Although it was a busy weekend "civilian world-wise". it was quiet Ham Radio world-wise with two exceptions.
Saturday, the New Providence Amateur Radio Club held it's annual auction. This was the first time I ever attended. I went with the prospect of just hanging out with friends, and ended up coming home with an unexpected purchase.
John N2DV, Tim AB2ZK, Dave KD2FSI, Chris N0CC and Marty WB2BEW were all there and it was nice to see them. The unexpected purchase was a Hallicrafters Sky Buddy receiver which I picked up for $40. It had the original instruction sheet with it as well as an extra tube.
Back in the day, when I was studying for my Novice exam, the Sky Buddy was always spoken of fondly as a Novice's "dream receiver" during the Golden Days of Amateur Radio. I'm also a sucker for Hallicrafters, for some reason. The price was decent, the rig appears to be in decent shape, so it got added to my collection. I'll take a photo of it and will post.
I was contented with the purchase; but what I really should have bidded on was an MFJ QRP rig that was there. I'm not sure of the model, but it was the one with interchangeable band modules. It looked brand new and obviously hadn't seen much use. It ended up not selling, as there was no interest in it. I didn't bring a lot of cash (not expecting to bid on anything) and the Sky Buddy had tapped me out. Wasn't meant to be, I guess. I really don't need another small QRP radio anyway - but that begs the question. Can you have "too many"?
On Sunday, I got on the radio, in an attempt to work W3BBO when I was alerted to him being spotted on RBN on 40 Meters. Propagation was such that 40 Meters was not a viable path between Erie, PA and South Plainfield, NJ. I ended up going up to 17 Meters, out of curiosity, just to see if the band was open. It was there that I heard ZW86LABRE in Brazil. They weren't very strong, but the band was dead otherwise. I sent out my call and worked them on the first try.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Monday, February 24, 2020
Friday, February 21, 2020
Impressive!
My good friend, Bob W3BBO picked up one of these this past week - the Xiegu G90.
Bob is the guy who really got me into QRP as a full time Amateur Radio pursuit - not sure whether he knows that, or not. I've said before that I was always a QRP dabbler since my Novice days, but then one day, back in the annals of history, he brought his brandie-new Elecraft K2 to one of our Piscataway Amateur Radio Club Field Day efforts. A few minutes behind the dial and buttons and I was a hooked QRP'er for life.
Bob still has that K2. Mine was sold off a long time ago in order to afford my KX3. I love my KX3; but I still have a tiny bit of remorse about having to lose the K2. The sacrifices we make ...............
Anyway, Bob bought this little rig this past week and he's been having a ball. And I must say, I've been quite impressed. It's really gotten him back on the air in a big way. I have W3BBO set up in HamAlert so that I know when Bob has been spotted on RBN or on the DX Cluster. If I'm home, I go out of my way to get into the shack to try and work him. While I'm at work, there's not much I can do - it just chirps at me. And it's been chirping a lot this week - which has been a good thing! And the results he's been getting are not shabby. Look at this RBN report from a couple days ago:
Bob is the guy who really got me into QRP as a full time Amateur Radio pursuit - not sure whether he knows that, or not. I've said before that I was always a QRP dabbler since my Novice days, but then one day, back in the annals of history, he brought his brandie-new Elecraft K2 to one of our Piscataway Amateur Radio Club Field Day efforts. A few minutes behind the dial and buttons and I was a hooked QRP'er for life.
Bob still has that K2. Mine was sold off a long time ago in order to afford my KX3. I love my KX3; but I still have a tiny bit of remorse about having to lose the K2. The sacrifices we make ...............
Anyway, Bob bought this little rig this past week and he's been having a ball. And I must say, I've been quite impressed. It's really gotten him back on the air in a big way. I have W3BBO set up in HamAlert so that I know when Bob has been spotted on RBN or on the DX Cluster. If I'm home, I go out of my way to get into the shack to try and work him. While I'm at work, there's not much I can do - it just chirps at me. And it's been chirping a lot this week - which has been a good thing! And the results he's been getting are not shabby. Look at this RBN report from a couple days ago:
There's only one report that's not in double digit dB's. That's pretty darn good! Of course, no rig is going to get out without good antennas and Bob is fine in that regard. It's still a good thing to know that a purchase that you've made is a good one. And anything that gets a friend back on the air, big time, is also a good thing.
Wishing you much success and fun with your new radio, Bob - can't wait to hear it on the air!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
Marshall Emm N1FN, SK
Many of you may have had dealings with Marshall Emm N1FN who was the owner of Morse Express, Marshall was also the owner of the Oak Hills Research and AMECO lines of products. Many of us purchased keys from him over the years; as well as Oak Hills QRP rigs and accessories.
Marshall was also one of the leaders of the QRP Fox hunts. This appeared on our e-mail reflector this morning:
We are sad to announce that Marshall Emm, N1FN - long time QRP advocate, owner of Morse Express, Oak Hills Research and Ameco – is a Silent Key. Marshall passed away peacefully Monday morning, February 17, 2020, at Aurora CO Medical Center with his daughters and wife surrounding him. When more details are available, we will post a more comprehensive announcement. Our thoughts and prayers are with Marshall’s family. Messages, thoughts, stories can be sent to COLORADOQRPCLUB@GMAIL.COM.
Dick AB0CD.
Rest in Peace, Marshall.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Marshall was also one of the leaders of the QRP Fox hunts. This appeared on our e-mail reflector this morning:
We are sad to announce that Marshall Emm, N1FN - long time QRP advocate, owner of Morse Express, Oak Hills Research and Ameco – is a Silent Key. Marshall passed away peacefully Monday morning, February 17, 2020, at Aurora CO Medical Center with his daughters and wife surrounding him. When more details are available, we will post a more comprehensive announcement. Our thoughts and prayers are with Marshall’s family. Messages, thoughts, stories can be sent to COLORADOQRPCLUB@GMAIL.COM.
Dick AB0CD.
Rest in Peace, Marshall.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Saturday, February 15, 2020
AlexLoop
This is what I sold the two keys for - an AlexLoop. I bought it from Peter NN9K for a very good price. My first impression is that it's not all that different from my home brewed loop, with one big exception - I can tune the 15 Meter band. Listening to P40L on 15 Meters, I was able to tune the SWR down to 1.5 to 1. I was not able to do that with the home brewed loop.
The home brewed loop is a bit easier to tune with the 6:1 gear reduction drive that I put on it. I will have to get used to how sharp the AlexLoop's tuning is. Just a slight touch will take you from an SWR of 25:1 all the way down to 1.5:1. If Alex could pack a reduction drive into that small box, he'd really have a winner.
I wanted this loop with the future in mind, I bought it for the long haul. Yes, there are times when portable ops will demand using it - in parks where wires are not allowed in trees, for example. But I'm thinking about some years from now. Marianne has mentioned moving if and when we ever retire. There may come a day when I'll be leaving in Senior housing or perhaps a condo or townhouse with an HOA. If that ever happens, there may come a day when this AlexLoop could be the difference between being able to operate or being off the air completely.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Thursday, February 13, 2020
Holy Shamoley!
Dan N7CQR posted his log for the 40 Meter QRP Fox hunt for Tuesday evening. I was the only NJ Hound to make it into the log! I couldn't believe my eyes! I even did a CTL+F search on "NJ" just to make sure my eyes weren't playing tricks on me.
Usually I'm the last New Jersey Hound to make it into a Fox's log. I'm gobsmacked that this time I'm the only one. There are three other Hounds who reside in the Garden State - Steve WX2S in Kingston, Charles W2SH in Millington and Glenn NK1N in Hillsboro. Normally, they all get heard before me - I told you all that South Plainfield is an RF Black Hole! But to be the only NJ Hound in the log - this will probably be the first and only occurrence in my lifetime.
It was interesting, because I was able to locate Dan pretty quickly. He had a huge pileup of Hounds calling him. Find the pack, go down one and start listening - that's usually the modus operandi. It was this time, too.
It took a while for Dan's signal to build up to the point where throwing out my call sign was doable. There's no point in QRMing the pack if you can't hear the Fox returning your call. And at around that magic minute 0250 UTC, I made it into Dan's log.
I don't know what it is about 0250 UTC. I looked back at the pelts that I have collected this season and the vast majority of them were all nabbed within 5 minutes, either way, of 0250 UTC. I guess that's when all the louder QRP stations peter out and my pipsqueak signal starts getting heard.
The 80 Meter hunt tonight should be interesting. Mary NR3Z in Pennsylvania, and Tim KR0U in Colorado. My head tells me that I should probably nab Marty and then Tim, if I'm really lucky. It will probably end up being the other way around; or a skunk session if propagation plays head games with me.
On another note, I was "WOW'ed" by John AE5X's blog post about the IC-7300. Wow, wow, WOW!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Usually I'm the last New Jersey Hound to make it into a Fox's log. I'm gobsmacked that this time I'm the only one. There are three other Hounds who reside in the Garden State - Steve WX2S in Kingston, Charles W2SH in Millington and Glenn NK1N in Hillsboro. Normally, they all get heard before me - I told you all that South Plainfield is an RF Black Hole! But to be the only NJ Hound in the log - this will probably be the first and only occurrence in my lifetime.
It was interesting, because I was able to locate Dan pretty quickly. He had a huge pileup of Hounds calling him. Find the pack, go down one and start listening - that's usually the modus operandi. It was this time, too.
It took a while for Dan's signal to build up to the point where throwing out my call sign was doable. There's no point in QRMing the pack if you can't hear the Fox returning your call. And at around that magic minute 0250 UTC, I made it into Dan's log.
I don't know what it is about 0250 UTC. I looked back at the pelts that I have collected this season and the vast majority of them were all nabbed within 5 minutes, either way, of 0250 UTC. I guess that's when all the louder QRP stations peter out and my pipsqueak signal starts getting heard.
The 80 Meter hunt tonight should be interesting. Mary NR3Z in Pennsylvania, and Tim KR0U in Colorado. My head tells me that I should probably nab Marty and then Tim, if I'm really lucky. It will probably end up being the other way around; or a skunk session if propagation plays head games with me.
On another note, I was "WOW'ed" by John AE5X's blog post about the IC-7300. Wow, wow, WOW!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Wednesday, February 12, 2020
It works!
Last night I checked into the two monthly ARES/RACES nets that I make an effort to attend. Both Joseph and Marianne got home late from school/work, respectively. I ended up checking into the earlier 7:00 PM Middlesex County ARES/RACES net from the dinner table, using the handheld. Bad manners, I know, but you do what you have to.
John N2DV, our Emergency Coordinator for Middlesex County, who is a reader of this blog and was NCS for the net, caught me on the air afterward and asked me if I had checked in using the new J-Pole. I must have been a little noisy with the handheld, which is spotty, depending on where I am in the house, or how I hold it. We talked for a bit and I explained the situation.
John W2VTV, our Section Emergency Coordinator must have been listening as well, because when I checked into the 8:00 PM NNJ ARES/RACES net, he told me upon check in that the J-Pole was doing a good job. I have no idea as to whether I was dead full quieting or not, but even if I wasn't, it doesn't matter. Just the fact that I was audible enough to be heard well and check in and participate from the inside my house was success enough for me.
For the record, this is a KB9VBR J-Pole. It's made from copper tubing and will last longer upon this earth than I will, in all probability. It's fed with RG-8X coax. I know, not the best choice for VHF/UHF but it's good enough. Even with cable loss, there's enough Watts to get the job done that I need it to do. As per the instructions, I made a choke balun of (5) four inch (10 cm) windings of the coax and placed them about one foot (30 cm) from the feed point. A two liter soda bottle is the exact diameter needed and made a good form to wind the coax around. The antenna itself is being supported by four sections of surplus military mast. That puts the base of the antenna roughly at a height of about 24 feet (7 meters). The antenna itself is about a meter long, so the tip is at 8 meters - roughly. Maybe a bit more or a bit less.
Buying an antenna does go against my grain a bit. I like to build my own whenever possible - especially for portable use and Field Day. But this one is made of really good material and I never brazed/soldered copper tubing before. I figured by the time I bought a butane torch so that I could do the job myself, it would probably end up costing more in materials and time than if I just purchased one. So I'll tell myself that I'm supporting the economy and am helping a fellow Ham put food on the table for his family. C'est la vie.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
John N2DV, our Emergency Coordinator for Middlesex County, who is a reader of this blog and was NCS for the net, caught me on the air afterward and asked me if I had checked in using the new J-Pole. I must have been a little noisy with the handheld, which is spotty, depending on where I am in the house, or how I hold it. We talked for a bit and I explained the situation.
