Field Day 2012 for W2LJ was not to be, so far.
I went down and helped my sister clean out my Mom's apartment as scheduled. That was planned and was no big deal - in fact, I enjoyed spending some "alone time" with my big sister. As we both have our own families now, that just doesn't happen often enough.
The plan to go down to the Sarnoff Radio Club Field Day site got "kiboshed", however. Actually, my sister drove me past the site at around 11:00 AM as we were driving to Princeton to donate some paperback books. I didn't see anyone setting up at that point and had planned to stop by later, on my way home.
Of course, shortly thereafter, while packing items in the apartment, my cell phone went off - work. They were looking for a Cisco 9513 switch and line cards for an emergency switch replacement and "could I stick around close, on standby" just in case they needed me to come in and help them locate components?
So after our cleaning session ended, I hurried home just to be available, if needed. Luckily, I wasn't needed; but it did put a damper on my plans.
But in the evening, during my weekly Echolink session with my good friend Bob W3BBO, he mentioned his visits to some Field Day sites today and that he might visit a few more tomorrow. Then it hit me! Tomorrow! Maybe tomorrow, when I am back down there, I can hit the Sarnoff site for a half hour or so. And that is assuming they're still set up. I know Field Day runs until 2:00 PM; but I know some clubs like to call it quits early.
So for a bit, I lived Field Day vicariously through Matt W1MST's AmateurRadio.com, where he's running some UStream of a couple of Field Day sites. I was watching KC2RA for a couple of minutes when one of the guys mentioned setting up his tent so that he could sleep tonight.
Sleep on Field Day? What is that, he asked, smiling knowingly?
When I was an officer with the Piscataway club (and was still single, BTW), I did my best to be there for set up, the whole event, and a good part of tear down. I remember quite a few years where sleep on Field Day was nothing more than a few minutes of cat napping in Rich W2PQ's pop up camber or Bill W2WK's trailer. C'mon, man! We're there to operate, not sleep! Who can hit the sack when there's CW contacts to be made on 80 and 40!
Of course, the end result was being rather bleary eyed and dysfunctional for work come Monday morning. The other side effect was hearing Morse Code in your head for about 3 - 5 days later until that faded away. But those were fun days and I wouldn't trade those experiences for all the tea in China! (Ooops! Am I still allowed to say that; or is that something the PC police are going to shut me down for?)
Hope you all are having a wonderful Field Day!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Friday, June 22, 2012
The Heat is Gone
The past few days, "The Heat Is On" by Glenn Frey from the movie "Beverly Hills Cop" had been constantly running through my head. It's been a scorcher and was best described by my friend Kevin, who looked at me Wednesday night and just said one word - "Oppressive".
Now, truth be told .... I love the Summer. Just love, love, love it! The heat and humidity normally don't bother me too much, but (pardon the pun) there was no "warm up" to this. One day - beautiful Spring weather. Next day - WHAM! - the height of Summer. While we had the benefit of an accurate forecast, no one was ready for this, there was no ramp up of heat.
But today, the "Heat is Gone". Actually, it was still pretty bad all day; but at around 5:30 PM, while it was still around 90F(32C), dark thunderheads appeared in the western sky. By 6:00 PM it was lightning, thundering and pouring buckets of rain - and ..... it was also 72F (22C). A drop of almost 20 Farenheit degrees. The balance of the forecast for the weekend looks good - sunny each day and highs in the mid 80s (29C). That should mean excellent conditions for Field Day.
Tomorrow (and possibly Sunday) I have to continue to help my sister with emptying my Mom's apartment. However, she just texted me that the David Sarnoff Radio Club will be having their Field Day just down the street (literally) from my Mom's place. The NJQRPers sometimes join in on Field Day with the Sarnoff group, so maybe on the way home, I can stop off for a few minutes and mosey a bit.
Another good friend, Rem K6BBQ posted another of his entertaining and informative portable ops videos. The one shows his efforts during the 7th Call District QSO Party back on May 5th.
Since it was May 5th, Rem was also sure to celebrate Cinco de Mayo by partaking of a burrito for lunch. It sure looked good and I'll bet it tasted as good as it looked. Rem is not only a superb QRP op, (and a superb PORTABLE QRP op) but is also a Ham in the finest tradition of the hobby, making sure that good food is also included as an important part of all these events.
Hope all of you have fun this weekend with Field Day. You know, even if you're not affiliated with a club, as long as you have time and no conflicting commitments, there's always the backyard picnic table or patio table, or local park or whatever. AND ..... even if you're not into contesting (and we all know that FD is NOT a contest - Hi!) - Field Day is a good opportunity to try out that new portable antenna you just built. Or that new radio you just built, or that new antenna tuner you just built and need to try. You get my drift - practical field environment!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Now, truth be told .... I love the Summer. Just love, love, love it! The heat and humidity normally don't bother me too much, but (pardon the pun) there was no "warm up" to this. One day - beautiful Spring weather. Next day - WHAM! - the height of Summer. While we had the benefit of an accurate forecast, no one was ready for this, there was no ramp up of heat.
But today, the "Heat is Gone". Actually, it was still pretty bad all day; but at around 5:30 PM, while it was still around 90F(32C), dark thunderheads appeared in the western sky. By 6:00 PM it was lightning, thundering and pouring buckets of rain - and ..... it was also 72F (22C). A drop of almost 20 Farenheit degrees. The balance of the forecast for the weekend looks good - sunny each day and highs in the mid 80s (29C). That should mean excellent conditions for Field Day.
Tomorrow (and possibly Sunday) I have to continue to help my sister with emptying my Mom's apartment. However, she just texted me that the David Sarnoff Radio Club will be having their Field Day just down the street (literally) from my Mom's place. The NJQRPers sometimes join in on Field Day with the Sarnoff group, so maybe on the way home, I can stop off for a few minutes and mosey a bit.
Another good friend, Rem K6BBQ posted another of his entertaining and informative portable ops videos. The one shows his efforts during the 7th Call District QSO Party back on May 5th.
Since it was May 5th, Rem was also sure to celebrate Cinco de Mayo by partaking of a burrito for lunch. It sure looked good and I'll bet it tasted as good as it looked. Rem is not only a superb QRP op, (and a superb PORTABLE QRP op) but is also a Ham in the finest tradition of the hobby, making sure that good food is also included as an important part of all these events.
Hope all of you have fun this weekend with Field Day. You know, even if you're not affiliated with a club, as long as you have time and no conflicting commitments, there's always the backyard picnic table or patio table, or local park or whatever. AND ..... even if you're not into contesting (and we all know that FD is NOT a contest - Hi!) - Field Day is a good opportunity to try out that new portable antenna you just built. Or that new radio you just built, or that new antenna tuner you just built and need to try. You get my drift - practical field environment!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Thursday, June 21, 2012
The spirit is willing
But the flesh IS weak, tonight!
I would like to operate a bit more tonight; but I am almost falling asleep behind the key. Due to the heat in the house last night, it was very uncomfortable trying to fall asleep. My pillow felt like a big sponge all night long; and I finally ended up drifting off around 3:00 AM. Of course, that was only to wake up for work about 3 hours later.
I will have to be satisfied with one contact on 20 Meters, having worked Serge RN3DN whose QTH is near Moscow. He had a very pleasant fist and a nice 589 signal into New Jersey and I received a 569 in return. I would love to tune around and work a few more; but it's not a good thing when your head snaps as you fall into that grey area between being awake and falling asleep.
The KX3 continues to amaze me. So many features jammed into a radio that is really only just a little bit bigger than some of the 2M handhelds that were around when I first started my Ham career 24 years ago.
Thank the Lord, the air conditioner repairmen came today and were able to make repairs without the need for a new compressor. It reached 98F (37C) here in Central New Jersey today - not quite high as they expected. With the combined high humidity, it was quite oppressive. But right now, it's a relatively cool 78F (25C) in the house which is much, much better than what I had to deal with last night. I should be able to garner a good night's sleep tonight.
Tomorrow is expected to be very hot and humid again; but not quite as warm as today. Heavy and possibly some severe thunderstorms are expected late tomorrow afternoon and tomorrow evening, which will break the back of this heatwave. High temperatures over the weekend are expected around 85F (29C).
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
I would like to operate a bit more tonight; but I am almost falling asleep behind the key. Due to the heat in the house last night, it was very uncomfortable trying to fall asleep. My pillow felt like a big sponge all night long; and I finally ended up drifting off around 3:00 AM. Of course, that was only to wake up for work about 3 hours later.
I will have to be satisfied with one contact on 20 Meters, having worked Serge RN3DN whose QTH is near Moscow. He had a very pleasant fist and a nice 589 signal into New Jersey and I received a 569 in return. I would love to tune around and work a few more; but it's not a good thing when your head snaps as you fall into that grey area between being awake and falling asleep.
The KX3 continues to amaze me. So many features jammed into a radio that is really only just a little bit bigger than some of the 2M handhelds that were around when I first started my Ham career 24 years ago.
Thank the Lord, the air conditioner repairmen came today and were able to make repairs without the need for a new compressor. It reached 98F (37C) here in Central New Jersey today - not quite high as they expected. With the combined high humidity, it was quite oppressive. But right now, it's a relatively cool 78F (25C) in the house which is much, much better than what I had to deal with last night. I should be able to garner a good night's sleep tonight.
Tomorrow is expected to be very hot and humid again; but not quite as warm as today. Heavy and possibly some severe thunderstorms are expected late tomorrow afternoon and tomorrow evening, which will break the back of this heatwave. High temperatures over the weekend are expected around 85F (29C).
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Hot!
The first day of Summer came as a prototypical Summer day - hot and humid! The high temperature did reach 96F (35C) and is expected to be about the same tomorrow (maybe a little higher) and in the 90s on Friday. A heatwave is defined as a period of at least three days with temps in the 90s - so Summer is starting off with a bang!
Unfortunately, our air conditioning unit picked a heckuva time to give up the ghost! We have a repairman coming tomorrow and I am keeping my fingers crossed that we will not need a new compressor. Our Central AC unit was not brandy new when we bought the house 14 years ago, so it may be time for a new one. Eeep!
On the CW-Bugs Yahoo group, Donnie WA9TGT posted a picture of a beautiful (and I mean beautiful!) picture of a bug that he fabricated himself. I would love to post a copy here; but the original is in his picture folder on the group, so it is not public property. If you are a member of the group, however, you can take a look-see for yourself at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cw_bugs/photos/recent/1291589982/view It is a thing of beauty and I wish I had the talent to make things like this.
Now for something not radio related: If you have a kindle and are also on Facebook, here's a site to "like":
http://www.facebook.com/EreaderNewsToday
Over the past few months I have been able to "buy" about 30 or 40 books for FREE. There are all types of genres available and there may be days when it seems that nothing good is being offered except for a bunch of turkeys. But then the days come when there are a lot of good mysteries, suspense novels, thrillers, etc. In true Ham fashion, stuff that's offered for free can't be all bad, can it?
This weekend is Field Day and the weather here in the Northeast looks to be perfect for it. I will not be participating this year as my sister and I have to finish clearing out my Mom's apartment before the end of the month. We've gotten a lot taken care of so far; and are about halfway done. I think all the small stuff will be boxed up and moved out this weekend. Whatever furniture is left over will be donated to charity and will be picked up next week.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Unfortunately, our air conditioning unit picked a heckuva time to give up the ghost! We have a repairman coming tomorrow and I am keeping my fingers crossed that we will not need a new compressor. Our Central AC unit was not brandy new when we bought the house 14 years ago, so it may be time for a new one. Eeep!
On the CW-Bugs Yahoo group, Donnie WA9TGT posted a picture of a beautiful (and I mean beautiful!) picture of a bug that he fabricated himself. I would love to post a copy here; but the original is in his picture folder on the group, so it is not public property. If you are a member of the group, however, you can take a look-see for yourself at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cw_bugs/photos/recent/1291589982/view It is a thing of beauty and I wish I had the talent to make things like this.
Now for something not radio related: If you have a kindle and are also on Facebook, here's a site to "like":
http://www.facebook.com/EreaderNewsToday
Over the past few months I have been able to "buy" about 30 or 40 books for FREE. There are all types of genres available and there may be days when it seems that nothing good is being offered except for a bunch of turkeys. But then the days come when there are a lot of good mysteries, suspense novels, thrillers, etc. In true Ham fashion, stuff that's offered for free can't be all bad, can it?
This weekend is Field Day and the weather here in the Northeast looks to be perfect for it. I will not be participating this year as my sister and I have to finish clearing out my Mom's apartment before the end of the month. We've gotten a lot taken care of so far; and are about halfway done. I think all the small stuff will be boxed up and moved out this weekend. Whatever furniture is left over will be donated to charity and will be picked up next week.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Holy Hannah!
I looked at the weather forecast for the next two days - 96F tomorrow (35C) and 102F on Thursday (39C). Wow! I guess it is no coincidence that tomorrow is the first day of summer.
And wouldn't you know it ?!? Band conditions seem to be headed right into the toilet as Field Day weekend approaches. The Sunspot number is 66 and declining. We'll get to see of Amateurs create their "own" propagation this weekend. Maybe with that much RF heating up the ionosphere, we won't need so many Sunspots.
The past few nights have been very good on the bands. Tonight, the noise floor seemed to be higher and it sounded like there was less activity. FG5FR was booming into NJ from Guadeloupe; but I worked Frantz about a week ago, so it's time to let other stations have at him.
Looks like some reading tonight and then sack time.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
And wouldn't you know it ?!? Band conditions seem to be headed right into the toilet as Field Day weekend approaches. The Sunspot number is 66 and declining. We'll get to see of Amateurs create their "own" propagation this weekend. Maybe with that much RF heating up the ionosphere, we won't need so many Sunspots.
