The weather has been phenomenal this winter, as you all know. Due to Arctic air staying way up north, we've had one of the warmer Winters that we've had in a while. Who would've thought last Halloween, when we had that early snow, that Winter was going to turn out the way it did?
The early warmth and early blooming and budding is playing havoc with my head, though. My nose is all stopped up and my eyes are itchy and watery. Allergies are no fun; but this too shall pass.
So when my friend Rem K6BBQ posted about another video from last year, it's gotten me all torqued up for portable operating for this coming Spring and Summer outdoor operating season. Shorts and T-shirt weather may not be immediately imminent; but I dare say it's closer than father away!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Not a happy coincidence
Through a post on the nogaqrp e-mail reflector, I learned from Jim W4QO that the QRP ARCI Spring QSO Party will be the weekend of April 7th and 8th.
Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday - Ouch with a capital "O".
Sunday participation will be just about impossible. I am not totally sure at this moment in time, but we usually spend the day with Marianne's brother and his wife. There may be a chance for an hour or two between Sunday morning Church services and leaving for there.
Saturday is going to be extremely hard also, as that is Holy Saturday which is generally a busy day at our household. Maybe, if I am lucky, an hour or two in the late afternoon.
I am going to have to really try to mazimize my QSO rate for the miniscule amount of time that I will be on the air.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday - Ouch with a capital "O".
Sunday participation will be just about impossible. I am not totally sure at this moment in time, but we usually spend the day with Marianne's brother and his wife. There may be a chance for an hour or two between Sunday morning Church services and leaving for there.
Saturday is going to be extremely hard also, as that is Holy Saturday which is generally a busy day at our household. Maybe, if I am lucky, an hour or two in the late afternoon.
I am going to have to really try to mazimize my QSO rate for the miniscule amount of time that I will be on the air.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Monday, March 26, 2012
Great idea!
I try very hard not to needlessly duplicate the offerings of my fellow bloggers. However, I caught Chris KQ2RP's post and felt that it needed amplification (pun intended).
Rex Harper W1REX, member of the QRP Hall of Fame and primary owner/operator of QRPme has come up with a great idea - the "QRP Kit of the Month Club".
This is such a cool idea! Personally, I think it's one of the best unexpected gifts a QRPer could find himself being on the receiving end of. Wow - bad sentence, but you know what I mean. :)
I'd much rather receive a QRP kit every month rather than a piece of fruit, or a cheese ball, or a beef log, or a jar of jam or jelly. You can opt into different subscription plans; but for the full boat of 12 months, it works out to 12 kits at $15 a clip - not bad at all. I know that sounds like a lot, but it really isn't when you think of how it breaks down.
Kudos to Rex for coming up with an innovative idea! It will be interesting to see if any QRPers are gifted this way. I may have to start leaving some obvious hints myself, starting this coming October and November.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least.
Rex Harper W1REX, member of the QRP Hall of Fame and primary owner/operator of QRPme has come up with a great idea - the "QRP Kit of the Month Club".
This is such a cool idea! Personally, I think it's one of the best unexpected gifts a QRPer could find himself being on the receiving end of. Wow - bad sentence, but you know what I mean. :)
I'd much rather receive a QRP kit every month rather than a piece of fruit, or a cheese ball, or a beef log, or a jar of jam or jelly. You can opt into different subscription plans; but for the full boat of 12 months, it works out to 12 kits at $15 a clip - not bad at all. I know that sounds like a lot, but it really isn't when you think of how it breaks down.
Kudos to Rex for coming up with an innovative idea! It will be interesting to see if any QRPers are gifted this way. I may have to start leaving some obvious hints myself, starting this coming October and November.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Four State QRP Group hits a home run!
This sounds like a great kit at a fantastic price, for what you'll be getting!
Dubbed the QRPometer during development, this useful accessory is a highly accurate and easy to use power and swr indicating meter. Unusual in any pwer meter, the range of accurate power measurement extends down to a low 100 milliwatts. It has a large digital display and boasts an accuracy level that few, if any, similar meters on the market can match. A unique design feature is that 2 circuit boards are included in the kit, they form the front and back of the enclosure. The boards are shiny black so there is no need to buy, build, or paint an enclosure.
This kit was conceived to fill a need within the hobby for an inexpensive, highly accurate VSWR and RF power meter for QRP power levels. The QRPometer uses simple analog signal-processing circuitry to provide a set of essential measurement features not previously available in a single unit. High quality, double sided, printed circuit board construction is used, with solder mask and silk screened component reference designators. All components are through-hole for easy assembly. NO toroids are required. All controls and jacks are PCB mounted, and a single, four conductor ribbon cable is the only wiring necessary. The QRPometer can be constructed by beginners as well as experienced builders. Construction time is approximately 3 hours, depending on experience level. The only equipment required for calibration of the QRPometer is a digital voltmeter, and a QRP transmitter.
First time builders please note: This kit is not difficult to build. All parts are thru hole parts, there are NO SMT parts. The parts are wide spaced on the board making installation easy, and all connectors are board mounted which eliminates point to point wiring. Also note that there are No TOROIDS to wind - none.
