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Subjects related to amateur radio
📡 Moderated by: Queen_City_Nerd
POTA- Parks On the Air — Have you heard someone calling CQ POTA, or maybe a pile up trying to reach an operator and they're just giving an RST (signal report) and a SPC (State Code)? It might be a Parks on the Air station. They are portable operations set up in a park as defined by the program and it's a type of radio sport again where you're trying to collect contacts. You can be an Activator, (in the park) or a Hunter, (not in a park) to collect points and make lists and all the usual stuff....
💬 View post · Aug 15 · 3 days ago
Radio Clubs... — I realized that I probably post a lot of club stuff and haven't explained this. So Ham Radio... There's different modes like Side Band, AM, FM (talking on the radio) there's digial, using your computer to send sounds that will be decoded by another computer, there's CW continious wave or Morse Code. Code is sometimes called "the original mode" and the people at FISTS used to say, "talk is cheap, real hams beep!" It's not for everyone... There's different bands, this is how...
💬 1 like · Aug 15 · 4 days ago
NAQCC Sprint 14AUG24 0033-0233z (20:30-22:30 EDT Tuesday 13 August)
💬 2 comments · Aug 13 · 5 days ago
Ham Radio... I was tuned into 40m this morning and I also had the SKCC Sked page up which is a real time chat room for SKCC members to use on line. There's a fellow NY'er AD2DX and Nate's hangin on 20m but bouncing around looking for QSO's shen he chanced on an Australian ham on 14Mhz as well (also a SKCC person so on the Sked page) 10 watts and timing and they made it happen. There's plenty of times your on the air and you say "asshats.." when you hear them operating like Lids, but there's...
💬 View post · Aug 13 · 5 days ago
What a difference a day makes: Yesterday I was doing really well It was Weekend Sprint from SKCC and I caught some pota and a Maryland QSO party. RST ranged from 339-599 with my 5w set up. Today/this evening I can't get a how do you do! Didn't get any more WES hits or the SST slow speed test that' happens Friday and Sunday evenings in EDT. K index bounced up so that's a good sign that lQRP will be hard to do! Good sign for Aurora though if you're in Northern Tier states. [https link]
💬 View post · Aug 12 · 7 days ago
Strange one here : how do you read a UTC post for an event? The Flying Pigs had a "walk the Pigs Sprint" It was adtertised as August 7, 0-1UTC and August 8, 1-2UTC. I read that as Aug, 6 20-21 local and same with next day. Apparently I'm wrong and they use local date with unicersal time at Flying Pigs which seems like mixing Feet and Meters too me. I know the Flying Pigs like a bit of whimsy in their lot but I don't know any other event organizer that manages time/date like this. It saves...
💬 View post · Aug 08 · 11 days ago
Small Sprints — I've been thinking abour the small club based sprints lately. While it wasn't so much a thing when I was younger in the hobby I think it's really grown on me. Working, not being able to afford the radio set up of our parents, we're time and cash strapped and having these QRP or otherwise CW events that can bracket for QRP and lighter equipment footprints really keeps us going. I can squeeze in an hour to play radio, and lots of soapbox comments reflect the same, "had to leave...
💬 View post · Aug 06 · 13 days ago
ARS Spartan Sprint — The Adventure Radio Society Spartan Sprint is a two hour casual QRP contest. It is open to all QRP CW operators – there is not any membership requirement. Operating portable and/or using lightweight minimalist (spartan) equipment is encouraged, but is not required. THE CONTEST PERIOD FOR EACH TIME ZONE IS: EASTERN 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Local. CENTRAL 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Local MOUNTAIN 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Local PACIFIC 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Local Details: [https...
💬 View post · Aug 05 · 2 weeks ago
Up early today, Decided to spin the dial and turned out 40m is still where it's at from 0300 to 0400 EDT but mostly southern and western states. Copied and replied to W7QQQ in Benson Arizona, he replied SRI TOO WEAK 73... bummer too I never hear AZ! My antenna is pointing east so the radiation pattern is north south for me and of course we're still in the wake of the solar weather. Always next time.
💬 View post · Aug 03 · 2 weeks ago
Solar Weather Blues... It's been a hard week for QRP with the "solar tsunami" hitting us, had my 1st ever 119 RST rprt back... Probably a good moment to remember to check the Reverse Beacon Network as see how the bands are working, and also to shift operations where you can to after dark, though I find I have more luck in the morning 0600-0800 local. Other news, tried my hamstick in the back of the pickup and it worked but saw a Japanese ham out a wire on the top rather than the solid element...
💬 2 comments · Aug 02 · 2 weeks ago
Some Ham Radio events this week for CW QRP: Flying Pigs Walk the Pig 40 Wednesday/Thursday . QRP-Labs has the QCX challenge going on, too. Finally the Slow Speed Tests are Friday's and Sunday's . [https link] [http link] [http link]
💬 View post · Jul 29 · 3 weeks ago
Two secondhand QCX-Minis arrived in the mail today, 20-meter and 40-meter models. 😁 It's rad that you can use them as Morse trainers in addition to their main functions. I'm including 3/4-amp fuses in their power supply cable, which should be high enough according to the manual... I bought some 1-amp fuses just in case though.
💬 1 comment · Jul 26 · 3 weeks ago
Came in 7/11 in the QRP stations for the SKS this month! I don't do it for the rankings though so all good there. Just nice to see 11 other brave amateurs out there running below 5 watts! This Sunday is FOBB event. The Adventure Radio Society Flight of the Bumblebees is a four-hour event held annually on the last Sunday of July. It is open to all QRP CW operators – there is not any membership requirement. The Bumblebees are the stations that are out in the field who are sought after. They...
