And now, coming to bat..............

pinch hitting for Babe Ruth #3 ...............Joe Shlabotnik, #109 !

That's how I feel this morning.

I got an e-mail last might from Dale WC7S that Steve WX2S is not able to fulfill his Fox slots for 40 and 80 Meters this week ....... "Could you fill his slots? Please?"  I guess I got asked because I'm in New Jersey and I'm only about 20 miles north of Steve's QTH. In a moment of total irrationality, I answered, "OK, I can do that." What was I thinking?

Steve had mentioned on Facebook that his Mom is in the hospital. I know that's his pre-occupation at this time. So, dear Readers,  if in your kindness can you keep her in prayer?

This is a tall order, and I'm kind of feeling the weight of it. If you were to keep tabs of the Fox logs, you would see that no matter who the Fox is, no matter where the Fox is, Steve is usually always in the Top Ten of first Hounds to have worked the Fox. And then, when he himself is the Fox, his log of Hounds worked is always huge!

His station outclasses mine, his antennas outclass mine, his skill and abilities outclass mine. I just hope I don't totally embarrass myself tonight. This is like David and Goliath ........only in reverse. It's one thing to fulfill my own slots towards the end of the season, where the Hounds probably don't expect all that much. But this? This is a bit daunting.

Thanks for letting me spill my guts.

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Veteran's Day 2024

Here in the U. S. of A, it's Veteran's Day where we honor and celebrate those who have sacrificed their time in order to have served our country in our Armed Forces. A HUGE THANK YOU!

We are free because we are the home of the brave!

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Visitors from Colorado

I got home from work late last night.  I made myself a grilled cheese sandwich and was eating at the kitchen counter when my cell phone started ringing. I looked down at the display and the call was coming from Colorado. The only persons that I know in Colorado are Steve WG0AT and Tim K0UR and I'm pretty certain that neither of them have my cell phone number.

It turned out to be a woman who is in the Tri-State area with her teen aged son, who is having some oral surgery done by specialists in Manhattan. She told me that they've been here for a while and have also both been studying for their Technician Class licenses for a while. She looked up the exam schedule and was calling me to see if there was any room for them in our session that we had this morning.

Wow! Up to this point, we only had one candidate scheduled, so there was room a-plenty! I sent her my standard candidate e-mail and she responded that we would see them this morning.

And we did!

They were both obviously well prepared as they both got only three answers wrong on their respective versions of their tests. Since they passed, we gave them their free look at the General exam, and as expected, got about 1/2 correct. They were both very gracious and thankful and mentioned that it was nice to get out of Manhattan for a bit and that they really liked what they saw of New Jersey.  I suspect that visitors from other parts of the country expect the NorthEast to be one big concrete jungle.

Our other candidate, who made a second try at Extra came up 2 answers short of passing. So close! I asked her how she was going on practice exams and she told me she was coming in at about 70% correct. I encouraged her to study a bit more and told her that when she consistently scores in the 80 to 85% range, she'll be ready.

Other than that, there were just chores to be done and no actual  on the air time. Maybe that will change tomorrow. But having those two guest candidates from Colorado come in AND get their licenses - THAT made my day!

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Weekend - Nov. 9th and 10th

We have our regular 2nd Saturday of the month VE Session tomorrow. As of right now, only one candidate - a General looking to upgrade to Extra.

Contests:

Not going to go into detail on these, but there are three digital contests this weekend that will probably end up coming deep down into the normal CW portion of the bands - so if you hear digi on you favorite QRP frequency, it's probably one of these:

PODXS 070 Club Triple Play Low Band Sprint

WAE DX Contest, RTTY

10-10 Int. Fall Contest, Digital

Other contests this weekend: (from this weekend going forward, I will mainly mention only contests that will have an effect on the CW portions of the bands)

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

OK/OM DX Contest, CW - http://okomdx.crk.cz/index.php?page=CW-rules-english

CQ-WE Contest - https://w8zpf.com/cqwe/

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

Special Event Stations:

11/09/2024 | USS Cobia Veterans Day Special Event

Nov 9-Nov 10, 1500Z-2100Z, NB9QV, Manitowoc, WI. USS Cobia Amateur Radio Club. 7.240 14.240. Certificate. E-certificate only, email QSL information to, kc9yl@arrl.net. www.qrz.com/db/nb9qv

