Author Archive
Some common sense, please!
December 3rd, 2014 | 
Author: After working the QRP Fox Hunt last night, and over time working a bunch of DX and a lot of the W1AW Centennial WAS stations, and other pile up causing stations - I really have to wonder what goes on in the minds of some people. It seems like when there's some kind of quarry to be had, whether it be a QRP Fox, a DX station, or a W1AW/XX station - common sense goes right out the window and sheer insanity takes its place.
Take for instance last night. I was trying to work Steve WX2S on 40 Meters who lives about 18 miles from me. Ground wave was strong enough that he was about a 229/339. The advantage was that not only could I hear him, but I could also hear the stations that were calling him. I ended up not working him, but even so, it was a unique opportunity to observe.
Steve was working split from the beginning and he was handling the pile up deftly. But I was left shaking my head, because so many times - all through the hunt, people continued throwing out their calls while Steve was engaging another station! I sat there, kind of dumbfounded. There was Steve, sending out "559 NJ STEVE 5W" to whomever, and all the while there were stations sending out their calls, over and over and over, without so much as taking a breath!
So here's the deal......if you can't hear the quarry well enough to realize he answered someone other than yourself - then why the heck do you continue to throw your call sign out there in the first place? Obviously, if by some miracle, he actually came back to you - would you be able to hear that well enough to realize it and complete the exchange? Something tells me ........no.
Part of pile up discipline (on the part of the chasers) is to realize when you have a legitimate shot. But in any case, whether the quarry is 229 or 599 on your end, don't you think it would be a lot wiser to send your call maybe twice at most and then take a break to actually listen?
Listening. That seems to be a dirty word in the minds of a lot of folks.
Look, I know we all make mistakes and I've made my fair share, too. No one is perfect, and I can understand forgetting to turn the "split" function on or some other such thing. But deliberately sending your call over and over and over in the vain hope of somehow scatter-gunning the target is really just inexcusable, and rude and inconsiderate of your fellow Hams.
As always, this is just my humble opinion. Your mileage may vary.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Take for instance last night. I was trying to work Steve WX2S on 40 Meters who lives about 18 miles from me. Ground wave was strong enough that he was about a 229/339. The advantage was that not only could I hear him, but I could also hear the stations that were calling him. I ended up not working him, but even so, it was a unique opportunity to observe.
Steve was working split from the beginning and he was handling the pile up deftly. But I was left shaking my head, because so many times - all through the hunt, people continued throwing out their calls while Steve was engaging another station! I sat there, kind of dumbfounded. There was Steve, sending out "559 NJ STEVE 5W" to whomever, and all the while there were stations sending out their calls, over and over and over, without so much as taking a breath!
So here's the deal......if you can't hear the quarry well enough to realize he answered someone other than yourself - then why the heck do you continue to throw your call sign out there in the first place? Obviously, if by some miracle, he actually came back to you - would you be able to hear that well enough to realize it and complete the exchange? Something tells me ........no.
Listening. That seems to be a dirty word in the minds of a lot of folks.
Look, I know we all make mistakes and I've made my fair share, too. No one is perfect, and I can understand forgetting to turn the "split" function on or some other such thing. But deliberately sending your call over and over and over in the vain hope of somehow scatter-gunning the target is really just inexcusable, and rude and inconsiderate of your fellow Hams.
As always, this is just my humble opinion. Your mileage may vary.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Gift ideas for Hams
It's December, and that means Christmas and Hanukkah are right around the corner. And sometimes for a Ham, "The Holidays" presents a quandary. Imagine this scenario - your lovely XYL comes over to you and asks, "What would you like for Christmas, Dear?"
You look lovingly into her eyes and say, "A 60 foot Rohn tower with a 3 element beam". And then you get THAT look - and you know instantly, in your heart of hearts, that your request has gone over like the proverbial lead balloon.
Or maybe the wife of your best Ham bud calls you and asks, "What can I get Jim for Hanukkah this year? And no, I'm not getting him a 60 foot tower and a 3 element beam". What do you say? Somehow, I don't think K3, or IC-7800 or FT-DX5000 would go over too well, either.
So, as we get closer to the gift giving season, I'll post some items that I come across that may help break the "What do I get for my favorite Ham?" log jam. My aim will be to keep to suggest gifts that won't break the gift giving budget while at the same time would be a gift that almost ANY Ham would enjoy receiving.