💬 View post · Jul 24 · 4 weeks ago
Thought I'd post on a station topic: Smol Ham Radio. I'm selling my all mode/band QRO rig. It's an Alinco DX-SR8T over on ebay. Why? Well for the last 10 years I've been QRP (low power) & CW (morse code) & I'm finding that I just like having that on my desk better. I like having only a small wall wart or battery vs a bench power supply, I like that my LDG auto tuner is a littel larger than my "rig." I usually get good signal reports year round with this & my simple wire antenna. My PC gives me...
💬 View post · Jul 23 · 4 weeks ago
SKCC SKS Tonight 24JULY24 UTC: The Straight Key Sprints are 2 hours to make as many SKCC member contacts as you can. It's 0000z-0200z (20:00-22:00 Tuesday EDT) Exchange is RST/SPC/number and if you're not a member feel free to send NONE in place of a SKCC number. Straight Key by club definition are the straight key, the 'cootie' or double speed 'sideswiper' and the 'bug' type semi-auto, no electronics allowed. More information at: [https link]
💬 View post · Jul 23 · 4 weeks ago
Got a neat add-on for my Vibroplex that lets me send at PaRtY-PaCe. A little extention to the pendlum made and sold by AI4UH over on ebay. CW events a plenty this weekend. K1USN SST Slow Speed conTest 1600-1700EDT this afternoon, RandomGram event, Bug Day, and the Straight Key Sprint is next Tuesday evening. [https link]
💬 4 comments · 1 like · Jul 19 · 4 weeks ago
NAQCC mw Sprint last night was pretty rough. QRN/QRM was BrUtAl! (plus I was tired...) Funny thought of the event for me was that if straight key gets x2 and Bug gets x1.5 in points but I send slow on my bug am I hurting myself? I send with the bug at a speed you could do with a straight key, so I loose points in the talley, and I send slowly enough that I don't make them up per volume! Ah well, it's about getting on the air with your club and swapping some numbers not the ranking! Best 73 hope...
💬 View post · Jul 18 · 5 weeks ago
NAQCC Monthly Sprint coming up: Thursday, July 18, 2024, 0030-0230 Z (If you're in North America this will be Wednesday the 17th, EDT 2030-2230) Exchange for members RST/SPC (State, Province, or "DX")/NAQCC Membership Number so: UR RST 559 NY 196, and non members use your transmitter power followed with a w so: UR RST 559 NY 5w. Further details in link. Best 73 de N2QFD AR SK.. [http link]
💬 View post · Jul 15 · 5 weeks ago
SKCC WES ended well. Despite some very random solar activity coming up to a R3 radio blackout by NOAA, the show went on. The last half hour was really a blitz and as always SKCC is a really great group. The Weekend Sprints are laid back and you can drop in as you will or go for broke, the idea is to just get on there and swap some numbers with fellow members and have a good time. I think there's no such thing as a low score, even if you make 1 contact upload it! It's more like being at a...
💬 View post · Jul 15 · 5 weeks ago
SKCC WES (Week End Sprint) is going on. That sneeked up on me! Just learning to use a bug here so maybe a good chance for some real time in. You don't need to be SKCC to participate but you do need to use a straight key/cootie/bug. No electronic keying is allowed with SKCC events. More info at: [https link]
💬 View post · Jul 13 · 5 weeks ago
This week at ARS N2QFD: waiting on some parts to make a hardware extension of my QRP radio so I can have a built in band switch and avoid opening it up to work 20m if i like. Also in the works a practive unit to build for CW because also also I'm finally going to try out using a Vibroplex Bug. Long time ambition and as a SKCC operator allowed. So, I'll have to look for a keyer that I can use in bug mode too for when I'm in the field, the real thing is a boat anchor and not coming!...
💬 1 like · Jul 09 · 6 weeks ago
+13 Colonies:!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!CLEAN SWEEP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So, after most of the morning, like from 0400 till now K2E was playing on 20m and 10m again at 35WPM... then there was a change to 40m and they slowed down! 25 WPM! I quickley reworked my key to cootie mode and called and made it! 13 colonies on 40m with QRP(4w) and CW only! Don't know if this will be my last year of this event or not with the behaviour but it makes me look forward to doing the SKCC/NAQCC sprints as they are more laid...
💬 5 comments · 1 like · Jul 05 · 6 weeks ago
+13 Colonies: HOly Cow K2E is killing me... and perhaps a few thousand other hams... they keep working WARC frequencies which not the holy trinity of the bands. (20,40,80m) the rest of the K2# stations have been really good about splitting time across the big three. K2E is still operating at 30+ WPM too and not answering straight keys which is pretty BS. So here's the thing, if you're using 20m, 18m, 15m, 10m you are no going to be heard by the east coast. And if you're only working at 30WPM no...
💬 1 comment · Jul 04 · 6 weeks ago
+13 Colonies: Well, I'm down to 1 now. working 40m CW QRP I"ve been stukck trying to breath thorough the insane pileups K2E generates when they show up. Deleware is a small state so like RI somewhat harder to get but man this one just brings out the savages! I'm at that point after 3 days of this I'm hearing morse in everything too..
💬 View post · Jul 04 · 7 weeks ago
+13 Colonies: Ok, starting to wear out for a day.. .probably will hear CW in my sleep... 8 down +Philly . I still need NY, RI, DE, MD, NJ... It's always the close in ones too.. GA struggled for my call but I hope they got it. Working QRP the pileups are intense and I'm a little voice.
💬 View post · Jul 02 · 7 weeks ago
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