All Hallows Eve

Happy Hallowe'en!

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

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

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

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

Mark Rosenwald N2EBA

Charlie LaTerra N2LHD

Bill Koeth W2WK

Drew Moore W2OU

Julius Kardos W2VO

George Miller K2FD

Rich Alderiso AA2KS

Chuck Phillips WB2MSV

Norm Bendell KS2SBB

Bob Conroy KB2VMG

John Anesh AA2AV

Ken Louks WA8REI

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

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Fun, but not enough

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

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

THAT is always fun!

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

72 de Larry (Vlad) W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Zombie Shuffle THIS Friday!

 The Zombie Shuffle always takes place on the Friday before Hallowe'en. Next Friday IS Hallowe'en, so the Shuffle is happening this Friday!

The Zombie Shuffle has become one of the most highly anticipated QRP events of the year. I daresay, right on par with the Flight of the Bumblebees. It's a strictly fun, low pressure, easy going event that is always a ton of fun.

All the details can be found at: https://www.zianet.com/qrp/ZOMBIE/pg.html

There's a new rule in place since I last participated in a Shuffle - it's called the "Rebirth Rule". You can work the same station twice on the same band, but it has to be at least tow hours after your first contact.

My ETS of NJ Meeting falls on Hallowe'en this year, so I am looking forward to joining in on the fun this year. It runs from 3:00 PM to 12:00 Midnight Local Time.

Hope to catch you shuffling on the bands Friday Fright!

72 de Vlad - Zombie # 858

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

W2LJ was a No Show

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

The weekend of October 11th and 12th

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

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

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

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

Contests:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And for those who like to hunt Special Event Stations:

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

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

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

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

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

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

10/11/2025 | Collins Radio 92nd Anniversary

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

10/11/2025 | Ike Eisenhower's Birthday

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

10/11/2025 | US Navy Birthday

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

Have a great weekend!

72 de Larry W2LJL

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

QRP ARCI Fall QSO Party this weekend.

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

Image courtesy of Gemini

Here's "the particulars".

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

Mode:  HF CW only.

Exchange: 

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

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

QSO Points:

Member = 5 points

Non-Member, Different Continent = 4 points

Non-Member, Same Continent = 2 points

Multiplier:

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

Power Multiplier:

>5 Watts = x1

>1 - 5 Watts = x7

>250 mW - 1 Watt = x10

>55 mW - 250 mW = x15

55 mW or less = x20

Suggested Frequencies:

160m1810 kHz

80m3560 kHz

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

20m14060 kHz

15m 21060 kHz

10m28060 kHz

Score:

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

BONUS POINTS: None available for this contest.

Categories:

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

How to Participate:

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

Log Submission:

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

Deadline for posting logs will be Nov 1 

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

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP -When you care to send the very least