AmateurRadio.com

I’m working a bunch of local stations with the little Vibroplex Code Mite Key. It’s taking some patience to keep my speed down, and keep correct spacing at this speed, but also quite satisfying to hear slow code again and carry on actual conversations with hams.

I’ve been hanging around the 7.055 MHz SKCC frequency.

I was surprised to work a new station in Cuba last night. I’ve made at least twenty contacts on this island previously, but this was my first “CL” contact. I was happy to work CL8CF in Baracoa, Guantanamo Cuba.  The previous contacts have always been on 20-17- or 30 meters. I worked this station on 40 meters!

Apparently, this is a new band which is open to a new generation of hams in Cuba and they’re limited to 10 watts of power.

I listen to Arnie Coro (CO2KK) on the Short Wave bands and his “DX’ers” program in the winter months. A few years ago, I came close to working him and wrote him about the contact. He mentioned it on his SWL program and I have a recording of it on a cassette tape, but it’s a very poor quality. Although I could hear him, he couldn’t copy my entire call sign.

I like the percussion rhythms of Cuban music and consider all music to be a “universal language”. I chose the above video because of the music.

I can’t find much information on the web about Ham Radio in Cuba; but found the above video and wanted to share it with my readers. I no longer find the call signs of the previous Cubans stations I’ve worked on the normal data bases. I assume those stations are tightly controlled and difficult to retain. The most common call I now hear from there is CO8LY.

The new small “key” is working well. I’ll be hanging around the slower portions of the bands and enjoying QSO’s until the DX bug returns. I’m glad I found this key. I’ll use it in the field because it’s so small and lightweight. Despite it’s small size, it’s functional.

John Smithson, Jr., N8ZYA, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from West Virginia, USA. Contact him at [email protected].

For the last year or so, I’ve been using PZTLog written by Charlie, M0PZT, which I have found excellent and a pleasure to use.

Charlie has just released uLog (Micro log). As its’ name suggests, it’s a stripped down logging program for people who don’t want anything complicated.It seems to do just that! I downloaded it (like PZTLog, it is free) and installed it in seconds.

It is compatible with the PZTLog database too – so I found that I could point it at my existing PZTLog database file and log QSOs successfully. I checked, too, that I could go back in and use PZTLog – it’s all fine. Some of the database fields used in PZTLog are not populated in uLog – but remember – the point is simple logging!

I like the simplicity of the logging window – which you can just have running – and tab over to the application from whereever you were, when you need to log a QSO.

Update In normal, super-responsive Charlie style – he took a look at the issue I mentioned regarding the Flexi-input and the locator/WAB issue and has amended it. Thanks, Charlie!

Tim Kirby, G4VXE, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from Oxfordshire, England. Contact him at [email protected].

Over the weekend, I decided to grab a copy of the iOS application ‘SOTA Goat’ written by WW1X. I’d seen some nice reviews and I thought it would be fun to take a closer look at some of the SOTA activity.

The application allows you to look at SOTA summits, worldwide, on a map – search for it by name and so on.

You can also look at SOTA related spots from the DX Cluster as well as upcoming alerts of activity from the SOTAWatch website.

It’s nicely put together and particularly at the weekend, it was fun to look at the activity and have a little listen to see what could be heard.

This *might* be where I rethink getting rid of the FT1000MP! The HF antenna was on the FT847 and I was looking for one of the SOTA portables on 14MHz. On the FT847 there was a great deal of noise – I swapped the antenna over onto the FT1000MP and it was clear as a – clear thing! I do have a CW filter in the FT847 too.

I was hoping to hear Richard G3CWI of SOTABeams fame, last weekend operating as GW3CWI/P, but things weren’t quite right on 7 and 14MHz for us.

I like the SOTAGoat app. It’s not free, but it’s well put together and informative. I sense I will enjoy looking out for the SOTA stations. And on the iPhone, it looks a nice way of alerting people, if you’re out portable on a SOTA summit.

Not many summits like the one above close to me! But the screenshot gives you a good idea of the information available about each summit.

Tim Kirby, G4VXE, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from Oxfordshire, England. Contact him at [email protected].

