NNO 2025

Last night was National Night Out. This event is held by Police Departments throughout the country every first Tuesday evening in August. It was inaugurated for the purpose of fostering good relations between local Police Departments and their served communities. The people of South Plainfield in general have a very warm and cordial relationship with our officers. But a few freebies each year never hurt ...... right?

There were plenty of local businesses manning booths, giving away items, and promoting their wares. Our CERT members manned to OEM booth and we gave away small things for the kiddos, like vials of bubble soap, coloring books, mini Etch-A-Sketches and stuff like that. For the adults we had information on emergency preparedness and I brought lots of ARRL informational handouts about Amateur Radio.  I also purchased a pack of ARRL pens and they disappeared quicker than you could say "Jack Robertson"!. As an added bonus, the International Space Station made a pass at almost 90 degrees and Marv was able to play the audio from his HT.  People were astounded that they were listening to Hams orbiting the Earth,

Attendance was noticeably larger than the last time we did NNO two years ago. Last year NNO was postponed due to rain and then the make up date got rained out as well! The event was supposed to las from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, but according to Marv K2VHW the line for free burgers was still "a mile long" at 8:00 PM!

The photos aren't the best quality. If they look hazy that's because we've been inundated with smoke particulates in the air from the wildfires in Canada. As a result, the contrast is very poor.

One of our members Harry KC2PGX is also a Scout Master. He was looking for help last night as one of his Scouts is trying to earn his Merit Badge in Amateur Radio. There are two requirements - the Scout has to participate in a QSO lasting at least 10 minutes and the Scout needs to visit a licensed Ham's shack. I suggested to Harry that he should check into Marv's Middlesex County Chatgroup Net one evening along with his Scout.  Once the guys hear that they have a guest trying to earn a Merit Badge, 10 minutes worth of conversation would be the last of his worries. As far ad the Ham Shack visit goes - I offered to make my humble shack available - as long as they didn't mind "the mess that it is'!

All in all, it was a successful event. It didn't rain this year and National Night Out went off without a hitch to maybe a record setting crowd.

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least.

Personal Satisfaction

 This post is going to be about personal satisfaction, but in two different ways.

First off, last night after dinner, I went down to the shack, determined to get the new laptop talking to the KX3. I use the rig control feature on AC Log for one reason only and that's to allow the logging program to know what frequency I'm on, so that I don't have to manually enter it. Lazy? Yeah, I guess, but I like it!

I realized the other night, or remembered would be more accurate, that I needed to load the drivers for the KXUSB Cable in order for everything to work properly. It was easy enough to find them via a link on the Elecraft KX software and firmware page. I downloaded the drivers, but then ..........what next? Where do they go and how do they get there? I am definitely no computer genius.

I perused the page and discovered the installation utility all the way to the right of the page. I clicked on that, and installed the drivers. Success - kinda. I went to the KX3 utility which I had downloaded and installed on Sunday and hit the "Test" button and saw that rig was talking to computer via COM 4 at a rate of some 38 point something kilobytes a second - or whatever.

I opened AC Log and ............. nothing. The Rig Control utility was polling the KX3 but wasn't giving any answer. So now what? That's when I spied that you can choose the "communication speed". I hit the 38 point whatever button and the rig and logging program started singing a duet. Nice!

Here's the thing. When I run into computer problems, I generally take on the IQ of a small soap dish. I work in an IT Department and work with computers every day; but when it comes to drivers and where to put them, and configurations and opening up databases and stuff like that - well, you'd get better help from an Oreo.

BUT ........ I got it done! All by myself, without going to YouTube or Google or asking anyone for help and that's where the personal satisfaction comes in. But I'm not about to become smug about it. I will always remember that one time I was working at Sinar Bron and I came up with the solution to a problem our studio strobes had encountered. I was feeling pretty proud of myself that I had figured out an answer that even the factory engineers hadn't thought of. My Boss, who was Swiss, looked at me and said, "Larry, even the blind pig finds an acorn every now and then." Wow! Talk about bringing you down to Earth and keeping you grounded! But it was a lesson I'll never forget.

The second thing about personal satisfaction that's on my mind. Last night on the POTA Facebook page, someone was complaining that his QSO acknowledgement rate seems low to him and sometimes it takes a very long time for activators to load their logs so that he can get credit for his QSOs.

Why does everything in Ham radio have to be about competition, awards and all that kind of stuff? What happened to going to a park, getting out in the fresh air and sunshine and having fun making radio contacts? What happened to the personal satisfaction of breaking a pileup and getting a QSO; or the satisfaction of completing a successful activation? Why the need for awards and tallies so that you can declare yourself "King of the Hill"?

