Category Archives: Operating

5BWAS Issued on Feb 2, 2014

Posted on February 3, 2014 by robert

It was Super Sunday in more ways that one.  I received a message from Bill Moore, NC1L, that my application for 5BWAS had been approved and the plaque/pins/certificate were on the way.

Posted in From the OM, Operating | Leave a comment

Midpoint of Solar Cycle 24 reached at end of December

Posted on January 7, 2014 by robert

The official definition of the midpoint of a solar cycle is when both halves of the sun have reversed magnetic poles.  Up until recently, just the upper half had reversed.  But in late December, the lower half finally caught up. … Continue reading →

Posted in Operating, Propagation | Leave a comment

2013 Wrap-up and 2014 Goals

Posted on January 1, 2014 by robert

Happy New Year!!! 2013 was a good ham radio year, even with somewhat disappointing solar activity.  Last year I set the following goals: Get 175 confirmed countries in LotW √ (Have 193 confirmed in LotW and 2 QSLs for a … Continue reading →

Posted in From the OM, History, Operating | 2 Comments

WB4SON Plates Arrive

Posted on December 3, 2013 by robert

Right up front, let me begin by saying “This isn’t your parents DMV”.  I was shocked to be in and out of the DMV in 30 minutes with my new Amateur Radio plates in hand.  The last time I went … Continue reading →

Posted in Operating | Leave a comment

Triple Play #936 Completed

Posted on November 26, 2013 by robert

The ARRL issued Triple Pay #936 to me today.  A fun factoid is that a good ham radio friend of mine, Dave, WB4KDI, was issued his just a  day earlier.  I sort of goofed up in the submission process, asking … Continue reading →

Posted in LotW, Operating | 5 Comments

Received 47 Telemetry Blocks for AO73

Posted on November 21, 2013 by robert

Funcube-1, now known as AO-73, was launched early this morning (about 2:10 AM EST).  I heard a pass around lunchtime, but wasn’t setup to decode it yet.  Even without decoding anything, it was a valuable experience, as it proved the … Continue reading →

Posted in Operating, Satellite | Leave a comment

Just Completed a Triple Play!

Posted on November 21, 2013 by robert

After coming to the realization that I wasn’t going to get my final necessary WAS Phone contact in LotW, a requirement of the ARRL Triple Play award (that it be in LotW), I was stumped, but reached out to a … Continue reading →

Posted in LotW, Operating | Leave a comment

And the countdown begins…

Posted on November 17, 2013 by robert

I spend much of the weekend participating in the Phone SS contest.  Unlike last year, when my goal was a clean sweep on both CW and Phone, this year’s goal was to simply complete WAS Phone, which is the final … Continue reading →

Posted in Contests, From the OM, LotW, Operating | Leave a comment

5K QSOs since Feb 2011

Posted on November 12, 2013 by robert

I noted that after I uploaded a couple of JT9 QSOs, that my LotW count reached exactly 5000 today: That’s a lot of yabbering for 2.5 years!

Posted in LotW, Operating | Leave a comment

WAS-CW Completed

Posted on November 5, 2013 by robert

Following a CW Contact during Sweepstakes, W7ZRC confirmed in LotW, which completes WAS-CW.  With WAS-Digital already completed ages ago, that leaves me with 10 states (CO, GA, LA, MS, MO, MT, ND, OR, WV, and WY) to complete my WAS-PHONE, … Continue reading →

Posted in Contests, Operating | Leave a comment