The QRP ARCI Fall QSO Party start tonight!
2019 QRP-ARCI(sm) Fall QSO Party
Date/Time:
0000Z to 2359Z on 12 October 2019
Mode: HF CW only.
Exchange:
Members send: RST, State/Province/Country, ARCI member number
Non-Members send: RST, State/Province/Country, Power Out
QSO Points:
Member = 5 points
Non-Member, Different Continent = 4 points
Non-Member, Same Continent = 2 points
Multiplier:
SPC (State/Province/Country) total for all bands. The same station may be worked on multiple bands for QSO points and SPC credit.
Power Multiplier:
>5 Watts = x1
>1 - 5 Watts = x7
>250 mW - 1 Watt = x10
>55 mW - 250 mW = x15
55 mW or less = x20
Suggested Frequencies:
160m1810 kHz
80m3560 kHz
40m7030 kHz (please listen at 7040 kHz for rock bound participants)
20m14060 kHz
15m 21060 kHz
10m28060 kHz
Score:
Final Score = Points (total for all bands) x SPCs (total for all bands) x Power Multiplier.
BONUS POINTS: None available for this contest.
Categories:
Entry may be All-Band, Single Band, High Bands (10m-15m-20m) or Low Bands (40m-80m)
How to Participate:
Get on any of the HF bands except the WARC bands and hang out near the QRP frequencies. Work as many stations calling CQ QRP.
You can work a station for credit once on each band.
Log Submission:
Submit your entry online at https://www.qrpcontest.com
Printed Contest logs are not required for entry, but may be requested by the Contest Manager if required.
Results: Will be published in QRP Quarterly and shown on the QRP-ARCI website.
Not sure how much I'll be able to participate as I'm going this afternoon to pick Cara up for her first visit home since starting college. We have a very busy weekend planned, chock full of stuff. If I get an hour somewhere, i will try to do my best to be a "giver of points" LOL!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Friday, October 11, 2019
Zombie Shuffle ...... with a twist!
Paul Harden NA5N announced the Zombie Shuffle rules for 2019 - this year, there a tiny twist, just a little something different.
QRP Zombies,
The 22nd annual 2019 ZOMBIE SHUFFLE will be held Friday evening, NOVEMBER 1 from 1600-Midnight your local time (EDT, CDT, MDT, PDT). The mid-afternoon start time is to get a little 20M propagation before sundown, and the midnight cutoff for those die-hard night owl Zombies. You do not need to operate all 8-hours, just what you can to join the fun.
Rules are here:
http://www.zianet.com/qrp/ZOMBIE/2019/pg.htm and a link from the QRP home page: http://www.zianet.com/qrp/
Rules and scoring are unchanged. The Summary Sheet on the rules page calculates your score for you.
BONUS STATIONS: Instead of "Elvis" stations this year, bonus stations will be sending their name as "MGY" -- the call letters of the RMS TITANIC. It was the sinking of the Titanic that put wireless communications on the world stage and demonstrated the need for regulation and a body of licensed operators - including the creation in 1912 of a licensed non-commercial "amateur wireless service" - the hobby we enjoy today. Thus, ham radio has its roots to the Titanic. And for nostalgia, this year QRP Zombies will be given the opportunity to work the RMS Titanic. Each MGY station worked will be 666 bonus points (just like Elvis stations in the past). This also gives us an opportunity to put some morse code into the air to honor those pioneer radio ops and the sacrifices they made (for example, Titanic wireless op Jack Phillips perished on the Titanic). Much of the morse code procedures, protocols, and Q-signals you hear on the air today are from those early maritime Marconi operators.
Our "main" MGY station will be Brian, VE7MGY. Working him is worth even more points (see rules).
If you'd like to be an MGY Titanic operator for the Zombie Shuffle, please let me know.
So regardless of your code speed and band conditions, get on the air, have some pointless fun working fellow Zombies, and some unique nostalgia from 107 years ago.
72, Paul NA5N/MGY
Zombie #004
The Zombie Shufflle is always a fun event and I love it when Paul puts in these "twists" from year to year. It keeps it fresh and exciting. I'm also pleased with the date. If the Shuffle was a week earlier, I'd miss out as the K2ETS monthly meeting is always on the last Friday of the month. This year, I get to play!
72 de Larry W2LJ - Zombie # 858
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
QRP Zombies,
The 22nd annual 2019 ZOMBIE SHUFFLE will be held Friday evening, NOVEMBER 1 from 1600-Midnight your local time (EDT, CDT, MDT, PDT). The mid-afternoon start time is to get a little 20M propagation before sundown, and the midnight cutoff for those die-hard night owl Zombies. You do not need to operate all 8-hours, just what you can to join the fun.
Rules are here:
http://www.zianet.com/qrp/ZOMBIE/2019/pg.htm and a link from the QRP home page: http://www.zianet.com/qrp/
Rules and scoring are unchanged. The Summary Sheet on the rules page calculates your score for you.
BONUS STATIONS: Instead of "Elvis" stations this year, bonus stations will be sending their name as "MGY" -- the call letters of the RMS TITANIC. It was the sinking of the Titanic that put wireless communications on the world stage and demonstrated the need for regulation and a body of licensed operators - including the creation in 1912 of a licensed non-commercial "amateur wireless service" - the hobby we enjoy today. Thus, ham radio has its roots to the Titanic. And for nostalgia, this year QRP Zombies will be given the opportunity to work the RMS Titanic. Each MGY station worked will be 666 bonus points (just like Elvis stations in the past). This also gives us an opportunity to put some morse code into the air to honor those pioneer radio ops and the sacrifices they made (for example, Titanic wireless op Jack Phillips perished on the Titanic). Much of the morse code procedures, protocols, and Q-signals you hear on the air today are from those early maritime Marconi operators.
Our "main" MGY station will be Brian, VE7MGY. Working him is worth even more points (see rules).
If you'd like to be an MGY Titanic operator for the Zombie Shuffle, please let me know.
So regardless of your code speed and band conditions, get on the air, have some pointless fun working fellow Zombies, and some unique nostalgia from 107 years ago.
72, Paul NA5N/MGY
Zombie #004
The Zombie Shufflle is always a fun event and I love it when Paul puts in these "twists" from year to year. It keeps it fresh and exciting. I'm also pleased with the date. If the Shuffle was a week earlier, I'd miss out as the K2ETS monthly meeting is always on the last Friday of the month. This year, I get to play!
72 de Larry W2LJ - Zombie # 858
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Wednesday, October 09, 2019
Should you be in the area on Oct. 18th.
The Fair Lawn Amateur Radio Club, here in New Jersey has decided to scrape the bottom of the barrel. From the ARRL Hudson Division NNJ Section news e-mail:
FLARC SPEAKER
Larry Makoski W2LJ Focuses on QRP
Highlighting The FLARC October 18th
2019 Speaker Series Program
With the amateur bands near or at the bottom of the solar cycle, what better time to focus on low power operating, getting outside and just having fun with ham radio.
As part of our 2019 FLARC Speakers Series, the Fair Lawn Amateur Radio Club is honored to have one of the top QRP amateur radio ops (Huh?) in the nation as part of our program.
