Category Archives: Operating

Some Field Day 2013 thoughts…

Posted on June 24, 2013 by robert

Our W1LY Field Day was much nicer this year due to better weather.  It was warm and breezy but not to hot and humid until Sunday — when the humidity picked up along with the temperature.  Still, it was MUCH … Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative Power, Contests, Gear, History, Instruction, Operating, Public Service, Satellite | Leave a comment

Satellite RX Offsets for AO-07, VO-52, and FO-29

Posted on June 19, 2013 by robert

Field day for NCRC is right around the corner, and its a busy one for me.  I’m responsible for the GOTA station, am acting as the Public Information Officer, and am setting up the 2m SSB and Linear Satellite station. … Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative Power, Contests, From the OM, Operating, Public Service, Satellite | Leave a comment

Taking the exam for ARRL Volunteer Examiner

Posted on April 12, 2013 by robert

I took the ARRL-VEC Exam, which is an open-book 40-question yes/no, fill-in-the-blank, mini-essay type exam taking 3 pages.  Add a page long application and a copy of your license, plus postage for 2 ounces applied to the envelope, and the … Continue reading →

Posted in From the OM, Operating, Public Service | 3 Comments

XT2TT Confirmation completes TWO goals for 2013

Posted on March 22, 2013 by robert

I just received LotW confirmations from XT2TT, Burkina Faso, that included a RTTY digital contact.  That confirmation actually completes my first goal for the year; getting 175 countries confirmed in LotW.  It also completes a second goal; getting Digital DXCC … Continue reading →

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15-Meter WAS: Thanks Steven, W3SFG

Posted on March 20, 2013 by robert

In the march toward 5BWAS, 15-meters was crossed off the list this morning when W3SFG, Steven in Maryland, confirmed our contact made 10 days prior. I had been watching LotW closely, waiting for that contact to be confirmed, and became … Continue reading →

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

A Clean Sweep for Clipperton TX5K

Posted on March 8, 2013 by robert

I have been spending a bit of time since Monday trying to work the Clipperton Island DXpediton, TX5K, on all bands and modes.  I was finally able to accomplish that during lunch today, with a 10-meter CW contact completing the … Continue reading →

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A Repeater Finder App for IOS and Android (and the web)

Posted on March 8, 2013 by robert

While I had programmed every repeater in my local area into my IC880H before installing it in the truck, I had no idea exactly where the repeaters were located, and I discovered that I was not able to bring all … Continue reading →

Posted in D-Star, From the OM, Gear, Operating | Leave a comment

Mounting a VHF/UHF Gain Antenna on a Chevy Avalanche

Posted on March 4, 2013 by robert

My WB4SON-mobile is a Chevrolet Avalanche.  Despite the fact that I’ve owned that truck for over a decade, I’ve never had a permanently mounted rig or antenna, relying instead on my handheld with a mag-mount antenna.  After about the sixth … Continue reading →

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TX5K 18 MHz P3 Capture

Posted on March 4, 2013 by robert

The KX5K DXpedition is creating a rather wide pileup on the 18 MHz band as you can see from the screen-capture below.  The Green and Red cursors are about 7.3 KHz apart.  The Green cursor is on TX5K signal, which … Continue reading →

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Clipperton, TX5K, has fantastic real-time world view

Posted on March 4, 2013 by robert

After begin “slimmed” by a pirate on 3/1, followed by a busy family weekend, I finally had an opportunity to work TX5K on Clipperton Island (for real) using 30m CW.  Despite the relative calm of the 30 meter band, the … Continue reading →

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