Is a contact conformation more than a few KB’s in a data file? I have been a member of LOTW since its beginning and upload my QSO’s on a regular basis. But, there is something about a paper QSL card. It is not only an extension of the QSO, but also an extension of the operator on the other end. QSL cards add personality to the confirmation.
I am not a contester, but from time to time I make a few contacts during the monthly SKCC’s SKS. I am finding it a good time to put my TR-25 on line. I have to streamline the setup so when using my “field radio” on the operating table it is not a sight. I used my original straight key from 1958. Please see the photo below.
Throughout the years I have never had very good HF antennas. If fact my antennas have gone from not so good to poor. As a result, most of my DX contacts have been short to very short. I guess it would be nice to have good antennas and run power to garner enough attention that a DX station would be inclined to spend a few minutes exchanging words beyond a signal report, QTH and maybe a name.
I appreciate every contact I make, but a few DX contacts stand out. Several such QSO’s came to mind the other day when I received a response to my CQ on the low end of 20 meters (CW). It was from a station in the southern Caribbean. After getting over the shock from getting an answer to my CQ let alone from a DX station, I decided to try and extend the contact a bit and send more than just a report and my state. It worked and we had a nice exchange. Greg, Thank you.
As stated on my web site and blog posts, I like chasing DX. To a lesser extent I like chasing parks and other unique stations (e.g., meaningful special events). I like CW rag chewing, but always look for the station to be far away. That is not to say I have not had some great rag chews on the bands with stations close in. Back to reality, running 25 watts I give up one s-unit to the normal barefoot transceiver. Add to that an attic antenna and how much DX can one expect. Believe it or not some and even some not so run of the mill DX.
Lose another s-unit and bring into the mix my Penntek TR-25 and five to seven watts and you have the makings of a rag chewing machine. The need for the other station to be far away disappears and the value of the conversation takes over.
As stated in a prior post I sent my TR-25 for repair of my construction error. It was delivered to Penntek right after noon on Friday 2021-09-24. I was curious about its status and was about to send an e-mail on Monday 2021-09-27 when a midday mail delivery included my TR-25 ready to be put on the air. That would be an amazing quick response for a product issue, but such service on a builder error is unbelievable.
Thank you John!
Also, within a very short period of time I made my first contact with the TR-25 on 40 meters.
The build of my TR-25 is complete and it is off to Penntek to fix my bonehead mistakes. Again, the kit is very well done and was fun to build. The joy was diminished somewhat by my own doing. I can only hope the damage was not too great.
I never wound toroid inductors before. For a very small dollar amount they could be purchased pre-wound with the TR-25 kit. However, I felt I would be more a part of the build if I wound them myself. #28 magnet wire is very thin. Winding was not so bad, but taking the enamel coating off the wire and tinning them was no picnic. The worse was to untwist the two wire for the transformer. The twist caused difficulty in taking the coating off and tinning. Also, once a wire is tined if becomes brittle.
I guess skill displayed in building Heathkits back in the old days does not carryover to kits of today. I decided to build a Penntek TR-25. The kit was very well done in both build documentation and parts packaging. It was the builder that went wrong. I will not go into detail as it is too embarrassing, but I messed up. I sent an e-mail to Penntek asking for a possible solution to my woes. I will update this post as the situation evolves.
Note: I even went so far as purchasing a new soldering station and a pounds of fresh Kester thin solder to do the build right.
I like to work DX, but as of late this has been a challenge. A challenge because I am using an attic antenna in a not so tall house, running 25 watts and the band conditions have not been so kind. This week as fall approached condition were a bit better. I worked into EU on 20 meter CW. Not every station I called, but a few. The highlight was working a station in Nairobi Kenya. I am sure a high percent of the stations I am competing with are running more power and have much more effective antennas. A big part of being able to make the contact goes to the DX station/operator, but I hope finding the right frequency to put my signal and some operating skill contributed a little.
I was surprised by comments made in the September 2021 QST by the CEO on page nine paragraph six. He was saying the important members are only the ones out in front or give a lot of money. (Please read for yourself.) I sent an e-mail questioning his comments only to get confirmation in a nice and polite way that I am really not all that important.
As I said in my e-mail to the CEO – The ARRL has done things throughout the years I did not agree with, but felt it was the only voice the hobby had to protect its survival. Maybe 55 plus years of membership is enough.