I've got my share of POTA certificates. I haven't downloaded or printed any of them to hang on the wall. Just knowing I can be heard, that my station is working and that I can make the contacts is plenty good enough for me! Same thing with activations. I don't need to make 137 Qs on an activation.  Don't get me wrong, that would be nice; but I get my 10 done and in the log and I'm a happy camper. I accomplished something and there's deep satisfaction in that - and that's good enough reward for me.

However, I guess it takes all kinds to make up this world that we live in. The trick is in not letting the annoying ones get to you - and most of the times, I fail miserably at that.

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Computer games

I spent the afternoon yesterday playing computer games, but not the kind you're probably thinking of. I recently purchased via eBay a refurbished Lenovo T490 at a really good price. This will replace my Lenovo T430, which has grown long in the tooth.  The T430 is pretty much incapable of efficiently running anything higher than the Windows 8 system that is on it, and it's slow and kludgy to boot.

The "new" laptop arrived on Thursday and when I unpacked it, I was unaware that I had bid on the T490S model, which comes with a touchscreen instead of the standard screen that my work computer has. Nice feature, but not really necessary as far as I'm concerned. It has 64 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD, so it's decked out pretty much the same as the laptop I use everyday.

The fun began when I powered it on, and before I could even start to personalize it, an hour went by getting Windows 11 updates. I spent the time working a few POTA stations including one being run by fellow QRPer, John N0EVH.

When all was said and done, I installed N3FJP's AC Log as well as the KX3 Utility program from Elecraft.  I hooked up the data cable to the new laptop to make sure that the radio was talking to AC Log as far as frequency goes. As expected, they two were not talking with each other. Tried various different settings, as well as different port settings. Nothing. Instead of getting frustrated, i decided to just walk away from the problem for a bit.

Later, that evening, after dinner and while I was waiting to check into the St. Max Net, it hit me. I have to download and install the FTDI drivers for the KXUSB cable! The cable is not going to function without those!

I also have to download and install the KXPA100 utility and I want to also install a copy of Libre Office. I already downloaded and installed Kompozer, the program/app that I use to author webpages for SPARC and the Skeeter Hunt (which is only two weeks away, by the way!)

Setting up a new laptop is all kind of a pain in the backside. Samsung has a neat utility on their phones, so when you buy a new one - all you have to do is turn both on and place them side by side. The utility will copy just about everything from your old phone to the new one, without much work and even less thinking about it.  It's not perfect, but it beats the band out of setting up a new phone the old conventional way.

The weekend of August 2nd and 3rd

 Good bye July, we hardly knew ye! It's August already? My, how time flies.

Yesterday's weather turned out not to be not as bad as predicted for my area. From what I understand, this time the Jersey shore and the boros of NYC bore the biggest brunt of flooding. I'll have to admit that it was disconcerting to be sitting at the computer here at work, taking care of business, only to hear my cell phone erupt with a siren and the words "Tornado Warning". Not a watch - a warning as the NWS radar saw a severe thunderstorm around home begin to show evidence of rotation. 

Marianne, who was working just a couple miles down the road in Plainfield said she never saw such frequent and crazy lightning before. I was here in Hunterdon County, two counties over, tuning into my Ring doorbell on my phone. The fact that it turned on meant the house was still standing and that we had power. The picture showed that the tree in our front yard was showing no evidence of severe wind, so that was somewhat of a relief. 

They actually permitted us to leave about an hour early, as the severe weather was supposed to last until somewhere between 6:00 and 8:00 PM. Traffic was heavy due to everyone travelling slowly, due to the weather, but this time I did not encounter any flooded roadways on the way home. 

It was spritzing on the way into work today, and it's supposed to be showery all day today. but starting tomorrow and lasting into next weekend, we're supposed to get pleasant weather with temperatures only in the 80s. A little bit cool for August. I'll take it.

Here's what you might hear on the CW portions of the HF bands this weekend:

Contests:

European HF Championship - https://euhf.s5cc.eu/euhfc_rules/

North American QSO Party, CW - https://www.ncjweb.com/NAQP-Rules.pdf

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

Special Events:

08/02/2025 | Alcatraz

Aug 2, 0130Z-0830Z, W6P, Vacaville, CA. Vacaville Amateur Radio Club (W6VVR). 7.200 MHz 14.250 MHz 28.500 MHz. QSL. Art Aronsen, 7319 June Bug Lane, Vacaville, CA 95688. There will be 3 stations on Alcatraz Island during times stated. All stations will be on SSB on battery. w6vvr.net

08/02/2025 | KDKA Shortwave Network Centennial

Aug 2, 1200Z-2000Z, KD3KA, Wexford, PA. Allegheny Valley Radio Association. 7.040 7.240 14.040 14.240. QSL. AVRA, P.O. Box 24, Wexford, PA 15090. AVRA & Skyview Radio Society will commemorate the centennial of Westinghouse station KFKX in Hastings, Nebraska. In 1925, following Frank Conrad 8XK's successful shortwave experimentation and the establishment of the Hill Station, KFKX was networked via shortwave with KDKA in Pittsburgh to achieve nationwide KDKA broadcasting. https://www.qrz.com/db/kd3ka

