Psssst! ..... Hey Buddy, wanna key?

Yesterday, I spent part of the morning at the Sussex County Amateur Radio Club Hamfest, in Augusta NJ, at the Sussex County Fairgrounds.  The weather was superb and that was probably the main reason for the huge turnout of vendors.  This year's iteration of the SCARC Hamfest was the biggest I've seen in years. There was so much to take in!  I was not able to spend as much time there as I would have liked, as I had to be home in order to make 11:30 AM Church services.  In the 90 minutes that I was there, I was able to make two complete trips of all the tables, inside and out.

The first trip was a cursory glance, the second more in depth.  I really could have made at least two more circuits easily.  Yes, there was a lot of non-Ham related junk; but there were also plenty of treasures if you had the time to really look. As it was, I purchased a few knobs for future models of my magnetic loop antenna experiments, and I also purchased some silver and Teflon SO-239 chassis mount connectors.  I was the big spender of the day, parting with $10.25 of my hard earned cash-ola.

I was kind of surprised to see a good Ham buddy, Bill Koeth W2WK at a selling table.  I've known Bill since he was President of the Piscataway Amateur Radio Club, when I was Secretary and then, eventually Vice-President.  Bill is a master machinist and mechanic, who worked for over 20 years repairing road surfacing equipment.  Bill is so good with all things mechanical that he restored a Model A Ford, fabricating most of the unavailable parts that he required, himself.

Luckily, Bill is also a CW aficionado and as of late, has turned his skills and talents towards making beautiful straight keys.  I was honored to test one of his prototypes and liked what I saw (and used), very much! He listened to my suggestions and those that others have made and now has a finished product that he offers for sale:

So.... if you're in the market for a high quality straight key, dtrop me a line and I'll send you Bill's e-mail address and you and him can discuss "particulars".

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Some days it feels like everything is Radiosport

Don't get me wrong. I love Field Day, I love the QRP Sprints (FOBB, FYBO, QRPTTF, etc) but some days, just some days ....... it feels like everything else has devolved to Radiosport. Everything has become a competition.

I've stated this plenty of times before.  When was the last time that you've had a DX QSO that wasn't "TU UR 599 QRZ?" I know DX ragchews still happen as I get involved in one myself from time to time, but it seems the majority now are to see how many stations can be worked in a given period of time.

NPOTA, which I dearly love, is not much better in that regard.  Every now and then, you'll hear a few words go back and forth, but for the majority, it has become brief, contest style exchanges and activation reports of, "I was able to work XXX amount of stations in X hours." People have become obsessed with their standings on the Leader Board, and how many NPS units they have worked. To be honest with you, I haven't checked where I stand in about a month or so.  And at this point, I couldn't care less.  I work new ones to work new ones, to see if I can figure out how propagation is working to where and to possibly come up with new antenna schemes. And my purpose for doing activations is just an excuse to get out and operate in the fresh air and sunshine, which I dearly love.

Even my beloved QRP Fox Hunts seem to now be focused on Teams, who worked both Foxes for a two-fer and who worked the Foxes the earliest in the least amount of time. It's driven me to the point where I've decided not to participate in the Summer 20 Meter season and I'm highly doubtful at this point that I will participate in the Winter season coming up this November.

I guess I'm just in a funk, maybe I'm just burnt out a bit; but I tire of ONLY the competition aspect of Amateur Radio - I guess I'm what you'd call a limited contester.  Maybe it's just not being able to endure long hours sitting, any more. Amateur Radiosport has it's place - just not everywhere!

There has to be more to Amateur Radio than "TU 599 NJ 5W". And yet, like a moth to a flame, I inexorably get drawn back into it.

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Saratoga National Historical Park - a success!

My outing to Saratoga National Historical Park was an all around success.  I didn't make anywhere near the nunber of QSOs that I wanted to, but it was still a successful day.

The park wasn't as close to our Lake George location as I had thought.  Yes, it was a 1/2 hour down Interstate 87, but once you get off the highway, it's roughly another 1/2 hour to the park.  It was nice to drive through the scenery of upstate New York, seeing farms, horse breeding farms, small towns, etc.  You never get to see the "good stuff" from the major highway.

I arrived at the park a bit later than I had intended, and went to the Visitor's Center, which was very busy.  The Park Rangers were occupied, talking with the many visitors.  When I walked through the doors with my ARRL NPOTA shirt on, I was greeted with a big smile and a "Are you activating today?"  I answered in the affirmative, that I would situate myself in the picnic area by the Visitor's Center and I got a quick nod of approval.

I started out just operating from the Jeep using the Hamstick on 40 Meters and the Buddistick on 20 Meters.  After a while (and a bathroom break) I decided to deploy the PAR END FEDZ using my drive on mast support and the Jackite pole. There were tall trees that would have served the purpose, but that's really a no-no unless you ask for permission ahead of time.  The PAR seemed to perform just as well as the sticks on the Jeep.  I didn't notice any increase in activity after switching over.

I worked up and down the East Coast and into the Midwest. There was one QSO with W6MYN in California.  I tried listening for other NPOTA stations that I saw spotted on the Cluster, but had no luck there.

At the end, before packing up, I even tried 17 Meters for a bit - no joy there, either.

In hindsight, yesterday would have been the better day to go, as solar conditions were much, much better - but it is what it is.

Thanks to all the chasers who stuck with me and allowed me to activate HP42.

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

NPOTA Tomorrow

If all goes well, I hope to activate Saratoga National Historical Park (HP42) sometime tomorrow - hopefully beginning around 1500 UTC.  Plans are for the operation to be mostly QRP CW on 40 and 20 Meters, on or around 7.034 and 14.061 MHz respectively.  If activity peters out, I may switch to 17 Meters or perhaps even switch over to SSB.

Hope to hear you on the air!

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

FOBB 2016 is a go!

Thanks to Roger AG4P for letting me know - The Flight of the Bumblebees for 2016 is a go!  To see the details, you can go to: http://arsqrp.blogspot.com/

There, you can get the rules and find out how to apply for a Bumblebee number.  The roster can be seen at: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1eBbYvcKoUp9dVsoOMaQl7YJII8AvuE8bfc-5eAZ4Jj0/edit#gid=0

The Flight of the Bumblebees is THE Summertime QRP Classic - the Grandaddy of them all!  This QRP Sprint is a ton of fun and is the one that all the rest would hope to emulate.  What makes it so great is that it gets a ton of participation, and that makes for a lot of QSOs and a lot of happy QRP campers!

