Posts by ‘k4ds’

NorCal 40B

I started the build of the NorCal 40B kit by NM0S Electronics. I am building it by circuit stage not by the normal manual method. We will see how that goes.

SKN 2024

I had a few contacts during this year’s ARRL Straight Key Night or in my case Straight Key Day. I used my FT-897D and the straight key side of my Brown Bros. CLT-B Combo Key.

This morning I looked at the POTA online log and saw something very disturbing and makes me strongly doubt the number of parks I have been given credit for. I worked an activator yesterday but found two contacts from two different parks in the log. A further review of the log found that I recorded two parks in my log with this station on two separate dates. However, the POTA online log for those same two dates shows a total five parks worked. So sad!

To write or not to write?

Do I have a story to tell about the do’s and don’ts about downsizing and Ham Radio? Would it be too much about mistakes made rather than what was done right? Could my story be told well enough that others could learn from my mistakes? Would anyone care to read it? Would anyone publish it?

Where did the Pacific go?

I found it!

Once upon a time I could work the Pacific (from GA) with the aid of the greyline early in the morning on 30 meter CW. Realizing I am now using an attic (or loft if you prefer) antenna, I assumed propagation was just not the same.

I found the Pacific! FT8 has taken it away from me on 30 meter CW. Running 15 watts^a and an attic antenna on FT8 reaching out that far is not easy, but doable. However, with FT8 there is just no personality to the contact. FT8 will not be my home on 30 meters, but I may visit from time to time.

a. I Run 25 watts on CW. But I reduce power to 15 watts as FT8 is a full duty cycle mode. The K3 can handle the power, but to prevent possible RFI I dial it back.

Antenna Inspection

I did an inspection of my antenna the other day. It looked very good physically. In fact, if there was wind or water damage I would have a far more pressing issue to deal with than the repair of my antenna. After all my antenna is in the attic! As I looked at the bent to fit doublet my thought was how does anyone in the world hear me?

A golfer once said….

A golfer once told me just as he was about to give up the crazy game, he would get that one great shot and he was drawn back in. Maybe ham radio with a poor antenna is like that. Just as I was about to hang up my key, I had a REAL QSO with a station near Tokyo. For 25 watts and a piece of wire on the rafters in the attic, that is a big deal.

I did what?

I just wasted more money on the ARRL. Why did I rejoin the league? The hobby needs a voice and the ARRL is the only one in town so I put more of my hard-earned money in the shredder. Stupid!!!

Is that all there is?

I have to do something different. Operating any more has become for the most part working the same park for the tenth time or watching the Reverse Beacon. The price one pays for very poor judgement when downsizing!

Has CW become mainly a contest mode?

I realize during weekends contesting rules the roost. However, I have noticed that during weekdays the activity has taken on an appearance that I wish I was not seeing. I can tune around a very quiet band thinking the propagation forecast is incorrect until sprint contest time. Suddenly wall to wall strong signals. When the contest time is up the band is dead again.