08/03/2025 | Jackson County Fair, Jackson Mi, Ham Radio demo

Aug 3-Aug 9, 1600Z-2200Z, W8J, Jackson, MI. Cascade Amateur Radio Society (CARS). 7.225 14.250. QSL. CARS - W8JXN, P.O. Box 512, Jackson, MI 49201-0512. w8jxn.org

This Sunday marks two weeks before the NJQRP Skeeter Hunt! You can still get a number to participate as a Skeeter - right up until the day before - but why wait? We are up t0 168 Skeeters signed up, representing some 46 different states and provinces.

https://www.qsl.net/w2lj

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Here we go again!

 

Of course, I live in the red zone. I hope it doesn't take me another 2 & 1/2 hours to get home tonight! The only good thing about this event is that the rain is supposed to occur from this afternoon, into tonight and overnight into tomorrow morning. It's when we get an exorbitant amount of rain in only an hour or two that things get really wacky. 

The good thing about this system is, that once through, it will pull along behind it some drier and cooler air. We've been in the 90s since Sunday and this has been one of the hottest summers that I can remember in a long time. We had a bunch like this when I was a kid, but I was better equipped to handle it then.  Even when I was in my 20s and 30s, I would think going out for a long bicycle ride in the 90s was "no big deal".

I'd probably keel over if I tried something like that now. Growing old is not for sissies!

The weekend outlook is looking very nice. Maybe on Sunday, I can pull out the QMX and my K6ARK EFRW and play a little radio from the patio table in the back yard, instead of confining myself to my basement shack. Admittedly, I still have not used my QMX enough for it to become second nature to me. Looks like Sunday might be a chance for a learning opportunity - maybe even at Washington Rock State Park for a POTA activation? Hmmmm?

I love the QMX for its size and portability - but menus drive me nuts! I need a lot more time behind the wheel before "comfort zone" and "second nature" happen. The downside of being a fossil ... being more comfortable with mechanical knobs, buttons and switches.

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Some final thoughts on FOBB for 2025

 Before I get into that, I have a confession to make.

As you all know, I love QRP. If I was told that the power setting on all my radios was permanently welded to 5 Watts for the rest of my life, I could live with that - quite happily. But I saw this on the K9YA Telegraph Facebook page last night and my brain immediately screamed "No, no, no ...... NO!"

I'm sorry, but unlike my RF, my coffee has to be QRO! No decaf for me unless it's late in the day after 3:00 PM, excepting Filed Day, of course - then all bets are off and caffeine is mandatory, no matter the time of day.  I'm usually a one-cup-in-the-morning kind of guy, and it has to be hi-test! My brain would be chocolate pudding if I didn't fire up my one cup coffee maker here at work. I've had this thing since the pandemic when the cafeteria here was shut down and have been using it ever since. The cafeteria brews Starbucks, which to me has always tasted burnt, so I brew my own.

Now, getting to FOBB. What a magnificent job that Jody K3JZD has done by it. Really ...... a PHENOMINAL job! There were 268 Hams who signed up for Bee numbers. The contest had potential representation by 53 S/P/C's. I can't even fathom that! I know not everyone who signed up was actually able to get on the air, for whatever reasons, but still - the level of enthusiasm and excitement that FOBB generates is awesome.  When Rich Fisher, KI6SN's health started to decline, FOBB could easily have rode off into the Amateur Radio sunset. But Jody grabbed the horse by the reins and has done a marvelous job promoting the event, and ensuring that the rest of us have a good time. And after all, that's what these Sprints are all about - having a good time and having fun.

Hats off to K3JZD and a very big "Thank You" for all your hard work! And I'm sure that Rich KI6SN is quite proud and grateful as well to see that his baby is still thriving.!

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Weather prognostication

Boy Howdy! I wish I could be wrong as often in my line of work and still be employed! All last week, all I was seeing from various outlets was that this past weekend was going to be a rainy one. Hazy, hot and humid with a chance for thundershowers on Saturday and most likely all day Sunday. They even gave Sunday a 70 - 80% probability.

Saturday turned out to be sunny and hot ....... all day long. Sunday ..... well, Sunday? The day started out sunny. When I went to my car in the morning to go to Church, I saw there was some moisture on the car and the road, so it must have rained some overnight. However, my weather station did not even record 1/100th of an inch, so whatever happened was really minor.

As the morning progressed, the skies did get grayer and more ominous. I decided that if I was going to set up portable, it would be backyard portable so I could bring all my Ham gear inside quickly. Then, as FOBB start time approached, the skies became even grayer and darker, so I decided at the last possible moment to participate as a home station.

