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You may remember from the April update regarding my QSO a day goal, that I had broke my monthly QSO record (which was 393 in November 2013) with a whopping 599 QSO’s in April.  Well that record didn’t stand long.  My total QSO numbers for May topped out with 826 QSO’s.  However, I also made 504 QSO’s while operating as W1AW/Ø on two different shifts the week Colorado hosted the portable operation.  While the 504 Q’s will be kept separate and not included in my main log, I’m honestly pleased to have made a total of 1,330 QSO’s in the month of May 2014.   Again, this monthly report will only address the 826 QSO’s from my own callsign (KD0BIK).

In addition to a QSO each and every day in April, I also managed to add a few new DX entities to my growing list and quest for DXCC status.  I worked stations for the first time in Antigua & Barbuda, Lithuania and Lebanon.  May marks the 5th consecutive month of adding at least one new DX entity to my list. 

Starting with this months update, I will also list my ongoing progress in the ARRL Centennial QSO Party.  I’m not a big contester, but I am really having fun getting on the air as much as possible and making contacts.  As a VE I’m worth 5 points and sure….it’s also fun to accumulate the points.  I’ve been successful at working a few “big point stations”, but I’ve found most of my contacts are with ARRL Members (1 pts.), ARRL Life Members (2 pts.) and Fellow ARRL VE’s (5 pts).  As of the end of May, my results are as follows:

Centennial Points Score:  6,664

Total QSO’s:  1,201

Rank (All): 1,495

Rank (Colorado): 18th

Finally, since really getting a lot more “radio active” in the past few months I’ve heard from many who listen to my podcast (Practical Amateur Radio Podcast) and readers of my blogs.  I’ve also worked many of you on the air in the past 2-3 months.  Most all tell me the same thing and that is I’ve inspired them to do their own QSO a day challenge and you are all on track to making it happen.   Keep it up!  But make sure you are having fun while doing it. 

The QSO breakdown for May is as follows:

Mode  Number QSO’s

JT65 62

JT9 0

SSB 463

PSK31 0

MFSK16 1

RTTY 0

2m FM 0

Additional notes of interest:

DX Stations Worked in May – 75

New DX Entities in May – 3

Total QSO’s for May – 826

Total QSO’s for 2014 – 1,644

Total consecutive QSO days – 151

Days left in 2014 – 214

Until next time…

73 de KDØBIK

Colorado’s first week to host the W1AW/Ø portable station in celebration of the ARRL Centennial events has come and gone.  This particular week was a busy week for me both at work and in the hobby of amateur radio.  In addition to working two shifts operating W1AW/Ø, I also presented the Summits on the Air program presentation to two area amateur radio clubs.  Yes…I also managed to keep my streak of at least one QSO a day alive.

As Colorado began hosting the W1AW/Ø portable operations, we also fell right into the middle of a weather pattern which almost like clockwork the heavy storms would roll into the Denver area from the west.  These storms produced all your typical spring storm weather scenarios including rain (lots of rain in some areas), hail (enough to bring out the snow plows), thunder bolts and lightning (all very, very frightening) and yes…tornados.   Tornados are somewhat rare in the metro Denver area, but this particular week we had sightings just about every day.

My first shift to operate W1AW/Ø was scheduled to begin at 0000z on Friday, (Thursday evening local).  The storms rolled through Denver right on cue with tornado sirens and flashing of lightning around the area.  Below radar image captured about two hours before my shift would start.

Thankfully the clouds parted just before the start of my shift.

On time, I began calling CQ on 20m.  There had been a short gap between operators and our fellow hams were ready to attempt to work Colorado.  Quickly I built a small pileup and began operating the strongest stations I could hear.  I’m really glad I spent many evenings operating just as my own callsign and sharpening my skills in working small pileups.

If you’ve been listening to the HF bands in the past week or two, you certainly know conditions have been poor with noise levels very high on the bands.  Of course the storms which had moved through Colorado certainly were not helping with overall conditions.

My friend Martin, W3MLK was my first contact and he was kind enough to run a few minutes of video/audio and posted on YouTube.  Martin’s QTH is in Delaware.   Thank you Martin for recording my audio.

Watch this video on YouTube.

Statistically speaking, my Thursday shift was far easier and a lot more enjoyable as band conditions were stronger.  I managed 348 QSO’s during my three hour shift compared to only 156 on Sunday morning (1500 – 1800z).  While I’m not sure how this compares with other operators, I enjoyed my time operating W1AW/Ø and representing the Centennial State of Colorado in the ARRL Centennial Event.  It was a lot of fun!

OK….it’s now time to get back to work.  My lunch break is over and this is another busy week in the office.

Until next time…

73 de KDØBIK

On this day six years ago, I took a cheap USB headset, plugged it into my computer and recorded episode one of the Practical Amateur Radio Podcast.  As I stated in that short episode, I would continue to keep PARP alive as long as I had listeners willing to download, stream and listen to the content.   While PARP hasn’t always been released on the most timely and accurate schedule….six years in I’m happy to say that PARP remains very much a passion of mine and I hope it continues for many, many years.

