots. It makes for a long day.
Here's what's happening on the air this weekend.
Contests:
All Asian DX Contest, CW - https://www.jarl.org/English/4_Library/A-4-3_Contests/AA_rule_en.htm
SMIRK Contest - http://smirk.info/contest.html
SKCC QSO Party - https://www.skccgroup.com/operating_activities/QSO_Party/
Stew Perry Topband Challenge - http://www.kkn.net/stew/ - 160 Meters in the Summer - that MUST be fun!
West Virginia QSO Party - https://www.qsl.net/wvqp/
Special Event Stations:
06/21/2025 | 152nd Birthday of Indian Prairie School
Jun 21-Jun 22, 1504Z-1504Z, KF0MSJ, Washington, MO. Zerobeaters Amateur Radio Club . 14.330. QSL. Greg Ballard , 662 E Main St, Union, MO 63084. Help us celebrate our clubhouse. zerobeaters.org
06/21/2025 | Remembering Private Chester Bird
Jun 21-Jun 22, 2300Z-2000Z, K0CBP, Golden Valley, MN. The American Legion Amateur Radio Club (TALARC) Post 523. 7.260 14.260 21.360 28.360. Certificate. TALARC, E-certificate, see URL for details. Chester Bird Post 523 American Legion honors and is dedicated to the memory of Chester D. Ptaszek, Private, United States Army, who lost his life in the Second World War. Find E-certificate instructions, band/mode updates on qrz.com/db/K0CBP. https://chesterbird.org/amateur-radio-club. www.qrz.com/db/K0CBP
06/22/2025 | FESTIVAL JAZZ MONTREAL
Jun 22-Jul 7, 2200Z-0700Z, VE2JAZZ, Saint-Jérôme. HOME STATION. 14.030. QSL. JEAN CHARRON, 17 Rue Élisabeth, Saint-Jérôme, QC J7Z 2S9, CANADA
Oh, and by the way, TODAY is the First Day of Summer! Don't forget to sign up for your 2025 NJQRP Skeeter Number - https://www.qsl.net/w2lj for details.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least
From recent posts, you all know that I recently built my 4 States NM0S paddle kit. I had purchased it specifically for Field Day use. Personally, I love it! I love its small size, its action and feel. It occurred to me, however, that it might not be the best choice for Field Day for one reason.
I will not be the only CW op there. I will be one of two, or three at the most; and somehow I have a feeling that the paddle's small size will become an issue to the other ops. I'm definitely not bringing my Mercury or Begali paddles. They are too near and dear to my heart, so I decided that I will bring my trusty Vibroplex Vibrokeyer.
I have one problem with the key, though. That (as far as I'm concerned) ugly tan base. Why in the world Vibroplex chose that color is beyond me. Sorry for the graphic image, but it reminds me of the colors I used to find in our kid's diapers when they were infants. YUCK!
If memory serves me correctly, I picked this up at a Hamfest years ago. I don't use it all that much and it's usually tucked away on a shelf in the shack. And that's a pity as it's really a fine key. I just can't stand that tan base, it just irks me.
After Field Day is over, I think I am going to disassemble it and re-paint the base with the same Rustoleum Black Hammer Finish paint that I used when I restored my Vibroplex Original Bug. That may devalue it, but I don't really care. I'm not planning on selling it and maybe the new look will merit a place for it on the operating table instead of on the shelf.
I hope I haven't driven any Vibroplex purists to begin pulling out their hair. "You're going to do WHAT?!??"
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Yesterday, June 17th, was apparently International QRP Day.
My mind was otherwise occupied as my wife, the love of my life, was hospitalized for an attack of aFib. She went in on Monday in the wee hours of the morning (of course these things always seem to happen in the middle of the night) and was released yesterday, Tuesday afternoon. As it turned out, it was not seriously serious, but still. I think it was more unnerving for me than for her.
I didn't get much sleep Monday night as the house just felt "different" without her, so yesterday I was pretty much in a fog all day. Thank the Lord, the Docs treated her quickly and prescribed some new meds and she's feeling no worse for wear.
However, it didn't even occur to me that yesterday was International QRP Day until I saw this posted on Facebook late last night. It would have been fitting to have participated in the NAQCC mW Sprint last night, but by the time it started my brain was already like Jell-O. My fist would probably have been so bad as to be considered an advanced form of torture, thus prohibited by the Geneva Convention.
So, to all my brother and sister QRP'ers, I hope the day was filled with nice contacts for you. Hopefully, I'll be able to join in on the fun more, next year.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
The stuff sack I purchased from eBay to hold my Jackite pole stand is too small. It's barely long enough but isn't big enough to hold all the pieces. I've never been good about ordering those kinds of things because their capacity is always demarked in liters. I guess I just can't accurately gauge what a 5L or a 10L bag will actually hold. I bought a 10L sack because I envisioned five 2L bottles of soda and thought, "That'll be big enough!". Wrong! Backpacks are rated the same way and that confuses the heck out of me as well. It's painfully obvious that I was never a Boy Scout or have done any camping.
I suppose I could go to the local sporting goods emporium to actually visualize in person before buying. Before I do that, I am going to go through a few of our closets to see if there's anything we already have that I can scavenge. I seem to remember my kids getting nylon sacks with drawstrings for various events when they were little. Maybe I can find something suitable already at home.
The parts are now contained in a reusable grocery store bag with handles. It works, but it looks dorky., and I can't close the top. I'd like something with a drawstring that I can cinch to prevent pieces from unintentionally tumbling out in the back of the Jeep.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