Specifications and Design Features
Power Range: 100 mW to 10 Watts
Accuracy: Power, 2% Typical
VSWR, 5% Typical
Large Digital Display The digits are .52" in height.
Sensitivity: Direct readout on 3 1/2 digit LCD display. Minimum resolution 10 mW.
Enclosure: Silk Screened PC boards create the enclosure, no need to purchase one.
No Toroids: There are no toroids in this kit.
The price? Only $50.00 (US). Wow!
For all the details; and to order ......... http://www.wa0itp.com/qrpom.html
Please note that I am not a member of the 4 State QRP Group and have no "interest" in this kit, other than seeing great stuff get into the hands of my fellow QRPers!
72 de Larry W2LJ
Dubbed the QRPometer during development, this useful accessory is a highly accurate and easy to use power and swr indicating meter. Unusual in any pwer meter, the range of accurate power measurement extends down to a low 100 milliwatts. It has a large digital display and boasts an accuracy level that few, if any, similar meters on the market can match. A unique design feature is that 2 circuit boards are included in the kit, they form the front and back of the enclosure. The boards are shiny black so there is no need to buy, build, or paint an enclosure.
This kit was conceived to fill a need within the hobby for an inexpensive, highly accurate VSWR and RF power meter for QRP power levels. The QRPometer uses simple analog signal-processing circuitry to provide a set of essential measurement features not previously available in a single unit. High quality, double sided, printed circuit board construction is used, with solder mask and silk screened component reference designators. All components are through-hole for easy assembly. NO toroids are required. All controls and jacks are PCB mounted, and a single, four conductor ribbon cable is the only wiring necessary. The QRPometer can be constructed by beginners as well as experienced builders. Construction time is approximately 3 hours, depending on experience level. The only equipment required for calibration of the QRPometer is a digital voltmeter, and a QRP transmitter.
First time builders please note: This kit is not difficult to build. All parts are thru hole parts, there are NO SMT parts. The parts are wide spaced on the board making installation easy, and all connectors are board mounted which eliminates point to point wiring. Also note that there are No TOROIDS to wind - none.
Specifications and Design Features
Power Range: 100 mW to 10 Watts
Accuracy: Power, 2% Typical
VSWR, 5% Typical
Large Digital Display The digits are .52" in height.
Sensitivity: Direct readout on 3 1/2 digit LCD display. Minimum resolution 10 mW.
Enclosure: Silk Screened PC boards create the enclosure, no need to purchase one.
No Toroids: There are no toroids in this kit.
The price? Only $50.00 (US). Wow!
For all the details; and to order ......... http://www.wa0itp.com/qrpom.html
Please note that I am not a member of the 4 State QRP Group and have no "interest" in this kit, other than seeing great stuff get into the hands of my fellow QRPers!
72 de Larry W2LJ
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Living vicariously
through Jim W1PID and another lovely sunny day in New Hampshire.
http://www.w1pid.com/eagle/eagle.html
The weather was lovely here too; but time constraints at work have prevented me from getting to the car at lunchtime. As the warm weather is supposed to last for a bit, maybe I'll be able to over the next few days. The PFR3A, Buddistick/magmount combo patiently await me.
Tonight is the final 80 Meter QRP Foxhunt for the 2011/2012 season. It's hard to believe that it has gone by so fast. Before you know it, the 20 Meter Summer season will begin. Maybe I'll have my KX3 by then!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
http://www.w1pid.com/eagle/eagle.html
The weather was lovely here too; but time constraints at work have prevented me from getting to the car at lunchtime. As the warm weather is supposed to last for a bit, maybe I'll be able to over the next few days. The PFR3A, Buddistick/magmount combo patiently await me.
Tonight is the final 80 Meter QRP Foxhunt for the 2011/2012 season. It's hard to believe that it has gone by so fast. Before you know it, the 20 Meter Summer season will begin. Maybe I'll have my KX3 by then!
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Monday, March 19, 2012
Last day of Winter
Spring officially begins in about 5 hours from right now. But the weather here today had to be record breaking, or darn near close to it. As I left work today, for the drive home at 5:00 PM, it was 77F (25C) - on March 19th!
The extended forecast for the next week is informing us that daytime high temperatures will be in the upper 60's and into the 70s' and that on Thursday, we may even break 80F (27C).
I was telling Bob W3BBO during our weekly Echolink chat the other day, that we will probably pay for this with a Memorial Day holiday weekend in the 50s (13C).
Ah yes, W2LJ is ever the optimist!
On a radio note, I tried getting on the bands a few times over the weekend only to hear not much of anything. The bands seemed to be dead for me. BUT ..... the bands have been real good for my friend Jim W4QO, who announced that he finished working the countries he needed to accomplish Diamond DXCC - all QRP. Way to go, Jim - a hearty hand shake and slap on the back for you!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
The extended forecast for the next week is informing us that daytime high temperatures will be in the upper 60's and into the 70s' and that on Thursday, we may even break 80F (27C).
I was telling Bob W3BBO during our weekly Echolink chat the other day, that we will probably pay for this with a Memorial Day holiday weekend in the 50s (13C).
