Category Archives: From the OM

Fixing the “Solar_Terrestrial Data” Widget

Posted on February 1, 2017 by robert

Paul Herrman, N0NBH, has been providing Solar-Terrestrial Data banners for many years to hams for use on their websites.  One of them is a Widget used by many on WordPress sites, originally authored by Tom, NS6T.  That’s the widget I’ve … Continue reading →

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Goals for 2017 and 2016 in Review

Posted on January 1, 2017 by robert

Four out of seven 2016 goals were completed successfully: 255 Confirmed Countries  YES 1,200 DX Band-Points  YES WAS Completed on 12 Meters (need WV)  NO Successful ARISS Contact at All Saints Academy  YES Teach a Technician Class for Monsignor Clarke … Continue reading →

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Icom IC-80AD Spectral Purity

Posted on December 12, 2016 by robert

Running a spectral purity check on my Icom IC-80AD DSTAR radio, I found that it passes FCC requirements as you would hope it would. The test setup used for the UV5R was only slightly modified to change the bandwidth so that the … Continue reading →

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15 Minutes of Fame?

Posted on September 7, 2016 by robert

Andy Warhol once said “In the future everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes”. A satellite buddy, WD9EWK, sent me a tweet about 12:30 this morning about the QRZ.COM page which was featuring my QSL card: Thanks, Patrick — that’s … Continue reading →

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Gotta Love Portable Operation

Posted on August 20, 2016 by robert

My family and I went to Lake George in early August for a week of fun — I’m not as bendy as they are, so while they were parasailing and kayaking, I hung back at our hotel to make a … Continue reading →

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2016 Goal Review

Posted on June 1, 2016 by robert

At the beginning of each year I set some goals for myself.  These were the goals I set for 2016: 2016 Goals: 255 Confirmed Countries 1,200 DX Band-Points WAS Completed on 12 Meters Successful ARISS Contact at All Saints Academy … Continue reading →

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A Grand Day at ARRL HQ

Posted on March 31, 2016 by robert

A friend of mine, Paul, N1PSX, and I drove to ARRL HQ yesterday for a visit.  It was Paul’s first trip, and the first time in a long time for me (my father and I visited in 1982 when we … Continue reading →

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Honored to have contacted VP8STI

Posted on January 25, 2016 by robert

What an amazing DXpedition to two islands off the coast of Antarctica, South Sandwich, and South Georgia.  Despite the fact that it is summer there, it’s still one of the most inhospitable areas on the planet.  Case in point, from … Continue reading →

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Goodbye Solar Cycle 24

Posted on January 20, 2016 by robert

Goodbye Solar Cycle 24, you were fun while you lasted! Propagation is really impacting the K5P (Palmyra Island), VP8STI (South Sandwich Island), and VP8SGI (South Georgia Island), DXpeditions. I note that solar levels appear to be somewhat higher than when I … Continue reading →

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K1 Assembly Complete

Posted on January 1, 2016 by robert

I completed and installed the two coils in 50 minutes.  I then spent another 40 minutes doing the TX tests and alignment.  That brings the total time to 25.75 hours. The initial transmitter testing went well, with coils almost peaked … Continue reading →

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