Much thanks to Rich Fisher KI6SN for putting this on the air, once again!

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Holy Crow!

Amateur Electronic Supply is going out of business!  Hot off the press from the CQ Newsroom.

http://cqnewsroom.blogspot.com/2016/07/amateur-electronic-supply-aes-going-out.html?spref=tw&m=1

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

As Summer is upon us ......

One of several popular Summer QRP Sprints is happening this coming Sunday.

SYBO - Scorch Your Butt Off - the Summer answer to Freeze Your Butt Off.

http://qsl.net/sybo/Scorch_Your_Butt_Off/SYBO.html

This is always fun and is yet another good reason to get you and your QRP gear out into the Great outdoors!

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Magnetic Loop Antenna Resources

Some folks have been asking me what resources I used to build my magnetic loop. There are many - but these are the principle ones I used:

http://www.g4ilo.com/wonder-loop.html

http://www.aa5tb.com/loop.html

https://amrron.com/2015/07/24/home-made-high-power-magnetic-loop-antennas/

There's a veritable ton of information out there and if I had more time, I probably would have done even more research. The above listed links got me going in the right direction.

There was also a good article in a recent issue of "QRP Quarterly" in the "Idea Exchange" column that was a big help. I'll update this post tonight when I get a chance to see exactly which issue it was, as I don't have it with me right now.  That article and the G4ILO link above were my two primary resources.

Truth be told, building the antenna itself was the easy part - in fact a lot easier than I thought it would be.  Finding a suitable capacitor, enclosure and learning how to put PL-259s on LMR-400 was the hardest part.

If you've been hesitating ...... don't.  It's a super easy project that you can have a lot of fun with.

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

0 sunspots

But, with only 5 Watts, I still managed to work 6Y7R and PJ2/K3NK at lunchtime today on 17 Meters. And I  also worked KI9W/2 on 40 Meters SSB for an ATNO NPOTA entity.  So even though the official prognosticator said this:

I was still able to get out and be heard, using only the Hamstick and the Buddistick on the top of the Jeep.

Kind of like how the Bumble Bee doesn't know it's not supposed to be able to fly, eh? (Yeah, that's a myth .... I know ..... just trying to make a point.)         ;-)

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

I told myself

"You're not gonna do this, this year. You have the certificate and QSLs from last year. You don't need to do this again!"

So much for listening to myself!

Maybe because it's the weekend after Field Day and the pileup juices are still flowing?  I don't know - but experimenting with my newly built magnetic loop on Sunday ....... I worked one. And after that, it was just all downhill. I found it to be just like that old Lay's Potato Chip commercial from the 1960s - "Bet you can't eat just one!"

After the first, I was committed. Probably my OCD, kicking in. Soon there was another in the log, then another and then another. Last night I was hunting for K2D for the last of the Colonies. I found him working LSB on 40 Meters.  I must have shouted into that darn microphone for over an hour. I was shaking my head thinking, "Oh Lord, what have I done to myself?"

Then the Cluster showed K2D on 80 Meter CW.  I figured that having been spotted there would be a gigantic pile up, but to my delight, there was only a medium sized pileup.  Being in "home turf'" felt oh, so good!  I threw out my call once - and I was answered with " W2LJ 599 CT".

Cool beans!

So I have all 13 Colonies and WM3PEN in the log. I suppose if I want a true "Clean Sweep" that I will have to work GB13COL in Britain.  Trouble is, I've only heard them 2 or 3 times on 20 Meters and each time they were so weak, I doubted that I'd hear my call were it to come back to me.

I believe the Special Event runs until Midnight Wednesday into Thursday, so I will listen.  But if I don't work them, my OCD will have to be satisfied with what we've gotten already.

And yes, "In for a penny, in for a pound." I will send away for the 2016 certificate, but I don't think I'm going to pop for postage for 14 individual QSL cards.

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Happy Independence Day !!!

240 years ago, a dream was made a reality. Our Founders launched a new Nation in a skiff made of paper. Over the years, that dream has been a little battered and bloodied, but it still survives. The fires of Freedom and Liberty still burn brightly in the hearts of all Patriots. Happy 4th of July, and may God continue to bless America!

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

A good day for buildng

Even though we're several hundred miles apart, my good friend Bob W3BBO and I seem to find ourselves on the same frequency - and this time I don't mean the radio.  I spent the day working on my mag loop, he spent the day working on a regen receiver project.  Bob's handiwork is phenomenal. He just finished building, painting and drilling out the chassis for his latest receiver:

I wish I could make the stuff I build look this good.  If I built that chassis, I'm sure it would be more of a trapezoid than a rectangle!  

While my project came out looking more "hacked" than professional, I AM pleased to say that for once, something I built actually worked.

Behold the W2LJ Magnetic Loop antenna:

The frame is standard 1/2" Schedule 40 PVC purchased from Home Depot.

The main loop is 10 feet of LMR-400, which is different than any coax I've worked with before.  I tried putting on a PL259 in the way I am used to, and soon discovered, "This ain't gonna work!". So remembering that "Google can be your friend",  I found this tip from Steve WB2WIK on e-Ham:

"Any standard PL-259 fits LMR-400 exactly, and perfectly without any modification to the cable or the connectors.  I've installed hundreds of these on LMR-400s and use ordinary Amphenol 83-1SP PL-259s.

You *don't* peel back the braid of LMR-400 for this operation, where'd you hear that?  That won't work at all.  The correct procedure is the same as installing a PL-259 on regular RG-213/U.

The braid must remain in place exactly as it was originally, and the only thing you strip is the black vinyl jacket.  Leave the braid right where it was, under the jacket and tightly braided over the foil.  The best way to prepare the LMR-400 cable end is with a sharp (new) single-edged razor blade, cutting through the vinyl jacket, braid, foil and dielectric all in one single slice and leaving only the center conductor, stripping all else (with a single cut) back about 3/4" from the end of the cable.