Wouldn't you know it? At the halfway point at 3:00 PM EDT, I came upstairs to refill my water cup and take a "nature calls" break. When I passed our front window, it was sunny as all get out! As bad as it looked, we never got any rain all weekend, except for that tiny smattering during the overnight Saturday/Sunday!

Being on the air from home is better than not being on the air at all, so for that I am grateful. Band conditions were not the best. From the beginning, signals on 20 Meters were down in the mud and QSB was just terrible! A classic case of hearing someone and then they're gone before they even finish calling CQ! 40 Meters was as dead as a door nail, except for W2TEF, who had a good signal, and I think just stayed on 40 Meters the whole time.

Band conditions improved as the Sprint progressed. 40 Meters actually ended up being the better band for me with more QSOs that 20 Meters. I checked 15 Meters about 4 or 5 times and heard no one there. I think that would have been my best chance for QSOs with the Western part of the country.  I ended the day with 21 QSOs in the log, with 13 of them being Bumblebees. I think the farthest west I got was Missouri. i worked a couple Florida stations and desperately tried to work old friend Kelly K4UPG, who is also down in Florida. At one point, I thought I had caught his attention as he was calling CQ. He faded out both times I tried to work him, so I don't think he ever heard me. And that's the kind of day it was, There were others whom I would call and they would fade away before I could tell if they were coming back to me  or not.

But, so far, as per the 3830 Contest page, I'm currently in 5th place in the Home QRP category. I'm sure that I'll drop down as more entries come in, but 5th place for now is nice, and much better than I expected.

So I guess my experience was about average for the day.

All in all, it was a lot of fun and I enjoyed myself, which is what it's all about, anyway. I just hope the weather - both solar AND terrestrial are better for the NJQRP Skeeter Hunt on August 17th.

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

The weekend - July 26th and 27th

Contests:

MARAC US Counties QSO Party - http://www.marac.org/contests.htm

FRAPR 10M Contest - https://www.frapr.org/concursos/

RSGB IOTA Contest - https://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/rules/2025/riota.shtml

Alabama QSO Party - http://alabamacontestgroup.org/aqp/rules/

Flight of the Bumblebees - http://ars-qrp.com/FOBB/FOBB.html

Special Event Stations:

07/24/2025 | Central Kentucky Antique Farm Machinery Show

Jul 24-Jul 26, 0400Z-1000Z, K4HSN, Paris, KY. Harrison County Amateur Radio Club. 28.550 14.300 7.250. QSL. K4HSN c/o C.J. Clifford, 58 Ky Highway 3003, Cynthiana, KY 41031. Commemorative QSL available with SASE. www.qrz.com/db/k4hsn

07/26/2025 | Friends of Bodie Living History Day

Jul 26-Jul 27, 1500Z-0100Z, W6B, Bodie State Historic Park, CA. Bodie Foundation. 7.185 14.235 21.235 28.310. Certificate. John F Pinckney, 139 Belle Boyd Boulevard, Inwood, WV 25428. Frequencies are +/- QRM. POTA# K-3410 No souvenir cards. SWL reports must include call of station in QSO.

And now, for an appropos "Dad Joke" for this weekend:

Q) What kind of animal makes the best Ham Radio operator?

A) Bumblebees! They always bring their antennas with them!

Ba-Dum-Dis

I'll see myself out now.

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Don't bee sorry!

Before I post my usual "What's up this weekend?" post tomorrow that I try to make every Friday, I wanted to take a little time to make sure that you ............

Don't "bee" late, so you won't "bee" sorry!

This Sunday IS the annual Flight of the Bumble Bees!  YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS!

Jody K3JZD has done a fantastic and phenomenal job of promoting this mid-Summer Classic. There are currently 238 QRP'ers who have been assigned Bee numbers. How FANTASTIC is that!?! Can we possibly get up to 300 by game time? THAT would be grand!

I wish we could get this kind of participation for the QRP-ARCI events!

There's still time to sign up for a Bee number if you want one. But even if you prefer staying home and operating from your shack, and there's no reason on Earth to prevent you from doing that - you just jump into the fray without a Bee number. No harm, no foul - just a ton of fun.

Here's an idea and a suggestion........Hey POTA guys who have never tried your hand at QRP CW..... sign up for a Bee number! Talk about a target rich environment?!? You can literally have your activation done in minutes! You wouldn't even have to call "CQ POTA" if you didn't want to!

I am SO hoping that the weather at my neck of the woods is decent on Sunday. As of right now, it's not looking too promising. The hazy, hot and humid I can deal with - the possible lightning is another matter. BUT .......... if the weather prevents me from going portable, I'll just operate as a 5 Watt station from home. I'm not about to miss this for "all the tea in China" if at all possible!

