The First 100 Years Are The Hardest

The 2022 winter contest season continued with the ARRL RTTY Round Up on first weekend of January of each year but never January 1st.   The goal of the contest is for Amateurs worldwide contact and exchange QSO information with other amateurs using RTTY (and other digital modes including PSK, FT8/FT) on 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter bands.  I operated exclusively on RTTY.   Exchange:  RST + SPC (State / Province / Country), DX RST + S/N. Typically exchange when calling CQ: CQ CQ CQ CQ RU WX7V WX7V K ->Their Call Their Call R TU 599 599 TX TX  -> R WX7V 599 ( Their State ) Their Call TU DE WX7V QRZ? Typical exchange when answering: -They Call WX7V WX7V -> They Answer My Call R RPT Their State Their Call R TU 599 599 TX TX WX7V k -Their Answer 73 TU Their Call I had fun but only worked a few hours Sunday.   I used the N3FJP RU Contest log and the N7YG Digital Engine as the connected software for my flex radio. RTTY: 109 Qpts x 42 Mults ...

The hunters helped me finish 2021 strong with two new park activations: Lake Tawakoni State Park K-3031 and Tawakoni Wildlife Management Area K-6605.   Special thanks to NL7V for  North Pole Alaska!   97 Contacts all in, my logs submitted to K7 for processing and uploaded to LoTW for QSL confirmations. This was my first activation with the new Chameleon Tactical Delta Loop.  I've seen Bill Brown using it so effectively that I had to try it.  FB, and glad I did - much easier to set up than my WRC but requires a tuner which also allows faster band switching when conditions require.   This might be my new favorite antenna!  There were some shenanigans during the activations - people tuning up, humming and whistling.  I was able to fight thru it and get 41 contacts completed at K-3031 then 56 more at K-6605.  The WMA was off the beaten path - so off that the park sign was hard to find and not in the best repair! Map by  DL4MFM...

This weekend was the annual ARRL 10M contest for CW and SSB.   All contacts were limited to 10M (28MHz).   2 QSO points per SSB contact and 4 points for each CW contact.   Sunspot number was ZERO and the SF was about 78, making propagation a challenge.  So I operated 100% CW mode. Contest Summary I made 2 contacts right away Saturday morning, then the band closed until later Saturday evening where I went on a roll for 80 contacts.   Sunday was even more challenging - with very little activity all day.   I made an additional 10 contacts Sunday afternoon, the last few of which were questionable!   I operated the Flexradio 6400m at 75w fed into my OCF dipole.  Any higher power caused SWR to spike intermittently.   I did set up my wolf river coil vertical antenna on Sunday afternoon using ANT2 and operating at full 100W with no SWR issues.   I was able to set up and tune the WRC for 28M on the first tr...

I’m considering a Mosley Mini-32A for a “modest” contest antenna that I think is suitable for my QTH. I think they Mosley looks better than a Hexbeam, ways half as much, and has slightly better performance. A push mast is probably suitable for this mini beam. The W8IO 45LT rooftop tower is probably overkill and would be a challenge to install in my attic. The Glen Martin RT-424 is very popular but is not in production. eHAM reviews are mixed. The mini is a compromise over a full size yagi as it uses traps for automatic band switching with no need for a tuner in the ham shack. Based on the majority of the feedback I believe the performance will be great for daily POTA hunting and casual contesting. https://www.eham.net/reviews/view-product?id=1102 https://www.eham.net/reviews/view-product?id=10800 Mosley Product Specs http://www.mosley-electronics.com/mini.html https://www.w8io.com/io45lt.htm

For the ARRL November Sweepstakes I operated in the MULTI class, with the assistance of DX Spotting.  My strategy was to work all states, and as many sections as possible and I'm pretty happy with the results. Rig was my FlexRadio 6400M at 100 watts fed into a 40-6M OCF dipole using an inverted v configuration at 37ft.  I didn't use the Mercury IIIs amplifier because I used the internal tuner on the FlexRadio for quick band changes. QSO contacts were spread more or less evenly across the 15M, 20M and 40M bands.  I really loved 15 this weekend- it wasn't as crowded as 20m and 40m, contacts were easy to make, and the noise floor was noticeably quieter.  Some day I'll get that contest antenna / rotator setup. Logging was done using N3FJP's Contest log.  As a bonus I configured the logger to use the FlexRadio.API so that spots were sent directly to the panadapter on my FlexRadio's SmartSDR application.   After the contest was over, I submitted my logs onli...

I've been practicing my CW sending skills using the Elecraft KX3 keyer and text decoder as its pretty unforgiving.  Someone told me that if you can get the KX3 to decode you're probably sending clean CW correctly. Setup :  Put the KX3 in CW mode. Make sure VOX is off and the KX3 will generate a sidetone without transmitting. Hold the DLY button for 1/2 second to toggle VOX on or off . A VOX indicator will show in the display when it is on and a brief message will say "VOX=OFF" if you hit the paddle when VOX is off. The red TX LED should not light. Learn Morse Code has this this handy chart to learn which direction to push the paddle when you're sending CW.   Push the paddle to the left to send a DAH, to the right for a DIT.   Also is handy memory map when you're listening to CW and copying in your head.  Did I just hear an F (DIT DIT DAH DIT) or was that a U (DIT DIT DAH)?   Maybe both.... :)  

