Category Archives: From the OM

First Successful CW QSO on AO-73

(What a great name for a satellite!!) I’ve had four passes of AO-73 over my QTH that have been in the transponder mode, but for the last three of them, while I was able to hear many signals on the … Continue reading

Posted in From the OM | Leave a comment

Hopes for WAS Triple Play Dashed

It is with some irony that I note I have received 49 LotW confirmations for SSB contacts made during this past Phone SS Contest.  The one missing confirmation is Georgia.  I made contact with SIX stations from Georgia but not … Continue reading

Posted in From the OM | Leave a comment

And the countdown begins…

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

Solar Excellence

The Sun has been seething this past week, with SFI and SN > 170.  10m has been open quite a bit.  The K and A factors have been low, so conditions have been great except for times immediately after some … Continue reading

Posted in DX, From the OM, Gear, Instruction, Operating, Public Service | Leave a comment

What a Difference a 10m Opening Makes

Last weekend was the CQWW RTTY Contest.  Perhaps due to the RTTY activity, or maybe it was just Mother Nature at work, but I found 10 meters alive and well on Saturday.  I wasn’t participating in the contest, but it … Continue reading

Posted in DX, From the OM | Leave a comment

SideKX Panels for my KX3

During our RFI finding party at Glen Park, John King, WA1ABI, brought his KX3, and I noticed that he had installed Scott’s (AK6Q) side panels and Lexan cover.  This was the first time that I saw these in person, and … Continue reading

Posted in From the OM, Gear | Leave a comment

Just over 3 months to go for this year’s goals

As of 9/18, I have 735 Challenge points (out of 1000), 187 Countries Confirmed, need 4 countries for 10m DXCC and 26 for 80m DXCC.  So some decent progress has been made toward the year-end goal of 200 Confirmed Countries, … Continue reading

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

All Set for JotA

JOTA is the Boy Scout’s “Jamboree-on-the-Air”.  This is a HUGE scouting event, which involved over 700,000 participants last year with 13,500 stations on the air.  It can be combined with a camp-over (a “Camporee”), or could be run out of … Continue reading

Posted in From the OM, Operating, Public Service | Leave a comment

Some tips for WSJT-X

So after a week of experience with WSJT-X and in the interest of full disclosure, I am clearly no expert.  But here are a few gems that I’ve found by reading through the manual a few times: Set the incoming … Continue reading

Posted in Digital Mode, From the OM, Operating | 5 Comments

Just what I need — another mode for WAS and DXCC

With one JT9 QSL confirmed in LotW, I guess I’m on my way, but the most important thing is that I’ve got WSJT-X integrated with my HRD log book and JT-Alert, plus I’ve updated my tQSL software to version 1.14 … Continue reading

Posted in Digital Mode, From the OM, JT9, Operating | Leave a comment