Author Archive
Just noticed something
July 19th, 2017 | 
Author: The graphic for Windows 10 Mail:
Do you see it?
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Do you see it?
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
FOBB 2017 – ICYMI
Just in case you missed it - THE Summer QRP Classic - The Flight of the Bumblebees is on! The event is on Sunday, July 31st from 17:00 to 21:00 UTC.
To get a Bumblebee number, you have to first to to the Bee database to see what's been assigned:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1r0ICCSjbErmIfRQz2U7hZJkSccuQ5ukHEtVXzmOF5eM/edit#gid=119767365
Send an e-mail to [email protected] and be sure to include your first name, call sign, the field location you plan to operate from and your three top choices for a Bee number.
Keep in mind that you are encouraged to participate in the FOBB as a home station - but only Field Stations can have a Bee #.
After you've sent KI6SN your request, be sure to keep an eye on the roster at the link above. That's where you will be able to determine what number you've been assigned.
The rest of the rules can be found at http://arsqrp.blogspot.com/2017/07/announcing-ars-2017-fobb.html
FOBB is, was, and continues to be the best Summer Outdoor QRP event, bar none. It's the equivalent of the Masters, or Wimbledon or Tour de France of the QRP Summer contest season. Get out there, get some sunshine and some breeze in your hair and have fun!
I can hear wings buzzing already!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
To get a Bumblebee number, you have to first to to the Bee database to see what's been assigned:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1r0ICCSjbErmIfRQz2U7hZJkSccuQ5ukHEtVXzmOF5eM/edit#gid=119767365
Send an e-mail to [email protected] and be sure to include your first name, call sign, the field location you plan to operate from and your three top choices for a Bee number.
Keep in mind that you are encouraged to participate in the FOBB as a home station - but only Field Stations can have a Bee #.
After you've sent KI6SN your request, be sure to keep an eye on the roster at the link above. That's where you will be able to determine what number you've been assigned.
The rest of the rules can be found at http://arsqrp.blogspot.com/2017/07/announcing-ars-2017-fobb.html
FOBB is, was, and continues to be the best Summer Outdoor QRP event, bar none. It's the equivalent of the Masters, or Wimbledon or Tour de France of the QRP Summer contest season. Get out there, get some sunshine and some breeze in your hair and have fun!
I can hear wings buzzing already!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
FOBB 2017 – ICYMI
Just in case you missed it - THE Summer QRP Classic - The Flight of the Bumblebees is on! The event is on Sunday, July 31st from 17:00 to 21:00 UTC. To get a Bumblebee number, you have to first to to the Bee database to see what's been assigned: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1r0ICCSjbErmIfRQz2U7hZJkSccuQ5ukHEtVXzmOF5eM/edit#gid=119767365 Send an e-mail to [email protected] and be sure to include your first name, call sign, the field location you plan to operate from and your three top choices for a Bee number. Keep in mind that you are encouraged to participate in the FOBB as a home station - but only Field Stations can have a Bee #. After you've sent KI6SN your request, be sure to keep an eye on the roster at the link above. That's where you will be able to determine what number you've been assigned. The rest of the rules can be found at http://arsqrp.blogspot.com/2017/07/announcing-ars-2017-fobb.html FOBB is, was, and continues to be the best Summer Outdoor QRP event, bar none. It's the equivalent of the Masters, or Wimbledon or Tour de France of the QRP Summer contest season. Get out there, get some sunshine and some breeze in your hair and have fun! I can hear wings buzzing already! 72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Skeeter Hunt News
They say Memorial Day is the "unofficial" 1st Day of Summer. That may be true; but in Skeeterland, we wait until the "official" Official 1st Day of Summer to start issuing NJQRP Skeeter Hunt numbers. That day is coming up fast - next Wednesday, June 21st is when Skeeter numbers for 2017 will start being dispensed.
All you have to do to get one is to send an e-mail to [email protected] and one will be sent back to you in a confirming e-mail. Be sure to include your name, call sign and either the state you'll be operating from or the POTA #.
