Category Archives: Gear

2023 Goal Review and New Goals for 2024

I had an ambitious set of goals for 2023: Teach a class (either Technician or CW Academy) Participate in 120+ CWTs for the CWops Gold Medal Build my QRP-Labs QDX Digital Transceiver Activate 10 new parks in CT or obtain … Continue reading

Posted in CWT, Gear, Goals, POTA, Solar Power | Leave a comment

Goal Review and New Goals for 2023

2022 was a good year in terms of my goals.  I was able to complete all 5. Teach a CW Academy Course (Winter 2022) Teach a Technician Course (Spring 2022) Conduct NCRC’s first electronic VE exam (Spring 2022) Build my … Continue reading

Posted in CW Academy, CWops, CWT, Education, Gear, QCX-mini, QRP | Leave a comment

Preparing a miniPC for 24/7 operation

There are two good reasons to use a dedicated miniPC for your RMS Packet station.  The first is that the sysop user agreement you sign states that you will do you best to make sure the software runs on dedicated … Continue reading

Posted in Gear, RMS, Winlink | Leave a comment

Keeping your paddle in place

I’ve always been rather ham-fisted when it comes to sending Morse Code.  Not so much that I squeeze the paddles so much they bend, but rather I knock the paddle all over the table.  It’s hard to send a “5” … Continue reading

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Random Musings on POTA

I started my Parks On The Air journey on October 2nd; my first activation with John K1JSM, Willy W1LY, and Richard KC1ARO at Brenton Point Park.  I quickly caught the bug, and have worked with them and other Newport County … Continue reading

Posted in Antennas, Awards, Battery, Gear, POTA | Leave a comment

POTA Activation K-6979 Arcadia Wildlife Management Area

While Rhode Island is sort of small (Yellowstone can hold TWO Rhode Islands), it is a beautiful place, and is currently host to forty Parks On The Air entities.  One of them, Arcadia Wildlife Management Area covers a broad area … Continue reading

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Use a 2mm Allen Wrench for HamSticks

I have a number of HamStick antennas that I use with my Truck.  Over time, I’ve lost every one of the little pesky Allen Wrenches that they come with, and couldn’t find the size listed anywhere on the web. I … Continue reading

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Renaming Audio In/Out in Win 10

As I slowly change from older generation radios to newer ones, many of them come with a USB interface for Rig Control as well as modulation In and Out.  The trouble is that the vendors don’t do a good job … Continue reading

Posted in FTDX-101MP, Gear, Sound, Win10 | Leave a comment

FLEX6600M Springs back to life

Late last year, I purchased a FlexRadio 6600M along with its companion “Maestro” remote head.  I had the radio installed in my basement shack (I call it the Wombat Room, but everyone else calls it the furnace room), and I … Continue reading

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Leo Bodnar mini GPS Reference Clock

I finally powered up my Leo Bodnar mini-GPS Reference Clock yesterday.  It took only a few seconds to achieve lock and within 15 minutes it was stabilize to within 1 milliHertz.  I’m told by the factory that within a few … Continue reading

Posted in FMT, Gear, IC-9700 | 8 Comments