For all the skinny that you need to know about FOBB, you'll find all at https://ars-qrp.com/FOBB/FOBB.html

Let's fill the air with so many signals that Hams not aware of the QRP world will tune into the bands on Sunday only to hear what sounds like a swarm of buzzing bees!

72 de Larry W2LJ - FOBB # 25

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Failed experiment

So I got a few answers to some questions last night.

1) HAMRS will not install on my laptop. I tried both the 32 bit and 64 bit Windows downloads. I currently have Windows 10. I got a message saying that some kind of file was necessary to complete the installation, that apparently my laptop does not have. Unfortunatrly, the error message did not specify what the needed file was.

2) I did successfully install HAMRS on my tablet, but it would not accept an ADIF file that I generated from AC Log. Just to be sure the file was OK, I imported that very same ADIF file into VLS Logger and it imported with nary a whimper.

So I will continue using my tablet and VLS Logger and will periodically export an ADIF file to AC Log on my laptop for posterity and safe storage (of which a copy of that AC Log  ADIF file gets put on a USB thumb drive for extra protection). It's just so much more convenient to bring the tablet on portable ops (or vacation, for that matter) instead of my laptop. Another factor is that a battery charge on my tablet lasts much, much longer than the battery on my ancient, wheezing laptop.

I received a disturbing e-mail today. I'm sure it's a scam, but what they are offering to sell me was disturbing. Of course, I have deleted the e-mail, but I snapped a screenshot of it before doing so.

I guess I'm naive in being disturbed that a list of email addresses from the ARRL would be available for sale. But after that ransomware incident they went through, I guess I'm stupid enough to think they wouldn't offer that for sale. Obviously these people have already bought an e-mail list that I am on in order to even send me an offer like this.

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

If wishes were nickles

I'd be a millionaire. But before I get into the reason behind my statement, here's a neat phot of "home"., courtesy of the ISS. "Home" is in the upper right corner of the photo, right about where I put that yellow circle.

Back to my wish.

I use N3FJP's AC Log to account for my Amateur Radio QSOs. I was using Log4OM, which I love, but it has become clunky on my ancient Lenovo T430. One of these days, when I get something with more memory and a faster processor, I may switch back, but for now it's AC Log, exclusively on Windows.

My wish is that Scott N3FJP had a comparable and compatible version for Android, as I usually end up using my tablet instead of my laptop. It's much easier to carry the tablet than a laptop, and it would be nice to be able to have the same program on all my devices and have all the QSOs synced between them..

I currently use VLS Logger on my phone and tablet. It's intuitive and easy to use, but it also does not offer a version for the Windows platform. 

If I'm not mistaken, HAMRS may be the only logging software out there that is available for both Windows and Android.  I may have to play around with it to see if I like it. I'm not terribly good with change. The other problem is that I invested $$ to purchase a license for the entire N3FJP AC Log suite. I'd hate to not use it now.

I know, a minor first world problem, but most Amateur Radio problems are.

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Never heard K2CAN

The Special Event Station that the LIMARC Club was holding to honor Apollo 11's landing on the Moon. I probably would have never heard them, anyway, as they were operating on 40, 20, and 15 Meters - all of which are probably unsuitable for an HF contact between Central NJ and Long Island. However, they never triggered HamAlert, which tells me they might not have been spotted anywhere.

This is a scan of a certificate I received for working WA4NZD from the Marshall Spaceflight Center ARC during the 25th Anniversary of the Moon landing, back in 1994. It proudly hangs framed on the shack wall.

Then Bob, W3BBO sent me photos of a couple Apollo certificates that he earned:

^This first one also commemorated the Anniversary of Apollo 11. While this second one commemorated the last Apollo mission - Apollo 17.

I should have checked the NASA On The Air website to see if nay of the NASA affiliated Amateur radio Clubs would be on the air this past weekend. Again, the idea came to me the day after. Typical!

While listening for a possible appearance by K2CAN, I also scanned the bands for POTA stations. I worked one on 20 Meters, and that was it. A bunch were listed on the POTA app, but I couldn't hear or could only barely hear any of them. So I spent some time reconfiguring my Jackite stand/holder.

Originally, all the PVC pipe lengths were 12" (30 cm) long. I shortened the ones in the cross piece to 3" (8 cm) long. In addition, I cemented all the pieces of the cross section together. This will prevent the Jackite from falling over to either side. 

I shortened the leg sections from 12" to 6" (15 cm) long.  This takes up a lot less real estate and is easier to pack in a bag for portability. The leg sections are still press fitted together. I didn't want to permanently cement the entire thing as it would make it much bulkier and harder to store or transport.

Later in the evening, after checking in to the St. max Net, I scanned 40 Meters for some POTA stations and was able to pit three in the logbook. Which brings another topic to mind, which I will save for tomorrow - after I do a little more research.

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Weekend of July 19th and 20th

First off, this Sunday - July 20th marks the 56th Anniversary of Apollo 11 landing on the Moon.

