Weekly Update #6

Saturday was a GREAT day for ham radio, at least for me. I was able to participate in my first QSO Party. Technically three QSO parties. I was tuning around the bands and came across contesting on 20 meters that turned out to be the Minnesota QSO Party so I made several contacts. I tuned around some more and got W1AW/0 Minnesota Portable AND W1AW/5 Texas Portable!!! Thats three W1AW portable stations so far! After that I also had a few QSOs with stations working the Vermont QSO Party and the British Columbia QSO Party (My first Canadian QSO.) I even confirmed contact with one station on both 20 and 40 meters.

Then my ATAS 120 messed up and needed repairs so no further contacts after Saturday night. Luckily, I found Tom, W0EAJ, who repairs ATAS 120s. I rushed it off via UPS 2nd Day Air first thing Monday morning. Hopefully he can have it back in my mailbox by monday.

I have also decided to expand my 18-wheeled radio shack yet again. First, I will be getting a SignaLink Interface to hook up to the FT-857D. This will give me all those fun digital modes like RTTY, PSK31 and JT65 to name a few.

BUT WAIT! There's more! While 160 may be out of reach because of antenna requirements, 80 meters is not. So I will be mirror mounting an MFJ 80 Meter hamstick, attached to a MFJ 904H tuner. So I will be able to work 80 meters through 70cm Phone, RTTY, PSK31 and JT65! Plus I am still working on CW! I am also putting in a 40 and 20 meter hamstick.

As for my learning adventures, I spent a good hour reading my ARRL Basic Electronics book. I have now completed the first unit. Tomorrow I take a break from Basic Electronics and work on CW.

As a personal challenge, after I get everything installed, i will make a contact on every band and in every mode I can.

QSO's this week: N0HJS, AI0Q, KD3V, KC0RSX, K0YR, N0XT, W1AW/0, KX0A, KD0UWZ, KB1FRW (on 20 and 40 meters), W1AW/5, VE7GV,

Weekly Update #5

Welcome back! Its been another long week. I have been put on a VERY long trip from El Paso, TX to Nogales, AZ then to Atlantic City, NJ. I have a fairly tight timeline so i have been putting in 11-12 hour days for the last few days, and will probably do so for the next few days as well.

I have been studying in my Basic Radio, Basic Electronics and Ham Radio for Dummies books but feel like I am spreading myself to thin, so I think I will ease back on two of them and focus on one until it is done. Not sure which one yet, but since Basic Electronics seems to be a good starting point, I am leaning toward that. I have been being lazy about learning morse code too so I have decided to put that in to the rotation, every other day for an hour. Lets see how it goes.

Noticing all the digital communications going on in the low part of 20 and 40 meters sparked an interest in me. So my next purchase, possibly next week but definitely before next month, will be a Tigertronics Signalink audio interface so that I can operate RTTY, PSK31, and other digital ham modes.

I don't know if I have ever mentioned it, but I bought a house that I have to rebuild but will eventually become my dream home. It is a large house so part of it will be my dream ham shack. I am going to ask for some advise from the other hams I know and the QRZ forums as to what should be included in this room, but I am sure a souped up electrical system, extra outlets and various connections for antennas and equipment will be included in my final design.

I have really fallen in love with HF and I don't believe I even turned my UHF/VHF rig on this week. I have also made the decision to sell my FT-2900 single bander. I may even trade it for some other items I have been wanting in the ham shack. I'll just have to see on that.

OH! Before I go! I have to tell everyone! I FINALLY placed an order for my QSL cards (pictured at the top of my blog.) They are being printed by Randy Dorman (KB3IFH) out in Maryland. Ironically, I will be driving within 50 miles of his QTH but won't have time to stop. His turnaround time is 2-3 weeks, but I asked him if he could rush and get them done in 1 week. I am going home in a week and would love to pick them up while i am there. He said he would do what he could, but couldn't make any promises. This is perfectly understandable. It is a slightly unreasonable request so we will see if he can pull off a miracle.

Well anyway, everyone have a good week, and thank you for reading!!


