Saturday

I’ve been recovering from a cold, so I have been on as much as I’d like. I had a couple notable QSOs today:

W7DK/90: The Radio Club of Tacoma’s 90th Anniversary special event station. An ARRL-affiliated Special Service Club since 1920, the Radio Club of Tacoma will mark the occasion with a homecoming dinner October 21 and a week-long operating event with certificates. Special event station W7DK/90 will be on the air October 16-22, and for part of the event will put its “old oak rig” — a circa 1930 breadboard-style AM transmitter — on the air. “We have done some historical research, and it’s been very interesting,” says the club’s Peter Baker, AD7EU. One item that turned up was a W7DK QSL card from 1938.

JOTA: Jamboree On The Aira nearly 50-year-old tradition — provides an opportunity to showcase Amateur Radio for Boy and Girl Scouts and Guides, Cub Scouts and Brownies around the world, some of whom will be part of the next generation of radio amateurs. I had a nice QSO with two Scouts up in Wisconsin. One Scout was a 2nd Class and the other Life.

CW QSOs: the first few on 20M and 30M had the op at the other end blazing away a little to fast for me. I then went down to the good ol’ Novice sub-band on 40M and had a nice QSO with Fred, KC2IOD. His callsign looked familiar and sure enough – I worked him when I activated the Old Point Comfort Lighthouse (USA-567) back in February.

FISTS: I received the latest issue of the FISTS periodical. Lots of good reading.

CW advice

From: Barton, Jim
Sent: Monday, December 19, 2005 2:54 PM
Subject: CW QSO’s

Scott,
If I offered any advice at all, it’d be to just jump in and get on the air. I’m usually on or around the FISTS frequencies on 20m & 40m (14058 & 7058) most evenings CST, (although this pre-Christmas week will be kinda busy). If you hear me banging away on a CQ, or finishing a QSO, give me a buzz and tell me to slow down. We can move up or down to clear the calling freq, and have some fun.

The CCN net is a cool way to break in too; I’m new to that, but do enjoy it when I can.

Getting interested in earning CW certificates from CCN or FISTS or anyone else can be a great motivator to get involved and work on your code speed. About every national club or organization has its ways of recognizing members for doing what they enjoy.

Again, jump on in, ask for a QRS if necessary and have a ball … I’m looking forward to working you both.

Vy 73,
Jim
KE5CXX