lundi 4 décembre 2023

• Radio inactive weekend
  No radio time for W2LJ this past weekend. It was time for decorating the interior of the house and also time for the annual Christmas light fight. I was too busy setting up the tree (artificial - real ones play havoc with my sinuses) and just about pulling out my gray hair over Christmas (...)
  
  

vendredi 1er décembre 2023

• Skywarn Recognition Day & more
  Rare second post for the day: Skywarn Recognition Day starts tonight night at 7:00 PM EST and runs all day Saturday until 7:00 PM EDT. That would be December 2, 2023 from 0000UTC to 2400 UTC. This annual event was developed in 1999 by the National Weather Service and the American Radio Relay (...)
  
  
• Hunting the 80 Meter Foxes - lesson learned
  Last night, during the event, the K Index was zero and the Geomagnetic Field was "Very Quiet". The CMEs had not had their effect .......yet. This morning is a different story with the K index up at 7 and the Geomagnetic Field is described as "Severe Storm". I can see why forecasters are saying (...)
  
  

jeudi 30 novembre 2023

• Aurora Alert!
  Today and tomorrow, December 1st, we will be feeling the effects of three CME's all headed our way. NOAA ,as well as a private meteorologist that I follow and trust (he is amazingly spot on when forecasting winter storms and how they will affect New Jersey) are both predicting that even New (...)
  
  

mercredi 29 novembre 2023

• Tuesday night 40 Meter Fox Hunt ...... grrrr
  The evening started off in the best possible manner. I stumbled upon Drew K9CW's loud signal from Indiana right off the bat. Realizing that this loud signal was indeed one of the Foxes, I quickly called him and worked him at 0202 UTC. Two minutes in, I think that's the earliest I've ever worked (...)
  
  

mardi 28 novembre 2023

• Christmas is a comin' and the goose is getting fat......
  So what Ham Radio goodie are you asking from Santa this year? It's been a long time since I've asked Santa (Marianne) for anything Amateur Radio related, but this year I have asked for one of these:The Elecraft AX-1 and the 40 Meter coil extender (and the little base thingy that supports it on (...)
  
  

lundi 27 novembre 2023

• It's funny
  For the last week, the CW portions of the bands have been occupied virtually, wall to wall, in preparation for CQ WW DX and for the duration of the contest itself. After the St. Max Net ended on 75 Meters at 0030 UTC last night, I went up to the higher bands for a quick listen. Pffffffffft! (...)
  
  

samedi 25 novembre 2023

• Got 'em this time!
  This time, it's definite. I am in the 4W8X log. I set HamAlert for them and it was chirping all day. The problem was that all the spots were coming from Europe. That's when I decided to go to the Reverse Beacon Network and set it up to show the spots for 4W8X. When the map showed the station (...)
  
  

vendredi 24 novembre 2023

• Busted DX
  CQ WW DX will be dominating the weekend. There are no other contests or even Special Event Stations scheduled for the weekend. Personally, I'll be chasing 4W8X in Timore-Leste again. I worked him on 15 Meters a while back, but I checked in ClubLog and I'm not in their log. However, W2LO is in (...)
  
  

jeudi 23 novembre 2023

• QHT !
  And now, bless the God of all, who has done wondrous things on earth;Who fosters people’s growth from their mother’s womb, and fashions them according to His will!May He grant you joy of heart and may peace abide among you;May His goodness toward us endure in Israel to deliver us in our days. 72 (...)
  
  

mercredi 22 novembre 2023

• Thanksgiving Day 2023
  "Hurry with that Turkey, Jeeves. I'm awfully Hungary - and then bring Samoa!" Technically, it's the day before Thanksgiving Day 2023, here in the USA. Tomorrow is going to be filled with cooking chores and last minute straightening up of the house, so I thought I'd post today. My wishes are for (...)
  
  

mardi 21 novembre 2023

• You can teach an old dog new (old) tricks
  I had a Homer Simpson "D'Oh" moment last night, and I'm embarrassed to admit it. It's almost a Rookie mistake. One of those "Why didn't I think of that before?" moments. Also, one of those "I should have known better" moments. I checked into the St. Max last night on 75 Meters. There was a lot (...)
  