POTA # ????? Yes - because this year, the NJQRP Skeeter Hunt will be featuring the Parks On The Air program. For all the details, please visit http://www.qsl.net/w2lj/
Last year, it was NPOTA and this year it will be POTA. 100 Bonus points will be added to your score if you activate a POTA entity, and there are PLENTY of them available! To find one near you, please visit the interactive map at: http://wwff.co/directory/map/
Now I know some of you faithful Skeeters are probably reading this and are thinking, "Wait a darn sec, there, LJ! Where's the Soapbox page from 2016 and where are our certificates? Huh? What do you have to say about that? Huh?"
Mea culpa, friends! I'll readily admit that I was tardy on both counts. However, the 2016 Soapbox page is now up at http://www.qsl.net/w2lj/index%20page%209 and your richly deserved certificates are in the process of being printed. I hope to have them in the mail, no later than this weekend. And hey, the timing isn't so bad, is it? You can read the soapbox and make plans for this year, while reminiscing over last year!
There's also a new Fabook group devoted to the Skeeter Hunt - https://www.facebook.com/groups/175763746290252/, if you're so inclined to join.
So to answer one last question - why new Skeeter numbers every year? Why aren't they good for life? The reason for that is that I like to give everyone the opportunity to get a low number. Those seem to be the most coveted. For various reasons, not everyone is able to participate from year to year - family commitments come up, business trips happen, vacations happen. It's not fair to lock up a low number because of that - so they get issued to folks who really want them and have every intention of using them.
That being said, if you're not certain that you'll be able to participate - DON'T LET THAT STOP YOU FROM GETTING A NUMBER !!!! I'd rather numbers go un-used than not issued at all. Sometimes things come up, but then there are times that potential conflicts get resolved and it's better that you have a Skeeter number than not!
Lastly, I kinda fibbed on that statement about Skeeter numbers not being good for life - at least in one instance. Let it be known, throughout the kingdom of Skeeterland, that from henceforth, W2LJ will always be lucky Skeeter #13. There are some superstitious folks out there, who have specifically asked me to make sure they are not issued #13 - so I've solved that little predicament by assigning it to myself in perpetuity.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
POTA # ????? Yes - because this year, the NJQRP Skeeter Hunt will be featuring the Parks On The Air program. For all the details, please visit http://www.qsl.net/w2lj/
Last year, it was NPOTA and this year it will be POTA. 100 Bonus points will be added to your score if you activate a POTA entity, and there are PLENTY of them available! To find one near you, please visit the interactive map at: http://wwff.co/directory/map/
Now I know some of you faithful Skeeters are probably reading this and are thinking, "Wait a darn sec, there, LJ! Where's the Soapbox page from 2016 and where are our certificates? Huh? What do you have to say about that? Huh?"
Mea culpa, friends! I'll readily admit that I was tardy on both counts. However, the 2016 Soapbox page is now up at http://www.qsl.net/w2lj/index%20page%209 and your richly deserved certificates are in the process of being printed. I hope to have them in the mail, no later than this weekend. And hey, the timing isn't so bad, is it? You can read the soapbox and make plans for this year, while reminiscing over last year!
There's also a new Fabook group devoted to the Skeeter Hunt - https://www.facebook.com/groups/175763746290252/, if you're so inclined to join.
So to answer one last question - why new Skeeter numbers every year? Why aren't they good for life? The reason for that is that I like to give everyone the opportunity to get a low number. Those seem to be the most coveted. For various reasons, not everyone is able to participate from year to year - family commitments come up, business trips happen, vacations happen. It's not fair to lock up a low number because of that - so they get issued to folks who really want them and have every intention of using them.
That being said, if you're not certain that you'll be able to participate - DON'T LET THAT STOP YOU FROM GETTING A NUMBER !!!! I'd rather numbers go un-used than not issued at all. Sometimes things come up, but then there are times that potential conflicts get resolved and it's better that you have a Skeeter number than not!
Lastly, I kinda fibbed on that statement about Skeeter numbers not being good for life - at least in one instance. Let it be known, throughout the kingdom of Skeeterland, that from henceforth, W2LJ will always be lucky Skeeter #13. There are some superstitious folks out there, who have specifically asked me to make sure they are not issued #13 - so I've solved that little predicament by assigning it to myself in perpetuity.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Skeeter Hunt News
They say Memorial Day is the "unofficial" 1st Day of Summer. That may be true; but in Skeeterland, we wait until the "official" Official 1st Day of Summer to start issuing NJQRP Skeeter Hunt numbers. That day is coming up fast - next Wednesday, June 21st is when Skeeter numbers for 2017 will start being dispensed.