Ah yes, W2LJ is ever the optimist!
On a radio note, I tried getting on the bands a few times over the weekend only to hear not much of anything. The bands seemed to be dead for me. BUT ..... the bands have been real good for my friend Jim W4QO, who announced that he finished working the countries he needed to accomplish Diamond DXCC - all QRP. Way to go, Jim - a hearty hand shake and slap on the back for you!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Silent Service
If you're a regular reader of my blog, you've seen several videos posted here courtesy of Rem K6BBQ regarding the USS Pampanito. Rem, who lives in California has operated from the Pampanito (whose radio room is now outfitted with Amateur Radio gear) and has related about his experiences.
I visited the Pampanito myself a couple of times, when I was fortunate enough to visit San Francisco and the Fishlerman's Wharf area. I was never fortunate enough to operate from the submarine. Watching Rem's videos and taking a tour of the boat myself is one thing, but in all truthfulness, neither of these gave a "real taste" of what life on the sub was like during WWII.
This past week, I caught an episode of "The Color of War" on the Military Channel. The program features color movie footage of WWII, taken by amateurs as well as professional combat cinematographers. The episode I watched this past week was titled, "The Silent Service" and towards the end of the program, the USS Pompanito was prominently featured.
If you get the chance to watch the show, please do. In a very small way, you will be honoring the memory of the brave men who fought for us under the surface of the briny deep during WWII. In the process, you will be amazed at the conditions these fighting men put up with; and in spite of those circumstances, succeeded in their mission.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Thursday, March 15, 2012
QRPp is now online.
This appeared on the QRP e-mail reflectors today:
I would like to announce that the complete collection of QRPp, the NorCal QRP Club Journal that I did from 1993 to 2004 is now on line. Chuck Adams has scanned in every page of every issue and has it on line at http://www.k7qo.net/NorCal_QRPp.html. This is a temporary site, as we want to make sure that all of the bugs are out of it before we place it on the NorCal page where it will have a permanent home in about 3 weeks. This material is for the education of QRPers, and it will always be free. No one will ever have to pay anything to access it. We ask that no one makes it available on CD for distribution in any way. Everyone is granted permission to make an archival copy, but no one is granted permission to post any part or portion online. We want there to be one site where it is available. Some of the schematics will be redrawn and Chuck is coordinating that effort. I have struggled for years on how to make the information available and decided that this is the way to do it. Every article was donated, no one was paid anything for writing any article. So, I wanted to make it available for free. Enjoy. Thank you to Chuck Adams for doing the work to make the pdf's, to Dean Davis for his future work in
putting it on the NorCal web page, and especially to all of the contributors over the years. 72, Doug, KI6DS
Thank you Doug and Chuck for making this available to all of us online.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
I would like to announce that the complete collection of QRPp, the NorCal QRP Club Journal that I did from 1993 to 2004 is now on line. Chuck Adams has scanned in every page of every issue and has it on line at http://www.k7qo.net/NorCal_QRPp.html. This is a temporary site, as we want to make sure that all of the bugs are out of it before we place it on the NorCal page where it will have a permanent home in about 3 weeks. This material is for the education of QRPers, and it will always be free. No one will ever have to pay anything to access it. We ask that no one makes it available on CD for distribution in any way. Everyone is granted permission to make an archival copy, but no one is granted permission to post any part or portion online. We want there to be one site where it is available. Some of the schematics will be redrawn and Chuck is coordinating that effort. I have struggled for years on how to make the information available and decided that this is the way to do it. Every article was donated, no one was paid anything for writing any article. So, I wanted to make it available for free. Enjoy. Thank you to Chuck Adams for doing the work to make the pdf's, to Dean Davis for his future work in
putting it on the NorCal web page, and especially to all of the contributors over the years. 72, Doug, KI6DS
Thank you Doug and Chuck for making this available to all of us online.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Patience
Sometimes I think Pavlov would have done better using Hams rather than dogs. There seems to be a lot of salivating going on in Elecraft land.
As we get so ever closer to the KX3 shipping date, the KX3 reflector is going wild. You get a palpable sense that some of the guys are literally jumping out of their skin, waiting for their radios to ship.
For me, it was harder to wait for the ordering process to begin. In addition to not really knowing when it was going to happen, I was conflicted for a while wondering whether or not I would have the funds needed when things actually started rolling. Fortunately, that turned out not to be a problem when the Order Page finally opened up.
When the original forecast for shipment was stated to be mid-February, my mind immediately told me "March or April ...... maybe". I remember reading the stories that accompanied shipping the K3 when it first came out. I figured that while that experience might have helped with initially shipping the KX3, it would not entirely eliminate unforeseen shipping delays TO Elecraft of materials needed to manufacture the rigs.
So here we are at March 14th, Pi Day, and the official line on the Elecraft Website is that shipping will commence somewhere between March 16th and the 26th. I'm thinking that if I am very lucky, I will see mine somewhere right around Easter time.