John W2VTV, our Section Emergency Coordinator must have been listening as well, because when I checked into the 8:00 PM NNJ ARES/RACES net, he told me upon check in that the J-Pole was doing a good job. I have no idea as to whether I was dead full quieting or not, but even if I wasn't, it doesn't matter. Just the fact that I was audible enough to be heard well and check in and participate from the inside my house was success enough for me.
For the record, this is a KB9VBR J-Pole. It's made from copper tubing and will last longer upon this earth than I will, in all probability. It's fed with RG-8X coax. I know, not the best choice for VHF/UHF but it's good enough. Even with cable loss, there's enough Watts to get the job done that I need it to do. As per the instructions, I made a choke balun of (5) four inch (10 cm) windings of the coax and placed them about one foot (30 cm) from the feed point. A two liter soda bottle is the exact diameter needed and made a good form to wind the coax around. The antenna itself is being supported by four sections of surplus military mast. That puts the base of the antenna roughly at a height of about 24 feet (7 meters). The antenna itself is about a meter long, so the tip is at 8 meters - roughly. Maybe a bit more or a bit less.
Buying an antenna does go against my grain a bit. I like to build my own whenever possible - especially for portable use and Field Day. But this one is made of really good material and I never brazed/soldered copper tubing before. I figured by the time I bought a butane torch so that I could do the job myself, it would probably end up costing more in materials and time than if I just purchased one. So I'll tell myself that I'm supporting the economy and am helping a fellow Ham put food on the table for his family. C'est la vie.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Tuesday, February 11, 2020
FDIM Speakers
Preston Douglas WJ2V posted the potential speakers list for FDIM 2020. Of course this is tentative considering that FDIM is a few months away and that things can change. But for those of you who are lucky enough to be going - this is the scheduled lineup as of this moment:
Holiday Inn Fairborn, Ohio --Thursday May14
9:15 - Jerry Wolczanski "Making an antenna coupler"
10:00 - Dave Benson "The Phaser: FT8 and other tricks"
10:45-11:15 - Break
11:15 - Dennis Anderson (Kanga UK): "Why SMD?"
12:00-1:30 Lunch
1:30 - Jack Purdum "Using Microcontrollers in you ham radio projects"
2:15 - Dino Papas. "Bench set up with inexpensive test equipment"
3:00 - Hans Summers ""Reach for the skies: extreme QRP at 35,000 ft"
3:45 End
Sure makes me wish I was going! For those of you who may still be thinking about it, you can go to the QRP -ARCI Website to register and make reservations for the hotel.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Holiday Inn Fairborn, Ohio --Thursday May14
9:15 - Jerry Wolczanski "Making an antenna coupler"
10:00 - Dave Benson "The Phaser: FT8 and other tricks"
10:45-11:15 - Break
11:15 - Dennis Anderson (Kanga UK): "Why SMD?"
12:00-1:30 Lunch
1:30 - Jack Purdum "Using Microcontrollers in you ham radio projects"
2:15 - Dino Papas. "Bench set up with inexpensive test equipment"
3:00 - Hans Summers ""Reach for the skies: extreme QRP at 35,000 ft"
3:45 End
Sure makes me wish I was going! For those of you who may still be thinking about it, you can go to the QRP -ARCI Website to register and make reservations for the hotel.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Monday, February 10, 2020
Looking forward to the weekend.
I know it's only Monday, but something to keep in mind THIS WEEK. Nest weekend is the ARRL CW DX Contest. There may be may ops heading to far and distant locations during this week to get their stations set up and running. You may hear some good pre-contest DX all this week. You may want to keep your ears open and your eyes focused on the DX Clusters. This is a prime opportunity for QRPers to get their share of DX. This week, and then again next Sunday as the contest winds down and the DX stations really sharpen their hearing, listening for weaker signals to fatten the QSO counts and point totals.
My eBay auctions ended successfully yesterday. I earned more than enough to fund a purchase of something I've been wanting for a while. If the winners are readers, by any chance, thank you so much! Your keys are going out via USPS Priority Mail today and you should both have them before the weekend.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
My eBay auctions ended successfully yesterday. I earned more than enough to fund a purchase of something I've been wanting for a while. If the winners are readers, by any chance, thank you so much! Your keys are going out via USPS Priority Mail today and you should both have them before the weekend.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Sunday, February 09, 2020
Got the antenna up
I got the VHF/UHF J-Pole up yesterday, but it seems there's always a side story involved.
I actually got a lot accomplished yesterday. Grocery shopping, errands, and I made some stuffed cabbage for dinner for today. My first time ever. It looks good; but tonight we'll see how good it actually is.
But getting back to the antenna ...........
Yesterday was pretty breezy and chilly. It's hard to believe that on Friday morning, on my way to work it was 60F (15C). A cold front swept through during the day; and by the time I left for home, it was 27F (-3C). The remnants of the wind were still evident yesterday, so I decided to connect the J-Pole to the top most mast section and connect the coax inside, where it was warm.
I worked on the living room floor. Securing the antenna to the mast was a piece of cake using three hose clamps. Then I hooked up the coax just like the picture from Friday's post. I secured the coax running along down the mast piece with cable ties. When it was all done, I went to put on my coat, so that I could carry the assembly outside and place it atop the other mast sections already out there.
That's when it got weird. I wanted to take the cable ties with me, so I could secure more of the coax neatly along the bottom sections of mast. I picked up the package of cable ties from the living room floor and then I looked around for my cutters. I couldn't find them anywhere. I JUST HAD THEM IN MY HANDS !!!!
I checked my pockets - nope. I looked under the sofa, thinking maybe I knocked them under there, somehow. Nope. I checked my coat pockets. Nope. I looked under the hassock and the chairs. Nope. I have no idea where they went. I finally went down the basement for another pair and got the antenna up easily. After I finished running the coax to the shack, I came back inside and started looking for the missing cutters, once again.
I still haven't found them. Maybe they ended up wherever the missing socks from the clothes dryer eventually end up - some sort of parallel universe. They were a pair of Harbor Freight cutters, so they weren't expensive - but they were very good and had become my favorites. I guess the bright side of the story is that I'll get to go to Harbor Freight in order to buy another pair - and you know what will happen, don't you? As soon as I buy another pair, the missing ones will somehow miraculously show up!
The bottom line is that I seem to be hitting the repeaters I need to hit, very well. I am officially ready for the monthly ARES nets that I participate in. This month they occur this coming Tuesday evening. I can finally join them from the chilly comfort of my basement shack - much better than running out to the car in order to use the mobile rig.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
I actually got a lot accomplished yesterday. Grocery shopping, errands, and I made some stuffed cabbage for dinner for today. My first time ever. It looks good; but tonight we'll see how good it actually is.
But getting back to the antenna ...........
Yesterday was pretty breezy and chilly. It's hard to believe that on Friday morning, on my way to work it was 60F (15C). A cold front swept through during the day; and by the time I left for home, it was 27F (-3C). The remnants of the wind were still evident yesterday, so I decided to connect the J-Pole to the top most mast section and connect the coax inside, where it was warm.
I worked on the living room floor. Securing the antenna to the mast was a piece of cake using three hose clamps. Then I hooked up the coax just like the picture from Friday's post. I secured the coax running along down the mast piece with cable ties. When it was all done, I went to put on my coat, so that I could carry the assembly outside and place it atop the other mast sections already out there.
That's when it got weird. I wanted to take the cable ties with me, so I could secure more of the coax neatly along the bottom sections of mast. I picked up the package of cable ties from the living room floor and then I looked around for my cutters. I couldn't find them anywhere. I JUST HAD THEM IN MY HANDS !!!!
I checked my pockets - nope. I looked under the sofa, thinking maybe I knocked them under there, somehow. Nope. I checked my coat pockets. Nope. I looked under the hassock and the chairs. Nope. I have no idea where they went. I finally went down the basement for another pair and got the antenna up easily. After I finished running the coax to the shack, I came back inside and started looking for the missing cutters, once again.
I still haven't found them. Maybe they ended up wherever the missing socks from the clothes dryer eventually end up - some sort of parallel universe. They were a pair of Harbor Freight cutters, so they weren't expensive - but they were very good and had become my favorites. I guess the bright side of the story is that I'll get to go to Harbor Freight in order to buy another pair - and you know what will happen, don't you? As soon as I buy another pair, the missing ones will somehow miraculously show up!
The bottom line is that I seem to be hitting the repeaters I need to hit, very well. I am officially ready for the monthly ARES nets that I participate in. This month they occur this coming Tuesday evening. I can finally join them from the chilly comfort of my basement shack - much better than running out to the car in order to use the mobile rig.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Friday, February 07, 2020
Rain, rain go away!
It seems like it's been raining here in Central NJ forever. There have been sunny days, I guess. It's dark when I leave for work and it's dark on the drive home (although that's starting to change). The room I work in has no windows, so I don't get to see much sunshine. Today it's misty, foggy and supposedly we're under a flash flood warning. But later today, it's supposed to start clearing, get windy and the temperature is supposed to drop like a stone.
And I hope the forecast for partly cloudy skies for tomorrow is accurate. I want to install a VHF/UHF J-Pole in the backyard.
I am and always will be an HF kind of guy. For me, the "Low Bands" are what Amateur Radio is all about. Ever since I discovered that there was such a thing as Amateur Radio, the goal has always been to communicate with people via shortwave. This will always be my passion and first love.
The outdoor VHF/UHF antenna is needed for ARES nets that I regularly check into. The NNJ ARES Net is conducted on a repeater in Morristown, NJ. While it is not that far away and not that difficult to check into from the car, it is darn near impossible from inside the house with a handheld. And it's a pain in the posterior to run out to the car on cold Winter nights.
In addition, as the appointed Emergency Coordinator for South Plainfield, I run an ARES net for our group every third Tuesday of the month on the South Plainfield Amateur Radio Club repeater, NJ2SP. Hitting that with a handled is a piece of cake; but depending on what room in the house I am situated, sometimes I can get noisy.
The J-Pole, up about 20 feet or so, running down to a VHF/UHF mobile rig in the basement should do the trick. Hopefully, the job won't take more than a half hour or so. I have to run to Home Depot for a couple hose clamps. The bottom section of masting is already in place. I did that last Sunday. All I need to do is clamp the J-Pole to the top portion, connect the coax, make a balun of about 5 turns of coax and tape that to the the mast about a foot beneath the antenna, raise it and run the rest of the coax to the basement.
If all goes well, that will be another Amateur Radio chore taken care of.
Last night in the 80 Meter QRP Fox hunt, I was really able to see a difference in the W3EDP after "un-drooping" it last Sunday. The noise difference between the HF9V and the wire used to be like day and night. Now they are both pretty low. There's still a bit more hash with the wire on 80 Meters at night, but it's nowhere as bad as it used to be. I used the W3EDP to get both Fox QSOs last night. For the majority of this Fall/Winter season, I have been relying on the Butternut to get the job done.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
And I hope the forecast for partly cloudy skies for tomorrow is accurate. I want to install a VHF/UHF J-Pole in the backyard.
I am and always will be an HF kind of guy. For me, the "Low Bands" are what Amateur Radio is all about. Ever since I discovered that there was such a thing as Amateur Radio, the goal has always been to communicate with people via shortwave. This will always be my passion and first love.
The outdoor VHF/UHF antenna is needed for ARES nets that I regularly check into. The NNJ ARES Net is conducted on a repeater in Morristown, NJ. While it is not that far away and not that difficult to check into from the car, it is darn near impossible from inside the house with a handheld. And it's a pain in the posterior to run out to the car on cold Winter nights.
In addition, as the appointed Emergency Coordinator for South Plainfield, I run an ARES net for our group every third Tuesday of the month on the South Plainfield Amateur Radio Club repeater, NJ2SP. Hitting that with a handled is a piece of cake; but depending on what room in the house I am situated, sometimes I can get noisy.
The J-Pole, up about 20 feet or so, running down to a VHF/UHF mobile rig in the basement should do the trick. Hopefully, the job won't take more than a half hour or so. I have to run to Home Depot for a couple hose clamps. The bottom section of masting is already in place. I did that last Sunday. All I need to do is clamp the J-Pole to the top portion, connect the coax, make a balun of about 5 turns of coax and tape that to the the mast about a foot beneath the antenna, raise it and run the rest of the coax to the basement.
If all goes well, that will be another Amateur Radio chore taken care of.
