I know I haven't updated in forever, I'm going to try to be more loyal to it!
Did a short local "casual" rove for the June contest. Only 2 grids (FN32, FN42). Beautiful weasther, and had fun "playing radio", and even kept the XYL happy. Score ~7500 points, not going to set any records or win any certificates, but I don't mind. Still have that nagging feedback/distortion on 432 I can't find, and 3456 might be deaf even though it hears the weak signal source just fine (leakage?). I haven't gone over the logs yet, but will try to post a more detailed write-up in the next few days. My previous outing was the Spring Microwave Sprint, and... well... it's was a learning experience. I got skunked! 0 QSO's, 0 points, despite several attempts. I made just about every newbie portable op mistake possible. I was still setting up two hours after the contest start. My IF drifted 20kHz low, then right back where I expected it, but never when I expected it, hihi. I discovered my rotator was calibrated 20-30 degrees off. I learned a lot of things to never do again! It was humbling, but good for me. Friday August 19, 2011I plan to be up on the hill in Granville, MA, FN32mc, tomorrow from approximately 9am to 4pm along with Fred, N1DPM, for the 10 GHz contest.
Tuesday August 9, 2011Went on a short, local rove for the August UHF contest. 59 Q's, 279 QSO points, 29 mults including 2 activations, 8091 points total. Only activated FN31 and FN32 with 222-3.4G. Picked up handful of new grids, and some personal best dx. Found a SMA-N adapter that decided to come apart and leave T/R relay disconnected from the coax to the antenna, but I didn't find and fix this until the second day.
July, 2011Only worked from the back yard for the CQ WW VHF contest. Some new grids, and a double-hop Es contact to Mexico on 2m!
Saturday June 25, 2011Had a great time on my first rove in the 2011 June VHF QSO party. 3 grids, 3 states, and lots of good 6m Es dx, including my first double-hop Es.
Sunday May 15, 2011Got on a bit late for the 6m sprint last night. 17Q's, 4 grids, total dx 1727km. Worked a few new calls, and a new grid (FN30.. I know a local open, but a new one anyway) for a total of 41, 39 confirmed.
Sunday May 8, 2011Worked the microwave sprint from up on the hill yesterday. Made quite a few contacts on 2m liaison, but due to noise (presumably) from a nearby cell tower (S9 on 902, S6 on 2304), I was only able to work the locals who could burn through the RFI. Many thanks to the numerous stations who gave me great signal reports and tried to work me despite my local noise drowning them out. Fred, N1DPM is helping me with some filters, and I hope to go up the the hill to test them out soon. I hope that by the June contest I will be able to get my receiver noise down and actually work most of those stations. (Can't work 'em if you can't hear 'em!).
Total for the contest was only 7Q's, 6 grids across 3 bands, and a total dx of 304km. I know I was getting out much better than that. Improved my top 3 dx on 2304 and top 2 on 3456, added a grid on 2.3G and 3.4G.
Wednesday April 13, 2011I haven't updated in a while (how many times have you heard that?). I've been busy building up a rover vehicle in the style of W1RT (and I just finished watching "Mystery Men"...). I finally got to try it out in a contest in the 2011 Spring 144 sprint, but only as a portable station, not a rover. The results are here Thank you to Fred, N1DPM for use of a fine TE systems amplifier. I probably won't be on for the 222 sprint.... sometimes life has to come first.
Monday September 21, 2010Didn't get on for the 144 spring until 9pm. 10 Q's, 6 grids, 60 points.
September, 2010
Personal commitments kept me from getting on the air for the September VHF QSO party. I won't be defending my first place finish in last years QRP ARCI VHF contest that runs concurrently with the September VHF.
August, 2010
Forgot to post about the August UHF contest. Coming soon.
Monday July 20, 2010
Only got to operate for 5 hours in the CQ WW VHF. Operated QRP portable from the backyard. 23 QSO's, 14 Mults, 420 points. New state NE(K0HA), new #2 6m Dx 2024.8km to K0HA in EN10lx, and three new 6m grids (EM57/W9RVG, EM86/N2WN, and EN10/K0HA).
Thursday July 15, 2010
I received SMIRK certificate #6855!
Monday June 14, 2010
A rainy June VHF contest. Broke Deb's truck on the way down the hill. Had some good E-Skip, 3 new states and 6 new 6m grids. Check out the more detailed report.
Thursday June 3, 2010
I'm still working out my plans for the June VHF QSO Party, but it looks like I will be operating QRP portable from FN32mc on the 1487' ASL hilltop in Granville, MA, with 6m through 33cm (902/903MHz). I'll be using portable (6-8' boom) antennas and 10W PEP, so please have patience pulling me out of the noise. My focus will be primarily on the daylight hours, with a possible overnight stay at the portable site. Operation will be predominantly SSB. CW is available upon request for anyone patient enough to work through my slow and rusty code (I'm up for the challenge). WSJT modes will be available, but with only 10W this will probably be pointless.
Thursday June 3, 2010
Received QSL's in the mail today from VE1WT confirming FN75 on 6m, and from N2SLN confirming FN22 on 2m (Thanks both of you!). This brings my total grids on 6m to 31 worked, 21 confirmed (or 27 if LotW counted towards VUCC), and on 2m a total 21 worked, 16 confirmed (or 18 with LotW credit).
Friday May 14, 2010
Worked my first E-skip of the season - VE1SKY in FN74 (674.7km) and VE1WT in FN75 (744.1km). Two new 6m grids for me! This brings my total to 31 worked, 21 confirmed.
Saturday May 8, 2010
Had to sit out the 6m sprint. I always seem to miss these, which is a shame since all I really want to do is work new 6m grids since I got my first taste of E-skip last year.
Monday May 3, 2010
Not much activity during the microwave sprint, only managed to work K1IIG and K1TEO, both in FN31. New best dx of 90.5 km to K1TEO in FN32jh Missed working WA2VNV. While on the hill, I had a nice QSO with WA1FVJ, and managed to work K2FR on top of Slide Mountain in NY, FN21tx, SOTA W2/GC-001 at 4000'.
When I had spare time later in the weekend, I also tried 20m for the New England QSO party. I got 21 QSO's, 14 mults, for a total of 294 points. I also managed to get 7 new states (AZ, IN, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA) for a total of 30 worked, 24 confirmed. I also increased my best dx on 20m to 4005.7 km to N7TTT in CN85. All this on just 20 watts with a Buddipole vertical. It's just too easy on HF compared to VHF.
Wednesday April 29, 2010
Pretty flat conditions for the sprint last night, and little activity. 9 QSO's 4 grids (36 pts under old rules). 853km total dx, best dx: 217.7km to K1WHS in FN43mj. At least the weather, albeit marginal, was better than expected.
Tuesday April 27, 2010
Look for me on-air hilltop portable in the 432 MHz spring sprint tomorrow night from FN32mc.
Tuesday April 20, 2010
Look for me on-air hilltop portable in the 222 MHz spring sprint tonight from FN32mc.
Tuesday April 13, 2010
Added some details on my Logging process with RoverLog and LinLogBook as well as some utility scripts that I use.
Tuesday April 13, 2010
It was a beautiful night up on the hill last for the 144 MHz sprint, although a little bit chilly. Final results for me: 28 QSO's, 5286km total dx. Best dx: KG4HOT in FM07ps, 687.8km.
Monday April 12, 2010
The new call was just issued last Friday. The web site is obviously still a work in progress. Look for me on-air hilltop portable in the 144 MHz spring sprint tonight from FN32mc.