The past few nights have been very good on the bands. Tonight, the noise floor seemed to be higher and it sounded like there was less activity. FG5FR was booming into NJ from Guadeloupe; but I worked Frantz about a week ago, so it's time to let other stations have at him.
Looks like some reading tonight and then sack time.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Monday, June 18, 2012
Hate to do this.
I hate "stealing" material from my fellow bloggers. I saw this referenced on John N8ZYA's extremely good blog and I thought that it could withstand repeating:
This is such a good video for promoting Amateur Radio!
It not only shows some of the "cooler" things you can do with the hobby; but it also stresses that Amateur Radio still serves as an important communications back up role.
A very big tip o' the hat to John N8ZYA - cool beans, John!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
This is such a good video for promoting Amateur Radio!
It not only shows some of the "cooler" things you can do with the hobby; but it also stresses that Amateur Radio still serves as an important communications back up role.
A very big tip o' the hat to John N8ZYA - cool beans, John!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Here in the USA
we are celebrating Father's Day tomorrow. So from W2LJ to all my Ham friends around the world who are dads - Happy Father's Day!
Being a dad has come a long way from what it was when I was a kid. Not to say that my Dad wasn't involved, he was. But back in the day, Dad's primary role was "The Provider". He put in his time at work and when he came home, Mom made sure we didn't bug him too much! He did his share of chores (yardwork and such) but Mom always made sure he got a chance to unwind and relax at the end of the day.
Today, I find myself way more involved with my kids, than my Dad was ever involved with me. This IS NOT a complaint, as I wouldn't have it any other way - but it can be exhausting, especially when a school project or a game or whatever comes up after a long, hard day at work.
But you know what? This is exactly what I signed up for when I said, "I do". My kids are the apples of my eye and I don't ever want to go back to the life I had before they came. Not to say that it was bad, as it wasn't; but the two of them have made life so much better.
Getting back to radio, that double CME that was foretold by Spaceweather.com didn't seem to really put any damper on the bands. After a multitude of chores were completed, I got to relax at the end of the day down in the shack. I worked David MI0VKO in Northern Ireland on 17 Meters and on 30 Meters, had a very nice rag chew with Jeff, K8CQ who lives down on St. Simons Island, GA. The KX3 continues to impress, especially its ability to really dig super weak signals out of the background.
I did something the other day with it that really surprised me. And it was something very simple. I plugged in ear buds instead of using the internal speaker. Wow! The difference was amazing. I can only liken it to listening to a broadcast radio in the "old days" and switching from AM to FM. The change in fidelity and richness of the audio is remarkable. I've never experienced this with any other rig, including my K1 and K2. Eric and Wayne HAVE hit a home run here, and I'm tempted to say it was a Grand Slam.
Again, to all of you who are dads out there - Happy Father's Day! And of course, my prayers go out to all the Dads who have gone before us and can't be with us tomorrow.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Being a dad has come a long way from what it was when I was a kid. Not to say that my Dad wasn't involved, he was. But back in the day, Dad's primary role was "The Provider". He put in his time at work and when he came home, Mom made sure we didn't bug him too much! He did his share of chores (yardwork and such) but Mom always made sure he got a chance to unwind and relax at the end of the day.
Today, I find myself way more involved with my kids, than my Dad was ever involved with me. This IS NOT a complaint, as I wouldn't have it any other way - but it can be exhausting, especially when a school project or a game or whatever comes up after a long, hard day at work.
But you know what? This is exactly what I signed up for when I said, "I do". My kids are the apples of my eye and I don't ever want to go back to the life I had before they came. Not to say that it was bad, as it wasn't; but the two of them have made life so much better.
Getting back to radio, that double CME that was foretold by Spaceweather.com didn't seem to really put any damper on the bands. After a multitude of chores were completed, I got to relax at the end of the day down in the shack. I worked David MI0VKO in Northern Ireland on 17 Meters and on 30 Meters, had a very nice rag chew with Jeff, K8CQ who lives down on St. Simons Island, GA. The KX3 continues to impress, especially its ability to really dig super weak signals out of the background.
I did something the other day with it that really surprised me. And it was something very simple. I plugged in ear buds instead of using the internal speaker. Wow! The difference was amazing. I can only liken it to listening to a broadcast radio in the "old days" and switching from AM to FM. The change in fidelity and richness of the audio is remarkable. I've never experienced this with any other rig, including my K1 and K2. Eric and Wayne HAVE hit a home run here, and I'm tempted to say it was a Grand Slam.
Again, to all of you who are dads out there - Happy Father's Day! And of course, my prayers go out to all the Dads who have gone before us and can't be with us tomorrow.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Friday, June 15, 2012
Getting in some operating time
tonight, because according to Ron WB3AAL and a post he made to the Polar Bear reflector, band conditions might turn into a mess this weekend:
Space Weather News for June 14, 2012
http://spaceweather.com
DOUBLE CME: Active sunspot AR1504 is facing Earth and hurling coronal mass ejections (CMEs) in our direction. A fast-moving CME that left the sun on June 14th is expected to scoop up another CME already en route and deliver a double-blow to Earth's magnetic field on June 16th. Weak-to-moderate geomagnetic storms are possible when the clouds arrive. Check http://spaceweather.com for images and updates.
Tonight, band conditions are nice and I am having a blast. I had a very brief QSO with TJ W0EA and this ended up being my first KX3 to KX3 QSO. I am also hearing a lot of European stations and am able to work quite a few. But this just goes to show you ...........
My QSO with TJ was very brief because my signal to him was exceptionally crappy. I looked down and realized that I was still on the EDZ for our QSO. After signing with him, I switched over to the Butternut, called CQ again and got a 559 from OM7DX in the Slovak Republic.
The other night was a first for me. I heard my very first VU station - ever! For whatever reason, I have never even heard a station from India before. Hearing one the other night was an exciting first for me.
Ah, yes .... it's Friday night, the work week is done, the weather is nice and I get to go on the radio. Great way to start Father's Day weekend!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Space Weather News for June 14, 2012
http://spaceweather.com
DOUBLE CME: Active sunspot AR1504 is facing Earth and hurling coronal mass ejections (CMEs) in our direction. A fast-moving CME that left the sun on June 14th is expected to scoop up another CME already en route and deliver a double-blow to Earth's magnetic field on June 16th. Weak-to-moderate geomagnetic storms are possible when the clouds arrive. Check http://spaceweather.com for images and updates.
Tonight, band conditions are nice and I am having a blast. I had a very brief QSO with TJ W0EA and this ended up being my first KX3 to KX3 QSO. I am also hearing a lot of European stations and am able to work quite a few. But this just goes to show you ...........
My QSO with TJ was very brief because my signal to him was exceptionally crappy. I looked down and realized that I was still on the EDZ for our QSO. After signing with him, I switched over to the Butternut, called CQ again and got a 559 from OM7DX in the Slovak Republic.
The other night was a first for me. I heard my very first VU station - ever! For whatever reason, I have never even heard a station from India before. Hearing one the other night was an exciting first for me.
Ah, yes .... it's Friday night, the work week is done, the weather is nice and I get to go on the radio. Great way to start Father's Day weekend!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Interesting night on 20 Meters
I kept the radio tuned to 20 Meters for the evening and had a variety of QSOs.
The first was with CO6RD, Reynaldo in Cuba. This wasn't a long QSO as Reynaldo was working "contest style" racking up the QSOs. But I did get him on the first shot, even though a lot of stations were calling.
Next up was a busted QSO with Mike AA6WQ, who was operating from TN. We got through the QSO basics, only to have the band pull the rug out from under us. One minute we were going at it, next minute we couldn't hear each other anymore. I guess that's the way the cookie crumbles, sometimes.
With two short QSOs under my belt, I was thinking that might be how the evening was going to go. But my fears turned to be for nothing as the next QSO was an almost hour long rag chew with Paul W4KLY in Stone Moutnain, GA. This was an Elecraft to Elecraft QSO. Paul was using his K1 and (of course) I was on the KX3. QSB had a role to play; but in all honesty, when the band was not in fade mode, our signals were 599 both ways. We talked about rigs, portable ops and antennas and summer vacation plans. It was very enjoyable and it is truly amazing to see how fast an hour can go by on you when you're having fun.
The last QSO for the night was with Rumi LZ2RS in Bulgaria. He was calling "CQ QRP" and I was lucky enough to be heard on my first call. Rumi was at 5 Watts; but what really made the QSO was his Yagi at 12 meters up, pointed my way. I was on the 88' EDZ pumping out 5 Watts from my end also. Signals were a legitimate 559.
The bands have been so good lately! Not the best I've ever witnessed; but after the past few pitiful years, this is like Heaven (comparatively). I sure hope it stays this way for a while and doesn't take a fast dive off a cliff into oblivion.
On another note, this new 9 cell battery that I got for the Acer is fantastic! I got it Monday and attached it to the netbook for charging. I've used it Tuesday, Wednesday, and tonight - about two to three hours per night. The indicator says it still has about another two hours left in it. Of course, I have Windows set for "Max Battery Life" through the control panel, but even so, this is way outlasting the old battery. That one gave me about two hours computer time, tops. This battery should be able to get me through a four hour sprint (outdoors) without breaking a sweat.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
The first was with CO6RD, Reynaldo in Cuba. This wasn't a long QSO as Reynaldo was working "contest style" racking up the QSOs. But I did get him on the first shot, even though a lot of stations were calling.
Next up was a busted QSO with Mike AA6WQ, who was operating from TN. We got through the QSO basics, only to have the band pull the rug out from under us. One minute we were going at it, next minute we couldn't hear each other anymore. I guess that's the way the cookie crumbles, sometimes.
With two short QSOs under my belt, I was thinking that might be how the evening was going to go. But my fears turned to be for nothing as the next QSO was an almost hour long rag chew with Paul W4KLY in Stone Moutnain, GA. This was an Elecraft to Elecraft QSO. Paul was using his K1 and (of course) I was on the KX3. QSB had a role to play; but in all honesty, when the band was not in fade mode, our signals were 599 both ways. We talked about rigs, portable ops and antennas and summer vacation plans. It was very enjoyable and it is truly amazing to see how fast an hour can go by on you when you're having fun.
The last QSO for the night was with Rumi LZ2RS in Bulgaria. He was calling "CQ QRP" and I was lucky enough to be heard on my first call. Rumi was at 5 Watts; but what really made the QSO was his Yagi at 12 meters up, pointed my way. I was on the 88' EDZ pumping out 5 Watts from my end also. Signals were a legitimate 559.
The bands have been so good lately! Not the best I've ever witnessed; but after the past few pitiful years, this is like Heaven (comparatively). I sure hope it stays this way for a while and doesn't take a fast dive off a cliff into oblivion.
On another note, this new 9 cell battery that I got for the Acer is fantastic! I got it Monday and attached it to the netbook for charging. I've used it Tuesday, Wednesday, and tonight - about two to three hours per night. The indicator says it still has about another two hours left in it. Of course, I have Windows set for "Max Battery Life" through the control panel, but even so, this is way outlasting the old battery. That one gave me about two hours computer time, tops. This battery should be able to get me through a four hour sprint (outdoors) without breaking a sweat.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Good night on the bands
Got QSOs on four different bands tonight - they all seemed to be in decent shape.
CN8KD in Morocco on 20 Meters
UA3TCJ in European Russia on 17 Meters
UT6UD in the Ukraine on 30 Meters
EW7LO in Belarus on 40 Meters
No rag chews tonight - just quickie kind of DX contacts. The QSOs on 17 and 20 Meters were completed through the Butternut HF9V and the QSOs on 30 and 40 Meters were made through the 88' EDZ antenna. As per the little NA5N propagation box, conditions on all the bands I used were pretty good.
Just for the heck of it, I hooked both antennas up to my coax switch and then to the KX3. You could actually hear the signals being attenuated by the switch. The difference between direct hookup to the rig and going through this crummy switch was like night and day. I'll have to try and see if I can find a good quality coax switch at the hamfest this weekend to replace this piece of junk.
It would be nice to be able to switch real quickly. Take the QSO with CN8KD for example. When I first heard him, I was on the wire. I called and called and called with no result. I switched over to the vertical and bingo - first try resulted in a QSO. Maybe it was coincidence, but in my mind, in this case the vertical made all the difference in the world. The wire is a much better performer on 80 and 40 Meters. It sure would be nice to be able to switch at the flick of a button.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
CN8KD in Morocco on 20 Meters
UA3TCJ in European Russia on 17 Meters
UT6UD in the Ukraine on 30 Meters
EW7LO in Belarus on 40 Meters
No rag chews tonight - just quickie kind of DX contacts. The QSOs on 17 and 20 Meters were completed through the Butternut HF9V and the QSOs on 30 and 40 Meters were made through the 88' EDZ antenna. As per the little NA5N propagation box, conditions on all the bands I used were pretty good.
Just for the heck of it, I hooked both antennas up to my coax switch and then to the KX3. You could actually hear the signals being attenuated by the switch. The difference between direct hookup to the rig and going through this crummy switch was like night and day. I'll have to try and see if I can find a good quality coax switch at the hamfest this weekend to replace this piece of junk.
It would be nice to be able to switch real quickly. Take the QSO with CN8KD for example. When I first heard him, I was on the wire. I called and called and called with no result. I switched over to the vertical and bingo - first try resulted in a QSO. Maybe it was coincidence, but in my mind, in this case the vertical made all the difference in the world. The wire is a much better performer on 80 and 40 Meters. It sure would be nice to be able to switch at the flick of a button.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Firefox mess up
Firefox auto updated sometime over the weekend. Everything seems to be OK except that my revolvermap globe, down and to the right, appears to me to be a "white hole". No more globe, although everything is still fine when browsing using either Chrome or IE.