Last night in the 80 Meter QRP Fox hunt, I was really able to see a difference in the W3EDP after "un-drooping" it last Sunday. The noise difference between the HF9V and the wire used to be like day and night. Now they are both pretty low. There's still a bit more hash with the wire on 80 Meters at night, but it's nowhere as bad as it used to be. I used the W3EDP to get both Fox QSOs last night. For the majority of this Fall/Winter season, I have been relying on the Butternut to get the job done.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Tuesday, February 04, 2020
Something else from the weekend.
Sunday was sunny; but chilly. That didn't stop me from doing a bit of antenna maintenance. I noticed my Butternut was not truly vertical, anymore. Some shrubbery from my neighbor's yard had grown tall and had kind of "pushed" my vertical out of its way. A branch cutter took care of that, PDQ. Somehow, I doubt my neighbor even notices his greenery is hanging over onto my property.
Last Thursday, another neighbor's (on the opposite side of our block) garage started on fire. The garage was a total loss, but fortunately, it was detached from the house. The vinyl siding on the house melted a in a few spots from the intense heat; but was otherwise untouched. I went to Cara's room to take a peek out her window, which offers the best view of the damage. It was then that I noticed the W3EDP was a bit droopy. The wire got tangled up by something. Using the same branch cutter, I was able to lift the wire out and past the offending snare, and it was back to full height.
Which leads me to last night and the ARS Spartan Sprint. Lifting the W3EDP past whatever it was caught on seemed to make a difference in the noise level I was experiencing. The QRN is still there, but is a bit less, now. I managed to work three stations in about 30 minutes. I did not hear many Spartan Sprinters - only Don K3RLL, John K4BAI and Mark WB9FHK. Don by far was the loudest, but not at first. He was very weak from the beginning, but over time his signal rose in strength and he became the loudest of the three.
After about 40 minutes, I noticed myself nodding off a bit and threw the big switch and hit the sack. Three more QSOs in the log for 2020.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Last Thursday, another neighbor's (on the opposite side of our block) garage started on fire. The garage was a total loss, but fortunately, it was detached from the house. The vinyl siding on the house melted a in a few spots from the intense heat; but was otherwise untouched. I went to Cara's room to take a peek out her window, which offers the best view of the damage. It was then that I noticed the W3EDP was a bit droopy. The wire got tangled up by something. Using the same branch cutter, I was able to lift the wire out and past the offending snare, and it was back to full height.
Which leads me to last night and the ARS Spartan Sprint. Lifting the W3EDP past whatever it was caught on seemed to make a difference in the noise level I was experiencing. The QRN is still there, but is a bit less, now. I managed to work three stations in about 30 minutes. I did not hear many Spartan Sprinters - only Don K3RLL, John K4BAI and Mark WB9FHK. Don by far was the loudest, but not at first. He was very weak from the beginning, but over time his signal rose in strength and he became the loudest of the three.
After about 40 minutes, I noticed myself nodding off a bit and threw the big switch and hit the sack. Three more QSOs in the log for 2020.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Monday, February 03, 2020
ARS Spartan Sprint tonight
The monthly ARS Spartan Sprint is tonight.
For the rules, see - http://arsqrp.blogspot.com/2009/02/so-whats-spartan-sprint-and-how-do-i.html
The exchange is simple - RST / SPC / Power Out
This is a good one for us "giver of points" to build up the log tally, and to see how band conditions are doing.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Sunday, February 02, 2020
Weekend stuff
I didn't participate in FYBO yesterday. By the time I got back from Pep Boys, I was a little bummed out. I was told that the check engine light indicated that the catalytic converter wasn't functioning properly. Let's just say the repair would cost the equivalent of a couple Begali keys, or would easily cover the cost of a KX2 or KX3.
Instead, I hunted for some of those State QSO Party stations - the beginning of my personal challenge. I was surprised how easy it was to work two British Columbia stations. The VE7s were plentiful and loud on 20 Meters. I had two QSOs in the log within minutes. The Minnesota QSO Party was almost as easy, stations were loud and plentiful, too.
Vermont was another story. 40 Meters was the band for hunting in the afternoon as Vermont is way too close for 20 Meter QSOs. I worked KE1VT early and easily. But where were all the rest of the Vermonters? It seemed they were as scarce as hen's teeth. I worked Kevin again later at night on 80 Meters, but I really wanted to get a different Vermont call in the log. I hunted and twiddled and listened for a long time. As it turned out that second QSO had to way until today. I worked K1VMT this afternoon on 40 Meters again.
I got another nice surprise in the mail. My QSL cards and certificate arrived from the DVRA for the W2P and W2T Special Event.
These are going to be framed and hung on the shack wall. Thank you Delaware Valley Radio Association!
Another pleasant surprise came this afternoon, as I got into the car to make a short drive to run an errand. The "check engine" light went out on its own! A friend had mentioned to me that there was always the possibility that the problem could have just been a "false positive" read by a sensor. He told me to keep an eye on the instrument package, because if that was the case the light would go out after driving for somewhere between 10 - 20 miles. It turned out he was right! You can't imagine how happy that made me.
In a totally unrelated matter, I am selling a couple keys from my collection to raise some dollars to make a different Amateur Radio purchase. I put two keys by LLAVES TELEGRAFICAS ARTESANAS up for auction on eBay:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/274246288990
https://www.ebay.com/itm/274246282764
Thanks for looking!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Instead, I hunted for some of those State QSO Party stations - the beginning of my personal challenge. I was surprised how easy it was to work two British Columbia stations. The VE7s were plentiful and loud on 20 Meters. I had two QSOs in the log within minutes. The Minnesota QSO Party was almost as easy, stations were loud and plentiful, too.
Vermont was another story. 40 Meters was the band for hunting in the afternoon as Vermont is way too close for 20 Meter QSOs. I worked KE1VT early and easily. But where were all the rest of the Vermonters? It seemed they were as scarce as hen's teeth. I worked Kevin again later at night on 80 Meters, but I really wanted to get a different Vermont call in the log. I hunted and twiddled and listened for a long time. As it turned out that second QSO had to way until today. I worked K1VMT this afternoon on 40 Meters again.
I got another nice surprise in the mail. My QSL cards and certificate arrived from the DVRA for the W2P and W2T Special Event.
These are going to be framed and hung on the shack wall. Thank you Delaware Valley Radio Association!
Another pleasant surprise came this afternoon, as I got into the car to make a short drive to run an errand. The "check engine" light went out on its own! A friend had mentioned to me that there was always the possibility that the problem could have just been a "false positive" read by a sensor. He told me to keep an eye on the instrument package, because if that was the case the light would go out after driving for somewhere between 10 - 20 miles. It turned out he was right! You can't imagine how happy that made me.
In a totally unrelated matter, I am selling a couple keys from my collection to raise some dollars to make a different Amateur Radio purchase. I put two keys by LLAVES TELEGRAFICAS ARTESANAS up for auction on eBay:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/274246288990
https://www.ebay.com/itm/274246282764
Thanks for looking!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Saturday, February 01, 2020
FYBO Hopes Growing Dim
Sometimes I think that if it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all.
I was driving home last night from the ETS of NJ radio club meeting, and in my mind, I was finalizing plans for what I was going to bring to the park for FYBO. I had intended to travel light and bring only the bare essentials. Anyway, about 1/2 way home I hear a "Bing!" and I look down at the instrument package:
Yes, the dreaded "Check engine light" came on. And that could mean just about anything, from a problem with the gas cap, to a bad sensor to "only God knows what".
So what to do about this at around 9:30 PM on a Friday night? I went online to the Pep Boys Website. I don't know if they are a nation wide chain, but here on the East Coast, they provide auto parts, tires and service. They replaced my front brakes in December when they started grinding. They did an excellent job in what I thought was a pretty short time. I figured I make an appointment as soon as possible and maybe burn a vacation day from work towards the middle of the week.
To my slack-jawed astonishment, they had openings for today - Saturday! I grabbed an open slot at 10:30 AM and I will be leaving from home in about 45 minutes to go see what exactly is wrong and how much it's going to cost. I'll most likely sit and wait while the service is being done. If it's going to take more than a couple of hours, I'll have my son, Joseph, come and bring me home.
Either way, it looks like this is going to kill my chances to participate in FYBO. On the bright side, I still have this evening and tomorrow to try and make those State QSO Party QSOs.
What was the line from that John Lennon song? I think it was something like, "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." Boy, did he nail that one!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
I was driving home last night from the ETS of NJ radio club meeting, and in my mind, I was finalizing plans for what I was going to bring to the park for FYBO. I had intended to travel light and bring only the bare essentials. Anyway, about 1/2 way home I hear a "Bing!" and I look down at the instrument package:
Yes, the dreaded "Check engine light" came on. And that could mean just about anything, from a problem with the gas cap, to a bad sensor to "only God knows what".
So what to do about this at around 9:30 PM on a Friday night? I went online to the Pep Boys Website. I don't know if they are a nation wide chain, but here on the East Coast, they provide auto parts, tires and service. They replaced my front brakes in December when they started grinding. They did an excellent job in what I thought was a pretty short time. I figured I make an appointment as soon as possible and maybe burn a vacation day from work towards the middle of the week.
To my slack-jawed astonishment, they had openings for today - Saturday! I grabbed an open slot at 10:30 AM and I will be leaving from home in about 45 minutes to go see what exactly is wrong and how much it's going to cost. I'll most likely sit and wait while the service is being done. If it's going to take more than a couple of hours, I'll have my son, Joseph, come and bring me home.
Either way, it looks like this is going to kill my chances to participate in FYBO. On the bright side, I still have this evening and tomorrow to try and make those State QSO Party QSOs.
What was the line from that John Lennon song? I think it was something like, "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." Boy, did he nail that one!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Friday, January 31, 2020
For those of you out there
who have a real yen for Amateur Radio contesting and Radiosport competition in general ........... I ran across this announcement on the ARRL Webpage the other day.
The State QSO Party Challenge is a competition comprised of other contests, namely state and provincial QSO parties. As explained on the website, the annual cumulative score program is open to any radio amateur who participates in any approved state QSO parties (SQPs).
Participants just need to submit their QSO party scores to 3830scores.com to enter the challenge. Participants’ cumulative scores will be calculated by totaling up the number of reported contacts and multiplying by the number of SQPs entered in the year to date. Periodic standings will be posted to 3830scores.com, the QSOParty Groups.io forum, and the StateQSOParty.com website.
“Using the number of QSO parties entered as a multiplier is expected to encourage radio amateurs to enter more state/province QSO parties,” the program’s organizers said. “The first SQPs in 2020 are the Vermont, Minnesota, and British Columbia QSO Parties in the first weekend of February.”
Entrants must make at least two contacts in a QSO party for it to count as a multiplier. Full details are available on the State QSO Party Challenge website. Challenge sponsors expressed appreciation to Bruce Horn, WA7BNM, for developing the SQP Activity Tracker on 3830scores.com.
This is interesting in a few ways. Even if you decide to not formally participate in this, it can be taken on as a real personal challenge. "How many State QSO Parties can I participate in?". For me, it would be a big deal to participate in all fifty, plus Canada This kind of reminds me of the QRP-ARCI Golden Jubilee event a few years back, where the goal was to work K6JSS stations in all 50 states.
Secondly, would I be able to make "at least two contacts" in all of these? With band conditions the way they are - the state QSO parties in Alaska and Hawaii and some of the Canadian Provinces might prove to be a real challenge. But then, going back to the QRP-ARCI Golden Jubilee event, Alaska and Hawaii were NOT the two states I missed!
Thirdly, this would be a great way for those who are on their way to earning Worked All Sates to actually accomplish that.
Fourthly, for those of you out there who complain about the bands being "flooded with contests" every weekend (you know who you are), this would actually make that a good thing. Instead of disdaining these QSO Parties, it would be an incentive to jump in and make them into an enjoyable and an interesting experience for you. After all, you don't have to stay in them for the entire event if you don't want to - but can you make just two QSOs in each?
I just might be tempted to take on the personal challenge myself!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
The State QSO Party Challenge is a competition comprised of other contests, namely state and provincial QSO parties. As explained on the website, the annual cumulative score program is open to any radio amateur who participates in any approved state QSO parties (SQPs).
Participants just need to submit their QSO party scores to 3830scores.com to enter the challenge. Participants’ cumulative scores will be calculated by totaling up the number of reported contacts and multiplying by the number of SQPs entered in the year to date. Periodic standings will be posted to 3830scores.com, the QSOParty Groups.io forum, and the StateQSOParty.com website.