  
• It's a BIGGIE!
  Just a brief post today. Don't forget that this weekend (Saturday and Sunday) is the CQ WWDX CW Contest! This one, along with the ARRL DX Contest are perhaps the Kings of Amateur Radiosport. A good thing to remember is that a lot of DX stations are on the air now, setting up and getting ready, (...)
  
  

samedi 18 novembre 2023

• Thanksgiving Special Event
  I mentioned yesterday about a Thanksgiving Special Event Station that I used to enjoy working. I thumbed through my collection of certificates last night and found this one: The Whitman Amateur Radio Club in Massachusetts used to put WA1NPO on the air from the Plimoth Plantation. This (...)
  
  

vendredi 17 novembre 2023

• The Weekend
  Before getting into weekend happenings - the NorCal 40 is back - this time offered by NM0S Electronics, with the express permission of Wayne Burdick N6KR. Details at: https://sites.google.com/nm0s.com/home/norcal-40b?fbclid=IwAR2_G-GCw7K65dgnXd6z09oZvYeObLtGerevsoHh-wsn6QYuvNYlOsYpV2I Contests (...)
  
  

jeudi 16 novembre 2023

• When will it end?
  QRP Image of the Day A couple of iterations of the Four State QRP Group Bayou Jumper - photo by Gary Chambers, Jr. So the question for the day is, will my newly found QRP Fox Hunt streak come to an end tonight? Will my luck finally run out? Tonight's Foxes for the 80 Meter Hunt are Jim N0UR in (...)
  
  

mercredi 15 novembre 2023

• Sunday
  QRP Image of the Day My shack, as I haven't posted a photo in a while. I like this ratio so much that I have made it the blog's banner. Here's a more conventional one, more like your standard 4" X 6" print, back in the Dark Ages when we used film cameras. I got on 10 Meters in the morning and (...)
  
  
• Radio active night
  I don't know what the heck was going on last night, but boy-howdy, was there a lot of traffic on the way home from work last night! My normal commute home from the western side of the state to South Plainfield is just under an hour. Last night's commute was 90 minutes with a sea of red tail (...)
  
  

mardi 14 novembre 2023

• Another DXpedition in the log
  This time it was Timore-Leste, 4W8X on 15 Meters at 21.030 MHz, UP 1. And the antenna weapon of choice was my W3EDP, which was kind of a little bit of karma, as I had a guy insisting to me yesterday that end feds are "bad antennas". He was incredulous that I held to my opinion that I have had (...)
  
  

dimanche 12 novembre 2023

• Not a total loss
  Yesterday, I had my weekly Skype session with Bob W3BBO. One of things that came up in our weekly yak-fest was that Bob discovered that his GADS antenna (Gutters And Downspouts) will load up on 160 Meters. In fact, I have W3BBO loaded into my HamAlert app, and when he was CQing Friday night, I (...)
  
  

samedi 11 novembre 2023

• Coming up this weekend
  The weekend is here! Here are some Amateur Radio events coning up this weekend for your QRP and/or CW operating pleasure. OK/OM DX Contest, CW - http://okomdx.crk.cz/index.php?page=english 4 States Second Sunday Sprint - https://www.4sqrp.com/4sqrpOnTheAir.php FISTS Fall Sprint - (...)
  
  

vendredi 10 novembre 2023

• Happy camper
  You've all heard the expression, right? "He's a happy camper!" or "She's a happy camper!" This morning I have to say that "I'm a happy hunter!" Last night was the 80 Meter QRP Fox Hunt and I stayed up past my bedtime to participate. Before I get into talking about the Hunt, I'd like to (...)
  
  

jeudi 9 novembre 2023

• Contest ...... or Operating Event?
  That's the question that rears its head many times and seems to divide the ranks of POTAteers (at least on Faceboook, anyway.) Some, who have competitive genes running through their bodies, are into it because they love the short exchanges, the ability to accumulate high numbers of QSOs in a (...)
  
  

mercredi 8 novembre 2023

• Shook the rust out
  Last night was the inaugural 40 Meter Hunt of the 2023 - 2024 Winter QRP Foxhunt Season. I have not actively participated in the Hunts for about 3 or 4 years. I was wondering how it was going to go considering the length of time that I've been away from them. To my satisfaction, it went pretty (...)
  
