Rainbow Trout on the Grill

Bright and early again this morning, fishing in the same stream, at about the same time, I pulled a trophy Rainbow Trout out of the same pool!

I'm just ecstatic about working (W7GVE) , on the same frequency (actually 7058.02) this morning!! I wasn't hearing a thing on the band (normally a very bad sign) but in the distance I hear another #7 call. (1400z--1425z) Ed lives Golden Valley, Arizona near the California border and about 1,814 miles from me.

He was working another station (which I could barely tell was there) and on about the "third" exchange I heard his call sign very distinctly. WOW....second day in a row and THIS time...., loud enough to try another QSO!

I think he could hear me a little better than I could hear him but (although he was QSO'ing at least 15 wpm with the other station) he immediately QRS'd to about 5 WPM.

And this was a key factor in making the contact this morning!

QSB was still a factor, which at times, was very difficult to overcome.

This morning, we exchanged Name, QTH, RST, FISTS #, and "Area Code". He knew my name (I think he reads blogs).....hihi. He remembered yesterdays exchange and commented on the antenna and being QRP in West Virginia.

This was still a difficult contact (at least for me) but a "valid" one for "club" purposes.....

I sent a "note" in the mail yesterday, but this morning I'll send a REAL card!

I got a nice "e-mail" (right after this QSO) from a ham in Wisconsin. (W9GOC).

He was startled by my QRP signal...

N8ZYA:

"Your CQ was coming though nicely on 7.058 this morning - - certainly a 599
report. I'm afraid I didn't record the exact time - - I was just
passing the shack while dealing with the preparations to dash off to the office
- - but I'd estimate the time as ~7:20 local, which should be ~13:20 UTC
29Jan2009. I realize this is not quite as rewarding as a genuine
QSO, but at least you know your signal is getting as far as Wisconsin!
:-)"

I wonder if he likes Rainbow Trout?

I know yesterdays post mentioned me leaving for a long trip and I would probably not be posting for awhile ....but this mornings QSO was something to crow about!

I should be posting again around the first of March.....(really)

I'm on a real high right now and enjoying the fish!

Big Fish at 1800 Miles

I'm not hearing a lot of stations the 7058 frequency in the mornings?? (at least at a short distance).

But this week, I've been a little lax because of some important, upcoming travel plans. I'll be leaving soon, and will be gone for about a month, before returning home.

However....the stations I've worked this week have been interesting. I chased WB2MIC (in Vermont) for a couple of days because I knew he was collecting "area code numbers". (I could hear his QSO's with other stations)

But 40 meters been like a tree full of squirrels.....

I'd hear him perfectly 5 minutes and then he would totally disappear into the noise. And then the other day, while he was working another station, I regrouped and gave him another call. This time....someone tuned up "right on frequency". . Fortunately, for me, he moved up 15 kc to avoid the QRM and I caught him on the end of another QSO.

We exchanged "area codes" and I was a happy camper.

Then there was WD1W (Chris in Manchester Vermont) . I haven't worked a lot of Vermont stations and now there are TWO contacts, fairly close together.

And another QRM problem....

I've QSY'd several times over the years but I thought it unique he sent "PSE I will find a good freq...b bk AS ? ". A few moments later we connected again, and he sent "PSE QSY up Sixty" QSL ? (it's unusual to spell out a frequency). I don't remember the original frequency (maybe 7053) but we had a nice conversation afterwards on 7060 which I enjoyed very much.

This morning I really strained my ears...... but couldn't copy everything (no matter how hard I tried) from another station. Ed in Golden Valley Arizona (W7GVE) was barely above the noise and was VERY difficult to hear. I tried everything.....My most desperate move (when everything else fails) is the use the "reverse mode" on the receiver....... I've been able to work some "really, really, weak signals like this...but NOT today.

I've said before: "Ham Radio is a lot like fishing...you never know what you're gonna catch when you throw the line in the water". This big fish was 1800 miles from me.