“Using the number of QSO parties entered as a multiplier is expected to encourage radio amateurs to enter more state/province QSO parties,” the program’s organizers said. “The first SQPs in 2020 are the Vermont, Minnesota, and British Columbia QSO Parties in the first weekend of February.”
Entrants must make at least two contacts in a QSO party for it to count as a multiplier. Full details are available on the State QSO Party Challenge website. Challenge sponsors expressed appreciation to Bruce Horn, WA7BNM, for developing the SQP Activity Tracker on 3830scores.com.
This is interesting in a few ways. Even if you decide to not formally participate in this, it can be taken on as a real personal challenge. "How many State QSO Parties can I participate in?". For me, it would be a big deal to participate in all fifty, plus Canada This kind of reminds me of the QRP-ARCI Golden Jubilee event a few years back, where the goal was to work K6JSS stations in all 50 states.
Secondly, would I be able to make "at least two contacts" in all of these? With band conditions the way they are - the state QSO parties in Alaska and Hawaii and some of the Canadian Provinces might prove to be a real challenge. But then, going back to the QRP-ARCI Golden Jubilee event, Alaska and Hawaii were NOT the two states I missed!
Thirdly, this would be a great way for those who are on their way to earning Worked All Sates to actually accomplish that.
Fourthly, for those of you out there who complain about the bands being "flooded with contests" every weekend (you know who you are), this would actually make that a good thing. Instead of disdaining these QSO Parties, it would be an incentive to jump in and make them into an enjoyable and an interesting experience for you. After all, you don't have to stay in them for the entire event if you don't want to - but can you make just two QSOs in each?
I just might be tempted to take on the personal challenge myself!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Thursday, January 30, 2020
Just putting this out there.
For those of us who are still contributing to the Social Security fund:
Think they'd get upset if I posted this on my office door?
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Think they'd get upset if I posted this on my office door?
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
If you don't like the weather in NJ
just wait five minutes, as the "borrowed" old saying goes! I guess that holds for long range forecasts, too.
I've been keeping an eye on the long range weather forecast via WeatherUnderground for this coming Saturday - FYBO day.
A couple of days ago, they were calling for a wet weekend. This morning, they were calling for an ice storm in the morning with some showers in the afternoon after a warm up.
NOW it's supposed to be "just" a cloudy day with just a chance of showers. Meanwhile, last night on the news, the local weather prognosticator was calling for a possible Nor'Easter this weekend. It's enough to make your head spin!
I've been keeping an eye on the long range weather forecast via WeatherUnderground for this coming Saturday - FYBO day.
A couple of days ago, they were calling for a wet weekend. This morning, they were calling for an ice storm in the morning with some showers in the afternoon after a warm up.
NOW it's supposed to be "just" a cloudy day with just a chance of showers. Meanwhile, last night on the news, the local weather prognosticator was calling for a possible Nor'Easter this weekend. It's enough to make your head spin!
I was hoping to go up to Washington Rock State Park for a couple of hours. That's my favorite place to operate portable from - plenty pf picnic benches and a plethora of tall trees. But with this ambiguous and ever changing forecast, I got the bright idea to go to Putnam Park in town, instead. That's where SPARC has done JOTA the past few years, and there's a covered pavilion there. Should it begin to precipitate, at least I'll be dry. The trees are not as tall; but they're tall enough for me to launch the PAR ENDFEDZ into.
At 62, I'm no young buck and no spring chicken. I don't need a case of pneumonia or bronchitis. No QRP contest is worth that! But I can dress for the cold, as long as I can stay dry.
Stay tuned!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
New Amateur Extra Question Pool Released
From the ARRL:
SB QST @ ARL $ARLB004
ARLB004 New Amateur Extra Question Pool Released
ZCZC AG04
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 4 ARLB004
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT January 28, 2020
To all radio amateurs
SB QST ARL ARLB004
ARLB004 New Amateur Extra Question Pool Released
The new Amateur Extra-class license examination question pool, effective from July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2024, has been released and is available at the National Conference of Volunteer Coordinators (NCVEC) website at, http://www.ncvec.org/ .
The 2020-2024 Extra-class pool incorporates significant changes compared to the current 2016-2020 question pool, which expires on June 30. The number of questions in the pool was reduced from 712 to 622. The result was 239 modified questions, 49 new questions, and 139 questions removed due to changes in what was felt to be an abundance of outdated questions, while areas of new technology and subjects were added.
In addition, an effort was made to balance the difficulty level, removing or replacing some questions deemed too easy or too difficult compared to the rest of the pool. The 2020 pool has 10 diagrams, which have been renumbered because the new question pool has two fewer than the 2016 question pool.
NNNN
/EX
Once again, this is really nothing to get your undies all up in a knot about. If you are studying the material that you need to know for the Amateur Extra upgrade and not just memorizing answers to questions - then no matter what they throw at you, you'll pass.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
SB QST @ ARL $ARLB004
ARLB004 New Amateur Extra Question Pool Released
ZCZC AG04
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 4 ARLB004
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT January 28, 2020
To all radio amateurs
SB QST ARL ARLB004
ARLB004 New Amateur Extra Question Pool Released
The new Amateur Extra-class license examination question pool, effective from July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2024, has been released and is available at the National Conference of Volunteer Coordinators (NCVEC) website at, http://www.ncvec.org/ .
The 2020-2024 Extra-class pool incorporates significant changes compared to the current 2016-2020 question pool, which expires on June 30. The number of questions in the pool was reduced from 712 to 622. The result was 239 modified questions, 49 new questions, and 139 questions removed due to changes in what was felt to be an abundance of outdated questions, while areas of new technology and subjects were added.
In addition, an effort was made to balance the difficulty level, removing or replacing some questions deemed too easy or too difficult compared to the rest of the pool. The 2020 pool has 10 diagrams, which have been renumbered because the new question pool has two fewer than the 2016 question pool.
NNNN
/EX
Once again, this is really nothing to get your undies all up in a knot about. If you are studying the material that you need to know for the Amateur Extra upgrade and not just memorizing answers to questions - then no matter what they throw at you, you'll pass.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Here's the problem in a nutshell
Valentine's Day is coming .......soon. To my fellow Hams who are single and looking for "That special someone", who may not share your interest in our hobby.
1) A common mistake to avoid on that "First Date":
A "hat tip" to John N2VAN for posting this on Facebook!
(Personally, I would have said 40 Meters ........ but that's just me.)
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
1) A common mistake to avoid on that "First Date":
A "hat tip" to John N2VAN for posting this on Facebook!
(Personally, I would have said 40 Meters ........ but that's just me.)
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Monday, January 27, 2020
CERT and SPARC makes the local news outlet
I was surprised to see South Plainfield CERT and the South Plainfield Amateur Radio Club make it to the local online new outlet this past weekend.
TAP, The Alternate Press is an online publication that presents news stories and other local items of interest to the community at large.
https://bit.ly/2tKLk0P
It was nice to get a mention; and perhaps this will spur other local citizens and other local Hams to join the program.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
TAP, The Alternate Press is an online publication that presents news stories and other local items of interest to the community at large.
https://bit.ly/2tKLk0P
It was nice to get a mention; and perhaps this will spur other local citizens and other local Hams to join the program.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Sunday, January 26, 2020
Winter sucks
We do have things to bring a little light to the cold, gray, bucket of suck, however. One of those is coming up next weekend.
That's right! Next Saturday is already the first Saturday in February and that means it's FYBO time! Freeze Your Buns Off is favored by the outdoor QRP operating community and it kicks off the official 2020 season.
The contest, or perhaps better described as an "operating event" is sponsored by the AZsQRPions. The rules haven't changed any for the 2020 event and can be found here : http://azscqrpions.org/FYBO
I am hoping the long range forecast for Central NJ is wrong and that it will be dry and rain-free. I just might be tempted to go to Washington Rock State Park and put in an hour or two of operating time.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Friday, January 24, 2020
A Shameless Plug
Check out the first header photo on the NJ Makers Day Website:
https://njmakersday.org/
I was quite surprised to see this, as well. This was brought to my attention by SPARC President Bill W2AOF. Our monthly business meeting on Wednesday was largely devoted to getting ready for this year's event.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
https://njmakersday.org/
I was quite surprised to see this, as well. This was brought to my attention by SPARC President Bill W2AOF. Our monthly business meeting on Wednesday was largely devoted to getting ready for this year's event.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
If you have 'em - use 'em
This weekend is the CQ WW 160 Meter Contest - for the rules you can go here.
160 Meters presents a challenge for those of us who operate from small, suburban lots. Not a lot of real estate for full sized dipoles.
My W3EDP loads up on 160 Meters rather well with the aid of an antenna tuner and I've gotten out into the Midwest using QRP power levels. If I get the opportunity to get down to the shack this weekend, it might be an interesting exercise to make some QSOs and then map them to see just how well and where the W3EDP radiates to.
The problem I have is similar to what John K3WWP seems to be experiencing, if you keep up with reading his daily online diary. I also have horrific noise with my wire antennas in the evenings on both 80 and 160 Meters. I have not actively searched the neighborhood with a portable radio to possibly locate the problem. That is something I should do. There is a neighbor two doors down from me who has solar panels mounted on the roof. I am wondering if any inverters kick in during the evenings to convert stored DC to AC? Maybe that's what the problem is. The KX3's noise blanker and noise reduction circuity help somewhat, but they don't eliminate the interference.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
160 Meters presents a challenge for those of us who operate from small, suburban lots. Not a lot of real estate for full sized dipoles.
My W3EDP loads up on 160 Meters rather well with the aid of an antenna tuner and I've gotten out into the Midwest using QRP power levels. If I get the opportunity to get down to the shack this weekend, it might be an interesting exercise to make some QSOs and then map them to see just how well and where the W3EDP radiates to.
The problem I have is similar to what John K3WWP seems to be experiencing, if you keep up with reading his daily online diary. I also have horrific noise with my wire antennas in the evenings on both 80 and 160 Meters. I have not actively searched the neighborhood with a portable radio to possibly locate the problem. That is something I should do. There is a neighbor two doors down from me who has solar panels mounted on the roof. I am wondering if any inverters kick in during the evenings to convert stored DC to AC? Maybe that's what the problem is. The KX3's noise blanker and noise reduction circuity help somewhat, but they don't eliminate the interference.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
Interesting
Not Amateur Radio related in the strictest sense - but interesting, anyway:
https://wapo.st/2NT9c9k
A Washington Post article on plans to recover the radio apparatus used on the RMS Titanic.
"If carried to the surface, it could perhaps be restored to working order, RMS Titanic Inc. said, meaning “Titanic’s radio — Titanic’s voice — could once again be heard."
That would be one heckuva restoration job! After all these years under saltwater, I doubt there'd be much left of the original radio that would be recyclable.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
https://wapo.st/2NT9c9k
A Washington Post article on plans to recover the radio apparatus used on the RMS Titanic.
"If carried to the surface, it could perhaps be restored to working order, RMS Titanic Inc. said, meaning “Titanic’s radio — Titanic’s voice — could once again be heard."
That would be one heckuva restoration job! After all these years under saltwater, I doubt there'd be much left of the original radio that would be recyclable.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Friday, January 17, 2020
This and that
During the 80 Meter QRP Fox hunt last night (more on that later), I downloaded and installed Log4OM V2. The new version is a stand-alone version and can be run independently of Log4OM V1. In fact, if for some reason, you wanted to run both programs at the same time, there is nothing to stop you. They will not "talk" to each other, however. You would have to add contacts to each, if you wanted to maintain both.
My first impressions are very favorable. Installation was a snap and went without a hitch. Having used V1 for so many years, starting and configuring V2 was very intuitive. I stumbled around for a bit trying to find this or that, but a few "past practice" guesses got me where I needed to be with just a few mouse clicks.
Visually, V2 is very nice, well organized and is easy on the eyes. I think anyone who is looking for an easy to use, highly functional and aesthetically pleasing log program would do well to check out Log4OM V2. From what I understand, V1 will be kept available for download on the Website, but updates and improvements have ceased.
The fact that I was able to install, configure and import my log into the new version should tell you all you need to know about my success in the Fox hunt last night. I got skunked. I did not expect to hear K2MAX in Oregon, here in NJ. I was not disappointed in that regard.
Tom KV2X was another story. He was loud for about the first 15 - 20 minutes and unfortunately, I did not score a pelt during that window. For the next hour, he was inaudible. With not even an ESP signal, the only way I knew where he was by the location of the Hounds calling him.
