Category Archives: From the OM

NIST Director Copan Decides to Shut Down WWV/WWVB/WWVH

Posted on August 13, 2018 by robert

Can you believe that WWV, WWVB and WWVH will be shut down in 2019?  Struck me as beyond strange, but sure enough it shows up in the 2019 budget request: -$6.3 million supporting fundamental measurement dissemination, including the shutdown of … Continue reading →

Posted in From the OM | 7 Comments

Tried WSJT-X in Hound Mode for the first time

Posted on July 25, 2018 by Bob Beatty

Today I heard SO1WS in Western Sahara on 17-meters.  I noticed a very raspy FT-8 signal, and after checking the time offset, it turned out to be So1WS — however upon further review it was apparent that they were running … Continue reading →

Posted in From the OM, FT8 | Leave a comment

“Emergency! There is smoke in the basement”

Posted on July 14, 2018 by robert

So I have a rule about keeping all my WB4SON Blog comments about radio.  Keeps me on topic and away from controversial subjects, which is a good thing.  In the very sad news department, my constant companion Lily, our 14-year … Continue reading →

Posted in Computers, From the OM | 2 Comments

Field Day 2018 Satellite Passes

Posted on June 16, 2018 by robert

I’ve put together my list of candidate orbits that are happening during daylight hours for Field Day 2018.  Orbits in green are pretty optimal.  Orbits in yellow are lower (and hence further away, or in darkness). Satellite Passes FD 2018

Posted in AMSAT, AO-7, AO-73, AO-85, AO-91, CAS-4B, FO-29, From the OM, Satellite, SO-50, XW-2A, XW-2B, XW-2C, XW-2D, XW-2F | Leave a comment

Happy 6000+ LotW confirmations!

Posted on May 23, 2018 by robert

Back on Jan 19, I was sitting at 5,000 LotW confirmations.  Today, with the addition of a couple of confirmations from QSOs with Iceland back in 2014, I bumped up to 6,001 confirmed in LotW. Thanks to Odinn Thor (I … Continue reading →

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

Final Class for New Tech’s

Posted on May 19, 2018 by robert

I recently completed another Technician Class up in Providence RI.  It produced 11 New Techs plus a General (I’m always amazed how common it is for one or two folks to take the next level exam and pass it). As … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, From the OM | 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

QSO #7000 in LotW

Posted on October 3, 2017 by robert

While I am sure I’ve had many more QSOs (I’ve got many old written logbooks from 1970-2000), I didn’t start using LotW until I got back on the air in February of 2011. Today I entered my 7,000th QSO into … Continue reading →

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Nice 6-meter Opening Today

Posted on July 6, 2017 by robert

The JT65 segment of 6-meters was white hot today.  Even heard Joe Taylor (K1JT).  Map below shows stations that heard my signals around 21:00 UTC today.

Posted in From the OM, Propagation | Leave a comment

Field Day 2017 Satellite Passes

Posted on June 20, 2017 by robert

As usual, here is the list of decent satellite passes for Field Day 2017.  Times are in EDT, and the station location is set to FN41 (Rhode Island).  Many of them this year are after dark.  Going to have to … Continue reading →

Posted in From the OM, Satellite | Leave a comment