11/09/2024 | W2TE MEMORIAL SES

Nov 9, 1230Z-1930Z, W2GSB, Babylon, NY. GREAT SOUTH BAY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB . 28.340 21.250 14.246 24.940. Certificate. W2GSB/W2TE , PO BOX 1356 , West Babylon, NY 11704. WWW.gsbarc.org

11/09/2024 | Walt Grosser (W2TE) memorial SES

Nov 9, 1400Z-2000Z, W2GSB, Lindenhurst, NY. GREAT SOUTH BAY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB. 14200 7200. Certificate. W2GSB GSBAC, PO BOX 1356, West Babylon, NY 11704-0356. In Memory of Walter Grosser, our 2nd President of GSBARC We will be setting up at 09:00 and hopefully be on the air by 14:30 and operate till 20:00 All modes CW operators must bring their keys gsbarc.org

11/09/2024 | Windycon 50 - Science Fiction Convention

Nov 9-Nov 10, 1500Z-2100Z, W9W, Oak Brook, IL. DuPage Amateur Radio Club. 14.070 14.230 14.274 145.430 (local 107.2 PL). Certificate. DuPage Amateur Radio Club, P.O. Box 71, Clarendon Hills, IL 60514-0071. Operating times are Nov 9 0900-1700 and Nov 10 0900-1500 local time (CST). Certificate and other information http://www.qrz.com/db/w9w. https://www.w9dup.org

Last night's 80 Meter Fox Hunt was a 50/50. I worked Jim N0UR pretty easily. The MN to NJ pipeline wasn't quite as strong as usual, but I did get him in the log. Cathy W4CMG was another story. She was at ESP levels to begin with, but eventually got as loud as about 339. Strong enough to work, but I didn't. Kept calling but kept getting "CQ FOX" back in my face. Obviously the TN to NJ pipeline wasn't working for me, although it did for Steve WX2S and Charles W2SH. C'est la vie.

Something a bit interesting that I was reminded of again, though - frequency response. I worked Jim with an ear bud in my left ear - my only good ear, and that was fine. When I went to look for and eventually found Cathy, I discovered that I was able to hear her much better when I switched over to conventional headphones. The earbuds do not do quite as good a job responding to lower frequencies than the headphones. They're great at responding to higher frequencies, including the noise! The headphones were much better at helping me dig her signal out of the noise. 

Unfortunately, nothing will help my right ear until I can afford some prescription hearing aids. I've tried a couple of OTC brands and one pair does work better than the other, but I do need "real ones" if I'm ever going to hear out of my right ear again. First I have to finish paying off my car - then hearing aids. Yeah, I'll be working until I'm 70 - no doubt about that! LOL!

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

New tablet

I purchased a new Android tablet from eBay. Nothing fancy, an off brand, not a Samsung. But it has a newer version of Android on it and a faster processor than the piece of stone I was using, which is probably almost 7 or 8 years old by now. This one also has a bigger screen, more memory and more storage space. It came with a case and a Bluetooth keyboard, and a wireless mouse. The mouse has a USB-A receiver and the tablet has no USB-A outlet, so that was superfluous. But still, not bad for under $75.

This one will be used primarily for blogging and Amateur Radio purposes. So far I have installed VLS Logger, SpaceWeatherLive, RepeaterBook, HamAlert, ARRL Magazines, and I made icon links for Morsel and the POTA spotter page.

I need to add SOTA Spotter, and one of the DX Cluster apps, either DXPocket or NKCCliuster. and perhaps PoLo, although I kind of like VLS Logger.  The accessory keyboard is the same size as the tablet and seems to be very nice. Maybe this will finally be the "what it takes" to get me to computer log portable ops instead of paper and pencil logging.

The other primary purpose for this tablet will be weather apps, WeaterBug, AWN Net, the Lightning app, RadarNow! and probably Weather Underground.

Of course, it comes with Gmail and Chrome pre-loaded. I will add Facebook and Skype and probably Zoom as most of the radio club meetings that I attend are hybrid, in-person and Zoom.

I wish AC Log by N3JFP had an Android app. The only way I can use AC Log out in the field would be to bring a laptop and IMHO, that's just a pain in the hindquarters. When I use VLS Logger, I have to export an ADIF via e-mail to my laptop so that I can add the contacts to AC Log. Not an end-of -the-world issue, that's for sure - but you get spoiled by convenience.