Now, you have a copper plated aluminum center conductor sticking out and the rest of the cable fully intact.

Now, measure back 1/2" from the edge of the vinyl jacket and use much less pressure to strip only the jacket, and leave the braid, foil and dielectric intact.  This only takes gentle pressure, not the several pounds the first "strip" requires.

Pull off the jacket.

Push the PL-259 over the end of the cable so the center conductor protrudes through the end of the center pin and when you hit an obstruction, that will be the cable jacket hitting the internal threads in the PL-259 body.

Rotate the PL-259 body clockwise while applying gentle pressure to the connector, and it will screw itself on to the cable jacket.  About four full rotations are required to fully assemble the connector on to the cable, and when you're done, it won't twist on any more, and you'll see the braid showing through the PL-259 body solder holes."

I followed his instructions and had no problem putting PL259s on the LMR-400. One thing I found out is that when you make that initial scoring on the jacket to expose the center conductor - don't worry about getting the knife blade anywhere near as deep as the center conductor.  Just score all the way around and "break' the dielectric.  After that, just take some linesman's pliers and rotate the outer jacket and it will break cleanly off, leaving just the center conductor pristine and nick-free.

At this point, the capacitor box is more a prototype than anything else:

This is not the good capacitor that I purchased from RF Parts. This is a junk box cap that I purchased at the W2WQ Hamfest a couple of weekends ago for $2.  The box itself is an old lunch meat container. It's flimsy and fragile, but works well enough for the prototype. It's currently also held in place using a Velcro cable wrap.

The smaller coupling loop is a 2 foot piece of some 14 gauge wire I had hanging around.  I soldered it to a length of RG-8X, and it's held in place with some Velcro cable wraps. I also fastened the RG-8X to the frame with some Velcro cable wraps, as I read that some people were experiencing fluctuating SWRs if the feedline was able to move around, freely.

I had intended to run the coupling loop through the PVC, but the PL-259s are a tight fit and I can't feed the main loop through the PVC Tee piece with the coupling wire already in place, so I had to make a last minute design change.

Once the construction was finished, I brought the loop up to the dining room and set up my KX3 on the dining room table,  I tuned around 20 Meters and heard IQ2WJ calling CQ around 14.030 MHz.  I tuned the capacitor for max noise and then hit the "Tune" button on the KX3.  Much to my surprise, I had hit the sweet spot easily and the KX3 brought the SWR down to 1.1:1 from 1.3:1.  I hadn't been that far off!  I was impressed when IQ2WJ answered my call on the first shot!  I'm sure he probably has a monster antenna system; but I was surprised none-the-less that my RF made it all the way to Italy!

The antenna tuned pretty easily on all bands, 20 through 10 Meters.  On 40 Meters, I wasn't able to get a "max noise" setting.  I think the minimum capacitance of this junk box cap is too much.  The RF Parts capacitor has more range at both ends.  I think it will work better, when I finally get around to finding the proper enclosure for it.

I also found that tuning the capacitor was a bit touchy, but not THAT touchy once you get the hang of it.  There is a definite sweet spot of maximum receive noise and if you miss it, you'll get a higher SWR as a result.  The final capacitor box will not only have the good RF Parts capacitor with broader range, it will also have the 6:1 ball bearing reduction drive that I purchased.  The final box should be real nice, once I get it done. But even with the prototype enclosure and capacitor, I did not find hand capacitance to be a problem.

The question is, will the mag loop replace my Butternut HF9V and my W3EDP?  Definitely not! However, if I ever develop another case of tendinitis in my ankle that makes going down to the basement shack a pain filled nightmare - I'll have a useful alternative that I can set up and use in the living room. Plus, it can also be a useful alternative for portable ops.

The best part is that this will break apart pretty easily and will fit nicely in one of the old gym bags we have hanging around. So in the end, the W2LJ Mag Loop is nowhere near as elegant as the Alex Loop; but is sure was a heckuva a lot cheaper; and I got the satisfaction of building something from scratch that actually worked the fist time I tried it!

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Happy Canada Day!

To all my Canadian friends, I hope you had and are having a Happy Canada Day!

72 de Larry W2LJ  

QRP  - When you care to send the very least ! 

ATNO!

Got a new one last night on 17 Meter CW - 5W0COW - Samoa on 18.073 MHz at 00:34 UTC. An all time new one.  He was calling CQ and was actually kind of lonely.  New one in the books!

I literally happened to be at the right place at the right time as I was putting the KX3 back to its home after its Field Day stint.  Just to make sure everything was working properly, I fired up the rig and was twiddling the dial on 17 Meters, and the rest, as they say, is history!

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very lest!

More Field Day stuff

The local town newspaper, which I had mentioned yesterday, did a really nice write-up about SPARC Field Day, in addition to carrying our Field Day announcements:

https://www.tapinto.net/towns/south-plainfield/articles/amateur-radio-operators-give-a-sparc-to-spring

Hooray for Amateur Radio getting good press - at least in South Plainfield.

I've pretty much recovered from the weekend, but am still basking in that post Field Day glow.  One thing I forgot to mention ...... Dan KC2YRC and Dave W2OIL ...... in addition to everything else they did for us - they brought their drone on Saturday and took some video of the site from a bird's eye-view.

If I get a copy, I'll try to post it to the blog.  I saw a little of it and it was really cool!

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

PFDTD

Is it possible to suffer from Post-Field Day Traumatic Disorder?

After the weekend we had, I'd be inclined to say "Yes".  But I mean that in a good way.  Not that Field Day, in and of itself,  was traumatic - maybe that Field Day coming to a close was traumatic!

Once again, we had a super fantastic time, thanks to the efforts of many.  All the South Plainfield Amateur Radio Club members had a hand, and in particular we had help from "friends". But I'd like to especially recognize (publicly) the following;

Marv K2VHW - our President, who has done a great job as our Charter President and stayed the entire 24+ hours of Field Day, even after undergoing back surgery earlier this year (and still on the mend). Marv provided equipment, operated and acted as our Amateur Radio Ambassador to visitors and dignitaries alike. The man is amazing.

Ron N2LCZ - our Secretary, who once again planned and setup our computer network for scoring. Ron is the Wizard and Master of things binarily related. Without him, the logging task becomes that much harder.

