03/27/17z
I have taken a little break from the journal, but not from making my QSO a day with the SW40+. 3/23 - AC4CA, 03/24-N2ATB, 03/25 - N5PHT, 3/26 K7JKZ. On the 25th I also got WK2G in the Bill Windle QSO Party in Ohio. Another new state. That puts me to 29 states with the Small Wonder Labs radio. Tonight's QSO was with K4LXY/Howard in VA. Howard was using his Elecraft K2 at 5 watts. He answered my CQ. The band held very nicely. Howard shared with me that he will be doing a Mag loop antenna presentation at FDIM and he is a photographer. He is doing a show on typewriters. I love typewriters and he shared the flyer with me. I love getting to know those I QSO with while on the air. It can be very personal and interesting.
Sunday, March 26, 2017
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
03/22/2017z
Today the OHR400 arrived! It has been quite a trip for the little radio. It got delayed in the east coast snow storm. It went through NJ, OH, and to me at work.
It looks like I remembered and maybe a little better. I got it home after playing cello duets with my friend Lynn. I really didn't have much time to mess with it. I forgot the manual at work but it seems to be a mono headphone plug. Everything seems to work fine. I put my MFJ manual tuner with it and see it puts out plenty of power. It sounds very quiet. A nice receiver. I couldn't tell much difference flipping in and out the filter but I will have a good time playing with things more when I have time. I will hook it up to a program called spectrogram and see on the computer what the filters are doing. It has plenty of audio and it will take some getting used to. I have been using my SW40+ exclusively daily for quite awhile. It is funny how I get used to the sound of a radio. The receiver and side tone. They are all different. It is what makes getting a new radio so much fun.
I plugged back in my SW40+ and heard W1ZT on 7.040 calling "fox"! Oh boy.... the QRP fox hunt! Get gave me a 559 / MA/ Geo/ 5 watts. I replied with an honest 599 / IN/ Ivin/ 1.5 watts. The fox hunts seem to be very exciting this year. I should follow it more closely. It is a lot of fun. They alternate 40 and 80 meters. I didn't need MA but it's another daily QSO with the SWL radio. I am undecided how to proceed with daily QSO's and the WAS contest with KB9BVN. The OHR is interesting but I sure have gotten used to my SW40+.
Today the OHR400 arrived! It has been quite a trip for the little radio. It got delayed in the east coast snow storm. It went through NJ, OH, and to me at work.
I plugged back in my SW40+ and heard W1ZT on 7.040 calling "fox"! Oh boy.... the QRP fox hunt! Get gave me a 559 / MA/ Geo/ 5 watts. I replied with an honest 599 / IN/ Ivin/ 1.5 watts. The fox hunts seem to be very exciting this year. I should follow it more closely. It is a lot of fun. They alternate 40 and 80 meters. I didn't need MA but it's another daily QSO with the SWL radio. I am undecided how to proceed with daily QSO's and the WAS contest with KB9BVN. The OHR is interesting but I sure have gotten used to my SW40+.
Monday, March 20, 2017
03/21/2017z
I got home from Orchestra rehearsal pretty tired and hungry. I really am not much in the mood for a QSO but I want to keep the daily streak going. I put some eggs in a pan to boil. It is just a salad tonight. While that was going I turned on the radio and before heading back to the kitchen I thought I would take a quick listen to see what I might snag. Lucky for me I heard N9MM calling POTA. I have worked some POTA lately. "Parks On The Air". So I sent my call. It took a little work but I got in his log. It was Lake Arrowhead, TX. I worked N9MM when he was in NM. I didn't need a TX QTH for WAS, but very happy to work him again and get a station logged and not worry about a QSO for another 24 hours.
I got home from Orchestra rehearsal pretty tired and hungry. I really am not much in the mood for a QSO but I want to keep the daily streak going. I put some eggs in a pan to boil. It is just a salad tonight. While that was going I turned on the radio and before heading back to the kitchen I thought I would take a quick listen to see what I might snag. Lucky for me I heard N9MM calling POTA. I have worked some POTA lately. "Parks On The Air". So I sent my call. It took a little work but I got in his log. It was Lake Arrowhead, TX. I worked N9MM when he was in NM. I didn't need a TX QTH for WAS, but very happy to work him again and get a station logged and not worry about a QSO for another 24 hours.
03/20/2017z
Tonight I got my QSO's from the Flying Pigs "RUN FOR THE BACON" sprint. I made a QSO with PA, MS, FL, and NH. None were new states. The band was pretty active. From 7.036 up through 7.045 it was all digital. Below 7.030 DX was going on. That left a fairly narrow part of the band for the sprint and anyone else trying to make a QSO on the lower part of the band. In my opinion with that kind of crowding the QRP sprint might have better luck up where the SKCC guys hang out. 7.100 and up.
I gave up after close to an hour. Then I heard a strong DX station and I answered. It was PV8ADI. I have worked this station many times lately. It is cool though to get Brazil in the log with the SW+ 1.5 watts. That is pretty good DX.
Tonight I got my QSO's from the Flying Pigs "RUN FOR THE BACON" sprint. I made a QSO with PA, MS, FL, and NH. None were new states. The band was pretty active. From 7.036 up through 7.045 it was all digital. Below 7.030 DX was going on. That left a fairly narrow part of the band for the sprint and anyone else trying to make a QSO on the lower part of the band. In my opinion with that kind of crowding the QRP sprint might have better luck up where the SKCC guys hang out. 7.100 and up.