All you have to do to get one is to send an e-mail to [email protected] and one will be sent back to you in a confirming e-mail. Be sure to include your name, call sign and either the state you'll be operating from or the POTA #.
POTA # ????? Yes - because this year, the NJQRP Skeeter Hunt will be featuring the Parks On The Air program. For all the details, please visit http://www.qsl.net/w2lj/
Last year, it was NPOTA and this year it will be POTA. 100 Bonus points will be added to your score if you activate a POTA entity, and there are PLENTY of them available! To find one near you, please visit the interactive map at: http://wwff.co/directory/map/
Now I know some of you faithful Skeeters are probably reading this and are thinking, "Wait a darn sec, there, LJ! Where's the Soapbox page from 2016 and where are our certificates? Huh? What do you have to say about that? Huh?"
Mea culpa, friends! I'll readily admit that I was tardy on both counts. However, the 2016 Soapbox page is now up at http://www.qsl.net/w2lj/index%20page%209 and your richly deserved certificates are in the process of being printed. I hope to have them in the mail, no later than this weekend. And hey, the timing isn't so bad, is it? You can read the soapbox and make plans for this year, while reminiscing over last year!
There's also a new Fabook group devoted to the Skeeter Hunt - https://www.facebook.com/groups/175763746290252/, if you're so inclined to join.
So to answer one last question - why new Skeeter numbers every year? Why aren't they good for life? The reason for that is that I like to give everyone the opportunity to get a low number. Those seem to be the most coveted. For various reasons, not everyone is able to participate from year to year - family commitments come up, business trips happen, vacations happen. It's not fair to lock up a low number because of that - so they get issued to folks who really want them and have every intention of using them.
That being said, if you're not certain that you'll be able to participate - DON'T LET THAT STOP YOU FROM GETTING A NUMBER !!!! I'd rather numbers go un-used than not issued at all. Sometimes things come up, but then there are times that potential conflicts get resolved and it's better that you have a Skeeter number than not!
Lastly, I kinda fibbed on that statement about Skeeter numbers not being good for life - at least in one instance. Let it be known, throughout the kingdom of Skeeterland, that from henceforth, W2LJ will always be lucky Skeeter #13. There are some superstitious folks out there, who have specifically asked me to make sure they are not issued #13 - so I've solved that little predicament by assigning it to myself in perpetuity.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
POTA # ????? Yes - because this year, the NJQRP Skeeter Hunt will be featuring the Parks On The Air program. For all the details, please visit http://www.qsl.net/w2lj/
Last year, it was NPOTA and this year it will be POTA. 100 Bonus points will be added to your score if you activate a POTA entity, and there are PLENTY of them available! To find one near you, please visit the interactive map at: http://wwff.co/directory/map/
Now I know some of you faithful Skeeters are probably reading this and are thinking, "Wait a darn sec, there, LJ! Where's the Soapbox page from 2016 and where are our certificates? Huh? What do you have to say about that? Huh?"
Mea culpa, friends! I'll readily admit that I was tardy on both counts. However, the 2016 Soapbox page is now up at http://www.qsl.net/w2lj/index%20page%209 and your richly deserved certificates are in the process of being printed. I hope to have them in the mail, no later than this weekend. And hey, the timing isn't so bad, is it? You can read the soapbox and make plans for this year, while reminiscing over last year!
There's also a new Fabook group devoted to the Skeeter Hunt - https://www.facebook.com/groups/175763746290252/, if you're so inclined to join.
So to answer one last question - why new Skeeter numbers every year? Why aren't they good for life? The reason for that is that I like to give everyone the opportunity to get a low number. Those seem to be the most coveted. For various reasons, not everyone is able to participate from year to year - family commitments come up, business trips happen, vacations happen. It's not fair to lock up a low number because of that - so they get issued to folks who really want them and have every intention of using them.
That being said, if you're not certain that you'll be able to participate - DON'T LET THAT STOP YOU FROM GETTING A NUMBER !!!! I'd rather numbers go un-used than not issued at all. Sometimes things come up, but then there are times that potential conflicts get resolved and it's better that you have a Skeeter number than not!