Wayne N2LRE - our Vice President who took care of publicity and was our connection to our Mayor and Town Council, which proclaimed the week to be "Amateur Radio Week" in South Plainfield.

Dave KD2FSI - our Field Day Committee Chair - and so much more! Dave may be a "Rookie" Amateur Radio Op in terms of time; but in every other way, he is an "Amateur Radio Operator's Op". His energy and enthusiasm and his love for the hobby are contagious. He was, and continues to be the "heart and soul" of SPARC Field Day. He made sure the tent got up, arranged for our use of the County park and supplied equipment and operated. Dave is "Mr. Field Day" in every sense of that title. And through it all, even when he was dog tired, he had a smile on his face and a gleam in his eye. He is The Best, without a doubt.

Phil KD2HPG - designer and builder of our "tower" for the beam antenna.

Tim AB2ZK - provider of tables and coolers.

Drew W2OU - Field Day veteran, Top Notch operator and the guy who gets our Field Day log to the League - a tough job, indeed.

And the various guys who came out to help set up and operate and do all the leg work that it takes to make Field Day a success - Harry KC2GPX, Mario KD2HPF, Marty KB2JSG and Len WB2HKK and some others who I am most assuredly forgetting in the fog and haze of PFDTD. For that I apologize.

Special thanks go to Dave W2OIL and Dan KC2YRC - two brothers who are Amateur Radio ops with hearts of gold!  These two fine gentlemen are members of NJDXA and one of our sister radio clubs, the ETS of NJ. They helped bring over equipment, helped set it up, brought over delicious homemade food and drinks, stayed to operate and came back for tear down and clean up. SPARC Field Day would have been a way more gargantuan effort without their help. And right along side with them was another member of ETS -  Hank N2MU - who came to set up and tear down; but who also came during the overnight to operate and keep us company for a while. Our thanks to these fine gentlemen. Their help and encouragement were priceless.

Aniother special "Thanks" goes to Marty WB2BEW, who along with KB2JSG is a member of another sister club, the Raritan Radio Valley Radio Club.  Marty lent us a canopy tent and was also there for almost the entire 24 hours. He gave of  his expertise and experience and helped man the radios; and was invaluable to us in another very special way.

A woman from town paid us a visit on Sunday.  She brought with her, a very inexpensive, nondescript pocket AM/FM radio - the kind most of us had in the '60s. It had gotten wet and was inoperative, and she was distraught. Obviously, for whatever reason, this radio held a great sentimental value to her. She had read our announcement about Field Day in the local town newspaper and associated "radio" with us. Marty came to the rescue and took a look at it for her. She may have learned more about Amateur Radio this weekend than she ever knew before; but even if she didn't, she'll always associate "Amateur Radio" with the kind gentleman who took time to lend a helping hand.. That kind of exposure is priceless; and ..... if there ever was such a thing as an Amateur Radio Gold Star, Marty would deserve one, hands down.

Field Day 2016 was a sunny and hot affair - a polar opposite of 2015. And the heat did not deter visitors - Bill W2UDT from the ARRL visited on Saturday.  Shortly after, our Mayor and members of our Town Council also showed up to see the set up and (involuntarily) let us remind them, that we are ready, willing and able to assist the town in any way we can in the event we are ever called upon.

With 45 minutes to go to the start, we were up and ready.  We had gotten the station up, and more importantly, the antennas.  The CW station was tethered to a W3EDP antenna, approximately 30 feet up in the air - hung between two trees. The main antennas for the SSB station was the beam and for the evening, a homebrew 80/40 Meter dipole courtesy of KD2FSI. It was supported by a telescoping mast that Dave cobbled together from commercial parts and a painter's pole.  For the GOTA station and the VHF/UHF station, Dave put up 6 Meter, 2 Meter, and 70 cm antennas as well as a 10 Meter rotate-able dipole.  We had RF coming out our ............

SPARC operated the entire 24 hours of the event. Three or four brave and hearty souls stayed through the night. We had some guest operators and some other visitors as well. Several took the Amateur radio pamphlets that we had made available and we even got a visit from a couple and their son on Sunday, as they wanted him to see what radio and antennas were all about.  He seemed particularly interested in the fact that everything (with the exception of our logging computer network) was powered by batteries that were charged by the sun.

We operated 3A (battery) NNJ.  If you heard us and worked us, we thank you!  All told we had over 250 CW QSOs, over 115 SSB QSOs, over a dozen digital QSOs and once again, Dave KD2FSI  attempted another satellite QSO.

I could go on for pages telling you about our Field Day, but hopefully your Field Day experience was a good one too. The best thing about Field Day, though, is not the trials and tribulations that are overcome and mastered. It's not about the masterful operating exploits or even the good food. All these things are wonderful. The best thing about Field Day is the camaraderie, being with your friends and the many wonderful memories that are yours forever.

And now for some photos.

Our home for the weekend

As people visiting the park saw us

Assembling the beam

Assembling the "tower"

All done!

The 80/40 Meter Inverted Vee

The 10, 6, 2 and 70 cm antennas

Here birdy, birdy!

W2LJ territory

Marv K2VHW with jacket - it got chilly overnight!

Dave trying to get some PSK31 in.

KD2FSI showing guest operator Mike KA2FIR how to navigate his rig's menus.

 Marty WB2BEW taking a turn at the SSB KX3.

Drew W2OU, Marv K2VHW and guest, Bill K2CZD

Marty WB2BEW performing emergency pocket radio surgery.

All in all, it was a great weekend, and I'm already looking forward to Field Day 2017!

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

So busy!

This time of year is always so busy!

Two weekends ago, our CERT Team was involved in helping out with crowd control and vehicle parking at a carnival in town. Last weekend was the Raritan Valley Radio Club hamfest; and Father's Day.  This coming weekend is Field Day. In between all of that, I'm trying to get that magnetic loop built (which really shouldn't take all that much time!), still do yard work and house work; and even get a few hours sleep in.

Last night I went to Home Depot to buy some PVC for a stand for the loop. I was hoping to use a mini-photographic tripod that I have, but after taking the center column out, I found out that the 1/2" PVC that I am using is just a tad too large. For less than $10, I bought all the PVC pipes, tees, elbows and couplers that I will need. Oh, and while I was there, I bought two citronella candles for this weekend. Gotta keep those mosquitoes at bay.