Last night was the inaugural 40 Meter QRP Fox Hunt and I was debating whether or not to participate. I was really tired and wanted to to hit the hay, but I relented and found and worked John K4BAI rather quickly. I listened for Kevin W9CF for a bit, but he's in Arizona and that's a long haul. I found him and heard him pop out of the noise a couple of times, but not loud enough or long enough for me to work him. Then, when someone decided to start calling CQ at 10 over 9, right on his frequency, I decided to hang it up for the night. Just before heading upstairs, I looked him up on RBN and the single East coast skimmer had him in single digit dB numbers above noise level. Experience tells me that's not good if you want a QSO. But I bet when I eventually see his log, band conditions will have changed and all the other New Jersey Hounds will have nabbed him. Never fails.

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least.

I'm NOT crazy! (Depends on who you ask)

Last month, when I wrote about my POTA activation at Krings Point State Park in New York, I mentioned I had worked a station in Alaska. That astounded me. 5 Watts to an Elecraft AX1 antenna, sitting on a picnic table in New York, sending RF all the way to Alaska?

After that, I kept asking myself - did I really hear that right? Maybe I botched the call sign?  Maybe it's an Alaskan call sign living somewhere in the lower 48?

Nope! Confirmed on Logbook of the World! I still find it hard to believe - it really does defy all logic that this little antenna can work so well.

I wonder what I could do with a wet string of spaghetti?

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least1

Gotta apologize

publicly, to the QRP Fox Hunt Committee. The final schedules for 80 and 40 Meters came out over the weekend. I was not forgotten like I thought I was. So I apologize for any premature false accusations  or sour grapes "trash talk" that I may be guilty of.  I am on the 80 Meter schedule for January 17th and Valentine's Day, February 14th. I'm also listed as an alternate for the 40 Meters schedule.

The season starts tomorrow - Election Day - of all days. I hope I can manage to stay awake to join in the Hunts for most of the season. I'll make my assignments, but ss far as the rest of the season goes, this was me yesterday:

Next weekend, I am going to have to re-take a look at the connection between the HF9V's matching stub and my coax.  I'm 100% sure of that connection. When I switch between the wire and the vertical, signal strength is much louder on the wire.  Maybe I didn't make as good a connection as i thought I had. Maybe I need to replace the coax. I hope not, but from looking back at past blog entries, next year this run of coax will be 20 years old.

I checked into the St. Max Net last night and from the conversation, I think the decision to move to 40 Meters is a permanent one. I was able to hear check in stations and Net Control much better on 80 Meters, but I guess I have no choice but to make due. Even with the HF9V "problem" that I may be having, I was switching back and forth between antennas and it was interesting to see how a given station was louder on one antenna over the other. My guess is likewise antenna polarization and/or the distance between us and the size of the skip zone. Frequency response of my headphones played a part, too.  A couple of stations I heard much better on that little golf ball speaker that I have as compared to the headphones.

In closing, for you newbie Amateur Radio ops out there who may be reading this, here's a YouTube video I cam across. I know that this is an expensive hobby and that as a newcomer that can be overwhelming. Here's a video that might be able to help you save some bucks when it comes to the antenna department:

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least.

I worked them!

 

I was able to work Special Event Station WJ0H, honoring the Edmund Fitzgerald, this afternoon. I added the call sign to Ham Alert and it was chirping a ton on Saturday, but the day was way too busy to try and fit them in. Luckily, they were still on the air today and I nabbed them on 15 Meters USB on 21.360 MHz at 17:18 UTC. I fired up the KXPA100 to 85 Watts as they were kind of weak. It was probably about 5X4 each way. 

Gosh! SSB and QRO! I really wanted to work them, though. Now that Marianne and I have been going up to Alexandria Bay and I see those big ships traversing the St. Lawrence River, it has deeper meaning now. i used the MFJ-1982HP which has been performing very well for me since I got it up in the air two weekends ago. BTW, when I double checked the HF9V yesterday, I saw that the radial to antenna connection was fine, just fine. The thick piece of copper braid I used was still intact and not bothered by the landscapers. I still have to make that "shield" out of an old power plastic flower pot, so that this can never happen again.

After WJ0H, I worked several POTA stations (all at 5 Watts) on 17 Meters and on 20 Meters way above the ARRL Sweepstakes traffic on 20. One of the stations I worked was N9ANA, The Voyagers ARC with Eric K9VIC at the key. N9ANA and K9VIC are Skeeters, so that was a special treat! 

I was going to go to the PAL parking lot and put the Washington-Rochambeau on the air, but it's pretty chilly here today with a pretty constant stiff breeze which makes it feel even colder. I'm already decked out in shirt and hoodie sweatshirt inside the house! I'm not quite in the mood to be outside for a prolonged amount of time.