I'm just hoping that I get it in plenty of time to build it and have it for QRP To The Field., which is usually the last Saturday in April.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
As we get so ever closer to the KX3 shipping date, the KX3 reflector is going wild. You get a palpable sense that some of the guys are literally jumping out of their skin, waiting for their radios to ship.
For me, it was harder to wait for the ordering process to begin. In addition to not really knowing when it was going to happen, I was conflicted for a while wondering whether or not I would have the funds needed when things actually started rolling. Fortunately, that turned out not to be a problem when the Order Page finally opened up.
When the original forecast for shipment was stated to be mid-February, my mind immediately told me "March or April ...... maybe". I remember reading the stories that accompanied shipping the K3 when it first came out. I figured that while that experience might have helped with initially shipping the KX3, it would not entirely eliminate unforeseen shipping delays TO Elecraft of materials needed to manufacture the rigs.
So here we are at March 14th, Pi Day, and the official line on the Elecraft Website is that shipping will commence somewhere between March 16th and the 26th. I'm thinking that if I am very lucky, I will see mine somewhere right around Easter time.
I'm just hoping that I get it in plenty of time to build it and have it for QRP To The Field., which is usually the last Saturday in April.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Monday, March 12, 2012
Heavy handed
This post will probably get me thrown off QRP-L for all eternity.
The other morning, I was trying to send an e-mail and Thunderbird started acting flookey. I was getting error messages that said my ISP "Cannot send message due to possible abuse" and then I also got this: "The message could not be sent because the connection to SMTP server smtp.verizon.yahoo.com was lost in the middle of the transaction. Try again or contact your network administrator."
The situation was like this all day Saturday, so when sending e-mails, I had to use the Web based client that Verizon Yahoo offers.
No big deal really, in the scheme of things. But later on that day, I saw that Terry KQ5U was experiencing the EXACT same problem and he posted about it as an Off Topic on QRP-L. Wishing to communicate with him about it, but not wishing to tie up the e-mail reflector, we shared a couple of direct e-mails.
Thunderbird started acting normally for me on Sunday morning; but then gave me the same error Sunday afternoon and evening. For the record, it seems to be all right today. And I would have to say that in all, there were less than a half dozen posts about this on QRP-L.
Then I saw this today, and quite frankly, it rubbed me the wrong way.
"QRP-L mailman list,
Just a reminder, we don't use OT in the subject or have Off Topic posts on this list. Especially when it comes to computer operating systems. Please take that elsewhere please.
This list is to be use for QRP and ham radio related topics. Some think this is a fine line since many of us have computers attached to our rigs, it is not.
Antenna modeling, SDR's, logging and control are OK to discuss on the list, but I draw the line on operating systems. Guys that want to continue pushing this will be moderated without warning.
If you have any questions on this contact me direct and NOT to the list.
Thank you and 73 qrp-l moderator."
Now, first off ...... this is a private list that is run by someone. Who that someone is, I am not sure and really, do not even want to know. That said person sets rules and that we are expected to follow them is also fine. I have no qualms with any of that. That this notice was posted didn't even bother me.
Here's what bothered me, this one single, line: "Guys that want to continue pushing this will be moderated without warning."
There were a grand total of less than 1/2 dozen posts regarding this; and the originator, Terry KQ5U was looking for assistance. And he came looking for that assistance to a group of guys that are very knowledgeable on a wide variety of topics. The fact that there were so few posts about it didn't warrant the reaction, in my book. And the "challenge" to anyone who might have offered some valuable information or tips seemed to be way off base in my most humble opinion.
In the past years, I have seen some really mundane topics that had NOTHING to do with QRP, just beaten to death on QRP-L, without one iota of comment from anyone. This one, where someone was looking for some help with regards to an e-mail client (and NOT an operating system as was erroneously pointed out) so that he could continue posting to the list, just seems rather arbitrary and heavy handed to me.
Like I said, if this gets me banned from QRP-L in a snit of retaliation - so be it, but what's right is right. The list owner's announcement was correct and reasonable - the implied threat wasn't.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
The other morning, I was trying to send an e-mail and Thunderbird started acting flookey. I was getting error messages that said my ISP "Cannot send message due to possible abuse" and then I also got this: "The message could not be sent because the connection to SMTP server smtp.verizon.yahoo.com was lost in the middle of the transaction. Try again or contact your network administrator."
The situation was like this all day Saturday, so when sending e-mails, I had to use the Web based client that Verizon Yahoo offers.
No big deal really, in the scheme of things. But later on that day, I saw that Terry KQ5U was experiencing the EXACT same problem and he posted about it as an Off Topic on QRP-L. Wishing to communicate with him about it, but not wishing to tie up the e-mail reflector, we shared a couple of direct e-mails.
Thunderbird started acting normally for me on Sunday morning; but then gave me the same error Sunday afternoon and evening. For the record, it seems to be all right today. And I would have to say that in all, there were less than a half dozen posts about this on QRP-L.
Then I saw this today, and quite frankly, it rubbed me the wrong way.
"QRP-L mailman list,
Just a reminder, we don't use OT in the subject or have Off Topic posts on this list. Especially when it comes to computer operating systems. Please take that elsewhere please.
