AmateurRadio.com

Friday was a bit frustrating – the bands seemed really weird, and not much if any activity was heard here in Kansas.

I did manage one and a half contacts!

N5NAA – On 30 meters I worked Steve down in TX for a 2xQRP contact.  Steve was running 3 watts and even mentioned that he reads my blog!  Hi Steve!

VE4CWF (10492T) – I replied to Chris calling CQ.  He came back to me and gave me all his specifics, and then just as I completed sending our call signs back, my battery died in the KX3!  I admit it, I had operated probably 3 portable sessions without charging the internal pack – my fault.  So….sorry Chris for dropping you like a hot potato!  Hopefully we can connect down the line.

Thats all for today, I hope to have some time this weekend for a bit of SKCC CW!

It was another windy, windy day here in Kansas!  Once again the Jackite dropped a couple sections right during a QSO.  When I took it down at the end of the session the tip section is stuck and won’t release to slide down inside the next section – will have to work on that.

Today was pretty slow, 20 meters was a weird band for me today.  I was spotted all over the far east coast, but really nothing in between.

Tuning around I heard a strong station on 14.064, but for the life of me I could not copy the call sign.  I asked him to QRS (slow down) and he did and I finally got his call!

KA4RRU – Mike was activating NPOTA HP06 – this is my first NPOTA station other than when I was an activator.

AH6AX (11165S) – Larry answered my CQ, we had worked each other before.  He had a great signal from Maryland today, and it was nice to know I was getting out.  I had been calling CQ for some time with no takers!

KG4LLQ (5883T) – Ken answered my CQ from North Carolina.  Looking at his QRZ page he has some interesting rigs – I hope he was using one of the cool ones for our QSO today!

So in my quest for SKCC Centurion, I am now sitting at 18 unique contacts on my way to 100!

It was another windy, windy day here in Kansas!  Once again the Jackite dropped a couple sections right during a QSO.  When I took it down at the end of the session the tip section is stuck and won’t release to slide down inside the next section – will have to work on that.

Today was pretty slow, 20 meters was a weird band for me today.  I was spotted all over the far east coast, but really nothing in between.

Tuning around I heard a strong station on 14.064, but for the life of me I could not copy the call sign.  I asked him to QRS (slow down) and he did and I finally got his call!

KA4RRU – Mike was activating NPOTA HP06 – this is my first NPOTA station other than when I was an activator.

AH6AX (11165S) – Larry answered my CQ, we had worked each other before.  He had a great signal from Maryland today, and it was nice to know I was getting out.  I had been calling CQ for some time with no takers!

KG4LLQ (5883T) – Ken answered my CQ from North Carolina.  Looking at his QRZ page he has some interesting rigs – I hope he was using one of the cool ones for our QSO today!

So in my quest for SKCC Centurion, I am now sitting at 18 unique contacts on my way to 100!

If there is one thing Kansas is known for, its the wind!  Today was no exception!  We had 26 mph steady winds with gusts to 30-40 mph.  This was really bending the old 31′ Jackite over!  At one point one of the lower sections unleashed and fell into the bottom section during a QSO.  I was able to complete the QSO and then get out of the car and fix the antenna!

Today I continued my quest for more SKCC members, and I was not disappointed.  20 meters was great today for me – working from coast to coast from my normal spot in the park.

I started calling CQ on 14.054…

KA2KGP (1494T): came back to my CQ with a 549 report and some QSB from New York.  He was 599.  If you check out Tom’s QRZ page you will read what he told me, and that is that he is deaf.  How amazing is that to work a deaf member of our ham radio community on CW.  QSB got him a bit, but I believe he said that CW is his main mode since he can’t hear voice.  Tom had a nice fist as well!

K4DJ (11060S): came back to my next CQ with a 569 report from North Carolina.  Rich wished me luck in my pursuit of the Centurion SKCC award.  He was running 75 watts on his end.

W1FJI/p (2182): I was tuning around and heard a very faint CQ about 14.054, about a RST of 539, but very weak.  I got his call, so I answered and Art gave me a 559 in return from Massachusetts.  Art was portable either from his car or a park, not sure.  He was running 3 watts – so this was a nice 2xQRP contact.

NS3C (8284T): Richard and I connected on the SKCC Sked page and met at 14.054 – he answered my CQ.  I had worked Richard last week I believe.  This time he was on his KX3 as well in California.  He had a great signal into Kansas.  So this was a nice 2xQRP and 2xKX3 contact!  Thanks Richard!

After that my 60 minutes was up and it was time to head back to the office.  At the pace I am going I think I will reach my goal of 45 portable operation outings much earlier than expected!

After today I am at 17 unique SKCC members worked.  I hope to work at least for a bit Wednesday night in the monthly sprint, but not sure I will be able to leave the kids and wife for 2 hours solid!

If there is one thing Kansas is known for, its the wind!  Today was no exception!  We had 26 mph steady winds with gusts to 30-40 mph.  This was really bending the old 31′ Jackite over!  At one point one of the lower sections unleashed and fell into the bottom section during a QSO.  I was able to complete the QSO and then get out of the car and fix the antenna!

Today I continued my quest for more SKCC members, and I was not disappointed.  20 meters was great today for me – working from coast to coast from my normal spot in the park.