I gave up after close to an hour. Then I heard a strong DX station and I answered. It was PV8ADI. I have worked this station many times lately. It is cool though to get Brazil in the log with the SW+ 1.5 watts. That is pretty good DX.
Sunday, March 19, 2017
03/19/2017z
Today I logged a new state! W0DQ/Ray in Johnston, IA! It only lasted one round. I did get confirmation that Ray copied the RST/Name/QTH. That was about all that I got. I don't normally email a station after a QSO, but in this case I couldn't help but confirm I was in the log. Ray replied with confirmation and that he would be happy to QSL for WAS.
I made three QSO's in the VA QSO party and also had a chat with W9IK/Steve in MS. That is it for the day.
Today I logged a new state! W0DQ/Ray in Johnston, IA! It only lasted one round. I did get confirmation that Ray copied the RST/Name/QTH. That was about all that I got. I don't normally email a station after a QSO, but in this case I couldn't help but confirm I was in the log. Ray replied with confirmation and that he would be happy to QSL for WAS.
I made three QSO's in the VA QSO party and also had a chat with W9IK/Steve in MS. That is it for the day.
Saturday, March 18, 2017
03/18/2017z
Remember yesterday I wrote I am enjoying seeing what I can copy on HF? I am interested in listening to weak stations I think I can complete a QSO with. I was just listening to a podcast called "Meet The Composer". It was talking about electronic sounds and really actively listening. They dedicated the episode called "The Performer Part 2" to the composer Pauline Oliveros. She was a super listener. It was inspiring to hear this podcast not only for appreciating music sounds but all sounds and how interesting sounds all around us are. The HF bands can be super interesting to listen to. Not just the voices or tones that are man made, but also the atmosphere sounds that are in the background. One thing about not having AGC (Automatic Gain Control) is that the receiver does not diminish it's sound level or desensitize the receiver to compensate for a sudden loud burst of sound. That sound could be another very close station or static crash from a local thunderstorm. When I have my headphones on and the
again turned up to listen very intensely to a station I know there is that chance a strong station or static crash could really pound through the receiver and it literally hurts my ears. It is stunning and makes me angry at first. However, when a stronger station starts to crowd us but I can still hang onto what I am listening to it is pure joy.
Today's QSO's are K5BAK/Doug in Starkville, MS. W2XB/Don in Buffalo, NY. K3AFS/Bill in Latrobe, PA. All seem to have been good but the QSB is making it difficult to talk for any length of time. I solid copy through the weak part of their signal but they are loosing some of what I am saying. Hopefully the bands will improve more and I can have a nice ragchew.
The mail came! What a great Card from Joe in MD.
I mentioned Joe sent me a email during the NAQCC and that we had talked earlier by chance both using our SW40+ radios. I must say I love the vintage look of this card! Thanks Joe! I'm looking forward to more QSO's with you using our radios.
Remember yesterday I wrote I am enjoying seeing what I can copy on HF? I am interested in listening to weak stations I think I can complete a QSO with. I was just listening to a podcast called "Meet The Composer". It was talking about electronic sounds and really actively listening. They dedicated the episode called "The Performer Part 2" to the composer Pauline Oliveros. She was a super listener. It was inspiring to hear this podcast not only for appreciating music sounds but all sounds and how interesting sounds all around us are. The HF bands can be super interesting to listen to. Not just the voices or tones that are man made, but also the atmosphere sounds that are in the background. One thing about not having AGC (Automatic Gain Control) is that the receiver does not diminish it's sound level or desensitize the receiver to compensate for a sudden loud burst of sound. That sound could be another very close station or static crash from a local thunderstorm. When I have my headphones on and the
again turned up to listen very intensely to a station I know there is that chance a strong station or static crash could really pound through the receiver and it literally hurts my ears. It is stunning and makes me angry at first. However, when a stronger station starts to crowd us but I can still hang onto what I am listening to it is pure joy.
Today's QSO's are K5BAK/Doug in Starkville, MS. W2XB/Don in Buffalo, NY. K3AFS/Bill in Latrobe, PA. All seem to have been good but the QSB is making it difficult to talk for any length of time. I solid copy through the weak part of their signal but they are loosing some of what I am saying. Hopefully the bands will improve more and I can have a nice ragchew.
I mentioned Joe sent me a email during the NAQCC and that we had talked earlier by chance both using our SW40+ radios. I must say I love the vintage look of this card! Thanks Joe! I'm looking forward to more QSO's with you using our radios.
Thursday, March 16, 2017
03/17/17z
It has been a fun radio day. I got my results in for the NAQCC and have been watching to see when my log would be posted. It did happen tonight. I am not a fan of how the NAQCC has split out so many categories from key type, antenna type, and call zone. I'm not sure there is ever a declared overall winner of the sprint. It is good for seeing how my station is doing compared to others. However I have no idea how much power different stations are running.
I got my QSO for the day quickly. It was a SKCC station. Just a quick exchange with a station in VA. I thought of shutting down right away and taking a break for the night. Instead I tuned around a little and dug VE3SO out of the noise. I am starting to really enjoy seeing what I can copy. Peter wanted to exchange SKCC numbers also. I love hearing the band noise and even the stations surrounding who I want to hear. They are only close but not right on our frequency. They have no idea I am listening past them. They would be "arm chair" copy but I am not interested in them. The QSO was barely completed. I looked up VE3SO and it states "NO QSL". Unfortunate. I would have enjoyed sending my card to him.