Larry Makoski W2LJ will present the topic "You, QRP and the Great Outdoors." It covers the basics of QRP and portable QRP operations. Larry is one of the hobby’s leading QRP enthusiasts (Seriously? I can think of others way more deserving of that title other than me.) and is certain to get you out of the shack and into the field with low-power operation.
The lecture and discussion will be held on Friday, October 18th at the Fair Lawn Senior Center, 11-05 Gardiner Road in Fair Lawn beginning at 7PM.
The program is open to all and refreshments will be served. For more information, please visit the club's website at www.fairlawnarc.org or call 201-791-3841
I'm in the process of re-tweaking the PowerPoint, as it is AMAZING how much has changed since I presented this program to another club only a few years ago! There was no KX2, there was no QCX, many of the the kits offered by The 4 States Group as well as The QRPGuys weren't around yet. The FT-818 was only a dream and the IC-705 wasn't even on the horizon yet. The Chinese rigs were just entering the market and were nowhere as sophisticated as they are now. Sometimes I think we non-chalant these QRP advances because we see them as they happen. But yet if you step back and take into account all that has blossomed in just the past few years ......... WOW!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
FLARC SPEAKER
Larry Makoski W2LJ Focuses on QRP
Highlighting The FLARC October 18th
2019 Speaker Series Program
With the amateur bands near or at the bottom of the solar cycle, what better time to focus on low power operating, getting outside and just having fun with ham radio.
As part of our 2019 FLARC Speakers Series, the Fair Lawn Amateur Radio Club is honored to have one of the top QRP amateur radio ops (Huh?) in the nation as part of our program.
Larry Makoski W2LJ will present the topic "You, QRP and the Great Outdoors." It covers the basics of QRP and portable QRP operations. Larry is one of the hobby’s leading QRP enthusiasts (Seriously? I can think of others way more deserving of that title other than me.) and is certain to get you out of the shack and into the field with low-power operation.
The lecture and discussion will be held on Friday, October 18th at the Fair Lawn Senior Center, 11-05 Gardiner Road in Fair Lawn beginning at 7PM.
The program is open to all and refreshments will be served. For more information, please visit the club's website at www.fairlawnarc.org or call 201-791-3841
I'm in the process of re-tweaking the PowerPoint, as it is AMAZING how much has changed since I presented this program to another club only a few years ago! There was no KX2, there was no QCX, many of the the kits offered by The 4 States Group as well as The QRPGuys weren't around yet. The FT-818 was only a dream and the IC-705 wasn't even on the horizon yet. The Chinese rigs were just entering the market and were nowhere as sophisticated as they are now. Sometimes I think we non-chalant these QRP advances because we see them as they happen. But yet if you step back and take into account all that has blossomed in just the past few years ......... WOW!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Sunday, October 06, 2019
Mt. Allamuchy
Our (the South Plainfield Amateur Radio Club) day at the Mount Allamuchy Scout Reserve for Jersey Jam 2019 was very successful. A good day was had by SPARC members, the Scouts, and their leaders. I hope we can do this again next year, should there be a Jersey Jam 2020.
The day started on the brisk side. Marv K2VHW, Chris N0CC, Wayne N2LRE and I caravanned the hour ride up to the reservation, after loading up essential gear from our SPARC meeting place. When we left South Plainfield, it was probably around 44F (6C). When we arrived at our destination, it was 37F (3C), and you could tell there had been frost on the ground overnight.
Dave KD2FSI, who lives only 17 miles away, had already been there and had set up most of his equipment. He had an HF/VHF/UHF station going with his big batteries in attendance, running 100 Watts. In addition, he set up his portable man pack station, as well as his satellite station and his Alex loop for demonstration purposes. It was an impressive sight to say the least; and I saw no point in setting up a QRP station. We would have been in such close proximity that I probably would have been blanked out on receive and the day was for demonstrating Amateur Radio, not operating QRP,
The Scout Reservation has its own Ham Shack and WW2BSA was on the air, making contacts at the other end of the venue. This was a great opportunity, as we were able to put Scouts on the air, allowing them to talk to WW2BSA from the field using VHf/UHF handhelds. Scouts visiting the Ham shack got a chance to talk to Scouts at out field and visa-versa. There was a shuttle bus that ran back and forth between sites, so we encouraged the Scouts at our set up to go and visit WW2BSA.
Dave KD2FSI's main HF antenna, a 20 Meter Buddipole type, was working its magic. We were able to demonstrate HF contesting to the Scouts as SPARC members took turns working a lot of station from the California QSO party, which ran yesterday. To demonstrate working DX, we were able to make contacts with Slovakia, Norway, and Hawaii to name a few.
Even with the sunspot total down in the dumps, it's amazing who you can work with a good antenna and some patience and determination.
But once again, the hit of the day was the Morse Code demonstration area. Marv K2VHW brought along a code practice oscillator, a bug and a paddle, and I supplied one of my straight keys. The kids were fascinated by the set up. This area of our booth seemed to be almost constantly occupied, and Marv and I took turn explaining the history of Morse Code and how it evolved over time from land line telegraphy to CW in Amateur Radio.
Another facet of the hobby which interested both the kids and the adults was Dave's satellite antenna.
Although the station was set up more for looking at, rather than trying to work an actual satellite, both the kids and adults were fascinated when they found out that with a Technician license they could communicate with not only the many Amateur Radio satellites orbiting the Earth, but the International Space Station as well.
All in all, it was a fantastic day, getting the chance to spread the news about Amateur Radio to people who probably had no idea of what was available to them. At 5:00 PM, we tore our display down and headed home, tired and hungry, but satisfied that we had accomplished our mission for the day. Thanks go out to the Scouts, Chris WW2BSA, Bill W2AOF, Marv K2VHW, Harry KC2PGX, Wayne N2LRE, Chris N0CC and of course to our "Main Man" Dave KD2FSI for another successful venture.
Now ....... on to Jamboree on the Air in two weeks!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
The day started on the brisk side. Marv K2VHW, Chris N0CC, Wayne N2LRE and I caravanned the hour ride up to the reservation, after loading up essential gear from our SPARC meeting place. When we left South Plainfield, it was probably around 44F (6C). When we arrived at our destination, it was 37F (3C), and you could tell there had been frost on the ground overnight.
Dave KD2FSI, who lives only 17 miles away, had already been there and had set up most of his equipment. He had an HF/VHF/UHF station going with his big batteries in attendance, running 100 Watts. In addition, he set up his portable man pack station, as well as his satellite station and his Alex loop for demonstration purposes. It was an impressive sight to say the least; and I saw no point in setting up a QRP station. We would have been in such close proximity that I probably would have been blanked out on receive and the day was for demonstrating Amateur Radio, not operating QRP,
The Scout Reservation has its own Ham Shack and WW2BSA was on the air, making contacts at the other end of the venue. This was a great opportunity, as we were able to put Scouts on the air, allowing them to talk to WW2BSA from the field using VHf/UHF handhelds. Scouts visiting the Ham shack got a chance to talk to Scouts at out field and visa-versa. There was a shuttle bus that ran back and forth between sites, so we encouraged the Scouts at our set up to go and visit WW2BSA.
