DX contact out of the blue!

Good afternoon from VE3WDM, it's a Sunday afternoon and the weather is sunny with a high of +10C. It was a nice day for a walk which my wife and I did mid afternoon. Once home it was time to setup for the software for the up coming CQ WW CW contest. There were some bugs I had to workout with the software and I did without issue. Then there were some minor issues that I am just going to forget about for now. For example I have no idea why my Winkeyer USB when N1MM+ is running will allow me to only control the CW speed but for some reason I just can't seem to communicate with the Winkeyer to setup and execute macros?? I'm not going to sweat it as in the past I have found that once you start monkeying around with the different pieces of software things that did not work now work...........BUT things that did work DONT!
While setting things up I did have the K3 on and the P3 waterfall viewing the 20m band. I did notice TL8AO and the HUGE pileup that was "UP" 2 KHz on the band. Funny thing as I was listening I did find an op more often than not calling on TL8AO's calling freq and not splitting "UP" On the waterfall of the P3 I did notice a new strong CW signal appear so I pointed and clicked over to it. It was HI3Y in the Dominican calling CQ and "UP". I listened as I setup the split and he seemed to be calling without a pileup. I threw my call out there and he came back to me with a report. He was in the books just that easy...now only if my 5 watts could break the pileup with TL8AO that fast! Time to start dinner now.......Tenderloin steak on the BBQ, mini potatoes on the BBQ with butter and rosemary and finally butternut squash........yum! 

Mike Weir, VE9KK, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from New Brunswick, Canada. Contact him at [email protected].

DX contact out of the blue!

Good afternoon from VE3WDM, it's a Sunday afternoon and the weather is sunny with a high of +10C. It was a nice day for a walk which my wife and I did mid afternoon. Once home it was time to setup for the software for the up coming CQ WW CW contest. There were some bugs I had to workout with the software and I did without issue. Then there were some minor issues that I am just going to forget about for now. For example I have no idea why my Winkeyer USB when N1MM+ is running will allow me to only control the CW speed but for some reason I just can't seem to communicate with the Winkeyer to setup and execute macros?? I'm not going to sweat it as in the past I have found that once you start monkeying around with the different pieces of software things that did not work now work...........BUT things that did work DONT!
While setting things up I did have the K3 on and the P3 waterfall viewing the 20m band. I did notice TL8AO and the HUGE pileup that was "UP" 2 KHz on the band. Funny thing as I was listening I did find an op more often than not calling on TL8AO's calling freq and not splitting "UP" On the waterfall of the P3 I did notice a new strong CW signal appear so I pointed and clicked over to it. It was HI3Y in the Dominican calling CQ and "UP". I listened as I setup the split and he seemed to be calling without a pileup. I threw my call out there and he came back to me with a report. He was in the books just that easy...now only if my 5 watts could break the pileup with TL8AO that fast! Time to start dinner now.......Tenderloin steak on the BBQ, mini potatoes on the BBQ with butter and rosemary and finally butternut squash........yum! 

Mike Weir, VE9KK, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from New Brunswick, Canada. Contact him at [email protected].

ICQ Podcast Episode 224 – All I want for Christmas is …

In this episode, Martin M1MRB / W9ICQ is joined by Leslie Butterfield G0CIB, Chris Howard M0TCH and Andy Mace M0MUX to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. Colin M6BOY rounds up the news in brief, and this episode’s features is All I want for Christmas is ...

  • Vanity Call Sign Rule Changes Petition
  • Amateurs Criticize UK TV Show
  • Possible SW Radio Solution to Worldwide Web Access
  • Does Revised Driving Law Restrict Hams?
  • Apply for Youngsters On The Air UK 2017
  • White House Pushes for more Tiny Satellites
  • New version of ROS data mode
  • 2016 ITU Radio Regulations Released

Colin Butler, M6BOY, is the host of the ICQ Podcast, a weekly radio show about Amateur Radio. Contact him at [email protected].

ICQ Podcast Episode 224 – All I want for Christmas is …

In this episode, Martin M1MRB / W9ICQ is joined by Leslie Butterfield G0CIB, Chris Howard M0TCH and Andy Mace M0MUX to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. Colin M6BOY rounds up the news in brief, and this episode’s features is All I want for Christmas is ...