The mail came! I like how simple this card is. I appreciate each QSL card that is delivered.
It has been a fun radio day. I got my results in for the NAQCC and have been watching to see when my log would be posted. It did happen tonight. I am not a fan of how the NAQCC has split out so many categories from key type, antenna type, and call zone. I'm not sure there is ever a declared overall winner of the sprint. It is good for seeing how my station is doing compared to others. However I have no idea how much power different stations are running.
I got my QSO for the day quickly. It was a SKCC station. Just a quick exchange with a station in VA. I thought of shutting down right away and taking a break for the night. Instead I tuned around a little and dug VE3SO out of the noise. I am starting to really enjoy seeing what I can copy. Peter wanted to exchange SKCC numbers also. I love hearing the band noise and even the stations surrounding who I want to hear. They are only close but not right on our frequency. They have no idea I am listening past them. They would be "arm chair" copy but I am not interested in them. The QSO was barely completed. I looked up VE3SO and it states "NO QSL". Unfortunate. I would have enjoyed sending my card to him.
The mail came! I like how simple this card is. I appreciate each QSL card that is delivered.
03/16/2017z
Last night was the NAQCC sprint. Things went well. I am still getting used to crowded band conditions using a wider receiver. The sprint started off with some other radio activity within the stated 40 meter frequencies of the sprint. That made for stronger stations next to weak ones. Digital stations are mixed in as well around 7.040. That was a well known QRP calling frequency at one time but now other digital stations are parked there. Everything changes at some point. Anyway, at first I was happy just to get the first QSO in the log. As the sprint went on the stronger stations were fewer and the band was improving going longer and longer. My final QSO was to OR. I ended up with 3 new states MN, MS, and OR. I got a total of 11 QSO's. It was a lot of fun. I keep wondering if something has been lost as most of us QRPers have chased after the Elecraft experience. A full featured high performance receiver at QRP power levels. That has it's place and it's progress. However, there is something different about no AGC and using my brain's dynamic range to pick out a signal instead of letting the radio filter out everything and isolating that one station in your bandpass for each QSO. When we are calling I wonder how many stations we don't hear because the filter setting is too tight?
I received an email from W3TTT during the sprint. Joe wanted to tell me that he was using his SW40+ during the sprint and showed me a shot of the reverse beacon net with his signal strength. He was doing great and apparently having a good time. The fact he reached out to me was super! I looked at my report as well on RBN and took a snap shot of it for the blog.
Last night was the NAQCC sprint. Things went well. I am still getting used to crowded band conditions using a wider receiver. The sprint started off with some other radio activity within the stated 40 meter frequencies of the sprint. That made for stronger stations next to weak ones. Digital stations are mixed in as well around 7.040. That was a well known QRP calling frequency at one time but now other digital stations are parked there. Everything changes at some point. Anyway, at first I was happy just to get the first QSO in the log. As the sprint went on the stronger stations were fewer and the band was improving going longer and longer. My final QSO was to OR. I ended up with 3 new states MN, MS, and OR. I got a total of 11 QSO's. It was a lot of fun. I keep wondering if something has been lost as most of us QRPers have chased after the Elecraft experience. A full featured high performance receiver at QRP power levels. That has it's place and it's progress. However, there is something different about no AGC and using my brain's dynamic range to pick out a signal instead of letting the radio filter out everything and isolating that one station in your bandpass for each QSO. When we are calling I wonder how many stations we don't hear because the filter setting is too tight?
I received an email from W3TTT during the sprint. Joe wanted to tell me that he was using his SW40+ during the sprint and showed me a shot of the reverse beacon net with his signal strength. He was doing great and apparently having a good time. The fact he reached out to me was super! I looked at my report as well on RBN and took a snap shot of it for the blog.
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
03/15/2017z
Last night was the same story as the day before. I got home too late and there was very little going on 40 meters that could hear me. I listened for at least 30 minutes and called a few CQing stations but nothing. It's good to know when it's best to turn it off and wait..... So I went to bed.
This morning I started the heater in the shack and warmed up the SW40+. Things didn't seem much better than the night before but with the time change the sun still has not risen much before it is time for me to leave for work. According to KB9BVN's blog the SFI=69, A=3 K=2. That says 80m-40m in the day is fair and night is good. I don't really know and need to read more about sun spot activity and solar conditions. All I know is I hear a lot of complaining about band conditions.
Then, just as I was going to leave the band and hope for a witching hour QSO I heard a weak one calling CQ. WC7S/Dale in Cheyenne, WY! Unbelievable he came right back with my RST 579. I generously replied with a 579 and we chatted awhile about the weather and about ranching/farming. I can relate to that love. I grew up on a farm. I enjoyed the cattle growing up.
WY can be a difficult state to catch so a QSL card is certainly headed that direction from my station! This will be the only QSO of the day. Tonight after 0000z is the NAQCC sprint. A short QRP contest of sorts. I will be there and hopefully make some good QSO's.
