Shortest Log

Well Rodger, you made four times as many contacts as I did!  I finished the month with exactly one QSO.  I made a handful of DX contacts during the ARRL-DX-CW test but they did not meet the criteria for the MBQRP test (no name exchange), so give me a big two points!  I have been just snowed under with other activities, but I promise to make some more QRP contacts in the coming months.  Congrats Stan on the outstanding achievement-  Holy smokes, 300+ QSOs and most of them ragchews I am sure.  You da man!

KK7LK-Log

This has probably been the least active Mt.Baker QRP Contest that I can remember.  I only made 4 contacts.  Called CQ, monitored for hours, tried to get the attention of the California guys and anyone else who would answer. Even tried some PSK digital modes on Tuesday (2/26) which was active until 11pm PST.  I couldn’t believe they didn’t hear me. “Grrrrr”.

However, I was pleased with my improved code speed and a more relaxed feeling. And as someone told me… “You’re a musician. Feel the ‘rhythm’ not the dots and dash”.   It made a big difference. No wonder Al norton K7IEY is so comfortabale with CW.

The only major celebration was the two DX contacats.
Tom Worthington, KH7CC, Kula, Hawii at 2,687 miles (4324km)
Jacky Calvo, ZM1A, Auckland, Newzeland at 7,079.3 mi (11393km)

Check out the GeoBytes web page for City Distance Tools at…
  http://www.geobytes.com/CityDistanceTool.htm?loadpage 

73’s kk7lk

N7OC Log

Well, in a couple of hours the MBARC QRP contest will be history for this year and the QRPers will go on to other things for awhile.

Yesterday I processed 6 Silver Salmon, so they went into the brine at about 10PM last evening. So I was up at 4 AM to remove them from the brine and start the air drying before the smoker was started. They smoked 5 hours, then we canned them in pints. They turned out pretty well. While I was up early I listened but 20 was dead. 40 was open to Japan for about an hour before it closed. Managed to work some. Since I don’t have the dedication to get up that time of night on a regular basis, I don’t get the DX that rolls in. Later when KM0U from Blaine called me with a 599 signal, I said hi neighbor! Turned out he was in Blaine, MN.

Well, 4 states eluded me this time. Never heard Delaware, Kentucky, Rhode Island, but Hawaii was in there but didn’t hear me calling. 7 countries and 6 provinces this time. Although I worked Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, it was not my most distant contact. LU7YZ, Alex, in Las Calas, Venezuela was 6,796 miles, at 1359.2 miles per watt. Not as good as last year.  Worked Japanese stations in Hiroshima, Yokohama, Chiba, Iwate.  I met my personal goal of surpassing 300 q’s this year.

See you on the band with better conditions next year, Stan, N7OC.

N7OC Log

Last year at this time the contest was nearly over, but this year we have a bonus day. After spending last evening until nearly 2 AM on the FEMA NIMS and ICS training, I was not too quick to get on the radio. In fact decided to push through and finish the 100 level courses before getting back on the radio. Well, at nearly 3PM I had my certificate printed which they emailed to me for completing of the course.  200 and 700 levels and maybe 800 levels to go. Later.

I did work some CW anyway. I was wondering what AK3W was doing in Boise, ID. Next, Mark from Bellerica, MA. answered my cq. Dave from Delton, MI., near Kalamazoo was using a Vibroplex bug and putting in extra dots where ever they fit. Next Tom in Honeoye, NY., was using his WD8 call running his neat old Heathkit gear. Steve was still using his Parasit 4 watt rig and regen rcvr from Mayre Island, BC. Jerry, K0RHK was still camping and running qrp from Zion (Joshua Tree) Nat’l Park, CA., using the new dipole he put up today. He was actually stronger on his longwire strung through the cactus. I think I worked my first Wyoming today when Gary came on with his K2 and 10 watts. He said his vertical was up 5 feet and the temp was 30 and windy.

Well, the DX has avoided me this year.  Maybe the sunspots will be spottier next year!

Stan, N7OC.