I am hoping against hope that NEXT weekend, which is a three day weekend due to Independence Day being that Monday, will afford me some time to get the loop built (in and amongst yard work and house cleaning).  For the "prototype", I am going to use one of my hamfest bought capacitors and a deli meat plastic box for the enclosure. Most of that is already built. If I get any kind of results, I will go on to making the "finished" model with the good RF Parts purchased capacitor and the 6:1 reduction planetary drive, and a nice box. Maybe a trip to Hobby Lobby?

I looked at my watch yesterday and it struck me that it's already the latter part of June.  Where has the time gone?  So much to do and so little time. I'll tell you one thing ...... Winter never seems to pass this quickly!

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Conditions slightly better today

I heard more stations and more activity.

I worked N8BC who was at the James Garfield National Historical Site - NS39 on 40 Meters.  Then, hopping on over to 20 Meters, I may have worked Bob N4CD who was at Bryce Canyon National Park (which it turns out, I have worked before).  Bob was a very readable 559, but he gave me only a 229.  I'm not sure he got my call right. I think he was sending my call as W2DJ instead of LJ. QSB was bad - very bad. When Bob was in the clear, he was very copyable - which was most of the time.  The only time he became difficult to hear was when he was sending my call ........ of course.

The hitch about working NPOTA stations during lunch is that I don't have access to my NPOTA spreadsheet.  I suppose I could load it to my phone, but looking at spreadsheets on a cell phone is painful.

So, if I can hear them, I'll work them and take the chance that it's an ATNO.

Weather for this coming Field Day is looking very nice:

Sunny and warm/hot with pleasant overnight temperatures and NO chance of rain.  This will be a very welcome change from last year, which was soggy, chilly pneumonia generating weather. I'm still amazed that I didn't come down with something after last year's Field Day.

All we need is for the Sun to get on the ball, so that the solar weather will be as agreeable as the terrestrial weather!

If you're operating Field Day, listen for NJ2SP.  We'll be operating "3A NNJ" (actually 3A battery - so we'll be strictly QRP) from Spring Lake Park in South Plainfield, NJ.

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Conditions are marginal

I went out to the Jeep at lunch time to hear what I could hear.

It wasn't much of anything.

The cell phone and DX Cluster showed a few NPOTA stations on the air at the time. I couldn't hear any of them.  I listened for a bit on both 17 and 20 Meters and the signals that I did hear were few and far between. So I began to call CQ.  After about 5 minutes worth on 17 Meters, I moved back to 20 Meters and called there.

In between calls on 14.061 MHz, I heard someone else start to call CQ below me.  It was RA1M/MM.  I moved down to 14.060 MHz, called and got an answer.

It was Stepan who was off the coast of Newfoundland.

Not only was he Maritme Mobile, but he was also using a KX3 at 5 Watts, so it ended up being a 2X QRP KX3 QSO. 

Cool!

Stepan was my only catch for the day as it was time to come back into the office after we finished.

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Skeeters are a buzzin' !!!!

Happy 1st Day of Summer and "Thank You" so much to the first group of Skeeters to sign up for the 2016 NJQRP Skeeter Hunt!  We're only 9 or so hours into the Summer and we already have 47 intrepid QRPers who have decided to join in on the fun.

Make sure that you're one of them!

To see the 2016 roster - go to: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KJWpvDDBZibCMqna_qGXF3Ayg8KdEw5f1N8K6ByGMe4/edit#gid=880964485

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

This coming Monday is ..........

So sign up for your Offical 2016 NJQRP Skeeter Hunt Skeeter number! Skeeter numbers will be issued starting Monday.

Send an e-mail to w2lj@arrl.net and I will e-mail you back with a number. Join in on the fun, on Sunday August 21st.  The rules can be found at http://www.qsl.net/w2lj/

Get your QRP gear, get outside ......... have a blast!

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

A Tip o' the Hat

I really have to extend a hearty "tip o' the hat" to all you QRP SSB guys out there.  Not being used to SSB operations, not being used to QRP SSB operations has provided me with a learning experience. In your writer's most humble opinion, QRP SSB has a difficulty factor of 10X compared to QRP CW.

Today during lunch time, I was hunting around for NPOTA stations on 20 Meters.  Not hearing anything on the CW bands, I moved on up to the realm of voice - foreign territory, indeed!.  There I heard two stations. K0USA on 14.260 MHz and K0RP on 14.340 MHz.  K0RP was very weak, with QSB making it worse. K0USA was a good 5X5 into NJ and even 5X7 when QSB would let up. I decided to  concentrate on Mary, who was the op behind the mic.  It took the better of 15 minutes, but I got in the log - and it was a new one for me, MN46, the Homestead National Historical Monument in Nebraska.

For her part, Mary did a superb job dealing with my weak signal.  Only 5 Watts to the Buddistick has gotten me decent results on SSB in the past, but today, with the monstrous QSB, it was their beam (which was pointed south, by the way - I was off the side) and her great ears that made the difference. I owe her a ton of gratitude for sticking with me and granting me the ATNO.

Getting back to the topic of SSB vs CW ..... I'm pretty confident in my CW skills. From past practise, it's pretty easy for me to gauge who is workable and who isn't. I still get surprised from time to time; but I've gotten pretty good at figuring out who I am able work and who I am not..

QRP SSB is still a crap shoot for me. Like I stated, it's foreign territory.  To make things even worse, shall we say that patience is a "hard won virtue" for me?  Living in New Jersey all my life, I'm used to the fast pace of the Northeast. Things, especially at work, are wanted yesterday.  I'm used to dealing with that, and delivering those kind of fast results.  The downside is, that I've come to expect that, in return.  Waiting is still a battle for me.  Not in all situations, but in many - especially when I am dealing with myself.

QRP SSB is an extra hard challenge for me and will be for quite a while. The upside is hopefully, I'll become more skilled at it; and I'll also gain more patience, because of it..

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Another piece to the puzzle found

Update on the magnetic loop project:

1) The coax from DX Engineering was delivered last Friday.
2) The variable capacitor from RFI Parts arrived in the mail on Saturday.
3) I bought the PVC pieces for the frame that I have in mind, weeks ago.