I came across this one this morning on Facebook (see- Facebook is actually good for something!). I thought this was unique, and I sure wouldn't mind having one of these hanging from my shack wall.
This is a little plaque commemorating the 50th anniversary of the ARRL postage stamp. It was issued by the United States government for two reasons - to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the ARRL, and in gratitude of all the valiant work performed by Hams during the Alaskan earthquake ans tsunami that occurred that year.
You can get this little beauty from Hamcrazy.com. It's reasonably priced and will not break the bank.
Suppose you are a CW aficionado, or perhaps your Ham bud is. The following is always a perennial favorite - the Morse Express Christmas Key.
The above photo is the key being offered for 2014. These keys are small enough to be used as a Christmas Tree ornament, but yet are fully functional. One of my most favorite straight keys of all times is the 2004 Christmas Key which my lovely Marianne gave me that year. It has a fantastic feel to it and is perfect as a traveling portable QRP ops straight key.
Please note that I am in no way connected with any of the companies offering these fine wares. I receive no recompense and I have not even been asked to endorse any of these items. This is just W2LJ offering a public service to those of you out there who may be stymied by either of these two questions - "What can I give?" or "What would you like?".
To be continued as I come across neat stuff!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
You look lovingly into her eyes and say, "A 60 foot Rohn tower with a 3 element beam". And then you get THAT look - and you know instantly, in your heart of hearts, that your request has gone over like the proverbial lead balloon.
Or maybe the wife of your best Ham bud calls you and asks, "What can I get Jim for Hanukkah this year? And no, I'm not getting him a 60 foot tower and a 3 element beam". What do you say? Somehow, I don't think K3, or IC-7800 or FT-DX5000 would go over too well, either.
So, as we get closer to the gift giving season, I'll post some items that I come across that may help break the "What do I get for my favorite Ham?" log jam. My aim will be to keep to suggest gifts that won't break the gift giving budget while at the same time would be a gift that almost ANY Ham would enjoy receiving.
I came across this one this morning on Facebook (see- Facebook is actually good for something!). I thought this was unique, and I sure wouldn't mind having one of these hanging from my shack wall.
This is a little plaque commemorating the 50th anniversary of the ARRL postage stamp. It was issued by the United States government for two reasons - to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the ARRL, and in gratitude of all the valiant work performed by Hams during the Alaskan earthquake ans tsunami that occurred that year.
You can get this little beauty from Hamcrazy.com. It's reasonably priced and will not break the bank.
Suppose you are a CW aficionado, or perhaps your Ham bud is. The following is always a perennial favorite - the Morse Express Christmas Key.
The above photo is the key being offered for 2014. These keys are small enough to be used as a Christmas Tree ornament, but yet are fully functional. One of my most favorite straight keys of all times is the 2004 Christmas Key which my lovely Marianne gave me that year. It has a fantastic feel to it and is perfect as a traveling portable QRP ops straight key.
Please note that I am in no way connected with any of the companies offering these fine wares. I receive no recompense and I have not even been asked to endorse any of these items. This is just W2LJ offering a public service to those of you out there who may be stymied by either of these two questions - "What can I give?" or "What would you like?".
To be continued as I come across neat stuff!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Thanksgiving 2014
A very Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving to all my Amateur Radio friends. Enjoy the day with family, friends and food!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
I’m dreaming of a white …….
Thanksgiving.
What?!?
Yes, Virginia, it looks like the east coast is going to receive a rare white Thanksgiving. Even though it approached 70F (21C) here yesterday, a change is in the offing. By 8:00 AM tomorrow morning, the busiest travel day of the entire year, a classic Nor'easter will be making its way up the coast, bringing much colder air and snow with it. By Buffalo, NY and Great Lakes region standards, we're talking a mere dusting of snow - maybe only 3-8 inches (7-20 cm), but enough to make traveling to Grandma's house a trickier proposition than normal. By the way, the last time it snowed in these parts for Thanksgiving was 1989 - some 25 years ago.
On a Ham Radio note, it appears my W3EDP antenna has gone the way of the DoDo Bird, that is - extinct. I plugged it into the KX3 the other day and I noticed that it is considerably deaf. Stations that I can hear plainly and loudly with the EDZ and the Butternut are but a mere whisper on the W3EDP.
I suspect I know where the trouble is. There are only three parts to this antenna - the actual wire, the balun, the coax. I'm placing my money on the coax. I suppose water could have gotten into the balun and could be wreaking havoc, but it is a commercial brand, popular make balun. I think it's way more likely that water probably got into the coax. I probably didn't weather-proof the connection as well as I thought I had.