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP  - When you care to send the very least!

The weekend: November 2nd and 3rd, 2024

Ohhhhhhh! This weekend is another biggie contest!

ARRL Sweepstakes Contest, CW - https://www.arrl.org/sweepstakes

High Speed Club CW Contest - http://www.highspeedclub.org/

Ukrainian DX Contest - http://urdxc.org/rules.php?english

Monday night - ARS Spartan Sprint - http://ars-qrp.com/Spartan_Sprint/Spartan_Sprint.html

Again, I'm not a big contester. I just post these so you all know what's happening on the bands.

Special Event Stations - a lot of them!

10/31/2024 | Knights of Columbus Celebration of Date of Beatification of Blessed Michael J. McGivney, Founder of the Knights of Columbus

Oct 31-Nov 2, 0000Z-2359Z, K0C, Bridgeton, NJ. New Jersey Knights of Columbus Amateur Radio Club . 7.18500 14.2500 18.1400 21.3500. Certificate & QSL. Thomas M. Perrotti, N2JIE, 785 Vineland Ave, Bridgeton, NJ 08302. This, and the other Knights of Columbus Special Event Stations sponsored by the New Jersey Knights of Columbus Amateur Radio Club, will be operating with Knights/hams from throughout New Jersey, the United States of America, Canada and Europe. NJ2KC.org

11/01/2024 | 49th Anniversary, Sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald

Nov 1-Nov 15, 0000Z-2359Z, W8F, Livonia, MI. Livonia Amateur Radio Club. 14.260 7.260 7.050 14.050. Certificate. See website, for information, https://livoniaarc.com/qsl/ . Saturday. Nov. 9,1530-2030 UTC, W8F will operate from Dossin Great Lakes Museum, Belle Isle State Park, Detroit, MI. (POTA US-1487 this date only)., Nov. 1-15 Club members signing as W8F on all bands/modes-see spotting sites. QSL INFO ON W8F Page at QRZ.com https://livoniaarc.com

11/01/2024 | Royal Netherlands Air Force Retirement of F-16

Nov 1-Nov 30, 0000Z-2359Z, PF16F, North Limburg region , NETHERLANDS. Radio Club Limburg . TBD. QSL. sending a QSL is not necessary., All contacts will receive a QSL , via bureau., NETHERLANDS. PF16F is a special event station to say farewell to the fighter aircraft F-16 or Fighting Falcon. After 45 years of service - from 1979 to 2024 - the F-16 will retire from the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF). Members of Radio Club Limburg will activate the callsign PF16F from 1 up to 30 November 2024 and work amateur radio operators across the world, as many as possible. Whether you are an amateur radio operator hoping to contact a new country, a new call sign or you are a casual visitor, we welcome you to our website: https://rclb.nl/pf16f

11/01/2024 | Special Event 16th Annual Veteran Honor Guard Vigil at the Ottawa IL War Memorial

Nov 1-Nov 2, 2200Z-2200Z, W9TAL, Ottawa, IL. The American Legion Post 33 Amateur Radio Club.. 3.573 3.9 7.074 7.2. QSL. Joe Tokarz c/o The American Legion Post 33 Amateur Radio Club, 901 LaSalle St, Ottawa, IL 61350. The American Legion Post 33 Amateur Radio Club, 901 LaSalle St. , Ottawa, IL 61350. For the 16th year, 96 military veterans, family and friends will stand guard for 15 minute segments during this period at the Ottawa IL War Memorial. W9TAL@winlink.org (begin subject line with //WL2K) QSL SASE https://www.ottawaalpost33.com w9tal@winlink.org

11/02/2024 | 2024 Remembering the Edmund Fitzgerald - I'm going to put this one in Ham Alert!

Nov 2-Nov 3, 1500Z-2355Z, W0JH, Stillwater, MN. Stillwater, MN Amateur Radio Association (SARA). 3.860 7.260 14.260 21.360. Certificate. Request certificate by email and certificate will be emailed to you., W0JH QSO contact: , W0JH24Fitz@outlook.com. QSL certificates may ONLY be requested and will ONLY be sent via email. Send requests WITH W0JH QSO CONTACT INFO to: W0JH24Fitz@outlook.com. IMPORTANT: ONLY W0JH confirmed contacts qualify for POTA US-2524, US-8095, ARLHS USA 783 validations and submissions to LOTW. This is the 20th consecutive year the club has conducted this Special Event. Visit www.radioham.org and QRZ.com (W0JH) for more details. This year marks the 49th year since the famous iron-ore carrier was caught in a fierce fall storm on Lake Superior. The event pays tribute to the crew of 29 who all perished. www.radioham.org

11/02/2024 | 90th Anniversary Celebration of the Nashville Amateur Radio Club, Inc.