I know I have listeners who started with me in the beginning and I know new ones are added all the time.  I thank you all for listening.  As I say on each and every episode, the practical amateur radio podcast…creating Elmers one podcast at a time and please, please, please share knowledge with others.  This is the true spirit of amateur radio!

You can access the Practical Amateur Radio Podcast a number of ways.  Search for PARP in iTunes or visit the podcast website located at hamradiopodcast.com, amateurradiopodcast.com or our original URL of MyAmateurRadio.com.  Thank you for listening.

73,

Jerry

If you operate your Elecraft KX3 in a portable environment (and perhaps even if you don’t) there are a few must-have add-ons which really help protect your KX3.  You are probably already aware of the popular KX3 KX Endplates and KX Cover available from Scott, AK6Q and his Gems Products website.  I received both as a Christmas present from my darling wife and love what they do for my KX3.

In addition to operating SSB phone via my KX3 on SOTA activations, I also enjoy grabbing my Buddipole a battery and heading outdoors for some picnic table portable operations in a park or really just about anywhere.  In this setting I typically bring along my laptop and operate PSK-31 or JT-65.  However, one thing I’ve noticed (and have been concerned about) is how the KX3 has the potential to heat up when running these digital modes (even at 5w or less).  This is especially evident in the warmer months of the year.

A few weeks ago I was browsing the KX3 Facebook page and learned about an add-on heat sink designed, built and sold by a fellow ham in Canada.  This OM’s name is Fred Meier, VE7fmn.  I contacted Fred via email and he quickly provided a detailed response on how he designed his KX3 heat sink and provided cost and availability information.  While I did find one other heat sink being marketed for the KX3, I believe Fred’s version is more effective at dissipating the heat from the KX3 and it looks great while doing it.

Here’s what Fred’s KX3 heat sink looks like installed on my KX3.

Fred’s KX3 heat sink is well built and designed to be durable.  The fins on the heat sink are not going to bend or break off and only adds an additional 8 ounces of weight to the KX3. 

I’ve conducted a few tests while in the shack and had the KX3 running PSK-31 and JT-65 at 10w and never received the overheat warning.  I couldn’t run above 5 watts inside or outside the shack without the heat sink installed.  I’ve yet to test the KX3 with heat sink installed outside in a portable setting, but I’m confident I will not have any issues.  If you would care to read another review of VE7fmn’s heat sink, please go here.

As I’ve stated, I love operating portable with my KX3 and I’m Happy, Happy, Happy to have this wonderful add-on to help keep my KX3 Cool, Cool, Cool.

Until next time…

73,

Jerry

Another month is in the books and the QSO a day goal for 2014 continues.  April was successful in many different ways.  First, it moves me one month closer to ending the year with a QSO each and every day.  I also added two new DX entities to my DX list (Crete and Saint Kitts & Nevis) and I managed to get one state closer to WAS on a few different categories.  Finally, I beat my monthly total QSO record of 393 (set in November 2013) with a grand total of 599 total QSO’s. 

The surge in QSO’s for April is primarily due to my wanting to be better prepared in working contest pileup situations when it’s my turn to operate W1AW/Ø later in May.  I’ve been getting on the air and operating the ARRL Centennial QSO Party as much as possible and as much as band conditions have allowed.  It’s been fun.  I’d love to work you and give you my 5 points as a VE.

I’ve also been successful at chasing (and catching) all the W1AW portable stations.  I will need to make sure I catch a few states on their second time around later in the year.  But my goal is to work them all. 

The QSO breakdown for April is as follows:

Mode  Number QSO’s

JT65 149

JT9 3

SSB 441

PSK31 5

RTTY 1

2m FM 0

Additional notes of interest:

DX Stations Worked in March – 46

New DX Entities in March – 2

Total QSO’s for March – 599

Total QSO’s for 2014 – 818

Total consecutive QSO days – 120

Days left in 2014 – 245

Until next time…

73 de KDØBIK

Over the weekend I released the Practical Amateur Radio Podcast (PARP) episode 68.  In this episode I discuss the ARRL Centennial On-Air Events currently taking place up and down the bands.  This includes both the W1AW Portable stations as well as the Centennial Points Challenge QSO Party. 

In addition, PARP 68 introduces you to TJ, WØEA who  is busy with his 100 Days of Summer and Quintessence by Jeff, K9EV.  All this and more…Enjoy!

Thanks for listening…

73 de KDØBIK

I posted my planned intentions of operating W1AW/Ø from Colorado last week.  Unfortunately I’ve had to make a slight change to my on-air schedule to accommodate a scheduling conflict which will allow me to speak to a local amateur radio club about SOTA or Summits on the Air.

As it stands today, I will operate W1AW/Ø on the following dates/times/bands/modes:

23 May 0000z – 0300z – 20m – phone

25 May 1500z – 1800z – 20m – phone 

I may sign up for additional time slots if needed.  I’ll post an update the week before Colorado will be on the air.  In the mean time, I’m getting on the air as much as possible and working as many stations as I can for the ARRL Centennial QSO Party.  I hope to work you either during my time operating W1AW/Ø or as KDØBIK.  Either way, ain’t this hobby great?

Until next time…

73 de KDØBIK