My friend who was racing me between his house closing and me getting the KX3 has moved into his new house. No hitches except for the fact that it's been a week and he still doesn't have an antenna up yet! Am I a pathetic Ham or what? Shows where MY priorities are - although I have to admit that if I were in the same situation, I'm sure an antenna would not be utmost on my schedule (practically speaking), either.
I placed an order for a 9 cell battery for my Acer Aspire One from eBay. This is the netbook that I use in the shack and for when I go portable. The old 6 cell battery gave me about an 1 & 1/2 to 2 hours computer time. This new battery should add about an hour to that. Turns out that it was shipped from the next town over, so I had to pay NJ sales tax. It still came under $25, though.
30 Meters was in fine shape tonight - I had a good couple of rag chews with some of our VE brethren. Love it when there's hardly any background noise. The incoming signals seem to jump right out at you.
BTW, the new header photo isn't new. That's "Lake George Sunrise" that I took back in 2007. It was taken on the day we came home that year. I was up at 5:00 AM, packing up the car as the sun was rising. I knew I had a decent photo in the offing, so I dug out the camera and got a few like that before we left. Hard to believe it was that long ago. When we go up there for our annual vacation this summer, it will be our 9th year there. Both Marianne and I love it up there and wouldn't mind moving up there when it's retirement time (like THAT'S going to ever happen!). I don't know if I could handle the winters up in NY State, though.
Back to the shack for a bit .....
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
My friend who was racing me between his house closing and me getting the KX3 has moved into his new house. No hitches except for the fact that it's been a week and he still doesn't have an antenna up yet! Am I a pathetic Ham or what? Shows where MY priorities are - although I have to admit that if I were in the same situation, I'm sure an antenna would not be utmost on my schedule (practically speaking), either.
I placed an order for a 9 cell battery for my Acer Aspire One from eBay. This is the netbook that I use in the shack and for when I go portable. The old 6 cell battery gave me about an 1 & 1/2 to 2 hours computer time. This new battery should add about an hour to that. Turns out that it was shipped from the next town over, so I had to pay NJ sales tax. It still came under $25, though.
30 Meters was in fine shape tonight - I had a good couple of rag chews with some of our VE brethren. Love it when there's hardly any background noise. The incoming signals seem to jump right out at you.
BTW, the new header photo isn't new. That's "Lake George Sunrise" that I took back in 2007. It was taken on the day we came home that year. I was up at 5:00 AM, packing up the car as the sun was rising. I knew I had a decent photo in the offing, so I dug out the camera and got a few like that before we left. Hard to believe it was that long ago. When we go up there for our annual vacation this summer, it will be our 9th year there. Both Marianne and I love it up there and wouldn't mind moving up there when it's retirement time (like THAT'S going to ever happen!). I don't know if I could handle the winters up in NY State, though.
Back to the shack for a bit .....
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Monday, June 11, 2012
Stuff
Sometimes, the most satisfying QSOs don't seem to relate to distance. I had a really nice rag chew tonight with John N3WT on 40 Meters. The band was in real good shape, with hardly any background QRN. John is only two states away, in Maryland; but yet he gifted me with one of the nicest chats I've had since the one with Terry W9UX last week. He was using his K1, and I was on (of course) my KX3. We were both pumping 599 five Watt signals into the aether.
The discussion ranged from things Elecraft to things Flex Radio, antennas and radio problems. Our conversation lasted but a half hour; but it will be one that I will remember for a while to come. When the CW just flows from your fingers and the copy is armchair, a QSO can be a thing of beauty.
I've also migrated back from Ham Radio Deluxe to N3FJP's AC log. Since Simon Brown sold the rights, and HRD will no longer be a free offering, it's probably just a matter of time until the free version will no longer be supported. I paid for AC Log years back, so I may as well use what I have already paid for. And seriously, with HRD, I was only using the logging portion anyhow, so it's not like I'm losing a lot of features that I never used anyway. AC Log loads faster, since it's a much simpler program - so it's almost ready to go as soon as I am. Good thing I never threw away the e-mail with my registration number!
I was contemplating looking at the DX Lab suite of programs for a second time, but again, I think we're looking at more than I need for my purposes. All those bells and whistles are extremely nice; but if I don't plan on using them, what's the sense? I don't want to say that I would never be, but right now I'm just a dial twiddlin' kind of guy. I don't envision being the kind of contesting guy who truly needs the ability to click a mouse and have the radio instantly jump to a frequency that's on a computer screen. To borrow a line from Seinfeld - "Not that there's anything wrong with that". But it's just not my speed.
This coming Saturday is the Raritan Valley Radio Club's annual hamfest. Like last year, I will probably be on parking lot duty. It will be a long day, with arrival time set at about 5:00 AM. Watching the 10:00 PM news for the long range forecast is so far calling for a partly cloudy, but dry Saturday with highs in the mid to upper 70s.
Oh well, time to hit the sack. I have to go downstairs and pop a couple Advil first. I am feeling some minor aches and pains from all the yard work that I did this weekend. Don't want to be up all night with a twitchy back.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
The discussion ranged from things Elecraft to things Flex Radio, antennas and radio problems. Our conversation lasted but a half hour; but it will be one that I will remember for a while to come. When the CW just flows from your fingers and the copy is armchair, a QSO can be a thing of beauty.
I've also migrated back from Ham Radio Deluxe to N3FJP's AC log. Since Simon Brown sold the rights, and HRD will no longer be a free offering, it's probably just a matter of time until the free version will no longer be supported. I paid for AC Log years back, so I may as well use what I have already paid for. And seriously, with HRD, I was only using the logging portion anyhow, so it's not like I'm losing a lot of features that I never used anyway. AC Log loads faster, since it's a much simpler program - so it's almost ready to go as soon as I am. Good thing I never threw away the e-mail with my registration number!
I was contemplating looking at the DX Lab suite of programs for a second time, but again, I think we're looking at more than I need for my purposes. All those bells and whistles are extremely nice; but if I don't plan on using them, what's the sense? I don't want to say that I would never be, but right now I'm just a dial twiddlin' kind of guy. I don't envision being the kind of contesting guy who truly needs the ability to click a mouse and have the radio instantly jump to a frequency that's on a computer screen. To borrow a line from Seinfeld - "Not that there's anything wrong with that". But it's just not my speed.
This coming Saturday is the Raritan Valley Radio Club's annual hamfest. Like last year, I will probably be on parking lot duty. It will be a long day, with arrival time set at about 5:00 AM. Watching the 10:00 PM news for the long range forecast is so far calling for a partly cloudy, but dry Saturday with highs in the mid to upper 70s.
Oh well, time to hit the sack. I have to go downstairs and pop a couple Advil first. I am feeling some minor aches and pains from all the yard work that I did this weekend. Don't want to be up all night with a twitchy back.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Saturday, June 09, 2012
17 Meters
has been very good the past few days. I have worked a lot of European stations the past couple of days, and I have taken to listening for Special Event stations for the European Football Championships.
These stations are on the air from June 1st to July 5th. So far, the few that I have contacted, from the Ukraine and Poland have been superb ops with great ears! If you want to find out more about this program, you can visit:
http://sq2rh.idsl.pl/efc/index_en.php
The KX3 continues to impress. Except for not being able to connect two antennas, like I can on my K2, it has all the features my K2 has (plus many more) in a much smaller footprint. And the smaller footprint is not annoying, and I am a fudge fingered kind of guy. The buttons have multi-functions, but not so many levels that it is frustrating.
I like having 6 Meter capability, which I have never had before. I like the feature where the KX3 will auto zero beat the desired CW signal that you want to work. The APF feature - Audio Peak Frequency really helps dig out the weak signals. I can easily hear stations that cannot hear me, so I really, really have to get used to the fact that just because I can hear them, they might not be able to hear me, with me at only 5 Watts.
There's more to be discovered, I am sure. I still have to come into the 21st century and hook up the radio to my computer and at least give computer control a try. Up till now, I have been a "twirl the dial" kind if guy. I don't anticipate that changing really; but I'd like to give it a try, anyway.
One thing I am not too thrilled with is the weighting of the CW. To my ear, the dits and dahs sound a little truncated, even with the weighting turned to the max. Several folks have also mentioned this on the KX3 reflector and Wayne from Elecraft has agreed. Once he gets back from a well deserved vacation later this month, he is going to incorporate a fix in an upcoming firmware update.
After watching W0EA's video about the Lowepro Traveler 150, I went out to Wal-Mart and picked one up at a great price. I am going to see how everything fits in, later this week, to start getting ready for our Lake George summer sojourn. Maybe I'll do my own video and post it here.
That's it for now - going to head on down the shack and see who I might be able to work.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
These stations are on the air from June 1st to July 5th. So far, the few that I have contacted, from the Ukraine and Poland have been superb ops with great ears! If you want to find out more about this program, you can visit:
http://sq2rh.idsl.pl/efc/index_en.php
The KX3 continues to impress. Except for not being able to connect two antennas, like I can on my K2, it has all the features my K2 has (plus many more) in a much smaller footprint. And the smaller footprint is not annoying, and I am a fudge fingered kind of guy. The buttons have multi-functions, but not so many levels that it is frustrating.
I like having 6 Meter capability, which I have never had before. I like the feature where the KX3 will auto zero beat the desired CW signal that you want to work. The APF feature - Audio Peak Frequency really helps dig out the weak signals. I can easily hear stations that cannot hear me, so I really, really have to get used to the fact that just because I can hear them, they might not be able to hear me, with me at only 5 Watts.
There's more to be discovered, I am sure. I still have to come into the 21st century and hook up the radio to my computer and at least give computer control a try. Up till now, I have been a "twirl the dial" kind if guy. I don't anticipate that changing really; but I'd like to give it a try, anyway.
One thing I am not too thrilled with is the weighting of the CW. To my ear, the dits and dahs sound a little truncated, even with the weighting turned to the max. Several folks have also mentioned this on the KX3 reflector and Wayne from Elecraft has agreed. Once he gets back from a well deserved vacation later this month, he is going to incorporate a fix in an upcoming firmware update.
After watching W0EA's video about the Lowepro Traveler 150, I went out to Wal-Mart and picked one up at a great price. I am going to see how everything fits in, later this week, to start getting ready for our Lake George summer sojourn. Maybe I'll do my own video and post it here.
That's it for now - going to head on down the shack and see who I might be able to work.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Wednesday, June 06, 2012
Got 3 spare hours?
Want to see a KX3 build from start to finish? TJ, W0EA treated us to live video on USTREAM while he built his:
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/23127348
If you have a kit on order and have the time, I would really advise watching this (Hint: Start viewing at about the 8:00 minute mark). Looking at stills (like I've posted) is one thing. Watching the build being done before your very eyes (in real time) is just priceless.
Even though mine is built, I also learned a thing or two. TJ mentioned that there was a Builder Advisory note that I hadn't seen anywhere. It concerns the speaker grill and the distortion that can occur if it is installed. I was experiencing that distortion; so as a result of listening to TJ, I took it out. The unit sounds much better now.
I still haven't done the roofing filter alignment. maybe tomorrow night as I have been way busy. But I have found some time to get in a QSO every day for the past few days. I worked EM2012UA tonight, which is a special event station for the 2012 European Football Championships. Five watts to the Butternut vertical is still getting my signal heard worldwide.
By the way, conditions on 20 Meters were superb tonight. The noise floor was about S1 and I heard so many European and Caribbean stations up and down the band - it was amazing (especially the fact that it was around 02:30 UTC - recently the band has been dead by then). The fact that the sun spot number is 154 is a good thing. Maybe Venus imparted some magic as she crossed the face of the sun yesterday? Who knows? If conditions like these keep up for a while, I think we'll all be happy.
I am becoming more and more familiar with the radio and quite honestly, it isn't as complicated as I initially thought it would be. The controls are well labeled and are pretty intuitive and easy to get the hang of.
The bait's been taken; but the hook hasn't quite set yet, but this fishy really wants a K3 now.
I've been getting a lot of spam comments over the past week or so. Been averaging about 20 a day since I took the Captcha code thingy off. I apologize for keeping the comments on moderation; but if I didn't I'd be overrun by spam. So if you make a comment and don't see it for a while, it's nothing personal - just haven't gotten to allowing them through.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/23127348
If you have a kit on order and have the time, I would really advise watching this (Hint: Start viewing at about the 8:00 minute mark). Looking at stills (like I've posted) is one thing. Watching the build being done before your very eyes (in real time) is just priceless.
Even though mine is built, I also learned a thing or two. TJ mentioned that there was a Builder Advisory note that I hadn't seen anywhere. It concerns the speaker grill and the distortion that can occur if it is installed. I was experiencing that distortion; so as a result of listening to TJ, I took it out. The unit sounds much better now.
I still haven't done the roofing filter alignment. maybe tomorrow night as I have been way busy. But I have found some time to get in a QSO every day for the past few days. I worked EM2012UA tonight, which is a special event station for the 2012 European Football Championships. Five watts to the Butternut vertical is still getting my signal heard worldwide.
By the way, conditions on 20 Meters were superb tonight. The noise floor was about S1 and I heard so many European and Caribbean stations up and down the band - it was amazing (especially the fact that it was around 02:30 UTC - recently the band has been dead by then). The fact that the sun spot number is 154 is a good thing. Maybe Venus imparted some magic as she crossed the face of the sun yesterday? Who knows? If conditions like these keep up for a while, I think we'll all be happy.
