2012
Showing posts with label WGØAT. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WGØAT. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 18, 2018
Some Skeeter Hunt videos
Amazing what you can find on You Tube!
2012
2014
2015
2016
My thanks to the videographers and my apologies for the shameless self promotion of the Skeeter Hunt!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
2012
Tuesday, October 04, 2016
The KISS principle - always a winner.
WARNING! The following post contains OPINION. It is not meant to slight anyone, or to infer that the author knows better than anyone else. The Good Lord knows, THAT'S not true. LOL!
I was wafting through Facebook, and I saw a post on the ARRL NPOTA page about a "busted" activation that only yielded 5 QSOs - a minimum of 10 is needed for a valid activation. Mind you, not 10 QSLs - 10 QSOs.
I looked at the pictures he posted and everything looked pretty good. I am thinking that it was just a case of lousy band conditions. He definitely deserved an "A" for effort. BUT, (there's ALWAYS a "but", isn't there?) his setup, while looking marvelous, appeared a bit too elaborate for my taste.
And that, I think, is where a lot of NPOTA activators and I part company. I've seen many photos of setups that approach Field Day scenarios. Like ....... did anyone notice the cover of the latest DX Engineering catalog? There was an NPOTA setup there that looked better than our SPARC Field Day.
It seems many NPOTA activators are there for marathon sessions - hours upon hours, handing out hundreds of QSOs. That's good for all the chasers and I applaud them; but I like the simpler approach.
The KISS principle, or "Keep It Simple, Stupid" has worked well for many portable ops, such as SOTA, the QRP Sprints, etc. Break out the rig, hook up a battery, throw a wire up in a tree (or to a portable mast where using trees is a no-no), or perhaps a doublet, or a vertical or magloop and go to town. The emphasis being on the word "portable".
It seems to have worked very well for the SOTAteers (Steve WG0AT comes to mind) all these years, and for NPOTA activators such as Joe N2CX and Eric WD8RIF, Ed WA3WSJ and "yours truly" among others. And if dropping those names wasn't enough, if you follow the adventures of the "Premier" portable op, Jim W1PID, then you know the words I speak are true.
Keep It Simple = less to forget, less to break, less to not work, less to lose, more time to actually operate (who wants to spend all their valuable time setting up and tearing down an elaborate setup?) and hopefully, more success!
Simple doesn't handicap the superb ops - for a reminder, here's a re-post of KX9X's Pigeon Key video:
I was wafting through Facebook, and I saw a post on the ARRL NPOTA page about a "busted" activation that only yielded 5 QSOs - a minimum of 10 is needed for a valid activation. Mind you, not 10 QSLs - 10 QSOs.
I looked at the pictures he posted and everything looked pretty good. I am thinking that it was just a case of lousy band conditions. He definitely deserved an "A" for effort. BUT, (there's ALWAYS a "but", isn't there?) his setup, while looking marvelous, appeared a bit too elaborate for my taste.
And that, I think, is where a lot of NPOTA activators and I part company. I've seen many photos of setups that approach Field Day scenarios. Like ....... did anyone notice the cover of the latest DX Engineering catalog? There was an NPOTA setup there that looked better than our SPARC Field Day.
It seems many NPOTA activators are there for marathon sessions - hours upon hours, handing out hundreds of QSOs. That's good for all the chasers and I applaud them; but I like the simpler approach.
The KISS principle, or "Keep It Simple, Stupid" has worked well for many portable ops, such as SOTA, the QRP Sprints, etc. Break out the rig, hook up a battery, throw a wire up in a tree (or to a portable mast where using trees is a no-no), or perhaps a doublet, or a vertical or magloop and go to town. The emphasis being on the word "portable".
It seems to have worked very well for the SOTAteers (Steve WG0AT comes to mind) all these years, and for NPOTA activators such as Joe N2CX and Eric WD8RIF, Ed WA3WSJ and "yours truly" among others. And if dropping those names wasn't enough, if you follow the adventures of the "Premier" portable op, Jim W1PID, then you know the words I speak are true.
Keep It Simple = less to forget, less to break, less to not work, less to lose, more time to actually operate (who wants to spend all their valuable time setting up and tearing down an elaborate setup?) and hopefully, more success!
Simple doesn't handicap the superb ops - for a reminder, here's a re-post of KX9X's Pigeon Key video:
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Tuesday, May 05, 2015
So how did I do?