This list is to be use for QRP and ham radio related topics. Some think this is a fine line since many of us have computers attached to our rigs, it is not.
Antenna modeling, SDR's, logging and control are OK to discuss on the list, but I draw the line on operating systems. Guys that want to continue pushing this will be moderated without warning.
If you have any questions on this contact me direct and NOT to the list.
Thank you and 73 qrp-l moderator."
Now, first off ...... this is a private list that is run by someone. Who that someone is, I am not sure and really, do not even want to know. That said person sets rules and that we are expected to follow them is also fine. I have no qualms with any of that. That this notice was posted didn't even bother me.
Here's what bothered me, this one single, line: "Guys that want to continue pushing this will be moderated without warning."
There were a grand total of less than 1/2 dozen posts regarding this; and the originator, Terry KQ5U was looking for assistance. And he came looking for that assistance to a group of guys that are very knowledgeable on a wide variety of topics. The fact that there were so few posts about it didn't warrant the reaction, in my book. And the "challenge" to anyone who might have offered some valuable information or tips seemed to be way off base in my most humble opinion.
In the past years, I have seen some really mundane topics that had NOTHING to do with QRP, just beaten to death on QRP-L, without one iota of comment from anyone. This one, where someone was looking for some help with regards to an e-mail client (and NOT an operating system as was erroneously pointed out) so that he could continue posting to the list, just seems rather arbitrary and heavy handed to me.
Like I said, if this gets me banned from QRP-L in a snit of retaliation - so be it, but what's right is right. The list owner's announcement was correct and reasonable - the implied threat wasn't.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Thursday, March 08, 2012
This came today
Didn't get all 50; but I came close! Maybe in another 25 years when it's the 75th Anniversary? (If I live that long!)
In any event, thank you QRP-ARCI, it's a very nice award and will look good on my wall.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least
Spring time in New Hampshire.
Jim W1PID was at it again today:
Prepare yourself for some beautiful photos as well as a good story.
http://www.w1pid.com/spring/spring.html
On a side note, some of you may have noticed that I removed the "Capcha Code" from the blog comments area. I did that in response to a couple of you out there that were having difficulties posting comments. It's a good thing that comments are on moderation and that Blogger has a good spam detection process. Since removing the Code, I have been averaging about 15 - 20 spam comments a day! Don't people have better things to do?
Today was more like the end of April than the beginning of March. Around lunchtime, the high was 68F (20C). We really shouldn't be seeing temps like this for another 4 to 6 weeks; but you know what? I'll take it any day. Unfortunately, tomorrow is supposed to be more seasonable with highs only in the upper 40s (8C or so).
Tonight is the 40 Meters QRP Foxhunt. I managed to get both Foxes Tuesday night in the 80 Meter hunt. I worked Lee AA4GA quite easily; but was having a devil of a time with Ray KX9E in Illinois. Turns out I had the K2 set to 1 Watt. When I bumped it up to 5, Ray was able to hear me a bit more easily. I had forgotten that I had set it to 1 Watt over last weekend, and forgot to reset it. That means I worked AA4GA in Georgia with only 1 Watt as it turns out. Cool!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Prepare yourself for some beautiful photos as well as a good story.
http://www.w1pid.com/spring/spring.html
On a side note, some of you may have noticed that I removed the "Capcha Code" from the blog comments area. I did that in response to a couple of you out there that were having difficulties posting comments. It's a good thing that comments are on moderation and that Blogger has a good spam detection process. Since removing the Code, I have been averaging about 15 - 20 spam comments a day! Don't people have better things to do?
Today was more like the end of April than the beginning of March. Around lunchtime, the high was 68F (20C). We really shouldn't be seeing temps like this for another 4 to 6 weeks; but you know what? I'll take it any day. Unfortunately, tomorrow is supposed to be more seasonable with highs only in the upper 40s (8C or so).
Tonight is the 40 Meters QRP Foxhunt. I managed to get both Foxes Tuesday night in the 80 Meter hunt. I worked Lee AA4GA quite easily; but was having a devil of a time with Ray KX9E in Illinois. Turns out I had the K2 set to 1 Watt. When I bumped it up to 5, Ray was able to hear me a bit more easily. I had forgotten that I had set it to 1 Watt over last weekend, and forgot to reset it. That means I worked AA4GA in Georgia with only 1 Watt as it turns out. Cool!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Saturday, March 03, 2012
Sorry for my absence
But it's been a heckuva week. Not any Ham radio activity or blogging for W2LJ this past week as my Mom was in the hospital and that was my main focus.
She was having a lot of pain in her right side and it finally got to be too much for her to take. My sister texted me very early Tuesday morning that she was with our Mom and had called 911. I didn't go into work that day; and spent most of it in the Emergency Room. First thoughts were either gall bladder or kidney stones. All the sophisticated tests didn't reveal too much of anything. A thorough "old fashioned" exam by an "old school" Chinese doctor led to a hunch and another X-ray revealed a slight fracture to a rib.