  

mardi 7 novembre 2023

• Review time
  I try to avoid making two posts in one day, but the QRP Foxhunts are starting up tonight for the 2023-2024 Winter Season and I'm seriously considering participating again. That being said, this needs to be read AND posted in every shack (mine included - it's a good reminder!): And it's not just (...)
  
  
• Quickie video
  Bas PE4BAS ignited an idea in my brain about getting the audio that Bob sent me of his Progressive Receiver incorporated into the blog. I decided to let my video maker software generate a quick, down and dirty video. I apologize for the roughness of this effort, as the images are appearing (...)
  
  

lundi 6 novembre 2023

• I wish I could build stuff like this
  My friend Bob, W3BBO has been working on a Progressive Receiver for the past months and finally got it to the point of his satisfaction. There are two parts to it - the receiver itself and them the Converter Box which contains the outboard speaker and the modules which let him choose between (...)
  
  

samedi 4 novembre 2023

• Headphones
  Picked these up on eBay for about 10 bucks, and they were delivered on Thursday. I took them down to the shack that evening and worked a couple POTA stations. They are satisfactory. For the past number of years, I have used earbuds. What I liked about them is they were loud. What I didn't like (...)
  
  

vendredi 3 novembre 2023

• Zombie Shuffle Preliminary Results
  Paul NA5N posted these on Wednesday evening: And to no surprise (even though it might be hard to read) W2LJ is a comfortable 42 out of 105 entries received so far. (I was only able to screenshot down to line 88). I'm sure that if more entries are received, I'll probably drop a few notches down. (...)
  
  

jeudi 2 novembre 2023

• One way or the other, please!
  We move back to Standard Time this weekend in most of the US (I think Arizona doesn't and I think maybe Indiana doesn't) and last weekend, it was Europe's turn. Can we pick one and keep it that way all year around, please? I'd be happy with either EST or DST all year around - this change gets (...)
  
  

mercredi 1er novembre 2023

• Solar report
  With ARRL Sweepstakes CW coming this weekend, I thought it would be a good thing to post the solar forecast. And so it begins for Central New Jersey: One of the chores I will have to complete this weekend is to go out and buy a new winter coat/jacket. My old one was so battered and tattered (...)
  
  

mardi 31 octobre 2023

• Excelsior! - K2ORS!
  Jean Shepherd was an American raconteur, author, radio show host perhaps best known for the movie "A Christmas Story" which originally appeared in his books "In God We Trust - All Others Pay Cash" and "Wands Hickey's Night of Golden Memories". I saw this picture on Facebook and had to (...)
  
  

lundi 30 octobre 2023

• Something new? (To me, at least)
  In addition to QRPSPOTS, it looks lie we have a new tool in town - QRP Cluster. At least it's new to me - I've never come across this before until a day or two ago - I just might be mightily behind the times. This is from their "About QRP Cluster" info: Why QRP Cluster? Broadcasting with low (...)
  
  
• The zombies have shuffled
  I had a good time participating in the Zombie Shuffle on Friday night. I played hooky from my radio club meeting, but it was recorded on Zoom. I will watch the recording and will provide minutes for the next meeting. In all I worked sixteen station in about 90 minutes of air time, one on 80 (...)
  
  

vendredi 27 octobre 2023

• Unintended consequences of the KH1
  Posted to the POTA Facebook page by Mike Maciel. So ....... what's going on this weekend? First off, the Zombie Shuffle is tonight! Can't forget about that! ARRL EME Contest : https://contests.arrl.org/arrlemescoresubmission.php - I know that a local club here in NJ, The Delaware Valley Radio (...)
  
  

jeudi 26 octobre 2023

• HomeBoo
  This appeared on Facebook on the Radio Aficionados page posted by Pedro Sanchez Carcelen. Speaking of "Boo!", please remember tomorrow night is the Zombie Shuffle. I will not be able to participate as I have to go to a club meeting (I'm secretary so I kinda HAVE to be there - durn!), which (...)
  
  

mercredi 25 octobre 2023

• Another problem solved
  I was having a problem with my Bencher Mercury paddle. The dit paddle was being real finicky. I originally thought it was a dirty contact, so I cleaned it and it would work for a while and then stop. Then I thought maybe I just had the spacing adjusted incorrectly, so I re-adjusted that. It (...)
  