I started calling CQ on 14.054…

KA2KGP (1494T): came back to my CQ with a 549 report and some QSB from New York.  He was 599.  If you check out Tom’s QRZ page you will read what he told me, and that is that he is deaf.  How amazing is that to work a deaf member of our ham radio community on CW.  QSB got him a bit, but I believe he said that CW is his main mode since he can’t hear voice.  Tom had a nice fist as well!

K4DJ (11060S): came back to my next CQ with a 569 report from North Carolina.  Rich wished me luck in my pursuit of the Centurion SKCC award.  He was running 75 watts on his end.

W1FJI/p (2182): I was tuning around and heard a very faint CQ about 14.054, about a RST of 539, but very weak.  I got his call, so I answered and Art gave me a 559 in return from Massachusetts.  Art was portable either from his car or a park, not sure.  He was running 3 watts – so this was a nice 2xQRP contact.

NS3C (8284T): Richard and I connected on the SKCC Sked page and met at 14.054 – he answered my CQ.  I had worked Richard last week I believe.  This time he was on his KX3 as well in California.  He had a great signal into Kansas.  So this was a nice 2xQRP and 2xKX3 contact!  Thanks Richard!

After that my 60 minutes was up and it was time to head back to the office.  At the pace I am going I think I will reach my goal of 45 portable operation outings much earlier than expected!

After today I am at 17 unique SKCC members worked.  I hope to work at least for a bit Wednesday night in the monthly sprint, but not sure I will be able to leave the kids and wife for 2 hours solid!

I got out a bit today to the local park for some more QRP fun chasing SKCC contacts.  I have been using the paddles on the KX3 set to hand mode – but this needs to change.  These seem to work great when using the keyer, but for hand keying it seems like they cut out from time to time while forming the dits and dahs.  A decent hand key is next on the agenda for me!

While I was taking down the antenna and loading up at the end of my session an older gentleman that had been fishing and was parked near me asked if I was some type of weather reporter.  I told him that I was an amateur radio operator and I was using morse code to talk to other stations across the country.  We had a nice chat – I always wonder what people think of me sitting in my car with a 31′ pole and wire strapped to the bollard!

Today I had 4 nice contacts on 20 meters, 3 of them with SKCC members….

NV4U (9744T) – I answered Rons CQ, band was up and down a bit, but he was a nice easy copy from Georgia.

AH6AX (11165S) – Larry was from Maryland and was an easy 599 on my end and he gave me a 539 on his.  Larry answered my CQ.

K2PAY (4304S) – Jerry answered my CQ and gave me a 559.  I had to engage the narrow filter on the KX3 because someone else came on right next to us calling CQ – worked like a champ!  Jerry was in New York and during our first exchange had to take a quick break to help his wife with something – I completely understand this!

KK6GLP – I heard Mike calling CQ around 14.060, and I had time to squeeze in one more before my time was up.  He gave me a 599 and he was also 599 here in Kansas.  Mike was in Roseville, CA and was running 50 watts.  He said he had some bad QRM on his end, so we said 73 and ended our nice contact.  Reading on Mikes QRZ page he can’t have a permanent antenna so he has a “rig in a box” and sets up in his backyard when he wants to operate.

It still amazes me that from a park, with a little antenna and just 5 watts I worked coast to coast today using CW and keying by hand.  I would love to hear a recording of my sending, it sounds good on my end, but I often wonder how the spacing and timing sounds to someone else.  I might have to find a WebSDR and see if I can hear myself sometime.

The strangest thing about today was that I called CQ many times, but I never saw a spot on RBN – this is pretty unusual.

I got out a bit today to the local park for some more QRP fun chasing SKCC contacts.  I have been using the paddles on the KX3 set to hand mode – but this needs to change.  These seem to work great when using the keyer, but for hand keying it seems like they cut out from time to time while forming the dits and dahs.  A decent hand key is next on the agenda for me!

While I was taking down the antenna and loading up at the end of my session an older gentleman that had been fishing and was parked near me asked if I was some type of weather reporter.  I told him that I was an amateur radio operator and I was using morse code to talk to other stations across the country.  We had a nice chat – I always wonder what people think of me sitting in my car with a 31′ pole and wire strapped to the bollard!

Today I had 4 nice contacts on 20 meters, 3 of them with SKCC members….

NV4U (9744T) – I answered Rons CQ, band was up and down a bit, but he was a nice easy copy from Georgia.

AH6AX (11165S) – Larry was from Maryland and was an easy 599 on my end and he gave me a 539 on his.  Larry answered my CQ.

K2PAY (4304S) – Jerry answered my CQ and gave me a 559.  I had to engage the narrow filter on the KX3 because someone else came on right next to us calling CQ – worked like a champ!  Jerry was in New York and during our first exchange had to take a quick break to help his wife with something – I completely understand this!

KK6GLP – I heard Mike calling CQ around 14.060, and I had time to squeeze in one more before my time was up.  He gave me a 599 and he was also 599 here in Kansas.  Mike was in Roseville, CA and was running 50 watts.  He said he had some bad QRM on his end, so we said 73 and ended our nice contact.  Reading on Mikes QRZ page he can’t have a permanent antenna so he has a “rig in a box” and sets up in his backyard when he wants to operate.

It still amazes me that from a park, with a little antenna and just 5 watts I worked coast to coast today using CW and keying by hand.  I would love to hear a recording of my sending, it sounds good on my end, but I often wonder how the spacing and timing sounds to someone else.  I might have to find a WebSDR and see if I can hear myself sometime.

The strangest thing about today was that I called CQ many times, but I never saw a spot on RBN – this is pretty unusual.