Contacts this week: K2JBX, K9IAC, WA1NRQ, KG4IGX, W0OOG, W6VAH, K0PAL

So until next time, DE WW1F 73

My Ham Radio Bucket List!

Yes, I too have a bucket list. Here is just a list of Ham Radio related items on my bucket list.

If you don't have one, I highly recommend you make one. It gives you something to aspire to. You don't have to put a lot of thought into it, and you are more than free to change it as time goes by. It is, after all, YOUR list and no one else's. As for mine, it will be interesting to see how long it takes me to complete it all, mainly because I am such a procrastinator.  
So without further ado: 


OH, for those of you who do not know what bucket list is, Websters dictionary defines a bucket list as "a list of things that one has not done before but wants to do before dying. Origin from the phrase 'Kick the Bucket (to die)"



1. Make an HF contact DONE!

2. Learn Morse Code
3. Go on a DXpedition or at least operate from another country. 
4. Make a QRP QSO
5. Build a kit radio or a radio from scratch
6. Build my own antenna
7. Go to a hamfest
8. Go to the Dayton Hamvention
9. Operate the W6RO station (Ham Radio station aboard the Queen Mary ocean liner)
10. Operate W1AW.
11. Earn an award for something. 


This list is certainly subject to change and there are a few things I am already working on. For instance, I am in the beginning phases of learning morse code and have contacted W6RO about operating their rig when I am out in California. 


I can probably combine other things on the list into one big project. (e.g. build a QRP rig and antenna, then make a QSO with it, taking care of #3, #4 an #5 all at once. I'll have to mull that one over. I am sure this list will grow quite a bit as time goes by but for now it will suffice.
DE WW1F 73

Weekly Update #4

Hey everyone! Yes I know, its been a long time since I last posted. You know how things are with the holidays. Added to this, I am attempting to remodel a house I bought AND taking on extra work to pay for said remodel.

On my last home time (time off) I was able to pick up my new Tram dual band antenna for my Icom IC-880 as well as the SO-239 mirror mount for my ATAS 120 so my FT-857 is up and running too! And you know what? I learned something. I learned that I REALLY enjoy HF! I finally got everything fired up the other day and today I had several free hours so i made several contacts on 10 meters and 20 meters. Included are many firsts for me. This week I had my first HF QSO, my first non-US QSO (which was also my first Cuban QSO), the first time I had a QSO with W1AW (sort of... it was W1AW/2 Portable New York, as part of the ARRL's 100th anniversary.) So for me its been a pretty exciting week.

Also on my time at home I was able to pick up the package of things I ordered with the HRO gift card my mom gave me for Christmas. I was able to get programming cables for both my rigs, the cable for my bencher paddle, a book on morse code, and a couple other little necessary items to enhance my ham radio experience. I also got a book of electronic projects and a book on radio projects for a learning aid.

In the picture is the dashboard of my truck. It looks awful cluttered so I will probably end up using the separation kits and making a new special project out of it. I am also thinking of selling my trusty Yaesu FT-2800. I am wrestling with this decision since it is about the best 2 meter rig I have ever owned. I might trade it for a HT and put the charger for it where the 2800 is now. Only time will tell.

HF Contacts this week: W6TA, CO4LS, KA4KSB, W1AW, WA2WDX, KB1HNZ (All on HF!! So Cool!)

So until next time, DE WW1F 73S  SK

Weekly Update #3

MERRY CHRISTMAS! well... almost. So I have my Icom IC-880H and Yaesu FT-857D installed but guess what? Still no antennas. I ordered them, then had to leave before they arrived so they are sitting at my post office waiting for my return. I can't wait to fire them up. For Christmas, my mom got me a gift certificate to Ham Radio Outlet so I am going to get the programming cables and software for both rigs, as well as the ARRL book "Morse Code Operating" to further my New Years Resolution.

I ran across a really cool Ham out in Colardo, Terry (N0PQV) who is an IRLP fanatic. He gave me TONS of information on IRLP, a subject I never really knew much about. It is actually a subject I found very interesting and I plan on getting more involved in it as soon as I can figure it all out.

Not much else to report this time around. Til next time 73!