Last night was the same story as the day before. I got home too late and there was very little going on 40 meters that could hear me. I listened for at least 30 minutes and called a few CQing stations but nothing. It's good to know when it's best to turn it off and wait..... So I went to bed.
This morning I started the heater in the shack and warmed up the SW40+. Things didn't seem much better than the night before but with the time change the sun still has not risen much before it is time for me to leave for work. According to KB9BVN's blog the SFI=69, A=3 K=2. That says 80m-40m in the day is fair and night is good. I don't really know and need to read more about sun spot activity and solar conditions. All I know is I hear a lot of complaining about band conditions.
Then, just as I was going to leave the band and hope for a witching hour QSO I heard a weak one calling CQ. WC7S/Dale in Cheyenne, WY! Unbelievable he came right back with my RST 579. I generously replied with a 579 and we chatted awhile about the weather and about ranching/farming. I can relate to that love. I grew up on a farm. I enjoyed the cattle growing up.
WY can be a difficult state to catch so a QSL card is certainly headed that direction from my station! This will be the only QSO of the day. Tonight after 0000z is the NAQCC sprint. A short QRP contest of sorts. I will be there and hopefully make some good QSO's.
03/14/2017z
The bands seem to be getting worse. I listened last night but no QSO's were to be had by my station. In the morning, however, I got W4CI in the log. Dave in Orlando, FL. It keeps the QSO streak alive. The QSO only lasted 5 minutes and I didn't even hear what radio Dave was using but that is OK.
OH, and.......The mail came!
Very nice card Jerry! Thank you.
The bands seem to be getting worse. I listened last night but no QSO's were to be had by my station. In the morning, however, I got W4CI in the log. Dave in Orlando, FL. It keeps the QSO streak alive. The QSO only lasted 5 minutes and I didn't even hear what radio Dave was using but that is OK.
OH, and.......The mail came!
Monday, March 13, 2017
03/13/2017z
Thanks for N2ESE for the QSO of the day. Gary in Stanhope, NJ. Gary said they got a lot of snow Saturday and will get more tomorrow. I thought spring was here but winter hangs on a little longer. It is in the low 30's here.
It is Daylight savings time! I love and hate it both. It is hard to get used to that hour difference but we also have more daylight in the evenings. It messes with Zulu time too. Now with Eastern DST it is 8PM before we get to 0000z. On standard time it is 7PM. However, That could be to my advantage because if I don't get my daily QSO in after 8 or in the morning I have a little more time when I get home to squeak one in and hopefully keep the streak going.
Thanks for N2ESE for the QSO of the day. Gary in Stanhope, NJ. Gary said they got a lot of snow Saturday and will get more tomorrow. I thought spring was here but winter hangs on a little longer. It is in the low 30's here.
It is Daylight savings time! I love and hate it both. It is hard to get used to that hour difference but we also have more daylight in the evenings. It messes with Zulu time too. Now with Eastern DST it is 8PM before we get to 0000z. On standard time it is 7PM. However, That could be to my advantage because if I don't get my daily QSO in after 8 or in the morning I have a little more time when I get home to squeak one in and hopefully keep the streak going.
Sunday, March 12, 2017
03/12/017
I am celebrating an anniversary. I started the SW40+ QSO a day on February 12 this year. That was one month ago and I have made a daily QSO at 1.5 watts since.
There were plenty of casual activities on 40 meters this weekend. No real problem getting a QSO a day. The SKCC -WES- event, OK, ID, and WI QSO parties. I got WI & MO today as new states. Thanks to NS9I & KC0M for that! 22 states worked so far!
I thought I would show the SW40+ with it's top off. It sure looks like a mess of wires! Others I have seen did a much better job routing the hookups. If a topless radio is offensive overt your eyes. This is the first radio kit I built after I got my amateur radio license. I still remember building this radio. The component leads are not cut as close to the circuit board as they should be. KB9BVN gave me some of the parts like the 10 turn pot, on/off switch, and power jack.
I have had a small share of trouble and added to it as time has gone on. Early on, the receive was intermittent. I took it to my friend Don/W9DEW to help me. Don and his wife N9TTT introduced me to the hobby. As I worried, he poked and prodded and we found I didn't have the insulation stripped from the magnet wire wound on the toroids well enough. That took care of the first big problem. Later I added a capacitor mod to add more bandwidth. The freqmite is a huge luxury. I can push the red button and it reads what frequency I am on in morse code. As I used it more and more I discovered more small issues. Last year I went through all the circuit board pads to combat cold solder points. I changed out the internal antenna connection wire and with that I accidentally melted off the solder pad for the antenna. I bypassed the pad and it seems to work fine. The idea was to use it portable. Then I bought a Elecraft KX1 and the SW40+ got thrown back into the drawer.
In February when I wanted to lower my power from 5 to 1.5 watts I again got the radio out of the drawer. It is so much fun to use on the air. You have to get used to the things it doesn't have like RIT, AGC, and the relatively wide bandwith, 600hz I think. Recently I added more. The LED power light (I love the green light on the radio) and the dimpled knob on the VFO. It has become a very fun little radio.
So as I celebrated a month straight on 40 meters with 1.5 watts I feel how nice this project has been through the years. Sometime I am sure it will get thrown again back into a drawer and wait until the next time I want to experience simple stuff.
I am celebrating an anniversary. I started the SW40+ QSO a day on February 12 this year. That was one month ago and I have made a daily QSO at 1.5 watts since.