Lastly, I kinda fibbed on that statement about Skeeter numbers not being good for life - at least in one instance. Let it be known, throughout the kingdom of Skeeterland, that from henceforth, W2LJ will always be lucky Skeeter #13. There are some superstitious folks out there, who have specifically asked me to make sure they are not issued #13 - so I've solved that little predicament by assigning it to myself in perpetuity.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Books
Books. I love books. Books and reading are a love that was passed down to me from my Mom. When my sister and I were little kids, my Mom would "treat" us with a trip to the local public library. We would bring home stacks of books to read, and I loved every minute of it. A trip to the library, or even better - the book store, was always enthusiastically welcomed.
That habit stayed with me all my life. When I first became interested in Amateur Radio as a teenager in high school, my "bible" was "The Radio Amateur's Handbook" by Collins and Hertzberg. That book was my constant companion in my teen years and I must have read it, cover to cover, at least a half dozen times. It fueled my wishful dreams of becoming a Ham Radio operator, making contacts with people from all over the world.
I still have that book, and it holds a place of High Honor on my Amateur Radio book shelf.
A few weeks ago, I came home from work to see a rather large package sticking out of my mail box. As I was bringing it into the house, I noticed it was from Schiffer Publishing. I thought that this was kind of odd, as I hadn't ordered anything from Schiffer. After dinner, I opened the package to find a most wonderful book entitled "Compendium Of Automatic Morse Code". I couldn't believe my eyes! The book was sent for me to look over and to offer a review. It is a wonderful piece of work by Ed Goss N3CW. The amount of work and detail that he put into his book is phenomenal.
Granted, this is a niche book. Not every Amateur Radio operator will gravitate towards an edition like this. If you have a love for Morse Code and for the keyers, paddles and other devices that produce it, then this book is for you.
It is exhaustive in its content and detail and everything about this book screams "quality". From its size, 9 X 11 inches, to the feel of the heavy stock of the pages, to the rich and highly detailed color photography, everything about this book says, "Coffee Table Book for Ham Radio".
The table of contents includes chapters on
Chapter 1: An Overview of Telegraphy and Early Keys - History
Chapter 2 - Code Readers, Oscillators and Morse Trainers
Chapter 3 - The Electronic Keyer
Chapter 4 - The Single-Lever Paddle (Without a doubt, my favorite chapter!)
Chapter 5 - The Dual-Lever Paddle
Chapter 6 - Portable/Miniature/QRP Paddles (My second favorite chapter!)
Chapter 7: Commemorative Paddles
Chapter 8 - Combination Key and Paddles
Chapter 9 - Convertible Paddles and Paddle Modifications
Chapter 10 - Automatic Mechanical Keys
Chapter 11 - The Elements of Paddle Design
Chapter 12 - Paddle Adjustment and Maintenance
Chapter 14 - Telegraph Machines, Keyboard Keyers and Terminals
Chapter 15 - Computer Interfacing and the Internet
And various appendices and a bibliography as well as a list of recommended reading.
Pretty exhaustive, eh? If you're thinking,"Well really, how much is there to write about on this subject?" I'll answer that question by saying, "Over 300 pages, as a matter of fact!"
It's not hard to tell that writing this book was a labor of love for N3CW. It's one of the best if not THE BEST book to come down the pike on the subject. It has earned an honored place on my book shelf, right next to my beloved Hertzberg and Collins. However, I can tell you that it doesn't stay on the shelf for long. It has been in my hands a lot and will be for a long time to come.
I would highly recommend adding the "Compendium of Automatic Morse Code" to your Amateur Radio library if you're as much as a devotee of CW operating as I am. I can see this book as a golden answer to that age old question that every Ham gets asked every now and then ....... "Honey, is there any Ham stuff that you'd like for your birthday? Or Christmas, or Hanukkah, etc, etc, etc.
Thanks to Ed N3CW and Schiffer Publishing for sending me a copy! It was a very pleasant surprise and is appreciated more deeply than you will ever know.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Dit, dit!
That habit stayed with me all my life. When I first became interested in Amateur Radio as a teenager in high school, my "bible" was "The Radio Amateur's Handbook" by Collins and Hertzberg. That book was my constant companion in my teen years and I must have read it, cover to cover, at least a half dozen times. It fueled my wishful dreams of becoming a Ham Radio operator, making contacts with people from all over the world.