Dave KD2FSI's main HF antenna, a 20 Meter Buddipole type, was working its magic. We were able to demonstrate HF contesting to the Scouts as SPARC members took turns working a lot of station from the California QSO party, which ran yesterday. To demonstrate working DX, we were able to make contacts with Slovakia, Norway, and Hawaii to name a few.
Even with the sunspot total down in the dumps, it's amazing who you can work with a good antenna and some patience and determination.
But once again, the hit of the day was the Morse Code demonstration area. Marv K2VHW brought along a code practice oscillator, a bug and a paddle, and I supplied one of my straight keys. The kids were fascinated by the set up. This area of our booth seemed to be almost constantly occupied, and Marv and I took turn explaining the history of Morse Code and how it evolved over time from land line telegraphy to CW in Amateur Radio.
Another facet of the hobby which interested both the kids and the adults was Dave's satellite antenna.
Although the station was set up more for looking at, rather than trying to work an actual satellite, both the kids and adults were fascinated when they found out that with a Technician license they could communicate with not only the many Amateur Radio satellites orbiting the Earth, but the International Space Station as well.
All in all, it was a fantastic day, getting the chance to spread the news about Amateur Radio to people who probably had no idea of what was available to them. At 5:00 PM, we tore our display down and headed home, tired and hungry, but satisfied that we had accomplished our mission for the day. Thanks go out to the Scouts, Chris WW2BSA, Bill W2AOF, Marv K2VHW, Harry KC2PGX, Wayne N2LRE, Chris N0CC and of course to our "Main Man" Dave KD2FSI for another successful venture.
Now ....... on to Jamboree on the Air in two weeks!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Wednesday, October 02, 2019
Cool beans!
I've mentioned before that the South Plainfield Amateur Radio Club is headed up to North Jersey this coming Saturday to demonstrate "The Ham Radio Experience" at the Mt. Allamuchy Scout Reservation at the 2019 Jersey Jam.
It just so happens that Tim W3ATB's "Leaf Peepers QRP Contest" is the same day. (Click on the event name for a link to the rules.) What a happy coincidence! As long as I have to be on the radio demonstrating Morse Code, with a QRP contest in progress there may be a chance for these young people to see and hear what CW radiosport sounds like. Hopefully, there will be a decent amount of activity, rather than me putting out long strings of CQs.
There will be enough of us there so that another SPARC member will be able to explain radio contesting in general, and maybe CW radio contesting specifically. During the lulls in the ebb and flow of Scouts coming by to visit, this will also keep me occupied - a win/win situation!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
It just so happens that Tim W3ATB's "Leaf Peepers QRP Contest" is the same day. (Click on the event name for a link to the rules.) What a happy coincidence! As long as I have to be on the radio demonstrating Morse Code, with a QRP contest in progress there may be a chance for these young people to see and hear what CW radiosport sounds like. Hopefully, there will be a decent amount of activity, rather than me putting out long strings of CQs.
There will be enough of us there so that another SPARC member will be able to explain radio contesting in general, and maybe CW radio contesting specifically. During the lulls in the ebb and flow of Scouts coming by to visit, this will also keep me occupied - a win/win situation!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Tuesday, October 01, 2019
Peanut Power Sprint this Sunday!
Our good friends from the North Georgia QRP Group will be running the Peanut Power Sprint again this Sunday, October 6th from 2200 to 2359 UTC.
This is one of my favorites! It's a shorty, only two hours long and anyone can play as the event is open to CW and SSB and all power levels. It's always fun, and this sprint and Tim W3ATB's Leaf Peeper Sprint are the last two big outdoor QRP events for the year. The 2020 season will open with FYBO, but that's not until February. A lot of water has to go under the bridge between now and then. So if you're like me and you love these outdoor QRP Sprints, then now's the time to get your fix in before Ol' Man Winter barges in on us.
For a complete copy of the rules, go to http://www.nogaqrp.org/PeanutPower/rules.pdf
Hope to hear you on Sunday. Between the Jersey Jam on Saturday and the PPS on Sunday, it's looking like a busy HF weekend for W2LJ. Fortunately, the weather should be dry, both days.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
This is one of my favorites! It's a shorty, only two hours long and anyone can play as the event is open to CW and SSB and all power levels. It's always fun, and this sprint and Tim W3ATB's Leaf Peeper Sprint are the last two big outdoor QRP events for the year. The 2020 season will open with FYBO, but that's not until February. A lot of water has to go under the bridge between now and then. So if you're like me and you love these outdoor QRP Sprints, then now's the time to get your fix in before Ol' Man Winter barges in on us.
For a complete copy of the rules, go to http://www.nogaqrp.org/PeanutPower/rules.pdf
Hope to hear you on Sunday. Between the Jersey Jam on Saturday and the PPS on Sunday, it's looking like a busy HF weekend for W2LJ. Fortunately, the weather should be dry, both days.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Skeeter Hunt Soapbox
Three pages this year! Lots of great comment, lots of great pictures.
https://www.qsl.net/w2lj/index%20page%2013
https://www.qsl.net/w2lj/index%20page%2014
https://www.qsl.net/w2lj/index%20page%2015
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
https://www.qsl.net/w2lj/index%20page%2013
https://www.qsl.net/w2lj/index%20page%2014
https://www.qsl.net/w2lj/index%20page%2015
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Monday, September 23, 2019
Autumnal Equinox
A day that I always dread.
Today is the first day of Autumn in the Northern hemisphere - the Vernal Equinox in the Southern hemisphere. Happy Spring to all of you South of the Equator!
Personally, the first day of Autumn is heralded by just about everyone I know, as they look forward to cool, crisp temperatures, the pretty colors of changing trees, and the change of seasons.
For me, Autumn means less daylight and the fact that Winter follows. Looking for the silver lining, at least 160 and 80 Meter band conditions will get better as the season progresses. Always have to look at the bright side, right?
I confess was remiss in my blogging duties. I failed to mention the NJ QSO Party was this past Saturday. I did not get the chance to participate as I had too many house chores to accomplish. After doing those, I was too pooped to pop. On Saturday there was also a Scouting event in town, which would have been a good opportunity to once again "show off" Amateur Radio to the local Scout troops. My chores precluded that. too.
However, on Saturday, October 5th, the South Plainfield Amateur Radio Club will be participating in "The Jersey Jam" which is a gathering of several hundred Scouts in Northern New Jersey at Waterloo Village, which is not all that far away from the Delaware Water Gap. We're supposed to be there, demonstrating the hobby from about 9:00 Am until 5:00 PM that day. Travel time is about an hour each way, so that will be a long day - no time for house chores that day! Coincidentally, the FISTS Fall Slow Speed Sprint and the SKCC QSO Party are that day, so maybe I'll be able to log a lot of CW activity while explaining to the Scouts what's going on. Morse Code always seems to be a big draw.