Then, with about 10 minutes left in the hunt, I heard him pop out of the noise and I started calling - furiously. He came back to me, and I sent my exchange several times, but the QSB was bad and I never got a confirmation. So I had my fingers crossed that I had made it into his log with only minutes to go. When he published his log to the e-mail reflector this morning, my hopes were dashed. W2LJ was not in there.
As the saying goes .......sometimes you're the windshield and sometimes you're the bug. Last night was one of those squished, buggy times.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
My first impressions are very favorable. Installation was a snap and went without a hitch. Having used V1 for so many years, starting and configuring V2 was very intuitive. I stumbled around for a bit trying to find this or that, but a few "past practice" guesses got me where I needed to be with just a few mouse clicks.
Visually, V2 is very nice, well organized and is easy on the eyes. I think anyone who is looking for an easy to use, highly functional and aesthetically pleasing log program would do well to check out Log4OM V2. From what I understand, V1 will be kept available for download on the Website, but updates and improvements have ceased.
The fact that I was able to install, configure and import my log into the new version should tell you all you need to know about my success in the Fox hunt last night. I got skunked. I did not expect to hear K2MAX in Oregon, here in NJ. I was not disappointed in that regard.
Tom KV2X was another story. He was loud for about the first 15 - 20 minutes and unfortunately, I did not score a pelt during that window. For the next hour, he was inaudible. With not even an ESP signal, the only way I knew where he was by the location of the Hounds calling him.
Then, with about 10 minutes left in the hunt, I heard him pop out of the noise and I started calling - furiously. He came back to me, and I sent my exchange several times, but the QSB was bad and I never got a confirmation. So I had my fingers crossed that I had made it into his log with only minutes to go. When he published his log to the e-mail reflector this morning, my hopes were dashed. W2LJ was not in there.
As the saying goes .......sometimes you're the windshield and sometimes you're the bug. Last night was one of those squished, buggy times.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Thursday, January 16, 2020
Log4OM 2
Great news!
I have been using Log4OM by Daniele Pistollato, IW3HMH for years now. I moved over from Ham Radio Deluxe when that started giving fits to the laptop that I was using, at the time. I have never gone back. Log4OM has been very easy for me to use. It is very intuitive and the learning curve was not long, at all.
Granted, I do not take advantage of all the bells and whistles. I do use it for all my logging needs. What I like most about it is that there is no subscription required (it's free!) and there IS an owner's manual that you can download. Uploading QSOs to eQSL and LOTW has been a snap.
Log4OM also maintains a Web presence with a forum, where you can get questions answered if you run into a problem - https://www.log4om.com/ Log4OM also maintains a presence on Facebook and twitter.
After many years of offering this fantastic product, Daniele and friends have just released Log4OM 2 - a new, updated version.
But better than me telling you all about the features of Log4OM, I heartily encourage you to visit their Website to see for yourself. I think you will be more than pleasantly surprised.
Log4OM V2 was JUST released; and the past two evenings have been busy away-from-home ones for me. I can't wait to download the new version and get it running!
Thanks, Daniele and the Log4OM Team!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
I have been using Log4OM by Daniele Pistollato, IW3HMH for years now. I moved over from Ham Radio Deluxe when that started giving fits to the laptop that I was using, at the time. I have never gone back. Log4OM has been very easy for me to use. It is very intuitive and the learning curve was not long, at all.
Granted, I do not take advantage of all the bells and whistles. I do use it for all my logging needs. What I like most about it is that there is no subscription required (it's free!) and there IS an owner's manual that you can download. Uploading QSOs to eQSL and LOTW has been a snap.
Log4OM also maintains a Web presence with a forum, where you can get questions answered if you run into a problem - https://www.log4om.com/ Log4OM also maintains a presence on Facebook and twitter.
After many years of offering this fantastic product, Daniele and friends have just released Log4OM 2 - a new, updated version.
Facebook photo of Log4OM 2 uploaded by Gaetano Migliozzi
But better than me telling you all about the features of Log4OM, I heartily encourage you to visit their Website to see for yourself. I think you will be more than pleasantly surprised.
Log4OM V2 was JUST released; and the past two evenings have been busy away-from-home ones for me. I can't wait to download the new version and get it running!
Thanks, Daniele and the Log4OM Team!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
A word to the wise ..... a Public Service announcement
I get notified with regard to all the comments left on the posts that appear on this blog.
I do NOT delete comments and opinions that disagree with my own - that would be in poor taste. The only exception would be comments that I deem to be inflammatory (and I think that's only happened once in 15 years of doing this.)
However, please note that I DO and WILL delete all comments that are not related to the post's contents, or are otherwise not Amateur Radio related. So all you folks out there trying to append comments about buying this service or buying this new gizmo, or "Please try my new product!" that are in no way germane to the contents of this blog or Amateur Radio - please don't even bother - they will be deleted. Save your time and energy.
To those of you who ARE marketing Amateur Radio products and services, I'd be happy to support and encourage your efforts, for the betterment of the hobby. Just please be prudent, honest and post in good taste.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
I do NOT delete comments and opinions that disagree with my own - that would be in poor taste. The only exception would be comments that I deem to be inflammatory (and I think that's only happened once in 15 years of doing this.)
However, please note that I DO and WILL delete all comments that are not related to the post's contents, or are otherwise not Amateur Radio related. So all you folks out there trying to append comments about buying this service or buying this new gizmo, or "Please try my new product!" that are in no way germane to the contents of this blog or Amateur Radio - please don't even bother - they will be deleted. Save your time and energy.
To those of you who ARE marketing Amateur Radio products and services, I'd be happy to support and encourage your efforts, for the betterment of the hobby. Just please be prudent, honest and post in good taste.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Wednesday, January 08, 2020
On The Air
Many of you have probably heard that the ARRL has launched a new publication - "On The Air". This magazine is dedicated to / aimed at the "Beginner to Intermediate" Amateur Radio operator, in terms of experience.
ARRL members will be able to specify which print magazine they wish to receive - either "On The Air" or "QST". Both will be available to all ARRL members as digital editions. But hey, don't take my word for it - here it is right fro the horse's mouth:
01/07/2020
The premiere issue of ARRL’s On the Air magazine has left the printer and is on its way to member subscribers! The magazine should be in mailboxes within the next 10 days. On the Air is the newest ARRL member benefit to help new licensees and beginner-to-intermediate radio communicators navigate the world of amateur radio.
Eligible US-based members can elect to receive On the Air or QST magazine in print when they join or when they renew their ARRL membership. All members will be able to access digital editions of On the Air magazine.
The first digital issue of On the Air will be available beginning January 14, supported by a new version of ARRL’s digital magazine app. With one app, members will be able to access On the Air and QST.
Looks like there's a new app that I will be downloading onto my phone, soon.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
ARRL members will be able to specify which print magazine they wish to receive - either "On The Air" or "QST". Both will be available to all ARRL members as digital editions. But hey, don't take my word for it - here it is right fro the horse's mouth:
01/07/2020
The premiere issue of ARRL’s On the Air magazine has left the printer and is on its way to member subscribers! The magazine should be in mailboxes within the next 10 days. On the Air is the newest ARRL member benefit to help new licensees and beginner-to-intermediate radio communicators navigate the world of amateur radio.
Eligible US-based members can elect to receive On the Air or QST magazine in print when they join or when they renew their ARRL membership. All members will be able to access digital editions of On the Air magazine.
The first digital issue of On the Air will be available beginning January 14, supported by a new version of ARRL’s digital magazine app. With one app, members will be able to access On the Air and QST.
Looks like there's a new app that I will be downloading onto my phone, soon.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Hope springs eternal
I guess for the QRP operator, it has to. I'm going to bore you guys with yet another Fox hunt post, but there's lessons to be learned - mostly by me.
Last night was the 40 Meter QRP Fox hunt. Our two Foxes were Marty NR3Z in PA and Rick NK9G/7 in AZ. Marty doesn't live all that far from the NJ/PA border, radio-wise, so I didn't expect to hear him - and I didn't.
Rick NK9G was a different story. He was weak (to me) all night. Mostly he was ESP. I figured out where he was from the baying of his chasers. I knew he was there and I could make out his call sign and the occasional "QRZ" or "AGN?". Late in the hunt, for about ten to fifteen minutes, he rose to about a 229 / 339 level. I called, furiously, to no avail. I went 0 for 2 last night - skunked.
Why? I don't know. Both Steve WX2S and Charles W2SH, two other NJ Hounds bagged Rick's pelt. Maybe South Plainfield is in an RF hole or something. Or maybe that first ridge of the Watchung hills blocked me - I am in their shadow. Not sure what it is, except that it was frustrating as all get out. For crying out loud, I just worked Paraguay the other day and I can't make it to Arizona?!?
But looking back on it, even though at the time it seemed and felt like a wasted night, in reality I WAS doing something that I love to do. Just because I wasn't successful at it doesn't nullify the effort or the experience. I think we (that should be "I") get too hung up on results sometimes. I keep my eye on the destination too much, without looking at and enjoying the journey instead.
What's the twist on that old saying about fishing? "A bad day (night) at QRPing is better than a good day at work!" Forty years a Ham, and I still need to kick myself in the pants and remember that - often.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Last night was the 40 Meter QRP Fox hunt. Our two Foxes were Marty NR3Z in PA and Rick NK9G/7 in AZ. Marty doesn't live all that far from the NJ/PA border, radio-wise, so I didn't expect to hear him - and I didn't.
Rick NK9G was a different story. He was weak (to me) all night. Mostly he was ESP. I figured out where he was from the baying of his chasers. I knew he was there and I could make out his call sign and the occasional "QRZ" or "AGN?". Late in the hunt, for about ten to fifteen minutes, he rose to about a 229 / 339 level. I called, furiously, to no avail. I went 0 for 2 last night - skunked.
Why? I don't know. Both Steve WX2S and Charles W2SH, two other NJ Hounds bagged Rick's pelt. Maybe South Plainfield is in an RF hole or something. Or maybe that first ridge of the Watchung hills blocked me - I am in their shadow. Not sure what it is, except that it was frustrating as all get out. For crying out loud, I just worked Paraguay the other day and I can't make it to Arizona?!?
But looking back on it, even though at the time it seemed and felt like a wasted night, in reality I WAS doing something that I love to do. Just because I wasn't successful at it doesn't nullify the effort or the experience. I think we (that should be "I") get too hung up on results sometimes. I keep my eye on the destination too much, without looking at and enjoying the journey instead.
What's the twist on that old saying about fishing? "A bad day (night) at QRPing is better than a good day at work!" Forty years a Ham, and I still need to kick myself in the pants and remember that - often.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Tuesday, January 07, 2020
Puerto Rico Earthquake
From the ARRL:
Strong Earthquake Shakes Puerto Rico, ARES Standing By
01/07/2020
A strong magnitude 6.4 earthquake hit Puerto Rico early on January 7 on the heels of a smaller magnitude 5.8 tremor a day earlier. The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority reported widespread power outages after generating plants automatically activated protective shutdown systems following the earthquake. Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vazquez Garced urged citizens to remain calm.
“The entire government is active and in action,” Governor Vazquez said in a tweet. “I ask our people to remain calm and urge you to remain safe.” Government offices have been shut down for the day.
The director of Puerto Rico’s Seismic Network, Víctor Huérfano, told The Associated Press that it’s been difficult to obtain reports of damage or injuries because communications are out over much of the island. Geologists had warned of additional seismic activity following the January 6 earthquake. Tremors have been occurring in some areas of Puerto Rico since December 28.
ARRL Puerto Rico Public Information Officer Angel Santana, WP3GW, said the earthquakes have damaged homes in communities including Guánica and Guayanilla, with aftershocks felt minutes later from today’s event. A tsunami advisory for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands was canceled minutes after being issued. Santana said the PREMA Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been activated.
Santana said VHF and UHF repeater systems having emergency power carried reports of power outages and other information. ARRL Puerto Rico Section Manager Oscar Resto, KP4RF, told ARRL that no Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) activations have been necessary, as commercial telecommunication systems remain functional.
“The situation is scary, with houses, schools, and roads collapsing,” Resto said, with many structures — including a school and homes in Guánica — damaged.
********************************************************************************
Should any HF emergency frequencies become activated, please be sure to give them a wide berth.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP _ When you care to send the very least!
Strong Earthquake Shakes Puerto Rico, ARES Standing By
01/07/2020
A strong magnitude 6.4 earthquake hit Puerto Rico early on January 7 on the heels of a smaller magnitude 5.8 tremor a day earlier. The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority reported widespread power outages after generating plants automatically activated protective shutdown systems following the earthquake. Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vazquez Garced urged citizens to remain calm.