Digital QRP

In a last ditch effort before then end of our QRP Contest on Friday (02/29) I will try to roundup some of the PNW VHF/UHF guys who like to QRP via the Digital Modes as well as lots of CW.

Can’t hurt and might be a fun way to end this year’s event.

Rodger-KK7LK

tst tst tst

maybe this works

KK7LK-Log

v v v v v v de kk7lk

KK7LK-Log

 Tuesday’s activity on 40 meters

40 meters was almost totally dead EXCEPT for the Digital portion of the band (7.070+)

There were at least 5 qso’s going on til way past 10pm.  Almost all PSK31 but a couple of Olivia modes. But of course I could hear them (W6 and W0) but they couldn’t hear me???

Very little activity on 40 meters tonight. Some 20 - 25 wpm starting up on 7.040. Tomorrow is the last day.  Still trying to get some of the PNW VHF/UHF members to work some digital and cw.

73’s  -kk7lk

N7OC Log

Worked Tex on his sailboat using his backstay for an antenna from Beach Park, IL. N0B was still on from the Black Hills University celebrating the 125 year anniversary with a special events station call from Spearfish, SD. Martin was mobile in Pittsfield, ME., in a snow storm and had nearly 4 feet of snow. Barry was using a school club station in Philadelphia, PA. Kevin from Lummi Island just finished a new QRP rig called a Basic QRP Rig with RX micro W2 from QST. I was his first QSO on it.

Bill from Smithville, NC was on his vintage Heathkit DX-60 and tube receiver with VFO. My DX for the day was LU7YZ Alex in Neuquen, Argentina. Louis from Sitka, AK., had everything Collins equipment in his shack. My last QSO of the evening was with a new Ham from CA. Helen was sending at about 3 or 4 wpm and I really had to work at it with my keyer paddles to get it right. We both hung in there and made a contact with the basics, but it took almost half an hour. She was a brand new Ham.

73, Stan, N7OC.

N7OC Log

This morning I found Howard on from Lead, SD., who was using a bug he said worked for a local gold mine, and is 99 years old! Phil was on from Baltimore, MD., using his Christmas present, a Paragon by TenTec. Gerry from Salem, NH., was running his 4 watt rig. Ed from Fremont, NH., was on his Omni with 5 watts. Randy from Clarksville, IN., was living near the Ohio river where Lewis and Clark journeyed near the falls there where it now was minus 5 f. Jim from Meridianville, AL., was on his Sierra with 2 watts. Keith from Akron, OH., was on his 80 meter vertical on 40 meters using his Corsair TenTec at 5 watts. Ken from Fargo, ND., was using his new K3 and 5 watts. Bob from NY, NY.,  was running his KX1 and 3 watts to a vertical. Larry from Minneapolis, MN., was running 5 watts on his FT-900 and vertical. Dykes from Port Gibson, MS., works in a Nuclear Plant. Jim from Gering, NE., was light copy on his TS-830. Rick from Duane, NY., was also pretty light copy. Jim from Smith Falls, ON., was running 5 watts to a 3 el yagi and TenTec Argonaut. Finally worked Ken in Japan. Van from Reno, NV., also used a TenTec Argonaut and vertical. Randy from Bishop, CA., called using his K1 and 5 watts with folded dipole 15 feet up. Next a familiar voice, KK7LK Rodger from Bellingham was running his 5 watts and dipole. Wendell from Bozeman, MT., was using his NorCal 40 at 3 watts and dipole. He lives a block from my daughter and family. Mike from Calhan, CO., was running his KX1 at 4 watts . I heard KH7CC from Hawaii calling CQ but never heard me. Mike from Murraysville, PA., answered me but was very light here. He was on his 756 Pro and 100 watts. Leo from Coos Bay, OR., answered my CQ and was very loud on his K2 and 80 meter horizontal loop running 90 watts. He went down to 5 watts and was still very loud. I asked him how low he could go, and he went down to 1/2 watt. He was still loud so went to 1/10 of a watt and was still 579 here. What a path!

Time to hit the hay, 73, N7OC, Stan.