Two weeks later is JOTA. Once again, we're going to be set up in a local park in town. Hopefully, we'll have some Scouts drop by this year and make some contacts. :Last year, all we ended up doing was providing contacts to other sites that had Scouts on the radio. That was fun, but not as fulfilling as having local Scouts drop by our site. We need to do a better job advertising this and getting the information out. Need to speak with our PIO about this - we need to get this into the two local news outlets.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Today is the first day of Autumn in the Northern hemisphere - the Vernal Equinox in the Southern hemisphere. Happy Spring to all of you South of the Equator!
Personally, the first day of Autumn is heralded by just about everyone I know, as they look forward to cool, crisp temperatures, the pretty colors of changing trees, and the change of seasons.
For me, Autumn means less daylight and the fact that Winter follows. Looking for the silver lining, at least 160 and 80 Meter band conditions will get better as the season progresses. Always have to look at the bright side, right?
I confess was remiss in my blogging duties. I failed to mention the NJ QSO Party was this past Saturday. I did not get the chance to participate as I had too many house chores to accomplish. After doing those, I was too pooped to pop. On Saturday there was also a Scouting event in town, which would have been a good opportunity to once again "show off" Amateur Radio to the local Scout troops. My chores precluded that. too.
However, on Saturday, October 5th, the South Plainfield Amateur Radio Club will be participating in "The Jersey Jam" which is a gathering of several hundred Scouts in Northern New Jersey at Waterloo Village, which is not all that far away from the Delaware Water Gap. We're supposed to be there, demonstrating the hobby from about 9:00 Am until 5:00 PM that day. Travel time is about an hour each way, so that will be a long day - no time for house chores that day! Coincidentally, the FISTS Fall Slow Speed Sprint and the SKCC QSO Party are that day, so maybe I'll be able to log a lot of CW activity while explaining to the Scouts what's going on. Morse Code always seems to be a big draw.
Two weeks later is JOTA. Once again, we're going to be set up in a local park in town. Hopefully, we'll have some Scouts drop by this year and make some contacts. :Last year, all we ended up doing was providing contacts to other sites that had Scouts on the radio. That was fun, but not as fulfilling as having local Scouts drop by our site. We need to do a better job advertising this and getting the information out. Need to speak with our PIO about this - we need to get this into the two local news outlets.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Friday, September 20, 2019
Another new QRP Field Friendly radio
The Lab599 TX-500, which is supposed to be available soon - $700 price range (which ain't bad, at all).
A VERY nice looking, sleek radio. For the details, you can visit the Website by clicking here.
And of course, the comments on the e-mail reflectors are all about how this radio will be the death of the KX3. I guess life is tough when you're Top Dog. But think about it for a second ....... not only did Wayne and Eric usher in an excellent radio when they designed and birthed the KX3, they ushered in a veritable wave of competitors trying to knock them off the Top Shelf.
This kind of competition is a good thing. I don't think we've ever had the realm of possible portable QRP radio to choose from like we have today, and we're the direct beneficiaries of that. In addition, I don't think that any of these competitors have brought forth anything but high quality products. I don't think there's a slouch among them; and that's the market forces in action, once again.
So not only did Wayne and Eric kickstart the industry on into a design frenzy, but those same market forces will probably also spur Elecraft on to offer a KX4 someday that may change the market, once again.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
A VERY nice looking, sleek radio. For the details, you can visit the Website by clicking here.
And of course, the comments on the e-mail reflectors are all about how this radio will be the death of the KX3. I guess life is tough when you're Top Dog. But think about it for a second ....... not only did Wayne and Eric usher in an excellent radio when they designed and birthed the KX3, they ushered in a veritable wave of competitors trying to knock them off the Top Shelf.
This kind of competition is a good thing. I don't think we've ever had the realm of possible portable QRP radio to choose from like we have today, and we're the direct beneficiaries of that. In addition, I don't think that any of these competitors have brought forth anything but high quality products. I don't think there's a slouch among them; and that's the market forces in action, once again.
So not only did Wayne and Eric kickstart the industry on into a design frenzy, but those same market forces will probably also spur Elecraft on to offer a KX4 someday that may change the market, once again.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Thursday, September 19, 2019
Sad change to the blogroll
Sadly, I got the following message from Jeff KE9V this morning:
I'm not sure what's behind this, but I hope that this is temporary and/or that Jeff reconsiders. We may not always share the same opinion on things; but he is one of the finest writers among the ranks of Amateur Radio operators that I know. His absence would be a loss for us all.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
I'm not sure what's behind this, but I hope that this is temporary and/or that Jeff reconsiders. We may not always share the same opinion on things; but he is one of the finest writers among the ranks of Amateur Radio operators that I know. His absence would be a loss for us all.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Yuck!
As seen on eBay:
I had a set of Palm paddles. They did not look like that - AND they came from Germany, not China.
I know that Palm has since gone out of business, but seriously - using their name like this smacks of the unethical in my book. If you want to say, "Based on the Palm Design" - I suppose that's acceptable, but don't advertise this so that someone who doesn't know any better might be fooled into thinking they're buying the genuine article.
From what I hear from Bruna Begali on Facebook, there are a Chinese manufacturer or two who have "borrowed" the Begali design for their keys. If you're going to shell out bucks, make sure you're getting the real deal and not a counterfeit. Yes ....... a counterfeit.
Ugh.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
I had a set of Palm paddles. They did not look like that - AND they came from Germany, not China.
I know that Palm has since gone out of business, but seriously - using their name like this smacks of the unethical in my book. If you want to say, "Based on the Palm Design" - I suppose that's acceptable, but don't advertise this so that someone who doesn't know any better might be fooled into thinking they're buying the genuine article.
From what I hear from Bruna Begali on Facebook, there are a Chinese manufacturer or two who have "borrowed" the Begali design for their keys. If you're going to shell out bucks, make sure you're getting the real deal and not a counterfeit. Yes ....... a counterfeit.
Ugh.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Monday, September 16, 2019
2019 NJQRP Skeeter Hunt Scoreboard is ready to view!
Congratulations to:
AB9CA - First Place Overall - Top Indiana Finish
N3AQC - Second Place Overall - Top Pennsylvania Finish
NN9K - Third Place Overall - Top Illinois Finish
NK9G - Fourth Place Overall - Top Wisconsin Finish
N0SS - Fifth Place Overall - Top Missouri Finish
To view the complete scoreboard, you can click here.
Thanks to everyone who participated and to all who sent in a log submission and soapbox comments. There were so many soapbox comments submitted, that it's going to take me a bit to get them published. So please bear with me.
Again, the NJQRP Skeeter Hunt is a success because of YOU. All you fine QRP ops have made this event what it is. Also, much gratitude to the NJQRP Club for sponsoring this event.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
AB9CA - First Place Overall - Top Indiana Finish
N3AQC - Second Place Overall - Top Pennsylvania Finish
NN9K - Third Place Overall - Top Illinois Finish
NK9G - Fourth Place Overall - Top Wisconsin Finish
N0SS - Fifth Place Overall - Top Missouri Finish
To view the complete scoreboard, you can click here.
Thanks to everyone who participated and to all who sent in a log submission and soapbox comments. There were so many soapbox comments submitted, that it's going to take me a bit to get them published. So please bear with me.
