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 Middle School NO
- Teach a Technician Class Elsewhere NO
- Complete my K1 YES
I made a mistake on two attempted technician classes in 2016 by allowing them to be marketed to professional educators. The first class was canceled when only 2 students appeared on class day, and the second never got off the ground as nobody signed up. Understandably, teaching professionals are very busy. Fool me once, fool me twice, no way I get fooled again.
The ARISS contact was a complete success with a record number of questions asked and answered during our contact with Astronaut Jeff Williams. The crew was excited enough that a second contact for Bishop Hendricken High School is planned for 2017.
DX worked out a bit better than I planned, with 258 confirmed Countries in LotW at year-end, plus 1225 confirmed Band-Points. However the higher frequency bands are suffering as we are on the downhill side of the solar cycle (which wasn’t that grand to begin with). I heard painfully few stations on 12 meters at all, let alone a desired West Virginia station.
Other accomplishments for 2016 were writing a comprehensive DSTAR Repeater Supervisor’s Guide for our W1AAD DSTAR machine, along with upgrading the hardware and software. I also installed a DVmega 2m/70cm Access Point in my home. A visit to ARRL HQ and seeing my father’s memorial brick was a real highlight.
The K1 kit building experience was very positive, reigniting a desire to build more kits. I have at least two more simple superhet QRP kits ready and waiting for 2017. Our club will be holding a “Build-Night” for a simple 40m QRP “Pixie” kit that I will help direct. My acquisition of a Spectrum Analyzer has opened up a world of possibilities as well.
Goals for 2017:
- Teach a Technician Class
- 265 Confirmed Countries
- 1250 DX Band-Points
- Successful ARISS Contact at Bishop Hendricken High School
- Complete at least one QRP kit
- Convert from HRD to DXlabs
