Monday, July 14, 2014

Lots of CW on the Air

This was an interesting radio weekend.  I started off bouncing back and forth between the IARU contest and WES.  I soon realized that WES was a lot more fun!  Some highlights:  I was watch the waterfall on 6m and spotted a CW signal - who else but Mark KO1U!  Sunday afternoon I decided to work a little back yard QRP using my FT817 and American Morse Straight Key.  Thanks to Julio, NP3CW and Tony, W4FOA for answering my 2.5 watt signal.  As always, thanks to everyone for making this one of the best events each month.  73, Phil

Thursday, July 10, 2014

ARRL Field Day 2014

The ARRL states the object of Field Day is "to work as many stations as possible on any and all amateur bands and to learn to operate in abnormal situations in less than optimal conditions."   I use this challenge as an opportunity to try something a little diffferent each year.  For 2014, I decided to work toward the NAQCC Field Day Challenge.   The North American QRP CW Club holds montly challenges to encouragge members get on the air with low power (QRP) operations of 5 watts or less.  You can earn a certificate from NAQCC for making contact with 20 or more states during Field Day.  




My portable field station consisted of the Yaesu 857 at 5 watts, home brew 80m off center dipole suspended from a tree, American Morse kit iambic key, and laptop with N3FJP's Field Day logging Software.  I was able to put in about 4 hours of operating on Friday afternoon / evening.

I was operating outside, different from the usual home based station.   Conditions were very nice, and not really "less than optimal" as the ARRL mission calls for.  In fact, even the mosquitos were quiet!

I made contacts with 23 states and was pleased to contribute to field day while earning a certificate for this month's NAQCC challenge.  73, Phil

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Enemy of the Special Event

Having fun as coordinator of K2D, the Original 13 Colonies Connecticut team.   We got off to a great start.  BUT thunderstorms are rolling in, putting a damper on operations.