Again, the NJQRP Skeeter Hunt is a success because of YOU. All you fine QRP ops have made this event what it is. Also, much gratitude to the NJQRP Club for sponsoring this event.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Friday, September 13, 2019
Some Friday jocularity
Hope you all have a good weekend! I hope to get the Skeeter Hunt scoreboard posted this weekend, so stay tuned!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP =- When you care to send the very least!
Saturday, August 31, 2019
Guess I'll jump on the bandwagon
and will include a photo of ICOM's all new IC-705 QRP radio that was introduced at the JARL hamfest yesterday.
I have to admit that back in the late '80s and the '90s I was quite the ICOM guy. I had an IC-730 which I'm kind of sorry that I parted with. That radio was easily modifiable to go as low as 100 milliWatts output which made it a great QRP radio. I eventually got an IC-751A, though, because the IC-730's relays were too clunky and slow for the digital modes of AMTOR and PacTOR.
My next rigs were of course, Elecraft, which I continue to use today. The IC-705 looks like a real winner though, being designed along the same lines as the IC-7100. There are enough of my fellow QRP bloggers out there who have posted all the details, so I won't go into them here. But it truly does look like a back pack ready QRP and QRPp machine.
Competition is good. If there weren't any, we would never see the hobby progress. There are a few out there who are claiming that ICOM has left Yaesu and Elecraft in the dust with their new technology. That may or may not be the case; but I think it will have both manufacturers looking hard, spurring them on, so that their next edition of radios will surpass what's available today.
73 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
I have to admit that back in the late '80s and the '90s I was quite the ICOM guy. I had an IC-730 which I'm kind of sorry that I parted with. That radio was easily modifiable to go as low as 100 milliWatts output which made it a great QRP radio. I eventually got an IC-751A, though, because the IC-730's relays were too clunky and slow for the digital modes of AMTOR and PacTOR.
My next rigs were of course, Elecraft, which I continue to use today. The IC-705 looks like a real winner though, being designed along the same lines as the IC-7100. There are enough of my fellow QRP bloggers out there who have posted all the details, so I won't go into them here. But it truly does look like a back pack ready QRP and QRPp machine.
Competition is good. If there weren't any, we would never see the hobby progress. There are a few out there who are claiming that ICOM has left Yaesu and Elecraft in the dust with their new technology. That may or may not be the case; but I think it will have both manufacturers looking hard, spurring them on, so that their next edition of radios will surpass what's available today.
73 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Friday, August 30, 2019
It's "The Old Sock"'s Birthday
And there is a QRP bonus in the commemorative operating event that starts tonight!
For those not aware, the ARRL is having a week long celebration of Hiram Percy Maxim's 150th birthday.
Here are the details from the ARRL Webpage
Objective: This operating event is open to all amateurs, and the goal is straightforward: Find stations operating in the event, many adding “/150” to their call signs, and contact as many as possible during the 9-day celebration on each of the event bands (using any/all of the 3 event modes on each band).
Time Period: The 9-day event begins 0000 UTC August 31 and runs until 2359 UTC September 8, 2019.
Eligibility: All amateur stations may participate.
Who is eligible to use their “callsign/150”? W1AW and ALL ARRL members are eligible and will append /150 to their call sign during this event (this includes DX Stations who are ARRL members, who may operate as callsign/150 if permitted by the regulations of their country of license).
Exchange: All W/VE stations send RST and their ARRL/RAC Section; DX stations send RST and “DX”.
Bands: All Amateur Bands LF/HF/VHF/UHF/SHF/Microwave/Light (excluding 60, 30, 17 and 12 meters).
Modes: Three (3) mode groups will be recognized in the event:
CW
Phone (any/all voice modes count as “Phone”)
Digital (any/all digital modes count as “Digital”)
Scoring: Cabrillo log (or ADI) files must be supplied. ARRL will calculate all final scores based on the participant uploads to our event web app at http://contests.arrl.org/arrlHPM150scoressubmission.php.
Multipliers: 84 in total – contact just once each of (83) ARRL and RAC Sections (RAC sections include the Canadian “NT” Northern Territories - encompassing VE8 / VY1 / VY0) - and DX (1). See http://www.arrl.org/contest-sections-list for ARRL/RAC Sections.
QSO Points:
3 points per QSO: Contacts with W1AW/150 will earn 3 points per QSO;
2 points per QSO: Contacts with any ARRL member will earn 2 points per QSO - these stations will also identify as callsign/150:
1 point per QSO: Contacts with non-members (ie, those not mentioned above) will earn 1 point each, and will identify with callsign only (no additional / number will be used).
Bonus points:
150 Bonus Points will be earned by successfully completing one or more activities as described below – these are determined by your responses when uploading your Cabrillo log (or ADI file) to our web app:
Contacting W1AW/150 on each band and mode will earn 150 BONUS points for each band/mode contact (no band/mode dupes are permitted). Bonuses are added during web app upload.
If you are an ARRL member, you will receive 150 BONUS points when uploading your entry via the web app.
Social Media – If you used social media, publicizing this event and/or your participation before, during and/or after the event will earn you 150 BONUS points upon uploading your entry to the web app.
QRP operation (using 5 watts PEP output or less throughout the entire event) will earn you 150 BONUS points when uploading your entry to the web app.
Portable operation – if you make at least 20 or more portable QSOs you will earn 150 BONUS points when uploading your entry to the web app.
150 QSOs – if you complete 150 or more QSOs, you earn a one-time 150 BONUS points when uploading your entry to the web app.
Submissions:
Cabrillo log (or ADI) files are required – and must be uploaded via web app at
http://contests.arrl.org/arrlHPM150scoressubmission.php. This event only accepts online web app submissions (no email or paper submissions will be accepted).
Scoring Calculations:
Calculations are made by ARRL when you submit your entry via the web app:
Total QSO points accumulated on all band/mode combinations
X Total multipliers (84 maximum)
= subtotal
+ Total bonus points earned
= Grand Total/Final Score
Online certificates will be awarded, and available via download (only)
at http://contests.arrl.org/certificates.php
Results will be publicized (watch the ARRL web http://www.arrl.org/hpm150-birthday-celebration for updates).
Miscellaneous:
This event requires online web app submissions (no email or paper submissions will be accepted).
This event has NO power categories (there are no power multipliers as a separate competition category);
This event has NO operator categories (there are NO Single Operator, Multioperator, etc categories);
Participating ARRL Members who use Logbook of The World (LoTW) are encouraged to create a separate LoTW Certificate (see below) for their callsign/150 (with a callsign certificate date range begin-date of August 31, 2019, and end-date of September 8, 2019), and to be sure to upload their logs for this event using their /150 certificate.
So get on the air and make some contacts! If the sun is not going to provide propagation, maybe we can rile up the electrons in the ionosphere enough from underneath to make some decent propagation! And remember, this is not a contest per se - just an operating event to honor HPM, so need to be cut throat about it.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
For those not aware, the ARRL is having a week long celebration of Hiram Percy Maxim's 150th birthday.
Here are the details from the ARRL Webpage
Objective: This operating event is open to all amateurs, and the goal is straightforward: Find stations operating in the event, many adding “/150” to their call signs, and contact as many as possible during the 9-day celebration on each of the event bands (using any/all of the 3 event modes on each band).