I am becoming more and more familiar with the radio and quite honestly, it isn't as complicated as I initially thought it would be. The controls are well labeled and are pretty intuitive and easy to get the hang of.
The bait's been taken; but the hook hasn't quite set yet, but this fishy really wants a K3 now.
I've been getting a lot of spam comments over the past week or so. Been averaging about 20 a day since I took the Captcha code thingy off. I apologize for keeping the comments on moderation; but if I didn't I'd be overrun by spam. So if you make a comment and don't see it for a while, it's nothing personal - just haven't gotten to allowing them through.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Monday, June 04, 2012
FOBB 2012 News
Today I received the following e-mail from Bill W4ZV:
"Hi Larry, FYI on the WRO live blog Richard KI6SN just confirmed that he will be doing FOBB this year and promises results within 2 weeks. Said he would be making an announcement on QRP-L next week. Great news! 73, Bill W4ZV"
End
OK - that's all the news I have. I have not received any answers to my inquiries about FOBB, so I would suggest you keep your eyes peeled on QRP-L for the next couple of weeks. I do not know if FOBB numbers will be issued; or who will be doing the issuing.
This is a great event, and I'm glad to see that it's not going the way of the Dodo.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
"Hi Larry, FYI on the WRO live blog Richard KI6SN just confirmed that he will be doing FOBB this year and promises results within 2 weeks. Said he would be making an announcement on QRP-L next week. Great news! 73, Bill W4ZV"
End
OK - that's all the news I have. I have not received any answers to my inquiries about FOBB, so I would suggest you keep your eyes peeled on QRP-L for the next couple of weeks. I do not know if FOBB numbers will be issued; or who will be doing the issuing.
This is a great event, and I'm glad to see that it's not going the way of the Dodo.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Sunday, June 03, 2012
On the air
It rained and thunder stormed here today, on and off, in fits and starts. That prevented me from doing the yard work that I was planning to accomplish - boo hoo! :)
So I spent some time on the air, getting used to the new radio. Fate would have it that band conditions would be on the less than optimal (read that as: crappy) side today. But I did manage some QSOs both foreign and domestic. Hungary, Italy, and England were successfully worked. The domestic QSOs were brief QSO Party contacts for the most part. They let me know that I was getting out and being heard; but not very satisfying.
I did have another short QSO with Terry W9UX last night on 30 Meters. I was calling CQ and he answered me and asked, "Larry, is that your new KX3?". Obviously, Terry is a regular reader of this blog. I answered him that yes, it was and he was my first "real" QSO - something other than "UR 599 TNX QRZ?"
I'll have to send him my QSL card - the funny thing is that my QSL cards have the image of my K1 on them. I still have a bunch, so I am not going to discard these just because of that. It's still QRP, which is what the idea behind the card is supposed to be about.
The KX3 is really cool and I'm getting used to it rather quickly. It has really great features like the APF or Audio Peaking Filter that will really help to dig a weak CW signal buried in the noise. I like being able to decode RTTY and watch it scroll at the bottom of the LCD display. I also like the CW Tuning Aid, where you tap a button and the KX3 automatically zero beats the person you're trying to work.
As the radio is configured now, as a strictly QRP radio, I cannot hook up two antennas like I can on the K2, and I use that feature a lot to switch back and forth between the Butternut and the wire. I suppose I could always go back to using a mechanical manual coax switch; but by going that route, I would be incurring some signal loss, and I would rather not do that.
There is a button on the KX3 that will allow you to switch between two antennas, but that is enabled only when the 100 Watt autotuner is used. As of right now, I have no plans to make this a QRO radio, so the main shack radio will be the K2, unless a K3 should come waltzing into my life for some unforeseen reason.
The other thing that I am looking forward to in the near future is making some contacts on 6 Meters, which I have never done in the 34 years that I have been a Ham. This is the first radio that I have ever owned that is 6 Meter capable. The other thing I want to do is hook this netbook up the the KX3, just to see how Ham Radio Deluxe interfaces with it. I never installed the RS232 option in the K2, so I was never able to have rig control until now, either.
Lots to look forward to!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
So I spent some time on the air, getting used to the new radio. Fate would have it that band conditions would be on the less than optimal (read that as: crappy) side today. But I did manage some QSOs both foreign and domestic. Hungary, Italy, and England were successfully worked. The domestic QSOs were brief QSO Party contacts for the most part. They let me know that I was getting out and being heard; but not very satisfying.
I did have another short QSO with Terry W9UX last night on 30 Meters. I was calling CQ and he answered me and asked, "Larry, is that your new KX3?". Obviously, Terry is a regular reader of this blog. I answered him that yes, it was and he was my first "real" QSO - something other than "UR 599 TNX QRZ?"
I'll have to send him my QSL card - the funny thing is that my QSL cards have the image of my K1 on them. I still have a bunch, so I am not going to discard these just because of that. It's still QRP, which is what the idea behind the card is supposed to be about.
The KX3 is really cool and I'm getting used to it rather quickly. It has really great features like the APF or Audio Peaking Filter that will really help to dig a weak CW signal buried in the noise. I like being able to decode RTTY and watch it scroll at the bottom of the LCD display. I also like the CW Tuning Aid, where you tap a button and the KX3 automatically zero beats the person you're trying to work.
As the radio is configured now, as a strictly QRP radio, I cannot hook up two antennas like I can on the K2, and I use that feature a lot to switch back and forth between the Butternut and the wire. I suppose I could always go back to using a mechanical manual coax switch; but by going that route, I would be incurring some signal loss, and I would rather not do that.
There is a button on the KX3 that will allow you to switch between two antennas, but that is enabled only when the 100 Watt autotuner is used. As of right now, I have no plans to make this a QRO radio, so the main shack radio will be the K2, unless a K3 should come waltzing into my life for some unforeseen reason.
The other thing that I am looking forward to in the near future is making some contacts on 6 Meters, which I have never done in the 34 years that I have been a Ham. This is the first radio that I have ever owned that is 6 Meter capable. The other thing I want to do is hook this netbook up the the KX3, just to see how Ham Radio Deluxe interfaces with it. I never installed the RS232 option in the K2, so I was never able to have rig control until now, either.
Lots to look forward to!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Saturday, June 02, 2012
It lives !!!
As anticipated, the remainder of the KX3 build did not take long at all. If truth be told, I am technically not finished - I still have to calibrate the roofing filter. But I am done to the point where I have a working radio.
I left off at the point where I had to install the battery holders and the KXAT3 auto tuner.
That is them installed. I am not sure if I am going to bother with internal batteries. The option is available to me if I ever decide to; but that li-on battery I bought is so small and light! And if I don't have to open the case - that makes me happy, also. You can see the auto tuner to the right. Here's a close up:
It's quite a piece of work! Once I turned the KX3 on, I had to go through the menu and select it so that the radio "knew" it was there. The tricky thing was that once you turn it "on", for the first time, you have to turn the radio off and then back on, so that it initializes with it there. A bit different than selecting options with the K2.
Next came the roofing filter board:
There it is, right behind one of the battery holders. When you install the KXFL3 you have to take out one of the chassis screws. It is replaced with a much longer one that actually extends through a hole in the KXFL3 circuit board. This is to prevent the roofing filter circuit board from becoming jostled loose accidentally if the going gets rough on the trail.
Then came connecting the two halves with the ribbon cable, which was a snap. Connecting the battery holders to their connector and then mating the two halves together and buttoning the radio up.
The first thing to be done was to hook up the battery, cross my fingers and say a small "No smoke, please!" prayer. When the moment of truth arrived, the display came up and static came out the speaker. No smoke, no disasters, no disappointment. From there, it was off of the workbench and onto the shack table we go!
I hooked up the DCP paddles and antenna and made a contact on 20 Meters in whatever 4 land QSO party is going on this weekend. I have it written downstairs; but I think it was K4SAV. Second QSO was on 40 Meters - G5LO in Great Britain.
There's going to be a learning curve here because this is definitely more complex and sophisticated than my K2. For now, I just want to make a few QSOs and play around a bit. I will intensely study the Owner's Manual and will probably try to calibrate the roofing filter tomorrow. Right now, it's back down to the shack to play!
Thanks to all of you who went for this ride with me, beginning last year, when I started saving and selling things to raise the needed funds. Thanks for sticking with me as I ordered and began the, what seemed to be, interminable waiting period.
Now that the radio is built and seems to be working, I can truly say it was worth the wait and am looking forward to many hours of fun filled QRPing.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to say the very least!
A couple of thoughts about the KX3 build
I have a bunch of chores and chauffeuring to do today. I probably won't get around to continuing the build until this evening. To paraphrase John Lennon's quote: "Real life is what happens while you're busy making Ham Radio plans".
However, here are a couple of thoughts about the progress so far, for those of you who might be inclined to get one of these but are undecided. This isn't meant to sway anyone either way - just some observations.
The assembly manual is superb. No ambiguities at all. Each step is very clearly outlined. If you have any questions, they are always readily answered on either the regular Elecraft reflector or the KX3 reflector. It's a big community. Even though the number of kits shipped so far has been less than the number of factory built units shipped, the Elecraft folks and the Field Testers are quick to supply answers.
Elecraft was super quick to answer my query about missing screws and supplied me with a tracking number the next day.
In the opening pages of the manual, the words appear "Even easy for first time kit builders". This is true - don't think that just because you've never built a kit before that you can't undertake this. I know that the price point can make the effort seem foreboding, but it's really not.
Do make sure to do the parts inventory, though. I am sure the missing screws incident is due to the haste to get product out the door. As the opening rush subsides, I am sure missing parts will become rare. I ordered my K1 and my K2 way after the initial release and neither of those kits were missing anything. Indeed, I had excess screws which are proving to be a real life saver now. But in the meantime, if you have ordered a kit and will be getting it soon - DO THE INVENTORY.
Hopefully, I'll be posting more photos later tonight.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
However, here are a couple of thoughts about the progress so far, for those of you who might be inclined to get one of these but are undecided. This isn't meant to sway anyone either way - just some observations.
The assembly manual is superb. No ambiguities at all. Each step is very clearly outlined. If you have any questions, they are always readily answered on either the regular Elecraft reflector or the KX3 reflector. It's a big community. Even though the number of kits shipped so far has been less than the number of factory built units shipped, the Elecraft folks and the Field Testers are quick to supply answers.
Elecraft was super quick to answer my query about missing screws and supplied me with a tracking number the next day.
In the opening pages of the manual, the words appear "Even easy for first time kit builders". This is true - don't think that just because you've never built a kit before that you can't undertake this. I know that the price point can make the effort seem foreboding, but it's really not.
Do make sure to do the parts inventory, though. I am sure the missing screws incident is due to the haste to get product out the door. As the opening rush subsides, I am sure missing parts will become rare. I ordered my K1 and my K2 way after the initial release and neither of those kits were missing anything. Indeed, I had excess screws which are proving to be a real life saver now. But in the meantime, if you have ordered a kit and will be getting it soon - DO THE INVENTORY.
Hopefully, I'll be posting more photos later tonight.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Friday, June 01, 2012
Onward
The build continues. So far I have put about 2 hours into this. While I'm not quite done, I can see this being done in the 2 hours that Wayne mentioned on the KX3 reflector. But being uber careful, I am going slow and really taking my time (and also taking time to take photos). At this point I am "basically" finished. I still need to install the battery holders, the auto tuner and the roofing filters. That won't take long. While I am done for the night, I should have this completed and will hopefully make my first QSO (God willing and the creek don't rise) tomorrow.
This is what the top half looks like from the back. You can click on any of these photos to get a larger image. The speaker and VFO encoder are towards the top right.
Here's a close up of the speaker hooked up to the CP board. Directly below that is the VFO encoder (and shield).
Here's the finished top half. If you look at the bottom right hand corner of the plastic bezel you will see where I have a temporary "make do" silver screw holding the bezel down. This is where I was shorted one screw. I will put a black one in whenever it arrives from Elecraft.
This is the RF board in the bottom housing. That big black square to the upper left is a magnetic shield. Things are really crammed onto these circuit boards, I can only imagine the effort it would take to build these boards as a "conventional" kit.
This is the BNC connector. It was a bit tricky to get this in, as with the RF Board in place and screwed down you have to finagle the connector part way into the hole, then get the lock washer and nut in place and started. Then you have to push the BNC to its final resting place against the chassis wall while simultaneously tightening the lock nut. There's just not a lot of space!
Here's the two final transistors tightened down to the chassis/heat sink area. This is another area where you have to be careful as Elecraft makes sure to mention (with a big caution) not to disturb that electrolytic capacitor.
So far this has been real easy as kit builds go. The assembly manual is superbly done. The hardest part so far was installing some nylon screws for the rubber feet. You want to make sure you get the screws started at exactly the right angle so you don't end up cross threading or otherwise mucking up the screw threads.
And except for that one silver screw at the bezel, I have been able to make do and keep the build going using those extra screws I had left over from my K1 and K2. Kudos to Elecraft for basically staying with the same hardware so that my "junk box" screws blend right in. The hardware that I have coming from Aptos will go to replenish my "extras".
The bad side of all this ???? This is really making me want a K3 now! Maybe if I sell off some of my baseball memorabilia collection ................
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
This is what the top half looks like from the back. You can click on any of these photos to get a larger image. The speaker and VFO encoder are towards the top right.
Here's a close up of the speaker hooked up to the CP board. Directly below that is the VFO encoder (and shield).
Here's the finished top half. If you look at the bottom right hand corner of the plastic bezel you will see where I have a temporary "make do" silver screw holding the bezel down. This is where I was shorted one screw. I will put a black one in whenever it arrives from Elecraft.