I purchased one of these today:

It's a 6:1 ball bearing planetary reduction drive.  It was $18.00 plus shipping from http://www.orenelliottproducts.com.  This should make a big difference tuning the antenna, considering I don't have the lightest touch in the world.

All that's left to come up with is a enclosure for the capacitor. The Raritan Valley Radio Club hamfest is this Saturday, maybe I can find something there.  The toughest part of this entire project is probably going to be to find suitable time, however.  This weekend is the hamfest and Father's Day. Next weekend is Field Day.  On the bright side, however, is that the following weekend is the long Independence Day weekend.  I'll get this puppy built then, if not sooner.

So far, in parts and shipping, I'm still under the $150 mark. That's less than half the price of most of the commercially available loops.  Of course, theirs are pretty much guaranteed to work, out of the box.  Mine should, but you never know until you're done. If it does work, I have the satisfaction of knowing that I built it myself - and that I would have no compunction about modifying it to make it better - or perhaps tearing it apart to build a second, better generation.

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Just a reminder

that next Monday, June 20th, is the first day of Summer. And you know what that means ..... Skeeter numbers will start to be issued that day!

Beginning this year, the Hunt has been moved to the third Sunday in August in order to even out spacing a bit between FOBB, the Skeeter Hunt and the NoGA Peanut Power Classic.  Also, there are some rule changes for 2016 in order to more fully incorporate NPOTA into the Skeeter Hunt. Make sure to check them out at www.qsl.net/w2lj.

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Lunchtime conditions

were meh.

I heard NC8N running an NPOTA entity on 40 Meters while listening on the Buddistick. Since the Buddistick doesn't load up well on 40 Meters, I quickly switched over to the Hamstick. By the time I got the Hamstick on the magnmount, NC8N went south in the QSB and I couldn't hear him any longer. Typical for W2LJ.

I switched back to the Buddistick and 20 Meters and worked good friend and fellow QRPer John N8ZYA.  After a very short contact, I worked KP4/W2PK.  Not that Puerto Rico is rare, but there was bit of a pileup. Not being able to resist trying to break a pileup with QRP, I jumped in. After figuring out the QRG frequency, it only took a few calls and the pileup was busted with 5 Watts.

Conditions weren't terrible, but they weren't great, either. At least Ol' Sol had 39 freckles today where last week, he had none. Hopefully, things will improve as we inch ever closer to Field Day.

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Loopy!

Last week, Dave KD2FSI brought his AlexLoop to the monthly South Plainfield Amateur Radio Club operating night.  I was impressed by how easily it went together and how relatively easy it seemed to tune. I would love to have one myself, but the retail price is a bit out of my budget, so I decided to homebrew one, instead.

Last night, I ordered 25 feet of LMR400 from DX Engineering - enough to make two loops with left over to spare.  Then I went and purchased a 20 - 240 pF air variable capacitor from RF Parts.  I already have some PVC for a frame - all I really need is a box for the enclosure for the capacitor.

I've read several articles by Steve AA5TB, Julian G4ILO and others.  I think I have the construction concept down and if all goes well, in a few weeks, maybe I'll be playing around with a W2LJ Loop. The only thing I'm not sure of, and have to think about, is how I'm going to get this to mount to my Buddistick tripod.

I think I may have to bug Dave again and take a look at how his mounts to his tripod.

As I build, I'll take plenty of pictures and will post the saga here.

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

A productive evening

The sunspot count is up to about 12, I believe - so maybe things are looking up!  This evening, just before dinner, I heard N0UR on 30 Meters, operating from NPOTA NP31 - Isle Royale National Park. I worked him, but I had a slight hitch in my sending and I knew I goofed it up as soon as I sent my call.  Instead of coming back to W2LJ, I heard Jim come back to W2REJ. Just the teeneist, tiniest hesitation between those last two dits in the "L". Argh!  QSB kicked in and I couldn't hear if Jim heard my corrected call.

After dinner, I took a chance that Jim was still on frequency; and luckily he was. I also took the chance at being a pain in his keister and worked him again.  Second time was the charm; and I heard my call come back the correctly. Whew!

I saw on the DX Cluster that 6 Meters was open, so I took another chance and twiddled the dial for a bit. Even though the HF9V is made to work on 6 Meters, that's really pushing it. It loads and I get a decent SWR reading; but I think we're talking highly inefficient compromise, here.  In any even, I heard and worked two stations - N4GG at EM74 in Georgia and NV4B at EM64 in Alabama.

Even though it was only two stations, it was a lot of fun. 6 Meters is a relatively new experience for me. It's neat to see how those borderline HF/VHF signals travel.  If I can get something halfway decent built and up, maybe I will hear and work more. Another project in the long line of many!

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

It's getting to be that time ......

less than a month from now, the 13 Colonies Special Event will be in full swing during Independence Week - July 1st through July 6th.

I had a real good time hunting down and QSOing with all 13 Colonies in 2015 - I'd like to do it again using only QRP CW, but there are too many Colonies that do not operate CW at all.

It is a fun event which I heartily endorse. It never hurts to learn a bit of history while engaging in the World's Best Hobby.

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Oh, wow!

That about says it all, doesn't it?  And here I was, wondering why I've been hearing so little on the bands.  Looks like, even though we'd be battling summer static, 80 and 40 Meters in the evenings might be the best bet for decent QSOs.

It might also do me in good stead to get something decent up in the air for 6 Meters, to take advantage of this time of year.  I think that in my close to 40 years in Amateur Radio, that you can count on one hand, the number of QSOs that I've made on 6 Meters.  Admittedly, up until owning my KX3, I never had 6 Meter capability before. Add to that, that I've never had a decent antenna for 6 Meters, either.  I'll have to Google the subject to see if I can't homebrew something decent. Anyone have suggestions?

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Limburger conditions

I've been fortunate enough the past few days to be able to head outside to the Jeep during lunch. Unfortunately, band conditions in my area have been akin to Limburger cheese ..... kind of on the stinky side.

I heard only one signal on 17 Meters and that was a Stateside station calling "CQ DX". 20 Meters was largely dead, although John ON4UN was busting through with a 599 signal.  Considering the amount of aluminum he has hanging in the air, that's no surprise. I've worked him several times and was tempted to try again, but he was looking for NA DX and I highly doubt he needed another QSO from that rarest of States, New Jersey.