Time Period: The 9-day event begins 0000 UTC August 31 and runs until 2359 UTC September 8, 2019.
Eligibility: All amateur stations may participate.
Who is eligible to use their “callsign/150”? W1AW and ALL ARRL members are eligible and will append /150 to their call sign during this event (this includes DX Stations who are ARRL members, who may operate as callsign/150 if permitted by the regulations of their country of license).
Exchange: All W/VE stations send RST and their ARRL/RAC Section; DX stations send RST and “DX”.
Bands: All Amateur Bands LF/HF/VHF/UHF/SHF/Microwave/Light (excluding 60, 30, 17 and 12 meters).
Modes: Three (3) mode groups will be recognized in the event:
CW
Phone (any/all voice modes count as “Phone”)
Digital (any/all digital modes count as “Digital”)
Scoring: Cabrillo log (or ADI) files must be supplied. ARRL will calculate all final scores based on the participant uploads to our event web app at http://contests.arrl.org/arrlHPM150scoressubmission.php.
Multipliers: 84 in total – contact just once each of (83) ARRL and RAC Sections (RAC sections include the Canadian “NT” Northern Territories - encompassing VE8 / VY1 / VY0) - and DX (1). See http://www.arrl.org/contest-sections-list for ARRL/RAC Sections.
QSO Points:
3 points per QSO: Contacts with W1AW/150 will earn 3 points per QSO;
2 points per QSO: Contacts with any ARRL member will earn 2 points per QSO - these stations will also identify as callsign/150:
1 point per QSO: Contacts with non-members (ie, those not mentioned above) will earn 1 point each, and will identify with callsign only (no additional / number will be used).
Bonus points:
150 Bonus Points will be earned by successfully completing one or more activities as described below – these are determined by your responses when uploading your Cabrillo log (or ADI file) to our web app:
Contacting W1AW/150 on each band and mode will earn 150 BONUS points for each band/mode contact (no band/mode dupes are permitted). Bonuses are added during web app upload.
If you are an ARRL member, you will receive 150 BONUS points when uploading your entry via the web app.
Social Media – If you used social media, publicizing this event and/or your participation before, during and/or after the event will earn you 150 BONUS points upon uploading your entry to the web app.
QRP operation (using 5 watts PEP output or less throughout the entire event) will earn you 150 BONUS points when uploading your entry to the web app.
Portable operation – if you make at least 20 or more portable QSOs you will earn 150 BONUS points when uploading your entry to the web app.
150 QSOs – if you complete 150 or more QSOs, you earn a one-time 150 BONUS points when uploading your entry to the web app.
Submissions:
Cabrillo log (or ADI) files are required – and must be uploaded via web app at
http://contests.arrl.org/arrlHPM150scoressubmission.php. This event only accepts online web app submissions (no email or paper submissions will be accepted).
Scoring Calculations:
Calculations are made by ARRL when you submit your entry via the web app:
Total QSO points accumulated on all band/mode combinations
X Total multipliers (84 maximum)
= subtotal
+ Total bonus points earned
= Grand Total/Final Score
Online certificates will be awarded, and available via download (only)
at http://contests.arrl.org/certificates.php
Results will be publicized (watch the ARRL web http://www.arrl.org/hpm150-birthday-celebration for updates).
Miscellaneous:
This event requires online web app submissions (no email or paper submissions will be accepted).
This event has NO power categories (there are no power multipliers as a separate competition category);
This event has NO operator categories (there are NO Single Operator, Multioperator, etc categories);
Participating ARRL Members who use Logbook of The World (LoTW) are encouraged to create a separate LoTW Certificate (see below) for their callsign/150 (with a callsign certificate date range begin-date of August 31, 2019, and end-date of September 8, 2019), and to be sure to upload their logs for this event using their /150 certificate.
_________________________________________________
So get on the air and make some contacts! If the sun is not going to provide propagation, maybe we can rile up the electrons in the ionosphere enough from underneath to make some decent propagation! And remember, this is not a contest per se - just an operating event to honor HPM, so need to be cut throat about it.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Went shopping
This is going to sound so un-PC and so sexist that it may offend some. I never bought into PC and I don't consider myself to be the least bit sexist, so if you're offended by such things, I apologize ahead of time..
I took a page out of the "Ladies Playbook". I'm sure many of you've heard the saying, "Depressed? Felling low or down in the dumps? Go shopping!"
And so I did. Upon the advice of Jason NT7S from his blog post in "Ripples in the Ether" and Bob W3BBO (who also purchased one), I went onto the E of Bay and purchased one of these Nano VNA vector network analyzers. It was only $49, so if it doesn't work out as intended, it's not like I've broken the bank. But the idea is that this little gadget will help me trim and otherwise optimize the antennas I build/construct for portable operations.
I'm no rocket scientist, or RF Engineer, but I am hoping this little doo-dad will help take the guesswork out of some antenna tweaking, without spending beaucoup $$$ for either a YouKits or a RigExpert unit. It's shipping from the US, not China, so I should have it next week. It comes with the battery and the necessary cables. I have a SMA to BNC adapter, so I should be in good shape. If not, I'll purchase the correct adapter somewhere.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
I took a page out of the "Ladies Playbook". I'm sure many of you've heard the saying, "Depressed? Felling low or down in the dumps? Go shopping!"
And so I did. Upon the advice of Jason NT7S from his blog post in "Ripples in the Ether" and Bob W3BBO (who also purchased one), I went onto the E of Bay and purchased one of these Nano VNA vector network analyzers. It was only $49, so if it doesn't work out as intended, it's not like I've broken the bank. But the idea is that this little gadget will help me trim and otherwise optimize the antennas I build/construct for portable operations.
Bob sent me an e-mail with a link to a YouTube video where it's presented on how to get this little device to display VSWR - you know, how to figure out where an antenna is resonant, in order to get help with trimming it for optimal performance.
Monday, August 26, 2019
Feeling a bit lost
We moved our daughter, Cara, to college this past weekend. She's attending a University that's out of state. Only about two hours away, not so far.
As a lot of teens do, she kept to herself in her room a lot, always chatting with her friends over the internet. But I always knew she was home and we ate meals together and I used to drive her to high school every morning, and we did other things together. She and I are both big Marvel fans and we always enjoyed sharing the latest news over the latest movie, or whatever rumor came forth from Marvel/Disney.
I'm so very happy and excited for this new chapter in her life; but at the same time I feel a bit lost and empty, now that my baby girl is spreading her wings.
It will take a bit of time for me to get used to this.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
Outstanding !!!
So far, I have received over 70 e-mails with Skeeter Hunt log summaries, soapbox comments and photos. That's close to a third of the people who asked to be assigned a Skeeter number; and is definitely a record so far. The deadline for submitting log summaries is September 1st at 11:59 PM EDT. After that, log summaries will still be accepted, but will appear as a footnote as far as official standings go..
