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 a presentation on CubSats, and held two Technician Classes; one for folks on the West Bay, and one for the East Bay, generating over 20 new hams for the state.

After some changes at my workplace, I decided to retire early, effective early October.   Despite the presumption of having more time for the hobby, I spent several months planning and arranging the finances for retirement, so it wasn’t until mid-December that I actually started checking the radio each day.

How did things work out goal-wise?  Four out of seven were completed.  Here are the goals for 2014:

• Teach a Technician Class and General Class  (I will rate this as complete — no General Class, but two technician classes)
• DXCC endorsement for 200+ countries (Completed with 217 in LotW so far)
• 250 countries in my log (Nope, only 240 in my log)
• 90 confirmed countries on 80 meters (Nope, but close at 88)
• 5BWAS (getting AK on 80 meters) (YES — a HUGE accomplishment)
• Add another 1,000 QSOs to the log (NOPE — I went for quality not quantity and had about 750 QSOs)
• Design a Raspberry Pi-based servo satellite tracker (The concept design is complete and I have all materials — the software design is this winters project)

BONUS:  I did complete my fifth band for DXCC (but still lack the required 80m DXCC to officially call it 5BDXCC).  I need 12 more countries on 80 meters, 9 more on 30 meters, and 5 more on 12 meters.  As for WAS, I finished my 6th band (17 meters)  making me officially 6BWAS.  I need 2 more on 30 meters and 2 more on 12 meters.  I will have finished the year with all 50 W1AW/Portable states confirmed, along with a few territories, the W1HQ, and W100AW stations too.  I’m smack dab in the middle of the second tier in terms of the ARRL Centennial QSO Party.

The final totals were 5,862 QSOs in my log on 12/31/2014, 240 countries worked and 218 confirmed, with 1220 theoretical DXCC Challenge points.  One country and 6 band points can be added to the totals shown below from QSLs I have on hand.