“The entire government is active and in action,” Governor Vazquez said in a tweet. “I ask our people to remain calm and urge you to remain safe.” Government offices have been shut down for the day.
The director of Puerto Rico’s Seismic Network, Víctor Huérfano, told The Associated Press that it’s been difficult to obtain reports of damage or injuries because communications are out over much of the island. Geologists had warned of additional seismic activity following the January 6 earthquake. Tremors have been occurring in some areas of Puerto Rico since December 28.
ARRL Puerto Rico Public Information Officer Angel Santana, WP3GW, said the earthquakes have damaged homes in communities including Guánica and Guayanilla, with aftershocks felt minutes later from today’s event. A tsunami advisory for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands was canceled minutes after being issued. Santana said the PREMA Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been activated.
Santana said VHF and UHF repeater systems having emergency power carried reports of power outages and other information. ARRL Puerto Rico Section Manager Oscar Resto, KP4RF, told ARRL that no Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) activations have been necessary, as commercial telecommunication systems remain functional.
“The situation is scary, with houses, schools, and roads collapsing,” Resto said, with many structures — including a school and homes in Guánica — damaged.
********************************************************************************
Should any HF emergency frequencies become activated, please be sure to give them a wide berth.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP _ When you care to send the very least!
That was fun!
Last night was the monthly Adventure Radio Society Spartan Sprint, and as I had promised myself, I got on the air for it. I only stayed on for the first half hour of the two hour long event. It was a long day at work, and as I am not a Spring chicken anymore, I was tired.
I did work four stations however, K4BAI on both 40 and 80 Meters, and KF0N, W5QLF and K3RLL all on 40 Meters. It was good to work Don K3RLL, as it's been a long time and he had a very good signal from his winter residence in Florida.
I was surprised at 80 Meters. It was QRN free last night. For the past few weeks I have been plagued during the Thursday night Fox hunts with an S7-S9 buzz saw kind of noise, right around 3.564 MHz. It was not there last night. Maybe because most of the neighborhood outdoor Christmas decor has been put away? I'm not sure what was causing the racket, but I hope it stays away for good!
This evening is the 40 Meter QRP Fox hunt, which I hope to participate in. I have a meeting at 7:00 PM and then at 8:00 PM starts the Jeopardy "All Time Greatest" Championship. I'd really like to see that. It runs for an hour and will be over at the start of Fox hunt time. Jeopardy is one of the few TV shows that I like to follow. Most of the time, if I watch TV at all, I'll catch a rerun of such shows as M*A*S*H, Gunsmoke, Rawhide, The Rifleman or JAG.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
I did work four stations however, K4BAI on both 40 and 80 Meters, and KF0N, W5QLF and K3RLL all on 40 Meters. It was good to work Don K3RLL, as it's been a long time and he had a very good signal from his winter residence in Florida.
I was surprised at 80 Meters. It was QRN free last night. For the past few weeks I have been plagued during the Thursday night Fox hunts with an S7-S9 buzz saw kind of noise, right around 3.564 MHz. It was not there last night. Maybe because most of the neighborhood outdoor Christmas decor has been put away? I'm not sure what was causing the racket, but I hope it stays away for good!
This evening is the 40 Meter QRP Fox hunt, which I hope to participate in. I have a meeting at 7:00 PM and then at 8:00 PM starts the Jeopardy "All Time Greatest" Championship. I'd really like to see that. It runs for an hour and will be over at the start of Fox hunt time. Jeopardy is one of the few TV shows that I like to follow. Most of the time, if I watch TV at all, I'll catch a rerun of such shows as M*A*S*H, Gunsmoke, Rawhide, The Rifleman or JAG.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Sunday, January 05, 2020
OK, so it wasn't a portable op
but I did start 2020 off on the right foot by getting on the air this weekend!
Yesterday (Saturday) the HamAlert let me know that W2P was on 40 Meters again - just as I was heading downstairs to shut everything off as I was headed off to Mass. I decided to give them a call for an insurance QSO and got through on the first try. Got to Mass on time, too. Double woot!
Then this afternoon (Sunday) I went downstairs to see what I could find while Marianne went to her company's Holiday party. I worked ZP/KC2RG in Paraguay, several CW Ops stations who are on the air commemorating the group's 10th anniversary and then Tom W4VHH at the 20 Meter QRP Watering Hole. I've worked Tom before in NAQCC and Spartan Sprints. It was good to say "Hello"!
Speaking of the QRP Watering Holes:
It's becoming increasingly apparent that there has been a lack of respect, lately, for the QRP frequencies. I've been finding it to be so and I have been getting e-mails from folks wondering what's going on. We all know that no one "owns" any frequency or set of frequencies, but in the past there have been various Gentlemen's Agreements - we all recognized the QRP frequencies, the SKCC frequencies, the FISTS frequencies and so on, and so on.
While operating in the tiny slice of spectrum that was known to be QRP country, it seems that courtesy towards QRP operators seems to have been suffering a bit. Traffic nets, digital stations and other QRO stations have been coming close to the watering holes - many times just jumping in without so much as a "QRL"?
I guess the solution, if there CAN be a solution, is to get on the air and make more noise - even if that's QRP noise. So I'm going to put my money where my mouth is and pledge to get on the air even more often this year and occupy the QRP Watering Holes - whether that be for sprints, rag chews or what have you. Tomorrow is the first Monday of January. The ARS Spartan Sprint will be on the air in the evening, US time.
I will see you there.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Yesterday (Saturday) the HamAlert let me know that W2P was on 40 Meters again - just as I was heading downstairs to shut everything off as I was headed off to Mass. I decided to give them a call for an insurance QSO and got through on the first try. Got to Mass on time, too. Double woot!
Then this afternoon (Sunday) I went downstairs to see what I could find while Marianne went to her company's Holiday party. I worked ZP/KC2RG in Paraguay, several CW Ops stations who are on the air commemorating the group's 10th anniversary and then Tom W4VHH at the 20 Meter QRP Watering Hole. I've worked Tom before in NAQCC and Spartan Sprints. It was good to say "Hello"!
Speaking of the QRP Watering Holes:
It's becoming increasingly apparent that there has been a lack of respect, lately, for the QRP frequencies. I've been finding it to be so and I have been getting e-mails from folks wondering what's going on. We all know that no one "owns" any frequency or set of frequencies, but in the past there have been various Gentlemen's Agreements - we all recognized the QRP frequencies, the SKCC frequencies, the FISTS frequencies and so on, and so on.
While operating in the tiny slice of spectrum that was known to be QRP country, it seems that courtesy towards QRP operators seems to have been suffering a bit. Traffic nets, digital stations and other QRO stations have been coming close to the watering holes - many times just jumping in without so much as a "QRL"?
I guess the solution, if there CAN be a solution, is to get on the air and make more noise - even if that's QRP noise. So I'm going to put my money where my mouth is and pledge to get on the air even more often this year and occupy the QRP Watering Holes - whether that be for sprints, rag chews or what have you. Tomorrow is the first Monday of January. The ARS Spartan Sprint will be on the air in the evening, US time.
I will see you there.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Friday, January 03, 2020
Thank you, Delaware Valley Radio Assocation!
As I've stated here, before - I am so happy to have worked W2T and W2P which commemorate the crucial turn of events in the Revolutionary War that occurred here in New Jersey. In fact, you can still work W2P through Sunday, January 5th.
If you want to see EXACTLY what the DVRA is commemorating, here's a video that I came across that explains everything - it's just under a half hour long, so grab the popcorn and enjoy!
Two Amateur Radio related notes:
1) "It's a fine fox chase, my boys!" - The Rallying Cry of the QRP Fox Hunts - Thank you, General Washington!
2) The narrator mentions that after the battles, the General and the Continental Army retreat to the safety of Morristown to billet for the winter. This would be at Jockey Hollow, which is now part of Morristown National Historical Park, which Dave KD2FSI and I (and many others) activated for NPOTA.
If you're ever in New Jersey, please take the opportunity to visit Jockey Hollow. In many ways, it was as bad, if not worse, than the famous winter at Valley Forge. The video mentions how General Washington ordered the troops be inoculated against a small pox epidemic. Inoculation was as, if not more so, controversial than it is today. It was a bold and providential action.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Thursday, January 02, 2020
FDIM Registration open
http://qrparci.org/fdim
I was planning to attend this year. However, I was informed a couple days ago that this is the weekend I have to move my daughter back home from college for the summer.
Sigh. But on the bright side, I guess I'm still needed.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
I was planning to attend this year. However, I was informed a couple days ago that this is the weekend I have to move my daughter back home from college for the summer.
Sigh. But on the bright side, I guess I'm still needed.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Wednesday, January 01, 2020
Woot! Got 'em!
Thank you, HamAlert!
I just finished working W2P just a little while ago!
HamAlert was chirping at me earlier in the day. They were spotted on 20 Meter SSB and 40 Meter CW. I tried listening on 40 Meters, thinking that I would have luck like I did the other day. No joy. I couldn't even hear the whisper of an ESP signal.
20 Meter SSB was better, but not much. I heard Matt, who was running the frequency, but he was very weak. If he was continuously calling CQ with no takers, he might have heard me, but he had plenty of stations to work that were much louder than me. That was a bust, also.
Around 2:00 PM this afternoon (1900 UTC) my cell phone started alerting me again. This time 40 Meter CW again in the 7.057 MHz neighborhood. Even though I was busy with a house project, I ran down the basement and popped in the earbuds.
Hallelujah! W2P was a good 579 and I worked them on my third try. Now I can get the two QSL cards and that certificate which enrolls me in the Signal Corp of The Continental Army. LOL! Now my Dad's not the only one who served in the Signal Corp.
I shouldn't make light of that, as he served in the REAL Signal Corp. during WWII. But I think if he were still around (he'd be 99 this year), he'd have gotten a kick out of it.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
I just finished working W2P just a little while ago!
HamAlert was chirping at me earlier in the day. They were spotted on 20 Meter SSB and 40 Meter CW. I tried listening on 40 Meters, thinking that I would have luck like I did the other day. No joy. I couldn't even hear the whisper of an ESP signal.
20 Meter SSB was better, but not much. I heard Matt, who was running the frequency, but he was very weak. If he was continuously calling CQ with no takers, he might have heard me, but he had plenty of stations to work that were much louder than me. That was a bust, also.
Around 2:00 PM this afternoon (1900 UTC) my cell phone started alerting me again. This time 40 Meter CW again in the 7.057 MHz neighborhood. Even though I was busy with a house project, I ran down the basement and popped in the earbuds.
Hallelujah! W2P was a good 579 and I worked them on my third try. Now I can get the two QSL cards and that certificate which enrolls me in the Signal Corp of The Continental Army. LOL! Now my Dad's not the only one who served in the Signal Corp.
I shouldn't make light of that, as he served in the REAL Signal Corp. during WWII. But I think if he were still around (he'd be 99 this year), he'd have gotten a kick out of it.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Tuesday, December 31, 2019
This works really well!
I loaded this onto my cell phone a while ago; and I don't use it all that much. When I do use it, it works very well!
I added W2P as a trigger to notify me when the Battle of Princeton special event station is active and on the air. I've been getting alerts all morning - SSB, FT8 and CW alerts. Now ........ if I was only home to be able to sit down behind the radio!
I would recommend this app to everyone. You can find it in the Google Play Store if you have an Android device. It's also available to use on your personal computer from: https://hamalert.org/about
If you are looking to be reminded when specific stations, countries, prefixes are on the air - then this is a really useful tool.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Happy New Year!
As we welcome in 2020 .........
....... remember that 2020 is a Leap Year - so you get 366 days to enjoy Amateur Radio in the coming year!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
....... remember that 2020 is a Leap Year - so you get 366 days to enjoy Amateur Radio in the coming year!
Bonne Année
¡Feliz Año Nuevo!
Blwyddyn Newydd Dda
Buon anno
Frohes Neues Jahr
Gelukkig Nieuwjaar
Gleðilegt nýtt ár
あけましておめでとう
Xin Nian Kuai
San Nin Fai Lok
Mutlu yıllar
Sťastný nový rok
Godt nytår
Hyvää uutta vuotta
Godt nytt år
Szczesliwego Nowego Roku
Feliz Ano Novo
с новым годом
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Monday, December 30, 2019
Solar Cycle 25
From the ARRL Website:
Two Solar Cycle 25 Sunspots Appear
12/30/2019
New Solar Cycle 25 is on the way, but just when the transition from Cycle 24 to Cycle 25 will take place is not entirely clear. On December 24, two new sunspots — one in each hemisphere — emerged on the face of the sun that exhibit the reversed magnetic polarity marking them as belonging to Solar Cycle 25. According to Hale’s Law, sunspot polarities flip-flop from one solar cycle to the next, the National Center for Atmospheric Research explains.