There were plenty of casual activities on 40 meters this weekend. No real problem getting a QSO a day. The SKCC -WES- event, OK, ID, and WI QSO parties. I got WI & MO today as new states. Thanks to NS9I & KC0M for that! 22 states worked so far!
I thought I would show the SW40+ with it's top off. It sure looks like a mess of wires! Others I have seen did a much better job routing the hookups. If a topless radio is offensive overt your eyes. This is the first radio kit I built after I got my amateur radio license. I still remember building this radio. The component leads are not cut as close to the circuit board as they should be. KB9BVN gave me some of the parts like the 10 turn pot, on/off switch, and power jack.
I have had a small share of trouble and added to it as time has gone on. Early on, the receive was intermittent. I took it to my friend Don/W9DEW to help me. Don and his wife N9TTT introduced me to the hobby. As I worried, he poked and prodded and we found I didn't have the insulation stripped from the magnet wire wound on the toroids well enough. That took care of the first big problem. Later I added a capacitor mod to add more bandwidth. The freqmite is a huge luxury. I can push the red button and it reads what frequency I am on in morse code. As I used it more and more I discovered more small issues. Last year I went through all the circuit board pads to combat cold solder points. I changed out the internal antenna connection wire and with that I accidentally melted off the solder pad for the antenna. I bypassed the pad and it seems to work fine. The idea was to use it portable. Then I bought a Elecraft KX1 and the SW40+ got thrown back into the drawer.
In February when I wanted to lower my power from 5 to 1.5 watts I again got the radio out of the drawer. It is so much fun to use on the air. You have to get used to the things it doesn't have like RIT, AGC, and the relatively wide bandwith, 600hz I think. Recently I added more. The LED power light (I love the green light on the radio) and the dimpled knob on the VFO. It has become a very fun little radio.
So as I celebrated a month straight on 40 meters with 1.5 watts I feel how nice this project has been through the years. Sometime I am sure it will get thrown again back into a drawer and wait until the next time I want to experience simple stuff.
Saturday, March 11, 2017
03/11/2017z
Today I didn't start trying to make a QSO until the morning EST. I got home very late from seeing my sister who was passing through from Alabama and a cello lesson afterward. I also stopped at McDonalds after work to enjoy company with a ham friend. We were there until after they closed. I had to unlock the door myself to get out.
This morning I tried for over an hour to get a SKCC QSO. There is a monthly sprint called WES going on so I thought it would be easy to log some states. I finally checked my battery to see if the voltage was correct. It was. I hooked the radio to my tuner to check the SWR/power meter and it was putting out some RF. I guess it is just 40 meters isn't too good. Finally the OK QSO party started and I got K5DB into the log. After that the QSO's started rolling in from the WES event. KG6MC/SC & AD0AB/KS (a new state).
Finally for the day I got N4LQ Steve from NC. Steve and I chatted awhile and he saw from QRZ that I have been involved with the National Traffic System. Steve used to live in KY when he was in high school and participated regularly in 9RN and knew some Indiana guys. He also was NCS on Central Area Net. We had a lot on common with the NTS. It was a fun QSO.
Today I didn't start trying to make a QSO until the morning EST. I got home very late from seeing my sister who was passing through from Alabama and a cello lesson afterward. I also stopped at McDonalds after work to enjoy company with a ham friend. We were there until after they closed. I had to unlock the door myself to get out.
This morning I tried for over an hour to get a SKCC QSO. There is a monthly sprint called WES going on so I thought it would be easy to log some states. I finally checked my battery to see if the voltage was correct. It was. I hooked the radio to my tuner to check the SWR/power meter and it was putting out some RF. I guess it is just 40 meters isn't too good. Finally the OK QSO party started and I got K5DB into the log. After that the QSO's started rolling in from the WES event. KG6MC/SC & AD0AB/KS (a new state).
Finally for the day I got N4LQ Steve from NC. Steve and I chatted awhile and he saw from QRZ that I have been involved with the National Traffic System. Steve used to live in KY when he was in high school and participated regularly in 9RN and knew some Indiana guys. He also was NCS on Central Area Net. We had a lot on common with the NTS. It was a fun QSO.
Thursday, March 9, 2017
03/10/2017z
I wonder what the big pile up was tonight around 7.031? I think it was 9G5X. WOW! It just sounds like a flock of birds all calling at the same time. When this bird is using a radio that puts out 1.5 watts and has no RIT or split function the odds of catching a DX station with that kind of attention is like winning the lottery. The only good thing about a pile up using up that much bandwidth is that while everyone is focusing on beating each other for a chance to work that rare station it is easier to use the rest of the band. I dropped below that pile up and heard NC1M calling CQ crystal clear. Hugh is from Westford, MA. I don't need MA but what I did need was a nice rag chew and that is exactly what I got. Hugh told me he was running 1KW. I wondered how telling someone I was running power at the other end of the spectrum would be received. Hugh figured he was about 30db more power than me. However, it didn't matter. We talked about music and the weather. His whole family are involved with music and I encouraged him to learn an instrument. I picked the violin for him to learn. Who knows. Maybe he will try it. He said I was getting stronger at an S8 before it was over. It was nice to just sit and talk. That was the one and only QSO for today. I practiced the cello afterwards and watched TV. I have a cello lesson tomorrow night. I won't be home in time for another QSO.