Unfortunately, I don't have a piece of coax long enough to replace it right now. Guess I'll be ordering some over the long Holiday weekend. I don't suppose there are any coax stores holding day-after-Thanksgiving Black Friday sales, eh?
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
What?!?
Yes, Virginia, it looks like the east coast is going to receive a rare white Thanksgiving. Even though it approached 70F (21C) here yesterday, a change is in the offing. By 8:00 AM tomorrow morning, the busiest travel day of the entire year, a classic Nor'easter will be making its way up the coast, bringing much colder air and snow with it. By Buffalo, NY and Great Lakes region standards, we're talking a mere dusting of snow - maybe only 3-8 inches (7-20 cm), but enough to make traveling to Grandma's house a trickier proposition than normal. By the way, the last time it snowed in these parts for Thanksgiving was 1989 - some 25 years ago.
On a Ham Radio note, it appears my W3EDP antenna has gone the way of the DoDo Bird, that is - extinct. I plugged it into the KX3 the other day and I noticed that it is considerably deaf. Stations that I can hear plainly and loudly with the EDZ and the Butternut are but a mere whisper on the W3EDP.
I suspect I know where the trouble is. There are only three parts to this antenna - the actual wire, the balun, the coax. I'm placing my money on the coax. I suppose water could have gotten into the balun and could be wreaking havoc, but it is a commercial brand, popular make balun. I think it's way more likely that water probably got into the coax. I probably didn't weather-proof the connection as well as I thought I had.
Unfortunately, I don't have a piece of coax long enough to replace it right now. Guess I'll be ordering some over the long Holiday weekend. I don't suppose there are any coax stores holding day-after-Thanksgiving Black Friday sales, eh?
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Joy and Disappointment
Last night, our Technician Licensing class formally came to an end. We held a VE Session which was at once extremely gratifying and at the same time, bittersweet.
It was a bit of a whirlwind evening for me, so I'm a bit shaky on the numbers. Of the 16 student we started with, about 10 showed up for exams last night. Two couldn't make it due to doctor appointments and one get held up at work. What happened to the other three is beyond me. I had everyone's e-mail and was sending out regular announcements. These three individuals haven't come to class for the last couple of weeks. There was no indication of a lack of interest, or lack of understanding the material - so maybe it's been personal issues. Life happens, we all know that, and most people are reluctant to talk about their circumstances.
Everyone who turned out last night earned their Technician class licenses with the exception of two. The two who missed, missed by very little - the bittersweet part. Just about everyone who passed took a stab at the General, and one actually earned it. That was very gratifying.
We have decided to hold another VE session this Saturday morning at 8:00 AM at the EOC. The people who couldn't make it last night will get their opportunity. The people who missed get the chance to dust themselves off and give it another go. And maybe some will return for a second crack at upgrading to General.
Everyone was invited to the monthly South Plainfield Amateur Radio Club meeting tonight. The real "Elmering", the real teaching starts now. It's one thing to help someone to get their license. It's another thing entirely to transform these newbie Hams into confident, knowledgeable, content and active Amateur Radio operators.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
It was a bit of a whirlwind evening for me, so I'm a bit shaky on the numbers. Of the 16 student we started with, about 10 showed up for exams last night. Two couldn't make it due to doctor appointments and one get held up at work. What happened to the other three is beyond me. I had everyone's e-mail and was sending out regular announcements. These three individuals haven't come to class for the last couple of weeks. There was no indication of a lack of interest, or lack of understanding the material - so maybe it's been personal issues. Life happens, we all know that, and most people are reluctant to talk about their circumstances.
Everyone who turned out last night earned their Technician class licenses with the exception of two. The two who missed, missed by very little - the bittersweet part. Just about everyone who passed took a stab at the General, and one actually earned it. That was very gratifying.
We have decided to hold another VE session this Saturday morning at 8:00 AM at the EOC. The people who couldn't make it last night will get their opportunity. The people who missed get the chance to dust themselves off and give it another go. And maybe some will return for a second crack at upgrading to General.
Everyone was invited to the monthly South Plainfield Amateur Radio Club meeting tonight. The real "Elmering", the real teaching starts now. It's one thing to help someone to get their license. It's another thing entirely to transform these newbie Hams into confident, knowledgeable, content and active Amateur Radio operators.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Skeeter Hunt Certificates
The first 3/4ths of the 2014 Skeeter Hunt certificates went out in the mail last night. I ran out of 9X12 envelopes and will get more. The remaining ten or so will go out Thursday night, as our Tech License exam session is tonight and our monthly South Plainfield Amateur Radio Club meeting is tomorrow night.