I was all of 12 years old and was glued to the TV from launch to splashdown. That was such a time to be alive to see history being made! Looking back on it now, I marvel that we were able to accomplish that given the technology of the time. I also wish that back then, we had the high-def cameras and TVs that we have now. If you watch video of missions to the ISS, it's amazing the picture quality we get now. Almost like being there!

As an aside, I still have all the local newspapers from that day, carefully tucked away, carefully preserved. Also, I wish I was licensed back then! I have no idea what kind of special events may have been taking place at that point in history. Were there any?  Were any of you reading this licensed back then? If you were, please share your memories in the comments, I'd love to hear them!

So here's what's going on the bands this weekend.

Contests that you may hear in the CW portions of the bands.

LABRE DX Contest - https://www.labre.org.br/contest/en/regulamento/

Russian Radio Team Championship - http://srr.ru/chempionat-rossii-po-radiosvyazi-na-kv-rrtc/

YOTA Contest - https://yotacontest.mrasz.org/

RSGB International Low Power Contest - https://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/rules/2025/rqrp.shtml

Run for the Bacon QRP Contest - http://qrpcontest.com/pigrun/

Tuesday evening - SKCC Sprint - https://www.skccgroup.com/operating_activities/weekday_sprint/

Special Events:

07/18/2025 | Viet Nam Veterans Memorial Wall Replica

Jul 18-Jul 20, 1400Z-2200Z, W4L, Antioch, IL. Wisconsin and Illinois Radio Enthusiasts (WI9RE). 7.250 14.250. QSL. QSL will be sent via FCC ULS, or, WIRE , c/o 25395 W. Richmond Ave., Antioch, IL 60002. July 18 and 19, 1400Z-2200Z daily, and July 20 1800Z-2200Z.

07/19/2025 | 36 th anniversary of SATERN (Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network)

Jul 19-Jul 20, 1500Z-1500Z, KD9NJR, Hoffman Estates, IL. Salvation Army SATERN . 3.820 7.265. Certificate & QSL. Salvation Army Central Territory Headquaters. SATERN TEAM Don Dewar, 5550 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates, IL 60192.

07/19/2025 | Bicentennial Hinckley Township, Ohio

Jul 19-Jul 20, 1300Z-0100Z, W8H, Hinckley, OH. Noarth Coast Amateur Radio Club. 7.185 MHz +/- 10 KHz 14240 MHz +/- 10 KHz 18.150 MHz +/- 10KHz 28.390 MHz +/- 10 KHz. Certificate. Downloadable certificate, available; see website, for details, OH 44233. Certificate download available via instructions to be posted on www.n8nc.org web page (Under EVENTS drop-down) 30 days after event dates. QUESTIONS: via email (ncarc@n8nc.org) www.n8nc.org

07/20/2025 | Apollo 11 Celebrated

Jul 20, 1330Z-1900Z, K2CAN, Garden City, NY. Long Island Mobile Amateur Radio Club. 14.240 7240 15.350. QSL. LIMARC, For digital QSL, send information to: k2knb@limarc.org, or QSL with SASE to: P.O. Box 392, Levittown, NY 11756. https://www.qrz.com/db/K2CAM

07/21/2025 | Orleans County 4-H Fair

Jul 21-Jul 27, 0000Z-0300Z, W4H, Albion, NY. Orleans County Amateur radio Club. 7.210. QSL. Terry Cook, 14069 W County House Road, Albion, NY 14411. ocarc.us

The weather in NJ is supposed to be on the crummy side this weekend. I would love to spend Sunday afternoon out back on the patio table with my QMX and maybe the AX1 or K6ARK EFRW just working stations, but it looks like there may be too many thunderstorms happening. I sure hope this weather pattern changes in time for FOBB next Sunday!

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Rick N8TGQ's advice

 Heeded!

Rick mentioned in the comments section in one of my latest posts that he never goes portable without his trusty EFHW. I am going to take to heart his sage advice, and from now on will always pack my K6ARK EFRW for 40 through 10 Meters.  It's small, light and with one of my 25 foot sections of RG-8X, is not all that much more to carry.

I used something similar (PAR ENDFEDZ 40/20/10) last year at the Lake with my Shakespeare 20 foot Crappie Pole bungeed to a fence post, serving as a mast. It worked well; and I just should have gone with "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." But sometimes I'm like a moth attracted to a flame, getting entranced with "lighter and smaller".

In fact, the K6ARK EFRW is what I am planning on using for Flight of the Bumblebees which is coming up a week from this coming Sunday. The only thing I haven't decided is exactly which park I am going to operate from. If I elect to go to Cotton Street Park in town, it's a real short trip home should the weather get nasty all of a sudden. If I go to Washington Rock State Park, FOBB could double as a POTA activation.

