Month: October 2006

Lunchtime QSO!

Jim, N8NLE answerd by CQ on 7.112 MHz during my luch break. Jim had a nice signal for Toledo, OH that cut through some rough band conditions. We did the standard exchange (RST, name, QTH, rig, antenna and WX) and then I had to QRT. I believe Jim was using a straight key. I’d like to be able to tell the difference between a straight key and a bug.

W7 QSL Bureau

I received some cards today for my old KD7PJQ callsign from the W7 QSL Bureau. The coolest one was from Senegal – there was also another from Grenada and one from Croatia. A bunch from Germany. After I’ve sent out what’s left of the W4M cards, I am going to consolidate my old KD7PJQ log with my AD7MI log and figure out exactly where I am at towards DXCC. My guess is that I’m still short by about twenty confirmed entities.

Lunch contact

I had a short QSO with Ray, W3YBF during lunch today. After my second call of CQ on 7.114 MHz, Ray came back with a nice 599 signal. He started out sending faster than I could copy, but then slowed down. I wish had had more time for a longer QSO.

I’m also slowing sending out the remainder of the certificates and QSL cards from the W4M Memorial Day special event station. These are to folks who have not sent a SASE (or anything else), but I figured I might as well send out the certificates I’ve printed and the QSL cards that I have.

FISTS: Basic Century Award

I want to work towards this award. I need to finish logging in a bunch of QSL cards and see how many points I have.

The Century Award is earned by working 100 points of FISTS members. FISTS operating from the same country that you are in are worth one point. FISTS operating from a different country, as defined by DXCC rules, are worth two points. FISTS affiliated club stations are worth three points.

The following FISTS National Club Stations are worth 5 points towards FISTS awards;

GXØIPX #1, ZL6FF #9600, VK2FDU #9610, and KNØWCW #10,000

Radio Room Reconfiguration

Spent some time today reworking the shack…. still have a bit more to do.

(1) I was using two different power supplies – a PS-125 (25 amps) for the IC-706MKIIG and a different power supply for the FT-2800M (2M FM), and FT-1500M/KPC3+ (2M FM packet). I am now using the Alinco DM-330MVT (32 amps) to power the IC-706MKIIG and the FT-2800M. I’m now using the RigRunner 4010S for power distribution. I still need to make a power cable for the RigBlaster so I can get rid of the wallwart.

(2) I moved the FT-1500/KPC3+ and the other power supply out to the garage. My intent is to hook it up to the garage computer. I’ll be able to access the packet functions over the network.

(3) The weather station is down! I plan on getting that working off the garage computer as well.

(4) Heathkit SB-220 – now in the shack. But I’m still a long way from getting it operational. I need to make a list of everything I need to do to get it operational. Part of that will include putting my heavy duty MFJ tuner into action.

Saturday QSOs

I had a 40M CW QSO with Lee, WA1YDG from Hanover, MA. According to QRZ.com, Lee holds a Novice license… which is pretty unique. I’m not sure if I’ve ever had a QSO with someone with a Novice license.

Also got W1AA on 40M LSB – they were activating a lighthouse (USA-820?).

This afternoon I got on 30M briefly (after I got no response on 40M) and had a QSO with Brian, WB9TPA. Lots of QSB and QRM. Finally was able to get his name and his QTH (WI). He was using a straight key (… maybe a bug?) – it seems like it is hard for those folks to slow down (QRS). Their dots and dashes sometimes get distorted.

Lots of wind and rain last night and today, but so far the new rope support for the center of the inverted vee is holding up. If the weather is nice tomorrow, I will try to put up the Carolina Windom.

Friday morning QSOs

I had the day off and had time to get on the radio this morning for three QSOs this morning. The first was Eric, F5xxx, near Bordeaux, France on 20M SSB. Eric told me he was near the Atlantic coast and gave me a WX report with the temp in Celsius and I told him I was also near the Atlantic and gave him a WX report with the temp in Fahrenheit. The DX packet cluster had a spot from Australia, I don’t remember the band, but I could barely hear the signal and listen to an op in Tennessee work him. That is huge – I’ve never heard a station west of California, east of Moscow, or south of Algeria. It gives me hope that with further antenna improvement, I’ll be able to work Hawaii, Japan, and Australia.

The next QSO was 40M CW with Dick, N2xxx, from Akron, NY. Nice QSO, Dick had a solid signal. The final QSO was also 40M CW with Rik, KB1BIC – the same gentlemen I talked to a few days ago. Our initial exchange was good, but Rik picked up the speed a bit and all I got was a jumble of letters. Just more motivation to keep working on my CW.

I received an email from The Willamette Valley DX Club – home to the ARRL 7th District Incoming QSL Bureau. They said they had some QSL cards for AD7MI and would I please send them a little bit of money for postage so they can mail them to me. I was able to mail off the check and hope to get the cards soon. I wonder who they’re from? It’s always neat getting cards from the bureau.

I got my Blinky Light kit from Electronics Rainbow. My plan is to modify it a bit and use it for Halloween.

Special Event Station N6T

Amateur Radio Technology Day is two years old and to celebrate we are operating a special event station with the callsign N6T from Oct 7 – 1600Z until Oct 8 – 0300Z.

Frequencies
14.240, 14.044
7.240, 7.044

We are offering special QSL cards to commemorate the event to all stations who QSOed with us for the event. QSLs should follow the ARRL rules for special event stations by sending your QSL card and QSO information along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) to the address below.

QSL
David A. Cooper
270 Redwood Shores Pky.
PMB #41
Redwood City, CA 94065