I wonder what the big pile up was tonight around 7.031? I think it was 9G5X. WOW! It just sounds like a flock of birds all calling at the same time. When this bird is using a radio that puts out 1.5 watts and has no RIT or split function the odds of catching a DX station with that kind of attention is like winning the lottery. The only good thing about a pile up using up that much bandwidth is that while everyone is focusing on beating each other for a chance to work that rare station it is easier to use the rest of the band. I dropped below that pile up and heard NC1M calling CQ crystal clear. Hugh is from Westford, MA. I don't need MA but what I did need was a nice rag chew and that is exactly what I got. Hugh told me he was running 1KW. I wondered how telling someone I was running power at the other end of the spectrum would be received. Hugh figured he was about 30db more power than me. However, it didn't matter. We talked about music and the weather. His whole family are involved with music and I encouraged him to learn an instrument. I picked the violin for him to learn. Who knows. Maybe he will try it. He said I was getting stronger at an S8 before it was over. It was nice to just sit and talk. That was the one and only QSO for today. I practiced the cello afterwards and watched TV. I have a cello lesson tomorrow night. I won't be home in time for another QSO.
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
03/09/2017z
Tonight I got home from work before 7PM! It is nice to get home before the start of a new Zulu day. I was able to get the shack warming up and the SW40+ going before supper. It was grilled cheese and tomato soup. I asked if the mail was gotten out of the box yet. "Yep". So I asked... "did I get any cards?" "Nope" was the answer....
Oh well... After supper I went to the shack and started listening. I certainly have better luck answering a call than calling myself it seems. I heard a very weak station calling CQ and it was surrounded by strong stations all around. I gave him a call and he heard me. It is hard to hold the frequency at 1.5 watts so I get anxious to get the RST exchanged so I can log them. We just got past that and then the strong stations moved in closer and louder. We had exchanged both 559 RST. It was Joe W3TTT in Baltimore, MD. A new state! Since the QSO was so short Joe sent me an email. He was also using a SW40+! The second station to be using a SW40+ I've heard since starting my WAS & daily QSO's. I thought once was amazing but twice??? Are there more SW40+ radios on the air than I thought?
My second QSO was more solid but also short to W2KS/Ken in NY. He was looking for SKCC numbers. I got a RST of 589 and Ken was 599.
Some developing news for me is that I am getting a Oak Hills Research OHR400. I have been looking for a OHR 400 or 500 for quite awhile. WB1HGA found out about the WAS challenge between Brian KB9BVN and myself and he got in contact with Brian. They worked out a SKED and Brian also found out that Ron had purchased his OHR400 from Brian years ago. As it happens Ron is downsizing his the amount of radios he has and I got the opportunity to buy it. I really couldn't pass up getting the same radio Brian once owned. I'm very excited how this has worked out. I can't imagine how this could have happened if we had not started the WAS challenge. It is CRAZY how things happen. We will also have Ron joining us with the challenge with his Heathkit HW-9. It will be great having another QRP station joining us! So, I am up to 18 states with the SW40+. However, I will likely start over with the OHR. Brian has over 20 states in the log but I should be able to recover. We have only been going for about a month so far. This is a marathon, not a sprint.
Tonight I got home from work before 7PM! It is nice to get home before the start of a new Zulu day. I was able to get the shack warming up and the SW40+ going before supper. It was grilled cheese and tomato soup. I asked if the mail was gotten out of the box yet. "Yep". So I asked... "did I get any cards?" "Nope" was the answer....
Oh well... After supper I went to the shack and started listening. I certainly have better luck answering a call than calling myself it seems. I heard a very weak station calling CQ and it was surrounded by strong stations all around. I gave him a call and he heard me. It is hard to hold the frequency at 1.5 watts so I get anxious to get the RST exchanged so I can log them. We just got past that and then the strong stations moved in closer and louder. We had exchanged both 559 RST. It was Joe W3TTT in Baltimore, MD. A new state! Since the QSO was so short Joe sent me an email. He was also using a SW40+! The second station to be using a SW40+ I've heard since starting my WAS & daily QSO's. I thought once was amazing but twice??? Are there more SW40+ radios on the air than I thought?
My second QSO was more solid but also short to W2KS/Ken in NY. He was looking for SKCC numbers. I got a RST of 589 and Ken was 599.
Some developing news for me is that I am getting a Oak Hills Research OHR400. I have been looking for a OHR 400 or 500 for quite awhile. WB1HGA found out about the WAS challenge between Brian KB9BVN and myself and he got in contact with Brian. They worked out a SKED and Brian also found out that Ron had purchased his OHR400 from Brian years ago. As it happens Ron is downsizing his the amount of radios he has and I got the opportunity to buy it. I really couldn't pass up getting the same radio Brian once owned. I'm very excited how this has worked out. I can't imagine how this could have happened if we had not started the WAS challenge. It is CRAZY how things happen. We will also have Ron joining us with the challenge with his Heathkit HW-9. It will be great having another QRP station joining us! So, I am up to 18 states with the SW40+. However, I will likely start over with the OHR. Brian has over 20 states in the log but I should be able to recover. We have only been going for about a month so far. This is a marathon, not a sprint.