If you earned a certificate, it has been noted on the Scoreboard spreadsheet, in the "Notes" column:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1odmnlTAnQST7FgsEnsItHaT_ZO0e8yZpzLqxcsyGRkY/edit#gid=1768430587
Thanks for your patience, and I apologize profusely for the delay - but hey, like John Lennon said, "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans."
Look for the Skeeter Hunt to be making an appearance on Facebook in the near future! Oh ..... and there will be at least one change in the rules for next year. Look for that announcement in the Spring of 2015. (Hey, I gotta give you something to look forward to!)
BTW, I want to take an opportunity to mention something about the "QRP - When you care to send the very least!" and the "Skeeter Hunt" items that I offer through Cafe Press. There's no big markup there - each item is offered at $1 above Cafe Press cost. The proceeds (which ain't much - believe me!) go towards the purchase of ink, paper, envelopes and postage for the Skeeter Hunt certificates. Next year, I am hoping to offer plaques to the top three finishers.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
If you earned a certificate, it has been noted on the Scoreboard spreadsheet, in the "Notes" column:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1odmnlTAnQST7FgsEnsItHaT_ZO0e8yZpzLqxcsyGRkY/edit#gid=1768430587
Thanks for your patience, and I apologize profusely for the delay - but hey, like John Lennon said, "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans."
Look for the Skeeter Hunt to be making an appearance on Facebook in the near future! Oh ..... and there will be at least one change in the rules for next year. Look for that announcement in the Spring of 2015. (Hey, I gotta give you something to look forward to!)
BTW, I want to take an opportunity to mention something about the "QRP - When you care to send the very least!" and the "Skeeter Hunt" items that I offer through Cafe Press. There's no big markup there - each item is offered at $1 above Cafe Press cost. The proceeds (which ain't much - believe me!) go towards the purchase of ink, paper, envelopes and postage for the Skeeter Hunt certificates. Next year, I am hoping to offer plaques to the top three finishers.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
For any readers from the greater NYC region
The following came from Mike Lisenco NY2BB, our ARRL Hudson Division Director:
Gordon "Gordo" West, WB6NOA, author, lecturer and creator of many Ham Radio study guides and related products will be in town this weekend and next week.
He will be at KJI Electronics this weekend, where he will be holding Technician and General Class license review classes followed by an exam session. Advanced registration is required as space is limited. Go to www.kjielectronics.com for more information.
He is the scheduled guest speaker at the Suffolk County Radio Club Meeting on Tuesday, November 18 at 7:00 PM (Time change! From 8:00 PM to 7:00 PM!). Guests are always welcome so feel free to attend:
Grace Lutheran Church
240 Mastic Road
Mastic Beach, NY
For more information, the club website is: http://suffolkcountyradioclub.net/
He will also be at the Great South Bay Amateur Radio Club on Thursday November 20th at 8:00 PM:
Babylon Town Hall
220 East Sunrise Highway
Lindenhurst, NY.
Talk-in on the W2GSB repeater 146.685 MHz 110.9 HZ PL For more info go to the club website: http://www.gsbarc.org/
This information appears too good not to share - so I re-posted.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Gordon "Gordo" West, WB6NOA, author, lecturer and creator of many Ham Radio study guides and related products will be in town this weekend and next week.
He will be at KJI Electronics this weekend, where he will be holding Technician and General Class license review classes followed by an exam session. Advanced registration is required as space is limited. Go to www.kjielectronics.com for more information.
He is the scheduled guest speaker at the Suffolk County Radio Club Meeting on Tuesday, November 18 at 7:00 PM (Time change! From 8:00 PM to 7:00 PM!). Guests are always welcome so feel free to attend:
Grace Lutheran Church
240 Mastic Road
Mastic Beach, NY
For more information, the club website is: http://suffolkcountyradioclub.net/
He will also be at the Great South Bay Amateur Radio Club on Thursday November 20th at 8:00 PM:
Babylon Town Hall
220 East Sunrise Highway
Lindenhurst, NY.
Talk-in on the W2GSB repeater 146.685 MHz 110.9 HZ PL For more info go to the club website: http://www.gsbarc.org/
This information appears too good not to share - so I re-posted.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