Good evening,
Since he’s in bed and has school in the morning, I’m submitting Etienne’s logs (WI9EJR; #144) on his behalf. Since we only have one radio, we ultimately decided to run a single op station, so I won’t be submitting logs (WI9AJR; #143). Logs are attached in CSV format. I’ve never submitted contest logs before, so if another format is preferred, let me know.
I’ve attached two photos, one of Etienne helping raise Rick's (NK9G) antenna which was in the same general vicinity as our station. And another of Etienne’s station, including the logo sign we hung from the EZ-up.
Summary:
Etienne - WI9EJR - WI
Skeeter# 144 - All SSB , Single Op
Skeeter QSOs - 1
Non-Skeeter QRP QSOs - 1
Non-Skeeter QRO QSOs - 6
S/P/Cs - 7
Station Class Multiplier X3
Logo Photo Bonus - 100 points
Soapbox:
This was Etienne’s first contest, other than Field Day (“it’s not a contest!”), so why not make it SSB on QRP in the worst possible propagation? We headed over to Sheridan Park in Milwaukee, overlooking Lake Michigan (in the photo background), near the popular Oak Leaf Trail pathway. Rick (NK9G), as usual, took us under his wing, loaned us a longer dipole than we usually use, and helped us get it up high up into the trees. We hooked it up to our KX3, and let Etienne go to town.
Etienne alternated the four hours between calling CQ and hunting around on 20m. The bands started pretty quiet, with him being able to hear a few people but not much ability to be heard. Strangely, his first contact was a QRP station in North Carolina, with both sides hearing each other really clearly. Later in the day Europe started coming in, but Etienne either wasn’t getting back them or just couldn’t break through the pile ups. Finally, by the end of the contest things opened up to the western US, but 20m was so full that it was hard for him to be heard.
All in all, it was a good day to spend some time out in the park and for him to play on the radio. QRP with phone is a tough racket, so hopefully he’ll learn Morse sooner than later. And for those wondering, he’s eleven, just started sixth grade. He got his General last summer when we started ham radio.
An outstanding effort by this young man! QRP SSB can be a tough go; and has caused many a person much older than Etienne to throw up their hands and toss in the towel. However, he stuck with it (under particularly crummy band conditions) and made a good number of contacts. His perseverance and determination are to be admired. These qualities will serve him well as he travels through middle school, high school and college.
Kudos to Etienne, and kudos to his Dad, Andre WI9AJR and to Rick NK9G for being outstanding mentors. Amateur Radio needs a lot more like these two fine men. I don't know Andre that well; but I do know Rick as an active and particularly excellent QRP'er. Now, I also know him as a particularly fine mentor.
If stuff like this doesn't bring a smile to your face, then I don't know what will!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
To be honest with you all, right now I'm just concentrating on tabulating results, and am kind of glossing over soapbox comments and photos. Except for this one, which caught my eye and gave me what has probably been the biggest smile this stubbly old mug has seen in years. Since it will eventually be published in the 2019 Skeeter Hunt Soapbox Comments section of the webpage, I am going to share it early. Not only does it deserve special attention, but it also makes the effort behind the Skeeter Hunt so worthwhile.
Since he’s in bed and has school in the morning, I’m submitting Etienne’s logs (WI9EJR; #144) on his behalf. Since we only have one radio, we ultimately decided to run a single op station, so I won’t be submitting logs (WI9AJR; #143). Logs are attached in CSV format. I’ve never submitted contest logs before, so if another format is preferred, let me know.
I’ve attached two photos, one of Etienne helping raise Rick's (NK9G) antenna which was in the same general vicinity as our station. And another of Etienne’s station, including the logo sign we hung from the EZ-up.
Summary:
Etienne - WI9EJR - WI
Skeeter# 144 - All SSB , Single Op
Skeeter QSOs - 1
Non-Skeeter QRP QSOs - 1
Non-Skeeter QRO QSOs - 6
S/P/Cs - 7
Station Class Multiplier X3
Logo Photo Bonus - 100 points
Soapbox:
This was Etienne’s first contest, other than Field Day (“it’s not a contest!”), so why not make it SSB on QRP in the worst possible propagation? We headed over to Sheridan Park in Milwaukee, overlooking Lake Michigan (in the photo background), near the popular Oak Leaf Trail pathway. Rick (NK9G), as usual, took us under his wing, loaned us a longer dipole than we usually use, and helped us get it up high up into the trees. We hooked it up to our KX3, and let Etienne go to town.
Etienne alternated the four hours between calling CQ and hunting around on 20m. The bands started pretty quiet, with him being able to hear a few people but not much ability to be heard. Strangely, his first contact was a QRP station in North Carolina, with both sides hearing each other really clearly. Later in the day Europe started coming in, but Etienne either wasn’t getting back them or just couldn’t break through the pile ups. Finally, by the end of the contest things opened up to the western US, but 20m was so full that it was hard for him to be heard.
All in all, it was a good day to spend some time out in the park and for him to play on the radio. QRP with phone is a tough racket, so hopefully he’ll learn Morse sooner than later. And for those wondering, he’s eleven, just started sixth grade. He got his General last summer when we started ham radio.
An outstanding effort by this young man! QRP SSB can be a tough go; and has caused many a person much older than Etienne to throw up their hands and toss in the towel. However, he stuck with it (under particularly crummy band conditions) and made a good number of contacts. His perseverance and determination are to be admired. These qualities will serve him well as he travels through middle school, high school and college.
Kudos to Etienne, and kudos to his Dad, Andre WI9AJR and to Rick NK9G for being outstanding mentors. Amateur Radio needs a lot more like these two fine men. I don't know Andre that well; but I do know Rick as an active and particularly excellent QRP'er. Now, I also know him as a particularly fine mentor.
If stuff like this doesn't bring a smile to your face, then I don't know what will!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Monday, August 19, 2019
Skeeter Hunt 2019 - Bittersweet?
When I woke up yesterday it was pretty dark and gloomy. As I showered and changed to get ready to head out to Church services, I was thinking that I would probably set up in the backyard, under the patio umbrella, as it looked like rain. Lo and behold, halfway through Mass, the sun poured through the stained glass windows! It was turning out to be a decent day, after all.
I came home for a light breakfast, printed out a Skeeter logo and got everything else ready. At Noon, I headed out for Cotton Street park in town, which is only about 1/4 mile or so from my house. The trees are tall and there's plenty of open space, certainly enough for this new-to-me MFJ-1982LP that I purchased. (That goes against my grain, but I was intrigued enough by the YouTube videos on it.)
MFJ recommends installing the antenna as an Inverted Vee, with both ends tied off close to the ground, and the apex as high as you can get it. I brought my antenna launcher and got a line shot over a limb at the 40 foot or so level on the first try. The antenna is made of that "silky" type wire which pulled through the leaves like a hot knife through butter. The thing that took me the longest was untangling the antenna out of the package. I'm not sure whether it was the way I took it apart, or the way it was coiled and inserted into the package, but I managed to untangle it in relatively short order - short enough where frustration didn't get a hold on me.
Of course, when you take a picture of your wire antenna installation, it never photographs well unless the wire is against the sky. For illustration purposes, I provided the yellow lines to make it easier to see how the antenna was configured. The apex is out of the top frame of the photo. It was up pretty high.
