W2LJ's Blog - QRP - Do More With Less.

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A productive evening

Posted: 08 Jun 2016 05:45 PM PDT
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The sunspot count is up to about 12, I believe - so maybe things are
looking up! This evening, just before dinner, I heard N0UR on 30 Meters,
operating from NPOTA NP31 - Isle Royale National Park. I worked him, but I
had a slight hitch in my sending and I knew I goofed it up as soon as I
sent my call. Instead of coming back to W2LJ, I heard Jim come back to
W2REJ. Just the teeneist, tiniest hesitation between those last two dits in
the "L". Argh! QSB kicked in and I couldn't hear if Jim heard my corrected
call.

After dinner, I took a chance that Jim was still on frequency; and luckily
he was. I also took the chance at being a pain in his keister and worked
him again. Second time was the charm; and I heard my call come back the
correctly. Whew!

I saw on the DX Cluster that 6 Meters was open, so I took another chance
and twiddled the dial for a bit. Even though the HF9V is made to work on 6
Meters, that's really pushing it. It loads and I get a decent SWR reading;
but I think we're talking highly inefficient compromise, here. In any
even, I heard and worked two stations - N4GG at EM74 in Georgia and NV4B at
EM64 in Alabama.

Even though it was only two stations, it was a lot of fun. 6 Meters is a
relatively new experience for me. It's neat to see how those borderline
HF/VHF signals travel. If I can get something halfway decent built and up,
maybe I will hear and work more. Another project in the long line of many!

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

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It's getting to be that time ......

Posted: 08 Jun 2016 12:06 PM PDT
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less than a month from now, the 13 Colonies Special Event will be in full
swing during Independence Week - July 1st through July 6th.

I had a real good time hunting down and QSOing with all 13 Colonies in 2015
- I'd like to do it again using only QRP CW, but there are too many
Colonies that do not operate CW at all.

It is a fun event which I heartily endorse. It never hurts to learn a bit
of history while engaging in the World's Best Hobby.

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!