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Join W5KUB for live coverage of Hamvention 2014 beginning at 1300 UTC today. Astronaut Douglas Wheelock, KF5BOC, will be the guest and co-host on both Friday and Saturday morning. Should be a lot of fun, and definitely entertaining!

Live stream @ http://www.amateurradio.com/live

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I tried SIM31 again, and it sounds familiar like PSK31 and it is a way. But it uses FEC (Forward Error Correction) and it copied signals very well. Much better than PSK31. Good for QRP work. You also can run the software in automatic mode. First I thought, why should I make a contact with a computer. But I did. Today I worked RA3AL/QRP (see photo of his shack) running 1 watt and I was using 5 Watts on 20 meter. Perfect qso. Also worked RN9AZ Asiatic Russia 3500 km. I wonder what the mode will do on 2 or 6 meters. So, when you are in for something new, try SIM31.

Once again, I do not have the good fortune of being able to attend FDIM and Dayton.  Attending FDIM is like, #1 on my wish list, but not this year and probably not next year, either.  Joey’s Confirmation is this weekend and next year, Cara’s will be the same weekend. So maybe FDIM 2016?  I can always hope!

But even though I’m not there, I do have the symposium running on a separate tab and I am listening, while working. http://www.ustream.tv/channel/g4gxl-test is the link, for those of you not in the know.

What I am listening to is mostly over my head.  I’m not a technical wizard by any stretch of the imagination.  Most of these guys making presentations are using transporters while I’m still rubbing two sticks together, trying to make fire.  That said, it’s still fun to listen to. Craig Behrens NM4T gave a talk that I am actually able to follow and enjoy – same for Rev. Dobson’s talk on regenerative receivers earlier this morning. And right now there’s a fascinating talk being given about WWII POWs building clandestine radios by Dave Cripe NM0S. Man, I wish I were there!

All this talk of Arduinos has me curious.  There’s a guy who comes to all the NJ Hamfests who sells beginner kits and I have that ARRL Birthday Month coupon kicking around – and they have a good book on Arduino experimenting, if I remember correctly.  Intriguing (like I don’t have enough to do!).

This afternoon during lunch I had a cool QSO with Gary WA2JQZ who was operating the Marshall Spaceflight Center ARC station WA4NZD. Gary was using a Yaesu FT950 at 5 Watts to a dipole.  He was a good 579 or louder here and I got a 559 in return.  I had actually worked Gary a few weekends ago during QRPttF. So we talked about that among other things.

And I hope I’m not “talking out of school” here, or giving away state secrets, but Gary shared some information that I am going to pass on.  Please listen for N4A later on this year, sometime towards the end of July. The Marshall Spaceflight Center ARC will be using that call to run a Special Event station honoring and commemorating Apollo 11 – which of course, landed on the Moon in July – July 20th, 1969 to be exact.  I’m not sure when they will be on, but I am sure there will be announcements in all the usual places.

As a Baby Boomer, I was a huge manned spaceflight fan/geek.  When I hear about something like this, I make every effort to work the space flight themed Special Event stations – even if it means picking up a microphone (ugh!)

Update – Congrats to TJ Campie, W0EA (fellow blogger) who won one of four TenTec Rebel radios, which were given as door prizes today at FDIM. It was neat to listen in as his name was announced.

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP – When you care enough to send the least!

Yes, it’s ready to view over on www.txfactor.co.uk

Bob and Mike assist Roger G4ROJ with his amazing kite aerials. Nick pays a visit to Ben Nock G4BXD at his Military Wireless Museum in Kidderminster and discovers Ben’s impressive collection of war sets and spy sets. Mike reports from the Exeter Radio and Electronics Rally to find out what people expect from a rally in the 21st century. We also review a new quad-band mobile radio from Wouxun.

We hope you enjoy this bumper edition!

73

Nick 2E0FGQ
TXFactor Team

Today I made my first SIM31 QSO. It took a while before I understood the possibilities of the software. (Het kwartje is gevallen ;-) ) My first qso was with an automatic station CT4KO/QRP on 20 meters. After him I worked SP3AMZ. You have to work with the newest software release. I use now version 6763. It’s nice to try this new software on several bands, to find out how it works. You can find more information & last release on the web site of ON4NB.

Today, sadly, marks the two year anniversary of the passing of my Mom. Some days, it seems like her passing happened so long ago. Other days, the pain is as raw as if it had just happened. I know they say that time heals all wounds, but there are some things you never get over.  And to be honest, I would rather feel the occasional pang of grief than become complacent about her death. There are indeed moments when the emptiness and sadness still rear their ugly head. Fortunately, those sad times are farther and fewer between, and there are many times when the memories invoke moments of joy and laughter or a smile.

In a related matter, the friend of a friend passed away in early April. I mention this, because some of you may have known him – some well, others just in passing. The person I am referring to is Bill Stevenson G4KKI. Sadly, Bill passed away from cancer in early April. Bill was one of the “QRP family”, a FISTS member, an antenna experimenter and he loved going on portable QRP operations. Bill contributed a lot to the various QRP lists with posts about his successes with homebrewing rigs, magloops, and his various portable QRP ops expeditions to various places in his beloved home of England.

His webpage is still up, if you care to have a look:  http://homepage.ntlworld.com/g4kki.william/

And Bill also liked to post videos of his projects and exploits on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/g4kki

A person once said that, “Everybody wants to go to Heaven, but nobody wants to do what they have to do to in order to get there – die.”  I suppose that’s true, but sometimes I think the heavier burden is left with those of us who stay behind.

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP – When you care to send the very least!