Author Archives: robert

Grid Square Hunt Marches on

Posted on January 10, 2018 by robert

In the past 10 days I’ve worked about 200 stations in the grid chase.  A big issue is that less than half of them are confirming via LotW, which is the key for the contact counting.  RI, being a small … Continue reading →

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Ryan has Success with CAS-4B QSOs

Posted on January 3, 2018 by robert

I mentioned that I’ve been mentoring a neighbor that lives a few houses down the street from me.  Ryan is 11 years old and in the 6th grade.  Ryan hopes to be a meteorologist when he grows up and understands … Continue reading →

Posted in AMSAT, CAS-4B, Satellite | Leave a comment

ARRL International Grid Chase Underway!

Posted on January 3, 2018 by robert

Don’t forget that the ARRL International Grid Chase is now underway and runs all of 2018.  While there is an implication that this is a “special” event, it really isn’t.  Any contact you make that is confirmed in LotW counts.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Contests, Grid Chase, Operating | Leave a comment

Straight Key Night (Day?)

Posted on January 1, 2018 by robert

A New Years Eve dinner and party kept me off the air last night, but I made a point of dusting off my old J-38 key, and firing up a QRP rig that I had built to put 4.5 blazing … Continue reading →

Posted in Operating, QRP | Leave a comment

Happy New Year! Goal Review

Posted on January 1, 2018 by robert

2017 was a very productive year for my ham radio hobby.  At the beginning of the year I set the following goals: Teach a Technician class 265 confirmed countries 1250 Challenge band-points Successful ARISS contact at BHHS Complete 1 QRP … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, From the OM | Leave a comment

Year-end DX/WAS Summary

Posted on December 31, 2017 by robert

2017 was a slow year for DX & WAS.  I suspect due to a combination of working most of the easy ones and a rapidly declining Solar Cycle 24.  It is hard to imagine how poor things will be for … Continue reading →

Posted in 160-Meters, DX, Propagation, Satellite, Solar Cycles, WAS | Leave a comment

Configuring TM-D710GA for APRS Indoors

Posted on December 20, 2017 by robert

That last word “Indoors”is the clue… The TM-D710GA has a built-in GPS.  Not surprisingly, it does not receive indoors, and it has no provisions for an external antenna (only an external GPS receiver). I had setup the radio for A-side … Continue reading →

Posted in APRS, Gear, TM-D710GA | Leave a comment

A Few More AO-91 QSOs

Posted on December 5, 2017 by robert

There was another high pass of AO-91 around noon today, from 1716 to 1730 UTC. I worked Dave NA2AA (FN20/NJ) at 17:23 and Phil W1EME (FN32/MA) at 1726.  I only had audio copy from about 1722-1726.  Even with a mast … Continue reading →

Posted in AMSAT, AO-91, Satellite | Leave a comment

First AO-91 QSOs

Posted on December 4, 2017 by robert

I’ve managed to miss every pass of AO-91 either due schedule conflicts or incompetence on my part.  I finally set an alarm to go off before a 41 degree high pass today starting at 16:54 UTC. At first I was … Continue reading →

Posted in AMSAT, AO-91, Satellite | Leave a comment

160 Meter Contest in the Bag

Posted on December 3, 2017 by robert

The contest ended at 11 AM local time, so it’s in the bag.  I finished with 302 contacts (only 17 DX contacts).  I was on for 5.75 hours on Friday and 5.25 hours on Saturday, so 11 total.  Probably spent … Continue reading →

Posted in 160-Meters, Contests | Leave a comment