This is the RF board in the bottom housing. That big black square to the upper left is a magnetic shield. Things are really crammed onto these circuit boards, I can only imagine the effort it would take to build these boards as a "conventional" kit.
This is the BNC connector. It was a bit tricky to get this in, as with the RF Board in place and screwed down you have to finagle the connector part way into the hole, then get the lock washer and nut in place and started. Then you have to push the BNC to its final resting place against the chassis wall while simultaneously tightening the lock nut. There's just not a lot of space!
Here's the two final transistors tightened down to the chassis/heat sink area. This is another area where you have to be careful as Elecraft makes sure to mention (with a big caution) not to disturb that electrolytic capacitor.
So far this has been real easy as kit builds go. The assembly manual is superbly done. The hardest part so far was installing some nylon screws for the rubber feet. You want to make sure you get the screws started at exactly the right angle so you don't end up cross threading or otherwise mucking up the screw threads.
And except for that one silver screw at the bezel, I have been able to make do and keep the build going using those extra screws I had left over from my K1 and K2. Kudos to Elecraft for basically staying with the same hardware so that my "junk box" screws blend right in. The hardware that I have coming from Aptos will go to replenish my "extras".
The bad side of all this ???? This is really making me want a K3 now! Maybe if I sell off some of my baseball memorabilia collection ................
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Making progress
Working on the front half - the CP board and the front panel. I got the board mounted into the front case; and in the process, I think I discovered an error. Not sure where it is though - the parts list or the assembly manual.
The kit is shipped with (6) 2-56 1/4" Black Pan Head screws. According to page 13 of the manual, you need three if these to mount standoffs to the CP board. But then you need four more to mount the plastic bezel (which attracts dirt like crazy, BTW). That would give you a total of seven needed - one more than the six they ship you.
I brought this up to the KX3 reflector and will see what the answer is. Knowing me, I probably read or did something wrong.
For ESD protection, Elecraft recommends three different ESD mats that can be used during construction. They're all rather pricey, so I am using my trusty Radio Shack ESD mat that I have built all my other kits on. That's the red you see in the photo above.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Rats!
I did a complete inventory of my KX3 hardware and am sad to report that I am missing some screws and lock washers.
I sent off an e-mail to Elecraft letting them know what was missing. Normally, I wouldn't even bother, I'd just go off to Home Depot or Lowes to pick up equivalents, but these screws are black. That means they are going to show from the outside, and I don't think either store will have black hardware.
I might have to stop off at Greenbrook Electronics on the way home from work tomorrow, in the off chance they might carry black hardware.
I know what you might be thinking, but no ........ I made sure to do the inventory in a box top, so that nothing could roll off the table and on to the floor - or worse.
To their credit, Elecraft sends a small bag of "spare" hardware. Unfortunately, nothing that I need is in there. I will try to start the build tomorrow night, but I think right from the get go, I am going to need some of these missing screws.
Heavy sigh.
Hmmmmm ..... the good news is that I may only be one screw short. In a burst of inspiration, I went down to the basement to the parts drawer where I kept screws that were left over from my K1 and K2 builds. I think I can make do until the missing parts arrive. Moral of the story? Don't throw stuff like that out! But don't become a hoarder, either - yes, I know it's a fine line!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least.
I sent off an e-mail to Elecraft letting them know what was missing. Normally, I wouldn't even bother, I'd just go off to Home Depot or Lowes to pick up equivalents, but these screws are black. That means they are going to show from the outside, and I don't think either store will have black hardware.
I might have to stop off at Greenbrook Electronics on the way home from work tomorrow, in the off chance they might carry black hardware.
I know what you might be thinking, but no ........ I made sure to do the inventory in a box top, so that nothing could roll off the table and on to the floor - or worse.
To their credit, Elecraft sends a small bag of "spare" hardware. Unfortunately, nothing that I need is in there. I will try to start the build tomorrow night, but I think right from the get go, I am going to need some of these missing screws.
Heavy sigh.
Hmmmmm ..... the good news is that I may only be one screw short. In a burst of inspiration, I went down to the basement to the parts drawer where I kept screws that were left over from my K1 and K2 builds. I think I can make do until the missing parts arrive. Moral of the story? Don't throw stuff like that out! But don't become a hoarder, either - yes, I know it's a fine line!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
There is a saying here in America
and probably other countries, too. It's for when things don't work out quite up to your expectations. The phrase that is used is "Guess I'm a day late and a dollar short".
I have to make an alternative. "Guess I'm a day early and a dollar up!" Because, when I came home from work today; and looked down while I was unlocking the door - this is what I saw:
'Twas sitting right there, on the front stoop - waiting me to pick it up and bring it inside. And it arrived a day early! According to the e-mail that I had received from the folks in Aptos, I was not expecting this until tomorrow.
Upon opening the box, I saw now nice and neatly everything was packaged:
The errata sheet, followed by the manuals (building and owner's) and finally the boxes containing the goodies underneath.
As long as this has taken, I am in no glorified, all Hell bent, gotta-get-it-done-now rush. I am going to spend tonight clearing off my worktable in the shack, and will take some time to re-read the construction manual - again. Right now, if nothing comes up out of left field, I am anticipating construction being completed over the next two evenings.
Pictures and details to follow.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
I have to make an alternative. "Guess I'm a day early and a dollar up!" Because, when I came home from work today; and looked down while I was unlocking the door - this is what I saw:
'Twas sitting right there, on the front stoop - waiting me to pick it up and bring it inside. And it arrived a day early! According to the e-mail that I had received from the folks in Aptos, I was not expecting this until tomorrow.
Upon opening the box, I saw now nice and neatly everything was packaged:
The errata sheet, followed by the manuals (building and owner's) and finally the boxes containing the goodies underneath.
As long as this has taken, I am in no glorified, all Hell bent, gotta-get-it-done-now rush. I am going to spend tonight clearing off my worktable in the shack, and will take some time to re-read the construction manual - again. Right now, if nothing comes up out of left field, I am anticipating construction being completed over the next two evenings.
Pictures and details to follow.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Monday, May 28, 2012
eBay - gotta love it
if you're a seller!
Just for the heck of it, I've been keeping a watch on the auction for an ATS-3B that ended tonight. I was watching a bidding war right before my very eyes.
The final winning bid was $317.00 - not bad for a kit that originally sold for $160.00. Admittedly, it is assembled and comes with a carrying case. But that is almost double the original price.
I mentioned before that I think that eBay is a very good thing for sellers. You have to wonder how many items end up garnering a bigger selling price than they ever would in a classified ad situation. The "macho" of not allowing yourself to be outbid? A feeding frenzy - like sharks drawn to prey? Or is it just consumer ignorance?
An ATS-3B for over $300, that NorCal Doublet the other week for $60. Admittedly, I'm not in the market for either item, so maybe if I was, those prices would not seem so inflated.
It will be interesting to see what that Palm Mini Paddle and Code Cube end up going for. Right now, they're at $90.00 with about 40 minutes to go.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Just for the heck of it, I've been keeping a watch on the auction for an ATS-3B that ended tonight. I was watching a bidding war right before my very eyes.
The final winning bid was $317.00 - not bad for a kit that originally sold for $160.00. Admittedly, it is assembled and comes with a carrying case. But that is almost double the original price.
I mentioned before that I think that eBay is a very good thing for sellers. You have to wonder how many items end up garnering a bigger selling price than they ever would in a classified ad situation. The "macho" of not allowing yourself to be outbid? A feeding frenzy - like sharks drawn to prey? Or is it just consumer ignorance?
An ATS-3B for over $300, that NorCal Doublet the other week for $60. Admittedly, I'm not in the market for either item, so maybe if I was, those prices would not seem so inflated.
It will be interesting to see what that Palm Mini Paddle and Code Cube end up going for. Right now, they're at $90.00 with about 40 minutes to go.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Memorial Day 2012
Happy Memorial Day!
Although officially, Memorial Day will fall later this week, it will be observed this Monday. So in the US, this weekend is always called "The Unofficial Start to Summer".
There will be parades, B-B-Qs, parties, shore getaways, lake getaways, family gatherings, picnics, notable radio contests, etc, etc, etc.
No matter how you are spending your weekend, please be safe and have a very good time. But somewhere during that good time, please take a moment to remember and pray for all those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our Nation, during all the conflicts that we have faced. That is what this holiday is all about.
Freedom is not free and we honor those who have paid the debt for us.
"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends."
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Friday, May 25, 2012
Done!
The paddles are done. The assembly was in the class of "Easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy" territory. And assembly time was all of about a 1/2 hour or so.
The instructions provided by Doug Hauff were superb and easy to follow. The hardest part, installing the compression spring was no big deal at all. Slipped one end of the spring over one of the spring retainer screws and used a tweezer to finagle the other end over the other screw. No launching into orbit or getting lost. Viola!
What I like most about these are:
1) Materials - nice grade of aluminum.
2) Weight - minscule.
3) Size - Super small; but yet not to the point where these are difficult to use. And I can be ham fisted, at times.
4) Ease of adjustment - Here's the best part. I like my paddles to have MINIMUM arm movement. There should be no "clacking" and the closer I can get the feel to compare to a touch keyer the better. I succeeded here with the DCP. The adjustment screws have a fine enough thread pitch where this was easy to attain.
The only thing that I have to say that is negative, is that when you have the paddles attached to your radio (and it is on), you have to be careful about how you pick these up if you want to move them. Your first inclination will be to reach down (or over) and just grab the key with your hand. If you do it that way, you will most likely start inadvertently sending dits and dahs. Like I did - several times. Oops!
That minor inconvenience being noted, I would give these paddles a 5 out of 5 star rating. For their intended use, these paddles will more than fit the bill. Now all I have to do is figure out some kind of leg mounting scheme.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Commencement
Not graduation - began working on my American Morse DCP paddles tonight, just as I thought I would.
I spent some time polishing up the aluminum. First, I gave the metal pieces a light scrubbing with one of those copper Chore Boy scrubby pads. Then I used some Noxon metal polish (that I forgot I had!) that I found on a shelf. Lastly, a going over with a polishing wheel on my Dremel.
Not a mirror finish, but a lot shinier than they were originally. All I did was remove the top layer of oxidation. I am sure that with time, the metal will get dull again, but for now, it looks pretty darn nice!
Tomorrow night I will assemble everything - shouldn't take long at all.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
I spent some time polishing up the aluminum. First, I gave the metal pieces a light scrubbing with one of those copper Chore Boy scrubby pads. Then I used some Noxon metal polish (that I forgot I had!) that I found on a shelf. Lastly, a going over with a polishing wheel on my Dremel.
Not a mirror finish, but a lot shinier than they were originally. All I did was remove the top layer of oxidation. I am sure that with time, the metal will get dull again, but for now, it looks pretty darn nice!
Tomorrow night I will assemble everything - shouldn't take long at all.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
One of the uber QRP operators
If you're really into QRP portable operations, you know, QRP from the great outdoors, then you may have heard about Steve Galchutt WG0AT.
If you haven't ever heard of Steve, then you owe it to yourself to find out more. Steve and his two pack goats, Rooster and Peanut are a QRP portable operating team, extraordinaire. Seems like Steve and the boys are always out somewhere, inducing RF into the ionosphere to somewhere.
Besides being a superb QRP op, Steve is also a gifted videographer when it comes to his adventures. He has an entire YouTube channel devoted to them:
http://www.youtube.com/user/goathiker?feature=results_main
I have had the honor and privilege to work Steve when he's been out and about as well as from home. Check out his YouTube videos. You will be entertained, educated and inspired all at the same time!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
BTW - got an e-mail from Elecraft - a certain small 5 lb box will be here next Wednesday. WooHoo!
If you haven't ever heard of Steve, then you owe it to yourself to find out more. Steve and his two pack goats, Rooster and Peanut are a QRP portable operating team, extraordinaire. Seems like Steve and the boys are always out somewhere, inducing RF into the ionosphere to somewhere.
Besides being a superb QRP op, Steve is also a gifted videographer when it comes to his adventures. He has an entire YouTube channel devoted to them:
http://www.youtube.com/user/goathiker?feature=results_main
I have had the honor and privilege to work Steve when he's been out and about as well as from home. Check out his YouTube videos. You will be entertained, educated and inspired all at the same time!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
BTW - got an e-mail from Elecraft - a certain small 5 lb box will be here next Wednesday. WooHoo!
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
American Morse DCP Paddles
Now that things are starting to settle down, tomorrow evening I will probably begin building my American Morse DCP Paddles that were my birthday gift. I don't think I am going to go real fancy and mirror polish the aluminum pieces; but I probably will go over them very well with either some steel wool or perhaps the Dremel with a polishing wheel.
There's a set of Palm mini paddles up for bid on eBay I would really like a set of those. Yesterday, the high bid was about $26 - today it's up to $76 with five more days to go. The auction includes the Code Cube keyer, so the "buy new" price for both is about $195 (this is the gray model). Knowing eBay, I am willing to wager that by the time the auction is over, the selling price is not going to be that much of a bargain.
It has been my experience that folks can get "caught up in the moment" and bid wildly just so as to not "let it get away". This can be great if you're the seller - and if you're one of the bidders, unless you REALLY want the particular item, it can cause you to sigh, shrug your shoulders and walk away.
If I get time during lunch tomorrow, there's an Eastern Mountain Sports store near where I work. I just might head on over there and start looking at padded cases to store the KX3 in when I place it in my knapsack or rucksack. I want to keep the new radio in as good condition as my K1 was, even after nine years. It literally looked brand spankin' mint new - like it just came out of the box.
