Category Archives: From the OM

What To Do During a “Historic Winter Storm”

Posted on January 25, 2015 by robert

The NWS is calling for a Blizzard in two days, a “Historic Winter Storm”.  I can hardly wait until the local news media gets spinning that.  What level is left, “Biblical Winter Storm”? Anyway, that made me think of the … Continue reading →

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Some Really Good DX Luck Over the Holidays

Posted on January 6, 2015 by robert

I can’t help but smile a bit as I get closer to my 2015 goal even 6 days into the new year. Despite a dozen QSOs with Falkland Island on several bands, I finally received confirmation in LotW about 15 … Continue reading →

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Straight Key Night 2015

Posted on January 3, 2015 by robert

A friend of mine, John, WA1ABI, is a real fan of Straight Key Night (SKN).  For the past couple of years, I’ve thought I should dig up my 40 year old Brown Brothers Key, a Christmas present from 1974, the last … Continue reading →

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Goals for 2015

Posted on January 1, 2015 by robert

Happy New Year, of course, and time for new year goals! Complete DXCC Challenge with 1000+ points Complete 30m and 12m DXCC (8BDXCC) (80m seems unlikely) Complete 12m WAS (7BWAS) (a stretch to get DE and WV) Work 250 logged … Continue reading →

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2014 — The Year In Review

Posted on December 31, 2014 by robert

WB4SON 2014 2014 was a happy and successful Ham Radio year for me.  I participated (or helped organize) many different club events, including Field Day, our Narragansett Bay Islands On The Air, and Jamboree On The Air Event.  I gave … Continue reading →

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Christmas Tree Light 2xQSO on 80m and 450nm

Posted on December 27, 2014 by robert

I met with John, WA1ABI, tonight on 3515 KHz for a Christmas Tree Light to Christmas Tree Light QSO.  Both of us were feeding our radio into our lights for a CW QSO.  As I had mine configured as a … Continue reading →

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Merry Christmas!

Posted on December 25, 2014 by robert

With his work complete, Santa can finally take a breather and catch up on his favorite hobby.  I bet he’s at the top of the Honor Roll. (Cartoon Credit: w9yb.org)

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Unexpected Surprise

Posted on October 23, 2014 by robert

So a large envelope from the ARRL showed up in the mail today.  Not entirely unusual as I teach classes, and am a VE, plus life members, etc.  However I wasn’t expecting anything. Imagine my surprise when I opened it … Continue reading →

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DXCC Update

Posted on October 11, 2014 by robert

Several of my ham buddies (including one at the top of the Honor Roll), have described the DXCC process as easy to get the first 100, then more effort to get the next.  They have warned me that after 200, … Continue reading →

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W1AW/Portable 50 States Confirmed!

Posted on September 4, 2014 by robert

I was a bit surprised to find two QSLs arrived this morning at about 5 AM in LotW confirming contacts with W1AW/1 from Maine.  This was the final state that I need for WAS W1AW/Portable. Oddly enough, despite the LotW confirmation, … Continue reading →

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