The weather here at the W2LJ QTH has been like the Summers I remember from when I was a kid. Nastily hazy, hot and humid with pop up thunderstorms just about every afternoon. If that weather pattern continuers for the next couple of weeks, I may just decide to stick closest to home.

Speaking of other sage advice, I recently read Jeff KE9V's blog post about his "Purge". He's culling down the amount of organizations that he has to pay membership dues to now that he's retired. With my own retirement looming next year, I should probably think about doing the same. I'm already a Life Member of the ARRL and CW Ops. 

The only orgs I continue to pay dues to are QRP ARCI and the QCWA. I'll probably bite the bullet and continue to pay those, though.  Technically, there are no dues for QRP ARCI. Once you join, you are already a life member. The $25 yearly fee is for "QRP Quarterly" which I will continue to subscribe to - for now. QRP ARCI # 4488 is mine whether I subscribe to the magazine, or not.

Will I continue to keep my subscription going for SPRAT?  That may require the flip of a coin.

Life Membership in the QCWA is $500. I should have considered that when I became eligible to join in 2004. There is no way I'm coughing that up now. Dues are also $25 a year and to make Life Membership make sense at this point, I'd have to live for another 20 more years. Will I make it to 88? God willing, I will, but that's not a gamble I'm going to wager on at this point. Not pleasant to think about - but it is what it is,

In addition, I don't plan on making any MAJOR new equipment purchases any time soon. I am quite content with  my KX3 and KXPA100 in the shack, and my KX3 or QMX for portable operations. I don't need a radio with a waterfall or spectrum display. I'm good with what I have; and I don't need or desire the latest and greatest radio with bells and whistles that I probably wouldn't use anyway.  Truth be told is that if all I had at my disposal was an old Heathkit HW-101, I'd probably be happy with that! i guess I'm not a major supporter to the Amateur Radio community economy.

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Another fun night in South Plainfield

It took me 2 & 1/2 hours to get home from work last night - normally, my commute is 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic. 5.6 inches recorded at my house, other parts of town got over 7 inches - all in about 2-3 hours. At times, my weather station was indicating that rain was falling at a rate well above 3 inches an hour. While sitting still in traffic, I was paying attention to the weather radar on my phone. The storm cell with the most energy just did not want to move from South Plainfield - it was like it was stuck!

Multiple roads were flooded and impassable, but of course that didn't stop people from trying, anyway. The result was abandoned cars added to the mix.  And more than just a few idiots driving around in the POURING rain with almost zero visibility WITHOUT THEIR HEADLIGHTS ON! How stupid can you be?!?

I was the last one to make it home, but we all got home, safe and sound. Thank you, Lord!

By the way, here's a photo I found on Facebook of Spring Lake Park - where SPARC does Field Day

The lake superseded its shoreline and came up all the way to the roadway, flooding and closing Lakeview Avenue. I think as of this morning, the waters had receded enough to permit car travel again.

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Plans didn't go well ......and other tidbits.

We're back from the Lake.

I did not get any HF in and that was a major disappointment for me. As mentioned in my last post, I was going to participate in the ARS Spartan Sprint last Monday evening. I set everything up at one of the picnic tables, but was just not being heard. There were several loud 13 Colonies stations still on the air during their final hour calling CQ. I tried calling them and just another CQ for my efforts. I figured if a 20 over 9 station wasn't hearing me, there'd be no sense trying to get other QRP'ers to hear me. I wasn't in the mood for more frustration.

I was lazy, I'll admit it. I did not pack a wire and only the AX1. While the AX1 absolutely sang for me up at Alexandria Bay last October (including a QSO from NY to Alaska!), at Lake George it was mute. My guess is that being surrounded by mountains had something to do with it. As the real estate people say, "Location, location, location!"

I did hear a Bulgarian station on a second attempt a day later. I got a 229 in response and he never got my call sign, so that was a busted QSO. Note to self - next year bring the 40 - 10 Meter EFRW and my Shakespeare Crappie Pole. That worked pretty well for me in 2024. The other times I set up during the week, I felt raindrops starting to fall soon afterward, so I packed back up pretty quickly. It was hazy, hot and humid up there with rain and thunder showers for at least part of every day. We even lost power twice! But I did get a nice photo one morning at first light:

What was a bit strange was how hazy it was all week long. Usually, we're able to look across the lake and see the mountains through the clean, crisp air. This year, smoke from the wildfires up in Canada obscured the view. In fact, we never saw the full moon last week and I was hoping to get a nice picture of that reflecting off the water.

Yesterday was the QRP ARCI Summer Homebrew Sprint. In a couple of hours, I made a grand total of two QSOs. Ugh! I tried my best to send out reminders on two different occasions to the various QRP group email reflectors and social media. Participation was not "deluxe".

