Saturday, April 28, 2007
Greetings all,
I've been working CW seriously a bit over a year now, with a couple multi-month gaps due to real life getting in the way of the hobby.
I'd set a couple goals and it's time to assess where I stand against them. The overall objective is to get to the point where I can "head copy" like an OF at about 30-40 WPM and/or be able to run a frequency, at speed, in a standard CW contest.
The goals?
500 CW contacts
My log currently records 302. Initially contest QSOs weren't going to count, however; since they force me to improve my speed, they count now.
100 different FISTS contacts
There isn't any automated way of checking this at the moment. My guess is between a dozen and two dozen. I haven't been making it a strong focus of QSOs. It turns out that I've worked a lot of FIST members without getting numbers on the air. Working a FISTS contest would probably help.
WAS CW
34 worked / 31 confirmed. Still need the following: AL, AR, CT, DE, GA, ID, MD, ME, NH, NY, RI, SC, SD, VT, WV, WY. Contesting is probably the best way to pick those up.
I've picked up two more goals along the way: DXCC CW and WAS RTTY.
DXCC CW
Very early on for this one. It is a friendly competition between AE6RR and me. Who can get to DXCC CW first. Worked 11 with 7 confirmed.
WAS RTTY
Pretty much a target of opportunity due to having fun RTTY contesting. 47 states with 46 confirmed. I still need the following: DE, ME, VT, WY.
My record on RuftXP is 37 WPM and 24 valid QSOs in 15 minutes on Morse Runner.
I am reasonably confident in my CW skills for normal QSOs, but fast contest exchanges and/or fast DX stations still leave my head spinning.
On the whole I'm still having fun and still motivated. We'll have to see what improvements the following months bring.
73 all!
I've been working CW seriously a bit over a year now, with a couple multi-month gaps due to real life getting in the way of the hobby.
I'd set a couple goals and it's time to assess where I stand against them. The overall objective is to get to the point where I can "head copy" like an OF at about 30-40 WPM and/or be able to run a frequency, at speed, in a standard CW contest.
The goals?
500 CW contacts
My log currently records 302. Initially contest QSOs weren't going to count, however; since they force me to improve my speed, they count now.
100 different FISTS contacts
There isn't any automated way of checking this at the moment. My guess is between a dozen and two dozen. I haven't been making it a strong focus of QSOs. It turns out that I've worked a lot of FIST members without getting numbers on the air. Working a FISTS contest would probably help.
WAS CW
34 worked / 31 confirmed. Still need the following: AL, AR, CT, DE, GA, ID, MD, ME, NH, NY, RI, SC, SD, VT, WV, WY. Contesting is probably the best way to pick those up.
I've picked up two more goals along the way: DXCC CW and WAS RTTY.
DXCC CW
Very early on for this one. It is a friendly competition between AE6RR and me. Who can get to DXCC CW first. Worked 11 with 7 confirmed.
WAS RTTY
Pretty much a target of opportunity due to having fun RTTY contesting. 47 states with 46 confirmed. I still need the following: DE, ME, VT, WY.
My record on RuftXP is 37 WPM and 24 valid QSOs in 15 minutes on Morse Runner.
I am reasonably confident in my CW skills for normal QSOs, but fast contest exchanges and/or fast DX stations still leave my head spinning.
On the whole I'm still having fun and still motivated. We'll have to see what improvements the following months bring.
73 all!
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Sigh...
I *know* the rule is to always listen for a long time before jumping in, but when I heard nice strong RTTY signals on 40m tonight I just had to try.
And got trapped into 2 rounds of the 3905 net as "fresh meat."
No macros set up or anything... I adapted what I had as the net went on, so by the end I shouldn't have been too liddish.
Now to send out a BUNCH of RTTY QSL cards to those gents.
I *know* the rule is to always listen for a long time before jumping in, but when I heard nice strong RTTY signals on 40m tonight I just had to try.
And got trapped into 2 rounds of the 3905 net as "fresh meat."
No macros set up or anything... I adapted what I had as the net went on, so by the end I shouldn't have been too liddish.
Now to send out a BUNCH of RTTY QSL cards to those gents.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
It's been a pretty good weekend.
Four main things to do:
+++++
I was able to open and smoke test the replacement TS-790A. All the lights came on. I would really like to rearrange the shack some to make "real" space available for this radio. It is too nice to be "hacked" into place.
+++++
Second I wanted to bring up the Dell SX/260 that I bought via ebay. Locals Jeff and JV had purchased a couple and deemed them a good deal. After playing with one, I agree.
The Dell sx/260 is pretty nice. Older machine. About the size of a college hardback dictionary. ~$250 on ebay. Moved all of my ham radio software over to it last night and this afternoon.
It maxes out at 144W rather than 300W (need to actually measure the draw). Should be much cheaper to run. It is also Windows XP, so it should be more stable than the other machine.
MMTTY
Installed and since I've been dealing with it on pretty much every computer I own it went flawlessly.
N1MM with CW
Same here.
AGWPE and TelPac
Pretty painless as well. Need to contact the AGWPE people to get another license key for the new computer.
+++++
BARTG RTTY Sprint
My results from playing around in the BARTG RTTY Sprint. Again, not serious, basically checking to make sure my MMTTY set-up was working right, and to hand out points.