From one of the QRP e-mail reflectors, someone made me aware of this 6 X 9 padded pouch from Maxpedition padded cases. For $33, it looks like a nice solution - but I'd still like to see what the outdoors store has in stock.
The idea, of course, is to keep this all as light and small as possible. Antenna, battery and radio should be able to fit quite nicely into my small CQ knapsack that I purchased at Dayton back in the 90s. I don't think I am going to flip for a whole new case - like the Lowepro Traveler 140 camera case that has been bandied about by some of the guys. But I have to admit, after watching this YouTube video about the Lowepro Traveler 150 by TJ, W0EA, I could be persuaded if I could find one at a good price.
Maybe I'll head on over to the local WalMart this weekend and see if I can find one at a real good price like TJ did.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
There's a set of Palm mini paddles up for bid on eBay I would really like a set of those. Yesterday, the high bid was about $26 - today it's up to $76 with five more days to go. The auction includes the Code Cube keyer, so the "buy new" price for both is about $195 (this is the gray model). Knowing eBay, I am willing to wager that by the time the auction is over, the selling price is not going to be that much of a bargain.
It has been my experience that folks can get "caught up in the moment" and bid wildly just so as to not "let it get away". This can be great if you're the seller - and if you're one of the bidders, unless you REALLY want the particular item, it can cause you to sigh, shrug your shoulders and walk away.
If I get time during lunch tomorrow, there's an Eastern Mountain Sports store near where I work. I just might head on over there and start looking at padded cases to store the KX3 in when I place it in my knapsack or rucksack. I want to keep the new radio in as good condition as my K1 was, even after nine years. It literally looked brand spankin' mint new - like it just came out of the box.
From one of the QRP e-mail reflectors, someone made me aware of this 6 X 9 padded pouch from Maxpedition padded cases. For $33, it looks like a nice solution - but I'd still like to see what the outdoors store has in stock.
The idea, of course, is to keep this all as light and small as possible. Antenna, battery and radio should be able to fit quite nicely into my small CQ knapsack that I purchased at Dayton back in the 90s. I don't think I am going to flip for a whole new case - like the Lowepro Traveler 140 camera case that has been bandied about by some of the guys. But I have to admit, after watching this YouTube video about the Lowepro Traveler 150 by TJ, W0EA, I could be persuaded if I could find one at a good price.
Maybe I'll head on over to the local WalMart this weekend and see if I can find one at a real good price like TJ did.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
More bad news
From the ARRL:
SB SPCL @ ARL $ARLX006
ARLX006 Former ARRL First Vice President Steve Mendelsohn, W2ML (SK)
ZCZC AX06 QST de W1AW Special Bulletin 6 ARLX006:
From ARRL Headquarters Newington CT May 23, 2012
To all radio amateurs
SB SPCL ARL ARLX006 Former ARRL First Vice President Steve Mendelsohn, W2ML (SK)
After a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer, Steve Mendelsohn, W2ML, of Dumont, New Jersey, passed away May 23. He was 67. An ARRL Life Member, Mendelsohn began his time with ARRL in 1983 when he was elected as Vice Director of the Hudson Division. After two terms as Vice Director, he was elected as Hudson Division Director in 1987. In 1996, the ARRL Board of Directors elected Mendelsohn as its First Vice President, where he served until 2000. The next year, he was again elected as the Hudson Division Vice Director, serving through 2004.
Outside of his League activities, Mendelsohn was active both as the Communications Director of the New York City Marathon and, along with his wife Heidi, W2MLW, as the Game Day Frequency Coordinator (GDC) for the New York Jets. The November 2007 issue of QST featured Mendelsohn on its cover along with an article about him and the GDC program. Mendelsohn was inducted into the CQ Hall of Fame last week for his contributions to the ARRL, the New York City Marathon and the National Football League.
Mendelsohn was a 30 year veteran of the US Navy, rising to the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer, with a Cryptologist rating. He received two Navy Achievement Awards for creating an important national security database for personal computers. While stationed in Scotland in the late 1960s, Mendelsohn was GM5AHS. He was a member of the North Jersey DX Association (NJDXA) and was the current President of the Bergen Amateur Radio Association (BARA). At one point, Mendelsohn served as President of both organizations simultaneously.
''Steve's passing is a great loss in the world of Amateur Radio,'' said ARRL Hudson Division Director Joyce Birmingham, KA2ANF. ''I will always treasure the times I spent with Steve over the many years I knew him. To me, and to all of Amateur Radio, he was a strong leader, dedicated mentor and most importantly, a true friend to many of us throughout the entire Amateur Radio community. Most recently, as a courageous fighter, Steve battled pancreatic cancer, but still continued to serve the ham community until the end and enjoyed many hours on the air. Our prayers go out to his family and his beloved Heidi. Rest now, my friend, you are at peace. We will miss you.'' '
'Steve brought a unique personality and perspective to the ARRL Board,'' said ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN. ''Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time of loss.''
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Further information about Steve's life may be found on the web at, http://www.arrl.org/news/former-arrl-first-vice-president-steve-mendelsohn-w2ml-sk .
(End)
I knew Steve through my time as President of the Piscataway Amateur Radio Club and oddly enough, through this blog. Some of you may remember that I posted about him early on after his initial diagnosis. We had maintained some e-mail communications from time to time about Amateur Radio and other things.
Above all, he was a boon to the Ham community and a true, true gentleman. He will be sorely missed.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least.
SB SPCL @ ARL $ARLX006
ARLX006 Former ARRL First Vice President Steve Mendelsohn, W2ML (SK)
ZCZC AX06 QST de W1AW Special Bulletin 6 ARLX006:
From ARRL Headquarters Newington CT May 23, 2012
To all radio amateurs
SB SPCL ARL ARLX006 Former ARRL First Vice President Steve Mendelsohn, W2ML (SK)
After a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer, Steve Mendelsohn, W2ML, of Dumont, New Jersey, passed away May 23. He was 67. An ARRL Life Member, Mendelsohn began his time with ARRL in 1983 when he was elected as Vice Director of the Hudson Division. After two terms as Vice Director, he was elected as Hudson Division Director in 1987. In 1996, the ARRL Board of Directors elected Mendelsohn as its First Vice President, where he served until 2000. The next year, he was again elected as the Hudson Division Vice Director, serving through 2004.
Outside of his League activities, Mendelsohn was active both as the Communications Director of the New York City Marathon and, along with his wife Heidi, W2MLW, as the Game Day Frequency Coordinator (GDC) for the New York Jets. The November 2007 issue of QST featured Mendelsohn on its cover along with an article about him and the GDC program. Mendelsohn was inducted into the CQ Hall of Fame last week for his contributions to the ARRL, the New York City Marathon and the National Football League.
Mendelsohn was a 30 year veteran of the US Navy, rising to the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer, with a Cryptologist rating. He received two Navy Achievement Awards for creating an important national security database for personal computers. While stationed in Scotland in the late 1960s, Mendelsohn was GM5AHS. He was a member of the North Jersey DX Association (NJDXA) and was the current President of the Bergen Amateur Radio Association (BARA). At one point, Mendelsohn served as President of both organizations simultaneously.
''Steve's passing is a great loss in the world of Amateur Radio,'' said ARRL Hudson Division Director Joyce Birmingham, KA2ANF. ''I will always treasure the times I spent with Steve over the many years I knew him. To me, and to all of Amateur Radio, he was a strong leader, dedicated mentor and most importantly, a true friend to many of us throughout the entire Amateur Radio community. Most recently, as a courageous fighter, Steve battled pancreatic cancer, but still continued to serve the ham community until the end and enjoyed many hours on the air. Our prayers go out to his family and his beloved Heidi. Rest now, my friend, you are at peace. We will miss you.'' '
'Steve brought a unique personality and perspective to the ARRL Board,'' said ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN. ''Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time of loss.''
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Further information about Steve's life may be found on the web at, http://www.arrl.org/news/former-arrl-first-vice-president-steve-mendelsohn-w2ml-sk .
(End)
I knew Steve through my time as President of the Piscataway Amateur Radio Club and oddly enough, through this blog. Some of you may remember that I posted about him early on after his initial diagnosis. We had maintained some e-mail communications from time to time about Amateur Radio and other things.
Above all, he was a boon to the Ham community and a true, true gentleman. He will be sorely missed.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Pinch me...
so I can be sure I'm not dreaming!
Is it true? I guess it is! This finally appeared in my "inbox" today:
"Dear KX3 Customer,
Your KX3 order is expected to ship during the week of 5/23 to 5/29. The exact day is not known at this time.
(Snip)
If you have any corrections or changes to your order please let us know.
If you need the shipping delayed for any reason that is fine. We can ship at the later date you specify. (You're kidding, right?)
Once we have received your confirmation your order will ship as soon as possible. (That was sent immediately!)
The day it ships you will receive an email from the shipper ( either UPS or USPS) with the shipping notice. The KXBC3 (didn't order one) is currently on backorder. It will not be included with your KX3 shipment. As soon as it is available, we will ship it to you.
We look forward to your reply and shipping your KX3 order. Be sure to reply!!! (I did, I did !!!!)
Regards, Vicki Seavy
Hallelujah!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Is it true? I guess it is! This finally appeared in my "inbox" today:
"Dear KX3 Customer,
Your KX3 order is expected to ship during the week of 5/23 to 5/29. The exact day is not known at this time.
(Snip)
If you have any corrections or changes to your order please let us know.
If you need the shipping delayed for any reason that is fine. We can ship at the later date you specify. (You're kidding, right?)
Once we have received your confirmation your order will ship as soon as possible. (That was sent immediately!)
The day it ships you will receive an email from the shipper ( either UPS or USPS) with the shipping notice. The KXBC3 (didn't order one) is currently on backorder. It will not be included with your KX3 shipment. As soon as it is available, we will ship it to you.
We look forward to your reply and shipping your KX3 order. Be sure to reply!!! (I did, I did !!!!)
Regards, Vicki Seavy
Hallelujah!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Sunday, May 20, 2012
This n' that
We did end up making that trip down to the Camden waterfront yesterday. There was so much to see at the aquarium, that we didn't make it to the USS New Jersey.
But after seeing it from the outside, all of us decided that we really want to go back to take the tour. That we didn't make it there yesterday may have been serendipitous, anyway. As yesterday was Armed Forces Day, the New Jersey might have been a busier place than normal. We WILL get back there this summer - somehow, someway.
Congratulations are in order to the two newest members of the QRP Hall of Fame, Terry Fletcher WA0ITP and Jay Bromley W5JAY. They both richly deserve the honor and it's good to see them inducted.
Not much news on the e-mail reflectors about new QRP items at Dayton. With the proliferation of e-mail capability via cell phones, iPads and other tablets, I was expecting more. Either there wasn't much in the way of news, or perhaps we'll start hearing more once folks get home and settled in.
I am hoping that with the Dayton dust settling that there will be good news headed my way from Aptos, CA this week, My buddy sent me an e-mail letting me know that he's closing on his house on May 31st. Looks like this horse race is going to be a photo finish.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
But after seeing it from the outside, all of us decided that we really want to go back to take the tour. That we didn't make it there yesterday may have been serendipitous, anyway. As yesterday was Armed Forces Day, the New Jersey might have been a busier place than normal. We WILL get back there this summer - somehow, someway.
Congratulations are in order to the two newest members of the QRP Hall of Fame, Terry Fletcher WA0ITP and Jay Bromley W5JAY. They both richly deserve the honor and it's good to see them inducted.
Not much news on the e-mail reflectors about new QRP items at Dayton. With the proliferation of e-mail capability via cell phones, iPads and other tablets, I was expecting more. Either there wasn't much in the way of news, or perhaps we'll start hearing more once folks get home and settled in.
I am hoping that with the Dayton dust settling that there will be good news headed my way from Aptos, CA this week, My buddy sent me an e-mail letting me know that he's closing on his house on May 31st. Looks like this horse race is going to be a photo finish.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Friday, May 18, 2012
This is the kind of thing I need
to lift my spirits, even if it's lifting them just by a hair.
Thanks, Jim!
http://www.w1pid.com/winriv/winriv.html
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Thanks, Jim!
http://www.w1pid.com/winriv/winriv.html
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Feeling numb
My Mom's funeral was today.
The week was busy with running here, running there - taking care of this and taking care of that. Now all the busy-ness has come to an abrupt end and I am feeling numb.
Normally, I'd be keeping my eyeballs peeled for news out of Dayton. Still doing that somewhat, as K4SWL has been posting some neat photos (check 'em out) on his blog - The QRP'er. But it sure hasn't enticed me like it has in past years.
I was hoping against hope, to come home and find "that e-mail" from Elecraft in my In Box as there was indication earlier in the week on the KX3 reflector that a bunch of kits would be shipped today. Nothing there.
The good news is that Marianne may be off from work tomorrow, which is an extremely rare thing as she always works on Saturdays. If that's the case (and I am praying that it is) then I will immerse myself in spending quality family time with her and the kids. We were kicking the idea around of going down to Camden, NJ to visit the State Aquarium that is located there, as well as the Battleship New Jersey which is berthed there.
If we go to the USS New Jersey and I can get some photos of the radio room, which is now filled with Amateur Radio gear, I will post them here.
Be well, my friends!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
The week was busy with running here, running there - taking care of this and taking care of that. Now all the busy-ness has come to an abrupt end and I am feeling numb.
Normally, I'd be keeping my eyeballs peeled for news out of Dayton. Still doing that somewhat, as K4SWL has been posting some neat photos (check 'em out) on his blog - The QRP'er. But it sure hasn't enticed me like it has in past years.
I was hoping against hope, to come home and find "that e-mail" from Elecraft in my In Box as there was indication earlier in the week on the KX3 reflector that a bunch of kits would be shipped today. Nothing there.