Today my Mom was sprung from the hospital and is currently staying at my sister's house and should be there for the next few weeks to a month. She's looking rested and more relaxed now that she knows what was causing the pain. I think that finding out the cause of something like this is more than half the battle. Once you can get a little peace of mind, the rest can fall into place.
I did get a chance to get back on the radio for a bit this afternoon to find not much going on. 10, 12, 15 and 17 Meters were all dead when I listened this afternoon. I finally worked EA3DD, Manuel on 20 Meters for a brief QSO. He was very loud - 599 into NJ and I was graced with a 549 report back. I'll take that any day.
Oh, even though it seems that 2011/2012 will be known as the "Winter That Never Was" here in the NorthEast (I saw robins this morning and the crocusses are already popping up in the front yard), here's K6BBQ's homage to FYBO:
Hey, according to the KX3 reflector - the Operator's Manual will be released on Monday at the Elecraft Website! Getting closer!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
She was having a lot of pain in her right side and it finally got to be too much for her to take. My sister texted me very early Tuesday morning that she was with our Mom and had called 911. I didn't go into work that day; and spent most of it in the Emergency Room. First thoughts were either gall bladder or kidney stones. All the sophisticated tests didn't reveal too much of anything. A thorough "old fashioned" exam by an "old school" Chinese doctor led to a hunch and another X-ray revealed a slight fracture to a rib.
Today my Mom was sprung from the hospital and is currently staying at my sister's house and should be there for the next few weeks to a month. She's looking rested and more relaxed now that she knows what was causing the pain. I think that finding out the cause of something like this is more than half the battle. Once you can get a little peace of mind, the rest can fall into place.
I did get a chance to get back on the radio for a bit this afternoon to find not much going on. 10, 12, 15 and 17 Meters were all dead when I listened this afternoon. I finally worked EA3DD, Manuel on 20 Meters for a brief QSO. He was very loud - 599 into NJ and I was graced with a 549 report back. I'll take that any day.
Oh, even though it seems that 2011/2012 will be known as the "Winter That Never Was" here in the NorthEast (I saw robins this morning and the crocusses are already popping up in the front yard), here's K6BBQ's homage to FYBO:
Hey, according to the KX3 reflector - the Operator's Manual will be released on Monday at the Elecraft Website! Getting closer!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Monday, February 27, 2012
Welcome to the new addition
When we lost Sadie, many of you out there suggested adopting another cat. We hesitated with that decision as there will never be another Sadie, but we did see the value of saving another kitty from a bad fate.
That Saturday, Joey and I stopped by the local PetCo to pick up some dog biscuits for Jesse. That was where we met Spongy.
Spongy was born last June and got separated from her Mom as a consequence of Hurricane Irene. Spongy was found as a kitten, wandering around Long Beach Island, NJ by a man selling ice cream - Sponge Bob ice cream bars, hence her name.
The man who told us about Spongy was affiliated with Cattitude, NJ, a pet adoption organization that rescues cats and dogs. He said that Spongy was in a foster home longer than most kittens, as people seemed to be hesitant about giving a black cat a home. I guess there are a lot of superstitious folks out there. Well, that sealed the deal for me! Spongy, who is now seven months old, officially became a member of the W2LJ household this past Thursday. After a day of being scared and hiding behind furniture or down in the basement, Spongy found her courage and now walks around the house like she owns it. She's not even scared of Jesse anymore. She is a sweetheart and is quite the purr machine who loves to be petted and scratched behind her ears. And does she love chasing the red dot from a laser pointer!
Thanks to all of you out there who sent notes and comments during a bad time - they are appreciated more than you will ever know. Our home feels just a little bit more "whole" now, and although it will never be the same without Sadie, I think she would have approved of us saving one of her feline sisters from being homeless or worse.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
That Saturday, Joey and I stopped by the local PetCo to pick up some dog biscuits for Jesse. That was where we met Spongy.
Spongy was born last June and got separated from her Mom as a consequence of Hurricane Irene. Spongy was found as a kitten, wandering around Long Beach Island, NJ by a man selling ice cream - Sponge Bob ice cream bars, hence her name.
The man who told us about Spongy was affiliated with Cattitude, NJ, a pet adoption organization that rescues cats and dogs. He said that Spongy was in a foster home longer than most kittens, as people seemed to be hesitant about giving a black cat a home. I guess there are a lot of superstitious folks out there. Well, that sealed the deal for me! Spongy, who is now seven months old, officially became a member of the W2LJ household this past Thursday. After a day of being scared and hiding behind furniture or down in the basement, Spongy found her courage and now walks around the house like she owns it. She's not even scared of Jesse anymore. She is a sweetheart and is quite the purr machine who loves to be petted and scratched behind her ears. And does she love chasing the red dot from a laser pointer!
Spongy with Cara
Thanks to all of you out there who sent notes and comments during a bad time - they are appreciated more than you will ever know. Our home feels just a little bit more "whole" now, and although it will never be the same without Sadie, I think she would have approved of us saving one of her feline sisters from being homeless or worse.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
A little bit of QRP history
is available in a new, free online e-book by Adrian Weiss, W0RSP.
It is entitled, The Five-Watt QRP Movement in the US, 1968-1981, and is available by clicking on the title. The hyperlink will take you right where you need to go.