+++++
CQ 160m contest
And here are the results of my 160m hacking. This was far from a serious attempt.
I need to significantly improve my 160 antenna though...
Four main things to do:
- Unpack and smoke test the TS-790A
- Bring up the Dell sx/260
- Spend a bit of time in the RTTY Sprint contest
- Spend a bit of time in the CQ 160m CW contest.
+++++
I was able to open and smoke test the replacement TS-790A. All the lights came on. I would really like to rearrange the shack some to make "real" space available for this radio. It is too nice to be "hacked" into place.
+++++
Second I wanted to bring up the Dell SX/260 that I bought via ebay. Locals Jeff and JV had purchased a couple and deemed them a good deal. After playing with one, I agree.
The Dell sx/260 is pretty nice. Older machine. About the size of a college hardback dictionary. ~$250 on ebay. Moved all of my ham radio software over to it last night and this afternoon.
It maxes out at 144W rather than 300W (need to actually measure the draw). Should be much cheaper to run. It is also Windows XP, so it should be more stable than the other machine.
MMTTY
Installed and since I've been dealing with it on pretty much every computer I own it went flawlessly.
N1MM with CW
Same here.
AGWPE and TelPac
Pretty painless as well. Need to contact the AGWPE people to get another license key for the new computer.
+++++
BARTG RTTY Sprint
My results from playing around in the BARTG RTTY Sprint. Again, not serious, basically checking to make sure my MMTTY set-up was working right, and to hand out points.
BARTGRTTYS Score Summary Sheet
Start Date : 2007-01-29
Band : ALL
Power : LOW
Mode : RTTY
Club/Team : Northern California Constest Club
Software: N1MM Logger V7.1.1
Band QSOs Pts Cty Sec Cnt
7 7 7 0 1 0
14 18 18 4 11 2
28 1 1 1 1 1
Total 26 26 5 13 3
Score : 1,404
+++++
CQ 160m contest
And here are the results of my 160m hacking. This was far from a serious attempt.
Most of the CW seemed "slow" and all of it was cope-able with. I felt fully comfortable engaging a contact without needing to listen to the exchange first. (Although it was nice if I could.) There were several times when I could make back-to-back minute exchanges.
CQ160CW Score Summary Sheet
Start Date : 2007-01-27
Power : LOW
Mode : CW
Club/Team : Northern California Constest Club
Software: N1MM Logger V7.0.0
Band QSOs Pts Sta Cty
1.8 27 57 9 0
Total 27 57 9 0
Score : 513
I need to significantly improve my 160 antenna though...
Labels: BARTG, CQ160, cw, RTTY, sx/260, ts-790a
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Boy do I need to catch up here!
(Will fill in as time allows.)
Background on Conrad - The seller was a long time ham who was having some sort of unspecified family issue that required selling his stuff for cash. I knew this, and certainly didn't grind him on price. Just made sure that the payments were correct and timely (even picked up the $200 shipping tab to help out).
It was clear that the seller REALLY loved the radio and was only selling it under extreme duress.
After some time I received the rig and got it on the air. The reviews are correct. It is a VERY sweet radio.
So light/dark another day. Sure enough about a 1/2 year later I get an email from Conrad asking if he can buy the rig back. I don't want to lose the radio, but it is "Golden Rule" time. And it doesn't count if you only apply it when it is easy...
Finding another rig
The hunt for the manuals
Waiting for the check.
No further progress on antennas
Amp(s) on order
Greg and some guy on 20m SSB
Abandon: More RTTY RU
Joey goes to town!
Early results
Grumpy wife
The next morning
Leaving for Kid's Day
Change in plans
Run to radio shack
Fun with a sling shot
It just won't tune
Two contacts
PG&E
The ambassador and Christmas cookies
Calling the manufacture
Recalling the home owner
Waiting...
(Will fill in as time allows.)
- The saga of the TS-790A
Background on Conrad - The seller was a long time ham who was having some sort of unspecified family issue that required selling his stuff for cash. I knew this, and certainly didn't grind him on price. Just made sure that the payments were correct and timely (even picked up the $200 shipping tab to help out).
It was clear that the seller REALLY loved the radio and was only selling it under extreme duress.
After some time I received the rig and got it on the air. The reviews are correct. It is a VERY sweet radio.
So light/dark another day. Sure enough about a 1/2 year later I get an email from Conrad asking if he can buy the rig back. I don't want to lose the radio, but it is "Golden Rule" time. And it doesn't count if you only apply it when it is easy...
Finding another rig
The hunt for the manuals
Waiting for the check.
- Improvements status
No further progress on antennas
Amp(s) on order
- Kid's Day
Greg and some guy on 20m SSB
Abandon: More RTTY RU
Joey goes to town!
- ARRL RTTY Round Up
Early results
Grumpy wife
The next morning
Leaving for Kid's Day
- Stew Perry
Change in plans
Run to radio shack
Fun with a sling shot
It just won't tune
Two contacts
- Adventures in QRM
PG&E
The ambassador and Christmas cookies
Calling the manufacture
Recalling the home owner
Waiting...
Labels: improvements, Kids' Day, QRM, RTTY, Stew Perry, ts-790a