Nov 2-Nov 10, 2100Z-0600Z, K9O, Nashville, TN. Nashville Amateur Radio Club, Inc.. 7.060 7.180 14.060 14.230. Certificate & QSL. Nashville Amateur Radio Club, Inc., 205 Downeymeade Drive, Nashville, TN 37214. Will be active on all amateur bands using all modes. nashvilleamateurradio.club

11/02/2024 | Concours d'Elegance & Motoring Festival

Nov 2-Nov 3, 0400Z-2000Z, K4C, Hilton Head Island, SC. Islander Amateur Radio Association. 7.267 14.267; see spotting nets. Certificate. See website for information, on receiving a, certificate. www.qrz.com/db/k4c

11/02/2024 | Massing of the Colors

Nov 2, 1400Z-2100Z, W0AK, Des Moines, IA. Des Moines Radio Amateurs Association. 14.260 21.375 28.450. Certificate. DMRAA, P.O. Box 88, Des Moines, IA 50303-0088. Information on Massing of the Colors is at www.moww.org www.dmraa.com

11/02/2024 | Operation Able Archer '83

Nov 2-Nov 16, 0001Z-2359Z, W9A, Salem, WI. W9AFB. 14.250. Certificate & QSL. Scott Grams, General Delivery, Salem, WI 53168. Commemorating the 1983 Cold War Able Archer Exercise. See W9A QRZ page for operating times, modes, and additional details https://www.qrz.com/db/w9a

11/02/2024 | Operation Able Archer '83

Nov 2-Nov 16, 0001Z-2359Z, W0A, Lincoln, NE. KF0NWQ. 14.250. Certificate. Tyler Sandberg, General Delivery, Lincoln, NE 68512. Commemorating the 1983 Cold War Able Archer Exercise. See W0A QRZ page for operating times, modes, and additional details. https://www.qrz.com/db/W0A

11/02/2024 | South Orange Amateur Radio Association 50th Anniversary

Nov 2-Nov 3, 1700Z-0000Z, K6SOA, Mission Viejo, CA. South Orange Amateur Radio Association (SOARA). 7.200 14.275 21.350 28.375. QSL. SOARA Special Event, P.O. Box 2545, Mission Viejo, CA 92690. soara.org

11/03/2024 | 118th Anniversary of SOS and Maritime Calling Frequency 500 kHz

Nov 3, 0000Z-1200Z, various, Many locations. AA8SH. 600 meters, CW from 472 to 475 kHz and WSJTX; FST4 (60 second pass) at 474.2 kHz USB. Certificate. QSL to, station, worked. This event provides an opportunity for clubs or individuals to put a vintage MW transmitter back on the air, or try one of a number of solid modern approaches. Those interested should be sure to register with the Utilities Technology Council prior to October 3, 2024 (30-day waiting period). https://utc.org/plc-database-amateur-notification-process/; https://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-opens-630-and-2200-meter-bands-stations-must-notify-utc-before-operating. Questions and more information, email aa8sh@aol.com

11/03/2024 | Mill Mountain Star

Nov 3, 1400Z-2000Z, W4CA, Roanoke, VA. Roanoke Valley Amateur Radio Club. 7.265 14.265. QSL. Roanoke Valley ARC, P.O. Box 2002, Roanoke, VA 24009. https://w4ca.com/special-events

My personal goal for the weekend (which looks to be busy with a lot of "stuff" to be done) is to get my radial field (somewhere between 50 -60 radials) hooked back up to the HF9V. The weather looks like it will be favorable.

If I get the chance, I'd like to try and activate the Washington-Rochambeau Trail again from nearby my house. I'll have to use the KX3, though, as I'll probably have to make use of 17 Meters. I'm sure the non-WARC bands will be buzzing with Sweepstakes activity.

Semi-related to POTA. I see on Facebook and hear on local repeaters about these guys who visit multiple parks in a day - on continued days. They make 100s of QSOs. How do they find the time to do this? Retired? Independently wealthy? I'm lucky when I can find an hour or two on an occasional weekend!

I think I need to retire.

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!