The lack of signals was so bad that I even ventured up into the SSB portion of the band to hear what I could hear.  Not much there, either.  Other than one XYL telling her friend about her car's recent mechanical troubles, I heard one or two Italian stations and that was about it.

No NPOTA stations, no SOTA stations, no QRP stations were heard.  Calling CQ for a few minutes, yielded nothing, either.

I hate days like this, although it's days like this that make me appreciate K3WWP's streak even more.

SMH

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Enjoying the journey

There's an active post on the ARRL NPOTA Facebook page, where someone is lamenting the fact that some of the NPOTA Activators are not loading up their logs to Logbook of the World in a "timely" enough manner to his satisfaction.

I think we have to keep in mind, that for many of the Activators, this is not a "free" exercise.  Maybe they have to pay to get into a National Park, perhaps not. Destinations a long way from home involve gas, wear and tear on the car, perhaps even lodging and meals. There are also other considerations that don't involve money, but still involve expense. Time away from home, friends and family.  These all factor into the equation.

Yes, Activators are putting the Parks on the air, because they want to. No one is holding a gun to their heads. So they pretty much ignore the personal expense because they're having a good time and are getting some personal satisfaction from doing their activations. At the same time,  they are giving all the Chasers something invaluable, too.  They are giving you a good time!  They are providing you with something fun, something exciting, and new. 

There have been anecdotes told of those who have their dwindling interest in the hobby rekindled because of NPOTA.  In my own personal experience, I had a dormant Ham come up to me while I was activating the National Gateway (RC08) at Sandy Hook, NJ.  He saw my antenna and me, sitting at my little table, putting The Hook on the air.  He bicycled up and introduced himself with this name and call and proceeded to ask me "What's going on?"  He then proceeded to tell me how he was licensed, but was inactive. I in turn, explained all about NPOTA and portable ops. Not only was his interest in the hobby rekindled (you could tell by "that look" in his eyes), but he also brought his young son over to take a look.  You could almost see the light bulb go off over his head. To him, the idea of not being stuck in a Ham shack, but being able to be operate outside in the sunshine, with the breeze in his hair struck a resonant chord with him. It was almost like he never thought of the possibility before.

Let's also not forget that NPOTA is not a contest.  Yes, there's a Leader Board and yes, stats are being kept; but that doesn't mean that NPOTA is radio sport and nothing else. If anything, it's an operating event - designed by the ARRL to put a new, shiny face on our wonderful hobby.

With that, I'm going to go off on a tangent here, and am going to state my personal opinion that Amateur Radio has gone somewhat off the rails and has become too much "radio sport". We worry too much about DXCC tallies and contests in general. Look, I'm as guilty as anyone else in that regard, as I run a QRP contest each August ........ but what's happened to the rag chew?  When was the last time you had a QSO with a DX station that was more than "599 TU"?  When was the last time you talked about the weather with a foreign Ham, or about some other subject not related directly to radio?

I remember when I was a Novice in the late 70s, and actually had conversations with DX stations!  I know, unheard of, right?  And the QSL cards I received actually contained friendly letters, sometimes with photos of the DX Ham's station or hometown.  Why have we largely gotten away from that?  That was the best part of the hobby!

Before I get accused of contest bashing - let me state that radio sport has its time and place. There are people that exist only for that - and that's fine. That's another facet of this hobby that is perfectly legitimate. However, it seems to me that we've let a little bit too much of that mentality creep into the rest of our hobby.  We worry too much about scores, standings and results. I think what we need to do is slow down and enjoy the journey and not worry so much about the destination.

The journey is the fun part and the destination should be the fond memories of the things we enjoyed along the way. We need to exist for each other, not just for standings, results, wallpaper and trophies.

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Memorial Day 2016

We will never forget you.

We will always be grateful for your sacrifice.

You will forever be in our prayers.

W2LJ

Grand slam?

So how big a home run has the ARRL hit with National Parks on the Air?  I guess when you've made the cover of the DX Engineering catalog - you could say a very, very big one!

Don't forget as we rapdily approach the first day of Summer, in about three weeks, that Skeeter Hunt numbers for 2016 will begin to be issued. I'm still tweaking the rules a bit to accomodate full integration of NPOTA into the Hunt. Bonus points will be awarded to those who activate an entity during this year's contest.

I've successfully chased about seven new ones this weekend. It's becoming a tad more difficult to hear new ones that I've never worked before.  I think the highlight was wortking K2EZ to get Morristown National Historical Park in my "entities worked" coluimn.  I helped Dave KD2FSI with his activation of HP28 and I went up there once by myself to activate it - but I had never worked it until yesterday.  While twiddling the dial on 40 Meters yesterday afternoon, I caught Andrea on groundwave and added another to the "worked" tally.

Even though the WPX CW contest was this weekend, my focus has been laser like on NPOTA. This event has been so much - it's almost kind of like having the 13 Colonies event all year long!

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Back in the saddle again!

Woo Hoo!

The tendinitis in my ankle still has me wearing my "boot". However, it feels good enough to allow me to hobble down the basement in order to get back behind the radio. So I was happy to work five NPOTA ATNOs this weekend!

I have 112 confirmed, with two of the five from this weekend. Once the other three logs are posted, I should be up to 115 confirmed.  What was even cooler is that four of the five QSOs were CW QSOs. I am so much more used to working CW pileups than SSB pileups. I manage, but I feel slightly like a duck out of water when using the microphone. In a CW pileup, I feel like it's just a matter of time, while in a SSB pileup, I keep my fingers crossed the whole time.

Next weekend in the USA is Memorial Day Weekend, which is the "unofficial" beginning of Summer.  It's my humble opinion that this will bring out a lot more NPOTA activations, with folks having vacation time, and/or wanting to spend their weekends outdoors, if at all possible.

The Activator bug is biting me again, causing me to itch.  I'm thinking that WR03, the Delaware National Scenic River is a possibility. Maybe Washington's Crossing Park.

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least@

KX3 - now may be THE time to buy!

Wow!