“The sun is currently in solar minimum — the nadir of the 11-year sunspot cycle,” Tony Phillips said in his article, “Reversed Polarity Sunspots Appear on the Sun” on the Spaceweather.com website. “It’s a deep minimum, century-class according to sunspot counts.” The remarkable sunspot scarcity has prompted discussion of a possible “extended minimum” akin to the Maunder Minimum in the 17th century, when no sunspots appeared for decades, Phillips said. “Such an event could have implications for terrestrial climate.”
“Today’s new-cycle sunspots (along with isolated new-cycle spots earlier this year) suggest that the solar cycle is, in fact, unfolding normally,” Phillips wrote, adding that a new Maunder Minimum does not appear to be in the offing.
Earlier this month, the NOAA/NASA-co-chaired international Solar Cycle Prediction Panel released its latest forecast for Solar Cycle 25. The panel’s consensus calls for a peak in July 2025 (±8 months), with a smoothed sunspot number of 115 and the solar minimum between Cycles 24 and 25 occurring in April 2020 (±6 months). If this solar minimum prediction is correct, it would make Solar Cycle 24 the seventh longest on record at 11.4 years.
Climate scientist David Archibald speculates that the Solar Cycle 24/25 minimum could occur as late as March 2021, and that Cycle 25 maximum might not happen until 2027.
“We are well into the Solar Cycle 24/25 minimum but [Cycle] 24 may not have ended yet,” Archibald said in a December 22 update on the Watts Up With That? website. “A solar cycle isn’t over until the heliospheric current sheet has flattened. And that could be as late as March 2021. Solar cycle amplitude does matter with respect to climate and the amplitude of Solar Cycle 25, from projecting trends from the last three cycles, looks like being about 80 in 2027.”
The Solar Cycle Prediction Panel agreed that Cycle 25 will be of average intensity and similar to Cycle 24.
In an article posted on NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center site, Scott McIntosh, the Director of the High Altitude Observatory at National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), stresses that Solar Cycle 25 will happen, “but a sunspot cycle could be small.”
Predictability comes with some physical understanding of the underlying process, McIntosh asserts. “The sunspot cycle is erratic,” he said in his presentation, “provocative of a chaotic, turbulent solar interior where sunspot progressions with time and latitude are the only tracers…”
Thank you for the news, ARRL! Two new sunspots may not seem like much - but they're better than nothing. A portent of better conditions to come - something we can all hope for!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Two Solar Cycle 25 Sunspots Appear
12/30/2019
New Solar Cycle 25 is on the way, but just when the transition from Cycle 24 to Cycle 25 will take place is not entirely clear. On December 24, two new sunspots — one in each hemisphere — emerged on the face of the sun that exhibit the reversed magnetic polarity marking them as belonging to Solar Cycle 25. According to Hale’s Law, sunspot polarities flip-flop from one solar cycle to the next, the National Center for Atmospheric Research explains.
“The sun is currently in solar minimum — the nadir of the 11-year sunspot cycle,” Tony Phillips said in his article, “Reversed Polarity Sunspots Appear on the Sun” on the Spaceweather.com website. “It’s a deep minimum, century-class according to sunspot counts.” The remarkable sunspot scarcity has prompted discussion of a possible “extended minimum” akin to the Maunder Minimum in the 17th century, when no sunspots appeared for decades, Phillips said. “Such an event could have implications for terrestrial climate.”
“Today’s new-cycle sunspots (along with isolated new-cycle spots earlier this year) suggest that the solar cycle is, in fact, unfolding normally,” Phillips wrote, adding that a new Maunder Minimum does not appear to be in the offing.
Earlier this month, the NOAA/NASA-co-chaired international Solar Cycle Prediction Panel released its latest forecast for Solar Cycle 25. The panel’s consensus calls for a peak in July 2025 (±8 months), with a smoothed sunspot number of 115 and the solar minimum between Cycles 24 and 25 occurring in April 2020 (±6 months). If this solar minimum prediction is correct, it would make Solar Cycle 24 the seventh longest on record at 11.4 years.
Climate scientist David Archibald speculates that the Solar Cycle 24/25 minimum could occur as late as March 2021, and that Cycle 25 maximum might not happen until 2027.
“We are well into the Solar Cycle 24/25 minimum but [Cycle] 24 may not have ended yet,” Archibald said in a December 22 update on the Watts Up With That? website. “A solar cycle isn’t over until the heliospheric current sheet has flattened. And that could be as late as March 2021. Solar cycle amplitude does matter with respect to climate and the amplitude of Solar Cycle 25, from projecting trends from the last three cycles, looks like being about 80 in 2027.”
The Solar Cycle Prediction Panel agreed that Cycle 25 will be of average intensity and similar to Cycle 24.
In an article posted on NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center site, Scott McIntosh, the Director of the High Altitude Observatory at National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), stresses that Solar Cycle 25 will happen, “but a sunspot cycle could be small.”
Predictability comes with some physical understanding of the underlying process, McIntosh asserts. “The sunspot cycle is erratic,” he said in his presentation, “provocative of a chaotic, turbulent solar interior where sunspot progressions with time and latitude are the only tracers…”
Thank you for the news, ARRL! Two new sunspots may not seem like much - but they're better than nothing. A portent of better conditions to come - something we can all hope for!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
New Year's Eve possibilities
Lots happening this New Year's Eve - no excuse for NOT getting on the air! (Unless you have family obligations, of course. Family always comes first!)
40 Meter QRP Fox Hunt - With two excellent Foxes - K4BAI in GA and NC4RT in NC.
0200-0330Z - search between 7.030 and 7.050 MHz - http://www.qrpfoxhunt.org/winter_rules.htm
SKN - Straight Key Night - http://www.arrl.org/straight-key-night
SKCC Slow Speed Saunter - https://www.skccgroup.com/operating_activities/slowspeed/
W2P Special Event Station - Commemorating the Battle of Princeton and the "Ten Crucial Days of the Revolution" - https://bit.ly/2ZD9XYQ
I'm sure this is nowhere a complete listing - probably lots of other events you can join in on.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
40 Meter QRP Fox Hunt - With two excellent Foxes - K4BAI in GA and NC4RT in NC.
0200-0330Z - search between 7.030 and 7.050 MHz - http://www.qrpfoxhunt.org/winter_rules.htm
SKN - Straight Key Night - http://www.arrl.org/straight-key-night
SKCC Slow Speed Saunter - https://www.skccgroup.com/operating_activities/slowspeed/
W2P Special Event Station - Commemorating the Battle of Princeton and the "Ten Crucial Days of the Revolution" - https://bit.ly/2ZD9XYQ
I'm sure this is nowhere a complete listing - probably lots of other events you can join in on.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Sunday, December 29, 2019
Year end thoughts
As 2019 comes to an end and we get ready to begin a new decade, I've been having some year end thoughts.
One - Don't forget that this Tuesday evening (and into New Year's Day) is Straight Key Night. Besides getting on the air and pounding brass, a lot of our Ham Radio brothers and sisters will be putting their classic radio on the air. Straight Key Night is always fun as it's like stepping back in time to the days of the Golden Age of Amateur Radio.
Two - Bob W3BBO and I were shooting the breeze as we do doing in our weekly gab sessions. He asked me if I had any goals for 2020. I've been thinking about that; as I really didn't have any as we spoke - hadn't given it much thought, really.
But giving it more thought, I have come up with a goal. And the goal for 2020 is to do way more portable operating than I have in 2019. Whether that be POTA, PBMME's, QRPTTF, FOBB or the Skeeter Hunt, the goal is to get out in the great outdoors and get on the air.
The good Lord be willing and my knee and ankle hold out, I want to do a lot more than I did last year. I will be looking for a bit bigger backpack than what I have been using, as I need space for a few more antennas. I've been watching some YouTube videos on some guys who have been doing portable ops and it has been downright inspirational.
Three - More posting here, fewer quiet interludes - but not fluff just to fill space- posts with substance
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
One - Don't forget that this Tuesday evening (and into New Year's Day) is Straight Key Night. Besides getting on the air and pounding brass, a lot of our Ham Radio brothers and sisters will be putting their classic radio on the air. Straight Key Night is always fun as it's like stepping back in time to the days of the Golden Age of Amateur Radio.
Two - Bob W3BBO and I were shooting the breeze as we do doing in our weekly gab sessions. He asked me if I had any goals for 2020. I've been thinking about that; as I really didn't have any as we spoke - hadn't given it much thought, really.
But giving it more thought, I have come up with a goal. And the goal for 2020 is to do way more portable operating than I have in 2019. Whether that be POTA, PBMME's, QRPTTF, FOBB or the Skeeter Hunt, the goal is to get out in the great outdoors and get on the air.
The good Lord be willing and my knee and ankle hold out, I want to do a lot more than I did last year. I will be looking for a bit bigger backpack than what I have been using, as I need space for a few more antennas. I've been watching some YouTube videos on some guys who have been doing portable ops and it has been downright inspirational.
Three - More posting here, fewer quiet interludes - but not fluff just to fill space- posts with substance
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Saturday, December 28, 2019
Looking forward to 2020
You might want to add these to your personal Ham Radio calendars. Thanks to Brian KB9BVN for posting these to QRP-L:
QRPARCI 2020 Contest Calendar
See details, updated rules:
http://www.qrpcontest.com/
JAN 01 - 2020 New Years Day Sprint (3HR)
MAR 14 - Spring Thaw Shootout (1HR)
APR 11 - Spring QSO Party (24HR)
MAY 24 - Hoot Owl Shootout (1HR)
JUL 12 - Summer Homebrew Sprint (3HR)
AUG 08 - European Sprint (3HR)
OCT 10 - Fall QSO Party (24HR)
DEC 03 - Top Band Sprint (3HR)
DEC 13 - Holiday Spirits Sprint (3HR)
And as Brian put it, "We have promises from Mother Nature that say the bands will be back big time in 2020. Don't miss out on all the fun!"
Viva Sunspot Cycle 25!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
QRPARCI 2020 Contest Calendar
See details, updated rules:
http://www.qrpcontest.com/
JAN 01 - 2020 New Years Day Sprint (3HR)
MAR 14 - Spring Thaw Shootout (1HR)
APR 11 - Spring QSO Party (24HR)
MAY 24 - Hoot Owl Shootout (1HR)
JUL 12 - Summer Homebrew Sprint (3HR)
AUG 08 - European Sprint (3HR)
OCT 10 - Fall QSO Party (24HR)
DEC 03 - Top Band Sprint (3HR)
DEC 13 - Holiday Spirits Sprint (3HR)
And as Brian put it, "We have promises from Mother Nature that say the bands will be back big time in 2020. Don't miss out on all the fun!"
Viva Sunspot Cycle 25!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Friday, December 27, 2019
I hope Santa was good to you
and brought you the Amateur Radio goodie that your heart desired.
I got something that I wanted the day after Christmas, but Santa didn't bring it. I worked W2T the special event station commemorating the Battle of Trenton on 40 Meter CW! I happened to be down in the shack, tuning around on 20 Meters when W2T appeared on the Cluster portion of my Log4OM screen. I quickly tuned over there and was able to hear them, weakly via groundwave. After a few tries, I was able to complete the exchange. Just a little bit later, I got an e-mail from the Delaware Valley Radio Association, confirming the contact. Huzzah! Now I have to begin listening for W2P for the Battle of Princeton - they begin transmitting next Tuesday.
Last night was a QRP Fox Hunt 160 Meter Foxtravaganza. The normal hunts were suspended for this week due to the fact that the 40 Meter version would have been held on Christmas Eve. So last night, there was a free-for-all on 160 Meters for an hour. Any fox or hound could work any other fox or hound. I worked a total of seven stations, the best DX being Illinois and Virginia. It was a lot of fun and I could have done better if there wasn't so much QRN on the W3EDP. I used the HF9V for receive and the W3EDP for transmit. It wasn't an ideal situation; but it got the job done.