Unfortunately.... he got away. (fishing is like that)

I sent Ed a "card" (not a confirmation QSL) this morning, with an explanation about him getting off the hook. I could tell he sent his "FISTS" number but I couldn't copy his Name, QTH, or our RST's. (just the call sign for the most part) NO e-mail address on QRZ so can't confirm.

I DID send my info but wasn't able to tell if he copied.

Ed's seems to be "quite the contester". I suspect he had a "beam" pointed at me but my signal just wasn't strong enough to make it 1800 miles today.

Today is probably the last entry I'll make this month. I'll be in "parts unknown" during the entire month of Febuary. I'll miss writing (and especially my QRP CW contacts).

It will be nice to "return" and get the "key" back in my hands.

I'll start making entries again in March.

My Best QSL Card

A few weeks ago, I commented on making a 2,020 mile contact into San Diego, California. I also mentioned using headphones and the "quite operation" of the telegraph key. Honestly....I think 90% of the long distance contacts (especially with the current band conditions on 40 meters) will be in the late and early mornings hours.

This afternoon I received my QSL card from WB6HGJ.

The notes on the back of the card read:

John....QRP QSO's (even one way) have great meaning for me !! Your card has become part of my QRP "photo album" collection! I was running about 90 watts with the old Collins--it was a ruff copy but a lot of true QRP work is that way!! Hope to catch you again!! VY 73 Guy.

ps...I use a FT817 for qrp.

I feel the same way...... because this distance is rare for a 5 watt station using an indoor antenna!

It's not only rare for me to work California (QRP on 40 meters), it's also rare to have a station to hear me at this distance.

I was right about his rig...It's a Collins 32v2-75a4 and he was using an inverted V Antenna.

You need a set of "ears" like this to hear 5 watt signal on the East Coast!

I'll also keep this card in my photo album.

World Radio Network

I once listened to "Shortwave Radio Broadcasters" with a simple regenerative receiver hooked to a few feet of wire for an antenna. I'd plug in the headphones, tweak a few knobs, and spend hours listening to Radio Moscow or Cuba during the cold war days. The BBC, Radio Netherlands, Christian Science Monitor, and CBC were essential for keeping informed in that turbulent time period of the world.

It's still possible to do that, but "shortwave operators" have been overwhelmed with expenses and operating costs that make them a money hungry, time consuming, wasteful endeavor these days. The Voice of America doesn't even have a North American broadcast now.

Whereas a lot of broadcasters used to run schedules, many times a day, in different languages, it's becoming difficult to hear an English broadcast more than once an evening.(and sometimes just once a weekend). Given bad band conditions, you miss that one transmission, and you don't hear any news or music from that particular part of the world.

Now there's an answer to these problems on the Internet.

I've listened to XM Satellite Radio for several years, mostly for music...but also for political views and information on the world. It's a rare medium with much more variety than anything on the shortwave bands and especially the AM Radio bands. (AM Radio has become nothing but a cesspool of propaganda from the "nuts" that have it all, and plan on keeping it that way).

I find it very offensive to hear the same old stuff (?) on at least three dozen stations every night when trying to re-capture the "magic" of those regenerative reciever days.

XM Satellite Radio now has a program called "World Radio Network" (station #135) on thier service. I've been listening to it for several weeks now and I'm able to, once again, hear "shortwave stations" from all over the world. I've put a link to the "network" on the right hand side of this site under "Ham Radio Sites of Interest".

----------->

Clicking here will allow you to hear all those "International Shortwave Broadcasts", again, without having to worry about missing the "one" transmission an evening. It's not the same a hearing it "live" on the air (it looses some of it's "magic" in this mode) but it's there.

It's nice to casually listen to them while working on the computer.

My 300th Contact

I've been logging my Ham Radio contacts into my "Microsoft Outlook Program" for a few years now. I like the "search features" and with the right "format", I've found nothing that works any better for my radio hobby.