Keeping an eye on the QRP reflectors, it seems that KX2 mania has seriously taken hold (and Hamvention has just barely begun!). If you don't mind having a "previously owned" (read ......used) KX3, then keep your eyes on QRP-L, the Elecraft reflector, QRZ.COM and eHam over the next few weeks.

I see a few guys are already selling off their KX3s so that they can purchase a KX2. Not sure if this will become a trend, or of the wisdom of it, but then I am not yet a SOTAteer, either. The additional size and weight of the KX3 are not sticking points for the type of portable ops that I do.  But for some, especially those who do long hikes, I guess it is a case of "smaller and lighter = better".

In any event, if you're looking ...... you just might find that for which you are seeking.

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Elecraft KX2

To be debuted at Dayton Hamvention:

As Eric is scheduled to do a presentation at FDIM titled “Shrinking the Multi-Mode HF Transceiver”, this kind of fits right in, eh?

Right off the bat, I see a somewhat smaller rig - to my eye, not MTR sized, but smaller than the KX3. Two bands missing, 160 Meters and 6 Meters; and I'm sure a smaller price point. A Japanese Website (http://edcjp.sblo.jp/article/175341127.html) is listing $750 as the base price - not including tuner or any other accessories.

OK. Here's a photo from Facebook that puts the size issue in perspective. It IS substantially smaller than the KX3! In fact the KX3 looks like a monster compared to the KX2. Now I understand why this is offered "factory assembled" only.  This must be total SMD construction.

Very interesting. Ideal for the SOTA operator - maybe the LNR rigs were starting to cause a little diversification in the market?  As of right now, my KX3 is all I need and I personally don't anticipate a need ........ but ya never know. It would be nice to have one, though. Or even have one just to play with for a while.

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Dave Bell W6AQ - SK

From the ARRL Website:

Award-winning Hollywood producer and ARRL benefactor Dave Bell, W6AQ, of Encinitas, California, died on May 13. He was 84 and had been a radio amateur for 65 years. Bell had been suffering from cancer and was in hospice care. An ARRL Life Member and a former chair of the ARRL Public Relations Committee, Bell directed Amateur Radio Today and produced several other ham radio-related promotional videos and films, starting with The Ham’s Wide World, a TV documentary filmed in black and white.

“If I have a claim to fame in Amateur Radio, it’s probably that I produced the first television documentary about ham radio that got worldwide distribution, and then I made several others before I ‘retired’ from the ham radio film/video hobby-within-a-hobby and got busy making a living producing TV movies, specials, and documentaries for all of the networks including HBO and Showtime, and made a couple of theatrical feature films — Nadia and The Long Walk Home,” Bell recounted on his QRZ.com profile. He started TV’s Unsolved Mysteries, and he received an Emmy Award in 1985 for Outstanding Drama/Comedy Special, Do You Remember Love. Bell chronicled his filmmaking and his Amateur Radio and professional lives in a memoir, World’s Best Hobby.

Last year, Bell and his wife Sam, W6QLT (she’s a quilter), donated a signed Andy Warhol print to the ARRL. The artwork — “Myths: Superman 1981” —sold at auction last fall for $150,000. The proceeds are being used to create “The Dave Bell, W6AQ, Endowment Fund” to benefit the League.

Bell also produced The World of Amateur Radio, This is Ham Radio, and Moving Up to Amateur Radio. He directed the Amateur Radio Today video in 2002. The short presentation about emergency preparedness was narrated by former CBS Evening News anchor Walter Cronkite, KB2GSD (SK), written by Alan Kaul, W6RCL, and produced by Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF (SK) and Bill Baker, W1BKR. Bell and Pasternak also created The DIY Magic of Amateur Radio in 2011, and he co-produced The ARRL Goes to Washington, also voiced by Cronkite. Working on his own, Bell filmed videos for the World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC) events in 2000 in Slovenia (The Ham Radio Olympics) and in 2002 in Finland.

A DXer, casual contester, and a past president of the Southern California DX Club, Bell was a frequent speaker at Amateur Radio gatherings. He was named the 1984 Ham of the Year at Dayton Hamvention®, and, in 2003, the ARRL presented Bell with its first Lifetime Achievement Award for his work on films and videos about Amateur Radio. In 2011 he was named to the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame.

Heil Sound Ltd’s Bob Heil, K9EID, called Bell “one of the great ones.” Heil said Bell’s “great smile and laughter” and his “generosity to the hobby” would be missed, “but most of all, we will miss his spirit.” — Thanks to The Daily DX for some information

I've mentioned Dave's e-book "World's Best Hobby" several times before on this blog.  It used to be free, but i think now it can be downloaded from Amazon for a couple of bucks. It's worth substantially more than that, it's a good and entertaining read.

I hope W6AQ is up there with K2ORS, kicking back, quaffing a few and sharing some good stories.

Farewell, W6AQ, thanks for all you did for Amateur Radio.

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
  

Checking in

I know I haven't posted much lately, so I'll check in, even though there's not much to tell.  Work was busy as heck last week, so I didn't get the opportunity to go out to the Jeep all week during lunch.  Not that I really would have, anyway.  It's been rainy and cool. A very untypical May.

The cool and dampness brought on another complication.  When I was very young, I suffered a severe bruise to the Achilles tendon in my right ankle.  Whenever it gets unseasonably cool and damp for a prolonged period, I am prone to a bout of tendinitis there. And last Wednesday, it started.  I've been limping around with an Ace ankle brace and have been applying Icy Hot lotion (I smell like a moth ball!). It's more discomfort than anything else, a real pain in the .............ankle.  On a scale of 1 to 10, the pain is probably about a 3 or 4, and it's only when I flex may ankle in a certain direction.

I have been trying to avoid steps as much as possible to prevent hyperextending the ligaments and tendons, so that has meant staying out of my basement shack.  I did go down one time this weekend to work Joe N2CX who was activating Valley Forge for NPOTA.  That was my only Ham Radio activity for the weekend ...... which sucks, big time.

If past bouts are any indication, in about another week I should be back to my old self.  It generally lasts about 7 to 10 days and Wednesday will be a week.  I really need to build or acquire a portable magnetic loop antenna (such as an Alex Loop) so I can set the KX3 up on the dining room table and still play at my favorite hobby.

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!