Lastly, I close this post with something light-hearted. Many of you may have heard this before, but maybe some haven't. I guess this should go under the "oldie but goodie" department.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Wednesday, December 25, 2019
Tuesday, December 24, 2019
Monday, December 23, 2019
Christmas is a coming
And the goose is getting fat
Please put a penny in the old man's hat
If you haven't got a penny
Then a half-penny will do
If you haven't got a half-penny, then God bless you!
So Christmas is two days away! What's on your list (sounds like a Capital One commercial, eh?), that you've asked Santa to bring you?
A shiny new rig?
Perhaps a certificate for a new IC-705?
Maybe a DMR radio?
Maybe a DMR radio?
Perhaps a KX2 or a KX3?
A tower with a Hexbeam perched atop?
If I could ask Santa to bring me anything, it would either be an Alex Loop or a Begali Sculpture Mono.
The Alex Loop because it is probably one of the last things I would ever buy for myself, yet I'd love to see how it performs compared to my home brew version. Mine will not load on 15 Meters for whatever reason, I guess it's back to the drawing board for me.
The Begali key because they are simply the best! I have the Simplex Mono and it is superb! I am willing to bet the Sculpture is even more grand.
Here's hoping that you find the Amateur Radio goodies of your dreams under your Christmas Tree or next to your menorah.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Friday, December 20, 2019
For those of you into special events
Especially those related to the Revolutionary War - the Delaware Valley Radio Association will be putting W2T and W2P on the air to commemorate the Battle of Trenton and the Battle of Princeton, respectively.
These two battles, fought within days of each other were a turning point in the Revolution. The Continental Army was losing badly and with the coming New Year, enlistments were up and General Washington was looking at his forces being potentially decimated by soldiers leaving for home. These two victories were major shot in the arm, not only for the Continental Army, but for the fledgling new nation as well.
In addition to the obligatory QSL cards, you can request (for a fee) a certificate which commissions you as a Lieutenant in the Continental Army Signal Corps. How cool is that?
For all the details - please follow this link: https://www.w2zq.com/w2t-w2p-special-events-2020/?fbclid=IwAR3FdraANHb0vHHRqvKkgWoNEDf4LOEne_wQJ0eb1BYAOlsEAxbr_okDQB0
I am hoping that 40 Meter ground wave will be sufficient to work them!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
These two battles, fought within days of each other were a turning point in the Revolution. The Continental Army was losing badly and with the coming New Year, enlistments were up and General Washington was looking at his forces being potentially decimated by soldiers leaving for home. These two victories were major shot in the arm, not only for the Continental Army, but for the fledgling new nation as well.
In addition to the obligatory QSL cards, you can request (for a fee) a certificate which commissions you as a Lieutenant in the Continental Army Signal Corps. How cool is that?
For all the details - please follow this link: https://www.w2zq.com/w2t-w2p-special-events-2020/?fbclid=IwAR3FdraANHb0vHHRqvKkgWoNEDf4LOEne_wQJ0eb1BYAOlsEAxbr_okDQB0
I am hoping that 40 Meter ground wave will be sufficient to work them!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Thursday, December 19, 2019
Not hopeful tonight
Tonight is the 80 Meter QRP Foxhunt. The two Foxes are K2MAX in Oregon and K4FB in Florida.
Of the two, I think I stand a better chance of hearing Florida; but I will probably just be intently listening to a bunch of dead air tonight. Both are a long haul for 80 Meters.
And I wonder why I have tinnitus?
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Of the two, I think I stand a better chance of hearing Florida; but I will probably just be intently listening to a bunch of dead air tonight. Both are a long haul for 80 Meters.
And I wonder why I have tinnitus?
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Friday, December 13, 2019
Like I said
"It's a snap!"
In my last post, I mentioned that I renewed my license via the FCC ULS system. It is so easy! I thought for those who might be a bit intimidated by the process, that I would outline it here.
First, you go to the Webpage - https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/systems-utilities/universal-licensing-system
Then scroll down a tiny bit to the words "File Online" which will bring you here - https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsEntry/licManager/login.jsp
This is where you log in. You will need to know your FRN (FCC Registration Number) which is on your license:
You enter that in, along with your password. If by chance you don't have an FRN, you can obtain one by following the link right on that page. I would think, however, that since my renewal of 10 years is up (and I have an FRN on my old license), then just about every current Ham should have an FRN printed on their license. If you forgot your password, you can also get that by following the link - right on that page.
Once you log in, it will take you to your license page. On the left hand side of the page, you will see a menu of things you can do in an amber-ish color. Click on "Renew Licences" and follow the prompts from there. Hit "Submit" when you are done and you will be given an opportunity to print a copy of your renewal filing. Before you hit "Submit". please make sure your e-mail address that the FCC has on file is up to date and accurate. That's important, because in 24 hours you will receive an e-mail with a link to your "Official Copy" of your license - all ready to print out. It comes as a pdf file, so make sure to keep a copy of it somewhere on your computer or device.
And you're done! No fees for Amateur Radio licences, even for Vanity Calls - so no need to hassle with submitting a payment, anymore. Now all I have to remember is to renew the license for NJ2SP later in 2020.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
In my last post, I mentioned that I renewed my license via the FCC ULS system. It is so easy! I thought for those who might be a bit intimidated by the process, that I would outline it here.
First, you go to the Webpage - https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/systems-utilities/universal-licensing-system
Then scroll down a tiny bit to the words "File Online" which will bring you here - https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsEntry/licManager/login.jsp
This is where you log in. You will need to know your FRN (FCC Registration Number) which is on your license:
You enter that in, along with your password. If by chance you don't have an FRN, you can obtain one by following the link right on that page. I would think, however, that since my renewal of 10 years is up (and I have an FRN on my old license), then just about every current Ham should have an FRN printed on their license. If you forgot your password, you can also get that by following the link - right on that page.
Once you log in, it will take you to your license page. On the left hand side of the page, you will see a menu of things you can do in an amber-ish color. Click on "Renew Licences" and follow the prompts from there. Hit "Submit" when you are done and you will be given an opportunity to print a copy of your renewal filing. Before you hit "Submit". please make sure your e-mail address that the FCC has on file is up to date and accurate. That's important, because in 24 hours you will receive an e-mail with a link to your "Official Copy" of your license - all ready to print out. It comes as a pdf file, so make sure to keep a copy of it somewhere on your computer or device.
And you're done! No fees for Amateur Radio licences, even for Vanity Calls - so no need to hassle with submitting a payment, anymore. Now all I have to remember is to renew the license for NJ2SP later in 2020.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
40 Meter QRP Fox Hunt - just as I expected!
Just like Charlie Brown on Halloween, I got a rock - nothing. Never heard Don NK6A in California, but that was expected. I was able to hear Steve WX2S really well via ground wave. Couldn't get him to hear me, though, Kept switching back and forth between the HF9V and the W3EDP, which were giving me equal signal strengths.
Hey, but Christmas is just around the corner - maybe this is more appropriate:
On the bright side, I was able to log into the FCC Universal Licensing System in order to renew my license which expires in March, 2020. You can begin the renewal process 90 days prior to expiration. I'm probably at about 85 days at this point. It was super easy and the whole process took less than five minutes. The tricky thing was remembering my password. Last time I used it was 10 years ago. I'm so glad I wrote it down ....... and remembered WHERE I wrote it down!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Tonight's the 40 Meter QRP Fox hunt
and I am not hopeful.
The two Foxes are Steve WX2S in NJ, who is about 18 miles from me. Unless ground wave is possible, Steve may be too close. The other Fox is Don NK6A all the way in California. I suppose if 40 Meters is way long, he is a possibility - but I'm not holding my breath. I hate to be such a "Debbie Downer" about this; but if I'm anything, I tend to be a realist.
However .......... and this is the wild card in this thing. A cold front will be going through our area this evening. Yesterday and today have been rainy days with temperatures in the 50s. That's supposed to change tonight, with temperatures plummeting and the rain changing to snow. The prognosticators are calling for anywhere between 1 - 3 inches of the white stuff for our area. Maybe, just maybe, that front will be conducive to me being able to hear WX2S via ground wave. Who knows?
I know that weather affects the VHF/UHF frequencies more than the HF ones, but one never know, does one? Propagation prediction seems to be as much an art as a science. In my most humble opinion, anyone who says they have propagation all figured out is kidding themselves.
The snow is coming at just the right time. I leave after work tomorrow to go pick up my daughter from college for Christmas break. The snow accumulation will be minimal, but some drivers around here tend to go absolutely insane as soon as they see the first flake. I generally refer to them as the "I Brake For A Flake" crowd. Then of course, you have the road runners who love to take snowy roads at 80 MPH. When the roads are all white and slick, I tend to follow the advice of the turtle from the fable "The Tortoise and the Hare" ........ slow and steady wins the race.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
The two Foxes are Steve WX2S in NJ, who is about 18 miles from me. Unless ground wave is possible, Steve may be too close. The other Fox is Don NK6A all the way in California. I suppose if 40 Meters is way long, he is a possibility - but I'm not holding my breath. I hate to be such a "Debbie Downer" about this; but if I'm anything, I tend to be a realist.
However .......... and this is the wild card in this thing. A cold front will be going through our area this evening. Yesterday and today have been rainy days with temperatures in the 50s. That's supposed to change tonight, with temperatures plummeting and the rain changing to snow. The prognosticators are calling for anywhere between 1 - 3 inches of the white stuff for our area. Maybe, just maybe, that front will be conducive to me being able to hear WX2S via ground wave. Who knows?
I know that weather affects the VHF/UHF frequencies more than the HF ones, but one never know, does one? Propagation prediction seems to be as much an art as a science. In my most humble opinion, anyone who says they have propagation all figured out is kidding themselves.
The snow is coming at just the right time. I leave after work tomorrow to go pick up my daughter from college for Christmas break. The snow accumulation will be minimal, but some drivers around here tend to go absolutely insane as soon as they see the first flake. I generally refer to them as the "I Brake For A Flake" crowd. Then of course, you have the road runners who love to take snowy roads at 80 MPH. When the roads are all white and slick, I tend to follow the advice of the turtle from the fable "The Tortoise and the Hare" ........ slow and steady wins the race.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Friday, December 06, 2019
Any writers out there?
Rich Moseson has put a call out on the QRP e-mail reflectors for articles:
Hi everyone,
I know this is short notice to be making this request, but CQ is looking for unique QRP-related stories for our annual QRP Special in the February 2020 issue. Have you made an unusual accomplishment, built and used something really cool with great results, taken your QRP station out portable and come back with a great story? Do you have a project article to share?
If you do, please drop me a note at and let me know your idea. We've got a short turnaround right now, so I'd need to hear from you ASAP and have finished articles in 2-3 weeks (before Christmas).
Vy tnx in advance and 72/73 for a great holiday season,
Rich W2VU Editor, CQ
Rich was kind enough to publish an article of mine in the 2014 CQ QRP Special Edition. I know a lot of you out there have some really cool experiences and some very good QRP ideas.
Time to get published!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Hi everyone,
I know this is short notice to be making this request, but CQ is looking for unique QRP-related stories for our annual QRP Special in the February 2020 issue. Have you made an unusual accomplishment, built and used something really cool with great results, taken your QRP station out portable and come back with a great story? Do you have a project article to share?
If you do, please drop me a note at
Vy tnx in advance and 72/73 for a great holiday season,
Rich W2VU Editor, CQ
Thinking new antenna
I got one of the two Foxes in the 80 Meter Foxhunt last night - Randy NC4RT in North Carolina. I was not able to make myself heard by Wayne N4FP in Florida. He posted in an e-mail post-hunt that he was experiencing some S7 QRN. That didn't help my cause any. But a few of the other NJ Hounds DID work him - so I am thinking maybe it's becoming time to consider a new wire.
The venerable HF9 will remain the workhorse of the stable. But maybe it's time to replace the W3EDP. It's been up there since 2012, maybe it's time for a change. I may go back to an extended double Zepp - or perhaps I need to read some of Bill Orr's HF antenna book that I recently received from CQ Publications. There's bound to be some good ideas in there.
The venerable HF9 will remain the workhorse of the stable. But maybe it's time to replace the W3EDP. It's been up there since 2012, maybe it's time for a change. I may go back to an extended double Zepp - or perhaps I need to read some of Bill Orr's HF antenna book that I recently received from CQ Publications. There's bound to be some good ideas in there.
In any event, it will end up being something I build myself and it will have to fit in my puny suburban lot. That's the good thing about wire antennas that you build yourself; generally they are pretty inexpensive. I have most of the winter to think about it. Late winter - early spring before the leaves pop out is my prime antenna stringing season.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
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