I create my own "custom" categories within this system. My "favorites" are "FISTS, NAQCC, SKCC, QRP, QRPp, and DX. You can create as many as you like....and at the end of the year, it's easy to find ALL my contacts and sort them out into ANY group. I also like the ability to "cut and paste" e-mails and pictures sent to me.

This morning I ran a search for this years contacts. (2009) and found 16 in the log. Ten of those are FISTS members, two of them are QRP contacts, three of those are "more than once contacts", there are 11 states, 3 "Area Code Award" contacts and.... my longest 40 meter contact yet... into California.

The possibilities are endless and I plan to always continue logging my "radio contacts" in this system!


This morning, as I was looking at the "numbers" I realized that WA0FU in Jacksonville Florida was my 300th Contact. I've talked to Bob twice this year and it's especially nice to see his "Weirton, WV" info on the QRZ site and also his NAVY experience.
Bob also uses the E-QSL system and I've sent 2 cards to him on the site.

As I was looking at my "DX" contacts, I noticed two stations (Cuba and Puerto Rico) on the E-QSL membership list. I worked both those stations from the Outer Banks of North Carolina last year. It will be nice to get those "cards" (I'll have them printed on nice "card stock" and add them to my collection).

If you haven't looked at the E-QSL site lately...you will be surprised at the "growth" this month. They have taken a BIG jump in membership!

E-QSL DX Cards

This weekend, I worked a few stations in the North American QSO Contest, and was pleasantly surprised to see them listed on the E-QSL site, when I logged on last night. I don't use them often but...really don't understand why more Hams don't take advantage of this service!

Especially DX Contacts!

The last DX card (I exchanged) cost me nearly $5.00 to get to Moscow Russia and back so the "E-QSL" site is a GOOD idea to reduce postage costs.

My station (actually in Poland) made the "distinct statement" on his QRZ site: "Don't Send US dollars, My Postman Loves Them". (That's something to think about the next time you "slam" the US Postal Service, but I think, common in a lot of the world) That's the reason I needed to send the card to a manager in Moscow before it could be confirmed and returned to me from Poland.

In addition to the two envelopes, US postage stamps, and 2 IRC coupons. (Oh...did I say it took 3 months to recieve them?)...it was VERY close to 5 bucks a card!

An E-QSL card (yes...printed on a NICE postcard) would have cost me a buck! It's pretty much a NO brainer for me.

I'm not a big collector of "cards"....but there are times when they're memorial ("Special Event Stations" and a nice long "QRP" contact). But why not leave the option open for E-QSL cards?

I'm just as happy with a nice e-mail (with a picture attached) so

I think, especially for DX contacts, they're worth some serious thought!

2020 20 Meter Contacts

This weekend was the North American QSO Party and I quickly worked stations on 20 meters (just to give out a few contacts) at distances of 1,000--1,500--and (yes) another 2,020 mile contact into San Diego. (actually two of them).

The San Diego station (K6AM) was especially surprised to hear my "QRP" status.

Many times (when time is precious) I'll try to work a few "contest stations" (it seems always on the weekends).

But this morning, I've been listening for Steve (N0TU) in Colorado. He hikes with the "goats" (Peanut and Rooster). BBBrrrrrrr.....I bet it was cold out there today!

The band just isn't UP today and I've heard very little on either 20 or 30 meters.

It's often been said that Amateur Radio is a lot like fishing. You never know what you're going to catch when you throw the line in the water. It's certainly true today....

On a positive note: (a few days ago) I worked a station (QRP) in Mass ( I can never spell that name) but the call is N1PQ and the name is Peter. We couldn't hear each other very well but exchanged the basics.

I got a bigger kick out of the 5 watt signal at 600 miles, on the 40 meter band, than I did with the "California" stations on 20 meters. It was a little more of a challenge....

I considered the fishing a little better in this stream....