As mentioned in my last post, last night I gave my "QRP - You and the Great Outdoors" presentation to the Tri-County Amateur Radio Club at their meeting in Union, NJ. This is a very active club that not only owns and operates the W2LI repeater, but it also very active in Amateur Radio on an all-around basis. I saw and spoke with different members about their interests and they seemed wide and varied. Emergency traffic handling, NTS traffic handling, building, VHF/UHF, HF, QRP, the digital modes, antennas and DX were just some of the topics I heard being bandied about the room.
In all, TCARC seems to be a vibrant club, which is a very good thing. We need more clubs like this.
After the formal meeting opening and introductions, the regular meeting was suspended and I was asked to give my talk. I think it went very well. The members of Tri-County were warm, friendly and receptive, so I was very much at ease. Of course it helps that I know a few of them from serving with them at VE sessions. But even the members I didn't know proved to be a most gracious audience.
The presentation itself lasted somewhat over an hour, I think. I wasn't really keeping close track of the time, but that's an estimation on my part. Throughout that time, I tried to keep everything light and fun, and I hope I was successful in imparting upon them the fun I have with QRP, particularly portable ops outdoors. I didn't see anyone stifling a yawn, or any "deer in the headlight" looks and my few lame attempts at humor elicited a couple chuckles, so I think I did an OK job. And there were several instances, particularly during the slide that contains Sean KX9X's YouTube video about the US Islands on the Air program, that got a few "Wow"s uttered. I think there was some genuine surprise at what QRP can accomplish.
I have added the Powerpoint to my Public Dropbox folder, so you can download it and view it, if you wish. It's a 23 MB file, so it's kind of on the big side. If anyone desires to use it as a club presentation (even though it's kind of tailored towards the NJ outdoor experience), feel free to edit it as you wish - just make sure to give good ol' W2LJ some credit for authoring it (or co-authoring if you REALLY modify it).
The URL is: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/20875533/QRP%20Outdoors.ppt
Lunchtime was successful today as well, it was like icing on the cake. I worked three stations - EG8TRV (again), A0150E in Spain and Serge RU1AF who had a splendid signal into NJ - like he was down the street!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
In all, TCARC seems to be a vibrant club, which is a very good thing. We need more clubs like this.
After the formal meeting opening and introductions, the regular meeting was suspended and I was asked to give my talk. I think it went very well. The members of Tri-County were warm, friendly and receptive, so I was very much at ease. Of course it helps that I know a few of them from serving with them at VE sessions. But even the members I didn't know proved to be a most gracious audience.
The presentation itself lasted somewhat over an hour, I think. I wasn't really keeping close track of the time, but that's an estimation on my part. Throughout that time, I tried to keep everything light and fun, and I hope I was successful in imparting upon them the fun I have with QRP, particularly portable ops outdoors. I didn't see anyone stifling a yawn, or any "deer in the headlight" looks and my few lame attempts at humor elicited a couple chuckles, so I think I did an OK job. And there were several instances, particularly during the slide that contains Sean KX9X's YouTube video about the US Islands on the Air program, that got a few "Wow"s uttered. I think there was some genuine surprise at what QRP can accomplish.
I have added the Powerpoint to my Public Dropbox folder, so you can download it and view it, if you wish. It's a 23 MB file, so it's kind of on the big side. If anyone desires to use it as a club presentation (even though it's kind of tailored towards the NJ outdoor experience), feel free to edit it as you wish - just make sure to give good ol' W2LJ some credit for authoring it (or co-authoring if you REALLY modify it).
The URL is: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/20875533/QRP%20Outdoors.ppt
Lunchtime was successful today as well, it was like icing on the cake. I worked three stations - EG8TRV (again), A0150E in Spain and Serge RU1AF who had a splendid signal into NJ - like he was down the street!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Friday, February 20, 2015
Steve WG0AT test Drives the new LNR QRP rig
Certainly sounds nice and looks good, doesn't it?
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Friday, February 13, 2015
Speaking of FYBO,
here's a video of Steve WG0AT and Frank K0JQZ's operation in balmy Colorado last weekend. Frank mentions this is Steve's back yard - VERY NICE back yard!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Thursday, February 05, 2015
I gotta make me something like this!
Another fantastic idea from Steve WG0AT:
Wish I had something like this for FYBO this weekend! Anybody know where I can lay my mitts on some of those clips that Steve uses as touch points? I believe they're also used on the TE-NE-KEY?
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
WGØAT and FOBB
Steve WGØAT posted this to the KX3 reflector this afternoon - as usual, Steve's videos are super cool!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
The fires are over and WGØAT is back!
And from the looks of this video, Mt. Herman in Colorado is as beautiful as ever!
Another great video by Steve. And what's really cool is that I recognize or know the folks behind a lot of the callsigns that Steve worked in this video.
Hope to hear and work you during FOBB this Sunday, Steve!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
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