Northwest QRP

ARRL DX ‘test

KNØN — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 03:42:01 +0000

I had a pretty good time making QSO’s during the ARRL CW DX contest. They might not be acceptable for the MBARC QRP contest because the brief exchange does not include the name and QTH. I put them in the log anyway, so there. I thought I did FB on 40 meters with 30 Q’s, most of them above 1000 miles/watt. Today I was working on 15 meters and found that my beam seemed out of alignment so I went out to correct the problem (it was off by about 110 deg ). I discovered that my G5RV ladder line was wound twice around one of my V/UHF antennas. I may have to twist it back on there next year.

Digital

KNØN — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 23:03:29 +0000

15 Meters is pretty good today. Tried calling through a pileup on CW with no Joy. Switched to PSK and had a solid QSO with PU5AAD in Brasil.

My Digital Log

Finally a QSO

KNØN — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 23:20:24 +0000

Thanks Wes, W7WSL for getting me on the air and into a QSO. I needed to give my Quixotic quest for QRpp DX a rest. Finally made a log entry for both my KX-1 and my Rockmite.

My 2011 MBARC QRP-CW Log

I’m Trying

KNØN — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 03:36:18 +0000

I dusted off my Rockmite and have been screaming as loud as my 500 mw will shout. QRP- the “P” stands for “patience”.

-KN0N

2011 Gearing Up

KNØN — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 07:18:38 +0000

Get ready….

N7OC

n7oc — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 07:00:21 +0000

On this 28th day of February, the CW QRP Contest of the MBARC came to a close along with the 2010 Olympics.

I hope you enjoyed the Olympics as much as I did. What a Hockey game for a grand overtime finish! Perhaps by next year I will be able to use my Vibroplex Champion Bug. For now it just sits on my operating table and looks challenging like a Champion should.

I finished up the last day with four contacts.

WB8RTJ Jim in Amhurst, Ohio, 2009 miles. 20 meters

W5QEPRoger in Rayne, Louisiana, 2046 miles. 20 meters

KH6ZM Max in Volcano, Hawaii, at 2724 miles. 20 meters

W0CML Jim near Denver, Colorado, 1098 miles. 80 meters

This was the first Hawaii station I heard this month.*

Thanks to all for participating, even though you didn’t post your contacts on the blog.

Send your logs to me during the next month, please.

*Max said he had all of the models of Vibroplex Bugs ever made except for two. Guess what he was using!

72/73 until next year, Stan.

N7OC

n7oc — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 08:05:17 +0000

One more day in the contest, but I’ll have to make sure to watch the Gold Metal final hockey game between Canada and the USA. Go Red, White and Blue. First things first………

My best effort for the day was KB4JR in Wales, Fl. at 2609 miles.

Next worked W3HBM in Bar Harbor, Me. at 2539 miles.

Worked AK2B in New York City at 2404 miles with his 2 watts.

Next worked K1TG in Naugatuck, Ct. at 2424 miles.

Ran into my neighbor Frank in Custer again on 30 meters, 2 miles away. He was in the bathroom trimming his mustache when he heard me and couldn’t resist telling me about his latest purchase, a FlameProof Navy Straight Key.

I told him I also received a new “old” Vibroplex Champion Bug in the mail yesterday.

Worked a couple more guys in California on 80 meters.

Have to admit, since I found no takers on 160 CW, I worked a dozen on LSB in the contest there on 160.

Its been fun, and have had some interesting rag chews and met some great guys on the air.

Some of the “Old Timers” can put up better stories than any I can come up with.

Since its already tomorrow I better sign off, N7OC, Stan.

N7OC

n7oc — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 06:55:43 +0000

Feb. 26, 2010.

Only a couple of days to go!

I’ve been enjoying the Olympics – GO USA HOCKEY! Also metal #8 for Ohno, thinking of retiring at 27!

This morning I talked to Gary in Cleveland and he said they were having heavy snow and high winds there with low temperatures. Had not lost their power and were warm.

I heard a station calling CQ and noticed it was Victor, IK4CIE from Parma, Italy. We seemed to have a pipeline between us. He must have been the second hop from the east coast, and due East of me. (5371 miles)

Most of my contacts in Ohio, Missouri, Colorado, Michigan, and North Carolina were having snow and wind today.

Worked VE7KBN in WetRock, B.C. and he was having rain!

8 contacts in all today.

Stan.

N7OC

n7oc — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 04:37:17 +0000

After starting out with Brugge, Belgium this morning at 4811 miles, I ended the day with a QSO to my friend Frank in Custer, only 2 miles away.

More interesting places today were: Dent in Minnesota, Temperance in Michigan, Golden Valley in Arizona, and West Plains in Missouri.

Post your contacts Rodger.

Only 3 days to go????????

Where did February go?

N7OC

n7oc — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:55:06 +0000

Something interesting happened on the way to turning on my computer this morning.

I turned the switch to the 20 meter radio on and low and behold there was a weak signal calling CQ.

It was an ON5 running 10 watts on his ship as a Merchant Marine radio operator. He came back to my 5 watt call and gave me a 449 rpt. He was 559 here. Turns out he was from near Brussels at a place called Brugge, Belgium.

I couldn’t get the attention of F8AVO, but W1SV called me from Granby, Ct. I had a nice rag chew with George who was using his old Drake TR-4 and 80 watts to his dipole. He was a shipboard Merchant Marine telegrapher during WW2.

It is still winter back there, aren’t we lucky here?

Stan.