The good news is that Marianne may be off from work tomorrow, which is an extremely rare thing as she always works on Saturdays. If that's the case (and I am praying that it is) then I will immerse myself in spending quality family time with her and the kids. We were kicking the idea around of going down to Camden, NJ to visit the State Aquarium that is located there, as well as the Battleship New Jersey which is berthed there.
If we go to the USS New Jersey and I can get some photos of the radio room, which is now filled with Amateur Radio gear, I will post them here.
Be well, my friends!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Godspeed !
To all my friends headed to Dayton Hamvention and to all my friends headed out to FDIM, I wish you Godspeed - safe journeys there and back home.
Enjoy the friendship and camaraderie and please fill up the e-mail reflectors with bits of news, please!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Enjoy the friendship and camaraderie and please fill up the e-mail reflectors with bits of news, please!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Thank you so much!
Thanks to all of you out there, who have so kindly shared your thoughts, prayers, kind comments here and elsewhere as well as e-mails that I have received during this difficult time. I am so blessed to have so many friends because of Amateur Radio, and this blog. Even if we've never formally met, I consider you all to be truly great friends. Please know you have my utmost appreciation and gratitude and that I will, in turn, be remembering you all in my prayers.
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!
Monday, May 14, 2012
This is truly difficult.
This is the most difficult blog post that I have ever made.
It is with a heavy and broken heart that I have to announce that my Mom, Doris Makoski, passed away tonight. She was 83 and died due to complications from cancer. Thankfully, she passed peacefully in her sleep with my sister and my brother-in-law and me at her bedside.
My mom is the person most responsible for who and what I am. She taught me a lot and always told me to never be afraid to do the things that I wanted to do.
While I am happy that she is no longer suffering and in pain; and that she's gone on to the reward that she so richly deserves, I cannot describe to you the loss and void that I am feeling right now.
If you would remember her in your prayers, it would be appreciated.
Larry W2LJ
Wednesday, May 09, 2012
Memories
I was reading my good friend Kelly K4UPG's blog; and my memory was quite neatly jogged by the video he posted for the old REMCO game, "Fascination". I remember the commercial like it was yesterday. My cousins had the game and I used to love to play it.
I was so taken by the video, that I went on over to YouTube and did a search on REMCO, looking for other commercials for toys of my youth. I found this one, which I only vaguely, vaguely remember in the very recesses of my memory - but maybe it had something to do with becoming an Amateur Op in my later years?
On the same page, I saw a link to this video - and got a kick out of it as well.
If you were around for the 50s and 60s, you probably ran around with one of those in your pocket or school bag. I remember sneaking a radio like that into school in 1969 so I could listen to the Mets beat the Orioles in the World Series. Ah, yes - back when they actually played World Series games in daylight hours!
And all the nights spent spinning the dial, either listening to Jean Shepherd K2ORS on WWOR or looking for DX stations like KDKA out of Pittsburgh or KMOX out of St. Louis. Good times!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
I was so taken by the video, that I went on over to YouTube and did a search on REMCO, looking for other commercials for toys of my youth. I found this one, which I only vaguely, vaguely remember in the very recesses of my memory - but maybe it had something to do with becoming an Amateur Op in my later years?
On the same page, I saw a link to this video - and got a kick out of it as well.
If you were around for the 50s and 60s, you probably ran around with one of those in your pocket or school bag. I remember sneaking a radio like that into school in 1969 so I could listen to the Mets beat the Orioles in the World Series. Ah, yes - back when they actually played World Series games in daylight hours!
And all the nights spent spinning the dial, either listening to Jean Shepherd K2ORS on WWOR or looking for DX stations like KDKA out of Pittsburgh or KMOX out of St. Louis. Good times!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Monday, May 07, 2012
Quick Announcement
The official Web presence for the NJQRP Skeeter Hunt will be:
http://www.qsl.net/w2lj/
Pardon how it looks for now. I'll be working on it soon; but right now, helping my two harmonics with their science fair presentations is taking precedence.
It looks pretty crude as of right now; but hopefully I'll be able to figure out how to make it more elegant looking by the end of the week.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
http://www.qsl.net/w2lj/
Pardon how it looks for now. I'll be working on it soon; but right now, helping my two harmonics with their science fair presentations is taking precedence.
It looks pretty crude as of right now; but hopefully I'll be able to figure out how to make it more elegant looking by the end of the week.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Sunday, May 06, 2012
Skeeter Questions
Questions about the NJQRP Skeeter Hunt have been filtering in. Here's some answers:
Question - "I have a question that you or someone else may have the answer to. At one time, several years ago wasn't there a transmitter project that was called a 'MOSquito'? It possibly was a transceiver. If I recall it was in one of the magazines, CQ, 73, or Ham Radio."
Answer - I think you're thinking of the Miss Mosquita - The DL QRP Project still has that kit available:
http://www.qrpproject.de/UK/missmosquita.htm
Question - "Do I have to be a resident of NJ to get a NJQRP number?"
Answer - I'm assuming you mean a Skeeter number. Certainly not! Anyone worldwide, who desires a Skeeter number can have one. And as far as I know, NJQRP numbers are still given out when you join NJQRP - anyone can join that fine organization, also. For the record, W2LJ's NJQRP number is 47.
Question - "Any thought about multiop or multi multi stations? A couple of us are thinking of a cookout and contest afternoon."
Answer - No, I hadn't, but it sounds like a cool idea to me! Want to get a group together and have a cookout and get some radio in? Sure! All I ask is when you submit your log, to list the operators who participated. Of course, this will be considered a separate operating class - but no problem with that. I will make note of it when I update the rules.
Question - "You'll probably need to add some clarification on the "Kit" points. Some of the other "homebrew" contests are not counting modular kits like the K3 and KX3 as homebrew anymore, does this contest?"
Answer - This might rankle a few purists. But as far as I am concerned, for the Skeeter Hunt, here's the definition of "kit built". The operator's hands were involved in more than 50% of the building of the kit. Solder need not necessarily be involved. If you built a K3 or KX3 with your own hands, it counts. If you finished a kit (half of it or more, I will let the entrant judge that for himself) that someone else started, it counts. If you're using a PFR3A or a KX1 or whatever and you didn't build it yourself? Consider it commercial equipment. The idea here is to have fun and not get too trapped in the details. The honor system will rule - there will be no checking. If anyone homebrews a key or paddle for the Skeeter hunt, please send a photo with your entry!
Question - "I am assuming it is ok for skeeters to operate in the field for the event?"
Answer - That's the whole idea! Get out with your gear, get on the air and then share your tale of adventure with the rest of us!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Question - "I have a question that you or someone else may have the answer to. At one time, several years ago wasn't there a transmitter project that was called a 'MOSquito'? It possibly was a transceiver. If I recall it was in one of the magazines, CQ, 73, or Ham Radio."
Answer - I think you're thinking of the Miss Mosquita - The DL QRP Project still has that kit available:
http://www.qrpproject.de/UK/missmosquita.htm
Question - "Do I have to be a resident of NJ to get a NJQRP number?"
Answer - I'm assuming you mean a Skeeter number. Certainly not! Anyone worldwide, who desires a Skeeter number can have one. And as far as I know, NJQRP numbers are still given out when you join NJQRP - anyone can join that fine organization, also. For the record, W2LJ's NJQRP number is 47.
Question - "Any thought about multiop or multi multi stations? A couple of us are thinking of a cookout and contest afternoon."
Answer - No, I hadn't, but it sounds like a cool idea to me! Want to get a group together and have a cookout and get some radio in? Sure! All I ask is when you submit your log, to list the operators who participated. Of course, this will be considered a separate operating class - but no problem with that. I will make note of it when I update the rules.
Question - "You'll probably need to add some clarification on the "Kit" points. Some of the other "homebrew" contests are not counting modular kits like the K3 and KX3 as homebrew anymore, does this contest?"
Answer - This might rankle a few purists. But as far as I am concerned, for the Skeeter Hunt, here's the definition of "kit built". The operator's hands were involved in more than 50% of the building of the kit. Solder need not necessarily be involved. If you built a K3 or KX3 with your own hands, it counts. If you finished a kit (half of it or more, I will let the entrant judge that for himself) that someone else started, it counts. If you're using a PFR3A or a KX1 or whatever and you didn't build it yourself? Consider it commercial equipment. The idea here is to have fun and not get too trapped in the details. The honor system will rule - there will be no checking. If anyone homebrews a key or paddle for the Skeeter hunt, please send a photo with your entry!
Question - "I am assuming it is ok for skeeters to operate in the field for the event?"
Answer - That's the whole idea! Get out with your gear, get on the air and then share your tale of adventure with the rest of us!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Friday, May 04, 2012
Wow!
I saw this on eBay today:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HF-antenna-QRP-Norcal-Doublet-Portable-/120903732214?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c266c8bf6
Someone in Spain is auctioning off NorCal Doublets. This particular one has 12 bids on it with about 2 1/2 days to go. High bid is $31.00 US.
Holy Shamoley! I have to start getting busy building NorCal Doublets and posting them to eBay !! I have built several of these from ribbon cable as well as light gauge speaker wire. They do work decently well, and they are cheap to make. For what I paid in materials, $31.00 would be a serious return on investment.
The handing out of Skeeter numbers is going well. If you hit the extreme right tab above, entitled "NJQRP Skeeter Hunt", you'll get the rules and you'll be able to see the roster as it currently stands. I am going to update it as often as I can. As of this very second, 39 Skeeter numbers have been handed out.
Ward Silver of the ARRL has been notified, so The Hunt will appear in the August "Contest Corral". I will send an e-mail to CQ this weekend, also.
Ahhh! My birthday present arrived in the mail today - the DCP paddles from American Morse. Tiny little package for a tiny little key. I hope to start the build this weekend and will post some photos.
The kids (including yours truly) want to see "The Avengers Assemble" this weekend. Hope I can get tickets - all local shows around here for tonight are already sold out.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HF-antenna-QRP-Norcal-Doublet-Portable-/120903732214?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c266c8bf6
Someone in Spain is auctioning off NorCal Doublets. This particular one has 12 bids on it with about 2 1/2 days to go. High bid is $31.00 US.
Holy Shamoley! I have to start getting busy building NorCal Doublets and posting them to eBay !! I have built several of these from ribbon cable as well as light gauge speaker wire. They do work decently well, and they are cheap to make. For what I paid in materials, $31.00 would be a serious return on investment.
The handing out of Skeeter numbers is going well. If you hit the extreme right tab above, entitled "NJQRP Skeeter Hunt", you'll get the rules and you'll be able to see the roster as it currently stands. I am going to update it as often as I can. As of this very second, 39 Skeeter numbers have been handed out.
Ward Silver of the ARRL has been notified, so The Hunt will appear in the August "Contest Corral". I will send an e-mail to CQ this weekend, also.
Ahhh! My birthday present arrived in the mail today - the DCP paddles from American Morse. Tiny little package for a tiny little key. I hope to start the build this weekend and will post some photos.
The kids (including yours truly) want to see "The Avengers Assemble" this weekend. Hope I can get tickets - all local shows around here for tonight are already sold out.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Wednesday, May 02, 2012
Announcing the First Annual NJQRP Skeeter Hunt
The NJQRP Club is announcing a new summertime operating event - "The
Skeeter Hunt". The objective is to get QRPers out of their shacks
for the day; and into the fresh air and sunshine, to spread their wings and fill the airwaves with "Skeeters". While commercial
equipment can certainly utilized, bonus points will be awarded for
those who personally home brewed their own or kit built their own
equipment (equipment not built by the operator would not count as
either home brewed or kit built - it would be considered commercial
equipment). The inaugural event is to be held on Sunday August 12th. It will be a four hour sprint - from 17:00
UTC to 21:00 UTC (1:00 TO 5:00 PM EDT).
The theme for this year is "My favorite outdoor place". You are encouraged to operate from your favorite outdoor place and tell us about it in your Soapbox comments.
Stations who wish to be designated as "Skeeters" can get a Skeeter number by requesting one by sending an e-mail to w2lj@arrl.net Skeeter numbers would be issued from May through the day before the event.
Station Classes and Multipliers
X1 Home stations - commercial equipment
X2 Home stations - home brewed or kit built equipment
X3 Portable station - commercial equipment
X4 Portable station - home brewed or kit built equipment
Portable stations cannot use permanent antennas, i.e you can't work from your backyard, hook up to your dipole or tower and yagi and be considered a portable station. Also, portable stations cannot be connected to the local power grid - alternative energy sources must be used - solar, battery, wind, etc.
Suggested Call - Either CQ QRP or CQ Buzz
Exchange -
Skeeter Stations - RST, S/P/C, Skeeter number
Non-Skeeter Stations - RST, S/P/C, Output power
Mode - CW
Power - 5W max
Scoring -
Working a Skeeter Station - 2 points
Working a non-Skeeter Station - 1 point
Total score equals the number of QSO points times the number of S/P/Cs worked on all bands (stations can be worked on multiple bands for QSO points and S/P/C credit) times the multiplier for station class.
Bonus points - design and home brew a key or paddle specifically for the event and earn an extra 1000 points.
Suggested frequencies:
The QRP "Watering Holes
80 Meters ~ 3.560 MHz
40 Meters ~ 7.040 and 7.030 MHz - also consider using from 7.114 to 7.122 MHz for a "slower" speed CW area. We want to have everyone involved!
20 Meters ~ 14.060 MHz
15 Meters ~ 21.060 MHz
10 Meters ~ 28.060 MHz
These are suggested starting points, of course. Feel free to spread out and give your "Skeeter" wings a chance to do their thing.