I still have that book, and it holds a place of High Honor on my Amateur Radio book shelf.
A few weeks ago, I came home from work to see a rather large package sticking out of my mail box. As I was bringing it into the house, I noticed it was from Schiffer Publishing. I thought that this was kind of odd, as I hadn't ordered anything from Schiffer. After dinner, I opened the package to find a most wonderful book entitled "Compendium Of Automatic Morse Code". I couldn't believe my eyes! The book was sent for me to look over and to offer a review. It is a wonderful piece of work by Ed Goss N3CW. The amount of work and detail that he put into his book is phenomenal.
Granted, this is a niche book. Not every Amateur Radio operator will gravitate towards an edition like this. If you have a love for Morse Code and for the keyers, paddles and other devices that produce it, then this book is for you.
It is exhaustive in its content and detail and everything about this book screams "quality". From its size, 9 X 11 inches, to the feel of the heavy stock of the pages, to the rich and highly detailed color photography, everything about this book says, "Coffee Table Book for Ham Radio".
The table of contents includes chapters on
Chapter 1: An Overview of Telegraphy and Early Keys - History
Chapter 2 - Code Readers, Oscillators and Morse Trainers
Chapter 3 - The Electronic Keyer
Chapter 4 - The Single-Lever Paddle (Without a doubt, my favorite chapter!)
Chapter 5 - The Dual-Lever Paddle
Chapter 6 - Portable/Miniature/QRP Paddles (My second favorite chapter!)
Chapter 7: Commemorative Paddles
Chapter 8 - Combination Key and Paddles
Chapter 9 - Convertible Paddles and Paddle Modifications
Chapter 10 - Automatic Mechanical Keys
Chapter 11 - The Elements of Paddle Design
Chapter 12 - Paddle Adjustment and Maintenance
Chapter 14 - Telegraph Machines, Keyboard Keyers and Terminals
Chapter 15 - Computer Interfacing and the Internet
And various appendices and a bibliography as well as a list of recommended reading.
Pretty exhaustive, eh? If you're thinking,"Well really, how much is there to write about on this subject?" I'll answer that question by saying, "Over 300 pages, as a matter of fact!"
It's not hard to tell that writing this book was a labor of love for N3CW. It's one of the best if not THE BEST book to come down the pike on the subject. It has earned an honored place on my book shelf, right next to my beloved Hertzberg and Collins. However, I can tell you that it doesn't stay on the shelf for long. It has been in my hands a lot and will be for a long time to come.
I would highly recommend adding the "Compendium of Automatic Morse Code" to your Amateur Radio library if you're as much as a devotee of CW operating as I am. I can see this book as a golden answer to that age old question that every Ham gets asked every now and then ....... "Honey, is there any Ham stuff that you'd like for your birthday? Or Christmas, or Hanukkah, etc, etc, etc.
Thanks to Ed N3CW and Schiffer Publishing for sending me a copy! It was a very pleasant surprise and is appreciated more deeply than you will ever know.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Dit, dit!
Amateur Radio …. sort of
Today was a busy day with a lot of commitments and a lot of chores and not much time for Amateur Radio. So what does an intrepid Amateur Radio op do? Put his tail between his legs and slink off into the distance? No, he does the next best thing - he engages in related activities.
I had a class this morning that meets one Saturday a month. It started last September and ends next month, and it runs from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. You can see that that's a good chunk of the day. So it was SOTABEAMS WSPRLite to the rescue! It's kind of like a Ronco counter top oven - "set it and forget it". So I hooked up my WSPRLite to my W3EDP, set it up for 200 milliWatts on 20 Meters and let it go to town!
I figured that I'd let it run, see how the W3EDP gets out and still do the things I had to do today.
This WSPRLite is so cool! It's a software defined WSPR beacon in a package about half the size of an Altoids tin. It's powered by the USB port of your computer. You pick the band and power output and hook it up to your antenna. You wait until 2 seconds past any even minute and you press the little black button on the right to kick things off. The beacon transmits for 110 seconds and then waits for the next opportunity when the frequency is clear. I set it so that it would randomly transmit about 20% of the time; and you can let it run for up to three days if you want.