  • Vanity Call Sign Rule Changes Petition
  • Amateurs Criticize UK TV Show
  • Possible SW Radio Solution to Worldwide Web Access
  • Does Revised Driving Law Restrict Hams?
  • Apply for Youngsters On The Air UK 2017
  • White House Pushes for more Tiny Satellites
  • New version of ROS data mode
  • 2016 ITU Radio Regulations Released

Colin Butler, M6BOY, is the host of the ICQ Podcast, a weekly radio show about Amateur Radio. Contact him at [email protected].

Amateur Radio Weekly – Issue 133

Scientists are bringing back vacuum tubes
A group of scientists have developed super-efficient microscopic vacuum tubes that may be able to outperform semiconductors.
Popular Mechanics

3D print your next paddle
Mini Iambic Magnetic Morse Paddle is designed for portable or SOTA operation.
Thingiverse

End fed half wave antennas
End feeding antennas can be an incredibly convenient configuration because you only need one support (like a tree).
High on Solder

You can swing a dead cat but you shouldn’t swing your Bug
If it ain’t got that swing, that’s a good thing
N4PBQ

Funny old hobby
Our hobby is based upon communication – Yet, when face-to-face, we suck at it…
M0PZT

Amateur Radio satellites
Check the status and communication frequencies of all active Amateur Radio satellites.
N2YO

Comparing the weak signal performance of a WBR Regen with a K2
The WBR seems to get a bit of a bad rap with some people for it’s sensitivity. Based on my experience, this design does seem to be fairly deaf on AM, but the sensitivity on SSB/CW is fine.
AA7EE

SOTA Super Activation
The aim of the event is to get as many Summit to Summit – “S2S” – contacts as possible. The summit contacts can be between North America and Europe or within the regions themselves.
Southgate

Antarctica expedition
Felix, DL5XL (N5BC), will once again operate from Antarctica using his call sign DP1POL. Activity will be from November 2016 to February 2017.
DL5XL

Small-scale EME setup
you don’t need a huge antenna system to operate EME (moonbounce) successfully.
ARRL

Portable shortwave spectrum capture for the urban city dweller
Lightweight, portable set-up that would let me capture large chunks of the shortwave radio spectrum out in the field, which I could later explore in detail.
The SWLing Post

Copying GRLevel3 settings to another computer
Like many other Windows programs, preference data is stored in the registry, and this provides a somewhat easy work around.
Kevin.Sanders.io


Amateur Radio Weekly is curated by Cale Mooth K4HCK. Sign up free to receive ham radio's most relevant news, projects, technology and events by e-mail each week at http://www.hamweekly.com.

Saturday’s 630m Crossband Night – Reminder


This is a reminder of tomorrow's '630m activity night'. Highlights of the evening will see six different Canadian stations seeking contacts with other amateurs in North America via the 'crossband mode' as they call CQ on 630m CW but listen for replies on their announced (QSX) HF frequency. As well, there will be an increased level of on-air activity from many of the U.S. experimental stations, as they beacon or work each other on various modes including CW and JT9, the WSPR QSO-mode. The experimental stations are also seeking your reception reports.

More information may be found here regarding the activity night, including a detailed list of participating Canadians along with their respective transmitting and QSX HF listening frequencies.

As is often the case, old 'Sol is threatening to throw some junk our way over the next day or two, right on time for our event but please don't let that stop you from participating as often this can actually enhance propagation, especially on the north-south path.

We hope to see many of you tomorrow night!

Steve McDonald, VE7SL, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from British Columbia, Canada. Contact him at [email protected].

LHS Episode #178: A Thor and A Beer

thor-s-hammer-bottle-opener-0In the latest episode of Linux in the Ham Shack, Bill plays dead for Halloween. In his absence, Russ and Cheryl discuss long-distance 2-meter communication, vanity call sign rules, Windows 10 embedding Linux, Wal-mart, Arch Linux, Norse gods, fake Mexican food and a whole lot more. Thank you for tuning in. We appreciate you!

73 de The LHS Crew


Russ Woodman, K5TUX, co-hosts the Linux in the Ham Shack podcast which is available for download in both MP3 and OGG audio format. Contact him at [email protected].

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