Logs, photos and soapbox comments can be sent to w2lj@arrl.net no later than 30 days after the event. Certificates will be issued to the top scorers of each category as well as others to be determined.
A table of call signs and issued "Skeeter" numbers will appear on a separate page on this site.
Hope to hear and work all of you during this new event. Special thanks to the NJQRP club for their sponsorship!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
The theme for this year is "My favorite outdoor place". You are encouraged to operate from your favorite outdoor place and tell us about it in your Soapbox comments.
Stations who wish to be designated as "Skeeters" can get a Skeeter number by requesting one by sending an e-mail to w2lj@arrl.net Skeeter numbers would be issued from May through the day before the event.
Station Classes and Multipliers
X1 Home stations - commercial equipment
X2 Home stations - home brewed or kit built equipment
X3 Portable station - commercial equipment
X4 Portable station - home brewed or kit built equipment
Portable stations cannot use permanent antennas, i.e you can't work from your backyard, hook up to your dipole or tower and yagi and be considered a portable station. Also, portable stations cannot be connected to the local power grid - alternative energy sources must be used - solar, battery, wind, etc.
Suggested Call - Either CQ QRP or CQ Buzz
Exchange -
Skeeter Stations - RST, S/P/C, Skeeter number
Non-Skeeter Stations - RST, S/P/C, Output power
Mode - CW
Power - 5W max
Scoring -
Working a Skeeter Station - 2 points
Working a non-Skeeter Station - 1 point
Total score equals the number of QSO points times the number of S/P/Cs worked on all bands (stations can be worked on multiple bands for QSO points and S/P/C credit) times the multiplier for station class.
Bonus points - design and home brew a key or paddle specifically for the event and earn an extra 1000 points.
Suggested frequencies:
The QRP "Watering Holes
80 Meters ~ 3.560 MHz
40 Meters ~ 7.040 and 7.030 MHz - also consider using from 7.114 to 7.122 MHz for a "slower" speed CW area. We want to have everyone involved!
20 Meters ~ 14.060 MHz
15 Meters ~ 21.060 MHz
10 Meters ~ 28.060 MHz
These are suggested starting points, of course. Feel free to spread out and give your "Skeeter" wings a chance to do their thing.
Logs, photos and soapbox comments can be sent to w2lj@arrl.net no later than 30 days after the event. Certificates will be issued to the top scorers of each category as well as others to be determined.
A table of call signs and issued "Skeeter" numbers will appear on a separate page on this site.
Hope to hear and work all of you during this new event. Special thanks to the NJQRP club for their sponsorship!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Severe case of Dayton envy!
I really envy all of you fortunate enough to attend the Dayton Hamvention and FDIM. Looks like a bounty of good QRP stuff will be available. Doug Hendricks KI6DS, posted this to QRP-L today:
Hendricks QRP kits will be at Dayton again this year, and we will be in a new location. Our booth numbers are 459 and 460, located right across from the ARRL in the Ball Arena. And we have 9 new products, yes, you read it right, 9. Here they are:
1. The Weber Tribander designed by Steve Weber, KD1JV. This is a 3 band CW Transceiver and you get to pick your bands from the following: 15, 17, 20, 30, 40 and 80 Meters. Digital display, Custom Case, DDS Vfo, and Encoder Tuning. If you have wanted a PFR on other bands or with rotary encoder tuning, this is the radio for you. Price: $200.
2. The Tuthill 160 designed by Dan Tayloe. Finally, a cw transceiver kit for 160M. We have expanded the popular Tuthill series to now include 160M with a full 5 Watts of output. Basic Kit is $100 (show special), optional Digital Display, $35. Now is the time to get this kit so you will be ready for 160 in the fall.
3. SMK-2. The popular surface mount 40M CW transceiver designed by Dave Fifield is back. And it is improved! The SMK-2 comes with 2 Frequencies, and is complete with case and connectors. Plus there is an optional Crystal Board available for switchable frequencies. The Transceiver is $40, Optional Crystal Board is $10. Frequencies are 7.030, 7.040 and 7.122MHz.
4. 41dB Step Attenuator. We have kitted the popular design that has been in the ARRL handbook for years. Ken Locasale designed a great looking case, and everything is included. Great for working low power and for transmitter hunts. $50.
5. Rock Hunter Chassis for the DCxxB series. We now have a case, connectors and an addon board to give 2 additional frequencies for the DCxxB series of transceivers. We have had many, many requests for a case for the DCxx series of transceivers, and now we have it. $20 for the case, connectors, controls and addon frequency board.
6. Red Hot 40 Transceiver. We will have a special price on the Red Hot 40, the high performance 40 Meter CW Transceiver designed by Dave Fifield. The show special is $200, which is $50 off the regular price.
7. Repackaged Tayloe SWR Meter. Ken has come up with a great little chassis for the SWR Meter designed by Dan Tayloe, N7VE. $25.
8. Sota Tuner. This has been one of our best sellers since we introduced it in September. The Sota is an End Fed Half Wave Tuner with a metal case, stainless steel hardware, and only weighs 2.5 ounces, and the price is $30.
9. Two Fer Transmitter. The Twofer is a great little transmitter. Available on 40 or 30 or 20 Meters. Show special at $30.
We will also have show specials on the Tenna Dipper, with a price of $70, MMR40 at $175, NADC40 basic kit w/out digital display, $100, Ft. Tuthill 15, basic kit no display, $100.
Stop by the booth and say hello to Steve Weber, KD1JV who will be in the booth on Friday and Saturday, plus Dean Davis, Darrel Swenson, Ken and Karen Locasale.
Plus, we will be able to take credit cards this year for the first time. We accept Visa, Mastercharge, Discover and American Express. I am kitting like crazy and really excited about this year at Dayton. Hope to see you there. Doug
Sounds like it's a good idea to bring lots of radio money along. Maybe it's a good thing that I'm not going? At least that's what the XYL is probably thinking.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Hendricks QRP kits will be at Dayton again this year, and we will be in a new location. Our booth numbers are 459 and 460, located right across from the ARRL in the Ball Arena. And we have 9 new products, yes, you read it right, 9. Here they are:
1. The Weber Tribander designed by Steve Weber, KD1JV. This is a 3 band CW Transceiver and you get to pick your bands from the following: 15, 17, 20, 30, 40 and 80 Meters. Digital display, Custom Case, DDS Vfo, and Encoder Tuning. If you have wanted a PFR on other bands or with rotary encoder tuning, this is the radio for you. Price: $200.
2. The Tuthill 160 designed by Dan Tayloe. Finally, a cw transceiver kit for 160M. We have expanded the popular Tuthill series to now include 160M with a full 5 Watts of output. Basic Kit is $100 (show special), optional Digital Display, $35. Now is the time to get this kit so you will be ready for 160 in the fall.
3. SMK-2. The popular surface mount 40M CW transceiver designed by Dave Fifield is back. And it is improved! The SMK-2 comes with 2 Frequencies, and is complete with case and connectors. Plus there is an optional Crystal Board available for switchable frequencies. The Transceiver is $40, Optional Crystal Board is $10. Frequencies are 7.030, 7.040 and 7.122MHz.
4. 41dB Step Attenuator. We have kitted the popular design that has been in the ARRL handbook for years. Ken Locasale designed a great looking case, and everything is included. Great for working low power and for transmitter hunts. $50.
5. Rock Hunter Chassis for the DCxxB series. We now have a case, connectors and an addon board to give 2 additional frequencies for the DCxxB series of transceivers. We have had many, many requests for a case for the DCxx series of transceivers, and now we have it. $20 for the case, connectors, controls and addon frequency board.
6. Red Hot 40 Transceiver. We will have a special price on the Red Hot 40, the high performance 40 Meter CW Transceiver designed by Dave Fifield. The show special is $200, which is $50 off the regular price.
7. Repackaged Tayloe SWR Meter. Ken has come up with a great little chassis for the SWR Meter designed by Dan Tayloe, N7VE. $25.
8. Sota Tuner. This has been one of our best sellers since we introduced it in September. The Sota is an End Fed Half Wave Tuner with a metal case, stainless steel hardware, and only weighs 2.5 ounces, and the price is $30.
9. Two Fer Transmitter. The Twofer is a great little transmitter. Available on 40 or 30 or 20 Meters. Show special at $30.
We will also have show specials on the Tenna Dipper, with a price of $70, MMR40 at $175, NADC40 basic kit w/out digital display, $100, Ft. Tuthill 15, basic kit no display, $100.
Stop by the booth and say hello to Steve Weber, KD1JV who will be in the booth on Friday and Saturday, plus Dean Davis, Darrel Swenson, Ken and Karen Locasale.
Plus, we will be able to take credit cards this year for the first time. We accept Visa, Mastercharge, Discover and American Express. I am kitting like crazy and really excited about this year at Dayton. Hope to see you there. Doug
Sounds like it's a good idea to bring lots of radio money along. Maybe it's a good thing that I'm not going? At least that's what the XYL is probably thinking.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Tuesday, May 01, 2012
New Summer Operating Event
I've been working with the leadership from the NJQRP club to start a new annual Summertime outdoor QRP operating event. My idea has earned their blessing.
Thanks to George N2APB and Joe N2CX, I will be announcing the details for the First Annual NJQRP Skeeter Hunt, in the next few coming days.
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Stay tuned !
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Thanks to George N2APB and Joe N2CX, I will be announcing the details for the First Annual NJQRP Skeeter Hunt, in the next few coming days.
Stay tuned !
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Nice article
While strolling through the links at eHam, I came across this link to a very nice article about Rex Harper W1REX of QRPME fame:
http://www.keepmecurrent.com/reporter/news/not-your-father-s-ham/article_4bb5d548-8ed3-11e1-947b-0019bb2963f4.html
On a KX3 note, a Ham friend of mine has decided that he and his XYL are not cut out for apartment living and have found themselves a small house to live in. Closing is near the end of this month. Right now it looks (as he described it) like a "horse race". Which will occur first - arrival of the KX3 at W2LJ's house - or my Ham buddy and his wife closing on their new house? My bet's on them.
Hmmmmm ........ maybe I spoke to soon - this just came out on the KX3 reflector from Steve WG0AT:
Great News... Kit#1 to be Field Tested via kit assembly/manual ...ships 05/02/12 tomorrow. Just heard from Bob/K6XX at Elecraft we've been asked to "Kit-test", as in assemble, Kit# 1 using the latest rev of the kit manual and provide feedback on the process.
I've had Elecraft kit building experiences before with their K1, KX1, and K2 but not with any of their recent preassembled gear like a K3 etc. So it should be interesting to see how we do without the smell of a hot solder filling the room. (wonder if they sell solder scented candles aka Ham candle, Hah!)
My KX3-kit was originally destined for shipping via UPS ground but I thought 2-day air in this case would be a much better choice. (Next Day Air is ~$100!) 2nd Day air would get my kit here Friday PM. That's assuming UPS does their job? Bob agreed and graciously offered to ante up the difference. This gives us the weekend to build and mark up the manual (if needed) and get the feed back to Elecraft before Monday (Maybe even as early as Sat? ...no promises!).
Obviously at this point sooner is mucho better than later! (And no need to go into the waiting 'whine' song we all dread hearing! Instead ...it's soon over folks! - Peanut) So with any luck and we should be putting our brand new #1 Phillips to use this Friday PM! ...YEEAH Baby!
Will keep you posted but if you hear silence for me Friday PM remember that's a good sound! ...Sri, no video - I want to focus on task! Video comes later.
Cheers, Steve ...WGOAT/Rooster & Peanut
http://www.youtube.com/goathiker
http://w0-sota.org/
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
http://www.keepmecurrent.com/reporter/news/not-your-father-s-ham/article_4bb5d548-8ed3-11e1-947b-0019bb2963f4.html
On a KX3 note, a Ham friend of mine has decided that he and his XYL are not cut out for apartment living and have found themselves a small house to live in. Closing is near the end of this month. Right now it looks (as he described it) like a "horse race". Which will occur first - arrival of the KX3 at W2LJ's house - or my Ham buddy and his wife closing on their new house? My bet's on them.
Hmmmmm ........ maybe I spoke to soon - this just came out on the KX3 reflector from Steve WG0AT:
Great News... Kit#1 to be Field Tested via kit assembly/manual ...ships 05/02/12 tomorrow. Just heard from Bob/K6XX at Elecraft we've been asked to "Kit-test", as in assemble, Kit# 1 using the latest rev of the kit manual and provide feedback on the process.
I've had Elecraft kit building experiences before with their K1, KX1, and K2 but not with any of their recent preassembled gear like a K3 etc. So it should be interesting to see how we do without the smell of a hot solder filling the room. (wonder if they sell solder scented candles aka Ham candle, Hah!)
My KX3-kit was originally destined for shipping via UPS ground but I thought 2-day air in this case would be a much better choice. (Next Day Air is ~$100!) 2nd Day air would get my kit here Friday PM. That's assuming UPS does their job? Bob agreed and graciously offered to ante up the difference. This gives us the weekend to build and mark up the manual (if needed) and get the feed back to Elecraft before Monday (Maybe even as early as Sat? ...no promises!).
Obviously at this point sooner is mucho better than later! (And no need to go into the waiting 'whine' song we all dread hearing! Instead ...it's soon over folks! - Peanut) So with any luck and we should be putting our brand new #1 Phillips to use this Friday PM! ...YEEAH Baby!
Will keep you posted but if you hear silence for me Friday PM remember that's a good sound! ...Sri, no video - I want to focus on task! Video comes later.
Cheers, Steve ...WGOAT/Rooster & Peanut
http://www.youtube.com/goathiker
http://w0-sota.org/
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
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