03/07/2017z
I'm falling behind on my log entry. I got home late due to orchestra rehearsal and it seems after 9pm EST stations tend to become less and less. There was no QSO in the evening. My other chance was in the morning. There was a lot more activity and I heard a station from MI in QSO. I was waiting to see if I could get a call in for that state and looking at the clock. I was running out of time before needing to leave the house for work and I heard a station in my bandpass calling CQ CQ CQ... DE KI4XH. I tuned down to match that frequency and called back. Fred inWoodbridge, VA! Another new state for me. Fred was using his IC-7300. He also has a Hallicrafters SX-71 for shortwave listening. Pretty cool!
03/08/2017z
I again didn't get home until late in the evening. I play with another cellist duet music and we met for a couple hours. I got home about 10pm EST. I still took a chance and listened for something. There were a few stations but they all seemed deep in conversation and the few I was able to call didn't hear me in the slightest. I tried again in the morning before work. The risk is that it is my last chance within a Zulu day I have of making a QSO. I will have a hard time most nights getting home much before 7pm. It paid off this morning. I got W3MWR, George in Westchester, PA. Not a new state, but it keeps the daily QSO's at 1.5 watts alive.
I'm falling behind on my log entry. I got home late due to orchestra rehearsal and it seems after 9pm EST stations tend to become less and less. There was no QSO in the evening. My other chance was in the morning. There was a lot more activity and I heard a station from MI in QSO. I was waiting to see if I could get a call in for that state and looking at the clock. I was running out of time before needing to leave the house for work and I heard a station in my bandpass calling CQ CQ CQ... DE KI4XH. I tuned down to match that frequency and called back. Fred inWoodbridge, VA! Another new state for me. Fred was using his IC-7300. He also has a Hallicrafters SX-71 for shortwave listening. Pretty cool!
I again didn't get home until late in the evening. I play with another cellist duet music and we met for a couple hours. I got home about 10pm EST. I still took a chance and listened for something. There were a few stations but they all seemed deep in conversation and the few I was able to call didn't hear me in the slightest. I tried again in the morning before work. The risk is that it is my last chance within a Zulu day I have of making a QSO. I will have a hard time most nights getting home much before 7pm. It paid off this morning. I got W3MWR, George in Westchester, PA. Not a new state, but it keeps the daily QSO's at 1.5 watts alive.
Sunday, March 5, 2017
03/06/2017
Tonight I got SD which is a new state! K0JV, Jerry was calling for SKCC. I was patient while another station called and then I "tail ended" the QSO and got in the log. He commented I had a good signal. If you happen to be reading this and are new to HF you might not know what the term "tail ended" means. It simply is a technique where you wait for a QSO to end that then politely call one of the two stations by sending their call once and your call twice. For example once the two stations tonight ended their QSO with their good by and 73, I sent K0JV DE W9ILF W9ILF KN. "KN" means in morse code only the station you called do you want to answer. "K" is an open invitation for anyone to answer. If you hear a station send SK at the end of the QSO that normally means they are shutting their station down and will not respond to any other calls. However, desperate times can call for desperate measures. I have been known to call anyway, but if I get an answer I try to keep it short and respect the other operators time.
CW requires not only learning the letters in order to speak, but there is etiquette that should be learned as well. CW is a mode I have found to be so enjoyable because of the challenge and also because in most cases those taking the effort to learn the code also want to conduct themselves respectably on the air. There is the occasional "LID" but for the most part I have found CW operators to be nicest stations on the air.
I also tuned around and found N9MM calling CQ. I need "9" area stations. He was sending "POTA" (parks on the air). It turned out he was at Lake State Park, TX. I don't need TX but was happy to participate in his event. That is it for tonight. The day's QSO with the SW40+ in the log and a new state. More I can not ask of from 1.5 watts.
Tonight I got SD which is a new state! K0JV, Jerry was calling for SKCC. I was patient while another station called and then I "tail ended" the QSO and got in the log. He commented I had a good signal. If you happen to be reading this and are new to HF you might not know what the term "tail ended" means. It simply is a technique where you wait for a QSO to end that then politely call one of the two stations by sending their call once and your call twice. For example once the two stations tonight ended their QSO with their good by and 73, I sent K0JV DE W9ILF W9ILF KN. "KN" means in morse code only the station you called do you want to answer. "K" is an open invitation for anyone to answer. If you hear a station send SK at the end of the QSO that normally means they are shutting their station down and will not respond to any other calls. However, desperate times can call for desperate measures. I have been known to call anyway, but if I get an answer I try to keep it short and respect the other operators time.
CW requires not only learning the letters in order to speak, but there is etiquette that should be learned as well. CW is a mode I have found to be so enjoyable because of the challenge and also because in most cases those taking the effort to learn the code also want to conduct themselves respectably on the air. There is the occasional "LID" but for the most part I have found CW operators to be nicest stations on the air.
I also tuned around and found N9MM calling CQ. I need "9" area stations. He was sending "POTA" (parks on the air). It turned out he was at Lake State Park, TX. I don't need TX but was happy to participate in his event. That is it for tonight. The day's QSO with the SW40+ in the log and a new state. More I can not ask of from 1.5 watts.
Saturday, March 4, 2017
03/04/2017
I had three QSO's today. One was with K4IBZ, Bill in Crestview, FL. He had a strange tone and I found out why. He was using a Globe Scout 65 as a transmitter.