I got set up with about a good 15 minutes to spare, so I decided to do a little investigating. One of the parts of the video that intrigued me was how low the SWR was across all the bands. I took the KX3's autotuner out of the loop and test transmitted at all the QRP Watering Hole frequencies on 80, 40, 20, 17 and 15 Meters. In each case, the KX3 measured an SWR of 1.4:1 or better. 80 Meters was actually 1.2:1. I was impressed - cautiously impressed. After all, a dummy load has a perfect SWR, right? Time was fast approaching to see how well it radiated some RF energy.
The weather stayed nice for the Hunt. My little Realistic travel alarm has a built in thermometer, which read the ambient temperature as 90F (32C), but in the shade and an occasional breeze, it was comfortable enough. Mosquitoes weren't a problem for me, but the gnats were. Tiny little critters that you can barely see, flying right into your face. Ugh! But after settling down into the operating chair and cooling off after the job of setting up, they went away. They must be attracted to body heat or sweat or something. Luckily they were not a problem, or a distraction during the Sprint.
When 1700 UTC came around, the bands came alive - at least 20 Meters came alive. I was working stations at a pretty good clip and then after the first hour, activity seemed to die off some. I spent the rest of my time jumping between 40 and 20 Meters, alternately calling CQ and hunting and pouncing.
Around 4:15 PM (2015 UTC) the skies started turning that heavy lead gray color that tells you that thunder and lightning are on the way. It was then that I pulled the plug and started to tear down. I hadn't worked anyone new in about 15 minutes anyway, so it seemed as good a time as any to head home. Tear down was a breeze and I was packed up and ready to go in minutes.
In all, I made 24 contacts. 22 were Skeeters and the other two were 5W stations. 15 S/P/C's were logged. I was a bit disappointed with propagation. Before the Hunt started, I had set a personal goal of working 40 stations. With 210 Skeeters signed up, I thought that was a reachable and reasonable goal. The Propagation Princess slapped me upside the head, "You silly Ham, you!", she whispered in my ear. I didn't have the pipelines that I normally have into New England and Virginia and the Carolinas.
QSB was tough with stations being 579 or better upon the start of a contact to going down to 339 or worse by the end of the contact. I did work everybody that I was able to hear with the exception of two stations - one of them being Dave NE5DL down in Texas. I tried calling him several times, but no joy.
Drew K9CW gets the distinction of being the loudest station that I heard all day - he was 599+ from Illinois. Jerry N9AW and Rick NK9G were close seconds. When I heard them not quite as loud as I usually hear them, i knew that propagation was off. I did work two stations on both 40 and 20 Meters - Bob W3BBO and Steve VE3LFN. Malcolm VE2DDZ was a two-fer in that I worked him as a Skeeter and also as a SOTA peak. My best DX was Blaine, K0NE in Nebraska.
Two things I should have done, but didn't - hindsight being 20/20, after all.
1) I should have brought my lightning detector with me. I left it home on the counter that it normally sits on. I probably might have stayed longer, even with the leaden sky if I was sure there was no lightning in the area.
2) I should have also set up my PAR ENDFEDZ for a little "A to B" comparison. That would have provided me with some valuable information. Of course, I thought of this as I was driving the short distance home. Maybe I'll do this for the Peanut Power Sprint, which comes up soon.
Again, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who participated, as well as the NJQRP organization for sponsoring this event. It would not be the success that it is without all of you out there. For that, I am eternally grateful!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Thursday, August 15, 2019
Uncharted Territory
As we come closer and closer to the NJQRP Skeeter Hunt this Sunday, I'd like to report that we are in "Uncharted Territory". And by that, I mean that I just handed out Skeeter # 186 to WB4AEG.
186 Skeeters so far! Wow, if memory serves me correctly, the highest we ever got was somewhere in the 170's.
For those of you who read this blog on a regular basis, you all know how much I love Amateur Radio, particularly QRP, CW and portable ops. The Skeeter Hunt is really nothing more than my way of saying "Thanks!" for all of that and paying forward for all the joy this hobby has given me over that past 40 years. It also allows me to share my passion with all of you.
The fact that this hobby (doesn't quite seem like the right word) has also led towards making some awesome friendships is just icing on the cake. There are a lot of you out there who I have never met face-to-face; but yet I have great admiration and fondness for.
The weather for Sunday for Central Jersey is partly cloudy with a high of 90F (32C). I hope to get a lot of you in the log. I never go into any of these Sprints with the intent on winning. Maybe that's the wrong attitude, but that's just the way I am. I'm perfectly happy with getting to make contacts with friends, even if it's just for a few seconds at a time.
So I hope to hear all of you this coming Sunday. Hopefully, propagation will be decent for that short amount of time and we'll all get to fatten up our logbooks - and have a blast in the process - as well as make a few more happy memories. And speaking of memories ...... this year the Skeeter Hunt is being dedicated to the memories of three stalwart Skeeters who are no longer with us - Hank N8XX , Ken WA8REI, and Joe N2CX. Their keys may be silent, but their memories live on in those of us with whom they shared the airwaves.
BTW, Skeeter numbers are still being handed out until Sunday morning. Just e-mail w2lj@arrl.net with your name, call, and state/province. Come join us and see what the BZZZZZ is all about! If you're iffy because you feel your CW skills are not up to snuff, we'll slow down for you! And bring along your microphone, because SSB is also welcome in the NJQRP Skeeter Hunt.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
186 Skeeters so far! Wow, if memory serves me correctly, the highest we ever got was somewhere in the 170's.
For those of you who read this blog on a regular basis, you all know how much I love Amateur Radio, particularly QRP, CW and portable ops. The Skeeter Hunt is really nothing more than my way of saying "Thanks!" for all of that and paying forward for all the joy this hobby has given me over that past 40 years. It also allows me to share my passion with all of you.
The fact that this hobby (doesn't quite seem like the right word) has also led towards making some awesome friendships is just icing on the cake. There are a lot of you out there who I have never met face-to-face; but yet I have great admiration and fondness for.
The weather for Sunday for Central Jersey is partly cloudy with a high of 90F (32C). I hope to get a lot of you in the log. I never go into any of these Sprints with the intent on winning. Maybe that's the wrong attitude, but that's just the way I am. I'm perfectly happy with getting to make contacts with friends, even if it's just for a few seconds at a time.
So I hope to hear all of you this coming Sunday. Hopefully, propagation will be decent for that short amount of time and we'll all get to fatten up our logbooks - and have a blast in the process - as well as make a few more happy memories. And speaking of memories ...... this year the Skeeter Hunt is being dedicated to the memories of three stalwart Skeeters who are no longer with us - Hank N8XX , Ken WA8REI, and Joe N2CX. Their keys may be silent, but their memories live on in those of us with whom they shared the airwaves.
BTW, Skeeter numbers are still being handed out until Sunday morning. Just e-mail w2lj@arrl.net with your name, call, and state/province. Come join us and see what the BZZZZZ is all about! If you're iffy because you feel your CW skills are not up to snuff, we'll slow down for you! And bring along your microphone, because SSB is also welcome in the NJQRP Skeeter Hunt.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
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