Archives: 2019
November 19, 2019
I worked K1JT Joe Taylor, the creator of the FT8 mode, during the ARRL June VHF contest and I received his QSL card today. This one will get a prominent spot on my board.
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November 18, 2019
This is a contest I was looking forward to. The goal is to try and work all the sections in US and Canada(83 total). I decided to do it unassisted (without the aid of internet spotting networks). I worked more contacts than last year but less sections(53 of 83), probably due to the spotting…
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November 15, 2019
It's been awhile since I've gotten a QSL card, not sure why it's slowed down so much, I used to get them all the time. This is a nice one: Thanks Steve!
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November 15, 2019
This past weekend was the annual SPARC Fest, the club's hamfest. It's free for vendors so we keep getting a great turn out. 65 vendors showed up. As the new President I ran the club table, we sold quite a bit of stuff. It's interesting what people will buy. I was there to help setup before dawn…
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November 2, 2019
At tonight's SPARC meeting I was elected as club president. I am looking forward to leading the club and getting even more involved in the hobby. The first event after my election is next Saturday 11/9 for the annual SPARCfest at Freedom Lake Park in Pinellas Park, FL, it's free so come on out.…
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October 28, 2019
I spent some more time on this contest than last year and had much better results. All sorts of DX. Map of contacts - CW WW SSB 2019 I had quite a few contacts on 15m which is new to me, usually it's pretty dead. I had my typical troubles on 40 and almost none on 80m due to the low height of my off…
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October 25, 2019
For the past couple months things have been pretty slow in the QSO department. I made a few contacts here and there but not much new was happening. I think summer is a slow time for ham radio, which is unfortunate since I'm in Florida and it's too hot to go outside a lot of the time. Anyhow, last…
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October 18, 2019
It's starting to cool down a little in Florida so I went out for a Parks on the Air activation. At 82F it was still sweaty but bearable. A little down the road from park K-3607 that I activated previously, is South Fork State Park, K-3656. This is land that I think they are reserving for a future…
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September 25, 2019
Once again the St. Pete, Clearwater and Upper Pinellas radio clubs joined forces for a radio clubs in the park event. We met up at Eagle Lake park in Largo, FL. This is a nice county park so it doesn't count for Parks on the Air but it was still a fun event. Unlike Field Day where we setup specific…
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September 4, 2019
I'm not loving the KX2 and Wolf River Coil combination. I'm able to make contacts but it's hard. I bought it specifically for travel. I think I need to look more seriously into the loop antennas. The coil puzzles the TSA x-ray guys so about half the time I get my bag pulled for additional…
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