That is a old tube transmitter. I loved hearing it and he had a great signal strength. It matched up great with his Hallicrafters SX 111.
The other two was with N4LQ, Steve in NC and N3YWQ, Steve in PA. Then the band seemed to fade. No new states today, but the daily QSO's continue.
Globe Scout 65
Hallicrafters SX 111
I had three QSO's today. One was with K4IBZ, Bill in Crestview, FL. He had a strange tone and I found out why. He was using a Globe Scout 65 as a transmitter.
That is a old tube transmitter. I loved hearing it and he had a great signal strength. It matched up great with his Hallicrafters SX 111.
The other two was with N4LQ, Steve in NC and N3YWQ, Steve in PA. Then the band seemed to fade. No new states today, but the daily QSO's continue.
Globe Scout 65
Hallicrafters SX 111
03/05/2017
Today's QSO came early. 0101z. It was with another Steve. He lives in South Portland ME. A new state!! Steve was using a K3S and sounded very nice here. I told him about my challenge to WAS using the SW40+ but that I had a Elecraft K2 and KX1. So we discussed our shared enjoyment of Elecraft and exchanged things about our lives. This is what QSO's are about in my opinion. Meeting new people and learning something about them. Steve finally wished me luck with my WAS using QRP and said 73. Thursday, March 2, 2017
Tonight's lesson could very well be to keep your batteries charged. I had at least 4 QSO's going. I copied them but then they were not copying me. They would say sorry but no copy. One station said sorry and they would log me. It was a SKCC station so I have no idea if that meant he got his RST but not much else but I won't count it even though it was a new state. If I don't get confirmation on the air I can't add it to the QSO count either for the daily QSO or WAS. After feeling so unlucky I decided to check my battery voltage. 11.something on the battery. The radio output showed .5 watts. That is a big drop in power for me. I swapped out batteries and my power output jumped back up to normal 1.5 watts.
I still wasn't doing so well but I really wanted to get something in the log. After about 2 hours of trying and trying the crazy thing is the first station in the log today was XE2HOE, "Mode" in La Paz, BCS Mexico. Mode was very nice and confirmed he had me after I sent my info to him. He reported a RST of 559 to me. I'm looking for states, but it is always fun to log a DX station and Mexico is usually difficult for me to get. I took a break, and decided to see once more who I might find. I just can't stand wondering what the band might be doing and if things are changing in my favor just as I walk away. Well I am glad I returned because I heard WC7C calling and we made a QSO. It is Doug in Euphrates, WA. A new state and WA is getting out there. I was very weak at 349 but once again I found a station that was willing to take the time to pull my signal out of the noise.
I still wasn't doing so well but I really wanted to get something in the log. After about 2 hours of trying and trying the crazy thing is the first station in the log today was XE2HOE, "Mode" in La Paz, BCS Mexico. Mode was very nice and confirmed he had me after I sent my info to him. He reported a RST of 559 to me. I'm looking for states, but it is always fun to log a DX station and Mexico is usually difficult for me to get. I took a break, and decided to see once more who I might find. I just can't stand wondering what the band might be doing and if things are changing in my favor just as I walk away. Well I am glad I returned because I heard WC7C calling and we made a QSO. It is Doug in Euphrates, WA. A new state and WA is getting out there. I was very weak at 349 but once again I found a station that was willing to take the time to pull my signal out of the noise.
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Ash Wednesday. I can't believe lent has begun already. I'm not ready mentally. It is a great time of reflection and to find discipline in my faith. A time to contemplate God and my relationship to him. It is also when we eat more fish. I love going to White Castle for fish sliders on Ash Wed. As Mass was beginning I asked my friends if they would go with me. By the end of mass they agreed and we went. I think it might have been colder in there than it was outside. Outside it's 45 degrees. The wind is very strong and overcast skies. Anyway, I saw a sign for the "NEW" Crab Cake Sliders or as we called them Crabby Patties. We all loved them! I got home about 8:30 and got the shack warming up and also the SW40+. Somehow with the storms last night and who knows what else going on outside, a skunk seems to have sprayed the house. It is BAD!!! Tonight the smell has fallen into the basement and into the shack. It STINKS down there. It stinks everywhere it seems. I guess it will have to wear off but boy it is challenging to sit in the shack being permeated by skunk stink.
The bands stink is as bad as the smell!! I saw KB9BVN kept his daily streak alive and I sure hoped I would as well. AND.... of course I did. It didn't take too long to catch a SKCC guy. K4KBL, Jerry in GA. SKCC number 11722T and my RST 559. Not only a QSO but a new state. That makes 13. I didn't want to quit just yet so I tuned up and down the band. Up and down.... up and.... finally on 7.059 I heard a weak station calling CQ. Now, I don't always think a weak station is going to hear me. At 1.5 watts if I can barely hear them how on earth will they hear me? I am discovering now that these weak stations are fellow QRPers at times and they appreciate a call. So... I called. AD4XX de W9ILF. Jim from Red Springs, NC was running 5 watts. I gave a 559 and received 329! 329 and Jim dug me out of the dirt. He asked me to repeat his RST and then I hear "R" so I repeated my name. I got QSL but QRM and QRN just obliterated him and I am sure me but then I heard "72" and we both signed. What a QSO! They don't all have to be 599 arm chair QSO's to be meaningful.
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