I occasionally use the Yaesu FT-817nd on my SOTA expeditions if I want to use higher bands on the activation or for some odd reason want to operate SSB:-). I actually prefer it to the KX3 simply because it is less bulky and it performs well in the field. One of the concerns I have with taking the 817 is; should I take an external power supply since the internal, rechargable, battery can have a relatively short life span. This is due to the power required to operate the 817 versus smaller, CW only radios. I was looking for a higher capacity battery made for the 817 and came across an interesting offering on EBay. The link is http://www.ebay.com/itm/3000mAh-Polymer-Lithium-Battery-pack-back-door-holder-Yaesu-FT-817-ND-radio-/331093734430?pt=US_Radio_Comm_Antennas&hash=item4d16b9741e#ht_4797wt_706

  The product is a 3000mAh LiPo battery that fits the 817, a replacement for the battery door that allows the battery to be charged by an external charger (included) and a nice stand for the radio. (The battery that comes with the 817 is 1400mAh) All this for $89. Now, it is a product made in China, so it is tough to determine quality, (that's also true for certain US producers as well). I ordered the package and will test it to see if it is as advertised. W4RT offers a similar product but it's priced at $150.00 and the battery is a NiMH.

I have no commercial interest in this product, but it seems worth the money if it delivers as advertised.
Mike Crownover, AD5A, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from Texas, USA. Contact him at [email protected].

Well I've finally done it..

I have ordered my first proper 'rig' It is a Yaesu FT-857D a nice small, portable/mobile unit that will give me access to the HF and 6m/2m/70cm bands in all-modes. It has took a while since I first identified it as potential purchase but thanks to some generous Christmas presents I now have the sufficient funds and following several recommendations have decided to take the plunge and ordered it from Waters and Stanton

She is a beauty!

I have a decent 7A PSU, purchased last year which I am sure would have sufficed for 10W maximum operation however I decided to also purchase a MAAS SPS-30-II 30A(35A peak) PSU. It was a good price from Radiozing and offers plenty of power for anything I am likely to run in the foreseeable future, and from the pictures and reviews seems to be built like the proverbial brick out-house. As well as the main connectors on the back it has spring clip terminals on the front as well as a cigar lighter type connector. Dual meters showing V/A and can be used in variable mode from 9-15V or fixed at 13.8V 

This is the beast!

I have also ordered one of M0CVO Antennas highly rated HW-20HP off centre fed dipoles as a starting point for HF. The antenna works in 6 bands (20, 17, 15, 12, 10 & 6m) without needing an Antenna Tuning Unit (ATU) which is one thing I haven't purchased, however Nigel(M0CVO) Chairman of SKARS (South Kestevan Amateur Radio Society) and owner of M0CVO Antennas has kindly offered to loan me an ATU in the short term.

Delivery should be later this week and I suspect I have a large learning curve ahead of me as I hit the airwaves! If you should hear me please be gentle..
Andrew Garratt, MØNRD, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from East Midlands, England. Contact him at [email protected].

I was shocked and saddened to discover through Facebook, that fellow QRPer and Amateur Radio blogger, Ron Bowman W8VZM became a Silent Key today. From the information that appeared on his timeline, it was revealed that Ron was involved in a fatal car crash.

I had worked Ron a few times on the air and we kept in touch through Facebook, commenting on each other’s posts. Ron was a QRPer, a CW and an HW-8 fan, and was an all around good person, admired by his friends and coworkers.

My thoughts and prayers go out to him and his surviving family, as they go through this time of mourning and loss.

73, Ron. It was my pleasure to have made your acquaintance and to have known you.

Eternal rest, grant unto him, Lord
And may perpetual light shine upon him.
May he rest in peace. Amen.

72 de Larry W2LJ
Take time to let your family and friends know how much you love them. Our time on this Earth is way too short. And to all my Catholic friends out there – as Fr. Z. says …. go to Confession. You never know when you’ll be called Home.

Larry Makoski, W2LJ, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from New Jersey, USA. Contact him at [email protected].

An update from Chris G0FDZ on the GB3VHF service page shows that the beacon came back on air this morning.

There will be a temporary interruption to service at some point when the electricity supply is moved back to the mains from the generator – but the timing of this is not known.

Thanks Chris for sorting it out.

Tim Kirby, G4VXE, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from Oxfordshire, England. Contact him at [email protected].