I have already downloaded it and will send it to my Kindle, so that I can read it without being tied to the computer. The history of QRP and how 5 Watts came to be the "definition" of QRP is intriguing to me. My very first membership certificate explained that QRP was considered to be 100 Watts or less. As a Novice, pushing out 75 Watts max with my Drake 2-NT was a natural fit, so I joined QRP-ARCI way back when in 1979.
I never got involved in the 100 Watt vs. 5 Watt debate; but had no problem with the final decision. Operating with low power always fascinated me and I had lots of fun and good times with it, throughout my earlier Ham career. Going strictly QRP back in 2003 is something I have seldom regretted. I'd be lying if I told you there weren't times that I wished I had 100 Watts in order to help bust through a pileup in order to snag a new DX entity. But limiting your self to lower power helps to reinforce discipline and knowing your limits and capabilities. Good life lessons.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
It is entitled, The Five-Watt QRP Movement in the US, 1968-1981, and is available by clicking on the title. The hyperlink will take you right where you need to go.
I have already downloaded it and will send it to my Kindle, so that I can read it without being tied to the computer. The history of QRP and how 5 Watts came to be the "definition" of QRP is intriguing to me. My very first membership certificate explained that QRP was considered to be 100 Watts or less. As a Novice, pushing out 75 Watts max with my Drake 2-NT was a natural fit, so I joined QRP-ARCI way back when in 1979.
I never got involved in the 100 Watt vs. 5 Watt debate; but had no problem with the final decision. Operating with low power always fascinated me and I had lots of fun and good times with it, throughout my earlier Ham career. Going strictly QRP back in 2003 is something I have seldom regretted. I'd be lying if I told you there weren't times that I wished I had 100 Watts in order to help bust through a pileup in order to snag a new DX entity. But limiting your self to lower power helps to reinforce discipline and knowing your limits and capabilities. Good life lessons.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
The opposite of the other night
It's like going from the ridiculous to the sublime.
Tonight a real treat was in store. My CQ on 40 Meters (yes, 40 Meters was quiet tonight, yay!) was answered by K4BXN, Crit who hails from Hendersonville, NC . Crit and I have QSO'ed a few times before; and as always, listening to his fist is pure pleasure. Crit was using an old bug with his K3, and if he hadn't mentioned it, you would have thought for sure that he was using an electronic keyer and paddles.
Perfect spacing and perfect sending - period. Music to my ears. And sending Morse like that with a bug is no mean feat. From my own experience, I know it's so easy to develop a swing. Not that a swing is necessarily a bad thing - but it can be if you're not careful. It takes a lot of practice and a lot of skill to be as good as K4BXN. But boy, is it a treat to listen to!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Tonight a real treat was in store. My CQ on 40 Meters (yes, 40 Meters was quiet tonight, yay!) was answered by K4BXN, Crit who hails from Hendersonville, NC . Crit and I have QSO'ed a few times before; and as always, listening to his fist is pure pleasure. Crit was using an old bug with his K3, and if he hadn't mentioned it, you would have thought for sure that he was using an electronic keyer and paddles.
Courtesy of K4BXN and QRZ.com
Perfect spacing and perfect sending - period. Music to my ears. And sending Morse like that with a bug is no mean feat. From my own experience, I know it's so easy to develop a swing. Not that a swing is necessarily a bad thing - but it can be if you're not careful. It takes a lot of practice and a lot of skill to be as good as K4BXN. But boy, is it a treat to listen to!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Monday, February 20, 2012
Oh my!
Listening on 20 Meters, right now, there's a DX station calling CQ, and all I can say is "Wow!". He's way loud and should be at the bottom of a pile up. Why not? Because he's sending way too fast with no spacing whatsoever. I was finally able to make out the call; but he was getting very few takers. Once he switched over to the memory keyer (which had some spacing in there, which made it legible), I can see that he's not only getting more takers, but that he has also been spotted on the DX cluster.
You know, if you want to be a speed demon, that's one thing. But spacing is so important. There's no point in sending so fast that you send gibberish. Even if there are no actual errors, no one is going to want to work you if they can't understand you.
So any time advantage that you feel you're gaining is probably lost by either A) repeats or B) lost opportunities due to no one wanting to work a fist like that.
You know, I'm not not an expert, by any means. But I do know bad Morse when I hear it; and that was bad. A shame really, because it could mean the difference between a lot of contacts and just a few.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
You know, if you want to be a speed demon, that's one thing. But spacing is so important. There's no point in sending so fast that you send gibberish. Even if there are no actual errors, no one is going to want to work you if they can't understand you.
So any time advantage that you feel you're gaining is probably lost by either A) repeats or B) lost opportunities due to no one wanting to work a fist like that.
You know, I'm not not an expert, by any means. But I do know bad Morse when I hear it; and that was bad. A shame really, because it could mean the difference between a lot of contacts and just a few.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
There are various ways to work a DX contest
You can meet up with a whole bunch of buds and combine to form one of those multi-multi teams. Or you can go solo and operate from your shack in a variety of categories. You can even go and BE the DX, like some friends that I know - Bob N4BP and John K4BAI come to mind.