  

mardi 24 octobre 2023

• Morse Code
  First the QRP Image of the Day: Posted to Facebook by Peter OO7Z - who had a QSO with Reiner DL5YJN, who was using his homebrewed transceiver. Every now and then I like to post about what it takes to learn Morse Code. After 45 years of being an Amateur Radio Op, I've learned that the journey is (...)
  
  

lundi 23 octobre 2023

• As expected
  Keeping an on the newly renamed "Elecraft - AX/KX/KH" io.group over the weekend, sales of the KH1 are brisk. I didn't look to be honest, but I'm not even sure a shipping date has been announced. And I guess it's just me, but I was amazed that so many people were willing to plunk down money, (...)
  
  

dimanche 22 octobre 2023

• Sitting in the shack
  For an unbooked Saturday, it was a very busy Saturday! Woke up to a gloomy and rainy morning but still got a lot done including getting a haircut which was very badly needed! I'm down here in the shack after dinner and I've worked a few POTA stations and Andy HB9CVQ on 30 Meters. 80 and 40 (...)
  
  

vendredi 20 octobre 2023

• New from Elecraft- from Steve WG0AT on Facebook
  https://elecraft.com/products/kh1-f 72 de Larry W2LJQRP - When you care to send the very least!
  
  
• On the air after dinner
  I didn't have any meetings or anywhere that I had to go last evening, so after dinner I popped down the basement and turned on the rig. I worked three POTA stations, two on 20 Meters and one on 15 Meters. Then I saw that China was spotted on 15 Meters while I was still on the band. I twiddled (...)
  
  

jeudi 19 octobre 2023

• Humor for the day
  You know you're a Ham when your wife or girlfriend scrolls through your phone and all she can see are Amateur Radio apps, photos of rigs, antennas and Field Day and the phone numbers for GigaParts, HRO and DX Engineering! 72 de Larry W2LJQRP - When you care to send the very (...)
  
  

mercredi 18 octobre 2023

• Something new from Elecraft?
  Or perhaps someone else? This was an e-mail thread on the Elecraft-KX io.group, and the main discussion was entitled "KX3 and a KX2?" The answers started to go a little off-topic with speculation on whether or not we would ever see a KX4 and what it should have. Then this appeared: Intriguing. (...)
  
  
• Got them in the log!
  Before running the South Plainfield ARES/RACES last night, I saw TO8FH spotted on 15 Meters, so I gave it a shot. They were only about 449 to 559 here, so I didn't expect too much, and was not disappointed. At the top of the hour, around 0000 UTC, I saw them spotted on 17 Meters, where they (...)
  
  

lundi 16 octobre 2023

• "How To Day"
  Yesterday was "How To Day" at the JFK Library in Piscataway, NJ. Through the efforts of SPARC member Harry KC2PGX, The South Plainfield Amateur Radio Club attended and put on a demonstration of Amateur Radio and Morse Code. I didn't think I was going to be able to attend as my team had a VE (...)
  
  
• A good HF Sunday
  First, the QRP Image of the Day: Taken from Facebook - love the photo! It's so this time of the year! I managed to get on the air in the late morning. It was a productive session and yet disappointing at the same time. I worked seven different POTA stations on 20, 15 and 10 Meters. After I (...)
  
  

samedi 14 octobre 2023

• Ham Radio Video
  This is a relatively new one, brought to my attention by Stig Eustice LA5OTA, who - believe it or not, is a member of SPARC. Stig has relatives who live in South Plainfield and he came over to New Jersey a few years ago for a family reunion. He was made a member of SPARC and maintains contact (...)
  
  

vendredi 13 octobre 2023

• Coming this weekend
  On Saturday, I'll be assisting fellow SPARC member Harry KC2PGX at a Morse Code demonstration at a local library for "How To Day". I'm not 1000% how he's going to have this set up, but I believe he'll have a couple of code practice oscillators set up along with a laptop running a decoder (...)
  
  

mercredi 11 octobre 2023

• Crud
  This is getting to be like the movie "Groundhog Day" where we just repeat the same thing over and over and over. The forecast for the weekend: I was hoping to finally get the opportunity to play around with the Buddistick on top of the Jeep and do some analysis using the NanoVNA. That's the (...)