In the meantime, yesterday, while checking my e-mail, I saw that Joe Everhart N2CX co-founder of the NJQRP Club was going to be activating Edison State Park for Parks on the Air. It's designator is KFF-1615 and it's all of about 15 minutes from my house. So I e-mailed Joe back with my cell phone number and told him to text me when he got there; and I would come out and meet him.
After class I came home and broke out the lawnmower and got the front yard done. As I was walking to the backyard, I felt my pocket buzz. I whipped out my phone and read a text that Joe was on site and setting up. I dropped the lawnmower like a hot potato and high tailed it to the park. After all, what QRPer in his right mind would miss the opportunity to talk with a QRP Legend, right? When I got there, I saw Joe had finished setting up and was operating from his car.
It was getting out all right! Into the midwest USA and into Europe on 200 milliWatts! The W3EDP seems to be doing OK!
It turned out to be a good day, after all. I got to attend my class, got my chores done and got to hob-nob with a QRP giant - while giving my wire antenna a check out at the same time!
And here I thought the day would be a bust, Amateur Radio-wise!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
I had a class this morning that meets one Saturday a month. It started last September and ends next month, and it runs from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. You can see that that's a good chunk of the day. So it was SOTABEAMS WSPRLite to the rescue! It's kind of like a Ronco counter top oven - "set it and forget it". So I hooked up my WSPRLite to my W3EDP, set it up for 200 milliWatts on 20 Meters and let it go to town!
I figured that I'd let it run, see how the W3EDP gets out and still do the things I had to do today.
This WSPRLite is so cool! It's a software defined WSPR beacon in a package about half the size of an Altoids tin. It's powered by the USB port of your computer. You pick the band and power output and hook it up to your antenna. You wait until 2 seconds past any even minute and you press the little black button on the right to kick things off. The beacon transmits for 110 seconds and then waits for the next opportunity when the frequency is clear. I set it so that it would randomly transmit about 20% of the time; and you can let it run for up to three days if you want.
In the meantime, yesterday, while checking my e-mail, I saw that Joe Everhart N2CX co-founder of the NJQRP Club was going to be activating Edison State Park for Parks on the Air. It's designator is KFF-1615 and it's all of about 15 minutes from my house. So I e-mailed Joe back with my cell phone number and told him to text me when he got there; and I would come out and meet him.
After class I came home and broke out the lawnmower and got the front yard done. As I was walking to the backyard, I felt my pocket buzz. I whipped out my phone and read a text that Joe was on site and setting up. I dropped the lawnmower like a hot potato and high tailed it to the park. After all, what QRPer in his right mind would miss the opportunity to talk with a QRP Legend, right? When I got there, I saw Joe had finished setting up and was operating from his car.
If you click on the picture to get a better view, you will notice that mounted at the rear of the car was Joe's 16 foot crappie pole. He had a loading coil attached and ran wire to the top. He told me that this arrangement seems to work for him as well as a full blown 31 foot mast secured via a drive on mast support. And who am I not to take him at his word? Joe is quite the QRP innovator. It seems that not an issue of "QRP Quarterly" goes by without some kind of juicy tidbit from Joe. And if N2CX says it works, then by golly, you can be assured that it works!
When I got there, Joe was making contacts on 40 Meters with his KX3. He noticed the same thing that I think we're all keenly aware of, that 20 Meters seems to stink, lately. Anyway, we kibbitzed for a few minutes and then I took my leave after Joe's son Kevin took a few photos of us together. After all, he came all the way to Edison from his home to make QSOs and put KFF-1615 on the air, not shoot the breeze with W2LJ!
When I got home, before I started on the back yard, I raced downstairs to the shack and hooked up the KX3 to the HF9V and went looking for Joe. I listened on 7.034 MHz, where I saw him operating from during our visit, only to hear not a peep. Figuring that he changed bands, I checked both 30 Meters and then 20 Meters, Bingo on 14.062 MHz (goundwave)! I got Joe in my log and helped him towards making the minimum number of contacts he needed to qualify for an activation.
Before resuming lawn duty, I decided to check WSPRNet, to see how the WSPRLite was getting out.
It was getting out all right! Into the midwest USA and into Europe on 200 milliWatts! The W3EDP seems to be doing OK!
It turned out to be a good day, after all. I got to attend my class, got my chores done and got to hob-nob with a QRP giant - while giving my wire antenna a check out at the same time!
And here I thought the day would be a bust, Amateur Radio-wise!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
