Category Archives: From the OM

Having fun DXing this January

Posted on January 18, 2019 by Bob Beatty

I spent far too much time hunting grids down in 2018.  I will say it upped my DXCC Challenge points (by about 85), but it wasn’t very fruitful for finding ATNOs. Thankfully, January has proven to be opportunity-rich.  I’ve worked … Continue reading →

Posted in 160-Meters, DX, From the OM | Leave a comment

2019 Goals

Posted on January 1, 2019 by robert

It is time to set my goals for 2019.  This year, they will be somewhat reduced due to health limitations. Teach a Technician Class Reach 270 Confirmed Countries in DXCC Reach 60 Confirmed Countries on 160-Meters Reach 1375 Band-Points in … Continue reading →

Posted in DX, Education, From the OM, Goals, Satellite | Leave a comment

2018 Goals in Review

Posted on January 1, 2019 by robert

Happy New Year!!! Hard to believe another year is here, even after being tired from accomplishing so much in 2018 — all but one goal was completed. Teach a Technician Class 265 Confirmed Countries in DXCC (made 268) 1,290 Challenge Band-Points (made … Continue reading →

Posted in 160-Meters, 3D Printing, Awards, DX, Education, From the OM | Leave a comment

Initial Impression Alinco DJ-MD5

Posted on December 24, 2018 by robert

During one of the almost endless sales, I purchased an Alinco DJ-MD5 about a month ago.  It came in today, I started the process of trying to figure out the radio (from a perspective of someone who never used DMR … Continue reading →

Posted in DJ-MD5, DMR, From the OM | 10 Comments

10,000 QSOs in the Log

Posted on December 21, 2018 by Bob Beatty

How appropriate, on the first day of winter, for a non-fan of cold weather, snow & ice, that I should reach QSO #10,000 in my logbook?  My small contribution to the one billion QSOs entered into LotW as of 12/19. … Continue reading →

Posted in From the OM, FT8, LotW, Operating | Leave a comment

Clearing the air on FT8

Posted on December 11, 2018 by robert

I follow a fairly large number of groups that are associated with various aspects of Amateur Radio or Electronics. I’ve seen a lot of discussing pro and con about FT8.  My personal view is that Amateur Radio should be as … Continue reading →

Posted in Digital Mode, From the OM, FT8 | Leave a comment

License Renewed

Posted on October 2, 2018 by Bob Beatty

I guess I am good for another decade.  I was pleasantly surprised to find it VERY easy to renew online in the FCC ULS system.  Even more surprised that I could find my password, which I haven’t used in about … Continue reading →

Posted in From the OM, History | Leave a comment

WB4SON.com now Secure

Posted on September 18, 2018 by Bob Beatty

I have completed the migration of WB4SON.com to a secured https:// system on HostGator.  So far working VERY well, and about 1/8 the cost of GoDaddy

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WB4SON.COM Moved to HostGator

Posted on September 8, 2018 by robert

For the past seven years, WB4SON.COM has been hosted on GoDaddy.com, but with their ever increasing prices, plus costs for a security certificate, I was forced to move my hosting to HostGator.com, which uses a standard cPanel interface and gives … Continue reading →

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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