OR, you can take a portable rig, a hunk o' wire, a battery and a tuner and head out to the great outdoors to enjoy some sunshine and some plain ol' fashioned fun.
Any ideas who that might be, showing us the way?
Sure enough - Jim W1PID - enjoying the DX Contest from the banks of the Winnipesaukee River.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
OR, you can take a portable rig, a hunk o' wire, a battery and a tuner and head out to the great outdoors to enjoy some sunshine and some plain ol' fashioned fun.
Any ideas who that might be, showing us the way?
Sure enough - Jim W1PID - enjoying the DX Contest from the banks of the Winnipesaukee River.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Sunday, February 19, 2012
ARRL DX Contest - 2012
Since 0000 UTC Saturday morning (Friday night here) the bands were absolutely humming. Hard to find spectrum that wasn't occupied by someone calling 'CQ TEST" or with two stations engaging in an exchange. It's now 0000 UTC Monday morning here, and the bands are eerily quiet.
The weekend was like all the others around here - super busy. I did not get to spend nearly as much time on the air as I wanted to; but I did get a couple of hours last night and then a couple more this afternoon. I added quite a few new countries to my Diamond DXCC tally. Not as many as I would have liked; but I should be well on my way now.
The bands seemed to be in good shape and I even heard some activity on 10 Meters and joined in the fun there. My plan of action was to "cherry pick" and work the louder stations I was hearing, thinking that would give my QRP: signal the best chance of being heard. I didn't stick with that strategy, however and ended up working quite a few weak ones, too. It pretty much turned out that I was able to work anyone that I called. I even got a new one that I have never worked before - QRP or QRO. I worked ZD8Z on Ascension Island for the first time ever. Unfortunately, the only station that wasn't able to pick me out of the din was OA4SS down in Peru. I tried for quite a while, but in the end was not successful.
I have tomorrow off for the long President's Day weekend. I am so tired right now that I am going to turn in early and I will get my QSO for the 20th, tomorrow.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
The weekend was like all the others around here - super busy. I did not get to spend nearly as much time on the air as I wanted to; but I did get a couple of hours last night and then a couple more this afternoon. I added quite a few new countries to my Diamond DXCC tally. Not as many as I would have liked; but I should be well on my way now.
The bands seemed to be in good shape and I even heard some activity on 10 Meters and joined in the fun there. My plan of action was to "cherry pick" and work the louder stations I was hearing, thinking that would give my QRP: signal the best chance of being heard. I didn't stick with that strategy, however and ended up working quite a few weak ones, too. It pretty much turned out that I was able to work anyone that I called. I even got a new one that I have never worked before - QRP or QRO. I worked ZD8Z on Ascension Island for the first time ever. Unfortunately, the only station that wasn't able to pick me out of the din was OA4SS down in Peru. I tried for quite a while, but in the end was not successful.
I have tomorrow off for the long President's Day weekend. I am so tired right now that I am going to turn in early and I will get my QSO for the 20th, tomorrow.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Friday, February 17, 2012
New offering from Four State QRP Group
The following was announced today on the various QRP e-mail reflectors:
The Four State QRP Group is pleased to announce a new kit, the Stand Alone VXO (SAVXO) designed by Jim Kortge, K8IQY. The very complete manual, specifications, and ordering information can be found here http://www.wa0itp.com/savxo.html PayPal is accepted. It is shipped with 40M components but can easily be used on any HF band.
This is a Super VXO design which has it's origins in the Super VXO of the SS-40 receiver. It is crystal controlled yet combines frequency agility with smooth stable tuning, and NO perceptible drift - even from a cold start. It is ideal for driving your NS-40 or other crystal controlled transmitter or receiver, and is also a great starting point for a transmitter strip of your own design. As kitted the SAVXO will put out over 250mW by itself, plenty of power to operate QRPp if desired.
All proceeds go to fund OzarkCon. As always thank you for supporting the Four State QRP Group. http://www.4sqrp.com/
I ordered mine! And once OzarkCon 2012 is over, I'll be ordering a Magic Box kit, too.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
The Four State QRP Group is pleased to announce a new kit, the Stand Alone VXO (SAVXO) designed by Jim Kortge, K8IQY. The very complete manual, specifications, and ordering information can be found here http://www.wa0itp.com/savxo.html PayPal is accepted. It is shipped with 40M components but can easily be used on any HF band.
This is a Super VXO design which has it's origins in the Super VXO of the SS-40 receiver. It is crystal controlled yet combines frequency agility with smooth stable tuning, and NO perceptible drift - even from a cold start. It is ideal for driving your NS-40 or other crystal controlled transmitter or receiver, and is also a great starting point for a transmitter strip of your own design. As kitted the SAVXO will put out over 250mW by itself, plenty of power to operate QRPp if desired.
All proceeds go to fund OzarkCon. As always thank you for supporting the Four State QRP Group. http://www.4sqrp.com/
I ordered mine! And once OzarkCon 2012 is over, I'll be ordering a Magic Box kit, too.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
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