Oh, and the complaint emails! One Ham sent me an email asking me if kits were considered to be homebrew - there was no information about that in the notice. I copied and pasted into my response directly from the info page:

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 built it, it is homebrew (kits too!)

I was told that was embedded too deeply in the information and was not obvious enough. Sheesh!

Then, in the very next email, I got a complaint about kits being included as homebrew. I was told that this was like comparing a picture painted from scratch to a page out of a coloring book. This Ham thought it would be better to have fewer contacts made rather than include kit built radios as homebrew.

My response to him was that we had 8 entries in 2023 and 3 in 2024. How many few is too few? I also told him that if he had any ideas on how to increase participation, I was all ears and was willing to listen.

I never got a response and as of last night, when I looked at the auto-logger, he didn't participate, anyway. I guess some people just like to complain.

In any event, I guess my advertising efforts were semi-fruitful. So far we have 10 more entries than last year. The next QRP ARCI event is the Fall QSO Party on the second Saturday of October. I hope I can drum up more participation. It's a crying shame that an organization with literally thousands of members only gets a handful participating in these events.

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

It's a plan.

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!

A do not much of anything day

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!

This never gets old!

 

72 de Larry W2LJ 

QRP -  When you care to send the very least!

Independence Day 2025

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 

Long Holiday Weekend - July 4th, 5th and 6th

 

I'm a day early (for a change) - but Happy Independence Day - the 249th Birthday of the United States of America!

A lot doing on the airwaves:

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

I finally hooked up my lithium battery to the smart charger last night. After a Field Day effort, in which it was used for the entire event, with the KX3's display backlight on (I normally keep it off for portable ops) it still had 50% capacity left! And we were not shy about making transmissions - in fact I tried calling "CQ FD" several times when the bands were on the quiet side.

My 12V SLA, which Bill W2AOF had hooked up to his KX3, was in turn connected to a solar panel that he had brought. It was kept topped off and was at 98% capacity when I hooked it up to the smart charger to check its condition.

Great battery performance!

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Homebrewers and kitbuilders, this one's for you!

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!

2025 QRP-ARCI SUMMER HOMEBREW SPRINT

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!

Yet ANOTHER day late and a dollar short!

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!

I hope your day was relaxing and rewarding. We have THE best neighbors to the North! May the Maple Leaf continue to fly proudly and bravely forever!

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

On The Road Again!

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!

Field Day After Action

 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:

The other major development was that our generator that provides electricity for our computer logging network the crapped out early Sunday morning. We thought it had run out of gas, but it didn't - it just stopped working. We were provided a work around solution to the problem when Dave KD2FSI graciously fired up his Ford Bronco and allowed us to hook up an inverter to his battery. I'm not sure what the exact problem with the generator is; and what we're going to do about it. We will take this up at our next meeting on July 17th.

One thing that would have been nice to have? One of those chiller/mister fans. That would have been great! I'm seriously thinking of getting one of these and donating it to the club.

I made the executive decision to put the brakes on at 1:00 PM instead of 2:00 PM. The tent company came around 2:30 PM to retrieve the tent. I passed by the park at around 7:00 PM yesterday and you would have never known that we spent the weekend there.

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Final preps for Field Day

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:

But, believe it or not, someone helped themselves to one end and I found that end of the wire touching the ground. I highly doubt that anyone will want a piece of PVC pipe painted neon orange. But I guess you never know!

I still have to figure out a carrying bag option for my Jackite stand. I have all day tomorrow as I'm taking the day off from work. Not because of Field Day, but I need new brakes on the Jeep before our yearly sojourn to Lake George, which is coming up soon. I'll be dropping my car off at my mechanic's place tonight and hopefully it will be done by tomorrow evening. Marianne suggested I take an Uber to work and back and I told her that would probably cost more than what I would earn for the day if I were there!

I'll borrow my daughter Cara's car to get the grocery shopping done; and if I can't find anything suitable in the house to use for carrying the stand, a quick trip to Dick's Sporting Goods for a sleeping bag storage bag should do the trick.

Other than that, i just need to bring everything together so I can load it into the Jeep on Saturday morning.

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Evolution

 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!

Sizzling.

 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".

The morning actually started out cool and we had most of our windows open for fresh air. Around 11:30 AM or so, a thunderstorm rolled through and all I can say is "Wow!". I had dozed off on the couch in the rec room and even then, I saw a flash with my eyes closed. The resulting thunderclap seemed to last for minutes and the house shook and vibrated. If there was no storm, I would have sworn we had experienced an earthquake, that's how much the house vibrated.

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.

From my weather station.

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Weekend of June 21st and 22nd

This weekend is the weekend of the W2QW Raritan Valley Radio Club Hamfest in Piscataway, NJ. Stop by if you're in the area!

Unfortunately, we have had only two people sign up for the VE Session. I guess that's better than nothing; but I think my VEs are going to outnumber the candidates by a factor of two or three!

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