HD8R was active from October 26th to November 7th.  Glad I decided to hunt them on the last two days of their DXpedition !   Worked and confirmed 40M CW on Saturday 11/6, and 15M SSB on Sunday 11/7.    The CW contact was made at my Dallas QTH (EM12ou), using my FlexRadio 6400 and the 40M Delta Loop to send and CW-SKIMMER for receive assistance (I was able to head copy when they sent my call sign).  SSB was at the lakehouse (EM12ub) using my FTdx3000 and Wolf River Coil vertical tuned to 15M at 1.45 SWR.   I did not try FT8 but lots of members of the Richardson Wireless Klub did via WSJT-X Fox and Hound mode. The Galápagos Islands are about 2327 miles from Dallas TX!  Pictures and video below.    PS:  A DXpedition is an expedition to what is considered an exotic place (Island or Country) by amateur radio operators because there are very few radio amateurs active from that place. 73 Chris de WX7V  

 Love my Wolf Rive Coil Antenna for POTA use but I haven’t marked it up (yet) to facilitate quick band changes while out in the field.   Here are some notes to use as a starting point based on the work by W0DHZ Dale Henninger: 102″ Telescoping Whip Band Whip Length Coil Position 6m Only 1st section of whip extended No Clicks – Top of Coil 10m 3 sections out + 6″ of 4th section No Clicks – Top of Coil 40m All sections out 3 Fingers Down 213″ Telescoping Whip Band Whip Length Coil Position 10m 8 sections out + 1″ of 9th section No Clicks – Top of Coil 20m 9 sections out + 13″ of 10th section No Clicks – Top of Coil 40m All sections extended 16 clicks down Reminder to subtract the length of the Wolf River Coils SB-1000 coil from the 1/4 Wave lengths above. http://www.w0dhz.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/WolfRiver-SB1000-213inWhip-Tuning-Spreadsheet.pdf

Since I’m still waiting on parts from Texas Towers to build my kit from M0PLK, I’ve strung some wire to create a very simple delta loop in my backyard using one center support mast that previously held my OCF dipole.   A full wave delta loop cut for 40m should be about 48ft per side (1005/f MHz).  Do what you can with the space you have available.  Experiment with the feed-point to get the desired polarization and takeoff angle: In my case the bottom of the loop runs 64ft, each side runs about 41.8ft to the top, giving the loop a total perimeter 145.6ft and area of 868 square ft.   The bottom of loop is about 9ft off the ground, the top raised another 29ft, bringing the overall height of the loop to 37ft.   The ends of the loop are secured and drawn tight at the bottom corners with camjam rope tighteners and carabiner clips from Home Depot. Very pleased overall- the noise floor across most bands is S2-S4 on CW and S5/S6 on SSB.  Slightly better than the ult...

  Posting for reference and future credits as I homebrew my own delta loop based on versions of Art’s M0PLK and Michal’s SP9WOL’s designs.   I’ve sourced everything needed to build my own except for the for the aluminum elements needed for the arms.   These have been on back order for more than a month at Texas Towers here in Dallas (Plano Texas).   I will be using 6ft lengths of 1.00”, 0.875” and 0.750” telescoping round tubing which will be about a 12 inches short of the original design.  http://www.texastowers.com/aluminum-6.htm http://www.sp9wol.com/?p=62

There was a time when I only focused on digital modes;  not so much any more I am 99.9% into SSB and CW (yes the original digital mode).  I'll still tune up WSJT-X when I see a POTA activation on FT8  or FT4 to help a fellow activator out but that's about it.  Oh yes and to remember how to "do it" HiHi. However, I was intrigued by this weekend's RTTY roundup.  RTTY used to be the mainstay of digital HF transmissions, but is all but gone now, edged out by the simplicity and ubiquity of FT8 on the ham bands.  There's nothing wrong with FT8 - that's where the DX is these days.  Its just not that interesting  to me after working 1500 contacts and confirming QSLs in 100+ countries.  But I digress. The annual ARRL RTTY Roundup began tonight.   As Jon NN5T said,  " Its the best opportunity to work really hard into RTTY.   CQ WW DX RTTY begins on this Friday 7 pm CDT and ends on this Sunday 7 pm CDT, you can operate the entir...

 I've been having a lot of fun and success in the POTA program that I realized my OCF dipole at home is just not cutting it.  Not only is the noise level too high on 20m for any SSB contacts,  the performance of my ground mounted WRC out in the field  really has me spoiled for a better performing antenna that is suitable for my home QTH where I am limited to CW (and more and more rarely digital modes) most days and I rarely get good SSB contacts at home. I've been in touch with Art M0PLK to get a kit of parts of build a new multi-band Delta Loop antenna to replace the OCF dipole I've relied on for the past year.    Reviews on eHam are pretty consistent in  reporting that this a great loop antenna for compromised spaces, and much quieter than a dipole.  Downside is that its not-resonant on any and requires a tuner for reasonable performance.  I've ordered a Palstar AT2DK tuner for my shack.  Delivery time is 4-6 weeks per HRO. Materials...

Activated K-4423 Spring Creek Forest State Preserve in Dallas County hunting park to park activators only. Equipment today was my Yaesu 991a, 50w fed into Wolf River Coil TIA. Good to see fellow RWK Club Member Don Weeks N5SKT who is working on his Kilo award at K-4423 today. GL today Don! This park is pretty special. Today I learned the land was conserved after much effort because it contains an old-growth virgin forest. According to Wikipedia the existence of virgin forest within city limits is highly unusual, as the 19th Century settlers in the area typically cut down the forests for use in construction or to clear land for farming. I took some extra pictures to document the beauty of this park. 73, Chris de WX7V

Activated Park K-4371 LBJ National Grasslands this morning. Beautiful National park just a few miles north of Decatur, TX. I’ve driven past the signs for this park maybe a hundred times in the past 30 years but was always to busy to stop!   82 QSOs in 90 Minutes including 15 park to park contacts. Thanks to all the hunters who helped make my activation a successful and fun one! Yaesu-991a transmitting at 50w into my Wolf River Coil antenna, standard 102” whip. 73 Chris de WX7V