Although I've been a Ham for a little over 15 years now, I wasn't "radio active" until I retired from the Paint store a few years ago. I've lived in apartment buildings most of my life, and setting up anything "permanent" has been a real problem. Most of those early years, I set up using a random wire, or "bungee corded" my antenna to an outside "stair" railing, on the weekends, when I had the time to operate.
Many times, I set it up and took it down within a few hours.
My log book didn't start (earnestly) until 2009 and I'm happy to say that I worked my 1000 th station yesterday. It was a casual QSO on 40 meters, and I didn't realize the number "1000" until I looked at the "categories" in the log book. I've worked a few contests...., but most of my QSO's have been actual "chats", with some of them being over an hour long. (It's not unusual for me to talk at least half and hour.)
I've used the Microsoft Outlook program as my log book and , for my needs, like it very much. I've created a number of "categories", so I can tell at a glance, who I've talked to, brief notes, countries, states, clubs and the years I've made the contacts. It's full of useful information, which I can sort in a number of different ways.
To date, I've now worked : 1004 contacts (99% CW), 369 FISTS members, 207 NAQCC members, 230 QRP stations, and 285 SKCC members.
But my most surprising log entries have been the DX contacts this year. Total is 71, but of those, 37 have been this year.
Yes...the bands are finally picking up!
The winning station (# 1000) was KC9KOJ in McHenery Illinois.
6 comments:
Hi John, we are a special brand radio amateurs, we work a 1000 in 2 years. (me too) and that's nice. Sometimes I made only 1 or 2 QSO's a day. That's fine for me. I hear sometimes someone works 2000 in a weekend and more than 120 DXCC. We keep it small. ;-) 73 Paul
Hello John. Another milestone. Now keep workingon the 2,000 mark. Have a nice weekend. Raining here...again. 73 Dick
Hello John. Congrats on QSO number1000.
It is great fun just to make a few QSO's a day.
I remember my first year as a HAM with my homebrew 7 MHz CW QRPp Transceiver. At first only neighboring states. But I enjoyed every QSO.
Good luck in DX, 73, Bert PA1B
Congratulations, John. I'm sure many more hams have to operate with restrictions similar to yours and it's great that you show what they can do. Onward to the next 1,000!
Hello Gang,
When I first started this hobby, a common statement that I always heard was "you won't make many contacts with 5 watts of power"...this just goes to show how easy it is (and how much fun) can be had with a simple radio and a simple antenna.
I know some hams can make a thousand contacts in a weekend (with the right equipment) but I doubt they have more fun.....
A simple wire antenna and five watts of power is all that is needed for years and years of fun.
I've really enjoyed this hobby and made some great friends on the air.
Thank you all for your comments.
Hi John, congrats with this "milestone". Finally propagation is picking up, I remember just reading your blog one of the first times it was not easy to actually make a QSO at all. You did a great job especially the DX of last weeks. 73, Bas
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